Dennis Lee smiled, even as Jenny worked herself into a panic. His message to Wallace had been carried out quite nicely. Jenny’s son hadn’t been hurt too seriously—that hadn’t been Dennis Lee’s intention, of course—but Wallace would be sure to learn about what had happened.
And he’d know to keep his mouth shut.
That was what Dennis Lee needed.
His dominoes had to fall into the perfect places. He’d always loved playing that game, lining the little wooden blocks up one at a time, end on end. He’d take it to the next level—he’d always arranged his blocks in chronological order—long before he’d knocked them down.
Sometimes, the setting up was just as impactful as the knocking down.
He hadn’t started out with the intention of being a criminal. No. It hadn’t started out that way at all. He’d been fourteen and responsible for himself. Food hadn’t exactly fallen in his lap.
He’d made more money by stealing that food and selling it than he had working for his money.
Supply.
Money was in supply and demand.
Dennis Lee’s supply chain organization had just grown over the last fifty-plus years. One domino at a time.
But this little game of dominoes would never be knocked down.
Dennis Lee had learned his lessons a long time ago.
Reggie Henedy was a little low-numbered wooden block. He’d been knocked down to protect the rest. That was the way it should be.
Dennis Lee pulled Jenny into his arms. “It’ll be ok, darlin’. Your boy is a strong one. No need to worry.”
“Why didn’t he call me to come get him? I am his mother!”
“Honey, he’s a thirty-two-year-old man. Let him be one. Cut the strings. You can’t smother him forever.” Smother, his ass. She liked to try to control her son. So that he didn’t end up like his loser of a daddy. He had to give it to Reggie, the boy didn’t let her have her way often. Just enough to make her feel important. The boy was standing on his own two feet damned well. Jenny should just leave well enough alone.
He would never tell her that, though.
Dennis Lee wasn’t a fool. Far from it.