n Colli
nk carbon-copy invoice onto the polished mahogany bar. "This invoice is sixty days past
pping into the shadow of a cigarette ve
ormed out into the main bar area, followed close
d, shoving a prospect aside as he marched toward
by the leather-clad men surrounding him. He adjus
re to collect the remaining balance on the custom-fitted, genuine alligator riding suit and pure
around toward the corner booth, where his younger sis
darkening. "Did you spend eigh
p, tossing her bleached blonde hair, her ch
yelled, pointing an acrylic nail directly at me across the room. "She sa
the bar swu
a shrill, piercing pitch. "I knew it! You malicious, jeal
ll bottle of mineral water from my jacket poc
horization with my signat
Why would I need a stupid signature? You told me
ree weeks ago. Either I leave this building with a certified cashier's check for eighty-two thousand dollars, or two flatbed truc
vage his pride in front of thirty patched m
pocket and grabbing a pen from the bartender. "It's eighty grand. You think
gressive snap, and shoved it at the shop's deputy
now," Chas commanded. "Show this p
p's business debit card into the terminal to author
ll color. Sweat beade
surer whispered, h
rked. "Clear th
ing back so Chas could see the glow
s. Actually, it's negative fourteen
r Bar was so heavy you could hear t
as's voice cracked. Hi
easurer stammered, terrified. "The trust account is disconnected. We don't
chuckle slippe
Chas's face. His eyes bugged out, the veins on his neck bulging a
ooping up his paperwork and
the radio. "Back the trucks in. S
ager's arm, completely losing his composure. "Give me two
trust fund, running around playing tough guy while your sister wears stolen alligator skin
bing Chas's arm and looking up at
voice carrying across the quiet room. "She still loves you. If you j
ide warring violently wit
th. "I'd rather burn the shop to the ground
pped my leather jacket all the way to
him. "Make sure you keep that same
reamed from behind the bar, her voice breaking into hyst
to the biting wind. Snow flurries were already swir
he twin-cam engine roared to life with a deep,
tle, leaving the Salinas Clubhouse behind
with tinted windows pulled smoothly out from the shadows
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