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“Ted picked him up”

“No,” Ty said, “he told Norot a call and sent an officer out to pick him up”

“He probably didn’t want to concern her,” Roger said

“I drove the route” Ty nor people, but this time he was determined “Ted could have easily dropped Dave off on the street corner, driven to the station and told another officer to go pick hier’s desk and leaned down to look the man in the eye “It all adds up Janet wants retribution for her brother’s arrest, and agrees to go along with accosting Dave, knohen he’d visit the drugstore Neither of they to alcohol and panicked before they’d delivered him to Bodine’s henchmen”

When Roger once again shook his head, frustration bubbled inside Ty “Think about it A girl who never had enough money to take the trolley to St Paul, now lives in a brand-new apartirl doesn’traided on Friday night and opening again on Saturday night, under a new nas after federal raids That didn’t happen at the Blind Bull It was an internal takeover with a few local cops thrown in for good measure”

“So Bodine nons the Blind Bull,” Roger said “Then go there and bust him, leave my resort out of it”

“It’s not that sih he was thankful the man now understood certain aspects “Bodine’s not there He has front men, just like you Dave’s the one who carries a suitcase full of samples for potential buyers—not you”

Roger growled an expletive

“The only place Bodine is going to appear,” Ty went on, “is here at the resort, and your only hope of avoiding a takeover, or a raid, which is what I’ out the word there’s a snitch, is for us to stop hiets here”

“Us?” Roger asked “You want ent?”

“You already have,” Ty pointed out “You know my identity, but haven’t put a bullet in my back”

Roger leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully “No, I haven’t,” he finally said “Do you want to knohy?”

Ty didn’t nod, but simply met the man’s stare eyeball to eyeball

“Because I want to knohat’s in this for you,” Roger said “You could call in all the backup you need Could have right from the start”

“I need Bodine, not his hench with you”

“Which could er said

Growing frustrated again, Ty straightened and ran a hand through his hair There was only one way to er see how serious this truly was “You want to keep those daughters of yours safe? You er”

“What are you talking about now?”

Ty’s insides churned “I know Bodine He won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and deep down, you know that, too Now, I can make sure that doesn’t happen, but you have to—”

“Why?”

Frustrated, Ty bit his lips together

“What’s in this for you?” Roger asked “Besides Bodine He’s just another notch on your belt The stories I’ve heard, you don’t ith anyone, just—”

“Because when this is all over, I plan on asking your permission to marry Norma Rose” The second the words left his mouth, Ty wanted to call them back It was too late, he knew that, and wondered if he looked as shocked as Roger did The idea hein the back of hisfro her hadn’t

“No,” Roger said firmly

“No?” Ty repeated Now that he’d ad Norht have apprehensions about his daughter er’s desk, he leaned down again “I’m about to save your business, your empire, and keep you out of jail I’ht add”

Roger pushed out of his chair to stand and lean across his desk, where they stared at one another practically nose to nose “Me, hter is another”