Dog lay beside the bench and wagged a greeting in four/four time as I sat with care next to Vic’s stocking feet—the only part of her that showed from under the gray wool. I reached down and petted Dog, who fell over on his side next to Vic’s tactical boots and closed his eyes. It seemed like a really good idea, so I pulled my hat down over my face and leaned back against the wall. Vic moved her feet up onto my lap, and her voice was thick with sleep. “Well, now we know why Duane told Geo that there were snakes in the tunnel.” “Yep.” I rubbed the thick knitted socks and listened to her purr. “I locked up the cash crop, and Gina has taken command of the household. She says she didn’t know anything about Duane’s cottage industry.” “Is she the one who works over at the Kum and Go, drives around with people tied to her bumper, and always smells like the chronic?” “That’d be the one.” “And you believe her?” “Let’s just say I thought we had enough people in jail for one night, and I’ve got plenty more problems to go around.
