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Jonesboro was forty minutes away, Harry's office closer to fifty. Jessica waited ten minutes before ordering the pizzas. "They should get here about the same time," she said. "You weren't hungry, were you?" "Not especially. I could use a drink and a smoke. Did we bring the essential supplies?" "We haven't unpacked it yet," Jessica replied. "I brought some of your favorites." Jessica poured two glasses of Irish Mist and they went out on the porch of the little house. Alex lit a Backwoods cigar and they watched the sun disappear over ridge. "For some reason I feel uneasy," Jessica said. "More than usual. Not knowing what Harry has." "Hopefully something that moves things along," replied Alex. "The waiting has gotten to be worse than anything lately."
The pizzas arrived a few minutes before Harry. Jessica left the closed boxes on the table until he arrived. He was in a grey minivan of indeterminate age beyond being a Chrysler from the 2000s or so. "Camouflage," Harry said, noticing their looks. He usually drove his late-model F-150 and occasionally his Corvette. "One of several I keep around for these occasions. I had a man following to see I wasn't followed. At this point it shouldn't be a problem yet but we can't be too careful." "Have some pizza," Jessica said. "Whatever it is can wait a bit." "Don't mind if I do," Harry replied. "I haven't eaten since last night. But it's not that bad. Yet." Dunno know if I like that. The 'yet' part. A couple of slices of pizza later Harry gave them the news. "There are two federal investigations underway," he said. "For quite a while. I don't have it all yet and may not be able to but the feds are investigating CHC. The big outfit in Texas. And another investigation into an organized crime outfit has got them onto ACCH and the drug distributors." "Mafia?" Jessica asked. "Pretty much," replied Harry. "If it's anything of any size the local mob will be on it. Maybe not directly but through an associate. In this case New Orleans most likely. I don't know how much I'll be able to find out." "How did you get this much?" Jessica asked. "Couple of guys I know have some access inside but it's spotty. I'm hoping to improve on that. How do you feel about being bait?" Bait? What have I been so far? Jessica lookin' at me like I'm supposed to know. And we're not the only ones at risk. "Karen and Jennifer," Jessica said. "What about them?" "I've got watchers on them," Harry replied. "I doubt Karen is in any danger and Jennifer is a maybe but I'm keeping an eye on both. And if they're looking at you...." "I get it," said Jessica. "Alex, what do you think?" "I want it over with." "This could be dangerous," Harry said. "The main thing is you two in particular not being exposed. Your name - Alex - came up quite a bit. You too, Jessica, but they don't see you as anything but an acquaintence as far as I can see. But that doesn't mean you're not in danger." "Why are we... Alex is a witness, isn't he? And me too if they know I was at the hospital." "Right. And they probably know that a records request was made. You may have some seriously incriminating information. If the investigators know that they will want you as witnesses." "What do we do if they contact us?" Jessica asked. "For now be hard to find," Harry replied. "Let me keep an eye on it. Maybe they won't need you." "Stay here? I guess we can eat tacos and pizza and sleep all day for a while if we have to." "If you can handle it it's a good idea," Harry said. "I know where you are and for now I'm the only one. I'll keep you updated." "Sounds good," Alex said. "We didn't bring much in the way of weapons. I'd like to go back to my place and pick up some things." "OK, be careful. Can you do it in the next day or so?" "Yeah. No problem." "All right," Harry said. "How about day after tomorrow? Call me when you're about to leave and I'll have a couple of guys on you." "Is it that serious?" asked Jessica. "Could be. There's a couple of dodgy characters in town that could be shooters. Showed up a day or two ago and staying in a guest house at Brewer's place." "The guy that works for a probably mob guy?" Alex asked. "Yeah, Carlisle. "Shooters?" "Hitmen," Harry replied. "I almost forgot this - some of this has been in front of grand juries in Texas and Arkansas. two different investigations and it could be about to come together. I doubt the mob guys have the connections I do but they have their sources. If an indictment is immiment and the wrong people know they could act impusively." "Got it," Alex said. "We'll come up day after tomorrow, give you a call before we leave. Good enough?" "Good as can be."
"I need to go to my place to get some stuff," Alex said. "What do you need? Your Beretta? And a backup piece?" "Yeah, the Beretta and the derringer. And a knife." "OK, that's all at the place in Jonesboro. I need my .45s and a knife that's out there. How about we split up at the place in town and meet up somewhere. Maybe the old mall - there's construction going on there. There's a pizza place there at the east end." "Pizza Inn, yeah. We're not likely to be noticed there. Hopefully no one is following us just yet." "OK, we've got a couple of days. Probably should have done it tomorrow - I'm gonna worry the whole time." "Let's do something," said Jessica. "Go out to the farm, something." "Yeah, we could do that. Stop and see Charlie on the way and update her and Sam."
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