“Wait. There are different types of marijuana?” Rachel interrupted.
“Yes.” Stacy laughed. “Remember when you could buy a huge dime bag for $10?”
“I never did that kind of stuff growing up.”
“Yeah, right. I forgot – you were a goody-goody cheerleader.” Stacy rolled her eyes. “Anyway, now you can get all kinds of marijuana and it’s more expensive than it was back in our day. It gives different kinds of effects when you smoke it. Some highs are longer than others, depending on what type of marijuana you smoke,” Stacy explained.
“I see you did your homework. What kind of high does Cush have?”
“Well, Gary, the guy I work with at the Miami Sun, originally did the story on Ken. He was a big help.” Stacy continued. “Cush is very popular with the younger crowd, but also people who smoke it for medicinal reasons. It gives a quicker and longer-lasting high. It’s costly, but it will last a long time.”
“So how much money were they making?”
“Gary said they were clearing about fifty grand every couple of months. And here is the interesting part. The guy Ken first arrested – Jason Blum? He was cut a deal with the DA’s office in order to catch the bigger fish, Pedro Gonzalez. So he got a slap on the wrist and probation. So when Ken gets ready to start his little business, who does he turn to handle distribution?”
“Jason Blum?”
“You got it. Smart, huh? Jason already had the contacts. So Ken and Paul would sell to Jason, who in turn distributed to other small-
time dealers. We are talking a street value of about a couple million dollars worth of marijuana a year, with plans to produce more.”
“Wow. Not too bad for a couple newbies.”
“Of course, Ken thought they were invincible. With him being a captain at the police department, he had the perfect set-up. He kept his hands clean by selling to Jason, the middle man, and kept his name out of where the dope was coming from. Working at the department, he could keep an eye on Jason and also an ear to the ground about any drug busts going down before it happened.”
“Well, if he had it so good, then how did he get caught?” Rachel asked.
“Good question.” Stacy paused. “Ready for this? An anonymous tip. Somebody blew the whistle on his operation.”
“An anonymous tip brought it all down?” Rachel asked, stunned by this information.
“Yep. A couple of undercover officers went sniffing around the Collin’s property without a warrant. They couldn’t see much from the property line, but apparently smelled marijuana, so they went back to the judge to get a warrant. They raided the property while Ken was on duty. Sam was home with the kids and let them in. They confiscated about a million dollars’ worth of plants and several thousand dollars’ worth of equipment. They also searched the home and got a couple of computers and other stuff,” Stacy said.
“And Sam was implicated as well?”
“Yes, she was. Even though she denied she knew what was going on. DA’s office decided there wasn’t enough evidence she was involved so they dropped the charges against her.”
“And Paul?”
“He got it easier than Ken. Since the grow operation was on Ken’s property, Paul was only charged with accessory and money laundering. They both got bail. Then Ken violated his bail a couple of months later when he left the county to visit family without permission. Ken said it was a misunderstanding, but the judge threw him back in jail without any fanfare. Now Ken’s trial is being postponed due to Samantha’s disappearance. Paul is being tried separately.”
“So, hubby is in jail, the bad guys are after you, money troubles piling up and no job prospects. Sounds like someone who would run far, far away,” Rachel said.
“But she has two kids who she adores, right?”
“Yeah, there is that.” Rachel pulled into the driveway of the beach house and they sat with the truck idling.
“But you could have read it all in the papers and on the internet,” Stacy said. She had that trademark look on her face. Like the cat that ate the canary. “Want to know something that wasn’t in the papers?”
“Of course.”
“Some people think Mack was the anonymous tip.”
“Really? Why Mack?”
“Because Mack is in love with Sam. Always has been, according to my source.”
“Your source sure has a lot of inside information. Are you going to tell me who it is?” Rachel said, half-jokingly knowing Stacy would protect her sources to the bitter end.
“Yes, they do, and no, you know better than to ask.”
“Ken did mention to me, as we were wrapping up our interview, that Mack and Sam were having an affair.” Rachel gave Stacy the details about her meeting with Ken at the jail.
“Sometimes the husband is the last to know. Did he think that had something to do with Sam’s disappearance?”
“If he did, he didn’t say. We didn’t exactly leave things on a good note.”
“Have you given it any thought Mack may have had a hand in Sam’s disappearance?”
“Yes, but he is not on the top of my suspect list. I think he is truly stumped about what happened to her. The drug cartel – or what the locals call the Mexican mafia – they are at the top of my list.”
“I would suppose so.” Stacy patted her on the leg. “Be careful. These so-called Mexican mafia are dangerous people.”
“I heard about Pedro.”
“Pedro Gonzalez is just a little fish in a big pond. It’s Richard Flores, the head of the gang, you need to worry about. He is famous for cutting people’s appendages off for messing around in his business.”
“So you think these guys have something to do with Sam?”
“I don’t know. I’m just saying to be careful who you talk to and what you do.”
“Thanks. When you heading back?”
“I thought I would stick around here for awhile. I have some vacation time left and besides, this could be another big story for me.” Stacy smiled.
“Then let’s go get you settled in. Wait till you see this place. The views of the beach from your room are stunning. Then we can get some lunch and plot our next move.”
“Sounds good to me,” Stacy said reaching for her bag. “Here is the first article written about Ken’s arrest. You can read it while I freshen up.”
They walked inside the beach house and put their things down. While Stacy went upstairs, Rachel took the article outside on the deck to read it. The beach was dotted with brightly colored umbrellas and there were a ton of people taking advantage of the lovely day. Teenagers playing volleyball and sunning themselves, kids building sandcastles, and surfers catching small waves. She started reading the article Stacy handed her. It was dated several months ago, when Ken was first arrested.
Police Officer Charged With Running Marijuana Grow Operation
A captain with the Santa Rosa Beach police department has been charged with running what officials describe as a multi-million dollar marijuana operation.
Kenneth Jay Collins, 35, has been charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to sell, plus manufacturing a hallucinogen, according to arrest records. He is being held without bond in the Walton County jail.
His attorney, Suzette Breland said, “I haven’t had a chance to get into the allegations with my client.”
He is scheduled to be in court next Tuesday.
Collins owns a home on fourteen acres in the rural part of Santa Rosa Beach, where undercover officers found over 600 marijuana plants, 40 pounds of marijuana and several grow rooms with high tech watering and lighting systems, which operated on a $30,000 generator, police spokesman John Paulsen said.
Paulsen also said an accomplice would be charged in the next couple of days.
Rachel thought it was time to meet with Paul Hart. If Ken was getting threats, maybe Paul was too. She picked up the phone book to see if he was listed. There was only one Paul Hart in the directory. Here goes nothing, she thought
as she dialed the number.
Chapter Fourteen
Santa Rosa Beach, Thursday 1:20 PM
When Rachel first talked to Paul, he was initially reluctant at first to meet with her. She was used to it. Most people didn’t want to get involved in an investigation which involved a missing person. She played the guilt card, don’t you want to help your best friend find his wife, and she hated to do that, but it worked. She got lucky and was able to get him to agree to meet with her. After having a quick bite with Stacy at the beach house, she drove over to the Donut Hole to meet with him.
She walked into the popular diner and spotted him immediately. He looked just like the picture that ran along side of the article she had read. He was the only redhead in the diner with a thick, bushy handlebar mustache. She walked up to his table and introduced herself.
“So you want to talk to me about Sam.”
“Yes,” Rachel said, sitting down at his table. “Thanks for meeting with me.”
“You realize I’m not supposed to talk about this. My attorney didn’t think it was a good idea with the trial coming up and everything.”
“Yes. I know.”
The waitress came over and took Rachel’s drink order of sweet tea with lemon.
“You should try the special. Meatloaf is good today,” Paul suggested.
“Thank you, but I already ate,” Rachel politely declined. “I don’t want to do anything to compromise the investigation. I’m only interested in any information about Sam.”
“Yes, I could get in a shit-load of trouble…on top of everything else that is going on.” Paul nervously picked at his nails. “But Sam is in trouble and I figure I am part of the reason.”
“Why is that?” Rachel asked.
Paul looked at her like she was an idiot or something. “Because.” He said his words slowly and quietly. “Of what Ken and I did. The marijuana operation.”
“But what would it have to do with Sam’s disappearance?”
Paul looked around the restaurant and leaned over to whisper, “We put those Mexicans out of business. They didn’t take lightly to that. They are out for blood. Don’t matter if it’s mine or Ken’s. They start with our family and work their way in.”
“You think Pedro Gonzalez may have done something with Sam?”
Paul nodded his head.
“Pedro would know Sam’s schedule?”
“Yeah. It wouldn’t be hard to figure out, especially if he was following her. She works every three days, twenty-four shifts. Like I said, he was out for revenge.”
“What kind of relationship do you have with Sam?”
Paul thought about it for a minute before he answered. “I grew up with Sam. We have known each other since grade school. I was best friends with her older brother Breck. We all went to firefighter school down in Ocala together. Sam and I joined the department within a couple of months of each other. Breck went down south to Miami and got a job at Dade County Fire Department.”
“I heard Breck died in a fire a couple of years ago?”
“Yep. About killed Sam and her mom. They were really close. He wasn’t even supposed to be working that day. He came in to cover for a buddy who had a family emergency.”
“What happened?” Rachel asked.
“There was a fire in a furniture store. He was on the roof when it caved in. He broke his neck when he fell. Sam and her family were devastated. Now with Sam missing, Nora is beside herself.”
“Is Sam having an affair with Mack?” Rachel asked.
The question caught him off-guard. Paul stared at Rachel for a few seconds before answering. He waved his hand away, dismissing the question. “Just rumors. Mack and Sam were always close.”
Paul’s food arrived and he started to dig into his meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The meatloaf was covered in tomato gravy and the potatoes were smothered with melted butter and topped with parsley. It smelled heavenly and Rachel wished she had gotten a plate, even though she had just eaten lunch with Stacy.
“How was Sam getting along with Ken in jail? I heard she was planning on putting the house up for sale.”
“I know she was having a hard time making ends meet. They had a second mortgage on the place. With the way the real estate market is, I doubt she could have sold it for what it’s worth.”
“If Sam were to have run away, any idea on where she would have gone?”
Paul thought about it for a minute, slowly chewing his food. “I have wondered the same thing myself. I don’t know. She didn’t have any friends or close family I know of, outside of here. And apparently she didn’t have any money.” Paul picked up a napkin and wiped his face. “I don’t think she ran. I think Pedro got her.”
Chapter Fifteen
Santa Rosa Beach, Thursday 2:40 pm
Paul Hart had a cabin he used for fishing and hunting. It was about an hour north of Santa Rosa Beach. The cabin had been in his family for years. When his father died a couple years ago, he willed the place to Paul, his only son. Since being put on suspension by the fire department, he spent more and more time at the cabin. He liked to go there to relax and get away from it all. The stress of the impending trial was beginning to wear him down. He checked in with his attorney to let him know he was going back there for a few days.
After lunch with Rachel, he went to his house and started packing. His supplies at the cabin were running low and he would have to make a pit stop at Wal-Mart. He was loading up the truck when he heard the crunch of the gravel driveway and was surprised to see Mack’s black truck easing down around the curve to his house.
“Hey there. I have been trying to call you,” Mack said as he got out of the truck.
“Yeah, sorry. I got your messages. I’ve just been trying to get some things done around here.”
“You didn’t show up for the search for Sam,” Mack said with a bit of an accusing tone.
Paul shuffled his feet in the dirt. “I didn’t hear about it ‘til the last minute. I was already up to my eyeballs in painting. Want to see what I have done?”
Mack followed him inside the house. Paul bought it as a fixer- upper a few months ago. Rumors had swirled around Paul used the money from the marijuana operation to buy his new home.
Paul had all the windows open to air out the paint smell. The dining room, which was once covered with dark wood paneling, had been covered with new sheet rock and was freshly painted a bright yellow.
“Looks good,” Mack said as he walked around, paper crinkling under his feet.
“Well, I know you didn’t come all the way out here to look at the house. What’s up?” Paul asked, getting a beer out of the refrigerator. He handed one to Mack.
“I just wanted to talk to you about Ken.”
“What about him?”
“You met Rachel? The lady from Florida Omni Search?” Mack asked.
“We met for lunch today. How did you know?”
“Cleve called me and said he saw you two at the Donut Hole. Anyway, Rachel is working with a theory the drug cartel may have had something to do with Sam’s disappearance. But I’m starting to doubt it.”
Paul wasn’t surprised Mack knew about his lunch meeting with Rachel. Cleve worked at the fire department and the Donut Hole was a local hangout for firefighters and police officers. Santa Rosa Beach was a small town and everyone knew everyone else’s business.
“Yeah, she mentioned the same thing to me. I happen to agree with her.”
“I don’t doubt they would be out for revenge. But to kidnap Sam? If they did have something to do with the fire, why not just leave her there to burn? Or put a bullet in her head?” Mack took a swig of his beer. “It just doesn’t make sense to go through all the trouble to snatch her and hide her somewhere. Swift, painful deaths are their specialty, so I hear.”
“What does it have to do with Ken?”
“I’m thinking Ken may know where Sam is. You and Ken are pretty tight. What do you think?”
Paul took a long pull from his
beer bottle before answering.
“I haven’t seen or talked to Ken since he was arrested, so I don’t know what is going on with him. But I do know he would never do anything to hurt Sam. Besides, what could he do while he was in jail?”
“Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. I don’t think he has hurt her. He may have helped her get away. She was supposed to testify at his trial this week. Maybe he arranged for her to ‘go away’ for a while.”
Paul finished his beer in one long gulp, belched, and threw it in the trash. He reached in the fridge for another. He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess anything is possible.”
Mack continued to stare at him.
“What? You think I helped her? Is that what you are implying?” Paul asked.
“Just covering all the bases.”
“I’m in enough trouble as it is, Mack. Like I said, I haven’t talked to Ken in a few months.”
“What about Sam?”
“I went by her house a couple nights before she disappeared. She called and asked me to come by and pick up some stuff I had in her barn. When I moved out of Mary Ann’s house, I stored some furniture there. Sam said she was getting ready to put the house on the market and was trying to clean everything up.”
Mary Ann Lipscomb was Paul’s latest girlfriend. They lived together for about a year before Mary Ann got bored with him and kicked him out. Having a felon for a boyfriend didn’t appeal to her, either.
“It was the last time you spoke?” Mack asked.
“Yes. I already told the Chief that.” Paul was beginning to feel like this was an interrogation.
“How did she seem to you?”
“She was in good spirits, I guess. She said she was ready to move on. Fresh start and all.”
Mack noticed some small boxes lined up in the foyer.
Paul said, “I am going out to the cabin for some fishing this weekend.” He was getting tired of all the questions and was ready for Mack to go.
Burn Out Page 6
