Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6, Kathleen Brooks [great novels of all time TXT] 📗

but then the door opened and Granger and Kord entered. They took one look at Paxton and slapped both hands on their cheeks and screamed.

Ridge and Tinsley’s family lost it. They were cracking up and tossing out jokes as the lawmen joined the table.

“At least they aren’t telling you to break up with him,” Edie said from where she sat next to Tinsley. “It also shows he can take some ribbing. If he couldn’t, your family would run him out of town faster than grass goes through a goose.”

“Ignore them,” Savannah said from across the table. She leaned forward so they could hear each other better. “How are things going between you two?”

Tinsley smile was automatic and the women shared a look that said they knew exactly what that smile meant.

“That well, huh?” Darcy asked with a wink.

Harper handed out drinks before sitting down next to Ellery. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Gavin threatened Dare, too.”

“He did?” Ellery asked. “My sweet Gavin?”

“Um, you should know better than anyone that Gavin is not sweet and kind when someone he loves is in danger,” Harper said before taking a sip of her drink.

Tinsley looked over her shoulder and saw that the men were gathered behind them now. They were leaning forward, their heads bent down as they tried to talk quietly. “Paxton! If you’re talking about the case, you do it here with all of us.”

Tinsley saw all the women’s eyes zero in on their husbands. If looks could kill, they’d be dead. The men shuffled their feet and all returned to the table.

“Peter told us the address Maurice and Murray returned to. It’s the Myriad’s headquarters in Atlanta,” Paxton told her before having to explain who the Myriad were to the rest of the table.

“I read an article on how gangs are expanding,” Ryker told the table. “They work together across state lines. Like a local chapter to a national organization.”

“The Myriad have expanded into Charleston recently,” Peter said.

Tinsley watched as Paxton nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised by it. Gangs have changed over the years,” Paxton explained. “There’re the low-level street gangs who distribute the drugs or weapons. Then there’re wholesale gangs where the street gangs get their supplies. At the top of the pyramid is the supplier. The street gangs have a loose relationship with the national organization and use it to work together and get supplies across state lines. What I saw in Atlanta were outside gangs trying to get a foothold in the city. I’d expect the same is happening here as well. A gang from L.A. or Chicago may want to expand and Charleston, Atlanta, and Nashville are all prime places for expansion.”

“Not only that, but in Charleston we’re seeing local gangs reaching out to the larger national ones,” Peter added. “The locals want the infrastructure they can supply. The ability to get better deals on drugs and weapons from the suppliers and backup if they need it in a fight against another gang.”

“The question is, was Myriad moving into Charleston before I got transferred here and they had no idea I was here until I asked to be transferred, or have they been here longer?” Paxton asked.

“I’ll have to ask Agent Whitlock with gangs.”

“You are being transferred?” Ridge asked.

Peter shook his head and answered for Paxton. “When Agent Mark Trevino in Atlanta got the transfer request, he didn’t know Paxton was still an agent. After he got the request, he went in and changed Paxton’s record and then denied the request,” Peter explained. “Those disciplinary actions now in his file—they’re not real. They never happened. I have Paxton’s real file if you need to see it.” Peter aimed that at Ryker and Ridge.

Ridge had the grace to look a little embarrassed. Ryker didn’t bat an eye. “You can send me a copy. Thank you.”

“Ryker!” Tinsley yelled at her cousin.

“I look after my family. Get over it.”

“Why don’t we get this over with now,” Paxton said. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything from whether you ate paste in preschool to the results of your last blood test,” Ryker said calmly but with steel in his voice.

“I didn’t eat paste,” Paxton began, “although I did like the smell of Play-Doh. I graduated from high school with honors. I graduated from college magnum cum laude. I respect my elders and am close to my grandmother. I don’t kick puppies or hit women. I’d love a dog at some point. I don’t have a green thumb. I can cook enough to impress a date, but not well enough to impress her over time. I haven’t dated anyone in a while because I was undercover. I flirted with the women around the gang but never dated them. I bought and sold drugs, but only with prior superior approval. I also think Tinsley is amazing and you all underestimate her strength. There, does that answer enough for you, Ryker?”

Ryker narrowed his eyes.

“Should we talk about you now?” Paxton asked. “I have my own file with your name on it. Should we start that night when you were a senior and—”

Tinsley reached out and grabbed Paxton’s arm. “Don’t.” It was all she said but it was enough. Paxton saw the concern in her eyes before turning back to a now rigid Ryker. “Unlike you, I’m an open book. Ask anything you want.”

“I have a question,” Ridge said, breaking up the staring contest that had developed between Paxton and Ryker. Tinsley didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried.

“Have things changed between you and my sister from the last time we talked?” Ridge asked.

Well, crap. This wasn’t going to end well. Tinsley braced for Ridge to leap across the table.

“Yes. We’re together now. That’s all I’ll tell you. If Tinsley wants to tell you more, she can. I defer to her on how much privacy she wishes to maintain.” Paxton looked over at her and smiled. His hand reached for her thigh and he gave it a little squeeze. “I will say