Shooting Dirty by Jill Sorenson Page A

climbed into his truck and headed down Dillon Road, keeping his eyes peeled. Shank had been acting as a police informant for a couple of weeks before he split. His girlfriend had been involved in law enforcement, as well. Ace had discovered that when he’d tailed her one day at Bill’s request. Ace hadn’t told Bill, but maybe Bill had found out. It did seem fishy that Shank had disappeared the same weekend two major players in White Lightning bit the dust. Both Gonzo and Dimebag had been secretly collaborating with Wild Bill.
    Had Bill sent White Lightning after his own nephew?
    Ace caught sight of an old Laundromat where he used to do drug deals. He pulled over on a hunch and entered the abandoned building. It was in a sad state of disrepair, every surface covered in desert grit. Although he didn’t see any evidence of recent activity, he found a single-use packet of lube on the floor.
    Not exactly a smoking gun.
    Ace walked back out, studying the area. It was remote and desolate. There was a cluster of hot springs resorts nearby. Private getaways.
    Gonzo and Dimebag had been discovered about ten miles away from here, on a dirt road out in the middle of nowhere. It was possible that they’d come out here looking for Shank, and hit a dead end. Literally.
    There was no way of knowing. Ace didn’t have a clue where Shank was. If Shank had killed both men and made it look like they’d killed each other, he was a fucking wizard. Ace wished he could do the same with Bill and Jester.
    Ace got back in his truck, no closer to solving the mystery. He had a visit with Skye before dinner, so he went home to get cleaned up. Then he headed to King’s Castle, Wild Bill’s new stomping grounds. Bill had bought the casino recently and it was massive. The complex had a music amphitheater and a movie theater. There was a shopping center inside. Restaurants, golf courses, gardens...you name it.
    With one purchase, he’d become one of the most powerful businessmen in the city. His ego and ambition knew no bounds.
    Ace met Shawnee and Skye in their usual location, by the outdoor fountain. They used to meet by the pool at the old hotel. The casino pools were nice, but too crowded with hotel guests. Ace felt out of place in his ragged cargo shorts and jailhouse tattoos. He also preferred quiet places with fewer distractions. So did Skye.
    He’d bought a pair of new swim trunks in case Skye pointed to the pools someday. He did whatever she wanted to do.
    Today she ran toward him with her arms outstretched. It always caught him off guard, but in a good way. She was so different from him, so open and unabashed in her affections. There was nothing better than her little arms around him. Nothing in the world.
    When they broke apart, she looked up at him with excited eyes. Tugging on his shirt, she pulled him toward the cobblestone path. There was a pond and a nature walk on the other side of the golf course.
    “You want to see the ducks?” he asked.
    She nodded and ran ahead, her honey-colored braids brushing her shoulders. At the fountain nearby, Shawnee pursed her mouth with disapproval. She was an attractive woman, tightly wound and brittle. “Those ducks have diseases.”
    He greeted her with a nod. “Shawnee.”
    “Encourage her to talk,” she reminded him. “She’ll never communicate if you let her get away with pulling and pointing.”
    He gave her a jaunty salute and followed Skye to the nature walk. Shawnee criticized him no matter what, so he ignored her instructions. It didn’t matter to him if Skye talked or not. He liked her exactly the way she was. According to the speech therapist, Skye had no problem with her hearing, her vocal cords or her brain functioning. She understood spoken language just fine. She just didn’t produce it.
    The speech delay could become a bigger issue when Skye went to school, or it might work itself out. They had the option of starting her on sign language, but Shawnee had refused. She was