What's Left is Right: Book two of The Detective Bill Ross Crime Series by Irving Munro Page B

dentist from Minnesota and played three times a week. He was an average player, making more bogeys than pars, but didn’t much care. He played for the fun of it and for the chance to hang out with the guys and chug a few beers on a Saturday morning.
    “So you’re originally from Scotland Bill? You Jocks are all good golfers and better drinkers!”
    “So you’ve been around Brits then, Bob. Not everyone calls guys from Scotland Jocks.”
    “Yes, there were a lot of Brits in Minnesota. I’m half English and half Norwegian. Mostly Scandinavians in Minnesota but lots of other nationalities also. So you’re thinking about buying around here, I understand?”
    “Yes, we live over by Balcones right now, but we’ve heard a lot about this area, seems like there’s a lot of development going on. On the drive over this morning I must have past hundreds of new homes being built. What’s going on. Bob?”
    ~
    Over the next few holes Bob Wilson gave Bill the rundown.
    “All started about five years ago. All of this land used to be part of the old McMullen Ranch. Garrison McMullen started to sell it off to developers as part of an overall plan to create a residential and commercial region including a new marina. There is a Chinese consortium involved and they plan to redevelop this course into an upscale country club and we, as founding members, will be grandfathered in. I would suggest that you get in quickly as home prices will skyrocket. We are all pretty excited about what’s going on.”
    “Sounds great! There’s been an increase in crime in the Balcones area of late and that’s part of the reason my wife and I are looking for somewhere new.”
    Bill lied, trying to create an opening for Bob Wilson to talk further.
    Bob continued on, “Not a lot of crime around here, Bill. We get the occasional fight in some of the bars as the Mexicans get into it after they’ve had a few beers on a Friday night, a couple of stabbings and fights with broken bottles. Then there are the vagrants and the illegals. One of them set himself on fire about a year ago at Whispering Hollow down by the lake.”
    “Mexicans and illegals. Don’t like the sound of that, Bob, I don’t like that lot,” said Bill, again lying to get Bob to talk more, which he did.
    “A lot of them work on the construction projects; comes with the territory, I guess. They shack up together in some of the condos around here and send money back to Mexico. The guy to get the rundown on them is Jimmy Rodriguez; hell, his construction teams employ most of them. He’s got teams working every angle, does Jimmy—electrical, carpentry, concrete, stonework.
    “You need a trade; Jimmy will get you the people. He lives in the big house with the deck overlooking the lake; you probably saw it when you drove in.”
    “I did see it. It’s quite an impressive home. He must be making a bundle with all the work going on.”
    “Yes, he makes a bundle all right, and lets everyone know about it!” responded Bob.
    ~
    They ended the round and, to everyone’s surprise (not), Jimmy Rodriguez won most of the money. Later they met in the grill and took a corner table. The bartender, whom Bill guessed rightly was Cheryl Brown, brought them their drinks and they toasted each other.
    “Enjoyed the round as usual, guys! Great to have you join us today, Bill!” said Jimmy Rodriguez.
    “Yeah, thanks for taking our money again,” replied Herman Stoltz.
    It was obvious from his demeanor that this was not the first time Herman had lost to Jimmy Rodriguez.
    “So you think you’ll buy in the neighborhood, Bill? I’ve got some pull with some of the builders. So if you see a place you like you come see me, okay?” said Jimmy, stressing his importance to the community for anyone within earshot who cared to listen.
    “Anyone like a shot? I’m buying since I took all your money!” continued Jimmy, bellowing his laughter around the room.
    It was obvious to Bill by the look on some of the