My 6-year-old granddaughter phoned me in panic just after midnight. “Mommy says the baby is coming! Help!” I asked, “Where’s daddy?” She answered, “He k!cked mommy’s tummy and left.”…..

Harry, you look like a man with a plan. Getting there. I need a favor. Name it. Tonight, when Trent comes in for his regular drinks, I want you to mention that you heard his Billings bookie has been bragging about how easy it is to skim money from small town operators. June raised an eyebrow.

You want to make him paranoid about his business partners. Paranoid people make mistakes. Mistakes create opportunities. I can do that. Trent’s always been suspicious about money anyway. Won’t take much to push him over the edge. She leaned against the bar. What else? I need to know his routine. When he comes and goes, who he meets with where he feels safe.

He’s here most nights from 8 to 11:00. Drinks whiskey, plays pool, tries to hit on anything female that walks through the door. Thursdays he meets with his lone shark clients in the back room. Sundays he usually brings Rafe and they talk business. Guards, just Rafe and only sometimes. Trent thinks he’s untouchable in public.

Figures nobody would be stupid enough to confront him in a crowded bar. Harry smiled grimly. Good. Keep me posted on any changes to his routine. We’ll do. And Harry, when you’re ready to make your move, give me a heads up. I’d hate to miss the show. The final stop was Marshall’s trailer, where Harry found the ex-soldier doing push-ups in his small living room.

Marshall finished his set and stood barely breathing hard despite having just done 50 perfect repetitions. Morning, Mr. Kane. What’s the word? Time to put your undercover skills to work. I need you to get close to Trent’s operation. Find out who his contacts are and how the money flows. Any particular angle? Play the broken veteran.