Polished Rust (Wilkins Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 37

TATE

Stan Barker. That’s the name of the guy we are meeting before heading back to Arizona. What kind of name is that? The second he said his name was Stan I got the total sleazeball feel from him. Rosemary used her connections to run a background check on him and apparently he’s the real deal, but that does make me have any more confidence in him. He told her to come alone, which wasn’t fucking happening. Thankfully, my stubborn girlfriend is just stubborn and not stupid and she told Stan that I was coming along or he could forget everything she had to say.

Stan is an investigative reporter for one of the local news stations here in Las Vegas. Through an anonymous source, he learned about the investigation that was going on into Roland Inc. and decided to dig a little deeper. He has been shady to explain how he found out about the embezzlement investigation. Rosemary is pretty sure he just has somebody in the IRS that feeds him information. It doesn’t sound like Vinnie knows that he is being investigated. I listened to the audio recording from her trip to his office and he didn’t seem concerned at all.

“I guess this place is better than a back alley somewhere.” I pull up to the address that Stan sent her this morning. It is a busy business complex and we were told to look for the sign for an artificial turf business. I’m not sure what investigative reporting and artificial turf have in common, but I am happy we’re not in some dark parking lot in the middle of the night meeting with this guy.

“It’s not going to be bad, Tate. You read the email my private investigator sent over. Stan does this for a living and has been the driving force to take down a lot of powerful people in this city.”

“Yeah, well I still don’t like it.”

“Are you coming with me or not?” I groan, turning off the engine and getting out of the truck. I meet Rosemary in front of the truck, she slides her hand right into mine, her other hand clenching onto the piece of evidence that could potentially change a lot of people’s lives.

The bell rings overhead when we open the door and an older lady comes out to greet us. “Good afternoon! How can I help the two of you today?”

“Hi, My name is Rosemary Roland. I’m supposed to meet with Mr. Stan Barker today. He asked me to meet him here.”

“Ahh yes, he said I should be expecting you. You two can follow me back here, he has an office in the back.” Rosemary looks back at me and I just shrug my shoulders. The woman seems harmless enough and the establishment does look real. We make our way behind the front desk and down a long hallway. “Can I get the two of you anything to drink?”

“Um, no, ma’am, I think we’re both good.” 

She stops and knocks on the very back door, a few moments later the door swings open and the man who I assume is Stan Barker stands in the doorway. He looks exactly the way I expected Stan to look. He’s wearing a suit, but it does fit him well. His hair looks like he used engine oil to grease it back and he’s giving off major spazz vibes.

“Rosemary Roland, what a pleasure it is to meet you in person.” They exchange handshakes, but he nearly shakes her arm off with his excitement.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Stan. This is my boyfriend Tate.”

Stan puts his hand out to shake mine, for a moment I hesitate, but Rosemary’s eyes tell me to be nice, so I shake his hand. “Hi, Stan.”

“Tate, that is an interesting name. Any story behind it?”

“Not that I know of.”