“What are you doing, Twiggy?”
“Waiting for Friday and my seal pup impersonation.”
“Okay. Carry on.”
It is Wednesday Story Day, and last week we were in the room when Pricilla started her interrogation of Lazar. We learned that Cortez and Taggert were the guys in charge of the illegal activities around Reno. We also learned that Nikola Stanković was not involved in the nefarious activities of Cortez, Taggert, and Lazar. Now the question is, do we believe lazar? I see Pricilla took a break from Lazar and is leading the discussion in the conference room with our gang. Let’s go and see what she’s thinking.
“Okay, guys, here are my thoughts. I think Lazar has a lot to lose by fingering Stanković, and so he might be hiding something.”
“Excuse me.”
“Sure, Larry. Go ahead.”
“Stankovic was the one who told us about Lazar. If he was involved, why would he do that?”
“I could think of a few reasons.”
“Well, he did say he wanted to eliminate the competition.”
“That sounds like a good front. Stanković knows Lazar won’t rat him out, so he has nothing to lose by throwing Lazar under the bus.”
“Okay, but let’s look at the other side.”
“Which is.”
“Suppose Taggert and Lazar are a pain in Stanković’s side. Suppose he wants to get rid of them. What better way than to use us?”
“Yeah, I get that. What makes him think we won’t come after him?”
“I can answer that.”
“Yes, Robert.”
“Half the city council, most of the state representatives, a few congresspeople, and one senator owe him a ton of favors.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were. He has done a lot for those people. Believe me, if we go after him, all hell’s going to break loose.”
“You know I represent the Federal Government and could prosecute those folks as well.”
“The sad part is I don’t believe Stanković’s help could be classified as crimes.”
“What about bribery?”
“You would have to prove a quid pro quo, and I’m not sure there is one.” Most of these favors were legal contributions, charity donations, jobs for kids in his legitimate businesses. Would be tough to prove bribery.”
“You sound like a fan.”
“I worked in his auto garage all through college. I didn’t know it was his, though.”
“Has he ever mentioned it?”
“You looking for a case, madam prosecutor?”
“I guess it sounded that way. You do know Stanković pretty well.”
“Enough to respect when he says he wants to eliminate Lazar, Cortez, and Taggert, he means it.”
“Okay. Let’s assume he is not involved in this mess. Let’s go back in and find out how deeply Lazar knows about the Taggert and Cortez connection.”
“Good idea, Pricilla. I don’t buy that he is just a small-time distributor who took a payment from Taggert. I also don’t buy that his knowledge of Cortez is just cause he heard the name from Taggert.”
“I’m with you, Robert. I also want to know if he was the one who ordered those thugs to kill Andrew and me?”
“If so, Larry, this would be an interesting tie to your Sandusky. Case.”
“Thank you. Robert.”
“You gentlemen are going to need to fill me in on all of this. Let’s go and find out more about Cortez and we can talk more later.
Fiction Favorites 
More (alleged) corruption in high places? Do such things happen?
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Wow. That got complicated. Surprised they haven’t called for a coffee break.
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Hahahaha. I thought that might be pushing it a little. (it did occur to me though.) Thanks, Charles.
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Hmmm, the story is starting to sound very familiar. If you can solve this mess, maybe there’s hope for the notable cases in the news right now. Great job, John.
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PS…I love Twiggy’s imitation of a seal pup. 🙂
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Me too. 😁
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Thank you, Gwen. I do have an inside track here. The others in the real world? Not so much. Happy Birthday 🎂
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Oh, what a tangled web we weave . . . .
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So true, Liz. Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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So many twists and turns…I should have taken a Dramamine. Love Twiggy’s pose!
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Hahaha. Love this comment. Thanks, Jill
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The Sandusky case has to be significant, I’m just trying to imagine how. Like this interrogation, I get more questions forming than I do answers. And, like this interrogation, the answers I get are reasons why an idea won’t work. You’ve got me tangled up, John. Then again, I’m not sure that that’s not where you want me. Until next week.
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I wanted to try out some of the knots I learned in Boy Scouts, Dan. Don’t worry I’ll come back to set you free. (unless I forget) 😁
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I’ll be here.
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Hahahaha.
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Wow, John! This story has taken more twists and turns than an Arkansas road. 🙂 We shall see how it all ties in together and into the Sandusky case! Good job!
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I love that expression, Jan. Thank you. 😁
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They’ve got a lot of knots to untangle.
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I think you are totally correct, Teri. 😁
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Uh-oh. Getting way more complicated now. Sounds like they need one of those lie-detector thingies to unravel the truth.
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Maybe so.
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Love Twiggy’s impersonation, and Wow, how is this going to play out, John? My head is spinning! 🙂
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Sooner of later we will figure it out. Thanks, Lauren
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I love the pic of Twiggy doing her seal pup imitation:)
They are making progress, but boy is it complicated.
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It is very complicated
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I believe Gwen to be ‘right on’! 🙂
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She always is right on.
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Twiggy’s sealing raises a set of important questions, dear John: how much does she feel like a fish being born Piscis? If Friday is a sea creature too? And what does Lucy think about sea dogs in her mileu…if she does. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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She does not feel like a fish but does act like one. Friday is an Octopus. Lucy loves sea creatures around her.
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Indeed! Octopus! Her friend of childhood 🙂 What a wonderful creative sea couple of dogs, dear John! 🙂
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Thank you, Maria.
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Yeah, I’m not buying Lazar as coming in hot without a solid exit strategy. He seems to come from the Kenny Rogers school that says you gotta know when to hold em, and know when to fold em.
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I love this comment. He may be Kenny Rogers.
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Hahaha!
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Speaking of knots… This is starting to look like a macramé wall hanging!
Love your seal-dog.
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Hahahaha. Thanks, Dale.
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I agree with everyone about everything, John. 🙂
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Yes. Me too. 😁 Thank you, Rob
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No guesses from me. I’m just along for the ride.
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But the steering wheel is on your side.
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Ack!
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Hahahaha.
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Lots of “merchandise” but nobody’s buying anything. 😀 You leave us asking questions in grand style. But you did answer one question — What could possibly be more adorable than a seal pup? Twiggy! Hugs on the wing.
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Hahaha. Thank you, Teagan.
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This is complicated. I can’t wait to hear what more Lazar has to say. Twiggy does a great seal pup impersonation!
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Thank you, Jennie. There is more to come. Twiggy loves that impersonation for sure. 😁
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You’re welcome, John. Yes, Twiggy is quite the impersonator. 🙂
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Hahaha.
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Catching up once again … and scratching my head wondering what tricks Lazar has up his sleeve. Funny, I’ve concluded we should not trust anyone, and thus I find myself looking at the prosecutor with a bit of suspicion.
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You are right to be suspicious, Jill.
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I have 5 cats … I have learned never to trust! 😼
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Hahahaha.
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