Chapter 22 Back On Tour #5
“Tina says that for her, Kansas City is a foreign country,” Mark observed as he continued to laugh lightly.
“Well,” Keith said as he sat down with them. “Texas was its own independent Republic before joining the United States. They will always feel sovereign no matter what.”
“That’s right Keith. We are TEXAS and we’re LOUD AND PROUD!” Tina shouted as loud as she could.
“You’ve got yourself a wonderful girl, Mr. Arcun. Wonderful. Don’t let this one get away from you.” Keith looked at the two. “Oh, thanks for allowing me to join in?”
“Sure,” Tina said gleefully. “My future husband needs to realize that Texans are the friendliest people on the planet.”
“Future husband?” Mark said as he jaw dropped.
“You did ask me to marry you,” she deadpanned. “Or were you just saying that?”
“I’ll marry you right now, Tina. I love you with everything I have,,,” and just like that she’d stopped him cold in his tracks with a look and her fingers on his lips.
“Not now,” she said. “Let me get acclimated to Kansas City, then we can get married.”
“But,,,” he started, still stunned. “But,,” he tried to speak.
“What’s the matter, Mark?” Tina taunted.
“Cat got your tongue.” She started laughing hard until she noticed that Mark wasn’t laughing at all.
In fact, his face was ashen and dead—expressionless as if all the life had just drained out of him.
“MARK?!” she screamed and he barely lifted his hand, pointing to the phone.
She looked down at the screen, still lit up with the NOTIFY ALL alert on the screen. “What does that mean?”
“It means that everyone is in danger,” he barely muttered. “Grab this up and we’re taking it to go. I’ve got to get you to safety now. YOU,” he said to Keith. “Get home as fast as you can and don’t leave until someone contacts you. We’re all in extreme danger now.”
“What’s going on, Mark. You better tell me right now!” Tina fiercely demanded.
“They’ve tried to kill Greg and Veronica, and ‘The Enforcer’ was the one doing it.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I’m not taking no for an answer on this, Tina. You are coming to my house with me right now. I can’t risk anything happening to you.”
“Who’s this Enforcer? And why did they try to kill,,,” her voice trailed off as she saw Mark putting everything into a bag and standing up quickly.
“Millard Calput!” Mark replied and Keith went ashen and froze in place.
“He’s the deadliest mafia hitman ever. I won’t say this again, Tina.
I won’t risk your life. We have to go,” he paused as she sat there stunned for a moment.
“NOW TINA! We might be next.” She slowly nodded as she realized that he was terrified, for her.
“Well, sister. Your daughter has actually pulled it off,” Suzy said as she moved over to the desk. “Wendy’s text confirmed it. The threat is coming to us.”
“Yes,” Jenny said slowly, almost methodically, as if she wanted to scream in both joy and anger at the same time.
“My daughter might not be as worthless as I thought. Maybe she’s finally growing up into the role I’ve been training her for,” she mused aloud.
“She’s surprised me yet again,” she said with a smile starting to form.
“All these years, I thought your Wendy was going to have to step into the role because my Cassie was too tenderhearted.”
“You protected her because you had two wonderful boys who were well groomed for the positions,” Suzy began and stopped immediately as she saw the pain flash across Jenny’s face.
Jenny let out a breath. “Sorry, sis. It still hurts me when I think of how they squandered their lives trying to be just like your husband.” She dropped into her chair and leaned back. “Nobody is like him.” She looked up at Suzy. “I want Greg Garrelson dead, TONIGHT!”
“Oh, yes, sister. My husband has been waiting for the day you authorized him to take that weaselly interloper out.” Suzy was giggling with great joy. “May I tell him?”
“Yes, sister.” Jenny smiled slowly. “That man has intervened for the last time.”
“Wendy said they are outside the mansion,” Suzy proudly called. “Carry is very impressed with the house.”
“Of course she’s impressed with this house.
It’s power personified, Suzy. It’s too bad that Tom Pendergast was so foolish as to try to walk away from all this.
” She smiled. “Your husband’s first ever hit,” she said with a smile.
“I’ll never forget how he bragged to us that he crumpled like a rag doll with just one shot. ”
“And now, he get’s to add another notch on his wall,” Suzy nearly cackled. “He’s such a wonderful man to have around.”
“Very useful indeed,” Jenny said slowly. “Not like that nearly worthless nephew of ours.”
“You mean that imbecile, Lance?” Suzy asked. “He’s still got his uses.”
“Cassie, do you think everyone is still gabbing about the weekend back at Wheeler? I mean they didn’t seem to want to leave,” Carry asked.
“They were still having the time of their lives listening to Molly talking about that experience running the Pit Crew for Bama-Mark,” Cassie observed. “Who knows. All I know for sure is that Mark and Tina split like a bat-outta-hell. He really wanted to get her somewhere alone.”
“That man was practically drooling like she was a fine Kansas City Steak,” Katie observed.
“You mean a Dallas Steak,” Wendy corrected as the car turned into the driveway. “WE’RE HOME!” she shrieked and her phone buzzed in her clutch as it sent an automated text message to her mother. “Oh I’ve missed this place so much!”
“You grew up here?” Carry said with amazement. “Are you telling me I grew up in squalor while you grew up in this luxury?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said nonchalantly. “It’s just the main mansion, though there are several other ‘villas’ nearby, like Katie’s house.”
“Yeah, mine is nothing like this,” Katie admitted with awe.
“This place is completely fantastic. Greco-Roman architecture and a finely manicured lawn with gorgeous landscapes.” Carry let out a breath as she stepped out of the vehicle and looked around.
She peered back out to the street and could just barely make out the Black Honda Accord stationed exactly where Keith said he’d be.
“I’m nearly speechless,” she sighed loudly.
“I can’t believe you grew up here. Man, what’d I’d give to have grown up with you guys here. ”
“So, you like the place?” Wendy asked.
“I love it! It’s fabulous. Why would anyone ever want to leave a place like this?” Carry let out in a seriously impressed voice as she stepped toward the large archway of the covered Portico. “I wish this had been my home.”
“Well, it is now, cousin,” Cassie said and winked at Wendy. “Welcome home little long lost sheep.”
“THANKS!” Carry said as she turned and hugged all of them at once. “Why did I ever worry about coming home to a place like this?”
“MOM!” Katie screamed and rushed forward to hug Kelly Sutton as she opened the door.
“Katie!” Kelly scolded lightly. “Not here,” she commanded in a nearly silent voice. “I’m on thin ice as it is,” she added giving her a quick hug before pushing her away. “It’s good to have you all home,” Kelly began then froze in place. “Lizzy?”
“No, mom,” Katie said softly. “That’s her daughter, Carry.”
“Little Carry?” Kelly squealed and ran over to hug her tightly.
“You’ve come home!” Katie turned and glared at Carry who was standing there with her arms pinched to her side, trying to defend herself with the look of surprise and a quick shaking of her head ‘no’ at Katie. “Where have you been all this time?”
“Could you put me down, please,” Carry begged and Kelly dropped her gently. “I’ve been growing up in squalor, not this elegance?” she said, still sounding amazed by the mansion.
“Well, you need to come in. The Matriarch has been patiently waiting for your return from Alabama.” Kelly pivoted and marched forward. “Follow me.”
Cassie, Wendy and Katie dropped in line and started to march in behind her while Carry lingered for a moment, still looking at the archway. “Carry!” Cassie called. Carry quickly joined them at the back of the line.
“Wait here. I’ll inform the Matriarch that you’ve finally arrived,” Kelly said and everyone stood still, even Carry.
“Yes ma’am, they are clean and waiting for your permission,” they overheard from the doorway just fifteen feet away.
“Yes, Matriarch. Right away,” Kelly replied and spun back to the girls.
“You are cleared to enter. Follow Cassie!”
“Thank you Gatekeeper,” Cassie said with a bow. “May the Family bless you.” She led the group forward, stopping at the door to knock even though it was open.
“You may enter,” Jenny called from behind her desk. She sat up straight and watched as Suzy moved in behind her. Cassie slowly stepped in with Wendy, Katie and Carry behind her.
“Matriarch,” Cassie began with a bow. “We’ve returned from the Alabama trip and have some excellent news to report, along with the return of one of our own.”
“Continue, Miss Easthaus,” Suzy said with a nod.
“Matriarch, it is my honor to return a lost one to the fold. May it please the Matriarch to accept the return of Carry Elizabeth Easthaus,” she said and made a magnanimous gesture toward Carry who bowed deeply before Jenny.
“So,” Jenny said as she rose from her chair to project an imposing presence on Carry. “This is the long lost sheep?”
“This is, Matriarch. For verification, I call on Wendy Calput and Katie Sutton as witnesses.”
“Wendy, Speak!” Jenny barked.
“After many months of hard effort and teamwork, Matriarch, I am pleased to confirm the return to the fold of the lost sheep.”
“Katie, Speak!”
“Matriarch, I am honored to confirm the return of the lost sheep, Carry Ann Elizabeth Mitchelson,” Katie stated.
“WHAT’S THIS NAME?!” Jenny demanded.