CHAPTER TWELVE
“Fuck,” said Gaspar. “We need to figure out what the fuck is going on with Douglass and Jackson. See if Grant can tell us anything about them. Their work, their reputation, anything.”
“Thanks, guys,” said Ian, looking up at his twin sons. “Glad you’re all home.”
Pax and Brax left the building, headed to get settled into their own cottage. Deanna had insisted she be left alone for the evening, exhausted both mentally and physically. Erin, Lauren, and Mary were at the warehouse with the kids, working on the floats with Angel and Miller.
“Have you ever seen the work Douglass and Jackson do?” asked Ghost.
“No. I honestly just didn’t pay attention,” said Gaspar. “I know they’ve been in business for a while but are fairly new to Louisiana. Maybe fifteen years or so.”
“They definitely want something from Deanna,” said Nine. “I think we need to speak with Penn Carver again. If his firm is doing work for them, he must know something. Let’s send Jean and Code tomorrow. Those two eggheads should be able to find something.”
“I heard that,” said Jean, walking into the room. Nine smirked at the big man, shaking his head. For being one of the biggest Robicheaux brothers, outside of Alec and Gaspar, he was definitely quiet.
“I think everyone is taking lessons from Trak and Hiro.”
“I need no lessons.”
“Fuck me!”
“Asshole!”
“What the hell? Are you trying to kill us?” asked Ghost. Trak just smirked from behind them. He’d entered the room through the connecting door for the comms room. As always, the men were so entrenched in their own thoughts and conversation, they didn’t hear him enter the room.
“I’m taking the shift at the warehouse tonight with Zeke. We think there could be something in the warehouse someone wants. We’re taking Beast and Zeus to see if it might be drugs or explosives.”
“Sounds good, brother,” said Nine. “Trak? Try not to kill anyone before we get a chance to ask questions, maybe interrogate them for a while. You know, we’d really like to know something if they do, before they die”
“I never kill before I know something,” he said with a straight face.
“Trak. Don’t take Alvin,” said Gaspar. Trak let out a long, slow breath, shaking his head.
“Why must you ruin my fun and Alvin’s? Alvin is a good companion and excellent to have around. He listens. Quietly.” He stared at the others as they raised their brows. “Fine. He will stay here.”
“Thank you,” smirked Gaspar.
The others just smiled as Trak left to get Zeke and head to the warehouse. If there was anything to be found in the warehouse, the dogs or the men would find it.
“You guys asked to see me,” said Grant, walking into the room.
“It’s like fucking Grand Central this morning,” growled Ghost.
Grant could only grin at the men. Although never in the military due to extreme hearing loss, Grant was as fit, as capable, and as willing as any man on the property. When he’d first come to the team, they welcomed him as part of their group. He trained with them and even went on missions. In one such mission, his hand was severed by a machete. With Gabi’s excellent skills and those of the medics, it was reattached but it would never be the same. Once he married Evie, he focused on being the general contractor who oversaw every new build for any of the Robicheaux industries.
“Hey, Grant. How are things going on your end?” asked Gaspar.
“Great. Your father has us so busy we’ve got builds happening on nearly every island you own.”
“What sort of builds?” frowned Nine.
“Well, we’re expanding the housing here on the property, heading into the western part of the land. A hundred new homes are going in. On Belle ?le, we’re adding fifteen new homes. G.R.I.P. is expanding to two new islands that are being forged up as we speak. We finished the shelter and center for the kids downtown, but we’re already working on plans to add an additional floor.”
“Holy shit,” muttered Ian. “I had no idea all of that was happening.” Grant nodded at him, smiling.
“Yep. And, we’re expanding the bike shop again, the showroom attached, the tattoo shop, the salon and spa, and Gwen’s new showroom and store are expanding. Plus,” he said emphatically, “we’re building a two-thousand-square-foot addition to the General Store. Y’all are on the map.”
“Damn,” muttered Ghost. “Are you good, Grant? Can we do anything to help you and your team?”
“Brother, I’ve never been better,” he laughed. “I’ve hired a hundred new workers, most from applications submitted through the shelter or through the magic of Matthew.”
“Man, that’s great to hear,” nodded Gaspar. “Listen, Grant, we asked you here because we’d like to know if you know anything about Douglass and Jackson Construction.” Grant gave them all a strange look, then took a seat, leaning back.
“Can I ask why?” he said, staring at them.
They all looked at one another. Grant wasn’t someone who questioned a question. He was a team player all the way and was more than willing to lend a hand or give advice where needed.
“Grant, we think these guys are behind something to do with Deanna. Jackson actually confronted her outside her home after she refused to take his company on as a client at her firm. Her father was asked to do their taxes before he died, and he refused. When her boss told her she would be taking them on, she refused, and things escalated from there. She quit because of it.”
“Shit,” he muttered. He nodded, looking up at them. “Douglass and Jackson are the bullies of the construction world in Louisiana. They’ve got a shitty reputation for using shoddy materials and cheap, unskilled labor. Buildings that should take a year to construct typically are slapped together in four or five months.”
“How is that legal? Don’t they have inspectors?” asked Ghost. Grant raised his brows, tilting his head at him in a knowing glance. “Right. They buy the inspectors.”
“Exactly. Last September, they were building an addition at McNeese University. Part of the deal in hiring them was that they would allow the engineering and architecture students to assist with the build. Six young men and two young women were on the team. They kept raising red flags to the university that something was wrong. The building collapsed on them, killing them all and eleven construction workers. Jackson blamed it on the students, telling reporters that they were unskilled and changed the plans without their knowledge.”
“Fuck me,” growled Nine. “If we had to guess, it sounds like he’s got issues with his taxes and banking and doesn’t want anyone to see them. If he gave Deanna’s father that paperwork or disc or whatever, or if it was her father who discovered something in the paperwork, it could be why he wants her on it as well.”
“Don’t let him near that woman, Nine,” said Grant. “I’m not sure why he would want to destroy the parade floats. I mean, it makes no sense. But he could be doing it simply to ruin Deanna in some way.”
“We’ll look into every angle, Grant. Thanks, brother.”
“You bet,” he said, standing to leave. He turned, smiling at them. “One other thing, just so I don’t get caught in the middle. The animal island is being expanded, and new enclosures are being brought in.”
“Fuck,” muttered Gaspar as the others grinned. “What type of enclosures?”
“I’m not sure yet,” laughed Grant. “With your parents, sometimes, it’s day-by-day instruction, but man, do I love working with them. It’s like walking into a new adventure every single day. You’re not sure what you’re going to get, but you know it’s going to be a slam dunk party, and you’re going to be fed well.” Gaspar just shook his head.
“Well, let’s go speak to Deanna and see if she can shed some light on this.”