Chapter Fourteen
Noel had a hard time sleeping that night. With Mary on his mind, he let his thoughts drift, fantasizing about the wonderful life they could someday have together.
He’d happily give up his partnership at the prestigious law firm in the city and maybe hang a shingle in Bedford Falls.
Help her with the home and raise a brood of kids.
The images made his heart sing with joy.
Such blessings were within reach as long as he could solve the mystery surrounding his family and bring them peace.
In the morning, the four gathered for breakfast, and while the girls cleaned the kitchen, he shared his plan with Steve.
“I just talked to James Lauer, a board member and close family friend, and he’s agreed to make arrangements for me to hire on at the plant.
He’s willing to set me up with a bogus identity. ”
Steve said nothing for a few seconds, his expression thoughtful.
“It could work. You haven’t been out to the distribution building before, so they won’t know who you are.
Plus, last I remember, they were still playing along with the head office though the old efficiency was gone and the regular shipments had dropped considerably. ”
“Exactly what James said. It’s true this is a smaller distribution center that’s been in play for a lot of years.
But they aren’t dispatching nearly the amount of goods they used to route through there.
And the guy on the board who took over for my father has come up with more excuses than a kid with his homework not done. ”
Steve gave Noel a look of trepidation. “It’s making me really nervous to think of you snooping around. It could be dangerous.”
“I’m not that tickled myself, but it’ll be much better spying from inside the premises. Especially since I have a good idea of what I’m looking for.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m thinking they’re running drugs, shipping out huge quantities as if they were the regular goods we always distributed.
Think of it. All those containers that have been in play for a long time.
They could move one hell of a lot of product inside those shipments with very little exposure, and who would think anything about a system that’s been ongoing for twenty years? ”
Steve grinned without any humor. “S’truth. The whole thing smells. You better watch your back, son, so you don’t end up having an accident like I did.”