CHAPTER FOURTEEN
-:- RUGER -:-
Arrow and Lincoln are sitting across from me at the table in the cafeteria. “Why don’t we just call this the kitchen?” Lincoln asks, taking both me and Arrow by surprise.
“You don’t like canteen or cafeteria?” Arrow smirks.
“Well, they are alright, but it’s a mouthful, isn’t it? I prefer canteen to cafeteria, reminds me of freakin’ school,” Lincoln gripes.
Chuckling, I can’t help but comment, “Wow, you are moody today.”
Magnus walks over and hands us a coffee from the tray he’s carrying. “Here you go.” But as he turns to walk away Lincoln asks. “Canteen, cafeteria or kitchen? Your choice, Magnus.”
Pausing, Magnus looks around the room, then at us before he nods. “I like the canteen. The kitchen is my area, where I cook, wash, and keep everything. The front is where the food is served, or you help yourselves. So, yeah, I like canteen.”
“Okay, from now on it’s the canteen. Get a notice on the door so people see it when they walk in,” Lincoln smirks.
“Will do.” Magnus nods his head at us and then heads back to the kitchen area. His domain, as he sees it.
“Okay, back to the topic at hand. Who was it on the phone? What are we going to do about it?” I ask.
The door opens, and we all turn to look at who entered the canteen, and Delta walks over to us. She picks up my coffee takes a huge swallow, then leans back and sighs. She keeps hold of my mug, and I shake my head at her, which makes her grin.
“Okay. I was able to follow the trail back to the caller. You’ll never guess who it was!
” Delta looks from one of us to another, and when none of us speaks, she continues.
“Your lady friend, Ruger. She’s gotten herself a cell phone inside her looney cell at the psycho facility.
How I don’t know, but it’s a cell registered in her name and even has a monthly allowance on it. ”
“You talking about Rosemarie?” I ask with a lot of shock in my voice.
“Yeah, I’m talking about that nutjob. She’s obviously got one of the nurses or carers to help her. Using her Pinocchio skills, I’m sure.” Delta takes a seat and finishes my coffee while watching my reaction over the top of the mug.
“Fuckin’ hell…” I snarl as I jump to my feet. I take out my cell and make a call to Forest. No reply…damn. “I’m outta here. I’m gonna speak to the sheriff or one of his men.”
“What about this discussion about protecting Penny and Arabella?” Lincoln asks.
Turning I look him in the eye. “I’ll take them both to your place, and then I’ll take some time off so I can follow Penny wherever she goes. But I’ll speak to Forest and make sure this bitch has her cell taken off her, and we find who is helping her.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave here without you.
” Lincoln hands me a key. “That’s for my place.
I’ll go straight to the clubhouse and then stay with Jo and Knuckles.
I’ll take the horror of them until this mess is over.
Wish taking one for the team was better than listening to my sister wailing, oh Knuckles, yeah, just like that. ”
We all burst out laughing at his imitation of Jo, and the disgusted look on Lincoln's face. I turn and leave the canteen before heading to the Sheriff’s Office.
Thirty minutes later I’m leaning on the reception desk speaking with Zack, who is the full-time receptionist. “He’s not here today, Ruger. He had a case that took him out of town, but you can speak to Francis or Aaron. They are here in the office.”
“Okay, I’ll speak to them.”
“Hang on one minute, Ruger.” Zack rushes over to the Deputies' office, and I hear him speaking right before he rushes back again. “Go on through.” I give him a nod and head into the office.
“What can we do for you, Ruger?” Francis asks, and Aaron looks up from the computer he’s been using.
I explain the situation, and I can see Aaron does not like what I’m telling them. He’s ex-FBI, same as Forest, and they both have a code they follow, and this helping an inmate, whether it be federal prison or a psych hospital is not sitting well.
“Leave it with us, Ruger. We’ll look into it and make it official.
Whoever is helping this cuckoo-clock needs to be stopped.
It’s totally against the rules in these places.
They are not to have outside contact unless specifically authorized.
They are at these places because they are not right and not to be loose in society.
I’ll look into it and make it a priority. ”
“Thanks. You have my digits, and Forest knows where to find me. I’m moving into Lincoln’s house for now as the lease on our place is nearly up, and my house isn’t built yet on the compound.
It’s in the process, but we just gotta wait.
” I hand him Lincoln’s address, and then leave the office, waving at Zack as I pass.
Before heading back, I take out my phone again, find Harris’s number and make the call. It takes only a few rings before he answers. “Hi, Ruger, what’s up?”
“We need to get the house built ASAP. How long do you estimate?” I don’t waste any words.
“I was thinking six weeks. But I toyed with the idea of bringing in my second team so we could get it done in five.” From the tone of his voice, I can imagine he is rubbing his chin in thought.
“If you need to do that, then do it. I need it finished as soon as possible. Are the large windows going to cause an issue?”
“No, the glass company confirmed yesterday that they will be ready next week and will deliver as soon as we need them. My boys are working hard, and we’ve been working an extra ninety minutes every day, only taking Sunday off.
We need a rest day, Ruger, but we have been working our butts off.
” Harris shouts to one of his men, then speaks again.
“I’ll get it done as fast as I can, Ruger.
But I can’t cut corners on the safety of the building. ”
“Of course not, I wouldn’t want that. Keep me informed.”
Back at BaronsSecure I update Lincoln on the situation at the Sheriff’s Department, then head to the security team's office where I know Colton is working.
Everyone is inside the office. Looks like a meeting, and I’ve missed some of it. “Sorry, I had stuff that I had to get covered.”
“No problem. Just so you know, the teams we have at this time are Holt and Drake. I know that leaves you out in the cold, but hang on. Pryce and Dallas, Noah and Declan. Club doors, we keep Knuckles, Mav, and myself. We lost the two who were helping at the door. But I’m gonna pull you in to work alongside me, Ruger.
That way we have two at each business. We need to put out a call again for door staff.
” Colton rubs the back of his neck, and I can imagine they are sick of the continual spin of men on the door.
They only stay a few weeks, then move on, and we are back to square one.
“I know a few that may help if the money is good enough. I have four prior-servicemen who are bored to tears. They are good men and will take the job seriously. They’ll find it somewhat boring, but they’ll do a good job.” Holt looks from one of us to the other, and I can see Colton likes the idea.
“Ask if they are interested. Knuckles, would you be okay with that?” Colton asks, and I know that the door security is separate from the security business.
“If we get these guys, how about we use them on the door, but we have them help the security business too? That way they’ll not want to move somewhere else through boredom.” I look at Holt, and he nods in agreement.
“They can bunk here if needed. Do they have places to live, Holt?” Knuckles asks, and we all turn to Holt for his reply.
“Yeah, they do. The four I’m thinking of actually leased a place, and they live together. They were a team and wanted to stay a team even as civilians.”
“Okay, speak to them and report back. Ruger, we are at TJ's door from tomorrow until Friday evening. I’m looking for cover for the weekend.” Colton turns to the wall and writes our names on the schedule, filling in Knuckles and Mav for Club Whisky.
“Will do,” Holt replies as he leans back in his seat.
Walking out of the meeting, I head to Penny’s office and find her tapping on her keyboard while squinting at the monitor screen. She looks cute, but I’m wondering if she needs to see someone about her eyesight!
“Penny, do you need to have your eyes checked?”
Penny turns her head so slowly that I swallow hard while thinking Fuck, I don’t like the look of this!
“What do you want, Ruger?” Penny asks icily.
“Nothing, I just thought I’d check in between meetings.”
Turning fully to look at me, Penny leans forward on the desk. “I’ve booked archery lessons with Winter. I start on Saturday afternoon. Will you be working?”
“No, I’ll be with you. I’ll look after Punkin while you have your lesson.”
“Oh, okay, that’ll work.” Penny turns back to what she was doing, and I keep quiet about her squinting again.
Sighing, Penny speaks again. “You know I scrunch my face when I’m concentrating, right? Not because I have a sight issue.”
“Good to know, babe.” I make a quick getaway before I get myself into hot water. Well, hotter than I’m already in.
Entering the discussion room, I take a seat next to Bones. “Didn’t know you were here today?”
Bones shrugs. “I was supposed to be free today, but you know it’s okay having a day away, but when you’re on your own what the fuck are you supposed to do?”
“Yeah, I know that feeling. I used to go to the range, shoot a few rounds, have a drink or two at TJs or Club Whisky, or just sit around doing nothing. Best is riding my hog on the open road, wind blowing, and no worries.” I grin as some memories flash across my mind.
“You know, all that freedom is not as good as having your woman around. You need to get a house, get a woman, and get some loving.”
Arrow walks into the room, followed by Lincoln, Colton, Knuckles, and Drake. I’m wondering why Colton and Knuckles are here as they are club security not the business security, but they are brothers, so I’m not worried.
Once everyone has a seat, we look at Lincoln who we see as the main boss.
He taps the table with his knuckles, and you can see he’s organizing his thoughts.
“Holt has spoken to his friends, and there are four of them willing and actually more than happy to join us here. Matt Davis, Travis Miller, Lee Harris, and Nelson Carter.”
I’m impressed that Lincoln remembers their names off the top of his head like that. Without meeting them, he probably knows most there is to know about them. “When will they come in?”
Lincoln picks up his cell phone, which he’d laid on the table before starting the meeting. “I organized a meeting tomorrow, Ruger. I want to get them started as soon as possible. We are stretched to the limit as it is, and now I’ve heard something I’m not happy about.”
“What are you unhappy about?” Bones asks.
“The warehouse client is placing stock into the place. Which is fair enough, but Clay rode past the place and he said it was odd the way the two trucks were being unloaded. Sort of covert. I’m not sure about this client, and Delta is looking into him more closely than we did previously.”
Arrow grunts. “We all know that when something smells bad, it’s bad. Let’s go in under cover of darkness and take a look. If you are suspicious, then I’m suspicious. I’ve never known you to lead us wrong with your gut feeling, Lincoln.”
The door opens, and I think we all must do a double take as Chaos and Wings walk into the room, take a seat like this is nothing unusual. I look at Lincoln, Bones, and then Arrow, and they are all gaping a little, too. So, these two fuckers are here uninvited!
“What can we do for you two?” Bones eventually asks.
Chaos has amusement dancing across his face and Wings looks like he wants to clap his hands with excitement, but he’s the one to speak.
“We’re here ‘cause I’ve nothing to do at the clubhouse.
Axel told me to fuck off and find something to do other than following him around.
Chaos here is on vacation, but he’s bored as all hell.
So, we’re here to help do some patrolling while you train up your new people. ”
I can’t help mumbling, “Fuck me, this is trouble.”
Chaos and Wings turn to look at me, but the worry is they both have a smile on their faces that could remind you of the Joker in the Batman movies.
“Well, that’s good, we can use extra help at the moment. Ruger is taking a little time to follow Penny around as she’s been threatened, but he’ll be here for meetings so he’s kept up to date with things,” Arrow responds to Wings.
Knuckles is smirking because he, as well as all of us know these two are trouble with a capital T. I’m more than happy I won’t be patrolling with them, but I feel sorry for anyone that has to.
Chaos smacks his hands together while leaning forward in his seat, looking far too excited in my opinion. “Well, what are we doing first?”
My mind goes into frozen mode when Chaos and Wings throw ideas on the table about how to find out what is going on at the warehouse. I’m pleased I’m not going to be involved in that, and following Penny is going to be far safer.