Chapter 15
“Tell me again why we’re going over to Erin’s Way later?
” Yvonne asked as she settled down at the table for their breakfast. She had only left his cabin long enough to go across the road to pick up more clothes for herself.
Since having dinner with him on Friday night, they hadn’t left the cabin since, other than going into work on Saturday, that was.
The sex had been amazing, but she knew she couldn’t stay at his place forever.
Mentally, she made plans to go back to her cabin after the get together later that afternoon, she just needed to remind herself why they were requested to attend.
“It’s Erin’s way of introducing everyone at once.
You’ll meet the people that may be coming over to New Double for some reason, whether it’s for something out of the community pantry, or helping in the barns.
They will meet you, since you and I will be the first people they see when they come onto the property.
” He took a few bites of his breakfast, then wiped his mouth on his napkin before he continued.
“Also, it’s a get together where we will all share a meal, I’ve already stuck something in the crockpot for us to take with us. During this time, it’s also a chance for everyone to catch up with what’s been going on.”
“How are you so knowledgeable about what goes on with these ranches if you’ve only been here two weeks longer than me?”
Kevin grinned as he finished his breakfast before answering, then settled back in his chair with his coffee in one hand.
“You forget, my son has been here for almost a year. I’ve come to visit him a few times, and I don’t think you’ve met them yet, you will later today, but there are two lawyers that work here. ”
“Really? Like on the ranch?”
“Yes, they were hired because of a case involving Katherine, Caleb’s girlfriend, and they were able to take them to court.”
“Did they win?”
“Yes, and you might have heard about the case.”
“Why would I hear about it?”
“Did you hear about a Director in the FBI that was taken down by a Federal Prosecutor?”
“Holy shit, that was out in California. Yes, I heard about it. What do you know about it?”
“Katherine, Caleb’s girlfriend was the woman they tried to abduct to get her to shut up.”
“Talk to me, Kevin.” Yvonne leaned forward and cradled her coffee cup in her hands. “I was FBI, but we weren’t privy to the intimate details of the case. How do you know so much?”
“My involvement was a fluke really.”
“How so?”
“I used my vacation to come visit with Caleb. I hadn’t seen him since before his mother was arrested, and he didn’t show up to any of her trials.
He didn’t want to know, which I totally understand and agreed with him.
Anyway, once everything back home settled down, I made a surprise visit here to see my son.
Katherine had only arrived here a few days prior, and they were sorting out what to do.
Long story short, I didn’t stay long, I contacted my boss back in Seattle about the situation, and we agreed that I could extend my vacation to go to LA to get Ilsa and bring her to safety in my home. ”
“Who’s that?” Yvonne felt her hackles rise when she felt instant jealousy course through her system.
“One, Katherine’s mother, two, she’s a criminal defense lawyer, three, she was married to one of the people Jason Black took down. Larry from the FBI.”
“Black as in the Federal Prosecutor?”
“Yes, he’s living in a cabin just like this one with Ilsa Miller, and is helping Erin with a case that’s been ongoing for a couple of years.
I have no clue how it’s progressing. All I know is that these people came after Erin, her ranches, her people, and Grayson and Larry from the FBI were involved.
” He looked at her with a smirk and told her what he remembered about the case.
“Holy shit, that’s huge.” She sat back with a shocked expression. She continued to sit there as Kevin told her everything he knew about the situation and what he had heard over the years. “Damn, it’s no wonder then.” She shook her head and started to laugh.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, since starting here, I couldn’t understand why Erin would surround herself with people that didn’t know anything about the ranching business.
Manchester, you, me, Black, and Ilsa Miller.
Your son, and Staci, I can understand, they’re working their own businesses, but the others I mentioned, along with all the former military people living and working here, now it’s perfectly understandable. ”
“What conclusion did you come to?”
“Erin’s surrounding herself with people that not only need her help, like the horse rehabilitation, but they will drop everything to be there for her.
Be her defense if needed, that’s where the military people come in.
The lawyers are to help her once the people that come after her will have first-hand knowledge of what happened, and defend her.
With us, though we’re not military, we know the law, and what can and can’t be done to the people trying to hurt her.
Smart business practice if you ask me.” She giggled, and as she finished her coffee, she looked at him with a grin.
“I so want to be her when I grow up.”
They shared a laugh, then she sighed as she cleaned up their breakfast dishes, and looked at him sadly.
“What is it?”
“As much as I enjoyed this weekend, I’m going to have to move back to my cabin today.”
“Why?” Kevin asked, genuinely confused by her statement.
“There’s no reason we can’t continue to be together.
Not unless you have a secret husband that will be joining you here.
” He shook his head, then looked at her.
“I’m sorry, I’m not pressuring you, but I don’t want you to leave.
That might be a little clingy on my part, but I’ve learnt over the years to speak my mind.
” He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck, and looked at her sheepishly.
“At least, that’s what I told myself after my divorce.
You’re the first woman I’ve been with since then. ”
“Wow, okay, but it’s not that, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself getting to know you more intimately. I like you, Kevin, but I don’t know if Erin would agree to us living together.”
“Why not? The others that live here do it. They didn’t live together when they first started working here.
Hell, Caleb and Katherine had their own cabins before they decided to share one.
I’m not putting any pressure on you, but I don’t think Erin would mind.
I do know that I overheard a conversation that if anyone shares a cabin, let Cole or Naomi know that one is empty so when the new people arrive, they’ll have a place to stay.
” He looked at her with a smirk. “Besides, I really don’t think Erin gives a flying fig if we have a relationship or not, and frankly, if she says anything, it’s just none of her business.
As long as we’re not hurting each other, or causing trouble with the other’s job, there’s no point in advertising what we do. ”
“Ah, okay.” She didn’t say anything for several moments, then looked at him. “Can I think about it? We’ve only known each other a few days and already went to bed together. I’m not saying it was wrong, but you have to admit it was fast.”
“I agree, and yes, take all the time you need.”
“Thank you, you said you put something in the crockpot, may I ask what it was?”
“Nothing special, when it’s all put together, it’ll be a Buffalo Chicken dip.”
“Do you have the veggies for it?”
“No,” Kevin said in shock, then looked at his watch, and back up at her.
Yvonne laughed. “I have some over at my place, I’ll go cut them up for us.” Before she could take two steps, a phone rang, and they both looked at theirs. “It’s me, and I sort of recognize the number.”
“What do you mean? Sort of?”
“It’s from the FBI office in Denver.” She looked at him as she answered it. “Hello, you’re on speaker, and I’m not alone.”
“SSA Wilson? This is SSA Harmon.”
“Harmon, what’s up?” She wrinkled her nose at Kevin, and grinned at his smirk.
“I know you’re retired, but I had an interesting conversation with Director Anderson. I’ve done some digging, and before I go any further, I was wondering if you could get me in touch with your CI.”
“My CI, Sir? I don’t know if I understand what you’re asking.”
“The guy who told you about the Asian gang out in Seattle. The guy that was on the bingo card.”
“Are you talking about Kevin Lassiter?”
“Yes, that’s the name. Do you have his contact information? I’d like to ask him a few questions.”
“Actually, he’s right here with me. I don’t know if I told Anderson or not, but Kevin is no longer in Seattle. He and I are working together now.”
“May I speak with him?”
“I’m right here, Sir,” Kevin said as he poured them each another cup of coffee, and they settled back down at the table. “What can I do for you?”
“Can you tell me in your own words how you found out about the Asian gang attack against you?”
Kevin looked at Yvonne in confusion, but when she only shrugged, he told him everything from the time he had been called into his boss’s office, the meeting with his ex-wife, the results of what she had done, her move to a different prison, and his move to Colorado.
However, he left out the part where he worked now, and where he lived.
He didn’t think the FBI needed to know that.
“Thank you, Mr. Lassiter. I just have one question for you, then I’ll let you to get back to whatever you’ve been doing.”
“What’s that, Sir?”
“Did you leave Seattle, and your job because of the hit that was put out on you?”
“No.”
“That was a quick, but firm answer.”