Chapter 7 Rainey Days And Mondays |
It took Kelly almost an hour before she stopped shaking. Darrin Canlove, the service mart manager ran outside as soon as he seen what happened and took Kelly back inside the store.
Then as soon as he had made a call to 911, he made a second call and reported what he had just seen to someone on the other end of the call that only said, “Hello” when they picked the phone up, listening to the story Darrin had to report and then said “Watch the girl till you are told otherwise.” They did not wait for his reply before hanging up.
Darrin did what he was told and was able to keep Kelly in the store and in the back office until the police had come and made a report.
After that Darrin had to clock out of work and go to the storage office with Kelly. He had orders not to let her out of his sight and he knew better than to disobey those orders.
Kelly told him that it there was really no need but Darrin insisted.
“I have too many employees today anyway. And this is a good reason for me to take a break.” He laughed at the made up joke.
It was not long till a young man showed up and introduced his self to Kelly as Greg Ellis.
“I am the district manager for the company.” He said. “You will no doubt want to call the home office and check on my credentials.
Kelly did just that. She was no longer afraid but still, it could not hurt.
Kelly noticed that Darrin and Greg were talking as if they were friends.
“Yes” Darrin said to her, “Greg and I go back a long way together. Greg use to date my sister when they were in high school.”
In fact Darrin and Greg did know each other but had never really spoken to each other. But Darrin knew that if Greg was here then he would need to win Kelly’s confidence. So Darrin had stepped in to offer Kelly the assurance that Greg was good people.
“I guess I need to get back to work. Kelly if you need anything please just let me know. Greg it was good to meet you again after so long.”
“You also Darrin, we have to get together sometimes.”
After Darrin was gone, Greg wanted to know what had happened. Kelly said it was nothing and that really she needed to get to work. But Greg told her that he was the cousin of the owner and that if he wanted to keep her setting and talking all day then no one would say anything about it.
Greg was not only putting on a show, but he was really very concerned about Kelly. For some unknown reason this girl was very important. He had received a call just a few minutes before arriving at the storage office from his uncle telling him to get there fast and make sure nothing happened to the girl.
As the day worn on Kelly found that she liked this guy Greg. He had kept her setting there talking for almost an hour. He had written down everything she had told him. And he said he was going to turn it over to the company security team.
“No one is going to hurt one of our employees and get away with it.” He said. He never even said anything about her using the golf cart to go to the store in. I guess it does not matter she thought.
For lunch he ordered pizza for the two of them. Then he kept Kelly setting in the office talking again. This time she found herself telling him all about her self. For some reason she felt so at ease with this man that she had opened up and started telling him everything he wanted to know.
She was surprised to not only find her self once again, for the third time in as many days, talking to someone about Thomas, but she was telling this man, a total stranger everything she and Thomas had done.
Kelly then told him that she could not believe that she had just set there and told a total strange all her dark secrets. That was when Greg said I will tell you mine so you will not feel cheated. He went on to tell her that he was Gay and living with a man his self that was twice his age.
Kelly and Greg were going to become very close friends after that.
Andy Harper was setting at his desk in his office in New Your City. His private line rang and it was his brother Dan Harper.
“Hello little brother.” said Andy.
“Hello Andy.” Dan Harper said. “We need to talk. Something is up and I am not sure what it is.”
“What’s wrong Dan? Has something happened?”
“I am not sure. Maybe it is nothing. But with that detective looking into us and everything, it might be something there.”
Andy did not speak. Dan knew his brother was waiting for the report. Andy would not say anything now until Dan had told him everything. After that he would ask questions from the notes he would be making.
Dan started talking. First he told about the detective. They had
located the man in
Dan said he did not think that there was any problem in fact he thought it was good news. They had tracked the man that the detective was working for back and had found Thomas Saratoga.
“You found Thomas?” Andy asked breaking his own habit of not interrupting a report.
“Yes we found him. And I think the reason the detective was looking for us was because Thomas was looking for us. I told you we could trust him.”
“I never thought any other way Dan. But I just wanted to make sure.”
“Thomas has been living in an old trailer for the past few years, just living a simple life.” Dan said.
“The accounts come mature next year Dan. You think this is why he was trying to find us now?” Andy had the account numbers and had watched the money grow over the years. He was never worried about the money because nothing was ever removed from the accounts.
“I think so. I think he is worried. He has cancer. He may think he is going to die, and he may be looking to settle up with us.” Dan paused.
“The last time I talked to Thomas was in 1998. Back when we had that government problem. That was when I told him to disappear and that we would find him when we were ready.” Dan laughed. “I just didn’t really think he would be able to disappear so well.”
The government had started checking into the family’s history. Dan and Andy both thought it was a good ideal for Thomas to not be found anywhere near anyone that was a known member of the family.
“And the girl?” asked Andy. He was remembering back to a time when he had talked to Thomas about this girl. Thomas wanted her safe no matter what and Andy had given his word as God of Heaven to make sure she was forever safe. Andy never broke his word. And the word of God was the word of ever member of the family.
“She is safe now. But there was a problem this morning.” Dan said.
“What happened?” asked Andy.
“Someone tried to run her over in a service station parking lot. One of the crew members on her security detail seen the entire event and said that the truck was not trying to hurt her but was trying to scare the shit out of her. He said they did a good job of it also.”
“Do we know who it was?” asked Andy.
“Not a clue yet.” replied Dan.
“Dan I do not have to tell you how important that girl’s life is. Thomas has control of over two hundred millions dollars that belongs to the family. And all we have to do is let something happen to that girl and we may never be able to get that money from Thomas.”
“I know. I know. I have Greg with her right now waiting for your orders. I also have Andy on his way to where Thomas is right now. He should be reporting in within the hour.”
Andy was Dan’s son, named after Dan’s brother Andy. There was a reason for this but no one ever spoke of it.
“Dan I also gave the word of God to Thomas that Kelly would never come to harm. I will not be made to be a liar.” Andy was trying to make a point here.
“Okay, I will post a second team on her to watch over her.” Dan said.
“Call our friend in Atlanta and make sure he knows about this girl and how important she is also. Tell him to put some cops on her.” said Andy.
“Are you sure you want to use him? I would hate for his cover to become known.” Dan said.
“Do it Dan!” Andy said.
“Okay I will. And I will have Andy make contact with Thomas and find out what he is up to also.”
“Okay Dan. I have to run now. But I want to meet you and Thomas sometime next week. We need to start working on transferring the accounts.”
“As soon as I can speak to Thomas I will get back to you and find out what is good.” Dan said.
The conversation ended. Andy just set there looking out the window of his office. He was on the 57th floor. He had a nice view.
He thought back about this girl Kelly. She had been a beautiful child. And she was now a beautiful woman. He could not understand a grown man allowing him self to fall for a little girl like that. And really, he did not like it. But then, this grown man was making the family a lot of money. So he didn’t give a damn. And the kid had wanted to be with Thomas anyway so who cared.
Then he thought about a friend, a man that was now in his seventeenth year of prison. He was never going to come home. In fact he would die soon, just as soon as Thomas gave the word.
This man had been a child hood friend of Andy’s, but he had hurt one of the family’s own, and for that he had to pay.
Ben and Eddie had stayed with Thomas at the trailer all day Saturday and Sunday and then on into Monday. Dick did not show up with his boys to do any cleaning. Thomas thought Dick was still a little upset about the whole deal. He was having a hard time getting over the age differences. Thomas could understand that.
Dick did send some food over for Ben and Eddie. But for some reason Thomas was left out of the treat. Thomas laughed about that because he knew it was just Dick’s way of screwing with his mind. And beside, Eddie had become the official cook anyway. The boy was a natural born chef.
Ben had spent most of Sunday working in the yard and had everything nice and clean looking by Monday morning, Eddie had done the same with the house making it look very clean and tidy.
Thomas thought that there would be no doubt in Dakotas mind that Ben and Eddie were his hired men.
On Monday at about
The car, a new Cadillac, drove into the yard and parked next to an old mustang, a black 1969 Ford Mustang Mark 1.
“I would still take the Mustang over the cat.” Ben said.
Thomas just looked at him.
“I agree. It’s yours.” Thomas said.
“What?” Ben said with his jaw on his chin.
“If you are going to work for me you have to have a car. So the mustang is yours for as long as you and Eddie are working for me.” Thomas was serious.
“Are you for real Mr. Thomas?” Ben said standing up.
“My name is not Thomas if I am not saying the truth to you Ben. Go in the house and tell Eddie to find you the keys. They should be behind my desk on a rack.”
Ben almost ran into the house. Then catching his self he turned and said to Thomas,
“I guess I should wait until your guests are introduced so they don’t think I was running away from them.”
“Good ideal Ben.” Thomas said.
By now Dene Marla had parked the car and was getting out of the drivers door. His wife was also getting out of the passengers door. From the back seat Thomas could see his daughter. She opened her door also and stepped out.
“Just damn” Thomas said, “Looks like I am going to be a grandpa.”
Dakota was lovely. She was bright. And she was married. But she was alone. She had left her husband and ran away to find her daddy, again.
Dakota had been born on
Over the years Thomas had placed ads in news papers where he had thought his wife might have taken the child. Then when Dakota was old enough she had been looking for her real father and seen one of the ads.
The ad gave a Lucky Tree address so Dakota had then tracked Thomas down by calling most of the business in Lucky Tree till she found Dick Spray.
Dick Spray had sent Dakota a plane ticket and surprised Thomas with his daughter after eighteen years.
Dakota had stayed with Thomas for about five years, and during that time she had learned a trade. She had wanted to learn to cut hair and so Thomas had sent her to school.
Now she hated cutting hair and wanted to just set home and be a wife.
But she didn’t want to be a wife to him, that damn fool as she called him, talking about her husband. That SOB, MF, Low down … she would have gone on and added more words, but Eddie, who had taken a break from cooking had joined the people outside, walked over and placed his hand over her mouth. The two of them become fast friends after that.
There was nothing wrong with Dakota, or her husband, or her marriage. Dakota was just going through so many changes right now that she just didn’t know which way she was going.
Dakota was six months pregnant and had just found out that it was going to be a little boy. The baby was fine, or so the doctor said, and he was going to be as big as a horse Dakota had said.
“I am moving in father.” Dakota told Thomas. “I know you are all alone, and that you need me. So I am coming to live with you daddy.” She smiles and batted her eyes at him.
Thomas did not know what to say. He looked at Ben then at Eddie then the Marla’s who were setting there with the largest smiles on their face.
Then he looked back at his daughter.
“I am moving out.” He said.
When Dakota heard this she started crying. Ms. Marla jumped up and ran to her, slapping Thomas across the face as she did. Not hard, but smartly so as to say you ass.
“No wait,” Thomas said.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I have to go away on some business and I am going to be gone a long time maybe. I didn’t mean I was moving out because you were moving in.”
Eddie also went over to set beside Dakota and hold her.
Eddie was the kind of person that wanted to hold anyone that was hurting and make the pain go away. So with Eddie on one side of Dakota, and Doris Marla on the other side, Dakota set there and cried tears.
Thomas did not mind the tears that much. He thought everyone should clean their eyes with a few tears ever so often. But the crying sounds coming out of this very large daughter of his was a bit too much.
“Please stop crying” Thomas said. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
With Dakota still in the middle, surround by Doris and Eddie she let out a bigger cry saying no one love’s me, and then an even bigger crying sound.
Thomas looked around. Everyone was avoiding his look.
That was when Dick come walking up from around the trailer. He had used the secret path through the gate in back of the liquor store.
Looking at Dakota he asked “What’s wrong with her.”
Looking up to see Dick, Dakota jumped up and ran to him. She put her arms around him and screamed, “Uncle Dick Daddy does not love me.”
Dakota was crying harder now, it that was even possible.
“Ridicules” said Dick. “Stop this silliness.” He was looking at Thomas and had an evil grin which was saying I hope you get what is coming to you.
“But Uncle Dick when I told him I was moving in he said he was moving out.”
“He is not moving out my dear, he is going on a trip. We all are. And you can go also.” Dick said.
Thomas started to stand. His mouth was opening. Ben touched him on the arm with one hand and put his other hand over his mouth.
Thomas didn’t know if Ben was telling him to be quite or don’t make her cry anymore. Thomas set back down.
“I got the RV set to go on Friday.” Dick said. “I just need to know who all is going and who is driving us?
“Us?” said Thomas.
That’s right, I am coming alone also. I want to meet this Kelly girl.” Dick said.
Thomas’s eyes grew wide and he started shaking his head no.
“Who is Kelly?” asked Dakota. Then her face lit up with a smile.
Thomas dropped his head into his hands.
“Kelly, you found her daddy. You found Kelly?” Dakota was overjoyed.
Dakota did not know the full story about Kelly. She only knew that her daddy had been in love once with someone and she thought that someone was named Kelly. Her daddy had told her that someone name Kelly had tried to help him try to find her once.
The crying stopped, and the tears dried up. Dakota was now the happiest one of the people setting in the yard. She had set many nights with her daddy as he was getting drunk and singing to the stars about this lost love.
And now she was so happy because her daddy was going to have his dream back also. She even started to feel bad about leaving her husband behind. And that was a good thing, because not more than an hour after the Marla’s drove up with Dakota, Barry Dove also drove up.
Barry was Dakota’s husband. He was younger than Dakota by about eight months. He was also skinny and pretty. The looked of money was all over him. But that was from his father’s side. Sense his mother had raised him alone, he had never known money like his two half brothers.
Barry was not what he appeared to be. He was not stuck on his self, and did not consider him self better than anyone. He was just a normal person. Except for one reason that is, he loved his wife very much: so much in fact that he would jump at her every command.
When Dakota said she was leaving he was willing to let her go if that was what it took to make her happy.
She had been gone for about an hour before he realized he did not want to live with out her. So he was going to go find her and get her back or he was going to drive his car off a mountain some where. He had made his mind up.
As soon as Dakota saw Barry she ran into the house. Barry had to stop at the gate and wait. He yelled for Dakota but she would not listen.
If Barry had not been driving a 1967 Pontiac GTO, Thomas might have turned him away. But Thomas wanted to have a look see under the hood.
Thomas would have been jealous of the car if he had not had the 1969 Ford Mustang and a 1956 Ford Fairlane setting beside it. Thomas was a Ford man. But he did like Pontiac also.
So he had let the boy in the gate.
Then after freeing Barry from the car and placing him at the picnic table where he had dog watch him, Thomas sent Eddie into the house to pry Dakota back out, a mission that took him about thirty minutes to accomplish.
In the mean time Thomas and Ben had raised the hood and were checking out the engine of the GTO.
With their heads under the hood they were watching Barry setting beside the picnic table and Dog as he watched Barry. Every few minutes Dog would raise his lips up in a no sound growl. The hair on his back would stand up on command and Barry’s eyes would grow bigger and bigger.
By the time Dakota come out of the trailer, Barry was almost ready for a heart attack.
For some reason Dog had took a liking to Dakota from the very start so when she told him to go set down, he did so.
Barry asked Dakota “What are they doing to my car?”
“Don’t worry, if they find anything wrong with it, they will fix it.” Dakota said.
Dene Marla, Tommy and Dick had joined Thomas and Ben under the hood of the GTO, Leaving Dakota and Barry alone to talk. Doris Marla had gone into the kitchen with Eddie.
Eddie had been cooking all day and the food was almost ready. So Doris was helping Eddie to finish up and serve the late lunch.
It was now just a little after
Ben had asked to be excused and went to the table as soon as Eddie walked out the door with the first plate.
Dene Marla also left Thomas’s side and went to help his wife.
Dick asked Tommy to please give him a few minutes alone with Thomas.
“He said his name was Andy Harper Thomas.” Dick said.
“And you are sure he is not the one I was looking for.” Thomas asked.
“He is not the one. He is too young. But he did say that his uncle was also Andy Harper and that you knew him.”
“And you say he is at the store right now. How do you know he had not left?” Thomas asked.
“I told him to wait and that it might take as long as an hour for me to find you. He said he would wait. I also told James to call me if the guy tried to leave or make any strange phone call.”
“We also searched him for weapons. He had a gun but gave it up when we asked for it. You know all my boys are packing.”
“What do you think he wants?” asked Thomas.
“Just what he said, he is here on business from his Uncle because you were looking for them. He said they sent him because you would know the name.”
“That’s true.” Thomas said. “In some places that name can get you a free cup of coffee. And in others it can get you killed.” Thomas looked his old friend in the eye. “Okay, call James and have him blind folded this guy and bring him over. Tell them to take the long way around. I will deal with him.”
“Do you think there will be trouble Thomas?” asked Dick.
“If there is we will all be packed and gone by night fall and we will have two hundred million dollars to stay gone with. And one young Andy Harper will be dead.” Thomas was not playing.
For the first time sense he had known Thomas, dick wondered what kind of man Thomas really was.
The meal was almost over when James drove up to the gate with Andy setting in the car blind folded. Andy never once tried to remove the blind fold or did anything until he was told to do so.
It did not take Thomas long to learn that Andy was telling the truth about his uncle being Andy Harper. Thomas also found out that Andy’s father was Dan Harper. Thomas even remembered the man from when he was about five years old.
Andy also knew Thomas was a son in the family. The family gave titles out to members to merit their standing in the family. Son was the highest title other than God, and was on the same level as Angel.
Being a son meant you were special to the family. Being an Angel meant you were also special and that the family counted on you to perform special work for them. Andy was an Angel.
“How is your father?” Thomas asked.
“He is fine but a little worried about you.” said Andy.
“Why is he worried?” asked Dick.
At first after talking to Thomas, Andy had not wanted to talk to anyone else about the family. And he would not do so now, except with Dick. The three men were all alone in the trailer now.
Thomas had told Andy that he had recruited Dick into the family his self as was his right as a son. He also said this was not official as he was still waiting for approval from the senior Andy.
“Well sir, we did not know who was looking into family business at first when we found out about the detective, so we started checking around. Then when we found out it was you Mr. Thomas, we also found out you were sick. Father was worried about that.”
“He would be. Dan was always worried about me. He saved my but several times by just being there.” Thomas said.
“Yes sir.” Andy said. “Father wanted me to make sure that you knew that while over the past few years they have worried about you, they have never worried about your honesty.”
“I am glad to hear that. So where is Dan now? When can I see him?” Thomas asked.
“I can call him right now sir if you would like.”
“Yes do so. I would like to talk to him.”
“Yes sir. But please remember we are on an open phone line.”
“I understand.”
Andy made the call.
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