Chapter 31
Climb in.”
That was the company car. This is mine,” Escobar answered.
I think I like Rafie’s ride better,” Keaton said.
I saw that ratty thing,” Escobar answered. “Slam that door hard or it won’t catch.”
Back out to the Grove,” Escobar answered. As she got up on the freeway heading east her speed and the noise increased.
Wanczyk is an ass but he is a fair cop,” Escobar shouted at Keaton. “He called me a little bit ago. The judge let those guys from this morning walk. Wanczyk said a high dollar suit from the LDLU came in representing them. The suit said some mumbo jumbo up at the bench to the judge, the judge nodded and the whole bunch went free. Wanczyk is pissed. He had a good bust there. They also got some prints off that plumber’s van inside the shop. An LA named Tim Taylor. Ever heard of him?”
Wanczyk said we got no record of the man. And none of the guys had ever heard of him. Wanczyk said the van looked like it had been used to transport LDs.”
Why’s Wanczyk giving you all this information?” Keaton shouted.
Cause he wants us to do his dirty work for him. We mess up, he stays clean,” Escobar answered. She exited off Hawn and the road noise lessened.
Why would they go back to the shop?”
We didn’t impound anything. They still got all their stuff there. Hell, they’ll probably just reopen the same place since they have suit protection. Cops won’t go close to it now.”
But you are.”
I was looking for a good job when I got this one,” Escobar said, and she smiled.
Talk all you want,” Jeffery answered stepping forward. “We don’t have to answer anything. You can’t hold us on anything.”
Where do you get your meat?” Escobar asked loudly.
Where did Tim Taylor get the LDs you had this morning?” Keaton asked. Escobar looked at him. “Trust me,” Keaton answered.
You know who the LA was that you had in here this morning,” Keaton said. “You got out of jail fast because your bosses didn’t want to give you a chance to muck things up.
We were here this morning to keep the LA from getting mucked up,” Keaton said. “Now we’re here to ask about Tim’s package. Where did they come from? Call your boss and ask if it’s okay to talk. We can wait.”
Should I ask him if I can smoke a cigarette?” Jeffery asked.
Sure. If you want to smoke.”
Your funny.”
Thank you,” Keaton answered. “Call him. Please.”
Some things you can’t stop Alicia. Some things you have to stop.” Keaton motioned with his head towards Jeffery who was walking up close.
I painted this van two days ago,” Jeffery started.
Nice job. I like the fonts,” Keaton replied.
Thanks, I used to paint signs before the change. People use that stick on plastic crap these days.”
I put the plumber in Graham so he wouldn’t be out of place a hundred miles either side. That’s all I know and all I was told I could say.”
So as far west as Haskell then,” Keaton stated.
Something like that,” Jeffery answered.
Thanks. You all take care,” Keaton said loudly to all the guys. He looked at Escobar and said, “Let’s go. That’s all we’re going to get here.” He started back to the jeep.
It got him to answer,” Keaton said.
He answered nothing I care about!”
Don’t break my door,” Escobar said. “What was any of that about?”
Alicia, as long as there are LDs there will be chop shops. And as long as there are chop shops there will be LAs. It’s part of the balance of nature, survival of the fittest. We don’t have to like it, but it is. But those two little LDs are different. They’re game changers. They are smarter and nimbler than normal LDs. We need to find out where they come from and how many others are out there like them. They are what was really being trafficked here.”
Ruth Davies knows what’s going on, but she won’t talk. Her father probably knows since its his money being spent. That means his assistant knows. And that sign painting guy spoke to ‘him.’
There is nothing out that way. Throckmorton County is split between two ranches on either side of 380. Haskell is the next county west of that. It’s got more population. I’m betting on one of those two ranches in Throckmorton.”
I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Escobar said starting up the jeep.
Alicia, you need to get out and see the world. At least west Texas,” Keaton said. “And give my apologies to Wanczyk for not shooting anyone this time.”
Chapter 32
Good morning, Mr. Keaton,” Hobson answered.
Morning,” Keaton replied. “I called you because I know Ms. Ruth lost her purse and phone the other night. Do you think I could meet with her sometime today?”
I would think so, sir. I will ask and call you back,”
You can just text me,” Keaton said. He then asked, “Is Mr. Davies in?”
No, sir. I am afraid Mr. Davies is not available.”
Okay, thank you. It was nothing important,” Keaton answered.
Yes, sir. I will text you after I have talked with Ms. Ruth.”
Thank you,” Keaton said and ended the call. He sat down on the couch and looked out the window for a while. He stood up and went to make coffee.
Hello, Phillip. How have you been?”
And now you have two new ones, right? Those little girls?”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
But they will be. Ms. Ruth is really attached to them, isn’t she?”
She never lets them out of her sight,” Phillip answered.
Well the other night was pretty traumatic for Ms. Ruth. And for those girls. They lost their dad.”
Yes, sir. I guess.”
How is Ms. Ruth? You know psychologically speaking?” Keaton asked.
Well, Phillip, one of the few things you can count on in life is, ‘The kids will grow up.’” Keaton said and laughed.
Ms. Ruth will be with you shortly, sir. Do you care for anything to drink?”
No thank you, I’m good,” Keaton answered. He sat down so that he viewed the entire room and watched Hobson exit.
Please, sit,” she said. They both sat.
It’s defiantly ballroom size,” Keaton answered.
We have never had a dance here. Dad says it is undignified.”
I would think that depends on how well you dance. The dignity part,” Keaton said.
A little bit. They and their father were picked up out in Throckmorton County. That’s a couple of hours west of here. Most of it is empty prairie. There are a couple of big ranches out there that breed cattle and have for a hundred years.”
SBCrown,” Ruth said. “We own a share of it.”
Well, that could be it,” Keaton answered. “I can get a car and head out there tomorrow. But maybe it’s that other ranch. You know, since you all own part of this one.”
Dad liked to keep his risks within the business,” Ruth said looking Keaton in the eye.
Of course,” Keaton answered. “Do you want me to go out there?”
I don’t think that will be necessary. Everything is pretty much answered.”
Are you planning on keeping the girls here?” Keaton asked.
Yes,” Ruth answered. “They are enjoying it here. And I am enjoying them. Hobson is looking for a tutor.”
They won’t develop any more than they are.”
That’s not why your father brought them here,” Keaton stated.
Father is dead; so what he had planned is now moot,” Ruth answered.
After our first meeting.”
The dinner?”
Not then, but not too long afterwards.”
How is your father taking the revelation?” Keaton asked.
I wouldn’t know,” Ruth replied. She smiled and added, “I shot him in the head yesterday morning after I got home with the Twins. I used the .38 Special he kept in his desk. And as you said, and showed, there is no law against killing the dead.”
They are in the dark,” Ruth said with a laugh. “Father often stayed in his study for days. He still is there.”
Good. I was afraid you had gotten someone to dispose of the corpse. Hobson and Phillip know. Does Tristan?” Keaton asked. “Is the pistol back in the desk?”
What’s your plan for going forward?”
I will announce Father’s death and step into the business,” Ruth answered.
Well, that might work,” Keaton replied. “But ‘THEY’ might view you as a young, inexperienced woman who is in shock from her kidnapping by LDs and the death of her father. That will be a difficult optic to get around.”
What are you talking about?” Ruth asked. “Dad’s businesses are now my businesses.”
Well, the big money, including your father’s managers and lawyers, and the government may not see it that way. They’ll see a leadership vacuum in your youthful inexperience and cut each other’s throats to take advantage of it and you. I think you need some help to divert all the knives.”
Joe Klein,” Keaton stated.
That’s Tristan’s uncle!”
I know,” Keaton answered. “You need someone with experience walking through landmines. Klein has that. He’s a politician. He’ll throw anyone and everyone under the bus to advance his career. You’ll just need to have some small lever to keep him from tossing you under there too.”
Father hated him. He always said Klein was a Communist.”
Even better,” Keaton answered.
Chapter 33
Good afternoon, Rep. Klein. Welcome to Davies House,” Hobson said.
It’s an honor to be here,” Klein stated.
Yes, sir. This way please. Ms. Davies is waiting for you.” Hobson started off towards the study.
I thought I was meeting with Mr. Davies,” Klein said following Hobson.
Yes, sir.” Hobson answered.
Representative Klein, Ms. Ruth,” Hobson announced and stood aside so that Klein could enter.
Whoa!” Klein exclaimed stepping into the room. He stopped near the prone form. “Is that Raymond Davies?”
Yes, that is my father, Representative Klein. Thank you for coming over. Please have a seat there beside Mr. Keaton. He can explain everything better than I,” Ruth stated. She sat down.
Nice to meet you, Joe. You don’t mind if I call you Joe, do you?” Keaton asked. “My name is William Keaton. But please call me Bill. Just step around and have a seat. Mr. Davies can’t bite now.” Keaton sat down.
Well, as you can see Ms. Davies has a problem,” Keaton explained. “Her father was an LD. Had been for a long time. We have witnesses to that. He got a little out of control and she had to protect herself. That’s why he is there on the floor.
To answer your second question, no the police have not been called. Ms. Davies is in a vulnerable position here and before the police and lawyers get involved we were hoping to buttress her situation.”
You want to bribe me to help you fix this,” Klein said sweeping his left arm towards Davies’ figure.
Not exactly,” Keaton answered. “Your nephew Tristan Martin and Mr. Davies had Miss Ruth kidnapped two nights ago. You do know that your nephew is a member of the Harlequin gang, don’t you? It wasn’t the first try. The police are aware of the first try.”
Were engaged,” Ruth corrected.
Your nephew told Ms. Davies that he was the leader of the Harlequins. I assume he wasn’t lying about that,” Keaton said.
He and Mr. Davies hoped to get the US government to lock down the LDs over Ms. Ruth’s kidnapping, expecting the LDs to revolt. At which time Mr. Davies’ would stop producing synthmeat.”
There would be a war,” Klein stated.
Yes, sir. That was Tristan and Mr. Davies’ plan. Start a war. Rid the world of a bunch of LDs and LAs. Then start producing synthmeat and settle the entire situation. To their benefit.”
That’s horrible,” Klein said.
It’s actually worse,” Keaton said. “Davies had business and government friends who were ready to help manage the new arrangement. They are still out there and ready to ‘manage’ things. They are why Ms. Davies needs your help.”
What can I do?” Klein asked.
The government would never let her have that much authority over who controls so much power,” Klein stated. “Everyone will want it!”
That’s why you are her choice for the job, Joe,” Keaton said and added a wink.
Oh...” Klein said letting out a long breath. Then he said, “I’m sure we can figure someway to work this out so that Ms. Davies maintains her personal safety.”
Great,” Keaton added. “I told her you would be the man who could help her.” Keaton paused then said, “And she wants Mr. Martin in jail for a very long, long time.”
I agree with her,” Klein stated. “He should be. It looks to me like he and Mr. Davies were trying to pull off some kind domestic terrorist plot. One of those ‘false flag’ things you hear about. Now, I can’t speak for any House or Senate committee, but it sounds to me like my nephew is in a lot of trouble from a lot of directions. We’re lucky this young lady was brave enough to stop it all by herself.”
Thank you, Mr. Klein,” Ruth said.
No, thank you, Ms. Davies. You have done the United States a great service. A service they, we, will never be able to repay.”
Chapter 34
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He grinned as he sat the plate down and then refilled the coffee cup. “Does everything look okay?”
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