Chapter 81

We were killing time before we left for the airport to catch the chartered jet, so I made some calls. I had Tiny arrange for the two who escorted us before to meet us at the airport. I called the Sheriff and pulled in a favor and tried to get all the loose ends tied up before we left. When Farley and the rest came back from the cottage about an hour later, I saw that Michelle had been crying but she seemed to be holding up ok. When Farley caught my eye, he slightly nodded his head indicating that everything was ok. Timmy came running over and climbed into my lap, much to Kat's delight because she was looking at Michelle trying to make sure she was ok. Other than Timmy's enthusiasm about going back to the island, the conversation was a little subdued until the guard said over the intercom that the Sheriff was here. I told the guard to let the Sheriff in, and I got up, heading to the front door with Timmy hanging on to my hand the whole way. The Sheriff was accompanied by two deputies that I knew and I noticed they were driving the two unmarked Crown Vics that I had requested.

"Jon, I can't stay, but you know my friends here. They both took the special course at Langley last year and volunteered to escort you and your family to the airport. They will check in when you hit the interstate, and I will make sure the State Police run a loose tail on you the whole way for added security. Jon, I know you're thinking of your family, but I wish you didn't have to leave again. You know Judy is going to go crazy without Sally's company in school this year. Those two are like sisters and I think of you as a friend as I did your grandfather."

I thanked him and we shook hands before he left to go back to town. I called to Jubal and Farley and it took all of us about five minutes to load all the suitcases into the trunks of the two cars. We decided who was riding in what car and how we should be armed. I told both deputies that we would all be armed heavily and that we would give them our weapons when we got on the plane. I had already made arrangements with the Sheriff to give the weapons to Jeb to store for me. Then I remembered the papers for Tiny. I got them out of the safe and put them under the blueprints in the nursery. I decided I would take Myrna's letter with me and read it on the island. I almost left it in the safe, but felt guilty because I hadn't taken the time to read it yet. I thought I already knew part of what it said, but in all fairness to her, I knew I had to read it.

We went back to the kitchen and Kat was the ultimate hostess as usual, offering the deputies their choices of beverages. I had a sudden hunch and called Jerry. When he answered, I asked him about the envelope from my grandfather that he was holding. He put me on hold while he went to get it. I heard him pick up the phone again but for awhile all I could hear was the rustling of papers. Then he came back on the line.

"Jon, sifting through the top few documents, I do not want to discuss any of this on the phone. You will have to come into the office."

"Then it's going to be a long wait for that, Jerry. We are leaving for the island in a few minutes and won't be coming back until I think it's safe for my family to live here again. We will be on the island, so if it's that important, then you will just have to come there."

"Jon, you are part owner of my firm, but this time I want your word that if I come to you with these papers you won't shoot me on the spot. You are my friend, but you are not going to like what I am looking at."

"Why don't you just tell me, Jerry? It can't be as bad as you're letting on. I know my grandfather had his hands in a lot of things, but as far as I know none of them were crooked."

"Jon, this is not what I would call crooked, but just the top sheaf of papers is really going to set your temper off. To reiterate my objections, I will not discuss this on the phone. This is important enough that you need to meet with me in person."

"Then it's going to have to wait for a long time, Jerry. As I said, I am not setting foot back on American soil until I feel my family is safe. If you think it's that important, then you will just have to come to me when we get settled back on the island. Bring your family with you. Take a week and relax a little for a change. We have plenty of room and it won't cost any of you a thing."

"Ok, Jon. While I have this out, I will go through it and carry out some of the personal notes your grandfather left as instructions for me to handle personally. Jon, I don't want to worry you, but with what I am holding in my hand, you are going to be public enemy number one when it gets out. The church will want your head even worse than they already do. Jon, you guys please be careful, I think I am holding the reason why they want you, as well as Michelle and Timmy, so bad. I will see you on the island as soon as I can make the arrangements."

He hung up at that point, leaving me with more unanswered questions. What the hell had my grandfather been into that would have such a wide reaching effect on me and the church, I wondered? I went back to the kitchen and rounded everyone up. When we got situated in the cars, Timmy put up a fight when he found out he wasn't riding with me. We finally compromised when Michelle asked Kat if it was ok. I immediately got out-voted by Kat and Sally to let him ride between them in the back. I just threw my hands in the air to Jubal and Farley's laughter. When I climbed in the front next to the deputy, I looked back and all three of them were grinning at me. Timmy stuck his tongue out at me to Kat's and Sally's laughter. I just turned back around with a grin on my face as we pulled out.