Chapter 13

Friday came and went. I spent the entire day with my family, and we had a ball. I got there early, and found Rebecca and Colleen waiting for me in bed. They were dressed exactly alike – naked. They insisted I emulate their style of dress and then took full advantage of my condition, over and over again. Our laughter filled the suite.

Mr. Bell and Millie joined us about ten-thirty, and I discovered we were to get a briefing from Jack. He, of course, couldn't know my identity. Mr. Bell introduced me as their new assistant.

"Jack," He said, seriously. "David is the newest member of Brian's trust. He is being trained to assist both Colleen and me and has access to all information. Anything you need to brief us on, you can discuss with David. I hope you two have as cordial a relationship as you do with us."

Jack seemed surprised, but that did not distract him from his purpose. I was prepared with a lovely new briefcase, purchased by Millie at the nearby Sanford Mall, complete with legal pads, Cross pens, and various and sundry supplies that belonged in a working man's briefcase. When she presented the briefcase to me, I thanked her, hugged her, picked her up, and twirled her around, professing my undying devotion to her every wish.

Millie smiled from ear to ear and giggled like a schoolgirl. I swear Mr. Bell had as much fun with our antics as we did. Rebecca and Colleen watched in stunned silence. Millie was like a field full of flowers in springtime. Her gift was happiness. She kept surprising Colleen with her depth, knowledge, kindness and strength.

Jack greeted us all, stopping to take my measure with a very firm handshake, and got right down to business. "We are currently involved in three major operations for you, Mr. Bell. Two of those operations are really just one. We are protecting you four, and separately, staying on the Tim Sanderson situation.

"Sanderson is scheduled for a bail hearing late this afternoon. We have an agent in the courtroom, waiting for developments. I need to warn you all, Sanderson has some kind of inside connection to the judge. He is either a shirt tail relative, or there is some other significant tie that has us fully expecting him to make bail, at a very reasonable amount, if not ROR..."

Before he could continue Mille asked, "I'm sorry, Jack, but what does that mean – ROR?"

He smiled and would have answered but Colleen spoke up and said, "Mother, Rebecca, and David are not familiar with the legalese we speak. Forgive me for just a second. "Mother, ROR stands for Released on their Own Recognizance. It means that Tim Sanderson might very well just walk out of court, a free man, later this afternoon.

"Daddy, we need a plan for this." She was worried. Before Mr. Bell could speak, Jack continued.

"Miss Bell, We are all over Tim Sanderson. If he walks out of the jail this afternoon, we have an electronics specialist prepared to hack into the court's GPS ankle bracelet programming and follow him without him ever knowing it. If he violates the Order of Protection, that was slapped on him two months ago, we are prepared to put him in restraints and wait for the Sheriff to pick him up. If he happens to assault one of us, he won't like the outcome."

Listening and seeing Jack, I understood how serious that was going to be for David's father. If I had to guess, I'd say he was praying that Tim would go after me and Carol.

Jack looked hard at me and suddenly put it together. "You're David Sanderson, right? You're the one we're worried about, if the old man walks this afternoon."

Mr. Bell spoke up. "Jack, David has been invited by us to join Brian's trust. We are training him to be our assistant, and to take over for Colleen, when she takes over for me, someday. He is VERY important to our future, and protecting him is just as important as protecting Brian was, before ... well – just before." That stopped any discussion in its tracks. Mr. Bell was remarkable when it came to that type of thing. Jack would be running through brick walls to keep me from harm from now on.

Mr. Bell motioned for Jack to go on. "I think the next part of my report should be given to you, privately, Mr. Bell, with Miss Bell the only other person present. The details are quite unique and could be used against us in the future."

He waited. Mr. Bell thought.

We all waited.

He thought some more, and said to Colleen, "I think you, me, and David need to excuse ourselves for few minutes, go next door, and meet with Jack. He didn't give us any alternative, just stood and ushered us out the door, across the hall, and into his suite. Jack didn't look happy to be including me in the group, but he wasn't about to fight Mr. Bell.

"Ok, Jack. Let us have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly," he said to keep Jack moving.

"The team cleaning up your other assignment has been augmented; quite heavily I need to add, by contract employees of the US Department of Justice. Things got a little touchy, but then became less tense, when a certain Federal Judge met with us, however briefly.

"We have disposed of well over twenty 'specialists' working for the mob. The DOJ has been happy to receive custody of some eleven more, of various responsibilities and areas of expertise. Those areas include bomb making and delivery, long distance targeting (sharpshooters), pugilistic expertise (muscle), and international finances (money laundering).

"Our current task is to follow through on leads created by the thorough briefings of those captured, and prior to handing them over to DOJ. We have collected a great deal of information - locations, bank accounts, crooked bankers, bent politicians, and businesses formerly thought to be clean.

"Our sudden response team has successfully executed numerous raids, resulting in an enormous cash haul, significant intelligence collection, and some wet work when needed. We have a lead on the man who ordered the hit on Beth Morse. Our best team is on it as we speak. Hopefully, we'll know more soon. On the matter of payments, is it OK with you two, if we deduct our fees in cash, and make an accounting of the rest, when we turn it over to you?"

Mr. Bell looked at Colleen, who looked at me. I shrugged. Mr. Bell nodded, and Colleen said, "That is a great idea. Please do."

We were apparently finished, because Jack asked, "Any questions?" When there weren't any, Jack thanked Mr. Bell for not firing them when I was shot, and departed.

Tuning to me, Mr. Bell said, "What is your reaction to all that?"

I didn't even have to think about it. "I want him. I want him for ten minutes, all - to –myself!..." They must have seen it in my eyes, because they didn't try to talk me out of it, and didn't doubt my intentions for a second.

We rejoined Rebecca and Millie. Rebecca was handing Millie a lunch plate that came off a cart loaded with goodies, and we all joined her.

I looked at Colleen and said, "It's going to be a long afternoon, waiting for word about David's father, huh?"

"Oh, Baby," she tried to smile to chase away my worries, but it didn't work.

"Mr. Bell, I need to go home – to David's home – and wait for ... whatever is coming." I must have looked sad, because Millie, Colleen, and Rebecca were on me in an instant, hugging, kissing, and generally comforting me. In truth, I needed no comfort. What I really needed was a gun.

"Colleen, can you call Jack, and give me the phone, please?" I waited while she made the connection.

"Hey, Jack. David wanted to talk with you for a minute. He is heading home to be there to protect his mother, in case something goes wrong. Something Better NOT Go Wrong. Do not let that cretin near our David, or any of his family.

"Are we agreed? Good. Thank you. Now here's David..."

"Hey," I said, walking into the bedroom. "As Colleen said, I'm heading home to be between my mother and my father, should he walk, like you say he will. I don't have a gun, but I am very familiar with firearms, and a good shooter at the range. Can you help me out?" I listened while Jack ran through his list of reasons that my request was a bad idea, and then I handed the phone to Mr. Bell, when that didn't discourage me.

Mr. Bell took the phone, listened to Jack make his pitch, then said, "David is a remarkable young man. If he needs a weapon, then get him one. I would suggest an auto-loading shotgun. If that man gets past your crew, and tries to kill our David, then I insist he be equipped to defend his family. AND, if we're buying David a shotgun, make it an excellent one, a Mossberg don't you think? Are we clear? Good. Thank you. Have a good day, and do not let David experience what happened to Brian."

'Well, all-righty-then, ' I thought, with a smile.

My two ladies loved on me, big time, and sent me off with a different reason to smile. The ride back to David's home was quicker than normal. I was feeling the pressure of having to defend myself against the man that killed David.

'Why do people keep wanting to kill me?' I thought. 'What possible reason does Fate have to want each body I inhabit dead?'

It didn't matter why this low life wanted my head. If he came for me, I had to put him down. There was no alternative. If he got to the front door, that meant he was past Jack and his team. He was not going to hurt Carol, Jill, or Joan. It wasn't happening.

When I arrived home, a white van was parked down the street, and a man pushed a landscapers' cart into the front yard, caught my eye, and jerked his head towards the back yard. Out of sight of the street and neighbors, he lifted a package out of the cart, handed it to me, and said, "It's auto-loading, the safety is centered on the rear of the receiver, and there's a sling to carry spare shells.

"If you need extra shells, it's too damn late, and you're dead. Alternate the double ought with the solid slugs. Try not to get dead. It will ruin your day, and ours."

He was gone so fast, it seemed like he was never there.

I took the shotgun inside and practiced – aimed and dry-fired - until everything felt natural, then loaded it, set up a defensible place to sit, and waited.

At exactly three-forty two my phone rang. What is it about three-forty two? It was the third instance when that specific time of day came up.

It was Jack.

"Tim Sanderson walked out of the courtroom twenty minutes ago, ROR'd just like we thought. He went straight to bar and had a couple of drinks with some men we think must have been friends, then they all split up.

"Sanderson is still sitting there like someone trying to nail down their own alibi. It's got us spooked. You need to be on the ball. I have a supplemental team on the way, to back up the guy in the white van, but this might already be happening.

"Be careful. I'm on the way. We've got this dirt bag covered like a wool blanket. We're prepared to force his car off the road if we have to."

He was gone, and I was in first place, again.

Carol walked in right then, with both girls, saw my expression, and sent the girls to their room.

As soon as they were out of earshot she demanded an explanation. I sat her down and said, "Dad walked out of jail, half an hour ago. Some detectives think he might have hired a couple of drinking buddies to come over and hurt us.

"I'm not having my brains bashed out again, He's not laying on finger on you, or the girls.

"There's no point in arguing. You NEED to take Jill and Joan, and get out of town until I call you and let you know we're safe. Take the RAV4 and don't stop. He won't know about the new car, because he was in jail when we bought it, and he'll see the Camry is right where he expects to see it. Don't tell anyone where you're going, and don't stay somewhere nearby.

"There is a car full of guards coming, who can follow you until it's safe, but you have to go. Now."

She looked at me in a different way, and kissed my cheek. Hers was wet with tears. As she walked down the hall, I heard her tell the girls to hurry they had to leave immediately.

I called Jack. "My mother and sisters just walked in. I've convinced them to leave town until this is settled. You need to call the guy in the van and have him follow them and keep them safe.

"Whoever is coming, will come here. I need to know they're safe, before this thing blows up, and then I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make it stop. Just be sure my family is safe. Ok?" I don't where my poise came from, but I was calm, cool, and ready to rock and roll, if that's what it was going to take. Maybe the third time IS the charm...

Mr. Bell called within a minute of Jack hanging up. "David, I hear things are ... unsettled on your end. Jack swears he'll beat these guys to David's house, but we both know about those promises. Are you able to do what you have to do if they come for you, there?" He was sweating bullets. I could tell because his calm, laconic voice was gone, and he sounded as tight as a piano wire.