She not only knew but handed him a small piece of paper with the directions on how to get there. He didn’t ask. Robby wanted to know who had given them to her, but he was afraid the answer was going to freak him out again. It never occurred to him how much more the animals knew about his farm than he knew. Like there not just being a pig farm on the land, but ponds he could be utilizing for the place too.
Something occurred to Robby as he was looking at the handwritten directions. Not that it hadn’t occurred to him before, but now it wasn’t just something that was a passing thought. He was in over his head when it came to his only child. Robin, for all his trouble, was even worse than he’d thought he was.
“I’ve messed up here. Not just with the horses. I can take care of them to the best of my ability, and I think I now have the best people on board to help out. But this thing with my son. I have a feeling I’m going to need more than just a little help on this.” He looked at Rogue. “I know you offered, several times now, for you and your family to help me out with this, but I have only just realized I’m going to be messing it up because of what he is to me.”
“No, I don’t think you will, Robby. I think, and this could be just me listening to what you’re saying, you’ve had an idea that your son was doing things you wouldn’t have approved of for some time now. Billy here only gave you the proof.” He said that was it. “We’ll help you. We’ll help you in any way you want. Or, and I think this might be best for you, we just go ahead and take over the problem and do it the way you’d want it done if he’d been anyone else.”
“I’d have just shot him and been done with it.” She didn’t so much as blink at him when he said that. Robby wasn’t sure he didn’t think this was just the way it should be handled. Robin was killing people and profiting from it and using Robby’s ranch to do it from. “All right. I think I’d like you to take it over. I do want to know, but perhaps not until it’s necessary that I do. I have it in my head that I’m also going to have to take some heat about this. I’ll be all right with that so long as I know things are—”
“He’s coming.” No one moved when Billy spoke. The front door opened, and he could hear Robin bitching about the weather, which had turned out to be a rainy day instead of one of the nice sunny ones they’d had of late. Opening the door to his office, Robby watched as his son wiped his feet on the area rug in his room rather than outside, where the mud and dirt belonged. Robin didn’t so much as look in the direction of the two women but told his dad about his morning so far.
“Robin, you’re being rude. You should at least acknowledge the other people in the room. And next time you’re thinking of coming into my office unannounced, I’d appreciate it if you were to knock.” He asked him why he’d have to do that. “Because, as I pointed out to you before, it’s not just rude, but what if I’d been having a meeting about something important? You would have been interrupting that.”
“Dad, I hate to point it out to you, but you’re old. And since we both know this place is going to need younger blood soon, you should be having me come and sit in on your meetings anyway.” He glanced in the direction of Billy. “Don’t get too comfy working here, kid. Once I own this place, you won’t be anywhere near here. I have people that will do right by me, and I know you aren’t really in need of a job in the first place. Your family has all the money.”
“Robin Quarter.” Robby was embarrassed by his son and the words coming out of his mouth. “You behave yourself. And I’m not so sure I’m leaving at all. Much less leaving this place to you. I kind of like working my own ranch.”
“Whatever, Dad. No one lives forever. Now, as I was telling you about my morning, I’m going to need to borrow your company truck for a few days. I have some running around to do, and it involves toting things around that won’t fit in my car.” Robby asked him what sort of things. “Never you mind about that, Dad. I’m making progress on things, and sometimes it takes a little more than my little sports number to get those things taken care of.”
“You mean the body you have hidden away? Or is it perhaps the money you stole off the car dealership you tore up two weeks ago? You remember the one, don’t you, Robin? They allowed you to test drive a car even though you’ve had your license suspended for a year now. The man you beat up, he’s going to press charges against you. I’m going to make sure of it.” Robin looked at him, then turned in his chair and looked at Rogue. “There are all sorts of things I could tell you I know, but it would be easier for me to just tell you there is very little you do that I’m not aware of.”
“You’re full of shit.” He looked at him. Robby looked hard at his son. That was when he noticed there was blood on his cheek. His hair also had small stains of it. Pointing these out of his son, Robin just laughed. “Dad, I’m not going to sit here and be accused of shit she knows nothing about. Just give me the fucking truck keys, and I’ll be on my way. And for the way that I’ve been treated just now, I’d not expect to get them back anytime too soon.”
“You didn’t deny it.” Robin asked him what he’d said. “I said you didn’t deny it. The murder of a man. The car dealership. You didn’t deny any of it. Nor did you seem too compelled in explaining why there is blood on your face.”
“Dad, I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but I’m a grown fucking man, and I haven’t had to explain myself to you in a very long time.” Robby nodded but kept staring at his son, seeing him in a whole new light. Or perhaps, he thought, he was just now seeing him clearly. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know where she got her information, but I’m telling you right now that I’m not going to sit here and try and explain myself to a stranger. Give me the keys, and I’ll pretend like none of this happened.”
“But I’m the one asking you.” Robin stood up, and suddenly Robby was afraid. Not just that he’d hurt him, but that he would continue hurting others. “I’m not going to give you the keys so you can use my vehicle to cart a dead body out to the hog pen. Nor am I going to allow you to use my good name to get yourself out of things you’ve been doing. As of this moment, I’m going to do something I should have done years ago. I’m washing my hands of you.”
“Because someone came here spouting things off that neither you nor they have any idea about.” Robby stood up, straightening his body out its full length to let his son see he wasn’t nearly as old or as feeble as Robin thought he might be. “Dad, you’re making a mistake here. One that your ass can’t cover.”
“Am I? I don’t think so. I think that not only can my ass cover what I’m going to say to you, but you’re the one that will be in trouble.” He didn’t take his eyes off Robin as he spoke to Rogue. “Rogue, it’s time you take over. If you’d be so kind as to call the police, I’d very much appreciate it. I’m going to give them whatever they want.”
Robin drew back, and it was all Robby could do not to cringe from what he was sure would be a mighty blow. But he didn’t hit him. Nor did his hand come forward in the least bit. It wasn’t until he moved his head slightly that he could see that not only did Rogue have this, but she had also put a gun to the back of Robin’s head. As sure as he was standing there, he was positive she’d have no trouble at all in using it either.
“I’ve called the police, Mr. Quarter. They’re on their way. And Aunt Parker is going to talk to them about where the bodies are that Robin has killed.” Robin didn’t move, but the hatred Robby could almost taste coming off his body was palpable. He thanked Billy. “You should also know that my family is on their way. Uncle Quin has been talking to them, and they’re going to go out to the hog pen too. There is enough out there that they can figure out who has been put there by your son.”
“You can’t prove shit. This is going to be bad for you, Dad. You just wait and see.” Robby told him he wasn’t worried. “I’m not talking about the police, Dad, but what I’m going to do to you when I’m out of this shit. And there is no doubt at all that I’ll
be out before you can figure out where to hide from me. Because no matter where you go, I’m going to find you and kill your ass for this. The other two as well.”
Suddenly he just dropped. There wasn’t any kind of movement other than that Robin was suddenly on the floor. Robby looked at Rogue, who was smiling.
“Oops. I think I might have hit him too hard.” Robby laughed. It was that, or he was going to cry. “Robby, you have nothing to worry about from him. I swear to you that I will protect you as I would one of my family. Because you are to us. Family, I mean. He’ll be in jail, then on to prison. Robin has a lot of things to answer for.”
“I know.” He did know, but it didn’t make him feel any better that he’d let this slide by for so long. “I’m going to call my attorney and get things fixed up while he’s gone. It’s high time I started taking care of things the way I should have all along.”
“Good for you.” He looked at Billy when she spoke to him. “I want you to know something, Mr. Quarter. I was going to come out here and talk to you myself. You’ve made me feel that good about being able to come to you. I didn’t feel like you’d have a problem with me being able to talk to the animals either. You, in just the few minutes I spoke to you before, made me feel like I was someone you could trust. And I trust you as well.”
“Thank you, Billy. That was…well, honey, that was just what I needed, I think.” She nodded, then did something he thought she rarely did—she hugged him. Tightly too. It was then that Robby realized it had been much too long since anyone had hugged him. It was something else he was going to change. He was going to be a more approachable man from now on. “You come on back out whenever you can, child. I’d like to talk to you about some other things. Do you play chess?”
“Yes. My dad taught me.” He nodded. “I’m going to be happy to work for you too. And I’ll feel safer. Thank you, sir, for the opportunity to do what I’ve wanted to do all my life. Work with horses.”
Going to his office after Robin was taken away and the women left, he called his attorney. It was something he’d been meaning to do for some time now. Charlie had been telling him it was time to update for years.
“Christ, I’m so happy to hear that. I was just thinking about you the other day and how I needed to call you.” He told Charlie what had happened and what was going on. “You’re going to need an attorney too, Robby. I’ll see what I can find out for you on my end. If you say the Fosters are working with you, I’ll rest easier knowing you’re in good hands. Is Cass going to represent you?”
“I never thought to ask, but I will. You won’t do it?” He said he wasn’t up to date on laws concerning what he’d need, but he knew Cass was the best. “Then I’ll see. They told me they’d take care that I was taken care of. An old man like me sure does like it when people say that to him rather than threatening him about how they’re going to kill him. I tell you, Charlie, I’ve never been so afraid in my life until then.”
“I can understand that. I certainly can. But you ask, and I’ll wait to hear from you. Also, since I’m assuming you’re not leaving him the ranch, you’re going to have to think of someone or something to do with it.” He said he’d think on it, but he had a good idea. “I’m sure you do. And so you know, I’m going to change over your other policies as well. Some of them still have your wife’s name on them as beneficiary. That is something else we’ll need to take care of. I’ll take care of the banking information now. I don’t want anyone coming in to say you have to cover anything Robin has done. He’s what, in his thirties now?”
He had to think and realized his son was coming up on his fortieth soon. “Yes, I think this is good timing. Taking him out of the will, that’ll have to be first and foremost. Changing the locks is another thing I’ll have done before I see you.”
Charlie said he’d see him tomorrow and that he’d have everything but the beneficiary taken care of. After talking to him for a little bit longer, he called Cass. Might as well figure out if he had the best wording in the will so Robin couldn’t get a damned thing. Cass wasn’t in, but he was able to leave a message. After that, Robby decided he wanted a thick steak for dinner. Calling up Quin, he had him meet him in town. It was time to get things rolling in a much better direction.
~*~
Missy wasn’t sure what all the hoopla was about, but the courtroom was packed. She’d been brought here by the police last night when she’d been arrested. It had taken her most of the day to have someone notice she was shoplifting. Starved and without a place to stay, she’d had to resort to other means of getting something in her belly and clean clothing. She was going to bring that up at this hearing as well.
They’d been kind enough to feed her, even though it was past dinner time. The officers had also offered her a much-needed shower, as well as an extra bar of soap so she could scrub her underthings. Missy couldn’t remember being this broke before. Not that she was really broke, but having no access to her funds was putting a huge damper on her days. That was on her list too.
When the courtroom was called to order, she waited until she was asked if she had anything to say before she nodded, standing up. Missy had seen enough court dramas to know that misbehaving wouldn’t get her shit. It was the polite and intelligent people that got off. She was good at that. Not only that, but she thought of herself as smart enough to know when to shut up and when to speak. Today was going to be testing the limits of her ability to do the first part.
“Ms. Tyler, I’m to understand from your court-appointed attorney that you’ve decided to represent yourself in this. Do you believe that’s a good move?” She said she was sure it was. “All right then. We’ll begin. It says here that you’ve bribed a sitting judge, committed insurance fraud, as well as theft of a house.” He looked at her. “How does one go about stealing a house?”
“She was stupid, I guess. And that is why I don’t think I should have any of this held against me, Your Honor. What sane person thinks an ex-wife would have any rights to anything her ex-husband left specific instructions to give to his current girlfriend? I know, I know what you’re going to say. It was still stealing from her. Well, she didn’t have enough sense to fight very hard for it, so my thinking is, she doesn’t deserve anything. I should just be able to go on as I have been.” Missy laughed. “Then there are the children. She actually took on three brats that didn’t belong to her. And if that wasn’t enough, she didn’t even fight me for any kind of support since they’re my kids. See? Stupid on all accounts.”
“So you’re admitting to fraud? You’re telling me you knew you were entitled to none of the things you’ve taken from Ms. Fisher, and you still did it?” Missy was sensing that the man wasn’t understanding the totality of the situation, and she explained it to him again. “I understand that you believe Ms. Fisher to be stupid. You’ve pointed your opinion out on that matter several times. However, you’ve not explained to me why you bribed a judge and committed all kinds of fraudulent acts against this young woman, not to mention your own children.”
“I don’t know why I’d have to explain this to you either, but I was out for a little fun. It’s not at all my fault that she didn’t have the funds to make sure that she won, and I didn’t.” There were people in the room acting like they’d never heard of the concept of trying something out for the fun of it. “Look. Everyone likes to shake things up a little. Fun is what makes us young and happy. Don’t you see? I don’t know what to tell you, Your Honor. I’ve been enjoying living in the lap of luxury. Being able to come and go as I please without a worry one. There this woman sits with too many children and no money.” When the attorney sitting next to Lily stood up, clearing his throat, she turned to him. “I don’t know what you think you’re going to gain by interrupting the big boys here, but say your piece, then sit down and shut up. We’re talking here, and whatever input you have to say on this is a moot point.”
“Thank you ever so much fo
r your permission to speak.” The man handed the paperwork to the judge, who looked it over then handed it back. When she was handed the same paperwork, she just laid it aside. It was meaningless to her anyway. “You might want to take a look at that, Ms. Tyler. It might well be your downfall.”
“Doubtful. I’m not nearly as stupid as your client is.” She didn’t even bother with looking even when he walked away. “What do you say, Judge? Am I going to have to pull out my wallet for you as well? I can tell you right now you’re going to have to hold the check for a couple of days. At least until you get them to take the hold off my accounts and credit cards.”
She smiled when he cocked a brow at her. Missy wasn’t worried. Whatever happened after this, she’d be home in time for dinner after taking a much-needed shower then soaking in the tub.
The man that had interrupted her stood up again. “Your Honor, this is a blatant crime of Ms. Tyler’s to not only get rid of her children but to also take the safety and security of their livelihood from them. Not only that, but she attempted to bribe you in open court if that was what it would take for you to see things her way.” She turned to him, not remembering his name, but he put up his hand. “You shut your trap, Ms. Tyler. I’ve had about enough of you and your badgering and bullying today. What you did is horrendous. Not only to Ms. Fisher but to your children that she’s been taking care of since her future husband was murdered.”
“She seems to be doing all right.” Missy turned back to the judge. “So, what’s it going to be? Do I pay you as I did the other guy, or are we just going to call it a day and I get my things back? Either way is fine by me. I just want this over with. And also, can you make it some kind of rule that she can’t do this every few years? It’s ridiculous to have me locked out of my home and having my life disrupted again and again.”
Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3) Page 9