She reported to George about the meeting and the success in placing the tracking device. He asked her to find the guy who met with Richards and pump him for information.
“Thanks for getting that done; now I can track Richards from the computer and have a record of his travels. His wife should be at her aerobics class, swing by his house and place the other trackers on his car and then hers.”
“Not a problem, I’ll check out the gang banger, get the cars and then I’ll break for lunch.”
***
Sam was very quiet during the ride home and both Grumpy and Mary tried to get her mind off her worries with no success.
“Sam, how would you like to stop by the Dairy Bell and get a hamburger, fries and a chocolate shake?”
“Go ahead, but I’m not hungry.”
They drove for a while and Mary thought to herself that perhaps confronting the issues and making them come to the surface would be for the best.
“Sam, we need to come up with a name for the baby.”
“Mom, I’m new to this parenting stuff, but don’t you have to know if it’s a boy or girl before you pick a name?”
“Dear, we’ll pick a boy’s name and a girl’s name then you’ll have the right name in a couple of months when you find out its sex. Then we can decorate its bedroom and start buying pretty little clothes.”
“Dad, can we get that hamburger? I think I am hungry.”
“Yes, and now you are eating for two.”
***
Grumpy cleaned out his office in the barn and set up a PC and other office supplies. He wanted to get started working on his project to investigate the murders at the cabin and find out as much about Collins Sr. as possible. He talked with Rick to help him hire a private detective to do the footwork and not be traced back to Grumpy. Rick’s company provided the detective and Rick gave Grumpy advice on how to perform the investigation and keep his name far away from the search. The detective would pose as a news reporter working for a conservative newspaper out of D.C. and thanks to Rick’s contacts would have proper ID and a friend at the paper would vouch for him if caught snooping. This would cost a large sum of money, but Grumpy felt that Collins was a major threat to Sam and his family so the money would be well spent.
The office door was locked when Grumpy was working on the investigation. There was a rattle of the doorknob and Grumpy pulled his .45 and got ready for anything.
Then he heard Mary say, “Bill, are you in there?”
He opened the door and let her come in. He pushed a chair over to her and sat down behind his desk. Mary looked around the room and saw different colored sticky notes all over the wall across from Grumpy.
“Bill, what the heck is this? It looks like a detective’s office on one of those murder mystery TV shows.”
“Mary that is exactly what this is. I am following up on Collins and looking into the murders at the cabin.”
"I thought Joe told you to stop and not draw attention to yourself.”
“Mary, Rick has taught me how to use the internet by avoiding wireless connections and a proxy server based in China. Remember we also have a security feature that tells us if anyone searches our names or tries to hack into our computers or phones. I also installed eight inches of insulation around this room so no one can use a listening device to hear us talk. I am being very careful.”
“I trust you, but keep this away from Sam. We want to have her prepared, not paranoid.”
“Do you think that I am paranoid?”
“No Bill, you are an adult and can handle the stress of this horrible situation. A fifteen-year-old pregnant girl is fragile and I want her prepared not paranoid. Our story to her is that we never want to be in a position where someone can break into our house and hurt one of us. I don’t want her to know that we think that there is a definite threat out there waiting for us to make a mistake.”
“Mary, I couldn’t agree more. Please remind me if you see me getting too carried away in all of this security preparation.”
“Bill, I’m not worried about the preparation. I’m worried about what the investigation will find and will anything blow back on our family.”
Grumpy thought for a minute and decided to give her an update on the investigation.
“Mary, the PI to investigate Collins is going to cost ten to twenty thousand dollars. We can live the rest of our lives just on Social Security and your investments in very good style. I am willing to spend much of our other money to take Collins out and stop him from being a danger to Sam, you and me. My gut says that he will be coming for us eventually. He is very wealthy and we killed his only child.”
“Bill, I agree. I also want to take any steps necessary to keep us all safe. The security system and safe room were a start. Please ask Rick what else can be done to keep us all safe from Collins or anyone else.”
“I’m one step ahead of you. I’ll be talking with Rick tomorrow for some training for all of us to make sure that we can handle an attack if it does happen. Joe Richards is still investigating Collins along with at least one government agency so perhaps they will nail him before he turns his anger towards us.”
Mary turned to Bill, kissed him and held him tight for a minute.
She then said, “I’m so glad that you know what to do to protect us. I also think that the training will be good for Sam. It not only teaches her discipline and how to defend herself it also keeps her mind off the other bad things in her life. This will help her not feel so powerless."
Two days later saw all three of them in a self-defense course taught by Rick’s company. Even though Sam was nine weeks along, she could safely perform all of the moves and counter actions. They drilled every other day for four hours for five lessons. On alternate days, they practiced shooting at Rick’s private training course. Rick sold Grumpy two Ruger P95s from his personal stock so Collins had no way to know about the transaction.
They walked on to the target range and Grumpy put a bag on the bench and set another down below the bench. He took the two 9mm P95s out of the bag and set four loaded magazines by each one. He then opened the longer bag and placed two 16-gauge pump shotguns beside the pistols.
Grumpy said, “Ladies, these are my gift to you. These Rugers are a bit big, but they carry enough firepower to handle any situation that you will encounter. The magazines hold 16 rounds each; that’s a lot of firepower. Most gunfights end rather quickly with only a few rounds expended. The shotguns are both 16 gauge and won’t punish you as you shoot them like a 12 gauge would. You’ll also find eye and hearing protection on the bench. Rick’s guy will begin your training. Enjoy blasting the hell out of those targets.”
Grumpy and Rick watched as the ladies received their training.
“Bill, I know that you think some of what I am doing and instructing you to do are a bit over the top, but your safety is the only thing important at this time. People that cross Collins tend to disappear or have unfortunate accidents. Let’s keep y’all below the radar as we complete your safety program.”
Grumpy replied, “Rick, I trust you and my gut tells me that Collins will be sending someone after us. I want all of us able to escape or fight off the attackers. Keep up the excellent work.”
“Bill, I am worried about the amount of money that you are spending. Can you afford the expenses?”
“Rick, I am paying cash for everything. I invested wisely and had some good luck. I will not spend anything I can’t afford. Even if this situation blows over, I’ll have the peace of mind that my family can take care of itself.”
“You’re the boss.”
✼ ✼ ✼
✼
Chapter 24
She waited on the gang member to come out of the bar and get in his car. She pulled a mask over her face, got in the seat behind him and poked her Glock into his neck.
She said, “Move and you won’t have a neck. What were you and Sgt. Richards talking about? Don’t look back here or I’ll blow your brains all over this
piece of shit car.”
“You know that I can’t tell you about our meeting. That’s official 5-0 business between him and me. Besides, it is broad daylight and people are all around us. You won’t shoot.”
He felt a stabbing pain in his back just as she said, “You are right about me not wanting to draw a crowd, but my M7 bayonet will slice through your back if you don’t tell me what I want.”
“I can’t tell you anything. I’ll go back to jail.”
She pushed the knife another half inch and he started talking.
“Joe wanted to know about my dealings with Jack Collins. I just sold Jack some coke and weed. Nothing more. That sick bastard was into young girls and I didn’t want anything to do with that shit.”
“Did you tell the cop about the young girls and what did you tell him?
“I just told him that once Jack asked if I knew anyone that traded in 10–15 year old virgins. I thought he was kidding. I told him to stop joking and pay for his drugs.”
She shoved the bayonet through the seat back and used both hands to pull upward. She dropped several pills and a pinch of coke on the front seat and slowly got out of the car and walked around the block to her car. The police would close the case quickly as a drug related crime. She had parked in an alley without surveillance cameras, drove away from the bar through residential areas and avoided cameras. She drove to her favorite restaurant just south of downtown Louisville and got her usual table at the back away from the lunch crowd.
The waiter said, “Miss Jane, will it be the usual," as he poured her a cup of coffee with two sugars and a small amount of cream.”
“No Zeke, I’d like the club sandwich and a cup of bean soup today. How are Hellen and the kids doing?”
“They are all fine. Little Barb has been accepted to Western and will be moving out at the end of summer. Hellen will be crying a lot.”
“Now, be nice to her.”
“I will.”
“How is your family doing, Miss Jane? You don’t speak much about them.
“As I told you, I was an orphan and have two cats, Ying and Yang. I care a lot about them and they are great company.”
“Now, Miss Jane, don’t tell me that there’s not a man in your life.”
“Never had the time for one and the one that I had, tried to beat up on me. That kind of soured me on men.”
“Sorry, for digging into your personal life.”
“Zeke, I’ve been coming here for what, about ten years? You are one of my favorite people and if men were like you, I’d have two or three.”
“Now Miss Jane, you made my day.”
Zeke walked away to wait on another customer and Jane wondered what Zeke would think about her if he knew that she had cut up her last boyfriend and fed him to the alligators down in Mobile.
“Tell George that Richards is still investigating Jack Jr. on his own. He is not assigned to the case. So far, he has done nothing that would help us blackmail him. I’ll stay after him. Oh that drug dealer told Richards that Jack Jr. had tried to get him to deliver some young virgins. I took care of him and set it up to look like a drug buy gone bad.”
“My best guess is that we won’t find anything that we can blackmail him with. I’ll recommend threats to his family or elimination.”
“I agree. Let me know if you want him taken care of.”
“Hold on, the boss thinks that there has been too much news floating around about Jack and his perversions. Let’s try to find the dirt, if not, we threaten him first.”
***
Grumpy had been to town for more car parts and noticed that he was running a little late picking Sam up. He hopped in the truck and sped over to the school to find Sam and Kathy standing there waiting on him.”
“Hello Kathy, how are you doing this afternoon?”
“I am great. How are you Mr. Jones?”
“Finer than frog hair split three ways as my dad always said.”
Kathy and Sam just looked at him with a puzzled look.
He saw the question in their faces and said, “That means real extra special good.”
They both laughed and Sam said, “Remember Kathy is coming over after school so we can do some homework together. I told Mom and probably didn’t mention it to you.”
“That’s okay with me. Kathy is always welcome in our home.”
Sam and Kathy placed their backpacks in the bed of the old truck and they took off for home. Grumpy listened to the two just chat away about school and Kathy’s boyfriends.
Grumpy asked, “Kathy do you know Jeff Stone? What do you think about him?”
Kathy replied, “I know that he has a crush on Sam and tries to talk with her every chance he gets. He plays football and baseball, but is more of a computer nerd than a jock. He has won some awards for that kind of stuff.”
“Dad, are you trying to get me to be friends with Jeff again? No boy wants to date a girl that got knocked up by another man. I’ll die an old maid.”
“Sam, please say pregnant around Mom. I know that you are upset by this ordeal, but be as nice as you can.”
Before Sam could speak, Kathy replied, “I don’t know. He seems pretty into you, so maybe he wouldn’t care. I’d be his girlfriend if I didn’t have Malcolm and Henry to deal with.”
They both laughed and Sam said, “I just don’t feel safe around men after everything that has happened.”
The girls played with Sammy and then started on their homework in Sam’s room until supper and then they both helped set the table.
Mary had prepared fried chicken, brown beans, mashed potatoes and a pecan pie for supper. The girls both cleaned their plates and had another plate full.
Kathy looked at Mary and said, “This is the best food that I’ve ever had. I love fried chicken.”
“Kathy, I only fry something once a month since fried food is supposed to be bad for you, but Bill and I love it so much. I’ll give you the recipe for your Mother if you would like.”
“My mom can’t cook. She spent her early years protesting and working in politics and never learned to cook. My dad is a fair cook, but can’t cook as good as this.”
“Kathy what does your Mom and Dad do for a living?”
"My dad, Nathan, is an engineer for the City of Louisville and my mom, Gail, is a professor of African American Studies at UL.”
“What do you plan to major in at college?”
“I want to be a housewife and have a bunch of kids. Mom says that women have come too far to stay home and just watch over a house.”
Mary said, “I never worked outside of our home and I wonder at times if that was the right thing to do. I enjoyed cooking for the kids and taking them to ball games and such. I don’t know what I’d want to be if I was your age.”
The girls excused themselves and went up to Sam’s room. Kathy got out her Dad’s laptop and started an internet search on Collins Industries. Kathy’s dad had installed a 4G card in her laptop so they could use the laptop out by the pool at their house.
“Sam you use your laptop to search for missing girls and I will keep searching Collin’s business.”
“Like I’m going to use my computer for that. The security dude warned us not to go on the internet form our house. We will have to use yours and the school’s computers for our research. We will be safe using yours since it is not hooked into our system.”
“Okay then, use my phone to do your research. It won’t be on your system either.”
They kept charts, maps and lists of all of Collin’s assets, businesses and business associates. They also started a chart of his political contacts and events that he attended. Sam chased down all unsolved missing young teenaged girls and was surprised how many there were within the 100 mile radius around Louisville.
“Sam, let’s use this mapping program to drop pins at the location of each missing girl.”
An hour later, they noticed that the pins were much heavier along the corridor on either side of Highway 65 South bel
ow Louisville. They expanded their search another 50 miles and dropped pins for each case and found that the pins dropped off dramatically south of Nashville.
“Someone from this area has been abducting young girls for over 30 years. Many appear to be homeless or from poor families who can’t afford to follow up on their missing daughter. They also prefer blonds.”
“We need to take the time to expand this map of missing girls out another 100 miles to make sure that we are correct.”
“Sam, I think you are right, but it appears that we have had someone taking these girls and no one is doing anything about it.”
The girls searched the records that covered an additional 100 miles out from Louisville and found that they were correct. There was a cluster representing hundreds of abductions over 30 years that followed Highway 65 south to Nashville. It was about 25 miles wide and clustered around the major roads that branched off 65.
***
“Sir, we have not been able to get any dirt on Richards, but a drug dealer told him that Jack Jr. had asked him about obtaining some young women. The drug dealer won’t talk anymore. Richards is freelancing and has not been assigned to Jack’s case. Actually, the state police are trying to close the case, but a couple of politicians keep pushing for an investigation.
“Thanks for the update. I want to think about this and give you some guidance.”
“Sir I also need to tell you that my IT resource informed me that there has been some serious research aimed at Jack, your company and you. He dug deeper and found that the same person was performing major research into missing girls in the area surrounding Louisville to Nashville. The person performing the research is Nathan Cole. He is the father of Kathy Cole. She is the best friend of the girl that Jack allegedly abducted.”
Grumpy, Sam and Sammy: A Murder Mystery and Thriller Page 15
