The Sweeper File (Remote Traveler Series Book 2)

by Finian Blake

  “When it comes time which one are you going to choose?”

  “I don’t have to choose momma. I can have them both.” Boris seemed to melt as Cherry kissed him on one cheek and Rhonda kissed him on the other cheek.

  “We both love your son. He has a huge,” Rhonda delayed intentionally, “brain.”

  “Brain,” Tamar stared blankly at Boris, “brains are sexy?”

  “Yes my dear,” Cherry purred “brains are very sexy.”

  Helen was relieved when she opened the door to find Rhonda and Cherry were both somewhat over dressed for the party.

  “Rhonda I am so glad that you could make it after you were finished at the office. I am glad to see Boris and Tamar were able to come also. Cher is playing with Sue they were both excited when they heard that you were coming.” Helen coughed discretely. “A Colleen Arthur is here to see you and Adam is here.”

  “Adam…,” Cherry screeched. Rhonda looked down the hallway to see Edward turn and start walking toward them but it was not Edward. Edward’s hair was longer and darker. This had to be Adam. Cherry warned her that the three brothers looked very similar and that all three were born only a month apart. Adam’s features were harder than Edwards and he had a wolfish predator’s smile. Cherry analyzed his expression.

  “Adam you’ve been getting laid.” Cherry’s statement caused Adam to blush.

  “You always put things so crudely,” Adam said with a stiff British accent.

  “You will always get the unvarnished truth from me,” Cherry boasted. “Adam I would like you to meet Rhonda my permanent other.” Cherry could see the predator look in Rhonda’s eyes. “If you want to dump me for him I can understand. My baby brother is the catch of a life time. All of the women at the Inn would like to land Adam, but nobody has been able to even get laid by him.” A voice came floating over Adam’s shoulder and Cherry finally noticed Colleen standing behind Adam. Colleen had a completely different appearance she looked very much like the rest of the women at the Inn having changed her hair style and makeup even changing the way that she carried herself.

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Colleen purred with a solid confidence.

  “Colleen what are you doing here. You were scheduled for two more weeks of training.” Cherry’s voice did hold a note of surprise in it. She had been busy with matters over here and events at the other end were completely unknown to her for the last few weeks.

  “I have a message for you from Susan. Can we talk in private?” Cherry looked to Helen.

  “Try the den I will see that you are not disturbed.” Helen pointed to the first door off of the hall. Cherry and Rhonda led the way with Colleen in tow.

  “What can I do for you dear?” Cherry waded right in.

  “I came to tell you that I am quitting the NSA. Rhonda will need a new assistant.” Colleen’s voice was clear and even with no sign of distress.

  “Why pray tell,” Rhonda asked evenly.

  “I am a damn fine accountant, and a piss poor assistant. I landed another job.” A confident note of excitement was coming up in Colleen’s voice. “Susan and Momma Lynn had me over to dinner several times. When you decided to move half of your operation to the states they decided that you required a damn fine accountant.” Cherry’s jaw dropped reflexively.

  “I will have to think that one over, but since the suggestion came from Momma Lynn I will have to say yes.”

  “Yes…,” Colleen was dumbfounded that Cherry would cave in that fast.

  “Look, Momma Lynn is the reason that we have a combined wealth of over two billion Pounds so she is the diamond standard for advice and you will most likely be our accountant. I will let you know in the morning.”

  “You will have to call us at the Greenbrier.” Coleen purred, “Tom has arranged for a helicopter to fly us up there in the morning.”

  “Us…,” Rhonda raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes… us…” Colleen said smoothly. “Adam had Sera arrange a cottage for us for five days.”

  “Well if you scream during sex the cottages are the place to be. And they are close to the spa, so you can get a rubdown after Adam rubs you down.” Rhonda’s voice sounded serious but Cherry took some time to find her voice.

  “You…, you bagged bad boy Adam. Nobody and I mean nobody that I have ever met has ever been able to get more than a brotherly hug or a peck on the cheek from my brother.” Cherry’s voice turned into a humorous shriek. “How in the hell did you land the most eligible bachelor around.”

  “Well he just got back from six months in Afghanistan by surprise. I was having dinner with Momma Lynn and Susan at the time. We went to the pub and then back to the guest cottage after we had ten or fifteen. He was going to stay with Momma Lynn and he never made it.” Colleen blushed furiously. “Let me tell you, when they call him a drill instructor, Adam has all of the instructions down for his drill. When you don’t get it right he gives you a good tongue lashing.” Colleen blushed a brighter shade of red as she spoke. All three women were rocking in their chairs with laughter when Adam knocked on the door.

  “Is everything alright?” Adam said through the closed door.

  “We were just laughing at how Momma Lynn likes to micro-manage things. She just made Colleen my accountant.”

  Colleen’s face took on a serious expression. “Momma Lynn told me that if you took her advice that she would invest seventy-five to match Alex and Anna’s seventy-five. So that adds one fifty to whatever you are putting in to the deal.”

  “I should have sixty so I will put in 55 and that will give us 210 but try to limit the expenses to 150. Sera, has a copy of the Knolls plans and will let us use them. I want to double the size and do something similar with the construction. The person that is developing the properties that Tom’s house is on has 160 acres in back of this house and there seems to be a substantial rise one third of the way back from the other road. Colleen when you come back I want you to see if you can secure that property and try to keep it around twenty million. Rhonda, work with Boris and see what his requirements will be for his computers then cap him at $50,000,000 but go to seventy if he has a good reason. 50,000 square feet at one hundred dollars a square foot finished will be $5,000,000 with $2,000,000 more for landscaping, roads and drives will bring us to seven million plus twenty for the property. That should put us at $82,000,000 add another $10,000,000 for production equipment and ten percent for cost over ride bringing us up to $102,000,000 rounding the total up to $110,000,000. We will try and hold the figure there. I want to be a 50% stakeholder.”

  “Colleen we will be keeping my end at $55,000,000 million and add equally from Alex and Lynn’s guarantees as necessary but I would like to hold 50% stake if not more.”

  “What terms should we push for in the contract?” Rhonda was concerned.

  “There is no contract when it is time for money just call Momma Lynn and the money will be there. Colleen you are our accountant and you will be dealing with Momma Lynn directly.” Cherry held up her hand. “Rhonda we have time to work on this later. Colleen has a good tongue lashing due from Adam and I have a three way face to crotch conference on the schedule with you and Boris.” The three ladies walked out of the den howling with laughter.

  Adam was expecting a blow up between Cherry and Colleen being completely surprised when they came out of the room laughing.

  “What no blood shed?”

  “Hell no,” Cherry gasped from laughter. “As a matter of fact Colleen is paying for an extra night so you won’t have to tap your savings since you can’t afford the Greenbrier on military pay. She has a good job now. She is taking home a solid six figures.” Adam took Cherry by the hand waiting until the others had past.

  “You didn’t tell her?”

  “Hell no,” Cherry said with an impish smile, “I told her that you were living with your mother so that you could save up and buy a house. She doesn’t want your money she wants…” Cherry tapped Adam solidly with the back of her hand about three inch
es below the belt, running off quickly to catch up with Boris and Rhonda. Boris was locked in excited conversation with Rhonda.

  “That’s right Boris, Cherry approved $50,000,000 for the computers and…”

  “Don’t stop Rhonda this is what you need to do as a managing director. I want a partner not a prop. Boris, Rhonda will be making these calls for strategy, you will be making the calls for the computer end, and I will deal with advertising and fashions.”

  “With $50,000,000 on the line I can get you the very best,” Boris said with pride.

  “And they can have their royalties as long as we have unrestricted license,” Rhonda added. Cherry was beginning to believe that their little 'three way' union might work on all levels.

  After dinner Tom took Colleen and Adam out to the car for the ride to the helipad. Due to the construction traffic Tom had to park farther down the street than normal. Colleen looked back down the street at Tom’s house.

  “Tom you have such a lovely home and that miniature barn fits in so…” Colleen squinted looking at a car down the road. “Tom down the road on the left hand side somebody is looking at us through binoculars.” As Tom turned to look he saw a figure duck down to hide behind the dash.

  “Just get in the car and we will have a look as we pass by.” Tom already thought that he knew who the driver was. He drove down the street. When he passed a silver Toyota Camry he saw a man’s shoulder through the open window. Tom kept driving until he turned the corner. After he parked he slipped out of the car with Adam. Looking back down the street the man had resumed observing Tom’s house through his binoculars. Tom was glad that Adam was trained SAS. When he was in Europe, Tom participated in several exercises and was totally familiar with SAS procedures. Tom took the driver’s side and Adam took the passenger side. Sneaking up on the driver was easier than he thought it would be, since the driver was so intent on observing the house. Felix was unaware until Tom’s arm was around his neck.

  With one yank Tom pulled the driver out of the car through the window. Adam did a check of the car finding that the driver was the only occupant. Tom handcuffed the driver’s hands behind his back flipping him over.

  “Felix Owens…,” Tom forced himself to control his voice, “I thought that you promised me that you would never come to my house again.”

  “Under duress…”

  “Well Felix I am not going to call the police, but I do have some other friends that may convince you never to return.” Tom turned to Adam being sure not to use his name. “Have your honey drive my car back to the house I need you to come with me.” Adam ran back to the car instructing Colleen to drive it back to the house. When he returned he saw Felix sitting in the passenger seat. Adam automatically took the rear seat on the passenger side slipping off his belt and placing it around Felix’s neck. Pulling up to the barn Tom saw Sue and Cher playing in the barn.

  “Susan would you and Cher go play in your room and when you go in please send Ted out to the barn.”

  “Sure daddy…” Sue knew that when her dad used that tone of voice that no arguments would work and took Cher in tow. While Tom was bringing Felix into the barn, Adam checked the trunk finding the four weapons. After he brought the guns in Tom smiled warmly.

  “I thank you for your help but you have a weekend planned. Cherry will be happy to drive you to the helipad.” Adam wordlessly took his dismissal and left just as Ted walked into the barn.

  Ted walked over to two large Styrofoam coolers removing the lids. Inside of each box were 100 Blue Point Maryland crabs. Tom put a piece of tape over Felix’s mouth while Ted removed the hand cuffs. Each man took a hand and Felix’s eyes went wide with horror as they forced his hands in the pile of crabs. The first pinch came in only a few seconds with Felix’s scream being muffled by the tape. Pinch after pinch were causing Felix to lose his mind as time seemed to stand still. Finally, they took his hands out of the coolers. Tom moved his mouth next to Felix’s ear speaking softly.

  “That was less than 30 seconds. I have a spot on the Chesapeake that has thousands of these little beauties. If you go anywhere near my family or friends again my little friends will dine on you for hours before you die. Do you understand?” Felix nodded his head, yes. “Felix when I take the tape off I want you, to verbally promise me that you will never come near me or my family again.” Ted and Tom released their grip. Felix held his hands up to examine them. There were twenty or thirty marks on each hand.

  “You…” Ted held his fist up in front of Felix’s face. “I promise that I will never come near you, your family or your friends.”

  “Tom I think that he is just saying that to make us happy, cuff him.” Tom had the cuffs back on before Felix could think of resisting. Ted undid the waist band of Felix’s pants and pulled the waist band of his under shorts away from his body while Tom prepared to drop two crabs in the gap. Felix lost his mind.

  “Sweet Jesus no… I swear to god… I will never… in the name of humanity.” Tom nodded to Ted who threw the crabs back in the cooler.

  “Felix this could have been a lot worse. One more time and you feed the crabs until there is nothing left to eat. This is our promise not a threat.” Tom picked up a syringe and stuck it in Felix.

  Rajiya waited for Nabil to show up. Rajiya was glad that she was not reporting to Maalik. When they were back in Saudi Arabia, Maalik was up for a position in the religious police and seemed like a perfect future husband before they left. Here in the USA Maalik seemed to be a completely different person. He was visiting bars and strip clubs claiming that he didn’t have to respect American women. He would gawk at women dressed like whores claiming that they were causing him to sin. He attacked Nabil for usurping his leadership while failing to lead. Nabil had accomplished ten times more than him while Maalik refused to make decisions. The door of the restaurant opened and Nabil waved as he walked through it and Maalik was right behind him. Having Nabil solve his problems was one thing but having a woman find the solution would be unbearable. Rajiya was betrothed to Maalik but now she could not stand to be around him. Maalik sat across the table from her glaring as he sat down.

  “So you have figured out what the men have not been able to resolve.”

  “We have a problem and I think that I have a solution for it.” Rajiya pressed quietly.

  “Well…?”

  “Correct me if I am wrong. We have a great weapon and find that the container is unacceptable in populated areas, yes.”

  “Yes, please tell us what your wonderful idea is.” Rajiya handed Maalik the digital camera. Maalik looked at the picture.

  “You want us to use a shit truck instead?”

  “No we make our truck look like a shit truck and then it will be accessible to populated areas. They use Port-a-potties all over and they use them at special events where there are lots of people. We can add some fake hoses and the propane truck becomes a turd hearse.”

  “A what…?” Both men looked at Rajiya dumbly.

  “A truck that hauls away dead shit. That’s what Rudy called it.”

  “Who is Rudy?” Maalik was showing signs of jealousy and Rajiya loved it so she played the game.

  “Rudy is no one special.”

  “Who is Rudy?” Maalik said showing obvious irritation.

  “Rudy is the driver of the turd hearse that almost killed me this afternoon. That is where I came up with the idea.” Nabil knew exactly what Rajiya was doing and remained silent.

  “Rudy told you to do this! How does he know what we are planning to do?” Maalik was getting insulting and Rajiya’s back was up as she slammed her hand on the table and hissed.

  “He did not tell me to do that. I came up with the idea.” Rajiya’s voice softened and she switched to her most condescending tone. “Since our leader is not coming up with ideas a woman must help him.” Nabil saw Maalik’s hand come off of the table and flex so he decided to defuse the situation.

  “Maalik the idea does have some merit let’s at least have a
look at it. When you drove the truck back yesterday you were stopped several times. When the truck is loaded we can’t afford to be stopped and I have never heard of anybody stopping a ‘turd hearse’ for inspection. Put your anger aside and look at the idea.” Maalik’s hand flexed several times and he picked up his coffee. Rajiya removed her hand from her purse glad that she would not have to shoot him. Suddenly the phone in her purse rang.

  “Hello…,” Rajiya smiled warmly. “Yes Rudy, I’m fine.”

  “Dinner, no I have just eaten.”

  “Dessert, it is late.”

  “Breakfast…,” Rajiya saw that Maalik was not happy. “Yes but I must bring my cousin because it is not proper for an unmarried woman to meet alone with an unmarried man and I do not date married men. You are not married are you?”

  “Good then we will meet there at seven thirty.” Maalik issued a muffled scream of rage and knocked his chair over as he arose from the table to storm out the door. Nabil leaned over the table to talk to Rajiya softly.

  “It is not a good idea to anger Maalik too much or he will reject your idea out of hand and you have a fine idea.”

  “I am not the stupid cow that he thinks I am.” Rajiya sulked. “I can think and come up with ideas on my own.”

  “Of course you can,” Nabil said soothingly. “You have a fine mind. Go, find out how these trucks work, and we will talk again later, when tempers are cooler.”

  Nabil ran after Maalik leaving Rajiya with the bill. Nabil wanted to locate Maalik finally finding him pacing next to his car talking to himself.

  “Maalik, you cannot scream our plans out in public.”

  “She was flirting with that man on the phone like some damn whore.” Maalik’s rage was evident.

  “She is talking to a western man. She is bringing Uzma with her and the meeting is in a public place, so she is following the Law.” Nabil asked the big question. “Do you think that she is cheating because you are?” Maalik let out a shriek of rage, pulling on the car door to get in on the driver side. Nabil held up his keys, reminding Maalik that he had driven to the restaurant being thankful that they had taken his car.