Ross steps forward and is then held back by Steven who indicates he’d like to start from the beginning. “Chris, recently I was approached by Henry Vans to complete some research on the legalities of your ranch deeds, ownership entitlement and land.”
“WHAT!” Chris barks back across the room. It sets us all on edge, there are some seriously huge bodies crammed in my little granny flat and the mood just shifted to stifling and oppressive.
“Hang on, let me explain. When the case started I was bound by client confidentiality as were my research team,” he pauses to look at me, he knows the position this put me in and is trying to make it clear to Chris that I was working under his professional oath. Unfortunately Chris also looks at me and he seems disappointed. I don't really care, so I look away as if he’s insignificant. Steven continues, “Originally I thought Henry was trying to expand his business beyond the realms of your current family agreement, but I started to get suspicious when his insistence to rush the research got nasty and he was also reluctant to tell me why I was completing the work. My gut told me something was off, so I had an off the record chat with the good sheriff who then introduced me to Ross.” Steven then stops and looks at Ross to indicate he should now continue.
“Chris, I’m Special Agent Ross Wilkes with the ATF, anything being talked about in this room needs to remain confidential. I’m on an undercover assignment because a case my colleagues and I have been working on has given us cause to investigate Henry Vans.”
“WHAT!” Chris shouts again.
“Unfortunately things are not looking good for Henry Vans, but he’s just a small cog in the bigger machine we are after. I can’t go into specifics and you wouldn’t have known anything if it wasn’t for a certain lady completing an unapproved side investigation. Once I was told you had seen the research material, which she’d taken without permission, I gained agreement from my superiors to disclose my assignment. I couldn’t risk you asking questions in the wrong places.”
“And Neely,” Steven says, “We’re going to talk about your little act of defiance when you get back from vacation, which has just been extended indefinitely until after the case or Ross feels it’s safe for you to come back.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” I snap throwing my hands up in disbelief.
“Not even slightly, he is deadly serious, but let’s get back to the matter at hand please, I have to get back to the Vans ranch,” advises Ross. “We have reason to believe that the people the Vans are involved with are interested in the old tunnels that run under both properties. I think he’s using them to store illegal weapons, but that is subject to confirmation.”
“WHAT!” Chris is starting to look shell shocked. “You have got to be shitting me, and you didn’t think I needed to know this or should have been told?”
“No I didn’t. I needed to make sure you weren’t involved and I had my liaison officer keep an eye on you and your ranch. Whilst there was no danger to you it was safer for you to carry on your normal routine and association with the Vans.”
“Liaison officer?” Chris asks.
“That would be me,” pipes up Jonas.
“Sneaky motherfucker and here was me thinking your interest in my life was purely about another aspect," he looks at me which confirms what his sentence implied. Jonas doesn’t answer him because the guy is a professional and won’t talk personal matters in front of so many people. “So where does all this leave us now?”
“I carry on investigating whilst undercover as a ranch foreman, my contacts tell me that there is a possibility that another delivery is due to be placed in the tunnels over the next week or so. Neely carries on with her vacation and I mean she stays the fuck out of this. Steven carries on his investigation and research above board but doesn’t rush it, Henry is getting desperate and that means he’ll fuck up soon and Jonas continues running behind the scenes as he has been doing.”
“There has to be something I can do?” enquires Chris.
“Just carry on as you are unless you feel like rekindling your on/off romance with Polly?” Ross replies.
“Fuck no!” is his short and pointed response.
“I thought not, I don’t know whether she’s involved in actual specifics, but she is involved in the game somehow though. Henry wanted your land and ranch by natural means and by that I mean marriage. Unfortunately you're not playing ball with Polly, so he’s going to try and take it by force depending on the information provided by Steven. He knows you won’t sell so his only hope is to find some legal reason amongst the official documentation to force your hand.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, we’ve been friends with that family for generations.” Chris is shaking his head and I get the feeling that he’s going to be upset once all this sinks in, that and supremely angry.
“So we’re clear, carry on as is. If you come across anything you think I need to know feed it through Jonas, we have a natural cover because of our military background and no one is questioning that friendship so far, OK?”
Everyone mumbles yes, except me.
“Neely, don’t make me doubt that you’re on board with my instructions again,” he warns, to which I reply with a full defined head nod. It’s as good as he’s going to get. “And finally, any thoughts of going off plan or against all I’ve just said will not make me happy, so much so, that the good sheriff has agreed to create some charges and detain people in custody until they come to their senses.”
Sheriff Roberts nods his agreement and then bids goodbye, he’s quickly followed by Steven and then Ross shares a look with Chris, ignores Jonas and Dolly and then makes his way to me. He leans down and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek, it’s nothing but a friendly kiss and he whispers, “Stay safe” and then heads out as well.
The room goes quiet and no one says anything for a few seconds. “I guess we’ll be off back to the girls then,” says Dolly, who reaches for Jonas’s hand and marches him out. Leaving me alone with Chris which is exactly where I don’t want to be.
“Neely, listen, about yesterday,” he starts and I interrupt him, I do not want to hear this.
“Save it. I’m done with you. I’m done with our friendship and you showed me how little you think of me yesterday. Whatever was between us is no longer there. I’d like you to leave please.”
“Shit. Neels.”
“I said, I’d like you to leave.” I put in as much determination in my voice as I can and stand my ground. He looks at me like he’s trying to see if I’m going to cave and talk to him.
Not a fucking chance.
Ignoring him, avoiding him and being a bitch worked before. He stayed away so I have to be that again. Unapproachable and a hard faced bitch.
After a few more seconds he shakes his head and leaves.
He gave up again.
My body flops as soon as he’s gone through the door and I can’t figure out whether it’s with sadness that he gave up or relief. My stomach starts churning. I have just enough time to make to the bathroom as my mom’s hangover cure comes back to greet me. She’s right it does make you feel better, but only a little.
*****
Chris
“That doesn’t look like the actions of a man who’s fighting to win what he wants.” I hear from the side of the house, it’s Maiara and she must have heard our conversation.
“I know, sometimes you just have to know when to concede, especially if the end game is destroying everything around you and you don’t really deserve to win. I don’t really need to explain karma to you, do I?” I reply and start walking to my truck.
“Like I said, the Chris Hales you are right now isn’t worthy of my daughter’s love or my blessing.”
I ignore her and keep going until I climb in my truck and drive off the property. My mind is racing with questions it is now definitely refusing to acknowledge or answer.
Decision made, it’s easier this way. I’m out. I’m done.
Being a guy whore doesn’t come with this muc
h grief and at least I get laid at the end of it.
Time to concentrate on my ranch and my land. One thing I do know the answer to though, is that Henry Vans can go fuck himself if he thinks he’s taking my home from me.
Chapter Fifteen
I spend the rest of the morning relaxing as best I can. I forgo lunch and neither mom nor dad come looking for me, it’s a small reprieve from their enquiring minds. I doubt I’ll be so lucky this evening for dinner though, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
It’s what I receive in my email box that brightens my mood, they’re mostly just responses from various clerks saying they’d received my request for information and would deal with it in due course, all apart from one.
That one told me that there were available microfilms of the old mining tunnels at the library, all I needed to do was reserve a microfilm reader and go from there. It seems like I’m back in business and would have something to occupy my mind this afternoon. A quick call to the library confirms I can use a reader this afternoon too. I’ve also decided to send a text to rope Oli Hart into proceedings, him being based at the same office as Steven and I means he can keep an eye on Steven’s progress whilst I’m on vacation.
Me: Need a favor, Mudjoes in 1 hour?
I received an almost instant reply:
Oli: Sure.
I had just enough time to get myself out of my yoga pants and dress more appropriately for a trip to town.
I drive into the centre of Hawkstown and head into Mudjoes to meet Oli, I pray he’s been paying attention at the office, because I can’t talk too much about the case and don’t want to go into specifics. Telling Oli what is going on would mean I’d get in even more trouble, I was already dangling over the edge of unemployment.
Oli joins me at the table as I’m taking my first sip of coffee, “What’s up?” he asks (as Jo follows close behind and places a cup of tea down on the table in front of him.) Oli Hart is a main contributor to the continued success of our town, he owns and sublets retail property that makes things thrive. He’s rich and influential and his fake relationship with my other soul sister Lottie means he’s a good guy just trying to have some breathing space from his parents who he doesn’t want to disappoint. It’s because of his town connections and community spirit that I’m relying on him already knowing that something is not right within Hawkstown. Oli is also hot, as in wears a suit like he should be a regular GQ cover model, he is groomed to own wearing a suit with a rugged fierceness and in all honesty if Lottie doesn’t turn her fake relationship into a real one soon, she’s a fool. Oli is also more widely known for being one fourth of what are the hottest guys in town, the other three being Jonas, Chris and Sonny.
“I want to ask for your help, but I can’t go into specifics,” I begin, testing the water with him.
“Shit Neely, I’m guessing you’re sticking your nose into something you shouldn’t be and are hoping I’ll be your wingman?” I told you he was sharp.
“Exactly, but I can’t tell you what that something is. Sometimes, some things are best looked at... together, as in not alone, as in could be dangerous,” I whisper.
“Fuck Neely. Does this have anything to do with that nosey little session I caught you involved in at the office?” Perfect, he’s already on the right track.
“Yes, absolutely,” I confirm.
“You’re on vacation I hear, I’m putting the pieces together and I’m wondering if that’s for a reason?”
“Yes, possibly, could be, maybe, look are you going to help me or not?”
“I haven’t decided yet because I don’t know what help involves.”
“I just may need you to come out... walking with me,” this talking in code lark is hard.
“Do I look like the rural adventure type to you Neely?”
“I think maybe you could be, for the right reason, for me.”
“I think maybe you’ve come to me because you’re doing something the others have told you not to do,” my non answer is confirmation enough for him, “That’s what I thought.”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes with conditions,” he tells me.
“Which are?”
“You do what I say, when I say, when we are out walking and you promise me right now you’re going to wait for me and do nothing without me.”
“Um...”
“It requires a yes or no answer and a no means I walk out of here and talk to Steven first, Jonas second and Chris third.”
“What!” I didn’t see that coming, the bastard has backed me into a corner.
“Yes or no Neely?”
“Yes. OK, but I think you’re going over the top,” I mumble.
“Sure I am, so over the top that you know if any of those people found out what you’re doing they’d lose their shit and kick your ass.”
“I said yes didn’t I? Give me a break.”
“OK, whilst I’ve got you here what’s the deal with you hurling drinks at Polly Vans. I thought you weren’t interested in Chris?”
“I’m not she’s just an annoyance, it was heat of the moment and I got carried away,” I shrug my shoulders as I finish and he just laughs at me, we may be about to become partners in crime, but he knows when I’m done sharing. “Listen, I’ve got to run, I’m on vacation.” I smile at him, get up and then walk around the back of his chair to leave, as I do I lean in kiss him on the cheek and whisper “Thanks” in his ear.
“My my Neely, you are busy these days. First Chris, well that was a while ago, then Ross and now Oli. Lottie is going to be pissed you’re all up in her guy’s space. Maybe I’ll talk to her, it seems like we both have that in common and I know how it feels.”
Fucking Polly, I’m beginning to understand why people are pushed to acts of murder, “Don’t you have better things to do Polly, like, I don’t know, chase men who don’t want you?” I shove back at her.
“It would seem he doesn’t want you either, or I am mistaken and he’s called for a repeat barn dance?”
“At least I’m clever enough to realize that and move on, you however are so dumb and desperate you’re not.” This time her patience snaps quicker than mine and she moves to step into my space. She doesn’t get very far though because Oli puts a stop to her forward advance.
“Turn around Polly,” he says, “And just walk away.” She thinks about arguing with him, but he’s a formidable guy and also an important one in this town. I suspect she realizes she’ll come off second best and huffs away in the direction of the door.
“Got to go Neely,” Oli says, “Remember what I said?” I nod at him in compliance. “Good because those conditions come into play now and are enforceable immediately. Later.”
I make my way to my intended destination, the Library, I get there and greet the on duty librarian. I make sure to pick a microfilm reviewer away from prying eyes and gather up all the films I need and get started.
After a good two hours all my brain can come up with is WOW.
WOW and then, holy shit.
It turns out the tunnels run across the entire state, as in from one end to the other. They were built and originally used during the civil war as a way for soldiers to transport supplies in safety. They constructed and installed simple push cart tracks because the horses didn’t cope so well with the low levels of light and oxygen down there. If my calculations are correct they cover about 250 miles originally and had exit and entry shafts every twenty miles, but over the passage of time these have been blocked, filled in and boarded up for safety reasons. Interestingly though the main supply entrances, of which there are three, are located at either tunnel end and at the mid way point.
Guess where the midway point is? The Hales property line, where I ended up on my first exploration jaunt.
A sense of satisfaction beams through me that I’ve got to the bottom of the mystery, but it’s closely followed by fear. It must be really important to someone big for the ATF to be involved. It still doesn’t answe
r the question as to why they’re using the tunnels and what the Vans’ involvement is, but for now I’m feeling really pleased with myself.
I make a note of the key details like the start and end point, the map references and the addresses of the nearest residential properties.
Whoa...wait a minute, that can’t be a coincidence, the land and houses owned at both ends are registered to the same company, a company called Nolefax Distributions. Whoever owns Nolefax Distributions must be who the ATF are investigating.
More questions add to my growing pile.
Who is behind Nolefax Distributions?
What is their link to Henry Vans?
And... How quickly can I get from one end to the other?
Time to take Oli up on his offer, I grab my phone and send a text:
Me: Day trip tomorrow. No walking. Road Trip!
I get my reply straight away.
Oli: Does it have to be tomorrow?
Me: Yes, but if you’re busy I can always go on my own.
Oli: Pick you up at the granny flat at 8am.
I gather all my stuff up and head home. Dinner will be on the table soon and I may as well get the third degree from my mom and dad over with.
*****
Chris
My cell phone rings as I’m putting Barney back in the stables.
“Oli, what’s up?”
“So it’s pretty obvious shit is going down with you and Neely,” he says.
“What makes you say that?”
“I’ve just been witness to the second bitch throw down between Neely and Polly in Mudjoes and if one of them doesn’t step away it will end up in more than Polly being covered in smoothie or some other shit.”
“What do you mean one of them will be covered in smoothie, who threw smoothie? I’m not following you,” I must sound as confused as I am.
“Neely. At Polly,” he tells me.
“Shit.”
“Just saying man, you need to get a grip of your women.”
Forgiving Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 2) Page 13