Page 10 of Kevin's Destiny

“Thanks.” He sighed and scrubbed his face. After he paced in the hall several times he turned to his friend, and colleague. “Question.”

“What’s that?”

Kevin looked up when Brooks joined them. “First, let me tell you that I was heading to HR today when Boggs called me into his office for this shit.”

“Why?” Bennett asked.

“I’m retiring. I wanted to see what my package would be before I talked to the boss. However, I have a job already lined up in another state. When I told Karen that I found those boxes with the shoes and purses?” He looked at Bennett and left the statement as a question.

“Yes, what about them?”

“I called my son’s girlfriend and she and her mother told me to bring them with me, because they either want to purchase some of them, or will help me sell them. I’m only saying this because I won’t be here for more than two more months. This shit won’t go away overnight, and I already know I’m leaving. With that said, now onto my question. Should I get personal security?”

“What do you mean?”

“No offense to any of you guys, but you have lives. I can make one phone call, and within two days, three tops, I can have at least a dozen retired Navy SEALs camping out in my home.”

“Jesus, how the hell do you know that many?”

“Remember a few years back that I said my brother-in-law was captured while on deployment? He returned to the office. I think it was you that patched him up.”

“The guy with the eye patch?”

“Yes, he’s Karen’s brother. I can call him, and he could grab some of his buddies and come here. I don’t think you need him for this case, but after what I just recorded, he might want to see Karen.”

“Do it,” Boggs said, and everyone turned to see their captain standing there with the Warden. “Now.”

Kevin nodded and stepped into the room that Brooks had just came out of, drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He pulled out his phone, accessed his contacts, and let his finger hover over Ryan’s name for a few seconds.

“Carter,” came the barked reply after only one ring.

“Ryan, it’s Kevin.”

“Oh, hey,” the voice softened. “How are you doing? You ready to leave Seattle yet?”

“Actually, I am. It should be soon, but that’s not why I’m calling.”

“Oh, then why are you calling. Oh shit, did Karen do something?”

“Sort of,” Kevin said and explained the situation. When he finished, the line was dead and he thought it had been dropped until he heard Ryan swearing. “Ryan, she’s different. It’s hard to explain, but if I had to sum it up in one word, I would say hard. She recorded a message to you.”

“Do you have it?”

“Yes, would you like me to send it to you?”

“Please.”

Kevin did what he did, and waited until Ryan came back on the line.

“Fuck,” he said quietly. “Does she want me to come there?”

“No, but I do. Not for Karen’s sake, but for mine.”

“Why?”

“We’ve been able to trace the phone call Strokes sent, the one that she told the person on the other end to take me out, it would be a mark on their bingo card?”

“Yes, what about it.”