Page 19 of Kevin's Destiny

“What type of people will be coming?”

“Buyers for the horses at New Double, their trainers, andtheirjockeys. If you haven’t been given a name, and run a background check on them, then they aren’t allowed on the property. I do the same checks on anyone that wants to bring one of their mares to Erin’s Way in order for them to be bred with one of my stallions. If I sat down and added it up on paper, between all the ranches, I’m looking at something toward a couple billion dollars of horseflesh. I won’t let just anyone onto the property.”

Kevin whistled, and nodded. “I totally understand, and agree. What about here?” He pointed out the window.

“As I said, I’m expecting someone else any day now, and the two of you will work together at New Double. Once this place is up and running, then one of you will come over here, one of you will stay over there. You will be like Duane, just at differentranches. For the people that will eventually be working here, Clem will give you their information. He’s out at rodeos now getting people to come work for us. I have a set of twins Kade and Lane Montgomery due soon. They had a family emergency, so stayed back home to help on the farm until they ironed everything out.” She looked at him and shook her head. “It’s not my story to tell, but they are great kids. They will be working at New Double, learning the ropes, then possibly coming over here.” She grinned as she shook her head and tapped her temple. Kevin would later learn to just shake his head and agree when he saw her do that in the future.

“Anyway, the guys and gals, I’m not discriminating against anyone, that want to work at RRR, will have to work at New Double until this ranch is up and running. I’m thinking two years. You and the other security person will be running deep background checks, on them. Oh, and once this place is operating, that arena will be open to the rodeo people living in the area that want to board their animals, and use the arena. Again, a background check will be done on them. I’ll also have applications for them to fill out in order to board their horse. I’m not running a charity, because there will be a boarding fee to help pay for the hay and feed that we will provide.”

“I probably know the answer to this, but I want it clarified from the start. What constitutes a no hire, or no one allowed on the property? I’m talking about the owners, trainers, and jockeys.”

“Anything that you would arrest them for if you were still a cop. Or if something in the check makes your gut scream that something isn’t right. No cruelty to animal charges against them, no DUIs, no drug charges. I’ll allow speeding tickets, misdemeanor traffic citations are okay. Nothing that would put any animal or person already working here in jeopardy.” Shegave him a critical look, and a solid nod. “Use your gut, when in doubt, call Duane.”

“Understood.” He nodded and they left RRR and she gave him the directions to New Double. Before leaving the drive for the new ranch, Kevin paused to look for traffic and pointed to his right. “Broken Two and Caleb is that way.”

“Correct.” Erin nodded.

He followed the directions and in a few minutes they pulled in, but instead of stopping, Erin directed him toward the cabins.

“We can start from here, since you probably have food that needs to go into the refrigerator or freezer.”

“I do, thank you.”

CHAPTER 7

Yvonne Wilson steppedonto the elevator and noticed several of her colleagues and she nodded to them, but frowned when they averted their eyes. For weeks now, she had thought something had shifted at the office, but she had chalked it up to her being overworked. But to be slighted like that, left her reeling. When the elevator doors opened, she got off, not caring that it hadn’t reached her floor. She needed the exercise anyway, so she walked up the remaining six flights of stairs to her floor.

During the walk, she reflected back on the people’s reactions lately, and couldn’t come up with a reason as to why everyone was treating her differently. Shaking her head, she tucked it into the back of her mind and went to her office. At least these people hadn’t been snubbing her, at least not yet.

Several hours later, she looked up at the knock on her door and saw three of her team members standing there.

“Come in,” she waved them in, and frowned when Special Agent Robert Benjamin handed her a cup of coffee from her favorite barista. They didn’t wait to be invited to sit, and took the seats before her desk. She noted that Agent Lela Smith closed the door behind them. She sipped her coffee and frowned when it was her favorite flavor.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Robert said. He seemed to be the spokesperson, and after a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Have you noticed tension in the air lately?”

Yvonne didn’t hesitate in her answer. “Yes, I feel like I’ve done something awful, and am being judged for it. For the life of me, I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.”

“Nothing,” Agent Mark Griffin said firmly. “I was in the elevator this morning when you stepped in. Before I could say anything, you hopped off and I’m assuming you walked up the stairs. I saw everyone’s reaction to you. I asked them why.”

“I did, but why is everyone snubbing me? What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing,” Griffin said again. “I don’t know if this is fact, but you’re going to want to go to HR after this conversation. I don’t know if they can verify it, but there’s a rumor going around.”

“Which is?”

“I don’t know how to say this without sounding sexist.”

“It’s because,” Agent Lela Smith said as she glared at Griffin, then turned back toward Yvonne. “Director Anderson is retiring at the end of the year. Nothing’s been stated officially. Like Griffin said, this is rumor, but his replacement has publicly stated that no woman over the age of forty-five will ever hold the position of SSA in the same office building as him.” She waited for that to sink in, before she continued, “Any female currently holding that position or higher, and if they are over the age of forty-five will be forced into early retirement.”

“Are you saying he’s using ageism?”

“Yes,” the three agents said. “I don’t know how old you are,” Griffin said softly. “But you might want to look into this.”

“Christ, and I was going to go to Director Anderson in two months about retiring. And, for the record, I’m only forty-seven. Technically, according to the rules, regulations, and by-laws ofthe FBI, you have to retire by the time you’re fifty-seven. I still have a good ten years to work. However, if he’s making these statements, then that’s an entirely different ball game. Do you have proof of this?”

The three of them shook their heads. “Director Anderson isn’t saying these things, it’s his replacement, but nothing concrete. We were told what was heard, rumors that’s all we have.”