Chapter 20
Pulling Together a Plan
Hearing her cell phone chime, Alina pulled it out without thinking.
“Hello.”
“Alina. Brian here. I got through most of the information and bumped into something that might be helpful. There were some invoices for deliveries of farm equipment to a property outside the city. I recognize the address. It’s an estate that’s been held in trust for years. There was some issue related to a grove of rare heirloom chestnut trees that needed protecting or something. Anyways, it struck me as a remote location.”
“You’re right. I’ve heard of the place. Thought it got sold years ago.”
“Not sold that I know of…abandoned. I’m still looking through in the information but I thought you should know that right away.”
“Thanks, Brian. We’ll look into it.”
Hammer had been waiting patiently thought the whole conversation.
“Who the fuck is Brian?”
“A person I work with. He’s really good with computers. He has a master’s degree in computer programing. I gave him the information from the Grim’s hard drive.”
“I didn’t say you could do that.”
“The information was mine. I chose to share it with you and I decided to see if he could help out.”
“The information may have been yours but Jaden is my son. You should have asked before you did something like that.”
“I just want to find him.”
“That’s what we all want, Alina. Did he happen to find out anything helpful?”
The Grims have been paying for equipment to be sent out to the old Chestnut farm.”
“That place has been abandoned for years.”
“It’s remote, abandoned and the perfect place to stash Jayden.”
“Damn place is perfect for a lot of dark shit you don’t want anyone else to see. Might explain the smell of diesel. Large farms keep pumps to fuel farm machinery. They’re probably using the place to grow weed, make people disappear, and to package their other products.”
Alina grabbed his arm. “We need to check it out. The longer we wait, the more opportunity he has to hurt Jaden.”
“Don’t tell me what I already fuckin’ know, you sexy bitch.” Though his words were harsh, his voice was not.
Catching his contradiction, she stated vehemently. “I’m coming with you.”
“The fuck you are.” The words were out before he even though them through. Thinking of her getting shot at again sent a spike of protective rage through him. He stepped back, trying to shove it down.
“We’re not going to argue about that again.” Alina knew her face had settled into a stubborn frown but she couldn’t help herself. This was important to her and she found that she was prepared to fight about it.
Hammer opened his mouth then closed it again. In that moment, she knew that she’d won the short lived argument.
“Fuckin’ hell, woman. When this is all over, I’m teaching you to shoot.”
“Deal.”
Alina watched as Hammer seemed to be thinking the situation over in his head. The sounds of the room slowly intruded on their quiet corner of the room. The geeks were still tossing around ideas and some of the brothers were teasing Marlow about a woman named Dianne. Suddenly lightening hit her brain. Was is her friend Dianne? Marlow looked a little older and his hair was heavily grey. He was just her type. Shock tore through her at the things she didn’t know about her bestie.
Hammer grabbed her hand and announced loudly. “Everyone meet in my office. We got a solid lead and we need to plan our next move.”
As they headed for the door he acknowledged quietly. “I’m grappling with the need to just load up and head out but I know we need a decent plan.”
Stepping closer, Alina responded. “Good thinking. The last thing we need is to run right out there and get ourselves shot.”
“Glad we’re on the same page.” His sarcastic tone was not lost on her.
“Hey, I was useful before. You never know, maybe I will be this time as well.” She didn’t mean to sound so hopeful and eager but it showed through in her tone.
After an hour of planning they worked out a viable plan. Everyone poured out of the room into the large bar/recreation area and began to weapon up. Alina sat at the bar with Shelby watching the men pull open a large double closet, which housed their armor and weapons. Each man began strapping on Kevlar vests. By the time they put their shirts back on the body armor was barely noticeable. Alina had worn a vest herself on their last outing. It had felt bulky and uncomfortable, probably because it wasn’t really sized for her small frame.
She continued watching as they pulled out case after case of weapons. There were handguns, rifles with scopes and shotguns.
“Wow, Hammer seems really focused on those sniper rifles.”
Alina glanced at Shelby who was impressed as she was at the display of firepower. “It’s a protective measure. The snipers covered us the last time we did this. The saved our lives.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that. Most folks think of snipers as lone gunmen on the grassy knoll, trying to assassinate someone.”
Alina grinned. “I was probably under that mistaken impression myself once. Seeing all this in action blew me away. The men really know what they’re doing. When the firing starts, they operate like a well-oiled machine.”
“That I can easily believe. They don’t do anything without a well thought out plan. I think that’s one reason we hardly lose a man.”
“From your mouth to God’s ear, my friend. How’s the girl?”
“I assume she’s fine. Between the two kids and Marlow, no one’s gotten close to her.”
“I should check on her.”
“No time for that, doll.”
Alina turned to find Hammer standing behind her with a Kevlar vest. Standing up, she peeled off her shirt and waited as he strapped it to her body. Shrugging her shirt back on, she turned so Hammer could affix the holster to her lower back. The gun was light but between that, the holster and the vest, she felt the weight.