Page 9 of Astrid
“Boswell,” came the barked reply when the phone was picked up on the fourth ring.
“Is this Chip Boswell?”
“Yes, who’s calling, please, and how did you get my personal cell number.”
“Oops, I’m Astrid Montoya, and Johnny Stuart gave me your number.”
“Johnny?”
“Sorry, John.” Astrid felt her cheeks turn red, and was glad the gruff-sounding man on the other end of the phone couldn’t see her.
“Are you at the barracks?”
“If you mean the mansion of a home for Boswell Two, then yes I am. I got in late yesterday morning, and I settled in, then got up early this morning to open the packages you had shipped here.”
“What did you think?”
“I like,” Astrid laughed, and started doing an old habit by taking one of her natural blonde curls, and twisting it around her finger as she talked on the phone. “Everything will work out great.”
“But?” Chip asked. “I sense a ‘but’ coming.”
“There is, but I could use about twenty more monitors. The laptops will work for us girls, and I can set up the others to have the J’s and A’s monitor us while we’re out in the field.”
“Okay, I’ll get with my guy and get them right out to you. Anything else?”
“Yes, did you see that tracking device and the motion-activated cameras Joyce had on Stella?”
“Briefly, I didn’t hold them in my hand to inspect them.”
“Oh.”
Astrid didn’t know what to say to that, but became relieved when he continued, “I’m not saying I can’t get my hands on them, I just need a make and model number, plus the quantity of them.”
“Do you have a fax number?”
“I do, why?”
“Because, I’ve compiled a list of military-grade equipment that I’d like to use here, and I know the locals won’t have what I want or need.” She had to scribble fast to write down the number, and as she continued her conversation, she faxed her list.
“I got it,” Chip said into the phone. “Do you need any cables with all this stuff?”
“I do, but I was thinking maybe the local store would have what I’d need.”
“No.” Chip’s response was firm, then Astrid heard a heavy sigh come over the line. “I’m not doubting you, that’s why you were recruited, because you’re good, but Morg told me what happened with Joyce, twice, and I don’t want to bring any undue attention to the quote unquote new girl in town, if you know what I mean. Other than Tom Erwin, and Carl Miller, I don’t know who to trust. When it comes to the electronics, you call me, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
“Okay.” Astrid understood where he was coming from, and as she went to say her goodbyes, his next statement cause her to question him. “Why?”
“Because, I don’t want a lot of extra delivery vehicles going in and out of the barracks. Tell Morg that I’ll have the packages delivered to the ranch, just like I did with the first shipment.”
“Okay, thank you, Chip,” Astrid said her goodbyes, hung up, then leaned back in her chair and scrubbed her face as she stretched. She looked up and saw John standing in the doorway. “Standing there long?” She reached for her coffee cup, and took a huge sip when he set it down before her.
“Not long, I was talking to Ava and Joyce. We’ve decided on French Toast and bacon for breakfast.” He grinned when Astrid jumped to her feet, and hurried toward the door. He got held up when he watched her ass as she walked ahead of him, and at the last minute stopped himself from walking into the table and making a fool of himself. Because he didn’t want to clean up, as the three women talked and began cooking, he gathered the plates and silverware, then smiled when his brother Alex joined him. By the time the table had been set, the others had joined them, all in different degrees of wakefulness. No one said a word as they had their first cup of coffee for the day, then when the food began to arrive, they waited for the women to get theirs first, before helping themselves. As they ate, they began to talk.
“What’s on the agenda for today?” John asked Chuck as he took several slices of French toast and put it on his plate, then several slices of bacon. “How far did you guys get yesterday?” He referred to the work they’d done on the office in the afternoon, after they’d banned him from going back out there to work.
Chuck wiped his mouth on his napkin, and looked at his friend. “We were able to finish the floor, concrete’s due in around nine this morning. Once that’s done, we won’t be able to walk on it until it cures. I figure with the walls not completely up yet, it should only take this weekend, if the weather holds. Monday at the latest.”
“Okay, but what about the walls?”
