Page 10 of Blackstone's Heart
"Well, these gifts for one. They're not expensive. They look, well, cheap." Ethan said, holding up one of the stuffed animals.
Cain moved to Ethan's side. "Ms. James said the same thing. The stuffed animals look like a cheesy carnival prize. Our lab geeks say the same thing. The material and stuff is consistent with carnival or crane machine prizes. Course the manufacturers are mostly sweatshops overseas so good luck trying to trace where they came from."
"What about the jewelry?" Grant questioned holding up a gold chain with a heart pendant.
Jimmy rubbed his chin. “Lab says that it's real gold but not great quality. We think he bought it at somewhere like those mall stands or maybe even Wal-Mart or Target possibly.”
***
While Grant and Ethan were at the Federal building, Krista sat in her living room with Jerry as Lance and Tony installed the new security system. Or rather Krista tried to work and Jerry ogled Ethan’s teammates.
"Mmm Mmm mmmm.” Jerry sighed as Lance walked upstairs hauling a bundle of cable on his shoulder.
“Jesus Jerry. Obvious much?” Krista giggled.
“When a fine piece of manly specimen like those two hit my radar darlin', I sit up and pay attention.” Jerry grinned wiggling his eyebrows. Krista simply rolled her eyes and laughed. Jerry grinned as he pulled out his phone. "So, did I pass Blackout's background?"
Krista sighed and sat her laptop aside. "Jer, I..."
"Honey, I'm not worried. What are they going to find that you don't already know?"
"The background check that Ethan will do is even more invasive than what the Feds did. I'm worried about you and..."
Jerry laughed. "What? Them finding out that when I was seventeen I had an affair with my hot and equally married Biology teacher? That his ex-wife filed statutory rape charges? Or that my parents backed us both and got those charges dropped?" When she remained silent, Jerry stood from the armchair and dropped onto the sofa next to her.
Draping his arm around her he pulled her close. "Krista, if it will ease your conscience we can tell hottie Ethan all about it when he comes by. I'm not ashamed about it. Do I feel bad about sleeping with a married man, yes, but I don't regret it? No. He and I had a fun time and a good time. Plus, thanks to Thomas, I learned a lot about myself."
Krista laid her head on his shoulder. "What that you're a horn dog?"
Jerry snorted. "No, I knew that before him." They both laughed. "He taught me to stay true to myself and to stand up for myself. He told me that until me he had hidden a part of himself. Thomas said I helped him find a part of him that he felt needed to be hidden."
"What that he was gay?"
"Right in one honey. I introduced him to his husband and was their witness at their wedding last year after all."
Krista smiled at that. Jerry was constantly playing cupid with their friends both now and back in college. She had always admired his strength. Even in today's society being gay wasn't accepted by many. Krista had never cared one way or another and neither had her family. In fact, her cousin Shelly was gay and happily married to a sweet lady named Michelle.
"You really want to fill Ethan in?" She asked, studying her best friend’s face to gage his reaction.
"Sure. That will save him and his hot guys some time and will make you feel better sweetie." He replied with a look that said he was fully on board with it.
"Thanks. You always look out for me. Just like my brothers."
"I always will. Plus, I'm way more fun than your brothers."
Krista let out a long laugh as she recalled the last time she had got her brothers and Jerry together. It had been right Jax had joined the firm in Dallas. The five had gone to Miami for spring break and had painted the town red. Jerry had talked her and her brothers into going to a gay bar, and Krista had spent the entire time laughing as her brothers fought off men left and right.
"I still don't think Jax has forgiven me for that Drag queen copping a feel." Jerry grinned mischievously.
"No, I don't think he has either." Krista snickered.
Both looked up as Lance and Tony came back downstairs with their gear. "Well, we're all done. Want to come check out your new toy?" Tony said, wiggling his eyebrows and rubbing his hands together.
Krista couldn't stop the smile. Tony was funny and you couldn’t help but smile around him. She would guess he was the class clown of the group and probably the one that helped put nervous clients at ease. Lance on the other hand was the polar opposite. He seemed more serious. He didn't seem to smile or talk much and was quite intense. She and Jerry stood and followed them upstairs to her security room. Her eyes bugged as she took in the room.
"Holy shit!"
"Damn, looks like you're more secure than the freaking Pentagon." Jerry added.
