Page 22 of Jason's Justice
“I was asking Ilsa if we should get a new laptop for this information of Duane’s.”
“Ah, want me run into town?”
“Yes, but somehow I don’t think Fool’s Gold would have an electronics store.”
“I could see if I couldn’t borrow a truck, then get directions to Colorado Springs. Give me a few hours, or do you need it now?”
“I can wait, there are plenty of pages to read.” He held up a stack of papers at least six inches thick, and wrinkled his nose when Kevin laughed. “I’ll be back.”
“Here,” Jason said to stop him and pulled his wallet. As much as Kevin tried to protest, Jason insisted on paying for the things they would need. “Pick up some flash drives while you’re at it.”
“I will.” Kevin turned on his heel and disappeared out the side door.
Four hours later, Kevin returned with several bags from a well-known electronics store. As he began emptying them, Jason and Ilsa looked at him in confusion.
“Why four laptops? The dozens of flash drives I could understand, but why the laptops?”
“I know you only wanted one, but the store was going out of business, and I got a sweet deal on these. Like seventy-five percent off. I bought one with my own credit card because my personal computer is running slow, and I’ve needed a new one for over a year. The other three you can do with as you wish. Use one for the investigation, and the other two you can have as personal ones. Or just leave them in the box. Sorry, but I couldn’t pass this up.”
“No, I understand,” Jason said as he grabbed the box and read the features of the machine.
“Why so severely discounted?” Ilsa asked as she grabbed a box and did the same. “I can understand them going out of business, and having a discount, but why didn’t these sell?”
Kevin grinned as he opened his and pulled it out of the box.
“What in the world?” Both Jason and Ilsa looked taken aback by the laptop, and ripped open the boxes of the other three, as soon as they laid them on the table, they burst out laughing. Each computer had graphics of cartoon characters on themand not in any one color like a regular laptop, no, these were loud vibrant colors. Ilsa grabbed the one with Disney Princesses covering it. Kevin’s had graphics of The Avengers. The two left had other graphics. One was a sickly green and had The Incredible Hulk on it, while the other was wild rainbows, with each rainbow being different shades. Some were pastels, some bold, some dull, some neon.
“Well,” Ilsa giggled and had to wave her hand in front of her face to try to stop, but was unsuccessful. “I don’t care what the outside looks like, as long as it runs, and can do what we want it to, then the outside doesn’t matter.”
“I agree,” Jason said. “I’m going to set up this green one for the investigation. You know, because we’re invincible and if they take us on, they’re taking on The Hulk.” The other two burst out laughing, and they broke to heat up the leftovers from the night before and as they ate, they discussed what Duane’s information had revealed, and Kevin said he would read everything after they ate.
They spent the rest of the afternoon setting up their computers and by the time they left for the night, they were ready to start inputting information in them the next day.
Later that night, back at the cabin, Kevin taught Jason how to use the grill and what to look for when he cooked the meat, while Ilsa had made salads that they could eat that night and have some the next day for lunch.
As they settled in to eat, it was a relaxed atmosphere until Jason asked a question.
“Is there anyone the two of you trust?”
“What do you mean by that?” Ilsa asked with her fork full of potato salad stopped halfway to her mouth. “Trust how?”
“With the information of this investigation.” He paused, shook his head, and sighed heavily. “Not in the sense that wewould read them in, like share our documents, but someone that if we need outside help, then we can contact them.”
“Ah, I understand,” Ilsa nodded and continued eating. “I guess you could say my person is Lyle Anderson. He’s my boss at work, he represented Katherine in her trial, and provided the prosecution the evidence they needed when they went after Michael. I’ve known him for twenty years.”
“Good, and he wouldn’t have any qualms of doing something to help us?”
“As long as it’s not illegal, I don’t think he would. Oh, and he lives in the country, on a good day, with no traffic, it would take roughly forty minutes to get to his place. Don’t quote me, but I believe he has ten acres. I know he has Katherine’s car hidden in a barn on his property.”
“Good, good, and since she’s not considered a fugitive, he’s not aiding and abetting.”
“Correct.”
Jason turned to Kevin. “And you? Who’s your person?”
“I’d have to say my boss, Captain Glenn Rivers. I’ve worked for him for ten years. Ever since I got my detective shield and started in the homicide division. You were in the office when we told him about this case and he gave me the time off. He even said if we needed anything, to let him know.” Kevin paused and frowned at the other man. “What are you thinking?”
“Before I get into that,Idon’t have anyone outside the two of you that I can discuss this with. After Hank Patterson paid me a visit, I did some private investigating, and instead of going to my bosses at DOD, I went directly to the President. I laid out what I had, and what I wanted to do.” He nodded to them, and sighed. “That I wanted to take on the FBI, but I needed to be released from my post at DOD in order to do this. The President told me to do what I had to, and when it came time to make arrests, keep him abreast of things. He didn’t say it, but it was implied that Iwas on my own for the time being. I have no idea who he thinks can help me. Usually, in cases like this, we would go to the FBI, but since we’re going after them, it’s like we’re flapping in the breeze.” He finished his supper, and looked at them both.
