Page 31 of Jason's Justice
“I have no clue, why?”
“What if it was one of the guys that Grayson has under his thumb? One of his goons as Duane calls them, you know, people he extorts.”
Jason jumped to his feet to pace, and he looked at the others wild-eyed, the same way Ilsa had. He turned to look at them and shook his head. “This has the potential to be bigger than what we expected. If the person Royal obtained his guns from, then yes, it is a Federal case because they would have gotten them illegally from the FBI. I’m going to have to talk to Duane about this. Do you know if he’s in his office?”
“He’s not, he went to the grocery store for last minute items for tomorrow’s dinner. I’m sure you can talk with him later, or even tomorrow.”
“I suggest,” Kevin said soothingly, shaking his head and holding up his hand. “No, hear me out. I suggest that you come up with some questions to ask Duane, and then give yourself a day’s rest. I’m sure we can come back to this on Friday with a clearer head. I know I have several questions I’d like to ask him.” He moved his own pad of paper he’d taken notes on.
“Maybe I should tell you about something else. Other people that are connected to Jason Royal.” Erin shook her head, rose to her feet, helped herself to a cup of coffee. When she joined them again, she told them all about the trouble Naomi had gone through, and what her father and one of Royal’s best friends had done about taking life insurance policies out on Naomi. When she left the trio several hours later, she left them with a lot to think about.
CHAPTER 13
The next day,Thanksgiving, Jason, Ilsa, and Kevin made their dishes to pass, well, Ilsa and Kevin did, while instructing Jason on how to help them. He was coming along nicely in the cooking department, he had learned to make coffee, as well as several breakfast items. He was hesitant to try anything complicated, but with practice he should be okay in the future. Around two o’clock, with everything done, they made their way over to Erin’s Way for the dinner to start at four. They figured if they were there early, then they could help with anything that needed to be done. They promised they wouldn’t work on the case for that day.
At the office slash meeting barn, several people were going in and out, and Jason looked around and swore when he saw they had left the ‘murder’ board out. He walked over to Pru to apologize.
“I’m sorry,” Jason said quietly, and he saw the woman studying the board intently.
“Don’t be, what’s this?” Pru asked as she pointed at the board.
“Normally, it would be considered a murder board, it’s something the police put together to have all the players in onearea, and we can study it. Since there’s no murder, it’s just our information board with everyone that’s involved with the case.”
“Ah, I understand.” Pru nodded and went back to studying it.
“If it bothers you, I can remove it.”
“No, please, no. It doesn’t bother me, I find it fascinating.”
Jason took her word for it, and left her to continue to study it when he was called away to help put some tables together.
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent enjoying a holiday meal, and talking and laughing with everyone involved. Other than that time he found Pru studying the board, no mention of the case was made. By ten o’clock that night, for the first time in years when he climbed into bed, he had a smile on his face about how relaxed he felt and knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he would hit the road running the next day with renewed vigor to attack this case. If all went as planned, shortly after the first of the year, arrests would be made.
On the following Wednesday,Pru walked into the back door of Gunny’s Bed and Breakfast with her usual delivery of eggs.
“Hey, RJ, how was your holiday?”
“Good, Pru, you?”
“Good, we had a great meal and spent it all together. I have some bad news for you.”
“What’s that?”
“This is the last of the eggs for the year. My chickens are beginning to slow down on their laying of eggs. According to Ducky, it’s because of the time of year. They should pick up again in the spring. So, this is the last shipment until then.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Pru,” RJ nodded as she took the eggs from her. “When production picks up, will you think of me?”
“Yes.” Pru nodded and looked around.
“Was there something else?”
“Yes, is Jake around?”
“I’m here,” the man in question said as he walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, Pru, how was your holiday?”
“Good, yours?”
“Good. Did you need me for something?”
