MC: LaPonte Page 19

  Doc nods. "How do you feel about this one?" I know exactly what he's saying. I hand him the info. Logging on I send what I have to Ben at Baxter’s, Digs and Geek.

  I look over to him. "Like sheltering her isn't the only thing we need to do for her. I'm anxious Doc. It's Christmas Eve. We have tons of shit going on and people are going to be distracted. The last thing I want to do is bring trouble to our door on a day like today. For some reason I think she needs to be here. Besides the fact that no one else will take her." That sounds whiny. Fuck. I look down and take a breath. "I got a bad feeling." I say looking at him.

  "Baxter's do too. Beau is giving me two from their international security. The client is going to land at Baxter's compound; they'll transport them west to be picked up in Lakeland.

  I relay the info to Digs and hang up as Anita comes in. Before she even opens her mouth I put my hand up. "Call Tracy or Nancy, 8 year old twins. One boy one girl, you can get specific later. Right now basic, they're in a chopper from the hospital, probably don't have much if anything with them. They're meeting with a vehicle to switch in Lakeland. I don't want to use anyone outside of the MC, you, me or Len. We need someone moving quickly. Talk with Digs." She nods walking out.

  Doc moves back to my desk. “Patches is putting together basics for the switch, he'll be picking them up with one from Military Security. Baxter’s Security is on their way here." He tells me. I go tell Anita. She nods while dialing another number. I head back to Doc.

  "Ben and Steve want to meet with us; they want a plan in place before the client gets here. I told them we'd wait here for them." He tells me as he's walking out to Anita. I smile for the first time since seeing Len this morning. Where did he think I was going to go?

  I call Danny letting him know what's happening. He relaxes me saying Devan is at Millie's, and the boys are with old ladies. Everyone is safe and he can be here in ten. I love this man. I sit going over various scenarios and the reactions we need to display for the outcome we want. I call Len in. Before he can sit down my phone rings. I answer and realize my day just got more complicated. Ben from Baxter’s tells me mom is out but his doctor wants us to know the kids have Down Syndrome they are small in stature but high functioning. I thank him for the heads up and go to Anita giving her the info to pass onto the old ladies shopping. Len gets a call heading back to his desk.

  Ben and Steve come in and go right to the conference room. I grab my file and call Len and Anita as I walk by them. Two huge guys walk into reception, Karen is a little shaken so I call out telling them they are in the right place and we’re meeting right now. They nod to me and follow. They have guns on their hips which causes my workers to be a bit jumpy.

  I walk into the room and turn at the door introducing myself, Ben, Steve, Doc, Anita and Len. Jake and Zack smile and do fist bumps with Steve introducing themselves to the rest of us. We all sit. Anita hands everyone what we have so far. I look at Ben. “Baxter’s doctor gave us a heads-up. Mom is out and the kids have Down Syndrome. They are small in stature but high functioning.”

  “Fuck!” Steve, Jake and Zack say at the same time. Len covers his face.

  Ben looks stricken. “After hearing what happens in care I’m glad you took the client. It’s going to make it a fuck of a lot more complicated but at least they’re not in care.” I nod.

  “Amen. Special needs kids don’t need any more stress in their lives. These already have more than their share.” Anita says.

  “No one else would take her. They didn’t tell me the kids were special needs. I told them to call me back if they couldn’t find her a place. I thought distancing her from Boston would be better than here. We’re only an hour and a half away.” Len tells us.

  “Do we have anything on the husband yet?” Ben asks.

  “I sent the info over to Geek and Digs on our side and Ben on Baxter’s about half an hour ago.” I tell him. Jake checks his phone, Steve calls Geek. I check the iPad and see an email from Geek with Ben’s name on it. I slide it over to him.

  “Fuck! Anita, Len and Kate do you have anything else we need to know?” Ben asks.

  I look to Anita and Len, they shake their heads no. “We don’t.”

  He looks at me for a minute like he’s contemplating something. “I’ll need you to step out. Kate don’t go too far.” He looks up at the ceiling and tells Dig’s to cut the video. I nod as I get up. Danny and Tiny come in as we’re leaving. Ben introduces Jake and Zack to them as I close the door. Holy Shit! This can’t be good.

  “Kate I have to get to one of the shelters. I promised the kids I’d take them shopping for their mom today.” Len tells me.

  “Go ahead. Nothing about this case goes any further than me you and Anita.” I tell him. I don’t want to add to the MC’s plate.

  “Got that.” He says, with a wave he’s out the door. Anita is watching me. I check on the other workers. Where running light because of Christmas. We’re full and my people took care of things earlier this week knowing Christmas is a rough time of year and anything can happen. I go to Karen and tell her she needs to get an ok from me before she takes on anyone else. She gives me a funny look but nods. I can't give her any details so I don't.

  Ben calls me back in. "Kate we have the lawyer and judge waiting again. We need temporary custody in case mom is out for a while. Special needs kids may need a doctor’s care and we’d have no rights." Fuck. This strikes too close to home. "She's woken up once in transport but is out again." He's waiting.

  I look at Danny, he nods. "You can put our name on it again."

  He lets out a breath. "I was hoping you'd say that. Mom is going to need extensive care." He waits again.

  "I'll get Anita to bring in a CNA. We had two that volunteered for Christmas hours." I tell him.

  "We're thinking we should keep mom and kids separated." He winces. He knows this is not good.

  "We can get two phones set up. We leave one with the CNA and have the other on Security with the kids. If it's set to video chat mom will be a little more relaxed than just hearing their voices." I don't know what else to do and it’s the quickest solution I can come up with.

  He smiles. "I like that." He looks at Tiny. "Get Security to set that set up for us." Tiny walks out on his phone.

  "Danny do you have any experience with Down Syndrome?" I look over at him.

  He seems surprised by the question. "No but I helped with a trisomy 18 boy, it's an extra or damaged chromosome on the 18th line but close to Down's." He knows so much friggin shit he amazes me sometimes.

  I nod. "I think we need to keep someone that has some kind of experience with them. A woman with lots of patience or Danny unless you know someone else with experience."

  Ben looks at me. "The idea is to hide them in plain sight. Keep them on the delivery runs through town then to your house. Keeping Danny with them isn't a bad idea but we've got Darren to look after and I don't want all the kids in danger by mixing them."

  "Everyone in the club signs Ben. Patches and Petey have the Little Brothers on deliveries too. They have the west side. If you separate the twins from the other kids you might as well put a target in them."

  "She's right." Steve says looking at him. "Need to keep them hidden or with the other kids."

  Ben looks at Steve then me. "Can you get the CNA set up? I'll call you back in a couple of minutes." I nod and go back to Anita.

  She gets the CNA to come to the office telling her we'll transport her. "I can't believe she's willing to work the 24 on Christmas." I tell her.

  "She's alone, Christmas pays double. She wants New Year’s off so she can go to New York. I think that's pretty smart." She smiles at me. I guess it is. Tiny comes back in with a shoe box. He walks right to the conference room. I look around.

  "Where is everyone?" I just noticed how quiet it is. Karen is at reception, no one else is here.

  "Delivering presents and food. I thought if they delivered early they'd be away from here for whatever is going on in there
. People were getting curious." She says looking a little tentative.

  "Good idea. We don't want anyone else knowing what is happening. This one has everyone nervous." I wish I knew what Geek sent Ben. As if thinking his name conjures him up he calls me back in.

  "I think we have it this time." He says with a smile. As he closes the door a shot is fired. I freeze. Ben pushes me into the room. Steve is out the side door Jake and Zack follow. Danny pulls me down and tells me to stay under the table. Another shot. Fuck. Anita and Karen are out there, I tell Danny quietly. He heads toward the side door. Tiny stands and tells me to stay put.

  Two shots fast then I hear Steve yell, "Clear". Ben opens the door. He looks back and yells. "Doc!" I climb up and walk out behind Tiny. Anita is on the floor. Fuck!

  I kneel by her. She opens her eyes and smiles at me. "He winged me. SWAT my ass." She has me cracking up. Jake laughs behind me.

  "Is Karen ok?" I ask him. He nods pointing to her. She's coming out of my office looking scared. Danny has a hand at her elbow. "You doing ok Karen?" She nods and sits in Len's chair. "Where is the guy? I'm guessing it was the guy right?" I ask anyone that might answer.

  "Steve got him, it's your guy. Looks like you don't need a plan anymore." Zack smiles at me.

  "Well then, Merry Christmas and I hope you can stay for the parties. There are a few of them happening from the G rated Community Center to The Plank or the Club House's purely adult kind of partying." I tell him with a big smile.

  The guys crack up. "You're more than welcome to stay. The party at the Club starts at nine; we have a couple of rooms you can crash in if you're drinking." Ben tells them.

  Anita is pushing Doc away so she can get up. "Just wrap it up and let me be Doc. I'm not some candy ass that can't take a hit." The entire room erupts in laughter as two uniform police walk in.

  Steve looks at the ceiling. "Need the video, put it on a flash drive and get it here in ten." The first officer looks at the ceiling then at Steve. "Justifiable homicide. Killed his wife's parents and assaulted a crisis worker before he showed up here. He was Boston SWAT. Shot Anita and was taking aim at Karen. Took him down with this." He hands his gun to the officer. "It's registers to me, you've seen my license. I want it back." The officer doesn't say a word. He hands the gun to an officer behind him. "Other than getting this body out of here, you're not needed inside." The guy nods at him and walks out the door.

  Jake and Zack crack up. Jake looks at Steve. "They really going to wait outside?" When Steve nods they laugh harder.

  Danny puts his arm around me. Holds his face with his other hand and tells Jake, "They’re afraid of Steve. They never talk to him; just wait for him to tell them what to do." When I put my arm around him I feel his gun. He takes my hand and winks at me. Why the hell does he have a gun? I look at the body on the floor. He came ready to protect me. I smile and look up at him. I love this man.

  Ben is on the phone with Digs, telling Patches to come right to the yard. Doc stops fussing with Anita, she sits at her desk to answer the phone. Tiny is standing back watching everything. I'm watching everything but it feels unreal.

  "If you got some extra bikes we'd like to hang out and help deliver with you. It will give us something to do until nine. I'd like to see how this plays out with the cops too." Jake says smiling.

  "I'll get the bikes for you. It's fuckin cold out and we got the east side. They gave us the fuckin waterfront knowing we’re on bikes. The more help we have, the less time I'm freezing my fuckin ass off." Tiny tells them. Steve gives him a chin lift.

  "Is anyone going to get the dead guy out of my Center? He's got a hole in the center of his friggin head and he's looking up at Digs." I look at Danny, "you think Digs is freakin out with him lookin right at the camera?" The guys laugh. Len tries to come in. An officer stops him.

  Steve tells him to go to the Bakery and wait there. "You have a bakery?" Zack asks.

  "I need a coffee. Let's go over there. Bet they don't have a dead guy at the door." Anita says getting her purse and coat. I crack up. It's like a bazar movie. Danny buries his face in my hair laughing. Doc takes off to set up the house for the mom.

  Zack puts his arm out for Anita. "Lead the way little momma." They step around the dead guy and walk past the police with Jake following.

  No one stops them. Their guns are in full view. I just shake my head. Ben comes over to us and looks down at the guy. "Fuck Brother, nice shot. I thought I heard two shots." Ben looks at him.

  Steve nods. "Was practicing, the second shot was same hole." He says with a smile.

  "Fuck, Brother." Danny says. "Bet Digs will have that one as his screen saver."

  Ben looks at me. "Patches will be here in twenty. You can get some coffee if you want to get out of here for a while."

  Karen jumps up. "I want to get out of here."

  "Why don't you get your things and clock out. I think you've had enough excitement for one day." She nods grabs her bag and rushes out the door trying not to look at the dead guy. Danny waits until she's out to laugh. "She didn't sign out." I go to Anita's desk and write Karen's time out. Ben laughs at me. Freakin people. There's a dead guy on the floor, police outside freezing their asses off and my people either shot or in shock. This is not a typical day for me.

  "I need some coffee but someone needs to answer the phone." I tell them as I plop down in the reception chair.

  "I'll get you some." Danny says walking out the door with a smile. He pokes his head back in laughing. "Barney's here." Steve gives him the finger.

  A Prospect comes in looking at the dead guy then Steve. He hands him a flash drive and walks out. Ben cracks up taking the drive and plugging it into Anita's computer. He watches the video and pulls the flash out. “Impressive from across the room Brother.” Steve gives him a chin lift. Harris is talking to the uniforms outside. He looks in then looks away fast. Jake comes back in with a coffee. "Danny said I need to see Barney. Who's Barney?" I point to Harris as he walks in.

  Jake comes over and sits on the desk like he's getting ready to watch a movie. I laugh. Harris goes right to Steve. "This your work Knight?" He asks with a smile.

  "Not playin your fuckin games Barney." He hands him the flash drive. "Get this fuckin body out of here and get me a real cop. Not answerin a fuckin question you put to me." Steve says pissed. He's scary when he's pissed. Harris just looks at him, he’s no longer smiling.

  Danny and his friend Paul come in with big smiles. "Sorry Knight, I just had to see your face when Barney showed up." Paul says. I thought Peter was Harris’ partner. It’s funny to have two Pauls’. Danny brings me my coffee and stands beside my chair. The coffee is perfect. I pull him down for a kiss then watch the guys while I'm happily sipping.

  Steve doesn't look happy. He takes the drive away from Harris and gives it to Paul. "Justifiable homicide. Uniform has my gun. I want it back and we need this fuckin body out of here."

  Paul laughs. "I love when you give me video. Makes my life easy. I'll get your gun and get the stiff out of here. Is this the SWAT guy?" He bends putting the guy’s gun in a bag.

  "Yeah, Anita's insulted he just winged her." Steve says with a smile.

  "She at the Bakery?" Paul asks. Steve nods then looks at Harris.

  "Why he fuck you still here? Nothin to fuck up here Barney, get the fuck out." Steve says in a menacing voice. “Next time you’re sightseein in one of our buildings you leave your fuckin gun outside.” Paul laughs when Harris jumps. He holds the door for him and talks to the uniform. The cop waves the morgue guys in. When Paul comes back in he smiles at Steve. "Why the fuck you always send Barney? Fuckin guy makes me nervous wearin a gun. Hope you don't give him fuckin bullets." Steve says still looking pissed. Jake laughs. The morgue guys take the dead guy out.

  Ben looks at me. "Patches should be here any minute. Doc is setting up at your old house." I nod. The CNA walks in looking curious. I give her the address and tell her Doc is waiting for her and the client isn't far behind.
<
br />   Paul looks at me. "You got stuff for the kids, it was twins right?"

  "Yeah eight years old, high functioning Down Syndrome. The old ladies were picking up some basics for them but I don't know about toys. They should be here any minute. I'll be able to tell what would be appropriate age when I can talk to them." I tell him. "Glad their father's not still in the doorway."

  "Fuck. I'll get your gun back Knight. I can wait until they get here. Got some guys looking for something to do. They mentioned shopping; I know the MC handled the kids in town. We can take the kids and the mom off your plate."

  "That would be perfect, thanks Paul. You might want to get Steve's gun, I think he's running out of patience here. Harris drains it out of him." I smile at Steve.

  Paul doesn't look back, he walks out the door. Steve gives me a smile. "Thanks Kate."

  "No problem." I look at Ben. "Did you get the paperwork from the lawyer yet?"

  He nods, "Yeah, Keith is bringing it down as soon as the judge signs it. I had to get the papers redone after Steve shot the guy."

  Jake looks at me. "Not squeamish at all huh?"

  Danny laughs, "Only for worms." I shiver. They laugh.

  Patches comes in holding the hands of the twins. Danny holds my hand and we walk to them squatting down to their level. "This is Ms. Kate and Mr. Danny the people I told you about." The little girl looks at me and smiles. My heart melts. The boy asks Danny if he's a pirate. Everyone laughs. His voice is thick and distorted. Danny signs no he's just Danny with a broke eye.

  They both smile and sign back. Their names are Ally and Alex. I laugh and sign Merry Christmas. They sign it back. Patches laughs, “I didn't think to sign. I was having trouble understanding them, I should have tried it."

  "It's not something you would know right off Brother. Now that you know can you get them making a list, we have volunteers to shop for them." Danny tells him. Patches takes them to the conference room to make lists. They are excited, making funny noises. I smile at them. They are adorable with platinum blond hair and green eyes.