Page 50 of Redemption in the Dark (The Righteous 5)
“He was very inappropriate with Maeve. It needed to be done.” Wolf didn’t elaborate, but he didn’t need to as his Dad nodded his understanding.
“Alright, I’ll put out word we are looking for a new farm hand,” his Dad said, taking him at his word.
Maeve wouldn’t look up from her plate, and glanced at him, and it bothered her all over again how Unole had treated her.
“We can always get more help with the hay. This is a special time of year. It’s important that we make sure everything is prepared properly.”
His Dad’s excitement was the opposite of how he was feeling, but as he began explaining what the celebration was about to Maeve, he knew it was a sealed deal.
“Can I borrow your phone,” he asked, and his dad was so enthralled with what he was saying that he handed it over without question.
Stepping outside, he dialed Kes’s number. “Mr. Reynolds speaking.”
Wolf looked at the phone to make sure he’d dialed the right number before putting it back up to his ear. “Kes?”
“Oh, hey Wolf. I thought you were someone else.”
“Clearly. I assume a lot has happened that I don’t know about.”
Kes made a sound that could pass for a bitter laugh. “You could say that. Short story is that I now run my father’s company, and I’m learning that he was into a lot of shady shit. I didn’t think I could be more disgusted with the man, but I was wrong.”
“Shady, how?”
“He was using the company as a cover to distribute drugs for the Golden Dragons, and if that shit wasn’t bad enough, I’ve found yet another shell company he was paying money into that I think was trafficking people. I’m not sure on that one yet or where the money was going for sure, but I’m working on it.”
“Fuck, and I thought I had drama.”
Kes sighed. “I also fucking hate paperwork, and I’m up to my armpits in it. Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t call to hear me bitch about my ongoing family bullshit.”
“I need to ask, is there something weird going on with The Righteous?”
Silence greeted him, yet he could still hear Kes breathing. “I’m sorry, I should’ve mentioned something sooner,” he finally said. “Don’t trust any communication you get, and I would avoid asking for information or really anything at this point.”
Wolf walked away from the screen door and headed to the end of the covered porch. He stared at the garage that held his hummer. He only used it when he was after a target that he wouldn’t be able to build a case for to have them arrested.
“What’s going on, Kes?”
“I don’t know. Trev has a few theories, but so far, we have no concrete evidence. But let’s just say there may be a bogey at the helm. Why what’s happened,” Kes asked.
Wolf ran a hand down his face as he contemplated the information. “I’d rather not get into specifics over the phone, but can you do me a favor?”
“Of course. What do you need?”
“The head of the US Marshal’s office and The Righteous gave me the same target. This is not unusual. It has happened a couple of times with a really nasty perp, but something feels off about this one. Can you see what the connection may be between the two organizations? I currently don’t have any of my normal electronics as I destroyed all mine after a strike team attacked me.”
“What the fuck?” Kes yelled, and Wolf had to move the phone away from his ear. “Are you sure? Are you like one hundred percent sure it was one of our teams?”
“Honestly, I don’t know if it was The Righteous members, but it was someone with our level of training and funding. I barely made it out alive.”
“Well, shit, I can’t wait to hear that story. Listen, I don’t have time to talk right now. I was about to walk into a meeting.” Wolf could hear Kes shuffling papers and then the steady footfall of shoes on a hard surface echoing through the line. “I’ll definitely look into it. Oh, and your Hummer can be disconnected from The Righteous and still used. Leave it to a ten-year-old girl to figure that one out. Can I reach you at this number later, and I’ll walk you through it?”
“I’ll be getting a burner today. I’ll text you the new number, but until then, if you need me, call this phone and leave a message for me.”
“Okay, gotta go. Oh, and Wolf?”
“Yeah?”
“As brothers we stand together.”
