Retribution (Secrets & Lies #3)(14)
Nathan shakes his head, smiling. “Actually, space is not going to be a problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“The property was formerly a small retreat. It was owned by a Methodist church that decided to offload the property when they wanted to build a megachurch in Asheville itself. Officially I own eleven acres, but the surrounding property is all owned by lumber companies or is part of the Pisgah National Forest, with only a mile-long dirt road for access. The two buildings on the property are a small hotel with ten rooms, and a small chapel.”
Katrina nods, pleased. “And they've been kept up?”
Nathan shrugs. “The main parts of the buildings themselves are in good shape. It's not perfect, it's not a day at the Holiday Inn, but everything was working when I checked on it a year ago.”
“What supplies are we going to need?” Jackson asks. I think, and raise my hand. “What is it, 'Lissa?”
“Guys, I know we're asking questions you think are important, but I think you're missing the big point, which is that Nathan feels we can defend ourselves best there. There has to be a reason for that. Also, all of you are fully capable adults, and there's no problems with money. So what’s the problem?”
Carson taps his lips. “Are you really on this, 'Lissa?”
I nod, and look around at my family. “Four months ago, I was fully and completely broken. Carson was doing his best, but I was in a very bad place. I don't blame you Carson, you saved me and held me together by yourself for twenty-three years, but I was still incomplete. I don't know if I'm ever going to be fully fixed, fully at peace, but in the past four months I've watched as our family has come together. I've met four of the most capable people that I can think of. So why are we worried about the little things like if there's enough sleeping space? Nathan could say he's got ten acres of just woodland, and knowing the five people around me, we'd have a series of log cabins built in about a week and a half. Food won't be an issue either, and money isn't an issue at all. So what's most important?”
Andrea speaks up. “My baby. Nathan's kidneys. And no offense 'Lissa, but your health.”
I nod, and look at Nathan. “Think we can account for those?”
Nathan looks at me with a bit of wonder, then smiles. “I think so. Now, in talking with my contacts, nobody has seen Isis in Louisiana so far, so we have a bit of time. What I would like us to do is sleep well tonight. Carson, can you start to collect what cash you can tonight, then we get out at first light tomorrow? Once we are mobile we can take two days to make it to the Asheville area. Katrina, do you know if Peter has anyone of your skills that might be tracking our financial information?”
Katrina shakes her head. “Not that I know of. But I can't be sure. The cyber world is full of people who don't have any morals at all.”
Nathan nods, thinking. “Okay. Then Carson, make a call to the bank now, and try what you can. Andrea, you and Jackson go out and withdraw the daily limit from the ATM in Paradis. Jackson, if you and Katrina have cards as well, hit those up. Tomorrow we hit the road, and along the way we will stop at a bank within the state, do what we can there. If we cannot, I have other accounts I can withdraw from to fund this for quite a while.”
“You don't need to do that,” Katrina says, but Nathan interrupts her.
“Yes, I do. As someone pointed out to me a little while ago, it seems that I am just as much a part of this family as everyone else. So, as a family member, what's mine is yours. Besides, Carson will get my invoice in the mail afterward.”
Carson laughs, and I give Nathan a smile. He returns it, and looks around. “So are we in agreement?”
“What the hell? I've never been to North Carolina, sounds like it could be some fun,” Andrea says, standing up. “Come on Jackson, I already know which cards I can use, and then we can go shopping. I already know some stuff that I want to pick up at the Wal-Mart, it's open all night. Might as well put that big ass van of yours to good use.”
Chapter Six
Nathan
Carson's truck is more comfortable than I thought it would be for a long drive, especially since we don't have to stay cooped up in the truck if we don't want to. With Katrina and Jackson using the big van, there's more than enough room for everyone, and we all rotate through driving, resting, and riding shotgun in both vehicles as we take our caravan through the South.
Melissa, for her part, did great. She stayed in Carson's truck the whole drive, either with Andrea, Carson or myself to keep her company. We ended up taking three days, and both nights in the motel rooms she stayed with Carson and Andrea.
We didn't do any shopping the first day, Andrea and Jackson having gone a bit overboard on their raid of Wal-Mart the first night when they went out shopping. Andrea bought enough clothes for everyone that we didn't have to pack anything except for what we had on.
I do feel a bit strange not wearing one of my suits, all of them left behind in Paradis. After talking it over, we decided that leaving as much behind as possible would be helpful, because if one of Peter's hired guns comes to the farm, they might think that we're just out on a shopping trip or something. Isis won't be fooled, but others might be delayed at least a little while.