Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(21)

Joseph cleaned off the equipment and weights he had been using and then headed back upstairs to dress and don one of his many suits. He’d talk to Tom, call the suppliers for the video surveillance equipment himself and then over lunch run to the tribal office to take care of his application. It was going to be a long day.





Chapter 7




?


By the time he was able to take a quick lunch break it was nearly one o’clock. Thank goodness for power bars. He hated to do it, but he drove through a Wendy’s drive thru for lunch on his way to the tribal office. He bought two bottles of water and two grilled chicken sandwiches. He polished it all off by the time he reached the small band office on Pequot Road.

He pulled into the two story office building built just six years earlier, parked, and went straight inside. The double doors opened into an impressive reception area. Beyond that was the town’s grand hall, where gatherings and the Saturday council meetings were held. Upstairs consisted of eight offices, a small conference room, and storage spaces for building supplies and equipment.

As soon as he got his bearings in the dim entryway darkened by the somber traditional ornamentation of the room, he searched out the receptionist. He was in luck though. Myrtle was conversing with a young girl sitting behind the large oak paneled overly large receiving desk made to look like a birch bark canoe. She smiled when she saw him.

The older woman straightened slowly and then began to approach. “Ah, Joseph, good to see you. I knew you would be in sometime today and I had Millie get everything ready for you. You just need to sign a few forms.”

He met her more than half way. Her age and short stature were no match to his longer legs. “Perfect.” He greeted the older women respectfully and appreciatively. She was dressed simply in a white blouse and long skirt befitting her age and status.

Joseph explained he was in a hurry today and why. Her face became pinched with worry. She was clearly upset to hear about the other break-ins at the casino, but was glad he was heading the project. She’d always found him very efficient, and knew he would make a good addition to the council.

“You’ll bring some young blood into the meetings. It’s what we need, and I know you’re of like mind. You and your family have always expressed and shown your concern for the people. And you in particular, have shown your concern for our younger generation. This is important. This is why we need you. You’ll be thinking about them. They are our future and need good role models. It’s not just about money. It’s important to remember them. The people of all ages.” She was referencing his work at the youth center, and he accepted her compliments. He enjoyed his work there with the kids. It was a small sports complex and offered before and after school care for working parents. When he was young, he’d spent a lot of time at such places while his mother finished her schooling. Even as a teenager he enjoyed being there, playing sports with his friends and learning about his people from the elders who worked there or volunteered.

He followed her over to the reception area where she handed him the stack of promised papers she had ready for him. He thanked her, and they made plans to meet the following evening to discuss his campaign. He was grateful for her help and her wisdom. “You’re welcome, Joseph. Please call me if you need any help.”

With promises to do that, he left.

He’d been inside just twenty-five minutes, but needed to head back to the casino. He had a conference call at two with the head of the company that would be installing the video cameras. He’d also been able to order the equipment and it would be delivered the next day from their suppliers in Michigan. It had involved hiring an independent truck driver to bring it all so soon, but was worth the additional expense. A local man, Paul Hachey, was on his way there now to pick up the order.

Joseph also wanted to be sure he had not one, but three crews available to set up the cameras starting on Thursday. He hoped to have everything installed by Friday. He knew that would please his mother. He also had to put advertisements immediately in the local papers for new security guards, and let personnel know to begin conducting interviews and doing background checks on the prospective hires. He wanted the six new guards in place by the end of the following week and to begin their training. And he would update his mother after he made those calls.

As he rushed to his car, to his right, a wave of familiar dark hair caught his attention. Then he saw who the hair belonged to. It was Jewel. She was standing on the steps to the entrance of the local high school which was right next door to the tribal center. She was discussing something with two teenage boys, and she didn’t look happy. Seeing Jewel here disoriented him for a moment. He didn’t expect to see her hanging around teenagers. Though he felt like he was spying, he couldn’t look away. His curiosity had been piqued.

She didn’t see him, and so he climbed into his car and watched her from there.

He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but the look on her face spoke volumes. One of the boys handed her some papers, and she then pulled out her wallet and handed them what looked to be money. He frowned to himself wondering what was happening. The boys were identical. Twins. And he recognized them from the youth center. But he didn’t know them. He had been volunteering there for just over six months, but he worked primarily with the younger boys in the mornings. Most of the teens took advantage of the open gym and didn’t require as much supervision.