17
“You realize you were a little hot back there with Mosley.”
Nate continued to drive as Tony talked. “He hit a sore spot.”
Tony nodded. “I know. But at some point you have to forgive your father. Even if you don’t, you can’t let personal shit cloud your judgement when it comes to cases. I don’t have to tell you this, Nate. You’re a smart guy.”
Not acknowledging Tony’s words one way or another, Nate knew he was right. They may need Mosley somewhere down the line to get the people behind this crap. While he was able to accept some things, others were just unforgivable. His father’s indiscretions were his burden to bear. At least that was until Nate discovered the other woman. And his father had the audacity to beg him to keep his secret. The only reason he had not disclosed the information he had gathered was because he knew how much it would hurt his mother. Sometimes men just don’t think.
“That’s the headquarters right there.”
Nate glanced out the window where Tony was pointing. “Peaceful Intervention Emergence. Interesting name for an organization that runs private prisons.”
They sat in the parking lot looking up at the tall building. “How do you want to handle this?”
Nate thought for a moment. “We should go with the thankful approach.”
Tony glared over at him. “Thankful?”
“Sure.” Nate nodded. “We are two hard working detectives that are happy for the help private facilities bring to help keep scum off the streets.”
“You can run that play with a straight face?”
Nate nodded. “I used to be a defense attorney, remember. I can make you think you are a millionaire when you don’t have a dime in your pocket.”
“All right, Kid, you’re on.” Tony started to open the door, but Nate stopped him.
“Tony, I was out of line with Mosley.” he shrugged. “I thought I was dealing with the crap. I guess it’s still too fresh.”
“When someone close deceives you there is no quick fix. Only time will allow you to cope. But take it from an old dog, the disappointment never goes away. At some point your father and you will have a come to Jesus moment. Until then, don’t allow his sins to rule your judgement day.”
Nate stared at Tony. “That was pretty damn deep.”
“I have my moments,” Tony said then stepped out of the car.
As they entered the lobby Nate had an unexplainable feeling of danger hit him. Naturally he reached for his holster, unclipping the latch that held his weapon in place.
“What is it?” Tony asked.
“You don’t feel that?”
“What?”
“The hatred seeping out of every corner of this building,” Nate replied as he approached the front desk.
A blond, blue eyed woman looked up. Nate caught the startled look in her eyes before she was able to conceal it. “May I help you?” she said more to Tony than to him.
Tony must have noticed the reaction too, he pointed to Nate without saying anything at all to the woman. The woman did any and everything she could not to look at him. Her actions almost caused Nate to laugh.
“Excuse me,” Nate said attempting to catch her eye. “My name is Nathan Reigns. I’m a detective with the Major Crimes Division of the Richmond Police Department. I was wondering if I could have a moment of Mr. Wyatt Chambers’ time?”
Without checking a computer or making any calls, the woman looked up at Tony. “Mr. Chambers is not available.”
Tony again pointed to Nate without saying a word. The woman again avoided eye contact. Nate and Tony exchanged a glance.
“I don’t think I caught your name.” Nate put on his brightest smile. But the woman never looked up to catch the gesture.
“Krystal O’Donnell.”
“Krystal, that’s a beautiful name. You seem to have special powers. You were able to tell us Mr. Chambers was not available without checking his calendar. How many people do you think work in this building?” he asked Tony.
“Twenty stories, ten or more rows of windows around the exterior, a few thousand at the least.”
Nate turned back to Krystal. “With that many people you’re able to keep all their schedules in your brain.” He nodded. “That’s kind of special.”
The woman stared into his eyes as if he did not exist. “Mr. Chambers is not available for the likes of you. In fact, I believe security needs to be advised of your insolence to a superior being.”
Nate’s demeanor changed. “Superior? Are you referring to yourself, by any chance?”
“Any person in this building would be superior to you. Now if you don’t mind I would like for you to leave.”
Nate and Tony looked at each other.
“She would like for you to leave,” Tony repeated to Nate.
“We recognize those of us who have been manipulated to believe, their kind is equal to us,” Krystal said to Tony. “We have the ability to reprogram your thoughts to regain your superiority.”
“Whoa, Nate, did you hear that? I can be reprogrammed.
“Look, Krystal.” Nate turned from the grinning Tony. “You have thirty seconds to get Mr. Chambers on the phone. If you do not, the force of the entire Richmond Police Department will be summoned to your door.”
“Yes, there is a whole force of men and women like me, you can try to reprogram.” Tony nodded.
“Krystal, is there a problem?” A tall blond man with blue eyes dressed in a navy suit walked from a door behind the receptionist desk.
“This person is here to see Mr. Chambers.” she explained with a sneer.
“This person is Detective Nate Reigns with the Major Crimes Division of the Richmond Police Department,” he said as he pulled out his badge. “You have exactly sixteen seconds remaining to produce Mr. Wyatt Chambers or I will have every available police officer in the city to lock the building down until we find him.”
The man stepped towards Nate. “I assure you that is not necessary.” He extended his hand. “I am Evan Welch, Mr. Chambers’s assistant.” Nate simply stared at the man’s hand then looked back up at him. Tony shook the man’s hand.
“Mr. Chambers is having lunch with the Mayor. I believe they are at a campaign fundraiser.”
“Mr. Chambers is with Mayor Palmer?”
The man nodded. “Yes, I believe they are associates.”
“Uh huh,” Nate said in a disbelieving tone. “Where are they dining?”
“It is an exclusive facility,” Evan stated. “I am certain you would not be privy to the membership there.”
“You never know,” Nate teased. “We show up in the most unexpected places these days.”
Evan smirked. “Yes, well, The Carmichael.”
“The Carmichael?” Nate asked, then reached into his suit jacket to pull out his wallet. He pulled out a black card with gold trimming. “Does he have one of these?”
Surprise registered in the man’s eyes for a quick moment, then he returned to being expressionless. “I believe he does.”
“Then I will have no problem getting to him.” Nate glanced at the woman who now stood behind Evan. He extended his hand. “Thank you for your time.” Then turned to walk out with Tony next to him.
“Excuse me, sir,” Evan called out. “What was your name again?”
Nate did not bother to turn to answer the question. He continued walking towards the door. “Reigns…Nathan Reigns.”
Tony looked back to see Evan Welch taking a wipe from the lovely Krystal then wiping his hands. “What in the hell did we just walk into, Nate?”
“A building of superior beings according to the lovely Krystal.”
“You good?” Tony asked as they reached the vehicle.
Nate leaned against the roof of the vehicle as he replied to Tony. “What happened in there is freedom of speech. I never have issues with people having their opinion of me. What does concern me is Mayor Palmer having lunch with someone who works for an organization with those beliefs.”
“Palmer has money,” Tony responded. “He doesn’t need campaign funding from the likes of anyone in that building.”
“It could be a boast on the part of Welch,” Nate suggested as he opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Please tell me we are not going to see the Mayor.”
Nate glanced at Tony as he settled into the passenger seat. “Oh hell yeah. If that’s where the case leads, that’s where we go.” He put the car in drive then pulled off.