Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights Book 2) (10 page)

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.

Jewel was speaking animatedly. She was using her hands, and both boys looked irritated as they listened to her lecture. Then to her dismay, she turned on her heel and left abruptly. He saw her walk down the block to her Nova parked a couple of yards away along the curb and got in. She sent up a dust cloud as she peeled away in apparent anger.

Joseph took that as his cue to leave. But he was very curious as to what she was doing with these two young men, and why she was giving them money. Perhaps, he needed to have another visit with Miss Diamante after all. Not that he needed an excuse.

He’d thought last night was the end of it, but now, he wasn’t so sure. Curiosity, a tad of jealousy, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t want to analyze his feelings, but he did want to know what that exchange had been about. This little incident had put her on his radar once more. His suspicious nature had been roused again. And he was also surprised that he wasn’t opposed to a repeat performance of last night. He pulled away going in the same direction Jewel had been headed. Perhaps she was working today, he thought, wondering how he could make their next meeting happen.

But work came first today. He headed directly back to
The Mystic
and pushed Jewel from his mind.

*

By four o’clock
everything was set. Seeing his mother in the hall talking to Jonathan’s secretary, Glenna, Joseph went to give her an update in person. And like he had assumed, she was pleased.

“Good, this is perfect. Can you talk to Tom, and put an additional man or two on each shift to walk the corridors until we get those cameras installed? Let him know that we will pay the over time if need be. Anything to prevent another theft.” He saw the frown. These thefts really had her worried.

“Absolutely. I agree. And I’ll ask the security guards on the first and second floors to be more alert, watching the merchandise areas and the ATM locations.”

“Very good,” she nodded. She seemed a bit distracted. “The week after next we have a convention coming in, lots of dignitaries, and I really would love those cameras in place by then.”

“They’ll be in place, and perhaps we can add extra security on the monitors. What kind of convention is it?” he asked, mildly curious. Conventions brought in larger crowds, and he hadn’t heard about this one.

“It’s a small contingency of the Democratic Party. They are gearing up for their caucus. And a planning session, some fundraising too, I think. There will be a black tie event on Saturday, one thousand guests expected in ballroom A,
The Mashantucket
.”

He briefly wondered if Senator Silver would be in attendance. “We could hire out for additional security if we don’t have the new hires in place by then. You need me to handle that?” he asked focusing on the task at hand.

That faraway expression vanished. “Could you?” she asked smiling brightly at him. She appeared irritated, still distracted, which was unlike his mother. Normally, she was so focused and on top of everything. She wasn’t acting herself at all. He briefly wondered if she were ill. But surely she would tell her children if she were sick. Even her energy seemed depleted. Especially after returning from one of her vacations. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Oh yes, I’m fine,” she waved away his suggestion. “It is just these robberies have me so worked up. These politicians bring their wives, and they tend to want to show off their jewelry. I don’t want anything happening during the night of the banquet, the whole weekend really.” Her eyes rolled at the thought of the political spouses and their tendency to overdo their accessorizing.

“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry. I’ll keep you posted as things start to get put in place. I hate to see you so worried.” He saw her slight frown at his concern.

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that. The banquet is Saturday evening, but on Friday night those who have come in early will most likely keep those items in their rooms so I’d like the extra security that night as well. It hasn’t been advertised, invite only, but if word gets out about the new arrivals, I am afraid these thieves might take a stab at some of the dignitaries family heirlooms. The thought of one of the politicians or their spouses getting robbed at the casino would surely make the news. We don’t need any kind of bad press.”

He nodded, completely understanding her concerns. “And I’m sure that while some of the attendees, their aides, and lobbyists are in sessions, their spouses will probably be in the casino.”

His mother nodded, her eyes widening. She hadn’t thought of that. She was about to suggest more than the additional two, but Joseph interrupted her.

“I’ll bring in an extra six men for Friday night then, but maybe we could inform the clerks at check in to be sure to offer use of the hotel safe. Complimentary, of course.”

“Very good. Good thinking.” Again, her brow furrowed while contemplating the extra safety precautions. He could tell she was still distracted, as her hands reached up to clasp her own locket. It was something she had worn since before he could even remember. A touchstone containing pictures of the four of them, her children. She always grasped it when agitated.

“Is everything else okay, Mom?” he asked once more, full of concern. His mother was acting so strangely.

Tawny gave her son her full attention, and then smiled broadly when she saw the worry on his face. She needed to keep it together. Especially in front of Joseph. He was always so observant. He noticed many things that others did not. Her worries were not even about the thefts, though that was bothering her, but it was something she couldn’t share that was taking precedence in her mind. “That’s funny. I was going to ask you the same question.” She decided the best tactic to put him off about her odd behavior was to turn the tables on him. She was good at that. Keeping tabs on her children made her an expert over the years.

Her sudden turn had him wary. She was evading his question, he knew it, with one of her own. “I’m good,” he stated, still wondering why she was trying to deflect the attention from her.

“I had brunch with your sisters and they told me an interesting tidbit.” Her eyes narrowed on him now.
Great!
He groaned inwardly. When she hadn’t mentioned anything this morning, he was confident his sisters had served him well as wingmen last night, but now he wasn’t so sure. He suddenly had a feeling he knew in which direction this conversation was headed.

He twisted his face into a knot assuming his sisters had mentioned the previous evening’s activities. Next time he spoke to them, he would have to instruct them on proper wingman etiquette. Rule one, don’t spill the details to your mother. Or any woman for that matter.

Now that Jonathan was married, he wouldn’t have him to back him up on an evening out. After last night’s success, he’d thought his sisters had been very effective. He’d definitely reconsider using them again. But they had to understand the rules.

“Just a girl, Mom.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. His sisters had most certainly ratted him out.

“From the kitchens?”

Yep, rats!
“Yes,” came his terse reply.

Tawny wrinkled her nose. Not because of the woman’s career, but because he had probably slept with another employee. As much as she tried to dissuade that, her son was a man. One who rarely left
The Mystic
. Where else was he going to pick up girls? He had to live a little. She understood that. A man’s needs. And as much as she hated to admit it, all her children were grown now.

He continued when he saw her expression, “I am always up front with them. And careful.”

She nodded, piercing him with a heavy glare, but he saw beneath the surface a mild curiosity. “So, not seeing her again?”

He didn’t answer right away and that rewarded him with an eyebrow lift and a smile. It was the first time he had seen her smile today, so he threw her a bone.

“I might,” he lied. “She’s interesting.” He didn’t want to give her hope that he had met someone he was serious about. And he didn’t want to give details either. His personal life was off limits. But, after seeing Jewel that afternoon, he knew he would definitely be seeing her again. He was planning on it. He planned on tracking her down soon. But no sense having his mother’s feathers get ruffled by him continuing to see an employee, or worse, hoping for more for him.

“Dawn and Eve said it looked like you were really into her.” She had a habit of making her statement sound like a question.

“Really, Mom. You want details.” His voice was full of humor. Full of the threat of giving her those details.

Tawny laughed and returned the sarcasm. “No. No. Just be careful.” She got on her tiptoes to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. Her daughters had made it sound like there was more to the story. It seemed they had been exaggerating, she thought a tad gloomily. Joseph’s heart would be harder to crack than Jonathan’s. She knew he’d been burned before.
Tara.
She wrinkled her nose remembering how she had hurt her son. It would have to be someone really special to get Joseph to trust again. She got back down onto her heels and patted her son’s cheek affectionately. Very special.
Was this Jewel possibly it?
She’d have to wait and see.