Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights Book 2) (15 page)

He helped to serve and then clean up as the director got everything organized for the next activity. The bus for school picked them up there.

He couldn’t do afternoons because that was a busy time at the casino, but wanted to do his part. Mornings worked out perfectly since he wasn’t expected until nine.

He actually enjoyed these mornings, and now that it was warm enough they spent their hour outside. Today he was going to take the six to eight year olds assigned to him on a little nature walk, pointing out some of the local plants and roots their people had used for healing back in the day. Some still did, the more traditional of his people. He was more than happy to share the stories of the people that had been passed down orally to him. The kids he had were eager learners when it came to their culture, especially when he spiced it up with tales of warriors, shamans, and Indian princesses. He laughed to himself. He had to keep up with Disney after all.

The time went quickly. Two of the older boys led the group to the bus loop and he signed out for the morning. Heading to his car, he wasted no time sliding in. He liked to be at the casino so he could change and dress up in his suite before he started his day at nine. He put in a minimum of eight hours, mostly paperwork and contracts that needed to be reviewed. Sometimes he stayed later if he was needed. When they had just opened their doors that had been often. Hell, he still put in a few late nights a week. There was always something.

After this current project for his mother, he planned on keeping stricter hours. He needed to start campaigning. On his reservation, that meant knocking on doors and talking to the people. There would be some debates set up for the two weeks prior to the election. And that was it. Because the property on the reserve was universally owned, they did not post political banners or signs. Talking was what they did. The tribe was still small. Just under six thousand people according to the last census. He knew he could make the rounds if he spent two hours each evening introducing himself and chatting for a bit with each family head. That’s how things were done here.

He also figured he would go to the pier and chat up the fishermen on Saturday when they came in around noon. Many of the older men worked all week, but came in earlier on the weekends. His evening visits would get most of the women. And he would, of course, talk to parents as they dropped off kids in the morning at the center. He was excited about getting underway. His hope was to work locally for five to ten years and then try to gain a seat as a house of representative member for his district. As a tribal council member, he’d be able to work with the surrounding communities in matters of economic and developmental projects. It was all about building your name, your brand, and your platform. And he was ready to start. He’d spent years in college volunteering for the Democratic Party. He’d even interned twice for Senator Silver. It was that work when he was a senior in high school, and in his first year in college that had really developed his passion.

He was confident he could win. People knew him here, and the Sassacus name had clout. Mostly his mother’s doing, but his ancestors before her had been chiefs and widely respected elders for over three hundred years. The name of Sassacus was widely known and respected. In fact, the whole tribe was descended from the great Chief Sassacus who’d rounded up the terrified eastern Pequot tribe after the slaughter they had experienced by the Puritans in the early 1600s. He’d brought them back together and began to rebuild their community. Nearly four hundred years later his mother continued those traditions, and he wanted to do the same.

It was a story every one of them knew. The tribe had split later into two groups when food and animals became scarce. They had faced great hardships over the years. Decimated by disease. Wars with neighboring tribes. Cultural loss with the pressure to convert by missionaries. Over-hunting by Europeans had destroyed their food and clothing resources. And yet they remained. The river and the sea providing them with enough to survive. After his tribe had split, the west and the eastern tribes became distinct from each other. And fighting over land and hunting had been a concern. His people had crossed the river, claiming this spot, along the Mystic, and it became known as Lantern Hill. And it was because of that move to save themselves then, that they had lost the rights and claim to the western bank of the river. The Western Pequot that owned and ran
Mohegan Sun
and
Foxwoods
owned that land. They had been recognized over a century ago by the government. Their population had been larger, too. And that had helped their claim.

Another century without status as a First Nations people had nearly devastated and destroyed the Eastern Pequot. His people had begun to scatter to the winds once more, or tried to marry into the other tribe. But tension had always been high there. Easterners had been looked down upon by the Westerners. They saw their leaving as disloyalty instead of survival and were reluctant to let them back in.

Back in his mother’s day, when she was younger, there had even been rival gangs and fights between the two tribes. His people had experienced more intermarriage with the local whites. Thus, their lighter skin tone. Racism existed even amongst his own people. And it had been prevalent then. The Western Pequot attitude of superiority came from their darker tones, their racial purity in their own minds. There was a lot of bad blood between them. He hoped to rectify some of that when he eventually made his way into Congress. It was already getting better, but he wanted to do more. The casino they now owned in their own right had alleviated a lot of that stress. The worry that the Easterners wanted in on their casinos was no longer a fear. Soon, his tribe would be economically sufficient on their own.

The issue of being mixed was still a concern to some, and he felt that too. It was one of the things he’d had to overcome in his own personal life. He was a half breed, more so if lineage was taken into account. He knew he was white, or half white. But he’d never known his father. His mother and grandparents, his tribe had raised him, even though he did not look much like a traditional native. But he embraced his native culture. His heart was with his people and all they had suffered. Because of being of mixed blood, the Eastern Pequot didn’t put as much stock in one’s appearance as some other tribes. They, after all, had commingled with the whites for centuries. It had been a matter of survival. Living amongst them, with the help and aid of the white communities around them, had not only been necessary to their very survival, but had enriched them too. They’d been able to learn and adapt to the new world around them because of their help and guidance even if it hadn’t always been easy.

You had to do what you needed to in order to survive.

Waiting in his car, he saw the first of the busses arrive to pick up the children. He usually waited until they all departed to make sure all was well and no one missed the bus. Plus, he’d be stuck behind a line of the big yellow busses anyway.

As the last bus pulled out, something caught his eye that delayed his departure. It was the twins. Jewel’s brothers. He saw Lesley and Wesley’s truck pull up at the center. He thought they had been away overnight. So he was surprised to see them here, now, back so early. Lesley was hanging out the window, and when an older boy came over, Lesley gestured for him to come closer. He watched curiously as Lesley handed the kid an envelope. The kid peered inside the envelope, and then smiled up at him, nodding his head. Lesley waved and the two brothers drove off. As they passed by him, he could see them both conversing animatedly. They didn’t see him sitting there. Then, the other boy, the one they had been talking to ran to another waiting car driven by what appeared to be another teenager and then they drove past him too. The scene he witnessed baffled him. What were they doing back in Lantern Hill? And what had just changed hands? It could be anything. School work, money? He didn’t know.

But it was strange nonetheless. He thought about mentioning it to Jewel. He started the ignition of his car. Maybe the overnight had gotten canceled, he thought. He didn’t want to get the boys in trouble. Perhaps she would mention it. He didn’t want to overreact. Maybe he’d keep this to himself for now. But he’d pay her a little visit today. She worked tonight, so he could easily slip down to the kitchen to see her. He wanted to talk to her about her disappearing act, and tease her about his morning problem which he had to take care of himself. He smiled. She’d blush for sure when he brought up his morning wood. And if he was lucky, that blush would spread right down to her breasts. Mmm, yes, that was a pleasurable thought indeed, he contemplated, as he got into traffic and started his journey to
The Mystic
.

‡

T
he moment he
arrived in the office, he found both his mother and Jonathan waiting for him. Both didn’t look happy. “There was another robbery last night. At
The Mohegan
,” his mother informed him.

“They were nice enough to share the information after we informed them we were having a problem. Seems they are as well. They are sending copies of the tapes they have. Three figures, masked, in black.” His brother added quickly filling him in.

“So no other identifiers,” he asked, frustrated that this rash of robberies was more organized than he’d thought.

“No, but the tapes show there are at least three of them. Other than height, and build, we know very little else.”

His mom piped in. “The tapes should be here soon. When Tom gets them, he’ll call us. We wanted to see if you wanted to view them as well.” She looked at him with a wary expression. Something about that look made the hair rise on the back of his neck.

“Absolutely. Let me know the minute you have the tapes.”

After they left, he headed into his office. He had the contracts drawn up for the new hires, and he wanted to check the status of the installation of the new surveillance equipment that had arrived that morning by way of the independent trucker they had hired. When the call came that the tapes had arrived from the rival casino, he met his brother in the hallway and they walked down together.

“So, mom tells me you are possibly dating someone?” Jonathan asked with mild curiosity.

Joseph smiled. “Well, it’s new. She is fun.”

“Wow, big step for you little brother. Seeing a girl more than once.”

“Yeah, it is. But we are taking it slow. Her name is Jewel and she cooks here at the casino.”

“Oh, the new sous-chef. I interviewed her. Pretty girl. Isn’t she raising her brothers? Family killed in an auto accident. I remember that happening. Horrible.”

“Yes, that’s her. Nice kids. A tight family.”

“That’s good. Well, I’d love to meet her when you think the time is right. Perhaps we can do something with Aliya. The four of us.”

Joseph nodded his assent. It was still too soon, but perhaps down the road.

They headed down to their security operations on the second floor together. It was next to the spa, which reminded him that he had a dinner engagement with a new supplier for the lotions and face creams they used there. A local company that used local ingredients in their products. It was something his mother very much wanted. Help the local community and they help you was one of her many mottos. And she was right about that.

They met their mother at the entrance to the security suite. Taking Jonathan’s arm she nodded briefly at Joseph as he held open the doors to the inner sanctuary of the security hub. His thoughts returned to Jewel and her brothers. He hoped his worries about them were for naught. But the silence as they made their way to see Tom sent his hackles up. He felt in his bones that his mother and brother were keeping something from him.

Tom was at the door to greet them when they arrived. After he repeated what they already knew, they entered the darkened room that held the wall of monitors that showed various locations of the casino.

“Pull the tapes up on this monitor, Henry,” Tom instructed. A burly Henry complied and soon grainy images of a hallway at
The Mohegan Sun
came into view. Jonathan watched the grainy images on the screen. It wasn’t long before he made out the three figures.

When the elevator opened, one man got out, and perused the hallway. He was short and slightly built. He could be young, Jonathan thought. He had on a mask, but they couldn’t make it out. “What is the mask? Did you look at it close up?” It looked vaguely familiar.

“Emeril.” Joseph shook his head in confusion until he placed the name with the face. It was the famous chef from New Orleans, Emeril Lagasse. Again, he had a very bad feeling. It started in the pit of his stomach. Jonathan glanced his way and looked at him with concern. Joseph focuses on the screens. Already he saw two more figures come out of the elevator. Large men. He could easily discern that by their broad shoulders and height. These men had on ski masks. They also had on gloves. They quickly passed the shorter man who appeared to be the look out.

“The guy in the Emeril mask has no gloves. He keeps pushing the button on the elevator so it doesn’t go anywhere.” Joseph spoke up.