|
Post by gipsy on Aug 27, 2019 21:25:26 GMT -6
Attracted too much bad attention by doing that. Might come to regret it in the near future.
|
|
smitty60
New Member
Posts: 28
Member is Online
|
Post by smitty60 on Aug 28, 2019 7:24:56 GMT -6
I knew that bear has something in it. Passed down from great granddad. The map.?
|
|
|
Post by 9idrr on Aug 28, 2019 14:44:05 GMT -6
Jack hasn't been there. Sharon has her eyes on Willie. Ah, Master, thank you for schooling Grasshopper in paying attention to detail.
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Aug 28, 2019 17:01:38 GMT -6
Remember, Willie is driving a Cougar. If you're not familiar with it, see the wikipedia article for details and pictures. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cougar_(vehicle)No one would be surprised by him buying "one of everything" with that vehicle outside; they might wonder about the kid's meal but probably not aloud ;-) People would probably have certain expectations of the level at which he was armed, whether visible or not. After all, anyone driving a military vehicle that's 19+ feet long, 9 feet wide and 8 1/2 feet high is probably anticipating some serious "business". With the Cougar having been introduced 17 years ago, there may be a few available in surplus. Original base cost was $450,000 (4x4) or $644,000 (6x6) and UP because it comes in many configurations. Top speed is 65mph and range is 600 miles. In particular, I like this image: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CougarEODaftermath.JPGThey drove it back to a 'safe area' at 20mph. Surviving that much damage and still being driveable makes the Cougar a 'safe area'. Nothing like a 330hp CAT diesel and an Allison transmission to get you where you want to go - and it's an automatic ;-) If you'd like something a little smaller or less expensive, an MRAP that was used in several movies did turn up on Ebay for just $180,000: www.motor1.com/news/76643/yes-you-can-buy-an-mrap-military-vehicle-on-ebay/Perhaps you'd like to rent one of these vehicles for a week or two? Or maybe just a photo-op on their property with appropriate backdrop? Check here: www.armytrucksinc.com/
|
|
|
Post by texican on Aug 28, 2019 23:28:12 GMT -6
PP2,
Hiram Bear is the key....
Now what else will turn up....
Texican....
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Aug 29, 2019 16:26:00 GMT -6
Chapter 10
Wednesday, 16 July, 8:30PM CDT
"Bedtime, Lisa."
"May I have a story?"
"You remembered."
"Daddy, I told you I'd get it right the next time."
"So you did, even if it took more than one 'next time'. Who to read?"
"You."
"You have Hiram Bear?"
"He's on my pillow."
"Teeth brushed?"
"Look."
"Then let's go up and read."
"Carry me?"
"Your arm is in a sling but I don't see anything wrong with either leg."
"Please?"
"The magic word often works magic."
---
"End of the chapter. Tuck you in and a goodnight kiss on your nose. Your Grandpa will be out here tomorrow afternoon for us to ask him about what happened - and when it happened - to make you someone that most of the family doesn't want."
"But you still want me?"
"I want you to stay my favorite Lisa for as long as I live."
"That sounds pretty good."
"I like it too."
"You're silly!
"My favorite Lisa is smiling."
"I am. Kiss my nose?"
"Goodnight, nose. You share that kiss with the rest of Lisa."
"How can I go to sleep when you give me giggles like this?"
"I guess tomorrow night I'll have to shake your hand instead…"
"Daddy!"
"At least it wouldn't make you giggle."
"I bet it would!"
"Then we can try that tomorrow night. For now it's goodnight. On your nose."
"I love you, best Daddy ever."
"Lights out, except for the Mickey nightlight which will help you remember where you are if you wake up during the night."
"But you said I couldn't buy that light!"
"Correct. Because I wanted to buy something for you that I knew you wanted - instead of just clothes."
{sniff}
"You need shoulder time again?"
"And put your phone on record 'cause I remembered some stuff I need to tell you."
"Better if you're sitting in my lap for that. Looks like you'll get another goodnight kiss when you're done talking."
"You are the best Daddy ever."
"Tell me what you remembered."
"It was the day before the wreck…"
---
"You spent a long time getting her down, Jack."
"Sarah, she 'remembered some stuff she needed to tell me' and it started the day before the wreck that killed her parents. There's almost an hour of audio and then she needed shoulder time to cry it out again."
"You're making great progress with her."
"But it's hard to see her in that much emotional pain!"
"But much of the hurt of those events has now been released and while there may be tears when she mentions them again, you won't be dealing with those body-shaking sobs next time. Getting things out the first time is always the hardest. The hurt never goes away completely but it gets a little less each time she talks about it. I know you feel bad about it but I can tell you from experience that you did exactly what she needed. She ended it with a 'Thank you', didn't she?"
"Yes, but…"
"No buts. She's a very smart girl and she knows that she feels better because you got her to talk. That's a very strong bond and appropriate when I know you will raise her as your own child. I'll discuss it with the judge tomorrow and I think he'll offer you the option to adopt - but you'll be determined that she keeps the 'Bonner' part of her name and her legacy."
"You read me as well as she does."
"Pretty obvious when your heart is on your sleeve and backed up by the .45 on your belt."
"I guess it is. Lisa Bonner-Wilson wouldn't be too big a burden for a kid?"
"Talk with the judge and then the both of you ask her. I'll also ask her but I'll bet my RV against $1 that she'll accept the name change with your explanation."
"Knowing your luck at roulette, poker and the slots, I won't bet. But I do feel better about asking her. Thanks."
"Now copy that audio to this OTG thumb drive so I can listen to it with the family tree open in front of me. I think I want to make some notes."
"Done. I hope you have a pillow or two to punch so you don't hurt your hands - the walls here are mostly lath and plaster and they're much harder than sheetrock. You've been warned."
"Understood."
---
"Jack?"
"Yes, Sarah?"
"I shouldn't share this information with the others before the meeting with Judge Bonner?"
"Correct. I have a vested interest in keeping that quiet for the moment and you have a great deal of experience in keeping such things quiet until the proper moment. We don't want to tip our hand to anyone about anything we know. I'll take Lisa to the county hospital for a follow-up visit and we'll either get the bear Xrayed or I'll get names and a basic map for Luigi."
"If you explain it to Lisa, I think she can handle the 'waif' look and the 'Pretty please?' with no problems. Just remind her how she looked up at you at the farmers' market and she'll take it from there."
"Teaching her to be devious?"
"Teaching her to recognize devious and use whatever keeps her safe. 'Pretty please' in her mouth might be just as effective as your .45 in someone's ribs but her weapon will leave a pleasant memory."
"And someday she'll write her memoirs entitled 'I Was a Spy in Second Grade'?"
"After a little more time with you, she might understand the humor in that."
"Is that good or bad?"
"As long as you're teaching her, generally good. Probably not so much for the teenage boys overfull of themselves and their hormones in a few years. You'll include some unarmed self-defense with the firearms classes?"
"Of course. She needs to be able to protect herself to some degree in any 'Gun Free Zone'. You've added to your in-terror-gation list?"
"If we start with Judge Bonner and Sheriff Geeter in a few days, we might be able to shorten that list appreciably. Once either of them is singing, the others will join the choir."
"Whether on key or not."
"Jack, serendipity may have followed you again."
"What?"
"You said 'on key'. The bear's necklace has a whistle or something on it. What if there's some lock that responds to sound? Maybe a tuning fork that vibrates just far enough to release a latch? Considering when this house was built, any 'secret' place would have had a mechanical locking mechanism."
"I'll look at Hiram Bear more closely tomorrow but we'll still get an Xray."
"We should also check all the woodwork for joints that might be the edge of an opening."
---
|
|
|
Post by udwe on Aug 29, 2019 21:41:36 GMT -6
Keep it up!
|
|
|
Post by texican on Aug 29, 2019 23:12:17 GMT -6
"Then let's go up and read."
"Carry me?"
"Your arm is in a sling but I don't see anything wrong with either leg."
"Please?"
"The magic word often works magic."
Lots of magic Words out there.... Just have to remember them....
Thanks PP2 for the chapter....
Now the show is beginning to determine who or is it whom the bad guys and gals are....
Texican...
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Aug 30, 2019 22:19:17 GMT -6
Chapter 11
Thursday, 17 July, 6:40AM
"Good morning, sweet girl."
"Good morning, Daddy. What's for breakfast?"
"What would you like to help fix?"
"I can?"
"That's what we'll find out when I give you instructions in the kitchen. Up, potty, wash your hands, get dressed and to the kitchen, assistant cook."
"Yes!"
---
"Why am I using this thing instead …"
"It has a name."
"Why am I using this whisk instead of the electric mixer?"
"First, it's lighter than the mixer. Second, you can't get a finger hurt in the whisk. Third, you'd have to put a lot of effort behind the whisk to splatter the three eggs out of that bowl while you're scrambling them."
"You did this before."
"Yes. With all three of my daughters and all of them asked the same question."
"I've got the yolks and the whites mixed. What else?"
"An eighth teaspoon of salt - that's just enough for most people and those who want more can add it at the table. Then a quarter cup of grated cheddar cheese and whisk again."
"Then pour it into the skillet?"
"But you won't be doing the pouring. There are two skillets on the stove. One of them is cold but the other one is hot enough to fry an egg…"
"You're awful!"
"No, I'm awesome."
"What's the difference?"
"That's a dictionary task for you after we eat. Back to the skillets: can you tell which one is hot by looking?"
"They look the same."
"So maybe you need some lessons in when to expect things to be hot so you don't get burned while cooking?"
"Un huh!"
"Something from a very old cookbook. I'll put one drop of water on each skillet. Any difference?"
"The water in the skillet at the back is kinda dancing."
"What reason would the water have for dancing?"
"That's the hot skillet?"
"Very good, smart girl. At a temperature around 375F, water droplets will 'dance' on the skillet. What would happen to your finger if you touched that skillet?"
"Fried like an egg?"
"Correct. Would that hurt?"
"Un huh!"
"So you won't be cooking eggs today?"
"Not until you show me how to do it without getting burned."
"Then we need to work on that. I'll take the bowl and tilt it over the edge of the skillet…"
"No fair! I can't hold the bowl like that 'cause your hands are bigger than mine!"
"Maybe I want you to know that there are some things you can't learn to do just by watching?"
"Like holding that bowl."
"Maybe there's another way you could do this?"
"With a different bowl or using a long handled spoon to scoop the eggs out of the bowl and into the skillet?"
"That's my smart girl. Another time, we'll try that. I don't know if all the hungry people standing behind us could wait while we did it differently today."
"You're silly again."
"My favorite Lisa is smiling again."
"You're good at that."
---
"Lisa, the omelets are stirred, folded and turned out on warm plates. Do these gloves fit your hands?"
"I'll try… They do!"
"Then I'll hand the plates to you and you can take them to the table."
"Gloves because the plates are 'warm' or maybe hot?"
"Correct. Thank you, assistant cook."
"You're welcome, best Daddy ever."
---
"Sarah, Jack is really good with kids. He spent maybe five or ten minutes longer than doing it all himself would have taken and now I don't think Lisa's feet are touching the floor when she walks."
"Mark, people with good parenting instincts work with their strengths - cooking is one of Jack's - to make the kids feel good about themselves. Lisa has no idea of how much time he spent with her, just that he let her do all she could do safely and he explained about the other things - even getting her to make suggestions. She got to help cook breakfast for everyone. How big a thing is that when you're seven?"
"I would have been thrilled to be doing what she did when I was seven. My Mom never 'had the time' to teach us when she was cooking. From watching Jack, it's not 'having' time but 'making' time. I understand why you thought Lisa would claim him immediately."
"He could teach a lot of parents how to be better parents."
---
"Sarah, something's bothering you."
"You're right, Mark, but it's not something I can share until after we meet with the judge today."
"Something from the long 'going to bed' time Lisa had last night?"
"Correct, but other than reminding you to be on alert while the judge is here, I still won't tell you anything else."
"I was already planning to be visibly armed."
"That's good."
"Should Willie's toy be visible?"
"Probably not yet but you should ask Jack."
"Will do."
---
"Time to go, sweet girl."
"I've been practicing my 'Pretty please' face in the mirror. Like this?"
"Sarah coached you about batting your eyelashes?"
"Un huh."
"I think you have that just about perfect."
---
"Mr. Wilson, Lisa was correct. The break shown on the original Xray should be OK in two weeks. However, one of the techs reported a problem with the Xray machine that day so I'd like to repeat the Xray of her arm to verify that."
"Can Hiram Bear get an Xray too?"
"I don't know about that…"
"Pretty please?"
"Does she do that to you often, Mr. Wilson?"
"Only when she really wants something."
"Which she usually gets?"
"Sometimes, but not always."
"Since I want to check the machine anyway, they both get Xrays today."
"Thank you, Mister."
"She puts a great smile with her words."
"That she does."
---
"CD for you, Sarah."
"Of?"
"Today's Xrays."
"Plural - so you have one of Hiram Bear?"
"Lisa did a very good 'Pretty please' so Hiram was Xrayed on his back and his side."
"When does she get her ID card for the team?"
"Not for a few years if she's interested then, but she'd certainly be an asset."
"What do they show?"
"Hiram Bear has a forked metal spine buried in his stuffing."
"A tuning fork?"
"That's my guess. You check the Xrays and tell me what you think - and then you check Hiram and see if we can make him into a liberal without destroying him completely."
"Spineless - bad but accurate pun, Jack. I'll check."
"Then we can see what the tuning fork plus the whistle can tell us."
"Or show us."
"But after the judge leaves."
"Got it."
---
|
|
|
Post by texican on Aug 31, 2019 0:07:03 GMT -6
Hiram Bear has a tuning fork, just what will it open? Now what will the Judge reveal? Thanks PP2 for the chapter.... Texican....
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Sept 1, 2019 22:59:29 GMT -6
Chapter 12
Thursday, 17 July, 4:10PM
"Camera three has a Lexus headed this way."
"Thanks, Carl. Sarah and Mark to the dining room. Lisa, greet your Grandpa at the door as you usually do, then bring him to the table."
"Yes, Daddy."
knock! knock!
"Hi, Grandpa."
"Hi, Lisa. Are you the official greeter today?"
"Un huh. Everybody's at the big table."
"Come in, Paul. Judge Bonner, this is Sarah and Mark Talbot. Sarah's the psychologist I thought might be able to help Lisa with some of her sad spells."
"Ma'am, always glad to have someone who wants to help Sarah with her past."
"She's been a joy to have around for the short time we've known her and I hope to be able to help her - for her sake and for Jack's as he's very much in 'Daddy' mode where she's concerned."
These people are the sentimental fools I thought them to be. They'll likely be the key to unlocking Lisa's memory and my grandfather's treasure. I can't imagine why Hiram told my son Roger the secret instead of me. That no longer matters. When Lisa tells them, they'll tell me and then they can all die while I become the richest and most powerful man in this county and maybe the state.
"It's good to know that there are caring people like you who are willing to take in a child that needs this much care. I appreciate it very much. Please tell me if there's anything I can do to help you."
"That's very kind of you, Paul, but I doubt that even a threat of jail would get the trees across the powerlines cleared any faster than what I've seen of the local co-op's work."
"Jail would be counter-productive as I certainly can't handle one of those big chainsaws. Anything else?"
"Are there any paper records about Hiram Bonner? I looked online and it seems Blackbeard the Pirate bought the Bonner house in North Carolina and I wonder if there's any documentation on that? Lisa has asked where Hiram got the money to build this place and I'm looking for answers for her."
"I have a couple of volumes of hand-written history at home. I could take that to court with me tomorrow if someone could come pick it up. Some of the writing is hard to read - I'm pretty sure it's quill and ink penmanship - but you're welcome to peruse it."
"Has Lisa ever visited your courtroom?"
"Not that I remember."
"Then I'll bring her tomorrow and we can call it 'Granddaughter at Work Day' for her to learn about what her grandfather does on the job."
"I knew I chose well, Jack. I've never even thought of doing that but it's another way she'll get to know me. Thank you."
"Thank you, Paul. Sarah, did you have any other questions?"
"No, Jack. Judge Bonner, I appreciate your time and your interest in Lisa."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Jack."
---
"Lisa, would you like for me to push you on the tire swing?"
"Yes!"
"Thanks, Willie. Probably less than an hour."
"Got it."
"Sarah, your comments before you pop."
"Of all the pompous, conceited, arrogant…"
"You're at a loss for words?"
"A loss for words that Lisa might hear and repeat, Jack. I have some other words - about seven languages worth of them - but she doesn't need to hear any of them either."
"I think we understand Sarah's position. I got the feeling he thought Sarah, Mark and I were sentimental fools that he can manipulate."
"Caring, not maudlin sentimental, Jack, and certainly not easily manipulated. I wanted stick my stungun up his... - but it would have been hard to replace the batteries when they ran down."
"Anyone feel differently?"
"Just that he'd kill all of us as soon as he had his hands on the 'treasure', Jack."
"I agree, Mark. Sarah's heard this recording of what Lisa told me last night, so she'll send Willie in and she'll keep Lisa busy outside while the rest of you listen to it. We can discuss it after Lisa is asleep."
"Sounds bad."
"Carl, you have no idea."
---
"Lisa's words with an occasional comment or calming from me. There are multiple parts to this so I'll pause between segments. I've edited out the times she spent in tears or at the porcelain throne. Please hold your comments until it's finished. Part one."
====
"I heard Daddy tell Grandpa 'Lisa may never find it but I'll never tell you, Dad. Better that she never gets it than that you use it to do harm.' and then the Sheriff took him and Momma and I never saw them again."
"Are you sure it was the Sheriff?"
"That's what Grandpa called him when he said 'Sheriff Geeter, do what I told you, exactly as I said and everything will be taken care of. Remember that I know where your skeletons are."
====
"Now you're beginning to understand how strong Lisa is when she could hold his hand and bring him to us at the table. Part Two."
====
"I heard Grandpa talking with Uncle Joe and Uncle Rob one night when they thought I was asleep. He was telling them how much they could beat me and how often - just not to break anything real bad."
"I think Uncle Joe hit me too hard 'cause they weren't s'posed to hafta take me to the hospital. Uncle Joe got Uncle Rob to go with him as a witness so they'd believe him. One of the people was gonna use the phone but Uncle Joe pulled his gun and told him he'd shoot him if he called anyone."
====
"There's more, but these two excerpts sum it up well. First thoughts from each of you. Mark?"
"Judge Bonner's grandfather didn't trust him with the secret. I see no reason to trust him about anything. Jack gets the available historical records tomorrow while Carl and Willie see what they can mine from the locals."
"Carl?"
"I agree. I'll also call in a favor from a friend at NSA. If anyone knows the judge's business, they do."
"Willie?"
"I'll bring in the remote control and the monitors for the barrel cameras Carl rigged for the Ma Deuces."
"Jesse?"
"If I didn't know all of you as well as I do, I'd be sleeping in front of Lisa's door. Jack, you'll have at least one bodyguard tomorrow."
"Luigi?"
"Two bodyguards. And everyone here is armed when awake with a weapon within reach when sleeping or in the shower. What about you, Jack?"
"I organized this snake shoot. I think you all know how I feel. We implement as mentioned and the audible motion alerts are all on."
"Jack?"
"Yes, Willie?"
"Did I mention the Claymores?"
"Not until now."
"Then all of you think about the best use of 30 of them."
"Sweet dreams of destruction, Jesse and Luigi. I'll go tell Sarah. Yes, she has a handie-talkie but until someone on the outside knows we have them, we'll use old-fashioned person-to-person communications. I want each of you to come up with a plan to manage the judge and the sheriff. Then we can see about putting those plans together."
"You have paper and pencil?"
"Wirebound notebooks and multiple writing instruments on the kitchen counter. Find yourself a comfortable place and have at it."
---
"Lisa, bath time."
"Daddy! I had one this morning."
"And you got to spend a long time on the tire swing. I think the black marks on your arm here and here tell me your legs probably have black marks on them - like here."
"I guess I do need another bath. Miss Sarah tonight?"
"I'll do that, Lisa. And Jack to read you a chapter or two of the book you're working on now?"
"Yes!"
---
"Miss Sarah?"
"Yes, Lisa?"
"Did I do something bad? Everybody looks mad and it feels like a fight's about to start."
"You didn't do anything bad, sweet girl. While you were on the swing, Jack shared some of what you told him last night. Everyone is mad at Judge Bonner and Sheriff Geeter for things they've done - and everyone here is ready to fight to keep you safe."
"But I'm just a useless…"
"No, you're Jack's little girl and we'll all help him keep you safe."
"I love all of you too."
"That's probably the best payday any of us has had in quite a while."
---
|
|
|
Post by gipsy on Sept 2, 2019 9:44:49 GMT -6
The love of a child is awesome
|
|
|
Post by texican on Sept 2, 2019 21:57:20 GMT -6
PP2,
It appears that it will be getting hot in Smith County....
Payback can be ferocious....
Texican....
|
|
|
Post by gipsy on Sept 3, 2019 9:33:41 GMT -6
Righting wrongs is always a good thing
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Sept 4, 2019 14:12:31 GMT -6
There could be a family matter that comes up over the weekend and prevents me posting for multiple days so I'm posting several chapters a day until I either complete the story or run out of completed chapters.
Chapter 13
Friday, 18 July, 7:10AM
"Good morning, sweet girl."
"Good morning, Daddy. Is everybody still mad?"
"Sarah told me that you picked up on that. We're all still angry but it's directed anger - directed toward Judge Bonner, Sheriff Geeter and your uncles. We'll be working on ways to stop the sheriff, the judge and your more distant family members from ever hurting you or anyone else again."
"How you gonna do that?"
"We'll be working on that today. Can you keep that a secret when we go visit Judge Bonner at the Courthouse?"
"Daddy, I've been hiding things from him for as long as I can remember. He's not very smart."
"Compared to you, I'm sure he's not. You want to help cook?"
"Yes! Whatcha cooking?"
"How about pancakes and sausage?"
"Yummy!"
"Go potty, wash your hands and head for the kitchen."
"On my way!"
---
"You remembered what you learned when you mixed the eggs, so you did a good job mixing the pancake batter. I'll pour the batter on the griddle and then I want you to watch when and how I turn it. I think you might be able to do the turning."
"Really?"
"Yes, 'really'. This one is ready to be turned. Watch how I put the spatula under it and turn it."
"I gotta keep the spatula thingy down on the grill so it goes under the pancake and doesn't roll it up?"
"That's exactly what you do, smart girl."
"This one's ready to be turned?"
"Have you been watching the bubbles?"
"Un huh. Now it looks like the one you turned. Spatula down and slide it under and pick it up and turn it over… I did it!"
"You did. Is there another one ready to be turned?"
"Un huh. Is the one you turned done? If I take it off, there'll be more room to turn the next one."
"Use the spatula to lift the edge and see if it's brown."
"Is this brown enough?"
"Just right."
"It's off and I slide… slide… slide the spatula under the other one to turn it. This one's not as pretty."
"Did you keep the spatula down evenly?"
"I guess that side was up a little and it hit the pancake instead of going under it."
"You still did a good job for your first time. I'll get this one off the griddle and you go eat the pancakes you cooked while I finish cooking for everyone else."
"Yes!"
"Sarah, when we have kids, remind me about watching Jack with Lisa. She's happy about learning a practical skill and she gets to enjoy eating what she cooked. What could be better than making your kids happy as they learn?"
"Having a husband who thinks that's a good idea."
---
"You had a reason for choosing that shirt, Lisa? It won't be as easy to get over your cast as some of the others."
"Because of where we're going."
"And you think 'I love my Grandpa' is a good shirt for today."
"He doesn't know it's just for today. Can I burn it when we get back?"
"Maybe put it in the donation bin in the Walmart parking lot for some little girl who has a reason to love her Grandpa?"
"I guess there are some nice ones out there. The kids at school seemed to like having their Grandma or Grandpa come for lunch."
"Then we can bag the shirt when we get back and put 'donation' on the bag."
"Yes!"
---
"May I help you, Sir?"
"I'm Jack Wilson and this is Judge Bonner's granddaughter Lisa. He said he'd bring in some family records that we could look through to try and answer some questions Lisa has about her great-great-grandfather."
"He said you'd be here today and those books are in his chambers. Would you sign this lease for the farmhouse and its acreage while I check whether he's back from court?"
"Of course."
Bzzt!
'Yes, Christy?'
'Your Honor, Jack Wilson and your granddaughter are here.'
'Send them in.'
"Through this door."
"Hi, Grandpa."
"Hi, Lisa. I like your shirt!"
Stupid little twit thinks I care about her but only until she finds the treasure. I'll buzz Greg in so he'll know what Jack looks like.
"Jack, the books are in that box. The recess ends in five minutes so I need to head back to court. Let me get the door for you…"
"Sorry, Your Honor. I came to remind you that it's almost time."
"Sheriff Greg Geeter, I think you know my granddaughter Lisa. This is Jack Wilson, the man who rescued Lisa at the farmers' market. As you can see from Lisa's smile, he's very good with kids."
"Pleased to meet you, Sheriff."
"You too, Mr. Wilson. And Lisa does look much happier than the Deputy's description of the scene at the farmers' market. Thank you for stepping in."
"It's been my pleasure. Hold the door for me, Lisa?"
"Yes, Daddy."
---
"Paul, what's this 'Daddy' business?"
"Greg, Lisa has claimed him as her new 'Daddy'. That just makes it easier for us to manipulate him and the child psychologist he brought in to help Lisa. Any help she gives Lisa will likely be help remembering the past and done in a way that leaves no marks."
"A professional to do the dirty work for you. You sneaky devil - and you're not paying for it."
"Not if I can get some fool to do it for free."
---
"Daddy, did I do something wrong?"
"No, sweet girl. Why do you ask?"
"You're mad again - madder than last night."
"I recognized the Sheriff. He didn't recognize me, but I'm not in the uniform I was in the last time he saw me and my hair is much longer than the buzz cut I had then."
"He's bad?"
"Very bad. I believed what you said about your parents leaving with him and not coming back. Now I know what probably happened to them."
"It wasn't a wreck?"
"Let's get off the road and park for a few minutes."
"You're gonna tell me something bad and I'll need lap and shoulder time?"
"Yes, smart girl. In my lap. I'm sure they staged a wreck, but I knew the Sheriff as Gregor Gerotonov. He was better known as 'Gregor the Gruesome' because his specialty was torturing people."
"He killed them trying to find out about the treasure?"
"Yes."
"Hold me!"
---
Sarah was almost correct. Lisa did get to those body-shaking sobs again but this time because she now knows who killed her parents and had been within arm's reach of him. She's winding down a little. At least she didn't need 'throne time' for this event.
With Jesse on one side of the SUV and Luigi on the other side, I can give Lisa my full attention. Wait a few more minutes for her to settle down and then back in her carseat and we can go home.
---
"Hi, Lisa."
"Hi, Miss Sarah. Can we talk?"
"Of course. Jack?"
"She has a vague idea of what happened to her parents and she knows who did it."
"Excellent reasons for the red eyes and the tear streaks on her face. You have more?"
"Phone video from Judge Bonner's office and I think you'll recognize the Sheriff. Take as long as Lisa needs. We can view the video and discuss strategy later. By the way, the shirt was Lisa's idea and she asked if she could burn it when we got home."
"He wasn't suspicious?"
"It just took his 'superior' bearing up a notch."
"Pride goeth before a fall."
"So true."
---
"Jack?"
"Yes, Mark?"
"Video from the drone I had up for recon shows people going about their normal power-is-out-again chores at three of the four occupied houses within a mile of us."
"So what's at the fourth house?"
"Bigger than normally needed generator. What looks like a Chevy pickup converted to a Technical with what's probably a machine gun in the bed - not enough light that far back in the barn to tell more than that. Possibly another of the same truck behind that one - again, not enough light. A communications van with a small forest of antennas is behind the barn - your choice not to use the handie-talkies was a good one. The drone placed a solar powered wireless camera on one of the sheds and it's been taking a still image every minute and relaying the group of compressed images every 41 to 73 minutes. There are eight people there, all armed but no visible body armor. From the footprints in the dust on the front porch, the house hadn't been in use for a long time before they moved in. They aren't residents or the porch would have been cleaned so the dust wasn't tracked into the house. Their vehicles are still clean, so they arrived in the last day or so."
"If they came from the direction opposite Smithville, they wouldn't have been seen going past this location."
"Right. They're about a half mile away. With the woods along the property lines and the blackberry bushes along the fences here, I'd expect any attack to come from the road. The Technicals also support that."
"And if I tell you that the Sheriff Geeter is actually Gregor Gerotonov?"
"He's known for his 'shock and awe' tactics. Willie's Claymores and the Ma Deuces on the Cougar might be more than a match in 'shock and awe'."
"My thoughts exactly. Plus having a sniper in at least one room upstairs. It's reasonable to expect them to attack after Judge Bonner has access to the 'treasure' so when or if we find it, we can orchestrate when they attack."
"Nothing like finding the strings to the marionettes."
"We have some planning to do."
"Before we eat?"
"Let's see where Sarah is with Lisa's 'Can we talk?' request."
---
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Sept 4, 2019 14:14:00 GMT -6
Chapter 14
Friday, 18 July, 1:10PM
"Mike, he's back!"
"Then turn on that thousand watt smile, little sister."
"Yes, sir?"
"I need seven footlongs and a kid's meal."
"Which bread?"
"One Italian, four wheat, two multi-grain and wheat for the kid's meal."
"Your child?"
"No, a friend's child. I'm just here helping them get settled in their new place but I did notice some properties for sale along the way."
"My Dad knows about all the real estate in the county. Come eat with us some evening and he can tell you the history of any property you're interested in. I'm Sharon and still living at home. Dad's number is on the back of this card."
"Thanks, Sharon. When we reach a stopping point, I'll call."
"Looking forward to cooking for you."
"Me too."
"Now, what do you want on these sandwiches?"
---
"Hi, sweet girl."
"Hi, Daddy. I went to sleep in Miss Sarah's lap?"
"And she eased you down on the sofa with your pink blanket - and it's time for lunch."
"Are we cooking?"
"No. Willie went to the Subway up at the highway - in my SUV this time - and there's a kid's meal for you."
"Chicken on wheat with lettuce and tomatoes and one line of mayo?"
"And a cookie."
"Yummy!"
"Cookie after the sandwich is finished - or maybe half a cookie with lunch and the other half after supper. It's a big chocolate chip cookie."
"Even yummier!"
"Go potty and wash your hands."
"On my way."
---
"You think you know where the treasure is, Daddy?"
"Pick up Hiram Bear."
"He's lighter. What's missing?"
"Remember the Xrays we got of him? Yes, from your 'waif' face and batting your eyelashes like that. This is what the Xrays look like."
"What's the thing with two legs?"
"That's this tuning fork."
"What's it good for?"
"You told me you learned about musical scales in first grade. Before the days of electronic tuning tools, tuning forks were made to create the sounds of the notes like A or C so the instruments could be tuned correctly. Listen when I tap the tines of the tuning fork gently on the mantle."
Hmmmmm.
"So?"
"So it always makes that sound when it's vibrating. You can't see the vibrations but pull up your shirt and I'll tap the tuning fork again and touch your belly button."
Hmmmm.
"It tickles!"
"So you can tell that it's moving?"
"Un huh."
"If we touched this vibrating tuning fork to another one that's the same frequency, what would happen?"
"It vibrates too?"
"That's my smart girl. What if there was a way to make the sound louder or the vibrations stronger?"
"You can do that?"
"I'll tap the fork again and touch its base to the center of this piece of wood."
Hmm
HMMMM!
"Lots louder."
"What if there was another tuning fork on the other side of the piece of wood?"
"It would vibrate big too?"
"That's my smart girl. Now to the treasure. We think there are some secret places in the house that are hidden behind panels that can be released when the tuning fork is vibrating and touched to the right place to make a tuning fork behind the panel vibrate hard enough to release the lock."
"No batteries?"
"Not when this house was built."
"Somebody was smart!"
"Just like you. Look at the carvings on the panels over the fireplace - yes, I'll pick you up because you're not tall enough to see all of them - and tell me if there's a good place to put the tuning fork. Use one of these red push pins to mark it. Be careful: the pins are sharp."
"But the pins have big heads on them. There's an ear. And a lock. And a little chest. And a book. And another lock. Another book. A ring. A key! Another chest. Another key! Can we try some of them before putting markers on all of them?"
"Where do we start?"
"The ear. The tuning fork is something you listen to so the 'ear' is listening for it."
"OK. You hold on while I switch you to the other side. Now I tap the tuning fork and touch its base to the ear…"
Hmmm
HMMMM!
Click!
"What clicked?"
"Lisa, look closely where the key carvings are."
"That panel isn't flat."
"No, it's not. Let's see if I can get a fingernail behind the panel and …"
"It opened! There's a key inside!"
"I'll get that key…"
Click! Click!
"What changed, Lisa?"
"The other key panels are open and this lock panel isn't flat."
"Open that lock panel and …"
"There's a keyhole!"
"Try this key."
Scritch!
Click!
"Does it need oil?"
"Probably. I don't think these locks have been touched in many years. I heard a 'Click' so what changed?"
"The other lock panels aren't flat."
"Anything special about these other lock and key panels?"
"They all have letters on them."
"So key 'A' in lock 'A' and so forth?"
"Un huh."
"A."
Scritch!
"B."
Scritch!
"C."
Scritch!
"D."
Scritch!
CLACK!
"What was that, Lisa?"
"Why do you keep asking me, Daddy?"
"Because it's your 'treasure', Lisa Bonner."
"I don't care about the treasure; it's just stuff. I like the adoption Miss Sarah talked about. I wanna be Lisa Bonner-Wilson and have you as my forever Daddy."
"We'll see if we can make that happen. Carl, Willie. Can you open this entire section? It should open on the right and swing to my left."
"Why is it that people always want the tall guys?"
"Maybe because the room has ten foot ceilings and the top of this panel is eight feet up?"
"OK, I have this handle."
"I have the other one."
CREAK!
"Something else that needs oil, Daddy?"
"And for the same reason."
"Shelves. In the wall and on the back of the door. Jack, are those plates gold?"
"Very possible, Carl. Some of the people who came to the New World were wealthy and brought that wealth with them - including linen and silk clothing and table coverings, silver and gold plates, bowls, goblets and eating utensils. Others found wealth in the new world and took it back to Europe with them. The pirates were active on both groups of people."
"Would there be restitution on these things if they could be identified?"
"No. Blackbeard received a pardon and these things were his to 'spend' as he chose. Seems he felt the Bonner house in North Carolina was worth a lot."
"All this stuff is worth money?"
"Yes, Lisa. One of these gold plates could be worth more than the Judge's salary for a year."
"No wonder he was willing to kill anyone in his way to get this."
"You're right, Sarah."
"But my Momma and Daddy are worth more than this!"
"I know that they are to you, sweet girl. You need lap and shoulder time while the others photograph and inventory these things and then lock it back up."
---
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Sept 4, 2019 14:16:15 GMT -6
Chapter 15
Friday, 18 July, 4:20PM
She's asleep and without time in front of the throne, although it was close. Still some little hiccups in her sleep. Rub her back. Gentle physical contact always seems to help. Maybe because she's gotten so little positive physical contact? She's settling down. Now that we have an idea of what she has and can estimate its worth, I need to involve a trusted lawyer. Hard to find unless they owe you their life or the life of a family member. I'll call Harold while Lisa sleeps.
'This is Harold. Leave a message at the beep. Beeeep!'
'Harold, it's Jack. I need a favor and it might turn into a long-term paying…"
'I'm here, Jack. Anything you say is paying is worth doing. Every time I see the ten inch scar on my left side I'm aware of owing you my life. What do you need?'
'I have some questions about the tax liabilities of a child inheriting family heirlooms.'
'Tell me more.'
'We need a more secure place to talk.'
'Where?'
'I'm texting you the coordinates. Remember the magician in Tikrit?'
'Understood. See you tomorrow. I'll phone when I'm an hour out.'
Carry Lisa up to her bed and put Hiram Bear in her arms. Kiss on her nose.
---
"When do we tell Judge Bonner?"
"Willie, I'd rather not tell him at all but the snakepit will only get cleaned when he shows his hand. Harold will be here tomorr…"
"My other gunner! When do we start shooting?"
"First, Harold checks the inventory of what we've found and the inheritance path in the records we got today. Then he helps plan the reveal to Judge Bonner. I'm thinking of taking one gold plate and telling him we've managed to find one hidden panel and what was behind it - true if the keys had been used in reverse alphabetic sequence as Lisa discovered when she wanted to 'play' with them - more like watching some research scientist doing things and making notes on her 'How many ways can you do A, B, C and D?'. With that plate as the bait, we can probably get him to tell more of what he has planned - he might even call in the troops down the road to use axes and sledgehammers to open it up. That would be a very dumb move with the damage it could do the various gold objects but I wouldn't put it past him. Harold still has good contacts in the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and I think Bonner and Geeter should be handled at the state level, plus both of them could be facing some Federal charges of conspiracy and there are probably some Federal charges for Geeter under his Gerotonov identity. Once they're in custody, I can see the uncles and others running over each other to turn State's Evidence."
"Sounds good to me, Jack. Harold's good with the details. I still need everyone's lists of where to place the Claymores."
"This is my list, Willie. Anyone else?"
---
"Hi, sweet girl. Did you have a good nap?"
"Hi, Daddy. Always a good nap when it starts on your shoulder or in your lap. We checked the ear and keys and locks but we didn't check the books or the chests or the ring. We gotta go that do!"
"Excited about your treasure?"
"Just wanta know what the other things do when you use the tuning fork on them."
"Come on then, curious girl. We can check those things as well."
"More exploration, Jack?"
"Jesse, Lisa reminded me that we didn't check what happens when we use the tuning fork on the ring, book or chest symbols - and she's curious."
"Well, I could make a guess but probably just as fast to do the 'tap and touch' process."
"I wanta see!"
"You on this side and I'll have the tuning fork in the other hand. Which one first?"
"This book."
"Tap and touch…"
Hmm
HMMMM!
Click!
"What changed, Lisa?"
"Not up here. That 'Click' was down lower."
"Then you back down and you find it."
"This panel. Does it fold down from the top?"
"I think so."
"I can't move it. Can you?"
"Let's see if stronger hands can…"
"There is a book! Kinda like the ones from Grandpa."
"Actually, very much like them. This one is 'History of the Bonner Family - 1790-1860'. Tell me this, smart girl: what will we find behind the other book symbols?"
"The books before and after this one?"
"Very good guess. Are the other book symbols marked?"
"Pick me up so I can look closer. The one we opened has eleven on it."
"Is that eleven or is that two in Roman numerals?"
"I guess it could be either one."
"What do the other books have?"
"It's Roman numerals 'cause this book has one 'one' and the other one has three 'ones'."
"Very good. Which one first?"
"The first one, silly!"
Hmmm
HMMM!
Click!
"Put me down so I can look."
"And?"
"It's the panel above the other book. I can't get it open either."
"Then some stronger hands…"
"It's another book! 'History the Bonner Family - 1710-1790'. Do the other one!"
"OK."
Hmm
HMMM!
Click!
"It's the panel at the bottom…"
"And you need stronger hands."
"A book! 'History the Bonner Family - 1860-' and there's a blank space. Did someone die before he finished the book? Will you hafta read these to me 'cause they wrote funny?"
"Probably yes to both questions. It's too late to start all these books tonight but we haven't tried the chest symbols."
"Pick me up!"
"Which one first?"
"Let me look for numbers or letters. This one, then this one then that one."
"Chest 'A'."
Hmmm
HMMM!
Click!
"I don't see anything."
"Check the bookcase on the left. Your other left. You are excited if you can't remember right and left."
"I got the panel open but the chest is too heavy!"
"I'll get that, Princess."
"Thank you, Mister Luigi."
"No lock, just this latch. Good reason for it to be Chest 'A' - it's full of amethysts."
"Are they special, Daddy?"
"Not as valuable as diamonds but they do have value. What next?"
"Chest 'D'."
"OK."
Hmmm
HMMM!
Click! Click!
"That was on the right side. Two panels opened. Maybe I need both my knights?"
"We are here, Princess. Also a simple latch and this one is full of diamonds."
"As is this one."
"Chest 'R', Daddy!"
"OK."
Hmmm
HMMM!
Click!
"Back on the left. I got the door but the chest is too heavy."
"I'll get that one, sweet girl. Chest 'R' for rubies. One of these chests might put you in the world's '100 Richest People'. I'm not sure where all of them put you."
"At home with you?"
"You are the biggest treasure in this house, sweet girl."
"Really?"
"None of these things can ever hug me or say 'I love you, Daddy' so you're the biggest and best treasure."
"We gotta put it all back?"
"As soon as we get pictures and inventory information. We might keep out Book 3 if it doesn't give away any secrets before we're ready to tell them."
"But I want an iPad and a Princess Jeep and a big TV and …"
"Does anyone else hear Judge Bonner talking?"
"Judge Bonner? Oh… Sorry, Daddy. You're right. If some people knew we had these things they'd be like Grandpa and do anything to get them. Hide them! I don't want him to kill you!"
"That's not likely to happen. How many people and guns are between the door and us?"
"Five people and lots of guns and Mister Willie said something about remote control for the big guns on his truck."
"So maybe we're planning on being around for a long time?"
"I want you forever!"
"I don't think I'll live that long but I'll probably be around to tell your children how smart their mother is."
"I love you too."
"Close it up…"
"Wait!"
"Why?"
"We didn't do the ring!"
"OK. One ring."
Hmmm
HMMM!
Click!
"It's the other bookcase, Daddy. Maybe a handle?"
"So watch while I pull the handle… and this bookcase is the door to a room with glass cases along the walls."
"There's rings here… and some BIG watches! How do you put that on your wrist?"
"That's a very old pocket watch but you'd need a big pocket…"
"Jack!"
"What, Luigi?"
"Take a good look at the musical instruments! This violin is a Stradivarius!"
"That alone makes some of the other 'treasures' seem small. Blackbeard was rumored to have had great wealth buried somewhere but it seems Hiram Bonner somehow acquired a large portion of that wealth - or someone else's - and hid it here. If that's in the books we found, we'd have a best-seller."
"And be re-writing pieces of history. The British version of that history - from the Britannica website - has Blackbeard killed by the Royal Navy in 1718 and his head on the front of a ship."
"OK, pictures for inventory and then lock it all up. Yes, sweet girl, I know how pretty you are in those black pearls but no one outside the team learns about any of it until you are safe from Sheriff Geeter, Judge Bonner and your other family members."
"Yes, best Daddy ever."
"No, the 'waif' look and the batting eyelashes won't change this. I love you and keeping you safe is more important that any of these things."
"Yes, Daddy. Here's the pearls."
"Thank you, sweet girl. I can see how much you want to wear these but remember all the people who want to take things away from their rightful owners."
"First I'm safe and then I can be rich?"
"Exactly, smart girl."
"I love you too."
---
beep!beep!
Text from Harold.
[About an hour out. Stopped to buy gas. Looking at your surroundings on the GPS' map, you are almost in the middle of nowhere. Is Subway actually your closest 'family' restaurant?]
I should answer that.
[Yes, that is our 'family' restaurant. Willie has some new 'toys' to show you.]
[Sounds like fun.]
"Willie, your other gunner is an hour out."
"I'll give him the 25 cent tour when he gets here and then you, Sarah and Mark can break his calculator with the inventory to be processed."
"The numbers shouldn't be a problem for the calculator if he works in round millions."
"You say that in jest, Jack, but I suspect there's a lot of truth in it. That violin is a twin to the 1719 one that sold for $16 million maybe ten years ago and the viola is like one that sold for $45 million in 2014."
"Thanks, Luigi - it's not like I didn't already have bigger numbers than I've ever worked with."
---
"Hello the house!"
"What's that, Daddy?"
"Someone approaching a house filled with people he knows to be armed and he wants them to know he's coming."
"Somebody sneaking around might get shot?"
"Yes."
"Hello, Harold. Welcome to our estate."
"Jack, that tells me you've found quite a bit of those 'heirlooms' you mentioned. Perhaps you should start with a retainer?"
"Lisa, give him this dollar bill."
"A dollar? I thought lawyers were real 'spensive."
"Young lady, lawyers often are expensive, but Jack gets special rates because he once saved my life."
"I guess that makes a difference. He saved my life and now I call him Daddy."
"There you go. So she's the client, Jack?"
"Harold Dawson, this is Lisa Bonner. I'm her guardian but it's her property - including this farmhouse and everything in it."
"You need to show me."
"First you need to meet the rest of the team. This is Sarah and Mark Talbot who've done most of the inventory work. I think you'll remember Willie and Carl Newman, Jesse Mendoza and Luigi Cartwright."
"Well I remember from the reports that the last four carried my stretcher but I couldn't have said that I remember them. Thank you, guys."
"Just doing our jobs."
"About what I expected from you, but getting out alive is still a big thing to me and I see you're still 'helping out'."
---
"Harold, we have pictures of most of the items: sometimes individually and sometimes just one item of a set, such as this 'one of 12 matching plates'…"
"Do you have any idea what this plate… You said 'one of 12'?"
"That's the biggest set. There are similar sets of eight or ten in silver or silver inlaid with gold, plus…"
"Whoa! Did you find all of Blackbeard's buried treasure?"
"Close. Read this page of the family history from 1717."
"'Traded house on coast to Edward Teach for four wagons of assorted valuables' and there's a listing of what it included. I see '12 gold plates, 10 silver plates, 8 silver plates with gold design' and it runs for several pages. Do you have any idea how much this is worth?"
"Go over to the next picture."
"Stradivarius violin and viola! Chests of diamonds and rubies! I'm working for the world's richest girl!"
"Un huh, cause I have Daddy now."
"She may also be the smartest client I've ever had."
"Or the most knowledgeable of 'value'?"
"Maybe both. So where's the war?"
"Sarah, can you fill Harold in on the past week? Lisa asked to help cook supper and we'll be in the kitchen."
"Will do. Harold, you'll probably want to make notes. A lot has happened or been revealed this week…"
---
"I can help with the mac and cheese?"
"If you do the things I've told you about being safe around hot things."
"I remember. And I have the big wood spoon."
"Arms up for me to tie the apron."
"I'm there."
"You're done."
"You didn't poke my belly button."
"I don't think you'd feel the poke through the apron, your shirt, your shorts…"
"Lots of layers…"
"And your Mickey underwear."
"Daddy!"
"I did caution you about wearing white shorts over the red and black Mickey logo."
"Oops!"
"Think you'll remember next time?"
"Un huh!"
"Read the instructions."
"Bring eight cups of water to a boil…"
---
"Sorry, Sarah. I'm not keeping up with you. The giggling girl helping Jack cook is the waif with one arm in a cast that Jack rescued less than a week ago?"
"Yes."
"How is that possible?"
"Kids can be stronger and more resilient than the adults around them can imagine. Most of them respond quickly to Jack's kind of care. She knows he'll take care of her; he did have her Uncle Joe at gunpoint in a few sentences and that's when she started calling him 'new Daddy' which rapidly progressed to 'Daddy'."
"What are he and the rest of you getting out of this?"
"She claimed him as Daddy. With his other daughters now adults, he's thrilled to have another bright, beautiful, working-on-being-independent 'daughter' in his family. Harold, we're all military F.I.R.E. people - financially independent, retired early. We get to keep our old boss and mentor and his little girl safe while we delve into some fascinating history. We've 'been there, done that' across most of the world and are ready for some 'family' time. From some things Willie has said, I think he's ready to settle down as he's found property for sale and an attractive blonde who's invited him for a home-cooked supper."
"So the 'treasure' isn't important?"
"Only as it affects Lisa's future. Do you remember what she repeated of her father's words? He'd rather she never found it than to have his father find it and do harm with it. That's how we feel. As Jack has told Lisa several times, she's the biggest and best treasure in this house."
"So my task is to control the wealth so it does no harm?"
"As little harm as possible. Jack wants you to orchestrate what Judge Bonner learns of this and when he learns it. From Lisa's memories, the Judge and the Sheriff are guilty of conspiracy and murder and that should be handled at the state and/or federal levels - but very soon, as there are armed troops a half mile away just waiting to attack this place. If the Judge learns that we've found the treasure, he may not care about the death toll - just how much the loot is worth."
"He'd have a difficult time selling some of these things without the provenance in the volumes of family history so any damage to those books would be a major setback for him. Do you think he'd tell them to do a full bore home invasion?"
"Remember that he had his only son and the mother of his only grandchild killed when that son wouldn't tell him the secret of the treasure."
"OK, I'll start with the conditions that he's ruthless and stupid. I can get someone from the SBI here tomorrow. They can usually get federal involvement within 24 hours or less. Is that fast enough?"
"As long as we all stay armed and alert."
"Supper's ready!"
"Thank you, Lisa. Harold, you're at Jack's end of the table as there will inevitably be business that you want to discuss as the meal progresses."
"Mark, does she read your mind like that?"
"Yes and most of the others."
"We are doomed."
---
"What are you so bubbly about, Lisa?"
"Mister Jesse, I got to fix the mac and cheese and Daddy said he'd take me to the shooting range tomorrow!"
"Are you sure, Jack?"
"Sarah, she's memorized the four rules and can repeat them in any order. We've done some plastic-gun-in-your-hand things and she's very aware of where the gun is pointing. There's a 'lady's' weapon in the collection that will fit her hand - four rounds of .22 short but she can hold it securely and tomorrow we'll see if she can aim it accurately."
"Not much firepower there."
"There's not, Jesse, but if she's using it she'll probably be very close to her target. If she can get those four rounds in a six inch circle at six feet, she can fill a face with small caliber rounds. Four small wounds to the face could be debilitating to someone not expecting an armed response. One in an eye at six feet could penetrate the brain and be fatal."
"There's a reason you're the boss. Firepower that fits her hands. Better something she can shoot accurately than something bigger that she can't hit a barn with."
"Correct."
---
|
|
|
Post by papaof2 on Sept 4, 2019 14:17:55 GMT -6
Chapter 16
Friday, 18 July, 7:20PM
"Lisa?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"We still have enough light for a short shooting session tonight…"
"Yes!"
"Remember the drills with the plastic gun?"
"All about remembering where it's pointed."
"You will have death in your hand so that remembering is even more important."
"Un huh!"
"Goggles, ear plugs, targets, weapon, ammunition…"
"I can bring it all to you, just not at the same time 'cause I only got one hand I can use."
"I know. I'm just being your memory jogger. This NRA bag I got the last time I renewed my membership is just the right size for taking everything to the range."
"That's the last of it."
"Then out to the range behind the barn and I'll put up some targets."
"Yes!"
---
"How'd she do, Jack?"
"Jesse, this is her target after firing 12 rounds from six feet away."
"I count 11 holes. Did the first one miss?"
"By this much."
"Princess, that's less than an inch. You did very well for your first time with a handgun, even more so when you only have one hand for holding the weapon."
"That's what Daddy said."
"But hearing it from someone else makes you smile a little more?"
"Un huh."
---
"Bedtime, Lisa."
"I get a chapter of 'Little House'?"
"As soon as you're in the Mickey shirt and your teeth are brushed and flossed."
"I'm going!"
"End of this chapter…"
"But…"
"I know; it was a cliffhanger…"
"A what?"
"It ended with someone important in a bad place and you won't find out what happened to them until you read the next chapter."
"Kinda like hanging on a cliff and can they hold on long enough?"
"That's my smart girl."
"I like it when you tell me I'm smart."
"Your big grin also tells me that you like it."
"Tomorrow, can you read me more of the Bonner History? I love learning about life on this farm two hundred years ago."
"The book won't change overnight. It will go back in its secret place until we read more."
"What about Grandpa?"
"We can share some of it with him. Remember the pages I made pictures of with my phone?"
"The ones that told about stuff being buried under the fence posts in jars?"
"Correct. Those were called 'fencepost banks' during the Great Depression of the 1930s. People put their savings there instead of in the banks that they no longer trusted."
"Like you not having a lot of money in the banks?"
"Only enough to cover expenses for two or three months. What the government can't find, they can't take."
"You don't like some of those people."
"Correct. They were elected to represent the people of the country but some of them just want to line their pockets with the taxpayers' money and find more and more ways to control the people so the government can keep taking from the taxpayers. Time for you to be tucked in."
"A big hug and then my kiss?"
"Yes. Does Hiram Bear also need a hug?"
"Un huh."
"Hiram's hugged. You're next. Head on your pillow. Kiss on your nose. Tuck you in. Nightlight on. Room light off. Goodnight, sweet girl."
"Goodnight, best Daddy ever."
---
|
|
|
Post by cgtech on Sept 4, 2019 17:08:07 GMT -6
Absolutely outstanding story!!
|
|
|
Post by sniper69 on Sept 4, 2019 17:15:07 GMT -6
Thank you for the giant helping of story!
May your weekend go great, and I look forward to reading more of this great story when you get it posted.
|
|
|
Post by texican on Sept 4, 2019 19:45:01 GMT -6
PP2, Thanks for the chapters.... What will happen next? Texican....
|
|
|
Post by 9idrr on Sept 4, 2019 21:02:46 GMT -6
That may not be the whole cake but it'll sate my craving for a good while. Thank you, sir.
|
|
|
Post by gipsy on Sept 4, 2019 21:21:55 GMT -6
I think the temp is beginning to rise.
|
|
|
Post by supermag on Sept 4, 2019 21:56:19 GMT -6
Any intended coincidence that the family is Bonner when one of Blackbeard's partners was the "gentleman pirate" Stede Bonnet?
|
|
|
Post by udwe on Sept 4, 2019 22:41:11 GMT -6
Very, very good! Love this story!
|
|