While I drug the unconscious man in front of the stairs McKnight screamed at the kid. And I mean screamed.
Like he screamed at everyone.
The kid was hysterical by the time I shoved his ass in the jeep.
Between Diana shooting at him, McKnight screaming at him, the kid had a big night.
I didn't ask how he got on the base. With a judge for a father it wasn't hard to figure out. By the time I got him off the base I had calmed down enough I could talk to him, without determining if I could get away with homicide.
"What's he want?"
The kid had to do a double take, whether he didn't understand me or the question, "Wh...what?"
"What's your father want?"
I drove away from the base, keeping my eyes on the road. It wasn't hard but I concentrated on it. It was one in the fucking morning. I could have been asleep.
"Our father," the kid corrected.
That annoyed me, "He ain't my dad. Answer my question or I'll turn this car round and turn your lil ass in."
I don't know if it was my threat or what, but the kid told me, "Dad is going to run for senate. But he can't have and skeletons in the closet or anyone coming out to the press with anything bad."
So I was a skeleton in his closet. Sanderson forgot that one. My hands tightened on the wheel and I told him, "You don't have'ta worry, I ain't gonna ruin his career. I don't even know what the damn man looks like. I ain't never heard his name fore yesterday."
My swearing bothered him.
Quietly he told me, "Dad actually wanted to meet you and Albert. But Grandpa said it wasn't smart. That you would resent him and such, that you were illegitimate children."
Immediately I spat, "I ain't illegitimate."
"But when Dad divorced your mom he got it annulled."
It took everything I had not to pop the little bastard in the mouth. Instead I came to a stop and asked, "Which way?"
He had to lean forward and look but then pointed, "Right."
I turned right and asked, "Where the hell do you live?"
He winced at my words, but told me, "Up in Sandy Creek."
Sandy Creek, of course, the rich area. I'd been over it in a chopper once but never inside it. It was a country club. Exclusive.
"Are you really a Delta Force Ranger?"
I all but rolled my eyes. It was an about ten minutes to the damn country club gates. Besides, I was gonna go inside and tell the man off. I really didn't want to tell my life story to this kid, so I told him, "Yeah."
"Do you have a tattoo?"
His question surprised me, usually the next question was have you ever killed anyone. But I shook my head, "No."
"Why not?"
Good God, "Why not what?"
"Why don't you have a tattoo? Don't all military guys have their rank and stuff tattooed on their arms? Like the eagle, globe, and anchor?"
I did roll my eyes, "The Marines have the eagle, globe, and anchor. And no, not everyone has one."
"Why don't you have one?"
No he was getting annoying, I actually turned to him, "What is with your fascination with tattoos and me?"
He shook his head and was quiet.
I almost felt guilty….shit. "With what I do a tattoo wouldn't work. It would help someone recognize me. People don't need to know I'm an American or in the Army."
His next question brought a smile to my face, "Are you a spy?"
"No."
I sped through a red light and turned onto Maple, which lead up to Sandy Creek. The kid watched the speedometer.
"How old are you," he asked.
"How the hell old are you? Can't you sit in damn silence, Jesus Christ you're like'a damn shrink."
The kid took offense, "I am going to college for Psychology!"
I sped up as the road went up a hill, the gate at the top. "You ain't gonna get a job as a shrink with'a rap sheet."
The kid was quiet. I'd insulted him. Good.
I slowed to a stop at the gate and asked, "What's the code."
He was silent. I should have brought Diana, he sang like a damn bird for her.
"Look kid. I'm either gonna punch in the code or drive through the damn gate. It's your choice."
"752 is the code. The house number is 3601."
Good.
I hit those three numbers and the gates opened. I drove in an followed the numbers. Probably breaking the speed limit. All the damn houses were the same, all two story mansions plastered together. They were ugly. Million dollar houses for rich people. From above I saw the pools and shit.
3589, 3591, 3593, 3595, 3597, 3599, 3601.
I pulled into the drive, behind a Lexus. In front on that in the open garage were three men around a Mercedes, looking at the engine like it was something foreign. Just like when Diana looked at an engine. Though they weren't hitting whatever looked like it needed hitting with a hammer.
Before I got the engine turned off Bryan hopped out and ran into the garage. I decided to just put the car in park. I wasn't about to stay for coffee, just incase I needed to leave in a hurry.
I left my door open as I climbed out.
One of the men came out. I knew before he came to me it was my father, the first time I had seen him. He looked like Albert a little. He had the same blonde hair that was thick as Albert's. The same eyes and smile. Though he had some years on him, it showed, but he was the perfect face for a Senator or whatever.
He seemed surprised to see me, "Norm?"
I didn't bother to correct him, I didn't want him calling me Hoot. It was too personal.
"Stop callin me. Leave me alone. Leave Albert alone and leave my girl alone. I don't care what your runnin for, I ain't gonna bother telling the press or whatever bout me or Albert. Your secret is safe."
He seemed genuinely surprised, shocked.
Like I cared.
"Did Bryan tell you I was going to run? Norm, that's not why I wanted to see you."
Bryan was speaking with the two other men.
"I don't care why. Aight? Really I don't, so leave me alone." I turned to leave but he reached for me, so I turned and I hit the man. I punched my own father. Right in the face. Knocked the damn man down on the driveway.
"Leave me alone," I told him before I left.