Chapter 4.
"Sorry 'bout all this Bill. I'll look into what happened" Thomas Kincaid said shaking the mercenaries hand. Fuckin' prick.
"Yeah, 'ppriciate that." Johns replied and left.
As Thomas sat at the small desk, he glanced down at the complaint he had taken from Billy Johns. The man was never happy, at least when he saw him. Crumpling up the complaint as he rose from the chair, he tossed it into the waste can, and walked out to see who was filling the mercs next order.
Rae was standing in front of the palates, checking them over. When she saw Thomas walk through the door.
"Hey Hoss. How ya doin'"
"Fine. Just got through havin a chat with our good friend Johns. That his order?" He asked pointing to the 10 palates of food, water, alcohol, clothes, med supplies, and various 'sources of entertainment.'
"Yeah. Really think a babysitter is necessary?" Rae asked teasingly.
"You know it little girl. Just make sure all of it gets in his ship so we can be rid of him ASAP." Thomas turned to leave.
Rae nodded. "Hey Thomas?"
"Yeah?" he asked over his shoulder.
"When our shifts over, can I talk to you?"
"O'course. What about?" Thomas asked with concern.
"Later, okay?"
"Sure" He nodded and left Rae to her work.
Rae was beat. That bastard Johns requested that the palates be unloaded and put away by the dock-hands. God forbid his crew do the work. Hell, bet that's who fucked it up last time. Rae thought as she put her uniform back in her locker. She grabbed the news paper and looked at Riddicks' picture. Time to talk to the all-mighty, all-knowing wizard, Thomas.
He was a good-looking man, about 5'10 in his early 50's. Light blue eyes, brown, almost black hair that was cropped very short to his head, and very fit. Rumor had it that he had been a Company Ranger not to long ago. He knew way to many things about the Company and how they did business, or didn't, that really brought Rae's attention to him. It made her wonder what he really did before becoming the dock foreman.
Rae stood waiting for Thomas, as he spoke with Johns again. He better be fuckin' happy. A place for everything and everything in its place. She noticed both men were smiling as they walked towards her.
"Billy, this is the dock-hand that stocked your ship. It's really her you should be thanking, not me. This is Rae"
Johns held out his hand, "Thanks. I'm…"
She really didn't want this man shaking her hand, but there was nothing she could do to avoid it. So she was kind enough to hold her hand out to meet his, not really putting any effort into the handshake.
"Billy 'Bad Ass' Johns, Yeah, I know who you are." Rae said cutting him off.
"No thanks are necessary. Just doin' my job Sir." Rae looked him straight in his beady eyes, cringing to herself at what she saw there.
"One hell of a job, too, I might add. Never seen my shipped stocked so efficiently. Goes to show you, that a woman's touch is priceless." He said with a sickening smile.
Rae thought she tasted bile in her mouth, but smiled back curtly. She cast a 'hurry-up' look towards Thomas before she excused herself from the two men.
Rae glanced at the time clock, 5:06. She told Jackie she'd pick her up at 6. Hurry up Thomas. She rolled the newspaper up and was tapping herself on her leg, trying to wait patiently.
Then as if on cue he opened his office door, and stood in the threshold, arms crossed over his chest.
"Okay, Rae. What's up with you? Melissa said you were kinda …'not all here' all day."
She stood and shoved the newspaper in her back pocket. Walking toward Thomas, he stepped back to allow her in the office, and shut the door behind them.
"Thomas, you watch the vid-news right?" She asked.
He just stared and nodded his head.
"What do you know about Richard Riddick?" She asked. She noticed Thomas clench his jaw with the mention of Riddick's name.
Relaxing his jaw he said. "What? Never heard of him? Heard he killed a shit load of his fellow soldiers. Was sentenced to a looooong time in slam. Real sick fuck."
Rae noticed that Thomas was no longer looking at her, but looking past her.
"What do you know about him?" She asked again, a little harsher than she wanted to.
Thomas looked at her with a raised brow. "No Rae, the question should be what do you know about him? Where did this morbid curiosity come from? Not attracted to a killer are you? Cause then I'd really be worried about you."
"Are you gonna tell me what you know or not? I know you know something. I watched your reaction when I said his name." Again, Thomas was no longer looking at her. "Look at me, please. You know him don't you? And not just as some story on the 5 o'clock. You know him," She proclaimed.