Chapter 54
Leaning back in his chair, Riker stared at the paperwork scattered all over his desk.
"The police have been able to weed out some of their smaller camps." Kelly said. "But their main base of Operations is in Hoenn. Laurent has an informant that's infiltrated the base so we can get a better idea of their numbers."
Sanchez, who remained quiet through the exchange, cleared his throat. "It would probably be best to take this information to the Boss as soon as possible."
"No." Riker managed after a long pause. "His health is bad enough without added stress."
He was surprised he was even able to speak with the breath caught in his throat.
After all this time...
His father ruined what life he had with his mother and now this? Would he not stop until he destroyed everything Riker held dear? Perhaps it made some sense, considering the bad blood between his father and grandfather, but to go this far? So much death, just for revenge?
"Considering this is a family affair." Sanchez said, uncaring of Riker's order or feelings. "It's for the best he knows."
"I said no." Riker snapped through a clenched jaw.
Sanchez responded by turning to leave. In the split second it took for him to reach for the knob, Riker bolted upright, knocking his chair backwards and slamming his clinched fist on the desk.
"I SAID NO!" His calm stone faced demeanor changed in an instant, his mood snapping like a tightly strung rubber band.
Breccia, who had just been a spectator at this point, jumped slightly at his sudden flash of emotion.
"The only thing that has kept either of your sorry asses from grunt work is our current circumstances." Burrowing his glare directly into Kelly first, Riker remarked: "Stotler would still be here if you took half a second to listen to what I had been saying about Dixon. But you were so sure of yourself." He moved to Sanchez. "I don't give a damn how long you've been here, or the work you've done. You listen to me now. And I promise you, if you walk about that door, you won't have a job to come back to."
Both Executives were wise enough to take their lashings and stay silent. With all the stress of their situation, plus this new information, Riker wasn't in the mood for excuses and egos.
Giving a second of silence, Sanchez finally spoke up after much contemplation. "Then what do you expect we do?" This was said with an air of desperation. As if all of Sanchez's decisions were just as confused and skewered as everyone else's.
"I expect you to listen." Riker said. "You aren't the only one that's watched something you love fall apart. Now unless you want to end up penniless and homeless, you have to trust me." Though there was still a flush of red in his cheeks, Riker resumed his cold appearance. He took Sanchez's lack of response as a begrudging agreement. "The news is going to be too much for him. With their past, it makes things complicated. We need to wait until the informant gets back with us. Then we'll go from there." He beckoned for Breccia to come closer as he spoke to the other two. "You're dismissed."