CH47
"How long does it take to take these, … samples?" Kate asks.
"A few days, maybe a week depending of how the testing goes. I think." Rick tries telling her, softly, afraid she will not go thru with it.
Kate starts talking more to herself than anyone else. "Today is Tuesday, almost lunch time. Bracken is back in DC by sometime Friday. Everyone is safe here. Lucile will protect them. I could, …."
Looking up at Castle. "How long does it take to get there?"
"To the testing site on the Evergreen? It's a simple Transmat wall trip." Rick tells her a little hopeful.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"You'll do it?" Rick questions
"YES!" Alexis screams and turns to hug Kate.
"Lucile can you make the arrangements?" Rick asks.
"Yes Richard."
"Lunch anyone?" Rick tries to break the ice. And heads for the kitchen. Everyone else followed little by little.
"Richard?"
"Yes, Lucile."
"Senator Bracken has ordered a town car to take him to his house. He should be leaving the hotel in about 10 minutes."
"Oh I would love to see the look on his face when he gets there." Javi states, really wishing.
"Any chance we can pour gasoline on it and throw a match as soon as he gets there." Javi continues.
Everyone then eats sandwiches that Castle has made, along with chips, fruit and drink of choice. Waiting for Bracken to reach his house.
"Richard."
"Yes Lucile."
"The request for Kate to be admitted to the medical wing for testing has been placed. Also Senator Bracken is using his cell phone to make a call. It is, …. to his insurance company."
"Oh, this is going to be GOOD!" Javi is grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you for calling Everystate Insurance. If you know you party's extension you may dial it at any time. To open a new account, please press one. If you would like to make a onetime payment over the phone, please press two. To find out the status or balance of your account, please press three. If you would like to make a claim please press four."
"Thank you for calling the Everystate Insurance Claim Department. To find out the process of an existing claim, please press one. To make a car claim, please press two. To make a personal property claim, please press three. Thank you for calling Everystate claims, this phone call may be recorded for training purposes. Your call is very important to us, and your call we be answered in the order in which it was received. Please wait while I transfer your call." Bing, bing!
Thank you for calling Everystate Insurance, your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line and the first available representative will be right with you. You may access your account online at www dot everystate dot net. Please have your account number handy when your call is answered."
They get to listen to recorded music for almost 10 minutes.
"Thank you for calling Everystate Claims, my name is Holly, my number is 13645. How may I assist you today?"
"MY HOUSE HAS BEEN DESTROYED!" Bracken screams into the phone.
"May I have your account number please?"
"Do you know who I am? I'm Senator William Bracken, and my house has been destroyed!" getting mad
"Yes sir. May I have your account number please?" she asks in a monotone voice.
"I don't know my damn account number." getting madder still.
"Do you have your social security number sir?" she asks continuing her heartless monotone voice.
"No, I don't know my social security number. …. Wait, I think my card is in my wallet." pissed he is not getting immediate action.
After giving his social security number. "Could you provide me with your address for verification sir?"
After giving his address. "Thank you. Can you give me the date of your birth sir for verification?"
After giving his date of birth. "Can you verify your phone number for verification sir?"
After giving his phone number. "Thank you sir. One moment while I look up your records."
"About god damn Fu..ing time!" Bracken just a little more than whispers into the phone.
"I'm sorry sir but we do not have that phone number in our records. Have you changed your number recently?"
"NO, I have not changed my damn phone number lately!"
"I see sir, can you give me your phone number again and I will change the information in your account." After giving her his phone number again.
"Mr. William Bracken. According to our records your account was closed due to non-payment just over 6 months ago."
"WHAT! THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" They can barely make out as he screams it into the phone.
"I'm sorry sir, but our records indicate your account has been closed. Please wait one moment while I search your account further." And everyone hears music.
"Oh, this is better than good, bro. We should sell tickets!" Javi is beside himself and can barely sit still with a huge smile on his face. Lanie only giggles a little at his happiness.
"Mr. Bracken?"
"YES!" still yelling into the phone.
"Thank you for waiting sir. According to notes in your account, you stopped making payments on your account over 6 months ago. A statement was sent to the address we have on file every month for the last 5 months. It indicates that all of them were returned as undeliverable. Also all of our phone calls to the number we have on file have not been returned."
''THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE!"
"I'm sorry sir, but according to our records your account has been closed. I'm afraid I cannot process your claim today."
"YOU HAVE GO TO BE FU..ING KIDDING ME!"
"I'm sorry sir, but without an active account I cannot help you."
"YOUR SUPERIORS WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS, HOLLY, 13645!"
"Yes sir. Thank you for calling Every, ..." and Bracken hangs up not willing to listen any further.
"THAT, was EPIC, bro. EPIC!" Javi is laughing so hard he screws up giving his partner a high five. Kate just grins at her friend. Lanie just giggles about it all.
"You do good work Rick. Real good work!" Jim is grinning also. "OH, I'm sorry. You do good work, Lucile." Jim corrects himself.
Lucile for her part only just smiles at him.
"Richard?"
"Yes Lucile."
"I believe one of General Reed's men is trying to enter his room. He is standing just outside the door in the hall. ….. He is now returning to his room. ….. One of the men is now heading for the elevator while the other 2 are going to the door to his room again."
"Looks like they are going to find out soon that he is missing." Ryan states.
"Maybe those 3 will just give up when they find out he is gone." Jenny asks hopefully.
Ryan just shakes his head, while Javi answers her question. "They are pros, they will have a contingency in case he is unable to communicate with them. A second in command that they will contact and receive orders from. But he may not be as loyal to Bracken as the General is."
"So, what do we do now?" Jenny asks.
"We continue with our plans. Maybe they will spread themselves thin in an attempt to find him?" Javi wonders. "Making them more vulnerable."
"They think they are in charge and forcing us to adjust to what they do. They will never expect anyone to attack them, or blow up their production facility. Besides, it is miles away from here and would take hours to fly there and back. They may get soft without the General." Rick tells her.
"Richard"
"Yes Lucile"
"The Evergreen medical is ready for Kate to begin her testing."
"Already?" Kate is surprised. "I can't go now. It is getting dangerous. I need to be here."
"Kate, the timing is almost perfect. With the General gone and Bracken not in the same city and unable to communicate with him, the next guy in the chain of command will need to start making decisions without him. We can monitor what he does with the men and plan accordingly." Javi tells her.
"I don't like this Espo!" Kate is still complaining.
"We'll be fine. It'll take them hours to figure out that he is really gone, not just missing for a few hours. Then they have to make adjustments and decide how to proceed. With Lucile, we get to monitor everything they decide to do and watch where they go."
"Go Kate! We will be fine." Lanie tries to convince her. Stepping up to her friend she whispers to her. "This is your chance to be with your man for years to come. Don't throw it all away now. You've come so far. Don't run now." Lanie pleads.
Jim steps up to both of them. "You should go Katie. Try not to listen to the voice in your head too much. Let your heart tell you what to do, just this once. What would your mother want you to do with your life? A parent only wants their children to be happy. What makes you happy Katie bug?"
"Let's go Castle." Kate states with conviction.
"YES!" As Alexis raises her hands in the air and spins in place.
"You coming Pumpkin?"
"You mean I can go?" Alexis is shocked.
"Who's going to keep me company?" Kate asks her.
"Besides, you can show Kate everything and show her where to go. She's never been there after all."Rick explains to Alexis.
"You should go pack Pumpkin. You've got 10 minutes." He tells her and she is racing down the stairs to her room.
"You too Kate. You've got 10 minutes." And Kate heads downstairs to get her bag.
Kate returns first with Alexis right behind her.
"I'll be back in a few hours guys. Just want to get Kate set up and Alexis in her room. Javi, Ryan, think about what you want to do next. Ask Lucile anything. She'll look after you while I'm gone."
"I expect DETAILS Girlfriend!"
Rick opens a Transmat wall and all three step thru with Alexis bringing up the rear.
Lanie still standing next to Jim. "I thought she would never open her eyes. She is the most stubborn, hard headed person, …. UGH!"
Jim just laughs a little. "She gets it from her mother." Jim just states.
