Chapter 92 – The Sergeant and Major part 1

Nathan looked at Jack who nodded. Neither wanted to talk first and Thomas saw they weren't going to speak.

"Charles Kensington II and his son Charlie have threatened my son, JP and his girlfriend, Miss Thatcher." Thomas said.

"Girlfriend or fiancée?" The officer asked.

"Officially fiancée." Jack said. "But that just happened. No one knew."

"Fine, girlfriend then." The officer said. "Why did he threaten you?"

"Charlie Kensington had a physical hold on Elizabeth in Central Park just over a week ago." Jack said. "My best friend, Doug Burke, and I stepped in to stop them. Elizabeth ran to me for safety. Doug's dad, Chief James Burke of the NYPD came down himself and took the report. There were marks on Elizabeth's wrist. I volunteered to drive Elizabeth home. Long story short, her father didn't believe her, she called me crying a couple of hours later. She was scared because her father was demanding that she apologize to the Kensingtons and as he said 'drop the silliness'. What we didn't know at the time was that apparently Mr Thatcher and Mr Kensington had reached a business deal and part of that deal was that Elizabeth was promised to Charlie. Charlie has a reputation for using women, his whole frat house does. Anyway, I called our security team and we got Elizabeth out of there. We put her in a secure building that I own. When I told her that I was coming up to my grandparents farm, she didn't want to be alone, so I invited her to come along.

Dad here hired Nathan and additional security as when we left the Thatchers and the Kensingtons had shown up and made direct threats to both me and Elizabeth. Further threats have been made. They are saying that I kidnapped her and am holding her hostage. They want to get her back, but she doesn't want to go with them. Major Thompson was here today and we put measures in place to further try and stop the Kensingtons from whatever they are planning."

"But she is engaged to you." The officer said.

"Yes." Jack said. "We love each other and are going to get married."

"So is this a love triangle gone bad?" The officer asked.

"No." Jack said. "I had never met Elizabeth before helping her in Central Park that day."

"Yet you are engaged?" The officer asked.

"Yes." Jack said.

"So how long have you been together?" The officer asked.

"Just over a week." Jack said. "We tried to deny the connection between us, but it is impossible. We love each other and want to spend our lives together."

"Sounds fishy to me." The officer said.

"I love Jack." Elizabeth said.

Everyone turned and saw Elizabeth standing there. She ran to Jack, the officer tried to stop her, but she dodged his attempt to grab her and ran to Jack. Jack held her close and kissed her hard.

"I am sorry." Jack said. "I didn't mean to worry you. I am okay."

"I heard." Elizabeth said. "Doug and Lee were with me. I was worried when I saw the officers. I couldn't just stand there anymore. Please don't leave me."

"I am not going anywhere, sweetheart." Jack said.

"Miss Thatcher." The officer said. "I would like to ask you some questions."

"Then ask." Elizabeth said without turning from Jack

"Alone." The officer said.

"If you can't talk to me in front of my fiancée." Elizabeth said. "Then I don't want to talk to you."

"And you don't have to." Thomas said.

"Major Thompson is on his way." Nathan said. "I called him, he sent the officers and said he was coming, but it would take longer for him to get here."

"Good." James said. "At least someone here will have a brain."

"Why don't you do what you were told and take those two to the station." Thomas said. "We will talk to Major Thompson when he gets here."

"No can do." The officer said. "I am the first officer here and I am not leaving the scene. Something doesn't smell right here."

James noticed that Dennis and Carl were standing off to the side.

"Dennis. Carl." James said. "Please tell me everything that you know about Adam and Michael and this time your jobs depend on it."

"I swear I don't know anymore than what I have told you." Dennis said.

"Carl?" James said.

"Adam has been on his phone, his personal phone, more than usual today and yesterday." Carl said. "Every time I asked him about it, he told me to mind my own business and that things would go back to the way that they were soon and he had everything under control."

"Do you know what he meant?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know." Carl said. "All I can assume is that it was before we stepped up security last week prior to your arrival."

"Thank you." James said. "Are there still people down at the bonfire site?"

"The fire is out." Dennis said. "There are a few people cleaning up, they were planning on leaving shortly after we did. The rest will be done at first light."

"Then head down to the gate." James said. "There should be a few more officers coming, please let them in. Make sure that the rest of the gates are secure, then stay at the security office."

"Yes, Sir." Dennis said.

With that Dennis and Carl left to do what James told them.

"I still have questions for them." The officer said.

"They don't know anything." Thomas said. "They have worked here for years and know that if they knew anything, they were to share. They shared what they knew, now they have a job to do."

"That is not how this works." The officer said.

"It does around here." Thomas said. "I have had security with me my entire life. My father is former State Senator, John Thornton. Besides that, I am a lawyer and you have no right to hold any of us."

Just then two more officers pulled up. When one of them stepped out, Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't say anything, but gave a small nod to the officer when he saw him. The nod was returned.

"Miller." The new officer said.

"Yes, Sergeant." Miller said.

"Take the two suspects to the station." The Sergeant said. "I want them searched and held in separate rooms. No one talks to them until Major Thompson or myself get there."

"Yes, Sergeant." Miller said.

"Then go." The Sergeant said.

Miller quickly moved to the car.

"Sergeant." Nathan said. "He still has both sets of my handcuffs."

"Miller." The Sergeant yelled.

Miller turned to look.

"I believe that you have something that belongs to this gentleman." The Sergeant said.

Miller walked back over.

"Since when do civilians get handcuffs?" Miller asked.

"He is not just a civilian." The Sergeant said. "He is a private investigator and works in private security. Please return his handcuffs."

"How do you know that?" Miller asked.

"Seriously." The Sergeant said. "I know who owns this place. I also recognize Mr Thornton and his son. Now return the handcuffs."

"Here." Miller said, dropping them in front of Nathan.

"Miller." The Sergeant said. "You better do your job better than that. I want all of your paperwork done when I get back to the station and if it is not, you will have to deal with me."

Miller rolled his eyes as he walked away. Miller and the other officer took Adam and Michael back to the station. As soon as they were driving away, the Sergeant turned his radio down before turning to Nathan.

"Nathan." The Sergeant said.

"Gabe." Nathan said. "Thank God it is you. Let's go into the house and talk. I have something to show you."

"You know him?" Jack asked.

"Yes, sorry." Nathan said. "Gabe and I go way back. Gabriel Kinslow please meet Jack Thornton and his fiancée Elizabeth Thatcher. His father, Thomas Thornton and grandfather James Sims."

"Nice to meet you all." Gabe said. "You can call me Gabe. Let's go inside and talk, I know a little of what is going on. The Major called me personally."

"Nice to meet you." James said. "Yes, please let's go inside."

The group headed inside, but Gabe grabbed Nathan and held him back for a moment.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"Are you okay?" Gabe asked.

"Yes." Nathan said.

"Armed?" Gabe asked.

"Not anymore." Nathan said. "Miller removed them and put them in the truck."

"Then get them." Gabe said. "Pull the truck inside and then meet us."

"Gabe." Nathan said.

"I will explain inside." Gabe said. "We might be in danger standing here."

Nathan looked around and didn't see anything, but trusted Gabe. Nathan moved to the truck and put his guns back where they had been. He pulled the truck into the garage, grabbed his phone and Adam's before heading inside to talk to everyone.

"Sorry about this." James said. "I should have been more careful."

"Not your fault, Sir." Gabe said. "After the Major was here today, he had me look into things a little more and there is some information that you all need to know. I was going to be coming out and talking to you all tomorrow, but we can do it now. I also didn't realize that you had hired Nathan. I knew that he had a new job, but he didn't say where."

"And I wouldn't have told you anyway." Nathan said. "Just like you don't tell me when you are undercover."

Everyone looked between the two and wondered what was going on.

"You're going to tell them or am I?" Nathan said.

"I will." Gabe said. "Everyone please sit."

"Coffee?" Jack asked. "I have a feeling it is going to be a late night."

"Don't go to the trouble of making it on my account." Gabe said. "But if you are making it, I won't turn it down."

"Already made." Elizabeth said. "Cream or sugar?"

"Black is fine." Gabe said.

Doug grabbed a pot of coffee and the tray of mugs and brought them to the table. Everyone settled in before Gabe spoke.

"My name is Gabriel Kinslow." Gabe said. "But I am not technically a member of the New York State Police. I am working undercover at the moment, trying to find a leak in the department."

"Then who do you work for?" James asked.

"I work for the US government." Gabe said. "Officially, I am an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agent. But have been loaned out to other branches of federal law enforcement."

"Why would the FBI be investigating the NY State Police?" Doug asked.

"I am sorry." Gabe said. "You are?"

"Douglas Burke." Doug said. "My father is Chief James Burke of the New York City Police Department."

Gabe took a deep breath and wasn't sure that he could tell them everything. He was thinking about what he could say without disclosing too much. Nathan saw the hesitation.

"Gabe." Nathan said. "We understand that you can't say anything to compromise an ongoing investigation, but if it involves this family we need to know to keep them safe. There have been threats made against Jack, Elizabeth and Doug."

"I know all about the threats." Gabe said. "They are in part why I am here. I know more than Major told me. Even he doesn't know the full extent of my undercover work. All he knew was that I arrived as a new Sergeant to work undercover."

"What are you talking about?" Thomas asked.

Gabe looked around the table and made eye contact with each and every person here.

"What I am going to tell you." Gabe said. "Can't leave this table."

Gabe looked around again as everyone nodded in agreement.

"Charles Kensington II is accused of bribing police officials for information or to look the other way when his children get into trouble." Gabe said. "He is also thought to have bribed officers to either get information or make evidence or other things disappear."

Doug let out a small laugh.

"I could have told you that." Doug said. "I know of at least three other cases where Kensington was involved with a woman and they were paid to keep their mouths shut and/or drop the charges. My father has a whole unofficial file on the Kensingtons. I saw it when I was in his office. I actually added more information to it for him as I have had a number of interactions with Charlie Kensington over the years at different charity functions."

"Would your father be willing to share the information?" Gabe asked.

"I can call him." Doug said.

"No." Gabe said. "I will go meet with him. I don't want any of you to use your phones until we have a chance to sweep them."

"It isn't unusual for me to call my father." Doug said. "I won't say anything, but I will call him. We have our code that he will understand. Besides, my phone has higher level encryption than a standard phone. It was added by the NYPD TARU (Technical Assistance Response Unit). They would know if something was wrong. Dad would have alerted me."

"Okay then." Gabe said. "But please be careful. I still don't know who I can trust."

Doug got up and stepped away to call his father. Jack was thinking that something wasn't right. He had a gut feeling and he wasn't sure. All he knew was that some of the things that Gabe was saying weren't adding up. Jack was going to give him the benefit of the doubt since Nathan seemed to know him and trust him. Jack trusted Nathan and at the moment that trust had been extended to his friend.

"Elizabeth and I both had our electronic devices swept before we came up here." Jack said. "So we are fine. I also have the same level of encryption that Doug does. Chief Burke would have let us know if there was a problem."

Gabe rolled his eyes, which didn't go unnoticed by either Jack or Nathan.

"You can trust us and you can trust Marcus." Nathan said. "We are trying to stop the Kensingtons as well. Mr Thornton's firm has restraining orders to prevent the Kensingtons from contacting or coming near Jack or Elizabeth. Additionally, there was a tracking app that was found on Elizabeth's phone before they came up here. Her phone was replaced and the original turned over to the NYPD. They weren't able to tie it to Charlie Kensington directly, but just a family computer."

"I still need to be careful." Gabe said.

"I understand." Thomas said. "But this is not the first time that I have had to deal with Kensington threatening my family."

"Sir." Gabe said. "I don't mean to alarm you, but this goes way beyond the Kensingtons wanting Miss Thatcher back."

"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth said. "I know that my father has demanded that I come back home, but I am an adult and I chose to be with Jack. We are going to be married and they can't stop me."

"I understand that." Gabe said. "But you need to be careful."

"Just tell us what is going on." James said.

Gabe took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. He didn't want to be the one that had to tell them what he knew, but he didn't know what else to do.

"Gabe." Nathan said. "Please talk to me. I can't keep them safe if I don't know what the threat is. Jack and Elizabeth don't leave this property without me. We have additional security following us. But we have the Saratoga Classic this weekend and the charity banquet. We have a show at Sugar Creek in two weeks and a show here the weekend after."