Chapter 97 – Press

Elizabeth wanted to say something to Jack, but there was a knock at the door. Nathan opened it and saw the guard.

"I was able to clear out most of those that didn't have legitimate business with the court." The guard said. "I will warn you that the photographers are outside along with at least one news truck."

"Why are they all here?" Elizabeth asked.

"Couple things." The guard said. "The FBI is supposed to be bringing in a couple big names for an arraignment. There is also a rumor that some celebrity or some society page mainstay is in town to get married this weekend."

Jack and Elizabeth just looked at each other, but neither said anything.

"Jack." Nathan said. "What do you want to do?"

"How close are we to the front doors again?" Jack asked.

"Half a block." Nathan said.

"What do you think?" Jack asked.

"Where are the photographers and the news crew?" Nathan asked.

"Across the street." The guard said. "The police have the street blocked off and are there to direct traffic for those that are parked out front. The police are doing their best to keep the press off courthouse grounds."

Jack pulled out his phone and called Brandon. He talked for a moment and let him know that they were ready to leave. Jack hung up the phone and looked at Nathan.

"Security is waiting for us down the block." Jack said. "Brandon said that there is a large police presence out front, but it is not completely secure. He left the decision up to me."

Jack looked at Elizabeth and squeezed her hand.

"What are you thinking sweetheart?" Jack asked.

"I trust both of you." Elizabeth said. "I think if we just hurry, we will be fine."

"Okay." Jack said. "Nathan, you walk in front of us. Make sure that the truck is unlocked and we will enter from the sidewalk side. We don't acknowledge the press. We don't look at them or talk to them, it will only encourage them."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Nathan said. "I am ready when you are."

"Let's go." Jack said.

"I will walk you to the front door." The guard said. "I have someone covering my spot for the moment."

"Thank you." Nathan said.

The guard led the way, Nathan had Jack and Elizabeth follow the guard and would bring up the rear until they reached the doors. When they got to the hallway, Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Jack's arm and stayed close to him. Jack had his ball cap pulled down but his head was up so he could see if there was any danger. As the guard led them out, Jack could hear a few people take pictures on their cell phones. He reached across his body and squeezed Elizabeth's hand. She kept a tight hold on Jack's arm and stayed right by his side. Elizabeth kept her head slightly ducked. She trusted Jack and Nathan to keep her safe. When they got to the security checkpoint, the guard stopped and turned around. He looked at Jack and Elizabeth.

"Be safe." The guard said. "I would walk you all the way to your vehicle, but I am not allowed."

"It is okay." Jack said. "You have done more than enough."

Nathan walked up and shook the hand of the guard before turning to Jack and Elizabeth.

"Ready?" Nathan asked.

Jack and Elizabeth both nodded.

"I know that you know, but stay right behind me." Nathan said.

"We will." Jack said.

Nathan walked to the door and paused. Jack led Elizabeth to the door and when they were right behind Nathan, he tapped him on the shoulder. The trio walked out the doors and you could hear the click of shutters. Jack quickly moved Elizabeth to his inside and pulled his cap down further. They quickly made it to the truck, but not before they had their picture taken and questions shouted at them. Jack and Elizabeth didn't look at the press or answer them. As soon as they were in the truck, Nathan locked the doors and moved to pull out. The police pushed the people back to allow the truck to exit the street. When they got past the police barricade, Nathan saw the security car pull out behind them. He also noticed a second car following them. Jack saw Nathan look in the rear view mirror a few times, so he turned and saw the second car. Jack quickly pulled out his phone and called Brandon. After speaking to Brandon for a few minutes, they came up with a plan. Jack hung up and grabbed Elizabeth's hand and gave her a tense smile.

"The second car is undercover police." Jack said. "They are more concerned with the farmer's market. Brandon is going to head to the market, they are going to have the second car stay with us, but we are to hang back and wait until Brandon calls. He said you need to be armed and that we should stay off as many main roads as possible."

"Got it." Nathan said.

Nathan turned off on a side road. Brandon kept going and Nathan saw the second car pick them up. Nathan pulled over and quickly got out of the truck. He went around to the other side to get his guns. The police car pulled up and one got out, heading right for Nathan.

"Hi." Nathan said.

"Hello." The officer said. "Major Thompson said we are supposed to follow your lead, but I have an idea."

"I am open to ideas." Nathan said. "I assume you know that our security went to check out the farmer's market. We have to stop there, because we have orders to pick up for the weekend. The only other stop that we need to make is to Primal. Again for an order for the weekend."

"I heard." The officer said. "I am Charlie by the way."

"Nathan."

The two men shook hands.

"So what were you thinking?" Nathan asked.

"I know it isn't exactly protocol." Charlie said. "But I was thinking that you take our unmarked car and we take your truck. The press are going to be looking for the truck, not our car."

"Jack." Nathan said, sticking his head into the open door. "Did you hear that?"

"No, what?" Jack asked.

Nathan opened the back door and introduced Charlie to Jack and Elizabeth.

"Tell Jack what you just told me." Jack said.

Charlie repeated what he had told Nathan. Jack looked at Elizabeth and then back to Nathan.

"I am okay with it." Jack said. "It is really up to you Nathan as you would be driving."

"I think we will stick with the truck for now." Nathan said. "We are about twenty minutes away from the farmer's market, so I think that we just need to get moving. Unless someone told them, the press don't know where we are going."

"I agree." Jack said. "If Nathan wants to stay in the truck then I will defer to him. But I do think that we need to get moving. I have a feeling they are going to be out looking for us and if they don't find us, they are going to head to the farm."

"Let's get moving then." Charlie said. "Brandon told us that you are armed."

"Yes." Nathan said. "Is that a problem?"

"No." Charlie said. "Just checking."

"Just so you know." Nathan said. "I have one on my ankle and the other in the small of my back and I can shoot with either hand."

"Good to know." Charlie said. "But let's hope that it doesn't come to that."

"Agreed." Nathan said.

The group got moving. Nathan went through the city and stayed off the main highway. It took them almost thirty minutes to get to the farmer's market. They had heard from Brandon that there was no press, but lots of people. The people didn't bother Jack, as most would just leave them alone. They pulled into the parking lot and found two spots next to each other. Jack looked at Elizabeth and squeezed her hand.

"Are you okay?" Jack said.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I am okay. I have the list and I know where to go. I am not worried, I told you I trust you and Nathan."

"Thank you." Jack said.

Jack leaned over and gave Elizabeth a quick kiss. Before they got out of the truck, Elizabeth made sure that she had her phone and saw that there was a message from Gran.

"Gran said that we need to get some more salad fixings." Elizabeth said. "She also added to get anything else that we want. I was thinking if we found some fresh fruit, I could make a dessert or something."

"Whatever you want." Jack said.

Elizabeth grabbed the three reusable bags that Gran had given her. She also had the list and her phone. When they were out of the truck, Jack wrapped his arm around Elizabeth and Nathan walked on her other side. The two undercover officers followed closely. Brandon and Kevin meet them at the gate. Nathan gave each man a nod as they walked by. Brandon fell in next to Nathan and Kevin behind the officers. Nathan led them over to one of the picnic tables and directed everyone to sit down. He pulled out the map of the market and handed it to Elizabeth.

"Please mark where we are going." Nathan said.

Elizabeth pulled her list out and then looked at the map. It took her a few moments to mark where they were going, including the couple extra booths that she wanted to stop at. She handed it back to Nathan, who pulled out two more maps. He marked them the same as the one that Elizabeth had done. He then handed one to Brandon and one to Charlie.

"That is where we are going and in what order." Nathan said. "I know that you want to stay close, but please give us as much room as you can. I am feeling good about things right now and neither Jack or Elizabeth need us right up on them."

No one spoke. Nathan looked at Brandon, Kevin, Charlie and the other officer.

"I am okay with this." Charlie said. "Cole, why don't you stay here and watch people coming in. If you need, you can call me."

"Can I grab a coffee?" Cole asked.

"I will even pay for it." Jack said. "Thank you for giving us some space."

Jack pulled out a ten and handed it to Cole who went to get a coffee while the others stayed there.

"Brandon, Kevin is there a problem?" Nathan asked.

"Who put you in charge?" Brandon asked.

"I did." Jack said. "I am paying for this protection, I get to say who is in charge."

"But I thought …." Brandon started.

"I don't know exactly what Grandpa told you." Jack said. "But my Grandpa John and I are paying the security detail when we leave the farm. If you have a problem with Nathan being in charge, I can call Devin and you can deal with him. I trust Devin and he trusts me to know what I need. He also knows that I trust Nathan implicitly."

With the mention of the senior Mr Thornton and Devin, Brandon closed his mouth and didn't say anything. He knew better than to cross the senior John Thornton. Brandon still didn't like having to listen to Jack and Nathan. He wasn't sure what was going on with this new guy, but he didn't really like him. Kevin also knew enough to shut his mouth, because he needed this job and he didn't want to lose it because he knew it would be hard to find work in the security world again if you have been dismissed by the Thorntons.

"No problem." Brandon said. "But Kevin and I will both be following you, but we will give you as much space as we can. However, we will want to keep you in sight."

"Fine." Jack said. "That is all I am asking. When we are done here, we have to make a quick stop at Primal and then we are most likely heading home, unless we realize that there is something else that we need. Any questions."

"No." Brandon said.

"I am good." Charlie said.

When Cole got back, he tried to hand the change to Jack who shook his head.

"Keep it." Jack said. "We shouldn't be long but you might want a second."

"Let's go." Nathan said.

The group, minus Cole started out. Charlie was in the lead, about three or four steps ahead of Jack, Elizabeth and Nathan. They made quick work of the list and even found a few extra things. They had filled all three bags and Jack got another one at the corn stand. Nathan had offered to carry some of the bags, but Jack wanted him to keep his hands free. Besides, Jack didn't mind. They were heading toward the last of the stands that they needed to when Jack spotted someone. He let out a huge sigh and then made a motion to Nathan to point out who he saw. Nathan let out a frustrated sigh. It was at that moment that Elizabeth spotted who they saw.

After leaving his mother-in-law, Thomas went back to the office and tried to make a call, but it went to voicemail and he was so upset that he didn't leave a message, but just hung up. He was slamming a few books around and muttering to himself when there was a knock on the doorway.

"What!" Thomas said gruffly.

"Sorry." Doug said. "I was asked to bring this to you."

Doug walked in and handed a folder to Thomas.

"What is this?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know." Doug said. "Charlotte asked me to bring it up to you when we came up to the house. She said James told her that you needed it."

"Okay." Thomas said.

"Everything okay?" Doug asked tentatively.

"They will be." Thomas said. "Once I speak to my father and get things sorted out."

"Okay." Doug said. "Lee and I are going to work out. Jack sent a text that they should be back soon."

"What did they have to do in town?" Thomas asked.

"I know that they were headed to the farmer's market and Primal to get stuff for this weekend." Doug said. "I think that Jack had a few other stops to make, but I am not sure what."

Thomas looked at him.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Thomas asked.

"Honestly." Doug said. "Just because I am his best friend, doesn't mean that he tells me everything before he does it. I know that he talked to Nathan alone with Elizabeth after we headed down last night, but I don't know what they talked about."

"Fine." Thomas said.

Doug walked out and headed to the basement to work out with Lee. Thomas sat down and opened the folder that Doug had brought. It had an outline of the agreement in it as well as some other paperwork. He wondered if Charlotte knew what she had Doug bring up to him or if she was just doing what she was told by her father. Thomas was still upset that James and Margaret made such a decision without talking to either of them. He was even more upset that his father would go along with such a plan without talking to him. Then as Thomas sat there, he realized that even if he was listed as an owner of Thornton Thoroughbreds, it was really his father's company. John had always had the final say. The more that Thomas thought about it, the more he realized that he should have known that something was going on with all the time that his father and JP were spending together. Thomas shook his head and let out a frustrated breath.

As much as Thomas loved his father, when it came to business he was different. He didn't let feelings or family really get in the way of a business decision. John always did what he felt was the best, even if other people would be upset with his decisions. Then again, those decisions had made him one of the wealthiest people in the country, if not the world. John could easily buy a couple small countries if he wanted to. The thing was it was hard to pin down John's net worth because of his numerous companies as well as his vast art collection. Thomas knew that his father had some very valuable pieces of art that were on permanent loan to a couple of different museums.

As Thomas sat there thinking about his father, he wondered how much of his estate that JP would inherit. Originally, Thomas thought that he would get a bulk of his father's estate. He knew that there was trusts and endowments set up for the various businesses. There was also a portion that he knew would be split among a number of charities, but now he wondered if his father hadn't changed things and given a majority of his estate to JP. Thomas knew it was something that he was going to have to talk to him about. He wondered if his father would actually tell him or not.

Thomas slammed his fist on the desk. He got up and started pacing back and forth as he thought about everything that he needed to talk to his father about. He started making a list by dictating it on his phone. It was something that Thomas had done for years. Dictating his lists and ideas to help him sort things out. He had started with a small recorder and then eventually an app on his phone. Sometimes, he would have one of the secretaries type up the raw notes, just so he could get a better idea of things, especially on complex problems or cases. After twenty minutes of dictating, Thomas sat down and sent the file to one of he secretaries with a note to get it back to him as soon as possible.