Chapter 116 – Brooches
The boys minus Jack went out to make sure that their boots were polished and their safety gear for riding was ready. When they got to the back porch Doug saw Jack's bag and then looked up at the second story deck. He smiled and knew exactly where Jack was. Doug was also going to give him a little more time. Lee quickly got the polish and rags out of the bin that they were kept in. He brought everything over to the others.
"Let's get going." Lee said. "I want to check the scores before supper."
Nathan looked at him.
"What?" Lee said. "I will help you, since mine just needs to be wiped off. I just want to be able to check the baseball scores."
Nathan let out a little chuckle.
"Fine." Nathan said. "I see Jack's bag, do you know where he is?"
"He is thinking." Doug said. "We will let him be until John gets here. How about we make things easier and make sure that his boots are ready and his gear is wiped down."
The three sat and polished their boots. Nathan did Jack's boots while Doug made sure that his gear was ready and Lee did Nathan's gear that Doug had brought up when he came back with Cody. It took the boys about twenty-five minutes to polish their boots and wipe down their gear. Once everything was ready, they went around and put the gear in the back of the truck. They left the boots lined up near the back door. After stowing the gear, Doug sent a text to Gran to let her know that they were going to watch some TV downstairs.
Gran pulled out five cases and then sat down on the bed with Elizabeth.
"Now." Gran said. "Three of these are racing brooches, it won't really matter, but if you want to eliminate those right away we can. The other two are just horse related."
"Can I just see the three racing ones?" Elizabeth said.
Gran opened cases one, four and five.
"This is a diamond horse and jockey." Gran said. "It is from nineteen sixty. It has eight-cut, old-cut and round brilliant-cut diamonds along with calibre-cut rubies mounted in platinum with a gold saddle."
"That is pretty." Elizabeth said. "But maybe for a day at the track."
"I agree." Gran said. "The other two cases are of vintage horse and jockey brooches. Both are hand painted red and black enamel. Both have over eighty pave diamonds. The one with all diamonds has a green garnet for the eye. The other has diamonds with two square-cut rubies on the saddle. The one with the rubies has a diamond in the eye instead of a different stone."
"I like both of those as well." Elizabeth said. "But once again, I would think that they are more for a day at the track. I know that the charity event is at the track, but I still don't think that either of those are right."
"I hear you." Gran said. "I just pulled out all five of the equestrian brooches that I have. I guess that isn't completely true. I have two that are almost identical. One is platinum and one is white gold. I grabbed the platinum one."
Gran opened the second and third cases.
"This first one is the one that I have two of." Gran said. "This is a diamond horseshoe with a horse head. It is also from around nineteen sixty with pave set diamonds. It is set in platinum with brilliant-cut diamonds and a green garnet for the eye."
"I really like that one." Elizabeth said. "Right now, I am leaning toward this one."
"This was the third case I had set down." Gran said. "This is a diamond horse head. It is set in platinum with eighteen carat gold. It has one hundred thirty diamonds with a total weight of three point sixty-nine carat weight. It has a black star sapphire in the eye."
"This one, the last one." Elizabeth said. "This one is my favorite. I also think that it will look the best with your dress."
"This is one of my favorite brooches." Gran said. "I have several others that aren't equestrian themed. Several of them are Celtic themed."
"I would love to see them at some point as well." Elizabeth said.
"That can be arranged." Gran said. "But not today. Most of them are locked in the safe or are in the safety deposit box."
"That makes sense." Elizabeth said. "I suppose that I am going to have to get used to it. But you said that you would have jewelry for me if Jack didn't order something."
"True." Gran said. "Pieces that I wear more often, I keep in one of the safes here in the house. Pieces like these brooches that I only wear once or twice a year are kept in the safety deposit box. I picked these up when I was in town earlier this week."
"I understand." Elizabeth said. "So what are you thinking for me?"
"I was thinking either diamonds or pearls." Gran said. "I will pull them if you need them."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I think I will wait to see what Jack had. Something tells me that he has something for me. I don't know why, but I don't know."
"I think so as well." Gran said. "Lets head back out. It sounds like the boys, minus Jack, are downstairs. I need to start getting things ready to put in the oven. John and the others should be here soon."
Gran headed to the kitchen and Elizabeth headed downstairs. Gran had just turned the oven on when there was a knock at the door. She went to get it and found John and two other gentlemen standing there.
"Margaret." John said.
"John." Gran said. "Please come in. Who do you have with you?"
"This is Peter, my assistant." John said. "This is Andrew, my head of security."
"Nice to meet you both." Margaret said. "Please come in. Supper will be about half an hour or a little more."
Everyone came in and Gran closed the door.
"I know." John said. "We came early so we could meet with security."
"Chris, Rob and Katie are in the library." Margaret said. "The boys, minus Jack, are in the basement. Elizabeth was down there as well."
"Where is my grandson?" John asked.
"I think that he is up in the music room or his nest above there." Gran said.
"Things are that bad?" John asked.
Gran just gave him a look.
"Please have a seat." Gran said. "I will get everyone else."
Gran walked over to the library and told Chris, Rob and Katie. She then walked to the stairs leading downstairs.
"Nathan, Doug and Lee." Gran called. "Please come here. Bring Elizabeth with you."
"Coming." Doug yelled.
Gran pulled out her cellphone and sent a text to Jack to let him know that his grandfather was here and to come downstairs to meet everyone.
"I will make some coffee." Gran said. "Please have a seat around the table."
John, Peter, Andrew, Rob, Chris and Katie all took a place around the table. The boys and Elizabeth came up stairs and saw everyone minus Jack sitting at the table. Elizabeth and Lee went to the kitchen to help Gran with coffee and stuff. Doug and Nathan made introductions. Nathan stood in front of John and realized why he could be intimidating. John stood slightly taller then Nathan with a broad, muscular chest and shoulders. He also had stormy blue eyes that seemed to look right into your soul. Nathan had to quickly look away as he felt that John would see right through him. If it wasn't for his more salt than pepper hair, one would not believe that he was a man of almost seventy-five. Nathan was suitably impressed with the elder John Thornton. When they shook hands, he also realized that he was strong and didn't just look it. It wasn't often that Nathan had to look up to someone, but he figured that John stood about six five or six, if not a little more. Jack came downstairs and saw his grandfather.
"Hello, Sir." Jack said.
"Hello, JP." John said. "How are you doing?"
Jack gave John a half grin and shrugged his shoulders.
"We will talk later." John said. "So how do you want to do this?"
"I want Doug, Lee and Elizabeth to sit in on this meeting." Jack said. "Grandpa said he has paperwork that needs to be finished, so just fill him in later."
"Where is your father?" John asked.
Jack had to close his eyes so that John wouldn't see him roll his eyes.
"He is in the library, Sir." Nathan said. "Do you want me to get him?"
John thought about it for a moment.
"No." John said. "He knew I was coming. We can talk to him later."
"Very well." Nathan said.
Everyone sat down, while Gran continued to work in the kitchen to get supper ready. They went through introductions again so that Elizabeth and Lee knew who was around the table. Once Jack was sitting next to Elizabeth and felt her relax a bit, he was ready to start the meeting.
"Okay." Jack said. "With introductions done. Let's get started. I have asked Doug, Lee and Elizabeth to sit in on the meeting because I think we all need to be on the same page."
"I agree." Chris said. "After what happened this afternoon with Gabriel, I think we all need to be on our toes. Just so everyone knows, there is one other member of our team, Matthew, who is currently in the security office reviewing video. We will talk to him later this evening."
"Good." John said. "Andrew has arranged to have six of my security for the jumping event tomorrow."
"That is correct, Sir." Andrew said. "Chris, Rob, Katie and Matthew will be there as well as the six that are driving up from Albany. After talking to Devin in the city, with everything going on, we felt that it was best to have a different crew working tomorrow. Especially since there will still be people here and Coal Creek is down two security members until at least Monday."
"Thank you, Andrew." John said. "JP, what is the plan for tomorrow?"
"Marco is going to take the two horses over in the morning." Jack said. "Doug and I are jumping. Nathan will be down with us and Grandpa James. Elizabeth is going to be with Gran, Lee and the rest of you up in the stands."
"There is a section reserved for us." John said. "Major Thompson will have two members of the state police there as well."
"Good." Nathan said. "That will make me feel better with Elizabeth up there."
Before anyone else could say anything, there was another knock at the door.
"I got it." Doug said.
Doug went to get the door and was surprised to see Major Thompson and Gabe standing there with another gentleman. Doug glared at Gabe. Marcus saw the glare.
"Douglas." Marcus said. "Director Quinlan asked me to bring the two of them here. Director Quinlan would like to speak to Jack and the senior Mr Thornton."
"We are meeting now." Doug said. "Please come in.
The group walked into the dinning room. Nathan saw Gabe was immediately on his feet.
"Nathan." Marcus said. "Please sit down. He was brought here for a reason."
"Marcus, Ryan." John said. "What are you doing here?"
"John." Marcus said. "You were briefed on what happened this afternoon. After I was told that Gabe was asked to leave, I called Director Quinlan."
"Before we go any further." Jack said. "Can we make some introductions? There are several people who have just joined us."
"Sorry." John said. "Marcus, do you know everyone?"
"Almost." Marcus said. "I am Major Marcus Thompson and I am in charge of the state police depot here in Albany and Saratoga."
"I am Director Ryan Quinlan." Ryan said. "I am the head of the FBI office in New York City."
Everyone went around the table and introduced themselves.
"Sorry about the interruption." Marcus said. "After talking to Director Quinlan, we agreed that we needed to come back out here for a little bit."
About this time, Thomas came out to the dining room and looked around.
"What the hell is going on here?" Thomas yelled. "I told you that I wanted to be included in the security meeting. Dad, you knew that I was here. Why are you meeting without me?"
"Thomas." John said. "You continue to speak like this, you and I will be having words. We are guests in this house and you will behave. Now, you can either shut up and sit down or you can leave."
Thomas glared at his father. Then looked at his mother-in-law in the kitchen.
"I laid out the rules very clearly earlier today." Gran said. "Now, are you going to push me to choose? John made the decision to start the meeting, because there are other people's schedules to consider. Now your choices are to sit down, shut up and listen or go back to the office. Either way I don't want to hear another word out of you unless you are being asked a direct question."
"JP." Thomas said. "You are going to regret this."
"No, Thomas." John said. "You are going to regret this. Now, either sit down or leave. If you leave, you will be called when supper is ready."
Thomas glared at the group and then stocked back to the office.
