Chapter 117 – Taking A Stand
"Sorry about the interruption." John said. "Now, what were you saying Marcus."
Marcus looked back at Ryan for a moment and got a small nod.
"First." Marcus said. "I need to make it clear that anything that is said in the next few minutes or with any regard to Gabriel, needs to not be repeated. It stays in this room."
Marcus waited until everyone around the table nodded in agreement.
"Okay." Marcus said. "Director Quinlan flew up here and after speaking, we agreed that we needed to come out here and request that Jack doesn't file slander or any other charges against Gabriel."
"No." Jack said. "I don't agree with that. The things that he said were definite grounds for slander. He crossed a line and I am not going to back down. As much as I won't be bullied by Kensington. I am not going to be bullied by him."
"John Parker." John said.
"No, Sir." Doug said, standing up. "I am with Jack on this. The things that Gabe said went too far. The things he said were horrific. He outright accused Jack of sleeping around, fathering a child and forcing the girl to have an abortion. That is on top of the things he said about Elizabeth."
"To top it off." Nathan said, also standing up. "The moment he got off the property he sent two text messages – one to Lacy Pennybaker and the other to Trip Steele. He signed a non-disclosure agreement. He told them that we knew about Lacy and Charlie Kensington being cousins with Trip."
"How do you know this?" Director Quinlan asked.
"Gabe forgot that his cell phone was synced with my tablet." Nathan said. "I saw the messages and saved them."
"Please show me." Director Quinlan said.
Nathan went down, got his tablet and showed the messages that Gabe has sent going back two weeks.
"Gabriel." Director Quinlan said.
"I have nothing to say." Gabe said. "Nathan, I thought you were my friend."
"And I told you to watch your mouth and don't be stupid." Nathan said, walking over to Gabe.
Marcus tried to step between Nathan and Gabe.
"Nathan." Marcus said. "He is not worth it. Go back to Jack. We brought him here to apologize, but you don't seem to want to hear it."
"Because it wouldn't be sincere." Nathan said. "He is doing what you say to keep his job. You can clearly see that he warned them about tomorrow and the plan needs to be changed. That is a violation of the non-disclosure agreement. I could also make the argument that it is criminal facilitation. He was told that Elizabeth was afraid of Mr Kensington and that she didn't want to see him. He has released her location which until he said something had been secure."
"I agree with Nathan." John said. "Gabriel's actions clearly are a violation of the non-disclosure that he signed. His actions have also endangered my family. I don't care if he apologizes. From everything that I have learned, he asked to come here and then he came here looking for a fight. Ryan, think very carefully before you speak because if you don't do your job, I will go over your head. From what I have learned, Gabriel was sent to Saratoga/Albany to investigate the Kensingtons. That is a clear conflict of interest. He has crossed a line and put several people in danger because he has a chip on his shoulder. Also I have been in contact with several members of the upper level of the FBI in Quantico."
"You're right John." Ryan said. "I never would have sent him here if I had known his sister was involved with Trip Steele. He kept that from us. I haven't seen the video that Marcus tells me was recorded of the meeting in the library, but I have heard a few of the things that Gabriel accused Jack of doing. I have known Jack's family for several years and they have a good case for slander and violations of the non-disclosure agreement. I was hoping that we could come to a peaceful resolution, but I see that Gabriel has pushed Jack too far and he has a right to take a stand and not allow it go unpunished."
"I agree." Marcus said. "Because of this, I am going to have to step up the security at the Charity Classic."
"I will provide manpower as well." Ryan said. "I will make some calls and have undercover agents up here."
"Thank you." John said. "As much as I wish JP would stay on the farm tomorrow, I will not ask that of him. He is old enough to understand the risks involved."
"Yes, I do." Jack said. "I have said that I am not going to let an overgrown toddler stop me from doing business and jumping, promoting this farm that I own is business."
Jack walked over to stand next to his grandfather and he glared at Gabriel. His glare was cold and a little frightening.
"Don't get me wrong." Jack said. "Anyone who attempts to mess with my ability to do business will not like the results. I will not put up with overgrown toddlers throwing temper tantrums just because they don't like something about me – mainly the size of my bank account."
"JP." John said, putting his hand on Jack's back.
"No." Jack said. "I have had enough. First Kensington is out there smearing my family, the NYPD and threatening me in the media. Now this little punk comes in here looking for a fight. We gave him plenty of opportunities to just tell us that his twin sister has a relationship with Trip Steele. If he would have just told us, I was willing to keep him here. Nathan had told us that he trusted Gabe, but the way that Gabe came in here looking for a fight. … Well he made his bed, he needs to lie in it. Isn't that what you always tell me, Sir."
"Yes, I have taught you that." John said.
"Sorry, Gabriel." Ryan said. "All you had to do was to be honest with JP and his family. Instead, you made a bad situation worse, especially since you weren't honest with me. I had to learn about things you should have told me from John."
Gabe glared at JP and Nathan.
"I was going to have him apologize." Ryan said. "And then let you know that I would be accompanying him to Quantico. But given what I have learned. I will be taking Gabriel back to the city and he is going to have to answer for what he has done."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"Director Quinlan." Doug said.
"Yes, young man." Ryan said.
"If you are serious about taking the Kensingtons down." Doug said. "Please talk to my father, Chief James Burke of the NYPD. He has a file on the Kensingtons. He sent a copy of it to Major Thompson for his eyes only. I called my father again after Gabe left last night and told him that I had a bad feeling about him and to not allow him access to the file."
"Director Quinlan." Marcus said. "I can share that file with you. It is locked in my office. I got the note that Chief Burke included and no one has seen the file. I haven't even had time to go through it. We can look at it at the office."
"Thank you." Ryan said.
"Before you ask." Doug said. "My father will be more than willing to answer your questions. He will be expecting your calls. Jack, Lee and I will also be around to answer your questions about Charlie Kensington if you need. Just let us get through tomorrow."
"We will be in touch if we need." Marcus said. "Nothing will happen this weekend. We will be too busy with the Classic."
"Anything else?" John said. "We need to finish the meeting and then have supper."
"I am sorry to interrupt your evening." Ryan said.
"Me too." Marcus said. "You all take it easy. I will see you tomorrow since I will be at the Classic now."
"Marcus." Nathan said. "Can I have a word privately with you and Director Quinlan."
Ryan and Marcus nodded.
Nathan took them and stepped into the library. He didn't close the doors or pull the shades. Nathan wasn't trying to hide what he had to stay. Nathan took a deep breath and then looked at the two men who stood before him.
"I just want to let you know." Nathan said. "Make sure that your men know who all the members of Charlie Kensington's frat are. He is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. I have always figured that he would get one of his frat buddies to do things. I don't have proof, but just a feeling I got from the first time I read the file that Devin gave me on Jack."
"Thank you." Marcus said. "I thought about that as well. We will look into it."
Nathan led the group out. Ryan and Marcus took Gabriel and left. After the three left, John and Jack looked around.
"Sir." Jack said. "As long as you don't mind, can we continue this meeting and as soon as the food is ready we can eat and continue to meet."
"I am okay with that." John said.
"Are you sure that there is enough?" Andrew asked.
"I put in four pans of lasagna." Gran said. "There are five loaves of garlic bread. There are also plenty of salad and veggies."
"Thank you, Margaret." John said. "How long until supper is ready?"
"Ten minutes." Gran said. "I have already let James and Charlotte know. They are on their way up here with Tommy. I was just going to get Thomas."
"Then we will let you get supper on the table." John said. "We will meet over supper as long as you are okay with that, Margaret."
"I am fine." Gran said.
"JP." John said. "Please help your grandmother."
"We all will." Doug said, jumping up.
Lee and Elizabeth quickly followed.
"John." Gran said. "Do you want wine with supper?"
"If you have some chilled." John said. "We need to have clear heads, but a glass should be fine."
"Nathan." Gran said. "Please go downstairs."
"I got it Gran." Doug said.
"Never mind." Gran said. "Doug will get them. Please help set the table and then when everyone is here, we can sit down. I will let Thomas know that supper will be on the table shortly. The rest of you can just relax for a few minutes."
Before Doug was back from the wine cellar, James, Charlotte, and Tommy had come in. Charlotte wasn't happy to see all the extra people and rolled her eyes.
"So are we eating or what is going on?" Charlotte huffed.
John looked at James who gave him a small shrug.
"Margaret has allowed us to meet about tomorrow over supper." John said. "Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, there is a problem." Charlotte said. "Your grandson has brought this trouble himself and if he wants to be an adult he should deal with it himself. I think that it is ridiculous that you indulge in this fantasy that he can run this place."
"Charlotte!" Gran said sharply.
John held up his hand to Gran, indicating that he could handle things. Thomas came out when he heard Charlotte's voice. He was standing near the stairs when he saw the look that his father was giving Charlotte. Doug came up with three bottles of chilled wine at that moment. He saw what was going on, but quickly went to the kitchen. He put two bottles on the counter and the third in the wine fridge. John walked over closer to Charlotte. He looked her up and down before he spoke.
"JP approached me with a very solid business plan." John said. "He did the research, he did math and after explaining to me what he wanted, I agreed with him that he had a very good plan. Only then did we approach James and Margaret. We gave them all the time they needed and answered all their questions. Because of JP's plan, Coal Creek will be in very good hands for the next fifty years."
Charlotte huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Charlotte." James said. "Let's go wash up. Supper is ready."
Charlotte huffed again, then followed her father to wash up. Tommy had just plopped down at the table and was glaring at everyone. Gran with the help of Jack, Doug, Nathan, Lee and Elizabeth got all the food on the table and wine poured for everyone minus Andrew and Rob who were both driving. Before sitting down, Gran made sure that there was a carafe of coffee and a pot ready to be made.
