Chapter 90 – Security Problems

Nathan turned to Jack and Elizabeth in the backseat.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked.

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Jack said. "What is the issue with Michael?"

"I don't have an issue with him." Nathan said. "But he apparently has an issue with me."

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked.

Nathan looked at Elizabeth and made a small motion with his head. Jack understood what Nathan was talking about.

"Elizabeth, sweetheart." Jack said. "Can you give Nathan and I a moment? I am not mad at you, but I need to talk to Nathan. I will meet you downstairs and say goodnight."

Elizabeth leaned over and gave Jack a quick kiss.

"Please, tell me what is going on?" Elizabeth asked. "I don't like secrets. If there is a security concern, I want to know. I don't like being in the dark, my father did that to me all the time. I want us to be open and honest with each other."

"Okay, I understand." Jack said. "But let me talk to Nathan and then we will talk to you together if it is something you need to know."

"No." Elizabeth said. "Not if. You will talk to me. I will let you talk alone, but I want to know what is going on."

"Okay." Jack said. "I just don't want to upset you."

"I would be more upset if you kept it from me." Elizabeth said.

Jack nodded and Elizabeth slipped from the truck and headed into the house. After seeing that Elizabeth was in the house, Jack turned to Nathan.

"Tell me." Jack said.

"First of all." Nathan said. "I am not out to get people fired, but I think that there are some concerns with a couple of your security members, Michael included."

Jack closed his eyes. He had hoped they were past problems, but he knew that they were far from it. He let out a couple harsh breaths before he looked back up at Nathan.

"Okay." Jack said. "If there is a problem, I want to know about it and take care of it before something bad happens. Do we need to call Devin, Grandpa or Dad? I mean if there is a problem we are going to have to involve them at some point."

"I understand that." Nathan said. "I just don't want what I am going to tell you to sound like I am being vindictive."

"Got it." Jack said. "Quit stalling and just tell me."

"When I was talking to people I overheard a few things." Nathan said. "From one person, I wouldn't have said anything, but from several different people all talking about the same thing, I knew it needed to be addressed. I tried to quietly confront Michael and see what his problem was and he basically repeated what I had heard."

"I didn't hear anything." Jack said. "What are you talking about?"

"Honestly." Nathan said. "I am not surprised that you didn't hear. People may love you, but they also know that you are the boss and there are some things that employees only talk about with other employees or their family. I know because Carlo heard and he felt he needed to tell me."

"Nathan." Jack said. "It can't be that bad. Just tell me."

Nathan took a deep breath.

"So apparently." Nathan said. "Michael is not happy that I was brought in to protect you. He felt that it should have been his assignment. He basically said that the only reason that I got the job was that I was 'tapping' a certain someone."

Nathan used the air quotes when he said tapping. It took a moment for Jack to grasp what Nathan was saying. When Nathan realized that Jack understood, he saw the anger in his eyes.

"Slow down." Nathan said. "I want you to think things through before you go off half cocked."

Jack took a deep breath and slowly blew it out.

"How did you hear about this?" Jack asked. "Before you confronted Michael?"

"Apparently." Nathan said. "A couple of your security men don't know when to keep their mouths shut and openly talk about things when others are around. Carlo and Miguel were the first to tell me that there was a problem. The only reason that they told me, was that they were concerned about things that they had heard from some of the security members. They didn't say anything to them, because they are afraid of the security. I guess in the past when Miguel told them to knock off the gossip, they threatened him. Carlo didn't like them talking about you, so he went to Miguel and then Carlo came to me. He likes you and he feels close to me because of our work with Ghost."

"Who exactly?" Jack asked.

"Michael." Nathan said. "The other two I have never personally been introduced to, but their names are Carl and Dennis. Also Adam could be part of the problem."

Jack closed his eyes and let out a harsh breath. He knew that at least Dennis had been there for years and had been privy to many confidential meetings.

"Jack." Nathan said.

"Call them." Jack said. "I want them here now! I am calling Grandpa."

Nathan looked at Jack, but he was already on his phone. Nathan pulled out his phone and called security and let them know that Carl, Dennis and Michael were needed at the house asap. Nathan didn't tell them why other than they had been requested to report to the main house. Jack hung up his phone and stepped out of the truck. It was only a few moments and James appeared.

"What is going on?" James asked.

"We have a problem." Jack said. "I am sorry to wake you, but it can't wait until morning. It needs to be dealt with right now."

"Okay, I wasn't sleeping." James said. "Tell me what is going on. Do I need to wake your parents? Where is Elizabeth?"

"Elizabeth is in the house." Jack said. "You might need to wake Dad. I will leave that to you. But you need to hear what is going on first. Nathan, please step out here."

Nathan got out of the truck.

"Please tell Grandpa what you told me." Jack said.

As Nathan explained what was going on, Jack was pacing back and forth. It was only about ten minutes and the three security members showed up.

"Sir." Dennis said. "We were told to report to the house. Is everything okay?"

When James turned around, he was seething and both Carl and Dennis knew it was bad as they hadn't seen James like that in years.

"If you value the ability to work in security in this state or in work in this county in general." James said. "I want the truth and I want it now!"

Michael glared at Nathan and Jack, which didn't go unnoticed by James.

"What are you talking about?" Michael asked. "I don't work for you, I work for Mr Thornton. Nothing bad happened. What is your problem?"

James focused his anger on Michael.

"You are here." James said. "That means you work for me. Right now, my problem is you."

"I didn't do anything." Michael said.

When James took a step closer to Michael, he didn't back down or flinch. James took a step closer and before Michael knew it, James had slapped him upside the back of his head.

"SIT!" James yelled.

All three men took a seat on the tailgate of the truck. Carl and Dennis pulled Michael down, but he was seated. They saw and felt the anger around them and didn't want Michael to further upset their boss.

"I am not going to ask again." James said. "I want to know the truth. Who said what and in front of who. You have not only embarrassed me and my family, but you may have put my grandson at further risk. I want to know now!"

"Honestly, Sir." Carl said. "I didn't say anything, but then again I didn't stop it."

"Well." James said. "The first honest thing out of your mouth. Now explain."

"It started when Mr Thornton called on Monday." Carl said. "I heard what Adam had told him about what happened on Sunday. Adam wasn't completely honest with Mr Thornton. Adam made Nathan look bad and like he couldn't handle the protection detail. Adam also made things sound worse than they were with Lacy Pennybaker and what happened at the park. He made it all out to be Nathan's fault, when it was in part his."

"Carl, you were at the park." Jack said. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Not my place." Carl said. "Adam told me that he would handle it. Since he is technically the leader of the team, it wasn't my place to question him."

"From now on." James said. "If you feel that something is not right, you voice that concern. If your team leader doesn't listen, you come to me."

"Yes, Sir." Carl and Dennis both said.

"Now I want to know the rest." James said.

It wasn't a question, it was more of a demand and at least two of the men sitting there knew that their jobs were on the line if they weren't honest at that moment. James' yelling had drawn the attention of Doug and Lee who woke Thomas when they realized that James was yelling at security. Before anyone could answer James, Thomas came out and was looking around.

"What is going on?" Thomas asked. "Lee said that there was a security problem."

"Oh we have a problem alright." James said. "At least these three have compromised the safety of everyone here and I still haven't gotten the whole story."

"Who else is involved?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know." James said. "Maybe Adam."

"Then why isn't he here?" Thomas asked.

"I didn't know to ask for him." James said.

"Get him here." Thomas said.

"He is on overnight and at the bonfire." Jack said. "He has Kevin with him."

"Get them both here." Thomas said.

Nathan quickly sent a message for the two of them to come to the house. While that happened, James filled Thomas in on what was going on. No one noticed that Jack was frantically texting back and forth with someone. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he also knew that he needed backup. James and Thomas were pacing back and forth, both of them glaring at Michael. Thomas didn't want to wait for Adam and turned his anger on Michael. Thomas walked up to Michael and stared down at him. He wasn't more than a foot from Michael and one could literally feel the anger coming off Thomas with each breath.

"How long have you worked for me?" Thomas asked.

"Almost three years." Michael said.

"So what is your problem?" Thomas asked.

"I should have gotten the assignment you gave Nathan." Michael said confidently. "I earned it. But instead you bring in someone that none of us knows and don't trust. It makes me wonder how he got the job. I mean seriously, some of us work hard for you and then you pass us over for a coveted assignment."

"So you think that gives you the right to tell me how to run things?" Thomas asked.

Michael didn't say anything. At least Thomas was getting closer to the truth, but didn't like what Michael was insinuating.

"Well." Thomas said.

"Like I said." Michael said. "I earned it and instead you gave it to him. At least I would have been able to better control your brats and their play thing. I mean seriously we all know what is going on up here at the house."

Thomas reached out and grabbed Michael, bringing him to his feet and up to eye level.

"That is exactly why you didn't get the assignment." Thomas yelled. "You will never speak to me that way again, nor will you refer to anyone else the way that you referred to my children and their friends. Nathan earned his job because he has skills that I needed and that were important to the assignment. Skills that none of the other men in my employment had."

Thomas dropped Michael, missing the tailgate and letting him fall to the concrete floor. Michael scrambled to his feet, ready to fight. Dennis grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the tailgate. About that time, Adam and Kevin walked in.

"Kevin." James said. "Sorry about this. But there is a change of plans. Please go home and get some sleep. Be back here by seven in the morning, you will be with Brandon tomorrow. I am not sure after that. I will let you know when I have things figured out. But assume that you are going to be on days or swings for the time being."

"Yes, Sir." Kevin said.

Kevin took his radio and on-call phone and handed them to James.

"Anything else, Sir?" Kevin asked.

"Who do you like more at transport security?" James asked.

"Mason, Sir." Kevin said. "He is young and eager, but takes direction well. Trained him myself."

"Very well." James said. "Thank you, you are free to go."

"I will call my wife." Kevin said. "She is down at the bonfire. See you in the morning."

Kevin walked out and pulled out his personal cell phone to call his wife. Adam looked around and was trying to figure out what was going on. He glared at Nathan and Jack. Both Thomas and James saw the look that Adam gave Nathan and Jack. Neither were happy.

"What skills are you talking about?" Michael yelled. "What can Nathan do that I can't?"

"Can you ride a horse?" James asked.

"Sort of." Michael said.

"Well." James said. "Nathan is a former jumper and very well versed on a horse. That is why I don't mind him jumping one of our horses in a competition. Can you do that?"

"No." Michael said. "But I could have learned. What else?"

"I would never have let you ride one of my horses." Jack said.

James and Thomas looked at Jack, but he didn't back down.

"Were you trained by the FBI in hand to hand combat?" Thomas asked.

"What difference does that make?" Michael demanded. "I know how to do my job. If I would have been given a chance, JP would have never been in a situation that required me to save him like that."

"How do you know that?" James demanded.

Michael didn't say anything. Jack sighed.

"Because like every other security in my life." Jack said. "You would have never let me leave this farm. Sorry, not an option. I came up here to enjoy life and I fully intend to do that. Just because Dad hired you, doesn't mean that I trust you. I trust Nathan."

"That is another reason that Nathan got and kept the job." Thomas said. "The only other person that JP has ever fully trusted as part of the security team is Devin. But Devin is needed to run things in the city even if we are not there. I couldn't take him away from things for an undetermined amount of time. When I went to him about who he would assign to JP, he was the one that recommended Nathan. After speaking with him, I agreed. It was only after I got here that I saw the difference that Nathan was making. Not only does my son trust him, but so do JP's two best friends who in the past have helped him ditch security."

"Sir." Dennis said.

"What!" Thomas said sharply.

"Can I speak freely?" Dennis asked.

"By all means." Thomas said.

"When Adam learned that Michael was coming." Dennis said. "He went on and on about how Nathan was going to be gone and we wouldn't have to follow JP around anymore as he wouldn't be going anywhere."

"Shut up!" Adam hissed.

Thomas turned to him and glared.