Chapter 313 – Chris Comes to Talk to Jack
Sunday turned into quite a busy day. The guys were all up early to deal with the horses and saw the quarantine pens set up beyond the main stable toward the retirement center. Once they had cared for the horses and Jack had checked when the horses were coming, they headed to the house. Jack had learned that the first horses were not expected until that afternoon. When they got to the house, Frank and Trish were cooking breakfast. They quickly washed up and sat down for breakfast.
After breakfast, everyone got cleaned up. Then James, Margaret, Trish and the girls headed to church in two vehicles so that James could head to the track afterwards and the ladies could come back to the ranch. Jack, Doug and Lee set things up for Father Mark to say a private Mass for them at the house. They had it in the front room and while they didn't have a lot of music, Jack did play the piano for some parts.
After Mass, the guys cleaned up and then headed downstairs where they were all working on their laptops. Elizabeth sat near Jack and was reading. Once Gran, Trish and the girls got home, the girls did their piano practice time while Gran and Trish were working the kitchen. It was still a bit early for lunch, but they started prepping for that as well as working out a meal plan for the week and a grocery list. Since it was looking like it was going to be quite the warm day, they decided to do sandwiches and stuff for lunch. While they had plenty of salads, veggies and fruit for lunch, they would need more before Tuesday.
When Jack came upstairs, he went and stood at the counter and looked at his grandmother.
"How was church?" Jack asked.
"Church itself was good." Gran said. "Although Father Tom does like to talk a bit more, it is okay as his sermons are quite thought provoking."
"That is good." Jack said. "I like him. He seems like a good guy. And how was the rest of it?"
"Lots of reporters and paparazzi." Trish said. "We got lots of questions about where you all were. We just said that you stayed on the ranch. Father Tom understood and said to say good job this weekend."
"We didn't talk to reporters." Gran said. "Just people after church. Father Tom said he was going to try and come to the show for a while next weekend. He might not be able to stay and see you boys jump, but he was going to try."
"That is okay." Jack said. "I know that he was here for our show. He didn't stop and talk to us, but I saw him."
"He said he would like to come out and ride again this week." Gran said. "And the reporters are just the price we pay."
"Sorry about that." Jack said.
Gran came over and patted Jack's cheek.
"Nothing to be sorry about." She said. "We dealt with it. Your grandfather will deal with it at the track. If that is the price we have to pay to have our grandson here all summer, it is a small price to pay. Even though you weren't along, there was security. The reporters and paparazzi stayed off church property. It was fine. I don't like the press, but I can deal with it. We have for years. So just relax."
"Thank you Gran." Jack said. "Just out of curiosity, were the Pennybakers there or any of Lacy's clique?"
"Not that I saw." Gran said.
"A couple of the girls I have seen with Lacy were there." Trish said. "I don't know their names and they didn't bother us."
Having overheard part of the conversation from where she was at the table, Maddie came over and nudged Jack.
"What is up squirt?" Jack said, leaning his arm on her shoulder.
"I heard that Jenna girl talking about you." Maddie said.
"They didn't bother you did they?" Jack asked.
"No." Maddie said. "They didn't even realize I was in there. But you should know what I heard."
"Okay." Jack said. "If you want to tell me."
"Maddie." Trish said. "What I have said about sharing gossip?"
"I know Mom." Maddie said. "But is it really gossip if I actually heard what they said?"
"Fine." Trish said. "But it is a narrow line you are walking and getting close to crossing."
"Yes, ma'am." Maddie said.
She then turned back toward Jack.
"Anyway, that Jenna girl was talking to two of her friends." Maddie continued. "She was talking about how with William Pennybaker getting arrested yesterday, that Lacy and her mom left for Morocco this morning, but they aren't supposed to say anything. Jenna also made it sound like they weren't coming back because she told the friends to not call or go over to the house and that Lacy would talk to them when she was able. Jenna also said that the staff will return the clothes they had over there when they close up the house. Finally, Jenna reminded them not to tell anyone where Lacy and her mom were."
"Thank you for telling me." Jack said. "But your mother was right. While you did overhear it, it was borderline gossip. So be careful in the future and please don't repeat that to anyone else, especially outside of this house. If you are worried about if something is gossip in the future, maybe speak to your mom or dad alone before sharing."
"Okay." Maddie said.
Maddie looked at her mother who motioned toward the library, so Maddie went to join her sister. Once Maddie was out of earshot, Gran looked at Jack.
"You didn't seem surprised about William Pennybaker's arrest." Gran said.
"I knew it was going to happen." Jack said. "I just didn't know when. Between the ethics committee and the other investigations, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later."
"Honestly." Gran said. "I don't want to know. That man has been a thorn in our side for years. He owns a piece of property near your Uncle Conrad's place and he refuses to sell it and he won't maintain it either. James and Conrad have made several offers over the years, but he has outright refused them each time."
"I know the parcel of land you are talking about." Jack said. "We will eventually get it, it is just going to take some time to go through legal channels."
"I know." Gran said. "That is not the only frustration, but it has been a huge one. I don't want to hear anymore about him. We should be focusing on the good things that are happening."
"I for one will be interested in hearing what happened." Trish said. "Lacy, her sisters, step siblings, cousins and whatnot have been a thorn in our sides for years."
"I know that I shouldn't be happy about it." Jack said. "But I hope that the whole family, both sides, gets what is coming to them. They have skirted the law for far too long and I am glad that it is catching up with them."
Gran gave Jack a pointed look and he knew it was time to shut his mouth and not talk about it anymore.
"Lunch is almost ready." Gran said. "Why don't you gather everyone?"
Jack went to get everyone and just as they were sitting down, the doorbell rang. It was Abigail, Caitlin and the kids.
"Hey." Abigail said. "I hope it is okay. The ac in the house is acting up and the kids were getting restless."
"It is fine." Gran said. "Come sit down. We were just about to sit down and eat. Bill at the house still?"
"No." Abigail said. "He had to run up to Tupper Lake and probably won't be back until sometime tomorrow. When I called him, he said to see if I could bring the kids over here and he would call the guys about the ac."
"You know you are always welcome here." Gran said.
Place settings were added for Abigail and her crew. Once everyone sat down and lunch got going, the conversation ranged from the races to what was happening in the next couple of weeks to getting ready to go back to school. It was a nice lunch and everyone was able to relax and enjoy themselves.
Once things were cleaned up from lunch, the young adults headed downstairs and the kids joined them. Most of the guys were watching the races that they had turned on. Of course, Cody had to be right in the middle of it with his little horses. Elizabeth and Caitlin were off to the side talking, while Peter and Frank were sitting in the back talking and looking at something on Peter's laptop. The girls were sprawled out on the floor with some games. They were all content to be in the cool basement as it was close to ninety outside and a bit on the humid side.
… … … …
With the kids and young adults occupied downstairs, Gran, Trish and Abigail enjoyed a drink and talked about what they wanted to do. They decided to go over all the lists for the wedding and make sure everything was taken care of. Once they had done that, they decided to bake as the next few weeks were going to be busy and they were going to need the baking. All else fails, Gran would have plenty after everyone left. They knew that there was baking, but they also knew that it wouldn't last the two or three weeks left of summer. So they decided to bake while they had the time. The house was pretty cool and Gran knew that the air conditioners would be able to keep up.
Gran, Trish and Abigail were busy baking, so were surprised when Chris knocked on the door.
"Sorry to bother you on a Sunday." Chris said. "But I need to speak to Jack."
"It is okay." Trish said. "We were just baking. Jack and everyone is downstairs."
"Thank you." Chris said.
As they walked to the kitchen, Trish tried to get more information, but got nothing.
"Sorry to interrupt your day, Margaret." Chris said. "But I need to speak to Jack."
"Is everything okay?" Gran asked.
"Yes." Chris said. "Devin just asked me to speak to Jack about a few things, since there is a lot going on in the next couple of weeks."
"Okay." Gran said. "He is downstairs with everyone else. Feel free to head down."
"Thank you." Chris said.
As Chris headed downstairs, Gran wondered what it was that the man wasn't saying. She had a feeling that there was something more to Chris's visit than he was saying and she made a mental note to ask her grandson about it later. She knew something was up, if Devin was worried about things.
… … … …
The guys were just as surprised as the ladies had been when they saw Chris coming down the stairs. Nathan quickly handed Cody to Doug and stood up.
"Chris, everything okay?" Nathan asked.
"I need to speak to Jack." Chris said. "Devin sent me to talk to him about a few things."
"Let's go sit in the back." Jack said.
"It might be better to upstairs." Chris said, motioning to the girls.
"Okay." Jack said.
He would normally have asked them to see if they could move the game to their room, but it was dominions and not easy to move. So Jack and Chris headed to the library.
"So what is going on?" Jack asked, as soon as they were sitting.
"Devin wanted me to make sure you still wanted to move forward with what you asked him." Chris said. "Especially with William Pennybaker already being arrested."
"What was he arrested for exactly?" Jack asked. "I heard he was arrested, but not the charges."
"From what Devin said." Chris said. "Taking bribes, falsifying documents, witness tampering, witness intimidation and embezzlement. Multiple counts of each."
"I assumed the falsifying documents and the stuff with the witnesses." Jack said. "The bribes and embezzlement are surprising, but somehow not shocking, given what else I know."
"That is why Devin wanted me to talk to you." Chris said.
"I still want to move forward." Jack said. "They have crossed a line that in my book is unforgivable. They need to be punished. They went after Father Mark and that is going too far."
"I know that you are upset about the allegations against Father Mark." Chris said. "But from what Devin said, the Bishop's hands were tied and he had to follow certain steps. He is doing what he can to keep it quiet because he knows that Pennybaker and others are just trying to cause trouble. Devin has spoken to the archbishop about it as well. He agrees that Father Mark going to Rome is a good idea for a few weeks.
Devin's concern is that once you or actually he makes what you know public, there is no going back. Good or bad you are going to have to deal with it. Devin just wants to be sure that you understand that once you open that door, there is no closing it. He is wondering if it is the best time before the wedding. He said it is up to you, but he would prefer to wait."
"I know." Jack said. "But insider trading, possible drug manufacturing and distribution are not little things. Then add in the defamation, harassment and slander. I want them to pay. I should have done it a while ago and maybe things wouldn't have gotten this bad. Pennybaker, Kensington and their families all are bad news and I am done with them. It was one thing to come after me, even if most of it was twisted and only an ounce of truth, but to go after Father Mark and try to ruin him is unforgivable. I am just putting an end to something that should have been done a long time ago."
"Okay." Chris said. "I just wanted to make sure you understood. Devin is ready to proceed if that is what you want, but he is worried about the blow back, especially with the increased media attention already."
"I understand." Jack said. "I get the media attention is huge right now and this is only going to add fuel to the fire, especially with what Ma and Dad did yesterday. But like I told Devin before, I am past done with them and they need to learn I am not going to play anymore."
"I understand." Chris said. "If someone had gone after Katie the way that they have gone after Elizabeth, I don't know if I would have been as nice about it either. But you understand why Devin wanted me to double check."
Jack nodded and also filled Chris in on what Maddie had overheard at the church.
"As far as Devin knows." Chris said. "The courts already froze all the assets they knew about for Pennybaker. We are sure that there is more and Devin has people working on it."
"Good." Jack said. "And I know that Morocco probably won't send them back. So it might not be justice right now, but at least they can't continue to make mine and Elizabeth's life hell."
"True." Chris said. "But they will be stuck. If they come back or go to any country that is willing to extradite, they will be sent back. If they try to renew their American passports at the embassy, they will be arrested and sent back. Once Devin makes things public, there will be warrants out for their arrests and they won't be able to go anywhere."
"I understand." Jack said. "Better there and not here right now."
Chris and Jack talked a little more about things, until there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Jack called. "It is open."
"Is everything okay?" Nathan asked. "Father Mark and I were getting a bit worried, especially with everything else going on."
"Yeah." Jack said. "Devin just sent Chris to check if I still wanted to proceed with what I called Operation Nuclear Option, especially with William Pennybaker being arrested yesterday and Lacy and her stepmom fleeing to Morocco sometime last night or today."
"Wow." Nathan said.
Jack and Chris motioned for the two to sit down and they filled them in what was going on. Nathan shared his concerns he felt about Father Mark going to Rome and being so far away from everyone, without protection. Chris shared that security can be sent over if that was something Father Mark wanted. That made Nathan feel better, but he still felt it was unfair the way that Father Mark was being treated.
Nathan understood the need to take allegations seriously, but when it is such a blatantly false allegation and attempt to hurt a third party, there should be something that can be done. Father Mark and Chris tried to explain the need to be sure and also to make it fair. While Father Mark was already getting special treatment, things needed to be done the way they were so it didn't seem like favoritism because of his family. The Church had rules they had to follow and they were already allowing Father Mark to do more than most men who had allegations against them. Father Mark also reminded Nathan that as far as the public knew, he was stepping away from public ministry to deal with some health issues and do some continued education.
Nathan understood, but still felt it was unfair. At least he had voiced his concerns and knew that they had been heard. As much as he wanted to see Father Mark's name cleared and knew that it would be, he also wanted to protect the man that meant a lot to Jack and his family. That was Nathan's biggest thing about Father Mark being over in Rome, that he would be away from the people that have protected him all summer and away from his family who have been a huge support to him.
Once Chris was satisfied that the three men understood what moving forward meant, he said would let Devin know. Chris also spoke a bit about the security plan for the next couple of weeks, knowing that the press was going to continue to be a problem. When he was done, Chris excused himself and left.