Free The Devlin Deception: Book One of The Devlin Quatrology by Jake Devlin, (with Bonnie Springs)

lovey. Remember, don't work too hard.”
    “Okay.”
    “Promise?”
    “Cross my heart.”
    “Okay, then. Ta-ta for now.”
    Jonathan stretched one last time and picked up his phone.
    “Hey, Phil; it's Jon … fine … have you been
studying Donne's stuff? Me, too. Look, I think we need to
reconsider the China and Brazil plants … right … oh,
you, too? Good. And we might think about bringing more of our
overseas profits back and paying a big dividend in Q1 … yeah,
a big one. And we might look at buying some plants here instead of
building; lots of vacant stuff around … right. I was thinking
that one in Tampa; we could get a good deal on that if we move fast.
But I think a lot of CEOs are thinking like I am now, and I don't
want to get into bidding wars … precisely. Look, have your
staff get a proposal done on those three issues and we'll get it to
the board Monday, so put a rush on it, okay? What? No, I've been
focused on Donne's stuff, haven't had it on. Hang on … oh,
geez. Is that those Occupy gangsters again? Look at 'em. Christ,
haven't they learned anything? 'Gimme, gimme, gimme.' Like little
spoiled teenagers … I know, I know; right. Oh, that reminds
me. How are we doing on setting up those intern and apprenticeship
programs? Remember, my goal there is thirty cities by the end of next
quarter, thirty thousand new … oh, good, nineteen? Good
progress, Phil. Okay; give me a buzz whenever. I'll be available.
Bye.”
    Jonathan stretched again, rolled his neck and made another phone
call.
    “Hi, Amber. It's Jon Payne. Very good, thank you. I'll need
a guard for my wife in about an hour; she's walking over to Fifth
Avenue, and that Occupy movement may be on her route … no, she
insists on walking … I know; can't live without 'em, either …
no, I think one'll be enough … Wayne? Yeah, he'll be fine.
About eleven. Just have him buzz when he arrives and I'll let him
into the elevator. And she'll be coming back later … hang on a
second.”
    Jonathan hit the mute button and walked into the master bath suite,
where Jennifer had just started her shower.
    “Hey, Jenn, how long will that lunch take?”
    “Oh, Poopsie, I can leave early if you want me to.”
    “No, no, no, take your time; I just need to give the bodyguard
a rough idea of how long you'll be there.”
    “Ohhhh, shucks. Why do I need a guard, anyhow?”
    “The Occupy gang is out again.”
    “Damn. Okay. I think we'll be done around two, maybe
two-thirty.”
    “Okay.”
    “Can you get Wayne and Linda? I like them.”
    “Okay. Holler if you need a zip.”
    “I may need more than that, Poopsie, and I'll do more than
holler.”
    “Okay.”
    “Be sure to take your little pill about two-thirty, Poopsie,
okay?”
    “Okay.”
    “Promise?”
    “Promise.”
    Relieved that he'd hit the mute button before talking with her,
Jonathan returned to the living room and hit it again.
    “Hey, Amber, can we get both Wayne and Linda? Jenn likes 'em …
great. And it looks like she'll be in there till about two-thirty or
so… ah, the Bernsteins … yeah … oh, they do?
Good; so they can just wait in there, then, with the others, okay?
Good. By the way, do you still have that no-tipping policy? Okay.
But your folks are so good, sometimes I'd like to tip 'em. Okay.
Thanks, Amber. I'll keep an ear out for them about eleven. Bye.”

    -11-
    Six months earlier

    Sunday, June 12, 2011
    11:19 a.m.
    Bonita Beach, Florida

    Jake shivered, took a deep breath and said, "Then a week or so
later, I had my first black helicopter nightmare."
    Pam smiled gently and said, "Just from that asshole's comment?"
    Jake laughed. "And some other folks, too. It was running
around in my subconscious for a while and finally resurfaced. And it
kind of fit in with a joke I'd made up a year before or so, that by
2020, someone in this country would be arrested for smoking a
cigarette in their own home by a SWAT team that was high on legal
marijuana."
    Pam chuckled. "We may be