Free Options Are Good by Jerry D. Young Page A

problems.
     
    The conversation changed after that, no one, including Bandy, wanting to discuss what was happening while they finished their breakfast.
     
    Bandy caught Angus as the breakfast dishes were being cleared away. “I’d like to get an in-depth look at the Equipment Dealership today. Who should I talk to there to arrange it?”
     
    “Well, I’ll just go in and…”
     
    Bandy was shaking his head. “No, Angus. You’re better off around family right now. Colin will expect it. If he has someone watching the place I do not want them to see us together again. It is too risky for you and your family.”
     
    “What about your risks?”
     
    Angus was a little startled at the glint in Bandy’s eyes that was quickly cloaked with a simple nonchalant look.
     
    “I’m not worried,” Bandy replied. “But you should be. That’ll keep you alert and wary.”
     
    “My manager is out of town. I guess… I’ll call Terri. She’s probably the best one to show you around. She knows every inch of the place even better than I do. She was there when I took it over from my father when he retired, just before he died. That’s been fifteen years ago.”
     
    “Very good, Angus. I’m going to get a couple items from my room before I go. Tell everyone I’ll be back this evening to do the briefing.”
     
    Angus nodded and watched Bandy climb the staircase rapidly. When he saw Ana-Bella enter the hallway he made himself scarce. Quickly.
     
    Bandy almost stopped on the stairs when he started down, seeing Ana-Bella talking to Magdalene in the hallway. But he marched straight on down and was going to walk right past without speaking, but Ana-Bella was having none of that.
     
    “I’m going with you,” Ana-Bella said before Bandy could decide what he would say.
     
    “You don’t even know where I’m going!”
     
    “Sure I do. You’re going the same place I am, since I am going with you.”
     
    “Ana-Bella… That’s not a good idea.”
     
    “Because Colin intends to kill you?”
     
    “No. Because he might kill you instead, before he tries to kill me. He’s one that likes to torture his victims before he puts them out of their final misery. Killing someone’s loved ones while they look on is a favorite tactic of people… or I should say, sub-human animals like him.”
     
    Ana-Bella blanched. “But…”
     
    “No buts, Ana-Bella. You are keeping a low profile for a while, like it or not. I believe I have a handle on this and can resolve it fairly quickly. No more than three months, unless I’m way off base. And the Chinese don’t attack before then.”
     
    “That’s not funny!” Ana-Bella nearly yelled.
     
    “No. It wasn’t. And I’m sorry I said it. Desiree got me to thinking about that aspect of the world situation. Now, I need to go. By myself. I’ll be back for the briefing this evening.”
     
    Ana-Bella looked hard at Bandy, and then had him in a hard hug. “Just be careful,” she whispered in his ear before she let him go. When Bandy turned toward the front door, he saw the whole group there watching.
     
    So did Ana-Bella. She looked at them for a moment as they looked at her. “What?” she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she turned and headed up the stairs. She had some thinking to do.
     
    Angus suddenly slapped Bob on the back lightly. “You’ll be having a son-in-law after this mess is cleared up, old son.”
     
    “Yeah.” It was more of a grunt than a word, but, more clearly then, Bob said, “Could do worse, I guess.”
     
    “Yes, she could,” Magdalene said, taking her husband’s arm. “Come help me get some things ready for when he gets back.
     
    When Bandy reached Longhammer Equipment and Supply, he got the once over from a stout, gray-haired, very intense looking woman. “Angus said to show you around. Why? What is going on? He’s not selling this place out from under me, is he?”
     
    Bandy laughed, but not for long and very quietly. “No, Ma’am.