While Alice was doing her thing, I started planning. I needed Dave and Margie.
I hit the intercom.
"Carol and Sabrina, office, please."
They both popped in,
"I need Dave and Margie here yesterday."
Carol went to her desk, Sabrina stayed,
"What's going on?"
"Alice is an FBI plant, correction, was. That money? It's high level counterfeit work. It'll pass muster but to the most minute inspection. I need it gone. Buy land with it. Land and assets. Scattered across several states into banks that will scatter it to hell and gone. They're expecting a massive local spending spree. Not one bill will hit a Texas bank in my network. They'll be looking for it."
"So, you're saying the buyers were FBI?"
"High level agents in command positions gone off the reservation. They're running a pretty big scam here. Using Alice to report on shit. Their play here is to wrap me up in federal felonies, take the gold, and hang out in the Bahamas, leaving me holding the bag."
"So, what's the play here?"
"Scatter the cash across a wide enough area, i'll never be traceable. Have Alice deliver those idiots to me. Get the gold back. Then educate them."
Sabrina nodded. She shuddered when she pictured those dirty cops sitting here. They had no idea of who they were fucking around with.
"Get Dave here, and Margie. I want this entire $391,680,000 turned into land and assets."
"Where'd that gold come from?"
"European banks. In the 1940's. Nazis looted it, smuggled it out."
"So, you think the man who owned this ranch was a Nazi?"
"That's my guess at this point. Doesn't matter."
Alice came back in. She was showered and freshly made up. Sabrina glared at her.
"So, what about this bitch?"
"Her job is to list everybody associated with this little shindig. I'll get them out here and teach them some manners." I looked at Alice, "Do whatever you have to do to get them on this ranch."
"I need a phone."
I pointed to my phone.
She spun it around and dialed.
"It's me. We need to meet. Oh yeah, I've got enough on his ass to make all our careers. I'm going to try and smuggle the evidence out, but it'll take some doing. His security doesn't let anybody in or out without a body cavity search. What? Look, unless all of you want to come here to this place and secure this evidence, I'm not promising anything. If they catch me trying to smuggle it out, me and the evidence will disappear. You decide what you want to do. I'd hurry up, though, I think he's about to fly the fuck out of here. No, calling here is too risky. You just need to figure this shit out quick. Ok. Uh huh. Well, i'll be ready."
She hung up the phone.
"Well, he's rounding up his partners. They're on the way here."
"Where are they?"
"San Antonio."
"Ok, so an hour maybe. Unless they go for a warrant first."
"No, they're after the cash and whatever I was talking about."
"So they don't expect anything."
She looked at me incredulously,
"Like what? That you're a 60 year old rocket scientist, time travelled back into his 18 year old body, and has mind control capability? Are you kidding me right now? No, they think you're a teenage shill working for a larger conglomerate. A nephew or something. Their going to bust you with the cash, bury you in the system, bleed you until you roll over on whoever's in charge. Take all the credit. Get their gold watches, take all that gold and retire."
I nodded. Thinking. I hit the intercom.
"Guard shack."
"Yes sir."
"Who's in charge."
"You are, sir."
"No, who's the watch commander?"
"Jack Fairlane is the supervisor of the shift."
"Locate him, send him to my office right now. Call Gerald, get him here now."
"They're both here, sir. Down at the lake doing something."
"OK, go get them in here."
"Yes sir."
I sat back, considering options. Planning my next moves.
"Make us a drink."
I needed to slow my brain down some. It was running away with impertinent contingencies. I needed to focus on the idiots headed out here. Oh, but they are about to learn what Fuck Around And Find Out means, 21st Century style. I'm not showing these men any mercy. I've had to deal with their type all my life. Always fucking somebody else over to get what they want, not giving a fuck how many innocent lives the ruin in the process.
Gerald and Jack came in. Gerald spoke
"What's up, boss?"
"We've got dirty FBI coming. Let them in, but put on a show. Don't just roll over for them. But, I don't want any of my people hurt. Understood?
"Yes sir."
"Bring them to the courtyard through the gate. Post sharpshooters. If this shit goes sideways, shoot these motherfuckers. Head shots. I imagine they'll be wearing vests."
"Yes sir, I'm on it."
Sabrina brought me my drink. I knocked it back. She refilled it. Then sat down.
"Ok, Sabrina, you're out. Gather the women up out of the way. Alice, you're with me."
I headed out to the courtyard with Alice in tow. I sat at my table, getting madder by the second. I drained my drink, went to the bar and redid it. I turned on some music then sat back down. Waiting.
A little while later, I heard them arrive. Shortly after that, Gerald came through the gate with half dozen jerk offs following him.
They saw me and Alice sitting there, then sauntered over with the typical arrogant swagger employed by such lowlifes as these.
"Travis Miller? I'm Special Agent Rick Holloway. I see you've already met agent Freeholm. I need you to stand up, place your hands beh..."
I interrupted him,.
"Holloway is it? Well, Holloway, I need you fucking retards to place your guns on the table in front of me."
They looked at each other, confused as expected, but I'd hit them Full Tilt Boogie straight into their cerebral cortex with specific orders.
They placed their guns on the table, then stood back, waiting.
"Now, Holloway, where's the gold?"
He tried to fight the command. Failed miserably. Then answered me.
"In a warehouse on the edge of town."