“Why are we doing such a low-profile case?”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnUYGZjLuc
I sigh at the question. The only reason I became the way I did in my career, was so that I would be allowed into their world. Of course to my team, Bluehaven is tiny compared to the case in Germany I had just turned down.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoecJFq8XR
“I know we have been together for a long time and there are still not a lot of things you know about me. You are aware that I am a recovering addict. Being a recovering addict came with a price. Bluehaven is my home, a place I haven’t touched in ten years. This case is small and I honestly am just using it as a cover to go home in peace. I understand that we have just returned and if you want to stay here and work and small stories while I go, that is fine with me.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gaX8EIoT0
The conference room falls into silence and I watch them roll their chairs together. I look down at my watch and fiddle with the ends of the report in front of me.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNCearWrMZ
“Alright, it’s been decided. Nick has to stay here with Jess, she’s already on a strict curfew with her folks. Rico, Juan and I are coming with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Story or not, home or not, you are going to want to have familiar faces with you.”
“You’ll be there two weeks tops.”
“We just spent three months with you overseas, we don’t care for time.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBmDIwP3EI
Nodding, I end the meeting, sending the boys their flight plans and the plans for while we are in town. The event is not for another two weeks but I need to be more prepared this time. I can’t have Erin giving me whiplash like last time.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib2o73xU2C
Waiting for the day to fly to come around, felt like an eternity. I tried to keep myself busy with small tasks, but every time there was a moment of silence, I start to bite my nails again. So when the day to fly came around, I don’t think I slept at all. So when I rock up to the airport the next day, the boys thought I might have been hungover.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuCF3xlIeG
James laughs when he noticed that I had shoved him to the other side of the plane. It was only a four-hour flight, but with no sleep and his yabbying, I probably would have made it to jail quicker than in my hometown.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFadyBGlCIo
The plane lands and I scowl at my watch. I’m cutting it fine on the time. We needed to be up and ready at the hotel almost twenty minutes ago.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6w23q4wE9
“Why is there such a large crowd today? Did we miss a celebrity walk-through?”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSwg5KzrsX
A tall body made me catch my words as I spun to meet her eyes. For a moment, I could see her recognise me and then I can see the rage take over.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSLmFcmVQt
“Jesus Christ girl, can you watch where you’re going?”
If the airport was just a little bit quieter, I am sure you would have heard how fast my heart was racing. I can see the battle inside of her. Does she help me off the floor or does she storm off? When she saw my team come up beside me, she scowled again and runoff, leaving a trail of other people running behind him.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY7gDNa7vJ
“Boss, you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Sorry about her. She is always grumpy after a long flight.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHi9xoLQEy
My throat felt tight when instead of meeting the eyes of the voice, I met the eyes of a ten-year-old girl, smiling ever so brightly at me. Bowing, I ran off leaving the group of people stunned at my reaction. She is here, this is a fantastic idea. Juan found me a few minutes later, sobbing into my jacket. He wrapped his arms around me and cradled me close.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6Fh6rQDeK
“This doesn’t seem like a good idea. I know addicts need to go through your steps, haven’t you stepped a few steps though?”
“No, I need to put my big boy pants on and do this. I have been away for ten years, the forest calls me home.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mGE7QUMg6
@@@
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ4CYcaN5e
I didn’t know if there was a point in getting myself all dressed up, but when I took a sneak peek at what the boys were wearing before we left, I made sure my suit was ironed out before shoving it into my suitcase. Opening the garment case now, made my face scrunch up. This was the only part of my job that I hated, the suit-wearing. Sighing I slipped into the suit and joined the boys in the main room.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5UShsuHM1
Waving for a taxi, we managed to slip into the casino without making our presence known to the other reporters. I am more nervous than I had been when I was in Iraq interviewing all the war survivors. Being in the foyer of this casino was more nerve-racking than being in a live minefield.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWRlfcTn9C
“Mr Yong is starting his speech now.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz47vQguXn
I follow James to the casino stage, where I see Erin walk onto the stage. Of course, he would be here too. Erin was of course the gatekeeper of the group, making sure we never got into more trouble than we should have.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnXmzldBQZ
“Alright everyone, settle down. My name is Erin Francis, you handsome host for the evening., Welcome to the grand re-opening of the Bluehaven Casino. Please welcome our honoured guest and father to our beautiful architect, Mr Yong.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGgpcZGnVD
The room explodes in cheer as the old man slowly makes his way to the mic. God, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him, he looks a bit worse for wear. No wonder Wyatt must be taking over now.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDfxDlnaXU
“Good evening everyone and welcome to the first casino designed and built by my son Wyatt Yong. I would like to personally thank Erin, who has tried to make the night more fun for you and less of a hassle for me. Enjoy the music, the drinks, the tables and the girls. In an hour, we will be drawing from the raffle and one lucky member will be winning the ultimate pass, unlimited access to our VIP rooms. So ladies and gentlemen, enjoy yourselves and enjoy your night.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgKgdj9NQm
The rooms burst into cheers once more and I watch Erin escort Mr Yong off the stage. I turn to the boys, who had a not-so-innocent look on their faces.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PCTPsl1Oz
“It’s a casino boys, I didn’t come here to work, enjoy yourselves.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, make sure you buy a ticket for the raffle, then maybe I might make you come back for some actual work.”
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLvaL62Jdv
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YueXQvnc9
