Now there was Jewel. He almost wished he’d met her first. But he wasn’t ready to settle down. Even then. That he could admit to himself. He enjoyed college after Tara left. Had partied, sometimes too hard. Hell, he still liked to have a good time on occasion. Plus, he had other dreams to pursue, and although he’d found Jewel strangely attractive, almost overpoweringly so, with what was going on with the rest of his life, he was better off that she had escaped him. Now, he didn’t have to worry about that awkward parting that was bound to come.
Finally back at the casino, he went in the rear entrance. The fully equipped gym faced the tail end of the casino offering great vistas of the river, and The Mohegan Sun which sat across from them.
The girl at the desk handed him a bottle of water as was his custom, and he drained it. Heading directly to the free weights, he adjusted what he wanted on the bars, secured the weights, and began to lift. He was doing upper body today. Tomorrow he would do lower.
He was just about to finish his last set when he saw his mother by the entrance. She was scanning the interior, and when her eyes landed on him, she made her way over walking quickly in her heels and power suit. She and Jonathan alternated Saturdays at the casino. This was her weekend. As she moved across the floor, her braid over one shoulder, she gave him a smile in greeting.
Joseph set down the barbell and mopped his brow with the cloth he carried. The closer she got, he saw her smile wasn’t reaching her eyes. Something was up. She didn’t look right. She looked angry. “What’s up?” he asked, giving her his full attention as she came to a stop directly in front of him.
She let out a frustrated sigh before she began. “Two more robberies last night. This is getting ridiculous. Actually, they may have happened early this morning. We don’t know as we don’t have cameras in that corridor yet. The two couples were at Light it Up last night until closing, and then went to a late breakfast at the buffet with their friends. They came back to their rooms around five AM and found both of their safes cleaned out.”
“Shit,” he murmured under his breath. This was not good. He picked up his rag and wiped the sweat from his brow again. “I talked to Tom. We checked the records last night and found where we ordered the cameras. He was going to order the new ones before he left last night.”
“Well, can you call and put a rush on them. I want them here and installed by the end of the next week.”
“That’s going to be tough.” The company was in Michigan.
“Make it happen.”
“Okay, I’ll call them myself, and if they can’t do it, I can see if there are any local companies that can do it. It might cost more, but . . .”
She cut him off. “Whatever it takes. Listen, finish your work out. I’m headed upstairs. Call me with any news, or if there are any problems. I’d like an update.” And with that she turned on her heel and left.
Joseph could not blame her for her impatience. These thefts were getting out of hand. This made eight now. This wouldn’t look good for the casino if word got out, and definitely didn’t bode well for return guests.
Joseph cleaned off the equipment and weights he had been using and then headed back upstairs to dress and don one of his many suits. He’d talk to Tom, call the suppliers for the video surveillance equipment himself and then over lunch run to the tribal office to take care of his application. It was going to be a long day.
Chapter 7
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By the time he was able to take a quick lunch break it was nearly one o’clock. Thank goodness for power bars. He hated to do it, but he drove through a Wendy’s drive thru for lunch on his way to the tribal office. He bought two bottles of water and two grilled chicken sandwiches. He polished it all off by the time he reached the small band office on Pequot Road.
He pulled into the two story office building built just six years earlier, parked, and went straight inside. The double doors opened into an impressive reception area. Beyond that was the town’s grand hall, where gatherings and the Saturday council meetings were held. Upstairs consisted of eight offices, a small conference room, and storage spaces for building supplies and equipment.
As soon as he got his bearings in the dim entryway darkened by the somber traditional ornamentation of the room, he searched out the receptionist. He was in luck though. Myrtle was conversing with a young girl sitting behind the large oak paneled overly large receiving desk made to look like a birch bark canoe. She smiled when she saw him.
The older woman straightened slowly and then began to approach. “Ah, Joseph, good to see you. I knew you would be in sometime today and I had Millie get everything ready for you. You just need to sign a few forms.”
He met her more than half way. Her age and short stature were no match to his longer legs. “Perfect.” He greeted the older women respectfully and appreciatively. She was dressed simply in a white blouse and long skirt befitting her age and status.