He probed them about what they wanted to do if and when their athletic pursuits came to an end. Lesley wasn’t sure. He liked animals, and hoped to earn a degree in vet science. Wesley stated simply that he was going to become a teacher like his mother. He knew the money wasn’t great, but it was what he wanted to do.
Joseph saw the flash of pain in the young man’s eyes, but respected his candor, and his dream. It was a noble goal. He clapped the young man on the back and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and then noticed Lesley quickly changed the subject on behalf of his brother. Jewel arrived with more refreshments from the concession stand, and they all settled in for the last bout, the main event.
The last fight concluded just after ten, and the boys took off. They couldn’t be persuaded to get a snack with them. They had promised some friends they would join them for a study session for their upcoming AP sociology exam. With a nod of approval from Jewel, the boys each kissed her cheek, and then shook Joseph’s hand thanking him once more for the evening out.
Joseph watched them leave, and in his heart felt they were both good kids. He hadn’t been able to get any information out of them, but they seemed grounded. Focused on their current pursuits. Instead of the snack, he took Jewel’s hand and they decided to head to his house. They would have a few hours together and then he would drive her home.
He still wasn’t completely satisfied about the boys’ extra-curricular activities, and he hoped to have the boys talk more, but it was a start. He was laying the groundwork. He planned on doing something that weekend with them and perhaps they would be more talkative then.
*
The evening passed too quickly for both him and Jewel. Shortly after one, she was dressed once more, and he was just donning his jacket to take her home when his cell phone rang. Answering it on his way down the steps after locking the door behind them, wondering who would call so late, he was shocked to hear his mother’s voice.
“Joseph, I need you at the casino. Mohegan’s was hit tonight. And so were we. Four guests were robbed. I want you to come look at the tapes we have. You are going to want to see this.”
With his heart sinking, he had a bad feeling. Something in his gut told him, he wasn’t going to like what he was going to see. Not letting on to Jewel what was going on so the evening wasn’t spoiled for her, he opened the door on her side of the car and helped her in before making his way to the driver’s side. The ride to her home was done in silence. Kissing her quickly, he explained that he would see her the next day and suggested a late lunch before her shift.
“Sure,” she murmured into his chest not releasing him right away. She’d had a great time tonight, and was reluctant to see it end.
Joseph’s unease grew as he parted from Jewel. The timing of the robberies set one worry to rest though. Jewel had been with him the entire time. But the boys, God, he hoped they weren’t involved. He gave her one final kiss at her door. He needed to go. Work, duty, and family called. He just hoped his suspicions that somehow her brothers were involved were not true. Why did they have all this money? What were they buying with it? Those questions just wouldn’t leave him as he pulled out of Jewel’s driveway and headed to The Mystic. He hoped he would finally get some answers.
Chapter 17
?
It was nearly two AM by the time he arrived at the casino and his mother was waiting in the lobby for him. Her face was grim. Jonathan stood beside her. Both looked tired and unsettled. He saw the exchange between them as he approached. He knew something was up and whatever they had seen on the tapes was serious.
“What is it?” he asked wasting no time, getting straight to the point.
“We’re not sure. But you have to see it for yourself,” Tawny replied, hooking her arm through Jonathan’s and leading him to the bank of elevators. The casino was busy still at this time of night, but they weaved their way through the crowds of people coming and going through the lobby. Taking the service elevator, they didn’t need to wait in line after Jonathan swiped his key card. Joseph was on their heels as they made their way to the security suite on the second floor. His face a mask, but he knew whatever they had seen was not good.
Once inside and safely out of earshot of guests, Jonathan spoke. “We just finished watching the Mohegan video and think that whoever hit them earlier tonight was the same crew that came here.”
“They must move quickly. When were they hit?” Joseph’s question came swiftly. The timeline he knew would be important to erase his lingering suspicions.
“Around eight thirty, two rooms were hit. Then another room at 10:45. Three rooms in all at The Mohegan Sun. Then we had two rooms hit on the eighth floor. Just before midnight.” His world tilted. They had been at The Mohegan’s at the time of the first robbery, but the boys had never left his side. Only Jewel had left a few times, gone to the concession stand. She had been quite some time the first time they had sent her. He’d assumed it was long lines. He felt ill.