Jobe: Alvarez Security Series (30 page)

Jazzie and Waldo
unpacked the crates inside the storage area that Tito had indicated. Underneath an unoccupied building near his uncle’s grocery, it provided a safe location until the guns could be re-sold.

“You thought any more about doing something to that bitch?” Waldo asked.

“Which one?” Jazzie asked. “We got lots of bitches.”

“Tito’s distraction.”

Jazzie was quiet for a few minutes as they continued to work. “Don’t know. He’s been focused since working on the deal with the F10s, but if they get picky about him not taking care of his business, then we may need to step in.”

Waldo worked silently, willing to let Jazzie work the problem and take the lead.

“I got news. The bitches are moving day after tomorrow. Thought it’d be a good thing, getting Gabby out of Tito’s reach. Now…if the F10s want a clean house then maybe we ought to give it to them,” Jazzie said after a few minutes.

“Tito’ll be pissed,” Waldo warned.

As they finished the work, they covered the crates before moving toward the door, missing the person who had been listening on the other side. Tank, quietly observant as always, slithered out of sight.

“If we do it right, then maybe he won’t have to be,” Jazzie continued.

“Right?”

Jazzie stopped, turning toward Waldo. “Yeah, we kill that white bitch, then hey? Gabby gets in the way and gets it too, then that’s on her.”

Waldo smirked. “Like the way you think, Jaz-man.”

The two walked out of the building and into the dark alley. Jazzie looked over his shoulder before turning back to his companion. “Just takin’ care of business, man. That’s all. Just takin’ care of business.”

*

Lying in bed
that night, Jobe held Mackenna as the bliss of their love-making lasted long after their bodies cooled.

“Always heard about pregnancy hormones making a woman horny,” he joked, “but you’re amazing.”

Grinning, she pushed back her long hair, damp around her forehead, and asked, “Where’d you hear about pregnancy hormones?”

“Seriously? Between BJ, Matt, Shane, and Tony, I’ve heard plenty about the subject. I’m just waiting for Gabe and Vinny to start in with it.”

She placed her hands on his pecs and gave a slight shove back. “Hmmph. You men sit around and talk about sex with your wives?”

Laughing, Jobe answered, “And what do you and your girlfriends talk about? Never talked about us men?”

“Oh…well, when you put it that way,” she said, blushing. “We do talk, just a little.”

“So if it makes you feel better, men don’t go into details about their wives. But I admit that the words pregnancy hormones and sex have been heard around the office.”

Mackenna just smiled, the relaxation almost sending her into sleep. She scooted back closer, allowing him to tuck her in tightly. She loved the feeling of falling asleep with his hand on her stomach.

“Baby?”

“Hmm?”

“The next couple of days are going to be busy. I want you to take it easy and let others do the hard work.”

“Uhh-hmm,” she replied, sleep pulling her in.

He gave her a little squeeze, saying, “I want to hear you agree, doll.”

“Mmmkay. I’ll take it easy,” she promised, just before her breathing slowed and slumber finally won out.

Jobe lay there a few more minutes, his mind going over the tasks of the security for the transfer.
Should be smooth. We’ve got this.

M
ackenna sat in
her office at DSS, a tension headache causing her to rub the back of her neck as she dialed Jobe.

“Hey, babe,” he answered jovially.

“Honey, we’ve got problems.”

His voice immediately became serious. “What kind of problems? Hang on, I’ve got the group here so I’m putting you on speaker.”

“My supervisor said that everything is scheduled properly for the move tomorrow, but that the security system has to be in place first. That caveat was added to the grant due to the problems we’ve had with gang threats. I know you all were starting tomorrow but weren’t going to finish until the next day when you could get some of the cameras from the old place.”

Jobe heard the worry in her voice and immediately reassured her that they’d be ready. “Let us work the problem here for a bit, and I’ll call you back. Meanwhile, take care of yourself. Go home if you have to.”

Jobe hung up, looking at the Alvarez group for answers and support. “What do ya’ll think?”

Tony turned to Vinny. “Can we get new cameras in over at the new location and then just recycle the ones we take down tomorrow at the old place?”

Vinny nodded, “Yeah, the new ones should be coming in today.”

“Guys, I hate to be the downer, but we’ve got more problems,” Lily said, hanging up her phone. “BJ can’t come in today. One of the twins has the croup and they are taking him to the hospital now. It’s not serious, but they want him checked out. We can’t use him today to check the new feeds.”

Tony took out his cell and immediately sent a text to BJ. “I’m telling him to let us know the minute he hears anything and to not worry about us.” The others around the table nodded, understanding the parental fears of a sick child. Looking over to Lily, he asked, “Can you do it?”

Lily bit her lip nervously, answering, “Truthfully? Yeah, I’m sure I can figure out what he does, but never having done that type of programing or checking before, I’ll want BJ to re-check it as soon as he can.”

Tony nodded, irritation evident on his face.

“I’m sorry, Tony,” Lily added.

His gaze jerked to hers, noting her concern. “Lily, I’m not upset with you at all. I’m upset with myself.”

Seeing the confusion on the faces of those around the table, he replied, “In SF, we had a medic but we also had a backup medic. We had someone trained in communications, but a backup. Same with sharp-shooter.”

The others nodded in understanding, but Tony continued, “Most of you are trained in multiple areas so that we can pick up the slack in any situation, but I’ve only used BJ to go out into the field and that was poor management on my part.”

Everyone clamored to contradict Tony’s assessment, but he raised his hand. “No, this is on me. But Lily,” he said, turning to her, “we’ll definitely use you today and I’m having the office manager start looking for another programmer we can hire.”

“You know,” Gabe added, “Just installing the cameras outside of the new place will be a deterrent until we can have BJ test them out.”

“Good point,” Tony conceded.

“Oh, no.”

All eyes at the table turned toward Lily, seeing her dismay.

“The shipment of new equipment that was coming today won’t be coming in after all. The shipping company is on strike so the dealer is now sending them through the Post Office, but they won’t get here for three more days.”

“Goddamnit,” Jobe shouted, his jaw tight with frustration.

“Okay folks, work the mission,” Tony ordered.

After another hour, the group had their assignments. Deciding that they did not want to delay the move, Jobe, Vinny, and Gabe would start removing the cameras from the current New Beginnings location and install them today at the new home. Lily would go with them when the systems were in place to provide the video-feed check. The bars would remain on the bottom floor windows of the current location and they would have Terrance spend the night at the old location along with Little John, to provide more security.

“Jobe, you okay with this plan?” Tony asked when the details had been hashed out.

“Yes, sir. It looks like we’ve planned for all contingencies. This will get the new place wired so the city can move the women tomorrow, plus the old place will have extra manpower tonight for their last night in the old location.”

We got this.

*

Fuck, what else
can go wrong?
Jobe thought angrily. Getting a late start due to the change in plans, he, Gabe, and Vinny had just removed the security cameras and driven to the new location when it began to rain. The men had worked in the soaking weather until the thunderstorm rolled in. Heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds kept them in the van for over two hours.

Jobe glanced at his watch as the storm finally began to pass on. “We’ve got just enough time before it gets dark to get these cameras up and then call Lily to come check them so they’ll be ready. I’ll have Tony send Doug over with another ladder and that’ll make it go faster.

Getting off the phone with Tony, he reported, “Gettin’ the ladder and Lily’s coming on over. Terrance has headed to the old center to get some instructions from Mackenna before she heads home.”
Okay, we’ve got this.

*

Mackenna had told
the women at the center that morning that they would be on a tight schedule for the next couple of days. “The cameras have been taken out and are being installed at the new home,” she said, looking out of the windows at the impending storm. “Hopefully they can get them installed in spite of the rain and we’ll be good to go for tomorrow.”

Forcing her eyes back to the group, she told them to finish packing their belongings.

“How safe are we going to be tonight?” Paulina asked.

“Alvarez Security is sending another man to stay with Little John so you’ll have plenty of protection tonight,” Mackenna replied.

The group soon disbanded, Rose heading to the classroom by herself to unplug and label all of the equipment. The girls moved upstairs to pack their clothes and toiletries as well as the linens. Mackenna headed down the hall just as Rose was finished.

“I’m going to head out early,” she said to Mackenna. “If you don’t mind. I’d like to get ahead of the storm.”

“That’s fine. I’m staying to make sure Terrance is settled in and then I’ll head home later. See you tomorrow—it’ll be a busy day.”

Something flashed through Rose’s expression, but it was gone so quickly that Mackenna could not be sure that she had seen it.
I wonder if Rose is all right. I hope she isn’t changing her mind about staying with New Beginnings.

An hour later, Jobe called with an update on the progress. “Hey doll, just wanted to let you know that I’ll be a little late tonight. The storm has passed and we’re getting back on the ladders to finish the outside installations. Had a delay also when the city inspector did not show up for the inside camera approvals, but that’s finally done. We want to get these cameras up and running for tomorrow, so I’ll be in late.”

“Oh, honey, I hate that you’re working so long on this. Tony’s going to hate me.”

“No way. He’s glad to do it. Are you heading home?”

“I see Terrance pulling up now. Little John should come soon and I’ll stay until I’m sure they’re settled. Tell Doug he can pick me up in about two hours.”

“Will do. Love you, doll,” he said, his voice always going lower when saying the endearment.

Smiling to herself, she acknowledged, “Love you too.”

An hour later, Terrance and Little John were sitting in the kitchen talking to Mackenna when Paulina walked in. Greeting them shyly, she moved to the coffee maker. Fixing two cups, she smiled as she handed them to the two men. Looking over at Mackenna, she said, “I know you don’t need the caffeine. Is there something I can get for you?”