Page 93 of Daybreak

Gunner was grinning as he hung up. Frankie Adams was one of a kind. Tough as an old boot, with a heart of gold.

He got up, immediately wrote the check with a good degree of pain, and slipped it into an envelope, then left it on the table by the door. He didn’t know how Frankie was feeling, but he felt like he was walking on air. Doing something awesome for someone else was a true emotional high.

Chapter 18

Gunner got emails later in the day from both Asher and Dylan with bank information for the money transfers to them, and Asher had gone to the trouble to get their dad’s information as well.

Gunner called his bank and asked for the president. Transferring amounts of that kind of money meant going straight to the big dog. But when he identified himself and asked for the president, his secretary launched into a full-blown fangirl moment regarding his takedown of Beau Whistler.

Gunner let her get it said, then asked again for her boss.

“Yes, of course. One moment.”

Gunner waited; he heard a click and then Rimmer’s voice.

“Mr. Kingston! Allow me to congratulate you on ending that FBI manhunt in a most remarkable way! Now, how can I help you?”

Gunner began to explain what he needed. “So, can we do this without me coming in? I look like I wrestled a bear and have the stitches and bruises to show for it. I’m also too sore to drive.”

“Bless your heart,” Mr. Rimmer said. “We can definitely do this for your father and your two brothers. It’s most generous of you, too.”

“They’re family,” Gunner said. “I have the tracking numbers and account numbers for their banks. Two are in Austin. One in Crossroads, Texas.”

“Are you comfortable reading them to me over the phone?” Rimmer asked.

“Yes, sir. Tell me when you’re ready.”

Gunner read out each brother’s given name, then the info for the bank, and then the same for his dad.

“Let me read these back to you,” Rimmer said and read aloud what he’d written down.

“Yes, sir. They’re all correct. How long will it take for the money to go through?”

“Oh, not long at all. You can check your account this afternoon and the transfers will show. And of course, check in with your family to let them know it was sent, so they can watch for it, too.”

“Thank you,” Gunner said. “Oh…and I’ll also be writing a personal check for fifty thousand to a coworker who needs some help. That’s all for now.”

“Of course. A pleasure doing business with you,” Rimmer said.

Gunner disconnected, pleased with his morning’s work, and went to see what food Holly left for him. He found scrambled eggs in a bowl in the fridge, and already baked biscuits on a covered plate beside the microwave.

“Thank you, sweet lady,” he said, then nuked the eggs, gave the biscuits a few seconds in the microwave, and sat down to eat.

By the time he finished, he knew he’d been up too long. He peeked in on her at work, blew her a kiss, and went back to bed, hoping that Beau Whistler was equally miserable facing the consequences of his actions.

* * *

Special Agent Lavinsky and his partner were in the interrogation room with Beauregard Whistler, taping their interview. A court-ordered attorney was sitting beside Whistler on the opposite side of the table.

Whistler was cuffed to the table, and his ankles were shackled. He and his lawyer had already seen the video of Dixon’s last breath. As far as he was concerned, it would have made a hell of a snuff film, and he didn’t know why they were so bent out of shape. They wanted Dixon put away. He’d just done it for them.

“What was your job within Dixon’s organization?” Lavinsky asked.

“I wasn’t mopping floors and cleaning toilets, if that’s what you’re asking,” Whistler said.

“Did Dixon give you orders to get rid of people?” Lavinsky asked.

“You’re not very smart for a fed. What the hell makes you think I’d answer that? I’m already going down for this.”