Abigail Chadwick said she personally didn't have a problem with it, but once the parents' get wind that a private security detail is stationed at the school it will cause problems. Mr. Ken said he understood and asked if they can try it tomorrow and see how the men can blend in.
Principal Chadwick laughed at what Mr. Thomas said about the overly large men blending in. She said tomorrow shouldn't be a problem, but she was worried about next week by Wednesday and later if they were still needed. Mr. Ken said he'd think about an alternative, but appreciated Gene and George can be there, at least, tomorrow.
When the Covers and their security detail returned home, Mr. Ken had everyone assemble in the Study. He called Mr. Chris to the room, as well, so he knew what was going on. The Cove's Owner then called Mr. Wayne and put him on speakerphone, so he could hear the entire conversation.
Before he started to tell everyone what his thoughts were, Mr. Ken told Mr. Wayne what Lt. Dan Fischer told him earlier and what that might possibly mean. He told him about hiring Gene and George Warren and them retrieving the five boys from school.
"OK, you all heard what I told Mr. Wayne about the situation. Maybe I am being overprotective here, but ... you must understand that when it comes to you boys I will do whatever I feel is necessary to keep you safe. Everyone, but Matthew, knows what happened back at Halloween. And, I think only Robert and Charles know what I did for Collin and Ryan way back when.
"Now, boys, you may not like this but ... until things change ... Mr. Gene and Mr. George will be driving you to and from school. Tomorrow they will be stationed outside the school and next week I will need to figure out a plan, so they are not so conspicuous," started 'dad' Ken.
"But why can't we ride the bus with our friends and they follow behind us?" asked Matthew, not knowing or understanding how things work when Mr. Ken gets an idea his head.
"Yea, 'dad'," started Charles, "what will our friends say when they see us arrive in the armored car? They will know something is up and they will ask a ton of questions. What do we tell them? That the men who tried to kidnap us at Halloween are back?"
"Good point Charles. Let me think that over, some. But, Matthew, for now ... we, no, I will take all the precautions I deem necessary. It is the Sheriff's Office belief that these men ... that they believe you know something. And, if that is the case, they may try to grab you and if not you ... maybe one of your 'brothers', so we will exchange him for you. I cannot and will NOT let that happen," replied 'dad' Ken.
"But, I don't know anything," exclaimed Matthew. "I never listened into their conversations."
"Yes, you did. You even told me so. You said that when you were in the same room with your mom and any of the men you listened. You told me you just acted as if you weren't paying attention. But, subconsciously, you were listening. I can only hope you will remember it in time, so nothing serious happens to you and your 'brothers'," counseled Mr. Ken.
"But, 'dad', I don't know anything," cried Matthew. "Why do you keep saying that?" yelled Matthew, who then ran out of the room.
Robert got up to go to his 'brother', but his dad told him he'd better go and talk to the young Cover.
Mr. Ken had to figure where the boy might go. The youngster hadn't spent much time in the theater, so he didn't figure he'd go there. But, just then, Chief appeared and Mr. Ken told her to find Matthew.
The resident dog headed up the stairs at a fast pace and went directly to Matthew. 'Dad' Ken followed, as fast as he could and found Chief licking the crying boy's face. Mr. Ken sat down on the bed and put his hand on the boy's back.
"Matthew ...no one is blaming you for anything. You are a victim here, 'son'. And whether or not you realize it, your mom thinks you know something and you have told us that. Even though you can't seem to remember what they were talking about, it could come back to you at any time.
"Matthew ... please look at me," asked 'dad' Ken, of the recently turned eleven year old.
"Please promise me ... that if at any time ... any time ... if something pops into your head that you may have heard, or even think you heard, your mom and her friends talking about I want you to find me and tell me. Will you do that for me, 'son'?" seriously asked Mr. Ken of the boy.
"Yes, I'll do that, 'dad'. But ... but, what if I am in school? What do I do? I don't have a cell phone to call you and, even if I did, they won't let us use them in school," asked Matthew.
"Matthew ... if that ever happens, I want you to write it down. Then, as soon as you can, find your older 'brothers' and have them call me. If your teacher sees you and asks you what you are writing, ask her if you can whisper it to her. Then, tell her it's so you don't forget for when you talk to your doctor the next time," suggested 'dad' Ken.
"Ohh, OK, I can do that, 'dad'," slightly smiled Matthew.
Mr. Ken rustled the boys head and Chief got her paws up on the bed and gave Matthew a few doggie kisses. The boy hugged Chief and then 'dad' Ken.
Mr. Ken sensed someone at the bedroom door, so he looked over his shoulder, only to see Robert standing there. The teenager told him that Momma Maria was almost on the warpath because they weren't in the Kitchen Nook having their after school snack. Mr. Ken sent Matthew and his son downstairs to have their snack.
As the boys ate their Momma Maria concoctions, Mr. Ken sat with Gene and George in the Study discussing how the protection detail would unfold. Mr. Ken explained to the two men Principal Chadwick's concern about the men sitting out in the parking lot.
It was then the guard at the Main Gate called to tell him Mr. Diamond and two more guards had just arrived. Mr. Ken asked the guard to have Mr. Diamond come down to the house, so they could talk about the situation some more.
As they waited for Jules Diamond to arrive, Gene Warren said he might have a plan for Principal Chadwick's concerns. But said he didn't want to jinx it by mentioning it just yet. The man said he'd let Mr. Ken know later, what he was thinking about, whether or not he can make it happen. But, he said, he has a few contacts he can call on and some favors he can call in.
When Jules arrived, the four men sat and talked. Jules told Mr. Ken he had added two extra guards for each shift. He also said he has one man dedicated to the shoreline. The owner of the security company told his client that the men would change off every 30 minutes, so they don't get complacent over a long period of boredom.
The men had a laugh over that last statement. But, they all knew how easy it was for someone to lose concentration when there wasn't anything to focus on. Mr. Ken appreciated what Jules was doing for him. But, of course, he knew he was getting top quality security for the money.
The two private security men stayed for dinner and enjoyed another one of Momma Maria's wonderful Mexican based meals. When dinner was over, everyone headed to the Study to discuss what would happen tomorrow. As 'dad' Ken talked, the boys listened.
"Boys ... Mr. Gene and Mr. George will drive you to school tomorrow. They will pick you up here at the front of the house. They will follow after the school bus leaves, but will take you to the school via a different route. They will do that in reverse at the end of the school day," started 'dad' Ken.
"But what will our friends say when we don't arrive on the bus? Can't we ride the bus and have Mr. Gene and Mr. George follow behind us?" asked Matthew.
Mr. Ken looked to Gene and George for their input. The men looked back and forth to one another to see which of them had any ideas. George asked if they had any information about what the three men were driving.
Mr. Ken brought out a piece of paper that had the vehicle information Mr. Wayne had written down and that they gave to Lt. Fischer. He gave it to George and he pulled out his notebook and wrote the information down in it, then passed the paper back to his new employer.
"Gene," started George, "with this information, we can watch from behind the school bus and see if this or any other vehicle follows the bus for any length of time. We'll take video of any suspicious cars, vans or trucks and take action if we deem it necessary. What do you think?"
"Hmmmm, doing that does allow the boys to ride the bus and talk with their friends. We can use two vehicles and ride ahead of the bus and follow behind. We'll have two-way communication to discuss what we see, and that way we can box in anyone who tries to intercept the bus.
"To be honest with you, I don't think they will try anything just yet. If I were they, I would take my time to make a plan after I know the exact schedule the boys have every day. The only unknown is when Wayne takes the boys to their doctor appointment. They know that route and we'd need Wayne to change his direction of travel each time he goes. We need to upset that option," suggested Gene Warren.
"But the final decision it up to you Mr. Thomas. These are your boys and, of course, you are the one who's paying the bill," chuckled George.
The five boys sat there with hopeful smiles on their faces. Mr. Ken, on the other hand, had a big decision to make. He knew how much the boys wanted to ride with their friends and not be inundated with a ton of questions from their friends. He also knew only a few of the boys knew Gene and George and the others could upset the applecart if they are asked too many questions.
"OK ... boys, for the time being, I'll let you ride the school bus, and let the security men, Mr. Gene and Mr. George, determine the protection arrangements," announced 'dad' Ken.
The five boys all clapped at their 'dad's' decision and talked amongst themselves.
"But, boys ... keep in mind ... that if things change ... then we'll go with my first impressions. You all understand?" now asked a very stern sounding Mr. Ken.
The boys all agreed with what their 'dad' said. Then, with that done, the boys hugged their 'dad', and then headed up to their rooms to settle down before going to bed.
Gene and George then excused themselves and as they departed The Cove they told Mr. Ken they'd be outside the Main Gate at 6 a.m. watching for anything unusual. They asked if the owner of The Cove could focus one camera to watch outside on the street and for the guard to monitor which vehicles go past and how often. Mr. Ken told them he'd call them as they left.
Mr. Ken walked up the stairs to visit with his 'boys' before they went to bed. He stopped at Robert's room first, then Charles' and then the twins. He wanted to talk with Matthew some more before the boy went to sleep.
"Matthew ..." almost whispered Mr. Ken, "I hope you won't over think what you may feel is happening to you. Your 'brothers' ... they have all had something go bump in the night during their initial stay here at The Cove, as well. So, you are not the first.
"Remember ... if there is something you recall, it will most likely come to you when you least expect it, since it is probably well-centered inside your brain. Believe me ... we will get through this and move on," counseled 'dad' Ken.
"'Dad' ... I'm sorry I'm causing you all this trouble. If ... if I'd known my mom was involved with these man and they were doing bad things, I would have told you. I just don't understand why. Yea, Lincoln was mean to me but ... but why didn't my mom protect me from him? Was I that bad a boy that I deserved that?" asked Matthew, as he began to cry after thinking of all the pain he experienced.
Mr. Ken grabbed the boy into his arms and held him tight. He also rubbed the boy's back to help him calm down. As the youngest Cover did settle down, he pulled back from his protector and thanked Mr. Ken for being there for him and holding him, which was something his mom rarely did. Mr. Ken got the boy to go relieve the pressure in his bladder and get into bed.
As the owner of The Cove left Matthew's room, he stopped and scratched behind Chief's ears. As he did that he told Chief to watch his boy and come get him as she did the other night. Chief gave her first master a few doggie kisses before going into Matthew's room to sleep.
The boys woke up at their usual time, proceeded to get cleaned up, dressed and were down in the Kitchen Nook in time to have a care-free breakfast.
"Boys, after lunch today, I am giving Momma Maria the rest of the day off. So, if there is an after school snack it might be leftovers, or some recycled snacks," laughed 'dad' Ken. "Not!"
"Momma ... shes gonnas makes yous a goods snackes befores shes leaves todays. Soos don't's yous worries, okays?" announced Momma Maria.
The boys smiled at what she said and thanked her for doing that for them. They finished their breakfast, washed their face and hands and headed up to the Main Gate. But, before the five Cover boys got too far away from the house, Mr. Ken called out to them to be aware of strangers and to get away from them when they can. He also reminded them that the coins do work and to use them if they feel threatened, or if they are in trouble.
Gene and George Warren stationed themselves a block on either side of the entrance to The Cove. They recorded all the vehicles that passed by them from 6 a.m. until they boxed the boys' school bus between them as it traveled its course to the school.
When the bus dropped off their charges, the two security men parked their vehicles down the street from the school bus entrance and waited. They exchanged notes first and when they each had a good understanding of what the other thought and knew, they stationed themselves as they did outside The Cove, a block on either side of the school entrance.
After Gene set up his watch station, he made some calls. He called some friends who he thought could help them with their current assignment. They had already made one change and that was to not setup and wait in the school parking lot, so they didn't bring attention to themselves.
Later that morning, Mr. Chris sought out his employer. He wanted to talk to him about the offer he made his wife the previous day. The two settled down in the Study.
"Mr. Ken, my wife said she would love to do your Christmas shopping for you. She said with the kids at school most of the day it gets a bit boring at the house all day. She told me she can only clean the same room so many times," now laughed Chris Dominions.
"Great!" exclaimed Mr. Ken. "I have the list right here," said The Cove's owner. The man then pulled open a desk drawer, took out his Christmas shopping list and then handed it over to Mr. Chris.
Mr. Chris looked over the list and saw many things he never would have considered. But then he figured the man had to know the boys in order to dream up that long of a list of items.
"Chris, get your wife a credit card that's assigned to The Cove and tell her to have fun. Also, tell her to call me if she has any questions about what's on the list. She can also drop off her purchases here before going home. That way she doesn't have to lug the packages into your home and then back over here. Remind her to buy additional wrapping paper and bows, too," said Mr. Ken.
The two men also discussed the upcoming meeting they had with their selected contractor and Mr. Ken's architect. Chris made three copies of the list of all the added items to the project, so they could all talk from the same specifications.
At lunch, the Cover boys tried to act natural. But Matthew was having a difficult time as he kept thinking about what it was he was supposed to remember. Max saw his inattentiveness and took advantage by trying to get the Cover to say something bad about his mom. Brant saw Max was pestering Matthew, so he and the Cover's other friends headed over to the two 5th grade boys.
"Max ... why are you disturbing our friend?" abruptly asked Brant. "Can't you see he doesn't want to be bothered by you? Go get lost!" finished Brant.
"Matthew, what's wrong. All day long you've been out in left field," spoke Brant.
The Cover didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. He knew he wasn't focused on his schoolwork at all. All he could do was try to think about what he overheard. But he just couldn't focus his brain on all the conversations he listened to when his mom and her three male friends usually had before they moved.
"Matthew, you sure aren't with us today. What's happened that you won't even talk with us?" asked Noah.
Matthew figured he should say something so he said, "It's my mom. I just don't understand why ... why she would have gone to that building to see me."
Then it dawned on Matthew as to what he just revealed to his friends. "Guys ... please don't tell anyone I said that. Please!"
"So, your mom ... she got arrested for wanting to talk to you?" asked Ryan.
"NO, nothing like that," quickly replied Matthew. "She got arrested ... she got arrested because ... she wanted to take me away. She was told she needed to go to court to get supervised visits with me. But, she told me ... she told me it would take too long and she wanted us together."
"But, why arrest her?" asked Aaron.
"Because ... because she was holding me. She wouldn't let me get away. She ... she threatened me. She told me ... she told me I knew something and she wanted to know what it was. But ... but I just can't remember what it could be. Mr. Ken told me it would come to me, and in time and not to think about it. The thing is ... that is all I can think about," answered Matthew.
"That's the problem, Matthew. You're focused on something you aren't supposed to be and you're just blanking it out. You probably need to be busy playing, skating on the ramps or swimming. Maybe when we are over there tomorrow you can let your mind relax and it will eventually come back to you," offered Greg.
The after lunch bell rang and the six friends all headed into the school. The Cover's five friends told him to not focus on what he's supposed to remember, but to let his mind relax and focus on something totally different. Matthew said he'd try to do that.
After lunch at The Cove, Mr. Ken, Mr. Chris, the architect and the selected contractor sat down in the Study to discuss the parameters of Mr. Ken's special project. They reviewed the primary project first and the architect clarified some electrical conditions and pointed out that the contract called for the installation of at least twelve CCTV cameras.
The architect also pointed out the cameras were to be connected to the main house where the owner would make his own arrangements to connect them to his network. The contractor balked at that provision. He said as he read the contract the owner was to connect the cameras. The architect agreed, but said the contract provided the owner would do that after the connection was brought to the house in the specified way.
The meeting had a few intense arguments, but in the end the contractor agreed to what the contract said. He then asked if there was any way he could begin before Christmas. Mr. Ken told him the project was a Christmas present to his five 'sons'. The owner of The Cove told the contractor he didn't want to have to answer a bunch of questions from his 'boys' before Christmas Day. The contractor said he understood.
Mr. Ken did agree to allow the contractor to bring his equipment to The Cove on that Monday after Christmas and begin work as soon afterwards, as he wanted. The Cove's owner informed him he would tell the guards his company was coming sometime after Christmas Day. Mr. Ken also expressed to him that each and every employee on the project would be required to register in the database, but once they did that they would just be checked in to the estate.
Mr. Chris added that since the project was planned to take five months that every employee would have his or her photograph taken. The Estate Manager clarified that eventually they would all have a Cove identification card that would let them enter more easily every day. Mr. Chris also told the contractor that if he added employees it would be best to have them come over the day before they start work to have their I.D.'s made.
The contractor again balked at what he considered an addendum to the contract. The architect pointed to a paragraph in the contract that specified that provision. The contractor looked for it and then read it. He was not pleased his lawyers didn't notice that provision.
The man knew, though, that this project was a big stepping-stone to future work for his company. Realizing that, he just nodded and then asked if his workers could begin stopping by next week to get their I.D.'s started. Mr. Chris said that wouldn't be a problem.
But the Estate Manager reminded the man, that by the contract, he was to direct his men and women not to talk to anyone, until after Christmas Day, that they were going to begin work there. All the contractor could do was nod in agreement.
When the meeting was over, Mr. Chris made any agreed upon changes to the contract and had it printed out in triplicate. The contractor and Mr. Ken signed in the appropriate places and before long Mr. Ken's special project would soon be a reality. The men all shook hands and the contractor headed back to his place of business with a twenty-five percent earnest money check in hand.
When school let out for the day, the Warren twins positioned themselves to again proceed and follow the Cover boys school bus until it reached The Cove. The boys knew the men were there as they recognized the armored vehicle that was following them. Of all the students on the bus, only Eric was aware of what was happening.
As soon as the bus appeared in front of the Main Gate of The Cove, the guards were ready. One immediately opened the gate while two guards went out to meet the boys as they got off the bus. They had their hands resting on their service weapons, but did not draw them. The other two guards were stationed at strategic corners of the estate, so they could observe the majority of the shoreline and side boundaries.
The boys hurried into the house and, remembering Momma Maria was off until Monday, they headed to the Study to talk to their 'dad'. But when they got there Mr. Ken wasn't. It was then that Mr. Chris came by and told them their 'dad' was in the Kitchen Nook waiting for them. The five boys hurried to the Nook.
"Dad, what are you doing in here?" asked Robert.
"Well, son, Momma is off and I thought I'd serve you the special treat she made for you. Now, boys, take your seats and let me get out her different milks she knows you all like," directed Mr. Ken.
When their 'dad' had the vanilla and chocolate milks out on the table, he went and got the warm Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and placed them on the table. Mr. Ken had previously placed six plates on the table and five glasses and told the boys to dig in.
"But, 'dad', Momma Maria always serves us the portion she wants us to have. She says that way we won't ruin our appetite for dinner," spoke up Matthew.
"Hmmmm, well, she has a point there, but ... how will you ever learn what an appropriate serving is unless you start serving yourself. You've been served by Momma enough times by now that, I bet, you'll take what she would normally present to you. So, go ahead and serve the portion you know is right," replied Mr. Ken.
Robert and Charles easily served themselves, but the twins had some difficulty using the utensils and getting the apple crumble enchiladas on their plate. Matthew, on the other hand, seeing how hard it was for Kevin and Kyle, just asked his 'dad' to serve him a piece he felt was right.
After the five boys had their serving of Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and their preferred glass of milk, Mr. Ken got himself a cup of coffee and then served himself a piece of Momma's concoction. The Covers sat, ate and enjoyed being together as a family.
"Boys, with Momma gone for the night, we'll have to go out to dinner. Do you have any ideas where we can go?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Can we go to Mr. Gatti's?" asked Robert. "I don't know if my 'brothers' have ever been there. But, we can have salads, baked potatoes, any pizza we want and as much soda we can handle," laughed Robert. Then the teenager added, "Then, afterward, we can play some arcade games."
After talking to the guards, Gene and George came into the Kitchen Nook. Mr. Ken offered them a piece of Momma's Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and a cup of coffee and they accepted. While the men ate, Mr. Ken asked if they were available to escort them to Mr. Gatti's for dinner. Robert explained what the restaurant was all about. It was agreed they'd go out at 6 PM.
After they finished their snack, rinsed the dirty dishes and glasses and put them into the dishwasher, the boys headed up to their rooms to start their homework. Mr. Ken asked Matthew to hang back as he wanted to talk to him.
"Matthew, how was your day?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Well ... I tried all morning to remember what my mom thinks I know. It was at lunchtime that Brant and Greg asked me why I wasn't paying much attention in class. When I told them why, they told me that I needed to stop trying to remember and to just relax my mind.
"Also, 'dad' ... I ... I'm sorry 'dad', but I ... I didn't mean to tell them. ... But, Brant, Noah, Ryan, Greg, and Aaron all know that my mom was at Doctor Doug's building to see and take me away. I didn't mean to tell them; it just slipped out. But, I did ask them not to tell anyone. Please don't be mad at me, 'dad'?" pleaded Matthew.
Mr. Ken grabbed the boy into a hug to let him know he wasn't mad at him. The man reassured the boy that he would never get mad, but might be disappointed at some of his decisions. Mr. Ken then had Matthew follow him to the Study.
When the two Covers entered the Study, Mr. Ken sat in one of the soft leather chairs and pulled Matthew into it with him. The two got comfortable. Then, Mr. Ken talked to the youngster about his focusing on what he may or may not remember from when he listened into his mom's conversations with her male friends.
'Dad' Ken tried to explain to Matthew, he needed to relax his mind and not stress out on trying to remember what he can't. 'Dad' Ken hugged the boy and told him he wasn't going to get mad at him for slipping up around his buddies. The foster dad explained to the young Cover that as he grows and matures he'd get better at controlling what he tells people. He then sent the boy up to do his homework.
The Covers and Mr. Gene loaded into the Sprinter van and headed out to their restaurant of choice. Mr. George followed behind them in their armored vehicle. It took them quite a while to get to the restaurant and along the way, Robert told his 'brothers' more about Mr. Gatti's.
At the restaurant, Gene and George Warren huddled and talked about the drive. After their discussion, they stopped by the Covers table and then went to get their plates of pizza. Mr. Ken told the group about bringing Robert and Eric there and meeting Harry Fletcher.
Mr. Ken told them the funny story about how he really messed up telling Trevor and Terran's dad why he had two unrelated boys spending the night at The Cove, but not sleeping in his bed. The boys laughed hard at the way Mr. Ken dropped a dime on himself.
The owner of The Cove then told the group how Harry, his wife Carol, and his two boys, Trevor and Terran, the Terror, came into the diner at Four Corner's and he had the staff break his rule of putting tables together.
"Why did they call Terran the Terror?" asked Matthew.
"I think it was because when he was younger he bothered his older brother so much he was a terror to him. Also, with his name being T-E-R-R-A-N it was very easy to transpose a few letters and get T-E-R-R-O-R," laughed 'dad' Ken.
The boys and the Warren's had a good time listening to Mr. Ken's stories. It was such a relaxing evening, that the boys didn't bother their 'dad' for money to play the games in the back. But, after everyone was full of salad, pizza and soda, the whole group of eight walked to the back area to play some games, anyway.
Mr. Ken doesn't carry a whole lot of cash in his wallet, so he had to go up front to the ATM and get some money. The game cards are $10.00 each, but you got $12.50 worth of play, so that made the boys very happy. Even the adults got cards and played the many different games.
As the boys played, they received tickets depending on how well they played. Robert told the three younger boys to save them up until the end and then he'd tell them what they could do with them. The adults also won tickets and the twins tried to get them to give them up to them.
While the boys played the games, the three adults talked. It was then that Mr. George told his employer that he noticed a vehicle following the van. George Warren told Mr. Ken that he stayed back about ten to twelve cars, because his van was big enough he could observe it from a farther distance.
The Warrens told Mr. Ken the vehicle didn't turn into the parking lot with them, but it caused them to take notice and record its license plate number. The men asked him if he had gotten pictures of the three men for the boys to look at. The security men suggested that if the boys know the men's faces, they could take evasive action if the men ever came close to them.
Hearing that, Mr. Ken pulled out his cell phone and called Dan. When the Sheriff's Lieutenant came on the line, the owner of The Cove made some pleasant talk, but soon got down to why he called. He asked Dan if he could email him pictures of Carter Dunlapman, Lonny Acheterts and Benjamin Bateterson.
Mr. Ken continued and told his friend Dan he wanted the boys to recognize the men's faces in case they got close to them. He also told Dan about the vehicle that followed the van to the restaurant. Mr. Ken told the Lieutenant that Gene and George had the license plate information and asked if he wanted it. He did.
The boys bugged their 'dad' to play some games with them. The man knew he couldn't disappoint them, so they decided on Air Hockey. Mr. Ken and each boy played on a team. 'Dad' Ken made a bet that the winners of the most games would win banana splits at DQ while the others got only sundaes. The games were on. At the end of the round-robin of games, Mr. Ken found himself only getting a Sundae at DQ. The boys had a good laugh over that.
When the Covers returned home, Chief was there waiting for her crew to arrive. Matthew was the sacrificial lamb that night to give Chief her ice cream treat. They all knew Chief would jump all over him trying to get her concoction.
Matthew knew the score when it came to Chief and her cold treats. He was ready to push her away when she came after him, and the cup of ice cream he held behind his back. But the young Cover and everyone else was surprised at what Chief did that night.
"Chief ... I have your treat," called out Matthew. "Please sit ... and I'll put it down in front of you."
And that was what Chief actually did. She sat down in front of Matthew, and patiently waited for her ice cream treat to be placed in front of her. When Matthew placed the cup down, Chief waited until the boy stood up and then she devoured the concoction. When she was finished, about 30 seconds later, she went to Matthew and gave him some cold doggie kisses.
Mr. Ken had everyone meet in his Study. He checked his email and sure enough, the pictures he asked Dan to send him were there. He printed out eight copies of the three pictures so everyone could have their own copy. "Dad' Ken wanted each and every boy to look at the pictures and keep it, so they could refresh their memory.
"Matthew ... do you know any of these guys?" asked Kevin.
"Well ... I know their faces, but I've never talked to any of them. Sometimes, they'd come into where we lived, but all I ever did was sit down and pretend I wasn't listening," replied Matthew.
"Boys, don't bother Matthew about what or who he does or doesn't know. Now ... I want you to become familiar with these men's faces. If you ever ... I repeat, if you EVER notice them around you, get away somehow. And, if you can't then you squeeze your coin," cautioned 'dad' Ken.
Hearing about the coin for the first time, Mr. Gene and Mr. George asked to see one and for someone to explain what Mr. Ken meant by squeezing them. Robert brought out his coin while Mr. Ken explained what they were for. He then told how Matthew used his for the first time that past Tuesday and he was able to pinpoint him for the Sheriff's Deputies to locate him.
It had been a long day, so before the older boys headed up to bed, Mr. Ken reminded them about the band auditions tomorrow. He told them the first was at 11 a.m. and they had better be ready to leave The Cove by 10:20.
Mr. Ken sent his boys up to bed and told them he'd stop up in a few minutes. After the boys left the Study, Mr. Ken talked to the security men some more about the coins and asked them not to discuss them with anyone else.
Before the Warren's departed The Cove, Mr. Ken asked them to meet them there at 9 a.m.
Abigail Chadwick said she personally didn't have a problem with it, but once the parents' get wind that a private security detail is stationed at the school it will cause problems. Mr. Ken said he understood and asked if they can try it tomorrow and see how the men can blend in.
Principal Chadwick laughed at what Mr. Thomas said about the overly large men blending in. She said tomorrow shouldn't be a problem, but she was worried about next week by Wednesday and later if they were still needed. Mr. Ken said he'd think about an alternative, but appreciated Gene and George can be there, at least, tomorrow.
When the Covers and their security detail returned home, Mr. Ken had everyone assemble in the Study. He called Mr. Chris to the room, as well, so he knew what was going on. The Cove's Owner then called Mr. Wayne and put him on speakerphone, so he could hear the entire conversation.
Before he started to tell everyone what his thoughts were, Mr. Ken told Mr. Wayne what Lt. Dan Fischer told him earlier and what that might possibly mean. He told him about hiring Gene and George Warren and them retrieving the five boys from school.
"OK, you all heard what I told Mr. Wayne about the situation. Maybe I am being overprotective here, but ... you must understand that when it comes to you boys I will do whatever I feel is necessary to keep you safe. Everyone, but Matthew, knows what happened back at Halloween. And, I think only Robert and Charles know what I did for Collin and Ryan way back when.
"Now, boys, you may not like this but ... until things change ... Mr. Gene and Mr. George will be driving you to and from school. Tomorrow they will be stationed outside the school and next week I will need to figure out a plan, so they are not so conspicuous," started 'dad' Ken.
"But why can't we ride the bus with our friends and they follow behind us?" asked Matthew, not knowing or understanding how things work when Mr. Ken gets an idea his head.
"Yea, 'dad'," started Charles, "what will our friends say when they see us arrive in the armored car? They will know something is up and they will ask a ton of questions. What do we tell them? That the men who tried to kidnap us at Halloween are back?"
"Good point Charles. Let me think that over, some. But, Matthew, for now ... we, no, I will take all the precautions I deem necessary. It is the Sheriff's Office belief that these men ... that they believe you know something. And, if that is the case, they may try to grab you and if not you ... maybe one of your 'brothers', so we will exchange him for you. I cannot and will NOT let that happen," replied 'dad' Ken.
"But, I don't know anything," exclaimed Matthew. "I never listened into their conversations."
"Yes, you did. You even told me so. You said that when you were in the same room with your mom and any of the men you listened. You told me you just acted as if you weren't paying attention. But, subconsciously, you were listening. I can only hope you will remember it in time, so nothing serious happens to you and your 'brothers'," counseled Mr. Ken.
"But, 'dad', I don't know anything," cried Matthew. "Why do you keep saying that?" yelled Matthew, who then ran out of the room.
Robert got up to go to his 'brother', but his dad told him he'd better go and talk to the young Cover.
Mr. Ken had to figure where the boy might go. The youngster hadn't spent much time in the theater, so he didn't figure he'd go there. But, just then, Chief appeared and Mr. Ken told her to find Matthew.
The resident dog headed up the stairs at a fast pace and went directly to Matthew. 'Dad' Ken followed, as fast as he could and found Chief licking the crying boy's face. Mr. Ken sat down on the bed and put his hand on the boy's back.
"Matthew ...no one is blaming you for anything. You are a victim here, 'son'. And whether or not you realize it, your mom thinks you know something and you have told us that. Even though you can't seem to remember what they were talking about, it could come back to you at any time.
"Matthew ... please look at me," asked 'dad' Ken, of the recently turned eleven year old.
"Please promise me ... that if at any time ... any time ... if something pops into your head that you may have heard, or even think you heard, your mom and her friends talking about I want you to find me and tell me. Will you do that for me, 'son'?" seriously asked Mr. Ken of the boy.
"Yes, I'll do that, 'dad'. But ... but, what if I am in school? What do I do? I don't have a cell phone to call you and, even if I did, they won't let us use them in school," asked Matthew.
"Matthew ... if that ever happens, I want you to write it down. Then, as soon as you can, find your older 'brothers' and have them call me. If your teacher sees you and asks you what you are writing, ask her if you can whisper it to her. Then, tell her it's so you don't forget for when you talk to your doctor the next time," suggested 'dad' Ken.
"Ohh, OK, I can do that, 'dad'," slightly smiled Matthew.
Mr. Ken rustled the boys head and Chief got her paws up on the bed and gave Matthew a few doggie kisses. The boy hugged Chief and then 'dad' Ken.
Mr. Ken sensed someone at the bedroom door, so he looked over his shoulder, only to see Robert standing there. The teenager told him that Momma Maria was almost on the warpath because they weren't in the Kitchen Nook having their after school snack. Mr. Ken sent Matthew and his son downstairs to have their snack.
As the boys ate their Momma Maria concoctions, Mr. Ken sat with Gene and George in the Study discussing how the protection detail would unfold. Mr. Ken explained to the two men Principal Chadwick's concern about the men sitting out in the parking lot.
It was then the guard at the Main Gate called to tell him Mr. Diamond and two more guards had just arrived. Mr. Ken asked the guard to have Mr. Diamond come down to the house, so they could talk about the situation some more.
As they waited for Jules Diamond to arrive, Gene Warren said he might have a plan for Principal Chadwick's concerns. But said he didn't want to jinx it by mentioning it just yet. The man said he'd let Mr. Ken know later, what he was thinking about, whether or not he can make it happen. But, he said, he has a few contacts he can call on and some favors he can call in.
When Jules arrived, the four men sat and talked. Jules told Mr. Ken he had added two extra guards for each shift. He also said he has one man dedicated to the shoreline. The owner of the security company told his client that the men would change off every 30 minutes, so they don't get complacent over a long period of boredom.
The men had a laugh over that last statement. But, they all knew how easy it was for someone to lose concentration when there wasn't anything to focus on. Mr. Ken appreciated what Jules was doing for him. But, of course, he knew he was getting top quality security for the money.
The two private security men stayed for dinner and enjoyed another one of Momma Maria's wonderful Mexican based meals. When dinner was over, everyone headed to the Study to discuss what would happen tomorrow. As 'dad' Ken talked, the boys listened.
"Boys ... Mr. Gene and Mr. George will drive you to school tomorrow. They will pick you up here at the front of the house. They will follow after the school bus leaves, but will take you to the school via a different route. They will do that in reverse at the end of the school day," started 'dad' Ken.
"But what will our friends say when we don't arrive on the bus? Can't we ride the bus and have Mr. Gene and Mr. George follow behind us?" asked Matthew.
Mr. Ken looked to Gene and George for their input. The men looked back and forth to one another to see which of them had any ideas. George asked if they had any information about what the three men were driving.
Mr. Ken brought out a piece of paper that had the vehicle information Mr. Wayne had written down and that they gave to Lt. Fischer. He gave it to George and he pulled out his notebook and wrote the information down in it, then passed the paper back to his new employer.
"Gene," started George, "with this information, we can watch from behind the school bus and see if this or any other vehicle follows the bus for any length of time. We'll take video of any suspicious cars, vans or trucks and take action if we deem it necessary. What do you think?"
"Hmmmm, doing that does allow the boys to ride the bus and talk with their friends. We can use two vehicles and ride ahead of the bus and follow behind. We'll have two-way communication to discuss what we see, and that way we can box in anyone who tries to intercept the bus.
"To be honest with you, I don't think they will try anything just yet. If I were they, I would take my time to make a plan after I know the exact schedule the boys have every day. The only unknown is when Wayne takes the boys to their doctor appointment. They know that route and we'd need Wayne to change his direction of travel each time he goes. We need to upset that option," suggested Gene Warren.
"But the final decision it up to you Mr. Thomas. These are your boys and, of course, you are the one who's paying the bill," chuckled George.
The five boys sat there with hopeful smiles on their faces. Mr. Ken, on the other hand, had a big decision to make. He knew how much the boys wanted to ride with their friends and not be inundated with a ton of questions from their friends. He also knew only a few of the boys knew Gene and George and the others could upset the applecart if they are asked too many questions.
"OK ... boys, for the time being, I'll let you ride the school bus, and let the security men, Mr. Gene and Mr. George, determine the protection arrangements," announced 'dad' Ken.
The five boys all clapped at their 'dad's' decision and talked amongst themselves.
"But, boys ... keep in mind ... that if things change ... then we'll go with my first impressions. You all understand?" now asked a very stern sounding Mr. Ken.
The boys all agreed with what their 'dad' said. Then, with that done, the boys hugged their 'dad', and then headed up to their rooms to settle down before going to bed.
Gene and George then excused themselves and as they departed The Cove they told Mr. Ken they'd be outside the Main Gate at 6 a.m. watching for anything unusual. They asked if the owner of The Cove could focus one camera to watch outside on the street and for the guard to monitor which vehicles go past and how often. Mr. Ken told them he'd call them as they left.
Mr. Ken walked up the stairs to visit with his 'boys' before they went to bed. He stopped at Robert's room first, then Charles' and then the twins. He wanted to talk with Matthew some more before the boy went to sleep.
"Matthew ..." almost whispered Mr. Ken, "I hope you won't over think what you may feel is happening to you. Your 'brothers' ... they have all had something go bump in the night during their initial stay here at The Cove, as well. So, you are not the first.
"Remember ... if there is something you recall, it will most likely come to you when you least expect it, since it is probably well-centered inside your brain. Believe me ... we will get through this and move on," counseled 'dad' Ken.
"'Dad' ... I'm sorry I'm causing you all this trouble. If ... if I'd known my mom was involved with these man and they were doing bad things, I would have told you. I just don't understand why. Yea, Lincoln was mean to me but ... but why didn't my mom protect me from him? Was I that bad a boy that I deserved that?" asked Matthew, as he began to cry after thinking of all the pain he experienced.
Mr. Ken grabbed the boy into his arms and held him tight. He also rubbed the boy's back to help him calm down. As the youngest Cover did settle down, he pulled back from his protector and thanked Mr. Ken for being there for him and holding him, which was something his mom rarely did. Mr. Ken got the boy to go relieve the pressure in his bladder and get into bed.
As the owner of The Cove left Matthew's room, he stopped and scratched behind Chief's ears. As he did that he told Chief to watch his boy and come get him as she did the other night. Chief gave her first master a few doggie kisses before going into Matthew's room to sleep.
The boys woke up at their usual time, proceeded to get cleaned up, dressed and were down in the Kitchen Nook in time to have a care-free breakfast.
"Boys, after lunch today, I am giving Momma Maria the rest of the day off. So, if there is an after school snack it might be leftovers, or some recycled snacks," laughed 'dad' Ken. "Not!"
"Momma ... shes gonnas makes yous a goods snackes befores shes leaves todays. Soos don't's yous worries, okays?" announced Momma Maria.
The boys smiled at what she said and thanked her for doing that for them. They finished their breakfast, washed their face and hands and headed up to the Main Gate. But, before the five Cover boys got too far away from the house, Mr. Ken called out to them to be aware of strangers and to get away from them when they can. He also reminded them that the coins do work and to use them if they feel threatened, or if they are in trouble.
Gene and George Warren stationed themselves a block on either side of the entrance to The Cove. They recorded all the vehicles that passed by them from 6 a.m. until they boxed the boys' school bus between them as it traveled its course to the school.
When the bus dropped off their charges, the two security men parked their vehicles down the street from the school bus entrance and waited. They exchanged notes first and when they each had a good understanding of what the other thought and knew, they stationed themselves as they did outside The Cove, a block on either side of the school entrance.
After Gene set up his watch station, he made some calls. He called some friends who he thought could help them with their current assignment. They had already made one change and that was to not setup and wait in the school parking lot, so they didn't bring attention to themselves.
Later that morning, Mr. Chris sought out his employer. He wanted to talk to him about the offer he made his wife the previous day. The two settled down in the Study.
"Mr. Ken, my wife said she would love to do your Christmas shopping for you. She said with the kids at school most of the day it gets a bit boring at the house all day. She told me she can only clean the same room so many times," now laughed Chris Dominions.
"Great!" exclaimed Mr. Ken. "I have the list right here," said The Cove's owner. The man then pulled open a desk drawer, took out his Christmas shopping list and then handed it over to Mr. Chris.
Mr. Chris looked over the list and saw many things he never would have considered. But then he figured the man had to know the boys in order to dream up that long of a list of items.
"Chris, get your wife a credit card that's assigned to The Cove and tell her to have fun. Also, tell her to call me if she has any questions about what's on the list. She can also drop off her purchases here before going home. That way she doesn't have to lug the packages into your home and then back over here. Remind her to buy additional wrapping paper and bows, too," said Mr. Ken.
The two men also discussed the upcoming meeting they had with their selected contractor and Mr. Ken's architect. Chris made three copies of the list of all the added items to the project, so they could all talk from the same specifications.
At lunch, the Cover boys tried to act natural. But Matthew was having a difficult time as he kept thinking about what it was he was supposed to remember. Max saw his inattentiveness and took advantage by trying to get the Cover to say something bad about his mom. Brant saw Max was pestering Matthew, so he and the Cover's other friends headed over to the two 5th grade boys.
"Max ... why are you disturbing our friend?" abruptly asked Brant. "Can't you see he doesn't want to be bothered by you? Go get lost!" finished Brant.
"Matthew, what's wrong. All-day long you've been out in left field," spoke Brant.
The Cover didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. He knew he wasn't focused on his schoolwork at all. All he could do was try to think about what he overheard. But he just couldn't focus his brain on all the conversations he listened to when his mom and her three male friends usually had before they moved.
"Matthew, you sure aren't with us today. What's happened that you won't even talk with us?" asked Noah.
Matthew figured he should say something so he said, "It's my mom. I just don't understand why ... why she would have gone to that building to see me."
Then it dawned on Matthew as to what he just revealed to his friends. "Guys ... please don't tell anyone I said that. Please!"
"So, your mom ... she got arrested for wanting to talk to you?" asked Ryan.
"NO, nothing like that," quickly replied Matthew. "She got arrested ... she got arrested because ... she wanted to take me away. She was told she needed to go to court to get supervised visits with me. But, she told me ... she told me it would take too long and she wanted us together."
"But, why arrest her?" asked Aaron.
"Because ... because she was holding me. She wouldn't let me get away. She ... she threatened me. She told me ... she told me I knew something and she wanted to know what it was. But ... but I just can't remember what it could be. Mr. Ken told me it would come to me, and in time and not to think about it. The thing is ... that is all I can think about," answered Matthew.
"That's the problem, Matthew. You're focused on something you aren't supposed to be and you're just blanking it out. You probably need to be busy playing, skating on the ramps or swimming. Maybe when we are over there tomorrow you can let your mind relax and it will eventually come back to you," offered Greg.
The after lunch bell rang and the six friends all headed into the school. The Cover's five friends told him to not focus on what he's supposed to remember, but to let his mind relax and focus on something totally different. Matthew said he'd try to do that.
After lunch at The Cove, Mr. Ken, Mr. Chris, the architect and the selected contractor sat down in the Study to discuss the parameters of Mr. Ken's special project. They reviewed the primary project first and the architect clarified some electrical conditions and pointed out that the contract called for the installation of at least twelve CCTV cameras.
The architect also pointed out the cameras were to be connected to the main house where the owner would make his own arrangements to connect them to his network. The contractor balked at that provision. He said as he read the contract the owner was to connect the cameras. The architect agreed, but said the contract provided the owner would do that after the connection was brought to the house in the specified way.
The meeting had a few intense arguments, but in the end the contractor agreed to what the contract said. He then asked if there was any way he could begin before Christmas. Mr. Ken told him the project was a Christmas present to his five 'sons'. The owner of The Cove told the contractor he didn't want to have to answer a bunch of questions from his 'boys' before Christmas Day. The contractor said he understood.
Mr. Ken did agree to allow the contractor to bring his equipment to The Cove on that Monday after Christmas and begin work as soon afterwards, as he wanted. The Cove's owner informed him he would tell the guards his company was coming sometime after Christmas Day. Mr. Ken also expressed to him that each and every employee on the project would be required to register in the database, but once they did that they would just be checked in to the estate.
Mr. Chris added that since the project was planned to take five months that every employee would have his or her photograph taken. The Estate Manager clarified that eventually they would all have a Cove identification card that would let them enter more easily every day. Mr. Chris also told the contractor that if he added employees it would be best to have them come over the day before they start work to have their I.D.'s made.
The contractor again balked at what he considered an addendum to the contract. The architect pointed to a paragraph in the contract that specified that provision. The contractor looked for it and then read it. He was not pleased his lawyers didn't notice that provision.
The man knew, though, that this project was a big stepping-stone to future work for his company. Realizing that, he just nodded and then asked if his workers could begin stopping by next week to get their I.D.'s started. Mr. Chris said that wouldn't be a problem.
But the Estate Manager reminded the man, that by the contract, he was to direct his men and women not to talk to anyone, until after Christmas Day, that they were going to begin work there. All the contractors could do was nod in agreement.
When the meeting was over, Mr. Chris made any agreed-upon changes to the contract and had it printed out in triplicate. The contractor and Mr. Ken signed in the appropriate places and before long Mr. Ken's special project would soon be a reality. The men all shook hands and the contractor headed back to his place of business with a twenty-five percent earnest money check in hand.
When school let out for the day, the Warren twins positioned themselves to again proceed and follow the Cover boys school bus until it reached The Cove. The boys knew the men were there as they recognized the armored vehicle that was following them. Of all the students on the bus, only Eric was aware of what was happening.
As soon as the bus appeared in front of the Main Gate of The Cove, the guards were ready. One immediately opened the gate while two guards went out to meet the boys as they got off the bus. They had their hands resting on their service weapons, but did not draw them. The other two guards were stationed at strategic corners of the estate, so they could observe the majority of the shoreline and side boundaries.
The boys hurried into the house and, remembering Momma Maria was off until Monday, they headed to the Study to talk to their 'dad'. But when they got there Mr. Ken wasn't. It was then that Mr. Chris came by and told them their 'dad' was in the Kitchen Nook waiting for them. The five boys hurried to the Nook.
"Dad, what are you doing in here?" asked Robert.
"Well, son, Momma is off and I thought I'd serve you the special treat she made for you. Now, boys, take your seats and let me get out her different milks she knows you all like," directed Mr. Ken.
When their 'dad' had the vanilla and chocolate milks out on the table, he went and got the warm Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and placed them on the table. Mr. Ken had previously placed six plates on the table and five glasses and told the boys to dig in.
"But, 'dad', Momma Maria always serves us the portion she wants us to have. She says that way we won't ruin our appetite for dinner," spoke up Matthew.
"Hmmmm, well, she has a point there, but ... how will you ever learn what an appropriate serving is unless you start serving yourself. You've been served by Momma enough times by now that, I bet, you'll take what she would normally present to you. So, go ahead and serve the portion you know is right," replied Mr. Ken.
Robert and Charles easily served themselves, but the twins had some difficulty using the utensils and getting the apple crumble enchiladas on their plate. Matthew, on the other hand, seeing how hard it was for Kevin and Kyle, just asked his 'dad' to serve him a piece he felt was right.
After the five boys had their serving of Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and their preferred glass of milk, Mr. Ken got himself a cup of coffee and then served himself a piece of Momma's concoction. The Covers sat, ate and enjoyed being together as a family.
"Boys, with Momma gone for the night, we'll have to go out to dinner. Do you have any ideas where we can go?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Can we go to Mr. Gatti's?" asked Robert. "I don't know if my 'brothers' have ever been there. But, we can have salads, baked potatoes, any pizza we want and as much soda we can handle," laughed Robert. Then the teenager added, "Then, afterwards, we can play some arcade games."
After talking to the guards, Gene and George came into the Kitchen Nook. Mr. Ken offered them a piece of Momma's Caramel Cinnamon Apple Crumble Enchiladas and a cup of coffee and they accepted. While the men ate, Mr. Ken asked if they were available to escort them to Mr. Gatti's for dinner. Robert explained what the restaurant was all about. It was agreed they'd go out at 6 PM.
After they finished their snack, rinsed the dirty dishes and glasses and put them into the dishwasher, the boys headed up to their rooms to start their homework. Mr. Ken asked Matthew to hang back as he wanted to talk to him.
"Matthew, how was your day?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Well ... I tried all morning to remember what my mom thinks I know. It was at lunchtime that Brant and Greg asked me why I wasn't paying much attention in class. When I told them why, they told me that I needed to stop trying to remember and to just relax my mind.
"Also, 'dad' ... I ... I'm sorry 'dad', but I ... I didn't mean to tell them. ... But, Brant, Noah, Ryan, Greg and Aaron all know that my mom was at Doctor Doug's building to see and take me away. I didn't mean to tell them; it just slipped out. But, I did ask them not to tell anyone. Please don't be mad at me, 'dad'?" pleaded Matthew.
Mr. Ken grabbed the boy into a hug to let him know he wasn't mad at him. The man reassured the boy that he would never get mad, but might be disappointed at some of his decisions. Mr. Ken then had Matthew follow him to the Study.
When the two Covers entered the Study, Mr. Ken sat in one of the soft leather chairs and pulled Matthew into it with him. The two got comfortable. Then, Mr. Ken talked to the youngster about his focusing on what he may or may not remember from when he listened into his mom's conversations with her male friends.
'Dad' Ken tried to explain to Matthew, he needed to relax his mind and not stress out on trying to remember what he can't. 'Dad' Ken hugged the boy and told him he wasn't going to get mad at him for slipping up around his buddies. The foster dad explained to the young Cover that as he grows and matures he'd get better at controlling what he tells people. He then sent the boy up to do his homework.
The Covers and Mr. Gene loaded into the Sprinter van and headed out to their restaurant of choice. Mr. George followed behind them in their armored vehicle. It took them quite a while to get to the restaurant and along the way Robert told his 'brothers' more about Mr. Gatti's.
At the restaurant, Gene and George Warren huddled and talked about the drive. After their discussion they stopped by the Covers table and then went to get their plates of pizza. Mr. Ken told the group about bringing Robert and Eric there and meeting Harry Fletcher.
Mr. Ken told them the funny story about how he really messed up telling Trevor and Terran's dad why he had two unrelated boys spending the night at The Cove, but not sleeping in his bed. The boys laughed hard at the way Mr. Ken dropped a dime on himself.
The owner of The Cove then told the group how Harry, his wife Carol, and his two boys, Trevor and Terran, the Terror, came into the diner at Four Corner's and he had the staff break his rule of putting tables together.
"Why did they call Terran the Terror?" asked Matthew.
"I think it was because when he was younger he bothered his older brother so much he was a terror to him. Also, with his name being T-E-R-R-A-N it was very easy to transpose a few letters and get T-E-R-R-O-R," laughed 'dad' Ken.
The boys and the Warren's had a good time listening to Mr. Ken's stories. It was such a relaxing evening, that the boys didn't bother their 'dad' for money to play the games in the back. But, after everyone was full of salad, pizza and soda, the whole group of eight walked to the back area to play some games, anyway.
Mr. Ken doesn't carry a whole lot of cash in his wallet, so he had to go up front to the ATM and get some money. The game cards are $10.00 each, but you got $12.50 worth of play, so that made the boys very happy. Even the adults got cards and played the many different games.
As the boys played, they received tickets depending on how well they played. Robert told the three younger boys to save them up until the end and then he'd tell them what they could do with them. The adults also won tickets and the twins tried to get them to give them up to them.
While the boys played the games, the three adults talked. It was then that Mr. George told his employer that he noticed a vehicle following the van. George Warren told Mr. Ken that he stayed back about ten to twelve cars, because his van was big enough he could observe it from a farther distance.
The Warrens told Mr. Ken the vehicle didn't turn into the parking lot with them, but it caused them to take notice and record its license plate number. The men asked him if he had gotten pictures of the three men for the boys to look at. The security men suggested that if the boys know the men's faces, they could take evasive action if the men ever came close to them.
Hearing that, Mr. Ken pulled out his cell phone and called Dan. When the Sheriff's Lieutenant came on the line, the owner of The Cove made some pleasant talk, but soon got down to why he called. He asked Dan if he could email him pictures of Carter Dunlapman, Lonny Acheterts and Benjamin Bateterson.
Mr. Ken continued and told his friend Dan he wanted the boys to recognize the men's faces in case they got close to them. He also told Dan about the vehicle that followed the van to the restaurant. Mr. Ken told the Lieutenant that Gene and George had the license plate information and asked if he wanted it. He did.
The boys bugged their 'dad' to play some games with them. The man knew he couldn't disappoint them, so they decided on Air Hockey. Mr. Ken and each boy played on a team. 'Dad' Ken made a bet that the winners of the most games would win banana splits at DQ while the others got only sundaes. The games were on. At the end of the round robin of games, Mr. Ken found himself only getting a Sundae at DQ. The boys had a good laugh over that.
When the Covers returned home, Chief was there waiting for her crew to arrive. Matthew was the sacrificial lamb that night to give Chief her ice cream treat. They all knew Chief would jump all over him trying to get her concoction.
Matthew knew the score when it came to Chief and her cold treats. He was ready to push her away when she came after him, and the cup of ice cream he held behind his back. But the young Cover and everyone else was surprised at what Chief did that night.
"Chief ... I have your treat," called out Matthew. "Please sit ... and I'll put it down in front of you."
And that was what Chief actually did. She sat down in front of Matthew, and patiently waited for her ice cream treat to be placed in front of her. When Matthew placed the cup down, Chief waited until the boy stood up and then she devoured the concoction. When she was finished, about 30 seconds later, she went to Matthew and gave him some cold doggie kisses.
Mr. Ken had everyone meet in his Study. He checked his email and sure enough, the pictures he asked Dan to send him were there. He printed out eight copies of the three pictures so everyone could have their own copy. "Dad' Ken wanted each and every boy to look at the pictures and keep it, so they could refresh their memory.
"Matthew ... do you know any of these guys?" asked Kevin.
"Well ... I know their faces, but I've never talked to any of them. Sometimes, they'd come into where we lived, but all I ever did was sit down and pretend I wasn't listening," replied Matthew.
"Boys, don't bother Matthew about what or who he does or doesn't know. Now ... I want you to become familiar with these men's faces. If you ever ... I repeat, if you EVER notice them around you, get away somehow. And, if you can't then you squeeze your coin," cautioned 'dad' Ken.
Hearing about the coin for the first time, Mr. Gene and Mr. George asked to see one and for someone to explain what Mr. Ken meant by squeezing them. Robert brought out his coin while Mr. Ken explained what they were for. He then told how Matthew used his for the first time that past Tuesday and he was able to pinpoint him for the Sheriff's Deputies to locate him.
It had been a long day, so before the older boys headed up to bed, Mr. Ken reminded them about the band auditions tomorrow. He told them the first was at 11 a.m. and they had better be ready to leave The Cove by 10:20.
Mr. Ken sent his boys up to bed and told them he'd stop up in a few minutes. After the boys left the Study, Mr. Ken talked to the security men some more about the coins and asked them not to discuss them with anyone else.
Before the Warren's departed The Cove, Mr. Ken asked them to meet them there at 9 a.m.
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