Jagged Ends by Thom Collins

Author:Thom Collins [Collins, Thom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2024-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Mari’s boyfriend Richie Goldman met Jerico at the restaurant promptly at ten-thirty the next morning. He was a muscular black man in his early forties. He was dressed well in dark trousers and a navy polo shirt with the logo of Goldman’s Security emblazoned proudly on the left breast. The short sleeves revealed impressive biceps and powerful forearms. Richie struck him as polite, professional and strong. Handsome, too. Andy’s mother had good taste.

“Thanks for coming,” Jerico said, leading him to the office on the first floor.

“I’m glad to be of help. I love what you’ve done with this place.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“A couple of years ago. One of the previous owners had a problem with vandals while the premises stood empty. We provided them with nighttime security.”

So, he was already familiar with the building. Even better.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Jerico asked, indicating he take a seat.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Richie sat, opened his leather briefcase and extracted a document, before placing the case on the floor. Straight down to business. Jerico liked him even more.

Jerico sat on the other side of the desk. “I take it Mari has filled you in on what’s been happening.”

Richie’s smile was easy and confident. “It’s better that I hear it direct from you. You’re the client, and I want to deliver the security that suits you best. You’d be surprised how much the details can change when a third party recounts a story.”

Jerico tried to keep it brief and to the point, but summarising ten years of torment wasn’t easy. He stuck to the current facts. Dean Ferguson was somewhere in the area and unaccounted for and had an eye on sabotaging the opening of the restaurant.

“I’m not sure he’d be so bold as to try anything on the first night. We’ll have press and media coverage. It might be too public for him. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to sabotage things within the first week.”

“If he’s as unstable as he appears to be, I wouldn’t rule out anything. Until the police catch up with him, you need to prepare for anything at any time.”

“I agree. We’ve got security while the building is empty at night, but I want to step it up around the restaurant for the first week at least. We can review it on a weekly basis from there.”

Richie made some notes. “There’s only one entrance to the public, at the front?”

Jerico nodded. “And an exit at the back, through the kitchen.”

“Fire escape?”

“There’s one on the left of the dining room, but it won’t be open unless there’s an emergency. The only real way in is through the front or the back.”

“Good. And the guestlist for your opening? I take it you don’t know them all personally?”

“No.”

“So, if he wants to come inside, it’s possible he could get in through the guest list.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Okay, here’s what I suggest. For this weekend, I would put two guards on the front door. Everyone who comes in is bag-searched and checked with a metal detector.

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