Chapter Six

“Where did you get the name Gideon Delanie?” Tank asked me much later as we sat down to eat.

“There was a note in her car, talking about paying an owed debt. Lucas and I assumed the note was for me but after Megan’s father asked for financial retribution it got me thinking,” I said.

“And you paid him a visit.”

“Yes, took a cordless drill and some steel rods with me,” I said.

“Shit, you weren’t playing around,” Jack said.

“I have to do this Tank. She was being hurt while I lay in the sun in Bermuda,” I said bitterly.

“You didn’t know Ryder, none of us knew,” Tank said.

“That fact doesn’t help me sleep better either,” I replied.

Tank’s computer searches were still running, gathering information on Gideon Delanie, his family, his businesses, everything that could be found. I fell asleep easier that night knowing that soon I’d end him.

The following morning we sat around the kitchen table having breakfast and I was feeling on edge again. “Tell me what you found on Gideon Delanie.”

“Gideon Delanie, forty-nine years old, he trades mainly in tourism it seems. Family owns some resorts in Mexico. He’s married and he has four children. His territory in Mexico is vast Ryder, this guy breathes money and contacts.”

“Mexico’s big Tank,” I said.

“He basically owns Puerto Vallarta,” Tank replied.

“Is he dragonkin?” I asked him.

“He’s the Alpha wolf of his pack,” he said.

“What’s his connection to Kurt Greer?” I asked.

“Ryder, Gideon hasn’t left Mexico in three years, he’s so connected it makes Lucas look like a choir boy,” Tank said with a smile.

“I didn’t expect him to do his own dirty work,” I said. “Find his employees, track them, someone went to Princeton and took Megan.”

“There’s no financial link between Gideon Delanie and Kurt Greer, or any of their family members for that matter,” Tank said.

“What are the chances that Kurt lied to you?” Jack asked me.

“There’s a link somewhere, we just haven’t found it yet,” I said.

“Okay, let me run down his affiliates,” Tank said.

It took another five days for Tank to run down all of Gideon’s affiliates, business partners and so forth. He had over two hundred employees, both in Mexico and here in the States. His financials were clean and if he was involved with illegal dealings, nobody knew about it. He contributed to charities, were involved in the town’s upkeep. He was friends with the mayor, enough politicians and there even seemed to be a connection tying him to the President.

“I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you,” Tank said.

I was on edge, bored and I was tired of just sitting around Jack’s house, not doing anything pro-active. I wanted to be in Mexico, trailing this guy but I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to get close enough to him. He was too protected.

“What about his connections in the States?” I asked.

“That’s going to take time, because one company leads to another, and that leads yet to another,” he said.

“I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated,” I said as I sank down on the couch.

“There might be someone that can help you meet him,” Tank said.

“Who?”

“Basil.”

“How the hell is Basil connected to this man?” I asked him.

“His name just popped onto the screen, maybe you should call him and ask him,” Tank suggested.

I had called them to tell them about Megan’s death but I hadn’t told them about anything else. I wanted information first and now it seemed that I’d have to ask Basil for a favour. If I was lucky he’d only be slightly pissed at me.

“I know we said we’d do dinner or lunch at some point,” Basil said jokingly when he answered the phone.

“I need your help,” I said and he gave me a full belly laugh.

“Ryder Grey needing my help?”

“Don’t sound so smug about it,” I said.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“I need some information from you.”

“I’m speechless, impressed and …”

“Oh piss off,” I said as he laughed.

“Information on what?”

“Gideon Delanie,” I said.

“Why?” he asked me sounding tense and serious.

“Do you have illegal dealings with him?” I asked.

“Ryder … he’s not someone you want to trifle with,” Basil said.

“Stop bullshitting me Basil, he took something that belonged to me,” I said angrily.

“How sure are you of that?”

“Because my artwork sang his name like a canary after I did some reconstructive work with my drill,” I said.

“Shit.”

“What does shit mean?” I asked him.

“Stay away from Gideon Delanie, trust me on this, I’ll call you back,” Basil said and ended the call.

Tank raised an eyebrow as I put my phone away and frowned. This was not what I had expected, Basil was hiding something and I had no idea how deep he was in with Gideon. I knew Basil didn’t always follow the letter of the law, but he wasn’t the type to get involved with the black market.

“Uh oh,” Jack said as he walked into the kitchen.

“Tank, book me a flight to Mexico,” I said as I walked to the guest room to pack my bag.

“Ryder, you heard what Basil said,” Tank said loudly.

“Yeah and what part of that whole conversation didn’t make you think that something weird is going on?” I asked him.

“He said he’d call you back,” Tank said crossing his arms across his chest.

“I’m not waiting around for him to decide what to tell me,” I said slinging the duffel bag across my shoulder.

“Little Ryder …”

“Don’t little Ryder me. You’d have been tearing through that pack like a mad man if you found Jack like I found Megan, so don’t fucking little Ryder me,” I said angrily.

“I was going to say don’t get yourself killed,” he said.

“Oh.”

“But you’re speech was real nice,” Tank said half glaring at me.

“Sorry big guy,” I said as he smiled at me.

“You shouldn’t be going alone,” Jack said from behind me.

“This is personal Jack.”

“And Felix wasn’t personal? You almost got yourself killed getting your revenge for your friend,” Jack said with a hand on his hip.

“Exactly Jack, Basil and Elio was taken with me, don’t you think I feel guilty as hell about that? Megan was mine to protect, I failed and I will avenge her,” I said.

“He’ll do what he wants to do Jack, nobody tells Ryder what to do, he’ll call if and when he needs us,” Tank said.

“Thank you for everything, I really do appreciate you guys,” I said and walked out of their house.

Fifteen minutes after I left the text with my flight details were sent by Tank. Even when I was an asshole he still came through for me. I was just hoping that he’d take longer to call Basil or Elio about me heading to Mexico alone.

“Grey,” I answered my ringing phone as I stood in line ready to board my flight.

“Sire Ryder, we have received a retribution application against you,” Elder Michael said.

“From Kurt Greer I suspect,” I said.

“He’s making a financial claim against your lair for the wrongful death of his daughter, Megan Greer,” he said.

“Forgive me Elder but shouldn’t he be able to prove that I’m responsible for her death?” I asked him.

“Yes, he was hoping you’d settle this quietly, if you ask me,” he said.

“Not a chance.”

“The other matter is that he claims you assaulted him in his home and drilled a hole through his knee,” Elder Michael said questioningly.

“I can’t confirm or deny that allegation,” I said.

“I see, well as you know he needs sufficient proof of his claims,” he said and I smiled.

“How does one prove a wound that isn’t there?” I asked and he chuckled.

“We’ll contact you again once we’ve spoken to Sire Lucas and the applicant. Take care of yourself Sire Ryder,” he said.

“Thank you Elder and please send my regards to the other Elders,” I said.

I hadn’t really thought that Kurt would have the balls to go to the Elders but I shouldn’t be surprised by anything he does. He still wanted money and that made me a little apprehensible about what I was going to do once I got to Mexico.

“Nothing’s changed,” Abeloth hissed.

“I know.”

“I can almost taste the blood,” he said with a smirk.