Page 14 of Benga's Rise
He nods. “Thanks, Brother.” He throws chin. “Pres.” We watch him leave.
I wait for Cort to tell me we’re done so I can go, but he waits for the door to close and looks at Dan. “Only the highest Officers that need it know about jobs that aren’t spoken of. Banks doesn’t need that information. I trust him with my life, but we keep sensitive information close.”
Pooh-bah nods. “I will not let that happen again. My understanding had all Officers cleared for information. That comes from years of Crow and your father’s involvement. It was an assumption on my part.” Interesting, but I keep my face blank and eyes on Pooh-bah so Cort doesn’t pick up on my curiosity.
Cort nods. “No harm. Banks doesn’t share. So, Falcon is military elite and has had jobs that we don’t advertise, twice this year for Colorado. You know I worked for Crow and I know I did jobs for you at times. I wasn’t given details so I couldn’t tell you what jobs they were. He told me a year before he died that he was a Mason for a special sect and a couple of my jobs were for an order away from the city. That’s the extent of my knowledge.”
Pooh-bah smiles. “Blind loyalty is very difficult to find. My question was exactly that. We have needs for a sect that requires blind loyalty. Would Falcon fit that need?”
Cort doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes. He needs only to believe he is working for the greater good. With confidence and determination, he will carry out orders based on that belief and the knowledge that everyone does not have the ability to do what he can.”
Holy fuck. Keeping my breath steady, I hope that my heart rate isn’t noticeable. I have no fucking idea what Cort sees or how, so I sit still and stay quiet.
“Thank you. He hasn’t spoken to me yet, but I will seek him out.”
Cort turns his head at an angle, but I don’t look at his face. My eyes go to his shoulder. “If you have a need, you can pass the job like Crow did to me. I will make sure it is done.”
“That will work as well. If he doesn’t pledge to the order, I will do that.”
Cort nods. “I have a need that may involve asking for advice and possibly a future shield.”
Pooh-bah nods for him to go on. “We have a large group that came through Crow. Do you know of them?”
“Yes. I believe I loaned an RV for a journey. They have our support. Is that in question?”
Cort smiles. “Yes. It was told that if something happened to Crow, my father was their shield. When Crow died, my father gave me as the shield, but I knew no details other than they are to be kept safe. Over the last year, I got those details, but don’t believe our Brother realizes your knowledge or that you are a support for him.”
Now Pooh-bah looks shocked. “He doesn’t know? We’re notthatsecret.”The shock in his voice has me turning away so I don’t laugh.“Will you let David know he has only to show or call and we’ll move them safely to a home that’s secluded. From there, he can choose his destination when he is comfortable and ready to move.”
“I’ll need the number. I’ll let him know. Is there anything else you can tell me that he may not know?”
“I have a medical report on the boys. You probably know most. All underweight, bone density was low, but Crow had them eating high protein diets. Their DNA was changed and they were given something that stopped them from growing normally. Reproduction is not an option for them. The tallest, I believe, would be the young boy whose brother died. He was not given the same chemicals as the rest.”
Cort nods. “Anton. He’s twenty now, but he’s not as tall as the others. He may have been given something else.”
Pooh-bah Dan looks concerned but goes on. “Immunization was a concern. They had none at all. Crow was going to start that after the five-year mark. Do you know if it was taken care of? I have the instructions on how and what they could be immunized with. There are two that could prove fatal.” Fuck.
“I’ll find out and hope your doctor can meet them here.”
“Of course, David has a lifelong commitment from the order no matter where he is in the world. His funds are held and waiting for him to need them.”
I am hearing all this and trying to piece shit together. Web is David? He has money and a shield with the Masons and doesn’t know it?
“His words were,Iliquidated everything and paid to get out of the state.” Cort gives a nervous glance my way before settling back on Pooh-bah.
“Oh, dear. I would be more comfortable speaking with David directly if we can do that without putting him or his boys in danger.”
Cort nods. “Raid, get Web in here and wait outside until he is finished. He won’t be comfortable talking with anyone else present. Lose the name David.”
I text for Web to come to Cort’s meeting room and stand. “Roger, Pres. I’ll be outside. This isn’t something I need the details on either.”
Cort looks relieved. “Thanks, Brother. You’ll need some, but not all. I’ll give you what you need later.”
As the door closes, Pooh-bah asks, “Web?”
Web shows and I open the door for him then close it. After thirty minutes, I’m a little closer to understanding everything that was said before I was left in the hall. Web paid to keep the albinos shielded, but doesn’t know Crow, Reed then Cort were doing it for free. He has no idea Masons will too and are holding his money for him. Web has got to be a rich man if heliquidatedshit to keep his albinos safe. The As went through shit being given chemicals that changed DNA and shit. No wonder they don’t talk and were afraid of everyone. After all these years, I finally get why we have a whole department of non-Brothers. Crow patched them all in with the Officers, but I wasn’t an Officer for Crow. He was giving them protection. Billy bitched about it for months, I never understood why it was a problem. They were working for us and Crow said they were old enough even though they’re small. Holy shit, the things I’ve learned today. I shake my head and the door opens.
“Raid,” Web says and holds the door.
