Hoodwinked Part 3

Chapter 223-2

Hoodwinked

Part 3

 

Once we had dressed Coach put us right to work using my workout exercises allowing Kirk to help as we waited for all my friends to show up that had Gym class for their last class of the day. So we would seem it was normal and not tip off anyone that we were onto them. Greg, Chad, and Eli were told to go into the wrestling gym and help Tony with a special project. Sending Jared over with me as they waited for Jenny to come back with a large bag of party favors for they were preparing for the school dance on Friday, which hid the antidote for the poison underneath the party favors.

I knew it hurt our wives that we weren’t attending the dance, Kirk said that perhaps we could work that in as part of the deal. I said. “Maybe, but it wouldn’t matter considering we had to work anyway. Now we had an additional problem which was how to handle Mr. Tate.”

I was hoping and praying that there was no way he was going to be able to do what he said he was going to do, not within an hour and a half, but I was wrong as Kirk's three friend entered the gym without a note because Mr. Tate had made them late for class. I cringed when they made their way over to me and Kirk said they have already apologized to Ricky and Martin.

“That Mr. Tate has told them that he was quite angry with them stating they had told us they refused to do their share of the work according to the bet they had made. That they would show up as requested, and Mr. Tate is now making arrangement to cover Kirk's and my shift for the weekend. But, our boss refused to let us off until 5 pm at the earliest today so we could go home and change for a nice evening out.

So far he hasn’t had much luck persuading our parents to let us spend the weekend at his estate because they didn’t want us missing any school and the dance on Friday night. He’s hoping to get some sort of compromise over dinner tonight. They apologized one last time as they were called to run laps with the rest of the boys.  

Kirk still didn’t accept it until Ricky and Martin had accepted the apology. To him and me, it was just words. Tony soon came and got us as Coach Brady called my friends to join us for a special tryout for the wrestling team. Which wasn’t the real reason, but he wasn’t about to tell them that.

He had his assistant coach take over as he went inside the other room. Tony locked the door making sure nobody could peek inside. He opened the metal case showing Coach that he had found several small hidden cameras and listening devices. That he had placed in a black sealed bag. Stating he would replace them once we were done, adding them to their own monitors and listening devices that they could tap into any time they liked. Blocking the signal or rerouting it.

Kirk quickly updated him regarding that Mr. Tate has so far fallen for the bait… that right now he trying to compromise regarding our long weekend. That our parents and Chef Philips are being difficult, Tony said. “Excellent. We mustn’t make it look too easy. We need time to get everything in place. For now, we are going over some of the training we have had started so we will be prepared to fight if we have to. Kirk, I know you have some skills, but Eric was really no match for you because he has had the most training. I think I will pair you up with Jenny so she can go over the basics. Then well square off until the bell rings and our honor guard shows up.

Kirk said. “But she’s a girl?”

Eli said. “One that can kick your butt, Eric had gone easy on you, when you when challenged him. Now you get to see what he can really do now that you are one of us.” Kirk said he watched couple quick matches on tape.

Greg said. “Good, for you, but many of us have seen him fight many times. It's one thing to watch, it’s another thing to go up against him.”

Kirk stated that he too had gone easy on me. That he rather fight me then Jenny. Tony said. “Kirk that is really a bad idea, but if you want your butt kicked I am not going to stand in your way. Well give you three rounds just like you did on Sunday, but this time there will be no weapons. This is not a fight to maim or Kill or a knock out. First one with five points wins each round will last for 5 minutes. Good luck to prepare to fight.”

Kirk and I stripped off our shirts and shoes and socks. The mat was already down as we stepped into the ring as Tony refereed. Everyone else took a seat as they stripped down as well knowing this was going to be a very short fight. Kirk launched himself at me as we played keep away; I smiled as I wiggled my fingers begging him to come to get me. It felt good not having to hold back as I flipped in the air doing acrobatics and using the fighting moves I had learned over the last three years. Kirk gasped as I twisted in the air as if I was a flying ninja.

I was quick and focused as he still was unable to touch me; I had gained 3 points in the first round, and 2 more in the next round calling the match over. Kirk was huffing and puffing as he had his hands on his knees. Stating he wasn’t expecting me to beat him so easily and so quickly when I was at full strength, not having to hide the fact I was still weak. Eli said. “I warned you he was good.”

Kirk said. “Thanks, but I figured that out on my own, how about you and I give it a go.” Eli shrugged his shoulders Tony and Coach placed bets on Eli to win. I too place a bet that Eli could take him; Even though he too has had some training in Texas; plus a couple of months with Tony and Jenny. Kirk rested a bit as Tony and Jenny worked with everyone else; until the last few minutes of gym class, allowing Eli and Kirk to go at it.

Eli was good but nowhere better than me as he and Kirk kept trading points ending a tie going into sudden death until one of them had won. Eli won the match as they both were huffing and puffing. Kirk said. “I was right, if I had gone up against you the other night you would have beaten me fair and square. Too bad my friends couldn’t have seen it.”

Eli said. “If they're lucky they won’t.”

Coach said. “Perhaps they will. I’ll arrange a match next week in gym class. Since Eric and Jared won’t need the wheelchairs anymore. It would be good to see and let them see what our boys are capable of doing. Plus I could really use the help considering you won’t need the disguise anymore.”

Tony said. “Thank God for that, because this mask and makeup make my skin itch like crazy and this wheelchair as lost its appeal of being fun anymore.”

Jenny said. “You poor baby,” as she patted his cheek then kissed him.

The bell sounded as we headed for the locker room I watched as Jenny handed one of our team members the metal suitcase and the notebook to where the devices needed to be replaced with their own, but using the casing that they came in as they switched out the guts and re-hung them so nobody would get wise.

Jeff had left long before we had entered the second gym, as always he didn’t say goodbye. I knew he wouldn’t and had happened before. Yet he wanted to help take down Mr. Tate quickly, but as he said before he wanted Tony and our tasks force to do most of the work.

All he would be doing is interference and investigating as he would link with me as I would link with Eli as he gave Tony and Stringum the information needed to breach the compounds of Mr. Tate’s estates. By the time we had showered and changed into our clothes.

Tony’s team was long gone as we watched several workmen come in to see why their cameras weren’t working right as they used walkies talkies stating everything was cool on their end. That it was just a glitch and bad cables that had masterly melted. The moment we were outside our limo was waiting and so was Mr. Tate. As our honor guard quickly surround me and Kirk. Tony had ditched his wheelchair and took his place as one of the honor guards.

Mr. Tate pretended it didn’t bother him; asking us if we got his message that he would send a car for us to take me and Kirk to dinner tonight. Kirk said. “We got the message, but there was no need to send a car for us because we would be using our own. But he could either lead the way or give us the address of the place we would be going to.”

He said. “Still comprising are we?”

Kirk said. “Always; after all, who is to say you aren’t planning to kill us? As we have said there is a price on our heads and say you didn’t send the order, yet how do we know that you weren’t behind sir? When my mother desperately tried to call you and getting the response that you had gotten the message, but we haven’t heard anything from you until you found out that she had won the big sweepstakes. We have been told not to trust you or the satanic church until we are sure that you have rectified the problem.

“Dinner, at the moment is the only thing we have agreed upon. The High Bishop has told us not to go anywhere without our honor guard present. That includes dinner and your estate if you can get our parents to agree with it; stating that we will not be missing any school or the school dance on Friday night. Not trusting anyone not to harm us or kidnap us. Eli and Nate have learned that hard way after what the fallen Queen and her men did too them.

“When they were to be delivered safely to the High Bishop estate; instead they were raped repeatedly and beaten before they had arrived at his estate; then once again when Queen lured him out so they could do it again. Hoping to discredit him and blame the murders of their deaths on him.

“Who’s to say sir that isn’t your intention? When you promised me and my mother that if we ever needed help; you would be the first one we should call upon. And you stated that you were currently away on business. Yet we saw no help coming to aid us, not you or anyone to represent you got the message stating that you were aware of it, but did nothing to aid us.

“You lied to me and my mother, sir. How do you expect us to trust your word after that? We have agreed to dinner, nothing else so far. Send car if you must, but we won’t be getting in it so you or your people can harm me, my family and my friends. Instead, we will be more than glad to meet you at the place you have picked, but not alone; which would be stupid on our part now that we can afford to have our own honor guard that will always be present.” Kirk helped me into our limo letting me do it on my own power so Mr. Tate could see the vast improvement as well as Jared.

He said. “Fine, I’ll send the address, but you should realize by now Kirk I am a man of my word, and I am truly sorry that I couldn’t have helped. I was told that you had already had all the help you needed without my assistants. So I assumed that you no longer need me to hold your hand.”

Kirk shrugged his shoulders said. “You still should have come or called or sent word. We could have used all the help we could get. Especially when the High Bishop and Holy Queen as well as other members that had promised me and my mother that they would help us.

“By the way sir my mother knows perfectly well that my father was a member of the true church as well as me and my brother. She has known that for a very long time. She respected you because you had been there for us in the past, and mentored me and my brother. She was thinking of converting, but not any longer, after what has taken place. Far as we know there is still a price on our heads. Now we need to go or we will be late for work.”

Landon closed the door and we drove off. Eli asked if it was wise to anger the monster. Kirk said. “Oh, it’s necessary because it’s the only thing that he truly believes in. I have known for years that Mr. Tate likes a challenge. I have just given him one. He either proves that he wasn’t responsible or he fails to lose his foothold on me and our friends backing him.

“He wants a piece of the action. He can not afford to lose, because others will quickly make their move now that they know we have gained the one thing they all want and that is the money and the influence that it can buy. The plan will work as we make him sweat. It will give us the time we need to take him down, plus showing that we are serious as we align ourselves with the other members that want to get in bed with us with a chance to get a foot in the door, and they too will fall nicely into our net.”

Kirk smiled as we pulled up behind the building where we were all working. Tony stationed all the guards around the property, with the strict orders to protect but allow Mr. Tate and his messengers through. I said. “Showtime.” Seeing the three boys pulling up beside us; I left my wheelchair inside the limo and walked on my own power letting Eli and Kirk help me as I made it look harder than it really was. They gasped seeing me walk on my own power without a wheelchair or pair of crutches, Kirk said. “Nate no longer needs them now for walking short distances. He is getting stronger every day like his brother John.” 

They nodded as I went inside. Everyone clapped seeing me walking on my own power. It was all fake, but too the three boys it was the closest thing to a miracle when they were told I would never walk again. But since the Holy Queen healed me, it showed that she was indeed very powerful and had been chosen by their God. In truth that too was all faked nobody was going to tell them that as Chef Philips and his boys greeted me. He said. “Are we ready to actually do some cooking Nate? I understand you were one fine Chef before your accident.”

I said. “Oh, I am more than ready sir.” He told me to go change into my work clothes and we will see what else I am capable of; stating. “By the way my office has never been so clean, you do good work. I understand that my boys and I have been invited to dinner tonight at one of the most expensive restaurants.” I nodded and he said. “Well then, its light day for us, Now that we have extra help. Mack put the boys to work. Kirk, I have been told you are seeking employment with me?”

Kirk nodded. “Yes, sir; I do have some experience in the kitchen.”

Mack smiled and said. “Really? We will put that to the test. I see you don’t have a set of knives. So I have asked Nate here if he would be willing to donate his set you. Mr. Stringum has already purchased Nate a new set of quality knives. And my crew and I would like to give them to him as a gift instead and have raised the money on our own. For helping us when he didn’t have too.”

Chef Mack quickly motioned one the guys to bring me the wrapped package off the table. I quickly opened it finding my name on each of the knives where they had them engraved with Nate Carrion on them. The handles were made of rosewood and I knew they were very expensive. I said. “Thanks, guys, it really wasn’t necessary. I like helping where I can.”

Chef Philips put his arms around me said. “It was the least we could do Nate.” I quickly change into my uniform as I smiled when Kirk smiled seeing him dressed in the same clown outfit I had first worn, but this time he had brought extra socks and so did his three friends after last time, but Kirk was given waterproof apron. While his three friends went without, only wearing the brown jacket with the white stripe and their pair of work shoes; Eli and Martin were told to put them to work. To catch up on the dishes before dinner was served. They would be the ones remaining behind to fill in for Eli, Greg, and the Phillip boys.

Greg was told he was going to work with Mack’s wife since they had plenty of dish crew and janitorial help. Eli smiled, even more, when Ricky sent the three boys out to clean the dining room and the restrooms telling them Eli was in charge. The boys shouted what the hell? Finding the restroom overflowing with water and stuffed up toilets. Mack said they did that on purpose because it makes the crew feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I laughed when I saw all the prep work they had left just for Kirk as he eyed the 5 large boxes of potatoes, 4 bags of 50 lbs of carrots, and whole 25 bags of onions.

Greg was stuck washing 3 cases of lettuce and peeling 2 bags of 50 lbs of carrots and case of red cabbage and 4 cases of tomatoes three cases of cucumbers. Plus cutting up two 100 lb blocks of cheddar cheese and shred it. He gasped when he as told she wanted him to wash the lettuce and shred the carrots and the cabbage, and giving him the knife cuts on the tomatoes and the cucumbers. He gave a tired relief sigh when she showed how to hook up the shredder on the electronic grinder. Thinking had to do it all by hand; she patted his cheek as she helped him until he could do it on his own.

Mack was having a good time yelling at Kirk as he had done with me, telling him he didn’t have all day that he wanted each of the cuts a certain way. Unlike me, he had to physically have to show him and placed the individual cuts in font him. Then gave him ten minutes to learn each of the cuts then picked them up and tossed them in the stock pot, said. “If you need a cheat sheet, you have no business being in my kitchen,” he leaned forward and placed his hand over his right ear and waited. Then gave him what for until he had given him the respect he deserves.