~~Young~~

Chapter Five

   There was only one word to describe Fred Grissom, hapless. Though one didn’t doubt how he managed to secure such a place of power- one look into his political contributions along with his wife’s…influence over a certain Senator made it all come together- it was still a wonder that he managed to keep said power.

   It was the first matter Gage brought up with the man once that delicious little mystery, Sera Turner, took off for hell only knew. He warned him that he needed to keep his discretions to exactly that. That to continue brining negative attention to himself would only guarantee that Gage’s own boss would resend his offer of assistance. Of course the very real threat that Gage would remove the man’s balls in a more then painful scenario just as a friendly reminder every time he looked at them, that seemed to cement the idea to give up the dalliances with those children all together for the Dean.

   Gage was honestly surprised his wife hadn’t done it already. And not that he came here with the intents of murdering this man- one more really wouldn’t be that big of a deal- but if the Dean was going to cause problems then he would be removed just as quickly as the mortal Gage was sent here to eliminate. And Gage’s employer had absolutely no qualms with Gage removing those who stood in his way.

   Once those matters were settled they were able to move on to more pertinent discussion, namely why Gage was called there in the first place.

   Their mutual “friend” was well and truly the same person who not only employed him on this jaunt back to earth, but was covering both he and Jerry’s living needs. I.E. a plush apartment back in Vancouver and a smaller loft here in Kelowna…and a host body for Jerry. It was very considerate of him to offer such a clean living vessel even if the body was a smoker, something Jerry could live with after all the junkies he’s inhabited.

   They discussed exactly what it was that concerned his employer, and why it pointed them straight at Fred. He had asked the man if he had any idea why that may be, and of course he lied. Acting completely insulted as he gave an unequivocal no. That it was true they had their differences but that Fred knew he wouldn’t be where he was if it wasn’t for his loyalty. At which he proceeded to ramble off exactly those instances that he thought proved said loyalty. Gage had to admit he was impressed with the man’s utter lack of self-respect. He would never have stooped to such lows just for power or position.

   He wasn’t quite off the hook yet, but really it was for nothing, just a scare tactic. The Senator-Gage’s employer- thought the Dean was too pathetic to think of such things as mutiny. He may be the big man here, but that was only because he was allowed to be. The Senator only had to make one phone call and not only would Fred be gone, but ruined for life.

   Gage liked the way he worked.

   But despite that, the most recent of incidents against the Senator was instigated by someone at this university, by one of the Dean’s own students. Gage had received the phone call about the incident only minutes after landing on this earth. The Senator’s men had interrogated the girl they had managed to catch on the property thoroughly, but she wouldn’t give up a bit of useful information never mind who had ordered the attack on the Senator’s finances. By the time they were done with her she was bruised, broken and bleeding and they knew no more than what they could get off her college transcripts. And as they themselves couldn’t investigate without brining light to an incident the Senator would rather keep to himself, Gage was called in so to speak. In no way could he be considered acting on official business, hell he wasn’t even human, and should things not go as planned then he easily could just disappear back to hell leaving no trail to follow back to anyone, only ashes.

   Arson was one of Jerry’s specialties.

   Fred gave Gage another copy of the papers he had already received from the Senator’s men- apparently this all went down while he was down in the islands and he wouldn’t be back for some time. He was trusting Gage over his own men to get this over with quickly and discretely and would meet him when he returned a couple of weeks from now with his payment, Gage didn’t do these things out of the goodness of his heart after all- and what little info he himself knew of the girl. She, like that Sera, refused to take any of his offers of “assistance” but seemed to him that she could be swayed with time. He had actually recommended her to the Senator once for “private” work but it never seemed to pan out. Anything else he told Gage was either fairly useless- she was an Olympic hopeful in swimming and looked damn good in that bathing suit- or what Gage already knew- she belonged to a sorority here and was one of three vying for the leadership once the lead sister graduated, the Beta Alpha Gama’s.