Caught In A Name

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Right after Lucy made her announcement, the three Faulkerson men stood a lot straighter, a lot more in command. A look was exchanged among them and as if in sync, they gave one last squeeze to the women and stepped back.

Daniel moved first, heading towards the foyer. Followed by Richard Sr. after he gave his wife a kiss to the forehead. Richard went last but then as he was about to take his last step before disappearing, he swiftly turned back. He walked towards Nicomaine with determination and purpose. Once she was within an arm's length, he pulled her unto him and gave her a meaningful, full of promise type of a kiss. A kiss that took Nicomaine's breath by surprise that before she could even recover, Richard was already walking away.

"I want to help" Nicomaine yelled breathlessly.

"No. Stay here" was Richard's command.

But Nicomaine being Nicomaine followed anyway. She was about to catch up to Richard when he turned around and he had the most thunderous expression. He placed both his hands on Maine's arms to stop her from moving.

"Nicomaine! I said stay here" he repeated.

"No! Mr. Smith is shot because of me. I want to help!"

"For fuck's sake Maine! Please. I need you to stay here."

"But..."

"Dammit! I will not be able to concentrate out there if I have to worry about your safety. I don't know if they were followed. For once Maine. Stay inside!"

"But..."

"Please Maine! I beg you" Richard began and then he realized that he could be going about this the wrong way. If there's anything he's learned about Maine, it's that she doesn't like being told on what to do. So he changed his tactics. "Maine, please. I need you to stay here with the other ladies. If Jones and Smith were followed, there's a chance that their tail is still lurking outside the ranch. I can't leave the ladies here without protection. That's why I need you in here with them."

"Aahhhm okay" Nicomaine reluctantly agreed.

"Do you know how to use a gun?"

"Yes. Perfect marksman or markswoman for that matter" Nicomaine proudly stated.

"Okay, come with me" Richard instructed as he turned and headed towards the back of the library. He pulled on a book on the shelf and the two bookcases opened in the middle to reveal a secret door. But before he could open it, he heard Riz ask.

"Kuya RJ, what's going on?"

"Riz, I'll explain everything later" he answered in a rush as he entered a sequence of numbers on the door panel. It opened inward noiselessly and Richard stepped inside. After a few seconds, he popped his head out again with a questioning look directed at Nicomaine. "Well? Are you going to come in or what?"

"Oh? I didn't think I was invited inside."

"Maine..." he began in exasperation only to be interrupted.

"Okay! Okay! I'm coming in. Step aside, GI JOE." Nicomaine sarcastically remarked as she stepped forward. Once inside the room, she looked around and was just plain dumbfounded. Because she was joking when she called Richard GI JOE, but holy shit! "Richard! Why the fuck do you have this in your house?!? This is an arsenal! Were you expecting world war 3?!?"

"In my line of work, I've come across some really bad people. Scums of the earth. I might have killed or sent their father, their brothers, their sons and sometimes even their mothers, sisters and or daughters, to prison. They've seen my face as much as I've seen theirs. So it just makes sense to be prepared for anyone or anything for that matter" Richard explained.

"Sheesh. I wouldn't want to be the one to piss you off" Nicomaine murmured while tentatively touching a 45 caliber on the shelf.

"Never" Richard stated under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing. Is that your weapon of choice?" Richard asked, a little curious and admittedly, a little aroused. The way Maine touched the gun made him envious.

"It's the only one I've ever gravitated to. I also like a 38 but yeah a 45 is my first choice."

"Wait a minute. How do you know about guns?" Richard asked.

"Later. I'll tell you later."

"Okay. Only because I am in a hurry for obvious reasons. But, we need to talk about the real you later."

"Yeah, yeah. And don't forget, you need to tell me about Elizabeth. Tit for tat Richard. I don't forget easily."

"Right. The bullets are inside the drawers. Pick two spare and load one" Richard remarked as he reached for another 45 caliber himself.

Both Richard and Nicomaine loaded their weapons in silence and in a flash. They looked and gave each other a nod of understanding before they stepped out of the small room.

The door closed behind them automatically and Richard was about to take off (again) when his way was blocked by his irate mother.

"RICHARD FAULKERSON JR! What is going on?"

"Mom, like I told Rizza, I will explain everything later. Right now, I need to be out there with Kuya and Dad to see what's happening."

"Hay naku anak! Kung ano man yan, ayusin niyo. Kararating mo lang tapos may gulo ng ganyan [Whatever that is, you'd better straighten it out. You just got home and now there's trouble]!"

"Yes ma'am! I have to go" Richard replied, placing an appeasing kiss on his mother's forehead. "Maine will stay here with you" he added.

Just then Elvira and Lucy came running inside the house.

"Ricardo mi hijo! Tu padre te quiere afuera. ¡Ahora! [Your father wants you outside. Now!]" Elvira exclaimed.

"Riz! Lockdown! As soon as I get out, activate lockdown!" Richard instructed in earnest.

"Got it Kuya!" Riz answered.

"Richard!" Maine yelled before Richard could step out the door. As soon as he looked back, "please be safe out there" she added.

"I'll be back" Richard answered, Terminator style but the joke failed to reach the ladies inside. Not one smiled. So, he turned and took off.

As soon as the doors closed, Riz pressed a button on the side of the door and the sound of the doors and windows locking throughout the house could be heard among the silence. As soon as the last lock clicked, she pressed a series of numbers on the panel beside the front door. Once she's done that, she turned to Nicomaine.

"The entire house is now locked and the alarm has been set. There won't be any activity from the outside perimeter that we won't know about. Now, let's all go back in the library and wait" she remarked calmly as if she was just taking about what they had for lunch.

Then it dawned on Nicomaine how this entire family must have military background or at least been trained to military life. They all took what's happening calmly as if it's an everyday occurrence. She watched Riz walk back into the library, followed by Elvira and Lucy. She followed right after. Once inside the library, she saw Rosalia watching Angela on the couch as the latter cuddled Charmaine on her lap.

The other ladies each picked a spot on the sectional couch, settling in as if waiting for the sun to set.

As soon as each of them were settled inside the library, Riz turned on the TV. Probably to act as a distraction from what's really happening on the outside.

It was after a few minutes later when everyone heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire!