Page 26 of High Velocity

Griff rubbed the stubble on his chin, contemplating.“Summertime, kids out of school, getting bored, doing stupid kid shit.Job site is just outside of Hazelton, so, not far-fetched to think some bored punks are up to no good.”

“All the hits are on job sites where there’s no security, no video.No one and nothing to stop someone from coming along and sabotaging our equipment,” Roark said.

“And the sites aren’t linked in any way,” Motley said.“The jobs are spread out, unrelated to one another.Sounds personal to me,” he stressed.

Griff pulled out a notebook and began flipping through the pages.He stopped on a page, running his finger down the paper.

“First hit was end of May, south of Kimberly on Murdock’s property.Set fire to the trencher which spread and resulted in burning up half his cherry crops.Second hit was two weeks later in Jerome.Hydraulic hoses sliced, leaked fluid into the irrigation system, and ruined two fields of potatoes for Gibbs.And now the excavator in Hazelton, which is...”

“In close proximity to Keys’s rhubarb crops,” Roark stated.

Griff looked up and pinned Roark with a stare.“Contact Josh Keys, find out if he’s discovered any effect on his crops yet.Maybe someone is targeting these farmers, and we happen to be in the middle.A catalyst to catastrophe.”

“Fuck,” Roark and Motley swore at the same time.“On it,” Roark said as he lifted his phone and pulled up his contacts.

“No fire, but possible fluid leak,” Motley said.“What the fuck?Saboteurs so lazy now they can’t bring their own shit to ruin what they want to ruin?”

Griff snorted.“Maybe they’re thinking a two-for-one—hurt us while also hurting farmers.But why?Did we piss in someone’s cereal lately?”

“Not that I’m aware of.This is the first of any problems in years.”

Roark looked at his Prez.“Josh said he’s looking over the field now and will let me know what he finds.”

Griff nodded, then looked at Motley.“Check in with the other sites about when the jobs will be completed.Talk with the neighboring farmers as well as the others already affected about any concerns they may have had.About anything.Something doesn’t sit right, and we need to nip this in the bud before more damage, or worse, is done.Tech got video surveillance set up at the shooting range, so if any more shenanigans occur, we’ll have evidence.The gun shop and our yard haven’t had any incidents.Let’s hope that continues.”

The Prez then looked at Roark.“All good with you and Charli?”

“Better than good.She got a lot off her shoulders last night, and as much as it pained me to hear what she went through, I think it was cathartic for her.”

Motley snorted.“Cathartic?Listen to you with the fancy words.”

Roark kicked the VP’s boot that rested atop his knee.“I’m a veritable wordsmith.Stick around, and you just might learn a thing or two.”

Motley snorted while Griff chuckled.

“All right, get gone.Be productive,” Griff said.“I—” His ringing phone interrupted him, and when he looked at the screen, frown lines marred his face.“It’s Glenda.”

Roark tensed.His mom rarely called Griff, usually contacting Dad or himself no matter the problem.

Griff accepted the call, putting it on speaker.“Hey, Glenda.Got you on speaker.Roark and Motley are here.”

“Good.Less calls to make.Figured I’d start of the top so you can spread the word.One, my coffee shack in Hunt was burned down last night.”

“What the fuck?”All three men cursed.“No one was hurt?”Roark asked.

“No,” his mom answered.“Happened in the middle of the night.I don’t have the gals open on Thursday until later, so as soon as Brandi arrived, she freaked and called me.Two, Roark, get over to Harvey’s.Seems Charli’s presence is creating quite a stir.Plenty of lookie-loos when I drove by this morning on the way up here.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“He’s here with me, talking to Sheriff Lutrell.We’re giving our report.Already contacted the insurance company, and they’re sending an agent, so we’ll hang around until they show.”

“I’m heading to Harvey’s,” Roark stated as he turned for the door.He heard Motley tell their Prez he’d check with the other sites and farmers as requested.Then he jogged to catch up with Roark.

“Hey, want company?”Motley said, grinning.

“Think I can handle it.You got your own shit to do.”

“Swing by one of the stands and grab a coffee and muffin or something.Make your visit look like you’re not there to bust heads because your lady is drawing a crowd.”