Page 91 of Statler

STUDS was certainly in the right to shut down Flazer’s illegal activities, but there were many people, including Eliza, who would end up out of work because of the man’s perfidy.

It totally sucked.

Statler would have to talk to Dark; see if the government might still sanction the legal end of things that went on here. After all, the place was already fully equipped and jigged to produce the specialized avionics it supplied to the military. There might be a way to keep those contracts flowing once Flazer was no longer in charge.

If Eliza⁠—

“Boss!”

Sherbert’s panicked voice had Statler forgetting all about Eliza, the factory, and his coffee as he abruptly stood up.

“Problem, Sherb?”

“You might say that. Flazer was in his office a few minutes ago,” Sherbert’s face was twisted in fury as he hurriedly approached. “And he wasn’t alone. Jeremy Lansard was with him.”

Statler had no love of the odious man.

“That’s unusual. The office is usually shut down on the weekends,” Statler returned, still not too worried. Maybe it had to do with the shipment going out tonight.

But the unflinching look of rage on Sherbert’s face told Statler it was probably bad, and he braced himself for the news.

Sherbert held up his laptop. “I recorded the conversation they had, and you’re going to want to hear this.”

Stat, fingers going to the corners of his lips, let out a shrill whistle that had doors banging open and everyone instantly running to his front porch, gathering around him in under thirty seconds.

He filled the rest of his team in. “Sherb says Flazer and Lansard were in the office this morning.”

They all exchanged worried glances.

“Okay. Play it,” Statler told Sherbert.

The man opened his computer and keyed up the audio.

It began with Flazer’s voice.

“…and you’re sure about this?” he questioned furiously.

The beginning of that conversation, Statler assumed, had taken place in the outer office before they’d retreated to Flazer’s private space.

“I’m sure,” Jeremy answered, slamming the door and sounding far too gleeful over what was angering his boss. “You told me to keep an eye on her house for anything unusual, like if that asshole Bothswait visited.”

Everyone rolled their eyes.

“But since he hasn’t, and nothing else was jumping out after all this time, I decided to break in and have a look around to see what I could find once she took off this morning. You know she always hikes on Saturdays. She won’t be back until late this afternoon, so I knew I wouldn’t get caught.”

“Son of a bitch,” Statler murmured, but quickly shut his mouth again so he could listen.

“She’s definitely moving,” Jeremy continued. “There are boxes, half-packed, all over the place, and every picture she owns is gone from the walls.”

This was news to Statler and his team.

They’d seen her just yesterday, and she hadn’t mentioned a thing.

It wasn’t his due, but Statler felt a modicum of hurt over that.

“Bitch,” Flazer spat in response. “I knew it was only a matter of time. She must have figured things out. This isn’t good.”

Statler, for once, agreed with Flazer.