Jason Berry was in the General's office at the barrack's going over some paperwork when his cell phone began to ring, loud and insistent. He frowned as he grabbed it and glanced at the caller ID. It was Valary. His expression hardened as he answered the call and heard the anxious tone to her voice. He may have ratted on her husband, but he had known Val as long as he'd known Matthew, and so he did care for her.

“Val, slow down, hun...what's going on?” he grimaced as she spoke her mind. “I see.” Jason licked his lips, looking over at the wall clock. “Do you want me to talk to him? No? So, what do you want me to do then? Oh…there’s more?” His brows crashed down as he went quiet and listened to her. Finally he said, tone taking on a surprised edge, “What? Brian said what?”

He grabbed a spiral-pad and a pen and scribbled a couple of notes down. “Right, well that’s, not…good. Thank you for telling me. No. No. You shouldn’t feel bad; it was the right thing to do. I will speak to the right people and see what should be done about it.” After saying some more reassurances to Matthew’s obviously upset wife, he hung up, tore the sheet of paper from the pad and left the office to find the General.

He found Eskino on the training field where the men were running through some firearm drills. The General turned his head as Jason approached.

“Captain?” He held a cane in his left hand which he switched to his right as he waited for Jason to speak.

Jason frowned as he pushed any thoughts of betrayal from his mind. Now that Matthew was no longer in charge he couldn’t afford to be sentimental. Even if part of him did feel bad.

“We have a major problem, sir.”

General Eskino’s brow furrowed slightly as he faced the younger man. “Talk.”

Jason cleared his throat before he started, glancing down at the piece of paper in his hand. It took him several minutes to relay almost word for word what Val had told him and once he had finished, the General’s face had taken on a grim cast. Jason waited for his verbal response, knowing that he couldn’t assume anything until the words were said. No one made assumptions of the General.

“When he comes in tomorrow, send him directly to me. I will deal with it.” General Eskino looked hard at the young Captain. “We will also announce your promotion to the men.” He tucked his cane beneath his arm as he returned his steely gaze to the rest of the corps.

Jason let his breath out; only just realising he was holding it. He was a little surprised by the second part of what the General said. However, he knew it was inevitable. The announcement had to be made, sooner or later.

He nodded and saluted the General before turning to walk back to the barracks.

“Oh, Captain.”

Jason stopped and looked back over his shoulder at the elder male. “Yes, sir?”

“I would like to speak with your brother as well,” Eskino commanded in a smooth voice.

Jason’s stomach churned in sudden trepidation. “Sir?” He didn’t like the sound of that. Sure, he’d supplied those instruments to Matthew, but it wasn’t as if he knew what the guy was going to use them for.

“Your brother. He oversees the Locker. I wish to speak with him. Inform him.” There was no emotion in the General’s voice. He expected to be obeyed, and Jason wasn’t one to go against him.

He nodded then turned and paced across the gravel back to the main building.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, back at the Sanders’ residence, Val was getting more and more agitated as time passed. Now that she was at home, in familiar surroundings, she was having serious misgivings about the two calls she had made. She knew she probably should’ve waited to speak to Matthew face-to-face, but she had been so worked up by what Brian had told her… Then, calling Jason… she felt horrible about that. After all, it had hurt her when Matthew had told her Jason had ratted him out. That it was his fault her husband had been demoted.

“God…I didn’t even ask how his day was,” Val moaned out loud as she collapsed on the couch. She’d made her way into the living room. Jolting slightly when she noticed Johnny lying on the opposite couch, his eyes turned toward her.

Johnny cocked his head, raising his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

“Oh, hey, Johnny…” Val brushed her hair from her face. He smiled at her, but said nothing. She sighed, answering him. “I called Matt and didn’t ask him how his day was…”

Johnny nodded a little, but still remained quiet. He just looked at her with that same, sad smile on his face. Val blinked a little realising that it was the first time the two of them had been together, alone. Well, apart from that one time when Matt had stormed out of the room.

“How’re you?” she murmured, deciding she didn’t want to think or talk about her husband for the moment. Johnny shrugged in response and rolled onto his back so he was looking at the ceiling. “Um, did you want to do something? Watch a movie? TV?”

Johnny started to shake his head; Val frowned at him and he sighed, “I’m easy. Never watched much TV, anyway…” She looked at him, non-plussed. Johnny smiled, “Spent majority of my time in the…band.”

Val nodded and climbed to her feet, going to the cabinet and grabbing the remote. She handed it over to the young male and smile.

“Here, choose whatever. Matt’s installed cable, so we get about ninety-nine channels…”

Jonny smirked as he flicked the set on. “Probably mostly crap at this time of the day.” His voice trailed off as a baseball game flashed onto screen. He sat up and leaned forward, taking notice. Valary smiled at how he instantly switched his focus from her to the screen and she silently eased out of her chair and left the room.

She headed for the bedroom and stepped inside and just stood looking at her and Matt’s bed. The sheets were neatly made and the spread folded back, ready for use. Thoughts of the night after their marriage filled her mind as she gazed around the room. Matthew had been extremely amorous and they’d made love, slowly, languidly. It had been the best night of her life, but it made her a little sad that she hadn’t felt that way in a long time. Sure, they’d had snatched glimpses of it, but married life wasn’t what she’d expected. And, her husband probably felt the same way.

And now, with the added tension of knowing that Matt had been hiding things from her. That was hard for her to stomach. Val sighed and sat on the edge of the bed as her mind wandered onto her husband. What exactly was her man up to? And why wasn’t he home, yet?

* * * * *

Zacky tossed his spanner aside and looked at his brother. Matty Baker leaned against the side of the Bentley and raised his eyebrows.

“So, Shads is gonna try and help Papa Gates with his campaign?”

Zacky shook his head, sighing roughly. “He’s not trying to. He is. And, it’s driving me mental.” He wiped his hands on a cloth, grease stains covering the dirty piece of material. His brother nodded as he slapped a hand against the bonnet of the car.

“Can’t decide whether it’s a good idea or not?”

“You saw what happened six years ago,” Zacky murmured. “We were both at the shop that day.”

Matty grimaced, sourness in his eyes. “Yeah, that was a bad day for all of us. Feel for Shads. What a fucking mess.” He pushed away from the vehicle, tapping his palm on the side mirror. “Well, you gotta weigh up the pros and cons, bro. I mean, he obviously trusts you to include you.”

Zacky walked over to the side bench, laying his spanner down and grabbing an open beer, taking a long hard drink. He paused before responding to his brother’s statement.

“Yeah, I just…don’t know.”

“Don’t want to risk getting caught?”

“Something like that. Though, this is Matthew we’re talking about. It’d be pretty safe to be doing this with him. Fuck, he was TaskerOne. It’s not like he’s a fucking wallflower.” Zacky smirked faintly as he finished his drink then turned to look at the Bentley. Matty came to stand beside him, tilting his head to the side.

“What do you think, Matty?” Zacky asked, deciding a change in subject was in order. Matty smiled as he wiped his own hands on a grease cloth that was tucked into the front of his pants.

He licked his lips as he replied, “Very nice, Zack. Sweet ride you got here.” He glanced at his brother. “Why’d the Mayor give it you, anyway?”

Zacky shrugged. “Didn’t want it anymore.” He grabbed a rag and leaned over the bonnet to polish a spot on the front.

Matty got a drink from the fridge and propped himself against the wall, observing his brother. So many people said that Zachary Baker was a shit mechanic, but even though he probably did lack in some technical skills, he definitely made up for it in the care that he showed every vehicle he worked on. Care and pride. Which extended to the way he treated family and friends. Hence the reason why he was so conflicted over the whole thing with Matthew.

Zacky obviously wanted to be loyal to his friend, but at the same time, he was very well aware of the law and the consequences of flouting it. They were all aware of it.

“So, what’re you gonna do?” Matty asked in a quiet voice.

Zacky frowned, looking over his shoulder at him. “About?”

“Shads’ plan?”

He sighed as he straightened and tucked the cloth in his pants. “I’m going to see where it all leads. Just have to trust him.” He smiled a little. “Just gotta think about the fact that this hasbeen a dream of mine for a very long time.” He sucked at his piercings then nodded firmly. “Yes, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Matty chuckled, setting his bottle down and going to his brother to clap a hand on his shoulder. “Think, this might just change the world.”

Zacky laughed outright, shaking his head. “I think Shads is aiming for closer to home.” He patted at his brother’s hand, welcoming the support.

“Well,” Matty’s voice took on a serious edge, “you always gotta start somewhere.”

Zacky blinked at his brother’s statement but nodded in agreement. It was indeed a start, he just had no idea how it was going to end, and that was what worried him. Still, he couldn’t let that worry him. He at least had to give it a chance.

Smoothing the cloth over the shiny exterior of the Bentley he smiled tightly. “Yep. Everything has a beginning.” He grinned at is brother. “Like our night. Let’s shut up early.”

“Early?” Matty scoffed. “It’s almost seven.”

Zacky threw his cloth at him. “Just ‘cause you normally shove off at five.”

“Alright, alright…I can’t help it I’m not anal, like you.”

Zacky laughed, giving him the finger before going to check his gear. “Right, whatever. Let’s go. I’ll give the car a run tomorrow.”

Matty smiled doing a run over the shop as he joined his brother at the door. They walked out together, Zacky double checking all lights and machinery were switched off before shutting the roller door and locking it. He paused looking over his shoulder at the shop door, a strange sense coming over him. He couldn’t explain it but he felt that something was going to happen in the near future that would change his own life. Change the way he viewed things, and that it would somehow involve his work.

Shaking his head at his thoughts, Zacky turned and made his way to the truck, his brother close behind him. Time to head home and forget about work for the night. Plenty of time for that, and everything else, in the morning.