Lost Sheep

CHAPTER ONE

8:00 AM FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014 BONNER, WEST VIRGINIA

The classroom of twenty students had the definite appearance of being tired. Some of the reluctant young adults were yawning and many were leaning back in their chairs with their eyes closed. European History 160 was written in big letters in orange chalk on the blackboard in front of the class. “History of the Normans” said Susan Briscom. The young associate professor managed to obtain some attention with the words. And she smiled. Setting the piece of chalk down on her desk the teacher said “The history of the Normans takes in a long span of time and a large area of Europe.” A young man sitting in the last row of the room was watching and amused by how the teacher was trying to get the interest of her students. He had on a light blue pullover hooded sweatshirt and faded blue jeans. And with long dark thick auburn hair pulled back and tied with a long piece of thin rawhide in a tight ponytail he looked like any other student in the room or on the university campus. But he was too awake and too aware for eight o’clock in the morning. Sitting up straight in his desk his dark brown eyes saw and observed what was before him. His very attentive behavior made him to stand out among the people around him. Getting hold of the metal handle at the top of the blackboard and pulling it down the professor unwound a large map of modern day Europe. As she turned to pull down the map the young man with the ponytail sitting in the back of the room got up out of his desk and taking two steps and turning to his right through the opened doorway left the room.

6:50 AM FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014 SKY MOUNTAIN, ALBERTA

Hollis Leander set his steaming cup of tea down on the warming tray on the table. Using his right hand he pulled his high collared black sweater on up around his neck. “He has the intelligence to run the business” said Charles Hinkle. The snow was heavy outside coming down over an inch an hour. Hollis Leander’s driveway which he had just cleared of snow with his snow blower was again being covered by the frozen white powdery substance. Hollis Leander picked up his tea and putting his feet up on the table leaned back into his plush checkered white and burgundy davenport. The large picture window fifteen feet in front of the sofa gave the sixty five year old businessman a good view of the Canadian Rocky Mountain scenery to the east. The tall pine trees below the house that bordered the driveway began swaying as the wind increased. The stately evergreens started to lose some of the snow that had accumulated on them with the continuous rocking movement. “I told him I wanted to put him in charge of all the fourteen cells that we run in the lower forty eight. He has the ability to manage the one hundred and forty men” said Charles Hinkle. The man knocked off the ash from his cigar onto his handmade and imported teak wood ashtray. “He is the best cell leader” he added. “I am looking at his tally for the last six years” said Hollis Leander. Holding up the computer printout the businessman appraised the transactions that Thomas Granley had completed in the last six years. As Charles Hinkle waited for his superior to check the information he rearranged his easy chair and changed his television from the professional tennis match to his favorite hunting and fishing station. “He has negotiated and completed thirty two cases in six years” said the man. Pausing a moment looking back at the sheet of data he said “I feel good about Thomas. He is still young. Only thirty. He is good with people. And he has a lot of connections in Central America and Europe.” The wind had picked up and now whistled around the corners of Hollis Leander’s home. The snow was sent swirling by the strong northwest wind on its way down the steep mountainside south of the large and luxurious residence. Charles Hinkle set his cigar down in the ash tray and talking through his speaker phone said “He is my pick for the job.” Setting the computer printout down on the sofa to his side Hollis Leander said “I agree. He is my choice for the job.” Continuing the discussion he said “So on June 12 you will be coming up here to Toronto to be put in charge of operations. And on June 16 Thomas will be going to Omaha to replace you there as productions manager.” “Yes sir” said Charles Hinkle. Changing the topic of discussion the man said “You keep in touch with me Charles. I want to know how the Bonner case is going.” “Yes sir” replied Charles Hinkle. Hollis Leander held the small dark blue cell phone out with his right hand and flipped it shut ending the conversation.