CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Hey, you guys need to meet this next client," said Rafe. "He's going to fit right in with what we're already doing. His name is Clint Bowman. Big bastard."

"What the fuck does he want with us?" asked Gaspar.

"You'll see," smirked Rafe. He waved the man down the hall, watching as he ducked his head to get into the conference room.

"Holy shit," muttered Nine. "Who would fuck with you?"

"I appreciate that, but apparently, I looked like an easy mark," he frowned. "My name is Clint Bowman. I'm a former pro football player and own my own landscaping and contractor business now."

"What can we do for you, Mr. Bowman?" asked Gaspar.

"I was telling this little fella," he said, pointing at Rafe. He frowned, looking back at Gaspar. "Y'all twins?"

"No," laughed Gaspar. "We're brothers. I have seven more that look just like him and one that's about your size."

"Well, you're all big boys. You would have done well in the game. Anyway, I find it hard to meet ladies. They're either intimidated by my size or want to know my size if you know what I mean."

"We know what you mean," smirked Ghost.

"I joined this stupid fucking dating site that one of the kids working for me recommended. Most of the women were a waste of time, but there was one woman that really caught my attention. She seemed sweet, smart, didn't ask me once about being a baller or how much money I made. Nothing."

"Did you meet her face-to-face?" asked Ian.

"I did. We met for drinks at Riley's."

"Riley's? That's where the other guy met a woman," said Ghost. Clint nodded, jerking a thumb toward Rafe again.

"That's what this little fella said."

"Little fella? I'm six-three," smirked Rafe.

"Like I said. Little fella. Anyway, met up, and she was beautiful. We had a good conversation even though she didn't know anything about landscaping or building stuff. I like to take a good look at a beautiful lady like the next guy, but this little thing was showin' way more than my mama would approve of. Still, I'm a man, so I was lookin', and she noticed."

"No harm in looking," smirked Ian. "What did she say?"

"Wasn't what she said. It was what she did. Started slidin' her hand up my thigh goin' for the big pony, if you know what I mean."

"We know what you mean," nodded Nine.

"She wanted to go back to my house, but I don't like takin' strange ladies to my home. Especially not on the first date. She seemed upset by that, but it's a rule. Firm. So, she suggested we do her place. I was game, followed her in my truck. It was a decent enough little place. Not a lot of furniture, but I think she was only worried about a bed.

"Well, sir. She started rubbin' on me. Got me pretty worked up and then offered me a drink. Except I don't drink. She offered me a bottled water. Except I like tap water. Grabbed a glass and got it myself. Strange thing was, there was only one glass in the cabinet. Nothin' else. That's when I started to get suspicious. She got all pouty, tryin' to pull me to the bed. I asked what's the hurry. Then, I decided to play along. We got busy, doin' the horizontal mambo, if you know what I mean."

"Yep, we know," smirked Ghost.

"Anyway, she was good. Better than good. I've never had to hire someone to make me happy before, but I suspect it would have looked like what she was doing. Went at it four, maybe five times. Then she says she's gonna get me a refill of water. Comes back with the glass, and I knew immediately there was somethin' in it. Faked her into thinkin' I drank it all, pretended to be asleep.

"I could hear her goin' through my pants pockets."

"Did she steal your wallet?" asked Rafe.

"Nope," he laughed. "My wallet was in the truck, which is locked with my fingerprints. Don't need a key."

"Oh, man, I bet she was pissed," laughed Ghost.

"She started lookin' in every nook and cranny. Then I hear her on the phone with some fella, and he says he's gonna come over and help her. She left me there sleepin', then when I hear him come in, I get up and get dressed."

"I bet he shit his pants on that one," smirked Gaspar.

"I gotta tell y'all. I never wanted to hurt a woman more than I did that lady. They were whispering about how to find my wallet and get into my truck. I surprised ‘em and said all you need is my hand. Come and get it." The men in the room chuckled. "That gal, she ran like her life depended on it, and it might have. The fella, he was lookin' at me trying to decide if he was gonna take me on. I just smiled at him and told him it would only hurt for a few minutes.

"They both were runnin' the last time I saw ‘em. Got into a new BMW and took off. I thought of following 'em but didn't want to waste my time. What I did find was this. According to the fellas down at the computer shop, it's something that would scan my credit cards and transfer available cash to another account real fast."

He slid the device across the table, and Code picked it up, nodding.

"It's pretty sophisticated and isn't cheap. It's sold on the black market, handmade usually. But that's exactly what it does. They just had to input your card into this. It takes every piece of data from the card and authorizes transfers as if it were you doing it. Pretty impressive."

"Pretty deadly if you ask me. I'm gonna find that fella and that gal and let them both know how I feel about what they were doin'."

"Don't risk anything on your end, Clint. We're going after these people, and I'm sure we'll be able to find them. Just to be clear, they didn't take anything from you?" asked Ian.

"Nope. A bit of my pride, but that'll grow back," he smirked. "I also went to visit the office of the dating website."

"Wait, you had an address for them?" frowned Code.

"It was on something they sent me when I signed up. I'm a businessman. Most people underestimate me with my country charm," he grinned. "I print everything and save it. I went to that address, but it was nothing but an old, empty building near the river. Nothing in it at all."

"No, but it might have some electronic equipment that they're using. Servers or switch points for what they're trying to do."

"Well, this is the address," he said, sliding a sheet of paper across to Code. "Happy to go with you, but don't think you can hold me back if they're there. I'm a pretty even-keeled fella most of the time, but this one has me hotter than a metal seat on an outdoor toilet in July."

"We're sorry you've had this problem, Clint. I hope it doesn't stop you from trying to find someone. Sounds like she was the one that missed out."

"Oh, don't worry about me," he smiled. "When I was filing the police report, the lady officer gave me your name. I asked for her name. We got to talking, and I'm having dinner with her tonight. I figure a cop is a safe bet." The men all laughed as the big man stood, his knees cracking and creaking.

"Damn, brother."

"Hazards of the job," he smiled. "People think the tough job is a quarterback or receiver, maybe a running back. Try moving three hundred pounds and six-feet-seven of muscle and bone for fifteen years, tackling boys half your size or sometimes twice your size. That's a lot of pounding on a man's body."

"But you're healthy, right?" asked Nine.

"As healthy as I can be," he smiled. "I'm doing good, and my business is good. Never thought I'd be in this situation, but I guess that's what I get for trying to find a woman in a catalog instead of doing it the old-fashioned way that my mama would want. In church. I gave my name and number to the little fella if y'all need something. Just call me." He waved at the men, leaving the building as Rafe sat down with a frown.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Gaspar.

"He called me little fella."