Security Meeting

Kyle Corvin & Frank Parker

by Atonia & Layne

Whistling as he drove, Frank was on his way to the tavern to meet with Travis McGee's security man, Kyle Corvin. He'd been planning to sit down with the guy for awhile figuring that, having been in the Glen for awhile, Kyle would know about the little place. Would know about anything in the Glen that Frank ought to keep an eye out for. He hadn't been in too much of a hurry, but Liana's kidnapping and the fact that Ben wanted Frank and his men on the job full-time now made a big difference.

Frank strolled into the tavern, pulling off his shades as he entered the door. He'd seen Corvin before, but had never met the man. Glancing around, he went straight to the corner table where Kyle sat. It was a good position from which to observe the room, right where Frank himself would have been had he arrived first.

Kyle spotted him as soon as he came through the door. Lazily he stood up and extended his hand, “Frank Parker…I’m Kyle Corvin, have a seat,” he motioned for two drinks from the bar. Kyle knew who Frank was, felt it was his job to know who lived around the village. He was curious to know what he wanted from him.

"Corvin." Frank greeted him with his trademark charming smile, as he shook the hand Kyle held out to him. "Good to meet you at last. Been wantin' to sit down with you for awhile now, but with everythin' that's gone on out at the Wade place recently..."

“Yeah I know about that. One of his own men,” Kyle shook his head a little and sat down, getting a good look at Frank, sizing him up a little. “It’s good to meet you too.” Two beers were brought over and Kyle picked his up and took a sip. “What can I do for ya?”

Frank was doing the same with Kyle. Sizing him up and approving of what he saw. "Well, seeing as how we're in the same business, and we seem to be the only two in town who are...at the moment anyway-" Frank grinned. "I wanted to get to know you and, since you've been here awhile, I thought you might be able to give me the lowdown on anything in town to keep an eye out for."

"Ben Wade's got me and my men on full-time now, after what's happened, and I never like to do a less-than-thorough job."

“Well I’m McGee’s man and most of my observations come from that standpoint. He had some trouble when he first came out here with a guy named Hando. But we haven’t seen him in awhile. I know where he stays and where he works. McGee figured Hando had a beef because a bloke he knew came out here with him and killed Hando’s girl. He did a little property damage, but that’s all. The residents out here are a good bunch of people as you’d find anywhere. There’s something going on, though. The former FBI guy what’s his name…Zack Grant. Yeah, he’s holed up out at Bud White’s compound with his girl. Took off sudden-like from Millie’s. I don’t know what that’s about, but so far it don’t touch my patch.”

Taking a drink from his beer mug, Frank said. "Yeah, I heard a little about Hando from Richie Roberts. Doesn't seem to have had any kinda connection with Charlie Prince that I could find. Or any reason to have anythin' against Ben Wade or his family."

"I've met Grant. He worked the case out at Wade's with Bud White. What's his girl's name?"

“Destiny. Hando went kind of wonky for awhile, but he seems to have straightened himself out. I don’t know anybody around here that would be lookin’ to mess with Wade.”

Frank gave Kyle a long, thoughtful look. "Know anythin' much about Sid Harbor?"

Kyle set his glass down. “He came out to the BBQ that Travis held, made an ass of himself and left. Running for mayor I believe. Not that he got any votes from that crowd,” Kyle grinned a little, “I don’t know much about him. He showed up here and built that glass house and keeps pretty much to himself and that suits me. We don’t cross paths.”

"Uh-huh." Frank grinned. "Yeah, I can just see Sid as mayor of this little town," he said sarcastically. "So, you haven't seen anything illegal or strange he's involved with? Stranger than that house of his, I mean?"

Frank was obviously interested in Sid, but Kyle couldn’t help him there, “Like I said, our paths don’t cross. I found him to be obnoxious and rude and so was his wife. Like they’re better than anybody else, but as far as I know that don’t pose a security threat to my man and his family. We’ve beefed up security out at Glenridge, got cameras in strategic places, a security gate...but with a spread that big... You know yourself, working for Wade, you can’t be everywhere all the time. Anybody wants to get on the property will find a way. I did advise him to put up a separate fence around the house area, but he ain’t decided on that yet. Course with Cole in the house now he might have second thoughts on it.”

"Yeah, Wade's put up cameras, and I got men drivin' around the property at regular times, but it's like you said." Frank drained his beer. "Somebody wants to get on there'll find a way."

He ordered another beer. "Ben's talked about puttin' up a fence around the house too, since that daughter of his has been born." Frank shook his head with a grin. "I've known Ben Wade a lotta years, but I've never seen him so crazy about anythin' as he is that little girl!"

Kyle smiled, “I know what you mean. Travis is the same over Cole. He’s a special little boy, got the whole house catering to him. I’m gonna have to hire somebody else to shadow Toni and Cole when they go out. If I’m not with Travis, I can do it but he keeps me pretty busy and not just with security. He says he don’t mind her going into The Glen to shop but anywhere else, she’s got to have somebody with her. I reckon the main threat is kidnapping, what with him being so well known and with a lot of money. The paparazzi give him a time too. He don’t want Cole photographed and spread all over the place.”

"Wade worries about that some too," Frank told him. "He's not famous like McGee, but he's a wealthy businessman, who's had some threats made against him over the years." He couldn't exactly tell Kyle Corvin about Ben Wade's criminal past.

"You need another man, I could help you find somebody," he offered to Kyle. "I've had to put on a few extra men myself lately."

“I appreciate that, Frank but I got somebody in mind. One of my old mates from my rugby days.” He grinned. “Do you have some of them days too? Ya know, back when I used to days?” Kyle chuckled.

"Oh, yeah." Frank returned Kyle's grin, but then his own faded a little. He was thinking of the family he'd lost in LA when he'd been a cop. And the years he'd spent in prison after his drug dealing days.

"Don't we all?" Shaking his head, he went on. "Rugby days, huh? With me, it was baseball. Kinda gettin' the hang of rugby, though. Been to a few matches since I've been here."

“I played it all my life, man. Got into the league for awhile until I was injured and advised to quit. Now I’m coaching Tee, that’s Travis’s nephew. Travis has bought into a team in Sydney. He’s got his fingers in a lot of pies.”

"Sounds like Wade, but he hasn't got into sports yet, far as I know. He's puttin' some more time into the club he's gonna open, now that his wife and baby are home. Guess you heard about that?"

“Yeah, I did. I thought it seemed like an odd kind of thing to put out here but, hey, people want to gamble they’ll find a place. Does he plan to be visible or behind the scenes?” As security that was his first thought.

"Wade's a first-class poker player." Frank grinned. "He'll sit down at the tables now and then, but he won't be there every night. He's got that wife and kid at home, and he loves his horses too much to leave 'em totally up to somebody else."

"McGee ever play poker much?"

“I’ve never known him to gamble. Oh he’ll put a few bucks on a rugby game now and again, or some American sports. I’ve never seen him at a card table though. Biggest gamble he ever took was to buy half a lottery ticket and man did that turn his life upside down.” Kyle chuckled. “He calls himself a cattleman now but he’s got business savvy, smart man.” Kyle took a drink from his glass.

"What about you?" Frank's grin was speculative, but friendly. "Ever sit at a card table much yourself? Maybe we could have a friendly game sometime?"

“Ah no not me. I might as well hand you the money and save all the time and trouble. I don’t gamble. I don’t drink much either,” he looked down into his beer mug. “I need to keep a clear head on me, cause Travis ain’t always clear-headed, especially if he’s been drinking and somebody pisses in his path. You see, I work pretty much 24/7 but that’s all right cause I’m paid well for it. He tells me to take off now and again and I do. You know a man’s got needs he’s got to take care of,” he grinned broadly. “And I get a vacation when I want one, he’s easy that way. But I don’t gamble. I like to know what’s coming or at least be in a place where I can control it.”

"Smart man." Frank finished off his second beer. "I don't drink or gamble any unless I'm off-duty, and I'm lucky enough not to have to work 24/7."

"I have got to be at work later tonight, though," he said, with a look at his watch. "And I've got a few personal things to take care of before then."

"I appreciate you meetin' with me, Corvin. If there's ever anythin' I can do for you, you just say the word. I'd like to think we could exchange information if one of us ever has anythin' the other could use."

“Sure thing, Parker. If I ever run up on anything useful to you, I’ll let you know. It was good to meet with you.” Kyle stood up and shook his hand, glancing at his own watch. Toni was up the street visiting with Lucy and the new baby. “I need to go find Toni. She’s up the street at Lucy’s.”

Frank rose as well. "The drinks are on me. Thanks again, and wish the McGees well for me."