Chapter 44

Roger went through the motions of spending part of the first evening he was out of rehab with Rossalyn and Josiah. He was still seething about what they had forced him to do. He had been restricted to just the therapist the first three months but he played his cards carefully and even though he'd expected to get out of rehab they'd forced him to stay for another three months. He'd managed to make some connections the last three months that would have him and his family set up. The only downside was that he had to be a mole for their boss. They want someone close to Josiah and Rossalyn to keep an eye on them and report anything they're up to back to him. Roger didn't really see any harm of sharing the information, it wasn't like Ross or Josiah exactly had much of a private life in the lifestyle Josiah led. But his information would be paid for handsomely, so he didn't see any harm in taking a payday in exchange of information they could easily get themselves.

So he decided to bite his tongue and push his anger and frustration down. He'd work a job that would keep them off his back, but his real money would come in under the table. Sarah wouldn't even know about it. He was a grown man, he could spend the money he earned however he pleased, he thought angrily. He was sitting in the lobby of the temporary agency that he knew would help place him in a job. He didn't really care what he got as long as it was legit and made sure his sister and brother in law stayed off his back.

A few days later Roger walked into a small, run down bar on the opposite side of town that he used to hang in. He didn't really have much information for the guy, having only been out of rehab for a few days, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to show up when he was asked to. He seen the man that had been described to him sitting where he was supposed to be in the back corner. Roger took a deep breath, feeling a little uneasy about what he was about to do, but couldn't see the danger in giving information to someone that ran in the same circles as Josiah.

"Jake?" Roger asked as he took a seat across from the man.

"Yep, take it you're Roger." Jake said, his voice sounding almost bored.

"Yeah. I was told you wanted to meet up with me." Roger prompted.

"Yeah, my boss wanted us to meet up and get to know each other. He has a personal interest in your sister and Josiah's business. He just don't want to lose his ass if they're not being honest with him." Jake said. "He just wants to make sure everyone stays on the up and up."

"That doesn't seem unreasonable. But why does he need me to tell him things?" Roger asked curiously.

"Don't really know, and I don't really care. I'm paid to do a job. You'll be paid to do your part. Is that a problem?" Jake demanded.

"Nah, I was just curious. I mean, she's my sister. We haven't exactly been on good terms for a while." Roger shrugged.

"Well, I suggest you get on good terms. We need them to trust you and confide, we can find out information on our own from people they don't trust like family on our own. But if you're family and they let you close, you'll most likely get the truth. Even if your wife gives you pillow talk about what they're really up to. We know she trusts her according to our sources." Jake informed him.

Roger nodded, though he felt a little uneasy about using information Sarah shared with him in confidence. He'd already almost lost her and that was the one line he never wanted to cross again. But, it could take months of cozying up to Rossalyn and he could come up with nothing of importance, based on how many times he'd betrayed her trust. Roger sighed and nodded again making his mind up. "What kind of information are you looking for?"

"Anything that has to do with the baby. Thoughts, feelings, plans. Anything they're being more reluctant to let out to the public." Jake specified, satisfied with the fact that Roger seemed to be in a mood to cooperate.

"Sort of like how they don't like the idea of an arranged marriage of their kid?" Roger asked.

"They're not happy with the arrangement?" Jake asked, perking up instantly.

"I don't know if it is the arrangement, or if its the idea in general. Josiah seems a little more on board with the idea in general than Rossalyn according to my wife." Roger confirmed.

"Yes, that is exactly the type of information my boss wants to know about. Keep your ear out for any more talk about that." Jake instructed. "You have anything else for me?"

"Nah, man I've only been back a few days and have only seen them once since then." Roger said with a shrug.

"Alright, I understand that." Jake said and pulled an envelope from the bag in the seat next to him. "I have my number inside along with a little something to make it worth your while to call me if you have information." He told him as he slid the envelope across the table to Roger.

"Thanks." Roger said and got up from the table to leave the bar. He felt a little slimey for sharing what he had, though it seemed harmless enough.

He into his truck then opened the envelope and seen a wad of cash inside. He counted it and found it had five grand inside along with a slip of paper with a phone number written down. He pocketed the phone number and grinned at the money he had in his hand. The nasty feeling he'd had disappeared with the influx of money in his pocket. He knew exactly where he was going with the money, and it didn't involve anyone that worked for Josiah. He knew he had a good chance of doubling his money if his cards came out right, and in that score, they usually did.