"You're doing a great job, Dean. You notified us as soon as the problem was found. You can't tell when someone's about to snap. It just happens," Austin reassured his foreman.
They didn't speak any further as they approached the bay. When Jack turned and spotted the two of them, his eyes narrowed and he stood up in a defensive stance. Austin took a deep breath. He could already tell the conversation wasn't going to go well – not in the least bit.
"Jack, can you come outside with me? We need to have a talk," Austin asked in his most professional tone.
Jack looked from him to Dean before answering.
"What about?" He didn't budge from his stance.
"I'd much rather do this in private, Jack," Austin tried again, though he knew it wouldn't do any good.
"What is it that we need to do in private?" Jack demanded.
Austin sighed. He knew it wasn't going to be easy so he didn't understand why he was letting it get to him. It had to be everything else going on in his life - Uncle Joseph, his father, and especially Kinsey.
Jack was already looking for a fight, his defenses up. He had to have known he was going to get caught eventually. Drugs tended to make a person think they were invincible, though, so maybe Jack really had thought he could keep getting away with his little theft ring.
"We've come across some irrefutable evidence that items have been stolen from the yard … " Austin began when Jack interrupted.
"So what? I don't know anything about it. Why are you talking to me," he bellowed. Jack's temper was starting to really escalate. With just a few words, he was darting his eyes around, before turning back to Austin, glaring with an intense hatred.
"Jack, the evidence points to you," Austin said, his voice quiet. He was trying to avoid a scene, but wasn't having much success.
Several workers had stopped and were openly staring. Many of them already knew the situation. Rumors flew rampant in any workplace, but most of these guys had been working together for years already and rumors spread faster than normal. They weren't even trying to hide the fact that they were watching.
"That's ridiculous. You can't come in here and accuse me. It's probably one of your greedy relatives. I've been framed, that's it," he shouted, his face turning red, his nostrils flaring. He looked around, starting to notice all the people watching. "What are you looking at? Don't you all have a job to do? This is none of your business," he cried out.
Austin heard someone chuckle, and he tensed, waiting for Jack to explode.
"Get security here, now," Austin whispered to Dean, who nodded and quickly left.
Jack wearily watched Dean go before his gaze locked back on Austin.
"Come on, Jack. Let's go outside," he tried one more time.
"I have nothing to hide. You can't bully me around just because you were born with a silver spoon in your damn mouth. I ain't going anywhere. If you want to go outside, then be my freaking guest!"
"I've had enough, Jack," Austin thundered. He was losing his cool no matter how much he tried to reign it in. The man was pissing him off.
"I've had enough, too. Now, get the hell out of here so I can do my job!"
Jack actually turned away, acting as if Austin was dismissed. Austin stood there for a moment in shock. The man had to be on some pretty intense drugs if he truly thought he could talk to his employer that way and still have a job. His job had been over no matter what, but seriously, what was he thinking?
"Jack, you no longer work for this company. A guard is coming to escort you off the premises. You can gather your possession, and then you aren't to step foot on any of the Anderson properties again. Do you understand?"
Austin's voice was back under control. He was a professional and needed to remember that. He carefully watched as Jack turned back to him, his face a swollen red ball, fists clenched at his sides, stance threatening.
"I've worked for you for years. Years! And this is the way you pay me for it. You treat me like a common criminal? I'll sue you for wrongful termination, take everything you've got, you pansy ass son of a b … "
"I've had enough, Jack. Follow me to the lockers, this conversation is over," Austin interrupted. He was damned if he'd stand there and allow the thief to speak to him that way.
"You can go to hell!" Jack yelled and Austin heard his steps charging toward him. He quickly stepped to the side and turned. Jack had his fist raised and was bringing it downward toward his face.
Austin easily blocked the forward movement, stunning Jack. Then Austin threw a punch of his own, landing a solid right to the man's jaw, making him stagger back. Jack shook his head, then looked up, rage consuming him as he charged forward again.