by KJ Dahlen
“I’m not surprised. Man, he has more skeletons than a God dammed graveyard.” Apollo stated as Wolf and Jackal joined him. He put the phone on speaker, so all three could listen.
James told them what they had discovered within the last years or so, “Adam Bateman didn’t exist until a few months before he joined the Marines,” James dropped his bomb.
“What the fuck?” Wolf growled. “Why didn’t we know this before?”
“Because this bastard is a very sneaky psychopath. The military only looked for criminal activity and the real Adam Bateman was clean.”
“What? So you mean the real Adam Bateman?” Jackal asked.
“When the families of the military personal he killed began ending up dead, we looked into the man a little more,” James replied. “That’s when we discovered the switch. We discovered the two men, Adam Bateman and Joel Ridley became fast friends in high school. It was reported that after graduation the two of them went on a hike, they went out of state for this hike and apparently, Joel had an accident. He fell off a cliff and plunged to his death. Adam gave a statement to the police and they had no reason to doubt him. We think that’s when Joel Ridley stepped into becoming Adam Bateman. As both men had no other family it was easy enough to do. We dug a little deeper...deeper than we had the right to actually, but what we uncovered finally began to make sense. We’ve been busy collecting enough evidence to convict the man. That’s when we also realized if the man went to trial, he could get off with an insanity appeal. Because he is entirely insane, for real.” He paused for a moment then suggested, “We can’t have that. I don’t want that bastard getting off after committing so many murders of our own men. Those men and their families didn’t deserve to die.”
“No, they didn’t, not then and certainly not now.” Jackal growled. “What else did you uncover about Joel Ridley?”
“Joel was trouble from day one of his life. No dad in the picture and his mom was a drug addict, so the boy never really stood a chance. He was in and out of kiddy jail until he was twelve. His mom ended up overdosing and the police thought Joel was responsible. They locked him up again. He wasn’t getting out this time until he was eighteen. Then when he had a year left to serve, he escaped during a transfer with two guards dead. No one knows where he went, but a year later, he turned up in New Mexico as Adam Bateman, where he joined the Marines. He kept his nose clean and got through basic and special services training. And you know the rest.”
“We got the boot twelve years ago, and it took him three years to hunt down the families of the men he shot over there,” Jackal stated. “Where did he disappear to for the nine years? And why did he start killing again now?”
“We’re trying to find those answers but we just don’t know at this point,” James explained. “Could be he was killing as someone else even. This man is a serial killer. Of that, we have no doubt.
“Well, if we get the chance we’ll ask him,” Jackal hesitated a fraction of a second before he added, “Before we end his killing reign.”
“Just be careful,” James warned. “If he figures out his game is up, it will be hard to say what he will do. He’s had a good reason to hide all these years.”
“Well, we appreciate the heads up on this little fucker,” Jackal replied. “But we got to get things done around here to get ourselves ready for his visit. We always try to keep our uninvited guests to the whole package. If you come up with anything new on him, give Apollo a call.”
“Will do,” James agreed and ended the call.
Chapter Five
Jackal looked over at Wolf and then to Apollo. “Well, this is a new wrinkle isn’t it?”
Wolf shook his head. “It doesn’t really make any difference in the scheme of things. We knew he was a killer and he lived under a false identity for all these years. We still have to stop him one way or another. We also have no choice but to kill him.”
“That was always going to be the outcome Wolfie,” Apollo reminded him. “He’s very willing to kill you. It’s survival of the fittest you know.”
“I know.” Wolf agreed. “But Savage trusted us with the one thing he loved more than life itself and I will protect her with my life.” He looked over at Jackal. “But if that bastards gets me, you take him down.”
Jackal snorted. “I won’t have to Wolf. Between you and Apollo, he doesn’t stand a chance. Unless, he cheats to win.”
“I wouldn’t put anything past that bastard.” Apollo sneered. “But he’s going to find that I’m not going to give in to him out of fear. I think I got him figured out. He sends the headstone three days ahead of time to give his victim enough time to get spooked. They know he’s coming back and that fear builds over those three days.” Apollo paused and looked at Wolf. “I watched Ben Savage go through the process and sure enough, the fear Bateman expects is what did the other man in.”
Wolf shook his head. “It wasn’t fear for himself that did Ben Savage in, it was fear for his daughter. You see, twelve years ago Ben’s wife got sick. That’s why he left the service. He’d been a service man his whole career while his wife Joanie stayed home and held everything together on the home front. Eija was fifteen when she lost her mom and Ben was afraid she wouldn’t know him as a father, as he hadn’t been home much while she was growing up.”
“And now, he’s sent her here to you for protection,” Jackal stated with a nod. “Come on boys, we got to get this party started. We need to set up our perimeters. It doesn’t take that long to get here from Broken Arrow.”
Apollo nodded. “At the earliest, he’ll be here by tonight. Took us about eleven hours, give or take.”
“Let’s join the others and get ready for this fucker,” Jackal ordered.
They went back out to the main room.
Wolf found Eija sitting at a table all alone. Noelle and Cin were nearby with a couple of the other wives but Eija sat apart from the others. Finally, Cin got up, went over to Eija’s table, and sat down.
Wolf and Beast moved to a table close by to see how Eija would react.
“Please, I asked you to leave me alone right now,” Eija said quietly.
“Yes, you did,” Cin acknowledged. “And I stayed away as long as I could but I can’t do that anymore.”
Eija looked over at her and whispered, “Why? You don’t know me, why would you care one way or the other?”
Cin shrugged. “While I don’t know you per say, I know what its like to grow up isolated from the people who mean the most to you. I was lucky to have my Grandma Rose growing up...” She cocked her head to one side. “But I don’t think you were so lucky, were you?”
At first Eija didn’t answer, then she slowly shook her head. “I had my mom until I was fifteen. My dad was only home now and then, so most of the time it was just her and I. Then she got sick and Dad came home for good.”
“And suddenly, everything you were comfortable with was gone?” Cin nodded. “I was ten when my world exploded.” She looked around the room. “This place was my grandpa’s farm at one point. I grew up here.”
Eija looked around. “Doesn’t look much like a farm now.”
Cin shook her head. “It isn’t. But that’s not their fault. Another MC came in, killed my grandpa and my uncle and would have killed Grandma Rose and me but she took us out of here before they had the chance. I finally came back after Grandma died.” She paused and added, “That’s when I found these guys took over a while back.”
“So, you know what its like to lose everyone you cared about?”
“Yeah I do, and so do these men,” Cin explained. “Some of them lost everything they had fighting a war they didn’t want.”
Eija nodded but didn’t say anything for the longest time. “The nightmares were the worst you know.”
“Nightmares?” Cin asked quietly.
Eija nodded. “My dad had terrible nightmares. He’d call out the names of the men he lost sometimes. It was the same ten names every time.”
Wolf frowned
then looked over at Jackal and Apollo. Shaking his head he whispered, “We only had nine men in our squad.”
“What’s the tenth name then?” Apollo spoke up.
“I have no idea,” Wolf admitted. “And I doubt he’d call out his own name either, so we could be looking at two different men. But we only lost three men that day. We still don’t know how Bateman managed to escape the ambush.”
“Unless it was the three men who died and the seven men Bateman killed,” Jackal pointed out.
Wolf’s blood ran cold at the thought. He looked over at Apollo and shook his head. “He did hear me then. When everyone kept telling me, I was imagining things I didn’t think anyone was listening to me. But Savage listened.”
Jackal tuned his head and glared at him. “What do you mean? He did hear you then?”
“I went to the Captain days before the ambush. As soon as I figured out there was something off about Bateman. I had a bad feeling about going on that recon mission with him in the group. He told me I was imagining it and that we were in a combat zone. I was letting the pressure get to me. I tried to tell him I wasn’t but I didn’t think he ever heard me. But he did hear me.” Wolf shook his head. “But it was just too late to stop it. I was watching Bateman more than the area we were traveling through. His eyes kept darting around like he was looking for something. It was very curious until the shooting started.”
Jackal looked troubled at hearing this. “You think he set up the ambush?”
“At this point, nothing would surprise me about that man.” Wolf sneered.
Apollo shook his head. “I’m just glad you guys got off your bloody asses after two weeks and could still find us.”
Jackal turned his head slowly to the other man. “You think we sat on our asses for two weeks before we came to find you?”
“Didn’t you?” Apollo wanted to know.
“Hell no.” Jackal shook his head. “Savage wanted to go out the very next day, but we couldn’t get out of camp. The camp was under sniper fire for twelve days. No one was killed but we couldn’t move either. All this time, we’d thought it was the enemy but now I’m not so sure.”
“This would be something Bateman would do.” Apollo agreed.
“He allowed you guys to be tortured for days.” Jackal shook his head in disgust.
Wolf lifted his head and stared at Jackal for a moment. “I just remembered something.”
“What’s that?” Apollo asked.
“One night, we were out on patrol and Bateman told me something about himself. He told me he was comfortable in the darkness but he hated being trapped in small places. He admitted to being extremely claustrophobic.”
Jackal raised a brow at this. “That might just work to our advantage, if we can maybe box him in. It might work.”
Chapter Six
A short time afterward, Wolf and Apollo were sitting at a table drinking coffee and Eija came over to join them. She sat, then stared at Apollo. “You have to take me back home.”
“I’ve repeated this 20 times, girl. I. won’t. Do. That.” Apollo stared back at her.
“You have to!” She cried out. “I can’t let my dad just lay there for days on end.”
“He won’t be,” Wolf assured her. “Apollo placed a call to one of your dad’s friends. He is going to go and take care of your dad’s body.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you for that.” She shifted in her seat. “But it isn’t enough is it?”
“Not by a long shot, baby girl.” Apollo growled.
Wolf stiffened at the nickname and he wanted to say something but he didn’t think he should. He just met this girl and yet, he already felt possessive of her? They hadn’t even had time alone together to settle anything.
Her baby blue eyes remained on Apollo’s face. “Do you think he knows where we went when we left home last night? Will he know to come here?”
“We don’t know at this point,” Wolf cut in. He took a deep breath and informed her, “I had a feeling that this was coming. I’ve only had this feeling once before. That was over in the sand box just before our last mission. I also heard about the other two murders in the last few weeks. When I heard who they were, I called your dad this morning. He confirmed my suspicions and he told me he was sending you and Apollo here.” He paused and shook his head. “He’d said he’d received his headstone two days ago. He knew Bullet was coming for him. He told me he would stand his ground and try to take him out but he sent you to me. He wanted you protected at all costs. I promised him I would do just that. I aim to keep you safe and alive.” Pausing, he nodded at the both of them. “Bullet would have done his homework already. That means he knows where to go to find his next victim. In fact, he knew Apollo was bringing you to me. He told me that before he killed your dad this morning. But...” He leaned forward. “...you can bet your sweet little ass, we will be ready for him when he gets here. I’ll be damned if he’s going to take anyone else. And that means we got three days to find him before he comes after Apollo and me.”
“Don’t forget he’s after me too now, as much as he is the two of you.” She glared at him.
Wolf got to his feet. Glaring back at her he vowed, “Not on my watch baby girl, not on my fucking watch.” He gave Apollo a heated glare when he’d said Baby Girl.
Apollo gasped and sat back in his chair as he watched Wolf walk away. Then he slowly turned to look at Eija while shaking his head.
Eija stared at him in confusion. “What?”
Apollo threw his head back and laughed out loud. “His timing sure does suck but that man wants you baby girl and he wants you bad.”
“Oh.” She blushed and her fingers came up to her lips as she remembered the kiss they shared. That kiss had rocked her world. Looking over at Apollo she asked, “What makes you think so?”
“Girl, I’ve known that man a long time. He’s one of the best men I’ve ever known. A man who had your back. The kind that never quits and never stands down when the shit hits the proverbial fan. Your dad was another good man. He helped me when I was lost after my mom died and that’s not something I will ever forget. But Wolf, Wolf is a breed all his own.”
“I’m glad you seem to think so, but why are you telling me this?” Eija shrugged. “Once this is over, I have to find my own way in the world. I’ll be alone for the first time in my life and I have no clue what I want to do.”
Apollo snorted. “Oh, I very much doubt that. You won’t be alone cuz he’ll be right there beside you.” Apollo got up and shook his head. “I’ll bring our bags in so we can get settled.”
“Settled?” she scoffed. “For what? Two days?”
“Damn girl... I don’t know about you, but I’m not giving in to that lousy bastard.” He looked around and declared, “This is a nice place. I think I could be happy here.”
“Aren’t you worried about this bastard at all?”
Apollo thought about it for a moment then shook his head. “No, I’m not and I’ll tell you why. I’ve been to war with these men and they know more about planning strategy than Bateman ever will. All he knows about is killing. These men got skills and they aren’t afraid to use them. They’ve been fighting some kind of battle for years and they will continue to fight them the rest of their lives. That’s just they kind of men they are.”
She sighed and peered up at him. “Then when you bring my bag in there’s something in it they need to see.”
Apollo froze. “And what would that be?”
“My dad had a lot of friends and some were still in the military. But I had some friends too. They could find any information they wanted. When Dad came home, like I told you, he often had nightmares. Well I copied down the names he would scream out in his sleep and I had my friends look into it.” Eija shook her head. “I never knew anyone could be that evil.”
“What did you find out girl?” Apollo’s gaze centered in on her face.
“I think I better let them read what I found,” Eija stated while gazin
g down at the floor.
Apollo raised a brow at her, then hurried out to the truck and carried in their bags.
Jackal, Wolf, Shade and Beast looked up as he came back in.
Eija went over to the table and began searching through her things, then she pulled out a thick file from her bag. She came over and laid the file on their table. “This isn’t from a military source but from bits and pieces, we’d learned over several years. My friends are very good at what they do.”
Jackal paused to stare at her and then opened the file. It was pretty much the same stuff that James Garden had told them earlier but this went into further detail. Page after page detailed Joel Ridley’s early life. “How did you get this information?” he asked.
Eija stared at him then the others at the table. “I told you I’ve got very interesting friends. One of them is a hacker and can get his hands on anything. He grew up in a town not far from where we lived. Big Cabin is a trucker’s town, just off the toll road. He actually knew who Joel was while he was growing up. But he hadn’t seen him since he was a kid. He remembered him because of an incident that happened back then. It was the talk of the town back in the day. Joel was arrested for the overdose of his own mom. He actually went to juvey prison. The sheriff hated him, called him trailer trash. Anyway, he kept Joel locked up for six years before Joel found out his mom didn’t die when he was eleven. She was still alive and after that.... the prison couldn’t hold Joel.”
Wolf listened to her story and his expression never changed. She almost sounded as if she felt sorry for the bastard...almost.
“I’ll leave you alone to read what I found.” She sighed.
“Before you go, I have a question,” Jackal stated. “Did you find a reason why he started up this last spree of his own team members? He hadn’t been interested in us in over nine years. What made him come after us again?”
