“Never visit anyone empty-handed,” Sara had said. Tanner smiled when she said that. It had been one of his mother’s sayings as well.
He was visiting Tang at the man’s request for a game or two of chess. Circumstances had delayed the visit for weeks, but Tanner was looking forward to it. He’d liked to play chess ever since he learned to do so in Russia years earlier, but he’d had little opportunity to do so as of late.
The door was answered by Tang’s wife, Beth Tang. Beth was blonde, petite, and in her thirties with amber-colored eyes. When she spoke, it was with an English accent.
“Mr. Myers, please come in.”
Tanner handed her the bottle of wine and saw her smile.
“You didn’t have to bring a gift, but I’m glad you did. This is one of my favorite wines.”
“I’m surprised it’s not a six-pack of beer.” Those words were spoken by Eric Tang, who approached from a hallway. Tang was Asian, about Tanner’s height, but a decade older. He wore his hair short and walked like someone who’d seen military service. His back was straight, and his shoulders squared.
“I can’t take credit for the wine,” Tanner said. “Sara picked it out.”
“Would you like something to eat, Mr. Myers?” Beth asked.
“No, thank you, and please, call me Thomas.”
“Thomas it is,” Beth said, “and I’ll leave you two to have a good time.”
“Chess isn’t fun, Beth, it’s more like war,” Tang said.
His wife rolled her eyes. “Go play your game… and be nice, Eric.”
Tang ushered Tanner down the hallway he’d entered from and into a den. The room was spacious and contained a large oak desk, which was placed near a window that had a view of Central Park. Atop the desk were three monitors, one of which was showing video of a television program that looked back over the previous week’s stock market activity.
“Are you into investing, Tang?” Tanner asked.
“I am, but mostly in foreign markets.”
“And you run a chain of appliance stores?”
“No, I own a chain of appliance stores. I hired someone else to manage them. The stores were left to me by an uncle.”
“I see,” Tanner said.
On the opposite end of the room was a wooden table with a chess set on it. The chess set was impressive, as the board was made from hard woods while the pieces were carved from marble. Tang walked past the chess set and behind a bar that was in a corner of the room.
“Would you like a drink, Myers?”
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
“You’re in for a treat then, as I’m in the mood for a special bottle of cognac I recently acquired. It’s been aged for thirty years and goes down smoothly.”
As Tang poured the drinks, Tanner studied the volumes in a bookcase and saw that there were books in five different languages, including Mandarin.
Once they had their drinks in hand, Tang settled himself on the side of the board with the white pieces, signifying that he would make the first move.
“I hope you’re a good player, Myers. I haven’t been challenged in some time.”
“I’ll do my best,” Tanner said.
Tanner’s best was enough. He placed Tang’s king in check twice in the first game they played and won the second. After an initial look of shock, Tang was all smiles when Tanner checkmated him.
“Well done! At last there’s someone in the building who can play the game.”
“You’re good too, Tang, and I enjoyed the match.”
Tang checked his watch and frowned.
“Ah, it’s too late to play another game, but we’ll have to do this again.”
“I’d like that,” Tanner said.
Beth Tang entered the room. When she saw that her husband was smiling she knew what must have occurred.
“Thomas must be good at the game, you only smile like that when you’re challenged.”
“He’s a good opponent and we’ll be playing again soon,” Tang said.
Beth picked up their empty glasses and placed them on a serving tray. As she turned to leave the room, one of the glasses slipped off the tray. Tang’s hand shot out as quick as a serpent. He caught the glass in midair and placed it back on the tray in one smooth motion.
Tanner’s eyes widened behind the special lenses. Tang’s reflexes rivaled his own.
“You react quickly,” Tanner said.
Tang laughed. “I played a lot of tennis when I was younger. It develops hand speed.”
Tanner stood and smiled at Beth.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Come earlier next time and bring Sara along. We’ll have dinner and you can meet the children.”
“That would be good,” Tanner said.
After leaving the apartment, Tanner stood at the elevator while waiting for it to arrive. He wondered if Eric Tang was more than he seemed. If so, that would make two of them, for he himself was simply playing at being Thomas Myers.
When the elevator arrived, Tanner stepped on, while still thinking about Eric Tang.
53
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO, JUNE 1998
After having completed over a dozen of them, the thirty-mile treks were, if not routine, at least easier to accomplish. Neither Cody nor Romeo had been overweight in the least, but their new routine had taken pounds off each of them.
Spenser had lost weight as well. While he didn’t run nearly the distances the boys traveled, he was still covering over sixty miles a week as he supervised Cody and Romeo and walked the various routes he’d set up for them. This was on top of his regular running routine.
On the days they weren’t running Cody and Romeo were learning desert survival tactics, such as finding sustenance in the desert. Both boys liked the thorny fruit of the pitaya cactus despite its sour taste. The stinging nettle plant was also edible, and palatable when steamed, as were other plants.
But, of course, the great concern in the desert was adequate water, which was scarce. The boys learned to follow the path of birds, as the birds knew where all the water sources were. They also practiced long-range target shooting.
Cody, who had been proficient with a rifle since the age of ten had an advantage over Romeo. However, Romeo was motivated to reach his level and spent more time on the range. Romeo’s skill with a rifle had improved dramatically. It was Cody who helped him to raise his score.
As July grew nearer, so did the two-week break Spenser had promised them at the start of their desert odyssey. Spenser had said little about it since then.
They had just returned from a run when they saw Spenser unloading cases of water from his truck. Despite breathing hard from their runs, the boys pitched in. When the water was inside Spenser’s trailer, he announced that there would be three days off from training, Romeo looked worried.
“I thought we were getting a two-week break?”
“You will, but not yet. These three days will get you ready for the test.”
“The test that will decide if we go any further, that test?” Cody asked.
“Yes,” Spenser said. Afterward, he looked at each boy with a glum expression. “I’m going to hate seeing you go, but the truth is, one or both of you won’t pass this test.”
“What’s the test, dude?” Romeo asked.
“It’s a run through the desert.”
Romeo grinned. “That’s it? Spenser, that’s all Cody and I have been doing. Hell, we’ll pass easy.”
“Hold on, Romeo,” Cody said. “There’s got to be more to this test or Spenser wouldn’t look like we already failed it.”
“What’s your best time so far doing the thirty-mile runs?”
“About five hours,” Cody said, “but Romeo did one in less than that last week.”
“And did you finish strong or weak?”
“Weak, those last few miles are tough.”
“Yeah, and the temperature has been in the
eighties and nineties,” Spenser said. “That’s changing. The temperature is predicted to be well over a hundred degrees in a few days. Trust me, that high heat will make a huge difference.”
“We can still handle it,” Romeo said. “I’m getting so I could run thirty miles in my sleep.”
“Those runs were just to toughen you up. You each have to cover a hundred miles and you have to do it in a single day.”
For a moment, Cody and Romeo just stared at Spenser, as if they were waiting for the punchline. When he said nothing more, they looked at each other.
“We’re going to have to pace ourselves better or we’ll never make it past fifty miles,” Cody said.
“Yeah, but still, dude, a hundred miles in one day?”
“You took this test, Spenser?” Cody asked.
“I did, and I hold the record. It took me twenty-three hours, forty-nine minutes, and twenty-eight seconds.”
“What was the temperature that day?”
“A hundred and eight degrees during the day and about eighty-five at night. You can expect about the same.”
“We won’t have to carry water, right?” Romeo said.
“Right. I’ll be leaving water along the trail for you.”
“What about food?” Cody asked.
“In my opinion you’re better off if you don’t eat much while on the road, but I want you both to pig-out these next three days. By the way, during the three day break you’ll each ride out with me in the pickup and become accustomed to your route. They’re as identical as I could make them and most of it is flat land.”
“A hundred miles in a day,” Cody said, as if to himself, as he became used to the idea.
“We’ll both make it,” Romeo said, “but I’m glad we get to rest for three days. We’ll need it.”
“I want you to realize that what I’m asking you to do is dangerous. Heat stroke can kill,” Spenser said.
“Okay,” Cody said, “but that’s why we’ve been training. Our bodies are used to desert surfaces and the altitude doesn’t bother us anymore. Even though it’s more than three times longer than we’re used to, I think we can both handle it.”
Spenser pointed to his head.
“This isn’t a test for your bodies; it’s a test for your minds. You’ve heard marathon runners mention the wall?”
“Yeah,” Romeo said. “That’s like, when they hit the twenty-mile mark and feel wasted. I’ve felt it.”
“There are physiological reasons for that, but it’s mostly mental, otherwise no one would be able to run much farther than that, and many have run more than a hundred miles in a day.”
“Not in the desert heat they haven’t,” Romeo said.
“They have, but they also had much more time and training than you’ve been given to get ready for it. Still, it can be done, and you’ll do it if you want to be a Tanner.”
The boys grew silent as they contemplated their upcoming test, and that was when the earthquake happened.
When it began, the three of them looked uncertainly at each other, then stared at the trailers, where inside, items such as books were falling from shelves. The tremor only lasted several seconds, but it felt longer.
“Whoa, that was gnarly?” Romeo said. “I hope that doesn’t happen during the test.”
Spenser spoke to them as he headed up the steps to his trailer.
“You two go shower and change. We’ll be eating dinner in town tonight.”
“Cool,” Romeo said. “And I’m going to stuff myself. I’ve never been this skinny.”
“This break we have coming up, Spenser, can we go anywhere we want?”
“Sure, but I was hoping you and Romeo would join me at a resort in Cabo San Lucas. I hear you can surf there too.”
“I’m in,” Romeo said, “but Cody and I want to get back to Tucson to hook up with Barbara and Monique again.”
Spenser raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You think they’re waiting for you two to show up?”
“I don’t know about that,” Cody said, “but I told Barbara that I’d be back someday. With any luck she’ll be available.”
“I hear you, but try to spend a day or two in Cabo. The resort there is great and there’s no shortage of women.”
“What happens after the break?” Cody said.
Spenser reacted to the question by frowning.
“Spenser? What’s wrong?” Cody asked.
“You’ve both been doing so well that I almost forgot what you had in store for you.”
“What’s that mean?” Romeo asked.
“This test you’ll be taking, the odds are good that one or both of you will fail it. If that happens, I’ll no longer be able to train you.”
Romeo stared at Spenser with a look of defiance. “I won’t fail.”
“Me neither,” Cody said.
Spenser smiled. “I wouldn’t bet against either of you.”
54
A Call From The Past
NEW YORK CITY, MARCH 2018
Tanner returned to an empty apartment, as Sara was off visiting her father in Connecticut. When Tanner asked her if she wanted him to tag along she seemed surprised that he would want to.
“Your father and I will have to meet sometime, unless you plan to dump me.”
“You’re a keeper, but Daddy, well, he can be difficult.”
“I’m sure I can handle him.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. He doesn’t take well to other alpha-males.”
“Fine, I’ll stay here and pine away for you.”
“Pine away? Your country upbringing is showing, Mr. Parker.”
“I’ll always be a rancher’s son at heart,” Tanner had said.
After heating up one of the plates of food Sara left for him, Tanner went into the home office and turned on the computer. He employed a service to keep track of the numerous phone and email accounts he kept. Tanner was surprised to see that one of the older phone numbers had a message in its voice mailbox.
“Tanner? Hi… I hope you get this. It’s me, Andrea Barker.”
The voice was familiar, but different, of course, the last time he’d seen Andrea she was only sixteen.
“I found him, Tanner. Not Mr. Smith, but the other one, Mr. Jones. He’s living in New York City. Are you still in Las Vegas? Well… I hope you get this call. If I don’t hear from you soon I’m going to go after him alone. That bastard will pay for killing my father.”
There was a pause, followed by the recitation of a phone number to use to make contact, then the call ended.
Tanner leaned back in his seat as he placed his feet up on the desk. As he began eating his meal, he thought back to six years earlier.
Death Valley, California, August, 2012
Tanner drove along what remained of an old road that led to an abandoned gold mine. He had traveled from Las Vegas to meet with a man named Herb Barker. Barker was someone Spenser once did business with years earlier, and whom Tanner occasionally dealt with.
Barker worked as a go-between for assassins and their clients and had been doing so for over ten years. He was reliable and trustworthy, but that didn’t mean that Tanner trusted him.
Tanner’s normal go-between, a man named Dwight Sorrell, was off on a cruise in the Bahamas with a girl named Joy. Tanner envied the man, as Joy was a beautiful redhead.
The plan was for Tanner to call Barker once he decided where in the area he wanted to meet him. However, while checking out the area, Tanner saw that Barker was already at the meeting site and sitting in his car. Tanner was viewing the scene through a rifle scope.
The early appearance by Barker didn’t seem strange to Tanner, since Barker would naturally choose a spot in the area to await his call. In the past, Barker and Spenser had met near the abandoned mine on several occasions.
And yet, Tanner had a tingle running along his spine. That usually meant that something wasn’t right. He spent the next half hour looking over the surrounding terrain through the scope and
saw no signs that anyone else was around.
Tanner had arrived in a jeep. He’d parked it off the old mine road and headed on foot toward the dilapidated shack that had once been the office of the mine. Tanner left the rifle behind in the jeep, but he carried a small set of compact binoculars, along with a gun and spare ammo.
He checked out the shack by looking through a window whose glass was long gone and found the crumbling structure to be deserted.
When Tanner sidled up on Barker, he saw that the man was staring at his phone with an anxious expression. Herb Barker was forty-six and stood six-feet-tall with a wide frame, dark hair, and brown eyes. He had been a bookie once, but that was when he was in college.
“I decided to just show up instead of calling,” Tanner said.
Barker jumped in his seat, then looked relieved and stepped out of his car.
“You scared the crap out of me, Tanner.”
“What’s this job you’ve got for me?”
Barker said nothing, but tears leaked from his eyes.
“What’s wrong with you, Herb?”
“The job was legit, I swear it was, but it’s all gone to shit.”
“Explain that.”
“The target found out about the hit and the customer spilled everything.”
“The cops are on to you?”
“I wish it was only that. No, Tanner, it’s the target. He’s a nasty piece of work. I’m sorry, man. I really am, but I had no choice but to set you up. They have my daughter, Tanner. They have my Andrea.”
Tanner brought out his gun and jammed it against Barker’s chest.
“What do you mean you’ve set me up?”
As Tanner asked the question, a new one formed in his mind, as his gun met unexpected resistance. He lowered his weapon and reached out with his other hand to tear at the collar of the T-shirt Barker had on. Beneath the shirt, Barker was wearing a ballistic vest.
Tanner grabbed Barker by the throat and slammed him against the hood of his car.
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