Mob Rules

by Marc Rainer

  “Billy who?”

  “Billy Graham,” said Billy Graham, who had been hiding behind Foote.

  “Weird, but not really funny,” Trask said, chuckling anyway.

  “I just heard from Interpol,” Graham said. “Paulie Beretta got blown away in Andorra.”

  Trask nodded. “Can’t say that I’m surprised. He didn’t study his history very well after all.”

  “He didn’t?” Graham asked. “Collavito thought Paulie was an expert in mob history.”

  “He may have known the stories, but he thought he was bigger than the lessons,” Trask said. “He was wrong. Thanks for letting me know.”

  Graham nodded, waved, and moved on down the hallway. Foote stayed behind for a moment.

  “Any regrets?” he asked.

  “No.” Trask shook his head emphatically. “Like you said, we gave him every chance to pay in our system. He chose to pay in theirs. In the end, we even stayed within our system, John. No sit-downs or calls with Minelli. We just answered the questions we were asked by Judge Brooks.”

  “You could have done that at the bench, instead of in open court.”

  Trask nodded. “I could have.”

  Foote nodded and headed off to find Graham.

  Trask picked up his desk phone and dialed J.P. Barrett’s extension.

  “Jeff.”

  “Boss, is it okay if I take that comp time now?”

  “Sure. See you tomorrow.”

  Trask pulled the Jeep out of the courthouse’s underground garage, headed east on I-70, and followed the instructions on his navigation system to an old farmhouse an hour east of Lee’s Summit.

  “Made up your mind, huh?” the old lady asked him.

  “I did. I was on the web this morning and read something called the Rescue Dog’s Last Will and Testament. It spoke to me, so let’s do this.”

  He paid her, picked the puppy up, and carried her to the car.

  On the drive home, the music in his head started playing again—something that he’d missed ever since they’d lost Boo. The hook of the tune was immediately recognizable. It was the Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn.” Trask smiled.

  A time for every purpose under heaven.

  An hour later, he opened the door to the garage. He carried the pup into the kitchen.

  Lynn turned in surprise when she saw the little Husky. “I wasn’t ready yet,” she protested. “But, she’s adorable!”

  “She’s a full-blooded Husky, four months old,” Trask said. “She’s got Boo’s blue eyes and Boo’s voice, too. Her name’s Koko. She’s a rescue from a puppy mill.”

  “She’s not Boo, and I don’t know if I’m ready,” Lynn said.

  “We’ll never replace Boo,” Trask said. “but I read this.” He handed her a copy of the Rescue Dog’s Will that he’d printed in his office. “We do have Boo’s bowl, and Boo’s leash, and the hole in our hearts and the room for her in our home.”

  He put the puppy down. Koko trotted into the living room where Nikki was sitting, observing the newcomer warily. Koko rolled over in front of the older dog, submitting to her leadership. Nikki and Tasha both headed down the stairs and Trask heard the flap of the doggy door open and close three times. He and Lynn walked out onto the deck. The three dogs were walking the perimeter of the fence. Koko was following Tasha, and Nikki was walking slowly behind them.

  “She is adorable,” Lynn said.

  Trask held her at his side and kissed her forehead.

  She smiled, and he nodded.

  “It was time,” he said.

  After my years in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, I had the pleasure of serving in the same capacity in the Western District of Missouri (Kansas City), where I was first assigned to the Organized Crime Strike Force, working cases against the Kansas City Mafia. I later served as that United States Attorney’s Office’s Senior Litigation Counsel, and as a supervisor in the Narcotics Unit. The attorneys and staff there were some of the finest people I’ve ever met. I also had the pleasure of working with the agents and officers of that district’s FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, and USMS, and with the men and women of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, and—in particular—with the guys and gals assigned to the KCPD’s Career Criminal Unit.

  Many of those folks will recognize some of the stories incorporated into this novel. As is often the case, truth is stranger than fiction. The following scenes or events in the book are based upon actual occurrences:

  My flight from Baltimore to Kansas City. Yes, it actually happened as I described it, except that it occurred prior to nine-eleven, so that my radio call to the KC tower was made from the cockpit, where I was invited to finish the flight with the crew.

  Digging two bullets out of my siding. That happened as well, although I have no idea who fired the shots, or when they were fired, or why.

  Cops and snakes in Dallas. A house full of vipers, some loose, some in the bins. As told in the book, it was finally just boarded up by animal control.

  Drew-vision. Almost exactly as described. The names have been changed to protect the guilty, as well as the innocent.

  Bubba’s hole in the fence. Just as described, including the video of the search afterward.

  The suppression hearing involving the New York detective and the New York defense attorney. Almost verbatim from the transcript that the office did pay for.

  Unfortunately, the nation’s opioid and fentanyl crisis are also all too real. The families of the dead can testify to that.

  The rescue mutts are also real. Unfortunately, following Boo’s passing, we also lost Nikki and little Tasha, all within a year. They were truly sisters, and Boo seemed to have been the glue that kept them together. We still miss them, even though we have two new rescue pups—Koko and Kodi, a Border Jack—who are trying hard to fill the void. We hope to see them all at the Rainbow Bridge.

  My thanks again to the great and eagle-eyed ladies of my editorial board: Jennifer, Jamie, Lea, Tania, Alta, and Mary Jo.

  Thanks also to the great staff at Gatekeeper Press for the formatting and cover work, and their overall terrific support and production.

  A final thanks, as always, to the brave men and women who continue to protect and serve, even in an environment in which they are attacked and reviled instead of respected. God bless you; stay safe out there.

  Capital Kill (Book 1 in the Jeff Trask Crime Drama Series)

  A few short blocks from the safety of the museums and monuments on the National Mall, a ruthless killer prowls the streets of Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask joins a team of FBI agents and police detectives as they try and solve the series of brutal murders. As the body count rises, the investigation leads to a chilling confrontation with the leader of an international drug smuggling ring, and no one is safe, not even the police. Capital Kill is a swirling thrill ride through the labyrinth of a major federal investigation and trial, with a gripping conclusion that no one will see coming.

  Editorial Reviews of Capital Kill:

  “Lawyer Jeff Trask is just settling into his new job as an Assistant U.S. Attorney when he becomes embroiled in a high-stakes international case that could break an already-strapped legal system. Characters are well developed, and the elements are assembled so seamlessly that the story feels fresh. Rainer’s attention to setting also shines through. The streets of Washington, D.C. come alive; those who have lived or worked in the nation’s capital will recognize Rainer’s cunning use of seedy locales to give the action in the book a realistic tone. The book’s intense action, realistic tone and memorable characters will keep readers engrossed in this thriller with a superb payoff.” - Kirkus Reviews.

  “Marc Rainer has joined the ranks of trial attorneys turned fiction writers with Capital Kill, a legal thriller. Rainer introduces us to what may be the most diabolically inventive method of homicide since the south end of King Edward II met the north end of a red-hot poker. The climax is a blockbuster -it’s as good as an
ything I’ve read in courtroom fiction.” The Reporter

  “The best crime drama I have read in a long time.” - Editor, EBookObsessed.

  “Mr. Rainer is capable of writing a hell of a good sentence. The writing is crisp, hard, nearly flawless. The love story woven in has a way of arriving with perfect pitch; it is warm and right. I can safely recommend Capital Kill to anyone who wants a thrill, scented with a world of truth.” - Palmetto Reviews.

  Horns of the Devil (Book 2 in the Jeff Trask Crime Drama Series)

  The beheaded body of an ambassador’s son is dumped on the curb in front of his father’s embassy just blocks from the White House. Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask and an FBI task force are called upon to solve the murder. Their search for the killers leads to the MS-13, a hyper-violent gang from El Salvador, but Trask and his team soon learn that someone else is also tracking their suspects, and with deadly efficiency. When Trask himself becomes a target, he realizes that he is caught in a cross-fire between two of the most ruthless organizations in the western hemisphere.

  Editorial Reviews of Horns of the Devil:

  “Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask returns to work on a case involving Salvadoran gang members. Trask is an engaging lead character: His extraordinary intelligence and eidetic memory are the same reasons he sometimes has trouble concentrating. Rainer also turns the spotlight on other, equally gripping characters. A well-paced mystery featuring an entertainingly complicated protagonist, supported by a robust cast.” - Kirkus Reviews.

  “Another great thriller by Marc Rainer. With an author who doesn’t hesitate to harm a character, either major or minor, it keeps you on your toes wondering if the killers might just win this time. An intriguing story with great characters in real danger. Like any good thriller, it kept you guessing until the very end. If you love a good thriller, I recommend giving this new author a chance.” - Editor, EBookObsessed.

  “With Horns of the Devil, author Marc Rainer has given us another brilliant ride, a genuinely suspenseful book full of intrigue and action, the twists often leaving the reader in fear for the characters they’ve come to love. The command Mr. Rainer has over his material, the pure writing skill on view, not only keeps things flowing, but never lets it seem that any of what is going on is less than real. The story goes along in a thrilling way, right until the end, where there is one more twist waiting. The whole tale is unnerving and great fun. Highly recommend it.” - Palmetto Reviews.

  Death’s White Horses (Book 3 in the Jeff Trask Crime Drama Series)

  In Capital Kill, he went after a ruthless local serial killer. In Horns of the Devil, he faced some of the deadliest gangs in the western hemisphere. Now federal prosecutor Jeff Trask is back on the case, after a series of drug overdoses places investigators face to face with Los Zetas—the most dangerous of the Mexican drug cartels. What begins as an investigation of local heroin trafficking soon turns into something far more serious. The cartel will do anything to protect its cash flow–including a series of attacks against Trask’s team that cement Los Zetas’ status as one of the most ruthless criminal organizations of the century. Inspired by actual events from Mexico’s cartel wars, Death’s White Horses is Marc Rainer’s third book featuring federal prosecutor Jeff Trask. While showcasing the challenges faced by law enforcement on both sides of the border, it also highlights the deadly consequences seen on either end of the US-Mexico drug trade.

  Editorial Reviews of Death’s White Horses:

  “Death’s White Horses is the third installment in author Marc Rainer’s series featuring savvy prosecutor Jeff Trask. This fictionalized account of the Mexican drug cartel wars presents a dark, gripping and violent tale of barbarous criminals and the law enforcement officials on both sides of the border charged with fighting a bloody war. Many of the characters portrayed are taken from real life, such as drug kingpins Chapo Guzman and Heriberto Lazcano. Rainer has provided another unflinching, engrossing chronicle.” - Palmetto Reviews.

  “No one in the world is writing better than Marc Rainer, with pitch-perfect prose full of intrigue, a favorite in suspense, elegant by any literary standard!” - MCS Film Review Team.

  “An invigorating thriller with an engaging protagonist surrounded by equally worthy characters.” - Kirkus Reviews.

  A Winter of Wolves (Book 4 in the Jeff Trask Crime Drama Series)

  Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask is summoned to a murder scene. A Park Police officer has been brutally murdered at the Lincoln Memorial. As Trask and a team of local and federal investigators try to find the killer, more police officers are murdered. While attending the funeral for one of these victims, Trask and his team find themselves in a firefight with a cell of radical Islamic terrorists. Disqualified because of his involvement at the scene at Arlington National Cemetery, Trask is reassigned to Washington D.C.’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he discovers that the firefight at Arlington was only part of a bigger and much more sinister plot that threatens the entire Eastern Seaboard.

  Editorial Reviews of A Winter of Wolves:

  “The lawyer-hero remains, as always, resolute and razor-sharp . . . Plenty of backstory on the villains makes them both intriguing and intimidating . . . A riveting final act which delivers plenty of action.” - Kirkus Reviews.

  “A riveting suspense thriller of a novel from beginning to end, A Winter of Wolves reveals author Marc Rainer’s impressive flair for creating a deftly crafted and memorable novel that will prove to be enduringly popular.” - Midwest Book Review.

  Death Votes Last (Book 5 in the Jeff Trask Crime Drama Series)

  With an evenly-divided United States Senate, the stakes are high for the nation’s political power brokers. The leader of one party decides to change the numbers by arranging the elimination of one of the other party’s senators. As the senator’s death sends shock waves through the nation’s capital, federal prosecutor Jeff Trask and a team of FBI agents and police officers must solve not only the senator’s homicide, but the murder of one witness and the attempted murder of another. Further complicating their efforts is the fact that the trial of the killer must take place in the political swamp of Washington, D.C. As Trask and his team investigate the deaths and prepare for the trial of the century, the nation’s political fate hangs in the balance.

  Editorial Reviews of Death Votes Last:

  “I love it when a series goes back to the basics of what made it great. Like Law & Order, this series gives us the best of both worlds as you follow the story from investigation to conclusion. The court drama was compelling, and the danger from up high felt palpable. I couldn’t put it down. The story kept me intrigued, anxious and very much pissed off in what can only be seen as failings in our legislative system.”- Editor, EBookObsessed.

  “In Rainer’s fifth thriller featuring federal prosecutor Jeff Trask, a U.S. senator’s suspicious death may very well be a political assassination. Also, someone’s trying to ensure that a key witness doesn’t make it to the stand, which puts Trask, as a potential obstacle, in peril. Although the protagonist, a “former military guy,” has spent preceding books largely engaged in action scenes, this story places him firmly back in the courtroom. It’s a welcome return, as he shines during jury selection (what he calls “juror elimination”) or while dealing with a judge tossing pertinent evidence. Along the way, Rainer adds charming touches, such as plot-relevant tunes: the Rolling Stones’ 1966 song “Paint it Black” is on the radio at the morgue, and a cynical Trask gets Aerosmith’s 2000 song “Jaded” in his head. A rousing, standout series entry.” - Kirkus Reviews

  “A gripping, intriguing, complex crime drama especially recommended for readers interested not just in being entertained, but in learning more about courtroom proceedings and the logic behind investigative routines.” - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

  Marc Rainer is the pen name for Charles “Chuck” Ambrose. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, a former Air Force JAG Circuit Prosecutor, and a former federa
l prosecutor in Washington, D.C.

  In his more than thirty years of experience, he has tried hundreds of both military and federal (civilian) major cases, including prosecutions of homicide cases, federal conspiracy trials, and mafia and other organized crime cases.

  He weaves scenes from his investigative and trial experiences into the plot lines of his novels, which have been hailed by those in the criminal justice fields for their realism. He has co-authored a manual on how to try murder cases, which was published by the American Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section.

  He lives in a suburb of a major northwestern city with his wife, a retired Special Agent of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations (OSI), and their rescue mutts.

  His web page may be found at www.marcrainer.com.

  Table of Contents

  Title page

  Table of Contents

  1. North Kansas City, Missouri

  2. Baltimore, Maryland

  3. Kansas City, Missouri

  4. Gladstone, Missouri

  5. Kansas City, Missouri

  6. Dallas, Texas

  7. Kansas City, Kansas

  8. Kansas City, Missouri

  9. Lee’s Summit, Missouri

  10. Kansas City, Missouri

  11. Kansas City, Missouri

  12. Raytown, Missouri

  13. Kansas City, Missouri

  14. Kansas City, Missouri

  15. Kansas City, Missouri

  16. Lee’s Summit, Missouri

  17. Kansas City, Missouri

  18. Kansas City, Missouri

  19. Kansas City, Missouri

  20. Liberty, Missouri

  21. Kansas City, Missouri

  22. Kansas City, Missouri

  23. Lee’s Summit, Missouri

  24. Kansas City, Missouri

  25. Kansas City, Missouri

  26. Kansas City, Missouri

  27. Gladstone, Missouri

  28. Kansas City, Missouri

  29. Kansas City, Missouri