Killer Harvest

by Tanya Stowe

  “I’m still not comfortable leaving her,” he said over the phone.

  She paused and met his gaze. “Does Kopack need you?”

  He nodded.

  “Go. Keri and I are fine.”

  He shook his head but she grasped his arm. “I’m home. I’ll be fine.”

  She wasn’t fine. No place was “fine” or safe until the Black Knights were in jail. But if he could help Kopack, it might put them there sooner.

  “Where do you want me to meet you?”

  “I’ll text you the address where the DEA is staging.”

  Staging? They were planning a major operation. This was serious. Anticipation trickled through his veins. “All right. See you there.” He clicked off his phone.

  Sassa smiled at him. “I know you promised. I remember. But we really are fine. Like you said, my lab equipment won’t arrive until tomorrow and I need the rest. So Keri and I are going to curl up on the couch and wait out this tooth. We’re okay.”

  Still he hesitated.

  She pushed him toward the door. “Go. Kopack is waiting.”

  He snatched his keys from the table and forced himself not to look back.

  * * *

  Jared drove to the address Kopack had given him on the outskirts of Fresno’s industrial area. He pulled into the parking lot of a large metal building. He didn’t recognize the faded name painted on the side of the building and there were few cars parked in the lot. It didn’t look like he was anywhere near a staging area. He left his SUV and headed for the small door at the front of the building. A DEA agent with a bulletproof vest met him at the door.

  He was definitely in the right place.

  “Are you De Luca?”

  “Yeah.”

  “They’re waiting for you at the back.”

  Inside the empty-looking building was a hub of activity with personnel everywhere. Apparently, it was a command center for a well-established operation. It seemed they transported agents to and from the location so only a few cars parked in the lot.

  Kopack stood with several other agents near the center of the massive building. Jared recognized the four men from the border patrol’s drug unit. All of them faced the video screen of a surveillance camera. When Kopack saw him, he motioned him forward.

  “I think you know agents Crimshaw and Benevetti.”

  “Yes, good to see you again.” Jared shook hands with the two men.

  “I’ll let Benevetti fill you in.”

  The agent motioned to the screen. “Two years ago our agents discovered a Mexican drug ring shipping meth lab supplies disguised as auto parts to a location here in Fresno. We let the DEA take the lead. They’ve had agents working undercover on this project since then. It’s been pretty hush-hush. When Kopack told us you were trying to locate a supply route for weapons, we contacted the agents working here.”

  He nodded to the men working the cameras. “We were fortunate. They had news for us. They were getting close to busting this operation wide open when they discovered a new suspect.”

  “Who?”

  Agent Benevetti pointed to the screen. “See for yourself. He showed up yesterday. We ran a check and it’s definitely your man.”

  On the screen above them was another large metal manufacturing building. A small door opened and the surveillance camera zoomed in on a man walking out. He wore a baseball cap and sunglasses but he was still recognizable as Rashad Korgay. Jared stepped closer to the computer screen to get a better view. Then he turned back to Kopack.

  “Is this live?”

  The agent nodded. “We knew he was supplying the Black Knights with their advanced weaponry. We just didn’t know how he was getting it into the country so quickly. It was one smart move bringing in your agents. They knew about this operation.”

  Benevetti took over again. “Yesterday, some very large crates marked ‘auto parts’ came into this factory building. Korgay arrived with a truck and carted them away. Our men tried to track him but we lost him after an accident at a major intersection.”

  Jared shook his head. “I doubt that was an accident. The Black Knights work best when they’re sacrificing other peoples’ lives.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Kopack interjected. “Today we’re set up with satellite tracking. No way is he getting away from us again.”

  Benevetti agreed. “But we have to move carefully. We can’t risk exposing this operation and destroying two years of undercover work.”

  On the screen, Korgay and another man climbed into a large truck and drove away. The cameras switched to another screen and a view of the truck as it moved out onto a busy road. The truck came to a large intersection.

  Benevetti leaned closer. “This is where they lost him yesterday.”

  The tension in the room was so taut, so heavy, Jared felt like he could reach out and touch it. As the truck passed through a green light and moved on, relief swept through the group.

  One thought ran through Jared’s mind as the truck traveled down the road. It was a huge truck. The Black Knights had already made one delivery of this size. What kind of equipment were they transporting? What was the plan?

  He moved closer to Kopack. “Do we have any idea what’s inside?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” The FBI agent exhaled heavily. “They have enough weapons to fight a war.”

  They exchanged a look. Jared saw his own fear reflected in Kopack’s gaze.

  Jared spoke slowly. “We need more men.”

  Kopack nodded. “I’ve already sent for all the agents Los Angeles and Sacramento can spare. Any more and we’ll have to call out the national guard.”

  Another time Kopack’s words would have sounded like a joke. But watching the truck loaded with advanced weaponry move down the road made his words too true.

  “What’s the plan once we find their location?”

  “We’ll try to find out how many of the Black Knights are at the spot. See if we can track Chekhov. He’s the key.”

  “I’m not so sure he is the key anymore. His people won’t stop even if we capture him.”

  “You may be right. Let’s hope Korgay’s leading us to the central location and we can capture them all.”

  “Chekhov’s not that foolish. He’ll have his people spread out in different cells and separate locations.”

  Kopack’s small, almost inaudible sigh told Jared the man knew the truth of his statement but was reluctant to admit it. That didn’t stop Jared from pushing through the agent’s reluctance. “Not to mention yesterday’s shipment. They’ve had twenty-four hours to place those weapons where they want them. We can’t sit at that location and watch. We need to move as quickly as Chekhov has.”

  “I know, De Luca, I know.” Kopack’s voice was taut. “But I’m losing men, too. I can’t afford to rush in and risk more lives.”

  Another true statement. Jared released a frustrated sigh. They were sandwiched between teetering boulders. One wrong move either way and the Black Knights would discover them.

  Kopack turned to him.

  Jared could sense the emotions behind the man’s tense, knowing gaze. Jared was too emotionally involved with Sassa. His feelings were impeding his duty. Jared looked away unable to deny the truth.

  “Why don’t you go get a cup of coffee?” Kopack suggested. “I’ll call you if there’s a change.”

  Jared nodded. He left the circle of computers and headed to the back of the building where they had created a small refreshment area with drinks, snacks and tables. Several agents sat talking, teasing and laughing. Their normal conversation sent a pulse of remorse through him. Kopack was right. He was too close, bound up in fear for Sassa and Keri, and willing to risk the lives of these men and more like them. They had already put their lives on the line just by being there. They didn’t need to take foolish
risks. Kopack was right to slow him down. But still... Sassa and Keri were in imminent danger.

  He poured himself a cup of coffee but he couldn’t sit at the tables. He paced the perimeter of the large building, watching the various agents and officers in their duties.

  Two hours passed and he’d made at least ten circuits around the massive building when an agent walked up to him. “Kopack wants you.”

  Jared dumped the cold, untouched coffee cup in the closest trash container and followed the agent. As soon as he entered the circle, Kopack smiled. “We’re fortunate. We followed the truck across town to another building. We accessed videos from nearby security cameras—one benefit of being in a business area is lots of security. We zoomed through the last twenty-four hours of activity at the building.”

  “Is Chekhov there?”

  “No. No sign of him. At least, not in what we’ve seen. It looks like they broke down yesterday’s shipment of goods and sent them out in two other trucks. We’ve got traces out on those vehicles but nothing so far.”

  “Then we’re no further along than before.”

  “Yes, we are. We’re taking action, De Luca. You were right. Chekhov has his people stationed throughout the city. But we have these Knights...right here. There’s been no activity in that building since Korgay’s arrival. With five men in the building and a truck full of weapons, we don’t need to wait any longer. We’re moving now to take them by surprise. Hopefully, we can trace the other vehicles and find the Black Knights location by location. Grab a bulletproof vest and let’s go.”

  The twenty-minute ride across town was the longest Jared had ever experienced. He understood Kopack’s strategy to continue putting pressure on the Black Knights. If they kept them on the run, the group would make mistakes and could be tracked down cell by cell. But that would also spread their own men out. With them already stretched thin, fewer people were available if Chekhov made a play to take Sassa. It made Jared feel like the target on Sassa’s back just got bigger. He itched to get back to her. He pulled out his phone to call but they’d reached their destination. He shoved his phone back in his pocket.

  The manufacturing building where Korgay and the men were hiding was a small, simple metal structure. Bullets would pierce it like an aluminum can. It wouldn’t stand up against the barrage about to hit. The men inside would not last long.

  Police and government vehicles surrounded the area. Kopack and Jared’s vehicle passed a DEA and a SWAT van already in place. Jared couldn’t see the teams, but he knew they were there, hidden among the buildings and on the roofs. Just as they stepped out of their vehicle, three well-armed men crept around the corner close to the front of the building. Gunfire erupted. Bullets ripped through the metal structure and pinged off the cars in the parking lot. Jared and Kopack ducked behind their SUV’s doors.

  When Jared dared to peek over the top, one SWAT team member was being dragged away by his partners. Shaking his head, he sagged to a crouch. So many people injured and dying by the hands of the Black Knights.

  Another volley of bullets swept across their SUV. One hit the window of Jared’s door and glass shattered down over him. He crawled to the back of the vehicle where Kopack met him.

  “What kind of weapons are they using?” Jared asked as another volley of bullets swept overhead.

  “I don’t know, but the DEA fellows won’t wait to find out. The Black Knights might have explosives. We already know they’re willing to die. They might blow us up with them. The team has to get in there.”

  Another barrage of bullets had them both ducking as the SWAT team and DEA agents rallied in a coordinated effort. A storm of bullets zinged back and forth, flying like in a war zone. All Jared and Kopack could do was duck their heads and stay under cover. They didn’t have the firepower to contribute.

  An engine revved as a small, armored, robotic vehicle plowed across the open area headed for the building. Bullets struck the vehicle and pinged off, but it never stopped. The unmanned vehicle kept on driving forward, straight through the metal wall of the building, breaking through and momentarily exposing the men inside. A new barrage of fire came from the DEA and SWAT snipers stationed on the roofs. Jared saw at least three men inside fall as bullets struck.

  The exchange of fire began to fade until all was silent at last. Jared looked at Kopack. He nodded. “Stay here. I’ll check with the DEA commander.”

  Jared eased onto the ground and leaned back against the SUV. His heart was pounding and his mind reeling.

  All this firepower focused on one thing...getting Sassa. How could he protect her? He’d need this army of men at the Nilsson house to keep her safe. This whole operation needed to get back there. Now.

  He rose from his position on the ground. Apparently, they’d given the all-clear because Kopack was inside the building. Jared followed him. The SWAT team and FBI agents were examining the bodies and swarming the area but all Jared could see were the massive crates in the middle of the floor, three sealed and three open.

  He looked inside the open containers. They were large enough to hold multiple large weapons and all were empty. He found the covers stacked next to the crates with manifest labels stapled to the insides. He recognized none of the names on the manifest except one: EMP. Electromagnetic pulse. A machine to disrupt or destroy all electronic equipment.

  It was too high tech, too unbelievable. It made his blood pound. He had to get back to Sassa...now.

  Spinning, he searched the area until he found Kopack. The agent had just finished a call when Jared walked up. “Do you see all this equipment? Chekhov is waging war.”

  Kopack’s features were grim. “I see that.”

  “We’ve got to get some of these men out to guard Sassa.”

  Kopack agreed. “First, we’ve got to mop up this situation and gather as much info from it as we can. Also, the command center just called me. They have a lead on one of the other trucks. If we follow it to another location, we will move quickly. We might just knock the Knights out.”

  Jared shook his head. “I’m not leaving Sassa out there. I’m heading back.”

  Kopack tossed him the keys to the SUV. “You go. I’ll ride with one of the other units. Keep your phone close.”

  Jared nodded and hurried back to their damaged but still functional vehicle. Even after he was on the road, his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

  The capture of that building full of supplies should have felt like a victory. But it didn’t. Korgay had already made one delivery to Chekhov. The man had advanced weaponry and a small army of people still willing to die for his cause. The FBI was closing the net. Time was running out for Chekhov. But that would only make him more desperate, more willing to risk everything to get his hands on Sassa and Keri.

  Jared stepped on the accelerator.

  EIGHT

  Keri was more fussy than usual. After two days of no sleep, she was beyond the point of no return. All afternoon and most of the evening, Sassa walked the room, bouncing and singing. She’d taken a few moments to light a warm fire as the evening fog rolled in, but that was her only break. Jared hadn’t called in hours. Exhausted and worried, she sagged to the couch and pulled her cell phone out to check for a message one more time.

  Nothing.

  A car pulled into the gravel driveway. She lunged to her feet and hurried toward the door. Jared walked in. He looked as weary and worn as she felt. He dropped his keys and cell phone on the side table. As soon as he saw her, he strode forward, pulled her into his arms and held her close.

  He felt so good. His arms made the weary ache in her body fade. The feeling was so strong, it brought tears to her eyes.

  I’m only crying because I’m exhausted. It’s just a normal reaction.

  Don’t lie. It feels so good because this is what I’ve been missing. The perfect partner. The perfect dad. I’m crying because I love him and I know he
’ll go away when this is all over.

  She clung to Jared as those silent arguments raged through her mind. After a long while, she felt the tension in his body. Puzzled, she stepped back. “What is it?”

  “It was a rough day. How’s Keri?”

  “Fussy. When that tooth finally breaks through, she’s going to crash. She’s been awake all night and day. But I think it’s almost over. The tooth is close to the surface.”

  He nodded but she could see his mind was not on her words.

  “Tell me what’s wrong. What has you so shaken up?”

  He stalked into the living room. “This has to stop, this endless waiting for the Black Knights to do something. We have to take control.”

  She made a small sound as she settled on the couch, the baby in her arms. “How are we supposed to take control? Chekhov’s been one step ahead of us the whole time.”

  “I don’t know. I just know we can’t wait here like sitting ducks.”

  Something had happened, had unnerved him so badly, he didn’t even want to tell her about it. “What’s wrong, Jared? Tell me what has you so upset.”

  He shook his head. “All those weapons... Chekhov is gearing up for war.”

  “What kind of war? What do you mean?”

  “He doesn’t know you figured out the formula. He still thinks the only copy is Sam’s and you’re the key to finding it. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s planning to go all-out to get to you and Keri.”

  His words chilled Sassa to the bone. Keri began to fuss and it gave her a chance to clamp down on her skyrocketing fear. She rose, handed the baby to him and hurried to the kitchen where she washed her hands. When she returned, she began to massage Keri’s gums with a soothing natural oil.

  “Owww!” Keri chomped down hard on her finger.

  “It can’t be that bad. She’s all gums.” Jared’s soft tone melted Sassa’s heart. If only...

  “If only” was a fairytale, especially right now. The Black Knights were determined to see to it that she had no future at all, let alone one with a wonderful husband and a happy child. Fear surged through her again. She lunged to her feet, headed back to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle.