“Are you guys being straight with me?” Danny asked from the back seat. It was unexpected and caught both of his parents off guard.
“What do you mean?” Harris asked as he looked at his son through the rear view mirror.
“I mean this story about you testifying against some shady underworld figure sounds like bullshit to me.”
“Hey!” Bonnie barked as she turned in her seat to face her teenage son. “Who do you think you’re talking to like that?”
Danny held her angry glare and didn’t back down.
“I’m sick and tired of being on the outside,” Danny spoke with clear frustration. “And I’m sick and tired of being treated like a little kid.”
“Nobody’s treating you that way, Danny,” Harris spoke softly. “This is just a precaution until after the trial.”
“You’ve testified against plenty of bad guys before, dad. This was never necessary then.”
Harris glanced over at his wife. She returned the look. Neither spoke.
“Well?” Danny asked. “So that’s it, huh? Keep me in the dark?”
“You’re not in the dark, buddy. You’re here with us,” Harris answered patiently.
“Whatever,” Danny spoke with unmasked disgust. “Thanks for trusting me.”
He turned and looked back out the window.
The next four hours passed with virtually no conversation. Following the GPS coordinates, Harris found the cabin’s gated driveway. It was ideal as the entrance was back from the road a stretch and to the unknowing passerby, resembled an old and unused county road with scrub and undergrowth obscuring the gate. Harris pulled up to the console. He punched in the code that Sylvia had given him and the small but sturdy gate swung open. Harris noticed the cameras that were positioned just inside the walls. They were camouflaged and tucked away in bushes. Unless you were looking for them, most people would never know they existed.
The two vehicle convoy drove slowly up the winding driveway. It was cleared of snow as Sylvia had called the local service she used and had them rush over. The house was not visible for the first quarter mile and then suddenly it was there, surrounded by a large, snow covered lawn and plenty of open yard between the trees and the house. Anybody trying to get to the cabin would have to cross an open expanse. It was perfect.
Harris pulled up in front of the house and put the car in park. The three got out and stretched their legs as the two security guards parked behind them. Harris led the way up the steps and stopping at the front door, punched in another code that Sylvia had given him. A soft whirring and click followed as the dead bolt slid back from the door frame. Harris opened the door and stepped aside allowing Bonnie and Danny to walk into the home.
“Holy shit,” Danny muttered.
This time neither parent bothered correcting their son’s language. All three were in absolute awe of the home they had just entered. From the front of the house it was impossible to see how far back the place stretched, but once inside, the entire seven thousand square foot cabin came into perspective. Rich, wooden beams traversed the ceiling and gave the place an earthy feel. The furniture was old country yet opulent. Past the foyer there was a great room with a huge fireplace and a flat screen above it. Expensive rugs, couches and easy chairs were scattered through the room with a flare that only an interior decorator could appreciate. The heads of many different animals adorned the walls as did art that was perfectly suited for the décor.
Harris could see several rooms that connected the great room and towards the back was a sprawling kitchen. The home sat atop a large hill and through the large glassed walls at the back of the house was a distant mountain and a deck that offered a breathtaking panoramic view.
“Goddamn,” Bonnie spoke in a low voice. “So this is how the other half lives.”
“Yeah,” Harris remarked. “Not bad.”
Danny had continued on without his parents, exploring the vast cabin, going from room to room. Harris quickly found the security center in a small room just to the left of the front door. He flipped a few switches and several television screens flickered to life. Each monitor showed a different part of the grounds and Harris could see immediately that there were no blind spots. He saw the double view of the front gate and nodded in appreciation. On a panel next to the monitors was a row of lights that blinked green. If somebody tripped the motion detectors, a red light would indicate which sensor had been tripped and the closest cameras would immediately scan that area. The detectors were set so that it would take a larger body to set them off. A squirrel could not trip them.
The two security guards stood behind Harris.
“Everything look good?” One of the men asked.
“Yeah,” Harris answered. “Collins, right?”
“Yes, sir. You can call me Mike if you’d like.”
“I’ll stick with last names,” Harris spoke with authority. “This is an op, gentlemen. We’re not here to become friends.”
“I understand, sir.”
Harris looked at the other man.
“Rhoads, sir.”
“Yeah, I know.” Harris gestured to the equipment with a sweeping motion of his arm. “May I assume that both of you know how to work all of this?”
“Yes, sir,” Rhoads answered. “We actually helped install some upgrades last summer.”
“Excellent. I don’t have to tell you how important this job is, right?”
“Sir,” Collin’s spoke. “We have been fully briefed. We will protect your family with our lives if need be.”
“Well it shouldn’t come to that, but I appreciate you saying it.”
Both men nodded.
“Where are the weapons?” Harris asked.
Collins took a step to the console and punched in a code on the keyboard. To the right a wall panel slid open and showed a secret shelving display upon which sat several assault rifles, a handful of automatic pistols and even a shelf with six grenades.
“It’s the same code as the front door, sir. Only in reverse.”
Damn,” Harris spoke softly.
“Yes, sir,” Rhoads spoke. He pulled his coat to the side to reveal his holstered weapon. “And of course we are armed at all times.”
“Where did you guys serve?” Harris asked.
“Eight years with a SEAL team, sir.” Collins answered.
“Which team?”
“Sir, I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Understood.”
“Army. Delta Force.” Rhoads said. “Out of Bragg.”
“Damn impressive, gentlemen.”
“Thank you, sir.” Collins spoke.
“Okay. No sense in putting this off. I’ve got to get back now,” Harris said as he turned to leave the room. He stopped and extended his hand to both men who shook it in turn. “Listen. Sorry to be a hard ass. Obviously you know what’s at stake here. I do appreciate this.”
“Completely understood, sir. Your wife and son will be safe,” Rhoads said solemnly.
“Thank you,” Harris replied. He turned and walked back into the large family room.
Bonnie stood with her hands on her hips. She glared at her husband as walked towards her.
“Honey,” he said as he approached her. “I’m so sorry about this. I will fix it.”
“Don’t call me honey, you son of a bitch,” she said sharply.
Collins and Rhoads, who had followed Harris into the family room, quickly turned on their heels and walked back into the control center.
Harris simply looked at his wife. He understood her pain and felt no anger towards her.
Danny appeared from a corridor and walked towards his parents.
“Oh my God, this place is amazing! Every bedroom has its own bathroom with a hot tub and a shower you could throw a party in!”
Harris turned and smiled at his son. He reached out and grabbed him by shoulders.
“You take care of your mother, now. Understood?”
“Yeah, dad. Don’t sweat it, this place
rocks.”
“I hate to do this, but I need your cell phones.”
“What?!” Bonnie yelled. “You are not taking my phone!”
“Jesus, Bonnie. Those things can be tracked. You know that. And, I got you another one. It’s basic but it’s secure.”
“I want my goddamn phone! All my shit is on it!”
“For Christ’s sake, Bonnie!” Harris yelled, losing his temper. “I programmed any numbers you’d need in the new phone. Just take the damn thing!”
Tears sprang up in his wife’s eyes. Her bottom lip quivered as she fought to keep from breaking down.
“Jesus,” Harris looked to the floor and spoke apologetically. “I’m sorry, Bonnie.”
Bonnie reached into her purse and grabbed her cell phone. She held it out to him as did Danny with his phone. Harris took them both and slid them into his jacket pocket. Then he handed her the new phone.
“Just for a little while. I promise.”
“Screw your promises,” Bonnie spoke with a quiet resignation as she grabbed the phone from his hand. She turned and walked towards a hallway on the left. Harris watched as she disappeared from sight.
“What do we do for food?” Danny asked.
“The guys have the back of their SUV loaded with provisions. More than enough for a week.”
“Cool,” Danny spoke as he looked around with a smile. “This is going to be all right.”
“Hey champ,” Harris spoke as he looked sternly into his son’s eyes. “This isn’t a game. Be there for your mom and listen to what these two men tell you. They’re on our side.”
“Will do, dad. You be safe.”
“Thanks, buddy. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Harris extended his arms and took a step towards his son. They embraced quickly and when the hug ended, Harris turned away quickly as it was his turn to hold back emotion.
“It’ll be all right, dad,” Danny spoke to his back as he walked to the front door.
“Damn right it will be, son. Damn right it will be.”
Rhoads and Collins walked back through the door of the control center. They nodded to Harris as he opened the front door.
“You’re on boys,” he said.
Harris walked through the door and closed it behind him. He strode with purpose across the porch and through the frigid air towards his Camaro.
Mob Rules
11
The warehouse was abandoned as it had been for several years, ever since the company who owned it had folded. Through the accumulated filth on the windows, glimpses of the fading daylight cut slivers of dusty illumination against the eastern walls of the structure. In the center of the large floor stood a chair upon which sat a terrified and desperate Hector. Although the temperature was almost freezing inside the warehouse, sweat trickled down the man’s face and dripped into his wide, panicked eyes.
Three men stood around him, two on each side and one facing the petrified drug dealer. The man standing in front bent at the waist so that his face was close enough for Hector to smell the pastrami sandwich he’d eaten at lunch. He offered his detainee a large, toothy smile.
“Hector,” Vinny spoke slowly. “None of this is adding up. Why in the world would a cop roust you, take your dope and your money and then let you go?”
“It doesn’t make any sense, boss,” the man on the left interjected.
“”No it does not,” the third man said.
“Vinny, I swear on the soul of my mother,” Hector pleaded. “He was busting me and then he got a phone call and had to split! I swear I never told him nothing!”
Vinny straightened and placed his hands on his hips. He looked to the man on Hector’s right.
“Carmine, are you buying any of this?”
“Hell no,” the man answered with a menacing tone. “Let’s cut the rat’s tongue out.”
“NO!” Hector screamed. “Vinny it was Harris! You know what a prick that guy is!”
“Yeah, I know Harris. I know him well enough to know that he’s not interested in a peon like you. He would have asked you for a name.”
“Vinny I swear! I swear I didn’t give you up! You think I’m crazy!?”
“I don’t know. A rat will do anything to save his own skin.”
“Vinny, I know I’m dead if I give you up! I didn’t give him shit! He got a phone call and then he split!”
“A phone call, huh?”
“It looked important. He got all serious. Said it was my lucky day.”
“He did, did he?”
“I swear it, Vinny!”
“You’re lucky day?”
“I’m being straight with you, Vinny!” Hector said. Panic dripped from each word he spoke. “He got a fucking phone call, said it was my lucky day and then he took off.”
“And you say this happened in an empty building near the tunnel?”
“Yeah! I can show you! How do you think my nose got busted? He smacked me around because I wouldn’t talk!”
“And what were you doing in the building?”
Through the fear and sweat, Hector suddenly felt ice cold as he heard the question. His body temperature felt like it dropped ten degrees as the implications of what he was being asked hit him. It was strictly forbidden for Vinny’s dealers to use. Especially when working. Vinny made it quite clear to all his guys that it meant death.
“Nothing, Vinny. I wasn’t using,” Hector stammered as he lied.
“Who said anything about using?” Vinny asked with an amused lilt in his voice. “Hector, are you lying to me?”
He folded his arms across his chest and smiled down at the man much as a parent would do to a small child who was trying to pull a fast one.
“I-I swear to Christ, Vinny!” Hector said with renewed desperation. “I was just cold. I was trying to get out of the cold.”
“I don’t understand. Your office is in Washington Park. There are any number of deli’s and stores that are actually heated. Yet you walked all the way to the tunnel and choose a cold, empty building to get warm?”
“Let me cut his throat, Vinny,” the underling on the left spoke up.
Hector whipped his head around to stare wild-eyed at the man.
“Now just wait a second. Let’s hear him out. I think he might be telling the truth.”
“I am! I swear it, Vinny! I don’t like crowds! I was holding H, I didn’t want to be in public!” Hector yelled in excitement as a glimmer of hope appeared to him.
“You know what? I think I believe you, Hector,” Vinny said with a smile. “Just run it down one more time for me from the time you left the park.”
“Like I said, I just moved a couple dimes and I thought I saw some heat coming my way so I started walking. I got down by the tunnel and ducked into a building.”
“To lose whoever might be following you?”
“Yeah,” Hector answered quickly. “And to get warm.”
“And then what?”
“Well, all of a sudden Harris was there. I tried to stick him but he sucker punched me.”
“Wow,” Vinny said. “You tried to stick him?”
“Well I didn’t know it was him at first because he had a scarf over his face.”
“And then he hit you?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of questions did he ask you?”
“He-he asked me who my supplier was but I told him to get fucked.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. Then he hit me in the nose again.”
“I can see that. It doesn’t look good. Does it hurt?”
“Yeah, it hurts like hell.”
“Later this afternoon you should go to the clinic. They will set it for you and maybe even give you some pain meds.”
A wave of relief washed over Hector as he realized that he was going to live.
“And then what?” Vinny continued.
“And then his phone rang and he took the call. After he hung up he made me empty my pockets and the
n he took my swag and my money and he split.”
“You mean my money.”
“What?” A confused Hector asked.
“You mean he took my money, right?” Vinny repeated as his voice lost its humor.
“Yeah,” Hector said swallowing hard. “Of course it was your money, Vinny.”
“And my swag,” Vinny continued as his tone grew menacing.
“Yeah Vinny,” Hector stammered as he felt the man’s mood change. A knot tightened in his stomach and he felt the temperature drop again.
“And how long will I have to wait for you to pay me back?” Vinny asked, the smile gone from his face.
“A week! One week and you will have every penny back, Vinny! I swear it!”
Vinny stared at the desperate man. He nodded slowly.
“One week,” Hector repeated.
Vinny looked to the man on his left.
“What do you think?”
“Hell, I don’t know, boss,” the man replied.
“I think Hector will be more careful in the future, don’t you?”
The man simply shrugged.
“Okay, Hector,” Vinny slapped the man on his leg. “You got one week.”
“Dear God, thank you, Vinny,” the man said as tears sprung to his eyes. “Thank you.”
“One more thing,” Vinny asked. “You first told me that you headed towards the tunnel because you wanted to get warm. Then you said you were followed. Which one was it?”
“Uh….it-it was both. I was cold and I thought somebody might be watching me,” Hector stammered. He looked from man to man.
“Hector?” Vinny asked softly.
“Y-Yeah?”
“You’re a fucking horrible liar,” Vinny said flatly. He reached into his coat and produced a 9mm. Thrusting his arm, he leveled the gun at Hector. The two men standing to the left and right took a quick step to each side.
MOB RULES (James Harris Book 2) Page 4
