Hard Case IV: A Violent Life (John Harding Series Book 4)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Are we really going to take Tonto with us to the Mosque?”

  “Wait until you see, kid,” Clint said. “You only know the homey Tonto. He’s actually a monster like us, but he’s a little more laid back.”

  Danessa reached down to stroke Tonto’s head as he leaned against her. “Tonto’s really good at hiding it.”

  “Yeah, he is,” Lynn agreed. “Most folks, who see his monster side, don’t live to tell anyone.”

  * * *

  “Watch this kid.” Clint pointed at the brick wall surrounding the SALAM Islamic Center, where trees grew all along the perimeter. Clint had parked twenty yards past the gate. He looked around for witnesses, and then pointed at the wall. “Hide.”

  Tonto leaped out of the van. In seconds, he lay behind a tree, hunched next to the wall soundlessly with no movement.

  “Lynn and I will be about fifty yards down the street on the other side of the gate. If something goes wrong, and you think you’re in trouble, run around the corner of the gate where Tonto is and yell ‘protect’. He’ll stop and distract anyone following you until Lynn and I get there.”

  “But what if they try to hurt him? I don’t want Tonto hurt because of me.”

  “Honey,” Lynn replied, “crouch behind a tree or something. Tonto will be fine - anyone following you… not so much. Are you ready?”

  Danessa was staring at where she knew Tonto to be. She could barely distinguish him from the wall, even knowing right where he was. “I’m ready.”

  * * *

  Shoes stored away, Danessa moved with her guide around the prayer hall, glancing over at the young woman with her. The guide, Amara, smiled at her while explaining the history of the Mosque in hushed tones. The Mosque, located on a huge plot of land with trees surrounding the outside was only one part of the SALAM Center. Danessa listened intently, but moved her line of sight to everything within the second floor Masjid.

  “Are we allowed to bring children to prayers?”

  Amara nodded, appearing welcoming of the question. “The first floor houses our academy. We have a full time school, and offer weekend preschool through high school classes, ages four and older. We also have a recreational center.”

  “That’s wonderful. Your center is amazing. I have a little brother five years old. May I see the area where the preschool is?”

  “Certainly. I will show you each section.”

  During her tour of the academy, Danessa focused on every living person she passed, and on each of the children. After being escorted out of the preschool class, where there had been fifteen kids in attendance, Clint’s voice sounded in her ear.

  “They have him there, Danessa. Say your goodbyes unhurriedly and politely. Then leave. Don’t acknowledge my order.”

  Danessa held out her hand to Amara, who shook it with only a slight hesitation. “Thank you so much for guiding me through your beautiful center. Would it be possible to contact you when I wish to attend prayers?”

  “Oh yes, I would be happy to attend prayers with you. My e-mail address is in the information packet I gave you at the beginning. Thank you for your interest.”

  Two short bearded men around the six foot range approached as she and Amara were talking. One had a scar down the side of his face. The other appeared to have a permanent snarl on his features. Danessa noticed Amara stepping back with surprise showing in her body language.

  Scarface started the conversation. “What is your purpose for being here, woman?”

  “Danessa is a visitor. I am-”

  “Stay out of this! We believe she has ulterior motives. Why are you here?”

  Before Danessa met Lynn Montoya, she might have been frightened by Scarface, and reacted with shouting or losing her cool because of fear. Instead, she smiled sweetly up at Scarface as he hovered in near her. “I was considering a conversion to Islam, Sir. Having met with you, I am no longer convinced of the welcome Amara gave me. She is very nice. If you will excuse me, I have other places to be.”

  Snarl-face blocked her way as Danessa turned. “We are not done questioning you! You will come with us.”

  “You’re doing great, kid,” Clint said. “Tell the asshole you’re leaving, and if he touches you, you’ll scream.”

  Danessa repeated exactly what Clint had advised. Then she took Amara’s arm. “Please escort me out, Amara. I do not like these men.”

  “Of course… I am very sorry, Danessa.” Amara stared defiantly up into Scarface’s features. “I will report this to the Imam! Do not block my way, Sir!”

  Amara didn’t pause. She led the way around the two men to the exit. She spoke in a hushed voice as the two women neared the exit. “Perhaps you should allow me to call the police, Danessa. These men may follow you. I have no idea what they are harassing you for. Please don’t get the wrong idea about us from this. It is all very strange.”

  Danessa hugged her at the entrance to the building, seeing both Scarface and Snarl-face approaching the entrance from wide, encircling paths. “Don’t you worry about it, Amara. Thank you so much for showing me around. I will e-mail you and stay in touch no matter what my decision about converting.”

  “I would like that very much. Please do contact me. Goodbye, Danessa.”

  Danessa waved. She walked determinedly toward the outside avenue. As she neared the gate, Danessa heard Scarface ordering her to stop. Danessa rounded the gate to her right, heart pounding. Then she ran, screaming out, “protect!”

  Danessa turned as a mottled brown blur shot out onto the sidewalk, and launched into Scarface’s chest, smashing him flat on his back. Snarl-face reached into his jacket, only to be torn down to the sidewalk by his reaching arm. Tonto then leaped from one to the other, throat to throat with silently terrifying ease. The action van rolled up next to them. Lynn had taken over driving duties. Clint emerged from the side door of the van as it stopped with a big reassuring smile.

  “First class work, Danessa. Now, let me see.”

  “Call this unclean shit-eater off of me!” This statement came from Snarl-face, who immediately grew a set of Tonto slavering jaws tautly around his neck. Tonto shook him slightly, while looking up at Clint.

  “Hold,” Clint said in response. He grabbed up Scarface clear of the sidewalk, and threw him inside the van with an ease Danessa noticed with stunned openmouthed surprise. Lynn secured the prisoner easily after he had banged face first into the van’s inner side.”

  “Release.” Tonto hopped off of Snarl-face as Clint tossed him onto his stomach, and secured his hands with a plastic tie, followed by another toss face first into the van’s opposite siding. “Guard.”

  Tonto leaped up inside the van with their prisoners, while Clint opened the passenger side front door for Danessa. “Good to go, kid. You ride up front.”

  Danessa followed his directions, grinning over at Lynn. “That was so cool!”

  Lynn got the van moving away from the Mosque. She then pointed at Danessa without glancing away from the road. “Don’t get cocky! Remember graduation. This stuff is a hamburger flipper job paying your way through academia.”

  Danessa reached over and covered Lynn’s hand. “I know.”

  “What… what have you done? Are you insane?!” This from Scarface.

  “Look… shut the hell up. You and your buddy here are already boring me to tears. Don’t start playing the outrage card, or I’ll have Tonto here rip your throats out.” Clint did a circular motion with his index finger, and pointed at Scarface. Tonto leaped atop his chest, drew blood at his neck with deliberate nipping care, and made chomping motions after he did it, grinning down with bloody mouth, and dripping fangs at the screaming Scarface. “The next demonstration I have Tonto do is your Adam’s Apple in my hand. Think you can shut the hell up for now?”

  Energetic silent nods from both men answered Clint’s question.

  Clint waved Tonto off to the side. “Very good, gentlemen. I think we have an understanding. You both know we are aware that Robert Zaki is ins
ide. That is a federal offense. We’re not here to do the federal offense angle. We’re here to get Robert back into his Mom’s arms, and one of you or both of you might live to see that done.”

  “You will get nothing from us,” Snarl-face said, watching the attentive Tonto with wariness. “We are soldiers of Allah!”

  Clint sighed. “That’s one for the sea cruise. How about you, Scar? Want to take a chance on living, or go on our special voyage of the damned?”

  “I will tell you nothing!”

  Clint glanced up at the rear view mirror where he saw Lynn’s smiling eyes. “Okay… I owe you another hundred. We need to make you a household name, so all we have to do is say ‘well, sparky… if you don’t answer, I’ll have to give you over to Lynn Montoya’. I thought Tonto nipping a piece out would be enough.”

  “See,” Lynn replied. “You always overestimate the intelligence of these goons. Maybe… uh oh… hey cowboy, rammer coming up way fast. Hold on.”

  “Not to worry, babe. Pull off now.” Clint grabbed Tonto, and held on, readying himself for impact. “I don’t think we’ll need the rammers, right?”

  “Don’t save them on my account. I got those two tools in the back, if they survive.”

  The Ford truck behind them only smashed into a corner of their action van as Lynn waited for the last moment before swerving over to the curb. Clint was out of the side door in a split second after impact. He killed the rammers in seconds, as his .45 caliber hollow point bullets struck through the windshield before the driver or his passenger could react. Their heads were pulped. The action van was back on the road within a minute, Lynn chortling over the encounter with Danessa gripping her knees in wide eyed terror. Lynn reached over and patted Danessa’s left hand.

  “It’s all good, kid. Clint will have to put another firearm into hiding though.”

  “Damn it!” Clint looked at his .45 Colt with tight lipped fury. “I’ll keep it for special occasions. They’ll come up with one of those serial killer database entries just for me.”

  “You…you murderer!” Scarface had lost all touch with reality, and self-preservation.

  Lynn gestured toward the back. “See, kid, there are really some people who are too stupid to live. It’s something you have to keep in mind even in mundane everyday life.”

  Danessa glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes… I believe I understand that now.”

  Lynn gripped her left hand, glancing over at Danessa as she drove. “Still happy you volunteered for this excursion?”

  Danessa nodded. “Yes. I have been the perpetrator in the past. I will account for my sins whenever I can. I had nothing before you showed me the way, Lynn. I appreciated nothing. I was thankful for nothing. I have the whole world in front of me now, within my grasp, thanks to you. I know business is business in this realm too.”

  “Business in the realm of monsters, huh? I like that.”

  “You idiots.” Clint kicked Scarface. “Let’s circle around and get the boy, Hon. No need for subterfuge now. We’ll do it quietly as possible. Do you have a scarf?”

  “I’ll come up with something.” Lynn turned the van around on the wide avenue. Traffic was light. As they passed the Ford truck on the other side of the street, it had rolled to a stop against the curb. Two cars passed it without slowing. “The rammers will be there for a while before anyone notices. Call those two FBI clunkers, and tell them to get their asses inside the SALAM Center gate. We’ll pick up little Robert, and put him right in their arms.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Clint acknowledged while duct taping the mouths of Scar and Snarl. He then made a call on his iPhone. Sam Reeves face appeared on his screen. “Skip the hellos. Grab Janie, and break the speed record getting to the SALAM Center. We’ll pass Robert to you there. Put in a quick call to his Mom. Tell her to be ready for a talk with her kid. I don’t want him upset, and I want the people at the Center to know we’re working inside the law.”

  “Understood.” Reeves disconnected.

  By the time Lynn parked near the gate, Clint had on his black jacket and Scar’s white tagiyah cap. Lynn searched around in the bag she had brought. She pulled out an ankle length tan coat, and a black scarf.

  Lynn held up the scarf. “Samira gave me this for my birthday. I never thought I’d get to wear it. Let’s go, Dannie. You lead the way. Clint and I will flash badges and ID’s if anyone gets in our way. We’ll take them along to the room where Robert is. Clint will put Robert’s Mom on with the boy, and let them see.”

  “Guard”. Tonto moved over the two prisoners. Clint locked the van. The three hurried toward the Center entrance way.

  “Not to mention I have the Amber Alert on my iPad,” Lynn added. “A kidnapping across state lines is a big federal offense no/no. I’m betting our two van guests were the ones who transported him from Washington.”

  “There’s Amara.” Danessa ran up to her friend, who was accompanied by another man in formal robes and tagiyah. “These are my friends. I know you didn’t have anything to do with it, but there is a little boy in your preschool weekend class who was kidnapped.”

  Amara clasped Danessa’s hands in hers. “I…I brought the Imam, because I thought those men ran out to kidnap you. What…what is this all about?”

  Clint and Lynn produced their badges and ID’s. “I am FBI Special Agent Clint Dostiene. This is my partner, Agent Lynn Montoya.”

  Lynn showed the shocked pair at the entrance her iPad with the Amber Alert. Amara gasped, seeing Robert’s face. She turned to her companion, pointing at the screen. “Imam Ahmad, it is true. This little boy is in the class.”

  “Let us go inside,” Imam Ahmad replied. “There have been visitors I did not remember ever seeing to the Masjid in the last couple days.”

  Inside the classroom, the children and instructor quieted at the appearance of the Imam. Clint approached Robert with his iPhone, having just contacted his Mom. Seeing his Mom, the boy’s eyes widened in happy surprise. Clint let the boy take the iPhone. The adults stepped back. Robert kept repeating that he wanted to come home in an anguished plea every few seconds, as his Mom tried desperately not to break down in tears herself.

  “Our FBI supervisor will be here shortly,” Clint explained. “We are to take Robert to them for transport home back to his Mom. We’d like to accomplish it without any further disruption. The boy is the nephew of a United States Senator. I know you do not wish to have the media here. We don’t either. Have you any doubts as to our mission, Sir?”

  “Not at all. I am happy to cooperate. Please let Amara and I escort you out with Robert. Thank you for doing this quietly. It could have been a nightmare for us.”

  Outside the Center, Sam Reeves and Janie Labrie waited with a black town car and driver. Lynn handed the boy over to Janie. “He wants to go home, huh buddy? My friend Janie here will take you to your Mommy.”

  The boy hugged Lynn, before releasing her and allowing Janie to take him. Reeves pulled Clint off to the side. “Anything I should know about?”

  “Not yet, Sam. Get moving. I’ll talk at you shortly. I believe Zaki will be showing up. We want to be here to greet him.”

  Reeves started to object, clamped his lips shut, and nodded. He shook Imam Ahmad’s hand. “Thank you for your help. I will make sure Senator Penebaker hears of your assistance in this delicate issue.”

  “That would be most welcome. Thank you.”

  The group watched the car drive out through the gate. Danessa took a deep breath as she faced Amara. “I’m sorry about not being able to tell you all about this, Amara. May I still e-mail you when I visit Sacramento?”

  “I would like that very much. This has been very exciting. We shall stay in contact.”

  “I’ll e-mail you when I get home. If you visit the Bay Area, I hope we can get together. I’m so glad this-”

  A black Mercedes squealed through the entrance gate. Lynn turned to the Imam. “You’d better take Amara inside, Sir. We’ll handle the kidnapper. He has diplom
atic immunity, but he has broken a couple of federal laws.”

  The Imam guided Amara toward the entrance. “Yes… thank you.”

  No one exited the tinted windowed vehicle.

  Clint took out his FBI badge and ID, showing his credentials at the rear side window. “Step out of the vehicle. Please keep your hands in sight.”

  Lynn had her hand inside her purse. “This dummy might come out shooting. Get behind me Dannie.”

  Danessa did as instructed. The door opened, and a tall, heavy set, suited man slid out of the rear seat with his hand inside his coat pocket.

  “Take your hand out of the coat,” Clint said in Arabic. “Do it now, or I put a hole through your head.”

  Startled to hear the direction in his own language, the man put his hands at his sides. Then Zaki emerged, his face twisted in absolute rage. “What is the meaning of this? Do you not know who I am?”

  “Yep,” Lynn answered. “You’re a kidnapping scumbag, caught red handed. Your son is already happily on his way back to his Mom.”

  “You are no longer welcome in this Masjid! Please leave,” Imam Ahmad called out from the entrance.

  “That means you need to leave now, or I will summon the local police to take you into custody,” Clint added. “If it were up to me, you’d already be face down on the sidewalk.”

  “My men are in there! I will summon them out.”

  “There were four of them, right? They left after we did. We haven’t seen them since. If you’d like, I can get Senator Penebaker on the phone right now, and see what she’d like to do with you. I have a pretty good idea, but I’ll check if you want?”

  “You have not heard the last of this. I will have your badges!” Zaki dived into the car with his man following. In another second they were speeding back out of the gate.

  “Damn… I wanted him.” Lynn gestured in the direction of their van. “What do you want to do with Zaki’s pals?”

  “What pals? Oh you mean the casualties in the back of the van. They didn’t make it out alive to run our good names through the mud. I’ll call and see what kind of weather’s on the Bay for an evening cruise. If we leave them alive, they’ll be claiming we used the unclean Tonto to insult their Islamic heritage. We must protect Tonto, the valiant crusader.”