“She could get locked on a replacement for the Bieber kid that will make you wish little Justin was living with you,” Jess added.
“Good point – I better lay off the Beeper.”
“When do we start training, Cheese?”
“Never, T. I’ve decided on a one man invasion of Southeast Asia instead.”
“The moment you get back then.”
Damn it!
* * *
“Don’t hurt her!” Lora’s mouth throbbed where the big guy had smacked her when she opened the door. Duct taped to a kitchen chair, she twisted helplessly against her bindings. The guy who had assaulted her smiled, and patted Alice on the head. He had just finished putting one wrap of duct tape around Alice and the kitchen chair she was in facing her. Their music sound system was turned up, but not loud enough to drown out conversation. “She doesn’t know anything!”
The reason Lora had opened the door swayed over in front of her, long blonde hair, and pleasant smile beaming. Having identified herself as Natalie Radcliff, she had stepped aside the moment Lora opened the door to her, allowing the big henchman to whack her. Alice had run at the man from the kitchen instead of running up to their safe-room as John had trained her to do. Natalie intercepted her, quickly pinning the screaming Alice to the floor, before gagging her.
“What the hell do you people want?”
“We’ll get to all of that,” Natalie said. “We wanted to make sure you understood we are serious. When is John coming home?”
“He was meeting with our drivers and Tommy Sands to coordinate your tour tomorrow. He should return in a couple hours. Why do this? This is insane!”
“Leverage, my dear. We need some questions answered rather hastily. Let’s start with some easy ones. Tell me all about John. We know he is not as he appears.”
Lora remembered what John explained about torture, and using hostages, as Alice squirmed, shaking her head at Lora. John had told her people that do those things will find out what they want to know, no matter how tough the victim is. Then he had smiled, adding an exception of Luke Dostiene. ‘Tell them what they want to know, Lora. We’ll deal with it later’. “He’s a Marine Recon reservist. He works for the CIA. He has and will kill people. He will kill both of you.”
Radcliff chuckled. “Did you hear that, Bashar? Harding will kill us all. Whatever shall we do? Listen, Lora. When John gets here, you stay very quiet. You’re doing real well. Now, do you know anything about a container ship called The City of Hope that belongs to Alexi Fiialkov?”
“No… and I would tell you if I did. John is friends with Alexi. He has fought a couple of Fiialkov’s fighters.”
Radcliff looked perturbed. “That’s it? They’re friends? What the hell kind of relationship is it between a Russian mobster and a street pug working for the CIA?”
“John nearly killed him when they first met outside a bar in Oakland. Since then, they’ve done a few matches together.” Lora smiled.
“Do you think this is funny?” Natalie crouched so as to stare in what she thought was a threatening manner directly at Lora’s face.
“No… but he does,” Lora answered, gesturing for Natalie to look behind her.
Natalie whipped around in time to see a huge shadow release the unconscious Bashar Washem to the kitchen floor.
* * *
I’ve heard the giggles, and arrogant condescending groans when I’ve checked our street for strange cars. Lora never fails to give me the deep sigh of abject boredom when I sometimes drive past our house to check on an unfamiliar vehicle. I don’t mind. It’s not her job to keep me alive. It’s my job to keep her and Al alive. I drove my Chevy past the house, because I spotted a bright shiny black BMW across the street, two houses down. I stopped near it, and called Jafar.
“John?”
“Run a plate for me, kid.” I gave him the license plate number. In twenty seconds, Jafar reappeared on my iPhone screen.
“It’s a rental. European Export Company is the renter, signed for by a Bashar Washem.”
I turned the Chevy around. “I was going to call you about this anyway. Wake that pirate Laredo up, and the two of you tear Bashar Washem’s and Natalie Radcliff’s lives apart.”
“On it.”
I parked one house down, across the street. It was a breezy cold, overcast day, so there were only a couple older kids playing basketball down the street. I went through my neighbor’s yard to reach the house, staying clear of the windows. Music was playing loud enough so I could hear it. My sound system is so good, the sound envelopes you, allowing a low loudness setting to be perfect. Lora always keeps it down.
I went through my well-oiled gate to the back. Yes, I keep every lock and hinge, inside and out lubricated. Since I have an alarm system NASA would be proud of, I make sure I can approach my own home noiselessly when it’s off. I slipped off my shoes at the patio door. I couldn’t see anyone inside the living room where the patio sliding glass door is. The music covered the whisper soft slide of my patio door. I slipped in, and to the kitchen, where I saw a big guy hovering over a duct taped Al. His attention was on an interrogation going on further in the kitchen.
I moved soundlessly in behind him. I saw Natalie facing my wife, weaponless. Her cohort did not have a weapon in hand either. I wanted this guy. My arm snaked around his neck. Luckily, his first impulse was to grab for my arm as I swung him away from Al. I hugged him to me with my free arm locking his arms where they were. By the time he tried to kick out, he was passing out. Lora smiled at me. Nat then turned as I released her boy to the floor.
“Hello, Nat.”
She looked at her bag on the table. I had my .45 Colt aimed in her direction. I had no intention of killing her, but pistol whipping her… maybe. “Go for it, Nat.”
Nat held her hands out. “This isn’t what it looks like, John. I can explain.”
“I’ll bet you can. Get on your knees, and lock those hands behind your head. Do anything else, and I pistol whip that pretty face.”
Nat did as told. I saw their duct tape, so I used it on Nat first, finishing with a couple of loops around the chair I put her in. Bashar didn’t wake up yet so I duct taped his hands behind his back. After confiscating his weapons: a switchblade, and a Beretta 9mm, I released Al first, carefully removing the gag. She cried while hugging me with all her might. For those tears, there would be blood until it washed the memory from my mind.
“It’s all good now, Al. Come with me while I free up your Mom.”
I carried her over to Lora. She wiped her eyes and nose with her arms, and helped me after I cut free the duct tape from the chair. The moment she was free, Lora didn’t hug me or say a word. She launched on Nat, tipping the chair over on its back with Nat screaming. Lora punched her square in the face, a real nose breaking beauty. I collected her from the now crying Radcliff, spurting blood, and choking on it. Lora’s arms and legs were going everywhere trying to get back on top of Nat.
“Nice shot, Hon. Calm down, and take Al into the living room while I call in the experts.”
Lora relaxed immediately. She knew who I meant. I released her, and she hugged Al to her. “C’mon, Al. We’ll go wait for Clint and Lynn.”
Al twisted around, pointing at the sobbing Nat, who I had righted again in the chair. “Lynn’s coming over, lady. She likes to ask questions too!”
I called Lynn first. “We have a situation. The BBC reporter and her bodyguard broke in while I was out with the guys planning the tour we were to take them on tomorrow. They duct taped Al and Lora for hostages. Now, they’re duct taped.”
“Don’t you dare break any of my toys, Cheese! I’m serious. Do so at your own risk! It’ll be the Bay for you with an oak poke pole.”
I grinned, while looking at Nat, and her buddy. “Understood. Lora smashed the blonde in the nose, but that’s the only damage.”
“We’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Don’t even prep ‘em.”
She hung up before I could speak. I call
ed Denny next, and gave him the lowdown. “I’ll call Dev. He can come by with one of our limos for transport. It’s getting to be a cold night for the Bay. I’m afraid this will have to be done at Pain Central. I’d like to see our new boy Tannous interact with my new guest.”
“I’ll call Dev for you,” Denny replied. “I’m sorry this wasn’t on our radar, John… damn sorry. There’s a leak overseas, or they’re playing the odds, hoping to make sure everything is okay for the sea transfer.”
“It’s not your fault. Hell… it’s not anybody’s fault. Call Dev for me. It’ll give me a few minutes to talk with Lora and Al. Lynn warned me I’m not even allowed to prep them.”
“Oh shit… I wouldn’t want to be one of your guests. I’m heading over to Central now. Did you call our IT people?”
“I put Jafar and Laredo on it the moment I knew the strange car outside had been checked out by Bashar Washem, Natalie Radcliff’s bodyguard. I’ll see you there. It may be we’ll have to speed things up a bit.”
“We’ll work it out, John. See ya’.”
I went in the living room with my wife and daughter. We don’t have a normal life, and what had just happened illustrated the dangers involved even though we take precautions. That the in-laws hadn’t been there was a blessing. Seeing Lora and Al huddled together, trying to look brave for me set loose the monster I keep chained in a dark crypt at the far recesses of my mind. I knelt down in front of them.
“I’m sorry we didn’t see this coming.”
Al burst into tears, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I… didn’t run… to the safe-room, Dad! You’ve told me and told me… I’m so stupid. You trained me!”
Yep. There will be blood. I forced her out at arm’s length. “Did you try to go get a piece?”
Al swiped a hand across her eyes, brightening a little. “That guy hit Mom… and I forgot about everything.”
She may not be blood, but Al was all mine. “Remember why you have to run?”
Al nodded. “So Mom or you don’t have to worry, and I can hit the alarm. I screwed up. It won’t ever happen again, Dad.”
“I’m praying it never has to. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get an ice pack for your Mom’s mouth.”
Lora grabbed my hand. “I love you with all my heart. Don’t beat yourself up over this, John. I knew the risks. Things get so good we sometimes forget we’re not exactly in a normal situation. Jesus… it was so good to look up and see you in the kitchen.”
“Dad was like a Ninja,” Al added.
“Things will get better, girls. Be right back.” I went into the kitchen, saw Bashar looking around sullenly, and smashed an open hand right across his face that nearly launched him through the kitchen wall. The chair was oak, so no damage. I righted the chastised Bashar without comment. I retrieved one of my training ice packs from the freezer, and returned it to the living room. They had peeked at the very unhappy Bashar, and were giving me a ‘shame on you’ act together which was the type of gallows humor I hope to avoid in the future. Lora pressed the ice pack to her mouth, mumbling thanks.
Then Lynn arrived, busting in through the door, eyes narrowed, her fists clenched, sniffing at the air. “Fee… Fie… Foe… Fum, I smell the blood of some Englishmen. Be they live, or be they dead, I’ll grind their bones to make my bread.”
Al giggled over Lynn’s altered ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’ rhyme, and launched full bore into her arms, as Clint moved up smiling next to Lynn. Lynn hugged her back, but with eyes scanning for her toys.
“Lynn and I heard you had a little pest control problem, so we hurried over to handle it.” Clint walked over to examine Lora. “Yep. These pests’ handling and disposal can get a little ugly, girls. Why don’t you two go on in the entertainment center, and watch a movie that will take your minds off this unfortunate infestation?”
Clint’s innuendos met with amusement, and adjournment to the entertainment room by my ladies. Once they were out of sight, the monsters adjourned to the kitchen. Clint and I watched, because this was Lynn’s gig, and she was hell-a-good at it.
Lynn stroked Natalie’s hair while looking horrified. “Oh my. Someone did a number on your nose sweetie. I bet it was my very good friend, Lora. She gets that way when someone duct tapes her daughter to a chair. Hi… I’m Lynn. I’ll be your guide all the way into hell, and baby, buckle up. It’s going to be a rough ride.”
“You…you have to turn us over to your authorities.” Lora had adjusted Nat’s quaint English accent. It was a bit nasally now.
Lynn patted her cheek. “Aw… that’s so cute. You think you can come in and kidnap a child and her mother, interrogate them like they’re in a prisoner of war camp, and then say whoops… sorry… and we’ll hand you off to those pussies with black robes. I think not… Nat!”
“I’m with the BBC! You can’t just make me disappear!” Nat was working herself up into a BBC outrage.
Lynn couldn’t help herself. She started laughing, and had some trouble stopping. After a few moments, Lynn straightened. “Oh my… thanks, Nat. I needed that.”
She then walked over to Bashar. I could tell in his face he knew it wasn’t a game. He knew it the moment I smashed him across the room. Lynn trailed a right index finger down over Bashar’s left shoulder. “How about you Bashar? I bet you don’t think I’m kidding around. You like to smack women around. That’s very naughty. I’m a little on the naughty side myself. I like to take a blowtorch to guys who smack women around. I bet you’re the big bad that duct taped the little girl to a chair too. You probably think you’re pretty scary. Oh, honey, Auntie Lynn goin’ to show you scary.”
Bashar spat out onto my floor. “You do not scare me with your bluff. We will say nothing until we speak with people from our embassy.”
Lynn pointed at the spittle on the floor. “Hey Cheese, I think you have a spot on the floor. I bet big bad would love to clean it for you. We have a few minutes before their limo ride arrives.”
I took out my knife and cut Bashar free of the chair. Then I pulled the tape off his clothing. “Do yourself a favor. Get down and clean the spot.”
He spat again, launching a sucker punch at my head. I blocked the blow, wrapped my arm around his, forcing him up on tiptoes, and broke his arm. Bashar screamed while I body slammed him onto his spit, cleaning it with a couple of twists and turns. I put him back on the chair. My iPhone went off. It was Dev with the chariot to hell.
“Ride’s here.”
Lynn cut Natalie loose. “Go ahead and try something on me, Nat. I don’t do body slams. I’ll bitch slap you until your head rings like a gong. Put your hands behind your back.”
Natalie did as she was told, eyes blinking in abject terror. Lynn plastic tied her hands behind her back. I think reality was creeping into her consciousness. She looked at me pleadingly. “I can make all this right, John. You cared for me once. Please let me go. I will leave immediately.”
So much for reality. “You’ll be going somewhere, Nat, but not to embassies, police stations, or the airport. I do have a limo ride for you outside though. Best enjoy it, because once the limo arrives at your next destination, you and your pal Bashar are going to answer a lot of questions.”
Before Nat could say anymore, Lynn duct taped her mouth. Clint did the same to Bashar. He was in great pain. It cut his vocals down to a weird muffled humming that went up and down an octave. Lynn was in rare form. She threaded an arm between Nat’s.
“C’mon now, I bet you know this rhyme, BBC.” She started skipping with the out of step Nat to the door. “We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz… because, because, because, because… because of the horrible things she does!”
“Bloody Sunday, brother.” Clint guided Bashar. “I think this is going to get messy.”
I shook Bashar’s head by the hair when he didn’t move quickly enough. “I believe you are right, brother.”
Jess passed us on the way in with a riot gun. He would be making sure no one else stopp
ed by for trick or treat. “I’ll lock up and set the alarm, John. Take your time.”
“Thanks, Jess.”
Jess smiled at the still humming Bashar. “I usually feel sorry for guys going with Crue. That ain’t the case this time. Have fun, asshole!”
Chapter Seventeen
Game Show Jackpot
Clint, Lynn, and I stood around the two surgical gurneys, with our naked BBC subjects strapped on them. We set them up in our ‘Dexter’ room. We dressed appropriately, with the head to toe outfits, including surgical masks and earplugs. I thought the three of us looked very professional. The monster from the crypt inside me didn’t care what they said, or did, which was why Lynn controlled the interrogation with Denny monitoring and recording by video with Quays Tannous at his side. Natalie was already screaming for mercy. Bashar looked to be still holding onto hope this was an elaborate bluff. He was in for a major surprise.
Lynn smacked Nat across the face. “Shut up! I haven’t even started yet. You need to save your breath, because you’re going to need it. Now then… how does that sissy Dexter start out? Oh yeah, I remember.”
Using the scalpel, Lynn made an incision just below Bashar’s eye, and down past his nose, finishing with a narrow arc connecting bottom to top. With a surgeon’s skill, she removed the arc of skin, placing it in a petri dish Clint held out for her. Leaving the now screaming Bashar, Lynn repeated the task on Nat.
“Would you quiet them down, Cheese?”
“Sure.” I bonked each one in the forehead with my fist until they shut up again.
“Thank you. Now, here’s how we play this game. It won’t be fun for you two, but we’re sure going to learn a lot. I have the grand Wizard in my ear from behind the curtains. If he thinks your answer to the question I give you is good. That green light up above in your line of sight will light, and I’ll cut a square off your companion. If the red light comes on, I cut two squares off of you. Are you ready to rumble?!”
“Please! I’ll tell you everything! I-”
I gave the screaming Nat a head donk at Lynn’s nod.
Hard Case IV: A Violent Life (John Harding Series Book 4) Page 29
