by Andrew Gross
If they were in there for what Hauck thought they were there for, he might already be too late.
There was no sign of anyone still inside the Jeep. Hauck jumped out of the Explorer and hurried over to the side of Warren’s office. No chance he could go through the front door. Anyone inside would hear. He had no idea how many there were. But he knew he had to move.
Hunched over, Hauck ran behind the Range Rover to the rear of the blacktopped driveway. A picket fence and gate led to the backyard. Hauck stepped over it, drawing alongside the house. He blamed himself for not taking Warren with him the first time. Holding the gun to his chest, he looked in through a window.
It was someone’s office. Empty. Probably one of Warren’s associates. The office door was closed. Hauck couldn’t see past it to what was inside.
No way they’re going to let him just walk away…
He crept around to the back of the house. There was a small yard back there, fenced in by tall hedges. A wrought iron table was set up with five chairs. Warren’s office was on the far end off a slate-tiled patio. Hauck spotted the French doors.
Clinging to the side of the house, he moved down the patio toward it.
There were voices through the glass now, coming from inside. Sweat began to stream down Hauck’s temples. His heart rate started to climb. Hauck peered in.
He saw Vega.
He recognized the gang leader instantly. His head was shaved. He had on a midlength denim jacket and black jeans. He was swiveling back and forth in Warren’s desk chair like a kid in his father’s office, gesturing, enjoying himself, orchestrating whatever was going on. Hauck saw a gun tucked between his legs.
Vega’s accomplice had Warren pressed up against the wall. Hauck watched as the man teasingly dragged the muzzle of his gun along his brother’s face. They were making him pay, punishing him, not just carrying out what they were here to do. Warren just stared back, glassy, without emotion, seemingly resigned to whatever fate was about to take place.
Vega began to chuckle. “Too bad you just couldn’t take it, man. Took it out on yourself. ’Cause that’s the way it’s gonna look.” He nodded to his accomplice. Hauck saw him cock his gun and finally jam it against Warren’s temple.
His brother shut his eyes.
Now. Hauck kicked in the doors.
Glass shattered over the floor. He picked out the guy on Warren first, who spun, aiming wildly, as Hauck squeezed on the Sig—four times—blotches of red exploding against the folds of sweatshirt gray.
The man toppled back against a bookshelf, leather volumes and mementos crashing down on him.
Hauck shifted toward Vega, who spun the chair across the floor and leaped out, fumbling for his gun, which had fallen to the floor.
“Don’t!”
He was trapped, frozen in midmotion, his desperate eyes locking on Hauck, who stood with his gun trained on him with both hands.
“Don’t move a muscle,” Hauck said. “Don’t even breathe, Vega. You must know how little I would care if I had to blow you away.”
The gang leader held himself there, crouched, his gun to the side. His finger tensed around the trigger guard. He looked at Hauck, a smile creasing his lips, and straightened up. “Surprised to see you again, bro.”
“Why? You said to come see you. You said you’d give me a lesson, how one and one didn’t add up to two.” The guy had murdered Sanger. Probably been responsible for the hit on Kramer too. Not to mention the charge he had beaten for shooting it out with a state trooper.
Hauck fixed, steadfast, on him. “So, I’m here…”
Vega glanced narrowly at him, then at Warren. Then he nodded with the resigned state of someone who was about to end it here. He blew Hauck a kiss. “So we are, maricón.” He nodded. “So we are.”
There was a gleam in Vega’s eye. His finger curled around the trigger.
Hauck shook his head. “Don’t.”
Vega righted his arm, the gun darting at Hauck sideways. Hauck squeezed and the Sig recoiled in three sharp retorts. The rounds ripped into the gang leader’s chest. He fell back against the couch, his gun turning toward Warren. Hauck squeezed off three more rounds until Vega landed upright against the wall, a glassy defiance in his eyes, and slid down slowly, a dark smear of crimson against the cream-colored wall.
A weight seemed to free itself off Hauck and he slumped wearily against the desk.
“Ty…”
He turned to Warren. “You alright?”
“You shouldn’t have stopped him, Ty.” Warren shook his head and fell, head in hands, to the floor. “You just should’ve let it happen.”
“There’s a part of me that wishes I had…” Hauck went over and collapsed against the wall next to his brother. He put his hand on his knee. “The other part said Pop would wipe the floor with me.”
Warren laughed, his face riddled more with shame than joy. “You were never supposed to be involved, Ty. You have to believe that. It was supposed to be just one time. One fucking time…I told myself I could just look away. In a million years I never guessed they would carry it out right there in town.”
“Raines?”
Warren hung his head and nodded.
“And what about above him? Scayne? Casey had arranged this big Iraq reconstruction contract for his generator division, right? That’s what you meant when you said, ‘Not that kind of power’? It was Sanger who was assigned to handle the case. That’s what this was all about, the killings—payoffs? Two corrupt fat cats who scratched each other’s back protecting themselves.”
Warren put his head back against the wall and nodded. “They came to me to get the casino to carry out the hit. Casey had been running interference for them for years. It was all a game.” He shut his eyes. “You have no idea how much I owed these people, Ty.”
“And Kramer? That was just another smoke screen, wasn’t it? To back up the appearance that it was all a gambling scam?”
Warren flattened his lips. “Plan B.”
Hauck shook his head disgustedly. “Plan B…”
They sat there for a while. The weight of everything sinking in. Tears made their way down Warren’s cheeks.
Hauck pulled his brother’s face to his shoulder. He had no idea what to do. Arrest him? Send his own brother away for the rest of his life? Destroy whatever was left of their family?
Warren took in a deep breath. “So, partner, what happens now?”
“Now…” Hauck pulled himself up. He looked at Warren slumped there and held out his hand. Hesitantly, Warren reached for it.
“Now we get Raines.”
“That won’t be that easy,” Warren said. “Vega’s dead. I was never privy to much of the details. It’s his word against mine. You understand I don’t exactly make the most compelling witness, Ty.”
He was right. The people who had carried out the acts were all dead. None of the murder weapons could be tied to Raines. Whatever he and Warren had discussed, it was now just Warren’s word against his. Any lawyer worth a lick would cut it to shreds.
Hauck pulled his brother up. “I know how.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
It took a few calls to set up. Vern was able to arrange some interference before the word leaked out. The final call went to Raines. Hauck caught him just as the security man was about to leave for the day.
“Lieutenant…” He was probably trying to reach Vega. Hearing Hauck, he sounded a little surprised and wary.
Hauck said, “I’d like another shot at blackjack with you, if that’s okay.”
“You seem to like the odds here, Lieutenant. You’re welcome here any time as a guest. When would you like to come?”
“How about an hour?”
“An hour?” Raines seemed startled. “You need a refresher course on what you saw before?”
“I thought we might also have a chat about generators,” Hauck said. “How does that sound?”
“Generators…?” Hauck knew that would get his wheels turning. “I’ll
make sure we have your special table reserved.”
When Hauck arrived, alone, Raines and two of his security men were waiting in the hotel lobby. This time there was no phony glad-handing. No playacting back and forth. The security chief’s handshake was cold and perfunctory.
“You mind?” Raines eyed him suspiciously, nodded to one of his crew. A black guy in a slick brown suit with a linebacker’s build stepped forward and made a move to pat Hauck down.
“It’s in the car,” Hauck said, raising his arms freely to comply.
“I’m not interested in whether you’re armed,” Raines said. His associate passed an electronic wand over him, searching for recording devices. Hauck didn’t resist. The sensor didn’t emit a sound. The man nodded back to Raines, satisfied.
“Just to make sure the conversation is entirely between ourselves, Lieutenant,” the security chief said.
Hauck shrugged. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“C’mon, then.” Raines grinned. “I have a surprise waiting for you.”
The security team stayed behind as Raines led Hauck into the large casino. It was a Thursday night and the giant room was jammed. The cacophony of a thousand slots, the clanging of bells, and bettors shouting hit him as they walked through the entrance.
“Busy night,” Hauck said.
“Carrie Underwood is here. You should stay for the show, Lieutenant.”
“You know me.” Hauck winked. “All work, no play.”
Raines’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “And no bags this time, I see. Shame.” Weaving through the throng, he guided Hauck up to an empty table. Hauck recognized the dealer who seemed to be awaiting them.
“You remember Josie, don’t you?” Raines grinned, his mustache parting in a smile.
Hauck smiled, trying to put her at ease. “Course I remember Josie.” The cute blackjack dealer was behind the table, in her starched shirt and vest, her auburn hair in a braided ponytail again. Looking a little humiliated.
The bastard had pulled out all the stops.
“How’s school?” Hauck said to her.
Josie blushed, trying to remain professional.
“Oh, please.” Raines laughed. “The two of you don’t have to be so formal. You probably wouldn’t know, but Josie’s changed her major since you were here last…She’s suddenly been taken with a passion for photography, isn’t that right, dear?”
Josie gritted her teeth and didn’t reply, but her gaze said it all. It was like daggers back to him, her face finally settling into a compliant smile. She removed several decks of cards and began to shuffle them into a large stack.
“It’s good to see you again, Lieutenant…”
“So what is it tonight?” Raines asked. “A refresher course in how things are done here? Oh, that’s right, you said something about generators…You’ll have to explain what that means. Sounds a bit out of my expertise.” He reached inside his pocket. “Usual stakes? I’ve brought along some chips…”
Hauck put up his hand and took out five twenties. He slid them across to Josie, who stacked four green chips. “How about tonight I just play mine.”
“As you wish…” Raines shrugged and pulled up a chair across from him. “So what is it you wanted to talk about?”
“Power,” Hauck said to him as Josie continued to shuffle, cutting the deck several times. “In Iraq. You know how some of those sweetheart deals got set up at the beginning of the war…?”
“I’m afraid I’m not much interested in politics, Lieutenant. You’ve come a long way and I’m afraid I can’t be of much help to you.”
Josie merged the decks together and slid them across the table to Hauck for a cut. Hauck pushed one of his blue chips into the box.
“I trust you.” He grinned, tapping the top card.
Josie smiled demurely and slid the merged deck into the shoe. She began to deal, sliding Hauck a ten and then a queen across the green felt table.
Twenty. She showed a seven.
Hauck said, “Pat.”
Josie flipped over her hole card, revealing a king. Seventeen. Hauck was a winner.
“Nice start,” Raines said.
Hauck kept the same bet on the table.
“I see you’re a little more cautious tonight.”
“This time it’s my money.”
Josie dealt out another hand. She started Hauck with a queen. Followed it up with an ace. Blackjack.
Raines said, “Seems like you don’t need our help at all tonight, Lieutenant. So no more baiting around; what was it you came to talk about…?”
“I wanted to tell you Vega’s dead,” Hauck said to him.
Raines’s jaw twitched. His granite-colored pupils barely moved. He feigned ignorance. “Vega?”
“He’s dead,” Hauck said. “And I know about Warren. So we’re back to generators, Raines. And Richard Scayne…Is it all starting to come clearer now?”
This time, the defenses in Raines’s gaze seemed to waver and Hauck noticed his fists curl into tight balls. “Josie, do you mind leaving us for a while?” he said. “I don’t believe the lieutenant came all this way to play Twenty-one after all…”
“No problem at all,” Josie said. She righted the decks in the shoe. “Good to see you again, Lieutenant.”
She left, right on cue.
“Now, I’m not sure I’m understanding just where you’re going with all of this, Lieutenant…,” Raines said, a cutting edge to his tone.
Hauck said, “Oh, I think you do. It’s all coming down now, Raines. I know why David Sanger and Keith Kramer were killed. Paul Pacello too. I know who came to you to set it up. I know you enlisted your old army buddy, Vega, along with DR-17, to carry it out.” He looked at him. “So we’re back to generators, Raines…Which is the one part I don’t yet have figured out. Or maybe it never got there for you. Maybe your higher-ups just asked you to do a favor and that’s what you do.”
The veneer on Raines’s hard face began to crack.
“Warren talked,” Hauck said. “The party’s over. You’re the first to go.”
Raines spun a chip on the green felt, staring, as he sorted through the possibilities. The man was no fool and one thing went to the top of the list pretty quickly. He shrugged. “So why haven’t you arrested me yet, Lieutenant?”
“Because there are bigger fish to fry…”
Raines nodded. All around, the festive din of the casino seemed to be drowned out. “I don’t think so, Lieutenant. Want to know what I think? You say Vega’s dead? I don’t think you have as much as you’re trying to bluff me you do to build a case on. You don’t have a weapon. You can’t put me at any of the scenes…No lines of communication. You don’t even have a witness who ties me to whoever you say did these things.”
“I have Warren.”
“Warren?” Raines’s face lightened into a grin. “What I think you have is a very suspect witness, Lieutenant. Despite the fact that he’s your own brother, he probably couldn’t even procure a fishing license for himself these days, not to mention a license to practice law. And whose fingers, when it all comes out, are deep in a lot of shady deals.” He nodded sympathetically. “I can see why this is such a pickle for you, Lieutenant. You have your own brother, trying to save his own skin. Whatever we might have talked about, it’s just his word against mine. And I have a lot of people backing me up on this. Important people. Just who does your brother have these days? My advice…You’d better be careful whose house you try to bring down. It just might fall on you.” He flung out his fingers. “Boom! You know what I mean, Lieutenant?”
Hauck forced back the urge to go for the man’s throat right there. He held it in check. “I’m giving you a chance to save your skin, Raines, much as that makes me gag. You didn’t set this in motion. You were just carrying it out. Like I said, whoever you’re protecting, there are bigger fish to fry…”
Raines seemed to be thinking it over, suddenly noticing the resolve shrink just a bit in Hauck’s eyes. The tide t
urn in his favor. “I don’t think so, Lieutenant. Don’t much like the odds.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice, his tone chummy. “Just between us girls, Lieutenant, maybe your brother and I did talk over a few things. Maybe a certain U.S. attorney’s name did come up once or twice. Maybe we did toss around how things might be different if he wasn’t so much on the scene. And maybe we did have to cover our tracks just a little…”
“Plan B,” Hauck said.
Raines chuckled. “Everyone’s got to have a backup plan, Lieutenant. Poor Keith…how he stumbled in this mess I’ll never know. But seems to me your problem is, just how are you ever going to prove all that, Lieutenant? You have any illusions that your brother’s testimony would stand up at trial? With the kind of people he’s bedded down with in his career? With all he’s got to hide?” Raines laughed loudly and nudged Hauck, clearly enjoying the shifting tide. “Seems to me, you’ve got nothing that ties me to shit—nothing, except a corrupt local lawyer out to save his own skin who might say anything. And his policeman brother, who, in my view, ought to give some serious thought to standing aside as the lead in this investigation.” He grinned. “Maybe take a good look at how to fill some of those new personnel holes in his department…”
It took everything Hauck had not to lunge across the table and mash Raines’s face into pulp, the well of anger building up inside him so strong.
Just let the man talk, Ty…
“And let’s say you did, Lieutenant, bring me in on this trumped-up testimony. What do you have, beyond some kind of watered-down conspiracy charge? You think any of it would stick? Generators…Iraq war contracts…You know who pulls the arm of justice around here, Lieutenant. You’re bumping against it right now. Me, I’m just a simple employee of the resort. Paid to protect their interests. And their interests are everywhere. Make no mistake.
“So what do you think?” Raines smiled haughtily. “You got a case against me?” He flicked the black hundred-dollar chip he’d been playing with across the table. “I think not. First rule of gambling, Lieutenant, know who brought the deck before you sit down at the game.”
