The TANNER Series - Books 10 -12 (Tanner Box Set Book 4)

by Remington Kane

  Alexa ran a hand through his hair.

  “You need rest, and... certain strenuous activities might aggravate your rib injury.”

  Tanner kissed her.

  “Go take that shower.”

  Alexa did so, and when she left the bathroom, she was wearing a long baseball jersey with the team’s name written across it, The Mexico City Red Devils, Los Diablos Rojos del Mexico.

  The shirt was red with white lettering, and it fell to mid-thigh on her. Tanner took in Alexa’s long, sexy legs, and when he met her eyes, he saw that she was smiling.

  Alexa turned out the light and crawled in bed beside him.

  “I didn’t pack a nightgown, but I think I’ll go shopping for some soon.”

  “The shorter the better,” Tanner said.

  Alexa snuggled against him, but gently. Tanner had a wounded leg on one side, and sore ribs on the other.

  “Are we really safe here?” Alexa asked.

  “Yes, but Spenser will set up perimeter alarms anyway.”

  “Does he live in the area?”

  “No, Spenser lives in Wyoming.”

  Tanner brushed Alexa’s hair from her eyes and kissed her.

  “When you took my hand the other day, you said the words, ‘Cody’ and ‘buffalo.’”

  “Yes?”

  “Spenser’s home, it’s in Cody, Wyoming, and it was named after a man named Buffalo Bill Cody.”

  “Ah, and that’s why you were so upset? You thought I knew where to find Tanner Six, and there was no way for me to know that.”

  They were quiet for a few moments, just laying together in the dark, but then, Tanner broke the silence.

  “The name Cody, it’s also my real name. I’m Cody Parker, and uh, Martillo, that bastard Alonso Alvarado, he slaughtered my family the same way he killed yours.”

  Alexa sat up, put on the light, and stared at Tanner.

  “Oh my God, how old were you?”

  “I was grown, mostly grown, I was sixteen. If not for Spenser, I would have died that day, and he’s also the man who crippled Alvarado years ago.”

  “Why didn’t he kill him?”

  “He thought he had, and believed it for nearly twenty years, but the son of a bitch survived somehow... just like I did.”

  “And as I did as well,” Alexa said.

  She turned off the light and laid back down beside Tanner, to rest her head on his chest.

  “We both owe that monster so much, and soon we will make him pay.”

  “Yes.”

  “Tanner, who did you lose?”

  “My two sisters, my father, stepmother, and my baby brother.”

  “What were their names?”

  Tanner sighed.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  Alexa kissed him gently upon the lips.

  “It does matter, because they are the ones you’ll be killing this monster for, just as I will avenge my family.”

  Tanner began to talk, telling Alexa stories about his family, about his twin sisters, and as he talked, he recalled things about them all that he had nearly forgotten. When he finished, they faded off to sleep, fellow victims of the past, who would soon make their tormentor pay.

  CHAPTER 35 – 3 plus 1 equals 4

  When Scar realized that the large black crows had been devouring parts of Steve Bennett, he upchucked the Egg McMuffin he’d eaten only minutes earlier.

  Scar, Bruise, Wound, and Abrasion woke early and went looking for Steve Bennett and the other strike team members, after Bennett didn’t answer his phone.

  When they decided to go to where they last saw the strike team, they came across their vehicle parked at the entrance to the house.

  Scar tried calling the number again as he pulled his bike up to the front of the demolished house, and heard the phone ringing nearby.

  He and the other Horsemen walked towards the field and found the crows and the bodies.

  Abrasion looked around.

  “Where’s the black guy, Hakeem?”

  Wound pointed out towards the old shack, where over a dozen more crows were feasting.

  “I bet that’s him.”

  The phone had stopped ringing, but it started right back up. Scar plucked the phone from a pile of goo he hoped was just mud, and answered the call while placing it in speaker mode.

  A man’s voice came out of the device loud and clear. It was Robert Martinez of Hexalcorp, and he was calling Bennett for an update at Alonso Alvarado’s insistence.

  “Steve? Thank God, why weren’t any of you answering your phones?”

  “Bennett’s dead,” Scar said, and heard a noise that sounded like a whimper on the other end of the line.

  “Oh my God, who am I talking to, Tanner, is that you?”

  “My name is Scar. Me and my gang were doing some work for Bennett and his boys, but they’re all dead now.”

  “All of them?”

  “Yeah, I think they were mostly shot up, but Bennett looks like he swallowed a bomb, he’s all in pieces. I’m amazed this phone works.”

  The line grew quiet as Martinez tried to think of some way to salvage things. If he didn’t do something, Alvarado would murder him.

  “What’s your name again?”

  “Scar.”

  “Scar? Oh wait, you’re the guys that spotted the woman at that motel Tanner was at, right?”

  “That’s us, and if we ever see her again we’ll make her damn sorry she ever messed with us.”

  “You and your gang, there are four of you, correct?”

  Scar took a head count. Came up with three, but then remembered to count himself too.

  “Yeah, there are four of us, why?”

  “Nevermind, just listen to what I say, and if you follow my instructions, I’ll make you and your friends rich.”

  “You’re talking about Tanner?”

  “Yes, but I’ll give you each ten grand even if you never find Tanner.”

  “Say that again.”

  “You heard me right. My name is Martinez and I’ll pay you ten grand each, five now and five later, but you have to do exactly as I tell you.”

  Scar looked at Wound, Bruise, and Abrasion, and saw that all three of them were nodding their heads.

  “All right, Mr. Martinez, tell us what to do.”

  ***

  Six hours later, the Hexalcorp Strike Team was back on the hunt.

  Martinez instructed Scar and the other Tin Horsemen to strip Bennett and his men of all ID and weapons and then to bury the bodies. They were to then take on the men’s identities, and have the use of their vehicle and credit cards.

  Bennett and his men might be dead, but Martinez did not intend to follow them into the hereafter. If he could keep the truth from Alvarado until Tanner was either killed or believed to be in hiding, he just might make it out of this mess alive.

  ***

  The new Hexalcorp Strike Team, the former Tin Horsemen, were tooling along the highway in Bennett’s huge pick-up truck after paying a local gas station to store their bikes. They were all five grand richer thanks to Martinez, with a shot of getting five-thousand more.

  Scar laughed as he drove.

  “This is a sweet ride, and look at all the weapons we got. Hell, I bet we could kill Tanner, why not?”

  Abrasion was sitting in the back holding Hakeem’s rifle. He had also taken the man’s name, while Wound was now Wilson, and Bruise was Simms.

  Abrasion stroked Hakeem’s rifle as if he was its lover.

  “Get me close to Tanner with this baby, and I’ll blast him to pieces, homie.”

  Scar looked into the rear view mirror.

  “Homie?”

  “Hakeem was black, right?”

  “Yeah, but dude, he didn’t talk like that. Don’t be a racist.”

  Abrasion ducked his head.

  “Sorry, and I didn’t mean anything by it. I thought Hakeem was cool; it’s why I took his name.”

  Bennett’s phone rang, and Scar placed it on spea
kerphone.

  “Bennett here, Chief.”

  Martinez’ sigh filled the car.

  “It’s good that you’re using his name, but don’t call me chief.”

  “Okay, but what’s up?”

  “Tanner seems to be in the wind, but I’ve got a lead on the other man we’re looking for. There’s a guy up in Wyoming that swears he used to sell him fuel.”

  “So, you want us to go to a gas station in Wyoming?”

  “No, it’s diesel fuel for a generator, and the guy knows where he lives.”

  “We’ll check it out.”

  “I’ve sent the address to that phone, and don’t get too excited; I think the lead is a dud.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  There was static on the line, but then Martinez came back on.

  “What did you say, Scar? I couldn’t hear you.”

  “I asked why you thought this tip was a dud.”

  “Oh, the guy you’re going to check out, he only has one eye. Call me when you get there, Martinez out.”

  CHAPTER 36 – One Tanner, two Tanni?

  Tanner’s leg felt better when he woke, but his ribs still ached from Brick’s attack.

  Alexa had risen before him, had showered again, and was wearing a different T-shirt. It was one of Tanner’s and it hung on her like a short black dress.

  “Good morning,” she said, and then she kissed him.

  “Is that coffee I smell?”

  “It is, and how are you feeling?”

  “Not bad, except for the ribs.”

  Tanner grabbed a fresh pair of boxers and headed for the shower. When he came out, he sat on the side of the bed.

  Alexa had been sitting in a chair watching the news. She shut off the TV, walked over to the bed, and lowered herself between Tanner’s legs.

  Tanner gave his bandaged leg a good look.

  “I don’t think that dressing needs changing yet.”

  Alexa smiled as she removed the T-shirt she was wearing.

  “I agree with you.”

  ***

  When they finally emerged from their cabin in the early afternoon, Tanner and Alexa found Spenser coming back from a walk around the lake.

  He smiled at them.

  “You two looked well rested.”

  “We are,” Tanner said.

  Spenser was standing by his truck and he leaned back against it.

  “Alexa, tell me more about Rodrigo.”

  Tanner pointed towards Spenser’s cabin.

  “I think I should talk to Amy.”

  “Do that, and Alexa and I will have a chat at the same time.”

  “She knows, Spenser. She knows that my real name is Cody Parker.”

  Spenser raised an eyebrow.

  “I see, and Amy knows as well.”

  Tanner looked surprised at that, and perhaps a little perturbed by it as well.

  Spenser saw his reaction and he shrugged.

  “I love her, son, and I promised her that there would be no more secrets between us. I trust her and you can too.”

  Tanner went inside and found Amy in the kitchen. She was seated at the breakfast nook, which offered a view of the lake.

  She sent Tanner a tentative smile.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I’m healing, and I’ve come to thank you for helping Spenser.”

  “I love him, Tanner.”

  Tanner settled himself in a chair across the table from Amy.

  “You can call me Cody. I always feel a little odd being called Tanner when I’m around Spenser, since he’s a Tanner too.”

  “He doesn’t do that anymore, take contracts.”

  “Doesn’t he? Isn’t that what he does when he’s helping his clients?”

  Amy thought that over and nodded.

  “I guess that’s true, but those people are desperate and have nowhere else to turn when they seek him out, and he does a lot of good.”

  “Yes he does, and I hear that you help him sometimes too.”

  Amy smiled, and then laughed.

  “Did I say something funny?”

  “No, it’s just that, well, when Spenser first showed me that wanted poster of you and I read about what a violent and deadly man you were... it’s, I’ll just say you’re not what I expected, and I can tell that you and Spenser love each other.”

  Tanner grabbed the carafe that was sitting atop the table and poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “We’re family, Spenser and I, and if I’m reading him right, you may soon be joining that family.”

  “He hasn’t asked me to marry him, but yes, I think that’s where we’re headed; but first, first Spenser has to help you deal with what’s in Mexico.”

  Tanner stopped his cup halfway to his lips and stared at Amy.

  “What’s this about Mexico? Spenser’s not going down there with me.”

  Amy nodded, as concern lighted her face.

  “Yes he is, and I’m so worried for him.”

  ***

  When Tanner came out of the cabin with Amy following behind, he found Spenser and Alexa laughing together over something, as they spoke in Spanish.

  He marched up to Spenser.

  “You’re not coming to Mexico. That’s not what this was about. I came to see you to pick your brain, not to ask you to risk your hide.”

  Spenser had been leaning back against his truck; he straightened up and placed a hand on Tanner’s shoulder.

  “This isn’t all about you. I failed, Cody. I had that bastard Alvarado broken in pieces and left for dead, but somehow, damn it, somehow that son of a bitch made it out of that burning house and has been living his monstrous life all these years. That’s my fault, son, my failure, and not you or anyone else is going to stop me from finally seeing him dead.”

  Tanner removed Spenser’s hand from his shoulder.

  “No. It’s too dangerous, because of your missing eye. It’s why you passed the Tanner name to me when you were still so young.”

  “I passed the name on because you were ready. Hell, Cody, I risk my life all the time because that’s how I live my life, I feed on the challenge, even the danger, and I’ll tell you right now, I’m as good as I ever was.”

  Tanner shook his head in disagreement and then did something that truly hurt him to do. He threw a punch at Spenser, a right hook aimed at Spenser’s blindside.

  Spenser blocked the punch by grabbing Tanner’s wrist.

  “What was that, a test? Try that again boy and I’ll knock you on your ass.”

  Tanner lowered his hand as he chuckled.

  “Yes sir, but how the hell did you see that punch coming?”

  Spenser pointed at the side view mirror on Alexa’s van.

  “I’ve learned to compensate for the injury over the years. I had to, because I refuse to live my life at half speed.”

  Tanner raised his hand again, but this time it was to offer to shake Spenser’s hand.

  Spenser gripped Tanner’s hand and smiled.

  “We’re going down to Mexico, Cody, and we’re going to finally put that monster Alvarado in the ground.”

  This time, Alexa held up a hand, and she did so in order to clarify something.

  “Am I hearing this right? Both of you will be helping me to kill Alvarado?”

  “That’s right,” the two men said at the same time.

  Alexa smiled, and then laughed, as she went to Tanner, and he placed an arm around her waist.

  “Two Tanners, oh, Alonso Alvarado and his cartel are doomed.”

  Spenser took Amy’s hand, kissed it, and then he tousled Tanner’s hair playfully.

  “Not only are they doomed, Alexa, but I know exactly how we’re going to do it.”

  TANNER TIMES TWO

  By

  REMINGTON KANE

  PART ONE

  ALLIES & ENEMIES

  CHAPTER 1 – Good

  While stopped at a rest area on I-70 West in Kansas, near the Colorado border, Tanner realized th
at the three men standing by a soda machine were staring at him.

  He was with Alexa, and had been waiting for her to exit the ladies’ room when he saw a guy in a blue work shirt nudge the man beside him and whisper something.

  The man who was nudged turned and looked at Tanner, and that was followed by the third man in the group turning to gaze his way as well.

  When the first man took a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, studied it, and then looked back at him, Tanner knew that he had just been made.

  He had already used the men’s room, and it had been empty when he left it. It would be a good place to handle the three men and not make a public scene.

  He also wanted to lure them away from Alexa, and hoped that she wouldn’t leave the ladies’ room before he could take care of the men.

  Tanner was five feet from the bathroom door when a teenager cut in front of him and went in first.

  The dark-haired kid was about eighteen and was Tanner’s height. He wore a blue and orange knit cap with a matching football jersey that declared he was a fan of the Denver Broncos. Like Tanner, he was wearing jeans.

  A quick glance back told Tanner that the men had decided to head his way, and with the kid involved, he had to change his plan.

  Once he entered the bathroom, Tanner yanked the cap off the kid’s head and stuck a gun in his face.

  “You do exactly what I say and you won’t be hurt, understand?”

  The boy looked angry, but the sight of the gun calmed him, and he nodded as a look of fear entered his eyes.

  “Good,” Tanner said. “Take off the jersey, walk into the last stall, and sit down. Do it quick.”

  The kid was out of the football jersey in a flash and Tanner put it on over his own shirt as he watched the kid go into the stall.

  “Stay quiet, kid, and you’ll be all right.”

  Tanner had just enough time to move over in front of a urinal before the three men entered. He pretended to be urinating as he bobbed his head and hummed a tune.

  Meanwhile, he was using the shiny metal of the flushing apparatus above the urinal to keep track of the men. He couldn’t make out many details of the men in the reflective surface, but he could see their movements.

  As Tanner hoped they would, the men saw the knit cap and matching jacket and took him for the kid. They then began peering under the doors of the stalls.