After leaving Spenser’s home, they had driven to Yellowstone Regional Airport and made sure that the crate they towed was loaded onto the cargo plane.
That went smoothly, but then their own flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem, and Amy and the Tin Horsemen spent several boring hours waiting to board another plane.
They finally arrived in Dallas, only to learn that their connecting flight to Mexico City would also be delayed, and by the time they landed in Mexico and cleared customs, it was nearly midnight.
Amy had tried all day to get in touch with Rodrigo with no success. When she spoke to Alexa from the airport in Mexico City, she learned that Alexa had made calls and discovered that Rodrigo and Emilio had visited Emilio’s sister in Durango, after learning that she had become ill.
The illness turned out to be just a stomach flu, and Rodrigo and Emilio were on their way back home.
“It’s a long drive and Papa will stay somewhere overnight,” Alexa had told her. “He carries his cell phone when he travels, but knowing Papa, he probably forgot to turn it on.”
Amy told Alexa not to worry, and that she and the Horsemen would go to the house and wait for them to come home, and then take them to safety.
Spenser voiced his concern for the delay, reminding her that Alvarado would eventually send men to the home, But Amy told him that she would do all she could to help Alexa, and not to worry.
“I love you, Amy,” Spenser told her.
“I love you too, Spenser, and I’ll gather up Alexa’s family and meet you at the rendezvous point you told us about, don’t worry.”
***
After renting a large SUV with satellite navigation, Amy input the address for Rodrigo’s home, and she and the Tin Horsemen began the two hour drive to the house in San Juan Del Rio.
While the other three horsemen slept in the back seat, Abrasion sat up front with Amy.
“You’ve been quiet today, Lionel. Is anything wrong?”
“No Amy, I’m good.”
“I can’t thank you and the others enough for accompanying me on this trip. I think I would be very nervous if I was alone, and I’m so scared for Spenser. It’s like he’ll be walking into the lion’s den.”
Abrasion said nothing, and Amy took her eyes from the dark road and glanced at him again.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, but maybe I should try to catch some sleep too. Wake me if you need me to drive.”
After saying that, Abrasion crossed his arms and leaned over towards the door with his face turned away from her.
Amy gave him another glance, and then she placed her gaze back on the road and chewed up the miles that separated them from Rodrigo.
Beside her, Abrasion pretended to sleep.
***
They arrived in San Juan Del Rio and drove to the house, just in case Rodrigo had driven straight home. There was no vehicle in the driveway and the home was dark, and so Amy drove back to the highway where they checked into a motel.
After grabbing only a few hours of sleep, they were back at the home belonging to Rodrigo Lucia, Alexa’s father.
The home sat at the top of a slight hill, and there was a line of decorative ash trees to the left of it, while on the right, the street curved and continued on towards Federal Highway 120, where it ended in a cul-de-sac of new homes.
Amy drove up the hill and pulled to the side of the road that was bordered by trees, while staying a few dozen yards from the home.
Alexa had described Rodrigo’s vehicle, and said that it was a red Chevy Tornado, which was a small pickup truck. It was nowhere in sight.
“It looks like they’re still not back yet,” Bruise said, and then he took a bite out of a breakfast sandwich they had grabbed on the way.
Scar opened his door and stretched.
“I’ll go check out the house and make sure everything looks normal.”
The other Horsemen joined him, and Amy watched with a growing sense of apprehension as the boys walked around the well maintained home. When they began walking back towards the vehicle, Scar sent Amy an “Okay” signal.
“Does everything look normal?” Amy asked, as the boys climbed back in the SUV.
“Yes,” Abrasion said. “So I guess we wait?”
“We wait,” Amy said, as she looked around nervously. “And I certainly hope that they return soon.”
CHAPTER 18 – Midnight rendezvous
Roberto Muñoz liked his job on most days, but lately, it was a pain in the ass.
Roberto was a collector for the Alvarado cartel, and he spent his work life going from one small business to another in Mexico City and picking up envelopes of cash.
The money paid for protection, and although Roberto occasionally had to teach a late payer a lesson, the job was an easy gig.
Over the three years he’d had the job, only once did someone attempt to rob him, and they were a couple of young punks.
Roberto shot one of the boys in the arm when the kid hesitated to pull the trigger on the shotgun he held. The pair got away, but were stupid enough to seek medical attention at a nearby hospital.
For stopping the robbery, Roberto got a ten grand bonus from Alvarado, while the two that attempted the robbery were sent home.
They were sent home in packages, a piece at a time, and as far as Roberto knew, no one had tried to rob any of Alvarado’s people since then.
Roberto entered a shop that sold cigars and nodded in greeting at the owner. The man nodded in return and took an envelope from the cash register, which he then handed to Roberto.
As he was about to leave, Roberto remembered, let out a sigh, and showed the man the drawing of Alexa.
He had been showing the drawing around for three days and hated doing it, despite the reward that would be his if he somehow found her.
During normal times, Roberto could finish his collections by noon, but it took time to show the picture and ask questions, and he knew he’d be lucky to make it back home by two.
The store owner shook his head, and Roberto told the man to hang up the flyer where people could see it. If anyone recognized the woman, they were to call the number at the bottom of the paper.
Before leaving the store, Roberto slipped the envelope of protection money into the satchel he carried, and then took out another flyer to show the owner of the next business, which was across the street.
The woman that managed the store gave him the same dirty look she always gave him as she handed over her envelope. She was an employee, not the owner of the business, and Roberto wondered why she took things so seriously.
On the other hand, the woman’s daughter always smiled at him, and she did it once again, from where she was setting up a Holiday display.
The girl was cute, with long legs and a nice rack, but she was only nineteen or so, and at thirty-nine, Roberto knew he would feel sleazy if he slept with her, seeing as how he had a daughter nearly her age.
Once again, he went through the routine with the flyer, but was shocked when the girl said that she knew who it was.
“You know this woman?”
The girl had walked over and moved behind the counter.
“That’s the lady that owned the jewelry store in the mall. The store is gone now, but look, I bought these earrings there.”
Roberto looked at the tiny diamond stud earrings as the girl leaned across the counter, and then his gaze drifted down to a view of the girl’s cleavage. When he raised his eyes, she was smiling at him.
“Tell me which mall, and also the location of the store.”
The girl reached under the counter and grabbed a pad and pen.
“I’ll write it down for you.”
She did so, and when Roberto returned to his car, he noticed that she had written something in small letters beneath the name of the mall.
PICK ME UP IN FRONT OF THE STORE AT MIDNIGHT.
Next to that, she had drawn a heart.
Roberto laughed as h
e took out his phone to report what he’d learned, and yes, he was back at the store at midnight.
***
Minutes later, at the compound, Alvarado told Martinez what Roberto had uncovered.
“One of my people found someone who says she knows the woman. She says that the woman helping Tanner once owned a jewelry store inside a Mexico City Mall.”
“That’s great; would you like me to send people to the mall?”
Alvarado smiled a wolf’s grin.
“No, I will send my people. Once they make contact with the management there, it won’t be long until we have a name, and when that’s known, we will find those she loves and use them against her.”
Martinez grimaced as he thought about Alvarado getting his hands on his loved ones, such as his daughter, who lived with his ex-wife.
He had been holding his breath earlier when Dan Matthews made his deal with Alvarado, fearing that the man would reveal his ties to Conrad Burke, who was helping Tanner. Luckily, Matthews had failed to disclose that relationship.
Tanner couldn’t make his move on the compound soon enough to suit Martinez, because once the man and his friends were captured, he would be free to leave, and there was a point there when he thought he might never make it out alive. Thank God, Alvarado was finally in a good mood.
“Martinez.”
“Yes sir?”
“The next delivery truck is due Friday at noon. I want it kept outside the gates until Tanner and his friends are in chains.”
“I assumed as much, and there will be dozens of men surrounding that truck when it’s opened.”
Alvarado looked alarmed.
“Remember, I want them alive.”
“Yes sir, the men are clear on that. The team opening the truck will be armed with only teargas and Tasers.”
Alvarado sighed.
“How I wish my son Juan had lived to see this day. He always said that I would find the man who crippled me, and now that day is finally here.”
Martinez folded his hands in front of him.
“I’m sure your son is looking down on you.”
“What?”
“Your son, I ‘m sure he’s in heaven and looking down on you.”
Alvarado stared at Martinez and searched his face. Had he detected even a trace of sarcasm or derision, he would have had him killed.
“Leave me.”
After seeing the look in Alvarado’s eyes, Martinez scurried from the office without uttering another word.
CHAPTER 19 – Chop chop!
El Bar Del Primo in Mexico City was a private club for several of Alvarado’s senior Narcos, who at night would bring their girlfriends to hear the live local bands that played there.
However, over lunch, they would often talk business, and four of them were gathered together at a back table while they waited for two more of their friends to show.
When a silver Maserati pulled up in front and two men stepped out of it, the big man guarding the front door unlocked it and placed his hand on the doorknob.
That was when two booming shots echoed down the avenue and the men from the Maserati fell to the ground, each with gaping exit wounds where their faces had been.
“Out the back door!” shouted one of the men in the booth, and the four men raced down a hallway.
When the first man reached the rear door and unlocked it, he went out slowly and with his gun arm leading the way.
There was a blur of movement, a flash of steel, and both the arm and the gun fell to the ground.
As the man who’d lost his arm gaped at his bleeding stump in wonder, his companions turned around to head back into the club, and the big man who had been guarding the front door plowed into them while in a blind panic.
All five men stumbled outside after the collision. Three had fallen down, including the man who’d lost his arm, and when he reached out to grab the severed limb with his other hand, he yelped in surprise, as a second, and then a third arm fell near him, but he lost sight of all three limbs when a spray of blood filled his eyes.
Within seconds, the five men were lying atop the ground, bleeding profusely from vicious wounds, while moaning. Their attacker, Alexa, looked down upon them with eyes devoid of mercy, and again she went to work with the twin swords she wielded.
With five efficient strikes, she put the men out of their misery, and then removed a pair of blood-spattered goggles.
Spenser walked over and stared grimly at her handiwork.
“You didn’t leave me anything to do, and I’ve never seen anyone handle swords so well, not even Cody.”
Alexa dropped the swords, and after taking off a pair of latex gloves, she lowered the hood on the bloody plastic coveralls she wore.
She had unzipped the coveralls, and was stepping out of them, when they heard the sound of an engine come from the alleyway entrance at the side of the club.
Spenser had raised his rifle, but lowered it, when the silver Maserati appeared with Tanner behind the wheel.
“Get in!” Tanner said, as he took in Alexa’s handiwork.
The alley’s rear ran the length of the block. Tanner took it to the other end and drove them from the scene while weaving around dumpsters and delivery vans. Inside the car, Alexa removed a travel-size package of moist towelettes, and began wiping the blood of Alvarado’s men from her face.
***
In San Juan Del Rio, Amy had to stop herself from biting her nails.
She had developed the bad habit when she worked in Hollywood and had been the lead makeup person on several films. One had been a low-budget horror movie where people were turning into human frogs.
The film had been a disaster, but she had won praise for her skill with makeup, and had moved on to bigger productions.
She didn’t miss those days, they were full of stress, and while working with Spenser was ripe with tension at times, she never felt nervous as she did now.
But then again, when she worked with Spenser to help one of his clients, she was with Spenser, and whenever she was near Spenser, she always felt safe.
The Tin Horsemen had grown bored with waiting inside the vehicle, and Scar suggested that they walk around the area and keep watch.
Amy agreed with the idea, and when she returned from a bathroom break at a nearby coffee shop, the boys split up and walked the neighborhood to see if there was anyone around who looked, “thuggy” as Scar had put it.
Amy thought that Abrasion might use the opportunity to be alone with her, but no, he wandered off with the others. That was good, as edgy as she was, she didn’t need a lovesick boy to fend off.
Amy took out her phone and gazed at one of the photos of Rodrigo and Emilio that Alexa had given her. Amy spoke to it, as if the men in the picture could actually hear her.
“C’mon, return home already; it’s not safe to stay here.”
A car came around the corner, and when Amy saw that it was red, she thought it was Rodrigo returning, but no, the car drove past her and headed down the road towards the cul-de-sac.
And without even realizing it, Amy began to nibble on a fingernail again.
CHAPTER 20 – Tanner?
Two of Alvarado’s enforcers were sent to the mall to ferret out Alexa’s identity.
The men were a pair of professional thugs, and their size and height intimidated most people.
The manager of the mall was no exception, and he helped the men by searching through the store’s records, while his fingers trembled on the keyboard of his computer. When they left the mall, the men had Alexa’s name and address.
***
Alvarado wore a wide smile when he learned that his men had uncovered Alexa’s name.
He called his wife and asked her to come to his office. When she entered, he spoke before she had even closed the door.
“Alexa Lucia, that is the name of the woman who killed your brother.”
Malena took a seat in front of the desk.
“Alexa Lucia? I do not know that name
, do you?”
“No, but we will discover the reason for her attack on the compound once we have her.”
“She’s mine, Alonso. You do whatever you want to Tanner and that other man, but the bitch is mine, and I will make her pay for killing my brother.”
“I agree, but you must keep your anger in check once she’s here, otherwise she’ll die too quick a death.”
“Oh, she will suffer, trust me.”
Alvarado’s phone rang, and this time it was bad news, as he learned about the slaughter inflicted on his men by Tanner and Alexa.
When the call ended, he looked over at Malena.
“Tanner and his companions have killed several of my best men in Mexico City.”
Malena looked alarmed.
“What does that mean? Have they abandoned their plan to stowaway aboard the delivery truck?”
“No, those bastards are coming here. This attack is a diversion, and there will likely be more of them. Tanner is hoping that I’ll send some of the men guarding the compound into the city to search for him. But if I did that, he would have fewer men to face when he gets here.”
Malena darkened with rage.
“Good Lord, how I so hate that man, and I still hold him partly responsible for Juan’s death.”
“As do I. Let the bastard do as he wishes, after the delivery truck arrives tomorrow, we will have him before us on his knees.”
Malena reached into a pocket on her dress and withdrew a blade, which she unfolded. The sharp edge of the weapon gleamed in the light coming through the windows.
“Alexa, the bitch who killed my brother, I cannot wait to have her at my mercy.”
“Remember, my love, do not kill her quickly.”
Malena smiled wickedly.
“How many men are here, Alonso?”
“Nearly three-hundred outside the walls, and another dozen or so inside them, why?”
“The bitch, Alexa, I will stake her to the ground and let all the men have a turn with her, and after that humiliation is done, then she’ll be mine to play with, and I promise you, her end will not come swiftly.”
Alvarado laughed, and Malena joined in, as they both reveled in what they believed was to come.
The TANNER Series - Books 10 -12 (Tanner Box Set Book 4) Page 21
