The Tanner Series - Books 1-11: Tanner - The hit man with a heart

by Remington Kane

  After opening three doors, Trent found the room he’d been looking for, Madison’s bedroom. It was a room she mostly used during the summer.

  Trent searched through a chest of drawers until he found her underwear. He removed a pink silk panty from the drawer, but then tossed it back in when his eyes found better treasure in the closet.

  Behind a laundry basket was a pair of Madison’s soiled panties. They were weeks old and musky from use, but Trent inhaled them as if they were roses.

  He stuffed them in his pocket, left the bedroom, and locked himself inside an upstairs bathroom, where he used the panties while he pleasured himself.

  It was as close as he’d ever get to being in Madison’s pants.

  94

  One Can Only Hope

  LAGUARDIA AIRPORT, QUEENS, NEW YORK

  Lars Gruber tossed his carry-on bag to Johnny Rossetti’s driver, Mario, then cast a critical eye toward Merle and Earl, who were glancing about nervously.

  “Who are these two losers?” Gruber asked in his normal voice, which had a distinct German accent.

  “This is Merle and Earl Carter, Mr. Gruber. Johnny sent them along to keep an eye out for Tanner; these two know what he looks like.”

  Gruber laughed. “Johnny Rossetti thought that Tanner would try to kill me? How would he even know I’m here?”

  Mario shrugged. “This dude Tanner always does what you’d least expect.”

  “Nonsense! Tanner has no finesse. Frank Richards sent me a file on the man and it appears that he’s just been lucky. Take that shootout last night as an example. The fool went up against seven men alone and walked away from it. Pure luck, but it’s about to run out.”

  “You know best, Mr. Gruber,” Mario said.

  “I don’t know best, fat man, I am the best. Richards is paying me a quarter of a million dollars to kill Tanner and I won’t even work up a sweat.”

  Merle’s eyes boggled. “A quarter mil? I thought the reward was only up to a hundred K?”

  “That’s for losers like you; I wouldn’t get out of bed for that kind of money.”

  Gruber gazed at Merle and Earl again and shook his head in disgust.

  “Is this the best Johnny Rossetti has left? They look like frightened rabbits.”

  Earl frowned at that. “Hell yeah, we’re scared. Tanner ain’t no joke.”

  Gruber made a sound of distaste. “Schwuls!” Gruber snarled, using a German slang word to call the brothers homosexuals.

  They left the arrivals area for private jets, and Gruber insisted on sitting alone in the rear of the limo, while saying that Merle and Earl weren’t fit company. This caused Merle and Earl to sit up front with Mario, while Gruber sat in the back and opened the package that contained the weapons he would use.

  As Mario put the vehicle in gear, Merle muttered, “Jerk.”

  Mario whispered to him. “Watch your mouth. Gruber is a dick, but he’ll kill Tanner, count on it.”

  Earl smiled. “My money is on Tanner.”

  “I’ll take that bet for a hundred,” Mario said, and Earl agreed.

  Merle smiled. “Either way we win, but maybe they’ll kill each other.”

  “One can only hope,” Mario whispered, as he drove back to Johnny Rossetti’s club.

  95

  Psychosomatic

  From the corner of his eye, Tim saw Madison act as if she were fighting sleep. At least he hoped it was an act.

  As for himself, he felt no effect from the date-rape drug, but he figured that would change.

  Taking Madison’s cue, he blinked rapidly, lowered his head to his chest and then jerked it up, as if to ward off drowsiness.

  Carl Reese, seated across from them, was drugged as well, but it didn’t seem to be affecting the man at all. He was a foot taller than Tim and weighed twice as much as Madison. Tim realized that he would likely succumb last.

  Reese spoke to Madison, whom he knew as Drew.

  “Why don’t you take off your top, Drew? It’ll save me the trouble.”

  “I’d rather play in traffic blindfolded than have you touch me, pervert.”

  “Now, now, be nice. I could have had you two arrested for corporate espionage, but instead, I’m letting you keep your freedom. That’s worth a roll in the hay, hmm?”

  Madison didn’t answer, instead, she fluttered her eyes and her head lolled. It was no act; the Rohypnol in her system was kicking in.

  Tim felt it as well, as his eyes seemed to want to close on their own, but a spike of adrenaline revived him temporarily.

  He looked over at Reese and saw the man run a hand over his face as if to stifle a yawn, but then Reese rose to his feet and walked around the coffee table to stand beside Madison.

  “That’s it, sweet piece, get nice and drowsy, and you know what, you’re gonna like it too. You’ve probably forgotten what it’s like to be with a real man if Timmy here is what you’re used to.”

  “He’s twice the man you are,” Madison said, but the words came out of her mouth like sap from a tree in winter.

  She laid her head atop the sofa, but then jerked herself upright, as her eyes stayed half-closed.

  Reese smiled down at her, but the smile became a yawn. When he raised his hand to cover his mouth, he took a step backwards, as if stumbling. Afterwards, he went back to the loveseat and sat.

  “Shit, you two are contagious. Just watching you is making me sleepy.”

  Tim wanted to say something but found he couldn’t muster more than a moan, as the drug came down on him like a hammer. He looked at Madison and saw that her head rested on her shoulder and although her face was turned away from him, he could see that her mouth hung open.

  Reese was holding the cup that had held his soda, as he shook his head and blinked.

  “Why am I getting drowsy? There’s no way you could have switched glasses with me, and anyway, I drank mine first.”

  “Psychosomatic,” Tim said and was amazed at how much conscious effort it took to mutter that one word.

  “Psychosomatic?” Reese repeated. “What, like it’s all in my head?”

  Tim nodded.

  Reese stared back at him with a blank expression as he slid down lower in his seat.

  A moment later, Reese sat up with a start.

  “I’m really tired, but not too tired.”

  He rose, then walked over and lifted Madison off the sofa by grabbing her around the waist. Madison made weak sounds of protest and moved her arms, but Reese pulled her along easily, dragging her toward the bedroom.

  Tim stood, determined to stop Reese, only to fall to his knees, and then to the floor.

  “Nooooo…” Tim said, but the sound barely carried, and Reese and Madison disappeared into the bedroom.

  96

  The Envelope, Please

  Lars Gruber had Mario drop him ten blocks from the strip club and told Mario that he would enter through the back door when he arrived.

  “When will that be?” Mario asked. “Johnny will be waiting.”

  “I’ll arrive when I arrive, fat man, so just tell Johnny R to wait.”

  “Yes sir, Mr. Gruber,” Mario said, and drove off with Merle and Earl.

  The limo was barely out of sight when a red Mercedes pulled to the curb and Gruber climbed inside.

  Not far away, Tanner was parked beside a fire hydrant, watching.

  He had been following Johnny Rossetti’s limo in the hope of catching the man unaware while on the road, but instead, he followed it to the airport.

  Tanner didn’t know who Gruber was on sight, but he knew if Johnny sent his limo to pick him up at the airport, then it meant he was a somebody.

  After Gruber climbed into the second car, Tanner kept following him. In less than ten minutes, the car drove up a ramp and inside a warehouse that was once a box factory. The building had several large FOR SALE signs across its front.

  Tanner left his car parked at another hydrant and walked around to the rear of the building. By the time he found a br
oken window that was close enough to hear what was being said, he had almost missed the action.

  Jackie Verona, Underboss of the Calvino Crime Family was tied to a chair and gagged.

  Verona was about fifty, in good shape, and had all his hair, which was still dark, thanks to hair dye. In his youth, he had been a mob hit man and was not above practicing his former trade when needed.

  The man from the airport was standing before Verona and holding a gun, while three young punks looked on. No, make that two young punks. The third one was well dressed and the driver of the Mercedes. He wore glasses and had an air of authority about him.

  He stood before Jackie Verona with the man from the airport, as the other two watched and waited from several yards behind.

  When the man with the gun spoke, Tanner heard the German accent.

  “I want you to know that you were a gift to me. Your friends feared that you might interfere in my work here, and since your son was an informer, why not you?”

  Jackie Verona mumbled and shook his head violently.

  The German shrugged. “Yes, but why take the chance on your loyalty, or my life.”

  The man raised the gun and shot Verona once in the heart and once in the head, killing him. Afterwards, he removed the magazine and handed the gun to the young man in glasses.

  “I understand you have use for that weapon, Mr. Trent?” the German said.

  “I do. It will be used to frame someone, ensuring that this will never come back on you.”

  “And who would that someone be?”

  “Johnny Rossetti. After all, it’s due to his incompetence that we needed to hire you?”

  Lars Gruber smiled. “I see why Richards keeps you around.”

  “Thank you and the best of luck with Tanner.”

  “It’s not luck, I’m simply better than Tanner will ever be. I’m better than anyone.”

  Trent smiled. “But not modest.”

  “Never that,” Gruber said, smiling.

  Trent spoke to the punks as he handed them an envelope.

  “You know what to do with the body, and once it’s done, I suggest you leave town.”

  The punks nodded, looked inside the envelope, then smiled.

  Tanner debated staying with Gruber, but he decided to stick with the punks instead.

  After Gruber and Trent left, Tanner watched the two punks move Jackie Verona’s body from the chair and carry it to an old Pontiac that was sitting up on blocks behind the warehouse.

  The car had no window glass left and its surface was more rust than paint. After opening the car’s trunk, they dropped Verona’s body in without ceremony and slammed the lid shut.

  With that done, the punks walked over to a green Camaro with New Jersey license plates and drove off.

  Tanner walked back to his car, cruised around the area while thinking, and when he had a plan in mind, he drove back to the empty warehouse.

  The lock on the back door gave him little resistance, and after going inside, he retrieved a white envelope from the floor. It was the same white envelope that Al Trent had handled.

  After backing his car up to the Pontiac, Tanner opened his trunk and transferred Jackie Verona’s body into it.

  He knew the plan in his head was an elaborate one, but he also knew if he could make it work, that he would have the Conglomerate off his back, possibly for good.

  Tanner drove along, laughing to himself, and looking forward to the night to come.

  97

  Kick A Man When He’s Down

  Gruber finally arrived at the club hours later and let Johnny in on his plan to kill Tanner.

  They were in the office with Merle, Earl, and Mario.

  “You’re going to pretend to be me? How? I mean we’re about the same size, but we don’t have the same hair color and you look nothing like me.”

  “I don’t have to be an exact match; I just have to give the impression that I’m you. I want you to leave the club, climb in the limo and go somewhere. Somewhere big and busy, like a mall or a department store. I’ll be there waiting for you, dressed exactly like you, and when I leave, I’ll be flanked by four of your men, the bigger the better.”

  “And what do I do?”

  “You stay where you are, or you leave by another exit, it won’t matter, because if Tanner is watching, he’ll think I’m you.”

  “What if he’s not fooled?”

  “Then you will have to deal with that, but this is the plan. I spoke to Frank Richards on the drive in and he approved it.”

  “I bet he did, he’s probably hoping I’ll get whacked first. But let’s say your plan works, what happens then?”

  “I come back here and wait for Tanner to make his move. He’s a reckless fool and he’ll be stupid enough to attempt to hit you here, despite all the men guarding you, possibly even because of it.”

  Johnny gave Gruber an incredulous look.

  “I’ve got over a dozen guys here and dozens more coming. Do you really think Tanner is stupid enough to risk those odds?”

  “It feeds Tanner’s ego to defeat superior odds,” Gruber said, before staring at Merle, Earl, and Mario with disdain. “And from what I’ve seen of your men, he’ll likely get past them; when he does, he’ll meet me and die.”

  Johnny looked Gruber over and smirked. “What’s so special about you, pal?”

  “I’m the best killer in the world. That’s what makes me special.”

  Johnny rubbed his chin as an idea occurred to him.

  “How about a hospital, is that a busy enough place for you?”

  “A hospital would be excellent. They’ll likely have an awning outside and I’ll be even harder to see as I make my way to the limo. And one more thing, we’ll wear hats, which will cover my hair and obscure my face when I pretend to be you.”

  Mario asked a question. “What hospital, Boss?”

  “We’re going to see Joe Pullo.”

  “That’s good, it’ll cheer him up.”

  Johnny nodded, but he wasn’t thinking about cheer, he was thinking about revenge.

  Tim awoke after being asleep for hours and drifted in a haze of half-sleep as he tried to fight off the drug. There was a puddle of drool under his chin and he dragged himself through it as he crawled toward the bedroom.

  “Madison?”

  There was no answer and fear pushed Tim to his feet to stumble along like a drunk. He was more tired than he could ever remember being, but it brought back a memory of when he was a child and his mother was still alive.

  She had taken him to the city. It was his first time in New York, and they spent the day visiting The Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History. By the end of the day, he had a belly full of junk food and a mind filled with pleasant memories, but he was tired. He remembered being so tired that his mother had to carry him onto the train for their ride home.

  That was a good tired, this was not, and he fought going under again with everything he had. After what seemed like a millennium, he reached the bedroom doorway and collapsed. He saw that Madison was lying sideways across the bed. She was fully dressed, except for her blouse.

  Reese was on his knees beside the bed with his arms outstretched atop the mattress. In one hand, he clutched the blouse Madison had been wearing.

  Reese was stirring as well. He looked over at Tim with half-closed eyes and spoke.

  “Drugged me… somehow… how?”

  Tim ignored Reese and pulled himself up by using the door frame.

  Reese rolled over until he was sitting on the floor with his back against the bed, then he fumbled at his waistband as he attempted to pull his gun free. That simple task proved too much, and his hand dropped to the floor, as his eyes closed.

  Tim tottered into the bathroom across the hall, where he fell onto the tile floor.

  The feel of the cold, hard tiles against his cheek roused him and he pulled himself up and over the lip of the bathtub. As he fell, the spigot cut his forehead and the pain revived him
further.

  With fingers that felt numb, he turned on the faucet and cold water rained down on him, causing him to shiver, but also granting wakefulness. He sat up inside the tub, shivering and breathing in and out quickly, then laughed as he realized he felt much better.

  Fearing it wouldn’t last, Tim scurried out of the tub, dripping wet, and looked for a weapon. When he returned to the bedroom, he was holding the lid off the back of the toilet. He stumbled over to Reese and brought the heavy porcelain crashing down atop the man’s head, causing the lid to break in two.

  Reese made a croaking sound and flopped sideways onto the floor.

  Tim pulled the gun from Reese’s belt, then remembering the flash drive, he dug it out of Reese’s side pocket.

  With Reese handled, he sat on the bed beside Madison, who appeared to be asleep, the breasts beneath her red bra rising and falling in a steady even motion.

  Tim realized he was drifting off again and went back to the shower. This time he was able to stand after only a few seconds under the cold stream. He went to the kitchen, while leaving a trail of water in his wake, and prepared an insanely strong pot of coffee.

  While he waited for the coffee to brew, he downed two energy drinks he’d found in the fridge and took out his phone. His call was answered after two rings.

  “Tanner.”

  “It’s Tim, I need your help.”

  His words sounded slurred to his own ears and Tim worked his mouth. Between the drug and the busted lip Reese had given him, he nearly mumbled.

  “Tim? Where are you?”

  Tim told him the street and described the apartment house; he hadn’t noticed the street number when he arrived.

  “We’re on the second floor. It’s Carl Reese, man. He followed us here and drugged us… but, but Madison drugged him too.”