Monster

by Bernard L. DeLeo

  “Sure, but he’ll still think you’re bluffing.”

  “I am in a way. I don’t plan on the three of us getting our asses blown up with him. We’re going to blindfold Boris. We’ll put him in the section Reskova and Dino cleared earlier. I’ll cut him loose in a safe spot. When the three of us get to a safe distance I’ll tell Boris to remove his blindfold.”

  “But there are flags denoting the safe way through the field,” Rasheed said.

  “He doesn’t know which flags are which. You can bet he won’t want to test any theories out from where he’ll be.”

  “And if he simply runs?” Donaldson asked.

  “Then duck.”

  * * *

  “Can you hear me over there, Boris?” McDaniels called out from where he stood at a safe distance from the Russian.

  The Russian stood up in the spot McDaniels had sat him down on. The men were alone in the area fronting the warehouse. They had waited until all the personnel working in the warehouse and guarding the perimeter could be sent away. Donaldson was a highly respected agent. When he asked the assorted commanders to withdraw their men down the road for a time they did as they were asked. It had only taken McDaniels ten minutes to get the Russian placed where he wanted him after arranging extra flags around the chosen area.

  “I will tell you nothing,” the Russian’s muffled voice yelled back angrily.

  “Take off your hood, Boris,” McDaniels instructed. Rasheed signaled they were picking up the Russian’s voice clearly on the recorder.

  The Russian ripped the hood off his head in the graying light of morning. He did a double take when he realized where he stood. McDaniels, Rasheed, and Donaldson stood nearly thirty yards away. McDaniels waved at him comically.

  “Wha…what have you done?” The Russian straightened, placing his feet more together.

  “I see you recognize your little minefield. Do yourself a favor for now. Stay within the circle of flags.”

  McDaniels held up the bulky rifle like weapon he held in his right hand. “This is one of those guns that fire a bean bag round. It will knock you down five feet beyond where you’re standing. Here’s how it works. You tell me the name of the person who called you in your office just before I rearranged your face and I won’t blast your ass onto a live mine.”

  “You cannot do this!” The Russian balled his hands into fists at his side. “Take me out of here.”

  McDaniels handed the weapon to Donaldson. Pete took aim at the Russian. McDaniels nodded at Donaldson who fired the soft projectile at the cringing Russian. The man tried to duck but Donaldson anticipated his action. The projectile hit him in the shoulder. The Russian screamed out in pain and fear as the force of the shot knocked him down nearly three feet beyond the safe circle flags.

  McDaniels laughed. “Oh, you are so lucky. There can’t be many safe spots around you. Want to see how lucky you are this time. Hit him again, Pete.”

  Donaldson took aim. The Russian struggled to his feet, clutching his injured arm.

  “It is a woman named Nancy Tamara in your director’s office!” The Russian cried out, trying to keep his balance with his feet drawn together tightly. The man tried to make himself as small a target as his injured shoulder permitted.

  “Christ!” Donaldson exclaimed. “She works in Aginson’s office. I…I almost asked her out the other day.”

  McDaniels shook his head and Rasheed cursed under his breath.

  “Okay, Boris, that’s a good start,” McDaniels called out. “Did this Nancy know about Dillon?”

  “No, I do not believe so. They were recruited at about the same time though.”

  “By whom?”

  “I…I do not know…” the Russian began waving his arms wildly as Donaldson took aim. “I swear it. It was only after they were recruited that I was made their handler.”

  “Who handles you then?”

  “There are no names or meetings on a level over me. Money and instructions pass over the Internet. I am in direct touch with only underlings.”

  “What is your full name?”

  “Vladimir Kasyanov.”

  “Sit down right where you are and keep talking. If we even think you’re not telling us the truth or you stop before we think you’ve told us everything, my friend is going to nudge you again. Do you understand?”

  “I will te…tell you everything… just…just get me out of here,” the Russian pleaded.

  “No can do, Vlad,” McDaniels replied. “The faster you talk, the sooner I come get you. Sit down on the ground carefully and get to it.”

  “I…I will stand.”

  “Very well.” McDaniels grinned over at Rasheed and Donaldson. “Let’s begin.”

  * * *

  Reskova led the way into Aginson’s office, with McDaniels, Rasheed, and Donaldson close behind. She stopped at the receptionist’s desk, smiling down at the auburn haired woman sitting there. The woman in her mid twenties looked up at Reskova from her computer screen and gestured toward Aginson’s inner office.

  “Go right in, Diane.” Tamara straightened in her chair when she saw Donaldson. “He’s expecting you. Hi, Pete.”

  “Hi, Nanc.”

  “Good.” Reskova turned toward the three men behind her. “Cold, you come in with me. Kay, you and Pete take a seat. We’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Rasheed nodded. He and Donaldson took seats next to each other to the right of the desk, near the wall. Donaldson took out a miniature transceiver and a second box shaped electronics housing about the size of a wallet.

  “Let me explain again how this thing works, Kay.” Donaldson held up the transceiver first, feeling Tamara’s eyes on him.

  Rasheed folded his arms, listening to Donaldson instruct him on how the transceiver worked. Pete detailed its applications out in the field. Rasheed paid close attention but his eyes were on Tamara.

  Aginson stood up to shake hands with McDaniels and Reskova, gesturing for them to sit down. “It’s good to see you both in one piece. Thanks for bailing us out last night. We were caught…”

  “Sir,” Reskova interrupted, “are you having an affair with Nancy?”

  “Are you out of your mind?” Aginson face showed stunned amazement at the question. “I’m a grandfather, for God’s sake. Those three little ones in the picture in front of you are my daughter’s children. You know my wife, Diane. What the hell…”

  “Would you please answer the question, Sir,” Reskova persisted.

  Aginson leaned back in his chair. “You would not have come in here with such a question if there wasn’t something up. Does this have to do with Dreyer and Dillon? Oh… never mind… hell no, I’m not having an affair… wait a minute. Are you saying Nancy is…”

  “We know she is, Sir,” McDaniels answered for Reskova. “If you are indeed not having an affair with her then she has your office bugged. We…”

  There was a sudden commotion outside the office. Reskova stood up, the rage she had been hiding since entering the office apparent in her grim features.

  “I’ll handle this,” Reskova said, striding toward the office door.

  McDaniels and a completely baffled Aginson followed Reskova through the office door. Donaldson held Tamara’s arm tightly. Rasheed stood in front of the exit door. Reskova rushed over to Tamara as Donaldson let the secretary go. After one look at Reskova’s face, Donaldson backed away. Reskova caught up a handful of Tamara’s hair and yanked her backwards. Tamara turned on her attacker in a fury. Reskova smashed her openhanded across the face, sending the woman to her knees. Reskova kicked Tamara in her exposed left rib cage, evoking a scream from the collapsing woman who curled up in a ball on the carpet.

  “She heard what you said, Boss.” Rasheed smiled with satisfaction down at the traitor. “As soon as you and Cold went into the Director’s office she clipped an earpiece on and reached to the side of her desk. She pretended to be typing notes from dictation. She heard something not to her liking, pulled off the earpiece and heade
d right for the door.”

  Donaldson had hurried over behind Tamara’s desk. After a few moments of searching, he pulled out a miniature receiver. He checked it over before handing it to McDaniels.

  “That ain’t no secretary’s tape player, Sir.” Donaldson picked up the phone at Tamara’s desk. “I’ll call for a sweep of the Director’s room. We’ll find the bug.”

  “She bugged my office? How… why…”

  “We’ll find out, Sir.” Reskova yanked a crying Tamara up to her feet. “I have a new interrogation technique this bitch will not like one little bit.”

  “Yo…you can’t torture me.” Tamara suddenly screamed, trying to pull away from Reskova, who instantly put her face down on the desktop hard.

  “Shut your pie hole!” Reskova bounced the now docile woman’s head on the desk for emphasis. “Kay, tie this bitch’s hands up. Take her down to interrogation. Let Dino keep her company till we get done here.”

  “Right away, Boss.” Rasheed plastic tied Tamara’s hands behind her back.

  Donaldson went with Rasheed after making the call for an electronic sweep of Aginson’s office. McDaniels and Reskova followed Aginson back into the Director’s office where they took their seats again. Aginson leaned back in his chair clasping his hands behind his head. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Aginson sat up finally, folding his hands in front of him on the desktop.

  “That was slick, Diane.”

  “Thank you, Sir, but it was Cold’s idea.”

  “I need you to take over Dreyer’s position effective immediately. I accepted Dreyer’s resignation this morning. I need you to pick someone to take your place. Are you still adamant about going overseas again, Colonel?”

  “Yes Sir, I am. I gave some good men my word.”

  “Tom Barrington is senior.” Reskova swallowed the sudden lump in her throat at McDaniels’ words. “He’s a first class agent and cool under fire.”

  “Very well, Diane, make it happen. I trust you will get this new twist on things sorted out. Anything else I can do?”

  “I’m going to be short handed on the one team I need a full compliment on. If he’ll do it, can I ask Pete to join up with the team Barrington leads?”

  “It will be Pete’s call to make but go ahead and ask him. His guys were decimated last night. We’ll have to simply switch the survivors to other teams or start a new team with them.”

  Reskova held out her hand as she stood up. “Sorry about the inference earlier. I had to know if there was a pattern, considering Dillon and Dreyer.”

  Aginson shook her hand. “I understand, Diane. Don’t give it a thought. Move into Dreyer’s office as soon as you’re comfortable with the makeup of your old team.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” Reskova turned toward the door.

  “Colonel,” Aginson remarked, causing Reskova to pause. “When you get back from Iraq, I know I can speak for Diane when I say we need you to rejoin the team. Good luck over there.”

  McDaniels nodded. “Thank you, Sir.”

  Reskova waited for McDaniels to come abreast of her before slipping her hand into his, resisting the urge to look around at Aginson’s reaction. For his part, Aginson watched the two agents leave his office with nothing more than a grinning acknowledgement.

  Chapter 30

  Promotion

  “You’re heading up the team now, Tom,” Reskova announced, after taking a seat at the table with her coffee. “Jen will be your second in command.”

  Around the table in their office break room sat Barrington, Rutledge, Rasheed, Donaldson, and McDaniels, in addition to Reskova. Reskova had asked Donaldson to sit in on the meeting. But for McDaniels and Donaldson, Reskova’s announcement was met with a stunned silence from the others for a moment.

  “Why…” Barrington began, but quieted as Reskova gestured him to silence.

  “Aginson gave me Dreyer’s job. I need someone on our frontline team I can trust implicitly. You’re senior, Tom. I’m asking Pete to join up with us. You’ll be a first class team leader, Tom - that is, if you and Jen here can keep from playing footsies at work.”

  Rutledge gasped, turning to glare at Rasheed. Barrington grasped his coffee cup with both hands. “Kay, you weasel!”

  “Why call me names, woman? I am sure your sinful indiscretions with our newly appointed leader did not escape the attention of our former very insightful boss. Of course she may have wrung it out of Mr. Reskova somehow. Address your outraged looks at him.”

  “Cold?” Rutledge asked with an accusatory stare at McDaniels.

  “You and Tom were together when she called, genius.”

  “Forget it, Jen.” Reskova looked over at a baffled Donaldson. “How about it, Pete, want to join us?”

  “Can I do both? I mean work here as well as Special Ops.”

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  Rasheed put his arm around Donaldson. “Welcome, my friend. You will make a fine newbie. I will take you under my wing, and explain all the romantic entanglements in this den of iniquity you are joining.”

  “Kay!!!” Rutledge barked.

  * * *

  “Did we have to do this in a blizzard?” McDaniels stretched his arms up to attach the next string of lights on the gutter of Rasheed’s house.

  Rasheed began feeding the new string of lights out of the box he held while handing new attachment clips to McDaniels. He looked over at the happy group made up of his family and coworkers in the front yard setting up lawn decorations. Rutledge and Barrington were making snowmen from the ample supply on the front lawn. Reskova and Suraya maneuvered a reindeer light into position. Rasheed’s wife and little Cold watched the scene from the front window.

  “You seem to be the only unhappy Scrooge in this group, Mr. Reskova.”

  McDaniels laughed, glancing around at the soft flakes of snow floating earthward. With the heavy blanket of snow the street and surrounding houses looked like a Christmas postcard. Dino followed Reskova’s movements, moving when she did, and sitting quietly when she stopped.

  “How do you know anything about Scrooge?”

  “I watched the movie with Ansa and Suraya.” Rasheed handed McDaniels another clip. “It was very entertaining. After seeing it Ansa wished to run out and give away all our money to the poor.”

  “If she wants to give something to the needy tell her to only give to the Salvation Army or the Marine Corps Toys For Tots. They’re the only ones that actually do what they say they do for the poor. Besides, you bunch aren’t flush enough money-wise to give away what little you have anyhow.”

  “We are doing very well. If things stay the same throughout the next year we will add a second store to our holdings.”

  “Very impressive. This capitalism stuff agrees with you.”

  Rasheed nodded in acknowledgment. “Yes, I like this capitalism. How long do you have yet before returning to Iraq?”

  “We leave December 28th.”

  “I thought you would be able to stay through the New Year.” Rasheed lowered his voice.

  “Things are heating up with the coming elections. I worked out with Abe and Jed yesterday. The guys are a little disappointed about getting two weeks shaved off their stateside time but they handled it pretty well. Because of their past time in country though, Abe said they’ve been promised rotation back to the states when the troop numbers are reduced again after the elections.”

  “I feel badly about all of your young men having to fight in my country. They…”

  “Hey, if we weren’t fighting in your old country, we’d be fighting on our streets. Hell… we are fighting in our streets.”

  “I know this, my friend,” Rasheed broke in, putting a hand on McDaniels’ shoulder. “It feels bad to be here, while someone else fights.”

  “Someone has to be here to keep Tom and Jen from completely compromising the department.”

  Rasheed smiled happily. “Oh yes, it is just so. I have already recruited young Pete into this endeavor. H
e knows he is to instantly get a disapproving look on his face each time I zing those two. I am the man.”

  McDaniels laughed loudly in appreciation, shaking his head as he drew looks of inquiry from the others who had stopped what they were doing and looked questioningly at the two men. Rasheed looked at them sternly, making hand motions for them to return to what they were doing. Reskova returned his stare, making hers malevolent as well as stern, causing Rasheed to turn away hurriedly. McDaniels saw her smile with satisfaction, having evoked the result she was looking for. Reskova stuck her hip out provocatively at McDaniels when she met his gaze. Suraya put both hands over her mouth and turned away. Their eyes locked for a moment. Reskova’s mouth lost its haughty smile. She blushed and returned quickly to the task before her.

  “I am very ashamed,” Rasheed announced in a whisper, glancing at Reskova and his daughter. “Your woman can cower me with but a glance. She interrogated the Tamara woman as brutally as we have ever done. The hellhound does her bidding almost by psychic connection. It is very disturbing.”

  Again McDaniels laughed uproariously at Rasheed’s hellhound comment.

  “She is something, ain’t she?” McDaniels started the next string of lights. “I believe I have met my match.”

  “The Boss will be much displeased when she hears you will be going back to Iraq two weeks early. How has she reacted to her new job as Assistant Director?”

  “Why, is Tom giving you a bad time?”

  “On the contrary, we are doing very well with sorting out all the new information. Tom has told me he will be sending Jen, Pete, and me out tomorrow to conduct two more interviews.”

  “Red likes her new job just fine. She only answers to Aginson. They get along better than her and Dryer did. I wish I could have been with you guys after the warehouse. Between the hospital and working with Abe and Jed, my free time is nonexistent.”