Monster

by Bernard L. DeLeo

  “Do you want us over near her home?” Donaldson asked.

  “No need - we already have a team watching Mero’s every movement. Besides, Diane told me the Colonel doesn’t want you anywhere you might be seen by Mero’s men other than by accident when you’re with Nancy. Jen will be heading over to try out a few of the loose ends we’ve gathered on Dillon. Maybe she can confirm more of what we’ve found out.”

  “Do I really have to interrogate that bitch again?”

  “You two were tight once, Jen. She’s incommunicado until further notice. Try out a few of the names we’ve gathered on her. See how she reacts.”

  “It’s pretty obvious none of us knew her very well. I’ll do it but don’t expect much.”

  “It’s worth a try. We already have a van over near Marisol’s place to act as a signal relay station. If anything happens in between now and tomorrow morning I’ll get the call and come in to monitor things until you two arrive. Aginson wants as few people in on this as possible. We’re all on call until the confirmation comes in on Mero’s contact in Syria.”

  “What about Mero’s cell?” Rasheed asked.

  “Nakhuda has given us the names of everyone he’s met since coming here. Surveillance over the next week should confirm and add to his list. I know Christmas is a week from this Saturday but…”

  “We all know how important this is, Tom,” Rutledge interrupted, glancing at Rasheed and Donaldson. “Cold will be leaving shortly after that. I’d like him around until we get Mero’s merry men rounded up.”

  “I agree.” Barrington looked at his watch. “You better go pick Nancy up, Pete. I want her home right after work in case Mero calls her. You can take off too, Kay.”

  “On my way, Boss.” Donaldson headed toward the office entrance. He waved at Rasheed and Rutledge.

  “Young Pete seems a bit too enthusiastic in his duty.” Rasheed watched Donaldson close the door behind him with arms folded disapprovingly over his chest.

  “Only to you Kay. You heard Tom. Take off and go see your family.”

  “I am uncomfortable leaving you and the Boss alone together in…” Rasheed was up and hurrying to the door as Rutledge launched out of her seat toward him.

  Chapter 37

  Christmas Break

  “This eggnog is very tasty.” Rasheed refilled the glasses of his daughter and wife.

  “Especially with what you have added to yours, my husband,” Ansa replied, drawing laughter from Suraya who gave little Cold a sip of hers.

  The baby, holding onto Suraya as he steadied himself on his feet, sipped the cold eggnog. Little Cold immediately shook his head as if tasting something sour while smacking his lips. His audience laughed in delight as the baby within seconds tried to get another sip.

  “It is Christmas Eve, Ansa. I am merely trying to get into the holiday spirit.”

  “You could have waited for our friends to join us tonight before…” Ansa began as the doorbell rang.

  “See, there they are now.” Rasheed went to answer the door. “It will almost be as if I am joining them.”

  “Only you could come up with such a statement.” Ansa laughed as Little Cold dropped quickly to crawl after his Father.

  Rasheed glanced down in time to see the Little Cold veer toward the Christmas tree. Shaking his head at Suraya, Rasheed snatched the baby up by the back of his pajamas, comically holding him up in the air. The baby laughed in delight as Rasheed bounced him up and down, scolding him for being such a sneak. He opened the door, still bouncing the baby. He moved aside, allowing Reskova and McDaniels to enter. Reskova immediately took the baby from Rasheed.

  “Is that a new way of holding the baby?” McDaniels asked.

  “I caught up the little bugger as he again launched an attack on the infidel tree. I believe the tree has a homing device which beckons to him each time we set him on the floor. Only food and drink deter him but not for long.”

  McDaniels and Reskova laughed at Rasheed’s explanation. On cue, little Cold giggled along with them. The doorbell chimed again as they walked toward the living room. Rasheed again opened the door. When he saw Rutledge and Barrington on his doorstep Rasheed said ‘Bah, Humbug’ and began to close the door. Ansa, who had joined her guests in the entryway rushed to his side.

  “Kumar!”

  Rasheed opened the door immediately, gesturing the couple in while trading irritated expressions with Rutledge.

  “Infidel,” Rasheed acknowledged Rutledge.

  “Scorned of Allah,” Rutledge responded.

  “Too much.” Barrington shook his head as the rest laughed at the two co-workers’ banter. “Both of you might want to give this a rest. It is Christmas Eve.”

  “Very well, Boss, if you insist,” Rasheed relented, breaking into a smile. “Come, let us toast this mythical holy day.”

  “It sounds like you’ve already been toasting, Kay,” McDaniels commented.

  “Yes, you are correct, Cold Mountain,” Ansa confirmed his statement, shaking a warning finger at her husband as Rasheed grabbed a laughing Suraya to use as a shield. “He is very taken with the eggnog drink only I doubt there is much eggnog in it.”

  After a holiday toast the group sat down in the Rasheed living room, admiring the Christmas tree.

  “You’re right, Kay,” Rutledge said. “The tree does look a little barren on the bottom. Little Cold really likes it, huh?”

  “Watch.” Rasheed took the baby from Reskova and put him on the floor.

  As soon as his knees and hands came in contact with the floor Little Cold crawled speedily toward the tree. When no one grabbed him the baby paused just before getting to the lower branches. He looked back expectantly over his shoulder. Rasheed gestured at him warningly. Instead of stopping, Little Cold reached up toward the nearest branch, still looking at Rasheed with a devilish smile.

  “Oh my God,” Rutledge exclaimed, “that is so adorable.”

  “Only you would see such disrespect as adorable,” Rasheed chastised Rutledge. Suraya went over to sit next to the baby, allowing Little Cold to sit and fondle the lower tree limbs.

  Some of the pine needles came off in the baby’s hands, gathering in little green spangles on his pajamas.

  Rasheed sighed. “His obsession with the tree does keep him pine fresh.”

  Ansa set out homemade hors d’oeuvres for her guests while Rasheed put on a Christmas CD.

  “Christmas carols too, Kay. Don’t you burn in hell or something if you listen to Christmas music.”

  “Oh, very funny,” Rasheed replied with disdain as his wife and daughter laughed. “I risk Allah’s wrath so as to appease my beloved co-workers and this is the shunning I must endure.”

  “Shunning? Beloved?” Rutledge grimaced in mock disbelief.

  “Do you two really do this all day long, Father?” Suraya asked.

  “Please believe me when I say this, Suraya,” Barrington spoke up before Rasheed could answer. “They keep this up almost non-stop. The only break in the action comes when Pete arrives. They both torture him then or Jen tries to team up with Pete to harass your Dad.”

  “Yes, that works out very well for them,” Rasheed said in a mocking tone.

  Rutledge leaned forward. “Are you saying…”

  “Enough.” Reskova took Little Cold from Suraya.

  “Did you ask Pete to come tonight, my husband?”

  “Ah… I talked to Pete…” Rasheed stammered hesitantly. “He… ah… understands. See…”

  “Pete has to be with a woman named Nancy Tamara everywhere outside the office for the time being, Ansa,” McDaniels explained. “She was involved in something which would make it a little uncomfortable for us to deal with in a setting outside of work. Once this latest business is over perhaps things will change.”

  “Nancy sold out the United States and her friends for money,” Reskova added. “If I had found out she knew anything about a certain warehouse tragedy she would still be going to prison even after this latest o
peration ends.”

  Ansa nodded, a sad look coming over her countenance. “We are very familiar with people selling out, as you say, everything they believe in. Many times their actions ended in the deaths of innocents. Let us talk of this no more.”

  “Kay, I noticed you’ve been adding Christmas decorations to the front of your house,” McDaniels changed the subject. “If you put up anymore they’ll be able to see the house from orbit.”

  “My Father is in competition with our next door neighbor.” Suraya ignored Rasheed’s gesture to keep silent. “We are in the lead because of our attached collectibles shop. We have received many compliments from our customers.”

  “Kay,” Rutledge said happily. “You’re in Christmas light competitions, huh? Wow, what…”

  “Never mind, you,” Rasheed cut her off. “I simply wanted to do my part as a local shop owner to make the holiday festive for my neighbors and customers. I could not help it if one of my neighbors decided to upstage me. As Suraya pointed out, once I finished decorating our collectibles shop, he saw the futility of his copycat pursuits.”

  “Oh, he was copying you, huh?” Rutledge asked mischievously.

  “Of course, he simply aped my careful decorative choices.”

  “Bad Pa,” a newly awakened Little Cold blurted out and then giggled happily as everyone laughed in surprise.

  “I didn’t know the baby was talking already.” Reskova hugged the little boy in her arms.

  Rasheed sighed heavily. “My wife and daughter have taught the Little Cold disrespectful phrases whenever he hears my voice raised at any time.”

  “Oh… Kay…” Rutledge laughed, trying to get her breath.

  “Silence,” Rasheed ordered. “I do not want…”

  “Bad Pa,” Little Cold repeated, setting everyone off again including Rasheed.

  “What timing,” McDaniels said, “and in English too.”

  “They wish for all to understand each time my son chastises me in public.” Rasheed picked up Little Cold from Reskova. “Getting him to stop has been difficult. I will have my payback. It will not be pretty.”

  “Do not think for a moment to teach my Little Cold anything of an annoying quality,” Ansa warned quickly, seeing the look on her husband’s face.

  “Oh no, my dear, I would not dream of such a thing.”

  * * *

  As the group discussed the Marines McDaniels worked with and how well they had been doing since returning, Reskova’s cell-phone rang. She smiled apologetically before walking into the kitchen. Reskova heard Aginson’s voice.

  “Diane?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Source right on target. We have confirmation. Sorry to bother you like this but I need you to come in.”

  “Can I bring Cold with me?”

  “I’m afraid not… at least not at this time. Where are you now?”

  “I’m at Rasheed’s house with Cold, Barrington, and Rutledge.”

  “Good, tell them to keep their cell-phones on. I’ll see you when you get here. Come straight to my office.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  After Aginson went off line, Reskova returned to the living room.

  “I have to meet Aginson at the office,” Reskova explained as she put her coat on, gesturing for McDaniels to stay seated. “For some reason, the Director doesn’t want you in on this yet. He said for all of you to keep your cell-phones on.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  Outside in the frigid air, McDaniels held Reskova’s hand as they walked to her car. Pausing in front of the vehicle, Reskova turned and embraced McDaniels.

  “Something wrong or something right, Red?”

  “It’s good news. Hasib was right. I’m going in to find out how right before helping decide what our next move is. Can you get a ride home?”

  “Sure.” McDaniels gave Reskova a last kiss goodbye. “Tonight was really nice.”

  “It sure was.” Reskova opened the driver’s door and slid in. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

  “We’ll be ready. I think Kay might have to sit out any operations tonight though. He’s about three sheets into the wind I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I doubt we can move on anything tonight.”

  * * *

  McDaniels watched Reskova drive away. Barrington, Rutledge and Rasheed joined him on the sidewalk.

  “What do you think, Colonel?” Barrington asked.

  “Probably best to call it a night, Tom - especially you, Kay.”

  “How was I to know the world would again need Kumar Rasheed to save it on Christmas Eve?”

  “Sober up, Kay. We’ll save the world tomorrow.” Rutledge hugged Rasheed. “Want a ride home, Colonel?”

  “Stay tonight, my friend. You can ride in with me early tomorrow if I am to save the world on Christmas Day. Otherwise, I will give you a lift to the Boss’s apartment.”

  “I’d take you up on the offer, Kay, but I have to take care of Dino. He loves the apartment but Dino needs to get out a couple times a day. I’ll squeeze in with Tom and Jen if they don’t mind. I’ll sit crosswise in the back.”

  “Trade with me, Jen.” Rasheed fished his keys out of his pocket. “I will drive your mini-car to the office tomorrow while you drive the SUV.”

  “Mini-car?” Rutledge protested. “Everything’s a mini to the Cold Mountain. Anyway, I’ll take you up on it, thanks.”

  Riding toward Reskova’s apartment with Barrington driving Rasheed’s SUV, Rutledge twisted to face McDaniels in the backseat.

  “Have any plans for after we confirm everything on Mero, Cold?”

  “Plans for what, Jen?”

  “You know what.” Rutledge waited for Barrington’s support.

  “What Jen means, Colonel, is Mero might…”

  “Let’s drop this. Mero will do what he does. We’ll do what we do. Hopefully everything will work out for the best. I’ll go overseas and shut down the money funnel. Case closed.”

  Barrington and Rutledge exchanged uneasy glances.

  McDaniels exited the SUV when they reached Reskova’s apartment.

  “Thanks for the ride. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, Colonel,” Barrington replied.

  “I hope Diane gets back to the apartment tonight, Cold. Merry Christmas,” Rutledge added with a wave.

  “Me too.”

  * * *

  Dino met Reskova at the door with McDaniels at nearly three thirty in the morning.

  “Merry Christmas, Red. Do we all have to go back in today?”

  “Merry Christmas, Cold.” Reskova wrapped her arms around McDaniels. “No, we came up with a way to proceed. We won’t have to go in until tomorrow. Although Mero is really disturbed over his missing three assassins, he still knows nothing as to how or why they disappeared. Mero was in touch with al Zoubi twice in the last twenty-four hours. We were able to confirm the location Hasib gave us for al Zoubi and get a satellite photo of him during one of the calls.”

  “Why didn’t they just send a Predator in there and take him out with a couple of Hellfire missiles?”

  “Same as always.” Reskova pulled McDaniels toward the bedroom. “They believe he’ll have a treasure trove of info at the camp.”

  “He probably does. Sometimes though, we ought to take what we can get.”

  “And the nation of Syria, whose border we would be crossing to get to al Zoubi?” Reskova grinned at McDaniels as she took off her clothes.

  “No one cares about our borders, including the President.” McDaniels allowed Reskova to slap his questing hands away. “Why should we care about Syria’s?”

  “They’re going to send you in, Cold. If I were in charge, I’d use a bunker-buster tactical nuke on them just for an object lesson but…”

  “I know, I know…” McDaniels pushed Reskova gently onto the bed. “I’ll deal with it. Let’s get some sleep before the sun comes up.”

  “Sleep?”

  “Eventually.”


  * * *

  Donaldson woke instantly at the first ring of the phone by his head where he lay next to Tamara in her bed. He shook Tamara awake. Pete handed her the receiver, noting it was nearly two o’clock in the morning, the day after Christmas. Tamara answered groggily, while Donaldson helped her sit up. Tamara tensed when she heard Mero’s voice.

  “Can you meet me, Nancy? I will send a car for you.”

  “It’s…it’s not even two in the morning,” Tamara managed to say in a hushed voice. “I…I’m not alone.”

  “Ah, good, good, I have heard you were doing well with the Special Ops man. All the more reason I need to see you right away. If he wakes, tell him you have to visit a sick relative or something.”

  Tamara paused for a moment before acknowledging. “Okay, I’ll be out front, walking same as the last time in fifteen minutes.”

  “Very good.” Mero ended the call.

  Donaldson took the receiver from Tamara and hung up the phone, making a quieting gesture. Tamara slipped on her robe. She followed Donaldson into the bathroom where Donaldson had set up a safe room. He closed the door before splashing his face with cold water.

  “Mero’s having me picked up again in fifteen minutes,” Tamara told Donaldson as he toweled off his face. “He told me to tell you if you woke up that I had to visit a sick relative or something.”

  Tamara put her arms around Donaldson, hugging him tightly.

  “Can you follow me, Pete?”

  “We can’t take the chance this time, Nanc. Did he say anything about the info you left him at the drop?”

  “No.”

  “He probably wants to talk over something about that.” Pete immediately thought this impromptu meeting was about Mero’s three missing soldiers and whether Tamara had heard anything about them. “C’mon, you better get dressed. Let me follow up with our surveillance unit. I’ll make sure they have someone tailing you.”

  “I’m scared, Pete. After what Mero said about Reskova I’ve been thinking whenever he gets through with me he’d arrange to meet with me like now. The only difference is I’ll just disappear.”