State of Confusion (State of Arizona Book 4)

by Doug Ball

  Tan’s phone map didn’t reach to the house, but Chuck used the audio link, he was in place. It was a bit hard to understand over the crunch of Tank eating the tacos and Abdul talking smack with a brother at the counter of the parts place.

  “Tan to all, go easy on the background noise. Those tacos are terribly loud on the circuit.”

  “10-4, they sure are good,” Tank spoke with a mouth full.

  Everybody waited as they tried to look like scenery until 2 PM came.

  Tank shifted from tacos to shrimp and then another dozen tacos. Abdul helped the store guy change his air filter. Bruce had his second donut and another cup of coffee. Tan paced as he and the Chief tried to look like they were waiting for someone to open the back door to the building.

  At 1:55 PM Matarese drove into the parking lot at the Taco Bell with her necklace on and the throwaway in her lap. Her personal phone was lying on her dresser at home. No way that was going to get her in trouble. She put on her sexiest smile and opened the door. The phone rang.

  “Yeah,” She answered.

  31

  “Are you the woman in tight pants and a bare belly?”

  Tan was searching for an observer through his binoculars and could find none.

  “You could describe it that way. I prefer yoga pants and a tank top.”

  “Get back in the car and drive north to the corner, turn right to 51 and take the on ramp north. Get off at Shea and head east on Shea. I’ll call you again.”

  “Will do. What kinda job you got for me? And, how much money?”

  “A good job for a young lady like yourself and more money than you’ll know what to do with.”

  “I know what to do with any amount of money, sir. You can take that to the bank.”

  “Get moving, we don’t have all day.”

  She hit ‘end’ and slid back in the car. After squeezing the red stone and feeling it come on, she said, “North on 51 to Shea, east on Shea. Out,” while she leaned way in like she had dropped something which kept a watcher from seeing her lips move. She came up with her lipstick and made all the actions of renewing the paint job. As she turned right toward 51, she squeezed again.

  All of the Governor’s crew watched for a car to follow her.

  ‘North on 51, right on Shea, and build up speed to the speed limit. Try to catch all the lights red,’ she thought as she head banged down the road with the windows open and hip hop playing on the radio.

  Tan was six cars back with the Chief driving the Toyota as he watched the locator signals. As he looked at the map he called out orders to each individual to keep the car covered and if need be, cutoff.

  Tank was rolling three minutes later after he finished his last taco heading south to Glendale and east to Lincoln Drive. Abdul moved north on 7th turning right on Dunlop onto Cave Creek, aiming for Cactus. Bruce was six cars back from Tan, just in case.

  The just in case happened soon on Shea when Matarese was ordered to turn right on Scottsdale Road and start going up one road and down the next. Someone was checking for tails. Tan told the Chief to turn right on Scottsdale and right at the next right. “Tan to Tank. Hold at Tatum and MacDonald. Break. Abdul, come south on Scottsdale and hold at Camelback. Bruce take Indian Bend to Indian School and hold.”

  Lots of 10-4’s came through the circuit.

  Tan watched the dots, some parked, some kept moving, and one was going all over the place as Matarese got more directions and carried them out.

  “Chief, this man has this girl going around in circles. She has passed the Biltmore Mall three times. I think our man is in there, maybe on the roof.”

  “Could be.”

  Tan watched as she turned.

  “He says to park in the shade on the back row. Sounded real definite. I think this is it. Out.” Her voice came through loud and clear.

  “Okay, everybody move toward Biltmore Mall. Hold a block away.” Tan checked everyone’s position. “Abdul, move in close in the shaded parking area.”

  “Got that. Ain’t I gonna stand out in that high class place?”

  “Act like you own the place and you won’t.”

  “I can do that.”

  Tan watched as Matarese’s dot moved through the parking lot and came to a stop. Abdul was a few cars down and came to a stop.

  Abdul got out of his car, standing to his full height, and looked around as he locked the car and checked his surroundings, as any man alone would do in this place. Matarese was standing at her car with a phone to her ear. Abdul walked toward the stores, keeping her in his peripheral vision. She started moving toward the stores also.

  He stopped for a car coming down the lane between the parking spots and took his eye off of her for a moment. When he started walking again, he checked both ways. She was gone. He kept walking while he said, “She gone. I lost her.”

  Tan said, “Damn,” on the net. He checked his screen.

  Abdul stopped at the first potted plant and pretended to make a call as he looked around like he was waiting for someone that should have been there already. “Boss, I can’t see nothing.” A movement caught his eye. “Wait a minute. There’s a big Mercedes pulling out.” He paused, “Yeah. That be her in the front seat next to a dark man.”

  “License?”

  “Arizona FYF - - - that’s all I can read from here. First number looked like a nine, but I ain’t sure. Turned toward Camelback.”

  “Break. Tan to Leon. Check the license number for the address in question.”

  “10-4, back in a flash.”

  Leon hit the DMV files and called up the address for the house in question. “Bingo,” he yelled. “First three digits FYF, next number is nine. Full number is FYF9622. 2016 Mercedes. Registered to Beatrice Morton.”

  “Tank, pick that Mercedes up as they leave if they go west. Bruce you get them going east. Got her on the screen and tracking.”

  “Gotcha, boss. They comin’ my way,” Tank was excited.

  “I’ll pick you up in a couple of blocks. When I say break, you turn right. Do a U turn and get back on my tail a block or so back.”

  “Gotcha.” He sounded disappointed.

  The Chief said, “Looks like they are headed for the house and my ring of troops.”

  “Yeah. No offense, but we are taking him down.”

  “Good. I don’t wanna lose any of my men to this nut case.”

  “Me, either. Tan to all units. I will make entry once they are in the house. Units at the rear stay put. Bruce, you stay on the street. He may have seen you. Tank and Abdul follow me in. Sky 1, roll in on my signal. And, don’t any of you step in front of a bullet.”

  Matarese’s voice came through, “… car you have here. You satisfied I am not bugged, yet?”

  “Look, miss.”

  “My name isn’t, miss. It’s Matarese. I been telling you that since I got in the car. Nice wheels. I have never ridden in a Mercedes before.”

  “Play your cards right and you’ll ride in this one again.”

  “Where’s the money?”

  “At my home.”

  “You ain’t gonna try getting fresh with me are you? I don’t like to be rushed, ya know.”

  “No. I have no desire to get fresh with you, young lady. I just want to end this deal and get it over with.”

  “Don’t you have a job for me.”

  “Yes. I have made arrangements for you to work with a man who is looking for young ladies such as yourself. He pays well and there’s a chance to end up rich. I could find no jobs for you in my organization.”

  “How much money do you owe Brad?”

  “Enough.”

  “Enough?”

  They turned down the street the house was on.

  “You live in this neighborhood?”

  “Yes.”

  “Nice houses. You must really be rich.”

  “Not rich enough.”

  He turned to a driveway and stopped as the gate started swinging.

  “How’d you do that
?”

  “Abdul, Tank, follow me in. We’ll hit them in the garage. Bruce take the house. A couple of locals will help you.”

  The Chief nodded.

  “What?”

  “Make the gate open.”

  “The car getting close triggers it. Only this car. Of course there’s a button in the house that does it.”

  “All units, close in.” Tan said.

  “Is this your house?”

  “Yes. Will you be quiet for a while? I really don’t want to hear your voice anymore.”

  “Well, that’s not very nice. You just let me out and I’ll walk home from here rather than be insulted like that.”

  “Shut up you little tramp.”

  “Wha?”

  Tan heard the slap through the system. So did everyone else on the net.

  “I told you to shut up. I mean it.”

  “Well, la de da. Ain’t you the uppity one.”

  Another slap.

  “You hit me one more time, what ever your name is, and I’ll show you a few tricks I learned working in the Dream Scene for two years.”

  Tan approached the gate.

  They heard a garage door closing and car doors opening.

  “Follow me to the money.”

  “There better be some extra. You probably bruised my cheek. And, look, my nose is bleeding.”

  “Shut up. Just follow me and shut up.”

  “I don’t think you got any money for me. I think you just want to use me and throw me out. I’ve known men like you before. All promise and no action. Why are we going downstairs?”

  “So I can shut . . .”

  The signal was lost.

  Tan said, “Let me climb on your back, Abdul.”

  Abdul kneeled as Tan climbed until he could get a leg over the gate.

  With a quick move he swung over the gate and fell the eight feet to the ground inside. Looking around he saw a button on the side wall like a plate trigger for a handicap door opener. He pushed it and the gates began moving. The garage was straight ahead. Tan sprinted to the garage and around to a side door.

  The side door opened without any effort other than turning the knob. The lights were still on. Entering the garage, he felt Abdul and Tank behind him. They looked for the door going down.

  In the darkest corner was a plain looking door with no knob. Tank triggered the garage door opener with a switch just inside the big door. As it opened the plain door swung inward. Steps went down. Abdul headed down the steps before Tan could get started.

  At the bottom of 30 or more steps was a long hallway going straight ahead.

  Tan took off running down the hall. As he went the light grew dim and something on the floor caught his attention.

  Kenneth Assat was breathing hard, “I told you no tricks. You were being followed.”

  “Yeah, by men Brad owed money to because of you. They put their lives on the line for you and they want what’s coming to them.”

  “You are going to die. They will also die with you if they make it this far.” The wannabe Colonel slapped her hard enough to send her to the floor. “Stay there.”

  He pulled a small semi-auto from his left front pocket and pointed it at her for emphasis.

  Tan stopped and touched a spot on the floor. “Blood. Matarese’s nose bleed.”

  The lights went out.

  Tan saw a line of light at floor level down the hall and went after it, running.

  It was a door with a crack at the bottom. He turned the knob with his left hand, the door came toward him as he pulled. Behind the door was another set of stairs. This time going up.

  He ran up the stairs.

  As he reached the top and another door, he heard, “Tan, where are you?”

  “I’ll let you know when I find out. This guy is turning out the lights as he clears an area.”

  The lights went out.

  “Stay back. I think something new is arriving.”

  His men didn’t listen too well and joined him at the door.

  A voice came from nowhere, “Now, you will die. I didn’t have you hired in order for you to attack me.”

  Tan thought for a moment and then said, “Brad hired us. Told us there’d be lots of money in it. Give us the money and Matarese, we’ll leave. Otherwise we will destroy this place and take what we can find.”

  “He told me that he had told no one of me. You have found your tomb.”

  “He lied.” The lights stayed out.

  Abdul didn’t bother to ask, he just pulled Tan out of the way and hit the door with his whole body. The door cracked.

  A hissing sound filled the hall.

  “Gas.”

  Abdul hit the door again assisted by Tank.

  No door made of wood could have withstood that blast of their combined weight. This one didn’t either. Tan ran over the top of the two men lying on the door into another garage just in time to see the garage door closing to block his view of a small BMW sedan backing out.

  “Tan to Sky 1. Track a red BMW leaving a garage into a street roughly a hundred yards west of the house we entered.” Tan yelled as he saw a lovely necklace lying on the floor.

  Tank, Abdul, and Bruce busted in on the scene as Tan hit the open button for the garage door. “Sky 1. We have the car in sight.”

  “I hear ya. Stay with them.”

  Tan yelled, “Bring a car around to . . .” he looked around and added the address.

  The first car there was rapidly filled with four bodies as Tan told the driver, “Stay with Sky 1.”

  “Yes, Sir.” The driver listened as each passenger kept him appraised of the choppers direction of travel.

  “Look you little, bimbo. I have resources you cannot imagine. I will change transport shortly and when I do, you will die.”

  “That’s to be seen. I know a lot of tougher men than you are. Brad would have killed you by now. He taught me a lot and I will use it when given a chance. Keeping your eyes on the road and me and that chopper is going to be tough. You slip once and I will take you out like a flyswatter squishing a bug.”

  “Sky 1. Beemer is headed into Squaw Peak, excuse me, Piestewa Peak Rec Area.”

  “Tan, Sky 1 I got that.”

  Tan tapped the driver, “Know any short cuts?”

  “No. We’re on the fastest route now.”

  “Sounds like my Maps App,” Tank chimed in.

  “Sky 1, He’s stopping in the parking lot for the main trail. Lots of cars there, but few folks. He getting out. Going around the car. Stopped at the trunk. Grabbed something out of the trunk. Looks like a gun to me. He’s pulling someone out of the front seat. He has a gun on a woman and headed across the parking lot. He sees you. He’s pushing her toward a trail now and beginning up the hill.”

  “Tan – all units. Converge on Piestewa Peak trail. Wait. Sky 1, does that trail go anywhere except up the peak?”

  “Yes, sir. There’s branch trails all over the place.”

  “Okay. Sky 1. You spot folks at places the man could head for. I will follow up the main trail.”

  “10-4”

  Tan told the driver, “Pull up at the trail head. Abdul, you hold this position until help arrives.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Tan jumped out of the door, as did everyone else except the driver, and started running up the trail. Up ahead he could see a man walking behind a woman in tight pants and a bare midriff. He yelled, “Kenneth Assat, surrender now and we’ll get you a fair trial and a good deal.”

  The man turned, “Go away or I kill the woman.”

  As he turned back Matarese grabbed for the gun in his hand causing it to go off taking a chunk out of her right forearm. The gun fell to the rocks. With her left hand, she slugged the wannabe Colonel hard enough to send him to the ground. He pulled his small semi-auto out of his pocket again just as Tan checked the background and fired at the man.

  He missed.

  Assat turned uphill and ran.

  Tan sprinted up the mount
ain as fast as he had ever gone in the Corps. Taking chunks of the trail in powerful bounds knowing he would catch the man and take him down. He passed Matarese just as she was picking up the man’s dropped weapon, a heavy caliber semi-auto.

  As he passed her he said, “Stay down. He’s as good as caught.”

  She pulled off her top, exposing a small derringer on her bra between her shoulder blades, and wrapped it around the bleeding right arm. She gave him a thumbs up as he went by.

  The Corporal that wanted to be a Colonel turned to see Tan coming uphill at a speed that said to him he wasn’t going to make it to safety. He lifted the small semi-auto and aimed it at Tan.

  Tan tried to stop. Instead of stopping, he took a nose dive among the rocks.

  His gun went flying.

  All he could see as he lifted his head was a blur. There was a blue blur, a black blur, and a moving blur.

  The moving blur was the man coming downhill to finish him off.

  Tan tried to stand as the blur closed.

  The man lifted his little gun and took dead aim at him. “You have ruined all my plans and for that you will die.”

  Tan heard three shots, but nothing hit him.

  Matarese came up to him and put her good arm around him with the large caliber semi-auto still smoking in her fist. “You and me, Boss, downhill.”

  “Boys, come get us,” he said to the net.

  He fell, taking Matarese down with him.

  32

  Nogales, Mexico

  Major Rodrigo Rodriquez rolled to his left side and opened his eyes in the dark room to see the face of a man staring at him from two feet away. The man was smiling and familiar. The man held his pointer finger to his lips.