The TANNER Series - Books 1-3 (Tanner Box Set)

by Remington Kane

  Cross lowered his window and called to him.

  “Yo, Buddy, you live here?”

  Buddy turned and stared at Cross blankly, but then recognition dawned on his face, was accompanied by a wide smile, and Buddy walked over to the limo and peeked in.

  “Harvey? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m working. My employer is dating your neighbor.”

  Buddy laughed at that.

  “Dating? You mean she’s screwing him for favors. The wife and I always wondered how she afforded to rent that house.”

  Harvey waved a hand in an effort to disperse Buddy’s breath.

  “I see you closed down the bar.”

  “Yeah and the wife is gonna give me shit.”

  Harvey pointed past Buddy, to a woman standing in the doorway of the home where he had parked the vintage Caddy. The woman had her hair up in red curlers and wore a floral-print robe. She was looking at the car with a quizzical expression.

  “Is that your wife?” Harvey said.

  Buddy turned to look, then, swiveled back towards Harvey with a silenced gun in his hand, and when he spoke, his voice had a German accent.

  “I’ve never seen that cow before in my life.”

  Buddy, who was actually Lars Gruber, shot Harvey and his partner Mattson a combined eight times, killing both men. The slaughter made surprisingly little noise, and the woman on the porch called to him, oblivious to what had just happened.

  “Is this your car?”

  It wasn’t his car, but belonged to an eighty-year-old widower who was in the hospital. Gruber had taken the car from the man’s garage and used it while he played the part of Buddy.

  Gruber nodded to the woman while smiling, walked over, and shot her in the face. She fell backwards into her home, as a cat whizzed by her and ran off into the night.

  Gruber winced, that last shot made a bit of sound as the baffles within the silencer, which was a military grade sound suppressor, eroded from the heat of use, as he had employed it on his last three jobs.

  While screwing a new silencer onto the gun, Gruber looked around to see if anyone was watching. No one was and he marched across the street, where he carried out his assignment.

  The victim’s wife would be approached shortly after the funeral and sell her late husband’s company to a Conglomerate representative, but in the meantime, Gruber was headed to New York, his target, a man named Tanner.

  CHAPTER 41 - Right back at ya

  Rafe limped off the elevator and walked over to his car in the hotel’s parking garage. Despite the fact that he was looking for him, he didn’t spot Tanner until he was nearly at the car.

  The garage was underground and Rafe’s car was near the ramp that led up to the street, where outside, the night was fading away to dawn.

  “Are you making fun of my limp or do you have one of your own now?”

  “I underestimated a senior citizen, but let’s talk in the car.”

  Rafe climbed behind the wheel while Tanner sat in the passenger seat. Tanner had dressed his wound and changed clothes. He was wearing jeans with a gray hoodie and running shoes.

  “I watched the news before I left my room, it seems like the Giacconi Crime Family is in a war, the only thing is, no one seems to know for certain who they’re fighting with, but for now, it’s being blamed on the Russian mob.”

  “The reporters are behind the times, the Giacconi’s and the Russians made peace years ago.”

  “A blog called Street View mentioned you by name yesterday, but the TV news anchors are saying that one man couldn’t cause this much grief on the Giacconi Family. They also said that you were an urban myth, what’s that about?”

  “I’m not the first assassin to go by the name Tanner; it was passed down to me, and they’re right when they say I couldn’t have done it alone, because you helped me with Pullo’s men.”

  “But that chaos last night, was that all you?”

  “It was, and I’m not through yet.”

  “Johnny Rossetti?”

  “Johnny Rossetti, or would you like the honor?”

  Rafe smiled.

  “My brother came out of his coma, so I’ve lost the fire in my belly, but I’ll stay here for another day, and if you need help, just say the word.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that. I may need you for a diversion soon, likely tonight.”

  “I’m in; I still owe them for my brother.”

  Tanner opened his door to get out.

  “Take care of that leg.”

  “Right back at ya,” Rafe said, and Tanner limped up the ramp and was gone.

  ***

  Tim and Madison stopped for breakfast after leaving MegaZenith, and Madison told Tim about her last conversation with Reese.

  “When I told him I was quitting he asked for my phone number, can you believe that?”

  “I don’t blame him for trying.”

  Madison reached over and took Tim’s hand.

  “What are you doing today?”

  “First, I’ll get some sleep, but I’m meeting Tanner later.”

  “Come back to my place. You can help me pack.”

  “Pack? Where are you going?”

  Madison leaned across the table and gave Tim a long kiss.

  “I go where you go, or haven’t you noticed that I have a thing for you?”

  “You’ll really come with me? You know, where I’m going, it’s far from the city. Hell, it’s far from everything.”

  “I don’t care. There’s nothing holding me here anymore.”

  They finished their meal and made their way to Madison’s apartment downtown, where they stood outside her doorway, kissing.

  When they separated, Madison fished out her keys, and just as she opened the door, there came the sound of pounding footsteps.

  Tim had just enough time to see that it was Carl Reese rushing towards them, before Reese collided with him and Madison, shoving them both inside and onto the floor.

  Madison opened her mouth to scream and Reese pointed a gun at her in warning, before slamming the door shut with his foot.

  Reese smiled at the couple.

  “Now, it’s time I heard the truth. Start talking.”

  CHAPTER 42 - What’s good for the goose...

  Tim helped Madison off the floor and then stood before her in an attempt to shield her from Carl Reese’s gun.

  Madison’s apartment was modern, but small, and began with a living room, which was separated from a tiny kitchen by a waist high glass block wall. There was a sofa in front of the wall, and Reese gestured with the gun for Tim and Madison to sit on it.

  Once they settled before him with their hands clasped together, Reese took a few steps to his right and gazed down the short hallway, where he glimpsed a view of Madison’s bedroom.

  He sent her a wink.

  “You and I will explore that room later, but right now I want what you stole out of MegaZenith’s computers.”

  Tim opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Reese raised a finger to his own lips.

  “Don’t give me any lies, Timmy boy, just give me what I came for.”

  Tim released Madison’s hand and reached into his side pocket. When his hand came out, it was holding a flash drive.

  Reese ripped it from his hand and grinned.

  “I don’t know what’s on here, but I would bet it’ll make me rich.”

  “It’s useless without the encryption key,” Tim said.

  “I doubt that. I’d also be willing to bet that MegaZenith’s competitors will know how to crack the encryption.”

  “You got what you wanted, now just leave us alone,” Madison said, and it broke Tim’s heart to hear the fear in her voice.

  Reese smiled a big happy grin as he sat in a loveseat across from the sofa, which was separated by a coffee table.

  “Now that we got our business out of the way, let’s say we have fun. Drew, what do you have to drink here?”

  “What?”

 
“Refreshments, do you have any liquor?”

  “No, just milk and soda,”

  “Soda will do, be a good girl and pour three glasses for us, and if you come back in here with a knife in your hand I’ll kneecap little Timmy, you get me?”

  Madison nodded as tears glistened in her eyes. She went into the kitchen, poured cola into three glasses and placed them on the glass block wall, which had a Formica counter atop it.

  “Bring me my glass,” Reese said.

  Madison handed him one of the glasses and Reese smiled at her while his eyes roamed over her body.

  “God, you are one hot little piece of ass, aren’t you? Tell me Timmy, does she give good head? Oh never mind, I’ll find out soon enough.”

  Madison backed away and Reese laughed again.

  “Bring in those other drinks and sit them on the coffee table in front of me.”

  Madison went back into the kitchen and Reese drank his soda, as he swallowed the last of it, he leaned his head back, but his eyes never left Tim.

  When the other two glasses were placed before him, he took out a baggie that held chunky white powder.

  “I’ve got a surprise, kiddies, something to spruce up your drinks.”

  “Cocaine?” Tim asked.

  Madison shook her head.

  “No, that’s Rohypnol, ground up Rohypnol.”

  Tim stared at her in shock. Reese was about to do to them the very thing that they had once planned for him.

  Reese laughed.

  “Send that girl to the head of the class, yes sweet thing, these are roofies, and it’s going to make you nice and friendly.”

  “I won’t drink it,” Madison said, as Reese divided the contents of the bag between the two glasses of soda.

  Reese nodded.

  “I thought you’d say that.”

  He stood, walked around the coffee table and kicked Tim hard in the face, twice, splitting his bottom lip open.

  Madison let out a shriek as Tim slid down the sofa, looking dazed.

  “Drink bitch! Drink or I’ll keep kicking him until there’s nothing left.”

  Madison picked up a glass, but had to calm herself before she could swallow.

  “All of it,” Reese said. “And you too, Timmy. It’ll keep you nice and docile while Drew and I get to know each other.”

  Tim drank, but had to tilt his head sideways to keep it in his mouth, which seemed numbed and painful at the same time. He didn’t taste the Rohypnol, but he did taste his own blood.

  After they both drank, Reese sat back down and waited for the drug to take effect.

  Madison grabbed a wad of tissues from a box on the coffee table and tended to Tim’s busted lip, while standing in front of him. As she dabbed at the blood with one hand, she reached into her bra and removed an empty foil packet.

  She whispered to Tim.

  “I drugged him too.”

  When Madison sat back beside him, Tim stared across at a grinning Carl Reese and wondered which of them would pass out first.

  CHAPTER 43 - Ewww, that’s nasty

  With Tanner rampaging throughout the city, Frank Richards decided to leave his Park Avenue apartment and retreat to his 35-acre estate, which was located in the quaint hamlet of Katonah, New York, situated on the bank of the Cross River Reservoir.

  He arrived there with ten highly trained bodyguards and was confident that if Tanner made an appearance, the estate’s security system would give them ample time to prepare. The home also had a panic room in the basement, and as a last resort, Richards could cower there until Tanner was killed or left the property.

  Al Trent entered the massive living room and stopped short when he saw the painting hanging over the fireplace. It was much like the one Richards displayed at his Park Avenue apartment, but larger, giving it greater detail.

  It was a portrait of Richards’ late mother.

  “Madison really does resemble your mother, sir,”

  “That she does, but let’s not speak of her. She’s made her decision and she’s no longer a part of my life.”

  “That saddens me. I had harbored a desire that she and I might one day wed.”

  “I knew you were attracted to her, but I didn’t know you felt that strongly about her.”

  “She’s a lovely girl, but it was more a desire to be a part of your family, since you’ve always been sort of a father to me.”

  Richards smirked.

  “Careful Al, you’re venturing into boot-licking territory.”

  Four guards remained outside to patrol the grounds, while the six remaining guards inside stood about. They were close, but not close enough to hear the conversation,

  Richards settled himself behind an ornate desk with spindly legs, and placed his briefcase atop it.

  “I understand that Gruber finished his assignment in California. When can we expect him here?”

  “His flight will be arriving soon and he says that he already has an idea of how to kill Tanner.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “He didn’t go into detail, but I believe he’ll be using Johnny Rossetti as bait.”

  “When you speak to him, assure him that Johnny would be an acceptable loss.”

  Trent smiled.

  “I will do that with pleasure, sir.”

  “Has there been any sign of Tanner since he dispatched those men in the Bowery?”

  “No sir, but we expect more trouble tonight.”

  “Lars Gruber will handle Tanner. Tanner’s gifted at what he does, I’ll give him that, but Gruber is far and away his better.”

  “He’s certainly well compensated. I understand he asked for a quarter of a million dollars?”

  “He did and I agreed to pay it. This nonsense has gone on long enough.”

  Trent gazed up at the portrait again.

  “May I take a tour of the house, sir? I’ll show myself around if you don’t mind.”

  “That’s fine, but don’t be too long. Remember, you have to meet Gruber in the city. And while you’re doing that, I’ll be here working. Despite everything going on, I still have a corporation to run.”

  “Yes sir, I won’t be long.”

  Trent went up the staircase. There were no servants in the home, as Richards had given them the next few days off. If Tanner did show, Richards didn’t need witnesses around to view his capture and murder.

  After opening three doors, Trent found the room he’d been looking for, Madison’s bedroom. 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.

  CHAPTER 44 - One can only hope

  LaGuardia Airport, Queens, New York

  Lars Gruber tossed his carry-on bag to Johnny Rossetti’s driver, Mario, and then cast a critical eye towards 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.

  CHAPTER 45 - 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 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.