Hard Case: Boxed Set Books 1,2 & 3 (John Harding Books)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Please don’t scare them off,” Lora said, holding her hands clasped as if in prayer. “I like Lynn, and we need an investigator of the caliber you say Clint is desperately. Jafar doesn’t have that instinctive sixth sense for it yet. He’s more nuts and bolts like I am.”

  “And me,” I admitted. “I’m decent at making leaps in logic, but compared to Clint, I’m a novice. If Jafar works with Clint like I’m hoping for, the kid will be Clint in a few years, at least in the investigative part. Nobody can be Clint in combat.”

  Lora moved up against me. “Not even you?”

  “I’m a hammer. Clint is a weapon of mass destruction. Denny doesn’t mess with him much. He kind of nurses him in the direction he wants him to go. Denny knows if he crosses a line with Clint, he could wake up in the middle of the night with a grenade in his mouth - and Clint holding the pin in one hand while waving goodbye with the other.”

  “Have you any ideas on places they’d like to live?”

  “Yep, I lined up a place already in Lafayette. It’s on an acre of land, and the house is set back a ways from the road with tree covered front, all of it fenced in with a security gate. I can’t wait to show it to him.”

  “I love your little place here, and I really like all our neighbors. I know we could have a bigger place, but I’m not sure if I want one.”

  “Let me know if you change your mind. You already know me well enough to understand I’d stay here forever. We can visit anywhere we want and stay as long as we want. There’s always been a good feeling for me when I come home to this place, but if you ever get the urge, all you have to do is say something.”

  “Alice loves your house too. It’s goofy, but she even likes the school here more than the one she went to in San Leandro.”

  I watched Della negotiating with Alice, who of course wanted to keep the twins. She was tired of us adults. Della gave in and Alice took her peeps inside past Lora and I. The peeps made a wide detour around me as is understandable when passing a full sized troll. I looked over Lora’s shoulder. She had suddenly become engrossed in one of her iPad pages. I started laughing. It was a very nice shot of Clint standing in a cap and driver’s uniform, glowering with arms folded. In front of him was Montoya posing in the persona she had been busy baiting killers with – a sultry half lidded annoyed look with one hand on her hip. The caption said they were checking out of the hotel and would check in with us when they crossed the bridge.

  “Text them our address, and tell them to come over,” I told Lora. “That’ll save me having to interact with the Spawn of Satan. Every call I make to the Spawn goes on the mental tab he keeps on me. We don’t need his permission to go after Cinnie. Clint’s developing a sense of humor. He would never have sent out something like that to anyone before Lynn.”

  Lora sighed. “Another killer tamed.”

  “Actually, we just pick our shots before we reestablish control.”

  “Very funny. I just sent Clint the file on Cinnie that we have on record with a note we have a tip she’s in the area.”

  “Way to take it easy on him. What happened to the please don’t chase him away?” I grinned at Lora’s sour expression. “Good job. Crack that whip and get those two in line.”

  “Maybe I need to crack the whip on you, DL.”

  I brushed a hand down over her arm in a stroke meant to glaze her eyes over, combined with the ‘I want to rip your clothes off and have my way look’ I gazed at her from my troll face with. It worked in spite of my appearance, in spite of having kids in the house, and in spite of sending a work file to a known killer. Our lips met in a sensuous exploration which had both of us gasping in a manner unbefitting our station as parents and kid watchers.

  Lora pulled away. “God, John… don’t. You’re driving me nuts.”

  Yes! The Dark Lord’s mission is complete.

  * * *

  Clint’s iPhone went into his personal ringtone of ‘Bad to the Bone’ in the middle of an intense love making session after doing the funny photo shoot for Harding. Lynn cried out, shuddering and gripping Clint with all her might. They remained locked together, both unable and unwilling to break the moment. Lynn giggled, tears starting from her eyes, beginning to trail down her cheeks. Dostiene could not stop. The utter abandon Lynn provoked in him surfaced and could not be shut off. More time passed before either of them could escape the moment. Lynn rolled away from atop Clint, her body sweating and vibrating with release.

  “May…maybe we should just stay here another day.”

  Clint chuckled, stuffing his hands behind his head. “Let me see what the Dark Lord or his minion, Lora, texted us. You and I are not meant for downtime. We writhe passionately and collect bliss in moments between what we are, and what we do.”

  Lynn popped up on top of him for a moment to kiss Clint’s nose. “Good! I’m glad you said that.”

  Much to Clint’s amusement, Lynn leaped from the bed to retrieve the message. He watched her with grinning appreciation as her expression turned from interest to excitement. By the time she turned toward him, his physical appreciation had become evident. Montoya covered herself provocatively with her hands.

  “Don’t even think about it. Get your ass up, and let’s get to the other side of the Bay. We have a new mission.”

  “Apparently, enjoy the moment is not part of your make-up either.” Clint shifted to the side of the bed, enjoying the disarray Lynn’s presence in his life evoked in him. He held out his hand. “Let me see what the Dark Lord has in store for us.”

  Lynn streaked to his side, one hand holding him, and one hand holding up his iPhone for Clint to see. “It’s a murderer. John needs your magic, Obi-wan. I know the Dark Lord has me in mind for the apprehension, so get on it, and don’t stop until you have this abomination in our sights.”

  It was many moments before Clint could speak. “You…you’re something else, lady. Okay… okay… give it to me.”

  Dostiene took the iPhone from Lynn. He sped read through the message and attached file. In moments, he was up pulling his clothes on. “This is right up my alley, babe. It gives me a chance to enlighten you on another facet of our nonviolent resources.”

  In moments, Clint had tied in his satellite hookup with the information provided in Lora’s message. “We know facts, babe. Here is a list of Cinnie’s schoolmates, and here is a list of her brushes with the law back to first grade.”

  Lynn gasped in comedic form. “You are so out of line! Keep going.”

  “We don’t want to focus on Cinnie just yet. Let’s see what kind of calls her friends and cohorts have received.” Clint entered the data parameters into the query screen he had created. In moments it reduced the number of calls originating from a source shared to three, and then to one. “Our Cinnie is using a burn phone, but that’s no problem, because thanks to her calls I can triangulate her whereabouts. See?”

  Lynn backed away within sight of Clint gesturing at him in mock horror. “You are scary good. Harding should be revoking your group invitation… you monster!”

  Montoya dropped her hands in resignation, huddling up next to Dostiene. “Oh… never mind. I forgot. I’m a monster too. Where’s the real monster at?”

  “It looks like she’s in East Oakland at a friend’s place that was on her call list. I hate to say it, but these deadbeats seldom change. If one of them gains notoriety, and reaches out, they can’t resist. No matter how many years go by, they flock to the gig like moths to a flame. Cinnie thinks she has a crew already, but what she really has is an arrow pointing right at her head.”

  Lynn straddled Dostiene, pushing him back on the bed where he had been sitting with his satellite laptop, while carefully shifting the device to the side. “One for the road, cowboy, and then… oh… oh shit!”

  * * *

  I knew who it was. I peeked. Then, I opened the door in full Dark Lord form. “Hello. You have arrived at the Dark Lord’s abode. How may I be of service?”

  Alice, the little minx, p
opped out from behind my leg. “Hi Lynn. Don’t mind DL. C’mon in.” She reached out and took Lynn’s hand to pull her inside while gesturing at Tonto, who didn’t hesitate for a moment.

  “The Dark Lord gets no respect here!” I let my shoulders droop in defeat while gesturing the laughing Dostiene inside. “Never mind. C’mon in, Clint. Show me how many ways you’ve already made me look stupid in front of my wife with the Noonan file.”

  Clint pointed at me with distaste. “You don’t look so good, brother. I thought you won the fight.”

  “Oh… you are so funny.” I tilted my face up to the light. “I think it’s the lighting that calls attention to the very slight imperfections from my recent struggle.”

  Clint moved past me, patting my shoulder, while looking at the watch on his other wrist. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, brother. I’ve been here for over two minutes, and you have not offered me a beer. Is this a new form of polite hosting I’m unaware of?”

  “You know of course, this means war.”

  Clint chuckled. “Yeah, but does it mean a beer, or do I have to go down to the corner store?”

  “Follow me.” I know when I’m in the company of a better prick, but I can’t help myself. “I’ve never mentioned the time I saved your life, my friend. It was an incredible experience. Perhaps you recall the time?”

  Clint waved me off, taking the beer I handed him from the refrigerator. “Yeah… but what have you done for me lately?”

  Then I slammed his disrespectful ass. I handed him a set of keys. “I bought you a house. It was perfect for you. Everything’s on in there, so get directions and move in. I’d give you directions, but you’ve hurt my feelings so you can just find it on your own.”

  Clint held up the keys while laughing his head off. “You…you’re the best! I was concerned. I figured you’d make us bed down with you. Did you make sure we have some furnishings? What about dishes, and accoutrements? TV? Fresh soap? Does-”

  “Please shut up! Please? I made sure you have furnishings, you ungrateful-”

  “Ungrateful?!” Clint cut me off in mid sarcastic diatribe. “You saved my life. In many cultures around the world that means you’re responsible for me from then on. In other words, I hope you plan on coming around to garden every other week.”

  “Did you see the fight? The ‘Slayer’ was a smartass too.”

  Clint gripped his chin in thinking mode. “I think so. That was the live action demo on how to block a left jab every two seconds with your right eye. Very informative. Are you thinking of making a workout video?”

  “No, I’m thinking about a live action demonstration.”

  “I’ll call Lynn. She loves doing that stuff.”

  “Don’t even think about it. She’s as good with a butterfly knife as I am. I have a family now. Show some respect.”

  Clint shook his head, hand rubbing the back of his neck. “You poor guy. Someone cut out your stones, and you didn’t even get to wave goodbye. Is that what all this UFC shit is… trying to grow back a pair?”

  Okay, that cracked me up. I held up my hands. “I’m done. Let’s go on to my next humiliation. How did you do with the Noonan file?”

  “Pretty fair. We can go pick her up tomorrow. Lynn wants a piece.”

  My mouth may have hung open for a moment, but I quickly covered it, pretending an unexpected cough. “If you’ve found Cinnie, I’ll let Lynn have it anyway she wants. I figured to take Noonan down hard with the full crew. She’s up for only one killing, but I have a feeling Cinnie has a few bodies buried in places no one will ever find.”

  “I saw that part in Noonan’s file about being questioned in relation to three women who worked for her in the past disappearing under mysterious circumstances. We’ll find out what happened to them. Cinnie’s staying with an old classmate she dealt drugs with in high school. She definitely has delusions of getting her old band back together. The classmate’s name is Adrian Stenson. The address is on Morgan Street, only about a mile from here. I figure we can hit it around four in the morning, and catch them both in a drug and alcohol stupor. Lynn will tidy up Cinnie while you and I entertain anyone else that might be there.”

  Damn. I’m starting to feel insecure. “Do you want to stay over tonight since it’s close to me?”

  “Are you kidding? I’m taking Lynn over to our new house. We’ll turn in early and be back over to your place at four. I want to make sure Tonto has adequate space at our new residence. Otherwise, I may have to file a complaint.”

  I could never get more than two words out of this guy in the past. Now, he’s a standup comedian. I figure this has to be Lynn’s handiwork. I’m not sure how one psycho turns another into a mouthy smartass, but she’s done it. I like him better this way. Who knew? “I believe he will find his space to be completely satisfactory. I like your plan, but I’ll bring in one more for the party as a driver and lookout, who can monitor the police band while we go in.”

  “Jafar?”

  “Yep. The kid doesn’t panic, and he never screws up the tech stuff.”

  “Sounds good. Want me to ask Lora if you can come out and play tomorrow morning? I don’t want you to get grounded.”

  “Did I ever show you the knife trick where I make the blade disappear?”

  Clint laughed. “No, but Lynn showed it to me the other night in Las Vegas. The guy she was showing it to me on didn’t like the trick at all.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  Chapter Sixteen: Mean Girl and War in Oakland

  Cinnie Noonan groaned, her face stinging from the open hand slaps she was enduring. Then she noticed her hands and feet were restrained with plastic ties, and fastened together uncomfortably at her back. Her head throbbed already from the Tequila she had gotten wasted on the night before. She began protesting, trying to twist away from the slaps. They stopped. Cinnie squinted up in the darkness at the face now hovering over her.

  “What the fuck… what the hell do you want!?”

  “Hi girlfriend. I’m glad you asked. There’s a reward for your ass from the girl’s parents. You know… the girl you shot through the head in Seattle. We’re going to take you back to Seattle for trial, or depending on what you tell us about the other three girls you murdered, torture and kill you here.”

  “You don’t scare me, bitch! You think you’re a mean girl, huh? Mean girls piss their panties when they see me!”

  The woman talking to her giggled. “You are so cute!”

  Cinnie watched the woman turn on the nightstand lamp she was facing. Then she saw a dark colored bottle with an eyedropper held where she could see it. Noonan began to sweat. She felt the t-shirt she was wearing pulled up from her waist. The woman pinched off her nose. When she opened her mouth to breathe, a small rubber ball was stuffed in her mouth, and her nose released. Lastly the woman sealed her mouth with a piece of duct tape.

  “There we go,” Cinnie’s captor announced. “My little demo may be a bit painful. We don’t want to wake the neighbors. This bottle has diluted sulfuric acid in it. I’m going to put just a tiny drop inside your ear. You’re not going to like that, honey, but it’s to get you in a more helpful mood.”

  Cinnie thrashed around, trying to scream, but the only sound she managed came out as a muffled high pitched whine. She tried to look up at the woman while shaking her head in a violent but silent pantomime rhythm of no. Noonan felt a knee pressing onto her side, and a hand shoving the right side of her face into the bed mattress. Then Cinnie felt a pain so excruciating, she passed out. Open hand slaps brought her around to consciousness again. She went back to the muffled scream as the whole side of her head felt like it was on fire. The woman’s hand cupped her chin.

  “C’mon now, mean girl. That was just an itsy bitsy drop. Think about what it’ll be like when I start on your eyes. Tell you what. I’ll give you one chance to be helpful right now. What do you think, mean girl.”

  Cinnie moaned, moving her head again violently only in an affirmative direction.
>
  “That’s my little mean girl. My name’s Lynn, by the way. You’re going to be my very helpful friend the moment I take out your gag, or I’m going to show you my mean girl. You don’t want to see my mean girl, honey.”

  Noonan felt the duct tape taken off carefully, and the ball plucked gently from her mouth. She gagged for a moment. “My…my head… it-”

  “Uh oh!” Lynn grabbed Noonan’s chin again. “Misunderstanding here. You think I care. I don’t. When I ask you something, you answer yes Ma’am, no Ma’am. I’ll have my video recorder on. Best get talkin’, sweetie, or we’ll have to give you another bite of rubber ball. I want you to start out with your full name real official and serious. Then I want you to say you know all your rights, but you need to confess your crimes, and where you’ve put the bodies. I’m going to cut the tie holding your feet and hands together. Once I get you sitting up straight on the bed, I’ll turn on my camera and give you the signal. You won’t need any reminders to behave, will you?”

  Noonan looked away from Lynn, because she saw no weakness and no mercy. “No… I mean, no Ma’am.”

  Lynn pinched her cheek playfully. “That’s my good little mean girl.”

  * * *

  I watched Clint chuckling as he listened in on the interrogation, shaking his head. I had to take my earpiece out because Lynn was cracking me up too. My job involved being the glowering watchdog for Adrian and her gangbanger boyfriend, Putz or Struts or something like that. We had slipped in with no trouble at all. As Clint suspected, our Cinnie and her friends got wasted. Clint and I took care of the peripherals while Lynn locked herself in with Noonan. We didn’t want to secure these two, because although we had the right to go after Cinnie as bond agents, I didn’t want to rough up these two. I had already run their names through Jafar. They were clean, except for the usual drug and petty crap.

  “What’s your bitch doin’ in there, man?”

  Uh oh. I saw Clint tense, but then he relaxed. He’s a pro. We don’t let hurtful words throw us off our game. Putz opened his mouth again, and I grabbed his nose. Believe me. When I grab your nose, you don’t move. Two things become apparent. One, you ain’t movin’. Two, you’ll do anything so I won’t grab it again, because I make sure it feels like I’m going to rip it off and hand it to you. I leaned down.