Hell on Earth

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “We have three women! In…in the house… we have three women!”

  Knowing Moslems the way we do, Lynn did not like that piece of information. She stared at her husband for a moment, trying to control the killer inside.

  “We’ll save the women, babe,” Clint said. “Tell us the address now, Tanishia, so we can check it out.”

  In another half hour, the information, including many of the identities of Somali Mafia members from Minnesota crime files, confirmed Tanishia’s details. Her description of the ranch house they were using as living space and gang headquarters, Jafar found belonged to a fictional front group rumored to be tied in with the Somali Mafia – Abo Incorporated. We waited in tense silence, knowing if this Somali Mafia branch received word their confederates met with justice, they could head for the hills, tying loose ends as they packed to go. Lynn calmed down.

  “Who are these women your gang has captive, Tanishia,” Lynn asked while shaking the red eyedropper bottle slowly in front of the terrified woman’s eyes.

  “Prostitutes taken to service our men and sell! I had nothing to do with it. They deal in moving young prostitutes from here.”

  “How and where do they move them?”

  Tanishia hesitated.

  “Go ahead… make me tear the info out of you,” Lynn warned.

  “No! It is not my doing. I do not know… all the details. They move the women to a place on the coast where they are transported to a ship… ah… The Amir. We have the three now because we cannot make contact with our Arab brothers.”

  For the first time in the interrogation, we were all smiling. We had the pleasure of making the halfway house and The Amir extinct.

  Jafar handed Lynn a detailed house plan for the Somali’s ranch headquarters. “The information and everything I’ve gathered is on your phones and iPads.”

  “Johnny and I can infiltrate the house,” Nick suggested. “Johnny knows some Somali and we both speak Arabic. I’m sure these clowns speak English too, but we can test the Ebi Zarin identity with the Somalis, explaining why they no longer have contacts on the coast. We can claim to be contacting them on behalf of Calas Mussa too. He’s the bigwig in the parent gang back in Somalia. If we get in, we may be able to locate the women. Then, it will be fate taking a hand.”

  “I think I can add to that plan,” Lynn said. “What if you hand me over to them as a gesture of solidarity? You can add to the explanation about the lost contacts on the coast, telling them you will soon have another path for drugs, weapons, and women. Wouldn’t it be a safe bet they would put me in with the others?”

  “I’ll ask Johnny. He and Gus were upset we didn’t include them on this,” Nick replied. “I told them it was a straight bait and switch. They’re expecting an update.”

  Nick’s phone buzzed. He spoke for a few moments and disconnected. “They picked up the car. I’ll have an estimate this afternoon. You know, of course, Cala will want to be given over with you, Lynn.”

  “She’d make it more believable,” Lynn replied. “I don’t want Kabong thinking we’re recruiting his wife on a lark. This will be dangerous.”

  “Johnny will be in trouble if he leaves her out of anything now. She’s flying helicopters, gunning down bad guys, and making fish food as Cleaner Cala. Johnny knows he can’t put that genie back in the bottle.”

  “She’d be welcome,” Lynn said. “We’ll have to be restrained some way or they’ll be suspicious. The restraints must be cut through so one twist will break them. Let’s put Tanishia to sleep. We’ll add her to the rest when we dispose of them. I’m thinking in this instance, we’ll need to have Laredo fly our fish food to the Bay.”

  “I’m thinking once we get the women out, let’s salt the earth. Their place is in the middle of nowhere,” I countered. “Also, we can make this plan safer if Ebi Zarin tells them they can call Mussa for corroboration of his story. We have his number from Aadan’s phone. Can you clone the phone, cut any chance of Mussa getting onto the line, and substitute one of us pretending to be Mussa, Achmed?”

  “I can do that,” Jafar said.

  “We’ll get into striking position on foot. We’ll use the minions and Payaso to do driving duties. Let’s prep for a night strike,” I said. “There will be a delay in them trying to get away. Without their coastal hideaways, they would have to rely on word from somewhere outside their small branch. We’ll take the calls instead.”

  “Tanishia said there are seven other Somali Mafia members there,” Nick said. “If Lynn and Cala get thrown in with the other women, we’ll be in a good position to save them. I’ll go explain this new gig in person. I need to touch base with my suspicious family. Tomorrow is the second book signing. Rachel will be gambling with Tina. I’ll bring Jean and Sonny with me tomorrow to the signing if anyone wants to go. Are we doing the strike tonight on the Somalis?”

  “If we can get it going on the small details and satellite coverage, let’s do this, Nick.”

  Nick nodded at me. “I’m in. How late?”

  “I think 9 pm would be good. It will seem more acceptable to the Somalis than arriving any earlier or later,” I replied.

  “Agreed. We really should send Lucas with Rachel and Tina. They need a nice, old affable guardian. He can watch them while they gamble before-”

  Nick streaked off for the stairs to get a jump on Lucas, who launched very fast, but not fast enough to keep from being corralled by Casey. “Easy, partner. You don’t want to mess with Nick. He’s ‘Army Strong’.”

  Lucas attempted to maintain tight lipped rage, but failed. After a short snorting surrender of amusement, Lucas waved the smiling Nick down from the staircase. “You prick! I should have scrubbed you from the Company list.”

  “Sorry, Pap, I didn’t know you were that sensitive. Do you want to get your coloring book out for a moment?”

  Oh boy… these two were a riot together. Nick must have studied Lucas very well during our stint with him as Company instructor. Everyone else enjoyed the interplay as much as me. We split then on our separate paths after Lynn gave Tanishia her get out of the dimension card and we put her in a body-bag. I volunteered to brief Denny, who was doing some family time.

  * * *

  Nick stood outside the suite door at the MGM Grand, motioning Gus to silence, listening before inserting his door key-card. Nick had gathered both Gus and Johnny to discuss the mission ahead. He heard Deke, Naji, and Tonto being shushed. “I hear yooooouuuuu…. kids.”

  Jean ripped open the door, allowing Nick to get a glimpse of the three canine friends, standing together with their heads cocked off to the side. Jean and Sonny wore ninja outfits as usual. “How can we be ninja quiet with these dogs? They all warn us of the approach, but reveal us to you the moment anyone pauses at the door. Without them, you wouldn’t have made us.”

  “You insisted on taking all the dogs, Viper,” I instructed my disrespectful underling.

  “I know. They’re so cute! Sonny and I have been putting them through their paces. Kong was helping, but between the three dogs cuddling the slacker, and him laughing constantly, he fell asleep. The dogs let us know the moment you approached the door. Unfortunately, they let us know when anyone walked past, so Mom, Cala, and Tina already went gambling, leaving us helpless.”

  “Yeah, right,” Gus replied. “I doubt anything outside of a special forces group could even bother you bunch.”

  Jean stepped aside. “Enter then. We were ready though.”

  Nick hugged Jean. “I know you were. I think it best to take our three canine pals for a walk into wilderness sand, if we can find it away from the main channels.”

  “Good call, Dad. Cracker and I will get into civilian clothing.” Jean motioned for Sonny to follow.

  Sonny didn’t follow. “My folks are up to something bad, Nick. They called me, asking where you were and how long it would be before you returned. I told them I didn’t know, but what do you think it meant? They’ve been meeting in their locked away space, ever s
ince you caught and punished them the last time. Could we please stop my parents before they do something else so bad, they flee the country?”

  “I’ll try. Until I find out what it is they did, I’m at a loss to suggest a follow-up. I’ll hack into their finances and emails. I planted a key recorder inside their computer system to monitor everywhere they go online, who they communicate with, and every keystroke they make. I installed the bugs when I gave them their haircuts. I haven’t checked on them yet. I will though. Thanks for the tip, Sonny.”

  “I hope you can find out what they’re doing before it gets serious.” Sonny jogged after Jean.

  “That makes two of us, kid.” Nick glanced at Gus. “We’ll have to have some coffee, brother, and investigate what those two whacky kids are doing now.”

  “I can understand why Rachel hates Clarice with a passion,” Gus replied. “If Sonny’s going to keep them alive, we’ll have to discover what it is they’re fomenting. One step at a time – we’ll learn what it is, take care of this Somali Mafia hostage gig, and then go home to fix the Phil and Clarice show.”

  “Don’t forget the book signing tomorrow.”

  “The talk you did at the last one was good, Nick. You should do more of them. The writers, even the ones who don’t care much for your methods, were enthralled.”

  Nick hesitated for a moment before shrugging. “It’s like this, Gus, I can’t teach storytelling. Too many of the writers want to be literary geniuses instead of storytellers. You heard the woman at the last one. They’re so involved in their heads with arts and crafts, they can’t write. You’re right though. I’ll give it a shot on a local level. Here come the kids. I’ll get the canine trio’s leashes.”

  “We need a walk and fresh air before dealing with the Phil and Clarice problem.”

  “Amen to that.” Nick went to the table in the room with the three leashes. All three of the canine trio danced around in ecstasy before lining into sitting positions at Nick’s snap of his fingers.”

  “Damn, Muerto, you missed your calling as a dog handler,” Gus said. “It’s cool outside, so let’s take them out on Kelch Drive. Down the way, there’s nothing but open sand and brush. The kids can run around with them in the open without any problem. You brought their Frisbees.”

  “Yep… good call, Gus.” Nick intercepted the raging child ninjas with the news. “Now remember, I paid a lot of money to be undisturbed about our canine trio. I’ll tip heavily if faced with a problem, but the best would be to get outside without any notice, okay?”

  “I heard Uncle Gus… we’re going to the sand… yes!” Jean pumped her fist. “Hurry up and get your Kong rig on, Dad.”

  Nick grinned with a sigh as he put on the child harness around his chest for holding Quinn. “Write the note for us, brother, while I go retrieve Kong from his slumber.”

  “On it. I texted Johnny and Cala. They know where we’re going if they want to join us on the walk excursion. Cala texted back they’ll catch up.”

  “Good. I hope they can meet us on the walk. That street section is vacant of humanity, perfect for our hard chargers here.”

  * * *

  Although cloudy and cool, the canine trio walk progressed perfectly with all business taken care of with waste bags and a completely vacant spot in the sand to throw Frisbees. Jean and Sonny could barely keep pace with the streaking dogs, racing after their Frisbee throws. Gus and Nick filled in when necessary, along with Nick keeping the treat bowl and water dish filled. Johnny and Cala joined them in great spirits, having gambled for the first time, without going overboard. They proudly professed only making their way through the slot machines with care.

  “I played roulette and won everything back we had lost by playing only red or black as you advised, Muerto,” Cala stated. “It feels good being out here in the fresh air.”

  “The kids and dogs have been rocking it ever since we got here,” Gus replied.

  A few minutes later, the inexplicable happened. Nick noticed the grouped bunch walking briskly toward them in sagging pants and hoodies first. “Good Lord… not the march of the penguins again. Gus… did you order a live version of ‘Happy Feet’?”

  Nick’s crew enjoyed the comparison while watching the approaching group. Nick gave out a quick two staccato whistle and the canine trio instantly streaked to his side. Jean and Sonny followed, noting immediately what had energized Nick’s call for a grouping.

  “Hold!” Nick barked at his canine companions. They instantly straightened in sitting positions. Nick watched the approach for only a moment before shrugging out of his harness with the still sleeping Quinn. He passed the baby to Jean. “You and Sonny protect Quinn. Stay quiet at our rear. Do not say anything.”

  “Acknowledged!” Jean took Quinn in her arms with Sonny at her side. They moved to the rear behind the at attention dogs.

  The youthful group of eight didn’t keep going. They began spreading out around Nick’s family and friends. He saw Cala smiling, mostly because of her youth and confidence. Nick, Gus, and Johnny waited with professional appraisal.

  “Hey, brother… what you Uncle Tommin’ around with these polar bears for?” The first one to speak moved on Gus as if he were part of their group.

  “I don’t know what you plan here, kid, but if you don’t back your gangbanger wannabe asses to the Strip you’ll get far more than you think.”

  The front runner and his gang popped out shrugs, finger points, and grabbing crotches, to show their amusement, along with the laughs and giggles.

  Then… Cala started laughing, with hand slapping applause. It froze the gang thug confronters. They straightened from their prancings with formidable stares, targeted to freeze the hearts of their victims.

  “Run along, little boys and girls,” Cala said. “You are in the presence of monsters. Only death and dismemberment lie ahead if you frolic around, doing your obscene parasite behavior.”

  “You talk big, bitch!” An overweight, jiggly woman began gesturing at Cala. “What you got?”

  Cala pushed away from the restraining Johnny. “I’m right here, big talker. Come get some.”

  Cala didn’t leave it at that. She rushed forward and leaped with a bitch slap to her confronter’s face. Her big mouthed target staggered around, eyeing Cala in a new light. “C’mon, baby. I got a lot more for you, sissy-girl.”

  Her accomplices didn’t come to her aid, lucky for them. “Move on, or get educated,” Gus stated, waving the group down the road. “You won’t get a second chance at it and there won’t be any takebacks. If you ‘Uncle Tom’ me again, asshole, I will show you what black on black violence is all about. You feel me, shithead?”

  Another mouth popped out of the group. “Why you frontin’ for the crackers, brother? We’re yo’ people, Martin.”

  Gus ran down the talker with extreme prejudice with only Deke issuing a murmur of a growl, wanting to join in on the side of his longtime friend. Gus slapped the speaker’s face side to side with Nick, Johnny, and Cala facing off his compatriots. The kid started to sob. Gus straightened reluctantly. He faced off with the rest.

  “Any of you other Ferguson morons want to throw hands? Step the hell up! These folks are my family. Speak ill of them again… or of me… and we let the dogs loose. Deke!”

  Deke ran to Gus’s side with a snarl worthy of freezing the heart of any sane human being. He paced behind Gus, hackles up and slavering fangs in view.

  “Would you like Deke to escort you all back the way you came, or do you want to get out of our sight without a demo?”

  The rearmost of the bunch marched off immediately. The rest, impressed by Deke, backed away slowly until they could run after their companions. Gus took a moment before speaking, his body telegraphing the inner rage. “Lord God in heaven! I wanted to rip that little parasite’s throat out!”

  “We have a mission later, Gus,” Nick told him. “You and Cala made that bunch hesitate forever before approaching what they think are victims. Talk about stupidit
y. What dummies would ever approach a group playing catch with Deke, Tonto, and Naji?”

  Nick immediately produced special treats for all three dogs. They energetically inhaled the food rewards given to them. Nick signaled the end to hostilities by rapid firing all Frisbees one after another. He took Quinn from Jean. “Well done, kids. You held position, protected Quinn, and didn’t interrupt. Excellent.”

  Jean gulped in a deep breath. “You would have shot them all in the head before they could move. I know what you mean, Dad. Sonny and I were ready. Except for the great beat-down, we all did good. Cala is more like Lynn every day.”

  Nick smiled. He situated Quinn in his chest mounted carrying holder. “Agreed. On your feet. You both know the canine trio will need more throws to bring them down from their aggressive posture during this interlude.”

  “On it, Dad.” Jean passed the giggling Quinn over to Nick while on the way to the Frisbees. In moments, all out throwing and catching contests were under way.

  “I have heard we will be on mission tonight, my friend,” Johnny said.

  “It’s complicated. Hostages and a need for a way in, while protecting the people being held,” Nick replied.

  “You mean Lynn and Cala getting next to the hostages, while you and I do the Zarin identity hustle,” Johnny said. “It is a good plan… dangerous… but good.”

  “It is a wonderful plan,” Cala exclaimed. “Lynn and I will secure the hostages and kill everyone else.”

  “There speaks my monster in training,” Johnny said. “You and I must see this plan work at the door, my friend. Otherwise, war breaks loose immediately with our hostages getting murdered.”

  “Small doubt about that, Johnny,” Nick admitted. “We don’t write off people. We sometimes put them into added danger, but we don’t sacrifice them on a lark. This plan has holes but it appears to be the only one we’ve got. If something goes wrong or seems out of kilter, follow my lead.”

  “Always, Muerto. I cannot stop my Cala from this dangerous path. She is immersed in it. I confess it is good to have her with me in all things.”