Bloody Shadows

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Admitting you have a problem is the first-“

  “Don’t even go there, John! How can you, a Muslim, speak to me about liquor intake? You’re not even allowed to have the fermentation of grapes or wheat pass your lips. You drink with these guys all the time, you sinner!”

  “You stole that line from ‘The Thirteenth Warrior’! Besides, Islam is a religion much like the Christian and Jewish religions, and every other religion on earth. We are hypocrites – the only difference being, we pretend to be Godly while massacring innocent people for doing the same thing. I work to cleanse the many sins I am guilty of from my past. To do so, I must also commune with the Jack Daniels. What other lines do you know from a movie you profess to hate vehemently, Ms. Hypocrite?”

  Rachel smiled and gripped John’s arm. “It’s a small thing, little brother.”

  John sat down dejectedly, hands over his face. “I have been out quoted by an unbeliever, using my favorite line from my favorite movie. This humiliation will not go unanswered!”

  Rachel poured him another Jack Daniels. “We Christians are good sports. Think of all the times Christians walked into Roman arenas as happy meals. Seek the council of your friend Jack here. Are you goofy enough to agree to another undercover assignment, John?”

  John shrugged, sipping his Jack Daniels with pleasure. “I am very good at it. I believe it is time for that wayward soul, Ebi Zarin to make an appearance. These Isis jackals I have seen on the news butchering everyone will meet the El Kabong. I will lead them to their promised land. Unfortunately for them, it will be El Muerto and Payaso waiting for them instead of Allah.”

  “I think it’s the Jack talkin’, Muerto,” Rachel said, patting John on the shoulder.

  “I don’t think so.” Nick peered into John’s eyes with a smile. “He’s fine. Besides, he can take all night to decide.”

  “What’s this about anyway?”

  “I have to get in touch with Cassie about arranging the book signing in Olympia, Washington, like I mentioned. There’s a suspected Isis compound near there. Paul would like us to check it out. Would you, Tina, Jean, and Deke like to accompany us?”

  “I’ve never been in that part of the country. I’ll talk it over with my bestie now that it’s a definite future endeavor, and see how she feels about it. I know Jean will want to go. Deke goes where the beer is. When you say check on an Isis compound, you don’t really mean check on it.”

  “Paul said to check it out,” Nick countered. “He’s the boss now. You know me and orders.”

  “I do indeed. I can’t think of one you ever obeyed,” Rachel fired the parting shot as she walked through the doorway.

  “That’s unfair,” Nick called out as Rachel left to the amusement of Payaso and Kabong.

  “Actually, I’m trying to remember an order you ever obeyed myself,” Gus said. “The only relationship with Paul as the boss is you accepting a job if you actually want to do it anyway. Then, instead of completing the job as directed, you dress in a comic book character costume, kill everyone, and take movies. How am I doing, John?”

  “Do not seek my support in this disrespect of El Muerto, Infidel,” John replied, shunning Gus. “Mr. Gilbrech outlines a mission in vague terms, allowing Muerto to fine tune it into a result acceptable to everyone.”

  “Thanks, John.”

  Gus chuckled. “John’s only saying that because he starred in the last movie as El Kabong, you suck-up.”

  “Yes… and what is your point? You are jealous, Payaso. There are already over two million hits on my El Kabong clip. I am more famous than a cat video.”

  Dan listened contentedly to the familiar bantering. When they paused, he stood. “I’m going to walk home gentlemen. I’ll have my cell on if you need me for anything before tomorrow morning. We’re still on for tomorrow morning at the beach, right?”

  “Yep. Is it too early for you?”

  “Nope. I don’t sleep much anymore, except in snatches. I had a good workout today, so maybe I’ll be able to string a few hours together. Thanks for the invite to Washington, Nick.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Nick said. On the way, Nick addressed a growing concern. “Tonight was a little weird because of who we were hunting. I don’t want you going to Washington with us to commit suicide. I didn’t like the way you took on the driver, Dan.”

  “Would it be so bad to go out with my boots on, Nick?”

  “Not at all,” Nick replied, pausing to look Dan in the eyes. “I don’t want you doing it with us, my friend. You going out in style might be very appealing to you; but with us, it could endanger our mission, or get one of us comic book characters killed. That’s not to mention the repercussions put on your kids, and the way we would have to handle your death in the field. I can use you on this, but only as an asset, and not an expendable one. I want your word on it. In return, I won’t ever say anything stupid like time heals all.”

  Nick watched Dan smile before thinking it through, considering options, including lying. Dan’s mouth tightened. He nodded, and held out his hand. Nick shook it.

  “You have my word,” Dan said. “No suicide during comic book capers. That doesn’t mean I’ll let one of you youngsters take a bullet for me. If you want that guarantee, you can go fuck yourself, Muerto.”

  “Understood. You’re in. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You will indeed, Nick. Sorry about tonight.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We needed to clear the air, so we’re on the same page.”

  Nick hit the security remote pause as he watched Dan trudge down the stairs. He detoured to the entertainment room to wave goodbye before leaving. Nick reset the security system after Dan closed the door, pondering his own future, and thinking he would have tried the same thing Dan did. He couldn’t endanger Gus and John, or his own family’s wellbeing. Nick had no intention of risking everything on Paul being able to keep his pet assassin out of prison. Nick returned to his friends.

  “You gave Dan the lecture, huh?” Gus handed him a refilled shot of Jack. “I saw it in your eyes after the driver adjustment that you’d have to talk with him about it.”

  “He’s lost without Carol, and nothing the three of us can do will make it any better. I can use him, and fill time on pursuits doing good work. He understands that, and I know he’s thankful for the money. I had to make sure he knew not to try the suicide on our op anymore. Another second with the driver, and Dan would have been with Carol. I don’t blame him for it, but he can’t do that with us.”

  “I liked the role you have for him in this op,” Gus said. “If John can get inside, Dan wandering around as if lost, might install two guys on the inside of the compound. One of them may be able to find out where they might have others detained.”

  “Gus is right,” John said. “We have no idea yet how this compound works, or if they have families held hostage there or not. If I can gain access, then finding out if others are being held would be much less difficult if Dan can infiltrate as well. I wish we could do more for Dan, my friends.”

  “That’s not in our purview, John. We do what we can, but no matter what anyone says about the deathbed, we die alone. Dan held onto Carol to the last second, but in the end, callous as it may sound, I doubt she knew he was there. He’s dealing with it. Dan understands now, but I had to make it clear. I’m not taking casualties because Dan decides to use our mission as a way to eat a bullet, but not from his hand. Again,” Nick said, holding his shot glass up, “here’s to Carol and her live mate, Dan. May God have mercy on our dark endeavors, and prevent them from eventually contaminating our old friend.”

  The three men toasted, each with his own thoughts to Dan’s part, and the road ahead. Each knew it would not be for the faint of heart. They shared the toast understanding each made a pledge to the other, that they would not allow anything to turn such a commitment into a death pact. Nick drained his, and refilled.

  “I knew Dan and Carol a very long time. I hate even the word soul-mate.
No one knows what the hell that touchy feely tag means. Those two were bonded beyond clichéd crap like soul-mate. I’d rather Dan didn’t die while earning his commission with us. I also don’t want any of us and his kids saddled with the results of an errant decision on his part. I needed to make it clear I’m allowing Dan in on our gigs no matter what he does. If either of you have a problem with that, now would be the time to voice it.”

  “I’ll ride with my friend Dan to the end of the string,” John said immediately.

  “Ditto!” Gus acknowledged immediately. “We’ll keep an eye on him, Muerto. If he slants off the reservation, Kabong and I will conference you on it. In the long run as Rachel quoted earlier from ‘The Thirteenth Warrior’, it’s a small thing, brother.”

  I’m glad to be in the company of warriors after so many years by himself, Nick thought as he grinned and refilled his glass. “If it happens, we will make the Geezer’s passing memorable.”

  “Hell… yeah… we will,” Gus added. “After that last trip to the sand with you, I don’t even know what fear is anymore. Once your life passes before your eyes more than a few times, you start thinking I’ve seen this movie. Change the damn channel.”

  That statement amused Gus’s audience of two completely for a moment.

  “Let’s get down to business. All kidding aside, I see you want to do the infiltration ploy, John. Do you have a plan for getting close so that you can infiltrate this group?”

  “Of course,” John countered. “I have to establish myself at a Masjid immediately in an area between your signing and the compound. They will be recruiting there. It is not a coincidence when the FBI dolts look into the people caught setting off bombs, they are always frequenters of a Masjid. Even if the Imam running the Masjid is unknowing of these defilers of holy places. Isis and their ilk understand the reticence of law enforcement to investigate Masjids; because the politicians will hang them out to dry, trying to be politically correct with a deadly enemy. It is insane, but I will find a Masjid in the area where I can be certain I will cross paths with the Isis acolytes.”

  “How?”

  John grinned at Gus. “I will hack into everything until I find a membership role with a number of participants from the suspected area where the Isis compound is located. They will have P.O. boxes instead of addresses.”

  “You, my friend, are a very fine addition to our team,” Nick complimented John. “That is a great start to your infiltration endeavor. We’ll have to get you into a residence nearby where you locate some suspected recruiting depots.”

  “Yes,” John replied. “I will be freshly moved in, and looking for work. It will be as you call it ‘a cinch’.”

  Gus held his glass for toasting purposes. “Here’s to John. You have rhino balls to infiltrate those throat slitting assholes.”

  “No,” John replied, gripping Gus’s wrist, negating the toast. “I am a man with a second chance. I have the deadliest backup I can imagine. I’ll get in. It will be my fault if I do not get out. Kabong, with the help of his deadly friends, Muerto and Payaso, shall triumph.”

  The three men toasted solemnly on that note.

  * * *

  Nick typed with passion, threading in new scenes of violence and destruction for his character Diego. Having already sent Diego’s latest adventure, ‘Assassin’s Folly’, to his agent Cassie, Nick could start his frenzied new adventure with the whispers of his last novel fresh in his mind. He had allowed more emotion into his character than ever before in ‘Folly’. Nick plotted to tie his new novel into the Isis compound adventure in Washington. He grinned appreciatively, anticipating the day when it would be released; because most of what transpired if his hit on the compound was successful, would be true. It was a small gamble he had taken in past Diego novels, involving real life events.

  Knowing how much Dan’s deceased wife Carol loved every small scene casting Diego into a usually ill-fated affair, Nick made Diego’s next venture in the company of a woman forced on him by happenstance. Diego had to earn her trust in order to find where his prey were hiding without revealing his true identity. In doing so, Diego began to lose his way, caring for the woman more in each scene. Nick’s fingers worked the keyboard with an intensity lacking somewhat in his writing lately. When Deke moved at his feet, he knew he was not alone. He saw the time on his laptop only slightly after 6 am.

  “Someone’s an early bird this morning, as usual. Only Deke bumping your leg alerted you to my stealthy approach, Muerto.” Rachel threaded her arms around him from behind, reading from the screen over his shoulder. “Oh Diego, you cad. He’s leading that poor woman, Fatima, into his dangerous cat and mouse killer game. She’ll fall desperately in love with him, revealing at his insistence every secret in her life.”

  “Hey! What the hell?” Nick reached around to grip the backs of his wife’s bare legs, his fingers gliding in satin smooth touch along her skin. “I’m writing this story, and none of what you said is happening… well… maybe a little, but it’s not what you think. Diego’s falling for her. I’ll make Fatima into a Black Widow, a woman with a voracious appetite for feasting on trusting men, caught in her web of deceit. Diego won’t have a prayer.”

  Rachel moaned, hugging Nick tighter as his hands continued their soothing journeys. “I don’t… believe you. He’ll put a bullet in her head soon.”

  “He will not. Did Quinn, the unborn alarm clock drive you from your bed, Dear?”

  “Of course. He’s becoming as loveable and annoying as you are. I have a feeling I’m going to be a couple weeks early. Jean was a week early.”

  “Wow, that’s going to cut it close.” Nick spun off the chair, reversing the hold on Rachel, his hands opening her robe to begin their work at the front, again with feathery strokes. “I’m not sure when we’ll be leaving for Washington. I have to call Cassie. When we go to your next Lamaze class on Tuesday, we need to ask the instructor what she thinks.”

  “She doesn’t know shit! Lisa’s had one baby, and the woman acts like she’s been popping out babies alone in a cornfield every year. I’ve had a baby. We’re only going to the stupid class so we can get synched together on the breathing, and what you’ll need to do when I’m goofy with pain. I’ll make it through the trip to Washington. Now come to bed, and help me relax after mentioning the Earth Mother Lisa.”

  “Okay,” Nick agreed, following Rachel toward the stairs with Deke on his heel, “but it’s never a bad idea to seek the advice of experts. Just sayin’.”

  Nick prevented a spinning, gasping attack of outrage, holding onto his incensed Rachel in a tight, but supportive hug. “I didn’t know I could ring your bell so easily with just the mention of the Earth Mother. The all-knowing, all-caring brood mother of the earth’s ‘Clan of the Cave Bear’.

  Rachel relaxed in his arms with a giggle at his reverent chant of their Lamaze instructor. “Maybe I am being too rough on the arrogant, condescending little-”

  “Woe there, my lady.” Nick prodded her onward in their bedroom journey. “You’re working yourself into a state even I, the proficient and caring, long suffering Nick can’t relax you from.”

  “We’ll see.”

  * * *

  “Nick’s late,” Gus announced unnecessarily for the consumption of his two bundled friends, John and Dan. “Nick’s never late. Plus, he volunteered to bring the coffee.”

  John pulled a flask out of his jacket. “Take a hit of this, Payaso. It will make you less grumpy.”

  “I love you, man.” Gus took a swallow, his eyes watering. “Oh my. I feel better already.”

  John accepted his flask from Gus, taking his own pull of it before offering it to Dan.

  “I’m fasting for a few days, John. Thanks anyway. Here he comes now.” Dan gestured at the steep road leading down to what was now known as Carol’s beach. “He brought the family with him. Nick’s become quite the family man.”

  “Yeah, he’s a saint,” Gus replied, making gagging noises. “Give me another hit, Jo
hn. Dan’s fawning over Nick has left a rotten taste in my mouth.”

  “They sell that stuff called Listerine for that ailment,” Dan fired back. “It wouldn’t hurt you to get acquainted with your toothbrush again either, Payaso.”

  The three of them were enjoying Dan’s dig as Nick supported Rachel across the empty coastal road with Jean holding Deke on leash while waving at the three men. They joined together in the usual morning greeting and banter. Nick held up a huge thermos, he extracted from his backpack, while Deke and Jean skittered down along the actively high waves of an unfriendly beach morning day.

  “I have the elixir of great things in this jug, my friends, along with carting down beach chairs, because I knew none of you lazy bastards would bring your own seat. My assistant, the lovely Rachel, has deigned to provide ceramic cups for this wonderful encounter. While we enjoy this rather bleak, wind driven morning, I will contact my agent, Cassie. We listened to the news all morning… I mean most of the morning. They haven’t found the thug deposits yet. Have any of you heard anything different?”

  “Not I, El Muerto,” John declared. In lower voice he said, ‘I did watch the news.”

  “Same here,” Gus added. “It’s unfortunate some Sunday morning stroller will have their morning ruined.”

  “When I didn’t hear it on the news, I drove into Monterrey and called it in from one of the only payphones in the Western Hemisphere,” Nick said. “A payphone that does not have one of those damn security cams around it. We may as well be living inside a bubble.”

  “This from the serial killer supreme,” Gus said. “You’re peeved because you can’t be El Muerto everywhere you want. Even good deeds have to be carefully chosen in this day and age.”

  “Let’s go sit, and pour the coffee. I smelled the booze wafting out of you and Abdul the Terrible already, Payaso. C’mon. I have to call Cassie.”

  The men moved to a great spot on the beach where the scavenger birds flew in to check them out, and peck each other for position in gaining handouts. John, who could never get enough of the birds’ antics brought a stale loaf of bread with him. Gus made him sit twenty feet away from them, because the birds would literally engulf him. John laughed uproariously at the assorted scavengers, talking to them, and scolding them by names he made up as he went along. He could hold a bit of bread in his fingers, and three birds would flutter like huge hummingbirds near his hand. When he tossed the piece, it would be caught in the air.