Bloody Shadows

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  Each of the men shook his hand, and produced FBI/Homeland Security ID’s. “I’m Special Agent Glen Rogers,” the dark haired man nearest Dickerson said. “This is my partner, Special Agent Jarrod Agnew. We have orders to leave you out of this investigation, but to keep you informed of any progress on the case.”

  Agnew chuckled. “The orders came from so high up, we weren’t even allowed to ask why. Maybe you could give us a hint.”

  “I believe it’s because of a case I’m consulting on. We don’t know what involvement the Rashidi’s or the fake agents who tried to kill me had with the case yet, but we’re working on it. If you give me your cards, I’ll contact you with anything I’m allowed to divulge during my research into this. Here’s my card.”

  Nick handed them one of his cards with mobile phone number, and accepted theirs. “May I get my family ready to move to another location?”

  “Yes, of course… one other thing” Rogers said. “We know you were with Delta, but we can’t access anything in your record other than that, and a vague note about being a consultant. I’ve read your novels, so I also know you’re a bestselling author. What the hell would guys be blowing your house up, and gunning for you in broad daylight about.”

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out, gentlemen. If I find a definitive answer, I will pass it on to my chain of command, and if they give me permission, I will call you right away. Thanks for reading my novels, Agent Rogers. Are you a fan of my character, Diego?”

  “Yeah, it’s entertaining pulp. There’s not much realism, but I’ve read some of the replies you’ve made to people you call ‘Book Killers’ because they do one star hit pieces on novels when it is clear they haven’t read them. You admit they’re pulp.”

  “Most of the BK’s are funny. They change tactics the moment they’re called on a false accusation they make about the novel they’re doing a book killing on. I’ve often wondered if other readers can tell.”

  “I can now, but until I read a few of the ones you confronted, I don’t know if I would have noticed. That’s neat the way you have me talking about your novels, and away from the subject of the investigation.”

  “I don’t know anything more about the why in your investigation. If I find something I can share, I will. Sorry if that’s repetitive, but that’s all I have for now.”

  “I hope you get a call allowing us some answers,” Agnew replied. “The Rashidis are not talking. They were caught red handed though, and we are charging them with multiple felonies, including domestic terrorism. Please call us if you can.”

  “Will do.” Nick noted Dickerson did not walk away. “Trouble, Neil?”

  “How in the hell do you have the juice to ward off Homeland Security?”

  “Because it’s a matter of national security, and in this case, there are people in governmental high places who understand the importance of finding out what the hell is going on. I’m sure I’ll be talking with you soon. I get into bad spots with my consulting work. Sometimes, for a period of time unwanted attention is focused back on me. Then things get dicey for a while. I admit I may have stepped in it somewhere along the line on this case I’m unaware of. It smells on my shoe, but I’m uncertain where it originated.”

  Dickerson nodded. “Okay, Nick. Be careful. If you need something, give me a call. We’re all under orders to support your ‘consulting case’ status.”

  “Thanks.” Nick walked around to let Jean out. “Let’s go get a couple bags, and get out of here. I have work to do if I’m going to get you to the dance on Friday.”

  Chapter Nine

  Contract Kill

  Rachel brought in coffee to Nick’s away from home office. Gus, John, and Nick poured over databases for any thread connecting the Rashidis with the names they worked on in the last few days, Wargul and Sadun. They also ran the names related to Formsby’s empire, along with Formsby’s connections with Tanus Import/Export conglomerate.

  “Any luck?”

  “Not yet, Rach,” Nick answered. “We haven’t heard from anyone yet. I have a call in to Tim and Grace. If they get anything set in motion with Sadun, I know they’ll call me. Paul’s working on the faces and fingerprints I sent him from this morning’s uninvited guests. He knows how important this is. He had a hit put out on him. We haven’t ruled out the Salvatores moving into our area either. This puzzle needs a couple more pieces put in place. I know Sadun is at least partially responsible; but without his lawyer Wargul passing notes in class, he should be irrelevant in this situation.”

  “It’s early though,” Rachel pointed out. “That was great you getting let loose like you did. Paul really greased the rails for you there.”

  “I doubt he was the only one. I have a feeling he has some close confederates in the DOJ who like what we’ve accomplished. I don’t want to ruin the backing we’ve garnered by making enemies due to name dropping. I’m glad Dickerson knows some of the story, and he doesn’t think I’m a bad guy.”

  “But you are a bad guy, Muerto,” Gus chimed in to Rachel and John’s amusement. “Every horrific reference they can think of would fit you like a glove.”

  “Gee… thanks, Payaso, you prick.” Nick’s phone dinged. Nick turned on his scrambler. “Oh good. Here’s Paul. Hey buddy, we’ve been waiting anxiously for your call. We’re having trouble with tying all the players together on our end.”

  Gilbrech wasted no time on small talk. “It’s Lee Collister, Nick. You were right to wonder about Salvatore. I’m sure he doesn’t know why, but he was sent to keep an eye on you, and your movements. Collister promised him a way back in after his demotion, if he did exactly what he was told. Word is Salvatore is proving he had nothing to do with Nancy Pettinger, but in doing so through Collister, he’s working under a traitor.”

  “All that puts the corner pieces of the puzzle together. How about the would be assassins from this morning?”

  Paul was quiet for a moment. “Black op NSA. Collister restarted where Frank left off, Nick. Those three exist nowhere on any government payroll. They’re private contractors just as you were under Frank. Collister is the one who ordered Formsby to try and hire you to take me out. It was to be a test run with the objective of getting you on the hook, and back in the Black ops business. I was the bonus, because of the hit on Formsby’s operations. When Formsby and his men vanished without a trace, Collister knew exactly what happened to them. I’m not sure how long he’s known about you for certain, but I believe Sadun and his lawyer explained how you took down Sadun’s ring, and exposed Nancy Pettinger. If you had not rigged Pettinger’s death the way you did, he would have went at you with prison time, trying to implicate me.”

  “The scandal would have been enough. How are we with the DOJ?”

  “Solid. They have the right people spouting the ‘bring them to justice’ crap, but they want more of the ‘ends justify the means’ operations, including Sadun. I held off calling you, because orders have been issued to move Sadun. US Marshals Reinhold and Stanwick are to take custody of Sadun at 4 pm today from Atwater Penitentiary. What will you need to get this done?”

  Nick’s mind raced, picturing the Atwater facility. “Unfortunately, a little luck. I’ll call Tim and Grace right now. Do you have eyes on Collister?”

  “Every minute of every day at this time.”

  “Where will he be tomorrow?”

  “In hiding would be my guess. Those three men you took out today were his go to guys. As you know, he can’t simply walk outside, and hail a few more down like calling a cab. He knows what happened to Frank Richert. We’re making all kinds of noise, shooting out queries from FBI to CIA to DOJ, getting to the bottom of who hired three outside mercenaries. Since he’s going way beyond what Frank ever did, Collister contracts mercenaries from overseas. Two of the three you dealt with were ex Egyptian Secret Police, Ammar Sobhi, and Mando Morsi. One was ex Iranian Ministry of Security, Adel Nassiri.”

  “That’s smart in a way. If they had been successful and caught,
nothing could fall on his head. If they had been successful, and slipped away, no one would have ever touched them.”

  “Yeah, but he sent them after you,” Paul stated. “Now, they’re dead. We know who they are, and Lee Collister knows who killed them. You can bet he suspects you know his name because Formsby knew it. He’s sweatin’, Nick. After you take Sadun, would you want to hold off on Collister?”

  Nick’s features spread in a grim smile of anticipation. “I don’t think so, Paul. Does he have family in DC he stays with, or does he move from the family homestead to DC when he has to?”

  “He’s divorced, but he’s not dopey enough to have a mistress anyone knows about. Collister lives in the ‘Congressional Village’ apartments. That place has surveillance cams everywhere.”

  “Does he have one specific driver for taking him around Capitol Hill, and does he employ bodyguards?”

  “Yes to the first question. No to the second. He may scramble a couple of bodyguards fearing you’re on the loose,” Paul replied. “You’re killin’ me here, Nick. What do you have in mind that wouldn’t involve assassinating the sitting National Security Advisor?”

  “I’ll need a flight in and out of a small airport we won’t attract attention at, like Monterey Regional. I’d like to do it tomorrow, so I can be with my buddy tomorrow night. I will also need some eyes only files to take to our pal Lee under the guise of a special messenger. Can you put together everything you have on Formsby, call Lee, and tell him he needs to see the information you’ve gathered on Formsby’s overseas holdings? Use the excuse you want to brief the President in person, and you want Lee read in on it. I’ll arrive at his place with a handcuffed briefcase. Don’t worry, I’ll look good in full military dress uniform. Also, can you make me an ID with everything needed in case he asks for it, along with a nametag?”

  “I’ll fly in myself. We’ll go over everything together on the way to DC, Nick. You’re not going to just shoot him in the head, are you?”

  Nick chuckled. “I thought you read all my novels.”

  “Sorry. I know you not only write plots for assassins, but you also are one. The job you did on Frank Richert was incredibly good.”

  “Yep, and I have some special juice left for Lee. I’ll call you after today’s activities.”

  “By the way, how is your writing doing?”

  “I’m down to only about fifteen hundred words a day since I’ve been having to clean up all your messes, Gilbrech.”

  Paul was still laughing when Nick disconnected. He looked around at his wife and companions with a big grin. “Well, the good news is I know who has to die. The bad news is it’s going to be a busy couple of days. You know what to do, John. After Gus and I leave, batten down the hatches, and shut off all communication devices except for the burner phone I gave you for emergencies. Throw some things together for a road trip, Payaso. It’s a little over two hours to Atwater Penitentiary. I’ll call Tim and Grace. They already have their orders, but I need to spell out a couple things for them.”

  “Okay, Nick. Do you have what you need here, or will we have to stop by your house?”

  “I have what I need here. No more house visits until Sadun is taken care of. How’s Jean doing?”

  “She’s out back throwing knives,” Rachel answered. “Deke’s with her. He loves this place. I think he’s marked the entire territory. Can I go on line to get Ms. Kader’s school assignments?”

  “Sure. Don’t interact with anyone, though. Do you remember the safe-room code here?”

  “Of course. You don’t believe we’ll need it though do you?”

  “We take no chances. If John says get in the room, you grab Jean and Deke, and head into the room. El Kabong has enough firepower to hold off an army until we get back, but I’m certain that won’t be necessary. I have to handle the yucky part now. Excuse me.”

  Nick called Grace’s phone.

  “Hey, Tim, did you order a killer?”

  “Ha, ha. I heard you have your orders.”

  “We transfer Sadun out of Atwater at 4 pm,” Grace answered. “Any other alterations?”

  “Yeah. Rent an SUV with a real spare tire, and room in the back cargo area. I’m going to drop you two off on the outskirts of Merced. I’ll call in an anonymous tip about an SUV rocking around on the side of the road when I’m a half hour out of Merced.”

  “I hate you.”

  “Don’t make me have to remind you who it is that’s responsible for this cluster fuck, Gracie. You and Tim will be heroes, hijacked, and stripped of a prisoner, obviously set up by a leak in the department.”

  “I hate you.”

  * * *

  “Where are you taking me,” Sadun asked.

  “We told you,” Grace answered. “It’s not safe for you here. Someone killed your lawyer. It was a professional hit. We’re moving you to a safe-house in Sacramento until other arrangements can be made.”

  Sadun chuckled. “Is that what you have been told? We have another plan which will work much better for me. Perhaps you two will live through it.”

  “Oh shit,” Tim mumbled. The highway they were on was desert, with no traffic. What looked to be a California Highway Patrol car was angled across the road with a uniformed patrolman waving them to a stop. Behind them, an SUV type vehicle was speeding toward them from the rear. Tim pulled his 9mm Ruger, while Grace followed his example. “We’re screwed.”

  “Put down your weapons, fools! My men will not shoot you unless they have to!”

  Tim glanced back at Sadun. “They’re going to have to.”

  “Idiots!”

  Tim gauged the approach of the vehicle behind them in the rear view mirror, figuring on ramming the patrol car ahead, and taking their chances in the gun battle that followed. At that moment, the windshield on the trailing vehicle shattered, and the SUV pitched to its side and rolled. Tim focused on the patrolman in front of him, who had now brought a machine pistol to bear on them. The patrolman’s head seemed to explode toward them. A large caliber, high velocity round burst from his forehead, expanding as it exited, and taking most of the man’s upper face with it. Two other men began exiting the patrol car, firing wildly. They took shots to the chest.

  “Wha…what has happened?” Sadun stared from front to back in stunned shock, his eyes wide, and unblinking. “Why are you laughing, woman!”

  “It’s like this… idiot,” Grace replied, watching the scene tensely in front of her. A hooded figure in tan fatigues approached the patrol car, and fired a round from a pistol into the heads of each man only wounded. The figure looked at their SUV, smiled, and waved. Tim waved back. “You planned an escape, which means we have yet another damn leak somewhere. You must have had a warning the moment we were given our orders. A very professional bunch hustled into place to free you from our clutches. Unfortunately for you, we have a stone cold killer watching our backs. Remember the guy we told you not to mess with after he questioned you in the van before we turned you in?”

  Sadun began thrashing around in the back, “You cannot do this! Take me to the safe-house. I will tell you everything!”

  Tim grinned at him with a sigh. “That ship sailed already, Amigo.”

  Another vehicle skidded to a stop next to them as the hooded man approached. Tim holstered his weapon. “It’s Gus.”

  “How do you think he knew?” Grace put away her weapon too, and opened the door.

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  “Hi guys,” Nick said. “Nice ambush. Uthman… boobie… pal… how the hell are you? Long time, no see.”

  “Stay the fuck away from me!” Sadun scrambled into the far corner of the rear seat.

  Nick waved a finger at him. “That’s not nice, Uthman. Well, kids, I have good news for you. Thanks to the unsuccessful Uthman ambush, I’ll only have to put you two to sleep. This will be a wild one for them to figure out. I took pictures and fingerprints of the three in the front, but I don’t have time for the guy in the rear. C’mon, Uthie.
We have to go. Don’t make me have to shoot you in the dick.”

  When Nick took aim to do exactly that, Sadun worm crawled to the door Nick held open for him. “Good boy.”

  Nick put him into the backseat of his escape vehicle with Gus guarding him. Nick gestured at the back of the SUV while taking out two syringes. “Get comfortable in the back after you put your pistols on the ground. I’ll give you something for a couple hours rest, and put your weapons under the front seat.”

  Tim put his Ruger on the ground, and curled inside first. Then Grace put her weapon on the ground, and climbed into the SUV cargo area in front of Tim. She muttered, “I hate you.”

  “Another leaky/leaky, I see. You two are lucky I got into position long before Uthman’s wild bunch showed. Anyway… sweet dreams, kids. I’ll text you who it is that tipped off Uthie.”

  “Thanks, Nick,” Tim said.

  Grace turned away as Nick pressed the syringe to her neck. “I hate you.”

  * * *

  Instead of the original plan, Nick called Paul as Gus drove away from the scene. “They have another leak, Paul. Sadun’s men ambushed them nearly in the place I had picked out. I’m sending pictures and fingerprints of all but one. I didn’t have time to gather info on the guy driving the backup vehicle.”

  “Shit! They would have had to of been tipped off nearly the moment the transfer was approved. Does Sadun know who the leak is?”

  Nick glanced at the cringing Sadun, curled into a fetal position on the rear seat. “Hey Uthie. What’s the name of the leak that received the info about your transfer as fast as the Marshals transferring you?”

  Sadun remained silent, turning away from Nick.

  “Sorry, Paul. We’re having a failure to communicate. Do you need to know before Gus and I get Uthie further along the road?”

  “No. Get to your destination safely, without police intervention. Since the ambushers have gone bye/bye, I’ll scan everyone in on the transfer info up and down the line. They’ll get word about what happened, and then I’ll see where the rat scurries.”