The Divine Devils: Mystery Suspense Crime Thriller: Book 1

by R Weir

  Sellers tone turned to anger. “I’ve been trying contact her for years. Paige always shuts it down.”

  “Paige told me you haven’t contacted anyone inside their home in years.”

  Sellers eyes shifted to the window again. “She is lying. She threatened lawyers if I continued. I couldn’t fight her wealth and power.”

  Hunter thought it over, knowing Paige had kept the details about the merger from him. Could this be another fact she’d left out?

  “Then again all the more reason for you to try and grab her. You’re not making much of a defense to convince me otherwise.”

  Sellers stood up, his face red with rage. “This conversation is over. You need to leave now.”

  Sellers looked out the window again, and Hunter turned to see the SUV that had been following was now outside. It would appear he’d contacted someone on his notebook about Hunter’s presence.

  “If you don’t go, they will drag you out!” yelled Sellers, pointing at the door.

  Hunter stood up, doubting that was the case, but decided to leave anyway. When he got outside the two men were near his car, blocking it’s exit while looking threatening. He had his gun with him, but preferred not to use it, if possible. Hunter walked over to where they stood, ready for action.

  “From the aroma it would appear you’ve not had a chance to bathe since your night of slumber outdoors?” Hunter joked.

  “Funny man,” commented the bald one, though he wasn’t laughing.

  Hunter’s eyes scanned back and forth between the two. It would seem they weren’t going to make this easy.

  “Gentlemen, you need to move before someone gets hurt.”

  “Not happening,” said the bald one, reaching behind his back. “You came to the wrong house. You’re going to take a ride with us or pay the price.”

  “The only ride I’m taking is in my car. I’ll go through you if I have to.”

  The bald headed one sneered and stepped forward with a five-inch bowie knife now in his right hand. Hunter took off his jacket and wrapped it around his left arm and took a defensive stance, ready to block the advance. As the knife moved back and forth, Hunter put up his covered arm, the blade striking once, cutting the material, and drawing blood. As he grimaced, Hunter stepped in with a quick jab with his right hand striking the bald man’s chin with enough force to knock him backward. He jabbed once more, then seeing the second man coming at him on his right, gave a left hook hitting the second man in the side of the head, buckling his knees to the pea gravel. Hunter felt the knife again, this time slashing his shirt, blood soaking it. Feeling the burning, he grabbed at the wound, feeling the red warmth, then pulled the gun from his holster, pointing in their direction, having had enough. His training in One Plus One coming into play, knowing he needed an additional level of force to combat the resistance.

  “Another inch and I’ll shoot,” insisted Hunter, his tone matching his determination.

  The two men froze, then turned when they heard sirens. A black and white police car pulled up, the officer stepping out. It was the chief, walking forward, putting on his hat, his left hand was on his massive belt, his right holding his gun at his side.

  “Put down the gun Hunter,” he demanded.

  “These two came at me. One with a knife as you can see by my injuries. I had no choice.”

  “And I have no choice but to arrest you.”

  “What about these two?”

  “You’re the one with the gun. Besides I told you not to cause trouble. You need to cool off in jail for a few hours.”

  Hunter saw the two men smiling at him, the bald one’s knife now out of sight, the other now back on his feet. There wasn’t much he could do and shooting the local police chief wasn’t going to help matters. He laid his gun on the ground and put up his hands, the blood soaking his shirt, the pain of the injury and the situation clearly on his face.

  Chapter 36

  The four legged, mostly black with some brown German Shepherd sniffed as he walked along at a swift pace, free from the leash which often guided him. He was leading his owners along the trail, up a sharp hill on this warm late May day near Rhyolite Mountain. Remnants of snow remained, mostly melted by the sun, the water runoff making the path muddy in spots. But the dog Spike, lovingly called by his owners, didn’t care in the least bit. For he was relishing the freedom of exploration he was allowed compared to a backyard that paled in comparison.

  The owners, Blake and Miranda, a married couple who lived in Manitou Springs were doing their best to keep up, enjoying the exercise that kept their thirtysomething bodies in shape. The outdoors had brought them together and bonded them in their seven years of marriage even to this day. The upward slope was challenging to many, but they walked it with ease, having done it many times in the past, a favorite area they enjoyed exploring. Though this was the first time this season, since the winter had been harsh, making the traversing even too challenging for them.

  Along the way they both cursed at the damage done by a four-wheeled drive vehicle that had climbed portions of the path designed for feet, not tires. The wheels making the terrain uneven, dislodging rocks of varying sizes, their steps taken more cautiously to prevent a twisted ankle or fall. Though Spike didn’t seem to mind it all, swiftly dodging and even climbing over them with little effort.

  “Spike,” called Blake, trying to keep him from straying too far. “Come.”

  With the command Spike came back, panting happily as Blake petted and feed him a treat. Miranda pulled out a water bottle, pouring the liquid into a small travel dish for the dog to drink from. Both joined him, drinking out of their own water containers. It was important to stay hydrated at this high altitude.

  “It sucks people don’t care what their machines do to this mountainside,” remarked Blake with spite in his voice.

  “Especially now when it’s trying to spring back to life after the harsh winter,” added Miranda shaking her head in disgust.

  Blake pulled out sunscreen, applying a layer to his exposed pale skin, before handing it over to Miranda. They hadn’t been in the sun much; winter had remained cloudy throughout. Even when skiing they rarely saw much sun, the snow falling each time they had hit the slopes. Today was perfect, the warmest of the year. Though rain was forecast for tomorrow, they wanted to get out and push themselves, readying for the hiking season ahead.

  They pressed on upward, knowing the area well, Spike again taking the lead, never straying too far. It wasn’t long before scent in the air and on the ground caught his attention. He looked up and around and then bolted off the trail, running at full speed. Blake called out, but the dog didn’t hear him or care, dodging through the trees, soon out of sight.

  “Damn him,” yelled Blake. “He never does that. Spike come!”

  He waited a minute, but still nothing, though he did hear barking.

  “He must have found something,” commented Miranda. “That is the only time he barks.”

  Blake shook his head. “Stay here. I’ll walk in after him.”

  “Be careful. And don’t travel too far.”

  “I’ll keep calling out. I won’t rush.”

  Blake followed what he knew of the path Spike had taken. It was muddy and snowy, even causing his waterproof boots to feel the effects. He took his time, watching each step, making certain not to fall. He called out again, Spike was still barking, the sound pointing him where to go.

  It took ten minutes to find him, standing at the edge of a drop off. A sheer slide down to an area filled with fallen trees and snow that rarely melted. Blake cautiously took his time, coming to the dog, who stood looking over the side, barking. Blake checked the footing, not wanting to fall, what appeared to be a few hundred feet of distance, then glanced over to see what Spike saw. It was a body, or at least parts of it sticking out of the snow, obviously dead. When glancing again, it looked like the foot of another body as well, the rest buried in the snow.

  “Oh my god Miranda,” yelled B
lake.

  “What is it? Are you alright?” she hollered back.

  “I’m good and so is Spike. But he found what looks like two bodies down the side of this cliff.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. What should we do?”

  “Call the police.”

  “You know there’s no cell service up here.”

  Blake nodded to himself, now remembering. He pulled out the leash and attached it to Spike and walked him back to the trail.

  “I’ll wait here,” he told Miranda when he returned. “You’ll have to walk back down to the car. Drive until you get a cell signal. Call them and when they arrive lead them back up here. I’ll wait so we don’t lose where they’re at.”

  “Oh my what do you think happened?’

  Blake didn’t know for certain. He only knew if it weren’t for Spike who knows if anyone would have ever found the bodies. He rubbed his dog’s head and gave him a treat, which he devoured in sheer glee.

  ***

  Staring at the pile of paperwork on his desk, Detective Scanlon leaned back in his chair to clear his head. The cases kept coming, with no end in sight. Part of the routine of a police detective. Juggling all the cases was a fact of life and one at times he enjoyed and found pride in. Though there were days when he threw his hands up in disgust, feeling like he was beating his head against the wall. He’d cleared a couple of cases, passing them onto the DA to prosecute. One he was still working, relating to a burglary ring that had hit ten homes so far, was sitting on top, waiting for a warrant to get cell phone dumps of the areas, to find suspects. A domestic case was another taking a lot of his time, where the wife had filed charges and then waffled wanting to drop them. And finally, the Hawkins kidnapping one, which seemed to be at a standstill. With no real leads other than the ex-husband, which Hunter was tracking down in North Dakota. Scanlon had run down a couple of possibilities, relating to The Train Man, talking with confidential informants, who had heard of him, but not much else.

  “All I know is he can get you a tank if you want one and had the money,” chuckled one of his street snitches, only half kidding. “Seems to have connections to get most anything you need.”

  “Any ideas on why he is called The Train Man?” asked Scanlon.

  “Hell if I know. Maybe he likes hopping on trains and taking a ride. Reincarnated from a hobo in a previous life.”

  Word from a Kansas State Trooper lead to nothing when talking with the wife of the dead man Zachery. Though little talking was involved, she’d refused to even speak about her dead husband. Insisting he was a bum and had nothing to do with him, though the Trooper suspected otherwise.

  The other threats on Jose and Paige appeared to be dead ends. Scanlon had talked with Red the car dealer and received an earful from him about Cameryn and his encounter with his sons. Though he had no sympathy for the man after seeing his history at ripping off customers, and he doubted Cameryn had done anything but defend himself. Troy Mayfield also didn’t appear to be involved, Scanlon talking with him as well after Hunter had caused a stir there. Mayfield’s passionate defense of wanting to work with Paige and not harm her, was most convincing. Even if he was mad about Hunter and his tactic of forcing a meeting with him. All the leg work, like many times when investigating, had led to nothing concrete.

  Scanlon reached for his insulated coffee jug, taking a drink and finding the taste awful. He got up and went to the kitchen, dumping out the cold brew and poured himself a fresh cup. Though fresh might be an exaggeration. Cream and sugar made it bearable, swallowing it in hopes for a caffeine boost to get him through the rest of the day. A boost he often relied on more than he should.

  When he returned to his office, his desk phone was ringing. He picked it up, immediately knowing the voice.

  “How are you doing, Tim?” said the high-pitched male.

  “Fine Keith. How are things in the Denver FBI Office?”

  “Quiet, mostly. You know us research hounds, always in search of the next danger.”

  “Good to hear. I’m sure you didn’t call to chat?”

  “You’re correct. I saw a memo come across my desk about an arms supplier you got wind of.”

  Scanlon nodded. “The Train Man. Have you heard of him?”

  “Yes I have. Mostly from a female ATF agent I once dated.” Keith paused. “Well maybe dating isn’t the correct word. More like hooked up with when we both needed carnal soothing.”

  Scanlon smirked, while putting his phone on speaker so he could make notes. “I don’t need details of your booty call. Do you know who this guy is?”

  “We have suspicions, though nothing we can run with. He is quite cautious about who he deals with. Never will work with someone he doesn’t know. Needs a solid previous customer to vouch for any new deals.”

  “Surveillance?”

  “Nothing fruitful. He is a bit of a flake as well. His moniker is because of his love of trains, both large and small.”

  Scanlon scowled. “How is this going to help me?”

  “He has a hobby store he works out of in Monument. I figured you might pay him a visit and see for yourself.”

  “Not sure what that will get me.”

  “I understand. I thought I’d pass it along. I’ll text you the address.”

  Scanlon hung up the phone, soon hearing the ding on his cell with the data. He punched it in, finding the location. There might not be much he could do, but maybe Hunter’s team could send someone. Maybe ruffle a few feathers, which appeared to be their specialty. He pulled out his cell phone calling Hunter, but the call went to voicemail. He then called Athena, giving her the details, hoping they could use their skills of persuasion to get the information he couldn’t retrieve. Right now, he’d be happy for any kind of lead, no matter how they got it.

  ***

  After getting the call, Athena requested Cameryn and Shen set off for Monument and Family Hobby World. When they arrived, they found the store still open. Walking in they saw a couple of customers being helped by a man and a woman. Glancing around the store they saw the large electric train set, the tracks circling a good portion of the store. The two had discussed how they would handle things while inside.

  Shen approached the man as he finished with his customer. He was wearing a locomotive hat and overalls, looking the part as he was described.

  “You must be The Train Man I’ve heard so much about,” stated Shen with a grin.

  The man laughed. “Choo choo,” he declared, while pumping his arm up and down as if pulling the whistle cord. “Do you like trains?”

  “Love them!” announced Shen with the glee of a kid. “The one you have on display here is awesome. What does a setup like that cost?”

  “Thousands. It’s my pride and join.”

  “Can I see it in action?”

  The Train Man nodded and walked towards the controller on the side of the store. It was wireless and soon he had the unit running, going up and down the extensive tracks, the realistic sound effects of a stream engine filling the shop. It took several minutes to loop the store.

  “Impressive,” commented Shen, walking over to stand next to him. “May I try?” He put out his hand to grab it.

  The Train Man shook his head, pulling away. “It’s my baby. I’m the only one who controls this. But let me show you what else it can do?”

  While they played with the train, Cameryn worked his way towards the back and when it was clear no one was watching him, he went into the back room through the swinging doors. Once there he started snooping around checking for anything suspicious. The stock shelves appeared to be loaded with toys. He grabbed a couple and opened them finding nothing dangerous inside. He then went to the desk, trying to access the computer, but the screen was locked. Looking around he couldn’t find any written down passwords, a common thing for people to do. He then went through the drawers, where he discovered an address book. Glancing through it, he found lots of names, though nothing stood out. As he flipped the pages,
he took pictures with his phone, sending them off to Scanlon. When he was done, he put the book back when someone walked in. It was the lady who worked there.

  “What are you doing back here?” she angrily shouted.

  Cameryn stood up, feigning confusion. “I’m sorry. I was trying to find the bathroom.”

  “We don’t have a public one.” She stuck her head through the door and yelled. “Owen?”

  The Train Man dropped the controller and hustled back, meeting Cameryn at the door.

  “What the hell!” he yelled. “You’re not supposed to be back here. What are you doing, trying to steal from me?”

  “Hardly,” laughed Cameryn. “I needed to pee. I thought I could use your bathroom. My mistake.”

  “Get out of here before I call the cops.”

  Cameryn put up his hands. “You got it. I unequivocally don’t want to break the law.” He walked towards the door, heading outside.

  “Are you two together?” asked The Train Man, directing the question at Shen.

  “We are. Though I can vouch for him. He does need to pee quite often. For a big man he has a small bladder.”

  Shen walked out to the car with a big grin on his face, and the two men driving off, hoping they’d found useful information.

  ***

  “Watch the front,” ordered The Train Man of the female. “I have to make a call.”

  He went to the back room, pulling out a burner phone he used to make secure calls. He punched up the number, waiting for an answer.

  “We may have a problem,” he said, concerned what they may have found. “I was paid a visit by two snoops.” He gave her a quick description of the two men.

  “Sounds like two of Hunter’s team,” replied the female voice of Valerie. “Nothing to worry about. It will be all over tomorrow thanks to my plan and the toys you provided us.”

  Chapter 37

  Saturday was an early morning for all of them. The Hawkins family was up by 5 a.m. as was the security team. Athena had worked through details with everyone the night before on what they would do. The plan was to arrive early and come in via a drive-in loading dock entrance at the arena. Avoiding the crowds of students and their families at the main entrance, all who had to go through security to get in.