by R Weir
“What would you like for me to do with him?” asked Amari.
The three looked at each other, Cameryn giving the throat slashing gesture, Shen nodding in agreement. For all the pain the man had caused, they would be happy if he disappeared from this world.
“Hold him for now,” answered Athena. “Once we’re done you can do what you want with him. As far as we’re concerned, he can vanish from the face of the earth.”
Amari grinned. Having one less arms dealer in the world would be beneficial. Once he’d done a little questioning himself. Gathering intel for the future.
“It sounds as if you don’t have a lot of great options on where to proceed,” proclaimed Amari, who looked at his watch wondering how much longer this would take.
There was a collective agreement to the statement from the three in the Hawkins kitchen. They had gone to extremes and still weren’t any closer to a concrete answer. There was no joy in the stumped feeling they all shared.
“Damn, you’d think one of us could come up with an idea,” remarked Shen, glaring at the bottom of his empty cup, knowing the health benefits of green tea, though it didn’t provide any additional brain power which he could use right now.
“When in doubt, work outside the box?” noted Amari trying to fuel innovation. “Toss out ideas until it sticks, no matter how wild it may sound.”
Athena’s mind had been rolling around with an idea for a day now. One that was completely out in left field. Originally, she’d shelved it, figuring they didn’t have the resources. But now they had Amari, who appeared capable and willing to do what it took. She decided what the hell.
“Guys I have an idea. Though there’s some risk. But it’s all I’ve got.”
“More than I have right now,” said Cameryn, his eyes focusing on her.
“Let’s hear it,” added Shen. “We promise not to laugh.”
“I doubt you’ll laugh. But you might whistle and say no fucking way.” She paused, before tossing out her grand idea. “What are your thoughts on kidnapping a US Marshal?”
The room and the iPad lit up with high pitched whistles and a couple “no fucking way” comments as predicted. It was an out of this world thought, straight from the cosmos.
Chapter 59
Being the closest airport to Downtown Denver, the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport was the perfect landing point for Athena to wait in the private jet, her destination once her guest arrived, being Salt Lake City. She sat in the seat, a couple bags of hot food on the table before her. Breakfast from a favorite restaurant in town packaged in Styrofoam containers to maintain the warmth. Eggs, bacon, Belgian waffles and tomato juice. All favorites to appease the likely angry person who was joining her on the trip.
While waiting Athena typed out a message to the email address where the video of Hunter had come from. In it she pleaded for any other info they could provide on Adin, especially a picture, since there wasn’t any to be found. Information to narrow down the search. She wanted to be successful in finding the man. She doubted she would get a response, but still wanted to try. For time was getting short and she doubted they’d be afforded an extension.
Outside the jet, she heard a vehicle pull up. Out stepped Black Fox and Shank, both armed, along with a woman, who appeared angry. Up the stairs they went, Athena standing to greet them, doing her best to smile at her guest, a woman she didn’t much care for because of her relationship with Hunter. But for the better good, she was going to forge ahead without bringing it up.
“How did it go?” she asked Black Fox.
“Got the drop on her at home,” he responded. “She went for her gun but thought otherwise with our firepower. We tried to assure her that she wouldn’t be harmed but I’m not certain she believed us. To say she is peeved…”
“What the fuck is going on Athena,” grumbled Latoya Jacobs, whom she knew from her association with Hunter.
“Sorry for the snatch and grab. It was for your own protection.”
Latoya found it hard to agree. “Sounds like a lame excuse for kidnapping a US Marshal. You better come up with a more concrete reason.”
“I brought all your favorites for breakfast as a peace offering,” joked Athena with a grin, while pointing at the bags of food.
Latoya didn’t laugh, not finding humor in the situation. Since levity didn’t work, Athena knew it was time to spell it out.
“How about Hunter and a young girl’s life are in danger,” declared Athena, her tone now serious.
Latoya’s anger subsided—slightly—her hands on her hips. “I’m listening.”
“They’ve both been kidnapped by a brutal gangster. Unless we bring a person that gangster wants to him, they will torture the girl while Hunter watches and then kill them both.”
“Who is the person they’re wanting you to find?” wondered Latoya, her anger now under control.
Athena hesitated, not wanting to come right out with the name. “Therein lies the rub.”
Latoya frowned at the words. “Why am I thinking you want me involved in an illegal action?”
Athena gave her a half-nod and smile, her teeth gritted together. She knew this was the part that would be difficult to explain.
“You do realize I’m a US Marshal, and any illicit action on my part will get me fired and possibly put in jail.”
“Which is why we grabbed you in the manner we did. To give you an out, the argument being you were forced to do our bidding.” Athena’s eyes softened. “Honestly it was the only way I could think of to get you involved without implicating you.”
Latoya’s unhappiness wasn’t being quelled.
“I’ll explain it all to you and answer any questions,” concluded Athena. “But we’re under a time crunch and need to get into the air. We should get off the ground and begin heading to our destination. Oh, and before we leave you should call in sick for the day.” Athena grinned ear to ear.
Latoya thought about it for a minute, deciding that if Hunter was in danger she should hear Athena out. She got her phone back from Black Fox and did as she was asked, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs.
“Here is her gun,” announced Shank, handing it to Athena. “We’ll get out and let you two work it out.”
Athena said thanks, before closing the door on the plane, telling the pilot they were ready to go. She then handed the gun back to Latoya, who took it, thought about it for a second knowing she could end it all right here, and then put it back in her hip holster. Against her better judgement she was committed to hear what was going on.
“Where are we headed?” she asked, while buckling her seatbelt, the tempting aroma of the food filling her nose.
“Salt Lake City,” replied Athena, now seated herself and secured.
“Even though it might lead to the firing squad at work, let me know what the hell mess Hunter has gotten himself into now!”
Athena took her time giving her the details of what was going on while they enjoyed breakfast, the jet now in the air. All going well until she got around to the names and the fact the man they were looking for was in WITSEC. It was that point Latoya’s anger returned, nearly spitting out a mouth full of food in disgust.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” she blurted out. “Do you know all the safeguards in place to protect a witness like this. To have one exposed would put a huge crimp in the program’s effectiveness. Not to mention ruin my career as a US Marshal.”
Athena understood completely. “Which is why I didn’t want to ask you outright and why we strong-armed you. This gives you leverage to claim you were forced into helping. I’ll take full responsibility for snatching this man.”
Latoya wasn’t convinced. “Turning him over to this gangster Reinbach will get him killed.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Athena replied while munching on bacon, trying to sound confident, even with her own doubts. “And in the process, we catch and bring in a top ten wanted criminal who was presumed dead. An arrest you’ll ge
t full credit for.”
Latoya sipped the tomato juice, a favorite of hers. “Only by exposing a witness. There has to be a better way.”
Athena looked thoughtfully at her. “I’m all ears if you’ve got a better idea. We’ve got about four days left before they butcher that little girl and Hunter.” She leaned forward in her seat; her expression layered with determination. “I know and you know, Hunter is an ass of a man—a letch when it comes to women and relationships. A fact I’ve had a hard time forgiving him for, especially when he was fucking you, while still involved with me.” She stopped, letting her anger subside. “But I don’t think either of us want him dead knowing he stuck out his neck to save this young woman. And we don’t want him dead, because deep down…damnit…we care about the SOB as much as we hate him.”
The words rang true to Latoya. She understood the rage Athena felt, having felt it herself, learning of his involvement with her. Superseded by those tingling memories of the passionate nights she’s spent with him, including their recent encounter in the hotel during the snowstorm. A night she tried to resist but couldn’t. Maybe in the misguided yearning more might come of it. She did care about the oath. Hell, she might even love, even fall in love with him, if he was able to return the favor. Those emotions foreign to him, which she couldn’t grasp. Death might have been a wish she felt when rage overtook her when dealing with his standoffish crap. But the emotion was half-hearted. Injured maybe, a swift kick in the nuts warranted; but dead wouldn’t make her feel better. And if she didn’t help and he died along with the girl, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.
“I’ll help,” agreed Latoya. “But if asked—it was at gunpoint.” She gave a curt smile and wink.
Athena laughed. “And you wouldn’t be lying.”
The ladies finished up their breakfast when the call came over the intercom they were landing soon.
Salt Lake City was the capital and the largest municipality in the state of Utah. Situated in the great basin and near the Great Salt Lake, which was the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. With an elevation 4226 feet, it was lower than Colorado Springs, but similar in population and geography, the city sitting at the base of picturesque mountain peaks. Evidence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prevalent throughout the city. Salt Lake founded by followers of the church, trying to escape persecution while living in the east. Temples and monuments to the religion were erected everywhere. Even the grid layout design of the streets drew its origin emanating out from the Salt Lake Temple, providing the grid center.
The private jet from Paige’s company, with its two passengers, pilot and co-pilot landed at South Valley Regional Airport late this Friday morning. With rain falling and tough crosswinds, the landing was more challenging, jarring them as they touched down on the pavement. Arrangements had been made to shuttle Athena and Latoya to get a rental car, with a nearby hotel booked. From there Athena had little idea where to start, other than looking in Taylorsville for a man by the name of Steven Zorn. She hoped Latoya could fill in a few of the blanks. Though as she explained, she wasn’t involved with this witness.
“He was Hunter’s witness and only had him for a short while as that was around the time he was pushed out. I got some of his workload, but not this one. This case reverted to our boss, until a new agent was brought on. He’s been handling it ever since.”
“Will the agent handling give you info on Adin?” inquired Athena.
“Not a chance. He doesn’t like me at all, in fact he doesn’t like working with any women in the service. Thinks we’re all too emotional and shouldn’t be carrying a gun.”
Athena’s eyes rolled. “Sounds like old school thinking.”
Latoya nodded. “Part of the old boy’s network, but the problem is that thinking is making a comeback. Being a woman and black just doubles down on his conjecture.”
“Any ideas if Adin is still living in Salt Lake?” wondered Athena, now driving the full-sized rental sedan.
“I’m not positive, but I’m ninety percent certain he is. What else did Hunter tell you?”
“He mentioned Taylorsville which is where I booked a hotel. Though there are about sixty thousand people in this suburb, leaving a lot of territory to cover.”
“Do you have a computer with you?”
Athena’s eyes were on the road but wasn’t completely certain where she was headed.
“No.”
“We need to find an internet café or a library where I can use a computer.”
“What about your phone?”
Latoya shook her head. “Too risky and easy to track me on. Same with yours.”
“The hotel will have one,” responded Athena, making a right turn.
“Rather not use a computer where you’ll be staying for the same reason.”
“What do you want to look up?”
“Hopefully find where this guy is living or working without setting off a lot of bells and whistles.”
“Do you believe you can do it?”
Latoya shrugged. “Who the fuck knows? But I’m not sure we have a lot of choice, unless you want to go door to door to find this guy.”
“Hell no!” grumbled Athena, letting the built in GPS track down the nearest location.
Chapter 60
Working quickly on the internet access computer, Latoya struggled for twenty minutes getting through the government level of security until she finally got what she was searching for. She retrieved a work address for Steven Zorn, before handing it over to Athena.
“I was never here,” declared Latoya as they hopped back into the car.
“I haven’t seen you in years,” replied Athena.
Since she didn’t want the US Marshal to hang around exposing herself more to what was planned, Athena drove her back to the airport. The private jet prepared to fly her back to Denver, with all those involved claiming Latoya was ever with them.
After a quick check in at the hotel, Athena got the location of Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville Redwood Campus where Zorn was employed, teaching English as an Associate Professor. Interesting work thought Athena for a former accountant, though she knew he couldn’t work in the same field while in WITSEC. Her plan was to watch him and look for the best time to approach. Spooking him wouldn’t be wise and could set off alarms. Snatch and grab wasn’t her plan. She hoped to persuade the man to come with her as a bargaining chip to get Hunter and Olivia released. If he didn’t agree, then going a step further might be in the cards.
Finding the Redwood Campus wasn’t an issue as it sat on two city blocks with twelve academic buildings. But parking was. It took Athena a while to find visitor parking, as all the outer lots lettered from A to V said for permit’s or faculty only. Stopping a student to ask, she was pointed in the correct direction, the lot sitting in the middle of the college complex near the Student Center. The metered parking requiring her to pay at one of the kiosks shaped like yellow mailboxes. Figuring a gun wouldn’t be welcome, she stashed away her hip holster and 9mm in the locked glovebox. She hid away in her inside coat pocket her ASP baton, giving her a weapon for self-defense as a precaution. From there she walked to the Academic & Administration Building, which wasn’t far. The rain had stopped for the time being, though the sky looked as if more precipitation was imminent.
Entering the four-story building, Athena checked with the front desk, finding out where Zorn’s classroom was. She was dressed in black jeans, a red cotton sleeveless top, covered with a beige sport jacket, and flat black dress shoes, in hopes of appearing professional. An elevator ride took her to the third floor, down a couple of hallways, until she found the classroom. Opening the door carefully, she walked in and took an open seat at the top of the elevated space, the male teacher lecturing his students about classic writers and poets, the twelve-week summer classes early in the term.
Athena studied the man as he talked, his voice was an octave or so higher than normal for a male his age. He was s
hort, about 5’7” and paunchy, his slacks and long-sleeved dress shirt not fitting him well. He had bushy brown curly hair, with traces of gray on the temples. He would occasionally grab his glasses hanging around his neck, to read from papers on the podium, while controlling a PowerPoint presentation with a remote. He knew the material well, interacting with his students to get answers, applauding when they were correct, chiding when they were wrong, which was often. He came across as a curt, strict teacher of his students. He demanded their attention and it appeared he got it. All eyes focused on him.
The class wrapped up at the top of the hour, his TA giving students their assignment about reading a required book and writing an essay. As the students filed out, a few groaning at the homework, Athena waited at the top for the room to empty, before venturing down to the desk where Zorn was packing his papers and Mac Computer into a satchel. He looked up, barely acknowledging Athena. His attention it would seem being on getting his day over with.
“Did you learn anything?” he asked, having noticed her walking in part way through his class. “If you want to be in my class you need to hurry. There is only a couple more days left to add classes for the summer curriculum.”
“I’m not a student,” explained Athena. “I was hoping we could go somewhere and chat once your classes were over. I’ll even buy you dinner.”
Zorn looked over his glasses, which were on his nose, before removing them with a surprised expression. She was attractive, though a little younger than he was, her black skin piquing his interest.
“I have no problem with having dinner with a delightful woman,” he stated, his face displaying little emotion. “This is my last class of the day. Though I’d have to question why…me? You obviously aren’t working me for a better grade.”
“It’s difficult to explain here. Best we do it somewhere quiet. I promise I’m not trying to hit on you.” Athena was completely sincere speaking the last line.
Zorn frowned, his hands resting on the desk as if to hold him up.
