by James H Roby
She gave a little nod.
“Well, let’s just say we have a mutual friend.” Random smiled as Robin’s head rocked to one side.
“J-Jordan?”
Random beamed with pride, like a teacher watching a student reach a conclusion on her own for the first time. “Exactly! Jordan Noble. I am sure he told you about the wicked man who has been troubling him of late? Particularly at the Fashion Gala? Yes, I am afraid that your former love was right about me. He was right about a great many things.”
Robin cocked her head the other direction at the last comment. Random gestured and made a beckoning motion for Small to join him. Small wandered to a position next to him. Robin reeled as if she had been slapped to the face. All in all, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. If Random was the drug dealer Jordan was talking about, then it shouldn’t have surprised her Small was with him.
As she looked at her lover, Robin gasped. “Why?”
Small looked sheepish and even childish. He searched for words, as if he could ‘break it gently’. “Sorry, babe. It was a lot of money. If it makes any difference, I never wanted this to happen.”
Robin’s sad features instantly transformed into anger. She kicked Small in the crouch with everything she had. He screamed and dropped like a stone. Random and his bunch roared with laughter.
“You son of a bitch!” Robin said. “How could you do this to me?” Tears streamed freely down her cheeks. Small picked himself off the floor. He looked long and hard at her, albeit beyond the range of another kick.
In that moment, he just didn’t care. This was his new world – Robin Summers just wasn’t a part of it anymore. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. Originally, he had hoped no harm would come to Robin but now he knew better. Maybe it didn’t have to end in some dilapidated old house off the river, but at some point down the line he was going to have to choose between Robin and returning to dealing. And with all the money he could make, Robin was going to lose.
“It was a lot of money,” Small said again. “Bye, baby.”
Robin went into a cussing fit as Small walked off. Random came up to his side. The two men shared a look. They both knew they were on the same page. They understood only one option was left to them – Robin had to be taken out the picture. Small gave Random a nod. He was onboard. He was behind the plan one hundred percent.
“Well, he said the word with a sigh. “She’s seen me. I guess we have to kill her now.”
Random smiled with pride. He clamped his hand on Small’s shoulder and led him upstairs.
“Not yet,” Random said, “She has one use to us. She is insurance. Now…” Random gestured to one of his men who passed him a cell phone. Random dialed a number he got off the internet under ‘Investigators’.
~
Jordan endured E-Man’s complaints and vows of vengeance all the way back to the office. He wished he gave more thought to leaving E-Man in the hospital. As long as E-Man could walk and function, he would want to be a part of this case. His bruised ego would carry him further than a sense of civic duty. Turnabout was fair play, given all the complaining Jordan had done since the start of this case. He could put up with E-Man’s ranting for a while.
They reached the office to quiet and dim lighting. The building closed at 6:30 PM and the time was heading for eight o’clock. They mounted the stairs and even Mrs. Steed was gone from her post. In Jordan’s office, they found Don and Malcolm, waiting on the couch by the windows. They both looked up as Jordan and E-Man entered.
“What’s up?” E-Man said. Malcolm looked like he had eaten old fish.
Jordan recognized the look. “Small?”
Malcolm sighed and said, “Yeah. We lost Small.”
E-Man said, “What! How?”
Don silently rotated the screen of the laptop. The monitor revealed a video of the parking lot outside Unlimiteds.
“That’s Small’s car,” Don said, pointing to a late model BMW. He struck a key and the video sped forward.
“This is from one of the cameras I set up outside Unlimiteds.” Malcolm altered his position to see the screen. “You can see as time passes everyone leaves but Small.” The tape showed people leaving the building in small groups toward their cars. They walked across the screen at high speeds. The timer on the screen rapidly counted off the hours until dusk arrived. Soon nothing was in shot but Small’s BMW.
Jordan stroked his chin. “Maybe he’s still in there.”
Malcolm shook his head. Don played with the keyboard again. Various views of the building from different angle flashed on the screen. No movement from within and all the windows were dark.
“If he’s in there,” Malcolm said, “he’s sitting there in the dark.”
“For hours,” Don added.
Malcolm hung his head. “I don’t know how he got out, or even if he left with someone else it, but it should be on here.”
“What about Robin?” Jordan asked.
“She left hours ago, about 11. Alone.”
Jordan thought. His silence expanded to uncomfortable dimensions. Malcolm squirmed in his seat. “Man, I’m really sorry.”
Jordan waved him off. He wasn’t in the mood to beat up on Malcolm for something wasn’t really his fault. He was about to explain his feeling to the others when the phone rang.
“UrbanKnights Investigations. Jordan Noble.”
“Jordan Noble, good evening.”
“Random!” He pointed at Malcolm which translated to go do a trace. Malcolm bolted from the room. The remaining UrbanKnights were glued to Jordan’s phone call. “What the hell do you want, you son of a bitch!”
“Well, I want you, dead of course. But I can wait for that. I have a pressing matter to attend to first.”
Jordan nodded understanding Random’s meaning. “Crush.”
“Yes. It has been somewhat delayed by oh, four years or so. Thanks, no small part to you.”
Jordan smiled. “Happy to serve.” He glanced over to a clock on the wall. He was going to have to stall to give Malcolm time to establish a trace. “So, what’s this call for? I’m sure you’re not just calling to give me an update.”
Random chuckled, “No. I’m sure you are aware that I am back on schedule. My associate, Mr. Slash has secured the sample I need. The sample you failed to keep a hold of.”
“Oh,” Jordan said, “You mean the sample I took from you when I shot you?”
Random laughed again. “A mere flesh wound, I assure you. I hardly felt it.”
“That’s good. Since we’re chatting, how did you know where I’d have the crush?”
“Oh, Major Noble. Don’t stall. You won’t trace this call, I promise you. But to answer your question, let’s just say I have friends that can find out things.”
“Uh huh.”
“You have quite an arrogant tone about you. I do not like that. Not at all.”
“Now why should I give a shit what you like?”
“One moment.” A pause followed by a terrified voice. “Jordan? Jordan! Help me!” A scream and the voice was gone.
Jordan gripped the phone so hard his veins sprang from his hands. When he spoke, E-Man and Don jumped.
“Robin! Robin, is that you? Robin!”
Random’s voice came back. “I think that’s the reason you should give a shit what I like.”
It took a second for Jordan to regain control of himself. When he did, he asked, “What do you want?”
“That’s better. Now then, you have been very bothersome. You are cleverer than I have given you credit for. Now I wish you to curb that cleverness for the moment. I will conduct my business tomorrow and you will not interfere. Adhere to my wishes and I will trade the good Ms. Summers – her life for yours.”
“When?” Jordan knew the request was cliché, but at this moment, no other options presented itself.
“I will telephone you tomorrow, after my business is complete. Until then, busy yourself wit
h some other matter. Read a book. But if you interfere in my affairs…”
Random paused before he hung up. Jordan stood for a moment, shaking. He released an animalistic roar. He flung the phone, ripping it out of the socket. It shattered into a million piece as when it struck the opposite wall. Neither Don nor E-Man knew what to say. They could piece together from Jordan’s side of the conversation Random had kidnapped Robin. What the next move was, no one could guess. Breathlessly, Malcolm returned.
“I – I couldn’t get a trace.”
Jordan gripped the end of the desk and hung his head. A full minute passed before he spoke. When he did, the others jumped.
“Don, Malcolm, go home. Come back tomorrow. Tomorrow, we’re going to end this, one way or another.”
“Malcolm started to protest. “But, Jordan, we -”
Jordan flashed him a look. Malcolm’s eyes went big. He turned to leave with Don just behind them. Jordan waited until he heard the outer door open and close. He turned to E-Man.
“He’s got Robin. He says he’s going to hold her until he sells the crush tomorrow. Then he’ll trade her for me.”
E-Man nodded. “But you don’t believe that.”
Jordan went to the windows. Traffic sped by, trouble free, down Jefferson. He placed a hand on the glass and, waited. For what, he wasn’t quite sure. He caught a reflection of himself and knew. At that moment, he knew. She needed him. The Jordan Noble from right - now not from the Defense Intelligence Agency. And either he was going to do what needed to be done or not. A sly, roguish smile formed in the glass’ image.
“There you are,” Jordan told the reflection.
“What?”
Jordan returned to his friend. Crossing the room, he said, “He’s going to kill her. She’s probably seen him. She can identify him. Hell, he’d kill her just to spite me.”
“Yeah, well, probably. OK, what do you want to do?”
The answer was obvious. “I’m going to get her back. No matter what it takes. I’m going to cross some lines I rather not. And I’m going to need your help.”
E-Man crossed his arms and lifted his chin. “Jordan, let me take a second to say, you have been the biggest pain in the ass lately.”
“Yeah. I know. Self-pity.”
“By the buckets, dog. But you my boy – ride and die and all that shit. What do we do?”
The rogue’s grin again. He patted E-Man’s shoulder. “I don’t know where Random is, but I know where Small will be. He knows where Robin is and he’s going to tell me.”
“OK,” E-Man said, “I can live with that. I never liked them pretty boys.”
“Come on. We’re going to need some of our equipment from the old days.” E-Man groaned as he no doubt followed Jordan’s meaning. Before they left the Defense Intelligence Agency, he used his clearance and access to obtain a few items not normally available to the open market. Some of it was comm gear, protective personal equipment – but most of it was of a more, violent nature.
E-Man pointed a thumb up. “Upstairs, right?”
“Yeah. Go on, I’ll be up in a minute.”
Alone, Jordan looked down at his hands. They were steady as a rock. The service was behind him, he accepted it now. But he was still Jordan Noble. A man who would decide his own fate. He didn’t need the blessing of the Air Force or any badge and definitely not the damn CIA. He was his own man and he was going to get justice. God help anyone who got in his way.
Chapter Twenty: The Comeuppance
Kevin Small was tired. It had been a long day. He rubbed his eyes and blew out a long sigh.
“Federal prison.” He didn’t like its sound. Never did. But, now, it was so much closer, a more definite reality. Yesterday, prison was not in his fate. The worst the cops could pin on him was maybe some possession and, if they were very lucky, aiding a felon. Something he could talk his way out of. Today was a different story. He was a no kidding accomplice to, at best a kidnapper, at worst a murderer.
He parked his BMW in the drive of his modest ranch in Southfield. Random’s men returned him to Unlimiteds and followed him home. Across the street, they parked, watching his every move from the shadow draped Volvo. Cody Random was sure Jordan would strike through Small so he had a pair of his men guarding him 24/7.
The two men sat, trying to look casual. Like someone could look casual sitting in front of a house for hours at a time. Small wondered why his neighbors didn’t call the police. Random had probably taken care of that, too. He shuddered. He didn’t want to think about that.
He got to the door and casually looked back at the sedan.
Should I wave? Just to let them know he saw them. Small didn’t want Random and his crew to think he was weak. They had entered and disrupted his life any way they chose. He wanted them to think he was an equal partner, just as important as Random. Without him, no deal could be made. Small had the connections. The facilities. High and mighty Cody Random couldn’t approach a larger dealer. Cody Random was the law’s man of the hour! Public enemy number one! He needed to work with Small, an up and coming dealer. A man with such a limited criminal past, the police wouldn’t even notice him. Yeah, Cody Random was an international criminal with violence and mayhem in him, but right now, today, he needed Kevin Small.
He made a slight salute like gesture. Just something to let his ‘bodyguards’ know he knew they were there.
That’s right, boys, keep up the good work. Remember who you work for…
No response. No movement from the car. Did they see him? Small made his gesture bigger, trying to make it look like one complete gesture.
Just waving at my men…no big deal. It’s not like I want you to acknowledge me or anything…
Still nothing. He felt a flash of anger. Who the hell did those guys think they are! Do they know who I am!
“Is some goddamn respect too much to ask for?” Small took a step towards the car. He’d tell them. He’d give them a piece of his mind. But he stopped. No, that wouldn’t work. The men in the car, the type of men, wouldn’t respond to him. They didn’t care about the ‘deal’. They worked for Cody Random, a tough and dangerous man like them. Small imagined the men were laughing at him, at his meager attempt at attention and respect. He acted like his step forward was not toward the car, but to his lawn. He bent down to examine the grass like a good homeowner. He nodded as he stood up, completing the illusion of inspecting a slight flaw in the lawn. He moved back to the door, making sure he was not in any way paying attention to the car across the street. At the same time, wondering what they were thinking.
The house was dark. Small sighed as he entered, feeling safe for the first time that day. He was the king of his castle. Outside, everything was different. He knew Random had planned to kidnap Robin, and even ultimately kill her. He didn’t know Random had planned to involve him. Robin had seen him with Random. No way he could let her survive now. It was him or her. Well, he would miss her.
He threw his keys on a coffee table as he made his way through the house. He fished out his cell. It had been hours since he checked it and he was sure to have some messages. He stopped as he saw the warning of one awaiting message and frowned. Was it Random with more last minute changes to the plan? Or worse, Robin, a call from earlier in the day, with a message professing love and how she couldn’t wait to see him again? He gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to hear her voice. He wasn’t completely heartless. They were together for a few years. Sure, it wasn’t going to lead to marriage or anything still it be hard to hear the voice of love from someone he had totally screwed over.
Well, maybe it wasn’t her? Only one way to find out. He put the phone to his ear.
“Turn around.”
Icy fear clutched his heart. Entranced, Small did as the message commanded. He didn’t even see Jordan Noble’s fist smash into his face.
~
Getting into Small’s house wasn’t the hardest thing Jordan had to do. Random, as Jorda
n suspected, posted guards outside the house. They were not very good at their jobs. No doubt they could keep the average person away, but nothing was average about E-Man and Jordan. Not when it came to this sort of thing. Random no doubt had let his hatred blind him to what they were capable. Did Random really think a couple of guys in a car would keep him out?
Jordan and E-Man stealthily approached the car from the rear. With timing from years of working together, both opened the car doors and with one blow each, knocked out the men. After that, it was child’s play to enter the house through a rear window. Small’s security system was laughable. No, that wasn’t the hard part.
The hard part was waiting.
