Ripple Effect

by L. T. Ryan

  A small smile spread over her face as she turned to look at Jack. “Yes, he’s aware. I’m not worried about him. He’s been good to me over the years. He knows what will happen to him if he ever breaks my heart.”

  I turned to Jack, who had a smirk on his face. I knew nothing was going on between the two of them—it’s not like they’d had time to talk about it anyway—but after the initial shock of Sadie’s true identity had worn off, it seemed as though things were going back to the cautious flirtations they had been passing between each other prior to that little revelation.

  “Of course,” Sadie said. “I’ll see you later. Bye.”

  I watched as Sadie pocketed her phone, the smile slowly replaced by a much more serious look. I had a guess as to what the phone call was about. “He wants to see what Jack can do.”

  Sadie nodded. “He didn’t say as much, but that’s what it sounds like to me. He wants to meet us this afternoon. He wants me to tell Jack he’s got a job ready for him.”

  “And you didn’t inquire as to what that was?”

  “There was no point, not over the phone. Goddard trusts me, likes me even, but he doesn’t stand to be questioned. We’d do better to confront him face to face if he’s thinking about going after Nicolás. We need to read the situation, look at the playing field, and try to convince him it won’t be worth the fallout.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “I thought you had convinced him to keep Nicolás in play for as long as possible?”

  “Something else must have happened,” she said. “Or someone else had gotten in his ear. My opinion means something, but he doesn’t know me as a tactician. I work with the numbers. He’d ask his advisors, he’d go to Vasquez, and ask them what they thought was best.”

  “Whoever has his ear could be interested in taking Nicolás out so they can step into his place. Goddard will need to find a replacement if he goes through with this.”

  Javier stood up. “Whoever has his ear could also be interested in upping the timeline with Camila. Making us take Nicolás out would mean we’d have to find her sooner rather than later, also allowing us to perform the hit on Goddard. This person could be playing Goddard more than he realizes.”

  “It’s definitely a possibility.” Jack paused, and then eyed me. “You should be there, big man.”

  I blinked up at him. “What?”

  Sadie echoed my sentiments. Javier looked on, his eyebrows knit together.

  “We’re walking a fine line here. There are a lot of moving parts, and a lot of people’s lives on the line. If we mess this up, we’re gonna need you.”

  “I’ll be close by—”

  “And how much will that help us if bullets start flying?”

  “But they’ve already spotted Bear,” Javier said. “If we introduce him into play now, they’re going to be suspicious of him, not to mention of you and Sadie. It could blow up in our faces. I won’t put my daughter’s life on the line like this.”

  A beat of silence was passed around the room.

  “It’s not a bad idea.” We all twisted around to look at her as soon as the words left Sadie’s mouth.

  “How can you say that, knowing Camila’s life is hanging by a thread? Knowing that your cover could be blown if we make one wrong move?”

  Sadie moved across the room, passed by Jack, and stood next to Javier. She had a genuine look of compassion on her face. “This thing is going to end one way or another. My gig is up now. We rescue Camila and we take out Goddard. We need to start making moves before Goddard does, or we’re going to be left with a gun to our heads.”

  I stood up and walked over to stand on the other side of Javier’s desk. Jack joined us. “But they know who I am. They spotted me that first night.”

  “I can tell them you’re my man. Had you see what Michelle was up to. Tell them you messed up.”

  I flipped him off and he grinned, but it fell from his face quickly enough.

  Sadie turned back to Javier. “Having one more guy on the inside gives us a greater advantage.”

  Javier closed his eyes and leaned forward on his desk with closed fists. A couple knuckles popped. “All right. Let’s do this.”

  * * *

  Michelle drove her car over to Goddard’s house. It was forty minutes or so outside the city. A place not many people knew of, and even fewer knew Goddard owned it. Jack rode shotgun, while I sat behind her in the back. Her Camry was nice, but it wasn’t meant for a man as big as I was. If I had tried to sit behind Jack, I would’ve felt trapped. As it was, I wasn’t too comfortable with my knees pressed up against the back of her seat, despite the fact she had moved up as far as she could.

  Jack twisted around to look back at me. “Duck down, Bear. We don’t want them to notice you too soon.”

  “Screw you, man.”

  Jack laughed and I even saw that Sadie cracked a smile in the rearview mirror. The air in the car remained heavy with anticipation. This was a risk and we all knew it. As soon as the front gate to Goddard’s mansion came into view we turned serious. They’d spot me as soon as we passed through, and the senator’s men would be all over us once we pulled up to the house.

  Sadie rolled down her window and punched in the entry code that would open the gate. I leaned away from the window so the camera wouldn’t catch my face. They’d know a third person was in the car with her, but if they didn’t have a clue it was me, it would buy us a little time to explain the situation.

  As the gate slid open, Sadie looked in the rearview and caught my eye. “Ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.” My heart was steady, but the burn of adrenaline pumping through my veins warmed my muscles. With any luck this would be the only big risk we took today. But luck hadn’t been on our side lately.

  Had it ever been?

  Sadie pulled through the gate and made her way down the long drive. It was lined with tall manicured trees and opened to a sprawling lawn at the final bend. Several soldiers were waiting on the front steps with their rifles raised. There were six of them in view, and potentially more that we couldn’t see.

  “Go easy,” Jack said. “Let’s not give them an excuse.”

  Sadie gripped the wheel as she pulled forward. I saw her face transform as she slipped into Michelle’s persona. She seemed to shrink a little in her seat, looking softer and more concerned. She really was a chameleon.

  Spero was standing back from his men, his two-tone pistol hanging at his side. I noticed the suppressor threaded to the barrel. As far as he was concerned, he was in complete control with his guys armed and locked onto us. He looked calm and collected as he shouted at the detail. Then he approached us.

  “Out of the car.”

  Sadie looked at Jack, who shrugged his shoulders. The three of us opened our doors in unison and stepped out with our hands in plain view. My pulse quickened. Tended to happen when half a dozen semi-automatic weapons were pointed in your general direction. Sadie had convinced us to leave our firearms in the car. I was itching to grab for the Springfield but that would end with all three of us face down in the driveway, swimming in pools of our own blood.

  The door opened and Goddard stepped out behind Spero. He looked at me for a moment, then his gaze shifted to Jack, and finally settled on Sadie. “What the hell is going on?”

  Sadie took a meek step forward. The guns trained on her sharpened their focus. She swallowed hard, cleared her throat. “I can explain.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Goddard walked down the stairs leading to the front of the house and met Spero. Small lights set in the concrete stairs illuminated his path. A breeze came in from the east carrying with it a hint of freshly cut grass. The smell was sweet and lingered in the back of my throat.

  Spero said, “Explain quickly or my men will be instructed to find a place to bury three corpses.”

  Goddard gave Spero a sharp look but didn’t say anything. He trusted Sadie, but Spero was paid to keep him safe. The man was just doing his job and Sadie had given
them plenty of reason to proceed with caution. Goddard took great lengths to keep anyone from knowing about the residence. Hell, he’d bought the place with blood money. You didn’t just show up unannounced.

  “Thomas.” Sadie’s voice quivered. “Can you tell them to lower the guns, please?”

  Goddard took a moment to think it over. He gestured at me and Jack. “Are they armed?”

  Sadie shook her head. “I told them to keep their guns in the car. They’re not looking for a fight. They want to help.”

  Spero kept his finger aimed at me. “This man was seen lurking around Café Flores the other day. It’s quite a coincidence that he’s here now, no?”

  “I can explain that.” Jack took a step forward, and two of the guns narrowed in on him. He kept his hands in view and held his ground. He looked concerned on the surface, but this was all a game to him. Look like you were afraid and it made the other person feel complacent. “He’s my guy.”

  Spero spit on the ground then said, “I have no reason to trust you. Or your man.”

  “I vouched for Jack,” Sadie said. “You had him vetted. He’s clean.”

  He gestured with his sidearm. “Doesn’t mean this guy is.”

  Goddard glanced at his watch then looked around the property. “The courtesy of your word extended to Jack, Michelle. It does not extend to his friends, too.”

  Sadie lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t thinking of...”

  The senator looked to the sky as if it would give him guidance. “Jack? You have anything to say? Can you clue me in on why someone with your credentials would do something so damn stupid?”

  “His name’s Riley,” Jack said. “We go way back. And we’re as good of a team as you’ll find this side of the Atlantic. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s a better shot than me. Better tactician than me, too. When I’m impatient, he reels me in. I thought those skills might come in handy.”

  Spero gestured in my direction, this time without his pistol. “And why was he outside the café the other day?”

  Jack nodded and had a half grin on his face that made him look sheepish. “That was my bad. I had spotted Michelle earlier in the day. Almost didn’t recognize her. She’s changed a lot since college.”

  Sadie glanced at Jack but averted her eyes just as quickly. She couldn’t show surprise to anything he said.

  Jack continued. “In this line of business you rarely run into old friends out of coincidence. I’m sure you know what I mean, Senator. I had Riley check her out. See what she was up to.”

  “She wasn’t there that morning at the café.” Spiro tightened his grip on his firearm.

  “I’d been following her for a day or two. Noticed she’d met up with Senator Goddard a couple of times. I was interested to see what kind of person he was.”

  Goddard took a few steps forward, placing himself between his security detail and us. “That’s highly convenient, Mr. Smith.”

  Jack shrugged. “Like I said, I rarely run into old friends out of coincidence. But it happens every once in a while. I didn’t even know who you were before she told me that night at the restaurant. I don’t make a habit of following politics. Gives me indigestion.”

  Goddard and Spero both looked over at Sadie, who nodded to confirm Jack’s story. It was a matter of how much they truly trusted her. After a few tense seconds, Spero diverted his gaze toward me. Looked like he was sizing me up.

  “Maybe you should stick with taking the shots instead of tailing the targets. Don’t know if you are aware of this but you kinda stick out.”

  I tossed a glance at Jack. “So I’ve been told.”

  Goddard continued to stare at Sadie. A tear slipped down her cheek and she moved to wipe it away. He addressed the men in front of him. “Lower your weapons.”

  “Sir.” Spero turned on his heel toward his boss. “I don’t advise—”

  Goddard silenced his security chief with a slice of his hand. “I said lower your weapons.”

  The men looked to Spero, who nodded. They were his guys. The senator was second in command in their eyes. Spero’s lips thinned to the point of disappearing and his jaw was clenched so tight the muscles at the corner rippled and I thought he might snap a tooth or two in half.

  “Spero, take Franklin and escort our guests to my office.” Goddard’s narrow stare was now fixed on me. “I’ll be with them momentarily.”

  Spero looked like he wanted to say more, but he was forced to swallow his words as Goddard disappeared back into the house. The door stood open after he slipped out of view. When Spero turned back to us he had his eyes on me. I offered him nothing but a dead stare. The boss had spoken. There was nothing he could do about it no matter how much he wanted to.

  Spero’s men cleared out in teams of two. Franklin led us into the house. A cold blast of air scented like flowers blew down from a wide vent over the door. Beyond that I detected a hint of seared animal flesh. A pan rattled on the stove and a knife slapped on a cutting board somewhere beyond the entryway.

  We were led up the stairs and into a wide foyer adorned with a couch and a couple chairs and a tall bookcase. Every tome on its shelves looked a hundred years old. Worn and weathered spines faced outward, the lettering faded. A dark wooden staircase led up to the second floor, but we bypassed it in favor of a narrow hallway. Spero stayed close enough to me that I felt his hot breath on my neck. I turned around and gave him a smile. He shoved me forward and I just chuckled. It was too easy to get under his skin. If I kept it up, I might rattle him enough that he’d give something up.

  We entered an office with walls made of dark mahogany. It had high ceilings, tall windows, and extensive book cases. Looked like a law library. Jack and Sadie took the sofa and I plopped myself in a leather chair that practically swallowed me whole. Not an easy feat for a piece of furniture. I leaned back and folded my hands in my lap and closed my eyes. The more relaxed I looked the less suspicious it made me and the more it bothered Spero. It was win-win all around.

  A few minutes passed with only the sound of a ticking grandfather clock before Goddard entered the room. He had removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His tie was open to the middle of his chest, his shirt unbuttoned almost as far. His hair stood at odd angles. I hadn’t seen him this disheveled before. Didn’t know it was possible. Had we thrown him a curveball, or was it something else?

  The senator turned to his men. “Wait outside.”

  Spero held up his hand. “Sir—”

  “Now.”

  Spero clenched his jaw again, but nodded like a good soldier. He looked over at Jack and then at me. I gave him a two-fingered salute. He left the room ahead of Franklin who followed behind a second later.

  “You really shouldn’t push Spero.” Goddard slid into his chair. It was large and overbearing and made him a head higher than anyone else seated in the room. “He has a temper.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I only do it because it’s so easy.”

  Goddard chuckled, but I could see the calculating look in his eyes. He turned his gaze on Sadie. “That could’ve ended badly for you out there.”

  She leaned forward on the sofa, forearms crossed, fingers dangling toward the floor. “I see that now. I’m sorry, Thomas. I just wasn’t thinking. I wanted to help.”

  Goddard clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back. His chair groaned as it tipped a few inches away from the desk. He looked more comfortable now, but a vein still twitched at his temple in time with his heartbeat. His ability to go with the flow and work under pressure was what had advanced him so far in the world of politics. I’d almost be impressed, if I wasn’t looking forward to putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger.

  He stared at a spot on the wall above us. “And how do you expect your friends to help?”

  Sadie shifted and bit her bottom lip. She was about to say something risky. “You’ve decided to take out Nicolás after all.”

  Goddard didn’t react on the surface, but
the minor hesitation before he spoke was enough to indicate he hadn’t expected her to guess that much. “What makes you say that?”

  “What he did was unacceptable. He’s not staying in his lane. Even if he were a better leader than Mateo, which he’s not, he put your operation at risk.”

  A smile spread over Goddard’s face. “You pay attention.” He grew serious. “You’ve been close to Nicolás in the past.”

  Sadie shifted uncomfortably. Was that what Michelle would do? Or was it a genuine reaction? “You knew about that?”

  “I know everything, Michelle.”

  My heart skipped a beat. Hopefully not everything.

  “He was good to me once.” Sadie’s voice caught. This one I was certain was genuine. “But I never wanted him to do this. I never wanted him to lead his uncle’s business.”

  “Do I have to worry about your feelings getting in the way of what needs to happen?” Goddard was turning colder. His icy stare revealed the killer inside. Javier had warned us—even when the senator didn’t pull the trigger himself, he was usually the one who ordered the hit.

  Sadie sat up on the couch and looked Goddard dead in the eye. “No.”

  “And how do I know that? You’ve already surprised me once today.”

  “You can trust me, Thomas.” Sadie didn’t give anything away as she spoke. “Nicolás meant something to me once before, but I learned a while ago I couldn’t rely on him. Not like I could rely on you.”

  Goddard held her gaze for several seconds before his eyebrows unknit, his eyes relaxed, his tight lips parted and spread. He took a deep breath then nodded. She had him wrapped around her finger.

  There was a beat of silence, and Jack couldn’t let it go on for a second longer than was comfortable. He leaned forward. “So what now?”

  Goddard looked between me and Jack, then he leaned back in his chair again and kicked his feet up on his desk. A smile spread across his face. “Now you tell me how you’re going to kill Nicolás Garcia.”