A Jar of Hearts

by Cartharn, Clarissa

  He saw the lights of a car turn in front of his house and he picked up his gun. He couldn’t afford to be reckless and welcome whoever was in his yard without being sure who it was first. He had deliberately waited for the agents in the dark, hoping to deceive anybody else that he and Anne weren’t home.

  “James Connelly?” One of the two men knocked on his door. “We know you’re there. We’re here on orders of Officer Mark Dane…”

  James jerked the door open quickly and put a finger to his lips. “Shhh. They might hear you.”

  “Do you mind turning on the lights? We can’t see a damned thing,” the younger one remarked. “Where are they though?”

  “In the basement,” he replied as he turned the lights on in the living room. “What are you going to do with them?”

  “Arrest them for break and enter and assault with a deadly weapon,” the older man replied, glancing about the house. “That should keep them in prison until Mark wraps up his case.” The man nodded at the broken furniture and debris littering the floor. “Quite a bit of struggle I sense.”

  “I haven’t had the time to clean up yet.” James braced the back of his head tiredly. “I’ve been up all night just in case someone else decided to pay another visit.”

  “You still undercover?” the younger one asked.

  James nodded, picking up a fallen lamp and put it back on its stand.

  “Listen, man, I really feel sorry for you. Your missus need not go through all this. I can pull some strings and shift you if you want.”

  James rubbed his brow. “No, that’s okay. I’ll stick it out here for a while like Mark said. But I would appreciate it if you could find out if anyone else knows about our location other than those two fucks.”

  The older man gave him a comforting thump on his back. “You take it easy. We’ll do what we can. And if you need to be moved, we will let you know immediately. In the meantime, I’ll arrange for some people to guard your doorstep. But I can’t promise them until late afternoon tomorrow. Would you be able to hold by until then? Perhaps, you can stay elsewhere while we arrange that.”

  James shook his head. “Nah, I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, then,” the man said. “You want to show me the way to that basement?”

  CHAPTER 33

  “Okay, Ray, you’re on,” Mark’s voice came over into his disguised earpiece.

  “How’s the camera?” Ray Bower muttered between his closed lips as he sat in his car, pretending to fiddle with the glove box. Only a few feet away was Juan Carlos’ house. This was where the gang leader masterminded all the havoc The Pachecos rained on the city.

  “All good.”

  Ray let out a long and deep breath.

  “Something wrong, Ray?” Mark asked.

  “Leroy Stein,” Ray grumbled. “Is that the only name you could find?”

  “He was what we had available,” Mark replied nonchalantly.

  Ray heard Casey giggling in the background and rolled his eyes. “You want to know what I think of it?”

  “Not exactly,” Mark said.

  “I’ll show you.” He put his middle finger up; looking straight at it so the camera in his contact lenses could catch a clear image of it.

  Casey and Corey unleashed a barrel of laughter, bringing out a smile in him as well. He’d rather be with them in the van than here. In an operation such as this, no one could ever predict what might happen. The best they could do was prepare for the worst.

  “Alright, Leroy, get on with it,” Mark said.

  Ray stepped out of his car and straightened his shirt. He was going to be a part of The Pachecos and get a first-hand experience of the hell Eric had gone through in the last two years.

  “Hey, my man Leroy!” Freddie said aloud. “Come on in and I’ll introduce you to the gang.”

  The short, heavy set man put an arm around him and led him into the house. Juan’s goons sat sporadically through the rooms with some playing video games and others smoking whatever shit they were stuffing down their throats and noses.

  “Are you scared?” Freddie asked. Leroy shrugged uncaringly and Freddie laughed. “Good, good.”

  As they approached the rumpus room, he found the man they had been chasing seated on a stool, swallowing down another shot of his liquor.

  “Juan,” Freddie spoke a little more timidly than he had done with him a few minutes ago. “This is Leroy Stein. He is the shooter I was telling you about.”

  Juan leaned back on the counter, giving him a thorough study. “I heard you’re good.”

  Leroy snorted. “I am the best.”

  Juan laughed. “I had the best. But he quit because he wanted a normal life. What the fuck is normal though?” He scratched his head. “Leroy… What sort of fucking name is that?” He began to chortle loudly.

  Leroy looked away and rolled his eyes. “I have to agree. My father was an asshole,” he smirked. Mark would know he was referring to him.

  “What stops you from changing it?”

  “He’s family. He may be a fucked up one, but he’s still family.”

  Juan smiled and nodded. “I like that. Stein… Stein. You Jewish?”

  “German. But yeah, Jewish by religion. So?”

  Juan shrugged. “We Mexicans are Catholics. Jewish and Catholics are not exactly the best match.”

  “I’m not asking you to go to the synagogue. I came here because I was told there was an opening for a sharpshooter. You still have that opening or not?”

  “Depends.” Juan rubbed his lower lip. He indicated to one of his men and he left, returning a few seconds later with a rifle. “There’s a gnome sitting in the garden at the end of the pool. You hit that sucker, you get the job.”

  Leroy raised his brow suspiciously.

  “Trust me, it’s there.” Juan grinned.

  Leroy perked his lips and accepted the rifle. “A Cheytac. 408 cal.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  “It’s okay. Not my favorite though.” He pulled a table and set his rifle on it. He adjusted his scope and eyed through it, looking for that damned gnome in question. He finally found it in his crosshairs but he couldn’t be sure if he would hit it. In truth, he was never going to be as good as Eric Tanner and Mark was the next best thing. But Juan knew Mark and so there was no other option but to have him play the role of the next Pacheco assassin.

  He waited for confirmation from Mark. His camera in his contact lenses would give his captain the same view and almost the feel that he was shooting instead.

  “Up to the trees, so I can gauge the wind,” Mark whispered into his earpiece. “It’s your lucky day. The leaves are delightfully still. Now go back… That’s it. A little to the left. Keep your arm steady and maintain a good control on your finger… Okay, when you’re ready, buddy.”

  Leroy pulled on the trigger and the gnome blew into smithereens. The men watching him gave him a roar of applause, clapping their hands in approval.

  Juan smiled. “Not bad.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Leroy retorted. “Try and get one of your men to repeat what I did.”

  Juan put his hands in his pockets and ambled back to the bar. “Oh, I know my men couldn’t do what you did. But I know a man who could have done better. He worked for me, and now, I am sorely spoilt for something as good or better. You’re close enough, so I am happy to take you in.”

  Leroy rubbed his chin. “Yeah, I would have to think about it.”

  The Pacheco king raised his brow. “You’re having second thoughts?”

  “Well, you say this other guy is better than me. What the fuck did he shoot?”

  Juan smirked. “Ahh, I offended your ego.”

  “Listen, I clipped a guy right on his heart three thousand feet away. Could your guy do that?”

  “Three thousand…” He let out a cackle of laughter. “Three thousand feet!” He held onto his sides, his laughter triggering the others in the room. “My man could do more than three thousand feet.”
<
br />   “I don’t believe you. No one hits that precisely unless he received proper military training.” He was trying to insult the leader and when he narrowed his eyes, Leroy knew he had managed just about that.

  “What do you know about the Trent Harvey assassination?” Juan said stiffly.

  “He was domed. Shot directly in the back of his head while he was riding his bike. The perfect shot and the best I have seen so far.”

  “Can you give me something like that?”

  Leroy scoffed. “That was the job of the famous Accorsi Mafia. I mean they’re a different class of people, man. Different standing altogether. I’m not trying to demean you and all but they can employ the best to order something like that.”

  “That was not the Accorsi Mafia! That was my hit! Mine! That was my man working for me!”

  “You killed Trent Harvey?”

  “Yes, I killed the motherfucker. I ordered that hit. I just wish people would give credit where it is due!” He gritted his teeth angrily.

  “Damn,” Leroy muttered. “That was something. Do you think you could give me the name of this hitman? I don’t mind taking a lesson or two.”

  “Okay, get out of there, Ray,” Mark said softly. “We got him.”

  Juan poured himself a drink and gulped it down quickly. “I’d give you that and more. I want him. He’s your first hit.”

  Leroy scratched his chin. “Eh… listen, I gotta rethink this job, man.”

  Juan frowned. “What’s the matter? You can’t do it.”

  “No, I can. But if you say this guy was the best you had and now you’re gonna kill him just because he wants out. What’s to say you won’t turn on me when the time comes?”

  “Jamie was different. He fucked my sister and then ran off with the woman I loved. You’re not going to do that, are you Leroy?”

  “No, but what guarantee can you give me that you’ll have my back as much as I have yours?”

  “My word.”

  “Sounds good. But I trust a brother who shows he can play the cards as good as he can order them.”

  “Ray,” Mark growled in his ear again. “What are you doing? I told you we had him!”

  But he ignored him and continued. “Freddie told me you have a drug run tonight. How about doing it together?”

  Juan narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously.

  “What? You pussy?” Leroy grinned. “No time for respect for someone who shies away from his own runs.”

  Juan crooked a finger at Freddie, calling him over to him. “Have you checked him out properly?” he whispered.

  “Yeah. He’s got jail time and a rap sheet that will make any gangster proud.”

  “First kill?”

  “Twelve years old. Shot a man for his wallet. You can trust him.”

  “Ray, get out of there now. That’s an order,” Mark almost shouted.

  Juan turned around, screwing his lips up in thought.

  “Who’s this?” Avanna strolled into the room in a tiny black dress and tall heels.

  “Leroy Stein. He’s here for a job interview,” Juan mumbled.

  “I’m Avanna, Juan’s sister,” she said seductively, running her finger down his arm, feeling his muscles. “Fuck, you’re big and firm.”

  “Stay away from her, Ray,” Casey warned into his ear. “She fucked up Eric’s escape plan.”

  Leroy caught her wandering hand. “I recall Juan saying his sister fucked up the other shooter. Keep your pussy away from me. I ain’t interested in it.”

  She glowered at him and Juan, and then stormed away into another room

  Juan snickered. “She can be such a bitch sometimes. But you… I’m beginning to like you. I haven’t had an adventure in a while, so why not? Let’s do that run together.”

  CHAPTER 34

  “You better be there tonight, Mark,” Ray said as he drove towards his rented apartment.

  “You fuck! You could have got yourself killed!” Mark roared in his ear.

  “But I didn’t. And now you can get more than evidence on the Trent Harvey case.”

  “You arrogant fucking bastard.”

  “So what say boss, we doing it or not?”

  “I hate to admit it but we don’t have a better chance than this. But Ray, you will obey instructions this time. I won’t have a man on my team who decides to play lone wolf McQuade whenever he feels like it.”

  “I understand, Captain.”

  They signed off, departing into different directions, both eager to finally put an end to Juan Carlos and his band called The Pachecos.

  Two- thirty seven, Leroy noted in his watch. The world was asleep and they were meeting in the middle of an isolated road to do a drug deal with mules from across the Mexican border.

  “Leroy, you okay to be the lookout driver?” Juan asked.

  Leroy put his hands in his pockets and strolled over to his car. “Looking forward to it.”

  Juan’s men slammed down the trunk of their car, a million dollars worth of cocaine stashed under the false bottom of the spare wheel.

  “Lead the way, Leroy,” Juan called out to him.

  Ray began his route, his eyes on the headlights of Juan’s car following him a mile away. He knew they would double that distance, just enough to keep clear of any cops on the way Ray was supposed to report to them about.

  He headed into the highway and as he had assumed, he saw them lag in the darkness.

  “Okay, they went past us,” Casey informed into his earpiece.

  Ray headed around the bend, losing them completely. But Casey and Corey were on them and with Corey at the wheel, he was sure they wouldn’t lose Juan. Very few people could shake off Corey when he played tag.

  He slid down his window, feeling the night breeze flutter his hair and cooling his face. He put his arm out the window and gave a thumbs-up in the dark, smiling as he drove past Mark and his crew disguised by the darkness of the night.

  Immediately, they turned their lights on and blocked the highway, agents further up already detouring the rest of the traffic.

  He heard cars skidding to a stop, bullets firing and the night blazed with colorful red and blue lights.

  Corey helped Juan Carlos up to his feet and sat him at the back of a police car.

  “Was it Leroy who told you about our run?” Juan asked, his face stained with the blood of his colleagues.

  “Leroy?” Corey feigned ignorance. “Your lookout driver? No, he’s pretty much dead after trying to escape a couple of miles down the road. It was your guy José Menendez who ratted your ass.”

  “I don’t believe it,” he muttered.

  “No? Hmmm… oh well, he was arrested after killing James Connelly. You know him? His partner, Snipes died in the altercation between them. Thanks to some neighbors who heard all the commotion and had the good sense of calling the cops, we caught José trying to escape the property.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Juan spat out.

  “You can call it what you want,” Corey said without a care. “The fact is Leroy is dead, your buddies there are dead, Connelly is dead, Snipes is dead, and so is José after realizing you were going to kill him anyway for bitching on you. Yeah, the sucker put a knife to his throat and jabbed it straight into his windpipe. Nasty stuff. Anyways, we got enough dead bodies and of course, Trent Harvey’s to lock you away for life.”

  Juan went pale, life visibly draining out of him. “Wait,” he said quickly before Corey could shut the door on him. “What about Anne Mullen, the blind woman?”

  “What blind woman?” Corey asked with puzzlement. “Ahh… Connelly’s ex-partner. She had split and returned to her parents after discovering what a cunt he was.”

  He slammed the door, watching the gangster king grow limp and helpless as he was chauffeured to prison.

  Mark strolled up to Corey with his hands on his hips. “Did he see me?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Did he believe you?”

  “You should have seen how his tan
ran off his face.” Corey grinned. “Of course he did. Every word.”

  “That’s good. Now all I have got to do is tell Eric and wrap this case up. Take the next couple of days off. We sorely need this break before we begin our next mission.”

  “Speak for yourself. You’re the one eager to head back home,” Corey teased.

  “The captain’s got a girlfriend,” Casey sang just loud enough to catch Mark’s ear.

  “Who’s got a girlfriend?” Ray jumped in.

  “The captain.”

  “Really? Who wanted him?”

  “Someone who wouldn’t want a Leroy,” Hank chirped in, putting an arm about the sulking Ray.

  “I swear I’m knocking the next person who calls me Leroy,” he grumbled.

  “Leroy,” Corey said, following a chanting by the rest.

  It sparked a friendly fight between them as they playfully tussled with each other. Mark smiled and walked back to the van.

  This had been his family for a very long time and he was far too grateful that they had escaped unhurt from their operation. It wasn’t always that they celebrated with such cheer.

  He picked up his jacket and headed off towards a car ready to pick him up and take him to the airport. While he wanted to be here and be part of the fun, he had Eric and Anne to think about. And of course, there was Julia and Ashley. When all this was done, there was nothing that could stop him from racing back home to his new family.

  CHAPTER 35

  Eric leaned against his balcony rails with a frown etched on his brow as he studied the man who he had once despised for tossing his life into chaos. He had never bet on though that he would come to grow attached to the very same man.

  “It’s really over?” he asked again, incredulous that it would ever be.

  “Juan’s in prison and we intend to keep him there for a very long time,” Mark replied with a sigh.