by Robert Boren
General Hogan chuckled. “Now we’re talking. I’ll go get on the horn with the Dulzura PD and see what I can find out about the folks you killed there. We’ll figure out what mercenary firm they’ve been working with. Those are the folks we need to target.”
“I’ll get started on the folks involved in the Wrightwood attack,” Frank said, “I’ve got those names right here.”
Robbie and Morgan came back in the room, going quietly to their PCs.
“I’m so sorry, Robbie,” Jane said. He looked back at her with red eyes, nodding.
“Thanks, mom. What are we doing?”
“You want to help me with this set of names, son?” Frank asked.
“Sure,” Robbie said, rolling his chair next to his dad’s. They had a hushed conversation, Jane moving closer to join in.
“We should get everybody that’s good at hacking in here right now, and divide this up,” George said.
“On it,” Heidi said. “I’ll text Jasmine, Ben, and Dick. They’re all good.”
“They are,” Malcolm said. “We need the names of Mateo’s body guards also. You never know. Might lead us to something.”
The people Heidi texted began showing up after a few minutes.
***
“I think I’m almost through,” Jean said, pausing his hammering, pulling the knife free and looking closely.
“We might want to stop, and barricade that door,” Charles said, eyes glued to the TV. “They’ve got news choppers over the estate. The citizens broke through the wall and took out the main group of commandos guarding the grounds. It might be easy for them to find this location.”
Jean rushed over, sitting on the couch in front of the TV. “Dammit, we’re toast. Look at all those people.”
“The military’s coming,” Charles said.
Jean chuckled. “Yeah, but we don’t know if they’re coming to help us or to arrest us.”
Charles shrugged. “They might not know we’re here.”
“I wouldn’t bet any money on that.”
The special bulletin graphic came across the screen.
“Oh great, what now?” Jean asked.
“A mob just broke through the outer wall at Buckingham Palace,” Charles said, his heart in his throat.
“Well you can probably scratch the military detail now,” Jean said, watching the action. “They’ll high-tail it back to London. They weren’t that far along.”
There was the sound of a key going into the door, Charles and Jean whirling their heads around as it opened, several armed men rushing in, guns pointed at them.
“Freeze,” the first one said. Then Sebastian stepped into the room.
“Stand down, Stacey. They’re on our side.”
“Oh, sorry sir,” the commando said.
“Help get Maggie in here.”
The two men rushed out, helping to wheel in a gurney, Maggie strapped onto it, her eyes closed.
“Maggie!” Charles yelled, rushing to her side, touching her hand. It was warm, but she didn’t move. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s in a coma,” Sebastian said. “The doctor left before the rabble got here, and now he can’t get back. This isn’t good.”
The commandos shut the door, locked it back up, then moved some heavy furniture in front of the door.
“This is just a wooden door,” one of the men said. “Won’t hardly slow people down.”
Sebastian looked at it, starting to chuckle as he looked at the surface, dug out by the knives. “You guys were trying to escape, I see. Oak is tough stuff.”
“We were getting there,” Jean said, “but decided maybe we wanted that door serviceable when we saw the commoners climbing over the wall.”
“They killed a dozen commandos out there,” Sebastian said.
“So what’s the plan?” Charles asked. “I’m still paying you, remember?”
“Sorry, I’m not taking orders from you anymore,” Sebastian said. “I’ll try to get you out of here in one piece, but how that will happen will be my choice, not yours.”
“On who’s authority?” Charles asked.
A quiet man who was off to the side raised his hand. “On my authority, and if you argue, I’ll have you very quickly shot. Do we understand each other?”
“And who might you be?” Charles asked.
“Maggie’s brother and only heir. Cedric Hines. This is a family matter now. I have no allegiance to you whatsoever. As far as I’m concerned, we can leave you down here for the rioters to dispatch.”
“Sebastian, if you get Jean and I out of here alive, there will be a big payday in it for you.”
“How big?” Sebastian asked.
“Twenty million sound about right?” Charles asked.
“Make it fifty and we have a deal.”
Charles smiled. “It’s a deal.”
“I can have you shot too,” Cedric said. Sebastian drew his gun, pointing it at Cedric. The commandos eyed each other, but did nothing. “You’re gonna let him do that?”
“Sorry, sir, but you folks are through,” one of the commandos said. “I’ll be looking for another job tomorrow, if I don’t get killed. If you try to throw your weight around in here, I’ll do you myself.”
“You’ll never work anywhere in this country again, Percy,” Cedrick spat.
Charles chuckled.
“Don’t you get cocky either, Livingston,” Percy said. “You’re several notches below Maggie and Cedric in my book. Maggie was a silly old woman, and you helped guide her into this mess. You’ve ruined our country. It would be a pleasure to stop your Yankee clock.”
“How do you feel about Frenchmen?” Jean quipped. Everybody stared at him, and he shrugged. “Well, I thought it was funny anyway.”
Cedric laughed. “You folks should be talking to me. Who’s the only conscious person who’s lived here most of their life?”
Sebastian walked over to him, gun still out, and put it right up to the side of his head, the barrel touching. “Talk now. Better have something, or I’ll spread your brains all over this room.”
“I’ll tell you if you move your toy,” Cedric said defiantly. “You’ll need me alive.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Okay. I’m listening.” He lowered his gun.
“There’s two other ways out of here. You know about the tunnel that leads from the front driveway to this bunker. There are two other tunnels. You didn’t notice that the road continued past the doors for this area?”
“It was dark down there, and I had other priorities at the time,” Sebastian said. “How far away do these tunnels dump out?”
“One dumps out two blocks to the north. The other dumps out further, to the east, but you can’t get a vehicle out there. We’d have to walk out.”
“That’s not happening, except as a last resort,” Sebastian said. “Who else knows about these tunnels?”
“Nobody who’s in Manchester at the moment,” Cedric said.
“That tunnel has openings inside the property too,” Percy said. “There’s a good chance that the rabble will find them if they’re allowed to look around enough.”
“Why would they wander around the flower beds when there’s a nice mansion to sack?” Cedric asked. “Those tunnel trap doors are locked too.”
“Padlocks on the outside. It’ll take less time to get through them than that wall took,” Percy said. “I’ve never seen where the tunnel goes beyond this property, either. You’re gonna show us. Now.”
***
Mr. White and Mr. Black were eating room service, watching TV coverage of the riots in London and Manchester.
“Hey, these guys limit our earning potential,” Mr. White quipped. “They kill scumbags before we get chance, no?”
Mr. Black snickered. “Don’t worry, plenty low-lifes here. You know what I don’t understand?”
“Everything.”
“Shut up,” Mr. Black said. “Why UN still here, after what they do in California?”
“P
ortland too, remember?” Mr. White added. “This city still influenced by enemy from top to bottom. I’ll bet they cover up Mateo killing massage girl.”
“Is that even true?”
Mr. White shrugged. “Not know. Passed to Ivan. He was interested.”
“Uh oh,” Mr. Black said. “Look at screen. Lance Evans come up for air.”
They both focused on the screen as the announcer talked.
Lance Evans, who’s been missing since the attack in Central Park last week, has resurfaced, calling the NYPD to explain why he was in hiding. Sources say it was the obvious—the hit men didn’t succeed, and would love to have another chance. Arrangements will be made to pick up Mr. Evans and put him under police protection.
“I call boss,” Mr. Black said, picking up his phone and hitting the contact. “I put on speaker.”
“Ivan?”
“Hello. How are you two doing? Nothing wrong, I hope.”
“Lance Evans just contacted NYPD. Told them he feared for life, went into hiding after the attack.”
Ivan chuckled. “Well that’s good news. Any details?”
“They just say he go under police protection,” Mr. White said.
“He’ll do nothing of the sort,” Ivan said, “but I suspect he will get back to his headquarters, where all of his systems and people are.”
“You want we should start poking around Evans Enterprises, boss?”
“No, you guys have been all over Manhattan. I was getting ready to suggest you take a powder.”
“Powder where?” asked Mr. Black.
“Someplace close by. Philly, or DC, perhaps. You still have the Lincoln, right?”
“In parking garage. We do as you wish.”
“Don’t leave yet. I’ll get back to you. Relax and enjoy room service. Don’t go walking around Manhattan.”
“I got, boss. Will do. Let us know.” Mr. Black ended the call.
“This be over sooner than expected,” Mr. White said. “Maggie toast. If others in UK, they toast too. Country fall apart, nobody interested in making nice with globalist thugs now, even for money. Wait and see.”
“Livingston have powerful friends in UK. Don’t count chickens yet.”
***
“I’m in,” Frank said.
“In where?” General Hogan asked.
“The Merc outfit that provided muscle for the Wrightwood and Dulzura operations,” Frank said. “They’ve got lousy security.”
Malcolm smiled. “We need to get some of the others here to help.”
“We’ve got enough hackers,” Ben said.
“No, not hackers. George, Sam, Ted, Sparky, Jules, Tex. Those guys have connections with the Merc community. They might recognize names and locations.”
“You’re right,” General Hogan said. “I’m texting them now.”
“What’s the name of the firm?” Malcolm asked.
“Sheridan Services,” Frank said.
“Good, I’ll see what else I can find out about them, but I’ll stay out of their systems.”
“Yeah, we don’t want to tip anybody off,” Frank said.
“What’s up, partner?” Tex asked, walking in with Karen, the others showing up after a moment.
“You guys hit pay dirt already?” George asked.
“I got into the system at Sheridan Services,” Frank said. “They provided Mercs for the Wrightwood and Dulzura operations.”
Jules grinned. “I know many who worked there. Not all do now, but some probably.”
“You didn’t recognize any of the names we dug up earlier?” Ben asked.
“Nope,” Jules said. “I tell Agent Williams and Ted Crowley to come too. They know community.”
“Lots of turnover in that business, and they might have subcontracted with other outfits too,” Ted said. “I know the names of other firms that might have been involved. Hell, they might still be involved.”
“Whoa, I just got onto their payroll system,” Frank said. “These guys are dumb. It’s got names, amounts, and dates of payment.”
“Does it list what jobs the payments were for?” General Hogan asked.
Frank turned towards him. “They’re dumb, but they’re not that dumb.” Several in the room chuckled.
“I’m surprised they don’t have better security,” Malcolm said. “Most of what they do is in the grey area of legality.”
“What they did on these two operations was completely illegal,” Ted said.
“What’s going on?” Agent Williams asked, walking in with Ted Crowley.
“Do you guys have knowledge about Sheridan Services?” General Hogan asked.
Agent Williams laughed. “Small firm. Been in trouble more than once. Almost everything they’ve done that we know about has been highly illegal, but difficult to prove, let alone prosecute.”
“They were involved in the hits?” Ted Crowley asked.
“People who have worked for them were killed or captured in the engagements,” Frank said. “What other companies do this sort of thing?”
“Hamilton Services,” Ted said. “I actually worked for them a couple times before I got out of the game. Good leadership, sketchy clients. I figured working there was a good way to get dead or sent to prison. Helped me decide to try the restaurant business.”
“That cut-throat too,” Jules said.
Ted snickered. “Yes, that’s true, Jules, but we usually work out our differences without shooting at each other.”
Jules snickered. “What you have, Frank?”
“Names of Mercs who haven’t been killed or captured,” Frank said. “I’m working on the locations of them now.”
“We pick up, get info,” Jules said.
“Ten to one most of them have escaped into the woodwork, partner,” Tex said.
“Probably, but we’ll learn a lot just from getting into their world,” Ted said.
Malcolm nodded. “Exactly.”
“Let’s put a matrix together,” Agent Williams said, pulling up a chair.
“FBI procedures, huh?” Sparky asked.
“Damn straight.”
Tex smiled. “Let’s work it, gents. Let’s take control of the battlefield. We’ve drawn some blood, but we need to strike more quickly.”
“We need to capture some of these guys, and kill others for the world to see,” George said. “We need to expose the leadership to the public while we target them.”
“Speaking of that, anything on that story about Mateo killing a massage parlor girl?”
“Ivan’s working that with some other operatives,” Ben said. “That’s why he’s not here. He’s been on the phone for more than an hour.”
***
Penko was at his laptop in the darkened room when Albena rushed in.
“About time you got back,” Penko said, turning towards her as she pulled up a chair next to him.
“I’ve got what we needed,” she said.
“You did? How?”
“The mamasan isn’t interested in prison or deportation,” Albena said. She pulled a thumb drive out of her shirt pocket and handed it to him.
Penko grinned. “Is that what I think it is?”
“That establishment wasn’t just running whores. They were also gathering blackmail videos. There’s enough here to cause an uprising about the UN in Manhattan.”
“Is the murder on there?”
Albena nodded. “We’ve got Mateo dead to rights. I almost wish the creep was still alive so we could enjoy watching him get arrested.”
“They wouldn’t arrest him,” Penko said. “Diplomatic immunity, remember?”
Albena smirked. “Never did understand that bit of garbage, but no matter. We’ll just take out the trash ourselves. Should I contact Mr. Black and Mr. White?”
“They just left for Philly,” Penko said. “Been chatting with them already. They put me in contact with Ivan. Show me the video. If it’s good enough, we’ll pass it to Ivan, and he’ll schedule a TV appearance.”
&nbs
p; “You mean like he was doing in California?”
Penko smiled, nodding. “We show Mateo first, and then watch for the others to disappear. If they see the video, they’ll know the jig is up. We could hit them as they try to escape.”
“We could just dox them all,” Albena said.
“We should do that either way,” Penko said, “but we’ll discuss it with Ivan first. He’s an expert at this sort of thing. Remember that California was even more in the pocket of the globalists than the Mid-Atlantic region.”
“Yes, I was very impressed,” Albena said. “I hope to meet him someday.”
“He’s dangerous.”
Albena laughed. “So am I. Play the video.”
Penko stuck the thumb drive into his USB port and accessed the files. “Which one?”
“Sort the files alphabetically, then select the third one from the top. Oh, and by the way, there’s more than one murder here. There’s fourteen total, spanning the last several years.”
Penko nodded, following her instructions. The video played. Mateo was on a young Asian girl, violently smacking her about the face as he used her, somebody in the background yelling quiet. Mateo’s hands went around her neck. “You heard the lady,” he said as he squeezed the life out of the girl. Then he got up, turning towards the chair in the corner of the room, a clear shot of his face on the screen. He dressed and left quickly.
“Wow,” Penko said, selecting the file and attaching it to an encrypted message.
“Where are you sending that?”
“Drop box,” Penko said. “Already set up with Ivan.”
{ 14 }
Sea Harriers
C harles and Jean followed Sebastian, Cedric, and what was left of the commandos, two of them pushing Maggie’s gurney through the dark tunnel.
“You have an ambulance waiting, I hope?” Charles asked, walking next to the gurney.
Sebastian shot him a glance. “Keep it down. We have a large work van, about a hundred meters ahead.”
“Why not just bring it to the bunker door?” Jean whispered.
“The bunker doors are right under the front of the mansion, and there are vents,” Cedric whispered. “The rabble will smell the diesel if we have the engine running under there. They might even hear it, although there’s a lot of noise up there.”