Roger chuckled, “I took mine in the face. Looks like I lost a bar fight.”
Catahoula’s voice was somber, “You be careful tonight. Manio is ruthless, and his men are devoted. Last time he was arrested his men attacked the transport convoy. Manio never even stepped inside the jail. It was a massacre.”
Roger had forgotten about that. But it gave him an idea. “What if I deliver him to the Navy? They’re right down the coast from the Casino. That way we could arrange a military transport.”
Catahoula laughed, “How the hell are you going to get the Navy to do this for you?”
Roger smiled as he answered, “I have a martial law order good ‘til midnight.”
“Yes, you do.” Catahoula hung up and Roger dialed Mathew Core.
Core answered on the first ring, “Yeah.”
Roger and Core spoke about Manio’s arrest for a few minutes. Roger wanted Core’s help and some advice. Roger asked what the news was at the docks.
Core answered, “You know Zack and I have a buddy we call Jimmy with us, right?”
Roger knew there was a CIA undercover that had been with Core and Zack at the raid last night. “Yes, he’s CIA, right?”
Core answered, “Right. He is being told something bad is being put together. We don’t know what. We do know where.”
Roger asked, “The port?”
Core answered, “Worse. The guys being brought in have high level military skills specializing in explosives. They also have engineering and drilling training. They are only used for extreme missions. An entire force of them were used in the Gulf War to protect oil interests. Their legacy lives on. All specialized outside contractors. Bad dudes.”
Roger asked, “Can you guys identify these men when they arrive and find out the plan?”
Core answered, “Depends who they send. Last I knew, most of them were from the States. Right here on the gulf. Won’t take them long to put a team on this port. Could be tonight. Jimmy and I haven’t been invisible for the last ten years. We know some bad folks. We won’t be able to get very close if they recognize us. And they won’t be slumming around the bars when they get here. We are going to need a lot of luck to figure out what they are planning, and where they might go.”
Roger told Core to keep him posted and hung up. Roger was processing all of the new information. The Director had said the chatter Ellen was going to investigate had just started. CIA put Jimmy on alert. The people Jimmy was told were coming wouldn’t have anything to do with the money seizure. LUCY had a plan B.
Roger called the Director with his suspicions. The Director was furious that the CIA wasn’t sharing all of the information they were getting. The Director and Roger agreed that without Ellen the paranoia of the agencies would tangle any plan to the point of uselessness.
The Director wished Roger luck on his arrest of Manio and added, “Since we are going with RICO on this, I want Fenley and Donavan arrested, too. I think we will wait for all of the chatter to end. See what this plan B might harvest.”
Roger paced his hotel room waiting for Paul. There was one flaw in his plan for tonight he had to fix. He had to get Manio on the roof.
Tourey leaned against the brick wall of the alley behind the diner and watched Core, Zack, and Jimmy leave Colby’s bar. Zack and Jimmy walked to the back of Colby’s, presumably headed for the dock storage buildings. Mathew Core walked straight toward Tourey.
Tourey was impressed. Core was good. Core nodded to Tourey as he took a position on the wall next to him. Core pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and said, “I was hopin’ you would come snoopin’ around. I have a Christmas list for you. I’m hoping you’re Santa.”
Tourey took the paper and read through the items. Tourey chuckled, “You sure you want me to be Santa? Ain’t I supposed to know who’s been naughty?”
Core chuckled, “Can you get them in two hours?”
Tourey’s eyebrows went up. “I have to pass this by my boss first.”
Core turned to face Tourey. “Roger Dance is going to have a big problem tonight. None of us are sure how bad it might get. I’m trying to be prepared for a worse case. If it turns out I need this shit, it will be too late to ask.”
Tourey knew that John was using Core as an asset and that LUCY was coming down tonight. The items Core wanted pointed to a fear that LUCY had a plan B. Core was right. Neither John nor Roger would approve Core having this stuff without more information.
Tourey stood up straight and said, “You realize what you are asking me?”
Core said, “If I don’t have to use this shit, no foul. If I do have to use it, you helped save the day. Just you and I will know where it came from. That I promise you.”
Tourey exhaled loudly, “My gut says I have a friggin’ Christmas list to fill.”
Core smiled and walked away.
Thor walked down to Jeanne’s house and knocked on the door. No answer. He sat on the porch swing and gave it a small push. The moaning of the rusted chain against the hook filled the air and he stopped the swing. He made a mental note he would fix that for her when the case was done. He saw the deep grooves in the trim along the front door and noticed they had initials next to them. He chuckled to himself as he pictured Pablo and Jeanne measuring who was growing the fastest. He was sure Jeanne was angry every time Pablo was taller.
Thor stood. What was he doing here anyway? They had a huge arrest tonight he needed to rest up for. Simon’s voice was in his head. This case is over in a day or so. I’m heading home the minute Roger says we’re done. Every man has one big regret in his life. She was my goose.
Mambo’s voice took over. Your souls have known each other for centuries. She has chosen you. She will consume you.
Thor stepped off the porch and walked toward the noise of the city. Mambo had been right about one thing. He did know something essential was missing in his life.
John Barry hung up his phone and looked at his watch. He was going to help Roger with the Manio arrest in one hour. John dialed Adele, “You and Jerome want to catch a quick ice cream? I only have about an hour.”
John stood and put his suit jacket on. Adele had been thrilled at the offer, and said Jerome was sitting on the stoop, memorizing the brochures John had left him. John grabbed a fistful of new materials from the recruiting rack as he left.
Thomas Fenley turned on the news only to hear that the Federal Government had seized the assets of an unnamed organization that had infiltrated the French Quarter Bank. The reporter bragged it was the largest government seizure of money in history. Fenley changed the channel to another news station. Breaking news. Same story. Fenley called Donavan.
Donavan answered, “Yes, I have seen your news.”
Fenley asked, “Is it true? Is it us?”
“Damn right, it’s true. It was a trap. A damn good one. They haven’t frozen our assets, they seized them. Eighty four trillion dollars, Thomas. You hear that number loud and clear? I ordered the Washington D.C electrical grid to go down in ten minutes.”
Fenley was going to puke. “They will release our money when their grids go down. Have you talked to Thornton?”
Donavan answered, “Thornton? He drove his car into a concrete bridge. He’s dead! Explain to me how I know everything before you do?”
Fenley hung up and ran for the bathroom.
The team started arriving at the field office to put on their assault gear. Pablo had come just to feel a part of it. This was probably the biggest arrest that would ever happen in his career. He cursed the wound in his shoulder. It wasn’t fair. Simon walked into the room and opened a locker filled with vests. He started to put one on and looked at Pablo.
“I made a couple of calls this afternoon. After tonight I am going to take a couple of weeks’ vacation and report to the Indy office. I left the door open for you to come too.”
Pablo nodded, “I just want to drain your brain as long as I can. Sounds fine to me. Why not somewhere warm though? Like Hawaii?”
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nbsp; Simon laughed, “Indy might have an opening.”
“Isn’t that Thor’s post?”
Thor walked in the room, “Who says Indy may have an opening?” He was frowning.
Simon answered, “Let’s just say a birdy told me.” Simon finished cinching his vest and walked up to Thor. Simon handed Thor a small white feather and winked. “Put this in your pocket for luck.”
Thor stuffed the feather in his shirt pocket and rubbed his hands over his forehead, “This whole team is going crazy.”
Jeanne came in and asked, “Who’s going crazy?” She frowned at Pablo, “You are, if you think you are going tonight.”
Pablo put his hands up in the air, “I’m just here to cheer you on.”
Jeanne sat on a long wooden bench and started loading her boots with knives. She had secret slits all over them. She looked up and everyone had stopped what they were doing and watched her.
Jeanne said, “You throw your knife you’ve lost your weapon. Always need a few spares.”
Nelson nodded, “Sometimes you do need to be quiet. Knife works for me, as long as I also have this.” He was holding up an assault weapon.
Roger and Paul came in the room and began putting on their gear. John Barry walked in, his shirt covered with brown stains.
Paul asked, “What the hell did you have for dinner? Looks like you’re wearing it.”
John laughed, “Chocolate ice cream. Lost my scoop.”
When everyone was suited up, Roger stood and asked for their attention. He passed out drawings to each of them and said, “Our goal is to get Manio on the roof. I need you to leave his escape route clear. Cover all exits. We can assume he has men with him and they will die to protect him. Mass and his guys will be going in the front and making noise about the arrest. Hopefully, Manio will head for the roof at that time. He has a helicopter there and he will be instructing his pilot to get it ready.”
Roger continued, “Do not risk any civilians. If Manio is heading for the roof your job is done. I want you to stay alive. I don’t even care about Manio’s men. I would like Jeanne and Thor to cover Paul and me from the back. Manio will have men protecting his escape stairway. This is a short, one story stairwell to the roof. Jeanne can take them out with her knives and Thor can pull their bodies out of the way. I don’t want Manio hearing shots behind him.”
Thor asked, “Who is on the roof besides you and Paul?”
Roger answered, “John Barry, and Nelson until Jeanne and Thor can join us. I have planned a roof top party I will explain to you now.”
Thor looked at Simon. “Can’t wait to hear this.”
Twenty minutes had gone by. Fenley still had power. He went to his laptop and keyed in access for the security sites. They were all still functioning. What was happening? These were supposed to be down. Fenley paced. He wasn’t sure he should call Donavan again. Donavan was in London. Maybe he didn’t know the grids were still working.
Fenley dialed Donavan who answered. “Yes.”
Fenley practically shouted, “I still have electricity. I can still see our security systems. What is happening?”
Donavan answered, “I have been told our programs are impotent. We have been stopped.”
Fenley collapsed in his chair, “Now what?”
Donavan said, “Just keep watching the news. There is always another plan Thomas. Remember that. Remember also that none of us are indispensable.” Donavan disconnected the call. Fenley was very clear about the threat Donavan just made to him. He was done. He didn’t know when or how, but it was over.
Tourey had located nearly everything on Core’s list. He was short a very fast boat and some explosives. There was only one way he knew to get the boat. Steal one. John Barry would get him the explosives, but there would be some explaining to do later.
Tourey called John, “You busy?”
John was climbing in the assault wagon, “You might say so. Getting ready to arrest Manio.”
Tourey whistled, “I need some plastic fast. And some blasting binary cylinders. Can you hook me up with the Navy? I’m outside their gate number three now.”
John was stunned, “Can you tell me what this is about?”
Tourey answered, “I’m going to ask you to take this on faith. I think you need me to do this or I wouldn’t be calling.”
John told Tourey he would make a call and someone would meet him at the gate shortly. At the last minute Tourey had asked him for a fast boat, too. John repeated his conversation with Tourey to Roger and asked, “Does this make any sense to you?”
Roger nodded, “Maybe. There is LUCY chatter suggesting some team of black-op military types have been ordered here.”
John said, “Sounds like they know we have their money and that their cyber threat didn’t work. They have a Plan B.”
Willie pointed ahead of their boat and said, “See that little peninsula there? Mambo’s place be just the other side.”
Spicey looked at Carol and Cindy’s faces. They were so excited it made her giggle. “Told you guys this here be a fun trip.”
Willie turned out to be the perfect swamp tour guide. His knowledge of local history and stories of the swamp had been captivating. The critters in the swamp had cooperated, too. Spicey never even had to shoot her gun. Willie’s boat turned the corner and they saw that Mambo had company already. A small swamp boat was tied to the shore.
Spicey said, “Dang. Guess we just wait our turn.”
Carol and Cindy were pointing to all of the little skulls hanging from the bushes as Willie tied off their boat next to the other one.
Spicey leaned over and looked in the small boat. “Willie come over here. Don’t that look like a pile of offerin’s?”
Willie leaned over, “It sure do.” Willie’s face got serious, “I been hearin’ tales ‘bout people comin’ out here and robbin’ Mambo. They know folks bring her precious trinkets for potions and shit.” Willie looked toward Mambo’s hut, “I don’t see none heaped at the door neither.”
Spicey frowned and pulled out both her and Sasha’s guns. “Willie, we be goin’ in.” Spicey said to Carol and Cindy, “We might have somebody robbin’ Mambo. They be in her hut now. You two stay here and Willie and I’ll check this out.”
Carol jumped up, “I want to come too!” She grabbed a hammer from the bucket. “Cindy and I got your back, girlfriend.”
Cindy’s eyes flew open wide as she grabbed her hammers. Willie and Spicey ran toward the door of the hut. Cindy and Carol followed, Spicey’s borrowed flowing dresses catching and tearing on the briars along the path.
Carol kept whispering, “Shit. Shit,” as she unsnarled them. She knew Spicey would not be happy when she saw what was left of her dress. Willie and Spicey had run into Mambo’s hut. Carol and Cindy heard shouting and then gunshots. They momentarily froze.
Carol yelled, “Oh shit!”
Cindy raised one of her hammers, “We better see what happened.”
Cindy and Carol inched their way to the door, they peeked in to see Spicey holding her guns on two young men. Willie had tied their hands with rope. An old lady sat in front of a fire pit chanting. That must be Mambo.
Spicey saw Carol and Cindy and said, “Go out to this guy’s boat and bring back Mambo’s stuff. It be that little pile there by the bucket. These two fools out here robbin’ her! Couple of low life scum, caught ‘em tryin’ to take her refrigerator!”
Cindy and Carol ran out to the small boat and returned in minutes, panting. Spicey’s dresses were shredded. Spicey looked at her cell phone. “Dang, got no reception out here. That’s okay. We gonna take these boys back to Pete’s and call the cops to come get ‘em.”
Spicey frowned at the young men and yelled, “You two sit your ass on the ground there and cross your legs. You just wait ‘til we be done. I didn’t come all this ways for my friends to meet Mambo and them not get to talk to her.”
Spicey handed Willie her guns, “You keep ‘em still ‘til we be done okay?”
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nbsp; Willie nodded and asked the men, “Why you rob Mambo?”
One of the men answered, “We know people bring her valuable stuff to get protection potions and shit. All she got today is some trinkets and junk. We thought maybe the good stuff in here.”
Spicey frowned and looked at Mambo, “Did these guys hurt you?”
Mambo shook her head, “Heavens no. They’ve been here before. I keep tellin’ ‘em I ain’t got no valuables. This time they wanted that little fridge there.” Mambo pointed. “Told ‘em I liked that. To leave it be. Didn’t want to listen, so I cursed ‘em. Then you showed up.”
The young men’s eyes opened wide. One of them yelled over, “What you mean you cursed us? Ain’t no such thing as a curse, crazy ol’ woman.”
Mambo chuckled, “You might ask Willie to tie your hands in the front. You gonna have a bad itch for about a week. Give you time to think of somethin’ productive to do with your hands once your itch goes away. Itch won’t start right away, got about an hour or so.” Mambo smiled and looked at Carol and Cindy. “So, you be friends of Spicey?”
They chatted for half an hour. Mambo gave them both amulets and potions. Spicey told Mambo about Michael coming to her in her crystal ball. She also told Mambo about Jeanne calling to say he was on his way home. Mambo nodded and said, “The Saints reported that the angels saved the other people, too. The swamp is at peace now.”
Spicey stood, “Except for these two. This really ticks me off. You got nothin’ better in your life then robbin’ some old lady lives in the middle of nowhere?” Spicey stomped over and took the guns from Willie. She pointed them at the two young men. “I got half a mind to just shoot your asses and leave you out here for the gators.”
The two men look terrified. Spicey’s face was beet red with anger. She looked as if she was on the edge of a very high emotional cliff and ready to jump off.
Silent Crickets: A Shallow End Gals, Trilogy Book Three Page 25