Hunted

by Lourdes Skye

  From outside in the car, Barney nodded, “I’m on it partner.” He wasted no time in calling Chief Wiseman. “They’re moving the Dakar Cole boy within the hour. Place, JFK airport. The buyer has scored a private flight out of the United States.”

  “I got it. Don’t worry, SWAT is rolling with us today. This asshole’s feet won’t reach liftoff.”

  Barney smiled. I love taking these pussies down. He straightened himself in his seat and prepared for what was about to come.

  In the garage Tyrone’s cell phone rung. “Sup?”

  “Yo, I don’t know what’s going on in y’all camp but that shit that went down yesterday, was counterfeit as hell. Dude never made it out of New York. Coast Guard and shit seized his boat. Dude’s dead and the kid is in police custody. Word is, don’t fuck with 118, y’all house is corrupted.” The line went dead.

  “Shit,” Tyrone hissed as he ran into the house. Spike was in his office, fixing his tie.

  “Look, if this is some more bullshit about Cobra making the delivery, stifle yourself. I don’t wanna hear the shit.”

  No this dude didn’t just tell me to choke myself. Tyrone sighed deeply. “Well maybe you’ll want to hear this. My boy who works the Hudson docks just called. He says the word on the street is that our house is corrupted. That deal from yesterday, dude is dead. The kid is in the hands of the police. Fucking Coast Guard shut the boat down before they could even get out of New York. Now how the hell that happen? No one knew the plans but you and new jack.”

  “Shit,’ Spike hissed.

  “Yeah. And now you’re about to make another delivery with him.”

  “Shit, if he is corrupted, he’ll know something’s up if I suddenly change the plans.”

  Thinking Tyrone said, “Nah, don’t change shit. Call Maconchie and tell him to call you with confirmation that he has the package and is safely home.”

  “How will that help us?”

  “Remember when we were at that bar. The night we meet new jack?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When I went outside to get him, I thought I caught him in a compromised position with that bartender. While y’all are delivering the Cole kid, Axl and I will snatch the bartender. He’ll be leverage. If Maconochie doesn’t call with that confirmation, then we have our proof it’s new jack, and the bartender gets it.”

  Spike smiled, “I like that.”

  “Thought you would. I’ll go get Axl.”

  A few minutes later, Cobra walked in. “You ready.”

  “Yeah,” Spike hung up the phone. “Let’s roll.”

  Hey, nice to see you back,” Lydia greeted Jace with a hug.

  “Nice to be back.”

  Jetson threw the cloth down on the shiny surface of the bar, “Thank god you’ve returned. If I had to listen to one more sob story, I was going to quit,” Jetson threatened. Jace and Lydia laughed.

  “I was only gone one day.”

  “One day too long,” Jetson grumbled before returning to the kitchen to assist his man.

  “Son, I’m glad to see you back,” Mickey said.

  Jace blushed at the endearment. Mickey was just so much like a big old teddybear of a grandfather that he never had. As he ambled off to the back office, Jace took his place behind the bar.

  The door opened and several usual patrons came through.

  “Uh oh, get ready. The drinkers are here,” Lydia laughed.

  Jace truly loved working at the little pub. Though Cobra had asked him several times if he ever thought about returning to modeling, he was stumped. He couldn’t picture himself leaving the Bullet. In such a small amount of time he’d come to truly care about the staff and patrons.

  “So,” Lydia brushed up against his back. “Did you take my advice and call that hot cop over. Give’em some of that boot-tay,” she playfully slapped his plump ass.

  Shaking his head Jace laughed, “Girl, you are a true mess. And if I did, I wouldn’t say. A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

  Her eyes got big. “Oh wow, then there must be something to tell if you’ve pulled that old saying out of a hat.”

  He simply smiled.

  He’d been at work all of three hours before taking a bathroom break. The last life story he’d listened to, had him laughing so hard he now had to pee. “I’ll be right back,” he told Lydia.

  “Okay.” As she didn’t know how to mix drinks, she called to the kitchen for Jetson.

  “Oh no, tell me he didn’t leave,” Jetson grumbled.

  Laughing, Lydia swapped his arm, “No. He’s in the bathroom.”

  Jetson gave a sigh of relief.

  “You big baby?” Lydia chastised.

  “Hey, you stand here and listen to this crap all day.”

  “Remember, I’m the one they hit on all day. I’ve been offered so many social security and unemployment checks to do something strange for some change, that my head is about to do a 360 turn.”

  “That’s because you’re so pretty.”

  “Mm, that’s because they’re a pack of horn dogs.”

  While Jetson and Lydia were sharing friendly banter and laughing, they failed to see the two suspicious looking men enter the restroom seconds after Jace.

  Zipping up his jeans, Jace stepped out of the stall only to have a hand clamp over his face. He struggled against the force holding him but it was useless. His eyes rolled backwards as he inhaled the fumes from the cloth over his nose and mouth. Within seconds Jace collapsed against the wall of muscles.

  “Get the window Axl. Climb out and I’ll hand him to you.”

  Axl had propped the garbage can behind the door so no one could enter. Opening the window, he climbed out. “Okay send him through.”

  They managed to get him out of the window and to the car within a few minutes. After placing him in the trunk, they drove back to the house, stopping at McDonald’s drive thru first to order lunch. No sooner than they reached the house, Jace was dragged down to the basement and tossed callously into one of the empty cells.

  By now Jace was awake and felt the hardness of the floor. He winced as his head hit the stone wall. Not enough to knock him out but daze him.

  “Wh-who are you people?” he managed as he spit some blood out of his mouth and onto the floor.

  “Shut up, we’re asking the questions. What’s your name?”

  “Jace, Jace Reynolds.”

  “Who is Cobra Stallone to you?”

  Jace’s eyes widened as he realized these people had nothing to do with Octorian. They must be the people that Cobra is investigating.

  Oh shit. How’d they know his affiliation with Cobra?

  He peered closely at the black man.

  He was the guy from the bar.

  He’d almost walked up on Cobra and him kissing.

  Whatever they wanted from him, he wasn’t going to give. He wouldn’t help them hurt Cobra if he could help it.

  Axl huffed, “It’s alright goldie locks, don’t say shit, we really don’t care. It’s your fake ass boyfriend we’re really after.”

  Oh no, they must know Cobra’s a cop. His cover was blown. Still, he refused to give them anything. Instead he started to silently pray.

  “Fuck’em. Lock the damn door, I’m hungry,” Axl said.

  Tyrone smirked after doing just that. “I can’t wait to see new jacks face when he finds out that we have his little bartender.”

  Cobra sat in the back of the SUV with Dakar. The kid was doing fine. He looked scared shitless but he didn’t fight and he didn’t let on like he knew who Cobra was. The kid deserved an award for courage under fire.

  Spike’s phone rung.

  He spoke in a hushed tone then hung up. Looking at Cobra via the rearview mirror he announced, “Hey Cobra, does the name Jace Reynolds, mean anything to you?”

  When he didn’t respond, Spike kept talking.

  “It seems Jace Reynolds has come to the house to visit you. Once Maconochie is in his home country of Greece, and we get the confirma
tion call stating such, then we can go home and you and your friend can…visit. Work comes first. Now hand over your gun. You won’t need it to make the delivery.”

  “Of course,” Cobra said, his voice void of any emotions. He was no fool. Spike asked for his gun because he knew the first chance he got, he’d blow his ass away. Spike probably had it worked out with Axl and Tyrone that if he didn’t return, kill Jace. As he stared at the back of Spike’s head, a tic worked in his jaw. If those bastards have hurt Jace in any way, so help him he’ll lose his badge gutting them all.

  Shit!” Barney punched the steering wheel. Thank god for the jeans. He heard everything. Snatching up his phone he called Chief Wiseman. “Uh Chief, there’s been a change in plans.”

  “What’s up, the men are in position.”

  “These guys, I think they’re on to Cobra. I just heard them saying that they have a friend of his at the house. If they don’t get a confirmation call from the buyer that he’s home in Greece with the boy, they’ll kill him.”

  “Barney, we can’t allow the buyer to return to Greece with the boy. We have no diplomatic means to confiscate anyone from that country. If he gets the boy to Greece, then Greece has him. We can’t risk that for a friend.”

  Barney sighed. He didn’t know if Chief Wiseman knew Cobra’s sexual preference or not. And he didn’t relish being the one to clue him in. “Uh Chief, this person, he’s more than a friend. It’ll kill Cobra if something happens to him.”

  There was a moment of silence. “Shit. Time is of the essence, what do you suggest?”

  “Get me on that plane Chief. I’ll bring the boy back here safe.”

  “What are you planning?”

  “I’ll need someone here who can watch Cobra’s back. The plane is an American plane right?”

  “It’s leaving from JFK so I’d say yes.”

  “Get me aboard it and I’ll do the rest.”

  “Okay. I’ll send Travis in to cover Cobra.”

  Spike pulled the SUV into the visitor’s parking lot of JKF. Barney drove around back to the employee’s parking lot. Chief already cleared it with Private Flight 220. Barney was to board it as a second wingman. The fact that Barney was a licensed pilot made it easy. Upon parking the Charger, Barney jogged into the garage where the plane was being prepared. He changed into flight gear and tucked his Glock into the pocket of the jumper. He took the co-pilot’s seat and watched as a black Lexus pulled up and a tall man with sleek shiny black hair and tanned skin, climbed out. In his hand was a briefcase. Barney watched as the white Tahoe pulled up beside it. Cobra, Spike and a white male child, climbed from the vehicle. Spike walked over to the man and shook his hand.

  “It’s good to finally meet you Maconochie.”

  The man peered around him. “Is that my property?” Maconochie inquired.

  “Just as you’ve requested.” This time, Spike did not beckon Cobra over with the boy, instead he snatched the boy forward and thrust him into Maconochie’s hand. Maconochie handed him the case. Grasping Dakar firmly around the neck, he hauled the tween towards the craft.

  Cobra’s heart twisted as the boy looked back at him, fear heavy in his eyes, moments before the man pushed him into the plane.

  “Well,” Spike turned to Cobra. “I guess we go back to the house and await his call. We wouldn’t want dear Jace to become uncomfortable waiting on you, would we?”

  Cobra grind his teeth, seething in anger, but only answered him with a tight smile. He knew that Barney had heard the entire conversation. He knew that Barney now had clarification as to the severity of the situation. What exactly was the Chief and Barney going to do with the new change of events, he knew not. The drive back to the house, was a long one. He tried to assess the situation in his head and find the best means to deal with it. One thing was sure, he had to focus on one problem at a time. He had to trust that the Chief and the guys would rescue Dakar. Right now, he had to make sure Jace was alright.

  Jace crawled to the door and pushed on it. It wouldn’t budge. He wondered what was happening with Cobra. He could hear some muffled cries. They sounded like they were made by children. Oh god, could it be the trafficked kids Cobra told him about. He sat back on his butt and waited. Sooner or later someone would come and then he’d learn his fate.

  Cobra entered the house. Not knowing what to expect from Spike, he played it cool and stayed in a defensive mode.

  Axl smirked as soon as they walked into the door.

  He was going to eat that.

  Spike pulled the 45 magnum from his back holster, pointed it at Cobra and demanded, “Come, get comfortable. We have about ten hours to kill until the call comes through.”

  Cobra allowed himself to be forced into the office. He took a seat opposite across from Spike.

  “So, what’s this all about?”

  “It seems there’s a leak in the house,” Spike replied.

  “I don’t follow.”

  “Yesterday we made a delivery. One that was compromised before the buyer and merchandise could clear the state of New York. The only people who knew the specifics of the delivery was me and you. So how did the Coast Guard find out about Azores, who is now dead?”

  “And you assume I’m responsible for this leak of information. Mm, tell me, how was I supposed to accomplish this when I’ve been here all day with you and your guys? Could it be that someone else overheard you talking about the plans?”

  Spike smiled. “There could be a certain amount of truth to what you’ve said. However, all of my men I’ve known for years. As the new guy, I can’t swear on a stack of bibles that you’re not the guilty party.”

  “Mm, from what I saw yesterday, I’m surprise you can swear on the loyalty of your men. Just yesterday, you had a mutiny brewing. Now suddenly I’m the guilty one. The guy who had your back. Wow, I should’ve stayed on the streets dealing Push.”

  Spike sucked his teeth. Leaning forward still aiming the gun at Cobra, he taunted, “You don’t remember me do you?”

  “Should I?”

  “Seven years ago, I watched you prowl the streets in search of your sister. Yes, I knew who you were when I saw you again in the bar. The vigilant brother.”

  “So why’d you offer me a job. What kind of game were you playing?”

  “I was hoping to turn you into the thing you loathe. You see, I worked the house seven years ago run by Nanchas. I was his associate. When you came sniffing around the streets looking for your sister and then found our location, it was I who was commissioned to take her out.”

  Lightning fast Cobra jumped up.

  Spike pointed the gun at his chest, “Sit down. Or have you forgotten that I now have Jace Reynolds.”

  Very slowly Cobra lowered himself back onto the chair. “Touch one hair on his head and I swear—.”

  Spike laughed, “I don’t think you’re in a position to make threats, my friend.”

  Cobra leaned back and stared him down. This guy just didn’t know. He wasn’t alone.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  “Uh the cook wanted to know if you wanted dinner served in here,” Axl spoke.

  “As a matter of fact, yes. You can assist him in bringing the meal in.” Looking at Cobra he smiled, “The least I can do is feed you before I kill you.”

  “So thoughtful,” Cobra replied snidely.

  16

  The plane was a small craft. At such short notice, Maconochie wasn’t able to acquire something with the finer comforts in store. Maconochie sat in the seat next to Dakar, his arm draped over the back of the boy’s seat.

  “You may call me Mac. You and I are going to be really good friends.”

  Dakar cringed as the man smiled down at him. The man from last night said that he shouldn’t be afraid. That someone would rescue him. It didn’t look like a rescue was coming. The longer the plane stayed in the sky, the farther he felt himself being pulled from home. He would never see his parents again, never see his frien
ds. Hot tears gathered and fell from his eyes. They now have been flying for so long, his eyes began to droop. He was afraid to go to sleep but his body was too tired to stay awake. He soon nodded off.

  Hours later the plane touched down at ATH airport in Athens, Greece. Maconochie shook Dakar until he jerked awake. “You are, home sweet home. Come, give Mac a little kiss.”

  The door to the cockpit sprung opened. Barney came through, pointing his 9mm at Maconochie balls. “Get your filthy hands off of him or I swear, I’ll blow your nuts into so many pieces, the squirrels won’t be able to find them.”

  “Yeah!” Dakar pumped his fist in the air.

  The craft was now being reloaded with fuel.

  With the muzzle of the gun still buried in his balls, Barney demanded, “Now, you’re going to take out your phone and give the confirmation call. Failure to do so will result in your immediate death.”

  Swallowing profusely, Maconochie’s hand shook as he pulled out his phone. Spike picked up on the second ring. “Spike, I am calling to let you know I have made it safely home.”

  “Great, I look forward to doing business with you again.”

  “And I as well.”

  No sooner he disconnected, Barney struck him repeatedly in the head with the butt of the gun. Once he was unconscious, Barney tied his hands and feet with zip ties.

  “No one wants to hear his mouth once he wakes up.” Barney gagged him. Turning to the kid, Barney held out his hand. “I’m Detective Barney Goldman.”

  Dakar shook it. “Dakar Cole.”

  “Mr. Cole I’ll have you back in the United States and with your family in a few hours. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

  Dakar nodded.

  The pilot returned with snacks from the machine and a soda. He’d been briefed as to the case back at JFK. Now that the plane was refueled, Barney climbed into the pilot’s seat and took off. The pilot was now riding shotgun. Dakar was in the back, eating. With Maconochie securely detained, his nightmare was over. The authorities were at JFK awaiting the plane’s arrival to take Maconochie into custody.

  Spike smiled at Cobra. “Ah, it seems there was no breach in this delivery. The boy and the buyer are safely at their destination. I guess that means you’re no longer useful. Which means, your time is up.”