“So she can shoot?” Tanner said.
“We go to the same shooting range,” Anna said. “That girl is awesome with a rifle, and she’s got the eye of an eagle.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Josie smiled at Tanner.
“She’s also very cute, did you notice?”
“All I saw was a uniform and a badge,” Tanner said, and Alexa laughed.
“Liar, I saw you looking her over when she came to the door.”
“Looking,” Tanner said, “Just looking.”
The ladies stayed a little longer, but when the baby woke, they called it a night.
Josie sent Tanner a little wave.
“Nighty, night, Tom, and if for any reason you can’t sleep, you can always just give me a ring and we’ll—”
“Careful,” Alexa said, as she grabbed the knife she had used to slice the cheese.
Josie departed without saying another word.
“I think she was impressed by the way you handled that knife last night,” Tanner said.
“She’s still a flirt, but I did notice that she sat as far away from you as she could get.”
Alexa gathered up the cheese, crackers, and wine glasses, but Tanner told her to leave his glass, the bottle, and another glass that hadn’t been used.
“Why, are you expecting another guest?”
“He’s already here,” Tanner said.
Alexa had to force herself not to look around.
“Who is it?”
“An old man. He’s been watching us from the woods for about ten minutes.”
“What do you want to do?”
“You go inside and I’ll see what he wants.”
“All right, but why can’t we just have a normal night?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, but stay alert until I come in.”
Alexa carried the tray inside. When the old man didn’t move, Tanner raised up his wine glass and called to him.
“It’s good wine, why don’t you join me?”
A few moments passed, and then the old man walked out of the woods and over to Tanner’s house. It was Hodges’ Uncle Mike.
He sent Tanner a nod, poured a glass of wine, and took the seat at Tanner’s left.
“How did you spot me?”
“Your watch, it reflected the street lights when you moved.”
Mike looked down at his wrist in disgust. In the old days, he never would have forgotten to remove it.
“You’re Tom Myers, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well Myers, it sucks getting old.”
Tanner raised his glass.
“It’s still better than the alternative.”
Mike laughed, and raised his glass as well.
“You’re right there.”
They sat together for a moment in silence, then, Mike spoke.
“My name is Mike Hodges. I came here to see the man who broke my nephew’s wrist.”
“Did your nephew tell you that he pulled a knife on me, after stealing an old lady’s purse?”
“No, he didn’t, but he’s still my nephew.”
“I hear you,” Tanner said.
Silence returned, and this time it was Tanner who broke it.
“So what was this about, Mike, vengeance? Are you here to get payback?”
“The thought crossed my mind, but I think I just wanted to see you. My other nephew, Burt, he said that you were with The Giacconi Family and in tight with Joe Pullo.”
“I’m not with the Giacconi Family, but I do know Pullo well. Do you know him too?”
“I met Pullo a long time ago when he was just coming up. He impressed me then, but tell me, why does he care about this town?”
“He doesn’t, this is just where I happened to buy a house. If Burt Hodges is worried about me moving in on his turf, you can tell him to relax.”
“I’ll do that the next time I see him.”
They sat in silence again, then watched as the neighborhood patrol walked around the cul-de-sac in their bright yellow shirts and blindingly white caps. Since it was a warm night, they were all wearing white shorts that matched the caps. As the men started back the way they came, Mike pointed at them.
“What the fuck was that, the world’s smallest gay pride parade?”
Tanner grinned.
“Those are the brave men of our neighborhood watch group.”
“Christ.”
“Yeah.”
Mike stood.
“Thanks for the wine, Myers, and the talk.”
“You’re welcome. Stop by sometime, but skip the standing in the woods part.”
“I might do that, Myers, but hey, is there a shortcut back to the park? That’s where I left my car.”
“Cut through my yard; there’s a gate there.”
“Good, that damn walk through the woods winded me. It sucks getting old, and let me tell you, it comes quicker than you think.”
“Goodnight, Mike.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike said, as he disappeared around the back of the house.
CHAPTER 11 – The answer
Alexa stepped onto the porch.
“What was that about with the old man?”
“That was another Hodges, Mike Hodges, and he’s all right.”
“Can’t we have just one night when nothing happens?”
“I didn’t invite him, Alexa.”
“I know. I just want things to be peaceful here. Is that too much to ask?”
Tanner stood and grabbed up the wine and the glasses.
“Let’s go inside. I’ve seen enough of the neighborhood watch.”
They went into the kitchen and Alexa asked Tanner if he had invited Sara over to the house.
“She’ll be here tomorrow, but we’re going out to eat, right?”
“Yes, I would cook, but I want to see Deke and I’m not sure what time I’ll get back from the hospital. He’s also having some tests done, so I won’t be able to visit him early.”
“He’s out of intensive care?”
Alexa pointed to the white board that was on the wall by the phone.
“That’s his room number along with his phone number. He called earlier, but couldn’t speak for long. He’s still quite weak.”
Tanner nodded.
“I remember what it’s like to be that weak after a shooting. There were days I wondered if I’d ever heal.”
“And you were alone too,” Alexa said. “That must have been horrible.”
“It was horrible, but I wasn’t alone, I had Spenser.”
They cleaned the glasses, checked the locks, and set the alarm. Alexa had showered first, and when Tanner came out of the bathroom he climbed into bed beside her. Alexa stirred, but didn’t wake.
Tanner laid there for nearly two hours before falling asleep. He kept feeling as if something were wrong, and his eyes would spring open whenever he closed them.
After checking the house, along with the deck and the porch, Tanner reset the alarm and went back to bed.
His sense of danger was keen, but he wasn’t the one in peril.
***
On the other side of the park, at the home of Burt Hodges, several men were silently entering Hodges’ home through the back door.
Two of the men carried sheets of clear plastic along with an assortment of instruments, including a hacksaw and a blowtorch. Those two men went down into the basement, while four of the other men continued up the stairs.
Two of those men entered Dexter’s bedroom, while the other two went for Hodges.
Hodges awoke, but he was too groggy from sleep to resist the hands that gripped him. He was soon lying on his stomach with his wrists and ankles bound and a ball gag in his mouth.
When Dexter cried out from the other room, Hodges went mad trying to free himself, but only managed to become sweaty and exhausted. Minutes passed, and the men around him just leaned back against the walls as if they were waiting for something.
When Hodges noti
ced that they were all Asians, he thought of Chang, and knew that the men had something to do with The Brotherhood. None of his captors said a word until one of them received a call.
The man removed the phone from his pocket, listened, and then uttered a few words in Chinese. After putting his phone away, he said something to the other men, and they all donned gloves. Next, Hodges was lifted off the bed and carried downstairs while facing upward. The sensation of traveling that way made him feel odd, but he was far too scared to be affected much by the peculiar angle and motion.
Once they were on the bottom floor, the men carried him through a hallway and then down into the basement. All of Hodges’ things had been pushed aside to make room in a corner. Clear, thick plastic hung down from the ceiling to form a wall. The space beyond could be entered by pushing through a slit in the plastic, which had been sliced down its middle.
As he was carried inside, Hodges saw that the entire area was covered in plastic.
Dexter was sitting in a chair with his ankles and wrists duct taped to the chair’s arms and legs. He also had a ball gag in his mouth, while his eyes were wide with terror.
“Mr. Hodges, look at me, Mr. Hodges.”
It was Chang. He was wearing a raincoat, the slick yellow kind like kids wore. He also wore matching boots and a pair of black leather gloves. In his right hand was a hacksaw.
When Chang saw that he had Hodges’ attention, he spoke again.
“As I said earlier, I would talk to the other council members and return to give you their reply. This is our answer. We reject your offer, and you will sign over the houses to us.”
Chang nodded towards a man who was dressed in a clear plastic raincoat and pants. Hodges could tell that the man wore a suit beneath the plastic. He was also the only non-Asian.
“That man is a former member of the criminal organization known as The Conglomerate. He is now a member of The Brotherhood and is very skilled in legal matters. You will sign the documents that he has prepared. And yes, I know that you do not want to. That is why I will start by giving you incentive to cooperate.”
Chang said something in Chinese and those who weren’t wearing rain suits donned them. Once they were all covered up to their necks, they added clear face masks and hats.
With everyone ready, Chang gripped Dexter by the hair, yanked his head back, and smiled.
“Earlier, you spoke to me with disrespect. Now, I will teach you manners.”
Chang released Dexter, even as another of the men held Dexter’s right arm firmly to the chair. An instant later, Chang was ripping through Dexter’s arm with the hacksaw, at a point that was right above the cast on his wrist, spewing blood everywhere.
Behind their ball gags, the Hodges screamed, one from physical pain, the other, from the anguish of failing his son so horribly.
By the time the sun rose on a new day, The Brotherhood owned Hodges’ properties.
Chang claimed Hodges house for himself and made it the headquarters of The Brotherhood’s new home. Down in the basement, not a trace of blood could be found.
Burt and Dexter Hodges were also nowhere in sight, and their bodies would never be discovered.
CHAPTER 12 – A bad feeling
The following morning, Alexa kissed Tanner goodbye before climbing into her car.
She was leaving to pay Deke a visit in the hospital, but planned to be back in time to take Sara to dinner.
Alexa rolled down her car window.
“Stay away from Josie while I’m gone, and that cute cop too.”
Tanner cocked an eyebrow at her.
“I’m not the one going off to visit their boyfriend.”
“Stop that. Deke is just a friend and you know it.”
“I was kidding, and tell him that we’ll have him here for a visit once he’s better.”
“Really?”
“Yes, like I said, I owe him for saving you, and I’m not the jealous type. Besides, if he ever touched you, I’d just kill him.”
“But you’re not the jealous type?”
“Not at all.”
They kissed again, and before she drove off, Alexa had a request.
“Please don’t get into any trouble.”
“I don’t plan to. I have some language study to do and then I’m going to watch a ballgame until Sara arrives.”
Alexa smiled.
“That sounds harmless.”
A few seconds later, Alexa was gone. Tanner found that he missed her immediately, while the house behind him seemed like a big empty box.
He sighed.
“Maybe we should get a dog.”
***
On the other side of the park, things were moving fast, as Chang prepared for the first meeting of The Brotherhood Council in their new home.
The furniture in Hodges’ dining room had been removed and a conference table was set in its place.
Pete and Rocco were being used as free labor to get everything ready. The two teens had been forced into servitude and were bringing in the chairs for the conference table. The men who were given the task of making the boys work were a couple of gangbangers who had just been released from prison and hoped to join The Brotherhood officially.
One of them, a punk with a shaved head, named Reo, liked to pick on Rocco and called him retard. When Rocco pointed out to Reo that he wasn’t being nice, Reo had beaten the young man. Pete attempted to stop it, and he took a beating from the other gangbanger, Dominic.
Choa entered the house. When he saw the swelling and bruises on Pete and Rocco’s faces, he asked what happened.
“Retard here gave me and my boy some shit, so we fucked him and his brother up a little. They’ve been quiet ever since.”
Choa scowled. He knew that Pete and Rocco were harmless, but it wasn’t his problem, and so he moved towards the office to find Adán.
Choa actually found his cousin in the kitchen, where Adán and his men were devouring two pizzas.
Adán smiled.
“Choa, grab a slice and a beer, then follow me.”
A minute later, Adán and Choa were sitting on Hodges’ back porch and looking out at the small stream that ran behind it.
“There’s a lot goin’ on today, Choa, are you ready for some action?”
“Hell yeah, but what’s up?”
“Today we wipe out the vigilantes, along with the police chief and his top men, and we make it look like they all went after each other.”
“How the hell do you do that?”
Adán pointed back at the kitchen.
“You, me, and my guys will do a mass home invasion over on that dead end street where the vigilantes live. This won’t be a robbery. We do a lot of damage, kill a few people, and then leave behind some clues that point to the police. But before that happens, the chief of police will be put down, and we’ll make it look like one of the vigilantes did it.”
Choa looked confused.
“Why would people think that cops did the home invasions?”
“Easy, we’re only going to hit the homes of the people Chief Ellison suspects are the vigilantes. We’ll be leaving shit behind that will have some of the cops’ prints on it, and we’ll also be using that special ammo the pigs use.”
“Where did you get the cops’ stuff?”
Adán leaned back in his seat.
“Remember you told me about that dirty cop, Tim Ralston? We own his ass now. Chang is using him to kill the chief, but Ralston will be leaving behind evidence that one of the vigilantes’ killed him. He’s also the one who gave us the stuff from the police.”
“Tim Ralston is going to kill the chief? How much are you paying him for that?”
“Nothing up front, but Chang told Ralston that he’ll see that he’s the new chief. The Brotherhood will rig the next election. In a town like this, that’s easy.”
“There’s one thing you didn’t think of, what about Tom Myers? I’ve met him, and he ain’t no punk.”
“I didn’t forget him, he�
��ll be ours. While some of the boys are handling things, we’ll take four men with us and make sure he never tells Pullo shit about what we’re doing here. The cops will be blamed for his death too.”
“When is all this going down?”
“First the chief gets hit, and then we move on the vigilantes.”
“Who is being framed for whacking the chief?”
“Ralston has been banging one of the vigilante’s wives. He stole some stuff from her house yesterday when she was in the shower. He’s going to leave behind a pen with the guy’s prints on it. The man is a real estate agent, and we made it so he won’t have an alibi. The woman he’ll be showing a house to is one of our hookers using a fake ID. She’ll disappear and everyone will think he lied about showing a house.”
“And the cops you’re framing?”
“Ralston’s handled that, he made sure that they all had the day off. They’re all fishing buddies. They’ll be out on a boat, and fish can’t offer alibis.”
“It’s slick, if everything goes just right, but Adán, don’t underestimate this dude Tom Myers; I’m telling you, he’s not a joke.”
“Choa, there will be six of us going after his ass, he don’t stand a chance.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Choa said, but he still had a bad feeling.
CHAPTER 13 – Man and dog
The neo-Nazi, Sean, was feeling frustrated as he walked the halls of the hospital.
His plan to obtain a visitor’s pass was a good one, but he had no idea what room Deke Mercer was in.
The hospital was twelve stories high and had hundreds of rooms. Still, he assumed that a man who had just been released from ICU would likely be placed in a room near the nurses’ station. Also, given Deke’s notoriety, his room should be bursting with flowers and cards full of get well wishes. Sean started looking into the rooms near the nurses’ station on the first floor he checked, and then moved outward along the corridors from there.
When he stepped off the elevator to search a new floor, he saw the chart on the wall. The chart explained that some floors were zoned primarily for certain afflictions, while other floors serviced specific conditions.
Sean smiled. That eliminated several floors, such as the floors containing the children’s ward and the one designated maternity. Sean then saw that the seventh floor was zoned for thoracic medicine and knew that had something to do with the torso.
The TANNER Series - Books 13-15 (Tanner Box Set) Page 33