“Wow… Aunt Lo… uh… couldn’t the CIA… I mean the Company order a hit on you and Pa?” Jim was deep into the conversation which should not have been continued except between Lo and I.
Lois laughed. “Don’t worry about that, Jim. They tried it long ago. It didn’t work out for them. Rick and I made a statement for their archives that will not be forgotten in our lifetime.”
She framed the event correctly. It was the first year we went private sector here in San Diego. We had done a small operation in Uruguay to take out a potential terrorist named Martin Suarez, operating out of the port of Montevideo. We slunk into port on a fishing trawler owned by the Company with a bought off crew. While I was out taking care of Suarez, the Captain decided to leave me. Lo shot him right between the horns, and made the first mate Captain. After Lo’s demonstration, the first mate who was now the Captain, decided to honor their part of the deal with the Company. Lo and I figured it was business as usual. After we hit the private sector for our own good, the Company decided we were a high risk. Then… suddenly… the Uruguay hit was leaked. They thought we were ripe for plucking. Lois had been monitoring the situation. We were on alert. The Company sent two teams. Unfortunately for the Company, Lo and I were waiting for them at her place.
She had already deciphered their intentions. Since I had no one at the time, I did full time surveillance at Lo and Frank’s abode. We embarrassed the poor schmucks. Luckily, we didn’t have to kill any of them. We were prepared to do so, even though it would have meant going on the run, and having to kill many more of our own. Lo and I even knew a couple of them. We needed to get the other team without casualties. I managed to lure the other team to Lo’s house in a famous prank they recount for laughs to this day. The meeting didn’t go well for the Company. See… we killers will play this game of national security if it actually is national security. When Lo finished briefing our colleagues, their report back snuffed the kill order. It also recruited a number of deadly people into Lo’s action list. We don’t like being used, especially against our own. Lois garnered numerous informants to share information out of CIA’s homestead.
“So… they won’t come after you and Pa?” Jim wanted guarantees not available.
Lois shrugged with a smile of malice. “That would be a bad day for them of epic proportions, Jim. Your Pa and I only give out nice warnings once. The way we captured two CIA teams has been passed around the firm. My house had to be redecorated. I made them pay for it. Great Uncle Frank didn’t care much for Pa’s solution, but no one was killed. It’s legend at the firm. They teach classes cautioning operatives not to fall for what we did to the teams that came for us.”
She had Jim, body and soul. “Wha…what did you do?”
“Frank and I lured them into our basement, where I have a safe-room. The moment they were all down in our basement, Rick threw flash-bangs down into their midst.”
“Flash-bangs?”
“They’re hand grenades with flash and bang, Jim,” Lo replied. “They can blow out eardrums, blind, and even kill if one lands too close. Your Pa went sissy on me, and only dropped a couple down. We had the three of them in restraints within seconds after. They were not happy.”
“Were those men okay?”
“They were fine. Remember, Jim… they were there to kill Great Uncle Frank and Mediocre Aunt Lo. We recorded the whole thing, including explosions and screams. Your Pa called the other team waiting at his place with one of our prisoner’s phones, allowing them to hear our recording with Rick yelling for backup and extraction. The bastards had sent four after Rick, and only three after me. I should have shot one of them for that insult alone.”
“They were smart. They sent a guy in on point. He worked his way down into the basement where I lit him up like Christmas at Times Square. I made him dance and howl with the Taser needles until his crew came down to save him. I ducked back into the safe-room, and Rick pussied out with a couple more ‘bangs. We captured two CIA teams, and they weren’t in any mood for our briefing, but they were glad to be alive. A couple of them had worked with us in the past. They hadn’t been too keen on the deal anyway. Once they understood what the play was, we sent them on their way without anything but their clothes. It became a joke. The guys we caught red handed gained notoriety to the point they stopped trying to hide their botched attempt, and actually bragged about being there. We’re kind of a flaky bunch at the Company. That was it. The Company retired the asshole who ordered the hit on us, and we’ve been very quiet until your grandma entered the picture. I guess you’ve already heard about that introduction back into Pa’s life.”
Jim gripped Stacy’s hand. “Yep. Thanks for telling me the story, Aunt Lo. You two are awesome. I wish I had found Pa and Grandma sooner.”
“You did real well finding us, young Jedi. I doubt even a handful of kids your age would have tried, let alone succeeded, especially heading out to California with no knowledge of what you’d find. My God boy… I’m proud of you for doing it. You’ve changed our small world for the better. Believe that.” I took another sip as we all relapsed into quiet contemplation for a moment. I could tell Lo’s story had overwhelmed our crew, except for Trish. She was smiling at Lo, imagining the entire sequence of events in her own deadly consciousness. I decided on a humorous movie reference to continue. I raised my glass. “Here’s to never having to say you’re sorry.”
I elicited the lightening touch of laughter I’d hoped for as the others toasted with me.
“Can I go with you and Uncle Bone, Pa?”
“No way, Jim,” Bone began. “This guy is…”
“Easy, brother,” I stopped him gently. “We could take him along. It may make all the difference in the world if the guy realizes there are real kids involved in this seemingly to him harmless perversion. It’s not like he can hurt Jim.”
“You got that right, brother,” Bone replied, inwardly considering my idea. “Good call, Rick. Let’s do it. Jim can visit with Mediocre Aunt Lo some other time.”
Lo leaned forward, pointing at Bone, while the rest of us enjoyed Bone’s mention of her new title. “Don’t force me to make an adjustment, Bone. Keep going with this disrespect and I’ll put you on installs for the next six months.”
Bone knew Lo well enough by now, that she filtered everything through competence on the job, and usefulness. He waved her off. “Don’t even try that with me, Lo. I’ll go on installs gladly, and refuse every other single request involving computers.”
She of course turned on me with prodding finger of fate. “I blame you for this disrespect, Hooterville. There will be blood!”
“Hold that thought until Bone and I take our newest young investigator to the child predator’s home, and reduce him into a helpful tool for the forces of light. You can’t threaten Bone. He runs the place now. Bone and your alternate universe clone, Trish, must be given their due, and allowed to function in the face of your dictatorial powers, Mediocre.”
“Oh no…” Trish stammered, standing and shaking her own fickle finger at me. “You did not just label me a clone of ‘Mediocre at Best’. I’ll cut you right in front of Jim!”
Jim immediately hugged Trish. “It’s okay, Aunt Trish. Pa admits he sometimes dreams of you, and mistakenly calls you Lo, but he claims it’s a nightmare.”
Jim streaked for his bedroom at least five steps ahead of Lo junior. Trish spun back around, glaring at me with fists clenched, and hilarity being shared at her expense.
I snapped my fingers, shaking my head in disappointment. “Damn… I was saving that ace for a more appropriate time.”
Sam was already in convulsions, as Trish saw him, giggled, and sat down. She slapped the back of his head. “That’s enough out of you.”
Jim peaked around the corner. “Is it okay to come out, Pa?”
“I’ll take a vote. Anyone here not want Jim with us raise your hand.” I guess there were no hard feelings. Trish gave him the universal fingers from her eyes to his in a back and forth
‘I’m watching you’ threat. Jim smiled and sat down next to Stacy again.
“I don’t like you using Jim for this, Rick,” Lo said. “I can see the plus side, and the fact he’s already been exposed to a hell of a lot already. Do you have a real plan with Jim appearing at the right magic moment or something?”
I grinned. “I do indeed.”
Chapter Seven
Monster Hunt
Gordon Natterly answered the door in jeans and a t-shirt. I flashed the FBI identification and badge presented to me by our Homeland Security contact, Floyd Randolf. I had clued him in on what kind of ring we’d be taking down if he wanted a piece of the action with Bill Staley as our local law. He gave me permission enthusiastically for a part in what could be a huge scale bust. “I’m Special Agent Cantelli, and this is my partner Griffen. I’m sure you know why we’re here, Mr. Natterly.”
Yeah, he did. The terror streaked across his face for a split second, leaving a trail of dripping slime across his features. “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why are you here harassing me?”
I caught the front of Bone’s shirt before he decided to reduce Natterly into a broken manikin. I looked beyond him while motioning for Jim. “Calm down, Agent Griffin… time enough to reeducate Mr. Natterly.”
Bone nodded. “Sorry, Rick.”
Jim walked alongside of Bone. “I lived with the Byers in foster care, Mr. Natterly. They had cameras everywhere in the house, even in the bathrooms. Did you see me, Mr. Natterly?”
That was it for Nat. He crumpled within his doorstep like a puppet without strings, sobbing inconsolably. Yeah… I’m touched. Bone grasped our newest recruit’s shoulder. “I see, Mr. Natterly, that my young cohort here has reminded you of what we’re talking about. You recognized him immediately, which I pray means you’ve reserved a special place in hell. We have oh so much more to show you about the absolute fact beyond any shadow of a doubt you have been accessing child pornography - all while a member of this young man’s foster care guardians’ child porn ring. We’re here to help you do the right thing, and maybe save yourself. It’s your decision, because we’ll nail them anyway once we reduce your life to ashes. Dry your eyes you perverted piece of shit, and invite us in.”
Nat kept his head down while standing up, and wiping his eyes. He retreated inside, leaving the door open. I called out to him. “We’re like vampires, Nat. Invite us in. My partner is recording this because I don’t want any misguided notions on your part later.”
He beckoned us in. “Come in.”
Nat’s place was immaculate. He wore tan slacks with an open collar, pullover black shirt. His hair had been done by an expensive professional, light brown in color, with every hair in place. I guessed his height at nearly five feet, ten inches. Nat led us into an equally impressive kitchen. I could tell he was gathering his thoughts for a desperation outrage play, complete with lawyer posturing. He turned with that purpose in mind. I stopped him with a gesture.
“Don’t do it, Nat. Let my partner show you what we have before you run off at the mouth, and disappear off planet.”
“Wha…what the hell does that mean?”
“It means sit down, shut up, see our case against you, or I carve you like a freshly caught trout.”
“Are you threatening me?” Nat was beginning to lose perspective.
“You should really shut your damn mouth,” Bone advised. “Let me show you what we have. We don’t have to threaten you.”
Bone opened his laptop, and made an absolutely damning case against Nat. He took him through each damning thread, and financial tie until Natterly stopped listening. Nat plunked down in a chair. “Enough. What do you want me to do, and what guarantees do I have I’ll be kept out of this?”
Bone lifted Natterly’s chair with him in it a foot off the floor, and slammed him back down. “You get nothin’ but what we give you, shithead! If you want to stay out of prison, you’ll do whatever the hell we say.”
I sat down opposite Nat, who was processing the fact he had been handled like a small child. “You can’t be stupid enough to believe there will be guarantees of anything, you idiot. We came to you with this first. If you cooperate, you have a chance of not going to prison. If you give me even one more word of bullshit, we will bury you, your career, your reputation, and any small chance your estranged family ever gets to see you.”
The light switch turned off inside Nat’s head. He writhed around at the table, his face in his hands as he struggled with inner demons unseen by us. Jim did something I couldn’t or wouldn’t have taught him. He gripped Nat’s right hand. “You’re sick. You need help. We need help now too. I know those kids at the Byers’ house. They don’t know what’s going on. My Pa wants to stop this. If you help him, you will be doing what’s right. I bet you have a hard time understanding what’s right anymore.”
Oh man… Jim nailed him to the core. Bone and I exchanged grinning looks of disbelief as we watched the lawyer Nat melt under Jim’s furrowed brow stare. The kid had compassion, and a grasp of reality far beyond his years. He turned that self-indulgent reprobate in an instant into someone we could work with. I think I could speak for Bone here, that we envisioned a burial somewhere far from detection. I had imagined this scum to grasp the easy way out immediately. My bad. If Jim’s interjection worked… well great. If it didn’t, Nat was going to have a very bad day.
“I will help you,” Nat said. “Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”
“We want you to work a sting on the Byers. It’s not rocket science, Nat.” This guy was beginning to bug me. It possibly had something to do with his ogling my Grandson in an on-line porn perversion, and the quick solution I had was ripping parts off him with a pair of heated cherry red pliers. That however would be selfish and unproductive. “We want you to contact the Byers, tell them you recognized Jim, and let them know you’re part of their network. Then you give them a reasonable figure like ten thousand dollars to keep you from sharing your knowledge with the police. We don’t know what their reaction will be. That’s where you come in. If you can carry through on our sting nicely, maybe you won’t have to testify at their trial.”
“What if they don’t make any offers?”
“Then things will get a lot more difficult for you.” I knew if we could get the Byers to either act against Nat or actually pay off the extortion, they would be deeply wedged.
“You don’t know those people. They’re vicious.”
“So you do know the Byers.” This keeps getting better, and more convoluted with every passing second. At least they won’t need much of an introduction.
“I have to be careful. I paid to have the network checked out – making sure it wasn’t a police or FBI sting operation. They back traced my hack. Three dudes with guns showed up in the middle of the night. I’ll make a long story short… they scared the shit out of me. I was warned if they were ever sent to me again, I would beg to die. I believed them. Now, you’d like me to extort money from them? I may as well allow you to send me to prison. The outcome will be the same, my life will be in ruins, but at least I’d be alive.”
“Did you hear that, Agent Griffin? Nat thinks he can opt out of our sting operation because he might be in danger.”
“When they get you in prison, you’ll be wishing to God you’d helped us,” Bone told him. “You won’t do well in the joint. For some people there really are things worse than death. We can protect you until we get the Byers. Best if you listen to Agent Cantelli, and get on the path of redemption. The other trail leads to hell on earth.”
Well said, Bone. Nat’s imagination about prison life worked him into a sweat. I could tell he didn’t want anything to do with finding out how child predators do with killers, and truly violent men who take a special interest in guys who prey on children. It was time to add our hole card.
“I have a guarantee from my bosses we wipe your slate clean if you help us take down the Byers all the way to prosecution. My part
ner and I will install a state of the art security system at your expense of course. We will make sure no one bothers or does you harm after that. We already have the Byers in a solid case, but we know they’ve been delving into extortion as well as intimidation to keep their child predator ring going. Decide now, and we get to work, Nat, or we take you into custody right now.”
“Do…do you really mean it about immunity from prosecution?”
“Absolutely. Make the call to the Byers couple, and we’ll install the security system. Then my partner and I will have your property under surveillance for guys looking to do you harm. We will get them, hopefully alive. They will be a key element in cementing a case against the Byers.
“Okay then, but I already have a security system,” Nat replied.
Bone chuckled while shutting off his iPad recording. “If we are to keep your ass alive, we’ll need a better system than you have. When you see our system after installation, you’ll feel a hell of a lot safer. C’mon, Jim. You can help me bring in our tools and install package while Agent Cantelli explains a couple other things to Mr. Natterly.”
“Sure.” Jim had witnessed our ploy in rapt silence.
Alone with Nat, I went on the offensive. “After we nail the Byers, and extricate you from this mess, we will be watching you. Any indication you don’t seek help, or you backslide into child predator porno-land, and I’ll make you wish the Byers’ had killed you. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s make that call.” I hope Nat doesn’t backslide on his Cantelli-land rehab assignment. He won’t like the consequences.
* * *
“You probably think I’m a monster.”
I was wondering how long it would take for Nat to play the ‘Poor Me’ card. Having established a monitoring station inside his rather nice den, Lo and I worked on the paperwork accumulated during our time away. Although Trish and Bone did an exemplary job running the agency with Shelly’s managerial expertise, we needed to update our personal database with names and points of interest from cases handled while we were overseas. Ignoring the mundane duty could cost us our lives, or that of our employees. When we took on a case, or scanned a potential client’s request, every name, place, and circumstance is cross referenced against our database. Items overlooked by our employees receive the attention they deserve from two sets of old experienced eyes. For instance, the whining Nat would be represented in our database with every word and nuance since first finding out his connection to the Byers. Combined with all points of interest including our phone sting, his story about being threatened by thugs sent by the Byers couple, and all known members of the child porno ring he’d interacted with would be categorized with keyword retrieval. It was tedious work, but we were real good at it.
Rick Cantelli, PI: Into the Darkness (Rick Cantelli, P.I. Detectives Book 3) Page 16