“You weren’t supposed to show up.” He cut up his sausage and pointed at her with it on his fork. “I had it all under control. I told you, just leave me be.”
No.
“All right, so I don’t show up, what happens?”
“I have my ways. I nullify Ray and his gang and secure the kids.” The waitress returned and put his Coke on the table. “Thanks. The kids are the main thing. Once they’re safe, I burn the place down.”
“Arson? That was your brilliant plan. Committing a felony.”
“I’m just kidding.”
She shook her head. “No, no you aren’t.”
“Come on.” He tried to catch her eye. “You know you feel good that we put some bad guys down and saved some kids. Everyone is better off now.”
She balled up her fist and said through her teeth, “That wasn’t our mission.”
“He put a hit out on me. He’s slime. Do you have any idea how many people have disappeared under his watch?”
“That’s not the point.”
“How many women and children?”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, yes I do. I studied him for months. I have files inches thick I can show you.” He reached over and grabbed her arm. “Justice was served today, and it didn’t take a pile of paperwork to dispense it.”
His grip was warm and strong. She pulled away.
“Let’s go.”
“But I’m not finished.”
She tossed two twenties on the table. “You are now.”
CHAPTER 20
The Drake. That was where Rod had said AV would be. It wasn’t at all what Sidney expected.
“That’s different,” Smoke said.
A series of barges formed a small city along the Potomac on the Virginia side of the river, south of the Torpedo Art Museum. A lighthouse could be seen in the distance. Standing on the wharf that jutted over the river and led to the barrages was a lone sign that pointed to the Drake.
“Let’s go,” Sidney said.
The Drake was a hotel-like building that sat on top of the backs of four barges. Pleasant music drifted down the pier that ran alongside it. The salivating scent of food drifted into her nostrils. She led with Smoke in tow, drifting in with the crowd that traversed the docks. Along with the hotel/restaurant getaway there were small stores and local artists. Beatniks, preppies, hippies, all sorts walked, talked and made polite conversation.
“Great,” she said. A long line of people had formed outside the restaurant at the Drake.
“Shall I put our name on the list?” Smoke said.
“No, let’s go around. Come on.”
The Drake plaza sat on a huge boardwalk and deck. People gathered around the railing watching the boats and ferries. A few hard faces fished. A staircase led down to a boat dock and slips on the back of the floating city. Men in dark suits stood on the docks, helping men and women from their boats. Sidney could see the bulges of body holsters concealed under their jackets.
“Pretty seedy,” Smoke said.
Sidney took a closer look at the men fishing. They were holstered up too. And so were some of the common folk milling about. She counted at least ten well-armed men and women. Guns for hire. Bodyguards. Goons.
“I’ll be. We’re on private property,” she said under her breath.
“Yep,” Smoke said. “It seems like AV has thought of everything. A criminal’s safe house. An excellent escape route with immediate access to three states. I like it.”
“It seems you convicts all think alike.” She smiled up at him and hooked her arm in his. “Oh, don’t frown. Buy a girl a drink, why don’t you.” She tugged him along. “Come on. We can’t make our intentions obvious.”
“I don’t have any cash.”
“And that’s why there won’t be a second date.” They made their way up to the hostess stand.
“Name and how many?” the hostess said.
Sidney looked up at Smoke.
“Er, two, and the last name is Ferrigno.”
The young waitress wrote it down and handed him a pager. “Okay, it will be at least an hour, Mister Ferrigno. You can get some drinks on the plaza while you wait.” She smiled. “Next.”
They grabbed two long-necks from a beer stand and took a seat on a bench overlooking the river.
“A toast,” Smoke said.
“No.”
“I’m just trying to act natural,” he said. “Forgive me; I haven’t been on a date in a while.”
“This isn’t a date.” She took a sip of beer. “And don’t get wasted on that beer. I might need you.”
“Really?”
“It’s a figure of speech.”
“If you say so.” He tilted the bottle to his lips and guzzled it down. “Ah!”
“What did I just say?”
“What? I’ve been in prison. Can you blame me?”
“No more.” She eased back on the bench and crossed her legs. The chill from the river was worse than she expected. It was a starry night. “This place is full of all kinds of everything.”
“It sure is.” Smoke cleared his throat. “I wonder who Drake is?”
“I only care who AV is. You should too.”
A group of men in tuxedos with women in fine jewels crested the steps that led down to the dock. Eyes forward and faces drawn tight, they marched straight for the restaurant.
“I’ll be.”
“What?”
One of the men was Congressman Wilhelm, with his troupe of lackeys. His beady eyes turned her way. There was no avoiding his gaze.
She nudged Smoke.
“Kiss me.”
“Wh—”
She pulled his face down to hers and locked her lips with his. He pulled her body into his. A charge went through her.
Good kisser. Three. Two. One. Through the corner of her eye, she saw Congressman Wilhelm move on. She held the kiss a moment longer and broke it off. “That’ll do.”
“Do you mind telling what that was all about?”
“Yes, I do mind.” What is Wilhelm doing here?
“Ex-boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Animal attraction?”
“Don’t get any ideas. I might explain later.”
Locking his fingers behind his head, he gazed upward into the stars. “Oh, at least you’ve given me plenty to think about.”
Me too.
Smoke pulled the flashing pager out of his pocket. “That was quick.”
“Sure was.” Sidney felt eyes on her and noticed a few cameras on the lamp posts. A pair of eyes along the railing drifted away from her. A woman at the beer stand spoke into her wrist and looked away. “I have a feeling Rod Brown gave us up.”
“Maybe.” Smoke cracked his knuckles. “Say, are you going to finish that beer?”
She took a long drink and handed it over. “Knock yourself out.”
Smoke chugged it down. “Ah!”
Please don’t burp.
“Buuuurp! Whoa!” Smoke tapped his chest. “Sorry.”
Sidney got up and started toward the restaurant. A mix of six men and women wearing dark pea coats hemmed them in with hands on their holsters.
CHAPTER 21
A dusky-skinned woman with dark cornrows stepped forward, rolling a toothpick from one side of her mouth to the other. She had a hard edge in her voice.
“My name is Gina. I speak on behalf of the Drake. You need to leave.”
“I beg your pardon, Gina?”
“Listen, Miss.” The woman rolled the toothpick to the other side of her mouth. “This is private property. The Drake Management doesn’t want you here.”
“I don’t follow.” Sidney glanced at the tattoos crawling up the rough-cut woman’s neck.
“I don’t need to explain myself. I know you saw the private property lines. You’re trespassing.”
No, I’m getting close to something. AV must be here.
The woman stuck her fist inside her palm and crack
ed her knuckles. “Now, I’m asking nicely. Don’t make me mess up that pretty little face of yours.” She cracked her neck from side to side. “I’d love to do it.”
“I’m certain that’s not going to happen.”
Gina took a step closer and leaned forward. “Listen, tramp, I’ve busted up men and women in the octagon. These hands are lethal weapons. And here, heh, well, I’m free to use them. I’ve left the bloodstains of my victims on the deck before. Just ask them.” She tipped her chin. “What do you think about that, Pretty?”
“I don’t think a woman acting like a man makes for much of a woman.”
Gina’s eyes enlarged. “What!” She shoved Sidney in the chest.
Sidney absorbed the push, lowered her hip, and launched a roundhouse kick. She caught Gina flush on the chin. Gina smacked the deck face first, spilling her blood.
The men closed in with fingers itching on their weapons.
Sidney whipped out her badge. “FBI, back off!”
The wary-eyed men eased back.
“Her assault on a federal officer just gave me probable cause to search this place. Come on.” She led Smoke through the gathering crowd. “He’s in there. I can feel it.” She rushed past the hostess stand.
Smoke tossed the hostess the pager. “The Ferrignos will be seating themselves tonight.”
Sidney carefully picked her way through the tables while scanning the crowd. The Drake had two levels: the main floor of booths and tables decorated in a high-décor riverboat look, and the upstairs level, which was roped off for private parties.
“Up there.” Sidney eyed a man who was quickly moving along the balcony. He spoke to another group of men who were seated. It was Congressman Wilhelm and his party. Sidney stepped under the balcony, evading their concerned glances.
“The only way out of here is back the way we came. I didn’t notice a fire escape. Did you?”
Smoke was at her side. He peeked up at the next level. “Apparently the Drake doesn’t like OSHA, either. I saw him.”
Sidney pulled him back. “Saw who?”
“AV. He’s up there at your ex-boyfriend’s table.”
Some of the goons in pea coats eased their way into the restaurant without creating a commotion.
“Are you sure you saw him?”
“Yep.”
“Let’s go up then.” Heading for the stairs, she was cut off by a bald thickset bodyguard in a dark grey suit. She flashed her badge. “I need to get a message to Congressman Wilhelm. It’s urgent federal business.”
He took a hard look and glanced up at the balcony. Someone gave him a nod. He removed the velvet rope and stepped aside. “Go on up. But just you, lady.”
Smoke’s fist crashed into the man’s rugged jaw.
Whop!
The henchman sagged onto the stairs.
Up they went, side by side. At the top, two other henchmen awaited them. Sidney’s fingertips danced on her weapon. “Move.”
The pair of men parted, and at the top a table awaited with eight guests. One of them was Congressman Wilhelm. The other face she recognized was Adam Vaughn’s.
“Agent Shaw,” Congressman Wilhelm said, lighting up a cigar, “may I ask what you are doing here?”
“I could ask you the same,” she said.
“I don’t answer to anyone less than a senator.”
“I’m sure your voters would love to hear that.”
The congressman chuckled. “They only hear what I want them to hear.” He squeezed his date’s knee with the hand bearing his wedding ring. “And they only believe what I want them to believe.”
A few more henchmen crowded near the table. Congressman Wilhelm had a secret service agent on one side and his baby-doll date on the other. One seat over from AV, Rod Brown sat in a blue suit, eyeing a spot on the table.
“As always,” Sidney said, “you seem to be on top of things, so I assume you know you’re dining with a wanted man?”
“Beg pardon?” Wilhelm’s eyes slid toward AV, but shifted back to her. “What are you talking about? You’re not here to pester me?”
“No,” she said, taking out her flex cuffs, “I’m here for Adam Vaughn.”
“Adam? What on earth would you want with Adam?”
Adam Vaughn’s fine features darkened. His eyes scoured his men.
“That isn’t any of your business, Congressman. But I’m sure your spineless sources will fill you in soon enough. Mister Vaughn, I need you to come with me.”
“Stay put, Adam,” Wilhelm said, tossing his napkin on the table and getting up from his seat. “You listen to me, Shaw. You need to get out of here. Get out of here now. You’re in deeper than you know.” He plucked out his phone and started to dial. “Relax, Adam. I’ll handle this.”
Adam Vaughn was an attractive man, small in stature, with a head of coarse black hair and heavy eyebrows. He wore a white shirt with an open collar underneath a blue pin-striped suit. His eyes narrowed and his jaws were clenching. The atmosphere was ripe with tension. Sidney felt Smoke slide in behind her. She glanced back. His eyes were laser locked on AV.
“Let’s go, Mister Vaughn,” she said, using more authority this time.
AV had turned his attention to Rod. The big man’s head was beaded with sweat.
“Rod,” AV said in a European accent that was more deadly than charming, “look at me.”
Rod lifted his chin, started to turn, and began shaking uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry, AV. I’m sorry!”
“Nobody’s sorry, Adam,” Wilhelm said, covering his phone. “I’ll take care of this in a moment.” He rolled his eyes at Sidney. “You really don’t know what’s good for you.”
“Betrayer!” Adam jumped up from his seat and lunged at Rod.
Sidney drew her weapon. “Back off, Mister Vaughn!”
AV lifted his palms and backed off. “You’re dead to me, Rod.” He spat on the table. “Dead!” He came out from behind the table and faced Sidney. “You’ll soon be dead to me too.”
“Turn around — oof!”
AV kicked her in the gut, dropping her to her knees. He ducked under Smoke’s lunging arms and leaped over the rail and crashed onto a table below. A cry of alarm went up all over the restaurant.
Smoke catapulted off the rail and charged after AV, who was dashing toward the exit.
Sidney scrambled to her feet and headed for the stairs, tripping over Wilhelm’s feet.
“Watch your step, Agent Shaw,” he said with a sinister grin. “Watch your step.”
CHAPTER 22
Sidney hit the landing at the bottom of the steps just as Smoke vanished through the front doors. Panicked people spilled into her way.
“Move it!”
A path slowly parted between feeble bodies and bewildered faces. She powered through them, shoving a man and two women down. “Does anyone know what move means?”
While she was rushing by the hostess stand, two peacock goons blocked her path. She blasted two warning shots into the floor.
Blam! Blam!
One goon dove left and the other dove right. Everybody screamed. Through the door Sidney went. Sprinting on long, fast legs, she surged out onto the deck and saw Smoke racing through the crowd thirty yards away. AV vanished down the steps leading to the docks. Smoke disappeared right after him.
Get down there, Sid!
At the top of the stairs, two more gunshots cracked off. The bodyguard on the dock was blasting away at the slithery Smoke.
Sidney took aim.
Blam!
Her bullet ripped through the back of the man’s shoulder, spinning him to the ground. Down the stairs she went, sidestepping the big man and kicking his pistol into the water. After Smoke and AV she went, weapon ready. A pitch-black 30-foot cabin cruiser at the end of the dock started pulling out of its slip.
No you don’t! She sprinted toward the end of the dock. Faster, Sid! Faster! Adrenaline surging through her limbs, she put everything into her jump. She sailed t
hrough the air. I’m going to make it!
Her foot clipped the edge of the boat, making for an ugly landing. She tumbled and bumped her head on the table. Bright starry spots drew in her eyes. She rubbed her head and forced herself up to her feet. A man in a captain’s hat was up the stairs behind the wheel. She took aim and said, “FBI! Shut it down!”
The man remained unmoving. Sidney went up the steps and put the gun to his neck.
“I said, shut it down.”
The man turned to face her. His face was pasty, hair ratty and stringy, eyes hollow and lifeless.
She gasped. Something evil, unnatural lurked behind his sunken eyes.
In a burst, the creepy man shoved her aside and lumbered stiffly down the stairs.
“Freeze!”
He kept going.
She fired a round at his leg.
Blam!
Unfazed, he stepped up on the edge of the boat and fell into the black water.
Sidney rushed down the steps and looked over the rail. The man was gone. Only the captain’s hat remained afloat.
I know I hit him … it.
“Sid!” a voice cried out. “Sid!”
She twisted around. Smoke’s voice was coming from inside the lower cabin. She burst through the doors. Smoke’s big frame had AV pinned down on the floor. The smaller man twisted away and sprinted toward Sidney. Smoke tackled his legs and launched a quick punch in AV’s ribs. The man sagged.
“Cuffs!” Smoke said, chest heaving.
“What?”
“Flex cuffs!” he added, sucking for air. He wrenched AV’s arms behind his back.
AV jerked them away.
“You are one strong little man!” Smoke punched both sides of his ribs again. Whap! Whap! “I’ll have no more of that, you swarthy Spaniard.”
“I’m not Spanish, you fool!” AV spat on the floor. “I’m something else.”
You’re something else, all right.
Sidney kneeled down and put her gun barrel to AV’s temple. “If you don’t remain still, something else of yours is going to be splattered all over the floor.”
AV’s struggles eased. He gazed up at her. His eyes were black pools. Insidious. Primal. Evil. Hair rose on her neck. Without averting her eyes, she handed Smoke the cuffs. He crisscrossed AV’s wrists and bound them.
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series Page 9