by Donald Wells
“Against Burke and Ramos?”
“They’re blackmailing me, they have proof that I’ve been acting as a vigilante.”
“What kind of proof?”
“They filmed me at crimes scenes. They’ve been blackmailing me for months. They’re both crazy, you know? They actually believe that they can build their own hit squad to fight government corruption.”
“Why haven’t you killed them?”
“Burke says the proof against me is being kept in a bank safety deposit box. If I kill him or Ramos, his lawyer will come forth with the film.”
“How did you expect us to help you?”
“I’m not sure really, but I wasn’t about to kill the only two people who have a reason to hate Burke as much as I do.”
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Tyler Davidson; I’m a university professor, economics,”
“What have you done, as a vigilante?”
Tyler hesitated for just a moment, but when he next spoke, his voice was filled with anger.
“I kill drug dealers; they’re a modern plague and I treat them as such.”
He reached over and unlocked the manacles on Tyler’s legs.
“How do feel about biker gangs?”
***
The Spawn biker club made their home in a red, one-story cinder block building in the Bronx.
The wide building sat alone amid acres of weeds and beneath a section of the Bruckner Expressway. The persistent hum of the traffic overhead could even be heard above the loud, heavy metal music blasting out of the club.
Two men stood outside talking. As Tyler emerged from the tall weeds with a sawed-off shotgun in each hand, they reached for their weapons, but were struck from behind and rendered unconscious.
Tyler nodded at him and he nodded back, and then both men entered the bar, like Tyler, he carried a pair of sawed-off shotguns and wore a black ski mask.
There would be no sharpshooting here tonight. If guns were needed, then they would be needed for wholesale slaughter. A simple count of the number of motorcycles in front of the building placed the odds against them at a minimum of twelve to one.
He was wearing a bulletproof vest over a black turtleneck sweater, with a pair of black jeans and boots. Tyler went all-out. He was dressed in a one-piece bodysuit made with Kevlar that was specially constructed to fit his huge frame. The suit would help protect him from all but a head wound and, fully loaded with accessories such as gas grenades and spare ammo, it weighed just over sixty pounds.
As they entered the bar, Tyler silenced the jukebox with a blast from one of the guns. Three dozen heads turned their way, about a quarter of them women, but only one man made a move to draw his weapon.
“Don’t!” he told the man, but went unheeded, and as the gun was brought up to fire, he pulled the trigger on a shotgun. The man’s face, neck and chest were shredded to hamburger as the force of the blast slammed him against the wall. A few of his friends were unlucky enough to be standing nearby, and were also struck by pellets, but none of their wounds was life threatening.
A man separated himself from the crowd and walked up to them. He was dressed in leather and had a full beard, but not the long Texas goatee that half the men in the bar wore. On the right side of his jacket was a single gold star, a signal of rank perhaps, in any case, he spoke as if he were in charge.
“Tell me what you want?”
“We’re here on behalf of Ronny Shaw. He’s not to be harmed, ever!”
The man looked incredulous.
“All this grief is over that piece of shit Ronny Shaw? Hell, where the fuck did he get enough juice to bring you down on us?”
“He gets out in a month, when he does, he’s leaving the state. We’re just here to see that he lives long enough to do it.”
“Ronny broke the rules. You don’t rat on a brother. Ronny ratted on two of us.”
“And your rules demand death for that? There’s no way to make amends?”
“Amends? Yeah, there’s a way to make ‘amends’, but that would have killed him too.”
“What way?”
“A fight to the death, hand to hand, and Ronny ain’t much of a fighter.”
“What if I fought for him; is that allowed?”
“You’ll fight whoever I say, no weapons?”
“If it makes things even,”
The man rubbed a hand along his beard as he gave the matter some thought.
“Throw in a new jukebox and it’s a deal, but your boy there will have to buy it, you’ll be too busy being dead.”
“Who do you want me to fight?”
“Aaron!”
In the middle of the room was a huge man with a bushy black beard who seemed to be the tallest biker in the room, and then he stood up. The man was over seven and a half feet tall.
Behind him, he could hear Tyler mumble the words, “Oh my Lord...” as the man strode forward.
***
They moved outside into the parking lot, and he handed Tyler his weapons.
“Maybe I should fight him. I’m closer to his size, me and the Sears Tower.”
“It’s not about size, Professor,” he said.
Just before the start of the fight, all was silent, even the whoosh of the cars overhead seemed hushed.
Then, the man-mountain named Aaron bellowed and charged at him. He stood his ground, cocked back his fist, and at the last possible instant, dropped to the ground.
The huge biker was unable to stop his momentum and tripped over him. A moment later, and he was on the biker’s back and pressing on a nerve cluster that left the man screaming in agony, but he soon stood up before the big man could reach back and grab him.
The biker rose on unsteady legs and glared at him, and that’s when he hit him in the face, and then again, and again, and again, arm moving like a piston as he pummeled the big man to his knees, only to move behind him and place an arm around the huge neck. As he applied pressure, the giant reached back and tried to dislodge him, but all he could grasp was his left sleeve, which he managed to rip off of him, before falling into the dirt, face first.
He stood up from the giant’s back, reached down and flipped him over, and spoke to the club’s leader.
“He’s not dead, just unconscious, but all I have to do is stamp on his throat if you’re a stickler for rules.”
The man stared at him for long seconds before speaking.
“Tell Ronny we’re even, and don’t forget the juke box.”
“You’ll have it next week,” he said, as Tyler handed him his shotguns.
A moment after that, and they disappeared back into the weeds.
***
When Tyler failed to call and report in, Burke and Ramos grew increasingly frustrated by their inability to make contact with either him or Kari Shaw. When Tyler failed to call after twenty-four hours, they knew that he must have failed, and although neither agent would admit it, they were beginning to fear for their own lives.
Ramos’ phone rang, when she answered, it was Jessica.
“The park, now,”
CLICK!
“What did she say?” Burke said.
“They want us to meet them in the park. Do we go?”
Burke rubbed the stubble on his cheek as he thought it over.
“We go. They won’t try anything out in the open, and besides, we need answers.”
When they got to the park, they found Jessica standing alone at the same bench where they previously talked. Both Burke and Ramos looked around frantically while walking over to her.
“Where’s your husband, Dr. White?” Burke said.
“His whereabouts are none of your business, but I am here to deliver a message from him.”
“And what would that be?”
“You’re to leave us alone. The man you sent to kill us is dead. Kari Shaw is dead. If we ever see either one of you ever again, your names will be added to that list.”
Burke looked her up and down
.
“Tyler Davidson and Kari Shaw are one thing, but we’re United States Federal Agents, Doctor, you kill us and someone will investigate. Oh, and you might be interested in knowing something. Kari Shaw made her confession on film, film I keep locked away in a bank’s safety deposit box.”
Jessica stared back at him.
“The First National Bank on Main Street to be exact, box number 0915.”
Burke’s face turned white.
“You couldn’t have... I mean... it’s a bank,”
Jessica smiled.
“My husband is very clever, Mr. Burke.”
Burke hesitated for just a moment, before turning and rushing back towards the car. Ramos followed him, but then Jessica called to her.
“Teresa, let him go, Teresa, let all of it go.”
Ramos stared back at her.
“I wanted us to be friends, Jessica, I really did.”
“Teresa!” Burke yelled.
“Goodbye, Jessica.”
Jessica sighed.
“Goodbye.”
Her husband appeared just As Ramos and Burke left the park.
“How’s Kari?”
“She’s fine; I told her to call us the next time she had a problem.”
“Good,” Jessica said, while still thinking of Ramos.
“You were trying to save her, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry; I know that it would have caused problems had she stayed.”
“There’s no saving her, or Burke. They were dead the moment they sent Tyler to kill us.”
***
Burke illegally parked his car at the curb and then rushed inside the bank with Ramos following. Three minutes later, he released a breath he’d been holding, as he flipped open the lid on his safety deposit box and found his belongings still there.
He and Ramos were sharing a smile when they heard the first scream, and then another, followed by the armor-clad form of Tyler Davidson entering the room, with facemask down and gun at the ready.
Even as he reached for his weapon, Burke knew he was dead.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
· SEX POEMS FOR VIRGINS - POETRY - 2011 (Written between 1988-2009)
· A MINOR ERROR IN JUDGEMENT - 2011 (Written in 2002)
· FIRST DATE - 2011 (Written in 1991)
· TO EACH HIS OWN - 2011 (Written in 1992)
· COMPETITION - 2011 (Written in 2002)
· ANGER MANAGEMENT - 2011 (Written in 2006)
· THE MANY AND THE ONE - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 1 - 2011 (Written between 1988- 2002)
· DOUBLE OR NOTHING - 2011 (Written in 2002)
· SINS & SECOND CHANCES - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 2 - 2011 (Written in 2003)
· DRY ADULTERY, WET AMBITION - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 3 - 2011 (Written in 2004)
· OF TONGUE AND PEN - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 4 - 2011 (Written in 2008)
· THE FIX-IT MAN - 2011 (Written in 2008)
· AS A SOUL, MOLESTED - POETRY - 2012 (Written between 1988-2010)
· ALL GOOD THINGS - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 5 - 2012 (Written in 2009)
· INDIE: A HUMOROUS LOOK AT INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING - 2011
· WHISPER IN THE PINES - 2012
· MONSTERS - 2012
· TAKEN! - 2012
· TAKEN! 2 - 2012
· TAKEN! 3 - 2012
· TAKEN! 4 - 2012
· TAKEN! 5 - 2012
· TAKEN! 6 - 2012
· BLUE STEELE - 2012
· BLUE STEELE 2 - 2012
· BLUE STEELE 3 - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 2 - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 3 - 2012
· ANSWERED PRAYERS (With Melissa McCallen) - 2012
· TAKEN! 7 - 2012
· BLUE STEELE 4 - 2012
· BLUE STEELE 5 - 2012
· BLUE STEELE 6 - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 4 - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 5 - 2012
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 6 - 2012
· LITTLE WHITE SINS - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 6 - 2012
· TAKEN! 8 - 2012
· TAKEN! 9 - 2012
· TAKEN! 10 - 2013
· TAKEN! 11 - 2013
· TAKEN! 12 - 2013
· TAKEN! 13 - 2013
· TAKEN! 14 - 2013
· TAKEN! PRELUDE! - 2013
· TAKEN! 15 - 2013
· TAKEN! 16 - 2013
· TAKEN! 17 - 2013
· TAKEN! 18 - 2013
· TAKEN! 19 - 2013
· TAKEN! 20 - 2013
· TAKEN! 21 - 2013
· TAKEN! 22 - 2013
· TAKEN! 23 - 2013
· TAKEN! 24 - 2013
· THE THIRTY-NINE - 24A - 2013
· EVERYTHING NEW IS OLD AGAIN - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 7 - 2013
· KIDNAPPING THE DEVIL - 24B - 2013
· HIT SQUAD - 24C - 2013
· THEORETICAL - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· THE LIGHT OF DARKNESS - REYNOLDS FAMILY SAGA - BOOK 8 - 2013
· MONSTERS 2 - 2013
· MONSTERS 3 - 2013
· MONSTERS 4 - 2013
· MONSTERS 5 - 2013
· MONSTERS 6 - 2013
· TAKEN! 25 - 2013
· TAKEN! 26 - 2013
· TAKEN! 27 - 2013
· TAKEN! 28 - 2013
· TAKEN! 29 - 2013
· TAKEN! 30 - 2013
· TAKEN! 31 - 2013
· THEORETICAL 2 - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· THEORETICAL 3 - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· THE TWIN PARADOX - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· AULD LANG TIME - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· THE GRANDSON PARADOX - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· RETRIEVAL - AULD LANG TIME 2 - NICK REYNOLDS - 2013
· TAKEN! 32 - 2013
· TAKEN! 33 - 2013
· TAKEN! 34 - 2013
· TAKEN! 35 - 2013
· TAKEN! 36 - 2013
· TAKEN! 37 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 7 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 8 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 9 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 10 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 11 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 12 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 13 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 14 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 15 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 16 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 17 - 2013
· BLUE STEELE 18 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 7 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 8 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 9 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 10 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 11 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 12 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 13 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 14 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 15 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 16 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 17 - 2013
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 18 - 2013
· CHRISTMAS 1984 - 2013
· TAKEN! 38 - 2014
· TAKEN! 39 - 2014
· TAKEN! 40 - 2014
· TAKEN! 41 - 2014
· TAKEN! 42 - 2014
· TAKEN! 43 - 2014
· BLUE STEELE- FIRST CAPTURE - 2014
· JAKE CALIBER - PRIVATE EYE - 2014
· TAKEN! 44 - 2014
· TAKEN! 45 - 2014
· TAKEN! 46 - 2014
· TAKEN! 47 - 2014
· TAKEN! 48 - 2014
· TAKEN! 49 - 2014
· TAKEN! 50 - 2014
· MURDER! - PARKER & KNIGHT - Book 1 - 2014
> · HOMICIDE! - PARKER & KNIGHT - Book 2 - 2014
· GAME OVER! - PARKER & KNIGHT - Book 3 - 2014
· REDEMPTION - 2014 (Began in 2012, completed in 2014)
· CALIBER DETECTIVE AGENCY 19-24 - 2014
· JAKE CALIBER - PRIVATE EYE 2 – 2014
· JAKE CALIBER - PRIVATE EYE 3 – 2014
· BLUE STEELE- BOUNTY HUNTER 19-24 – 2014
· BLUE STEELE 25 – 2014
About The Author
Donald Wells is the author of numerous short stories and novels, including The TAKEN! Series, The Caliber Detective Agency, Blue Steele, Monsters & The Reynolds Family Saga.
He lives deep inside a writing cave in the wilds of New Jersey.
However, the cave does have Internet access, and so, you can contact him at:
www.donaldwells.com
Also, be sure to check out:
www.takenseries.com
www.bluesteele.com
www.thecaliberdetectiveagency.com
www.thereynoldsfamilysaga.com
If you’d like to be kept aware of new releases, please send an email to:
[email protected]
Your information will never be sold and it will only be used to inform you of new books.
Thank you!
COPYRIGHT
TAKEN! – BOX SET -BOOKS 7-12
Copyright © Donald Wells, 2013
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Did you love Taken! Box Set - Books 7-12? Then you should read Taken! box set - books 13-18 by Donald Wells!
By Donald Wells
The Author of Blue Steele & The Caliber Detective Agency
Taken! Box Set - Books 13 - 18
Taken! 13 (With Blue Steele)
When the body of Sebastian Rojo surfaces with a bullet hole in his skull, the DEA has questions for Jessica and her husband.