He ran on after leaving the cemetery, and a block later, they left the neighborhood and emerged onto Victory Boulevard. There were people everywhere and most of them did a double take as Tanner sprinted past them.
One of the stores was selling fruit, and as Tanner ran by, he snagged an orange from atop a crate that was full of them, and which was set up outside the store to display them, along with other fresh produce.
The store owner had been standing nearby and he rushed onto the sidewalk to yell at Tanner, and did so, just as the cop reached the same spot, and it was only the cop’s quick reflexes that saved him from a full-on collision with the man.
The store owner was still spun around after being hit on the arm by the cop’s right hip, as the officer swiveled away from him, but the cop’s nimble avoidance of disaster had still caused him to stumble and slow down, and Tanner once again had a decent lead.
He planned to put it to good use, along with the orange he carried.
In the distance, Tanner could just make out flashing lights approaching through the heavy morning traffic. He had to do something quick.
When he reached the next corner, he saw an apartment building down a side street on his right and, after crossing the street, he headed for it.
He had been prepared to kick in the door, but the front door was unlocked and when he rushed inside, he saw exactly what he’d hoped to see, a staircase.
Tanner forced himself to wait a few seconds before taking action, and gulped in as much air as he could while doing so.
If he acted too soon, what he had planned would be useless. When he could hear the cop’s footfalls outside, he tossed the orange up so that it would go over the banister and fall upon the next flight of stairs.
With adrenaline flowing through his veins, he did even better than he had hoped to, and the orange fell atop the stairs leading up to the third floor.
With that done, he hurried over to an alcove where a baby carriage was parked and slid out of view beside it, and did so just as the cop rushed into the vestibule.
Tanner’s eyes watered as he stifled his gasps for breath while hearing the cop’s deep breathing, but it was the second sound that pleased him, the sound of the orange, as it rolled and thumped its way back down the stairs.
It wasn’t the sound of footsteps, but it was a sound, and it was enough to make a keen pursuer take notice.
The cop fell for it, went bounding up the stairs to hunt for his man, and as soon as he hit the landing and started up the second flight, Tanner left the alcove and went back outside, while shedding the hoodie and removing his gloves and sunglasses.
The hoodie was black, but the T-shirt beneath it was white, and although not a disguise, it was a stark contrast.
Tanner shoved the hoodie down a sewer drain, grabbed a crumpled newspaper that had been blown into the gutter, and walked back to Victory Boulevard, where he discovered that the distant flashing lights were just a block away, and slowing to make the turn.
He opened the newspaper, leaned back against a wall, and attempted to look casual.
The patrol car nearly overshot its turn, but corrected, and then came to a screeching halt in front of the apartment building. It was joined just seconds later by two more units, which had arrived from the other direction.
Tanner tossed the newspaper in the trash can of a donut shop and then went inside to buy a coffee, while also buying Sophia a chocolate chip muffin, which was her favorite.
Two minutes later, he was in a cab headed back to the parking lot of an auto parts store, where he had left his car. The store was on the highway, next to the diner where he had made Julian’s acquaintance and stolen the truck.
By the time he returned to Sophia’s, Gerda’s body was gone, and Sophia was watching the aftermath of his hit on Victor and the other seven men on the TV in the kitchen.
She sent him a sideways glance.
“Remind me to stay on your good side.”
The TV showed an aerial view of the carnage he had inflicted with the dump truck, but soon switched to a different chopper, and this one hovered above the apartment building near Victory Boulevard, where several patrol cars were gathered.
The hosts of the program speculated over the significance of the cop who emerged from the building holding an orange in an evidence bag, and even had the camera zoom in on the man.
Sophia nodded at the TV.
“That cop with the orange is cute.”
Tanner tore a small piece off her muffin.
“And fast too.”
CHAPTER 17 - Peace in our time
Unlike Sophia, Bruno Heinz wasn’t watching TV; he was on the phone and getting more frustrated by the second at his inability to reach Victor.
Finally, after numerous attempts, he instructed one of his other aides to track down Victor. That also proved futile, however, it did result in Heinz learning that not only was Victor not answering his phone, but neither were any of the men he’d taken with him.
When he learned that Victor had also hired an independent contractor named Gerda to assist, and that she too was not answering or returning calls, he came to understand that Tanner’s reputation was well earned.
Within minutes of that realization, he was on the phone to Germany again.
“Yes sir?”
“Have you secured the men yet?”
“I have and they will all be arriving in New York over the next twelve hours.”
“Excellent, also, contact our Hungarian friend.”
“The Hungarian? Yes sir, but may I remind you of his fees, they are very—”
“Expensive, yes, but also worth the cost, his team of assassins has never failed.”
“True, but is the expense necessary? Is Mr. Rossetti that formidable?”
“I don’t need them to kill Rossetti; I need them to kill a man named Tanner. I had hoped to have him work for me, but he’s chosen a different path. Now it’s time he learned that he is not the only deadly man for hire.”
“The Hungarian’s team consists of four men; this man Tanner will be dealt with swiftly.”
“Yes, and Hans?”
“Yes sir?”
“Hand over your responsibilities there to your immediate subordinate and come here by the end of the week, you will be moving up and taking over Victor’s duties.”
There was a pause, as the implications of that request sank in.
“I’m honored by the promotion, but also saddened, Victor was a friend.”
“Tanner killed him, along with several others.”
“In that case, sir, I will be personally adding on to the fee you’ll be paying the Hungarian.”
“Why?”
“I understand that for a price, the target will be tortured before being killed. I would like this Tanner to experience that agony, in memory of Victor.”
Heinz smiled into the phone.
“Hans, you and I are going to work well together, now get busy completing your instructions, and by tomorrow evening, Tanner will be dead.”
***
Heinz wasn’t the only one who wanted Tanner dead, and later that day, when Pullo escorted Tanner and Sophia into Johnny’s office, Sara stared daggers at him from where she sat beside Johnny, behind his desk.
Pullo stayed for the meeting and stood at Tanner’s left, while leaning against the wall.
“I want you to know that this meeting wasn’t my idea,” Sara said. “I don’t want peace. I want you dead.”
Tanner looked back at her, but said nothing, while Sophia walked over and glared down at Sara.
“The man Tanner killed, the one you want revenge for, he was a member of The Conglomerate, right, he worked for Richards?”
Sara looked her up and down.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Sophia Verona, now answer my question.”
Sara huffed, but did answer.
“The man Tanner killed was named Brian Ames and yes, he worked for MegaZenith, but when he found out what wa
s going on, he contacted the FBI, and that’s when we met.”
“So he told you that he was just an innocent little lamb, is that it? Well, let me tell you something, lady, no one had access to anything in The Conglomerate unless they knew the code to the encrypted files. We confiscated Richards’ computers after his death and my people still can’t crack the code, so if this Brian had access or was in the inner circle, he was no innocent, and if he turned snitch, then he just got what he had coming.”
Sara’s face went red and she stood. Both she and Sophia were tall for women, and they appeared to be the same height.
“Tell me one more time how Brian deserved to die and I will rip the hair from your head.”
Sophia started to respond, but Tanner held up a hand and everyone looked at him.
“We’re here to end a problem, not to start a new one, and while Sophia was right about Ames not being an innocent, it has little to do with why we’re here today.”
Sara shook her head.
“She was wrong about Brian, and she’s also wrong about Richards’ files being inaccessible, because you have access to them, don’t you Tanner?”
Tanner held back his surprise at Sara’s knowledge, but couldn’t hold back his smile; the woman was not only tough, but also sharp. She knew that Al Trent had been in Ridge Creek because she had tracked his phone there, and from that knowledge, she must have extrapolated that Tanner used Trent to access Richards’ files. And while her facts were faulty, her conclusion was correct.
Johnny asked Tanner and Sophia to take seats in front of the desk, and then followed up on Sara’s hunch.
“Does the name Tim Jackson mean anything to you, Tanner?”
“It does and so you know I’m not bluffing. I have the same files as Jackson. Those files are keeping him safe and they’ll also get me what I want.”
“How so?” Johnny said.
Tanner gestured at Sara.
“She backs down or I hand the files over to the IRS.” Tanner plucked Jade Taylor’s card from atop Johnny’s desk, “And I see that they’re already sniffing around.”
Pullo spoke up.
“What’s in the files, financial records?”
Johnny answered.
“Judging by what Jackson sent me, there’s every transaction made between the Giacconi Family and MegaZenith since the beginning of The Conglomerate, along with the names of the dummy corporations we used, and while none of it would touch us personally, it would give the government cause to close down everything and seize all assets.”
Tanner stared across the desk at Sara.
“I’m giving you a chance to end this without bloodshed, Blake. Agree to back down or I’ll destroy your boyfriend’s business. If you keep coming after that, I’ll kill the both of you.”
Pullo sprang from the wall, walked over and stood beside Tanner, to glower down at him where he was seated.
“If you were anyone else, I’d have killed you just now for making that threat.”
“If I was anyone else, you would succeed, try it with me and I’ll put you in traction.”
Pullo’s hands balled into fists.
“Goddamn it, Tanner, don’t test me.”
“I’m tired of playing games with this woman, Joe. Either she backs off or things go very badly. There’s no middle ground.”
“Even if I agree to let things be, why should we trust you?” Sara asked.
“Because I would give you my word,”
Sara laughed.
“The word of a scumbag, a killer for hire? What’s that worth? Nothing, that’s what it’s worth. And another thing, why would you trust me?”
Tanner shrugged.
“You’ve never lied to me, not once, not even when I stood in your apartment holding a shotgun on you, you just got in my face and told me that you would see me dead someday.”
Sophia turned her head and stared at Tanner.
“You two were alone in her apartment?”
Sara made a face.
“Please, I’d rather sleep with a dog than ever touch Tanner.”
Sophia smiled.
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Johnny squirmed in his seat.
“Let’s stay on topic. Tanner is willing to make peace and he’ll trust Sara to keep her word, that’s good, that’s a start.”
“It’s not my word you have to worry about,” Sara said. “And why should I back down? I damn near killed you in Pennsylvania, Tanner; maybe next time I’ll get it done.”
“I underestimated you, Blake, I admit that, but I won’t do it again. If we don’t reach an agreement today, I promise you, you’ll be dead by the end of the week.”
Johnny pointed a finger at him.
“Anything happens to her and I will kill you.”
“No, Rossetti, you’ll try and then I’ll kill you.” Tanner tossed a thumb at Pullo. “After that, Joe will come and I’ll kill him. The three of you will be dead and I’ll talk business with whoever replaces you. You see, you were wrong when you said that I’m here to make peace. I’m not here to make peace; I’m here to give you a chance to save your lives.”
Sara looked at him with disgust.
“You arrogant, condescending piece of shit, you really think you’re something special, don’t you?”
“No, Blake, but I’m better at killing than anyone has ever been and it’s a skill I don’t mind using.”
“Johnny,” Sophia said.
“What?”
“Take the deal, Tanner won’t say it, but I will. He likes you, and the only reason he agreed to this meeting is because you’ve hooked up with her. If not for you, he would just kill her, and if she got lucky and killed Tanner, then, I would kill her, hand to God.”
Johnny stared across at Tanner for a few moments before turning to Sara.
“I understand wanting vengeance, but I don’t see any way for this to end well. Please, make peace with the man and give him your word that you’ll back off.”
“And I’m supposed to take his word as well?”
“His word is good. He came here to talk like he said he would and we both know that he could have killed you the day we were attacked, but he didn’t, because we had a temporary truce. Tanner will keep his word.”
Sara shook her head.
“He can’t be trusted.”
“He can,” Johnny said, as he reached over and took her hand. “Make peace, baby, I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
Sara squeezed his hand, gritted her teeth, and nodded.
“I promise not to try to kill Tanner, but mark my words, the man can’t be trusted and the second he goes back on his word, all bets are off.”
Tanner stood and Sophia followed suit. Then, Johnny stood, offered his hand, and he and Tanner shook.
“Now that we’ve made peace, let’s discuss war. Heinz won’t quit coming after either of us.”
“Is that a job offer?” Tanner said, “Because if it is, my price will be high.”
Pullo gestured towards the doorway, which still sat open while awaiting its new door.
“If you ladies will excuse us, we won’t be long, have a drink at the bar.”
Sara stood, her gaze still one of stone as she looked at Tanner, but she walked past him without a word and headed down the hallway.
Sophia chuckled.
“I’ll go keep the bitch company, maybe she’ll loosen up after a couple of drinks.”
“Be nice,” Johnny said, and Sophia smiled sweetly over her shoulder as she left the room.
With the women gone, the men sat once more, with Pullo taking the seat vacated by Sara.
“How high a price are we talking, Tanner?” Johnny asked.
“Three times my old rate; I think the last few months have proven I’m worth it.”
Joe whistled.
“That’s a nice fee.”
“There’s more, I also want fifty K just to sign on.”
Johnny wagged a finger at him.
&nb
sp; “That’s a lot of money.”
“And you’ll get a lot for it. Heinz will regret ever leaving Germany.”
“That thing with the dump truck this morning, that was you, wasn’t it?” Johnny said.
“It was and Heinz lost eight men.”
“He’ll send more,” Pullo said.
“He will and they’ll die too, or, I can take Sophia and head off for a vacation. So what will it be Rossetti, do I have a job or not?”
Johnny stared at Tanner as he thought things over. When he came to a decision, he made a nearly imperceptible nod.
“You’re hired, and call me Johnny; hell, you’ve already saved my life twice.”
Tanner stood.
“You’ll get your money’s worth, don’t worry.”
“And Sara, I have your word that you won’t hurt her?”
“Yes.”
Johnny made a sigh of relief.
“Good, she needs to put her old life in the past and move on.”
Tanner sent a nod to Pullo and headed towards the doorway.
“One more thing, Tanner,” Johnny said.
“What’s that?”
“The Carter brothers, do you care what happens to them?”
Tanner raised an eyebrow.
“Did the boys get on your bad side?”
“Not me, Joe here, he doesn’t trust them.”
Tanner shrugged.
“I’ve nothing against them, but Joe’s instincts are good. Do what you will with them.”
“Fine, and I’ll be in touch.”
Tanner left and Johnny turned to Pullo.
“Merle and Earl, they’re in your hands now; do what you think is right.”
“Thanks, and I get no pleasure from it, but yeah, they have to go.”
“When?”
“I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll take a little ride in the limo with the boys... and come back alone.”
Johnny sighed.
“What?”
“Those two, they kind of grew on me.”
“Like fungus,” Pullo said and then he headed out into the bar.
CHAPTER 18 - Wrapped to go
Inside the Cabaret Strip Club, Sara and Sophia sat in the roped-off VIP area at the side of the bar, while having a drink.
The area could be curtained off from the rest of the room and had its own small stage with a pole in the middle, but neither the pole nor the stage was in use.
The TANNER Series - Books 4-6 (Tanner Box Set Book 2) Page 31