“Then what are we?”
She found his eyes. “Screwed.” She held up the picture of Rod Brown. “But not as bad as this guy when we find him.”
***
“So this is your plan, stake out this Rod Brown fella?” Smoke sat in the passenger seat with a frown on his face. “With a face like that, he must have had a hard life. He looks like a bulldog. Maybe a Rottweiler. Why’d you pick him?”
“He looks stupid.”
“Man, why didn’t I think of that? Wow, you really learn great things at the academy.” He fanned the photo. “Just shake down the stupid-looking people.”
Sidney wanted to laugh, but she didn’t. It was difficult because she liked joking around. She often did with the people she worked with once she got to know them. Yawning, she focused on the road.
“You’ll be sharper if you get some rest,” Smoke suggested. “Tell you what. How about you let me drive this racing machine. Crown Vic. Rear wheel drive. Small block V-8. Pretty slow muscle if you ask me, but I can make it fun.” He toyed with the dash. “What year is this thing? Two thousand eight?”
“Nine.”
“Oh. Seems older. How about I put some music on. What kind do you like?”
She could feel his eyes on her. “How about you leave it alone.”
“I bet you like talk radio.”
“No, what I like is no talking about the radio.”
Smoke blanched. “Wow. That was almost funny.” Smoke leaned back in his seat and perused the file. “So are we going to Mister Brown’s apartment or hangout? I’d try the apartment first. It’s too early for the hangout. What do you think?”
“I think you’ll know when we get there.”
“That isn’t exactly fair,” he said. “I need a little time to visualize and prepare. You know, a heads up.”
Sidney laid down the accelerator and zoomed up the interstate’s passing lane. She loved the feeling of the car pushing forward.
“You’re breaking the speed limit,” Smoke said. “Huh, I bet you’re one of those speed demons. Where did you say you were from? Bristol?”
He’s annoying. Perhaps I should let him work alone.
Smoke kept talking and she continued her silence. Too many things were running through her mind. The doctored pictures were a problem. Surely someone else had studied them, Jack perhaps. The digital forensics lab. Who had made them? Why the deception? She had been with the FBI five years, and until today, the job had been cut and dried. And that begged another question. Why her? And why had her old boss, Ted, recommended extraordinary caution?
“So, how’s your family?” Smoke said.
“Great.”
He bobbed his head. “That’s good to hear. Do they live in the area?”
“No.”
“Well, not the immediate area, but maybe within a few counties or so? You sound local. Very, very local.”
“A lot of people say that about me.”
“A lot of people such as … friends?”
I’m going to shoot him.
“I noticed a little indentation on your ring finger,” Smoke continued. “Are you divorced? It’s funny how that ring seems permanent. It wasn’t Cyrus, was it?” Smoke pulled down his visor and checked his hair in the mirror. “No, it’s been a while since you two had your thing. But I have to say, you and Cyrus … you have to admit that was a huge mismatch.”
“Shut up.”
“Fine.” Smoke zipped his mouth shut, locked it, powered down the window, and tossed out the imaginary key. He closed the window and held out his hands.
And this guy used to be a Navy SEAL? Geez.
She blocked Smoke’s humming out until they arrived at Rod Brown’s condominium and parked on the street just outside the parking lot. The record didn’t state whether he drove a car or not. She checked the address in the file. Unit 12, room 11. She checked her watch. 10:35 p.m.
“If you stop humming, I’ll let you listen to the radio while we wait.”
Smoke mumbled from behind his sealed lips.
“Enough, please,” she said.
“So, now what? We’re just going to sit here?”
“Yep.”
“Uh … and what if he’s on vacation or out on the job?”
She shrugged. “We’ll see.”
Smoked stared out his window. “Why don’t you let me go and see if he’s in his condo?”
“No.”
“Come on. Just give me a little bit of leash. It’s not like I haven’t ever performed recon before. Please.”
His words softened her. She didn’t like it. “Ten minutes—”
Smoke popped open the door.
“Stop right there!”
He shut the door in her face and disappeared between the buildings.
Sidney closed her hanging jaw.
I’ll give him ten minutes. If he’s not back by then, I’m going to catch him and kill him. She pounded her fist on the dash. Men!
She took out her phone. Smoke’s beacon remained in the area. A text message popped up from her mother.
“It’s going to be a long few nights, but we’ll be fine. Jeff is here. Don’t worry.”
Jeff was a lifelong friend who had handled Allison before. A good guy. Calm under pressure.
Sidney didn’t respond. If she did, her mother would keep texting all night.
I’ll check tomorrow.
She checked the time. 10:41 p.m. Smoke’s beacon was unmoving.
Maybe this is a good thing. Let go, Sid. Let go. You can’t control everybody. Just like you can’t control Allison.
She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. The car was fogging up, so she rolled down the window. There were more than a dozen buildings in the complex. Rod’s was one away from the highway. His place was on the first floor. The file said he was a very husky guy, three hundred pounds or so.
Sidney reached into the back seat and dug a pair of binoculars out of a gym bag. She spied on the sidewalk that led in front of the condo. It was dark, but the lamp posts gave off a dim light in the steady rain.
10:44.
One more minute and it’s go time.
She kept the binoculars up. A hulking figure stepped into view.
What in the…
Smoke was running straight for her with a large man hefted over his shoulder.
He’s insane!
CHAPTER 14
“Open the door! Open the door!” Smoke yelled.
Sidney popped the locks.
Smoke swung open the back door and stuffed the hefty body inside. The back sagged and bounced with the impact. Smoke shoved the man over, hopped in the back seat with him, and shut the door.
“What are you doing? Have you gone mad?”
“Did I make it?” Smoke asked, scanning the dash.
“Make what?”
“Make it back in ten minutes?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, you said ten minutes. I made it, didn’t I?” He pumped his fist. “Yes, one of my best extractions ever!”
Sidney stared at the man in the back seat. It was Rod Brown. A white cotton tank-top barely contained his belly. His plaid boxer shorts were half turned around. He was out. Out cold.
“Go,” Smoke said. “Go! I think someone might have seen me.”
“No.”
“Yes!” Smoke said. “I see someone coming.”
A flashlight coming from the condos cut through the dank night.
Sidney dropped the transmission into drive and sped away. “Do you know how many laws you’ve broken?”
“Let’s see …” He counted on his fingers. “Breaking and entering, and kidnapping. Two.”
“Two to start with.”
Rod Brown groaned.
Smoke socked him in the jaw. Whap! “And battery.”
“You’re an idiot!”
“Look,” Smoke said, “the way I see it, he’s a criminal.”
“So are you.”
“No—aw, let’s
not get into that. That said, guys like him don’t operate within the rules you hold so dear. They break them. And we aren’t going to get anywhere following the FBI playbook.” Smoke huffed. “Guys like this laugh at those tactics. If you want to get this done, then we need to fight fire with fire.”
“We need to not break the law.”
“Then you shouldn’t have come along, Agent Shaw. I’m pretty sure that’s the reason they hired me to do this: I can get my hands dirty. You can’t.” He shoved Rod’s sagging body over toward the window. “Let me out, and you walk away from this.”
“No.” In the rearview mirror, she saw Smoke banging his head against his headrest.
I’m in charge, not you.
“So what’s the next step in your brilliant plan? Are we going to beat the whereabouts of AV out of him?” she asked.
“Something like that, but my methods of intimidation are a bit more subtle.”
“Waterboarding?”
Smoke laughed. “Sure. Why not? Let’s swing by Walmart and pick up some bottled water and towels.”
Sidney drove the car down into a marina along the Potomac and parked in the shadows where a stretch of highway passed over. She turned and faced Smoke. “Next time, let’s put him in the trunk.”
“Next time, huh?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Sure. Say, where are your flex cuffs?”
She popped open the glove box and handed him two pairs.
Smoke fastened Rod’s arms behind his back and bound his ankles. He rummaged through Sidney’s gym bag.
“Hey!” She snatched a pair of her panties from his hand. “Do you mind?”
“No,” Smoke said. He found a sweatshirt and covered Rod’s head. “There. I think we’re ready to go now.” He handed over her gym bag. “All set. Time to wake him up.” He put his finger to his lips. “Let me do the talking.”
“Fine. Just don’t get carried away.” Interrogations. She’d conducted plenty. Let’s see how you handle this.
“Great, now turn the heater up.”
She did.
Smoke nodded. “And cover your ears.”
“Why?”
Smoke pinched Rod’s inner thigh.
The big man bucked in his seat and let out an ear-splitting howl.
Sidney covered her ears.
Smoke grabbed Rod by his neck and squeezed. “Quiet, Rod, and we’ll make this quick.”
“Who-who are you?” Rod stammered. “What’s going on?”
“I just have a few questions.” Smoke changed his voice to something, rougher, darker. “Tell me what I need to know, and I’ll let you go.”
“Screw you! Do you know who I am?”
“You’re Rod Brown. Another one of AV’s disposable buttholes.”
“Huh? What did you call me? A disposable—”
Smoke punched his face through the sweatshirt. “Shut up!”
“But—”
Punch!
“I don’t like your accent. Where are you from, Rod? Pennsylvania? Jersey?”
“Baltimore.”
Punch!
“I thought I told you to keep quiet. And I hate Baltimore.” Smoke winked at Sidney. “Now, simple question. Where can I find AV?”
Rod remained still and silent. The rising heat was fogging up the windows. Sidney fanned her neck.
“I asked you a question, Rod.”
Rod said nothing.
“Oh, I see. Now you’re going to be quiet.”
Punch.
“Listen, moron,” Rod said. “You can punch me all you want, but I don’t know any AV.”
“Sure, sure you don’t. And I’m Mary Poppins.”
“You sound like her to me, you frigging putz!” Rod thrashed at his bonds. “Now let me out of these things, you idiot, and I won’t have to frigging kill you!”
Smoke reached under the sweatshirt, hooked his fingers into Rod’s nose, and lifted him up out of his seat. It was one of Sidney’s favorite pressure points. A simple restraining technique. Impressive.
“Ow! Ow! Ow!”
“Do you know who AV is, or don’t you?”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Are you going to sit still?”
“Yes! Ow! Yes!”
Smoke released him.
“Good, Baltimore Rod. Now we’re getting somewhere. So tell me—you’re one of his crew—where is he?”
“Look,” Rod said, huffing for breath, “Let me do both of us a favor. Whatever you have with AV, drop it. If you pursue it, then you’re dead already.”
“So you know where he is?”
“All I know is when and where I’m supposed to be. He may or may not be there. Listen, whoever you are, I don’t care.” Rod’s voice started to break. He balled up a little. “Don’t cross AV. Don’t make me cross AV. It’s worse than death, what he does to people who cross him. Worse than death.”
An uncanny chill raced down Sidney’s spine. She glanced at Smoke. One of his brows was cocked over his eye. He mouthed some words to her. “What do you make of that?”
She shrugged.
He held a finger up, reached into his pocket and handed her a smartphone. He nodded to Rod.
Sidney turned it on. It needed a passcode. Great. She thought about it as Smoke went back to work.
“When’s your next meeting with AV?”
“Two days.”
“Oh, that was pretty quick. I think you’re lying, Baltimore Rod.” Smoke lightly touched his fingers on Rod’s leg.
“Eek! What was that?”
“A spider. Well, a tarantula to be exact.” He tickled Rod’s leg again.
Rod screamed. “Get it off me! Please! Get it off me!”
“What’s the matter, Rod? Are you scared of a little, er, well, a big bug with eight hairy legs?” He barely touched the hair on Rod’s leg again.
“Ah!” The big man bucked and twitched. “Stop it! I meet him tomorrow. Late afternoon! Stop it!”
“Where?”
Rod fell silent.
“My spider is a biter, Rod.”
“Please, man, please. You don’t want to do this. If I tell you, AV will figure it out. AV knows everything. No one can get close to him, no matter how hard they try. Trust me, man. Trust me!” He sobbed. “It’s a death wish.”
Sidney had seen plenty of men under duress before, but she hadn’t expected this. Given enough pressure, loyal foot soldiers rolled on their bosses all the time. This was different. Rod had fear. Real, earnest fear.
Hmmm…She decided to try a passcode on Rod’s phone. Let’s see how dumb you are. She typed in his building and room number. 1211. She got access. Yes! She showed Smoke. His brows lifted. She began sifting through Rod’s emails, contacts, texts, and interesting applications. It was sparse. Great. A burner.
“Where are you meeting tomorrow?” Smoke said.
“Aw geez, don’t make me, please.”
“I’m going to leave you in here with Mister Tarantula. Leave him on your face. How does that sound, Rod?” Smoke tickled his leg.
“Ah! No! No!”
“Ah, yes, yes,” Smoke said.
“It’s Drake. A club called Drake. He meets us there. Oh man. Oh man, I can’t believe I told you.” He balled up and started to rock. “I’m a dead man. You’re a dead man. All loose ends must go.”
CHAPTER 15
Smoke put Rod in a sleeper hold and silenced the man’s hysteria. “Sorry,” he said, “that was getting old.”
“Agreed.” Sidney tossed the phone back to Smoke. “So what’s the plan now? Are you going to tuck him back in bed?”
“We could drug him.”
“I don’t have any drugs. Do you?”
“I was thinking we could buy some.”
“Dumb idea. I guess you didn’t think things through.” Sidney fastened her belt and put the car in drive. In two minutes they were back on the highway.
This is a mess. A total mess.
“You did good,” Smoke said.
>
“I beg your pardon?”
“You did good. You have good instincts. Going after Baltimore Rod was a good call. He is stupid, and he was easy to break.”
“I think some luck should be factored in there, seeing as he was home. What if he hadn’t been?”
“Well, he was though, wasn’t he?”
Sidney fought off a yawn.
“Tired?”
She ignored him. Exhausted was more like it. It had been an unexpectedly emotional day, and she hadn’t handled it well. I need to get better at this.
“I think we should follow your suggestion and tuck Baltimore Rod back in bed.”
Sidney caught Smoke’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “Why is that?”
“Why do you think? You suggested it.”
“You first.”
“Aw, can you just be forthcoming for once and let me be the devil’s advocate for a change?”
“All right, Mister Smoke, let me share my thoughts. You’re an idiot! All you had to do was verify that Rod was in there. We could have tailed him. Bugged him. Done something vastly more subtle.”
“That might have taken days. Maybe weeks.”
“And after a few days we could have improvised,” she said.
“I improvised early. Now we know where AV will be.”
“Might be. And that’s assuming Rod isn’t lying.”
“He’s not.”
“Why, because you pretended to put a spider on his leg?”
“You have to admit, it was pretty effective, one of my better ones.” He leaned forward. “It’s called entomophobia. People that are raised in the city are twice as likely to get big heebie-jeebies as folks in the country. It pays off for me most times.”
“Luck.”
“Fate,” he said.
“Well, I think the mentioning of AV shook him,” she said, hitting the car’s blinker and switching lanes. “And to your point, I think that gives us an advantage. He won’t tell AV. That would be bad for him too. You can just put him back in his apartment. He’s so scared of AV that I’m betting he’d rather hide his secret than go on the run. It at least gives him a pleading chance.”
Smoke eased into his seat. “My thoughts exactly, Agent Shaw. Well done.”
“Shut up.”
***
It was 12:42 am when they got back to the FBI house. Baltimore Rod was back in his condo asleep—with the help of some Sominex Smoke had forced down his throat.
Smoke Rising Page 6