Hard Case IV: A Violent Life (John Harding Series Book 4)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Shit! I mean… there are a lot of Locos. I…I don’t want to have them all killed for something I did. More than half are in it for the same reason as me. I will do it though. I’ll go in the Marines like my Dad. He tried to talk me into it after graduation, but I figured they’d mess with him and my Mom. I still have a younger sister going to McClymonds High School too. She just started 10th grade.”

  “It is what it is, kid,” Lynn repeated her creed. “Some eggs might have to get scrambled in order for the omelet to be made. We’ll see. Wow, I’ve never been up here. Nice view. We have the Point to ourselves. That’ll help.”

  I parked the van nearest Ridge Trail. Lucas and Casey arrived minutes later, parking on the other side of me not visible to a vehicle coming from down the hill. I got out and hunched down next to the passenger window of Casey’s GMC. “I have three dead in the van, and four arriving, all of which I’d like to take alive if we can. Top priority is Diego Reyes.”

  “You’ll have to take the first hit then, Cheese,” Lucas said. “Everyone stay in the van until Diego and his boys come out of their vehicle. You come from the van’s rear, and go right for Diego. Take him down and cover him. We’ll shoot a few pieces off the others until they calm down.”

  “I like it. Simple, but elegant. I’ll tell Lynn and Clint what’s going down.”

  Casey leaned toward me. “Best take up position right away, John. We’ll do our thing from the front when this goes down. The moment Diego and his crew clear their vehicle, have Clint start to open the van’s side door to attract their attention. Then, you launch.”

  “Good one. I’ll set it up.”

  Back inside the van, I explained the takedown.

  “That’ll work,” Clint said. “Go get into position. He should be here soon. Jafar’s on with us right now. He patched us all together, so stay out of sight until I see them exit. I’ll tell you when to move.”

  “Don’t you damage my little Diego, Cheese,” Lynn ordered. “He and I have a lot to discuss. What do you think about a midnight cruise? We have some chum to get rid of anyway.”

  “I will check the weather and conditions, Lynn,” Jafar said in all our ears.

  “Perfect. Do you think Samira will want to do a ride along?”

  “I do not think so, Cruella,” Jafar retorted.

  I took up my position while Lynn’s tittering enjoyment of Jafar’s abrupt answer caused some unintended merriment amongst my crew. We waited then in silence. The usually wet November weather was nowhere in the forecast. Not a single cloud marred the blue sky above. As it was the middle of the day on a Friday, traffic on Skyline Blvd. was nearly nonexistent. Then a black Lincoln Navigator approached at slowing speed. It eased in next to the van, one space over.

  “Diego just called Miguel’s cell-phone. He wants Celia brought out,” Lynn said. “I’ll put the bag on they’d intended for Celia, and stumble my way out while falling to my knees, Cheese.”

  “Very poetic. I’ll be there for you, the moment Diego clears the vehicle. Weapons free if this goes south, Clint. Kill ‘em all, and let God and Denny sort them out later.”

  “Got that right, brother.”

  “I heard that,” Denny’s voice pierced in from somewhere, probably next to Jafar.

  We never pretend to have all the answers. Each detail of a gig like this gets our undivided attention. Naturally, a fly by the seat of our pants approach was not as we would like, but it’s an inexact science. What was not inexact was the fact if even the slightest detail went against our hoped for conclusion, four people would die immediately, and none of them would be in my crew. I had my double vest on, so with single minded purpose, I should be able to reach Diego before the shit hit the fan. Lynn would be our wild card. I knew instinctively what her play would be. The moment I tackled Diego, Lynn would whip off the hood, and back my takedown, including disabling his crew with low level wounds Lucas would bitch about later. She would wait though to let Clint, Lucas, and Casey do their thing without her. Lynn’s job was to protect the Cheeseburger.

  * * *

  Lynn pitched forward out of the van’s sliding side door with Miguel holding onto her tightly as if in support. He kept his hands on her shoulders as he straightened behind the kneeling Lynn, awaiting Diego.

  “Perfect, Mig. Stay calm.” Lynn muttered, while she writhed around as if in distress. Her hands were not secured at her back, ready to pull the Glock 9mm there, with right hand on the grip.

  “Diego’s leading, babe,” Clint said, chuckling. “Stay still. There goes Cheese. He picked him up and drove him into the ground near the railing. Casey and Lucas have fired into the three remaining, nothing to worry about. The leg shots will be enough. Okay, you can stand up and go play games with Diego. I’ll be with you.”

  Oh yeah, Lynn thought, getting on her feet while discarding the hood.

  * * *

  Well bless the Lord, I didn’t even get nicked. It had been very nice of the impatient Diego to leap out of his vehicle in anticipation of garnering Celia Gomez. Sucks to be him. I smashed his face into the concrete at Vista Point. I didn’t want him to think he’d been taken by the Franciscan Friars. He screamed out in anguish as blood spurted out of his nose. Yeah, that’s the least of his worries. I popped him upright, his hands enfolding his injured nose. Lynn ran right up to make the process as entertaining as could be.

  “Oh my God, Cheese! You’ve damaged this poor baby’s nose! How could you?”

  “Sorry, Lynn, I…I’m so ashamed.”

  Lynn laughed. “That’s okay. Let’s wind this up and get to the cuttin’. I feel my mojo working. We can disclose the details from our findings about this burial ground later, right?”

  “You bet. I’ll meet you all at Pain Central after I take Miguel into Highland, and get him fixed up. Denny?”

  “I’m here, John.”

  “Are you caught up on this Revolution angle?”

  “Yep. It seems we need to ask Voltaire a few more questions after showing her we’ve rounded up Reyes. Jafar’s found a Brannigan link to the Mexican Mafia. Until his demise, he was bankrolling a joining of the Mexican Mafia and Nuestro Familia. Are you sure you want to fool around with that kid?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “You bunch need to quit picking up strays. We’re not running a kennel.”

  Lynn growled, listening to Denny. “You better not be talkin’ about my girl Danessa, you unfeeling hell-spawn! She’s been through a lot.”

  Denny chuckled. “Yeah, because you put her through it. Between Cheese saving old man Fiialkov, and these strays you all are adopting, I’m starting to think Murderers’ Row is turning into Rescue Row.”

  We were all enjoying our upbraiding while moving bodies around. Clint, Casey, and Lucas already had Diego and his crew sedated in the Navigator, while Lynn and I covered the dead Locos with a tarp in the back of the van. I put Miguel up front with me.

  “If you weren’t engaged to my BFF, Maria, I’d be making plans for you. Tonto already likes Danessa better than you, Denny. She might take a disliking to your attitude and ask Tonto to intervene.”

  “Hey… that’s not funny!”

  Yeah, it was.

  * * *

  I waited at Highland Hospital’s emergency room desk. My FBI credentials garnered a department head to the desk. She looked my ID over with care. Middle aged, frumpy, dyed brown hair in a bun, my desk greeter nodded with a tired look after satisfying her doubts.

  “Okay, what’d he do, and why should I care?”

  “Miguel is a hero. He’s a confidential informant for us, and was brutally tortured during an operation we have in action this very moment.” I held up the small cooler. “I have the joint they snipped to try and make him talk after slicing his nose. We arrived in time to save him. Can you help him? I will pay all medical expenses.”

  My story drew instant looks of surprise and compassion. She came around the desk, taking the cooler from me. “We’ll do what we can. I’ll take him ba
ck. My associate will get your contact info.”

  “Thanks, John,” Miguel said as he was led away.

  “I’ll be in touch.” I gave the woman I had talked to first my business card. I began rapidly filling out the forms handed me. “This is a delicate operation. Please keep this confidential. Miguel will have to fill in his personal information, but you have my number if there are any questions. I have to get back to my people. Can you handle the rest of this?”

  She handed me her business card. “Sure, Agent Harding. Call me in a couple of hours. I should have some word about how Miguel is doing by then. Tortured, huh? I hope you get the one who did it.”

  “Already in custody. Thank you for your cooperation.” Lynn would get a laugh out of that exchange. How would you like payment handled?”

  “I have your information. I’ll talk with my supervisor about payment, but you can leave now. We’ll deal with the billing later too.”

  “Outstanding.”

  * * *

  I arrived at Pain Central to meet the gang. I helped with triage on the leg wounds. Lucas and Casey took out an ankle on each of the goons, Diego had brought along. We wrapped their boo boos up tight for the sea cruise. Lynn did knife tricks for the sullen Diego. His crew was not sullen. I think it had already dawned on them that they were in big trouble. With this many to dispose of, I called in Dev and Jesse to go along. They had already escorted the Gomez family to their homes, and assured them the threat was over.

  “We may as well transport them in the gang van. Did you guys take The Lora out yesterday fishing?”

  “Yeah, John, she’s filled up and checked out,” Dev replied.

  “After we load them, Dev and I will pilot while Cruella works,” Jess added, grimacing over at our resident knife trick expert.

  “You Snow Whites are just so cute,” Cruella said, making kissy noises at Jess.

  “That’s all we need, Jess, thanks. Did you give the Gomez family the spiel about keeping this all confidential?”

  “When they found out Diego was trying to kidnap and kill them, they were very happy about him being in our custody,” Dev replied. “Their little boy Ricky is cute as hell. I’ve decided I need to work on getting me one of those.”

  “Dev is working on getting closer to Rose,” Jess informed us. “Maybe-”

  “I want my fuckin’ lawyer right the fuck now!”

  Lucas pointed a warning finger at Cruella. “Don’t you get blood all over this floor.”

  “Damn, Lucas… he’s so cute.” Lynn pinched Diego’s cheek. He struggled, trying to twist away, but Lynn had him in a very painful grip. “What do you think, Jess? Do you think it’s time to call Mr. Reyes a lawyer?”

  “Take my advice, Diego,” Jess said, ignoring Lynn. “Answer everything they ask with a big ‘yes, ma’am’ and a thank you. A lawyer can’t help you now. Hell, the President can’t help you now.”

  Reyes took one look at the grim faces around him, and then at Lynn’s smiling features. He shut up. I think reality was beginning to seep in. We loaded them in the van. It was time for the sea cruise. Denny identified the guys who had accompanied Reyes moments later from our computer control room where he and Jafar were mapping out possibilities from Brannigan’s old empire. It appeared we needed to back trace more of Brannigan’s dealings than we thought. It turned out all three of Diego’s minions had worked for Brannigan as high level enforcers. They had a lot of blood on their hands.

  We paid for a very private slip at the Marina. With The Sea Wolf ported right next to it, The Lora had some cover. Dev checked out our neighbors. Once he established we were clear, our wounded and dead guests were unhappily transported in body bags. Lynn walked Diego aboard as if he were her boyfriend. Luckily no one could get a close up of Diego’s face. Lynn had chilled him to the bone. We had all read about his torture mutilation killings of the three families in LA. This would not be a fun interrogation for Diego. We had decided to ask him all about accounts, and anything that would piss him off. Four children were murdered by our Mr. Reyes, and Lynn especially didn’t want him going out the easy way.

  I knew it was against our usual format, but once we were underway, I sat down near Diego. Hell, I knew this cretin didn’t have a wife or immediate family. He’d been gangbanging since he started walking. I wanted a simple answer to something that always bothers me about psychos like this. They’re supposed to be cunning in that he knew doing anything like he did to children would create a firestorm.

  “What was the family murders all about in LA, Diego? You certainly didn’t need to kill the kids.”

  Reyes glanced up at me with a speculative look, probably wondering if he would gain anything by answering my question. He shrugged. “It was a statement, man. The Mexican Mafia is to be feared. We needed people to know everything they loved would die if they testified, ratted us out, or fucked with us at all. I was the messenger.”

  “You could have made a statement without touching the kids,” Lynn interjected. I saw her fingers curling up slowly as her mouth tightened into a thin slash. I shouldn’t have asked, but it was too late for take backs. “How the fuck do you mutilate a little kid like you did?”

  The quiet delivery of the question brought Clint to his mate’s side. “Easy, babe.”

  Then Diego said it, and there weren’t any take backs. He grinned. “Right in front of their fuckin’ mamas… babe.”

  Uh oh. Clint grinned back at Diego. He clasped Lynn’s hand for a moment, and then joined Dev and Jess on the bridge. That left me, Denny, Lucas, and Casey behind with the prisoners, and of course… Lynn. In Diego’s defense, he didn’t know Lynn. He looked around in smug satisfaction at the eerie silence his answer had caused. What gave him pause were the grins on the faces surrounding him. I admit it. I shouldn’t have asked. His three wounded cohorts stared at their feet. Even they felt the cold, clammy presence of something they wanted no part of. It was too late for Diego. It was my fault, but now… there would be no initial offering of a deal. There would only be questions, answers, and the unimaginable.

  * * *

  Clint covered Lynn’s bloody hand. “Remember to ask a question, babe.”

  Lynn looked up at me and Denny. The icy glare of those eyes reminded me why it was best not to unleash parts of what makes my crew an effective unit. “Well, Cheese? I know I’ve managed to get a little payback for the kids this stupid piece of shit murdered. I don’t want to go over your line on such things.”

  Lynn made me confront the fact I was a monster, probably on a par with her. She and I still stood around the bloody apparition Lynn had made out of Diego. It was the first time in my life I hungered for more. I took in the gibbering apparition of what used to be a man without emotion, compassion, or care. I smiled at her.

  “The fact is we have the offshore accounts, his contacts prior to Brannigan’s death, his take on the ‘Revolution’, and recorded testimony of everything he’s done. It is what it is. If you want to proceed, I’ll watch.”

  “Uh… maybe now…” Denny started forward, but was waved off quickly by Lynn.

  “Let’s troll the waters,” Lynn said.

  I hooked Diego up. I doubt he was still sane enough to know what we were even doing. Jess slowed The Lora to a crawl on my signal. Diego screamed even through his insanity as the salt water enveloped his skinned corpse. By then though, we had an interested grouping at the fantail. We watched his final moments of agony without emotion. Our disposal units made short work of the serial killer, Diego.

  Since we had their attention to duty, we put out our three gangbangers for disposal. Since being worked up into a frenzy by Diego, our finned disposal experts really tore into their work. Diego’s crew, treated to Lynn’s interrogation of Diego, and the subsequent disposal wanted the easy lapse into drugged oblivion in the worst way. Denny took over from there. We gained a multitude of low level fact from the enforcers while Lynn cleaned up. We gave them oblivion after they revealed facts while Jafar and Laredo busily ch
ecked everything back at our headquarters.

  We returned to port after feeding out the rest of our helpful chum. Lynn sat up at the brow with Clint. I doubt her contemplative state had anything to do with regret. The weather held with mild temps and nearly no wind. In reality, the rest of us monsters enjoyed the return voyage, me in particular. I didn’t tell anyone my future plans, but after hearing what Diego thought about making a statement, I planned on us making a statement in the future. It would have nothing to do with torture and mutilation of kids… except that I planned on my crew taking a more proactive part with these folks like Diego who enjoyed making statements. From now on, I’d have Jafar and Laredo casting a wide loop around any hint of this shit happening. Diego’s smirking smile as he explained the purpose of his ‘statement’ still haunted me.

  We had gone way out into the Bay so body pieces would not ride a current onto shore. Denny moved over to sit next to me near the fantail. He hadn’t spoken to anyone but the prisoners after Lynn finished with Diego. I didn’t plan on playing twenty questions with him. I figured if he wanted to critique today’s sea session, he’d get to it… or not.

  “Lynn is the best I’ve ever seen,” Denny said finally. “Even when she’s off her game a bit, she’s the best.”

  “Agreed.” No use getting wordy.

  “I talked with Alexi. He told me the City of Hope would port in Tokyo at the end of next week for a five day layover. This will be a tricky at sea takedown, John.”

  Good. Business as usual, and I did have some new input. “What do you think about Alexi making room for a converted Huey on the City of Hope? With Lucas working the sniper position, and Clint on a fifty cal. in the hatch, Casey and I could repel on board without a hitch. We’d own the ship in moments.”

  Denny smiled. “That’s pure gold. I like it. Laredo could be hovering in the distance off their radar. The moment we had the containers aboard safely, he could swoop in, clear a drop zone, and then hang around to give support. I was having a difficult time convincing the higher ups on a ‘Reaper Strike’ for the after transfer oblivion. Your way would get us a more likeable outcome.”