That was the point I got punched in the shoulder, jolting me from my reverie.
Chapter Sixteen
Security Breach
“Earth to John! Did you just go into a coma over this Radcliff broad?”
Maybe. I explained our disposal mission and the Danessa incident. “I’m enjoying my beer. I helped get rid of dead bodies, and killed a guy who deserved it tonight. If I didn’t love and trust you, would I admit to all that? I’m going to get a helping of both my brothers, Bud and Beam for further contemplation.”
Lora jumped aboard, arms and legs wrapped around me, sobbing. “I’m sorry… it was stupid to hit you with this tonight.”
I grinned to myself, continuing on to the refrigerator, getting another beer, and then going over to the counter where my brother Beam rested. Lora giggled as she has been here before, wrapped around me, but not restricting any movement. She slid down, her face pressed into my back, but her arms still wrapped tightly around me. I poured the Beam, before patting her hands clasped at my front.
“C’mon, Hon, I’m not mad. I kill people. You know everything about me. What? You think I’d dump you and Al to take up with some BBC liberal idiot from a past life?”
She released me, wiped her eyes, and took my arm as I turned to sit at the table again. “I love you so much, it sometimes buries all other rational thought. I trust you with my life, Al’s life, and everything in our lives. I don’t care who or how many you kill. I’m not some Mafia Momma, who shuns any detail about her husband’s shadowy life. I know you’re an active duty Marine, in reserve status, and I know you love this country. Any man who can assemble a crew like you have, every one of whom would die for you, is some kind of man. Hell, I know you weren’t celibate before you met me. I stole you from my own sister, for God’s sake.”
“Actually, Tess nearly shoved you at me. I remember our first night.”
Lora gasped, slapped my arm, and then giggled. “I wanted you so bad. When Tess dropped you after a number of times rescuing her ass from situations tied into your business, I made sure I didn’t miss my chance. Now… here I am screwing with you over a woman you haven’t seen in years. Sometimes… the same genetic makeup I share with Tess surfaces, and I do something really stupid. Forgive me, and I’ll make it up to you.”
“Deal,” I moved a roving hand up her leg. She slapped it.
“Not until I hear how this Natalie bitch got in your pants, Cheese.”
See, this is what I totally do not understand about women – the past is never the past, even when they claim it is. I sat down with the renewed Bud and Beam and Lora sitting next to me, an arm around my shoulders, and head leaning on my shoulder. I awkwardly drained my Beam brother.
“Spell it out, dear. If it’s all past history, why do I have to dissect the corpse now?”
“Because hearing about your past loves makes me horny.”
“That reason would probably work if your own sister wasn’t my latest one before you.”
Lora ignored my pointed prodding, reverting to a plea. “When Tommy directed her to me, she said Tommy had already agreed to the job. Natalie then said the two of you had been very close during her last visit, adding she wanted to know if that would be a problem for me since you and I are married. I stupidly told her no problem. After I hung up I started wondering two things: why did Tommy take the job at all, and what if she meant would I mind the two of you being together intimately.”
I then threw caution to the wind. I told her about the first meeting. “I then went to her hotel for the supposed interview. She met me at the door in a see through outfit best left to the imagination. I was neither married, nor dating anyone. Nat and I had a wild three days. We had a few adventures in gangland too, including her seeing one of my fights, but nothing Tommy, Dev, and I couldn’t handle. She actually did a number on me like the reporter in the ‘Croc’ movie. Nat asked me to go with her back to the UK, and gauge my reactions over there. I declined. She didn’t know I’d done numerous jobs over there for Denny, and I knew the UK very well. I didn’t enlighten her. That part of my life was need to know only, until your sister outed me when her firm started doing CIA business.”
“Why didn’t you go over with her if you two had such a great time?”
“She gave me a rough draft to read of her reports. They were BBC hit pieces on America. You know the flavor. It was all poor, misunderstood youths, trapped in a society uncaring of their health and welfare. Nat ended the report with a call for the United Nations to step in. Oakland had been the last on her report list, so she was flying East the following day. I handed her report back to her without comment. She then accused me of being small minded after deriving from my silence that I disapproved of the report. I told her she had totally ignored the plight of citizens terrorized by these gangbanging criminals, while championing their brutal parasitic lifestyle. Nat left the next morning without saying goodbye.”
“And yet here she is, back in your life.”
“She’s not back in my life. I’ll meet with Tommy right after we take your family to the airport. Anything to report on that front?”
“Other than their visit has made me appreciate our lone lifestyle out here on the coast more than ever? Holidays are the pits!”
I smell a rat. “What happened now, and why did you start out with my assumed infidelity rather than an actual event with your family?”
“I got rolled. We’re going to Boston for Christmas.” Lora took one look at my face and ran for it.
I let her go, because that news called for finishing the brothers in silent contemplation. I’d settle with Lora soon. This is how it’s done in the land of sugar and spice and all things nice. When Sugar gets rolled, our imaginary transgressions meant as a smokescreen for their evil deeds, becomes the club they use to batter us into a confused state of acceptance. Little did Sugar know that once I finished the brothers, I would next take a quick shower, and brush my teeth in preparation for a slight adjustment by the Cheeseburger. Then I would see to it that Sugar cried out for her entire family to hear - in a manner they would not believe reflected the term ‘all things nice’. Heh…heh.
* * *
“Why have you been banned to the front of the limo, my brother Cheese? I brought the big limo so you could enjoy these last moments with the in-laws on the way to the airport.”
“That was very thoughtful, Jess. I committed a crime of passion last night after being told I would be flying back to Boston for Christmas this year to again enjoy my in-laws’ company.”
“Since I know you wouldn’t beat anyone up in your house, what the hell crime of passion are you guilty of? Is that why Lora’s so quiet this morning?”
I grinned, leaning back with my hands behind head. It had been one memorable night for my Sugar and Spice mate. I’m certain in the time after the Cheese adjourned to our bedroom, a modicum of revenge was visited upon Sugar, as I did not abandon my ministrations until Al banged on our bedroom door with a heartfelt ‘Mom, you’re embarrassing me!’. I allowed her to sob in angst against me. She had been forced in the morning to scurry around like she was on a motor-scooter, zipping through tasks while avoiding everyone’s smiling stares. I made breakfast while humming contentedly. I did receive a smack on the arm from a grinning Marion, accompanied by a shaking finger of shame. It didn’t work. I was unashamed. Besides, Sugar was shamed enough for both of us. I did get one sentence from Lora though ‘sit in the front’.
Jess glanced over at my face. “You dog you! You embarrassed La Lora last night with her family… and in some evil way… possibly of a sexual nature.”
“I will neither confirm nor deny your accusations, driver.”
Jess chuckled. “You just did, Cheese. Is this about that BBC woman Tommy wants us to escort around tomorrow? Dev got a big kick out it. He told me you and BBC were hot and heavy during her last stay.”
“That is simply unfair speculation on Dev’s part. Did Tommy tell you anything about what she wants t
o do in San Francisco?”
“Nope. He was pretty serious though when he confirmed Dev and I would be able to drive. Tommy’s meeting with you today, right?”
“Yeah. I’m having coffee with him over at the Buttercup Café. Want to join us?”
“Sure,” Jess agreed. I’ll text Dev too, and see if he can meet us. Any guesses what it’s about with the lady?”
“She fired Lora up with innuendo more specific than Dev told you. It’s probably typical BBC junk as far as her assignment. The only thing they seem interested in is giving the UK up to chaos. They probably want her doing reports to send us down the same path. I’ll be interested in why Tommy took the gig at all after our last encounter with her. We don’t normally do politics. Tommy hired us on with her last time, because we thought she was doing a report on dangerous crime.”
“Must be somethin’ T noticed during the negotiations,” Jess replied. “He knows we’re all set with money, so we don’t have to scrounge around on the bottom for jobs. T would have called you if he thought it could be heard over the phone. Maybe there’s a security angle.”
“You may have something there, Jess. We better drop Al and Lora off right after the airport. We can pick up Dev then, and meet with Tommy early.”
“Is Lora really mad?”
“Who knows? I think she’s just embarrassed. I’ll have a talk with Al, and get her to lay off on the smartass kid stuff for a while. I should have shown a little restraint when Lora zinged me with the BBC relationship, and then our unscheduled Christmas vacation to the in-laws. I guess we could take Al to New York City to see the lights.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
“Great. Let’s all go, Jess. We’ll stop in New York and then go on to Boston. It’ll be great. Hey… what are you laughing at?”
* * *
Tommy waved to us from a big table set up for us. We were like serving four bulls. Our favorite waitress, Debbie, worked the Sunday shift at the Buttercup Pantry. She hugged each of us behemoths that were still standing.
“Damn… it’s good to see you guys,” Deb said. “I think the building shifted a little when you all walked over to this side. Have a seat. Coffee all around?”
“Yeah, Deb, that’s good with us,” Jess said. “Hey, T. When do we start training?”
Caught me right in the gut. “Shut up, Jess! That’s not funny.”
I was the only one who didn’t think so. Deb delivered the coffee. “All the usuals?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Dev answered for all of us. “I hear we’re taking on our old BBC client. Man… Cheeseburger and Natalie really hit the grill for a few days after that meet up.”
“What’s with Lora asking me to ‘tell my husband not to mess around with the boy’s club long’,” Tommy asked. “She sounded put out about something.”
“The Cheese was a bad boy last night in the biblical sense,” Jess replied.
“You know what, Jess? When we do start training again, I’ve got a hold to try on you that defies description. It ends with your head turned the wrong way on your neck.”
“Oh… sorry… did I say that out loud?”
I jabbed a finger at Jess. “Never mind, bigmouth. What’s this all about with the Radcliff woman, T? After our last encounter, I figured we were done with her. Hell, according to her, the ‘bangers in Oakland are like lost little orphans looking for a hug.”
Tommy leaned forward. “The BBC is doing a whistle blower type report on Fiialkov’s shipping line. She mentioned our relationship to Alexi right up front. I told her Alexi belongs to a UFC fight conglomerate, and we have made deals with him in the past about the UFC, but we didn’t deal with his shipping line. Natalie seemed a little perturbed by that answer. Here’s the kicker. She then asked if we knew of a container transfer onto Fiialkov’s ship City of Hope, involving hazardous waste. I gave her the blank stare, and an ‘I don’t know’. Nat then told me she wanted to meet with Alexi personally since we dealt with him. The red flags and fireworks were going off in my head then. She met me at Scott’s restaurant at a busy time for Jack London Square. Since she was already in the area, I figured it would be good business to see what she wanted. Then Nat asked about you, and whether you were married. I told her yes, and that your wife Lora handles the business logistics. I gave her the office number.”
Tommy hit the jackpot on this one. “I don’t know about our business, but it’s a good damn thing you met her to find out about the Alexi connection. Denny’s always on my case for telling you guys too much, but think about if T didn’t know anything about our upcoming at sea transfer. He would have probably turned Nat down without blinking an eye. I haven’t even heard the rest of this, and I already know this is bad.”
“We’re here for you no matter what the hell’s happenin’, John,” Dev said. “I know Denny’s perspective too. Trust is a damned hard commodity to get a handle on.”
“You should have seen the bozo she brought with her, John,” Tommy said. “She claims he’s a permanent bodyguard hired by the studio for this report. He’s a Syrian with UK citizenship named Bashar Washem.” Tommy paused, chuckling at what appeared to be an inappropriate moment. “He had watched your matches with The Syrian Slayer. Bashar made a point of letting me know he could take you. I engaged him as to how he thinks that. He told me he had studied your form, and you would be an easy match for him.”
“Good to know,” I replied. Who the hell cares what some tulip thinks about my takedown. “Cross him off our match list, T. He sounds really dangerous. Let’s get back to business. Anything else Nat let out about this sudden BBC interest in Fiialkov?”
“No. That was it, John. I knew it would set off the alarm bells in your head with what’s coming up. I also knew better than to trust this to a cell call. How do you want to play this? You know we’re all in. You’re our strike back force. We don’t always know what’s going on behind the scenes. The three of us partial outsiders are with you… no matter what.”
“I know that, T. This is a big one, and you getting contact with Nat’s interest is huge. You three are on my need to know list at all times. That won’t ever change. Hell… the fact Jess has stuck around after learning about Lynn Montoya makes him an insider on anything.”
“I got a bad feelin’ about this old love of yours, Cheese,” Jess said. “It might not be a bad thing to let her meet up with Cruella Deville for a chat. Crue would find out what’s she’s up to in about thirty seconds.”
“John has to consider the downside as to how the hell to make a BBC reporter disappear,” Dev replied. “If she’s let loose, she’s poison. If Crue takes her out for a one way boat ride, we’ll have an international incident to deal with.”
“And don’t forget the scary bodyguard, Dev,” Jess lightened the mood.
“All good points, gentlemen,” I concluded. “Here’s the deal with this as I see it. We can let her public notoriety frighten us into not confronting this huge problem, or we can go all in on this anthrax attack threatening hundreds of thousands of people.”
Jess popped his hand up. “Crue.”
Dev followed in an instant. “Crue.”
“Let’s put Crue on the Fiialkov sightseeing tour,” Tommy said with conviction. “I never liked the Radcliff bitch anyway. It was only because of the lovesick puppy, Cheese, that I put up with Nat on the last gig.”
“You were pretty tight with her, John,” Dev said after the laughter died down. “You comfortable with this? This isn’t cut and dried whether she’s even aware of the implications or the fallout from the questions she’s asking. It could be this hazardous waste cover story is real.”
I held up both hands, palms up like I was a weighing machine. “Let’s see… Natalie Radcliff… America… Nat… America… gee Nat, I don’t think you and Crue will be getting along well at all. I don’t know about the thirty seconds, but Crue will find out every detail concerning Ms. Radcliff’s involvement. It may come down to the fact she doesn’t know a thing. Whoops.�
�
Deb arrived with our meals. “You guys look so serious. Anything I should know about?”
“Nope. It’s all good, Deb,” I guaranteed for God knows why. “We’re doing the Lord’s work this week, right guys?”
‘Amens’ reinforced my take on our future endeavors, and Deb walked away laughing.
“Are you up to this meeting, Cheese?”
“When do we start?”
“Nat wants to meet at Scott’s for brunch,” Tommy replied. “It’s a crapshoot as to what she wants to do after brunch. I know it will have to do with Alexi and his shipping line. What she has in mind for working her hazardous waste story concerning it I don’t know. Since Nat already has a bodyguard, I’m not certain what she has in mind for us, other than the obvious of scoping us out in relation to Alexi. This can’t be a stab in the dark. She suspects something going on between us and Alexi.”
“It’s not surprising the Muslim Brotherhood could have someone inside the BBC checking on Fiialkov, along with measuring our involvement. I’ll contact Lynn and Denny after we get done here. If Nat’s just using us to get close to Alexi, she may ask some questions giving us an idea as to her intentions. I’ll call Alexi too, and get him up to speed on this. We’ll take her on a Port of Oakland tour before escorting her to Alexi’s office. Lynn and I will be the escorts. Dev and Jess will be up front. Let’s take the stretch limo for tomorrow’s excursion. You can meet us at Scott’s, T – then hand Nat off to Lynn and me officially.”
“Sounds good,” Tommy replied. “Do you have a plan of action for getting back into Lora’s good graces today, or are you okay with her being a hell bitch all week at the office, making the rest of us miserable?”
“I’ll see what I can do. At least the in-laws are gone. That will make the house a lot quieter. My problem is Beeper Girl. I’ll go home and rag her some more about her idol. I think she’s moving on though since her Justin’s been a bad boy with the law.”
“Best be careful who she moves on to, brother,” Dev said.
Hard Case IV: A Violent Life (John Harding Series Book 4) Page 28