Point Blank

by Mike Ryan

“Taking out Bellomi. Now Jeremiah.”

  “We’ve been over this. You’ve done what was necessary.”

  “I know. But do you ever think he’s orchestrated things, pushed things in a certain direction, to get things just right, to get things into a position where I’d have to respond the way I do?”

  Jones shook his head, not having an answer. “Unfortunately, that’s something I don’t think we’ll ever know. It’s one of the reasons I hate being involved with him. Because we both know he’s capable of things like that.”

  Recker then called Vincent, getting him immediately.

  “Mike, what can I do for you?” he said.

  Recker hesitated, almost afraid to say he needed help again. “I’m uhh...I guess I’m ready to make some friends.”

  He could almost hear Vincent smiling through the phone. “Well, it’s nice to hear it. Took a little longer than I anticipated, but nonetheless, still nice to hear.”

  “I can’t find him.” Recker sighed. “I’ve been looking nonstop and I just don’t know where he is.”

  “I do.”

  “What?”

  “I know where he is.”

  “You do? How?” Recker asked, surprised.

  “I’ve always known. Don’t forget, Mike, information is my business. I collect information like some people collect trading cards. It pours into me by the truckloads.”

  “Well if you’ve known then why haven’t you taken him out yourself?”

  Vincent laughed, like he thought it was a ridiculous question. “Because it wasn’t our deal, was it?”

  “No.”

  “So, what do you need from me?”

  “Just tell me where he’s at. I’ll get him,” Recker said.

  “Well, that’s a little easier said than done. He’s got at least ten to fifteen men with him.”

  “So, what do you propose then?”

  “Remember what I said about friends, Mike. Let them help.”

  “And just what friends do you keep referring to?”

  “It’ll take some faith on your part,” Vincent said.

  “In what?”

  “In me. Do you have it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Here is the plan then. Jeremiah has holed himself up in a house on the west side. As I mentioned, he’s got men with him. At nine o’clock tonight, a small team of police officers will converge on the building. You will be among them.”

  “And do they know this?”

  “Remember what I said about friends, Mike. You did them a favor by protecting one of their own. They would like to return the favor by helping you.”

  “And after it’s done, they’re just gonna let me walk out of there?” Recker asked.

  “Faith, Mike, faith.”

  “OK. Even if I go along with this, if they converge on the building, why wouldn’t they just kill Jeremiah themselves? What am I needed for?”

  “Well, unfortunately in this day and age, the police aren’t trusted as much as the olden days. Not with body cameras and the like,” Vincent said.

  “And? I know there’s more.”

  “I want Jeremiah dead. Him in prison just means I’ll have to deal with him again at some point, or men who are still loyal to him. But if he’s dead, I don’t have that problem.”

  “No argument from me there,” Recker said.

  “So, the officers converging on this building tonight may be on my payroll, but they’re still police officers, not a death squad. If it turns out that Jeremiah is killed in a firefight as they storm the building, then there’s no issue. They’d have done their job.”

  “And if Jeremiah doesn’t put up a fight?”

  “Well, that’s something that we just can’t have, can we?” Vincent asked.

  “That’s where I come in.”

  “Exactly. I can’t have police officers executing an unarmed man, one who’s given up, and have it on camera. That’s an officer I’d end up losing.”

  “But I don’t have a camera,” Recker said, understanding the plan. “But aren’t they gonna see me on camera?”

  “Well, you know how technology is. It’s a fickle thing. Two of the officers will have a problem with their cameras for a few minutes. They’ll go offline long enough to do what needs to be done.”

  “So, I’m there as backup?”

  “If they decide to fight and die, you can sit this one out. If they give up for another day, well, you’ll be there to make sure that day never arrives,” Vincent said.

  “One more question, what do you need me for? You could have Malloy do that. He’s just as willing and capable.”

  “Well, you know the old risk versus reward. If in the unlikely chance that something goes wrong, someone escapes, someone’s identified, I can’t have someone from my organization knowingly involved.”

  “But I’m a known independent.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So, who do I report to tonight?”

  “Detective Nix. He’s leading the team. He’ll be apprised of the plan.”

  “And he’ll be OK with it?”

  “Faith, Mike, faith.”

  As they finished their talk, Recker put the phone back in his pocket and continued looking out the window. Jones was listening in to the conversation as much as possible, trying to piece together what he could from Recker’s end of it. He didn’t quite like what he heard.

  “Would you like to fill us in? Jones asked. “Because I’m pretty sure some of what you were saying sounded troubling.”

  Recker turned around and informed Jones and Mia of the plan. Mia seemed OK with it. She certainly wasn’t going to go against Recker’s wishes, and if he thought this was the best way to get it done, she’d go along with it. Jones, though, he wasn’t so sure. Not only were they aligning with Vincent, but they had to put their faith in him, hoping the police officers wouldn’t arrest Recker after he killed Jeremiah. Vincent could get rid of Jeremiah, and Recker, in a few short minutes.

  “I’m aware of the risks, David,” Recker said.

  “But you’re willing to take them anyway?”

  “I have to believe Vincent doesn’t want to get rid of me right now.”

  “Why are you so willing to think that?” Jones asked.

  “Because we’re not enemies.”

  “It doesn’t mean you’re not a threat to him. All his enemies will be gone. He may think you’re the next one.”

  Recker took a few minutes to think about it, but his mind was made up. It was something he couldn’t pass up, regardless of the risks. “I have to do this.”

  Jones still had his reservations, but he knew he was unlikely to talk Recker out of it. Recker spent the rest of the night mentally preparing himself for what was about to happen, trying to go over all the possibilities he could face. He was texted the address, and while Jones had the idea of going there without help, Recker quickly shot the idea down. If Jeremiah had ten to fifteen men with him, even for a man like Recker, it’d be tough for him to get past everyone. Once eight o’clock hit, Recker started getting himself ready, checking his guns. Jones and Mia had walked closer to the door to see him off.

  “Just be careful,” Jones said, shaking Recker’s hand.

  “I will.”

  Mia reached up and kissed Recker passionately on the lips. “Just make sure you come back to me.”

  “Nothing will stop me from doing that,” Recker said, giving her a smile.

  Recker arrived at the house in question at 8:45. The police officers had already surrounded the end unit row home. Unlike the other properties that Jeremiah had, this one wasn’t boarded-up. It looked like a perfectly normal home that any family would live in. Nothing to suggest that a dangerous criminal was inside with a bunch of his thugs. As Recker walked down the sidewalk, past the metal fence, a police officer was near the gate and looked back at him, seeing him approach.

  “Are you him?” the officer asked. “You’re The Silencer?”

  Recker nodded. “That’s me.�
��

  “I’m Detective Nix,” he said, sticking his hand out.

  Recker was a bit surprised, but he returned the handshake.

  “We’re just about ready to go in,” Nix said.

  “What do you need from me?”

  “Nothing yet. The team will go in first. They’ll clear everything. If you’re needed, I’ll let you know.”

  “And if I’m not, you’re just gonna let me walk out of here?” Recker asked, still having doubts.

  “Listen, some of us wanna lock you up. Some of us think you’re doing good by the city and us.”

  “And where do you stand?”

  “You saved one of us from biting the bullet,” Nix said. “For me, you get a free ride. Even if you hadn’t, every jerk you take out, is one more that I don’t have to worry about. So, for me, as long as you’re taking out the bad guys, we’re on the same side as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Good to know.”

  “We’re good to go,” a voice said over the radio.

  “All right, everyone go!” Nix commanded.

  The officers went through both the front and back door, and within seconds, massive amounts of gunfire erupted. Recker and Nix stood there by the front gate, looking on and listening. It was an unusual stance for Recker, as he was usually the one doing the shooting. It felt weird that he was watching the activities unfold, waiting for someone else to do the dirty work. Felt even more strange that he was standing next to a police officer, who wasn’t lifting a finger against him. Though it seemed like the battle was raging on forever, it was actually only about ten minutes. After that, voices started crackling over the radio.

  “We’ll be coming out in a minute,” an officer said.

  “What’s everyone’s status?” Nix asked.

  “One officer wounded, shot in the arm, he’ll be OK. No casualties on our end.”

  “Good. What about our targets?”

  “Six dead. Four in custody. We’ll be bringing them out.”

  “And the main one?” Nix asked, not wanting to mention his name over the air.

  “He’s locked in a room. I’ve got a man on it.”

  “All right, bring the others out. I’ll send the package in.”

  “Ten-four.”

  Nix looked over at Recker and nodded. “Looks like you’re up.”

  “OK.”

  Recker started to walk to the house but was interrupted by the detective. “Hey, when it’s done, just slip out the back door.”

  “Thanks.”

  Nix nodded at him in appreciation. As Recker reached the front door, he was met by another officer. “Hey,” the officer said. “My camera’s gonna be out for about sixty seconds. I’ll get you to the room then the rest is up to you.”

  “Got it.”

  The officer led Recker to the basement, which had been divided into a couple of rooms. There was another officer standing by the door to make sure Jeremiah didn’t escape. He was given the nod to go away, which he complied with.

  “Does he have a weapon in there?” Recker asked.

  “Can’t say for sure,” the officer said. “He was seen retreating in there without anything in his hands. He locked the door once he got in there. Whether he’s got anything stashed in there, we’re not sure.”

  “OK.”

  “Thanks for all you do,” the officer who led Recker there said, giving him a pat on the shoulder before leaving himself.

  It all seemed very strange to Recker, getting what amounted to a police escort inside the building. He was getting patted on the back and words of appreciation, it almost seemed like a dream. He got out his gun and tried to think of how he’d handle it. He could just kick the door in and rush Jeremiah, but he didn’t want to walk into a bullet either. He thought if Jeremiah knew it was him on the other side, maybe he’d react differently than if it was the police.

  “Jeremiah,” Recker yelled.

  “Recker?” Jeremiah shouted back.

  “Police are gone. It’s just you and me.”

  “How’d you manage that one?”

  “Guess it pays to know people.”

  “Yeah. Guess it does.”

  “You know why I’m here. Why don’t you come out and get it over with?” Recker asked.

  “Why don’t you come in and get me?”

  With his defiant tone, Recker got the feeling Jeremiah was armed in the room. Maybe he was just stalling the inevitable as long as possible, but Recker wouldn’t take the chance of thinking he didn’t have a gun and wind up taking a bullet himself. After looking around for a second, Recker didn’t see anything else he could use. He also knew with the police in front, he didn’t have a lot of time. Though they seemed to be giving him a pass out of there, he didn’t want take advantage for too long.

  He took a few steps back, then violently kicked the door open, keeping mind to stay out of view. As soon as it flung open, bullets ripped into the door, as Recker took cover to the side of it. He peeked his head around to get a view of the layout. As he did, another shot rang out, a bullet whizzing past his head, just missing. There didn’t appear to be much furniture in the room. It looked like just a couch and a table, along with a TV. Recker took another peek inside, and without any gunshots coming toward him, rushed inside. He dropped to the ground and waited for Jeremiah to emerge from behind the couch. As Jeremiah rose up to fire again, Recker unloaded four shots in quick succession, knocked his victim back against the wall, his gun flying out of his hand. After Jeremiah banged against the wall, he dropped to the floor. Recker quickly got up and rushed around the couch to his position, ready to finish him off if necessary. Jeremiah was just lying there, not moving, as blood poured out of his body from the four bullets lodged in his chest. Recker stood over him and shook his head, thinking it didn’t have to end up that way. If Jeremiah hadn’t taken the steps he did, they never would have had to become enemies. But it wasn’t something Recker would worry over too much.

  Just as Detective Nix suggested, Recker didn’t waste any time stewing around, and took off through the back door. Though he didn’t feel any uneasiness, he was still ready for anything, in the event he was double crossed. Luckily, everyone involved kept their word. Recker immediately went back to the office. Although he assumed Vincent would find out from his officers, Recker called him on the way back, just to let him know everything went according to plan. When he finally got back to the office, Jones and Mia were at one of the desks, looking like they were praying. They had their elbows on the table, and their hands folded together, resting against their faces. But once they heard the door jiggling, they rushed over to it, happy to see Recker returning. Mia almost knocked him over as she jumped into his arms, giving him a kiss and some much-needed affection. Jones shook his hand, also excited to see him return.

  “Don’t expect a kiss from me,” Jones said.

  “Don’t worry, this is the only one I need,” Recker said, wrapping his arms fully around Mia.

  About the Author

  Mike Ryan is the author of several popular series, including, The Cain Series, The Ghost Series, The Silencer Series, as well as standalone title, A Dangerous Man. Be informed of his latest releases by signing up for his newsletter on his website.

  Follow Mike on the following sites:

  www.mikeryanbooks.com

  Also by Mike Ryan

  The Cain Conspiracy

  The Cain Deception

  The Cain Directive

  The Cain Redemption

  Rogue Ghost

  Ghost Pursuit

  Ghost Fall

  Ghost Revival

  A Dangerous Man

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