by Mel LeBrun
“Where did you get that?” Price asked referring to the box.
“Picked it up this evening.”
Gatti looked at him. “Now do you care to tell me what's going on? Who's the mole?”
“Edward Morgan,” Michael answered. He then gave them a summarized narrative of what happened to him and everything he'd learned recently.
Gatti and Price stood there in stunned silence once he finished.
“So you think there is heroin in this box?” Gatti asked.
“See for yourself,” Michael offered.
Gatti shook his head. “I'd need a warrant to open it and I doubt very much I'd get it. I can't use it as evidence.”
Michael looked down at the box and scrunched his brow. He pulled the gun from his waistband and shot two bullets into the box. White powder puffed out.
“There,” he said. “Now you don't need a warrant.”
Gatti gave Michael a look, then ran his fingers through his hair. “Well I think we have enough now to pick Morgan up and even close down that production facility. That's some good work, Cailen. And you say Rick Hamilton is willing to testify?”
“Yeah, in exchange for protection for him and his family.”
“I can arrange that. Is this everything? Including everything you took from our mainframe?” Gatti asked.
Michael was about to answer when his phone rang. His first thought was that something happened back at the hideout, but when he looked at the caller ID it was a different number. He excused himself and stepped away while remaining within view of Gatti and Price.
He answered the phone but didn't speak.
“It's me.” He recognized the voice as Dmitri.
“What's going on?”
“I needed to call you right away. Where are you?”
“Little busy right now. Is everything okay?”
“No. We've been interrogating Andrei. I have some very disturbing news. It has not been verified, but because of its nature I needed to inform you right away.”
Michael was trying to keep calm. He wished Dmitri would just spit it out. He didn't want to let on to Gatti and Price that something was wrong, so he was trying to act casual.
“Okay,” Michael said without emotion.
“There is another mole in the CIA. Besides Morgan.”
Michael's heart stopped. He glanced at Gatti and Price. His expression was cool and calm in spite of the anxiousness he was now feeling.
“Andrei will not reveal the identity of the mole. He is trying to make a deal for the information. We will keep working him until we get it but Michael, I do not think you should meet with the CIA until we know who it is.”
“It's a little late for that. Is that all?”
Now it was Dmitri's turn to be anxious. “The only thing he will reveal to us is that this other mole has been greatly involved in the CIA investigation into recent events. Even Morgan does not know about him. Michael, are you with them now?”
“Yeah.” Michael was trying desperately to remain emotionless.
“Michael, get out of there.”
“All right. Thanks for calling.” Michael hung up the phone. He gave Gatti and Price a reassuring smile. “Where were we?” he asked, keeping his distance from the two men, now unsure if he could trust them.
“Is this everything?” Price repeated the question.
Michael was examining both men trying to search out any hint of deception. They were CIA operatives so the fact that he couldn't pick up on it didn't mean it wasn't there.
The question was perplexing. He left the hard drive with everything they took from the CIA hidden in the wall. As long as the meeting went well, he was going to turn it over. So while all the evidence wasn't there, if one of these men was the mole, how would he react to knowing all the evidence that could sink Milovich's organization was right there in front of him?
Michael took a few steps towards a doorway. “Yeah. That's all of it,” he declared.
Gatti nodded and looked down. “Good.”
Price smiled, not taking his eyes off Michael.
Michael was intently watching them, waiting for one or both to react.
“Well Michael, we'll take care of this.” Gatti stepped towards the evidence to pick it up.
When Gatti moved forward, he put himself between Michael and Price. That's when Price made his move, pulling his gun and quickly aiming it at Michael. With his back turned, Gatti's didn't even see what was happening. Not wanting to risk hitting Gatti who was oblivious and in the way, Michael was forced to retreat into the other room, ducking behind the walls.
Everything happened in a split second. Gatti saw Michael dart from the room and didn't understand what was going on. He turned to look at Price just as he pulled the trigger. A sharp pain ripped through his chest. He looked at the gun in Price's hand and then down at the blood on his shirt. He dropped to his knees in shock. Price moved past him in pursuit of Michael. He fired blindly into the walls where Michael had run. The chase was on.
Michael heard the dull tap of Price's silenced gun. He hadn't bothered trying to search him for weapons outside. When alone and up against an unknown enemy, it's best not to lay your hands on them and give them an opportunity to overtake you. Even if you manage to keep the gun pointed at them with one hand, you're still distracted by searching for weapons and you make yourself vulnerable. When he learned he was Agent Price, he dismissed him as a threat. It was a mistake he now greatly regretted. Bullets flew through the sheetrock next to him as he tried to get away. One grazed his side as he turned to go through a hallway.
“I have to tell you, Michael. This is quite an honor,” Price called out to him while he reloaded his gun. “I've been chasing you for four years. Never been this close.” He cocked his gun. “It's exciting.” He smiled wickedly.
A game of cat and mouse ensued. Michael remained a few steps ahead of Price, leading him unknowingly to where he wanted him. He finally reached a dead end. A window was the only escape. Michael climbed out, but instead of going down he climbed up to the second floor which didn't yet have walls. He stationed himself at the edge of the floor pointing his gun down at the window opening.
Price came into the room and knew Michael must have escaped through the window. Knowing Michael would likely lay in wait for him to go near the window, he cautiously approached it keeping low and using the wall as cover. He slowly panned the area keeping his gun aimed out the opening. After checking one side, he ducked and moved to the other side to get a view the other way. There was no sign of Michael. There was only one place he could be, Price decided. He stood directly in front of the window and quickly lunged forward pointing his gun to the ground. To his surprise, Michael wasn't there.
“Up here,” he heard Michael say. The last thing he saw was Michael standing above him with his gun aimed at his head.
Michael quickly returned to the room Gatti was in, fearing he was already dead. He dropped to his knees next to him. Gatti turned his head and looked at him. He didn't look well. Pulling the knife from his pocket, he cut open Gatti's shirt. The bullet had just missed his heart. He was alive but his right lung was filling with blood. Michael turned him on his side to prevent the blood from filling his other lung. He dialed 911 on speaker as he removed his shirt and cut it in two pieces putting pressure on the wound from the front and back. He told Gatti to hang on, help was coming. The sirens in the distance were a welcome relief. Gatti was going into shock, but Michael kept talking to him to keep him awake and alert.
“You have a family, right Tim?”
Gatti closed his eyes and nodded.
“Think about them. They want to see you again.”Gatti opened his eyes with renewed determination.
“You're going to get through this.” Michael tried to give him strength.
To Michael's dismay, the police arrived before the ambulance. He couldn't abandon Gatti. He stayed with him to render aid until the paramedics could arrive. As soon as the paramedics came on scene, Michael w
as taken into custody as the police had no idea what had taken place. He was put in an interrogation room where he refused to speak with anyone about what happened.
Ten grueling hours passed before two agents from the CIA entered the room and relieved the detectives who had been trying to interview him.
“How is Agent Gatti?” Michael asked them.
“Surgery went well. He's stable.”
Michael closed his eyes and felt relief wash over him.
One of the agents removed his handcuffs. “We're taking custody of you. Let's go for a ride.”
Michael stood, rubbing his wrists. He left with the two agents, grateful to be out of that tiny room, but at the same time not really knowing if he could trust these two men. They escorted him to a black Ford Taurus. Once inside, the agent in the passenger's seat asked where the rest of the stolen data was. Michael insisted he would only tell agent Gatti. The agents looked at each other and then drove him to the hospital where Gatti was recovering.
They brought him to Gatti's room and cleared Michael with the security personnel guarding him. Michael walked to his side. The nurse instructed him to be brief and not to upset him. He nodded and then addressed Gatti.
Gatti was a little out of it from the pain killers, but he was improving. He looked at Michael and a slight smile crossed his mouth. Michael smiled in return.
“I'm not sure who I can trust,” Michael confided.
Gatti smirked. “I know the feeling.”
“The rest of the information from the CIA is still at the construction site hidden in a wall. They want to know where it is.”
Gatti nodded. “Tell one of the agents to come in.”
Michael did as requested and one of the agents entered the room with them.
Gatti then addressed him. “Cailen is going to leave. You are to let him, and he is not to be followed.”
“But sir..”
“Those are my orders.”
Visibly displeased, the agent gave Michael a look. “Yes sir.”
“Good, you're dismissed.” The agent left and Gatti spoke to Michael again. “I will take care of everything. I'll need some time obviously. Retrieve the information and lay low until I can settle this.” His voice was weak and he had to take frequent pauses to catch his breath. “They may still try to follow you.”
Michael grinned. “I love a challenge.”
Gatti chuckled painfully. “Get going. I'll be fine.”
He left to do as Gatti instructed him.
Chapter 77
Michael let a week go by before trying to contact Gatti to check on his progress. He and Jessica made the call as they had done in the past.
“Gatti,” Agent Gatti answered.
“Hi Tim. How are you feeling?”
“Michael. I'm so glad you called. I'm doing well thanks. I'm home now. Still have a way to go, but I'll get there.”
“Happy to hear.”
“I'm sure you're wondering where things stand?”
“Would be nice.”
“Morgan has been arrested. Rick Hamilton spilled his guts the moment we picked him up. He gave us everything he had. Morgan has been cooperating somewhat in the hopes of cutting a deal. That's not going to happen, but we aren't telling him that. I've started the leg work to get Jessica's life back and to get you paid for your years on the run. You've done a great service, it's only fair you get compensated for it.”
“Wow, that's more than I hoped for. When can we come out of hiding?”
“We still don't know where Milovich is. His organization has taken a huge hit though. The production facility in Yunnan has been destroyed and he's lost all his connections with the CIA. He doesn't have the same reach he used to. Still, we will have to keep you relatively hidden as a precaution. I'm working on it. In the meantime, I can put you up in some military housing on a base if you want.”
“That would be an improvement from what we're in now. What about the Gomezes?”
“Alonso can have his job back if he wants it. We don't think he'll be in any further danger from Milovich but still, we would like to move him to a new house.”
“I'll pass that along. I'm glad you're doing better, Tim.”
“I owe you my life, Michael. I know I would have died had it not been for you.”
“Join the club,” he joked.
Gatti laughed. “Yeah, I suppose I'm not the first. Thanks, Michael. Call me tomorrow and I'll have more information for you.”
“Thanks Tim.” He took off the headset and smiled as he looked at Jessica. “It's over.”
Chapter 78
Exactly one year from the day Edward Morgan was arrested, Michael and Jessica emerged from their beautiful suburban home. Jessica was wearing a cute summer dress and carrying a wrapped gift box. Michael was wearing a nice pair of pants and a button-up shirt and was carrying their luggage. They were happy and cheerful as they walked to their black Audi parked in the driveway.
“I'm nervous,” Jessica confessed, still grinning, once they were in the car.
Michael smiled at her. “Don't be nervous.”
He started the engine and they drove away. A short plane trip and rental car later, they arrived at another beautiful home and parked on the street behind a small line of cars. They walked up to a house slightly larger than their own with a yard twice as big. They rang the bell and were soon greeted by a very pregnant Elaina Gomez. They greeted each other warmly and exchanged hugs. Jessica's interest in Elaina's belly began to unnerve Michael.
“Don't get any ideas,” he half jokingly admonished her.
She rolled her eyes at him and they walked inside where they were heartily welcomed by Alonso and Eddie. Also there was Tim Gatti and his family, Martin and his wife, Josh had brought Jinx, and Kevin was there with Lauren and Emily. Shaun was also there with his wife whom he met while he was in hiding in China. Everyone was laughing, joking and having a good time.
As a way to pay tribute to the lives lost everyone agreed to gather on that day and celebrate the arrest of Edward Morgan. During the course of the year, Gatti and Michael had become fast friends. Michael's trust grew enough to tell Gatti of the others who helped him, so they too were invited to the celebration.
The women all gathered around Jessica to admire the beautiful ring on her finger.
“What's it like being Mrs. Cailen?” Elaina asked her.
Jessica grinned bashfully. “Oh, you know. Lots of target practice and constant lessons in self-defense,” she teased as she looked over at Michael.
Michael grinned and turned his attention back to Gatti, who was trying to talk to him.
“We could really use your help on a case we're working. Are you sure you don't want to work for us?”
“If you wanted me to work for you Tim, you shouldn't have set me for life with that reward,” Michael laughed.
“Yeah, yeah. I regret it more every day.” Gatti shook his head and smiled. “When you're bored of normal life, you know where to go.”
“You'll be the first I call, Tim.” Michael patted him on the shoulder. “For now, I get all the excitement I need helping Josh with his private security company.”
“Excitement?” Josh interrupted with a big grin. “You spend half the time sleeping.”
“That was one time!” Michael defended himself while laughing.
“That I know of,” Josh teased.
“And he still owes me,” Martin joined in, patting Michael on the back.
Michael grinned and turned to Martin. “I wish you would call it in already.”
“Oh I'm saving that,” Martin laughed.
“That's what scares me,” Michael chuckled.
About The Author
A Connecticut native, Mel LeBrun's love for writing began in her early teens. After being laid off from work a few years ago, she found herself with a lot of time on her hands and decided to use that time to finally bring to life a story and characters that had lived in her imagination for years.
She ch
ose to self-publish to be able to focus on her writing and not have to deal with the time consuming and energy-sapping corporate world of the publishing industry. By self-publishing she can quickly get her work in the hands of readers and then get back to what she loves, writing. When she's not writing, Mel likes to get away from it all in the great outdoors.
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Forced Move
If you enjoyed Black Pawn, pick up the next installment in the Michael Cailen series: Forced Move. Michael and Jessica have been trying to build a new life together despite living in hiding under assumed names. Just when it seems they might attain the normal life they crave, Michael is called to help an old friend rescue his niece from human traffickers, setting in motion a string of events that will change their lives forever. While they position themselves to take down one of the most villainous men on the planet, they are confronted with skeletons from Jessica's past that threaten their future.
Forced Move Sample
Chapter 1
Michael rolled his brown eyes at his buddy Josh as the teenage girls they were guarding giggled and pranced in front of them. Michael was in his mid-thirties, six feet three inches and in near perfect shape with gently tanned skin. His short haircut frustrated the large curls that wanted to break free from his medium brown hair.
Josh was just a year younger than Michael and a few inches shorter with thick blond hair and ice blue eyes. Equally attractive, he too was in great shape. Michael was wearing a white button down shirt with the sleeves partially rolled up, jeans and loafers while Josh spiced it up with a light blue golf shirt, khaki pants and Docksiders.
Heather was the daughter of the billionaire who had hired them. Her friend was Kasey. Barely eighteen, they were doing a day of shopping on Newbury Street and then catching a movie in the evening. Josh and Michael were to tag along and make sure nothing happened to them. Both men were ex-military and worked for Josh's private security company.