by David Carter
Ryan sighed. Then he boldly asked, “When do you think would be the best time for a snoop around Smuggler’s Point?”
Blaze couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Now you’re just talking fucking crazy, man.”
“Please, Blaze, I’m on the verge on cracking this open. I can feel it.”
Blaze exhaled heavily through his nose. “Well, your timing is good. Tyrone Sanchez and some of his men have agreed to travel south and help us take out Saul Gunnerman. So, you’ll get a clear run at the docks if you go tonight. But be warned, he will have left one or two men behind for security. So if you’re careful, they shouldn’t be too much hassle.”
“Roger that. Thanks, Blaze, I owe you one.”
“Just do me a favour and don’t get caught. Because if you do, Sanchez will literally skin you alive.”
Ryan clicked off the call.
When Blaze walked back into the bar and grill, everyone had finished eating. “Saddle up,” he said to them. “We need to scout the location for tonight’s sit down before we continue south.”
“You mean it’s here—in this shithole?” Lemon asked.
“It actually makes sense: Worthington is the most central point between Summit Lake and Brighton.”
Agent Watson’s phone buzzed. Watson discreetly read the message on the screen: ‘Need coordinates, stat.’
Watson put the phone away then said, “Come on, boys, you heard the man; we don’t have all fucking day.”
Chapter 22
“I think you’re making a big mistake,” Tyrone Sanchez said to Archer and Mr Lombardi as they drove along the Southern Highway in Archer’s limo. “You know that Gunner has more manpower than us. What makes you think we can beat him?”
“We have the element of surprise, and we have the SAS: Blaze said he will significantly weaken Gunner’s crew before the meeting, whatever that means.”
Sanchez breathed deeply through his giant nostrils. “Governor, may I speak freely?”
“Of course,” he replied.
“Have you considered this all might be an elaborate set-up?”
Archer scoffed, “Of course I have, you imbecile. But on the off-chance that it isn’t, I want Gunner’s territory. We will rule the entire North Island!”
Sanchez backed off. “I was just making sure, Governor. We all stand to lose everything if we fail.”
Mr Lombardi cut in, and asked Archer, “Do you honestly think this is a trap?”
He thought about it long and hard, “No, I think Blaze is on board with us. Yes, we share bad blood, but I’ve been most generous to him financially. I took good care of Zoe until they were reunited, and I believe he is happy with the current status quo. He is smart enough to see the mutual benefits of working for our organisation: the SAS will prosper under our current arrangement, and that is most important to him.”
“I agree,” said Mr Lombardi. “He would never jeopardize his girl or his club. This should put your mind as rest, Tyrone?”
Sanchez shook his head in disbelief. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, he thought.
“There’s a small town up ahead,” Archer said to Francois, who was driving the limousine. “I need you to make a small detour when we get there.”
“Yes, Governor,” he replied.
Archer gave him directions to where he wanted to go.
“Drop me here,” he ordered Francois. “I will walk the rest of the way.”
“Are you sure, Governor?”
“Quite. Pick me up when I call you.”
He assured him he would.
Archer stepped out of the limo and onto the footpath. He was slightly nervous. What he was about to do was extremely dangerous for him. But he felt the time was right, and he always backed his judgment. He put on his pair of black, leather gloves as he approached his destination. There's no place like home, he thought.
Chapter 23
“Everything all right?” Ryan asked Sandra as they drove along the winding coastline road towards Smuggler’s Point. The sun was setting over the horizon, dark shadows cast themselves across the tussock-grass-covered hills; the ocean resembled a sea of bubbling magma.
“I’m okay,” she replied. “I had a terrible night at home with the kids.”
“That’s no good.”
“Honestly, it’s all right. I’ve sent them to their father’s place for a little while, so I can focus on the case.”
“Oh, I see...so you’re divorced?”
“Separated.”
“Sorry, my mistake.”
“It’s all right.” She gave him a tiny smile. “It’s the job,” she explained. “He’s the clingy type who doesn’t like me working all hours. He’d freak if he knew I was working with a male partner, too, especially one as good look —” she stopped herself. “Sorry.” She blushed.
He chuckled in amusement. “Tell him he needn’t worry; I recently just got into a relationship myself.”
“What’s the lucky girl’s name?”
“Sharon,” he replied. “We have a place together in Glendale, you know, where I worked the murder case with Blaze?”
“Is that how you met?”
“Actually, yes, it is. But it hasn’t been all plain sailing.”
“How do you mean?”
Ryan paused. Then he said, “Can you keep a secret?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. Well, there was something that happened to Sharon during the Glendale murder case that the media never found out about,”
“Really? You mean there’s more to the story?”
“Just one detail.”
“You can trust me.”
“All right,” he sighed. “What the media never discovered was that the serial killer, who as you know actually turned out to be the priest of the Glendale Church, found out she was pregnant while out of wedlock, and that didn’t sit well with him. So, he abducted her and performed an emergency caesarean in his basement, removing her newly formed foetus,” he said grimly.
Sandra held her hand up to her mouth in shock. “Oh my God! You poor things!” she gasped. “What the hell causes someone to do something like that!”
“I don’t know; he was a religious nut-job. He took all the verses in the Bible at their literal meanings, or something to that effect.”
Sandra took a few moments to digest the sordid tale. “So, you were going to be a father?” she asked at last.
“Yes, and I was really excited about the idea, too. So was Sharon. She would’ve been a beautiful mother; she has the kindest heart.” He looked away as his emotions started getting the better of him.
Sandra comforted him by touching his hand on the steering wheel as he drove, and said, “Well, I hope you guys make it. It can’t be easy with all that’s happened lingering in the back of your minds.”
“You’re right, it has been difficult. I actually think me getting pulled away on this case is probably for the best. It’s given us some space to breathe.”
I wish my husband would give me some bloody room to breathe, she thought.
They drove a further half-hour until Ryan slowed the car. “I think we’re here,” he said. He flicked the headlights off on the Mitsubishi and crawled forward along the rocky trail at the top of the cliff-face.
He parked the car to the side of the trail, behind a cluster of trees, and leaned across to open the glove compartment in front of Sandra. He pulled out two pistols, and handed her one. “Just in case we run into trouble,” he said. “Just point and shoot.”
“Got it,” she replied.
“And if you run into any trouble, just scream. I’ll come for you, I promise.”
“What if anything happens to you?” she asked, concerned.
“Get the hell out and call for back up.”
She let out a sharp, nervous breath. “All right, I’m ready.”
“Good. let’s go,” he said.
They got out of the car, and slowly crept down the rocky incline that lead to the docks of Smuggler�
�s Point.
Chapter 24
“Careful!” whispered Ryan. He quickly stretched out and grabbed Sandra’s hand as she slipped on a lose pile of stones while making her way down the rocky trail in the dark. It was the only way in and out of Smuggler’s Point.
“Thank you,” she replied as she steadied herself.
They made it to the bottom of the incline without any further incident. “Stay alert,” Ryan whispered as he surveyed the layout. At the bottom of the incline was a naturally long, flat stretch of rock, big enough for vehicles to turn around and park alongside the cliff-face. A long pier ran adjacent to the flat rock bed. He counted three vessels moored to their respective docks. Ryan noticed Sanchez’s cabin just to his left, built on stilts that came up out of the water; it was connected to the end of the pier. He slowly made his way over to it and peered through the window. It was pitch-black inside. He tried the door handle. It was unlocked. Ryan slowly nudged the door open. “Come on,” he whispered to Sandra.
They went inside the cabin together, their guns drawn. Ryan listened for any movement. “It’s all clear,” he said.
Sandra returned her weapon to its holster. She retrieved her mobile phone from her trouser pocket and turned it on, using the flashlight feature to find her way around. “I think this is his office,” she said. “Take a look at all these files.” She pointed to a shelf full of black folders, chockful of papers and receipts.
“We don’t have time to trawl through all of them now. We’ll come back and take the most recent transactions before we leave,” said Ryan.
The ageing floorboards bowed and creaked under Ryan’s weight as he headed back towards the front door. They stepped out onto the pier. The air was crisp. Ryan listened for any sounds. There was nothing but eerie silence. “I think it’s safe to say we’re alone.” He breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll keep my eyes peeled all the same,” Sandra replied.
They walked along the pier until Ryan suddenly saw it. Now it all makes sense, he thought. “Look at that —” he said.
“What is it?”
“The last piece of Fish’s puzzle.”
“You mean the letters: C L?”
He pointed to the luxury yacht that was moored to the pier.
“Chardonnay Lady,” Sandra said quietly. “We’ve got a full house: time, location, vessel.”
“It appears so. Let’s take a closer look. We might find something of interest.”
“I think we should head back. It’s really creepy down here.” She noticed a thick blanket of mist creeping inland.
“It’s okay, I’ll be right here with you the whole time. There’s nothing to worry about.”
She reluctantly agreed, and followed him over the gangway onto to the Chardonnay Lady.
They made their way along the side of the yacht to the stern, before clearing the entire main deck. They found nothing noteworthy. “I’ll check out the sleeping quarters,” said Ryan. “You check out the upper-deck.”
She nodded without making a fuss about separating.
Ryan made his way down the stairs and slowly opened the door. Without realising, he carelessly flicked on the light switch. He spent a few minutes rummaging around the luxurious room, opening drawers and cupboards, but once again, came up empty-handed.
He turned around to leave, and stopped in his tracks as he saw the silhouette of a man standing in the stairwell with a machine gun levelled at his chest. “What are you doing down here?” the man demanded.
Ryan panicked for a moment, hoping Sandra was all right. Then he quickly replied, “I have a meeting scheduled with Mr Sanchez. But the place seemed to be deserted.”
“Never heard of him,” the man replied gruffly.
“Sure you have.” Ryan tried to sound sure of his words. “He’s your boss, and I’d like to hire his services.”
The man kept the machine gun level with Ryan’s chest. “You sound like a fucking cop. Look like one, too—sniffing around down here like you own the fucking joint.”
“I assure you, you’re mistaken. I’m here on business. And all I see is a man about to lose a potential client because he was too goddamn stupid to greet me upon my arrival—not to mention I had to come down here looking for you in the sleeping quarters of a yacht of all places. Perhaps that’s what I’ll tell Mr Sanchez when I finally have the pleasure of meeting with him.”
The man slowly lowered his gun. “If you’re lying, you’re a dead man.”
Ryan walked straight up to the man and looked him in the eye. “And if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll happily watch Mr Sanchez skin you alive.”
The man looked startled.
“Oh yes, I know all about his reputation...so you’d best not give me a reason to mention this conversation to him, hadn’t you?”
“I’m sorry, Mr—er...” The man dipped his head with embarrassment.
“Gibson,” he replied. “Ryan Gibson.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Mr Gibson; Mr Sanchez is away on business until the day after tomorrow. You should come back then.”
Ryan thanked him and headed back up the stairs to the main deck. He saw another man standing there, supporting yet another machine gun in his hands. “Put it away,” the man with Ryan said. “He’s here on business.”
“Of what nature?” the man asked gruffly.
“The kind that pays for you to mind yours,” Ryan said abruptly. “Now lower your weapon. Or do I need to call my associate Mr Lombardi and inform him of your insolence?”
The man instantly lowered his rifle. “No, sir,” the man replied. “There will be no need for that. Please, you don’t need to mention this to him.”
“All right, but only if you can explain your whereabouts upon my arrival? Why did I have to waste my time looking for you?” Ryan noticed Sandra sneak out from her hiding place in the cabin, and clamber across the gangway onto the pier. She high-tailed it back up the incline to the safety of the car while Ryan distracted them.
The men looked at each other, dumbfounded.
“Well?” Ryan asked impatiently.
One of the men piped up, “We fell asleep in the guards’ quarters,” he said sheepishly. He pointed to a small building at the far end of the pier, built at the base of the surrounding cliffs. Ryan could barely make out the dimensions in the darkness. “We weren’t expecting anyone. The only reason I found you is because I thought I heard a noise, and then I saw the light coming from the stairwell inside the yacht.”
Ryan played it cool. “All right, I’ll let it slide this time,” he replied sternly. “But I want some assurance from you that when my shipment comes through this port that it will be handled with the utmost attention.”
“Yes, sir,” they both replied.
“Good. Now return to your posts.”
They scampered away to Sanchez’s cabin.
Jesus Christ, that was close, Ryan thought, and scurried up the incline after Sandra.
Chapter 25
“This is the place,” Danny whispered as Blaze and the rest of SAS pulled up to Gunner’s house. “And I think we’re in luck; the house looks quiet.”
Blaze had left Zoe, Charlotte, and Ellie at a motel in the Summit Lake township; he wouldn’t take any chances with their safety. Papa Bear had hired a white Ford Transit van for the SAS’ assault on Gunner’s home.
Gunner’s house was just out of the township on a large lifestyle block, roughly two acres in size. There was a wire-mesh fence surrounding the entire perimeter. Blaze counted two security cameras out the front, mounted on top of the corner fenceposts. They gambled in the hope that no one was monitoring them at this late hour. And apart from two Pit Bulls stalking the fence-line, the yard seemed quiet and easily penetrable.
Blaze surveyed the rest of the property. The main house was a decent thirty or forty metres back from the roadside. To the left of the house was a huge triple-garage with a smooth, concrete driveway that wound its way back to the main gate. Gunner’s Black Hummer was p
arked outside it. To the right of the house was a large, storage shed, dead-bolted shut.
“That’s where he keeps his armoury and supplies,” Danny whispered as he saw Blaze peering in that direction. “If we can take it out we will weaken him significantly. But we should take a peek inside first and make sure it’s fully stocked before we waste any time on it.”
Blaze agreed, then said, “All right, we all know our jobs; let’s fucking do this,” then boldly opened the rear door of the van and jumped out with a pair of wire cutters in his hand. Danny followed him carrying a plastic shopping bag and a baseball bat.
Back at the motel, Zoe, Charlotte, and Ellie were all sitting around, bored and restless. “Come on, let’s get outta here,” said Ellie. “We might as well go enjoy ourselves while we’re out of Brighton. What do you say, girls?”
“Blaze specifically told us to stay here,” said Zoe. “What if they are ready to head back to the meeting-place and we’re gone? He’ll be fucking pissed.”
“I’m with Ellie,” said Charlotte. “I’m bored shitless just sitting around this dump. “Let’s go find a bar or something,” she suggested. “We’ll be back in no time.”
Ellie added, “Yeah, come on, Zoe, we won’t be long. Just a couple of drinks and we’ll come straight back.”
“No. I’m staying here in case Blaze needs me.”
“God, you’re a stubborn bitch,” Charlotte teased.
“I prefer to think of myself as loyal.” She glared at her.
Ellie grabbed her handbag, as did Charlotte, then they headed out the door and disappeared into the night.
Chapter 26
Blaze boldly cut through Gunner’s fence with the pair of wire cutters. In no time at all he and Danny parted the severed wires and ducked through the opening into the yard.
Almost instantly the dogs stirred. “Get the meat ready,” Blaze said.
Danny reached inside the plastic shopping bag and pulled out two chunks of raw steak. The dogs bolted straight towards them. Danny biffed the steaks on the ground as the dogs rapidly approached.