by Warren Ray
They pulled into the outskirts of St. Paul and made their way to Taylor’s place.
“Peterson, you old coot,” greeted Taylor giving him a bear hug. “Couldn’t keep away from all the fun, eh?”
“You know it, Bill. How the hell are you?” he asked his old friend.
“Ain’t getting any younger and feeling it every day, especially doing what we’re doing.”
“I hear ya. So you got a bead on the men.”
Taylor looked at Mr. Peterson and the rest of them. “Told ya I’d come up with something before you came back.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” said Scar.
“Found out that I’ve got a couple of old buddies of mine working at the jail, cleaning up after their messes. I’m meeting them later tonight. They say it’s not going to be easy, but that it’s doable.”
“That’s it?” asked Nate, annoyed with what he heard.
“Hey, I’m still working on it,” said Taylor defensively.
“We ain’t got a whole lot time to be waiting on a couple of garbage men to come and tell us it’s doable. We need to storm the place, kill the bastards and get the hell out of here.”
“Hey, it’s a fortified jail house.”
Nate pointed his finger at Taylor. “I don’t give a crap if it’s Fort Knox, we can’t wait till tonight to make plans. Time is running out. In case you’ve forgotten those pedophiles have Sadie and Reese.”
Taylor didn’t respond.
Scar looked at him. “Why don’t you take us there and let us check it out.”
“Fine, let’s go,” replied Taylor fuming. He glared at Nate as he walked away.
Scar, Bassett, Burns and Nate got in Taylor’s car and headed downtown. They drove around the large building where their men were prisoners. It had no weak points and looked impossible to storm.
“Like I said, the place is fortified real good,” said Taylor.
“It’d take more than a frontal assault,” said Bassett.
“Well, if you got a couple of guys inside, maybe they could sneak a few of us in,” suggested Burns.
“Definitely give us an advantage, and if we do it late at night, won’t be as many cops around,” said Bassett.
Nate tried to contain himself as he listened to their ideas. He finally had enough and interjected. “Let’s just go find the bastard in charge and make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
They all looked at each other and began to see the simplicity in his comment.
“Might not be a bad idea,” said Scar. “Who’s in charge?” he asked Taylor.
“Lieutenant Stiver.”
“Where’s the son-of-bitch live?” asked Nate
“Don’t know but I can find out.”
“Well, chop, chop, let’s go,” said Nate.
Scar put a hand on Nate’s arm and gestured for him to settle down.
“Look, I’m just anxious, and don’t like what might be happening to those girls.”
“We’re right with ya, Nate,” said Scar. “Bill, get us out of here and let’s find out about Stiver.”
An hour later, Taylor came back with the information they needed. Stiver lived over in the same area they had found Commandant Boxer. An area that he normally wouldn’t have been able to afford, but these days the tables were reversed. He who held government power dictated the rules, and Stiver, now a recipient of the times, obviously liked living in a well to do neighborhood.
Taylor drove them to Stiver’s place and parked the car on the street. Bassett, who was the most clean-cut of the group walked up onto the wraparound porch and rang the bell.
A minute later a woman came to the door.
“May I help you?” she asked through the screen door.
Bassett smiled. “Hi, is this where the Lieutenant lives?”
The woman hesitated, but Bassett kept smiling. “Yes, it is.”
“He isn’t here, right?” he asked in a lowered voice.
“No, no he’s not. What is this all about?”
“Well, the guys at the station want to give him a surprise party tonight for capturing the Shadow Patriots. We don’t want to have it at the station so we got something set up at the Plaza. We want you to be there, of course, and I’m hoping you’ll help us with our little subterfuge.”
“Oh my, well, I don’t know, I mean, I guess so, it sounds very exciting. Who did you say you were?”
“I’m Josh,” he answered.
“I’m Carrie, his wife.”
“Well, of course you are, I was told he had a pretty wife. I’m one of his newer guys and we’re all just so excited by what he did.”
She blushed at the compliment and instantly let her guard down. “Well, what do you want me to do?”
“Can I come in?”
She opened the screen door and they walked into the kitchen. “All we really need is for you to get him home early. Then some of us can also leave and set everything up. Plus, you should dress him in his best threads and get yourself all dolled up too.”
Carrie was short and frumpy and had brown hair cut in a bob. She wore a headband, and it appeared she was trying to grow her hair longer. She was excited, and gushed about how much she loved parties, but hadn’t been to one in such a long time. “I’ll just tell him, I’ve got a special surprise at home, and he’ll know what that means,” she giggled. “Afterwards, I’ll tell him I want to get dressed up and go out for dinner.”
“Carrie, you are a devilish little thing,” said Bassett, pouring on the flattery to a rather pathetic little woman who was really a sucker for the attention.
She smiled and picked up the phone. “What time should he come home?”
“I’d say right away. It’ll give us more time.”
She nodded her head and dialed his number. “Hey honey, I was wondering if you could come home early.” She looked up at Bassett and gave him a wink. “Well, it’s just that I’m real lonely today and thought that, you know, we could spend some time together.” She moved her head up and down. “How about right now, I’m just sitting in the bath tub, been reading some of my romance books. Okay, sweetie, I’ll see you in just a bit.”
She hung up the phone and jumped up and down. “This is so much fun. What time do you want him there?”
“Bring him over at six. That should be plenty of time.”
“I’m so excited,” she squealed.
“Well, you should be, he’s a big hero. You just make sure you don’t wear him out before he gets there.”
She giggled and walked him to the door.
Chapter 52
Detroit Michigan
The conversation with Major Green had made Cox anxious and it was not helping that he couldn’t get in touch with Mordulfah. He needed him to call off Major Green. It was lunchtime before Mordulfah called him back. Cox picked up the phone on the first ring.
“This is Captain Cox.”
“Captain.” said the voice on the other end.
“Your Excellency, I have good news for you.”
There was silence on the line.
“I’ve got Winters locked up downstairs.”
“This is good news, Captain. You’re to be congratulated.
“Yes, well thank you,” said Cox, thinking only about the payment.
“And, of course, you’ll be rewarded greatly.”
“Yes, well, thank you again, but the thing is, I have a problem.”
“I’m listening.”
“I received a phone call from Major Green. He’s with Homeland Security and wants to transfer Winters to Washington today.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him that I’d have to see what my boss wanted me to do.”
“Which is the truth.”
“He also said he was going to issue a press release today and assured me everyone would know who I was and what I did.”
“This is not a problem. I’ll take care of it.”
“That’s what I was hoping to hear. When do you want
me to bring him to you?”
“I am not in town today, how about tomorrow?”
Cox thought about asking to bring him today but didn’t want to leave and have to come back begging for his reward. “I can do that.”
“How about first thing in the morning?”
“First thing it is.”
Chapter 53
Washington D.C.
Green returned to his desk after investigating Mordulfah through a friend at the state department. His friend confirmed the stature of the Saudi prince. He had also discovered that not only was the prince in banking and real estate, he also had diplomatic credentials. This seemed rather odd. If he was a banker, what was he doing with credentials?
Green sat pondering the situation when his assistant buzzed him. “Yes, Grace.”
“Secretary Reed is here.”
He had about given up on Reed ever calling him because of Cox.
He got up and greeted Reed. “Come in, sir. Have a seat.”
Reed sat down and got right to the point. “Were you going to call me? Or were you just waiting for me to approve of this stunt?”
“Sir?”
“Let’s not play games, Major.”
Green was surprised by his attitude.
“You’re not to worry about Winters, or his whereabouts, and you’re not to make any press releases.”
“Sir, I’m a little confused. I was under the impression it was my job to find him and bring him to Washington.”
“Yes, well we found him, and you’re not to worry about what we do with him. There are bigger things going on here, Major. Things that are way above your pay grade.”
Green didn’t like being talked down to this way. He put up with it from Colonel Nunn and now here he was taking it from this fat little man. “I’m sorry, sir but I wasn’t made aware of these things.”
“Well, now you are.”
Green decided to go ahead and push him. “Does this have anything to do with Prince Mordulfah?”
Reed glared at Green. “What do you know of him?”
“Only that he’s in Detroit, and has an interest in Winters.”
“How do you know this?”
“Corporal Bassett told me. Captain Cox informed him.”
“Where is Bassett now?”
“He flew in last night. He’s taken a couple of days off, because of an altercation with Cox, who whacked him over the head and put him in jail.”
Reed seemed surprised. “I wasn’t aware that you even sent him there.”
“I wanted him to check into the killings.”
Reed didn’t respond.
“So, what does Mordulfah want with Winters?”
Reed evaded the question. “Like I said, Major, these things are above your pay grade.”
“So, if Winters is caught, what is it I'm supposed to be doing?” asked Green. He sensed Reed was losing his patience.
“Keep doing your job,” said Reed, as he got up and started for the door. “I’m sure we don’t have all the rebels rounded up yet, Major. We need them all.”
Green stood up and watched Reed leave his office. He suspected Reed had just told him things he didn’t want to be known and was now trying to cover himself. It was certainly an absolute priority for Reed to come here personally. He was glad he had brought up Mordulfah’s name and had gotten to see the effect it had on him.
The conversation with Reed left Green with even more questions. There was an obvious connection between Mordulfah and Reed and by proxy, Perozzi. The testy manner in which Reed addressed him was confirmation of their association. So, this Saudi prince was important enough to keep him happy. The question wasn’t necessarily why he was in Michigan, as there was definitely an overabundance of radical Muslims in the area. After losing the terrorist in Detroit Lakes, it seemed obvious they needed a closer supply of dedicated men. Though there was still a population of Muslim Somalis in Minneapolis, Green wondered if they were not to Mordulfah’s liking. There was not as many as there had been before America’s troubles began. Like a lot of the population, they too had pulled up roots and moved south. Regardless, all it would take to get the radicals riled up was a leader of substance, someone who could throw money around, and supply their Jihad with materiel and ordinance.
The bigger question was why was it so important to Perozzi and Reed, to hire someone to drive out the local population. What did they get out of this? That had been the central question for Green ever since he learned what they were up to. Yes, they wanted to control the country, but outsourcing to a bunch of Jihadist only created a bigger problem that they would have to deal with later. Once you struck a hornet’s nest, it wasn’t always easy to get away from it.
For now, Perozzi and Reed almost needed Winters to continue to be on the loose, in a manner of speaking. It made sense to blame Winters for the killings in Brainerd, Minnesota, and all the other places, because Reed wouldn’t be able to keep a lid on the destruction there and in Michigan, much longer. At some point, word would get out and what could be better than to have a boogieman on a killing rampage. It was actually quite brilliant, and an easy thing to do with the media in your back pocket. Of course, not everyone will believe it, there would always be a few seeds of doubt.
Green was dealing with some evil men. Men who would use any means at their disposal to get what they wanted, and they wouldn’t hesitate a second to kill him. He would have to be more careful and watch his back. The first thing he needed to do was find out exactly what he was up against and see if they had any weaknesses. He would have to gather all the information he could on Perozzi, Reed and Mordulfah. He knew he could rely on his friend, Sam, at the State Department.
Chapter 54
Reed met Perozzi at the Four Seasons for a late lunch. He plopped down in their usual booth and ordered a Scotch, neat. He waited for the waitress to get out of hearing range before he started in on Perozzi.
“We’ve got a problem.”
“Oh, what might that be?”
“Well, besides that pig Mordulfah, which I’ll get to in just a second, I think Green suspects something else is going on. He’s not the dumb ass we thought he was. The little bastard played that other dumb ass, Captain Cox like a fiddle. How do I know Cox is a dumb ass? Cause I had to call him and he talked on and on about what happened.”
“What happened?”
“Oh, Major Green called Cox and got him so worked up about being made out to be a hero in the press that he called Mordulfah, who in turn, ordered me to call Green off. Now, I don’t know what Mordulfah promised Cox for Winters’ head and I don’t really give a crap, but I don’t like being told what to do by that slimy pig of a pedophile, Mordulfah. I don’t like being around him and I sure as hell don’t like having to take his orders.”
Perozzi chuckled at his friend as he watched him vent. The waitress arrived with their drinks. He picked his up and motioned for a toast. Their glasses met with a clink. Reed drank half of his in one swig.
“Here’s to capturing Winters,” said Perozzi.
“Yes, that is something to celebrate.”
“Of course, no one is to know anything about that,” said Perozzi taking another sip.
“Well, except Major Green. He’s a little confused about that.”
“How did he even find out?” asked Perozzi.
“He sent his man, Corporal Bassett, to Detroit to do some snooping around.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t know anything about it.”
“It seems our Major is more capable than we suspected.”
“Exactly. And Bassett just happened to be there when they got word on Winters’ whereabouts.”
“Well, we can’t control coincidences.”
“Cox told me another funny thing too. He said he locked Bassett up after getting into a scuffle with him over fuel for what Cox thought was to be used for another snooping trip. He told me when he got back with Winters, someone had let Bassett out, and coincidentally th
e rebels knew they were coming. He thought it might have been Bassett and is now worried that he will be coming after him.”
“Maybe he will.”
“Green just told me that Bassett flew back to Washington.”
“So then he won’t.”
“Yeah, but Cox insisted that no flights heading this way left Detroit.”
Perozzi gave Reed a serious look before taking another sip of his Scotch. “You need to have Green followed. There are too many coincidences.”
Reed nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. I’ll use my regular man, he’s quite good and won’t pester me till he has something solid.”
Chapter 55
St. Paul Minnesota
Bassett sauntered down the walkway of the big Victorian home and took a left down the street. He burst out laughing when he got back to the car and began to explain what he had done.
Scar put his big hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think I could have come up with anything better. You’ve done me proud.”
“He’ll be here in no time, something tells me he doesn’t get an offer like that every day.”
“How do you want to handle this?” Burns asked Scar.
“Besides putting a gun to his head,” smirked Nate.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” said Scar, who took the next few minutes to lay out his plan. When he finished they all sat back, impressed with what he’d come up with. It had an element of risk, like all operations of this nature, but nothing that couldn’t be overcome by a little luck.
“The concept sounds solid to me,” said Bassett.
“If we can pull this off right, Stiver won’t even come after us,” said Burns.
“That’s the beauty of it,” said Scar.
“Taylor, do you think you can get everything we need in a couple of hours?”
“Won’t be a problem.”
“Okay then, as soon as Stiver pulls in, you and Burns go and start scrounging the stuff up.”