“Yeah, Jules, step up.”
Julie looked from Connor to Ellie, hoping to find some indication they were putting her on. They merely returned her looks with confident ones of their own as if they were long past the decision making process. Julie’s hands were clasped in a knot in front of her on the table, knuckles white from the strain.
“You don’t have to do it, Doc,” Connor reassured her. “We can try and recruit someone else.”
Fulton and Guzman walked back in the room, taking up their original positions across from the three friends.
“We’re with you on this, Bradwick,” Guzman said. “The problem is we can’t think of anyone we can trust to pull off the act on the other end.”
“I’ll do it,” Ellie said. “If you two can play dress up with me, I’ll take the lead. Can you tell us what the target is?”
“The Bay Area,” Fulton answered. “Adelmo will want more than Connor with them though.”
“I’ll go with Connor and take Ellie’s place.” Julie made her decision. “Adelmo and his crew saw me with them at Connor’s apartment.”
“We could all go to prison for this,” Fulton reminded them.
“My family could all end up dead,” Ellie replied. “We’re in. Are we doing this or not?”
“I briefed Donaldson. We knew you and Bradwick would want your own backup in case Drax and I decided the two of you were expendable,” Guzman admitted. “He knows they can’t do much more than be available, or the cop cars floating around the area will screw up the whole deal. He’ll be in our van with a couple of survivors from the kill squad the other night. They told us it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we get these people. Donaldson will be with them.”
“If you three are ready we better start the makeup process. Once we’re satisfied with your looks we’ll have you dropped off with Adelmo,” Fulton said.
“How is your Spanish, Doctor,” Guzman asked in Spanish.
“I studied two years in Spain,” Julie replied in Spanish. “It will not have an El Salvadoran accent but I’m fluent enough to pass as a native speaker.”
“Very good,” Guzman complimented her. “Bradwick will at least know when to duck if something gets said that’s not in the script.”
“You mean like Adelmo selling us out?” Ellie asked.
“No. That bunch we are sure of. They want immunity, money, and no deportation to El Salvador.”
“Shall we go get ready?” Fulton turned to Connor. “What if Agassi’s already seen the ‘24’ episode with the family threat?”
“Then I’ll show her a new episode,” Connor answered.
* * *
Ellie did a double take as she walked into the interrogation room with Fulton and Guzman. All three were dressed in black. Connor sat on the corner of the table facing the doorway. He wore boots, jeans and dark gray checked flannel shirt with a navy blue bandanna. The MS-13 gang tattoos on his face made even Ellie shiver as he stood up.
“Good Lord, Opie, you are one scary son of a bitch!”
“I better be, El. You three look the part.”
“Where’s Morrison,” Fulton asked.
“Your makeup people are still working on her. They needed to darken her complexion a bit but decided to leave her hair alone.”
“They better speed it up,” Guzman replied. “We want you two with Adelmo long before midnight. I’ll-”
The door opened once again. Julie Morrison walked into the room. Skin tight jeans cut off below the navel accented her curves in combination with medium high heels. Braless with a low cut dark blue halter top, Julie’s most stunning change emanated from the darkened facial features complete with gang tattoos and scar cutting across her upper lip. With features molded into a permanent sneer and hair slicked back tightly to her skull, Julie Morrison no longer represented anything remotely from her past. She posed holding the black leather jacket held draped over her shoulder with a look of utter contempt.
“Shit, Jules!” Ellie circled her friend in shock. “Say something so I know it’s you.”
“It’s me but they did a great job hiding it. God, Connor, you look amazing.”
“He’s bad alright, Jules, but you look like Buffy the Vampire Slayer on a very bad night.”
“Who?” Ellie giggled as Ellie’s face changed instantly into a mask of annoyance.
“Let’s go,” Fulton directed, walking out the door. “Adelmo’s not sure Agassi won’t change the time.”
“Hey, Jules.” Ellie moved nearer to Morrison and whispered in her ear. “When this is over we should play dress up with Opie.”
Julie blushed, checking to make sure Fulton and Guzman were out of earshot. “Ellie!”
“Buffy!” Ellie patted Julie’s butt, evoking a chuckle from Connor who was following them.
“Can you two concentrate on world saving for the next few hours? Put on your game face, El. It’s show-time.”
“Don’t worry about me, Connor. You make sure to stay alive and bring Buffy back in one piece.”
“Will do.”
* * *
Fulton parked near the rear entrance into the Sheraton Hotel. A dark suited woman walked from the shadows to meet Fulton, Guzman, and Ellie as they exited their vehicle. She took the car keys from Fulton and passed a room card over in exchange.
“Everything’s clear to the suite for the next fifteen minutes. We have people on all sides of Agassi’s suite. Make any noise you need to. I’ll pick you up right here when you call.”
“Thanks, Deena.”
“I hope this works, Drax.” Deena slipped into the driver’s seat and sped out of the parking lot.
“Wow, she was optimistic sounding,” Ellie commented as they hurried toward the rear entrance. “Will she be okay with this?”
“Her husband was killed the other night,” Guzman answered. “She’d like to just kill Agassi and her Mom but she liked your plan better. Deena flew out to take her husband’s body back home. We recruited her for backup.”
“Loyalty won’t be a problem there.” Ellie followed Fulton and Guzman inside the hotel. “Remember, let’s keep everyone separate until I call for Grandma to be brought in. Do you still have their room under surveillance?”
“Their heat signatures are in the suite’s living room,” Fulton answered. “You keep the kids. We’ll take Granny into the bedroom. She’ll have to be bound and gagged until you’re ready. Are you sure you can handle the kids?”
“Yep, it’s all going to be a game. Except it won’t be.”
* * *
Adelmo answered the door. He first looked out at Connor and Julie with shocked surprise. Then he chuckled and nodded while gesturing them inside. “Your people did very well. Agent Fulton explained what you have planned. We will do everything we can to help you in this. Fulton said you speak Spanish fluently, Dr. Morrison. Agassi speaks Spanish to us when we meet. You will cover for Bradwick if Agassi asks anything of him before we are ready. Other than that, stay in the background until I complete the transaction, and lead them over to the warehouse. It will be your show from there on.”
“Your help is appreciated,” Connor told him as they walked into the motel living room where Adelmo’s two other gang members were waiting. “We need Agassi to think our plan is MS-13 being paranoid. If she thinks the gang is behind it, she’ll also believe we’ll kill her mom and kids if she doesn’t give up the name. The second she suspects we’re agents, she’ll clam up. Will you ask the questions for us?”
“Yes. We have many friends in the area. It is our fault this disaster came so close to working. You will do the dirty work needed?”
“I will stay silent and do anything you need to prompt the conversation along,” Connor answered. “Ellie will play her part on the other end.”
“Agassi will need a brutal beginning to get her attention for when we talk to your partner. Take this.” Adelmo took a long handled butterfly knife out, and with a flick of his wrist opened the nearly eight inch blade. He hand
ed it handle first to Connor. “You will need to cut her and it must be memorable.”
With another flick of the wrist, Connor enfolded the knife and pocketed it. “I will get her attention.”
Adelmo smiled. “I believe you. You must not make the face you did just now, Doctor. If you are squeamish you must stay out of Agassi’s line of sight.”
“I…I’m sorry. I won’t forget again.”
“Our friend here will do the main negotiations after her guards are taken out, Julie. I will grab Agassi from behind, and stick the blade into her from the rear. Can you put that sneer on your face and tell her not to move or I will cut her heart out.”
“Ca…can you stab her without killing her?”
“Yes.”
“I can do it, Connor.”
“Very good.” Adelmo clapped Connor on the shoulder. “That is very persuasive. Let’s go to our meeting.”
* * *
Agassi’s mother sat on the hotel couch with Agassi’s children, a seven year old girl and her five year old brother. They watched a Sesame Street program in Arabic. The black clad masked intruders with gloves appeared as if by magic. Fulton clamped a hand over the mother’s mouth and pulled her up and over the couch back. While Ellie made shushing motions at the two shocked children, Guzman plastic tied the mother’s hands behind her back. Fulton kept her turned away from the two children while his partner put ducting tape over her mouth. In seconds they hustled the mother into the bedroom.
Ellie waited until the bedroom door closed before speaking to the children. “We’re going to play a game, kids. My friends and I are going to play a joke on someone we know. I need you to help me. When I give you a signal, I want you both to scream like there’s a monster after you. Can you do it?”
The little girl and her brother nodded their heads yes, eyes big as saucers. Ellie looked at her watch.
“Okay, kids, let’s practice. Show me how good you can scream when I point at you.” Ellie pointed at the little girl. She produced an ear piercing scream only broken by short intakes of breath. Ellie chuckled and gestured her to silence. “Oh honey, that was real good. Okay, show me what you got, big boy.”
The little boy matched his sister’s output easily, adding a higher pitched ululating wail to the end Ellie nearly began laughing at it was so effective. Both the children giggled.
“Kids, you two are going to be superstars. We’ll watch your show for a little while until everything is ready. Then I’m taking a call from the friend I’m playing a joke on. When I wave my hand at the two of you, start calling for your mom and then scream like you did a moment ago, okay?”
Again the two children nodded their understanding. They both smiled at the funny lady with the black ski mask. Ellie sighed and sat down between them as they watched the Sesame Street episode. I’m going straight to hell for this one, Ellie thought.
Chapter 25
Last Stage
“Are you sure you want me to have your Ruger?” Julie whispered to Connor as she leaned against the van they came in with Adelmo and his crew. They awaited Agassi’s arrival in the Lucky’s supermarket rear corner parking lot
“I brought my .45, Doc. Remember what Ellie and I showed you about firing it. I feel better if you’re armed. It’s only a precaution. You look very credible with all the shadows back here.”
“You look like a monster.”
“Good, because I’ll have to be one. Ellie took on the rough job. She loves kids. I don’t know what she has in mind for her part of this show.”
“Jesus… I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“You’ll have to get mean for this, Doc. This witch wants to kill thousands of innocent people and we’re here to stop her.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Here she comes,” Adelmo told them. Adelmo and his men moved in a group near Connor and Julie at the front of the van. “I hope your people are watching.”
“Sarg, they’re entering the parking lot,” Connor quietly warned his superior in the mic on his shirt collar.
“Acknowledged. They have them on approach.”
“We’re ready,” Connor told Adelmo.
The black Lincoln Expedition parked in front of them and turned out their lights. Four men in dark suits exited the vehicle. All of them had a hand inside their suit, presumably on the handle of a weapon. A woman in black pants and black windbreaker stepped out only when her men were in place.
“Paulo?” She called out.
“Yes, Senora Agassi,” Adelmo greeted her but stayed near the van. “Did you bring the money?”
“One million here and one million when we load our shipment.” Agassi gestured at the man nearest her. He reached into the back of the Expedition and brought out a large carryall bag which he set in front of Adelmo.
Adelmo pointed at Connor. Connor crouched near the bag, taking a small Mag-lite flashlight out of his pocket. He unzipped the bag. With light in one hand, Connor flipped through each bundle of cash. When he assessed the number of bundles to be two hundred, Connor nodded at Adelmo.
“I’m glad you’re not going to waste our time counting every bill, Paulo,” Agassi said. “The police have rounded up many of your people. How is it you and these others have escaped their notice?”
“We have been in hiding at a San Jose safe house. The moment our business is over, we’re leaving the country.”
“A wise plan of action. Don’t wait around too long. If you’re heading to Mexico, we might need you to lay low for a while and then reenter the country. If you’re interested, my employers would like to set you up near Washington, DC. We have other shipments in South America waiting to come across the borders. During the confusion our enterprise causes here, we would like to bring across another surprise. The money would be very good.”
Adelmo looked back at his group as if gauging their interest in another deal. When he faced Agassi again Adelmo smiled and nodded. “We are interested. What would be the time frame for us to be in position to cross with your next shipment?”
“Two weeks to pick up the shipment in Belize and get back up to El Paso where we will have our people waiting.”
“I assume you will provide the proper paperwork for us to travel with?”
“We will have them made up for you in LA.” Agassi handed Adelmo a card. “Go to this address when you get to the city. Call the number on the card first. When someone answers say the word, Amreeka.”
Adelmo repeated the word. “Shall we go now and pick up your shipment?”
“Yes. I have a truck tracking us. Once I have looked over the shipment the driver will give you your final payment. Load up. We will follow at a distance.”
“Yes, Senora.”
When they were on the way to the warehouse in the van, Adelmo and Julie translated what had been said to Connor.
“Did you get that, Sarg?”
“Yeah, Connor, the FBI had a translator in the van listening. They called the whole thing in already. Lord God in heaven we’re up to our eyeballs. I’ve checked and made sure the FBI special swat team is in place at the warehouse.”
“When I grab Agassi that team better be prepared to shoot, because her men aren’t going to stand around waiting to see what I have in mind.”
“They have a weapons free order once you grab Agassi. Any of them reaching for weapons are dead men. The rest of you better be on the ground. Ellie is all set and ready for your call. Good luck, Opie.”
“Acknowledged.”
Connor grinned at Adelmo. “You really earned your money with that performance. I’m glad you decided to turn yourself in.”
“We do not want your country destroyed. With a new start my friends and I are through with the gangs. I admit we haven’t been much more than domestic terrorists ourselves, but we don’t strap bombs on our women and children and send them into malls or restaurants.”
“But if your boss, Araya, hadn’t been killed, you might be still in the thick of this.”
Adelmo
grinned at Connor with a respectful look. “You don’t take my ‘we’re patriots now’ speech seriously, do you?”
“It’s not my call. Play this gig out on the right side, and you’ll have a chance to remake your destiny. Double-cross us and I’ll put a .45 round right between your horns.”
Adelmo laughed and stuck out his hand. “Deal.”
Connor shook his hand and Julie stopped holding her breath.
At the dilapidated warehouse on East 12th Street Adelmo unlocked the large pull down door. He opened it as Agassi’s Lincoln arrived with a medium sized Ford panel truck following. Connor glanced up at the surrounding buildings until he was satisfied the team in place to back their operation was invisible. Adelmo’s men, along with Connor and Dr. Morrison, remained near their van.
“They saw you looking, Opie,” Donaldson said in Connor’s ear.
“Acknowledged,” Connor whispered.
With her men leading the way, Agassi followed Adelmo into the darkened warehouse with flashlights eerily sweeping back and forth. The driver in the Ford truck stayed inside his truck. Ten minutes later the group exited the warehouse. Adelmo walked toward the group waiting for him. Connor saw Agassi gesture at her men. He pushed Julie to the ground and ran toward Adelmo.
“They’re attacking!” Connor yelled as he tackled Adelmo.
The men with Agassi no sooner brought their weapons to bear on Adelmo’s group when they died. Silenced rounds from the buildings above hit with unerring accuracy, including two shots puncturing the Ford truck’s windshield and the driver’s brain. Agassi spun around in shock watching her men fall from unseen sources. Connor leaped to his feet. He ran over the confused Agassi, roughly plastic tying her hands behind her back. Leaving her gasping for breath, Connor quickly piled her men’s weapons and belongings in a pile away from the bodies. Adelmo jerked Agassi to her feet while Connor checked on the truck driver and cleared the two terrorist vehicles.
“All clear, Sarg,” Connor whispered from the back of the truck. “I’m starting on Agassi next.”
“Ellie’s ready.”
The Protectors: Vigilante Justice (Vigilante Cops Book 1) Page 30