“Yeah, but my uncle knew the rules just like we all do. And it’s better to have Tanner on your side than against you. So, I’ll just live with it.”
“If your girl would take that attitude we’d all be a lot better off.”
“Sara is intense, and she tends to see the world in black and white. She’s already made a major change by being with me. Before we got close, I was just another mobster to her, a bad guy, and to her, Tanner is the worst of the worst.”
“He’s actually the best of the best, which is why we need him on our side. If things don’t go well at this meeting and he kills Sara, what will you do?”
“I’d kill him, Joe. Sara means a lot to me.”
“You’d lose, and then I would go after him… and as much as I hate to admit it, I’d lose, and then Heinz would just waltz in and take over everything without firing a shot.”
Johnny hung his head. “Sara has to make peace with Tanner, or… we could double-cross him at this meeting.”
Pullo tensed as he raised an eyebrow. “I gave him my word, Johnny. If you go that route, count me out of it.”
Johnny waved a hand in the air. “That was desperation talking. It’s like Sam always says, if you can’t trust a man’s word, he’s not a man.”
Pullo relaxed again and settled back in his seat. “We’ll get Tanner and Sara together and see what happens. If I know Tanner, he’s got plans of his own.”
“What’s that mean?”
“We need him, and he knows it. If we can’t work things out, there’s always the chance he could go to work for Heinz.”
The phone rang. When Johnny looked at the caller ID, he saw that it was Sophia. The call was short, the words spoken in code phrases, but Johnny understood that Heinz had made a move on Tanner that backfired. When he ended the call, Johnny was smiling.
“What did Sophia have to say?”
“You don’t have to worry about Tanner working for Heinz. If I understood Sophia correctly, Tanner has already started on thinning his troops.”
Pullo laughed. “Let me guess, Heinz tried to control Tanner?”
“Yeah, I guess he didn’t learn anything from watching Frank Richards make that mistake.”
“Where is Tanner now?”
“She didn’t say, but I guess he’s out on Staten Island somewhere.”
“Tanner and Sophia, now there’s a combo.”
“Think it will last?” Johnny said.
“No, I don’t think Tanner is capable of falling in love,” Pullo said, then he thought about Laurel and hoped that he was right.
244
Catch Me If You Can
The cop was relentless.
And worse, the cop was gaining on Tanner.
After climbing over the fence upon leaving the scene where he killed Victor and his men, Tanner had run through a quiet neighborhood without seeing anyone else on foot. A few people stood in their doorways while wondering about the noise he’d made with the truck, and a few passed by in cars.
He could hear the cop shouting his description and location into a radio as he ran and knew that others would join the chase within minutes, if not seconds.
What had been a good lead had shrunk considerably, as the cop’s longer legs propelled him ever closer. The man was in shape, as was Tanner, but unlike Tanner, time was on the cop’s side.
After reaching the next intersection, Tanner sprinted right and saw the entrance to a cemetery across the street and half a block away.
He headed for it, with the hope that by weaving around the mausoleums and statuary, that he could put more distance between himself and the cop.
A minute later, he knew the plan wouldn’t work. The cop reacted quickly and mirrored his every turn, while still managing to grow closer to him.
At the exit on the other side of the property, Tanner cursed as he ran by an idling pickup truck that had the name of the cemetery stenciled on its side.
The truck was just sitting there ready to be driven away, but the cop was so close behind him that Tanner realized he would never have enough time to climb inside it, much less place the vehicle in gear. If he attempted it, the cop could just yank him out of the truck.
He ran on after leaving the cemetery, and a block later, they left the neighborhood and emerged onto Victory Boulevard. There were people everywhere and most of them did a double take as Tanner rocketed past them.
One of the stores was selling fruit. As Tanner ran by, he snagged an orange from a crate that was full of them, and which was set up outside the store to display them, along with other fresh produce.
The store owner had been standing nearby. He rushed onto the sidewalk to yell at Tanner and did so just as the cop reached the same spot. It was only the cop’s quick reflexes that saved him from a full-on collision with the man.
The store owner was still spun around after being hit on the arm by the cop’s right hip, as the officer swiveled away from him. The cop’s nimble avoidance of disaster had still caused him to stumble and slow down, so Tanner once again had a decent lead. He planned to put it to good use, along with the orange he carried.
In the distance, Tanner could just make out flashing lights approaching through the heavy morning traffic. He had to do something quick.
When he reached the next corner, he saw an apartment building down a side street on his right and, after crossing the street, he headed for it.
He had been prepared to kick in the door, but the front door was unlocked. When he rushed inside, he saw exactly what he’d hoped to see, a staircase.
Tanner forced himself to wait a few seconds before taking action and gulped in as much air as he could while doing so.
If he acted too soon, what he had planned would be useless. When he could hear the cop’s footfalls outside, he tossed the orange up so that it would go over the banister and fall upon the next flight of stairs.
With adrenaline flowing through his veins, he did even better than he had hoped to, and the orange fell onto the stairs leading up to the third floor.
With that done, he hurried over to an alcove where a baby carriage was parked and slid out of view beside it. He did so just as the cop rushed into the vestibule.
Tanner’s eyes watered as he stifled his gasps for breath while hearing the cop’s deep breathing, but it was the second sound that pleased him, the sound of the orange, as it rolled and thumped its way back down the stairs.
It wasn’t the sound of footsteps, but it was a sound, and it was enough to make a keen pursuer take notice.
The cop fell for it and went bounding up the stairs to hunt for his man. As soon as he hit the landing and started up the second flight, Tanner left the alcove and went back outside, while shedding the hoodie and removing his gloves and sunglasses.
The hoodie was black, but the T-shirt beneath it was white, and although not a disguise, it was a stark contrast.
Tanner shoved the hoodie down a sewer drain, grabbed a crumpled newspaper that had been blown into the gutter, and walked back to Victory Boulevard. He discovered that the distant flashing lights were now just a block away and slowing to make the turn. He opened the newspaper, leaned back against a wall, and attempted to look casual.
The patrol car nearly overshot its turn, but corrected, then came to a screeching halt in front of the apartment building. It was joined seconds later by two more units, which had arrived from the other direction.
Tanner tossed the newspaper in the trash can of a donut shop, then went inside to buy a coffee, while also buying Sophia a chocolate chip muffin, which was her favorite.
Two minutes later, he was in a cab headed back to the parking lot of an auto parts store, where he had left his car. The store was on the highway, next to the diner where he had made Julian’s acquaintance and stolen the truck.
By the time he returned to Sophia’s, Gerda’s body was gone, and Sophia was watching the aftermath of his hit on Victor and the other seven men on the TV in the kitchen.
She sent him a s
ideways glance. “Remind me to stay on your good side.”
The TV showed an aerial view of the carnage he had inflicted with the dump truck, but soon switched to a different chopper. This one hovered above the apartment building near Victory Boulevard, where several patrol cars were gathered.
The hosts of the program speculated over the significance of the cop who emerged from the building holding an orange in an evidence bag, and even had the camera zoom in on the man.
Sophia nodded at the TV.
“That cop with the orange is cute.”
Tanner tore a small piece off her muffin. “And fast too.”
245
Peace In Our Time
Unlike Sophia, Bruno Heinz wasn’t watching TV; he was on the phone and getting more frustrated by the second at his inability to reach Victor.
Finally, after numerous attempts, he instructed one of his other aides to track down Victor. That also proved futile. However, it did result in Heinz learning that not only was Victor not answering his phone, but neither were any of the men he’d taken with him.
When he learned that Victor had also hired an independent contractor named Gerda to assist, and that she too was not answering or returning calls, he came to understand that Tanner’s reputation was well earned. Within minutes of that realization, he was on the phone to Germany again.
“Yes sir?”
“Have you secured the men yet?”
“I have, and they will all be arriving in New York over the next twelve hours.”
“Excellent, also, contact our Hungarian friend.”
“The Hungarian? Yes sir, but may I remind you of his fees, they are very—”
“Expensive, yes, but also worth the cost; his team of assassins has never failed.”
“True, but is the expense necessary? Is Mr. Rossetti that formidable?”
“I don’t need them to kill Rossetti; I need them to kill a man named Tanner. I had hoped to have him work for me, but he’s chosen a different path. Now it’s time he learned that he is not the only deadly man for hire.”
“The Hungarian’s team consists of four men; this man Tanner will be dealt with swiftly.”
“Yes, and Hans?”
“Yes sir?”
“Hand over your responsibilities there to your immediate subordinate and come here by the end of the week. You will be moving up and taking over Victor’s duties.”
There was a pause, as the implications of that request sank in. “I’m honored by the promotion, but also saddened. Victor was a friend.”
“Tanner killed him, along with several others.”
“In that case, sir, I will be personally adding on to the fee you’ll be paying the Hungarian.”
“Why?”
“I understand that for a price, the target will be tortured before being killed. I would like this Tanner to experience that agony, in memory of Victor.”
Heinz smiled into the phone. “Hans, you and I are going to work well together. Now get busy completing your instructions, and by tomorrow evening, Tanner will be dead.”
Heinz wasn’t the only one who wanted Tanner dead. Later that day, when Pullo escorted Tanner and Sophia into Johnny’s office, Sara stared daggers at him from where she sat beside Johnny, behind his desk. Pullo stayed for the meeting and stood at Tanner’s left, while leaning against the wall.
“I want you to know that this meeting wasn’t my idea,” Sara said. “I don’t want peace. I want you dead.”
Tanner looked back at her, but said nothing, while Sophia walked over and glared down at Sara.
“The man Tanner killed, the one you want revenge for, he was a member of the Conglomerate, right, he worked for Richards?”
Sara looked her up and down. “Who are you?”
“I’m Sophia Verona, now answer my question.”
Sara huffed, but did answer. “The man Tanner killed was named Brian Ames, and yes, he worked for MegaZenith. But when he found out what was going on, he contacted the FBI. That’s when we met.”
“He told you he was just an innocent little lamb, is that it? Well, let me tell you something, lady, no one had access to anything in the Conglomerate unless they knew the code to the encrypted files. We confiscated Richards’ computers after his death and my people still can’t crack the code, so if this Brian had access or was in the inner circle, he was no innocent. And if he turned snitch, then he just got what he had coming.”
Sara’s face went red and she stood. Both she and Sophia were tall for women, and they appeared to be the same height.
“Tell me one more time how Brian deserved to die, and I will rip the hair from your head.”
Sophia started to respond, but Tanner held up a hand and everyone looked at him.
“We’re here to end a problem, not to start a new one. While Sophia was right about Ames not being an innocent, it has little to do with why we’re here today.”
Sara shook her head. “She was wrong about Brian, and she’s also wrong about Richards’ files being inaccessible, because you have access to them, don’t you, Tanner?”
Tanner held back his surprise at Sara’s knowledge, but couldn’t hold back his smile. The woman was not only tough, but also sharp. She knew Al Trent had been in Ridge Creek because she had tracked his phone there, and from that knowledge, she must have extrapolated that Tanner used Trent to access Richards’ files. And while her facts were faulty, her conclusion was correct.
Johnny asked Tanner and Sophia to take seats in front of the desk, and then followed up on Sara’s hunch.
“Does the name Tim Jackson mean anything to you, Tanner?”
“It does, so you know I’m not bluffing. I have the same files as Jackson. Those files are keeping him safe and they’ll also get me what I want.”
“How so?” Johnny said.
Tanner gestured at Sara. “She backs down or I hand the files over to the IRS.” Tanner plucked Jade Taylor’s card from the top of Johnny’s desk. “And I see they’re already sniffing around.”
Pullo spoke up. “What’s in the files, financial records?”
Johnny answered. “Judging by what Jackson sent me, there’s every transaction made between the Giacconi Family and MegaZenith since the beginning of the Conglomerate, along with the names of the dummy corporations we used. While none of it would touch us personally, it would give the government cause to close down everything and seize all assets.”
Tanner stared across the desk at Sara. “I’m giving you a chance to end this without bloodshed, Blake. Agree to back down or I’ll destroy your boyfriend’s business. If you keep coming after that, I’ll kill the both of you.”
Pullo sprang from the wall. He walked over and stood beside Tanner to glower down at him where he was seated.
“If you were anyone else, I’d have killed you just now for making that threat.”
“If I was anyone else, you would succeed. Try it with me and I’ll put you in traction.”
Pullo’s hands balled into fists. “Goddamn it, Tanner, don’t test me.”
“I’m tired of playing games with this woman, Joe. Either she backs off or things go very badly. There’s no middle ground.”
“Even if I agree to let things be, why should we trust you?” Sara asked.
“Because I would give you my word.”
Sara laughed. “The word of a scumbag, a killer for hire? What’s that worth? Nothing. That’s what it’s worth. And another thing, why would you trust me?”
Tanner shrugged. “You’ve never lied to me, not once, not even when I stood in your apartment holding a shotgun on you. You just got in my face and told me that you would see me dead someday.”
Sophia turned her head and stared at Tanner. “You two were alone in her apartment?”
Sara made a face. “Please. I’d rather sleep with a dog than ever touch Tanner.”
Sophia smiled. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Johnny squirmed in his seat. “Let’s stay on topic. Tanner is willi
ng to make peace and he’ll trust Sara to keep her word. That’s good, that’s a start.”
“It’s not my word you have to worry about,” Sara said. “And why should I back down? I damn near killed you in Pennsylvania, Tanner. Maybe next time I’ll get it done.”
“I underestimated you, Blake, I admit that, but I won’t do it again. If we don’t reach an agreement today, I promise you, you’ll be dead by the end of the week.”
Johnny pointed a finger at him. “Anything happens to her and I will kill you.”
“No, Rossetti, you’ll try, and then I’ll kill you.” Tanner tossed a thumb at Pullo. “After that, Joe will come, and I’ll kill him. The three of you will be dead and I’ll talk business with whoever replaces you. You see, you were wrong when you said that I’m here to make peace. I’m not here to make peace; I’m here to give you a chance to save your lives.”
Sara glared at him with disgust. “You arrogant, condescending piece of shit. You really think you’re something special, don’t you?”
“No, Blake, but I’m better at killing than anyone has ever been and it’s a skill I don’t mind using.”
“Johnny,” Sophia said.
“What?”
“Take the deal. Tanner won’t say it, but I will. He likes you, and the only reason he agreed to this meeting is because you’ve hooked up with her. If not for you, he would just kill her. And if she got lucky and killed Tanner, then I would kill her, hand to God.”
Johnny stared across at Tanner for a few moments before turning to Sara.
“I understand wanting vengeance, but I don’t see any way for this to end well. Please, make peace with the man and give him your word that you’ll back off.”
“And I’m supposed to take his word as well?”
“His word is good. He came here to talk like he said he would, and we both know he could have killed you the day we were attacked, but he didn’t, because we had a temporary truce. Tanner will keep his word.”
Sara shook her head. “He can’t be trusted.”
The Tanner Series - Books 1-11: Tanner - The hit man with a heart Page 78