The Case

by Lee Cunningham

  The large man poured the drink and continued. “No one, by themselves, is bigger or more important than the group. That’s the reason we established The Committee almost thirty years ago. We can all enjoy the money, the power, and most importantly, the control we want. We have planned and refined the system, over all these years. But we can’t ever allow one person, or one faction, to jeopardize the Primary Objective. It’s the reason we will always be in control, and we will eventually eliminate all the fighting, and all the risk. Franky forgot that, or he never understood it. He made himself dispensable, disposable, and far too risky for our group. Our ways are the new ways, and he was a dinosaur…an ugly old T-Rex that everyone hated and feared.” Hector nodded in agreement and sipped his tequila.

  The large man continued, “It’s why we brought you in to the cartels years ago, and set you up to move in to your position with Franky. You marrying his daughter was the icing on the cake of our plans. We couldn’t have even hoped for that a few years ago. But when you came up with the idea of bringing your sister in to play the girlfriend role, we knew it was time to move on Franky. He had already set you up to take over his entire syndicate, and your sister reported on all his moves in the Turks and Caicos, right back to you, and from you, to us. Franky created the perfect opportunity for us, with his own deception and disloyalty.”

  The smaller man leaned back in his seat, looked down dejectedly and sighed, saying, “I must admit, Franky was very useful in the beginning. But, he was never a real team player. He was a vindictive murderer, really, a sadist and psychopath. He was a useful psychopath though, at the time we really needed him. Franky cleared out a lot of initial opposition for the group in the cartels. But it only emboldened him over the years, to think he was the invincible and central figure to our committee. And now this thing with Brian Grant, and the undercover cop. That sped up his demise, and sealed his doom.”

  He continued, “The Committee officially ordered him to wait until we had the ‘undercover’ identified and investigated, so we could formulate a workable plan to take care of the problem on our own, without any obvious public murder, and after we knew for sure what we were really dealing with. We needed to interrogate the cop and learn everything, as usual.”

  “Franky stepped out of bounds, left the reservation, showed his true colors. He was all for himself, and never really believed in the master plan. We can’t allow that. There is far too much at stake. For God’s sake, we’re almost there! Franky put us all at risk of discovery. A very public murder with two unknown players and an Undersheriff…one of our own bought and paid for Undersheriffs. What a mess. Now Franky has to pay the price for his arrogance.”

  Hector nodded, sat back and sipped his drink. The large man looked at him and asked, “How are you doing…any regrets?”

  Hector shook his head said instantly, “About Franky, not one. Franky created his destiny with me when he killed my parents, thirteen years ago. My mom and dad were forced to work as unwilling mules for the Sonora cartel at the time, as you know. They had us kids to raise, and they weren’t about to try to run and hide from the cartel, and get us all killed. So, they went along, unwillingly.”

  “Franky had my mother and father killed, so he could steal a small shipment of less than 100 kilos of meth, just to send a message to the rival cartel. He never even knew my parent’s names. But everyone in my village knew who Franky was, and we all hated him. Most of all, my sister and I hated him all our lives, and vowed one day we would find him, and exact our revenge.”

  Hector took another long sip of tequila, rolling the liquid over his tongue. He like both the tingling feeling, and the taste. It brought back memories of sipping tequila with his dad, when he was only fourteen years old.

  Hector said slowly, “When you both approached me several years ago, with the plan to place me in the cartels, and your long-term plan for me to befriend Franky, and work my way in to his organization, I couldn’t believe my luck. I knew then I would finally have a workable plan, to exact my revenge on the little, arrogant prick. And all I had to do was stay true to the plan, take my time, and pay my dues. But when you offered me a position in The Committee, and explained the Primary Objective, I knew there was no going back. I knew this is what I was born to do.” Both other men smiled approvingly.

  Hector continued thoughtfully. “The hardest part, and really my only regret, is having my little sister play the role of Franky’s girlfriend. She was only 10 years old when he killed our parents. She jumped at the chance to play a part in this plan. Now she’s a beautiful 23-year-old young woman. And the thought of her having sex with that monster disgusts me. But I can’t imagine what it did to her. I promised her she would see the pictures of Franky, to know he was dead for sure when it was done. How will it happen?”

  The large man said, reassuringly, “Franky will be picked up by his trusted FBI contact and controller in about half an hour. As he sips his champagne, he’ll be driven to what he thinks is a secret meeting place to meet a few key members of The Committee. Northeast of North-town Las Vegas there’s a dirt road leading to the Valley of Fire. Ever heard of it?” Hector shook his head as he sipped his drink.

  “It’s an especially isolated, unforgivably hot, hell-hole of a place in the desert. Perfect for Franky to meet his end. He’ll get out of the car, sipping his champagne, and be knee capped immediately by the passenger, riding up front, with the chauffer. The assassination will be filmed. If he resists, he’ll be bound by his companions in the limo, who will explain to him, as he pleads for his life, why he has brought this upon himself. Violations of Committee rules will be formally read to him, while his lies in agony on the ground. Then he will be unceremoniously executed, with a bullet to the head. After that, he’ll be burned, and finally, buried in a pit, covered in hot, sterile, desert sand, consigned to remain there, for eternity.”

  “We will text your sister the video clip as promised, to the stolen smart phone we provided you to give her. She can watch it as many times as she likes, before she takes the battery out of the phone, and dumps it in the ocean as planned. The stolen phone that sends the clip will also be destroyed as planned, burned and buried with Franky, in the hole that was pre-dug for him, at his place of death.”

  The large man leaned over toward Hector and assured him, “It will all be over very soon. Your sister will call you and verify the plan is complete, after she receives the video. Then you will step in to place, and take over all of Franky’s businesses, and keep the money he stole from The Committee, he placed in his off-shore accounts. That’s your reward and reparations for your family’s pain and suffering…and your bonus for becoming a Committee member. We always take care of our own!”

  The large man handed Hector an envelope, and said, “Here is a list of all of Franky’s account locations, numbers, codes, and instructions for wire transfers, along with a signed and notarized affidavit, giving you complete control over all his accounts, companies and property. Any necessary forgeries are impeccable, completed for us in the FBIs own laboratory by members of our group, who are experts in the field. Our best legal analysts have confirmed everything is in place. You will take over Franky’s position in The Committee as soon as his position is officially vacated.”

  The smaller man seated to Hector’s left said, “We hope you and your sister enjoy your new island retreat. As agreed it will make an excellent alternate annual meeting site for our Committee’s senior steering group.”

  Hector nodded, and assured his companions saying, “You will never have to worry about me, like you did Franky. I’m completely committed to the Primary Objective and The Committee.” Both men smiled their approval. They all three raised their glasses and toasted again, as they arrived at the real site of the only Committee meeting scheduled for this evening.

  Hector and his partners walked in to the lavishly appointed meeting room that could host at least 100 people. Hector and his companions arrived at the well-stocked bar, and ordered their drinks. T
he room was buzzing with activity. Hector grabbed a water to drink first, discovering he was suddenly incredibly thirsty. He realized how nervous he had been earlier in the day talking with Bobby, and then Franky.

  As his companions introduced him to the group, one person at a time, Hector couldn’t help but think how much he appreciated when a good plan fell in to place. Everything had finally come together, and today he would be free of the monster that had plagued his life for 13 long years. He reminisced about all the sleepless nights during those years. They were nights filled with nightmares, fears, rage, and plans that had nearly consumed him. But today, Hector thought it was finally going to end...his plans had really come together.

  At the same time Hector was being introduced to the senior senator from Nevada at The Committee meeting, Pete and Tasha stood on a hill overlooking Wallowa Lake. They had hiked to a bluff above Lake Shore Drive, and stood beside a small waterfall, as they both marveled at the spectacular view.

  Their hike had disturbed an osprey from its nest, located high above them, in a dead Tamarack tree. The bird screeched as it soared and called to its mate, who returned from its flight over the lake to check out the problem. As Tasha and Pete stared up at the birds, the osprey pair decided there was no real threat. One bird returned to the nest, while the other flew off to complete its fishing duties.

  Tasha told Pete she had made up her mind, and held his hand as she looked in to his eyes. She said softly, “I know you warned me about the danger the family faces, and to become part of it with you means I face that danger, too. I would die if anything happened to you, Pete. You and I both know I have been in love with you for years. I have become accustomed to the pain, of not being able to share my love with you, and I could live safely like that, for the rest of my life.”

  Pete tightened his grip on Tasha’s hand, as he feared what was coming would not be the answer to his prayers. She continued, “Last night, after we made love, I was so happy, for the first time in years. But then I couldn’t sleep afterwards for a long time, as I went through all the ‘what-ifs’ and fears, over and over again, in my mind.”

  “This morning I was more confident, until we heard the briefing recap from Jesse. It all terrifies me. I’m not brave and strong, like Kate, Walter, Shane, and you are. When we hiked up here this morning I still didn’t know what I was going to say. I knew if we discussed this you would promise to protect me. And you would protect me Pete, I know that…with your life.”

  “At the end of my heart lies a path to take, one with, and one without you. I can turn back now before it’s too late and I may get hurt, even if it’s only emotionally. The other path leads to a life with you, a man I have loved and wanted for many years. You know that Pete. I do love you so…but that life could lead to seeing you killed, or even us both being killed.” Pete nodded and remained silent, releasing a long sigh that signaled defeat.

  Tasha looked up at the male osprey, returning to the nest with a fish in its talons. She finally said, “Pete, I want us to be like them.” She pointed upward.

  Pete looked up at the birds, one repairing its nest from last winter’s damage, and the other sharing a fish it had just caught in the lake below. The birds went about their business, working together, not worrying about the people below who possibly posed a threat.

  Tasha said, “They don’t let the worries and cares of life drive them apart. They just want to build a life together. None of us knows how long we really have. More than anything I know, I want us to try to live each day, to be as happy as we can. And now that I have just begun to really be a part of your life, I could never give it up!”

  With that, Tasha kissed Pete, and they held each other more tightly than before. Pete breathed a long slow sigh of relief, and quietly thanked God for answered prayers. Tasha held on to him, and nestled in closely, as she quietly prayed that the good Lord would bless the plans they would make together. She also prayed for safe guidance through the dangerous times ahead.

  She closed her eyes tightly, almost afraid to look and discover the danger that lurked. She hoped she could be strong enough to be a real part of the family. She prayed the plans the family had made for a normal life would really happen, and this case, The Case, would come to a triumphant end. A battle was brewing, and she must now play her part, whatever that part became.

  As Pete held on to Tasha under the nest at Wallowa Lake, Franky’s limo stopped at an unlikely meeting point in the Valley of Fire desert, where another parked car was waiting. Franky got out holding his champagne glass, now half full, after the fourth refill.

  As he had been driven out of Vegas, Franky had thought once more through the plans he had made previously on the airplane…to voice a few additional demands he felt The Committee would automatically concede. They almost always conceded to his demands. He looked up at the burning remains of the setting sun, and marveled at how far he had come in life, even now, as he nearly controlled this secret society of powerful, important people.

  But just as Franky finished that thought, stretched and yawned, a car door opened to his right, and his old FBI contact called his name. When he looked at his old trusted handler, he paid no attention to the passenger in the front of the limo who had quietly exited the car, just a few feet ahead of him.

  Franky heard one pop from a revolver fitted with a silencer…and then another. He dropped to the ground in incredible pain, felt clearly, through the numbing effect of an entire bottle of champagne. And as he fell to the ground, Franky dropped the champagne glass in his hand. The glass plummeted straight down to the soft sand beside him. The glass lay undamaged, but empty, having spilled all the expensive, golden elixir it had contained.

  Franky stared at the ground, watching the tasty liquid disappear in a split second in to the parched porous dirt. He clutched his hands to both of his knees. Blood spurted from the holes in his knee caps, as his beating heart forced the warm, sticky, red liquid between his fingers.

  He rolled over on his back and in disbelief, yelled, “What the fuck. You idiots. Don’t you know who the hell I am?”

  But suddenly the pain was too great to continue talking. It seized him in near waves of agony. He closed his eyes tight in anguish, unexpectedly unable to speak. He thought of all the times he and Big John had done this same thing to people. He had never realized how painful it was. But he still wasn’t sorry for his victims...he had no remorse. And he was going to have these pricks killed!

  When he managed to force his eyes open, he saw his old trusted FBI handler standing over him with a smart phone. Franky instantly knew he was being videoed. He writhed back and forth in excruciating pain, feeling his heart nearly beating of his chest. He felt rage beyond anything he had ever felt. The pain and injuries, however, left him incapable of acting to avenge the attack.

  A man from the other car approached, and began reading him a list of violations of Committee rules. Franky now understood what was happening, and pleaded for his life, promising to fix everything, to make it up to The Committee. But the man just kept reading. So, Franky shouted over the list of charges being read, as if he could invalidate the words, as they were spoken.

  Franky implored for mercy, and promised he would never stray from the Primary Objective again. But no one paid any attention to him. At the end of the reading of charges the man pronounced his sentence…a forced removal from The Committee, “with prejudice.” Franky knew that Committee findings were never reversed. “Prejudice,” meant death. At first, he pleaded harder, as he panicked. But finally, he raged.

  With a strained breath, Franky cursed at all the people standing around him, all the “fools” looking down on him. Inside, Franky churned with anger. But, he was powerless to act on those same emotions that had always given him the strength of a ravenous lion. He was powerless, maybe for the first time in his life. He was no longer a fierce lion, king of the beasts of his realm, but just a mere mouse, afraid of the smallest of kittens surrounding him.

  Finally fear too
k over, as the onlookers just stared at him, and the recording continued. Franky made one last plea saying, “We can fix this. You’ll never find a replacement for me, who can give you everything I can provide! You’ll see. You all need me!”

  The FBI agent said in a calm clear voice, “Don’t worry about that, Franky. We have already selected your replacements.”

  Franky screamed, “Replacements! What replacements!? No one replaces me!”

  Another shot rang out. This bullet ripped through Franky’s right hand, and continued through the already damaged knee it had been caressing and cradling, causing pain to swell in him, as he had never imagined. He screamed in anguish for nearly a minute until he was exhausted.

  The man reading the chargers calmly said, “Mr. Magadinno, you are hereby forcibly relieved of your position in The Committee, with prejudice, as directed by Tier Eight. Within the hour you will be replaced at the induction ceremony now in progress, by Hector Alvarez. The Primary Objective will be accomplished without you, and all your assets are hereby awarded to Mr. Alvarez…and his sister, who even now is waiting at your island retreat…waiting not to receive you as you planned, but waiting on her new boat, to receive this video of your removal, as she and her brother planned.”

  Franky somehow managed to scream a near breathlessly weak expanse of air, forming only two words, “What?! Noooooo!”

  But as he gasped for air and nearly passed out in pain, his old FBI handler calmly said, “Franky, your replacements are Hector…and his sister, Gabriela, who you thought was your girlfriend all this time. You see Franky, many years ago you had Hector and Gabriella’s parents killed, to steal a meth shipment, and send a message to the cartels you were taking over. You must now pay, at least for some of your earthly sins. Hector requested you think about your faith in God…or should I say your lack of faith, before you die. I think he even tried to prepare you for that as he said goodbye, at the airport earlier today. But as usual, you won’t take the hint from anyone!”