Monster

by Bernard L. DeLeo

  “Wow, that well, huh? What do you get to do?” Bocelli asked.

  “Observe.”

  “It was those CIA guys, Cold,” Dominguez said. “Martinson was ecstatic over our adlib. After he talked with the men in black for a half hour everything changed. They brought in some local guys, confirmed Gumby’s mob was foreign, and then took the whole bunch with them.”

  “Get any names?”

  “Nope. They walked by us grunts like we were gum on the bottoms of their shoes,” Bocelli answered.

  “One of them a guy about six feet tall with his skull razor cut?”

  “Yeah.” Dominguez traded surprised looks with Bocelli. “You know him, huh?”

  “He thinks he’s that guy from Apocalypse Now, the one Marlon Brando played. He got me thrown out of country on my last small freelance job.”

  “You mean the one where you took the heads of over a dozen insurgents and left them for everyone to see?” Bocelli asked.

  “How… oh, I see… you guys spent more time with Kay than you should have.” McDaniels grimaced, imagining how those conversations went. “Kay hasn’t learned to keep his big mouth shut.”

  “We promised him we wouldn’t tell so you have to keep it quiet, Sir,” Bocelli said. “What’s the big deal anyway? This guy from CIA’s been monitoring you since you went on mission, huh?”

  “Probably. He’s a good man. He and I just don’t see eye to eye on some of the finer points. He was my superior in this whacked out chain of command for a long time. I don’t report to him but I’ve been working under him since the first Gulf War. I didn’t know he was still over here. I figured he might be though. It explains a lot. He won’t be thrilled when he finds out he ain’t in my pay-grade.”

  “He didn’t believe us at first when we told him Marisa snuffed Gumby. He thought we were covering for you and we would have,” Bocelli said.

  “I told him I’d take him over to her house and let Marisa tell him herself,” Dominguez added. “He laughed and said he knew enough about people covering for your antics. I…ah…”

  “The Lieutenant went up in the prick’s face and asked him if he was calling him a liar,” Bocelli cut in. “His buddy moved up and I cut him off. We almost had us an all American hoe down. Martinson barked an end to it. He told the CIA guys to take the prisoners and get the hell out.”

  “Don’t take it personal, boys. Stuckey don’t believe anything he don’t see with his own eyes. That’s why he’s good at what he does.”

  “You may not mind getting called a liar but I ain’t too fond of it,” Dominguez muttered.

  “Yep, another couple of minutes and we would’ve had us another Gumby,” Bocelli stated.

  McDaniels put his arms around the two Marines’ shoulders. “I’m not all that fond of it either, Abe, but I have been known to leave out important details once in a while. Now, are you two ready for the next phase?”

  “What next phase?” Dominguez asked, pulling away from McDaniels. “I thought…”

  “Now we see what Marisa comes up with. Then I’ll show you a little bit about how the Israeli’s handle some of their bad guys,” McDaniels offered.

  “Holy crap, Cold,” Dominguez complained. “We’re not the only branch of service out here you know. You really do want some prison time, huh?”

  “Listen, kids. I got me a little get out of jail free card. I’ll make sure there ain’t no fallout on your heads. Remember, unless we pacify this area, all the information I’ve been working my ass off for the last few months will be worthless.”

  “You know, Jed,” Dominguez said, turning to his Sergeant, “I have a feeling this spurt of fervor on Cold Mountain’s part may have to do with some built up sexual tension. Maybe we better get away from him before…”

  “Why you no good… rotten…” McDaniels went for Dominguez but the Lieutenant had already double-timed it nearly twenty feet away when he saw McDaniels tense up.

  “What are you laughing at, Bocelli, you incompetent worm?” McDaniels turned on the helpless Sergeant who was in the throes of uncontrollable laughter.

  McDaniels threw his hands up in the air pretending outrage. “Okay, that’s it. You two do not approach me under any circumstances. I’ll see you when we get a ticket home.”

  As McDaniels walked away from them, Dominguez moved nearer to Bocelli.

  “We’ll call you if Marisa lets us in on anything worthwhile, Cold,” Dominguez called out to McDaniels. McDaniels gave him the wave off in answer without turning.

  “Man, you got the Mountain good that time, Abe,” Bocelli commented. “He didn’t see it comin’.”

  “All the good digs have to have some basis in truth,” Dominguez replied with a satisfied smile. “It was probably easy for him when he was in Syria to concentrate on other things.”

  “What about us? You haven’t seen your wife and kids either, Lieutenant.”

  “That’s why we’re going to recon in and check with Marisa tonight after dark,” Dominguez replied. “I haven’t had time to think of home since Cold made it back over the border. We might as well practice what he’s been showing us.”

  “You going to okay this practice session with the Colonel?”

  “After the visit with Cold’s friends from the CIA, Colonel Martinson was pissed. He knows they swooped in the moment we had Gumby’s gang rounded up so they could take credit for it. Martinson figured the guy was trying to bait you and me so he’d have an excuse to leave before Cold arrived.”

  “Why didn’t you say something before now?”

  “I wanted to see what Cold had to say after talking to Martinson. I thought he’d be so fed up with the bullshit he’d just take it easy. I should have known better. Anyway, Martinson told me to see what Cold wanted to do. It would be my decision whether to go along with any of his ideas.”

  “And if something goes wrong?”

  Dominguez exchanged knowing grins with his Sergeant. “Colonel Martinson and I didn’t really cover that part. He trusts Cold though. I think Martinson’s up for a star over how smooth this incursion into Syria went. I trust Martinson not to throw us under the bus if one of Cold’s ideas backfire here on Iraqi soil.”

  “Meaning what exactly?”

  “Meaning he told me the suits don’t like all the shit we’ve been taking from this region. With the contacts Cold made along that smuggling route they want this border area pacified. If we get into trouble I can call in anything I want.”

  “Holy shit,” Bocelli whispered. “You mean air-strikes, tanks, the works?”

  “Anything,” Dominguez emphasized. “We’ll be walking point but it will be a bad day for anyone taking the bait.”

  “Oh goody… suddenly I’m not all that hot for this overtime grunt work. I thought maybe we could just…”

  “Laser in a target from orbit and dance on back to camp?” Dominguez cut in with a laugh.

  “Yep… that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

  “Forget it, Jed. We’re still just as expendable as always. We get to call in a little revenge while we’re being killed this time.”

  “Thanks for putting the happy face on this for me, Lieutenant. I’ll go round up the rest of our gallant volunteers and tell them what we have planned for entertainment tonight.”

  * * *

  “Oh, Colonel,” Dominguez called out from near the entrance to McDaniels’ quarters, “we have a surprise for you.”

  McDaniels stepped out almost within seconds of being hailed. He was already in armor, and outfitted for combat. In addition to the machine pistol McDaniels had slung over his right shoulder, he also had a soft cased rifle carrier slung over his left shoulder.

  “Hi guys, it took you two long enough to get back here,” McDaniels joked. The two Marines stared at him in disbelief. “You left that goldbrick Kessler in charge of the squad too, I’ll bet. C’mon, we better go link up with the crew before he gets ambushed again.”

  Dominguez and Bocelli fell in behind the rapidly moving
McDaniels, trading annoyed looks. Bocelli finally spoke.

  “You’ve been tailing us the whole time?”

  “Yep, from the moment you took the squad to see Marisa.”

  “Then you already know about the four foreigners we have staked out, huh?” Dominguez asked.

  “Three actually. I had to take one of them on walk-about in the desert last night when you guys left Kessler watching your right flank. The guy must have spotted some movement or something glinted. Anyway, he was only fifty feet from Kessler when I beaned him. Good news is him and the other three are the only ones left.”

  Dominguez kicked dirt with his boot while he walked. “I’m going to stick a boot so far up Kessler’s ass, he won’t…”

  “The guy was good… real good, Abe,” McDaniels cut in. “His three buddies are still hanging out in the same spot because they figured their friend was so good they needed to wait for him.”

  “Did they already know we were watching them, Cold?” Dominguez asked.

  “I think they were just nervous. Hell, we took Gumby and his crew out without anyone besides Marisa’s family knowing what happened. According to the guy I rounded up they were laying low because they were afraid the Iraqi’s would rat them out to whoever took Gumby. I didn’t see any of the other ones even act suspiciously while you guys were dogging them.”

  “Yeah, but we had no clue you were doggin’ us,” Bocelli said. “I guess we were lucky you were. Man, Abe and I were going to have a good time surprising you with these guys all ripe for the plucking.”

  “I’m glad it turned out the way it did. You guys did a hell of a job. You smoked out one for me to question. I was doing my job: observing.”

  “What do you think Martinson will say about one of the guys going on safari in the desert, Colonel?” Dominguez asked.

  “Does he already know we’re hauling in four?”

  “No, but those other three will be bound to mention their missing buddy.”

  “What makes you think so? We’ll have Marlon Brando pick up these three if they’re still living and no one will be the wiser.”

  “Why didn’t you just stash the guy and turn him in later?” Bocelli asked.

  “Because he and I had some history,” McDaniels answered curtly.

  “You knew him?” Dominguez hurried to get alongside McDaniels. “From where?”

  “Fallujah. I never dreamed I’d ever get him in my sights again. Kay will be surprised when I tell him.”

  “What did he do in Fallujah?”

  “He was the main head taker for those pussies in the Fallujah Brigade. I found everyone else. They pulled me out before I had a chance to punch his ticket.”

  “That must have been quite a reunion,” Bocelli remarked.

  “Indeed it was. C’mon, let’s get the lead out before Kessler ends up on Al Jazeera TV.”

  * * *

  “Very nice,” McDaniels said approvingly, sighting in the house where the three foreign fighters were in hiding. “What’s your plan, Abe?”

  “There ain’t no hostages. I thought we’d just sneak on down, surround the place, and toss in a whole bunch of flash bangs. Then we’ll go in and kick their asses.”

  “Simple, but elegant - I’ll observe. Don’t get too cocky down there. They might have the whole place wired.”

  “What fun would it be if we couldn’t all get killed doin’ it?” Bocelli put in.

  “Jed, I think you’ve been out here too long.”

  “C’mon, Colonel, look what you did to their main bandito. You said yourself he was real good, yet you took him. Don’t tell me you don’t get cocky.”

  “When I get so cocky I start acting instead of thinking I’ll take myself out of the action before I get everyone wasted.” McDaniels returned Bocelli’s irritated gaze in the growing darkness without blinking.

  “Point taken, Sir,” Bocelli said, looking away. “I…”

  “You guys are the best I’ve had a chance to train and be around. One of the reasons I asked for you guys to be watching my back on these excursions in Syria is I knew I could count on you all being there in the right spot ready to do anything needing to be done. If even three or four of you guys stay in the Marines, that’ll be three or four damn fine leaders.”

  “We’ll be careful, Cold,” Dominguez said. “You coming down with us?”

  “Nope.” McDaniels gestured to the soft case he carried. “I brought this along to make sure nobody interrupts your party.”

  McDaniels opened the case, and removed the sniper rifle he had taken from the man in Fort Marcy Park.

  “Kay loaned me this. I gave it to him after I took it off a guy who had no further use for it. I borrowed it for this trip back in country.”

  “Nice.” Bocelli took it from McDaniels. He examined it with an expert eye. “Ancient, but nice.”

  “Anyway,” McDaniels said, ignoring Bocelli’s crack which had Dominguez suppressing a laugh, “you kids go on and have your fun.”

  As Dominguez’s squad fanned out on their approach toward the intended target McDaniels busied himself watching the buildings on the narrow street. Marisa had found out the location of these last remnants of the Cleric’s gang because they had come into the town shortly after their companions had been taken, asking around about the Cleric’s whereabouts. When all the thugs received for answers were sullen looks they had taken refuge in the house being approached by the Marines, threatening the locals to keep silent.

  McDaniels heard the concussion grenades go off. He shifted his infrared scope back to the target. Three insurgents were already being roughly hauled from the house. While the main squad took up defensive positions as lights came on in the surrounding houses, Bocelli led two other Marines through the hideout, gathering up everything belonging to their prisoners. The squad then hustled their way toward McDaniels. Knowing this would be the most dangerous part of the snatch and grab operation McDaniels did not relax until the Marines rejoined him, dragging and prodding their moaning prisoners. Only when they were all well away from the target did Dominguez call the camp. Twenty minutes later, three armored vehicles sped through the streets toward them - the drivers and accompanying guard already briefed on exactly where to go.

  “That was sweet, boys,” McDaniels said finally as the Marines quickly loaded everything into the armored vehicles.

  The adrenaline rush dispelled slowly. McDaniels watched the young warriors winding down in their own ways, taking stock of their gear and only breathing normally when they had cleared the town’s limits. A corpsman worked over the prisoners professionally, washing off the blood and dust resulting from close quarter concussion grenades.

  “Will they live, Doc?” Dominguez joked with the squad’s medic.

  “Yes, Sir, but they won’t be hearing much of anything for a while.”

  “Boo hoo,” Bocelli commented, evoking laughter from the other Marines riding in the carrier.

  Chapter 50

  Stuckey

  Colonel Martinson waited near the entrance to the camp. Three men dressed in dark camouflage suits accompanied him. The man next to Martinson was bald. They watched the approaching armored carriers intently. Fifty other Marines were deployed around the outskirts of the camp and their main batteries were manned. Two Apache helicopter gun-ships were in the air patrolling the area from the town to the camp.

  “This is a little overkill wouldn’t you say, Colonel?” The bald man commented.

  “No such thing, Stuckey,” Martinson replied without taking his eyes off the approaching vehicles. “I only called you in on this because I don’t want any more scenes like the last time you were here.”

  “Anything with McDaniels’ involvement should be reported to me well before the mission begins. His…”

  “Listen, you little…” Martinson turned on the man. Stuckey’s companions moved back a step.

  “Easy, Colonel.” Stuckey held his hands up. “I have no beef with you. I’ve worked with McDaniels before. We should h
ave had the Cleric in custody with the rest of his men. If…”

  “That went down just the way it was told to you, asshole,” Martinson cut him off. “If any of these bastards didn’t make it out alive that’s just too damn bad. What the hell do you think this is, Stuckey, some kids playing cowboys and Indians in the back yard?”

  The armored carriers came through the throng of security. They stopped near the waiting men.

  “Wow,” Dominguez said, getting a look at who was waiting, “Brando made it here fast, Cold.”

  “Remember, you guys.” McDaniels looked around at the Marines. “This is just how we want it. Unless Colonel Martinson asks you something directly let me do the talkin’.”

  “Rah!” Came the chorus of acknowledgment.

  McDaniels and the Marines disembarked quickly with their prisoners. Dominguez saluted Colonel Martinson formally.

  “Great job, men.” Martinson shook the Lieutenant’s hand after returning his salute. He looked over the disoriented prisoners. “Any problems?”

  “No, Sir,” Dominguez replied. McDaniels stayed near Bocelli and the rest of the squad. “No casualties and Doc said these guys will be fine once their ears stop ringin’. I see they won’t be with us long.”

  “You know our mission liaison and his men, Lieutenant,” Martinson said. “He’ll take the prisoners from here. I…”

  “Only three, Jer?” Stuckey called out to McDaniels.

  “Nice to see you too, Stuckey,” McDaniels waved at the CIA man in the graying light of dawn. “That you under the beard, Mike?”

  “Yeah, Mac,” the smaller man next to Stuckey replied, coming over to shake McDaniels’ hand. He glanced back at the other CIA man near Stuckey. “I heard about your exploits in the states. What is it they call him, Al?”

  “Cold Mountain,” Al answered, coming over and extending his hand to McDaniels. “I’m Al Schuler, Colonel. We’ve chewed the same sand a few times.”

  McDaniels shook Schuler’s hand. “No doubt we have, Al. I…”

  “Cut the crap, McDaniels,” Stuckey interrupted, walking over to McDaniels. He gestured at the slung rifle case. “I see you’re carrying. How many didn’t make it?”