by Robert Boren
“Why?” Kaylee asked.
“He lets me push him around too much,” Emma said. “He’s a chicken.”
“If it was that bad, you’d already be gone,” Kaylee said.
“He’s good enough for a boyfriend,” she said. “Maybe he’ll grow up a little. Maybe I will too. I’m just afraid we’ll grow in different directions. It’s already starting a little.”
“How long have you two been together?”
“Over a year,” Emma said. “What about you and Matt?”
Kaylee sighed. “He drinks too much, and he smokes too much,” she whispered. “He hides things too much, too. I think he cheats.”
“Then why are you with him?”
“I love him,” Kaylee said. “I used to think I could change him. That’s where the idea for only drinking once a week came from.”
Emma chuckled. “I knew that wouldn’t work when we started it.”
“Then why’d you go along with it?”
“It’s bad,” Emma said, sly grin on her face.
“Go ahead,” Kaylee said.
“It’s fun to make Seth squirm a little bit. I like to see how far I can push him before he gets pissed.”
“That is bad,” Kaylee said. “I wish Matt only had that problem. He’s an alcoholic. It runs in his family too. His uncle is out of control.”
“He still lives with them, doesn’t he?”
“Yep, and he puts away half a gallon of gin a day,” Kaylee said. “His dad is a real sweetheart, but he’s got a drinking problem too. He’s been working a program for years. Slips every so often.”
“Must be hard for him to have his brother there drinking all the time.”
“It is,” Kaylee said. “He feels he owes his brother, though, and I can understand it. When their dad died, his brother supported the whole family for a while.”
“What did their father die from?”
“Guess,” Kaylee said. “Like I said, runs in the family.”
“That’s tough. You gonna break up with him after things settle?”
“I don’t know,” Kaylee said.
“What do your parents think of him?”
Kaylee laughed. “They want me to be with a Korean. Screw that.”
Emma laughed. “Why, what’s wrong with that? Some of them are good looking, and they know how to make money.”
“They just don’t float my boat,” Kaylee said. “I don’t know why. Matt’s mom wants him to settle down with a Caucasian girl, you know.”
Emma cracked up. “Really?”
“Really,” Kaylee said. “His dad loves me though.”
“Everybody loves Matt’s dad. Even me.”
“Yeah,” Kaylee said. “Matt thinks we’re getting married eventually.”
“He’s said that?”
“After his last raise, he thinks he can afford it,” Kaylee said.
“Seth’s never said anything about that,” Emma said. “I hope he doesn’t. At least not yet anyway.”
“There’s hope for him?” Kaylee asked.
“I don’t know,” Emma said. “Like I said, both of us have to grow up a lot.”
“You’re wise beyond your years, Emma. I’ll go sit with my uncle for a while.”
“Okay,” Emma said. She watched Kaylee get back into the passenger seat.
“You don’t need babysit,” Ji-Ho said. “Spend time with friend. Okay.”
“I’ll go back and forth,” she said. “How’s the road looking?”
“So far so good,” Ji-Ho said. “Truck traffic. Not cars. Make easy to watch.”
“That’s good. Hope they don’t have checkpoints in Temecula.”
“We skirt city, go around. No problem.”
“Good,” Kaylee said, leaning back.
“You serious with Emma,” Ji-Ho said. “You two okay?”
Kaylee sat silently for a moment, then looked over at him. “What do you think of Matt?”
“You sure you want to know?”
“Yes, uncle,” she said.
“Matt nice guy, but too much drink,” Ji-Ho said. “Not serious for times. Dangerous now.”
Kaylee was silent again for a moment. “It’s not just that he’s not Korean?”
Ji-Ho laughed. “You think I care about race? You need protective man. If I you, I choose Trevor.”
“Eeeww,” Kaylee said. “Trevor? Seriously?”
“What wrong with him?”
“He’s immature, he argues all the time, and he’s a nerd,” Kaylee said. “Why do you think he doesn’t have a girlfriend?”
“He not find smart enough girl,” Ji-Ho said. “ You smart enough.”
Kaylee snickered. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I trust him with you,” Ji-Ho said. “Not Matt. Not others either, except Seth. Maybe Angel.”
“What’s wrong with the others?” Kaylee asked, her expression more thoughtful.
“Jamie want fool around. I see him look at Emma and you. Too much lust. Too much temper too.”
“I’m not interested in Jamie,” Kaylee said. “He’s handsome and all, but I don’t like him much. He’s too full of himself.”
“You right,” Ji-Ho said. “He bring enemy to us. Bad. Should have thought.”
“Then why are we taking him?”
“He good in fight. That important for now, but we watch. If he try something with you or Emma, you tell. I slit throat.”
Kaylee giggled. “Oh, please.” Then she looked at him. “You aren’t kidding.”
“This life during wartime, Kaylee. No mess around.”
“Really, uncle, that’s a little harsh,” Kaylee said.
“Gus good man, but too old for you, too committed to fight,” Ji-Ho said. “Take mission over protection of family. Over you. Seen before.”
“He scares me,” Kaylee said.
“Does Trevor scare?”
“Hardly,” Kaylee said. “Like I said, he’s kind of a nerd.”
“You notice I pull him closest?”
“Yes, uncle,” she said. “I thought that was because of the gun thing.”
“I good judge of character, intelligence. Trevor brilliant. Don’t count out.”
“I’m probably not leaving Matt,” Kaylee said.
“You say probably, means you done. I know.”
Kaylee was silent, looking away, out the passenger side window. “It’s not that easy.”
“Don’t worry, nothing to do now. Get settled, get safe, plan. You see right way. Maybe Trevor. Maybe Angel. Maybe even Seth. Not Matt. You see.”
“Emma might hear you,” Kaylee whispered.
“She in bathroom,” Ji-Ho said. “I see in mirror there.” He pointed at a mirror above the windshield, in the middle.
“Oh,” Kaylee said. “Seth isn’t available. He’s Emma’s.”
“Emma done with Seth. Seth done with Emma. I see.”
Kaylee was silent again, not sure what to say.
“I right about that. She tell you same.”
“Okay, okay, she thinks they’re growing apart. She thinks Seth is too weak. Why don’t you?”
“Seth not in love with Emma. He thinks he needs to hold onto her. He’ll learn, or she will, and that be end. Neither will be upset much.”
“You’re something, uncle,” Kaylee said, shaking her head.
“Emma out, come this way,” Ji-Ho whispered.
Kaylee nodded silently.
“Anything happen?” Emma asked, leaning against the back of Kaylee’s seat.
“Clear sailing,” Ji-Ho said. “How you?”
“I’m scared, but what else is new,” Emma said.
“We be fine,” Ji-Ho said. Then he got a grin on his face.
“What, uncle?”
“Trevor. He behind us. Caught up.”
“Good,” Emma said. “Never thought I’d be glad to hear about him being with us.”
“Me neither,” Kaylee said, glancing at Ji-Ho. He shot her a grin.
***
Sparky was sweating, watching the TV screen inside the darkened card club. Somebody banged on the back door. His pulse quickened, and he pulled his 9mm out of his pocket, rushing to the bank of security monitors behind the kitchen. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Jules and Tex standing in front of the door. Jules was holding a big cloth bag by its drawstring. Sparky opened the door and ushered them in quickly, then shut it and put on the big steel bolt. Jules put down the bag.
“Expecting problem?” Jules asked with a sly grin on his face.
“Howdy partner,” Tex said. “Bar open?”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go. I’ve got the TV on. You know they’re pulling tanks up next to a bunch of the major checkpoints, right?”
“We see,” Jules said. “We blow up soon.”
“With what?” Sparky asked, getting behind the bar.
“TOW missiles,” Jules said.
“Bull,” Sparky said. “Those are military, and they ain’t that good against M-1s anyway.”
“Look at screen,” Jules said. “That’s no M-1. It’s old M-60. Easy target for TOW.”
Tex got closer to the screen and looked. “Yeah, he’s right, that’s an old M-60 all right. The National Guard probably has those instead of M-1s.”
“Boss say they even use Sheridan tanks,” Jules said. “Pull out of mothballs to try to cover many checkpoints. TOW cut through like hot knife through butter. Even old bazooka work on those. We have many.”
“Ivan’s got all this stuff? How?” Sparky asked.
“Never mind,” Jules said.
Tex chuckled. “Yeah, we know, if you tell us you have to kill us.”
“I don’t kill friends,” Jules said. “Drink?”
“What do you want?” Sparky asked.
“Jameson?”
“Sure,” Sparky said, grabbing the bottle and a glass. “Ice?”
“No thanks,” Jules said.
“A Belgian drinking Irish rotgut,” Tex chided. “You got any American whiskey back there?”
“Jack?” Sparky asked.
“Yes, I’ll spend a little time with Mr. Daniels,” Tex said.
“You guys aren’t afraid we’ll get a visit?” Sparky asked as he set the bottle and a glass on the bar.
“We expect,” Jules said. “Ivan sent others to surround place. We wait. UN pansies be here soon enough. We splatter and take prisoners. Torture. Might get rug dirty.”
“Hey, it’s Ivan’s place,” Sparky said. “Who am I to complain?”
“We shut down anyway,” Jules said. “You join us? Make you officer.”
Sparky laughed hard, then grabbed himself a glass and poured three fingers of Jack Daniels. He lifted his glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
“That good,” Jules said. “Boss be happy.”
“Hell, he don’t tell me nothing anymore,” Sparky said. “I’m surprised he wants me involved.”
“He trust you with best club,” Jules said. “He like, wanted to protect from operations of questionable legality.”
“You know, don’t you?” Sparky asked.
“Know what?” Tex asked. He took another belt of whiskey.
“Ivan and I are high school buddies,” Sparky said.
“You went to school in Russia?” Tex asked, looking flabbergasted.
Jules and Sparky looked at each other and cracked up.
“Ivan’s from Torrance,” Sparky said. “Studied International Trade in college. Then the USSR came apart. He saw an opportunity and took it. He’s always been into theatrics.”
“So why’d you play dumb?” Tex asked.
“I still will, around anybody but insiders,” Sparky said. “You two are insiders.”
“So you knew all along that Jules and I knew each other?” Tex asked.
“Yeah,” Sparky said. “Sorry. Have to be careful. I thought you were okay, but it wasn’t my call.”
Gunfire erupted outside the club. Jules and Tex glanced at each other, smiling.
“Right on time,” Jules said.
“So, Jules, you really from Belgium?” Tex asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Worked for Ivan there, starting in the early 90s.”
The gunfire ramped up.
“Do we need to go out there and help?” Sparky asked.
“No,” Jules said. “We need to make ourselves seen for a moment, then sneak away.”
“Why?”
“Boss wants gun battle to go on long enough to draw more creeps,” Jules said. “Then we sneak away and blow up tanks at nearest few checkpoints.”
“We can’t get all of them,” Sparky said.
“We need only enough for news, and to set up next Ivan TV spot,” Jules said. “Come, let’s get you into your vest.”
“Vest?” Sparky asked. “That what you left by the back door?”
“Yes,” Jules said. “Tex and I already wear.”
“Yeah, now my chest is gonna smell like my feet,” Tex said.
The men drank the rest of their whiskey and walked to the back door.
Chapter 16 – Sheridan
Sparky put on the Kevlar vest, then put his shirt and coat back on. “Ready.”
Tex and Jules nodded at him.
“Let’s go,” Jules said, pushing the door open, clutching his Mac-10. The others had their pistols out. “Let’s see how many clocks I stop before this jam.”
Tex chuckled as they slipped out. Jules opened up on a man sneaking around the back, dropping him, but not before he screamed. Other enemy fighters noticed.
“You see the Islamists with the UN guys?” Sparky asked.
“We knew,” Jules said. “The islamist create crisis for UN to put down. Classic.”
They raced to the back of the parking lot.
“In my Jeep,” Jules shouted. It was sitting in the back row of the parking lot, top removed. “We kill a few on the way out, then meet others with TOW missiles by Alondra Golf Course.”
“Where’re we hitting first, partner?” Tex asked as they ran.
“Same place as first hit last night,” Jules said as he got behind the wheel. “Redondo Beach Boulevard and Hawthorne.”
“Look out,” Sparky said, aiming his 9mm at several men running towards them. He fired twice, hitting one and wounding another. Tex pulled his single action revolver and fired, hitting the last man, throwing him several feet backwards.
“Dammit,” Sparky said. “I need to be wearing ear protection around that cannon of yours.”
Tex laughed as he squeezed off a round into the wounded man’s head, splattering blood and brains all over the parking lot.
“Who’s going to clean that up?” quipped Jules as he flew out of the parking lot, onto the street.
“UN van on our tail,” Tex said.
“So shoot them,” Jules said. “Why you think I remove top?”
Tex aimed his BAR at the driver and fired, killing him instantly. The van crashed into a light pole, the passenger flying through the front windshield.
“Nice job,” Sparky said. “They’re still fighting at the club.”
“They grab a couple, let others escape,” Jules said. “Torture. We get answers.”
“That your guys up there?” Tex asked, pointing to several Jeeps and a civilian Humvee parked on a side street next to the golf course.
“That them,” Jules said, turning right onto the street. “Let’s go grab TOW and take off.”
They got out of the car and rushed to the first Jeep.
“Jules, you make it,” said a big Italian man. “Take TOW. Then we split up. Taking out five in this part of town tonight.”
“Okay,” Jules said.
“You know how to fire?” he asked.
“I do,” Tex said. “Learned while I was in the service. How many missiles do we get?”
“Three. Don’t waste. Take out three tanks. One across from Galleria, one at Century and Aviation, and one at Sepulveda and Venice. Then go to safe house in Marina Del Rey.”
“Sho
uld we blast the others there?” Tex asked. “Got my BAR in the back.”
“Yes, and take two M60s,” the Italian man said. “Kill all if you can, but don’t get pinned down. Get it?”
“We got,” Jules said. They loaded the hardware and took off to the west.
“I think the gunfire at the club is finally done,” Sparky said.
“Yeah, now real horror begins for survivors,” Jules said. “Rather have been shot.”
“Lots of men around that checkpoint,” Tex said.
“I’ll lay down cover fire with the M60 when we get close,” Sparky said.
“Yes, and I join you,” Jules said.
“Not much to set up with these ground TOW launchers. No need to aim the tripod, but we need a clear shot because of the wires.”
“I turn into parking lot by gym, to left,” Jules said, making the turn. Some of the UN Peacekeepers noticed and began shouting at each other.
“Blast them,” Jules said as he drove along the parking lot to a spot with a good view of the tank.
Sparky opened up with the M60, raising screams from the running UN Peacekeepers. Jules jumped out with his M60 and opened fire. “Tex, take shot.”
Tex was already on the asphalt next to the Jeep, tripod on the ground. He slid a missile into the tube, then put his eyes to the binocular sight and adjusted the reticle until the crosshairs were on the tank. He pulled the trigger. The missile shot out, fins popping out as it flew. Tex steered the missile until it hit the target, blowing off the turret in a huge ball of fire.
“Yes!” Tex shouted.
“Grab BAR and let’s kill a few more, then go to next checkpoint,” Jules shouted. Tex nodded and grabbed his BAR, hosing down the intersection with lead.
“I think we killed enough,” Sparky said. “We don’t want to use all of our ammo.”
“More ammo in back compartment, but you right. Reload while we’re driving to Inglewood.”
The men jumped back in and Jules drove out the way they came in, making a right this time, quickly ducking into Freeman Street, heading north.
“That worked well,” Tex said.
“That’s an amazing weapon,” Sparky said, looking at the unit sitting on the back seat next to Tex. “I want one.”
Jules laughed. “Yes, good plaything.”
“Which way are you going?” Sparky asked.
“This dumps onto Hawthorne,” Jules said. “We take all the way to Century, then turn left.”