“Again, an interesting story.”
“It doesn't make sense,” Thompson said. “Everyone told me the women were all friendly and roamed around free. That rules out any coercion on their part. So I’m thinking they were on the run, but then why make so many stops? Unless you were making a trail to be followed.”
“Your point?”
“I think you, or someone with you, killed those people back at the trailer park, and took those women. Then you set up a hit and killed the man who was after you. What I can't figure out is who the women are, who this guy is, and why he was after you.”
“Did you see that Schwarzenegger movie where he was a spy and his wife, what's her name? It doesn't matter. It's the one where she didn't know what he did. She thought he was a salesman.”
“Jamie Lee Curtis, in True Lies. Yeah, I saw the movie.” Detective Thompson said.
“In one scene he had been drugged and had to tell the truth. His wife asked him if he had ever killed anybody. Do you remember what he said?”
“Yeah . . . he said something about how they were all bad and deserved to die. Are you telling me these people were bad and deserved to die?”
“Detective, I'm talking about a movie, I'm not telling you anything about the dead. Or who killed them. But I am suggesting you think a little harder about why a bunch of women would get the hell out of town when some people close to them were killed. Then, why would they appear to run away with at least one man chasing them? I’m telling you to try stop being a cop and think like a woman for a minute. I'm also telling you this conversation is over.”
Silence. The connection had been broken.
That was interesting. Detective Thompson hit redial and received a recording telling her the number was out of service.
The following afternoon Detective Thompson knocked on the Chief's open office door. He held up one finger and turned to look out the side window. “Thanks, Harry, I appreciate it. I gotta go, someone's at my door.” He turned back, put the phone in its cradle, and looked up. “Well, Pat, what did we learn?”
“We learned there is something big going on. What happened here is the tip of the iceberg. If I'm right, there'll be more bodies dropping. We may never learn about them, but there are some people whose number is up.”
.
Sixteen: Peek-a-boo
DURING THE NIGHT Tulsa looked like any other American city. Bright and shiny, uptown held the promise of optimistic riches. The older downtown area held a different promise. The buildings were smaller, not quite as clean, graffiti encroached, and a more obvious sex trade plied the sidewalks.
Like the change between uptown and downtown, the autumn weather made a different promise than the hot summer evenings had. The day before a small storm passed through bringing enough rain to wash the filth and stink out of the alleys, but not enough to clean it away. In the wake of the storm, the air carried a distinct chill and the streets stank.
Dressed as a sister of the streets, Deja walked around the corner onto and ducked into a mostly empty parking lot. She climbed into the passenger seat of a dark green Honda SUV. “Oh, that warm air feels good. My ass is freezing.”
G‑Baby asked, “All good?”
“Yeah, we can go,” Deja said.
G‑Baby pulled out of the lot.
“What did you learn?” Michelle asked from the back seat.
“Nothing. Well, almost nothing. It was strange,” Deja said. “They’re clearly Russian. I tried to talk to two of them. They said “No English” and pointed down the street to another woman. When I came up close to her, a guy pulled up, and she went with him.”
“What made it strange?” Michelle said.
“I'm not sure. Each thing seemed normal. But all together it feels off. Almost like I was being directed, or they expected me. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Maybe. What about the guy?”
“Yes! The guy, he’s what seemed odd,” Deja said. “He pulled up, the window didn't come down, nobody said anything. She got in, didn't look at him, didn’t say anything, nothing. Bam, she’s in with the door closed, and he took off. I stood next to the car and saw the whole thing. When she got in, he looked at me not her. He never took his eyes off my face. What kind of a man only looks at your face?”
“The kind who wants to know who you are and why you’re on his street. He’s a manager or a hired driver,” Michelle said. “Either way it's suspicious. Could be nothing more than him checking out the competition. I doubt it. My guess is he works for Galletti, and we need to be careful.”
“Can I ask something about your other work?” Deja asked.
“Sure, I'll answer if I can.”
“You traveled to strange places and needed to find people you had never seen before. How did you find them?”
“Photos. Also, I was usually given a pretty good file on them. When a client pays big money for an assassination, they're serious about an effective solution. Being as helpful as possible is in their best interest. Help always came as information about habits, location, job, that kind of stuff. Finding the target was always easy. Doing this, trying to find these guys is new to me. Why do you ask?”
“Honestly?”
“Dammit Deja, our friggen lives could be at stake here. Hell yes, honestly.” Michelle paused a moment. “Please. You're my row dog, have been since forever. If we can't say it real, like it is, then what are we doing here?”
“There she is!” Deja pumped her fist. “That's the strong Michelle I've been missing. What I mean is, back when you told us about being an assassin and going after Michael's killers, then again when we took over the street girls, you were spot on, large and in charge. We felt like you knew exactly what to do. Now we seem to be, I don't know, not really groping or lost, but not focused either.”
“You’ve just nailed it Deja. I'm not as clear on what to do. This is new territory for all of us. I’ve never planned something with a crew like this, and I’m more than a little stressed.”
“But what about Houston? You ran that crew. We went into Ascia’s place, which was the lion's den if there ever was one. They didn't stand a chance. By the time the craziness was over we’d cleared out two floors of some serious thugs. We went in, did some wild stuff, and busted out clean. We got hurt a little, but we got out. Going through that tunnel was some Cat in the Hat stuff for sure.”
“They had Nikky,” Michelle said. “I didn't have a choice. You didn't either. We went in together, or I went in alone. One way or the other, we basically had to bring her out or die trying. Don’t forget, I've said it many times and I'm dead serious, we were luckier than anyone could ever imagine. I just hope we didn't use up all of our luck.”
“Wasn't Houston basically the same thing as here? First you and Nikky found Fast Eddies. You found him, went in and got the girls out. Then at Ascia’s, we hit them hard, in and out. Altogether, doing those two big jobs were much the same as here, or even bigger than now. Right?”
“Sure on paper they’re similar, but in reality, they are totally different. Fast Eddie didn't know we were coming. His arrogance made him a sitting duck. At Ascia’s they were going to kill Nikky at any moment. Time was too short to worry or second guess anything. It was kamikaze, do or die.” Michelle paused thinking about the crazy situation they’d been in.
“It might have been kamikaze, but we did it.” Deja said. “You and me, we did it. We got Nikky out. I believe we can get these women out too.”
“This is different. This time they know who we are, what we can do, and worse. They’re ready for us. The whole thing is fundamentally different. I’m not saying we don’t bust a move. I’m just saying, this is a lot more difficult, and I'm not as sure about things as I’d like to be.” Michelle looked away remembering how, after their attack on Ascia’s stronghold in Houston, she’d stayed awake night after night stressed about how badly everything could have gone.
“Maybe you aren't too sure about your skills, or ability or whatever, but
I am. I believe in you.” Deja took Michelle’s hand and looked her in the eye. “I know in my heart you can make this thing happen.”
“That's part of what scares me so much. I don't believe I deserve that trust, not in running a crew against . . . well against all odds.”
“I don't care. No, I'm not being blind. I know the odds are stacked against us. Doesn't matter, I trust you can do this.” Deja relaxed into her seat and gazed out. “Also, if you don’t, there isn’t anyone else who can. Honestly Michelle, it’s gotta be you.”
“Okay. I agree I’m better equipped for the job than anyone else here. I’m the only real professional on the team. Fair enough. However, just between you and me, I’m seriously concerned about the potential for a complete cluster fuck. If we don’t do this right, all of us could, well—it could be pretty bad.”
Deja gave Michelle a small smile. “I suggest we do it right then. We do to these assholes what we did to Ascia and Fast Eddie.”
“Speaking of Fast Eddie, we found him by watching where the girls were picked up at the end of the night. The men should do something similar here. We need to find that place.”
G‑Baby pulled into the garage of the suburban three bedroom rental house and hit the clicker to close the door.
The entry door from the garage led through a small laundry area into the kitchen. Deja stopped for a glass of milk then joined everyone in the living room. Baby‑Sister turned off the TV as everyone found seats.
“Why deal with the expense and bother to rent a house,” Deja asked. “Even with a furnished place like this one, there is still all the pain in the ass crap like buying towels and sheets. Why go through all the trouble when we should only be in Tulsa a few days?”
“We’re not on vacation. We need to run a serious operation that we know almost nothing about. Houses like this . . .” Michelle waved her hand around. “. . . are the best place to hide in open sight. In a neighborhood like this, people don't know the people who live across the street or even next door. We won't be noticed coming or going. Way too many eyes at hotels, electronic and human. Everything is either noticed or recorded. No thanks.”
“See, what did I tell you?” Deja asked. “Without you, our dumb asses would've all piled into one hotel. With my luck, I would choose the hotel owned by the guy we're taking the women from.”
Michelle rolled her eyes. “I love you too, but there is so much we both don't know. And one of those things is how long we’ll be here. You’re right we could be real lucky and only be here a few days. Or it could be several weeks. My experience says we can expect weeks not days.”
“How many weeks?” Baby‑Sister asked.
“Two or three, easy. Four or even five is just as easy.”
“Five weeks? Really?” Deja seemed a little surprised.
“Yeah, and I for one don’t want some snoopy hotel clerk watching who I bring in or out. Which brings up a point.” Michelle nodded to G‑Baby and Baby‑Sister. “Those two guys are fine, but the three of us can’t bring anyone back to the crib. You want to get laid, go out of town and stay at his place.”
“Really, you think that will be an issue?” Deja asked.
“Sure. It will be for me. You and PJ can do what you want, but I sure as hell don’t plan on going for no month without a little loving.”
“I’m so glad we got that settled.” G‑Baby scooted around in his chair. “Where were we before we got sidetracked into your sex life?”
“It’s not a sidetrack, Uncle G. If we don’t figure this stuff out, it could bite us in the ass. Some guy shows up at the police station saying how he spent the night with a hot shorty and overheard plans about some big hit and we’re all doing time. No thanks.”
“We all agree then,” Deja said. “One night stands and always out of town.”
“Back to why we need this house.” Michelle took pity on her Uncle G and changed the subject. “We don’t know what the operation will need. One thing is to meet like this. Sit around in a restaurant talking about who to kill and how to do it might raise some eyebrows.”
“Oh, that’s easy?” Deja said.
“What’s easy?” G‑Baby asked.
“We kill them all, liberate our girls, and leave the smoking ruins behind.” Deja grinned.
“We might take you more seriously if you didn’t have a big milk mustache,” Michelle laughed.
* * *
The black Dodge Avenger pulled over to the curb. A blonde woman moved from the passenger seat to the back, and Jack‑Move climbed in taking her place. “Which one?”
The woman lit a cigarette and stretched out sideways with her feet across the back seat.
“They're in a gray Sentra about a block ahead of us,” the driver said.
“Hurry up, don't let them get away.” Jack‑Move said. “Who’s inside?”
“Two women. I didn't see the driver's face. The other one is tall, good looking Black woman, nice rack. She’s the one asking questions on the street the other night.”
“That would be Deja. You’re sure it’s her?” Jack‑Move asked.
“I’m sure,” the driver said.
“How are you sure?”
“We have pictures.” The driver held up his phone showing a photo.
“What if you’re wrong?” Jack‑Move asked.
“Then we waste some of your precious time. You got someplace better to be? Now, how about you let me do my job.” The driver said as he followed the Nissan onto the freeway. A few minutes later the Nissan exited the freeway and pulled into the front entrance of the Tulsa Promenade shopping center.
The driver of the Dodge parked on the street in front of the shopping center. “What are you doing? Jack‑Move asked. “You'll lose them! Go, go. What the fuck? Why are you parking out here? Go. Follow them in there.”
“Stop whining and watch the entrances behind us and the street back past the mall. They may come out that way,” the driver said.
“I don't see anything. You lost them.”
“Just keep watching. If they don’t come out pretty soon, they went out a back way, and we'll never find them.”
Jack‑Move shook his head. “What's wrong with you? You let them go in there without even trying to keep up. We had them, now they’re gone to no telling where.”
“Turn around and watch for their car.”
“What? Why?”
“Look asshole, the old man wants me to drive you, so I drive. But you don't have any juice with me. Now make yourself useful and keep a watch on the street like I said.”
“Galletti told you to drive me. Then drive!” Jack‑Move said. “Get in there and catch up with them.”
The driver turned slightly to face Jack‑Move. “Don't think any of us here are your new friends. We’re not. You were at Fast Eddie’s the day he was killed. You were also at Ascia's on the day they were hit. What nobody can figure is how you made it out when everybody else was capped.”
Jack‑Move’s eyes flashed anger. “What? Are you trying to say I had something to do with that? ”
The driver pulled his sunglasses down on his nose and looked over the top of them. “Anyone half‑awake can see you're not smart enough to pull off that shit down in Houston. I think you were stupid lucky. That doesn't mean I have to put up with you being stupid and fucking up my job. Now either help or shut up.”
“Fucking up your job!” Jack‑Move’s voice raised a notch. “You're the one who didn't even try to follow them. You're fucking up my deal.”
Thirty minutes later the driver started his Dodge and headed back to Sal’s. When they arrived, Jack‑Move and the driver went into Galletti’s office. The blonde woman, who’d been quiet the entire time, went upstairs to the apartments above the restaurant.
The driver leaned against the wall next to the door. “We lost them at the mall.”
“You're God‑damned right, but there wasn't no “we” to it.” Jack‑Move plopped down in a chair in front of Galletti’s desk. “He didn't even fol
low them into the mall.”
Galletti cut his eyes at Jack‑Move. “Shut up.”
Jack‑Move did a double take looking back at Galletti. “What?”
“Shut the fuck up.” Galletti looked at the driver. “Professional or lucky?”
“Pro. She knew exactly what she was doing. With the type and color of car, it would've taken a whole team, and still, it'd be dicey in that place.”
“Get Sal in here,” Galletti leaned back in his chair and rubbed his neck. “On second thought, I want everyone who's close by.”
The driver walked out.
Galletti looked at Jack‑Move. “You too. Get out. Come back with the rest of the crew.”
Fifteen minutes later, seven men crowded into the smoke-filled office. “We know they're here and not much more,” Galletti said. “We don't have enough men to cover the city on our own. Sal, tell your guys to put out the word there's a price on her ass. I'll pay a hundred grand for her. I’m not interested in meeting or talking, that shit’s no good. Bring me proof of death. That’s all I give a shit about.”
“Who’s with her? How many, what types?” Sal asked.
“Those are some of the many things we don't know. We only saw her with another woman in a—” Galletti looked around. “What was it?”
“Nissan Sentra, silver gray. Most likely a rental, so it doesn't mean much,” the driver said.
“What the fuck boss, if this broad is so bad, why is she driving a friggin Jap car for Christ‑sake?” a man in flashy clothes and heavy gold jewelry asked.
Galletti stared at the man and remembered not being impressed. They met a couple weeks ago at the initial meeting when Galletti came to Tulsa. He was Sal's pimp running the Russian women. “Somebody school this stupid mope.”
“She doesn't want to be seen,” the driver said. “The Sentra is one of the most popular cars on the road. Also it's cheap so nobody gives it any respect. But being new, it doesn't scare anyone like a bum who’s too poor. There's a half dozen in every parking lot making it the perfect car to hide in plain sight. Driving that car shows how professional she is. Only a fool or a pimp would drive a bat‑mobile and this broad ain't no fool.”
Hard Run: Action Adventure Pulp Thriller Book #4 (Michelle Angelique Avenging Angel Series) Page 11