Thor looked at the card and handed it to Simon. “Now you tell me that’s not spooky.” The card said: House of Voodoo, Let the Spirits Protect You. Spicey’s phone number was on the bottom of the card.
Jeanne was only five blocks from home. Pablo said he would be there later. It was already starting to get dark. The noise from the city was growing distant. This part of town was seeing the signs of crime moving in. Broken street lights, a few boarded up homes. The beautiful music from the clubs in the Quarter replaced with the steady bass sounds from cruising car stereos.
Jeanne felt his presence before she ever heard anything. Behind her, ninety feet. She kept walking at her normal pace. Behind her, fifty feet. She reached the porch of her home, unlocked the door, and walked in. She turned on a light near the door, then ran to the back of the house and outside again. She could see his form in the shadows leaning against the neighbor’s house.
She circled the neighbor’s house, kicked off her boots, and silently ran through the grass. With the stealth prowess of a panther she leaped behind him and put her knife to his throat. “Freeze. FBI.”
“Not again.” It was Tourey.
Jeanne started laughing, “What are you doing Mr. Waknem?”
Tourey answered, “Trying to protect your ass.” A truck turned the corner down the street and Tourey motioned for her to take cover. He whispered, “Dude in that truck took an interest in you when you left Star Ship. Followed you to dinner and now here.”
The truck was rolling very slowly toward them and pulled to the curb about five houses down. Jeanne could hear the truck door open and barely close again. Tourey motioned for her to back up. Jeanne frowned at him and shook her head. Tourey pulled a gun from his waistband and looked at her knife. He raised an eyebrow. She knew he was asking “Is that all you got?” Jeanne frowned.
They watched him walk up to Jeanne’s front door, pick the lock and enter. Jeanne noted how fast he had entered her home. Tourey whispered, “Do you have an alarm system?” Jeanne shook her head. They worked their way back to Jeanne’s house and caught glimpses of the man inside. He looked very military except for his long ponytail. He was obviously fit and did a quick search of the house. Satisfied he was alone, he turned on the television and sat in Jeanne’s chair. He had placed a gun on the armrest and checked his watch.
Tourey motioned for Jeanne to walk away with him. “You better call your brother and warn him you have company at home.” Jeanne nodded. When she reached Pablo, he was just getting ready to leave. He told Jeanne to stay outside. He was pretty sure the guy was ATF and wanted Roger. Jeanne relayed what Pablo had said to Tourey.
Tourey told her he would stay until Pablo arrived. Jeanne frowned at him, “I can take care of myself.” Tourey shrugged and walked away.
Pablo called Roger and told him about Ponytail meeting them at the dock. Roger picked Pablo up on the corner, and they drove together to Jeanne’s house. When the car pulled up, Jeanne walked to the curb and greeted them. “He’s in my chair.”
Roger chuckled, “Let’s see what he wants.” They walked up to the house and walked in guns drawn. Ponytail had his hands in the air.
“Name’s Zack, code 46 ab5. ATF. Check me out.” Roger dialed and received confirmation. Jeanne and Pablo stood flanking Ponytail and holstered their guns.
Roger asked, “I assume you are undercover. How long have you been with Mathew Core?”
Zack answered, “Not quite a year. Look, I’m way out of my element with this guy and I haven’t been able to reach my contact for five days. I don’t know what is going on. The ATF has no clue what this guy is capable of. Mathew has been keeping close tabs on me since you guys got to town. I can’t stay now either. I don’t know if my cover is blown or he’s just jumpy. He calls me when he wants something. Otherwise I have no idea what he’s doing.” Zack handed a card to Roger, “I need you to contact this man and tell him they need to get a handle on this fast.”
Roger asked, “Why didn’t you contact our field office?”
Zack answered, “I don’t know who I can trust in New Orleans. I hope I can trust you.” Zack put his gun back in his waistband and said, “Watch your back man. This dude is on the edge about something.” They watched him leave, and Roger said, “You guys try to get some rest. I’ll see you later.”
Tourey had to speed to get to the country house before eight. He had spent too much time in town. Damn. She had gotten him again. Was he going soft, or was she just that good? Why was ATF undercover working with Mathew Core? Pablo had said the guy wanted to talk to Roger. John had said it was going to be a big night. Maybe at some point this would make sense. Tourey brought his thoughts back to the task at hand. He was right about Patterson. He could feel it.
Tourey wanted to get cameras and bugs installed before the club had their meeting. He hoped Patterson hadn’t mentioned his new security man to anyone. Patterson answered the door and looked annoyed. “Can you believe a manor as beautiful as this with no caviar in the kitchen? I don’t dare go shopping do I? Well, there really isn’t time now anyway. It’s just humiliating is all.” Patterson walked away and fussed with some drapes.
Tourey walked in and shut the door behind him. “What room do you have your meeting in? I want to check out the windows and exits for you.” Patterson looked puzzled but pointed to a large drawing room on the left.
Patterson asked, “You don’t think the FBI knows I’m here do you?”
Tourey answered, “I would bet not. It doesn’t hurt to be sure though. I’m going to check around and make sure there aren’t any listening devices or anything.”
Patterson said fine and asked if he was going to stay for the meeting could he stay outdoors. Tourey answered he would be gone before the guests arrived. Patterson seemed happy with that answer and left the room humming.
Seven p.m. at the New Orleans FBI field office, Roger introduced himself to SSA Spelling and asked if they could speak privately for a minute. Roger found a small office and shut the door. He told Spelling about their concerns about Thornton, and the attack on the Director. Roger told Spelling that as a result of new information, the Director had expanded Roger’s designation to include Mathew Core and any criminal associates.
Roger also explained that Mathew Core had an associate who ran a computer lab for him. The FBI had seized it yesterday. He also explained the lab had been bombed just hours later and two CIA agents had been killed. Roger explained Core’s computer guy had been mysteriously released today and had begun an attack on the CIA super-frame.
Spelling just said, “Damn.”
Roger nodded. “I am taking over this weapons case. I believed the Friday sting is a cover for a larger deal. I think we have devised a plan to identify the real players in this through a communication sting.” Spelling had a puzzled expression on his face and Roger continued, “We have verified there are actually ninety tons of weapons sitting at the dock, since yesterday.
Spelling was in shock, “Ninety tons? What are we doing tonight?”
Roger smiled, “We’re going to steal some guns and see who gets upset.”
After the videos of the weapons had been shown to everyone, they all suited up in their assault gear and piled in two large panel trucks. Roger reminded them that all communications were going to be monitored from 8:45 on. At 8:40 the trucks sat just outside the dock area and idled. It was already pitch black outside. The air was still thick and sticky with humidity. Roger could taste the stench of the docks. He didn’t want a single warning call to go out before they were ready. At 8:46 he gave the order to drive to the target holding building.
Roger motioned for his team to surround the building. When the team was in place, Roger spoke into his shoulder radio, “Light ‘em up.”
The loud metallic click of mega lamps blared light over the entire area. Four Navy helicopters with spotlights flew in to section off the corners of the dock yard. Coast Guard ships were shinning spotlights on the ships at dock and at least three hundred f
ully armed National Guard officers surrounded the loading zone and the docked ship.
The scene was surreal, like a movie set. Roger hoped the excessive display of force would discourage any retaliation. He lifted the electronic megaphone, “This is the FBI. You are surrounded. By the authority of the President of the United States, Martial Law is now declared. Come out of the building with your hands up. Any resistance will be met with deadly force. I repeat, do not resist. You will not survive.”
The service door to the target holding building opened, and a man centered himself with an AK47 leveled in front of him. He had thirty rounds in him before he cleared the threshold of the door.
Roger spoke again, “I repeat. Come out with your hands up. Resistance will be met with deadly force.” Two men, with their hands up, slowly walked out of the doorway screaming, “Don’t shoot!”
Roger heard Paul shout from behind the building, “Hands up! Freeze!”
Jeanne and Thor were guarding the side door of the target building when Jeanne yelled, “Three o’clock!” Thor spun around to look behind him and the doors to the building next to them opened and five men were walking out with their hands in the air, shouting, “Don’t shoot!”
Thor leveled his gun on them, “What the hell?” Jeanne had moved up to flank Thor and was smiling. Thor shook his head and yelled, “On the ground! Arms out. Legs spread.” The men complied and four Guardsmen ran over to secure the prisoners.
Thor and Jeanne worked their way to the back of the building to assist Paul. Paul had cuffed what looked like a hobo, who claimed he had been at the side of one of the rail cars relieving himself. Roger’s megaphone demanded he freeze and put his hands up. By the stains on his pants, he had not finished his business.
Paul chuckled, “I let him put the family jewels back before I cuffed him. I’m sure he will be released to tell his story a few hundred times.”
Jeanne could hear Pablo yelling, “Get on the ground!” a couple of buildings down the line.
Nelson yelled, “Rail cars!” Simon and Roger spun around to see two red rail car doors sliding open and three men with their hands up jumping down to the ground.
As the team secured the buildings and rail cars the Harbor Police and National Guard rounded up the prisoners. Jeanne chuckled and pointed for Thor to look at the ships. The Coast Guard had three ships where the crew was standing with their hands up waiting to be boarded.
Roger walked over to Paul and John, “Can you believe this?”
John said, “I wasn’t sure what was happening when every building out here had guys walking out with their hands up. Even the friggin’ train cars. I guess we call that a bonus.”
The Coast Guard Commander asked Roger to show him the weapons that needed to be moved to secure storage. Roger told him some were in the cargo hold of the ship, so Roger told him to just take the whole ship. Then he walked him into the building. Pablo and Todd had already taken the lids off a dozen boxes and were shaking their heads.
The Coast Guard Commander was stunned. “I was told there would be a lot. This is tons!”
“Ninety tons to be exact,” Roger said. “Do you have your equipment ready?” The Commander nodded, “That we do.” He said something into his radio, three fork lifts came around the corner and entered the building, and two large semi tractors were waiting outside the loading door.
Roger said, “I know there is more here than you expected. We don’t even know yet about these other buildings. How much time is it going to take you to have all of this broom clean?”
The Commander smiled, “Two hours. Including making the ship disappear. I am glad you got us the navy boys.” The Commander’s facial expression turned serious, “What the hell has been going on? Right under our noses. Do you know who is responsible for this?”
Roger said, “I’m hopeful we’re going to find out. At least it’s a beginning. We can’t fix a problem we can’t identify.” Roger pointed to the rail cars and the other buildings, “We didn’t know about these. There is a problem at the docks that appears systemic.”
The Commander nodded agreement and said, “You’re right. We can’t fix a problem that isn’t identified. Seems this is an opportunity to shine a light on some people.”
Roger had the team split up and document what else had been seized. Paul and Roger went into the rail cars.
Paul whistled, “Guess how much?”
Roger asked, “Can I guess a range?” John had joined them and was listening.
Roger said, “I guess between thirty and forty tons.”
Paul said, “I think more like forty- five.”
John smiled and said, “Fifty- two tons of Yosemite weed. And someone by the name of Juan is having a fit on the phones already. So far your plan is working.”
SSA Frank Mass walked over, “Please tell me my guys don’t have to do the paperwork on this.” They all started laughing. Frank said, “You guys are something else. I have never heard of a weapons sting where we steal the weapons.”
Roger smiled, “Let’s just hope it works. I don’t see any reason our guys need to be here anymore. Coast Guard and Navy promise this whole area will be broom clean in two hours. Our people need rest. Tomorrow may be interesting. I will pass on any information I can to you as I get it Frank.”
Roger told Paul and John he was going to let everyone know they were done for the night. John looked down the long row of buildings. It looked like broad daylight with an entire army at work.
Paul laughed, “He can sure get people movin’.”
Mathew Core turned his phone on to take a picture of Jamie and her classmates taking their final bow in their play. She was beaming and Mathew and Lisa both felt she had stolen the show. They had no idea Jamie could sing as well as she did. The audience gave a standing ovation when Jamie bowed on her own. Lisa moaned to Mathew, “You think she’s been hard to live with up until now?” They both laughed.
Mathew noticed he had missed a call. He told Lisa he would meet them outside at the car. When he was clear of the crowd around the building, he listened to his message. “Carter is DEAD. FBI raid. I’m turnin’ myself in man.” The message ended.
Jeremiah sat at his little table and wiped a tear from his wrinkled cheek. He looked around his home and saw a television, an air conditioner, and at least twenty bags of staples. Alan had told him he realized today what a treasure Jeremiah was. A treasure. Jeremiah wiped another tear. Alan was a good boy. His dad would be very proud of him. Jeremiah was proud. He stood and began sorting through the food Alan had brought. In the morning he would take some of it to Mambo. He held up a box that said, Fruit Loops. Jeremiah frowned and tried to imagine what a fruit loop could be. He put that in the bag for Mambo. Let her figure it out.
Roger took a hot shower, put on the hotel robe, and looked at his e-mails. He only opened the one from Kim. “Call me when you get home. Anytime.” Roger smiled, microwaved himself a cup of soup, and carried it over to the bedside table. He turned the TV on low and dialed Kim. They talked for over an hour. When Roger finally snapped his phone shut, he felt as if finally he’d had a few moments of normal life.
Kim’s sense of humor was exactly the mental teasing that kept Roger entertained. He chuckled a couple of times later, remembering parts of their conversation. Kim always knew how to make him laugh by making mother-in-law jokes. Roger turned off the bedside light and stared at the darkness. His heart felt warm and full. He had promised Sharon he would love again. Roger smiled as he laid his head on his pillow.
Jeanne walked into the living room in her PJ’s. “How am I supposed to sleep with this racket?”
Pablo had a drill and was on the floor installing an alarm system contact at every door and window in the house. He looked up, “I’m too worked up to sleep. I have to do something! I’ll be at the back of the house soon, it shouldn’t be as loud.” He started drilling again, and Jeanne came over and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“It’s nice you worry about me, but I ca
n take care of myself.”
Pablo put the drill down and stood up, “We don’t know what kind of nest we kicked tonight. We’ll probably start finding out tomorrow.” Pablo had a very serious expression on his face, and Jeanne could tell he was troubled. “I keep thinking you have a good point about Roger. He’ll have more than one target on him now.” Pablo picked his drill back up and looked at Jeanne, “Did you see Roger shoot that guy tonight? I think you have competition. He had the first shot, and it was right between the eyes.”
Jeanne started walking back to her bedroom, “Don’t forget eight o’clock breakfast. You better set an alarm it’s already one.”
Mathew Core made his way past the fences and barricades of the dock staying in the shadows. He was looking for a guard about his size. He found one, easily over took him, and pulled him to the tall weeds in the dark shadows. He wasn’t dead, but he would be out for a while. Mathew put the guard’s uniform on and took his weapon. He walked to the side of the building and inched his way forward until he could see the dock below. The ship was gone. He blinked his eyes and looked down the dock. Maybe it had been moved. He couldn’t see it anywhere.
He leaned against the building back into the shadows. The docks were crawling with National Guard, Coast Guard and Navy personnel. The FBI sting was set for Friday, and that ship had FBI protection. Mathew looked out at the dock again. The ships he could see looked nothing like the one that held his cargo. He retreated back into the shadows. What now?
He would have to improvise and hold back thirty tons from tomorrow’s deal. He couldn’t risk the Friday sting not going down. Not with the FBI involved. He couldn’t imagine where the ship had gone. Who screwed up? Mathew knew his name was all over this thing, with people you didn’t want to piss off. Last week he had decided this was his last deal.
Extreme Heat Warning: A Shallow End Gals Trilogy, Book Two Page 29