Extreme Heat Warning: A Shallow End Gals Trilogy, Book Two

by Graybosch, Vicki

  Mathew forced himself to focus and take a few deep breaths. Thirty tons of weapons don’t vaporize. He would find out what happened and get them back. Somebody screwed up was all. Worse things had happened, and he had fixed them. He would have to find some way to explain the shortage for tomorrow’s deal, and replace thirty tons of weapons fast. He inched his way to the service door of his building and unlocked it. He slipped in the building, closed the door, and turned on his flashlight. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The building was empty.

  Mathew closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. His mind was racing back to his phone message, Carter’s dead. FBI raid. Mathew made his way back to the tall weeds in the shadows and saw the soldier he had punched was stirring. Mathew punched the soldier again. He put his own clothes back on and made his way to his SUV. He took out his phone and dialed Carl.

  Thornton answered on the second ring, “Do you know what time it is?” Carl spat.

  Mathew spoke very slowly through clenched teeth, “Tell me about the FBI raid tonight at the dock.”

  Carl sounded genuinely surprised, “What dock? What raid?”

  Paul was in the Marriott restaurant reading the Times-Picayune account of last night when Roger joined him. The waitress came over, poured them coffee, and asked if they were ready to order. Paul told her they might have a few joiners, and they would wait. Paul gave the front page to Roger. The headline read, “Extreme Heat Warning” with a subtitle that read: and we’re not talkin’ Nawlens weather.

  Roger looked at Paul’s facial expression and laughed. “How many factual errors?”

  Paul answered, “Well, to start, according to an unnamed source we killed over fifty people.”

  “What?” Roger started scanning the article. He looked up, “I don’t know whether to laugh or get mad. We don’t need the added pressure of an entire city out to get us.”

  Thor sat down. He was carrying a paper. He looked at Paul, “Did I go to the wrong raid?” Roger started laughing.

  Ray joined them moments later, and everyone remarked they couldn’t believe he was out of the dungeon. Ray told Roger the front of their building was getting a face lift because someone had painted ‘Pig House’ all over it along with a target symbol.

  Roger looked at Paul and said, “That’s what I mean. Now we have these cracked out punks on us too.”

  Paul said, “Local PD is getting caught with their shorts down on this. Is there any way we can help them out? We have this Martial Law window until Friday, and the retaliation to last night might go on for a while. A lot of people are not gettin’ their coke or weed today.”

  Roger looked at Paul, “I know you are right, I just hate the idea of adding any more to our plate. Maybe I can get the field office to do this.”

  Roger placed a call to SSA Frank Mass, “The local paper here has a few facts wrong about last night. We have already seen some retaliation this morning. Four hundred Guardsmen are deployed here that we can keep until late Friday. Should we offer them to local PD? Might be a way to turn this into lemonade for them. You would have to supervise this. I’m going to have my hands full today.” Roger listened a while, laughed a couple of times, and ended by saying thanks.

  Roger told the group, “The field office got a face lift too along with a couple of their cars. Frank likes your idea Paul. He is going to have John help him set it up.”

  Jeanne, Pablo, and Simon all came at the same time and found seats at the table. Jeanne sat next to Thor again.

  Thor frowned at her, “When you yelled three o’clock last night I almost did my shorts again. You have to find a less intense way of screaming at people.”

  Jeanne chuckled, reached over, and patted Thor’s cheek. “Why don’t I just pick up a good supply of shorts for you, so you can quit bitchin’.” Thor eyes opened wide, and he was actually speechless. Ray was smiling ear to ear.

  Pablo looked at Ray, “What’s so funny?”

  Ray shook his head and buried his nose in his menu. He peeked over it to look at Jeanne, and she winked at him. He was right!

  Roger and Paul were looking over the banking data Ray, Simon, and Jeanne had been working on. Simon reported the five million dollar payment Devon had made was going through a clearing account owned by a corporation. Simon was having trouble identifying the account from any other sources. Roger remembered the mind reading papers on Jason Sims had mentioned a Global Corporation.

  Roger said, “Try the name Global Corporation.”

  Simon keyed it in, “That’s it!”

  Ray asked, “Isn’t that the name of the company that owns the car Core was driving yesterday? I know Pablo said something like that. We were in the middle of the CIA mess.” Ray was sorting through a stack of notes, “Yeah, right here…. Global Corporation.”

  Simon said, “Now that I have the company name, I can get a Fed ID number and trace the original deposit back.” He looked at Roger’s puzzled face. “I can see where the money came from to get into Global Corp’s account. Once I’m in Global Corp’s account, and I see everything they have done with money, this will be our proof line.” Simon was now sporting a very big smile, “I have a very good feeling about this.”

  Roger chuckled and looked at Jeanne, “We think Patterson and this club are positioned to start another round of kidnapping if Tourey’s information is correct. Can you compile background on each of the kid’s families on that video? We need to alert the parents about the risk without harming the investigation. Then find out what the other field offices are doing. I want lists from every single club contest the entries came from. We have a chance to stop this bunch right now.”

  Paul walked down the stairs and gestured to Roger. Roger followed him back upstairs. Thor, Pablo, and Todd were waiting. Roger could tell from Paul’s expression that he was going to say something he wasn’t going to like.

  Paul started, “John just called from the local PD. He is helping Mass organize a Martial Law type sweep of some of New Olean’s really bad areas since they have the Guard to help. The local PD is begging. The Governor is begging. They claim it is the least we can do for them after last night. Frank says the Guard is well trained in this and wondered if we could spare any manpower to captain these teams.”

  Roger sat down and looked at all of them, “Street gangs are kids with AK47’s. They are going to react with the mentality of drugged out scared kids. This is a potential blood bath. I don’t like risking you guys in an environment this unstable. A Martial Law sweep was not what I had in mind when we offered military support for retaliation security.”

  Thor could tell Roger was angry. He cleared his throat and said, “I would guess the local PD sees this as their one chance to clean out a large part of that element from this city. I am only speaking for myself, but I don’t have a problem helping out.” Todd and Pablo nodded agreement.

  Roger said, “Then let’s get over there and plan strategy. We have an hour at best to plan. Thank God we’re dealing with military.” Roger looked at Thor, “I imagine the local PD feels exactly like you said. They are right. This kind of power would never be made available to them under normal circumstances. All we can do is our best. You guys will captain assault teams. Stay back and let the Guard do their job. I won’t give the go unless it looks solid.”

  Roger motioned for Paul to step away from the group. “You are not going to be a part of this. I need you here.” Roger looked at his watch, “The Director plans to come to this area at two o’clock this afternoon, so we can trade notes on what has been happening. I need you to take this meeting if I get hung up somehow.”

  Paul frowned and kept his voice low, “I don’t disagree with you often, do I?” Paul raised one eyebrow and stared at Roger. “This time you’re wrong. You stay here, and I’ll go.” Paul started to check his weapon.

  Roger’s voice was firm, “That was not a debatable statement. I need you here. Figure out what the hell we can do to protect these kids.” Roger opened the door to the stairwell outside
and motioned for the others to follow him. He did not look back at Paul.

  Paul watched Roger leave. Roger had no business going into a street war in the middle of all of this. Paul cursed, called John, and told him to keep Roger out of harm’s way.

  John was livid, “What the hell is he doing? I don’t want him here!”

  “Don’t ask Roger for his team and expect to get them without him.” Paul snapped his phone shut.

  John moaned, “What have I done?”

  In the car Roger called the number Zack had given him. “Jesus! You could have given me a heads up last night!”

  Roger answered, “No, I couldn’t Zack. Are you safe? I made the call you asked me to, but I think your people are underwater right now. You may be on your own.”

  Zack answered, “Then I’m comin’ over to you. There is no reason for me to stay under now.”

  Roger answered, “The more the merrier. I’m on my way to the local PD. Meet me there. We’re going to throw a couple of block parties and could use your Intel.”

  “Great.”

  Jeanne looked at Simon and Ray, “Awful quiet up there. Where did everyone go?”

  Paul had been coming down the stairs and answered her question, “They went to help the locals play cops and robbers in the hood.”

  Jeanne asked, “Pablo?”

  Paul answered, “Everyone but me. I guess I’m grounded.”

  Simon could tell Paul wasn’t very happy about the turn of events, “You know Roger wouldn’t trust this mess to just anyone. You should be flattered.”

  Paul smiled, “You know how it is. We’ve been partners a long time. I think my job is to watch his back. He thinks my job is to carry on with this case. Bring me up to speed on the sicko club. At least we can try to save these kids.”

  Jeanne got a determined look on her face and asked Paul, “Did you know Mathew Core’s daughter is on this video?”

  “No. I did not know that.” Paul pushed his chin out, “That is some kind of sick irony. Daddy sets the bad man free to harm his own kid.”

  They decided first to get the background info finished on the New Orleans art contest kids. Then start directing the field offices around the country to send their investigation results to them in real time. Simon said Tourey thought they held their contests about the same time but staggered the abductions. Ray decided to compile a grid on last year’s pattern, so they could identify likely scenarios.

  Simon asked Paul if he could continue to follow Global Corp bank accounts. Paul felt at a loss of what to do. He wanted to be busy. Simon asked him, “I need help with this unless you have something else. I could go twice as fast if you got on that laptop.” Paul nodded. Simon showed him what needed to be done.

  Paul was only half listening.

  Teresa looked at Linda and asked, “Did you hear that? I just heard Ellen tell us to go to the New Orleans Police Department.”

  Linda said, “I didn’t hear anything.”

  Mary looked at me, “Did you hear anything?”

  “Nope.”

  Teresa said, “I think we better go. She just said she is in some kind of communication web and super busy. She can’t leave.”

  Sometimes this stuff is really fun. Sometimes, not so much. I am a law abiding citizen, well angel, but police stations would not be on my short list for tourist stops. We went inside the police station, and there was hardly a place to stand. It was packed with all kinds of men and women in uniforms.

  Mary whispered, “I think something important is going to happen.”

  Teresa pointed across the room, “Roger is with John and some other guy.”

  Roger walked to the front of the room. He used a speaker and asked for quiet. He asked for a show of hands of police officers who had not yet completed their weapons designation. The majority of the New Orleans officers raised their hands. Turnover was so high that more than half of the city troops were new at all times. Roger said, “Those of you who have not been certified will not be participating in the assault operation. You will be needed to assist Navy and National Guard personnel for transport of prisoners and securing contraband. You are not to leave the zones we have marked as ‘C’ zones. Are there any questions from this group?”

  One young officer raised his hand, “I’ve been waiting two years for this kind of opportunity to clean up this city. I think it’s our city, and we should all be involved.”

  Roger looked at him and asked the room, “Who else feels this way?” About twenty officers raised their hands. Roger said, “Keep your hands up. John, take note. You men will not be allowed to leave this building. That is precisely the attitude that is going to get someone killed.” There was a mumble, but no one raised their hands with a question.

  Roger continued, “Martial Law does not mean there are no rules. Any officer here that doesn’t respect the orders of his team Captain will face a swift and harsh court martial. This is a military operation. Obey orders. We represent the United States of America. It has been determined there is a deadly threat to our civilians, on our soil. Unfortunately this threat will involve persons who are not even adults yet. They will not make good choices. Try not to kill them, but do not risk your own safety.

  “This is morning. We may catch them off guard. A perimeter will be established by Navy around these four neighborhoods. Four National Guard assault teams will be doing a house to house sweep. Each search team will have an FBI Captain and an arrest unit to clean up for them. Each arrest team will have a contraband team to identify and remove any items seized. Search, identify, and move on. Be safe. We will be broadcasting our purpose and intentions to calm the fears of the law abiding citizens in these neighborhoods. We will be asking them to open their doors and allow a peaceful search of their property. If a house does not have the doors open, we will make one additional request. We will then make a forceful entry.

  “We’ve been given three hot spots to check based on ATF information. Those spots will be hit first. If gunfire is exchanged, the captains will use megaphones to alert the neighborhood of our purpose and to keep the good citizens that live here calm. Any questions?”

  A young officer in the middle of the room had raised his hand. Roger pointed for him to speak. “Sir, I don’t know if there was a mistake made or not, but one of these hot spots is a neighborhood church. I know the address from when I was a kid and went there.”

  Roger nodded and said, “I am told there is close to one thousand kilos of cocaine in the basement.” Roger could hear the gasp in the room. “Any more questions?” No one raised their hands, so Roger told them to check the list they were given and find their assigned Captain for orders. Roger instructed the National Guard Commander to get his people and vehicles in place and secure the target neighborhoods perimeters immediately.

  John and Roger stood off to the side of the room and were joined by Zack. Zack said hot spot one and three should be hit at the same time. The church would be heavily guarded by neighboring buildings. It was the same gang. Roger left to pass the information on to the commander in charge.

  Zack whispered to John, “He sounds like a son of a bitch. Pretty hard ass.”

  John looked at him, “He’s not. He wants these guys scared and careful. He didn’t want this today.”

  Zack smiled, “I read the paper. Did Roger tell you I defected?”

  John nodded, “Yeah, and I’m going to find out why you were left out to dry.”

  Zack asked, “Who are you?”

  John answered, “OSI.”

  Zack looked surprised and said, “This is a friggin’ alphabet soup. How do you know who’s in charge?” John pointed to Roger. Zack asked, “For all of it?”

  John nodded, “Oh, this hasn’t even begun.” And he walked away.

  We were all talking a mile a minute. We weren’t sure what we should do. Teresa said, “Look. Roger has four teams going into four neighborhoods right?” Uh oh. I think I see where this is going. Teresa continued, “I think we should each take a n
eighborhood, and just move mass or mortals or whatever we can to help the good guys. Maybe we can go into the houses before the good guys and actually stop the bad guys. We could push their guns, so their aim is off!” Teresa was so excited she was wiggling while she floated above us.

  I looked up, “Will you settle down a little? My gosh you are about to come unglued. I vote we do what Teresa says.”

  Mary and Linda looked at each other, and Linda asked, “Did you really listen? She wants you to fly around bad dudes and actually do something.”

  “I know. I guess Roger’s speech kind of got to me. There are good people trapped in these neighborhoods who we will be helping. I like that.”

  Linda just said, “Huh. Who would have thought Vicki would turn into a Ninja angel?” Mary was laughing so hard she started choking. I guess I have to prove myself. The neighborhood Roger selected for himself and John was already surrounded by National Guardsmen, trucks, and jeeps. It looked like a military operation in some third world country. This was the United States. How sad.

  Todd and Pablo were riding in open jeeps and crossed into the center of their subject neighborhood. Todd waited for the assault team to assemble near them and then picked up the megaphone. “This is the FBI. Martial Law has been declared. Every home will be searched. Please open your doors for the search team. Any home not made available will be entered by force.”

  Pablo heard the first bullet flash past his face. The ground in front of the jeep was pelleted with bullets from an automatic weapon. One of the National Guard team members yelled second story, second house. The shooter exposed himself in the window just enough that they got off a kill shot. Another shooter replaced the fallen shooter and was also killed. Moments later the front door opened. Seven men, and one woman carrying a baby exited the home through the front door.