Hard Case: Boxed Set Books 1,2 & 3 (John Harding Books)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  Seitz grinned. “Might as well call me Glenn since we’re going to be sharing coroner scenes nearly every day.”

  Dostiene grinned back. “Let’s hope that doesn’t prove to be the case, Glenn.”

  Hanson didn’t need more than a glance inside the vehicle to see there was nothing anyone would be able to do for the men inside. He reached in with a gloved hand and shut off the engine, as the rest of the officers spread around the car with weapons trained on the interior. “I see an AK-47 and various brands of automatics, Glenn. What there is left of these guys’ heads leads me to believe they were Middle Eastern.”

  Dostiene pointed at the one with the AK-47 still in his lap. “That one looked familiar to me, but I can’t place where I’ve seen him. It was around one of the casinos though.”

  Denny arrived with Casey and Lucas in men-in-black wardrobe, complete with sunglasses. Each man had a Homeland Security ID held out for the police in attendance. “Who is in charge of the scene?”

  Seitz gestured at Denny. “That would be me. I’m Sergeant Seitz. I was on hand at the scene where the serial rapist and his accomplice died. I recognized Agent Dostiene.”

  Denny nodded, moving nearer to Seitz. “Agent Dostiene is still undercover on another case. Would it be possible for one of my men to get him away from here? He will be available to answer anything and everything you have for questions, but I’d like him to stay out of the limelight on this.”

  “Of course, Sir,” Seitz agreed. “Do you have any clue as to what this is about?”

  Denny moved even nearer. “I believe these men are in the employ of Abdul Bacca, the UFC fighter in town for the match at the Mandalay Bay arena. We will have to determine why, but for now, I’d like to keep this on the down low as much as possible.”

  “I know that name,” Seitz replied. “He’s the one fighting under the name of The Syrian Slayer. If you’d like, we can process the scene without you or your men, and keep you in the loop.”

  Denny shook hands gratefully with Seitz before handing him a card. “That would be the best. Thank you. We’ll get out of the way then. That’s my personal number on the card. Contact me with anything your department can determine about this.”

  “Will do, Sir.”

  * * *

  Seitz and Hanson watched the four men get into Strobert’s car and speed off.

  “Damn, Glenn,” Hanson exclaimed. “Did you see those guys in there? Man, if you’re going to send a guy undercover, that Dostiene character is the one to send.”

  Seitz nodded. “Yep. There’s not much chance in surviving an encounter with him, even when you’re in a moving car with three other armed men. We better make sure this scene is done like they do it on CSI, Bill, or we may be walking a beat.”

  “I heard that.”

  Chapter Eleven: Take Down at Sam’s Town

  “What the hell was that all about, Clint?”

  “The guy with the AK-47 in his dead lap fronted Lynn and I at the Stratosphere outside my room, Denny. Bacca sent him to find out what my connection with John was. I sent him on his way, wondering if maybe we’d have to deal with him since he saw Lynn walking at my side. I guess not.”

  Clint’s deadpan ending to his explanation elicited appreciative chuckles from his companions. “I sent Lynn on her way with Tonto before the cops got there. No one poked their heads out once the shooting started either. We’ll probably be able to keep her clear of this. Any ideas if Bacca would actually send a team out in broad daylight to get me over a non-incident in the hotel?”

  “How non-incident like was your get together with Bacca?”

  “I didn’t think it would even draw a second look, Case. John had the complete attention of Bacca and his retinue. The ‘Slayer’ was looking to romance John before the fight, thinking he could get a rise. One of his crew put hands on me. I didn’t really do much other than send him back over to his side. Then I got the hell out of there. I probably shouldn’t have laughed at something Bacca said, but man it was funny. One thing’s for sure, those guys don’t have a clue who John is. They actually think he’s some pug that got lucky in the cage. Listen to this. Abdul tells John, ‘I have lived only to see fear in your eyes’.”

  All four men started laughing. Denny nodded agreeably. “Yeah, I doubt I could have kept a straight face hearing that one.”

  Lucas glanced at Dostiene in the rear view mirror. “You should have seen what John did to some guy named Dixon back in Oakland. The clown hinted he was going to bed down John’s wife and her little girl.”

  Clint shook his head. “Good Lord in heaven. That must have been some match after that trash talk.”

  “John made the guy last four rounds,” Strobert said.

  “If Dixon ever has a lucid thought in his head after what the Dark Lord did to him, it’ll be a miracle,” Casey added with a sigh. “I’m more interested in you, pal. I saw all those head shots. You’re still packin’ that damn cannon of yours, ain’t you?”

  “Of course. I had to get it back from the FBI. In my defense, one of those suckers had an AK-47. I’m taking Lynn over to meet up with John and his family at Sam’s Town tonight. Think it will be okay, Denny?”

  Strobert nodded. “Might as well. You and John shook the tree, and look what we got. I’m claiming this four pack of thugs on my resume. I’d wager they were all on our watch list, and now they’re on our safe list. How’d Lynn do with a close call drive-by, Clint?”

  “Cold as ice. If you really do need a female operative in our merry band on the coast, I doubt you could find anyone better. I’ve met some tough ladies in the game, but no one like her. When I came through the door over at the cartel compound to get her, she hops up and volunteers to get all the info and goodies I’d need from Medina. Man, she went to work on her with my K-bar and we had everything in about two minutes.”

  “Damn, Clint,” Lucas said. “You sure walk on the wild side with your women. We can use her; but what do we do when you two have your first fight, and we find your parts scattered all over Oakland?”

  After sharing another laugh, Dostiene leaned back in his seat with a shrug. “Don’t know, don’t care.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Casey said. “Lucas is right. We do need a woman out there with her qualifications. Denny told us you have some serial killer action back East to take care of later for the FBI. Is that the kind where the FBI thinks they’ll be getting live suspects, but they get carved up dead perps?”

  Clint nodded. “Pretty close, Case. Those three have done things to innocent people that have the FBI agents I work with looking for a quick carving if I can deliver it air tight. Lynn did that serial rapist the other night while still drugged. She fought the drug haze off, flipped open her butterfly knife, and did major surgery. He was trying to give up at the time she opened up the street side operating room for a house call.”

  “Oh yeah,” Strobert whispered. “She’s going to be the find of the century.”

  Lucas pulled over in front of the Stratosphere. They had been doing circles while talking. “Okay, Clint. We’ve elected Lynn as the woman we most want on the coast. Now… get out. We’ll let you know the moment Darzi arrives so Lynn can make an entrance which will attract his attention. Denny has her set up as practically his roommate. I hope she can wrap him up early so we can enjoy the fight.”

  “She’ll play the part. Thanks for coming over to get me so quick. I’m looking forward to coming out to the coast after this Las Vegas gig. We’ll be able to get settled in before Lynn and I have to go East to get my serial killers.”

  “We’ll have a real get together after we land Darzi,” Casey said. “I know John will be open to staying a couple extra days if the fight goes down like we hope it will.”

  Clint opened his door and got out. “May not be able to, Case, depending on how the whole gig goes down. Lynn and I may have to head for the Bay immediately. Are you going to have any trouble with the PD, Denny?”

  “I’ll make some calls,” St
robert promised. “I want those bodies ID’d by our people, including anything in that car. I’ll get to work on it the moment I get in my room. Let me know if you need anything for the setup at the Mandalay.”

  “Will do. Tell John fooling around with him nearly got me killed, and I’m really hurt and disappointed.”

  The three men in the car were still laughing as Lucas drove off.

  * * *

  I spot Clint with a dark haired beauty near the multi-colored light trees. Alice gawks at the lights and waterfall with undisguised delight. Sam’s Town is way off the beaten path, but they have a little of everything: bowling alley, country western bar, pool tables, and a number of restaurants. They also have this light show bar with waterfall and all kinds of tropical accouterments. Clint sees us and walks his lady over. We’re all dressed casual as agreed. I didn’t bother telling Lora that Clint had killed four men earlier in the day. Although she can take it, I figured it might ruin the mood. I’m hoping we can get the ladies something to drink while they get a look at the surroundings, and Clint and I exchange a few words. I shake hands with Clint as he walks up.

  “I like this place better even than I remembered, John. This is my lady, Lynn Montoya.”

  “Glad to meet you Lynn.” I note she gives me a strong handed grip.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Dark Lord, very little of it good,” Lynn nails me, eliciting laughter from Lora and her Mini-me.

  What the hell, I do the Dark Lord for a few moments, complete with outraged voice, and a few new one liners I figured to drop on Tommy to make his head explode. It cracks everyone up, including a few innocent bystanders. Lynn gives me a hug.

  “You’re all right, DL.”

  I turn her toward Lora and Alice. “This is my wife Lora, and her Mini-me, Alice. Lora runs our operations on the coast, and Alice is a groupie for some singer named Beeper.”

  “It’s Justin Bieber!” Alice is outraged that I’ve made fun of Beeper as usual, which causes Lynn to throw a hand up to her mouth and turn toward Clint. “Don’t laugh at anything the Dark Lord says, Lynn. He feeds off of it like a roach on a sugar cube.”

  Alice’s first class upbraiding of my behavior has everyone laughing. Finally, Lynn dabs at her eyes and shakes hands with first Alice, and then my lovely wife.

  “I’m very happy to meet you both. It must be a real trial being around the Dark Lord on a daily basis.”

  Alice’s eyes light up and she clutches Lynn’s arm in both her hands. “Oh Lynn… if you only knew. He Gronks people.”

  Lynn starts laughing again, perceiving immediately what Alice meant. She nods at last and gestures toward the ornate bar. “I could use a Long Island Iced Tea, Dark Lord. Take Clint here with you. Do you feel like having something, Lora?”

  “A Mai Tai sounds good, DL,” Lora answers, “and a Shirley Temple for Beeper’s groupie.”

  Alice growls impressively up at her Mom.

  “C’mon, Clint.” He follows me over to the bar where the bartender asks for our order. “Long Island Tea, Mai Tai, Shirley Temple, two doubles of Jim Beam, and two Bud’s. That sound right, partner?”

  “Oh yeah, John. Serve the doubles and Bud’s before you make the fancy stuff, Sir, please.”

  The bartender grins when I put a hundred dollar bill on the table and tell him to keep the change. He has our double Beams and Bud’s on the bar in seconds before going to work on the more elaborate mixtures.

  “Here’s to you, brother,” I toast Clint, and we throw down half our shots. “Oh man, that makes my eyes water it was so good.”

  Clint chuckles. “Got that right. How do you like Lynn?”

  “I like her a lot. Knowing Lynn’s skill set makes it impossible not to fall in love with her.”

  “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to explain to our comrades. They think I’ll end up in multiple body part dumps all over Oakland after our first fight.”

  That gives me a big hee-haw. I could almost hear Lucas or Casey laying that one on him. “How’s Tonto like her?”

  “Tonto’s in love.”

  I threw down the rest of my double, nodding in acknowledgement. “There you go, brother. There ain’t no surer way to know a woman’s okay than if your dog thinks she’s the real deal.”

  “My thoughts exactly, partner,” Clint replied.

  The bartender finishes his work and we take the drinks over to our female companions. After we distribute them, we have a small toast, and then Lynn surprises me.

  “Lora, let’s take our drinks with us, and lead Alice on a tour of Sam’s. I’ll bet the boys need to catch up on a few things before we eat. I’d like to take a look at the different restaurant menus anyway.”

  The woman has instincts. Lora glances at me and nods in agreement. “That is a great idea. We’ll be back in a little bit, DL. Don’t throw so many doubles down that you start doing the Robot where people can see you.”

  I bow slightly. “Yes, Mistress of the Dark.”

  The three share a giggle at my subservience while drifting away to check out the sights. Clint and I head back to the bar, where Clint plunks down a hundred for the happy bar keep and orders us another couple doubles and Bud’s. When the bar tender moves on to a different part of the bar to serve other customers, we sip our drinks while facing out at the colorful area surrounding the bar.

  “How’s Lynn feel about our arriving guest?”

  Clint shrugs, leaning a little closer. “She’s pumped. Danger excites her. Put her in a life and death situation, and she gets giddy. Does Denny have something on tap that will give her some time to put space between Darzi and his journey to hell?”

  Because I know what Clint’s capable of, I need to find out another key element not on the table yet. “Yeah, he does. I notice you’re not too upset with what she has to do in order to get into a position to administer it. Any comment?”

  “Lynn and I have no illusions as to what either of us have to do. We’re not Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’. If stuff like you’re hinting at bothered me, I would never have gone down South to get her. The gig back East will require a hell of a lot more understanding than this op. We have three utter degenerates, all with sexual deviances even Lynn and I are unsure of, carving women up coast to coast. I found out who they are, and we have a plan to get them, but it will involve an understanding Lynn will have to attract both the women and the guy.”

  Interesting. “Brother, I don’t know that I could do what you do.”

  Clint grinned over at me. “I thought that was the main reason you wanted me out on the coast. If what I do or accept was easy, anybody could do it.”

  “I’m hoping Lynn doesn’t have to play a lot of those type parts. Denny’s casting a line in the water with the higher ups to get us a gig on The Sea Wolf down Mexico way I think you and Lynn would love. The Sea Wolf has a master cabin built for a king and queen. If we get the gig, we’ll go down there like we’re pleasure cruisers. The rest of our women folk can’t go with us where we need to go, either physically or mentally. We’d be glad to have Lynn on board.”

  Clint edged forward. “Man that sounds right up our alley, brother. You’re thinking of Lynn and I playing the part of rich folks cruising around without a care in the world – easy pickings.”

  I smiled. “Yep. It’s Denny’s idea. Mexico and the state department think the people that have disappeared on yachts down there were targeted either by the cartels or political factions in South America. Denny thinks otherwise. One of the couples, along with all of their crew that were never heard from again, was a Senator’s brother and sister-in-law.”

  Clint chuckled. “Yeah, when the peons are getting plucked it’s an unfortunate circumstance. When a Senator’s family is involved it’s an international incident of mammoth proportions that must be investigated at all costs.”

  I toasted him. “That’s exactly it, and Denny senses these political opportunities like a shark with chum in the water. The Senator beat do
wn the CIA director’s door, and it was game on from there. I believe that’s the op Denny wanted to see Lynn in action for. This Darzi gig is a warm-up. Rumor has it there are some really connected people in this targeted killing stuff on the high seas. There are no notes, indications, threats, debris, nothing. This is purely because of who they were.”

  “And they’re still cruising in the area? Gee, I guess money doesn’t equate with intelligence. Unless… oh, I get it. These couples have more going on than a simple random interrupted pleasure cruise. They were drawn into the area because of something in their lives. We need to know what that mysterious connection is. That’s where I come into the picture.”

  Man, I love this guy. “Yep. Denny needs to know the next couple in the batting order and why, so we can go in their place. He wants this mystery solved.”

  Clint shakes his head, a smile of admiration creeps over his features. “If the mystery gets solved, Denny figures he’ll have a chip he can play under any circumstances. Man, life on the coast is exciting, John. Adding in your UFC fights and other business interests, when the hell do you sleep?”

  I decide to let him in on the secret. “Lora holds the whole thing together. She’s an idiot savant when it comes to organization. Put plans, dates, criteria, and locations in front of her and she transforms into the Hulk. In ten minutes she has the outline and timelines done. In half a day, you could run the op according to her plan. She studies tactical and combat situations like she’s General George Patton. Denny wants to bring her into the company with a title directly under him. She’s resistant to that, so I don’t take sides. She still has Alice, her Minnie-me, and I think she’s been hinting at having another child. I have to get my head around it, because if she decides it’s a done deal, we will have a child… period.”

  Dostiene’s been snorting laughter at each step of my enlightenment speech. I think he’s recognizing similar circumstances if he launches into a partial domestic situation. He nods agreeably after a moment.

  “It can’t all be written in stone, John,” Clint says finally. “The drawback to what we do has always been if we have something nice, it can be taken away in a heartbeat. If we have kids, wives, or even good friends, we’re susceptible to blackmail in undetectable form from numerous sources. What you have out on the coast is a chance to make what we do nearly normal in our personal lives, because we would have protection. The only drawback I see is a reputation has to be earned in blood. That’s a problem.”