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

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  The silent ride across the bridge gave me a chance to observe my team. I’d never served with a better bunch. It’s an incredible feeling when you know you can count on the people at your back. We’re a weird bunch of killers and killer support people. I knew I could count on every one of them. Over the past year as I went from a solitary, I don’t give a shit street fighter, to a contradictory role as husband, father, and CIA team leader, I’ve had moments where like Jafar, I’ve wondered what in the hell was I thinking. We take life for the good and bad. If I had embraced the lone wolf life style, then yeah, I could have continued my solitary mean ass life. I wanted more, and I’m paying the piper for it, along with everyone depending on me. I’m going full out in your face, make it work mode, and God help the assholes who try to derail my train. Brannigan had moved into the number one slot of people to be erased from my life’s equation. We exited at pain central with Tonto very happy to run around our complex, and Lynn took over after we closed up our building.

  She waited impatiently for Jess to park our transport vehicle with the hooded prisoners. Denny stayed back, observing. When the vehicle came to a stop inside our favorite greeting place for assholes, Lynn was ready. She practically danced in place as the rest of us waited in amused silence. We all knew Maria Brannigan’s arrival would not be a happy one. Lynn played it perfectly as Maria exited the vehicle with Jess’s help after he removed her hood. She saw Lynn, and all neutral emotions fled her features completely. Abject terror highlighted the initial angst at seeing Lynn waiting for her. She tried to pitch back against Jess’s helping hand, but he tightened his grip against any movement away from exiting the vehicle. Lynn, of course grabbed her away from a solemn faced Jess.

  “Hey, girlfriend!” Lynn hugged her as if greeting an old friend, guiding her over with us. “We have a job for you, girl! It involves your brother. I’m betting you know where he is right now, but we can’t take that as our assumed fact to act on. Here’s what we do. You tell me where he is right now… and honey, I mean right now.”

  “Lake Tahoe! He’s in a cabin complex we have at Tahoe! It’s near Emerald Bay!”

  Lynn patted her cheek with affection. “You are so cute. Okay, I believe you, but I’m going to have to go the extra yard for my all business companions. Now… this may hurt a little, but I’m sure-”

  Maria started sobbing with heartrending real tears. I’m not much on this touchy-feely stuff, but it looked real to me. “Give her the choice of door B, Cleaner.”

  I got the glowering features of hell on earth look from the Cleaner. “Fine! Okay, Maria, here’s your big chance to keep from being tortured and mutilated. Don’t take the deal, honey! I think it’s a scam by this nitwit here who calls himself the Dark Lord. I’ll just-”

  “Cleaner!”

  “Fine! Okay… Maria… stop crying before I get my propane torch out.”

  Maria gasped, and covered her face with both hands in a shuddering successful attempt at shutting off her sobs. Lynn put an arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle hug. “Not the tough girl, no nonsense resistance I was hoping for, but let’s proceed. I need you to call your brother while geek-boy over there traces your call, and confirms what you’ve already told us. I hate when this happens, but these guys have trust issues.”

  “I’ll call! Honest to God… I’ll call.”

  Lynn let out a big sigh, gesturing in a defeated partial wave of her hands. “That’s just sick, girlfriend. You give up your own brother over a little pain. I liked you when we first met, but the thrill is gone, baby.”

  “Cleaner!” This was like watching a show on TV with audience interaction. Again, I got the death’s head stare for a moment.

  “He… I mean Terry raped me when my folks were gone on vacation to Europe. He’s frightening. I still think he killed our parents.”

  Lynn watched Maria with an analytical demeanor. “Let’s say what you’re telling us could be true. It doesn’t exactly jibe with the way you’ve been working for him. Tell us what you do for your brother.”

  “I audit everything once one of his enterprises springs up. I make sure of everything from the ground up is exactly like the model I’ve built. We only slightly vary the model, depending on the clientele. We have models for every aspect of my brother’s empire. I must account for every discrepancy. You found us in the midst of setting up a lab. It was to be our distribution center for the West Coast. Terry is meeting with a group in Tahoe, who will be handling the shipments from Belize to San Diego, and the distribution from there onto the streets.”

  Lynn looked over at me with a smile. She knows we’ve hit the mother lode. None of it will be taking place after we take out Brannigan, but we’ll also be able to harness this distribution network with the information we gather.

  “I’m impressed. Maria’s a keeper. She’s motivated and ready to help.” Now the knife comes out as I turn to good old Alexander, and his companion. “Gee… other than letting my good friend, The Cleaner, play with you two for a while in a manner no one on earth wants to play, what do I need you two for?”

  Lynn had to march over and shut the bunch up with a face to face. “Don’t over share! Keep a lid on it until the Dark Lord gets you two in a recording atmosphere. Impress him or your moments after he hands you over to me will be a bit different from what you’re used to. Think hell on earth as a frame of reference.”

  Lynn took Maria’s hand. “Now you, my little helper are in like Flynn. We’ll go over here away from these others where I see Geek-boy has all his playthings up and running. You’ll make contact with your rapist, and chat a while. Don’t make him suspicious. Think of some points you would go over with him about on a mission like you were on. You do contact him directly, do you not?”

  “Yes!” Maria cringed as Lynn had moved toward her. “He has a wooded lot inside a gated community called Cascade.”

  I moved over next to her. “That’s the one you mentioned was near Emerald Bay?”

  Maria nodded. “His lake front is on the Lake Tahoe side, but that is the one.”

  Oh yes I like all of this so far. I gave Lynn a wait one gesture, and walked over next to Denny. “I’m familiar with that Cascade Community, Den. Tommy and I went up there to meet with a client who wanted a neighbor checked out. Our client thought the neighbor matched the picture of a skip we had on the radar. Neighbor was having some wild parties. Long story, short, he was right. We waited at his place and took the skip when he went down to the lake the following morning. The client had to bring us in through the gate in person. Once Jafar confirms the location, we can approach by the lakeside. Maria can find out when this syndicate Brannigan’s meeting with will be there, and we take them all.”

  I could tell Denny was less than pleased with my suggestion, but my team gave signs they were all for the direct approach from the lake. “That’s the hammer approach, John. I would have preferred something a bit more subtle. Taking out Brannigan is a messy deal by itself. Handling the rest of that bunch will not be easy to hide. I was thinking of a nice chemical death like Lynn gave that clown in Las Vegas. We’re cutting the head off of the snake that’s been manipulating shit behind the scenes. Now we find out the guy even manipulated the Harvard serial killers behind the scenes for his own enjoyment. A quick in and out with an untraceable demise in his sleep is the best possible outcome. Even bringing him here, a possible treasure trove of info, is too risky.”

  He’s right. We’re all silent for a moment. I looked over at Maria, wondering how far we could manipulate her. Someone with unlimited funds can hire a private army to snuff us. The only reason I figure Brannigan hasn’t done it is because he loves to play in the background. “I have another idea. If Maria is in line for her brother’s empire, we may have a mole at the very top who could feed us info.”

  “You know, brother,” Casey said. “You’re getting a little scary. Putting the sister back out there with the Brannigan fortune is insane. Besides, Brannigan would never have a will like that. He�
��d be too afraid of his sister killing him, especially since he raped her when they were young.”

  “This was all simple until we found out how big this could be,” Lucas added. “Bottom line is Brannigan has to go. I knew we couldn’t leave his three minions behind, but damn, this is getting complicated. I doubt this bunch can pick us out of a lineup, and Lynn has the sister ready to do anything. Do you really think you can turn these three if we are able to put her in the line of succession?”

  “If she is not in succession now, I know I can put her there,” Jafar offered. “Taking out the man responsible for the attacks on Samira and the rest of us is an agreed first step. He will surely have guards with him.”

  “We can gas them first like Casey told me you guys did to Ahmed Quadir in Dubai,” Clint suggested. “Do we have anything potent enough for doing a house that size, Denny?”

  “Yes, if we can tie into their ventilation. We can’t just stick a tube in there and hope for the best. Any AC unit would be mounted on a slab outside the house because it will be an add on system. Let’s confirm the location, and work out the details once we have the house plans. Put out the feelers with those three, John. Take Jafar and Lynn with you. I’m sure Maria has some access to data, Jafar can manipulate. First things first though. Confirm the location.”

  I went over with Lynn to fetch Maria. “Do those guys we sent back to the compound in Belize have any clue about the person behind the equipment they were hauling in?”

  “No, no one but Alexander and I know about my brother.”

  “What’s his female companion’s part?”

  “Her name is Candice Monterro. She is my personal assistant.”

  “One more question before we begin – are you in line to get your brother’s empire if something happens to him?”

  Maria looked up at me with a stunned expression. “I… yes… but only if my brother dies of natural causes. Any suspicion of foul play, and all of his holdings will be liquidated to-”

  She paused, and I had to grab hold of The Cleaner. “Go on, Maria.”

  “His estate would be divided up and holdings given to Hamas, Hezbollah, the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Muslim Brotherhood. My brother believes in chaos.”

  “No shit!” The Cleaner didn’t like it. “Damn, if we don’t dismantle this organization somehow, the whole world’s going to have a bad day.”

  “At least we have the cards up on the table.” I led Maria over to our setup.

  A few moments later we had Maria hooked up and Jafar ready. Laredo worked a second bank of screens in our data room. I gave Maria some Valium to take the edge off for the call. Once Jafar bounced around signals to appear she was talking from Belize through her smart-phone, Maria called her brother with the outline she and Lynn had worked out of probable answers and questions. We were all listening in as Jafar supplied us with our own wireless headphones he supplied the signal to from his network.

  Brannigan answered on the third ring. “I expected a call sooner, Maria.”

  “We had a hell of a time getting out here because of the weather. I was just now able to get a signal. The equipment has been unloaded and set up.”

  “I don’t want to talk over an open line. I needed to know before I take a meeting with our anchor group that everything is in place. This is a big step for us. I don’t want any complications.”

  “I understand.” Maria went on to the next item on the list. “Do you still want the trucks returned to the port, rather than keep them here for a few days just in case?”

  “Keep them there until the weather improves. I don’t want to endanger our assets needlessly.”

  “Have you changed any plans about your stay after the meeting?”

  “I have to fly out to the East Coast in a few days. Then I may stop down there to see how things are progressing. It’s damned inconvenient not having Alexander with me. I shouldn’t have sent him with you.”

  Maria looked at Jafar’s countdown, and expanded on Brannigan’s statement. “I can have Alexander on his way to you by morning. He hates it down here anyway.”

  That made Brannigan chuckle. “No, keep him. It will do him good to get some airing out. Don’t tell him I said anything about the inconvenience without him.”

  “Of course not. I’m glad I have Candice down here with me.”

  “Are you still playing house with Kopensky?”

  Maria stayed silent, gesturing her silence was part of the act.

  Brannigan chuckled. “Didn’t think I knew about your fling with the hired help, huh?”

  It was obvious Maria did know. She played it perfectly as Jafar signaled they had confirmed the location of Brannigan.

  “Do you want me to break off with him?”

  “Hell no,” Brannigan answered with some impatience. “What the hell do I care what you do down in that jungle. Just don’t bring the cretin with you where you can be seen. Is that clear?”

  “Of course. He will be running things down here anyway. Shall I call again tomorrow, or wait until you decide on whether you will be stopping here?”

  “No need. Call only if you have a problem.” Brannigan disconnected without a goodbye. Maria handed me the phone.

  “It is as she claimed, DL,” Jafar said. “Laredo will have complete coverage and plans for the house in moments. He did not suspect anything.”

  “Let me know when you have satellite coverage on it. I want to know exactly where their vent system is,” Denny told him. “That went very well, Ms. Brannigan. We have something else to discuss with you. We do not want to harm your co-workers or you. We would like someone in charge of your brother’s empire who will not pursue the same goals. The drug and arms trade would end. Any ties he’s had with terrorist organizations, and home grown America haters will cease. You would be free to pursue any legitimate enterprise and lifestyle you wish. We will be monitoring you. There will be no place on earth safe for you if our demands are not carried out. Is there anything about what I’ve said you don’t understand?”

  Maria shook her head violently in the negative, glancing at Lynn, but not meeting her steady monster gaze. “I understand. Anything you want done, I will do.”

  Denny allowed that remark to settle in. “That’s very good, Maria. We are an organization that does not play around as you will soon see in your brother’s case. I will be in contact with you constantly, and you will give me weekly updates into movements amongst the circle of America’s enemies your brother has fostered. The first moment I feel out of contact with you will be very bad. There will be no excuses accepted in this. Are we clear?”

  “Yes… yes… it will be as you say completely.”

  “Do you think you will be able to convince your companions of how important their cooperation will be?”

  “I know how to make them comply. I will make them rich beyond their wildest dreams, and ask each one to stay on if they would like.”

  Denny smiled. “That is very good thinking, Maria. I will let Lynn help you get your point across to them. I do not want any misunderstandings. One word from either of them professing knowledge of us or our intentions in the press, and we will hunt them down, torture them, and bury them alive. Lynn will explain that aspect to them. We will be partners in this enterprise, Ms. Brannigan, or we will simply kill everyone involved in the empire.”

  “We followed my brother’s orders to the letter. I will correct the harm that has been done as if my life depended on it. I…I know it is easy to say such things here under duress, and with the fortune my brother’s estate commands, I could try to cross you. I will not. I see what force you can bring to bear on me. I never thought anyone could simply drop into a place like Belize without warning, and carry out such an attack. It was beyond comprehension until now. I believe. Please… just give me a chance to carry this out as you have outlined.”

  Denny watched Maria’s face. The pleading look she maintained convinced me, and Lynn gave me a slight nod of her head. It didn’t
really matter to me. I planned to kill that traitorous dickhead brother of hers, and then hunt this bitch down to the ends of the earth if she didn’t make good on her promises. Brannigan’s chaotic empire was as dangerous as anything we’d ever faced. He maneuvered behind the scenes backing murderers, anti-American goons hell bent on our destruction, and kept up a growing drug/weapons market. This was the chance of a lifetime. I could tell Denny knew it.

  “We are then in agreement, Ms. Brannigan. While I work with my young computer expert on plans, I will let you proceed in convincing your friends of their part in this very dangerous plan of empire takeover and reformation – dangerous for them, that is.”

  I went over with Lynn and Maria to speak with the minions. They listened intently to what Maria told them. The promise of a fortune, and a position of power in a legitimate enterprise, presented with the passion Maria expressed helped gain their enthusiastic cooperation without threats. Maria then explained what would happen if either of them broke the agreement. Neither minion appeared surprised at the threat.

  “I am like Maria,” Monterro said. “I have seen what your group can do. I will always remember. Once Maria is able to shed the poisonous elements of her brother’s empire, it will not be difficult to help you with information gathering. The Brannigan empire as you call it has many legitimate profitable enterprises all over the world.”

  “You don’t look overly excited with our proposition, Sweetpea,” Lynn said, grabbing onto Alexander Torre’s shoulders where he sat next to Candice.

  “If Mr. Brannigan somehow escapes, he will kill us all. It is difficult to get excited until he is no longer in the picture.”

  Lynn patted his back. “Yeah, I can go along with you on that. You’re more of a show me guy. Once we show you, Alexander, I better see some real passion for our plan, or I may have to make an adjustment.”

  Torre looked up with tired acceptance. “Don’t worry about that. He employs Albanian killers for bodyguards. I do not doubt your proficiency in violence. If I am able to emerge from this mess alive, I will be most appreciative not having to participate in drugs, weapons, and human slave trade.”