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

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  I called Clint while Tommy drove toward the destination the Donald had given us, which was a little outside of the Coalinga city limits off of Route 33 near the Getty Oil Reef Pumping Station.

  “Yeah, brother, how’s the trip? I heard from the kid you’ve found God.”

  Very funny. “It’s proving to be a bit more exciting than I thought. I have a case and a name I want you, Laredo, and Jafar to tear into while I’m down working on something else. I’ll send the details to your inbox. It’s a human slavery ring.”

  “I’ll get right on it. You know Lynn will want in on this, right?”

  “I wouldn’t want it any other way, brother. We caught a guy taking a twelve year old girl to LA for sale to an unknown purchaser. We’re going to end that.”

  “Understood. I’ll put a package together for you by the time you and Tommy get back.”

  “Thanks, brother. Tell Lynn to sharpen her tools.”

  Clint laughed. “Yeah… okay.”

  We disconnected, and I endured the ride to hell’s half acre in silence. Tommy didn’t say a word. Some things are best left unsaid. That I knew what we’d find was a given. That I knew I couldn’t act on it physically was a given. That hell on earth would follow if the Donald was lying… that was also a given.

  * * *

  Tommy and I leaned against the GMC. I was both sorry, and elated I had not torn the Donald apart. I knew even Denny would have had a hard time covering for me, and I still had a slavery ring to shut down. After duct taping that piece of human debris to the point only his nose and mouth could gasp for air in my plastic tarp, Tommy and I went in and freed the youngsters from hell on earth. They were young girls from ten to fourteen. There were five of them. By the time we were comforting them, Reeves and Labrie had touched down and driven out to meet us at the new coordinates with an FBI CSI team, and ambulances. Tommy and I are brothers. We feel each other’s darkest thoughts, moods, and desires. The only thing that kept us sane was the absolute jubilation on the faces of those kids. Someone would have to die for this. It couldn’t be the Donald… yet, but I had plans for the LA slavery ring.

  Sam and Janie trudged out of the hell’s half acre shack toward us. The kids were all in the hospital by this time. The FBI partners had followed the tracks of the Harvard serial killers, so not much shocked them. They knew closure through my two members of Murderer’s Row, Clint and Lynn. I don’t know where hell is exactly, but it can’t be more than a couple steps past where Lynn escorted those three. Reeves eyeballed Tommy and me with grim acknowledgement. I knew he’d still have to ask.

  “How did you get King to confess on video like that?”

  “Are you stupid?”

  Janie laughed. Reeves smiled and held out his hand. I shook it, and Tommy a moment later. “Hell of a job. King is crying for his attorney, saying he was tortured. He says he was coerced throughout the video.”

  “So what? Let him go if you think the video was staged or coerced,” I told him plainly. “Please let him go. Let me tell him I pray to God they release him.”

  Reeves shook his head. “The video will hold up. It’s beautifully done. The rest of the evidence we’ve already gathered will cement it in. I did as you requested, and sent a formal commendation down to the authorities in LA about your helper, Halliday. It was faxed a half hour ago with my signature.”

  “Thanks Sam. If not for him, I doubt I would have been in time to notice the noises coming out of the Cad trunk. I think Tommy and I can help him.”

  “You’re going to type all of this up for the formal declaration, right?”

  “Oh, you’re funny, Sam. We’re your undercover operatives, who must stay out of the limelight, while you and the courageous Agent Labrie create the needed documents with flair and official seal of justice for this case’s details.”

  “That’ll work, John,” Janie acknowledged. “We’ll be running the Bureau soon if you and those two psychos working for you keep coming up with signed, sealed, and delivered cases like this.”

  “All the better for us.”

  “You two can go and collect your third party informant for his ride to LA. I hope you can get him that second chance.”

  “Yeah, me too. We do appreciate the help on this.”

  “We appreciate you avoiding a gun battle in the Chevron Food Mart,” Sam replied. “I doubt even trained agents would have pulled that off.”

  “Ah… hello,” I replied, waving my hand in the air. “Trained agent here.”

  “Yeah, you are,” Janie said. “We’ll be seeing you.”

  Tommy peered over at me. “I hope to hell we can get down to LA before the hotel bar closes down. I need a drink.”

  “We’ll stop by a liquor store and pick up some Bushmills. No use taking a chance like that at a time like this. Besides, if we keep Kev with us overnight, he may not have to stay in a cell again. We might be able to get him a quick check in and release with Sam Reeves signed affidavit and our lawyer buddy helping with the details. The Lord God surely took a hand today, brother. There’s no way with that semi rig going by I would have heard the noises in the Cad trunk. Without Kev there pumping gas and paying attention, those kids would never have seen the light of day. For that alone, we have to spring him.”

  “Agreed. Let’s go collect him, and speed on down south to the Bushmills’ sipping happy zone,” Tommy stated, straightening away from the hood. “We still haven’t had a damn thing to eat. Let’s pick up some Kentucky Fried to eat on the way to LA.”

  “That’s bad for your cholesterol, T. Sorry, but you’ll have to wait until we can find you a nice salad somewhere.”

  Tommy chuckled. “The hospital probably has a food court or something. They’ll have nutrition healthy food there to appease your sensitivity, Dark Lord. When we get to LA, you’ll have to be up early. I ain’t lettin’ you off the hook on your training. I’m thinking a ten mile warm-up in the indoor pool before I get you for a couple hours in the hotel gym.”

  “Frack!”

  Chapter Ten: The Buffster

  The three of us sat sipping Bushmills in our luxurious hotel room, watching the video uploaded to YouTube by the idiot cameraman of Halliday’s botched capture by the Hollywood Bounty Hunters. Yeah, I don’t skimp when I’m on the road. We don’t huddle together in some flea bitten, bed bug infested room in the Motel Despair. I checked us in at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Tommy and I stayed here once before. It has indoor pool, sauna, steam room, huge room with two king-size beds, and a wonderful torturous workout room where Tommy can appease his sadistic trainer instincts. We had bought Halliday some court clothes too earlier. He needed to look nice.

  I had the video playing up on the big screen using my notebook computer interface. We kicked back on the beds in comfort. Tommy and I were laughing our asses off while Halliday groaned sheepishly. This was our third time through without stopping. The three tattooed goofballs who jumped out and folded their arms in scowling menace, while the blonde pixie danced around in front of them was hilarious.

  “Oh boy, Kev, here it comes,” Tommy announced.

  The pixie Halliday had labeled the Buffster attacked with sensational strikes from all angles. Halliday parried the potentially dangerous ones toward his face and groin with a street-fighter’s savvy. She buzzed around him like a hummingbird on PCP. The Buffster landed a roundhouse kick to Halliday’s ear with a very impressive leap and scream of ‘ki-aihhhh’. That was it for Kev. He shot a left up under her ribs, and a right to the nose. Tommy and I hid our eyes yelling ‘monster’ when the Buffster went down, barfed, and started crying with heartbreaking sobs.

  “Oh God… I’m doomed,” Kev whispered while peeking out from the hands covering his face. “Look at her. I should be locked up.”

  I stopped the vid momentarily. “It was a lifesaving situation, Kev… you monster.”

  “Yeah, kid,” Tommy added. “The Buffster’s been watching too many TV shows with pixies beating up badass thugs with the Kung-Fooie. It was
only a matter of time before someone hit her so hard they snapped her neck, or body slammed her badly enough to break every bone in her body. Then there’s the guy who’ll just tackle her, get on top, and beat her face in flat.”

  I started the vid again, pointing out where Halliday acted with restraint. All three stooges were pulling out Mace spray and nightsticks. “These guys would have buried you, Kev. I think you have a real case here for self-defense if we can get the gun charge dropped. You locked their vehicle up and everything before heading out of the city. It looks like you got that big tattooed guy in the fleshy part over his knee. It’s not much of a wound. That guy and the Buffster have no pain tolerance. They’re in the wrong business, unless they stop posing, and do more with the tools they brought. Lastly, they need a guy that’s a hard core threat.” A knock at the door announced my visitor, and I stopped the vid once more.

  “That’s Chad. I’m glad he could come over tonight on such short notice.”

  I let in the stocky six footer with thinning brown gray hair. He wore jeans, and a leather jacket over a black pullover shirt. He gripped my outstretched hand with enthusiasm, and hugged Tommy. “Damn! It’s good to see you guys. Charlie and Rose ask about you two all the time. They have a romanticized remembrance of your helping us. Rose thinks you guys are like the Exorcist – arrive all in black with smiling assurances, and leave the next morning, taking evil with you.”

  That cracked Tommy and I up as Chad shook hands with Kevin. “You’re Kevin Halliday I presume. Any friend of John and Tommy is a friend of mine.”

  “Thank you, Sir. I hope you can help me.”

  “Show me what you got. I see a Bushmills bottle over there. I hope you weren’t going to Bogart it all and not offer your good friend a little taste, John.”

  “Right this way.” In moments, Chad had some sipping whiskey in hand, and was seated on the beds with us watching the video. Tommy and I tried to keep from laughing, but failed once again. Chad, however, did not lose focus even once during the show. When it was over, he smiled.

  “I know these clowns. They have a running ad on a couple of late night cable shows. Oddly enough, they go by the name Hollywood Bounty Hunters as you told me on the phone. Knowing you, John, you already have their names and addresses.”

  Yep. Jafar supplied their life history for us along with the video. “We do indeed. The leader’s name is Daniel Atkins. His crew of goofballs are: Jerry Sooner, Calvin Douglas, Sigfried Kandelus, and of course the Buffster as Kev refers to her, Kensy Talon. They’re not licensed, nor do they have permission to carry anything like Mace or stun-gun nightsticks.”

  Chad was pleased. “Exactly. After you gave me their name, I made a few professional calls. I also made a few suggestions with the knowledge of what Kevin did to help in that kidnapping case. They were stunned to hear everything that went down since last they encountered Mr. Halliday. I can’t tell you how grateful I am you called, John. This is tinsel town, my friend, and this whole deal is solid gold.”

  My eyes may have narrowed at that announcement. I wasn’t alone. “Lay it on us, Chad. I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”

  “Once I explained they were in real trouble for confronting anyone with force without the proper licenses, Atkins calmed right down. He only had a flesh wound, and was already up and about. The police don’t want any part of it. The guy you fought with in the bar will settle for a two thousand dollar cash payout to drop all charges. My fee is I am going to license this Hollywood bunch and Kevin here. I need an investigation team that owes me. They make impressive videos, and with Kevin, they’d have someone solid instead of a bunch of cardboard cutouts and a little girl. I’ll take John’s check down to the bar fight guy tomorrow morning first thing, and then clear up Kevin’s legal problems. A lieutenant I know read the FBI affidavit, and told me flat out if the bar-fight goes away, he’ll release Kevin into my custody.”

  I just shook my head in wonder. Lawyers are the strangest profession on earth. Tommy was chuckling, and Halliday simply stared at Chad in awe. “You are the man, Chad. If there’s anything you need other than the check, just let me know.”

  “Actually, there is.” Chad sipped his Bushmills with a big smile. “One of the conditions to enter into this rather complicated procedure is the Hollywood bunch want to meet you and Tommy. Also, the Buffster as you call her, Kevin, wants to meet face to face with everyone in attendance, especially you.”

  “Oh shit!” Kevin shook his head. “It all sounded good until then. What do I have to do, let her beat me up?”

  “No, no, no,” Chad replied, laughing. “I think she likes you.”

  That stunned the kid. I liked all of this so far. It made everything less complicated for getting back to the gang in Oakland. We needed to work on the slavery ring before they got tipped we’re on to them. “It all sounds good to me, my friend. I’ll write you the check right now. The kid’s good for it, plus Tommy will go collect from the bond place. So, you’ve decided to go a little Hollywood, huh?”

  “Yep. Plus I need some minor investigating and shadowing done if I can get Halliday here to infuse reality into the Hollywood crew. What they need is a guy like Wolverine in the X-Men – somebody actually brutal in reality that can remind them they’re cardboard cutouts good for the camera, but bad in a tough situation.”

  “I’ve knocked around all my life, and survived San Quentin,” Kevin said. “I’ve never felt lower than when I punched out the Buffster. If not for the memory of that, I probably would have made John and Tommy take me down hard up in Hayward. She… she really thinks she likes me?”

  “Ms. Talon told me you showed her she was an idiot – her words. She thought it was really sweet when you picked her up in your arms and moved her over to the side with a phone.”

  “I don’t know what to say, but I’ll do anything not to go back into jail. I don’t know if I can supply what you need for your plans. I will certainly try, Sir.”

  Chad sipped, contemplating Kevin. “I read the FBI affidavit, and heard what John had to say about your part in saving those kids. You’re aces in my book, and you’ll be fine if you don’t try to do too much.”

  “John and Tommy taught me my lesson a while back, and it’s one I will never forget. I remembered it when I was dealing with the Quentin population. They don’t respect shit there, but they respect action.”

  Chad turned solemn. “Yeah, we have that in common, Kevin. John and Tommy taught me a lesson I never forgot. Sometimes a problem crops up in your life that you don’t have an answer or a solution for, and you need a pro. I have skills, but they don’t cover everything. I only thought they did. John didn’t need a teacher for that. It’s in his nature. He decided to help you. He decided what he needed to do it, and he contacted me. I’m going to get it done, and I’m going to profit from it. That’s what’s involved in a real solution.”

  Chad finished off his whiskey, and stood up. I handed him the check I had written out. “Get some sleep guys. The wheels of justice will be rolling in your favor tomorrow. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, Kevin.”

  Kevin shook his hand again. “I hope so, Sir.”

  * * *

  We met with the Hollywood crew when Chad called us to come over to his office at 1pm. Tommy had tortured me all morning long, even enlisting Kevin’s help in a beat down while I was on the incline machine. They threw solid body shots at me from both sides while I maintained position on the machine. Very painful. Kevin apologized the whole time. Tommy didn’t.

  The meeting was a circus of the weird. They arrived in full costume, which had Tommy howling, to our new arrivals’ chagrin. The pixie looked embarrassed. Her nose was taped, and she sported the standard black eye remnants of having your nose busted. The leader was walking around with a cane, but he looked okay, although not happy with current events. Kevin was very well dressed in black slacks, navy blue pullover shirt, and he was of course clean shaven. He also simply looked embarrassed. The pixie
walked right up to him. She stuck her hand out.

  “I…I’m Kensy. That was wonderful what you did for those kidnapped girls.”

  Kevin grasped her hand in both his. “I’m really sorry about busting you up like I did. I just didn’t know how to stop you from hitting me.”

  Kensy started laughing, and then she hugged him. Kevin didn’t know what to do. He put his arms around her awkwardly. “If… if there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, just ask.”

  Kensy stepped away, looking up. “Come over to dinner at my place with me.”

  “You don’t have to do that for me. I meant if I can ever help you in any way, I will.”

  The Buffster’s eyes narrowed, which looked a little more frightening than she intended because of her black eyes and taped nose. “Oh, you think I look hideous, so you don’t want to have dinner with me. I get it.”

  Halliday grabbed her shoulders. “You…you look beautiful. I want to have dinner with you at your place more than anything. I didn’t want you to think… oh hell… I don’t know… yes, I’d love to have dinner with you.”

  Kensy reached up and stroked Kevin’s face. “Did I even hurt you at all?”

  I smiled because I saw the trapped look flash across Kevin’s face. He went with the truth, which was for the best.

  “I didn’t like the roundhouse kick to my ear, Kensy. It pissed me off.”

  She laughed again, clapping her hands. Then she put her arm around his waist and leaned into him. “Okay, so how do we proceed, Mr. Dubrinsky?”

  Chad was enjoying the whole Kevin and Kensy show so much, he had to take a moment. Then he smiled and gestured at me and Tommy. “These are my very good friends Tommy Sands and John Harding. They are the greatest friends in the world to have, and the last people on earth you ever want mad at you. John, Tommy… this is Daniel Atkins, Jerry Sooner, Sigfried Kandelus, Calvin Douglas, and Kensy Talon by Mr. Halliday.”

  We all shook hands formally, except for Kensy, who kept a grip around Kevin, but waved. Atkins spoke up first.