by Mike Ryan
“Then don’t put that down,” Cain told her.
“I have to put down something. If I don’t they’re gonna ask what I’ve been doing the last few years.”
“How bout you just put down you had your own business?”
“My own business?” Heather asked.
“Well it kinda is, isn’t it?”
“And just what kind of business have I been running?”
“Entertainment,” he smiled.
They spent a couple of days polishing up Heather’s resume. It’d been several years since she sent a resume out to anyone so she was grateful for his help. Cain enjoyed helping her even if he wasn’t sure he was doing much good. He’d been in the army since graduating high school so he was fairly certain he’d never written one himself. The rest of the weekend they spent just trying to get to know each other. Cain was intrigued by the life of the beautiful woman he was now sharing an apartment with. Another place and time he might’ve made a move on her but he didn’t think it was the appropriate time to do that. At least not until he was more certain of how his life as an agent would be. He knew there was going to be a good amount of travel involved and wasn’t sure it’d be fair to make someone wait for him, not knowing when he’d be coming home.
Heather tried grilling Cain on his past to get a better idea of his life but he didn’t divulge much. Not because he didn’t want to but because he had no idea on a lot of the questions she was asking. He really didn’t know what he liked or things he tried before. He tried to deflect most of her questions to avoid making it seem like he was trying to hide something from her.
The morning that Cain was supposed to leave on his trip he got up early, not able to sleep. He tossed and turned most of the night thinking about what it might be like. A lot of thoughts crossed through his mind, knowing full well that it probably wouldn’t be like anything he had envisioned. He tried to eat breakfast but only had a few bites as his stomach was too nervous to put any food into it. Cain was trying not to make too much noise so he wouldn’t wake Heather up but she eventually walked out from the bedroom anyway.
“I’m sorry,” Cain said, noticing her standing in the door.
“For what?”
“Waking you up. I was trying to be quiet.”
“No, it wasn’t you. I just had to go to the bathroom and noticed that you were up,” she told him.
“Oh.”
“I guess you’re leaving soon?”
“Yeah, in a few minutes,” Cain answered.
“I figured so. I’ll make sure everything’s good here.”
“Oh, I know you will. I don’t have any worries about it.”
“Good,” she said.
“Well, I should be going.”
“You take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Heather walked closer to him, trying to get a read on the situation. She really wanted to give him a hug but wasn’t sure if he would push her away. She decided to go for it and awkwardly put her arms around him, barely touching each other. She wasn’t sure what it was about Cain that made her so careful about both of their feelings as she’d never acted so gingerly around a man before. Maybe it was because of her past that she wanted to become a different person. Part of that transformation would include being more sensitive to her feelings. Heather assumed that when Cain looked at her he still saw a stripper and she’d have to work at changing that perception. She knew that wouldn’t happen overnight and that it’d take time. It would also take her being patient and not trying to force him into wanting her. She realized that if she tried to force herself onto him that it might make him think twice about her and back away. If she was ever able to get him to look past her background it’d have to be a realization that came to him on his own.
Chapter 5
Cain was walking through the Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport looking for the rendezvous point. He was instructed to meet his contact at a table in front of the Wendy’s. Ruiz would be wearing a black New York Yankees baseball hat. It only took a few minutes before Cain located him. Ruiz was eating a Baconator as Cain approached. Cain sat down across from him as Ruiz grabbed a napkin to get the grease off his hand, shaking Cain’s as they introduced themselves.
“Ruiz?”
“Mr. Cain, pleasure to meet you,” Ruiz replied.
“Your English is better than I anticipated.”
“I speak it fluently. I owe it all to Rosetta Stone. Whoever made that program is a genius. I also speak French, Spanish, Russian, and German. Right now I am studying Chinese.”
“That’s impressive. I still struggle with English,” Cain joked.
“Can I get you something?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Have you done this before?” Ruiz asked.
Cain stared at him momentarily, wondering if he should be truthful or lie about his experience. He didn’t know the man sitting across from him, or know if his answer would make a difference in his help.
“This is my first assignment,” Cain said.
Cain figured it was best to just be truthful. The agency trusted Ruiz so he had no reason to doubt them. He looked around, surveying the airport, as Ruiz finished his dinner.
“You will do fine. I have good instincts for these things,” Ruiz told him.
“I believe you have some information for me,” Cain stated.
Ruiz nodded as he finished chewing. “I do. I have a rental car for you outside. I have the information you need in there.”
“Good.”
Cain followed Ruiz through the airport as they made their way to the car. Once inside Ruiz handed Cain a black duffel bag. Cain opened it, revealing a file folder, as well as a sniper rifle and a Glock pistol. Cain began looking through the folder as Ruiz started driving.
“Where are we going first?” Cain asked.
“I’ll take you to your hotel. You have a very nice room at the Hilton Princess. This way you can relax tonight after your journey plus map out your strategy.”
“Very nice.”
They’d been driving for about ten minutes on the highway when Ruiz spotted a white car following them.
“Get ready, my friend,” Ruiz said.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“I think we’re about to have company.”
The white car sped around them, then slowed down in front of them as a maroon colored car took position behind them.
“We’re being boxed in,” Cain said.
“They most likely just want money.”
The three cars slowly drifted to the side of the road, all of them eventually coming to a stop. Cain reached into the bag, slowly removing the Glock and putting it down by his side to conceal it. Cain’s heart was racing as he waited for their visitors to make their move. He started sweating, anxious and nervous, hoping he’d make the right move. Two men got out of the car in front of them and started walking back to them. Cain noticed they both were carrying a gun in their hand. He checked the rearview mirror and saw two more getting out of the car behind them. They also had guns and started walking toward the rental. Cain put his finger on the trigger as he waited for the right moment. Two men stood near the bumper of their car as the other two stood by the driver and passenger side windows.
“Money,” said the one by Ruiz.
Ruiz turned his head to look at Cain, not sure if he should comply with the demands or wait for Cain to make his move. Cain suddenly raised his pistol to the man by his window, blowing a hole through the man’s chest. He then spun around and fired a shot past Ruiz, surprising their attacker before he could respond, fatally hitting him in the chest. Cain opened his door, jumping out onto the ground, firing a couple more shots. His target dropped to the ground, writhing in pain, the bullets lodging in his thigh and stomach. The other man ran back to the maroon car and sped off. Cain jumped up and steadied his aim as the man drove past. He was ready to fire but didn’t have a clear shot and let him go. He walked closer to the wounded man on t
he ground to check on his status. He wasn’t sure if the wounds were life threatening but Cain was beyond angry and the rush he felt overtook him. He aimed his gun at the man’s chest and pulled the trigger, quickly ending the man’s pain. Cain quickly retreated back to the car, eager to move before police or witnesses showed up. As soon as he got in Ruiz sped away.
“That was amazing,” an overexcited Ruiz said. “Oh my goodness. Any doubts I had before are all gone now, my friend.”
“Nice,” Cain replied, putting the gun back in the bag. He sighed, amazed himself over what he’d just done.
They had a nice, quiet drive the rest of the way to the hotel. Ruiz grabbed Cain’s luggage as Cain carried the duffel bag inside. He was led up to his executive room, Cain impressed at how lavish it looked. It was a very spacious room with a king sized bed and marble bathroom. The men put Cain’s bags down on the bed, Cain then checking out the view from the double wide windows.
“So how’d you get involved in all this?” Cain wondered.
“Me? It’s a long story.”
“I hope you get paid well.”
“I do get paid well. But money is only secondary for me. It is not the reason I do this,” Ruiz informed him.
“So what is?”
Ruiz sat down on the bed and took his hat off as he thought about the events that led him up to this moment. He was a middle aged man, probably in his late forties, who obviously was bearing some emotional scars. The pain was evident on his face.
“It was about twelve years ago. One day I get phone call from the police. They tell me my 16 year old daughter had been raped and murdered. They had no suspects and no leads. The killers went free,” Ruiz remembered.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I started trying to find out on my own but I got nowhere. No one would talk to me and everywhere I went the information got cold. Then one day I learned there were U.S. officials in the area on business. I went to them for help but they all refused. All except for one. He was a CIA officer and agreed to look into it. One week later he informed me he found my daughter’s killer. It turned out to be a police official’s son and they were covering up the incident. He then contacted officials in our government and her killer was brought to justice. He was eventually executed for his crime. I owed this man for what he had done for me.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you and your wife,” Cain said.
“I have no wife. We were eighteen when we had Maira. We were very young. She did not really even want the baby once we found out. But, luckily, I convinced her that it was the right thing. Even if she did not want the child that I would raise the baby on my own. She agreed. She stayed for a few months after Maira was born but eventually she left. One night while we slept she left, never to return.”
“That’s pretty tough.”
“I shed no tears. She didn’t want to be a mother and it was best that she left before Maira grew up to see the person that she was.”
“Well, sorry to hear it,“Cain sympathized. “Still, lucky for you that CIA officer showed up.”
“Yes. You will enjoy working for him. He is a good man.”
“I will? Who are you talking about?”
“Ed Sanders, of course,” Ruiz revealed. “He is now your employer, is he not?”
“He is,” Cain said.
“So several years later he contacted me once more asking to work with him again and he would pay me for my services. But payment is not what makes me do this. What makes me do this is justice. Bad men paying the price for their sins is what I do this for.”
“I understand. Is this all that you do?”
“I have my own business. We export products such as coffee and cigars. I do not get wealthy off this but we make profit. Along with what I get paid from your people, I do all right for myself.”
Ruiz watched Cain as he continued looking out the window, trying to analyze him.
“You seem different than previous men I have worked with.”
“How’s that?” Cain asked.
“I am not sure yet. There is just something different with you.”
“Well, when you figure it out, you let me know.”
“I will do that,” Ruiz said. “Now, let’s get down to business.”
Ruiz got the folder out of the duffel bag and took it over to the large desk against the wall. Cain walked over and sat down, examining the contents of the folder. There were pictures of Contreras in different spots around town over the previous two weeks along with information on where he’d been visiting.
“Who are some of these men he’s been seen with?” Cain asked.
“I have not been able to capture the identities of these men. It is a mystery to this point.”
Contreras had been photographed having discussions with several different men. Ruiz thought these men looked like they were European. These were new pictures that Cain hadn’t been shown before.
“What would he be doing meeting with Europeans?” Cain wondered.
“That is the question,” Ruiz responded. “When will you go after him?”
“I’ll start looking for him tomorrow.”
“Then you will most likely find him.”
“Why’s that?”
“The last few weeks I have observed him eating lunch at Applebee’s three days a week. Always arrives between twelve and one.”
“Seriously? Applebee’s?”
“What is wrong?”
“I just wouldn’t picture a criminal from Honduras being addicted to an American restaurant chain.”
“Yes, well, I suppose he enjoys the hamburgers perhaps?”
“I guess so.”
“He usually eats on the patio so that should give you a good visual on him.”
They continued talking for the next hour about their target, discussing all the places Contreras had been. He was seen at Central Park, City Mall, The Francisco Saybe Theatre, The Old Train Station, and the San Pedro Sula Cathedral. All were within two miles of his hotel. They reviewed the dates and times, as well as who he met with, to see if there were any patterns. Almost all of the meetings he had occurred between twelve and four and none appeared to be with locals. Everyone Contreras met with was a foreigner. Cain and Ruiz finalized their plans before Ruiz left for the evening.
“Meet me for lunch at Applebee’s tomorrow?” Cain asked.
“You think that’s wise for us to be there with him?”
“Well, if he’s by himself it won’t matter after a few minutes,” Cain insinuated. “And if he’s with someone else then I want to see who else he’s with. Plus, we’ll blend right in. I’ll stand out more if I’m by myself. They don’t know who we are anyway.”
A few minutes after Ruiz left the hotel, Cain called Lawson to update her on the developments.
“How’s it going so far?” Lawson asked.
“Fantastic. Killed three men so far.”
“What?!”
“And the day’s not even over yet.”
“What happened?”
“They tried to hijack us on the way to the hotel.
“Are you in trouble?” she asked.
“No. No witnesses.”
“Good. What else can I do for you?”
“I’ve got some pictures of Contreras meeting with a few people,” Cain said.
“Send them over to me and I’ll have them analyzed.”
“Sending them now.”
“I’ll call you back in an hour or two.”
Cain took photos of the pictures and uploaded them to his computer, then sent them to Lawson. He decided to lay down on the bed while he waited for a return call just to relax since he was still pretty jacked up from all the commotion in getting there. He closed his eyes and re-lived every second of the killings, from the moment he pulled the gun out of the duffel bag, waiting for his would-be-victims. He surprised himself at how easily it came to him. There was no hesitation in his actions. He then imagined what it would be like killing Contreras.
He envisioned Contreras sitting down to eat, Cain looking on from a distance in some window, then watching him drop to the ground after he pulled the trigger. Cain somehow stopped thinking of the gruesome images for a few minutes and dozed off. He was awakened two hours later by the ringer of his cell phone going off. It was Lawson.
“Hey,” Cain answered.
“We’ve run some analysis on the three men in your photos.”
“And?”
“We came up empty. We checked all our databases, ran them through our facial recognition software, and contacted a few people who might be in the know. Everything came back negative. Which means they’re either insignificant players or they’re low level guys, meeting with Contreras on someone else’s behalf.”
“So do I still take him out?”
“Yes, but follow him for a couple days. See if he meets with anyone else first. Him meeting with foreigners could indicate he’s on the verge of something we weren’t aware of and we’d like to know what that is if possible. Take pictures of anyone else he comes in contact with.”
“OK. Will do.”
Cain closed his eyes again, hoping to fall asleep quickly, knowing he could have an action packed itinerary the following day. He turned his head from side to side as strange images started appearing. The blonde haired woman from before popped up again. The first few images were like before, just her head floating around as if it were trapped in a television screen. Then her whole body appeared, wearing a red dress, walking down a busy street. She kept turning back as if she were looking for him. She then ducked into a store where he then lost track of her. He opened his eyes, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and sat up on the bed. He knew this woman must’ve been important to him at some point in his life. It couldn’t have been just some random person he kept imagining. Cain took a few seconds to clear his head before laying back down. This time his mind was clear and he fell asleep within a few minutes, no visions clouding his head.