American Mutant

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  The two other men behind the goatee began to laugh.

  “Shut the fuck up,” the goatee yelled at his companions.

  “C’mon Al, the dude’s right,” the one on his right said. “Rufus just got an attitude adjustment. No need to make this a war.”

  “Fuck you, I want this prick to pay.”

  “Pay for what,” Connor asked. “You should pay my dog for keeping you out of trouble.”

  Again the goatee’s companions laughed at their friend’s expense. For his part, the goatee turned away from his friends and launched a fist at Connor. Connor caught it in midair and began to squeeze. The goatee quickly went to his knees with a yelp of pain. The two friends stopped laughing. Connor held up his other hand to them.

  “I think we can say goodnight gentlemen without anyone getting hurt any further. What do you guys think?”

  “Yea man, no need for anymore of this,” one of them agreed, and the other nodded.

  “I am going to release your friend’s hand. Can you two make sure he goes along with you? Someone will get real hurt if he turns back after me.”

  “Sure, we’ll take him. He don’t look too hot to follow you anyway,” the man laughed.

  Connor released goatee’s hand, and stepped back with Barf at his side. Goatee fell forward, cradling his throbbing hand. His two friends pulled him to his feet.

  “Let me go God damn it,” goatee shouted at his friends, even as he still gripped his hand.

  His friend stopped and shook his shoulder. “Listen you stupid fuck, the man’s givin’ you the chance to leave without anymore trouble.”

  “We can take this white cracker mother fucker!”

  “Whoa there Holmes, you got a turd in your pocket?” his other companion asked. “First off, you go it alone if you want more. Secondly,” he glanced back at Connor, “I ain’t too sure we could help you anyhow, and I ain’t findin’ out.”

  Both men released their friend, and stepped back. The goatee whipped around to face Connor again. Connor, for his part shook his finger gently at the goatee. “Don’t do it Al. Things can only get a whole lot worse for you. Say goodnight, and let bygones be bygones.”

  Goatee looked back at his friends. They smiled, and took another step away from him. Goatee took one more look back at Connor angrily, “fine, I’ll deal with this fuck some other time.”

  A split second later, goatee was hanging with his feet swaying off of the ground, and Connor holding him up by the neck as if he were a rag doll. The goatee grabbed Connor’s hands to try and get them from his neck as his eyes began to bulge. It was like grabbing hold of a steel cable. One of the friends stepped towards Connor, but stopped in his tracks, as Connor again held up his free hand in a stop gesture, and turned to look at him with the coldest eyes he had ever seen, all the while holding the goatee up in the air.

  “Please man,” the goatee’s companion pleaded. “Al’s just talkin’.”

  “I do not take threats well. Perhaps Al means what he says, and I cannot have that.”

  “He’s got a wife and three kids,” the other man added. “He’s a decent father and husband. He ain’t going to do nothin’ man. You can let him live.”

  Connor looked back at the man hanging in front of him. He released him, choking and gasping, to the ground. The goatee held his throat, and continued to cough air back into his lungs. Connor knelt down next to him.

  “Your friends just saved your life. I remember faces forever. Never come within my sight even by accident. Do you understand?”

  Goatee looked up at Connor fearfully, still holding his throat. He nodded painfully. Connor lifted him up as if he were weightless. Goatee’s friends came over and took him. Connor nodded at them as they took their friend and then walked away. Connor walked back with Barf, who had watched the whole action in front of him with interest. Connor bent down and took up his leash, and they continued on.

  “Looks like you have been cursed by my ability to attract trouble Barf. We will probably go together very well.”

  The walk back to the Center, and through the checkpoints, went without any further excitement. Inside Connor’s room, Barf went over lapped up some of his water, and then climbed up on Connor’s bed. Connor shook his head at the dog, and accepted the fact he, at least for tonight, had a bed mate.

  Connor turned the lights down low, and sat in a lotus position in the middle of the living room. He left his body and went over to his kitchen to experiment. Concentrating on the kitchen cabinet door, he opened it slowly with great effort. Instead of pushing it closed with his mind, he thought of it closed, and it slammed shut. He smiled. Nate would be in for a big surprise tomorrow. Connor considered visiting Karen in his present state and really practicing, but he figured he had better wait until he warned her first. For the next couple of hours, Connor honed his skills so he could work the computer keyboard out of body. The Chinese were going to lose some more money very soon he decided.

  Nate walked towards Connor’s room, wondering when the door would swing open to greet him. Before he reached the room, he heard a voice behind him. He turned to see Connor and Barf hurrying towards him. It looked like Connor had taken Barf for a run. The dog came right up to him, sat down and lifted his paw. Nate laughed in appreciation and shook the dog’s paw, only to have the other offered to him when he released the first. The door opened, and Barf ran past Nate, and straight to his water dish.

  Nate put his arm around Connor’s shoulders, as Connor walked by him with a little wave hello. “Well Mutie, you been out early this morning, and I did not hear any sirens or explosions, or even any screams. Barf must be a good influence on you.”

  “He’s as bad as I am Nate,” Connor cut in. He told Nate about the encounter last night with the goatee and the pit bull. Nate started laughing as was expected.

  “It sounds to me like you put some of your bad Mojo on him. If he would have went out on his own, he would have been fine, or are you suggesting he was trying out for the position of mutant sidekick?”

  “Well, he didn’t exactly roll over and play dead when that dog ran up on him,” Connor pointed out as he poured Nate some coffee. “Drink some of this and I will be out in fifteen minutes.”

  Nate took a sip and scowled. “Hell Thomas, you even make mutant coffee.”

  “There’s orange juice in the refrigerator too your highness,” Connor commented as he went in to take a shower.

  Karen met them in the hallway on their way out with Barf. She immediately made a scene with the dog, much to the delight of passer’s by. She straightened up reluctantly from making, what Connor considered, a fool of herself.

  “Can’t you just say hello Barf? You embarrassed my dog with all that stuff,” Connor said sternly.

  “Listen Terror,” Karen fired back. “Any dog who would submit to having you lead him around on a leash deserves all the kind attention he can get.”

  “She has a point Thomas,” Nate kicked in. “You have to admit you are a bad influence. Are we going to go see Quenton this morning?”

  “He went to Langley yesterday for a meeting with the head of the CIA. He will not be back until tomorrow morning,” Karen said. “He told me if you have anything to share with him today, to call me. I will relay it to him, or get you whatever you need.”

  “Did he set up the super computer delivery,” Connor asked.

  “Derek said they await your pleasure. Just let me know.”

  “Man Thomas,” Nate said in awe. “Our man Quenton has really made good use of that info we gave him. No way could this ever have gotten done this quick otherwise.”

  “Very true,” Connor agreed. He looked over at Karen. “I think around one o’clock would be good Karen. If you can have them delivered, and set up, anywhere close to around that time, we will be ready.”

  “I will set the wheels in motion then,” Karen agreed. “Are you coming over to the apartment tonight?”

  “Sure, I have to get the Barf and me set up over at our new place
at the business though first,” Connor replied.

  “You really plan to live there,” She asked.

  “Better there than all these checkpoints everyday. I think even Nate could use a little less exposure to this place.”

  “You got that right,” Nate agreed. “After all, this place is a prison of sorts. Hell, Mutie’s room here used to be his cell. The only difference being he can go out the door instead of through it.”

  They all laughed at that point. Karen looked around to see if anyone were near, and then kissed Connor lingeringly. “You make sure you and Barf come and see me tonight.” With a little wave to Nate, Karen patted Barf s head and then walked on her way.

  “Well Mutie,” Nate remarked. “It does not look like you have to torture her any longer. What did you do, mind meld her?”

  “Very funny, now let’s get to work. I want to introduce Barf to the boys.”

  Chapter 22 Greg

  In the car, Nate asked, “Are you really going to set up shop at the business? Not that the accommodations are bad, but won’t you get tired of hanging around there in your off time?”

  “I have plans to make those two other huge offices in the back into a living quarters, and an entertainment area the boys can use. The prior ownership used them for storing junk. I talked to a furnishing place near us. They are going to come in and set it up this morning while I am working with my crew out in the shop. I told a guy what I wanted, and asked him if he could get it done first class for forty thousand. The silence on the line was deafening, but then he guaranteed to make it happen.”

  “What exactly are you putting in this room?”

  “Huge screen TV, DVD entertainment center with surround sound, pool table, decorative bar, small stocked kitchen alcove with refrigerator, just a few of the basics, along with plush carpeting, and of course a master bedroom suite in my room. I am going to have a Jacuzzi, and king size bathroom added on, so they can be entered from either room. The guy said he would plan that out after he gets me going today with the living quarter stuff.”

  “I have to admit,” Nate said,” that does sounds good. Those storage rooms are huge. Did you give that guy any measurements?”

  “Nope,” Connor replied, “just the number to pick up half the money at our bank, and who to see to get it. He said he don’t need no stinking measurements. You think the boys will like the perks?”

  “Hell yea Thomas.”

  “You don’t think I’ll be spoiling them do you?”

  “Who cares,” Nate shrugged. “Either they’ll learn to live in paradise at work, or they will get their butts thrown out of it for good.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Connor concurred. “I wanted a place I could set up to train them. That DVD player will play seminar training tapes too.”

  “God, this is good Thomas. I just bought Clare a brand new Lincoln SUV. I never saw her so happy.”

  “Life is good big guy,” Connor agreed. “We paid our dues, now let’s stick around long enough to collect and do some good.”

  “Amen to that my brother. Have you given any thought to re-naming the business?”

  “You mean like Limousines ‘R’ Us or something?” Connor asked.

  “No,” Nate laughed as he pulled into the parking lot. “I kind of like the name they had: DC Limousine Service.”

  “I agree, simple, but elegant. We might have to add ‘And Repair’ though to it when we start fixing vehicles too.” Connor smiled as he saw the business was already open, and their crew was already cleaning. As Nate stopped the car, Connor felt a tingle, and then recognition. He grabbed Nate’s arm before he could open the door of the Lincoln and step out. Nate looked over and saw a familiar deadly look on Connor’s face.

  “What is it Thomas?”

  “Greg’s waiting to pop us Nate, or at least me,” Connor answered. “He’s on the high rise about three hundred yards away.”

  “Damn that boy Thomas. You just can’t give anybody a break anymore. How do you want to handle it?”

  “I was going to show you a new thing I was working on later, but I guess now will have to do. Just relax, I will be right back.”

  Nate watched his friend close his eyes, and lean back. Nate got comfortable. Their crew was watching the Lincoln curiously. Nate leaned back in the seat, and rolled down the window. He shouted for them to stay put. He saw Sammy wave, and then he got everyone back into the shop. Nate closed the window again and waited.

  Connor hovered over Greg Haynes. Every time Haynes started to bring the scoped rifle to bear on the Lincoln, he started to shake. Finally, Haynes threw the rifle on the rooftop in disgust. Suddenly he tensed and looked up right where Connor hovered. Connor was amused at how much of an impression he had made on the man. They seemed to have more of a connection than even he had known. Connor projected a thought to Haynes to go down and wait for him in front of the building. Haynes nodded slowly, and resignedly began packing away the rifle. Connor returned to his body.

  Sitting up smiling at Nate, Connor said, “it seems I have had more of a positive influence on Mr. Haynes than I realized. Drive up to the next corner and turn to the left. I will let you know when to stop.”

  Nate nodded and drove off. When they were on the street where Haynes had lain in wait, Nate spotted him in front of the building with a case in hand. Pulling up alongside of him, Nate waited for Connor. Connor rolled down his window and told Haynes to get in the back. Haynes got in without a word. Barf looked at him momentarily, and then lay back down.

  “Well, well, well,” Nate said quietly. “It seems we have a failure to communicate Mr. Haynes.”

  “Christ,” Haynes replied disgustedly, “I knew I was not supposed to kill you. I didn’t know I couldn’t kill you.”

  Connor and Nate laughed out loud in spite of the seriousness of the situation.

  “You know the drill Greg,” Connor said tiredly. “How and who in the hell sent you out this fast? We haven’t even stepped on any toes since you took out the Rev.”

  “Someone probably leaked to someone else about how you two are setting up operations to manhandle evil doers. That would be my guess, but it could be anyone who uses me. I was packing up when I got a call to freelance this hit on you. You still have at least a couple of loose ends where you guys work.”

  “It must be one of those ones we obtained files on Thomas,” Nate said. “They must have put two and two together when Quenton approached them. Apparently they are more afraid of the Chinese than they are of us.”

  “You may be right Nate, but even Greg here does not know when we leave in the morning. He has not been staking us out, or I would have known it. Hell, you hadn’t even found out about our business when you were skulking around that building had you Greg?”

  “Not yet,” Haynes replied. “They told me the address of your business, and to stand by at a likely spot to take a shot. I got a call to get ready for the hit just about the time you guys must have left the Center. I have been on the rooftop since last night.”

  Connor glanced over at Nate, who was rubbing his chin. Nate looked up and said, “Thomas, it had to be someone who works there. I guess anyone of the people we passed may have done it.”

  “I had a run in with that bitch who worked the front entrance last night when I came in with Barf. I guess she might be a contact for someone else higher up. We should visit Greg’s contact first. Aw shit, I don’t want to screw around with this crap today,” Connor said disgustedly.

  “We don’t really even know who yet Thomas,” Nate added. “Why not let Greg here find out some names, and meet us back here at the end of the day. He would be more than happy to help, right Greg?”

  Connor watched that feral look cross Hayne’s face as all the angles flew through his mind. “You know Greg, I get the feeling you need a little reminder about crossing us.”

  “I already crossed you,” Haynes said. “You can only kill me once.”

  “As you know,” Connor replied, “there are a hell of a
lot worse things than death, and if you don’t come up with some rock solid stuff by the end of the day, you my friend will be heading for your own stint in purgatory. Now get out there and trace down some leads.”

  “Look you guys,” Haynes protested. “You know how this stuff works now. They don’t call me up on the phone. I get work through a drop on the Internet. My account gets credited after I complete the hit.”

  “Okay then,” Connor said thoughtfully. “Give me your account number, and the IP they contact you on the web through. Maybe we won’t have to run around today Nate. We have some items coming in which just might do the trick.”

  “I see where you’re going,” Nate replied, “but what about our personal assassin Mr. Haynes here?”

  “We don’t want anything to happen to Greg yet,” Connor replied. “If he disappears, they might close up shop. You must leave the confirmation of a hit on something Greg. What is it, a message board or something?”

  “Believe it or not, we leave messages inside an online hobby quilt club on MSN,” Haynes confirmed.

  “So the message board would read something like Washington quilt finished, going on to next project,” Nate asked.

  “Almost exactly that.”

  “Good, give me your club password too,” Connor directed. “I can trace all of the hits.”

  “You ever heard of firewalls Connor?” Haynes retorted.

  “You don’t worry about the details bubba,” Connor handed him a notepad and pen. “Just write down what I asked, and leave the rest to me. I will be monitoring you so don’t get cute. Play coy with them. You can tell them your cat peed on your quilt, and you need more time.”

  “Do I survive this?” Haynes asked frankly.

  “That will be taken under consideration,” Connor said.

  “Don’t push Greg,” Nate added. “We can come up with a way to do without you right now if need be.”

  Haynes had been absently stroking Barf s head as he lay on the seat next to him. Barf got up, licked Haynes on the side of the face, and gave him his paw. Connor watched Haynes smile a real smile as he shook hands with the dog.