by Nees, David
Jason nodded. “You’re quick on your feet, verbally speaking. You’re bright. If you’ve got any vision, you could help others chart a different course for Charlotte. It’s worth a try isn’t it?”
Luke looked thoughtful, then slapped his knee. “By George! I’m in. That’s the new game. I been waiting for inspiration to hit me, and the inspiration was you. Fate brought us together. I guess it was worth climbing all those stairs after all.”
He stood up. Jason stood with him, not entirely letting his guard down. Luke reached out his hand and Jason took it.
“I’m your man. After you trigger the chaos, I’ll come in to help restore a new civic order.” He paused and looked down at his feet. “But I don’t know how to do that. Hell, I don’t know anyone in power. I’ve got no connections.” He looked back at Jason, now with a lost look in his eyes.
“Luke, I need to find someone and talk with him. You help me do that and I’ll get you set up with him. He’s got some power but he’s not with the mob. Maybe the two of you can work together. You could have a chance to prove your worth to him. How’s that sound?”
“Wow, you are the man. Luke the Duke salutes you.” He raised his hand in a close facsimile of a real salute.
Jason explained who Michael Daniels, the FEMA agent, was and where he had his office. Luke agreed to get dressed as presentable as he could and give Daniels a message to meet Jason in the building where he was hiding. Luke would bring him to the meeting.
“Now go trim your beard and hair.”
With that, Luke left and Jason went back to the roof access door. He climbed the steep steps to a small landing. From there he opened a door onto the roof. There was an eight-foot high metal partition that screened the multitude of air conditioning units from sight. The partition consisted of metal slates with gaps to let the wind through. The arrangement was ideal for Jason. He had cover and he could shoot through the openings. He could build a shooting rest and fire without exposing himself or his rifle. When he took a shot, the suppressor would mask the source and all anyone would hear would be the bullet’s sonic crack which would not be directional. He went back down to the suites and, in multiple trips, carried up a table, chair and some cushions to build a shooting platform.
When he was done, Jason covered it with some curtain material torn free from some windows. If there were any surveillance from the sky, which he doubted, it would look like debris, perhaps from prior looting. He had heard no planes for years, but there were old planes around, like old cars. At some point, someone would get them back in the air. For now, no one saw any utility in either expending the effort or the fuel.
Luke showed up part of the way through Jason’s preparations. He had put on a pair of slacks that were closer in fit and found a pair of dress shoes. He now wore only one flannel shirt, neatly tucked into his pants. He had a jacket with him, the day was cold. His hair was combed and his beard trimmed.
“How do I look, Boss?” Luke smiled proudly.
“You look great, like a real player. You should have no trouble getting into the building. Just remember to ask for Mr. Daniels and tell him you have some information from the FEMA office in Atlanta. Can you sound like you come from Atlanta?
“Yessir, I can.” Luke drawled out his reply. “Ah been on the road for a week just to talk with Mister Daniels and I’m damn near wore out.”
Jason smiled. “Don’t overdo it. Just enough to get past the guard on the main floor.”
He gave Luke the office number for Daniels and sent him on his way.
Twenty minutes later Luke was at the city government building. He didn’t let himself gawk. He’d seen it before, of course, but never with the intention of entering or interacting with people in power.
You’re playing in the big leagues now, Luke. Make like a duke. Make like you belong. If you were playing cards with ‘em, you’d not be timid. You’d hustle them like the marks you know they are.
He finished his internal pep talk and stepped through the doors.
Luke’s story got him past the guard with a minimum of conversation. He climbed the stairs and walked down the hall. After knocking on the door number Jason had given him, he walked in.
“May I help you?” the receptionist said.
Luke gave her his brightest smile.
“Yes, you can, darling. I’m here to talk with Mr. Daniels. The Atlanta office sent me. I’ve been on the road for a week and I’m plum worn out. I never figured to have to go on such a journey.” He beamed at the woman. “But if I had known there was such a beauty at the end of my trek, I wouldn’t have protested a bit.” He winked at her.
“Well,” the woman looked slightly flustered as well as flattered. “What’s your name?”
“Luke. Luke Duke” He continued to smile at her. “It seems my parents had a misplaced sense of humor…at my expense.”
“Well, Mr. Duke, I’m glad you made it here safely. I understand it’s dangerous out there on the road.”
Luke leaned over the desk. “You don’t know the half of it. I could tell you stories.” He paused for a moment. “In fact, I could tell you some over dinner. What do you say?”
“Well, I have to get home tonight—”
“That’s okay. I’m going to be busy with Mr. Daniels tonight. How about tomorrow night? You can show a weary traveler your fine city and a good restaurant. It’ll be like a celebration of the completion of my mission.”
“Ahh…okay.” She said with some hesitation.
“What’s your name, darling?”
“My name’s Suzy.”
“Suzy,” Luke bowed slightly. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance and I look forward to tomorrow evening. I’ll meet you here, will that work?”
“Yes, that will work fine.” She smiled, then turned to her phone. “Let me announce you.”
Chapter 35
___________________________________
L uke took a breath and entered Daniels’ office.
“You’re from the Atlanta office?” Daniels asked as he stood to greet his visitor.
“Kind of,” Luke replied. “I’m Luke Duke…my parent’s misplaced sense of humor on display.”
“Who in Atlanta sent you?”
“No one, really.”
“Really? You’re here on your own? How did you know who I was?”
“Can we sit down? I have a short tale to tell you and my shoes are killing me.”
Daniels waved towards a chair in front of his desk and both men took their seats. Daniels sat back with his fingers entwined and waited.
“I’m not really from Atlanta, but I was instructed to seek you out and give you a message.”
“I’m listening. Who and what?”
“The message is from a Jason. He didn’t give me his last name, so I assume you know who I’m talking about.”
A look of concern spread over Daniels’ face.
“He wants to meet with you,” Luke continued. “Tonight. He says it’s important.”
“Jesus,” whispered Daniels.
“What’s up? I get a sense from you that something is very wrong here.”
Daniels shook his head, looking at his desk. “There’s been some commotion this morning. Some people think it may involve this Jason. I never thought he’d be coming around again.” He looked up and met Luke’s eyes. “Where is he?”
“I’m not really at liberty to say at this point in time. But I’m to escort you to meet with him. It’s a secure location. He was very clear that no one else should know of this meeting. He thinks you’re the only one he can trust…except for me.” This last Luke said with some pride in his voice.
“And I’m supposed to take your word? That this isn’t a set up?”
Luke pushed himself up straight in the chair.
“I assure you sir,” his voice rang with authority. “I can be trusted. I give my word and the word of Luke Duke is something people have always been able to rely on. Men believe in me because I keep my word and wo
men admire me for it as well.”
Daniels studied him for a moment.
“How did you meet Jason?”
“Our paths collided. Some might say by chance. I see it as a twist of fate, a once in a lifetime of two lives coming together to make momentous things happen. You, apparently, are going to be brought into this great adventure that is just beginning. I urge you not to shrink from the moment but embrace it as I have done.”
“That’s a lot to read into his request to meet with me. It could be just that he’s in trouble and on the run and needs my help. Help that could land me in some serious difficulties.
“Mr. Daniels, what do you do here all day in this office…if I might be so bold as to ask?”
Daniels put his hands back on his desk and pushed around some papers.
“Not much, really. I write up speeches and some encouraging articles for the newsletter that goes out to the community. But not a whole lot more.”
“But you get paid pretty well for that, I’m guessing. At least in today’s terms.”
“I don’t know what that has to do with what we’re discussing.”
“Let me connect it for you. I’ve been a man who lived by my wits all my life. Luke the Duke I’m called, or used to be. Over on the east side I was known as the Duke of East End. I didn’t run anything but was sort of a goodwill ambassador for my neighborhood.”
He leaned forward now, warming to his theme.
“I’m a card playing man. I can read people. I played cards with all the power people, the rich people who wanted to sample a bit of the low life action on the East End. It didn’t bother me. I took their money. It was the price they paid to live on the wild side for a night. I had to work with the mob. Not higher-ups like Joe Nicoletti—”
“You know Joe?”
“Only by reputation. I had to deal with the lower levels of the mob. I managed it well, if I do say so myself. My point is that I understand the mentality of those now runnin’ our fair city. You may not have grown up here, but I’m sure you can see what this city used to be. Our nickname was the ‘Queen City’. It’s not only for being named after Princess Charlotte, but because we are, were, is maybe the better word now, a classy place.
“Now here’s the thing. I’d like to have a job such as yours, in fact, in other circumstances, I could see myself lobbying you to be your assistant. Not that you’re busy enough to need one, but I could make myself useful…and entertaining.
“But things have changed. My intersection with Jason has opened my eyes to new possibilities. You need to open your eyes as well, since he seems to think you are part of the change that’s coming.”
“You’re not making a lot of sense, you realize that, don’t you?”
“Background material, I’m preparing the soil for you to understand things.” Now Luke stood up and began to pace around the office.
“Do you realize you’re on borrowed time? Jason opened my eyes to the fact that I was. Now I see you’re in the same situation in some sense as me. The mob won’t need you soon, once their control over the region is complete. I don’t know what they have planned, maybe you do, but I do know they don’t carry around much extra baggage. Down on the streets, if you didn’t perform, didn’t earn well, you were disciplined or eliminated.
“I made it because I was entertaining enough to bring marks for the card games, so the mob put up with me. The civilians loved playing at my games. I was…colorful. That produced more income for the mob. Everyone was happy. But you’re expendable. When they don’t need you, they won’t keep you around.”
“Jason implied much the same thing.”
Luke sniffed. “I don’t doubt it. He’s very perceptive.”
He went back to his chair and sat down.
“He’s also a serious man. A hard man. I’ve seen them and he fits the type.”
“So, again, what does this all have to do with me meeting Jason.”
Luke threw up his hands.
“Everything! He’s going to disrupt things. He’s offering us the opportunity to make the most of the chaos. Out of chaos comes new order. Those who are ready, reap the rewards.”
“I don’t know. What you’re talking about sounds dangerous.”
“It is. But, Mr. Daniels, may I call you Michael?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “Michael, change is coming whether you’re ready for it or not. And I’m the one you need to partner with. I can help you navigate through the chaos. Together we’ll come out ahead and with the power to change this city. I’m born for this. I’ve lived at the edge of chaos my whole life.”
Luke now sat back and grinned.
“It’s fate that brought us all together. You and me connecting through Jason, the agent of destruction. I’m not sure what he’ll reap from this, but we’ll redefine ourselves and our future. One without a drop-dead date.”
“Sooo—”
“Meet with Jason tonight. That’s all. Then you can decide.”
Chapter 36
___________________________________
W hen the pursuers from the coal train camp reached the warehouse, they found Gino’s body. The trail split into two. Todd had the men split up with the two dogs and sent them off to follow both trails. He hurried back to camp and got in his car to head for the city.
Once downtown, he went straight to Joe’s office.
“Mr. Nicoletti, we found a body. It’s probably Gino. He was in a warehouse north of the city. He was shot and dragged into a corner. We pursued the escapees to that warehouse. The trail split from there. One leads south towards the river and the city, the other heads northeast, away from town.”
“Jason.” Joe said. His voice hard and angry. “He freed that guy from the camp and now he’s heading back to town.”
“You think he’ll come back? After what has happened?”
“I know he’s come back. Two sentries were killed last night. I think he’s slipped back in and is here, downtown.”
Todd looked shocked. “Why would he come back here? This would be the worst place for him.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what he’s up to and I don’t know how the camp worker fits into this, but I got the militia out looking for him.”
“I think the camp worker may be long gone. He may not fit into whatever Jason’s planning.”
Joe looked at Todd. “So you’re the expert now? You got the answers? He sprang someone from your work camp, remember. Seems to me your guards should have caught him.”
Now Todd looked scared. “He’s very good at what he does. We were surprised.”
“Well, I’m not going to be surprised. When Mr. Tagliani hears about this, there’ll be hell to pay. We not only lost someone to take over the coal project, he killed a made man, one of our own. That can’t stand.”
Joe waved his hand towards the door.
“Get the hell back to camp. Find the worker and track Jason’s movements. I want to follow where he went. It’ll confirm if he’s the one who killed my sentries.”
Todd left quickly and headed back to camp. He already had his pursuit team on both trails. Hopefully they would catch someone. He felt on shaky ground. Jason was going to become his problem if he wasn’t careful and that wouldn’t have a good outcome for him. He wasn’t a part of the mob, just someone hired to do a job. It wouldn’t take much for the mob to dispense with him and he knew that could be fatal.
Luke told Michael where to meet him and, after a few flirtatious comments to Suzy, he left the building. He positioned himself near the basketball stadium. There was no one about, the day had been cold and the night was going to be colder. The commotion that had occurred during the day on the south side of the downtown area had settled down. He saw small groups of militia checking buildings. They were coming closer and Luke sensed he didn’t want to be caught out by them.
Before the search crews reached the stadium, Daniels showed up. Luke grabbed him and they walked casually, but quickly off in a circuitous route, finally arriving at the buildi
ng across the street from where Jason was waiting.
“We go in here. I’ve got the other building locked up.” Luke produced a set of keys. “The keys to my kingdom.”
They entered the building. Once inside, Luke locked the door.
“Make the search groups think no one is in these buildings.”
They climbed the stairs to the second floor. After entering the walkway connecting the two buildings, Luke motioned for Michael to crouch down. He studied the street in both directions. After making sure there was no one about, Luke locked the doors leading into the walkway.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The two ran in a crouch across to the other building. Once inside, Luke locked those doors as well, sealing the walkway off on both ends.
“Make it harder to get into my territory.”
He led Michael to the stairs and they began the laborious climb to the top floor.
They entered the suite where Jason was waiting.
“Hello Michael,” Jason said. I’m glad you came.”
“Do you know they’re looking for someone, probably you, everywhere? What did you do?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“I heard some sentries were killed. Did you do that?”
“No comment.”
“What do you want? What’s going on and why am I here? I could get into serious trouble for this. Joe will expect me to tell him where you are.”
Michael looked panicked.
Jason answered. “But you won’t. No one will know you’ve been here.”
“So what do you want from me?”
“Do you remember that I told you your position was not secure for the long run?”
Michael nodded. “This guy said the same thing. Did you coach him?”
“Actually no. We both seemed to have come to the same conclusion. Luke is very perceptive, if a bit unusual.”
“Go on,” Michael said.
“Well, I need just a little help from you and I’m going to break this organization down. There’ll be chaos. Luke sees the possibilities of making use of that confusion to change things. You can as well.”