Hard Case 12: Climate of Chaos (John Harding)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “We finished this early,” Gus said. “We’ll throw all our crap in the Ford and head for home. I wouldn’t mind sipping a couple on your deck. Jafar will let us know if Rooks and Cortez leave the city. I bet you wouldn’t mind writing on the beach tomorrow morning with an Irish.”

  They walked to the parking lot as they talked. “Amen to that. Thanks to Cala copiloting, we flew the helicopter back to the Grove and picked up the big Ford after flying Governor Flo to Sacramento. We needed the extra room in two vehicles with our equipment. The Rooks/Cortez contract will be tricky.”

  “Please count me in on any action,” Claude said. “I will even agree to be an Unholies mascot.”

  “The wife is still liking your absences, Bad Penny?” Jian asked.

  “That is an understatement,” Claude admitted.

  “I wish we didn’t need to go back to school,” Jean stated out of the blue.

  “Reference a point for that statement,” Nick replied.

  “It’s boring. All the troublemakers have been silenced.”

  “Good grades and patience will enable you to keep helping in the field. Mess up and I will show you what true boredom feels like, daughter of darkness.”

  “I know.”

  “Be careful what you wish for, by the way,” Nick added.

  “Lately, I’ve been wishing for the school to be attacked by zombies.”

  * * *

  Later that night on the deck, after the kids went to bed, the Unholies sipped and watched fog roll in. The traffic had been light, enabling them to get on the deck by 10 pm.

  “I’m thinking we need to visit the Isle of Hope and borrow John’s other smaller boat they donated to Tom. It incorporates the same weapons alterations as Sea Wolf. You guys know the Governor there… Thom McGaffey. He keeps the boat in top shape and armed.”

  “I remember he renamed the boat a couple times already,” Gus said. “What title does it sail under now?”

  “Thom settled on Guerro.”

  “Warrior in Spanish, huh? Not bad,” Gus said. “I’m seeing where you’re headed with this. You want to crew Guerro to the Caymans, hit Tomney on his yacht, and bug out to the Isle of Hope to lie low for a few days before returning home.”

  “I think I can do it easily. The approach would need to be by water in the dead of night. We have the gear to do that easily. I’m thinking of asking John in on this one. We’ll study satellite photos and try to get a body count, but there may be a need for someone watching my back.”

  “I like that plan better already,” Johnny remarked. “John’s been in the water with you before. He sure as hell proved beyond any doubt with his Captain Hook regimen, he makes a great partner in the water. If any sharks come around, the shark whisperer will simply tell them to bugger off.”

  After some amused appreciation, Jian continued the line of questioning. “If we are taking John with us, perhaps we should take Bad Penny too.”

  “You don’t want to be the Unholies mascot anymore, huh Dragon?” Nick asked.

  Jian shrugged. “He volunteered. Besides… he is a killer with significant weapons knowledge.”

  “Agreed. I will offer a spot on this operation to him whether John can go or not. John may turn it down because he can’t take his buddy Hook with him.”

  Nick’s crew enjoyed that remark.

  “Do you think the Rooks/Cortez team needs to be done before Tomney?” Johnny asked.

  “Absolutely… if they leave the city together. Otherwise, I would need to do Tomney first. Ideally, we’re handling the minions while the kingpin thinks he’s safe in hiding. We’ll monitor it in conjunction with Jafar.”

  “This seems like a very loose operation, Muerto,” Gus said.

  “Well naturally… Payaso… if I could read the minds of Rooks and Cortez, we’d be off and running. Since I can’t, we need to wait for actionable intel. Maybe you would like to envision zombies attacking the school as Jean wished for, and we could discuss a plan of action.”

  Gus pointed at Nick with a big smile. “You need to enjoy the humor in that remark, Muerto. Jean has trouble calming down for even a short period of time.”

  “I know,” Nick admitted. “Why do you think we’ve semi-adopted Sonny? He can’t control her, but at least he doesn’t fear Jean to the point he won’t rat her out.”

  “Sonny is a great kid. I doubt we’ll ever need to gather him from dire straits,” Johnny said. “He’s the common sense and logic thread. When I saw the kid leap over the table at the signing, pluck two knives from a man’s shoulders, wipe them and flip one perfectly to Jean without even glancing… oh my. He’s a jewel.”

  “Those two, freak me out,” Nick stated. “I remember when I was twelve. I was a rough psychopathic moron as a kid. I never acquired the skills they already have in formulating strategies until much older. Sonny makes adult decisions perfectly because of his parent snowflakes. Jean only just began trusting again that no one would ever drag her away from us to be tortured and killed.”

  “It is getting late. Come along Jian. Cala will leave without us and we will be stuck waiting for an Uber.”

  “Otter’s Point tomorrow?” Jian followed Johnny to the deck exit.

  “I will be there as soon as I take the kids to school.” Nick and Gus left the room with them. “C’mon, Deke. Let’s walk.”

  Deke streaked by them, nearly leaping to the bottom stairway landing.

  The wives met them at the landing.

  “I hoped you were ready. Cala and I need sleep,” Tina told Gus. “I’m going with you to the beach tomorrow morning.”

  “Fine… but I better not need dynamite to get you out of bed.”

  “You won’t. I’ve missed the Point.”

  Rachel saw Deke come out of the kitchen, leash in mouth. “Deke’s taking you for a walk, huh Muerto.”

  “He had two beers. I’m sure Deke wants to mark the territory, polluted in his absence by other strange creatures.”

  “Don’t be gone all night,” Rachel ordered.

  “Yes, dear.”

  * * *

  Although a little foggy, the Sunday night sky featured blotches of stars. Nick decided to do his hill descent and climb, circular route, taking Deke down to Lighthouse Avenue. Deke knew to turn left through part of the small Pacific Grove town before the steep climb back to their home. As they approached the intersection a block away from the Monte Café, Nick noted cars lined in all four directions, with a dozen hooded and masked figures blocking the traffic. Nick called Neil Dickerson.

  “Nick? Are you back in town?”

  “I’m walking Deke in town. There are a dozen Antifa types pulling a Portland, Oregon stunt, blocking Lighthouse one street before the Monte Café. It looks like they’re making people pay to go through the intersection.”

  “That’s only two blocks down from the station!”

  “Yep… and you only have fifteen regular duty officers. I have US Marshal Deke with me. He’s pretty good with crowd control, but I warn you… I will shoot anyone trying to hurt him.”

  “I’ll be out of a job if I don’t do something about this. I’m on my way. I’ll call in all the officers I can, but I’d appreciate your help.”

  “Okay. I’ll monitor the situation and make sure they don’t start beating anyone.”

  Nick walked the rest of the way to the intersection. Four of the hooded and masked figures danced around a car, blocked in by other vehicles. Kids screamed and cried inside the car, while the woman driving tried to comfort them.

  “Awww… screw this, Deke.” Nick let him off leash. “Guard!”

  Deke stayed at Nick’s side. Nick took out his stun-gun nightstick and waded into the hoodies terrorizing the vehicle. He smashed legs and sides, poked stomachs, and zapped groins. As other hoodies converged, Deke defended, ripping them to the pavement. One tried to draw out a spray can. Nick shot him in the shoulder.

  “Anyone reaching gets shot. Deke! Herd!”

  Deke went into sheepdog m
ode, biting, growling, and herding the hoodies into a cringing circle. One broke and ran, but Deke dragged him down before he could get more than a few feet away. Nick in the meantime, with nightstick arcs flashing in the darkness and Colt in hand, he bludgeoned anyone trying to get away.

  “All of you on your knees! Lace your hands behind your stupid head! Do it now or I let Deke get serious tearing throats out!”

  The ones not yet on the pavement knelt as ordered. Nick nudged and kicked the four writhing on the pavement from his first attack.

  “Get your asses over there with the rest!”

  By the time Neil arrived with four squad cars, people were driving out of the blocked intersection, carefully avoiding Nick, Deke and their prisoners. Nick recorded names and phone numbers as they drove past and thanked him. The one shot in the shoulder cried and screamed. Nick zapped him before the police moved in.

  “Shut up! You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you in the head.”

  “Damn! What is this, one riot, one Ranger?” Neil asked.

  “They were terrorizing kids in a car. Deke and I didn’t like it. I had to wound one who tried to spray Deke. The rest aren’t hurt badly.”

  Neil called for an ambulance. His officers restrained and frisked the hoodies while tearing off their masks. Neil shined his flashlight in their faces. “These guys don’t look at all familiar. Who the hell are you and where did you come from?”

  “We Monterey Antifa!”

  “You snowflakes just got your asses kicked by a guy and his dog,” Neil replied. “Why the hell weren’t you all acting out in your own city.”

  “What right did he have disrupting our protest?” One of the women in the group cried out.

  “This is Deputy US Marshal McCarty. He understands you can’t block our streets and terrorize our citizens. You’re all under arrest.” Neil motioned for his officers to load them into the squad cars. An ambulance arrived to collect the wounded man, leaving Neil alone with Nick and Deke.

  “I’m not sure how we would have handled this without you and Deke. I will probably need you in court to testify, Nick.”

  “I figured as much. I recorded witness names and phone numbers. I will send them to you once I get home.”

  “I’m glad you did that for us. It will make getting plea deals much easier.”

  “The Unholies will be at the Point tomorrow morning if you need to talk with me in person. I will have my phone charged and on though,” Nick replied.

  “Good enough. Nice work. Want a ride to the house?”

  “No thanks. Deke and I will finish our walk. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Nick.”

  * * *

  Rachel awaited him. Deke scooted past, sensing unhappiness. “The moment I realized you were gone a long time, I turned on the news. It seems a US Marshal and his dog beat the crap out of a dozen Antifa idiots. I didn’t think at first it could be you because only one guy was wounded. Then, I deduced you used my dog in your wild walk.”

  “I called Neil first. Then… the hoodies terrorized kids in a car. Deke and I knew we needed to intervene. May I come in? I’m not selling encyclopedias lady.”

  Rachel noticed she was blocking the entrance. She cleared out of the way. “Are you ready for bed?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How in the world did you and Deke handle twelve Antifa traitors?”

  “With righteous indignation. Also… a stun-gun nightstick, a Colt 1911, and a Deke with big teeth.”

  Rachel locked the door and set the security system. “I think you’ve been watching too many John Harding videos. Next… you’ll be trying to find your own great white shark to ride.”

  “Not happening… ever. He and I make a good team and our crews blend perfectly when needed. In tonight’s action, John would have slipped on his MMA gloves, ripped out a couple throats and a couple hearts – all in hand to hand combat. Deke and I are much more sophisticated.”

  “How sophisticated at husbandly duties are you?”

  Nick put his arm around Rachel’s shoulders. “Oh… you’d be surprised.”

  “I’ve been with you for years. I doubt you can surprise me.”

  “Let’s put that to the test.”

  * * *

  Nick and Deke walked with Jean, Sonny and Jay to the school. Nick didn’t think they had any immediate threats and Deke loved the long walk. The kids caught up on the events of the night past, having seen numerous YouTube videos of the action.

  “Some comments label you as a Nazi Stormtrooper, Dad, even though you and Deke faced off with a dozen hoodies.”

  “I figured as much. If not for Deke, I would have needed to shoot a lot more.”

  When they reached the school. Nick said goodbye and began walking away. Deke kept glancing back and then halted with a growl. Nick turned to see six kids ringing Jean, Sonny and Jay. Nick grinned. You kids didn’t bring enough backup for those three. “I guess we better hang around. The security guys do their jobs here very well. So much for private schools’ reputation for safety, huh Deke?”

  Deke snorted his displeasure at not being immediately sent on a rescue mission.

  * * *

  “We thought you three would be gone from the school,” the biggest kid told Jean. “This private school doesn’t take thugs like you three nobodies. We figured they would have expelled you three by now.”

  Jean, Sonny and Jay moved into back to back positions, dropping their packs immediately. “I thought bullying wasn’t allowed in this school, Cracker.”

  “These guys are not much on the bullying chart, Viper. Let them blow off some steam and walk away,” Sonny suggested.

  Jean sighed. “I wished for a zombie assault and this is all I get? Pathetic.”

  “Just so we’re clear, we don’t do anything unless they do, right?” Jay asked.

  “Hold formation for now, Predator. If the big mouth dork in front of Sonny starts something, hesitate until we see whether the others want a piece.”

  “Understood,” Jay said. “That guy’s name is Joe Torrins.”

  “It’s good you know my name, punk. I run how things get done here, retards. I’ve heard your names mentioned too many times. I heard your old man is a bad dude, bitch. I bet he’s another poser like you three.”

  Jean had to run in place for a moment while stifling amusement that would make them vulnerable. She regained control as other students began watching the spectacle. “You better pray to God you don’t ever have anyone stupidly face off with my dad. Did you hear what he called me, Cracker?”

  “Yeah… I did.”

  “Break rank and school him. Predator and I can handle the rest.”

  “On it.” Sonny walked into the surprised Joe’s face. “You called us posers. Want to illustrate the fact or keep running your pretty mouth?”

  Joe swung wildly at Sonny, who used his momentum to flip him full length onto the sidewalk. As he landed, one of the others moved on Sonny, only to be bitch-slapped by Jean, sending him to his knees. “Stay out of this! You five are sheep. Sonny will handle the sheepherder. Stay back and watch. Otherwise… Predator and I join in and all of you will get your asses kicked and expelled.”

  The other five halted. Sonny waited for the groaning Joe to regain his feet. “You had best take your little gang into school… poser… before doing something that will mean even more pain for you.”

  Joe charged Sonny, who dropped to the side with leg out, causing Joe to cartwheel over Sonny’s leg into a painful heap. He rolled around and started to cry. Jean immediately lost it, her loud amusement backed off the other five, rather than tempting them to attack. Jean walked over to the sobbing Joe, nudging him with her foot.

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Betty… get up and get to school, your vagina is showing.” Jean looked around at Joe’s remaining cohorts. “Help your friend up and get the hell out of our sight. Never confront us again… ever. We won’t play with you like we did today. We will hurt you.”

  The five others
with Joe helped him to his feet. He kept sobbing all the way into the school. Sonny gestured toward the rest of the kids. “We don’t want any trouble. We’re here to learn, not fight. We don’t bully anyone, and we make friends easily.”

  The three shouldered their packs and headed for the school entrance with the audience following at a respectful distance.

  Nick looked down at Deke as he put away his iPhone. “See… I told you there was nothing to worry about. I did get a good movie of the event. I may need it if we hear from the principal or other parents.”

  Chapter Nine

  Contracts in Abeyance

  Nick arrived at the beach with Quinn and Rachel. The early November day without the usual wind off the ocean and bleak early morning clouds, brightened the ocean scene with deeper blues. Nick handed down the baby-carriage and large thermos of coffee to Gus. He and Rachel walked around to the stone steps. Everyone but Cala had an Irish coffee while Nick explained what happened the night before. He also entertained with the school confrontation video.

  “The daughter of darkness managed to substitute this event for the zombie attack she wished to relieve school boredom with,” Rachel said.

  “I doubt they’ll need to handle anymore bullies at school,” Nick added. “There may be some fallout though, depending on whether word gets to the principal, or that kid’s parents feel obligated to get involved. We’re listed on Sonny’s school sheet as first contacts. I will make sure to escort them to and from school.”

  “Why do you think the Antifa goons targeted the Grove instead of Monterey where they came from?” Tina asked.

  “Smaller police force would be my guess and easier to block off an intersection,” Nick replied. “I figure once they established the police would be slow to react, they would cause trouble in the café and bars that were still open next to the spot they picked.”

  “I’m glad you stopped them without having to kill any of them,” Tina said. “The media always makes those idiots into victims, no matter-”

  Nick’s iPhone buzzed. “Achmed… how are you?”

  “Good, Muerto. I have a line on Miguel Cortez and Nat Rooks. They will be in Santa Cruz tonight at seven, meeting with an Antifa leader named Teddy Martin. The back and forth emails I hacked talk of a large-scale demonstration and potential riot by BLM/Antifa members on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. They’re recruiting to field a thousand rioters. I texted you the address. The main purpose they mentioned in correspondence is demonstrating against Flo as Governor.”