"Yes Senator," Deborah said, and she sat back and enjoyed the rest of the ride to the office.
"Goodnight Deborah," the Senator said as she got out of the Suburban once they made it to the office.
"Goodnight Senator," Deborah said, wondering if she could make it to her favorite Chinese restaurant before they closed.
Dale knew precisely where to go after dropping off Deborah. He was going to Dave's house. Dave was the Senator's problem solver or eliminator until he became sick. Cancer was his ailment, and for what he had, there was no cure or treatment that would save him. Dave was a dead man walking. Dale wasn't sure what the Senator could possibly need Dave for, at this point, it made no sense, but he knew the Senator had a good reason to see Dave and it would all make sense very soon. When they arrived at Dave's house, Dale got out and opened the Senator's door as he always did, but he would wait for a sign that the Senator wanted him to go inside with him and not just to the door. Dale led the way to the front door and rang the bell, a few moments later, Dave opened the door.
"Come on in," he said as he turned and walked away, leaving the Senator and Dale standing at the opened front door. The Senator didn't move, which meant Dale was to go in first. Dale walked inside and took a quick look around and then nodded his head, letting the Senator know it was safe to go inside. Dave was sitting in a recliner listening to classical music. The Senator walked in and stood by the couch.
"You don't mind if we do a sweep, do you?"
Dave put his left hand up, letting the Senator know the sweep was okay to do. The Senator nodded at Dale, and he took out an electronics sweeper and made sure the room was safe to talk in without being recorded. Dale even checked Dave before he looked at the Senator and nodded his approval that the room was clear.
"May I?" The Senator said as he waved his hand at the couch, getting permission to sit down.
"Sure, you're always welcome here, Senator," Dave said, while he repositioned himself on the couch.
"Well, that is good to hear," the Senator said as he looked around.
"So, what brings you out here to see an old dog like me, one last pat on the head before they pull the plug on me?" Dave said, and he coughed a bit.
"I may just have one last pat for you, but it can be felt by your daughter and granddaughter for the rest of their lives, that is if you're interested."
"Well I'll tell you, I'm all ears, so what's the deal? I don't have too much time left, maybe six months at the outside, but I know death pretty well, he'll get me in the next sixty days, if I'm lucky that is," Dave said while he lit up a cigarette and looked at Dale standing in the doorway.
"I'll be honest; this is a one-way trip kind of deal."
"I'm on the express train to Hell, keep talking," Dave said as he took a big drag on his freshly lit cigarette.
"Very well then, I require someone to stand in for the C.C.K Killer and also get rid of a mark at the same time."
"Got it, what's the payout?"
"Dale, hand our friend that paperwork please," the Senator said, looking at Dale and motioning for him to give the envelope to Dave.
Dale reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Dave, and then went back to his position at the doorway. They both watched Dave open the envelope and read through the papers that were inside.
"So, who's the mark?" Dave asked as he continued to puff on his cigarette.
"Ed Daniels," the Senator said as he sat back and crossed his legs.
Dave shook his head up and down, but not the yes kind of shaking; it was the let me sit back and think about this for a minute kind of shaking. Dave sat back with his arms extended along the top of the couch, the lit cigarette sitting straight up between his fingers smoldering, waiting to be smoked. He lifted his right arm, moving it slowly toward his mouth; it was more of a muscle memory movement. Dave took a hard pull on his cigarette, once it reached his mouth while he continued to stare at the ceiling. The Senator just sat back with his legs crossed and waited, he knew Dave was processing all the information, but more importantly, he knew Dave was figuring what that kind of money would mean to his daughter and granddaughter. Dave let out a huge sigh and with that sigh came a huge puff of smoke, then he sat up and looked at the Senator.
"When does this have to be done?"
"The next month will be fine, you will have time to get your affairs in order and say your goodbyes," the Senator said, uncrossing his legs and sitting up.
"Will it be quick?"
"Yes, on that you have my word," the Senator said knowing Dave didn't want to ask how he would die but confirm it would be quick.
"I suppose you are already putting everything in place to line me up with all the killings? I guess it's good I'm a loner and don't travel much now," Dave said as he laughed.
"Yes, I suppose. The payment will be made after the job is completed. I will make sure they get the money and new identifications if necessary," the Senator said knowing Dave was going to ask those questions.
"You know me too well, I'm in, Mr. President, I mean Senator," Dave said smiling, putting the cigarette to his mouth, taking a pull and making the end light up brightly while the tobacco burned, and the paper made that very light crackling sound as it turned to ash.
"Touché, you are sharp as ever, one of my associates will be in touch," the Senator said then he got up to leave.
"Oh, one thing. I am going to need fifty-grand, call it a going-away present, the two million in the trust fund stays two million just so we're clear," Dave said, taking another drag off the cigarette.
"I take it you would like that in cash?"
"That would be very much appreciated."
"I will have it sent over tomorrow," the Senator said, and he walked toward the front door, only stopping so Dale could open it for him.
Dale walked behind the Senator; he knew Mike was waiting by the Suburban to let him in. Dale knew he had somehow moved up in position over Mike. Although Dale wasn't sure how he did it, the meeting he just walked out of confirmed it. Dale was as close to the Senator as anyone, professionally speaking, but he hadn't seen the moves being made as aspirations to the White House. Dale felt energized. He may be bodyguarding the next President of the United States. It is funny how life works because the Senator felt energized as well; the Presidency seemed to be getting closer to the Senator with every move he made.
Barry, Karen, and Corey were back home and watching the second press conference the Senator had on a replay of the news.
"That Senator is one slick dude," Corey said.
"Yes, he is. I think he's a little too slick, we better keep a little dirt on him, just in case," Karen said.
"Insurance is not a bad move with a guy like him, that's for sure," Barry said, nodding his head a little, showing his agreement with the statement that Corey and Karen had just made.
"Yeah, try to figure out some way to deal with that character, in case things go south, and I mean like Tijuana, I drank the water south," Corey said.
"The first thing we're going to do tomorrow is meet Marko at the building. We need to drop him and Deck a little something for all the help. So, I figure our Uncle will put one point five million in their hands, and they can pass a little of that onto the families from the pool hall shooting. Now, we have another three and a half million dollars to add to our stash; I think after we settle up with Marko, we go get passports and vanish for a week or so, what do you guys think?" Barry asked, knowing that Karen and Corey would be in full agreement with any plans to get out of town.
"Now you talkin' I need to get me some nice island honies to add to my collection, as far as I'm concerned, we can get out of town on the first thing smokin'," Corey said and he started hula dancing around the living room.
"That does sound good, I bet Marko can get those passports for us faster than waiting," Karen said, while she watched Corey Hula dance around the living room.
"Good point, I don't want to wait, let's rollout," Corey said, sti
ll Hula dancing.
"We will talk to Marko about it tomorrow when we see him, and I need to resign from my job," Barry said.
"I'll call Marko and let him know we need to meet him tomorrow, morning or afternoon?"
"Let's make it morning, so we can try to get everything done, including my resignation, plus we need to put this money in the storage unit," Barry said, looking at the money.
"I'm beat, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed," Karen said, and she looked to see if Barry was coming with her.
"Y'all nasty, go on and handle that, Im'ma chill and watch the news, see if there's anything else going on," Corey said, and he leaned back on the couch with the remote in his hand.
"Okay, have fun," Barry said as Karen and Barry turned to walk into the bedroom, but then Corey spoke again, and it sent a chill up Barry's spine.
"You know I bet the Senator knows who the C.C.K. Killer is, he played that Vinny the Chin shit perfect, I bet he will do the same with that guy," Corey said, rubbing on his chin, appearing to be in deep thought.
"Now that you say that, it does make perfect sense. I wonder if he's dead too though?" Karen said, and she started to rub on her chin and look off into the distance, thinking about what Corey had said.
"He could be, but if he ain't dead, he will be soon, messing with that fool," Corey said, and he changed the channel to the menu on the cable box, scrolling through the channels looking for something to watch.
"Come on, we can make up theories later, it's shower time," Barry said, and he slapped Karen's ass, moving her into the bedroom and out of the living room and the C.C.K. Killer conversation with Corey.
"You know that gets me going, and when you grab me and shake me and tell me to go home, that gets me going too," Karen said, and then she smiled at Barry.
"Y'all just nasty," Corey said, shaking his head as Barry and Karen disappeared into the bedroom.
The Senator had made it home and was in the study when his wife came in and started talking to him.
"Hello stranger," Gail said, her name was Abigail, but she liked Gail better, being called Abigail made her feel old.
"Oh, hello dear, I was in the middle of a few things and didn't notice you come in," the Senator said, noticing his wife Gail had come into the room.
The Senator may be a lot of things, but one thing he was not was a cheater, and he loved his wife. The Senator kept her far removed from all his dirty deeds and dealings.
"I saw you on the news, you have created quite the stir in Washington," Gail said, smiling.
"Oh, really?" The Senator replied, looking up from the papers he was reading.
"Yes, remember that campaign manager who handled the last President's campaign, I forget his name, but he called here looking for you today."
The Senator knew his wife would never play around on such a matter, but he was in a good mood and decided to have a little fun, plus Gail was looking quite lovely in her nightgown. The Senator realized it had been quite a while since they had been together, all the campaigning and late night and early morning meetings had kept him from spending much time with Gail, but he planned to fix that tonight.
"You're joshing me, Ron Donaldson the kingmaker called here, looking for me?" the Senator said, then he got up and walked toward Gail.
"I kid you not, that is him, Donaldson, Ron Donaldson," I have his number by the nightstand.
"And what do I have to do to get that very important number?" The Senator asked.
"Nothing, grab it from my nightstand," Gail said, still not getting that her husband was trying to be romantic.
The Senator was right in front of his wife, and he kissed her and rubbed her breast. He could feel her nipple getting hard through her silk nightgown. Gail knew what was going on now and was getting hot, but she kept in the back of her mind that there had been many times they would be interrupted by unfinished work or an emergency meeting, so she spoke.
"What about the papers and work you were in the middle of doing?" She said, then she felt his hand rub between her legs.
"Oh, I'll be in the middle of something very shortly," the Senator said, and he grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom.
An hour or so later, Senator laid back in the bed looking out of his open window, he felt good and energized in his mind and spirit, physically he was exhausted, Gail was still a tiger in bed, but he was tonight's winner as Gail was out cold less than a minute after their lovemaking. The Senator thought about how far along he had come and how much further he would go, he was happy with his progress, but now he just wanted to enjoy the moment of pure bliss, and the clean, refreshing smell in the air, after the rain.
Chapter 2
Plans
Barry woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs; he could smell toast, but not hash browns, not yet, he was still groggy. He was awake enough to know that when you smell toast, the food is almost done, so he jumped out of bed and went to go pee and washed himself up really quick. He walked into the kitchen where Corey was getting his hand slapped from trying to steal a piece of bacon off the plate that had a mound of bacon on it.
"I told you to keep your paws off, you can wait, you're not starving," Karen said as Corey rubbed his mortally wounded hand.
"I'm starving, I'm down at least two or three ounces, come on let me have one piece," Corey said, and he stuck out his bottom lip, and sucked his stomach in, trying to look pitiful.
"Oh, I swear, go ahead, take a piece," Karen said, pulling the spatula back signaling a truce or temporary reprieve had been agreed upon, the one piece of bacon securing the peace treaty.
Corey grabbed three pieces of bacon and ran as Karen swung at him and missed, then she grabbed the plate and put it on the other side of her on the counter, so Corey couldn't get close to the bacon again. Corey peeked around the corner as Karen raised the spatula-like she was going to throw it at him.
"It's your fault, you cook too good," Corey said when he peeked around the corner chewing on his ill-gotten gains.
"Don't try to turn your greediness around on me, go set up those T.V. trays mister," Karen said, and she pointed with the spatula for Corey to go to the living room and set up the T.V. trays.
Barry left the kitchen as Karen started putting food on the three plates she had in front of her on the counter, he brought in the drinks and went back to get the salt and pepper, but Corey beat him to the salt and pepper and another hand slap as he tried to steal another piece of bacon.
They all sat down and ate without any further incidents of violence or thievery being attempted by Karen or Corey. They got everything cleaned up and grabbed the big bags of money, after they ate and put them in the trunk, along with a few boxes of stuff from the office. They were in and out of the storage unit pretty quick and headed over to the building to meet Marko and Deck. Marko was outside talking on his cell phone when they arrived; everyone figured it was a private call, so they gave him space until he came over to talk to them. Deck was already clowning around with everyone when Marko came over.
"So, what's up, fam? We got more problems to deal with?" Marko said while he walked over, putting his cell phone away.
"No, we pretty much-cleaned house, but your Uncle Sam wanted me to drop a little love your way, for all your help," Barry said as they all walked to the caddy and pulled out the bags with the money in them.
"I told you I love my Uncle," Marko said, smiling while he looked at the money.
Deck was nodding his head and smiling as you could see him trying to take in the massive amount of cash he was looking at.
"One catch, be sure that some of the cash finds its way to the families of the pool hall victims," Barry said, looking at Marko and Deck.
"Oh yeah, fo' sho,'" Marko said, taking his eyes off the money to look at Barry.
"I know I shouldn't ask, but what happened to that fool y'all scooped up in the van," Corey asked and tilted his head sideways, knowing the answer wasn't going to be anything good.
Marko and Deck
looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Oh yeah, he didn't make it," Marko said, snickering.
"Yeah, it was a bit ugly at the end," Deck said, as he and Marko laughed.
"Alrighty then, I knew I shouldn't have asked," Corey said, laughing a little.
"Okay, moving on, can you get us passports?" Karen asked, shaking her head.
"That will take me a day or so to do, is that cool?" Marko said, looking at Karen.
"Yeah, that's cool."
"Y'all plan on getting out of town for a while?"
"Yes," they all said it almost at the same time, then they all laughed, in unison as well.
"Yeah, I am going to get away for a while myself, after this project with your building is done," Marko said, looking at the building.
"It's time to chill, and get away, too much shit going down around here," Corey said.
They all nodded their heads as they walked into the building and looked at the progress that was being made.
The Senator was up and happy about the progress that he had made as well. He was waiting on Dale and Mike to get to the house to pick him up, but he knew that Dale had to make a drop at Dave's house this morning. The Senator had to be sure that Barry would get his final C.C.K. kill in before Dave took out Ed Daniels and the case was wrapped up. There would be a glass of lemonade in Barry's very near future the Senator thought to himself.
Ed Daniels was starting to understand just how crafty the Senator could be, his surprise announcement of his secret task force and resolution to the recent mob attacks had pushed him up in the polls, and he was rising. Ed wasn't throwing in the towel, but he knew unless he did something to grab the attention of the voters, he was done unless this task force came up empty and then the voters could see the man that had been leading them was inadequate. He also knew the Senator had a press conference scheduled that afternoon, and that would only hurt his campaign against the Senator, but he still had a few moves of his own he thought to himself.
Dave was up early as well; he had to start getting ready for his last assignment. He called his daughter but got her voicemail. He left her a message asking if he could come over for dinner one night this week, and he would bring dinner. He always tried to do the best he could, but you can't tell your daughter that you're a government hitman. To her, you will always be the Dad who missed all the important events and birthday parties. He knew he couldn't make up the years of absence, but he hoped his final act would bring some happiness to her and his granddaughter, he truly loved them both, and little Katheryn was the image of her mom Becky as a little girl. He just wanted little Kat as he called her to have good memories of her granddad, and now he could provide them with a good life, he felt good about making a sacrifice that really meant something, not just to further someone's political career or silencing a whistleblower, this is the one that really mattered he thought. Death was knocking on his door, and it was only a matter of time before he had to answer. So he figured he'd better make the last bit of time he had count.
Death of the C C K Killer Page 3