Hard Case VI: The Killer Inside (John Harding Book 6) (31 page)

Then Lynn, who was still pumped from her knife demonstration began berating poor Spinny when he writhed on the canvas too long. “Oh for God’s sake, Betty! Your vagina is showing! What the hell do you want John to do, help you up? Do a rap song or something! At least roll around on the canvas with some rhythm!”

Lynn had the Monsters and Snow Whites enjoying the show again, much to the displeasure of the 98 Crew. Spinny huffed to his feet finally, but there was little doubt he wouldn’t be cartwheeling out of the cage. He smashed his gloved hands together, grunted, and attacked again, but not with his lower body. I spent the next twenty minutes working on my punching repertoire, and defense. We stopped at five minute intervals. Spinny was close to Rattler speed, so it was a good session. We didn’t really need to please the crowd so when Tommy thought I had enough work in for the night, he moved against the cage.

“Time!”

I nodded, threw a left hook shot under Spinny’s ribcage. He flinched and I took him to the mat. I worked him with precision for a few moments of full mount, before whipping around his right arm for an arm-bar. Spinny yelped as I took him to the breaking point before he tapped out with attitude, slamming his hand to the mat. Jack patted my shoulder.

“He’s done, John. Let him up.”

I released Spinny. Jack raised my arm for an official moment as the winner. The 98 Crew were not happy. They were about to get a lot less happy. I stepped down out of the cage while stripping off my gloves. I threw them and my mouthpiece into my equipment bag Tommy held out to me while handing me my peroxide towel. I wiped off while facing the less than pleased Crew.

“Congrats! You’ve just been absorbed into the Oaktown Cartel. The first order of business is we want to know what Cartel backed your money play. We know you didn’t find Spinny in Oakland.” I gestured at their still prone champion trying to rub circulation into his arm. “Who paid you guys?”

Sullen silence.

“Uh oh, Cheese, I feel a disturbance in the Force,” Lynn said. “If I have to get my tools out kids, it won’t go well for you. Someone better step forward with answers or there will be blood.”

They glanced at each other uneasily, but they were done. They hadn’t believed the stories about the Oaktown Cartel takeovers until now. The hoodie that had handled the money spoke.

“Our contact with the Nuestra Familia is Gorgo Palente. He heard Oaktown took some heavy hits this past week. He sent his best fighter with the money. Damn… I didn’t think anyone could cut up Dante like ‘dat. We see now maybe we make a mistake. What say we go ‘bout our business and we call it square.”

“That’s not the way it works with Oaktown. You fronted for a Cartel gang, brought in an out of town ringer, and the Crew planned to run the meth labs. You fought, you lost, you get absorbed,” Tommy told him. “We’re going to explain your new duties right now.”

“Man… Harding’s a ringer!”

“Bullshit,” Jess shot forward into the punk’s face. “John lives in Oaktown. Where the fuck you live?”

It was clear, wherever the guy lived, it wasn’t in Oakland. Jess pushed him away. “Yeah… that’s what I thought. Best step off and take your medicine. Oaktown don’t have side shooters. We have killers. Get the 98 Crew into Oaktown shape or there won’t be a Crew. Feel me?”

“Yea… I got it. What you want us to do?”

Gus, Silvio, and Quays came forward to join Tommy. They took the meeting to the side with Dev, and Jess watching their backs. Jack Korlos assisted Spinny while he groggily sought to join his buddies. Alexi approached us with a big smile.

“That was most impressive, John. I have to say when that fellow cartwheeled in here singing Rap music, it was the first time I ever saw anything like it. Did that worry you at all?”

“I worry about the ones who don’t cartwheel in singing Rap music, Alexi.”

Alexi nodded while I got a few chuckles from my Monsters. “Your little show made me a nice profit. I’ll give Tommy your cut. I expect you’ll be celebrating with a journey to The Warehouse for a moment tonight, will you not?”

“I think we are going to sip a couple there and think about the Viking.”

“How is training progressing? You looked very good tonight.”

I glanced at Crue.

“Go ahead, Cheese… I double dog dare you,” Lynn said, to much amusement.

“We don’t talk about fight club, Alexi.”

“Of course.”

* * *

We stopped by the Warehouse with Jafar driving our limo as designated driver. We were flush so we picked up all tabs in the bar for putting up with our big asses filling the whole end of the barroom. A very good time was had by all. There were many good natured questions about the rumors surrounding unscheduled Viking meetings, and the many gang adjustments during the past number of days. It included a complete Jesse Brown rendition of what happened with Spinny and Butter-knife. No one can tell a story like Jess. We were settled in then, sipping and trading theories for Las Vegas while deciding on what we would do for entertainment when we received a surprise visitor.

Alexi led the way into the bar. With him were four very well dressed men. One of the men Jafar referenced for us on the limo video screen while driving to The Warehouse paced next to Alexi. It was Gorgo Palente. The three men with him were professional killers. There was no doubt about that. My Monsters shifted from good times to wary appraisal. Gorgo stood about six feet tall with lean bearing and well-groomed dark hair. Alexi looked like a man fulfilling a duty. He stepped a little forward as the men drew near. It does go to show these assholes think they own the country. Gorgo sauntered into an area cop bar without even a slight hesitation

“John, this is Gorgo Palente. He approached me after the meeting tonight about a possible conference here at The Warehouse. I explained it was disrespectful in a known police bar, but he assured me it would be a business only exchange.”

“I thought perhaps you would feel safer meeting here in your Warehouse surroundings,” Gorgo added.

I grinned as my Monsters and Snow Whites enjoyed that assumption, especially Lynn. I think she was measuring the three hired killers for a later time. “Thanks, I appreciate your concern, Mr. Palente. What’s on your mind?”

“Tonight’s match at Alexi’s arena was a rather large setback for me. I cannot afford at this time to lose the 98 Crew. I’d like to purchase them back from the Oaktown Cartel. I was misinformed about the effectiveness of the Oaktown Cartel.”

I nodded. “Just a second. Hey, Gus. You’re up, Godfather.”

Gus Denova is a Monster. Thanks to Lynn, he is a good Monster, but he had been a Cartel hit man for a long time. He feared very little, except perhaps Lynn Montoya Dostiene. There was also no doubt Palente is surprised. I think he may have heard the rumors Gus Denova was acting Capo of the Oaktown Cartel, but I think seeing him was a surprise.

“Thank you, John. I’m afraid buying back the 98 Crew is not possible. When we absorb a gang they stay with us. We have a different agenda.”

Palente chuckled. “I don’t think you understand, Denova. I’m here on behalf of Nuestra Familia. None of us want a war.”

“Believe me, Gorgo,” Gus said without a smile, “there won’t be a war. There will be a slaughter. It will begin with you and your little friends. Then death will spread like a wave engulfing everything that even whispers the name Nuestra Familia.”

That was well said by our Godfather, and exactly right. Gorgo was shocked.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Actually, I’m telling you in no uncertain terms to walk out of the bar, get in your vehicle, and leave Oakland forever. You have already said too much in front of us to live if you stay. You must also realize the first action taken against the Oaktown Cartel, and we come after you and yours until you don’t exist. We’re investigating the hits attempted this past week with cartel flavor. If we find Nuestra Familia was somehow tied into those hits, the safest place would be on the other coast, although even that won’t be safe if Familia had anything to do with the cargo nearly planted aboard Alexi’s container ship The Roma.”

Bing, bing, bing… we have a winner. I was watching Gorgo’s eyes when Gus gave the warning about unwanted cargo. Gorgo knew about the atomic bomb. I don’t know if he orchestrated the whole thing, but he knew something. So much for a nice drink in my favorite bar. Gorgo and his goons weren’t going anywhere. Gang tripe was one thing. Atomic bombs used as ramming devices into crowded sports arenas was an entirely other kind of crime – punishable by death without trial.

I stood, and every Monster and Snow White had a weapon in hand, especially Lynn who held a very sharp blade against Gorgo’s neck in an instant with a big smile. I took out my credentials. “I’m John Harding, also a special agent with the FBI, as are all of my companions. We’re the special squad no one talks about. Stay quiet for a moment while I reassure my respected Thin Blue Line this isn’t a mugging, Mr. Palente.”

I turned to the suddenly very quiet Blue wave with my FBI credentials held up high. “Sorry, folks. This Nuestra Familia Capo is wanted for questioning by the FBI. We’ll be leaving now, so we won’t bother your evening. Thank you for your understanding. Free everything for the rest of this evening.”

It was a crowd pleaser. Plus, many of the guys offered to help. I turned them down politely, letting them know these four would be going directly into federal custody… sort of.

By the time I turned back, Dev, Jess, and Silvio had already disarmed Gorgo and the goons. “Gentlemen. Please place hands behind backs for restraining.”

They did as they were told, I’m sure thinking they were headed to a lockup somewhere they could sit, make jokes, and call for legal aid. Not this time kids. “I’m sure glad you guys came in tonight. We were a little off trail. You guys may be the puzzle piece our man in Washington is looking for.”

Jafar hurried in front of the detainees once they were restrained, and took photos along with digital prints for immediate transfer to Denny. Alexi was a little perturbed. I think perhaps Gorgo and the goons would have disappeared if my friend, the former Russian mobster had known Gorgo had anything to do with the attempted assassination and arena ramming. He drew in close as we moved in a group toward the door.

“This was most unexpected, John. As you can imagine, I would have kept these men instead of giving them a ride here.”

“We’ll take care of this. Why not hang out here with Marla since you’re not driving these goons around.”

He sighed. “Yes, perhaps I will since my trying to avoid a public acknowledgement was doomed from the start. I hope this leads to the originator, John.”

“I’m thinking there is a real good chance if it doesn’t right now… it will later. This was a very good thing, Alexi. Denny needed another thread. If the bomb ingredients would have been easily traceable we would have already had confirmation on a target. With what Crue finds out from Gorgo, it’s very possible we’ll be able to move on the nuclear threat guy.”

“I am sure you are just as freaked out as I am that these idiots would even contemplate a disaster such as running a full throttle container ship into China Basin with an atomic weapon set to blow,” Alexi said in hushed tone as we cleared the exit. “It is unimaginable.”

“That is why Godfather Denova was accurate in his assessment of how we’re going to meet and defeat this threat. It’s a damn shame my celebration was cut short though.”

“You dunked the Cruella Deville again, didn’t you?”

“I cannot confirm or deny that supposition.”

“You just did. Thank you for that. I bet it was most invigorating. It is a good thing you are friendly with pain, my friend. Good hunting.”

“I’ll keep you informed. We’ll need all the help we can get from the street, and money is no object.”

“Of course, John.”

After leaving Alexi at the bar, I FaceTimed Lora. Our acquisition of prisoners would curtail my decent hour return home. I could tell she was using her pad. “Hi baby. We lucked into some prisoners who may lead us to the big target Denny’s back East trying to locate.”

I saw her change course into our bedroom and shut the door.

“That’s too bad. I planned on being ever so pliable tonight.” Then she gave me a FaceTiming that had me grinding my teeth into dust. She popped on after. “What did you think about that?”

“I’m thinking if you know what’s good for you, you’ll be in lockdown in the safe-room.”

“That’s some big talk.”

Then she was gone. Brat! Lucas wanted to throw the prisoners in the trunk. Our new stretch limo had the room, but Lynn had other ideas. She wanted to get home tonight early with the baby. That was fine with me. The moment we were all settled in, the minions began playing the Cruella Deville interrogation highlight video. It’s even more fun with Crue sitting across from you with her patented torturer look. To say Gorgo and the goons were impressed was an understatement. There are sections in there not meant for human viewing. The finale was the bank robbers getting their final adjustment with Crue’s new needle box treatment. If the goons knew anything, they would have been sharing already. She would get to the secondary targets later. Crue had her eye on Gorgo - not a good thing if you’re Gorgo. Crue has a habit of provoking challenging cases, and throwing out other plans like getting home early.