Cigarettes for Two: A Lee Thomas Novel (Spy Dreams Book 3) Read online

  “You still there Jacob?” I said after I pressed the push to talk button.

  “I am about a block behind him. He has not checked his six at all. The man is stone dumb. I also planted an Infrared blinker on the top of his car. To someone using night vision he is a literal beacon in the night.”

  “I will get a chopper vectored in on you.” The voice was once again John. He was our controller for this little excursion. “The tags came back as registered to a business owned by Melvin L. Robertson.”

  “Okay, I am going to loose this joker and then will skip the planned second stop and go straight to the third. I have a feeling that contact might be made this evening. Please pass the word to all the watchers.” I had a feeling that the club where the idiot had tried to rob me was something of a home base for the crew we were after. “Hang on,” this was directed to Sylvia but John and Jacob heard it also since I was still holding the radio button.

  My foot pressed down hard and fast on the accelerator and the Porsche jumped ahead. The following car was a bit slow on a response and the gap widened greatly. I downshifted and got on the brakes and even then the back of the car cut loose slightly as I made a rapid left turn at a deserted intersection. I was back on the gas as the nose straightened onto the new street. Taking the very next left at a slightly safer speed, the car was not wound back up; I just saw headlights coming around the first left hander that I had made. When the nose was pointed right down the street I hit the gas again and then turned off my lights. Depressing the clutch I took my foot off of the accelerator and let the car coast to a stop. In the rear view mirror I saw the headlights pause at the intersection and then continue on without turning. He had paused to look for my lights and seeing nothing he went straight on. He probably repeated the process at a minimum of two more intersections before he realized that he has lost me. I slipped the gearshift to first and let the clutch out. Pulling away slowly I got to the next intersection before the lights were turned back on.

  “Nice, simple and very effective,” the voice was coming out of the radio. It was Jacob. “Of course he does not seem real good. There is a DEA chopper bird dogging him. I will see you two at the Bonefish. Give me plenty of time to get there first.” The radio went quiet. Bonefish was the name of the club we were headed to next.

  We drove around for about half an hour. I wanted to make sure that Jacob got there before us and I used the time to make sure that no one was following me. I mean no one. Even the cops and Feds on this op were not supposed to be following my vehicle. All of the folks who constituted my backup knew where I was going to be going and would be set up and waiting for me. The risk that someone else might make my followers and wonder what was going on was too big a risk. I had my radios, my cell phone and lots of weapons with me. If I practiced my basic tradecraft and kept the bad actors from following me I would probably be okay.

  No one was following me or if they were they were terminally dizzy from the twist and turns I had put them through. Anyone who could manage to follow a trained agent when he was on guard against that had better be on the side of the good guys. Anyone trying to follow me was doing something really stupid. If they were in law enforcement they might next be a meter maid. If their intentions were nefarious, then their asses were mine.

  When we got to the club I did something unusual and used the valet parking. I think it was because I wanted to be seen by the folks outside as making an entrance. Besides I had enough deep cover help on hand that if I needed to leave fast it was a done deal. There were people watching me that no one except John, General Fleming and my self knew about. All of these extra bodies had had no contact with me or any of my crew. These people were there for that SHTF moment. If the smelly brown impacted the air moving device they would be most welcome. Some of them were contract people like Jacob. Some were private hires and some were just old hands getting a trip to Florida for a few hours work. I knew that the General would trust any of them or they would not be here.

  When Sylvia and I walked in I quickly spotted Jacob at the far end of the bar. From his vantage point he could see the entire interior of the club. There was a fire door about eight feet behind him over his right shoulder. I did not even consider that he had not made sure that the door was securely fastened and unable to be opened from the outside. There was nothing else behind him except solid wall. He saw me and inclined his head slightly to the left. I followed his gaze as we walked across the floor. Our friend from the previous club was sitting at a table near the opposite end of the bar from Jacob. That table was near the stage and reserved for “special clients”. Since the clown was alone one could assume that he was waiting on someone. I gave a very small nod to my friend at the bar. The motion of my head was so small that someone not expecting it to happen probably would not even notice it. Sylvia and I headed to a table across the room from Jacob but on the same end of the room.

  When the waitress came to our table Sylvia and I each ordered drinks. My drink was a virgin sunrise, no tequila but anyone looking would not know that. Hers was a Virgin Mary. The waitress did not even raise an eyebrow when we ordered the alcohol free drinks. A lot of people on business would avoid drinking alcohol, besides I had tipped this particular woman well on a previous visit. Big tips tend to quash raised eyebrows and odd looks. They were probably making more profit on our alcohol free drinks than on some of the regular ones.

  As the drinks were delivered to our table I saw Jacob tilt his head slightly toward the VIP section. Robertson and his entourage had just walked in. The lone man who had been waiting for them stood and began to speak into his boss’s ear after the boss sat down. They both looked in my direction. I smiled at them and took a sip of my drink. The underling looked a touch angry and Robertson looked amused. He took a vial of white powder out of his pocket, opened it, poured a small portion on the back of his hand and then he snorted it. Obviously it was not artificial sweetener. He would repeat this at least three times before his first drink arrived. You could see the pupils of his eyes begin reacting to the cocaine. Well, I think it was cocaine but from the buzz about that man it could be anything.

  We sat and talked some even though the room was almost too loud for any conversation. Our second set of drinks had arrived when I saw Robertson talking to the man who had tried to tail me. The man looked as if he had gas but nodded at his boss and came my way.

  “Mr. Robertson would like a few moments of your time.” There was something pushy and annoying about the man who was talking to me.

  Chapter 16

  Opening bid

  I nodded at Jacob as I got up from my seat. He waited till I was walking toward our big fish and then joined Sylvia at the table. I did not see this but that was what his instructions were. I walked to Robertson’s table. He was grinning like he knew something I did not as I sat down in the empty chair to his right.

  “It looks as if someone is moving in on your lady.” He was smirking.

  I looked at the table I had just left. “Him, no problem, he works for me. He is her bodyguard and she is not my girlfriend.”

  “So what is she?”

  “She is my bodyguard. Jonesy covers her back while she covers mine.” I smiled a hard smile.

  “Who covers his back?” A logical question that was almost too logical for a man on as much drugs as this guy.

  “I do. It’s a mutual assistance triangle kind of thing. Our relationship is purely professional.” I saw a look in his eyes that I did not like. “Before you consider hitting on her you might want to know who she used to work for.” His eyebrows rose when I said that. I continued, “She used to work out of Langley, Virginia. The CIA. Her specialty was assassination in the bedroom. She got to like the killing too much so they fired her. She works for me now. I don’t hit on her and I stay alive with all of my body parts attached. Of course it may have been the taking trophies that got her fired and not just liking to kill part.” I laid it on thick with a matter of fact tone and he bought every word. I think
his hand went to his crotch as he thought about her taking something as a trophy. He actually winced when he thought about it.

  “I hear that you are a transportation specialist. Word is that you are very good. Could you come by my place in a couple of hours to discuss something mutually beneficial?” He sounded as though he was still thinking about tender places and sharp things.

  “Glad to. I am always on the lookout for opportunities.” I smiled sort of sweetly as I spoke.

  “Mikey, give him the address,” he turned to the same man who had tried to follow me. A grown man being called by a kid’s nickname, no wonder he looked upset. The man handed me a piece of paper with a hand written address. “About eleven?” I nodded my agreement. “Fine I will see you then.” He held out a hand, I shook it and then stood and walked back to my table.

  “Why did he cringe every time he looked at me after the first time?” Sylvia asked as I sat down.

  “Well, he thought Jacob was moving in on my girl. I told him that Jacob was your body guard and you were mine. He seemed interested in you so I spun him a story. He thinks you are a former CIA assassin who killed in the bedroom and took trophies.” I laughed as I finished my tale and picked up my drink. I had a mouthful when she spoke.

  “How do you know I don’t?” She smiled sweetly. I almost spewed drink and Jacob laughed heartily.

  “Touché,” I replied. No point trying to outdo her she could hold her own around us.

  Chapter 17

  We finished our drinks and left the club. Time was not critical so we had an hour or two to work with. I had Jacob and Sylvia head back to the safe house to get the equipment that they would need to do over watch for me. I was going in alone; something told me that going in alone was the right play with this man. My attitude had to be confident. Any hint of desperation or weakness on my part and he would think he was in control. My being in control was the only thing that would keep him from putting me in very bad situations. I had to be doing things which at worst were only slightly illegal. If a case against him ever came to court the actions of the people taking him down had to be by the book. People with truckloads of money hire very good attorneys.

  The address that I had been given was not one of Robertson’s businesses or usual residences. When I contacted John with the meet location he had records of the place. This was a house that our quarry seemed to use for preliminary business meetings and parties. Very often these were the same thing. The neighborhood was not horrible but it was sort of sparsely inhabited. It was one of those neighborhoods that was probably on the way down. People had begun to move out and property values were still too high for poorer people to move in. There were empty homes and the DEA and other agencies had taken some of them over. They had people coming and going as if they were the residents of the homes. Since the houses were not empty people could be in them with light, TVs and the other stuff that makes a house look inhabited.

  The street had only one house over one story. This one was controlled be Feds and that is where Jacob was installed in a darkened room with a rifle. He was joined there by Sylvia as his spotter. He would cover my ass if I had to leave quickly. Jacob had tried to convince me to let him go into Robertson’s location with him. He did not try too hard because he had done the same type of thing himself. The target must trust you or at least think you are not out to get them.

  I was in my car and driving around supposedly making sure I was not tailed. In reality I was getting into the frame of mind that would allow me to play the part and live through the situation. My cell phone rang and it was John telling me that everything was ready. Jacob and Sylvia were in place. A Federal swat team had been delivered to a nearby house by conversion van. They were making it look as if a party was also going on at that house. A fake party was a good idea for a cover because it could explain comings, goings and odd noises. I parked on the street in front of the house and got out of the car. Yes, I did lock the car. This was not a great neighborhood.

  There was no one visible at the door as I walked up, but someone was watching and a beefy man not quite as tall as me stepped out. The guy’s clothes defined 1980’s tacky. He held up a hand to stop me.

  “This is a private gathering.” He tried hard to sound menacing and managed to sound like a movie tough guy.

  “Mr. Robertson is expecting me. My name is Lee Williams.”

  “Yes sir, he is expecting you. You will have to leave any weapons with me.” He stepped closer and tried to intimidate me with his physical presence. Not a good idea on his part.

  “Not happening, if I wanted to kill your boss you would probably be dead already. I either go in as I stand here or I go home. Your call.” This poor fool thought he was badder than me.

  “I insist that you disarm.” His voice went a bit higher and he reached out his right hand and pressed it into my chest.

  “Mistake number two,” I said as I grabbed the ball of his thumb with my left hand and twisted it outward. He cringed as I applied pressure, fought against that pressure and then went to his knees as I continued to rotate his arm outward.

  I had first seen this technique in college when an Army NCO was giving a demonstration to a karate class. He was about five eight and took me to the ground like I was nothing. The pain was exceedingly sharp. The man in front of me was now on his knees and learning just how effective this simple move was. Sweat was forming on his forehead.

  “Mistake number one was overestimating your ability. The second mistake was laying hands on me. Do that again and I will break off one of your arms and stick it where the sun don’t shine on you. Oh, in case you are thinking of trying to attack me from behind as I walk through the door. You should know that I am not alone.” Right on cue a red dot appeared on his chest. I guessed that it was just a pointer since Jacob did not use a laser sight. I let go of his hand and stepped to the door. “Have a nice night,” I said over my shoulder and opened the door. He was still on his knees and trying to shake the stinging bees out of his arm. The red dot had disappeared.

  I opened the door and walked into the house. There were about twenty men and a similar number of women. I seriously doubted that these were wives. Well, if they were wives they were not wives of men in this room. Alcohol bottles were on every flat surface along with a rainbow of pills and capsules. There were mounds of white powder that I knew was not confectioner’s sugar. Music was playing but it was not loud. No one had even acted like they had seen me come into the room. I was almost over to Robertson when the door reopened behind me and the security guy came in. He was yelling at me to freeze, but had not been able to draw a weapon. His arm was still rather useless since I had held the pressure on it for a rather long time. I spun toward him and pulled the 1911 from behind the point of my right hip. The safety was off and my finger was along the trigger guard when I raised it to point between his eyes. His struggle to unholster his own firearm ended.

  “Call off your dog or I put him down.” I said this over my shoulder to Robertson.

  “Randy, I will handle this. Go back to the door.” The man looked pissed but he went back to the door. He turned to say something to me. I cut him off.

  “Before you give me the don’t mess with my people speech listen up. I do not allow anyone to lay hands on me without permission. I do not give up my weapons and I will not be treated like hired help. I am here because you think I can do you a service. If you don’t like that I can leave now.” I had to make my position clear or he would try to get me into something that I was not prepared or willing to do.

  “Okay I can deal with that. Just let me handle my people.” He did not sound relaxed, instead he sounded pissed off. I think he was not used to people who would not kiss his ass. “I brought you here because your reputation is someone who is very good at moving things. I need some things moved out of the country on occasion. I have people to bring things in.”

  “But you don’t trust them to haul large amounts of cash for you,” I finished his thought for him. “
How much and when do you need it moved?”

  “No more than 600 pounds and the date is not set yet. I will pay you based on how much you take out. The packages need to be delivered to one of my suppliers, somewhere offshore.” He laughed as if he had just told some sort of great joke. I really think that this bastard was unstable even without the drugs he chose to partake of. “I will be in touch when everything is set.”

  “Call me at this number at least two days in advance of the job if possible. There are things that need to get prepared. We will discuss price as soon as I know what I am hauling and where I am hauling it to.” I handed him a card with one of the phone numbers at the safe house. Any calls to that number would be automatically recorded, but I did not tell him that.

  “That works for me,” he said as he pocketed the card. “Stay a while and party with us. This is a birthday party.”

  “I am in this business for the money. I do not mess with any drugs and I do not party with people I don’t know. Staying sober keeps me out of touch with the police and I like it that way.”

  “What if I tell you I don’t trust people who won’t party with me?”

  “Then I leave here we never see each other again and you find someone else to deliver very large amounts of cash to your drug suppliers. The choice is yours.”

  “Okay have it your way. I will be in touch.” He was not happy but he did have a practical streak. I turned to leave and suddenly realized that I had never sat down during the entire exchange and my gun was still in my hand. Probably a good thing since based on the things that I had seen so far in this house there was no idea what you might catch.

  I holstered the pistol and walked to the door. Randy was outside glaring at me. I smiled at him as I passed and headed to my car. I thought I heard him mutter something about getting even. It would probably be a good idea to keep an eye on this one.