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

  I grinned, a very sneaky grin, “Yes, I do.” John did not like the look that crossed my face.

  “Is this retaliation or something smarter than that?”

  “Yes,” was my one word answer to his question. Not strictly the answer he was looking for but valid from a binary logic standpoint nonetheless. After all I was going to do one of those two things.

  “Will this be potentially dangerous?”

  “No more so than dealing with psychopathic importers/users of illegal pharmaceuticals. I have to make them believe that I am just as crazy and ruthless as they are. They suspect that I am after the bar incident, but I want them to know for sure. I promise that I will try to not kill anyone over tonight. They might think I am about to, but I won’t kill them over this. Okay, unless I really have to I will not kill anyone tonight.” He rolled his eyes again and shook his head slowly. John groans a lot at my sense of humor, but I really was being totally serious.

  John had had my car brought to the police station. He was leaving in a Mercedes, a typical Miami lawyer car. This was the vehicle that he had driven to the police station in. There was one very good thing that had come out of this incident. The really ostentatious lawyers were in Ferraris. The smart ones were not in the fancy sports cars. An attorney driving a really high dollar sports car might as well put up a billboard that he was working for the drug trade.

  Since John was my lawyer of record I could meet with him in public and not have to worry about being watched. That moron dirty cop had just made my job easier, but I was still very pissed. I waved goodbye to him and got into the Porsche. Driving around in an apparently aimless fashion I checked for anyone tailing me. Pulling into an all night diner I had some strong coffee and a bite to eat. Coffee is not my drink of choice with a burger but it had been a long day and I needed the jolt of caffeine. My next stop, after much more circuitous driving was the safe house that was my home for the duration or until I needed a safer place than the safe house. Jacob was out on some surveillance work. I had called him after I got in my car. I had a feeling as to who the moron that had set me up was and had asked Jacob to keep an eye on him. Whoever had turned the cop loose on me had probably been the one who had paid the two idiots at the bar the week before. My only question was whether or not Robertson had ordered those situations or if someone was operating on them own. It made no difference in my future plans either way.

  Sylvia and Jacob were both in their bedrooms and making sleeping sounds when I got back to the house. Over my coffee and burger I had decided to not do anything tonight so I locked up, set the alarm system, took a long hot shower and went to bed. One of my 1911’s was on the night stand and the little revolver that Sam had given me was under the pillow on the other side of the bed. I was not extremely worried since my place was under surveillance from fixed positions in other houses. I had FBI, DEA, Florida State Police, Customs and who knew what other agencies covering my ass. Hell there may even have been CIA. No one would notice any strange vehicles watching my place. My mind was running through possibilities as I fell into a pretty good sleep. The general outline was firmly in my head as I faded out. If I did not get killed during the execution of my plan it might even be fun or at least exciting.

  Since Robertson and his minions partied all night I would wait until about four in the afternoon before I started the festivities. I had gotten back to the safe house at about 3 AM and grabbed about six hours of sleep. Jacob knew what had happened and after he knew I was okay he had hit the bed to get some much needed sleep. After I woke up and had a shower, shave and some breakfast I made a few phone calls. I was going to need a couple of things that I had forgotten to pack. Muttering to myself I realized that Jacob might have a good idea on where to find a good silenced pistol. Untraceable would be a bonus. I planned to put it to use the next evening. After I thought it through afternoon would probably be a better time for my plans. Beard the lion in his own den. They don’t expect trouble there.

  Chapter 20

  Confrontation

  Jacob woke up while I was making calls and he wandered into the kitchen. Once he had some caffeine in his system he was almost human, well at least as human as a former SEAL can be. I asked him about a silenced pistol, preferably a .22.

  “Sure you can use mine. What will I be doing while whatever you have planned is going on?” Was I surprised that he had a silenced .22? No, in our line of work you sometimes have odd things with you because some little voice tells you it is a good idea.

  “Once again my friend you will be on over watch. This time if you do not see me walk out within thirty minutes of walking in you are green lighted. Nothing living comes out if I don’t. Then the place goes up in flames. Locals might not like it but the General will back you up on it if I have bought the farm.” Simple equation, kill me equals they die. Not the outcome our operation wanted but it would surely shut them down as well as any trial and definitely in a more permanent manner.

  “Nice touch last night with the laser. Perfect timing. What made you use that pointer?”

  “We knew what you were saying. We had a parabolic mike pointed at you. Did he wet his pants when the laser lit up on his chest?” Jacob grinned.

  “No, he was too busy wondering if his arm was going to fall off. I gave him a quick and dirty summary of what had happened inside. He knew most of what happened afterward. The holding cell incident he did not know about. He liked that one.

  My next job was to find out where this would happen. I did not go toany of the clubs. It was much too early in the day for that. I drove past Robertson’s businesses and he was not there either. Since I had everything that I needed I swung toward the house he used for “business”. Several cars were at that location. This looked like the place where the fan would be interrupted by flying fecal matter. I used the cell phone to contact John and Jacob. I did not want this going out over the radio even an encrypted radio. I drove a couple of miles to a strip mall and waited for Jacob. When he arrived we went into a 7-11 there and bought drinks. We made our plans while loitering in the parking lot.

  Jacob knew the location and had previously spotted a place for a sniper hide. From an abandoned house half a block away he could cover the front door, the garage and a side door. If he did not want you to leave then you stayed or died. I knew that he had his sniper rifle and a 40MM grenade launcher in his car.

  “What about Sylvia?” he asked me as we sat on the hood of his car drinking sodas like two old friends.

  “Let’s leave her out of this. This is going to be hairy enough for us old crazy bastards. Why risk the rookie?” He nodded at me.

  “John and I figured the same thing. He has her called in and going over some new data with her CIA pal.” This was not a case of protecting the woman. This was a case of not putting someone not ready for this type of hastily conceived operation in danger. I like to think that I would have made the same decision if the rookie had been a guy.

  “Any backup?”

  “None of the regular people working on this, but there are some truly nasty bastards suited up and ready. No one outside of our group is involved. No local cops, no DEA, Spec Ops and contract types only. You know some of them. Time to get this going. Give me thirty minutes to get into place. I will give you a Morse V with squelch breaks when I am ready. Be careful.” He stood up and tossed the 7-11 soda cup into a trash can near his car and I did the same. “You sure you want to pull this crazy ass stunt?”

  “No, but it seems like the right thing to do.” Was I nervous? Only a fool could be planning the harebrained scheme I was about to pull and not be nervous or downright scared.

  “Yeah, this is just crazy enough to work. You be careful in there. I got your back.” He gave me a hug like one you would give that best friend you had played football with. At least that is how it would look to most people, but it was more than that.

  When you have been shot at together and lived your attitude changes. I might not see Jacob for years after this operatio
n but we would be as if we had seen each other in homeroom that morning when we did see each other. He got in his car and drove off. I sat there in mine and waited for his signal.

  Chapter 21

  Crazy Ass Stunt or just another Tuesday?

  The two way radio in my car was quiet until just over thirty minutes after Jacob had left. Suddenly out of the speaker were three short pulses of static and one long one. You have heard that before. It is the Morse code letter v and is also one of the first notes of one of Beethoven’s works. I fastened my seatbelt, closed the door and went out to do the singularly most dangerous thing that I had ever intentionally done in my life which is saying something; my life is not safe and mundane. I drove to the appointed location and parked right in front of the driveway. No one was driving away before me.

  I had put on a lightweight sport coat before I had gotten into the car. Underneath the coat I had my big 1911 in a holster on my right hip. The smaller .45 was on the left side of my belt. There was a smoke grenade in one coat pocket and a flashbang grenade in the other, the better to balance me out. With any good luck at all those two items would be in my pockets when I got back to the safe house. The silenced .22 pistol I slid between my pants and my belt right in front of my appendix; I made no attempt to cover it. I got out of the car, straightened my coat, took a couple of deep breaths and walked to the door. No one was outside but someone was watching. A very beefy man in clothes that screamed drug dealer or hired thug stepped outside as I neared the door. He was the one who had wanted to relieve me of weapons the night before. He held up a large hand and tried to look even more muscular than he was.

  “I am sorry sir you must be in the wrong place. This is a private gathering. I know that you are not on the guest list.” He was not smiling, probably still pissed at me from the night before. I knew he was armed but nothing was visible.

  “Tell Mr. Robertson that Lee Williams is here to see him.” I kept my voice emotionless.

  He stepped closer to me, “It doesn’t matter sir he is not to be disturbed.” His hands moved in my direction as if to grab me. Before he finished speaking my left hand was full of pistol and pointed slightly downward at something he did not want shot.

  “Fact one: I do not care what he wants. Fact two: this pistol has a very light trigger and there is absolutely nothing you can do to keep me from firing it if I choose to. At this range the powder burns alone might be bad enough to make you wish that they were fatal. Fact three: I am very pissed off at the moment. DO NOT TRY my patience. I would have thought you learned your lesson last night. Remember that the difference between us is that we both know I am a killer. Remember that and you might stay alive. The only reason you are even alive right now is that I know you did not set that dirty cop on me last night. He was on the way before I pissed you off. Now, let’s go and see your boss.” The gun was now against him and not just pointed at him. When you press a gun there men do not argue. He backed toward the door as my pistol stayed firmly pressed into place. He stumbled backward after he fumbled open the door with his left hand.

  People in the room were very startled to see him. They were sitting around on couches and easy chairs that were around a variety of small tables. The smell of marijuana was in the air. There were drinks on all of the tables, a colorful assortment of pills and capsules and also mounds of cocaine. Cocaine was also visible on many an upper lip and nose. These bastards were wasted. I raised my point of aim to the guard’s chest and made a downward motion with the muzzle.

  “Sit right there on the floor and do not move an inch.” He probably would not since by now he thought I was at least as crazy as the coked up people he was working for. I scanned the room. My gun barrel swung around the room as my eyes tracked, looking for Robertson. I found him and the muzzle was in his general direction, but I don’t think anyone noticed that my finger was alongside and not on the trigger.

  “Did you set a crooked cop on my ass last night?” My voice was much louder than it needed to be. “I spent the night in jail and the DEA busted his sorry hide.” I pulled the silenced pistol from my belt and held it pointed downward in my right hand.

  “What?” Robertson looked truly shocked and looked to his left and across the room. There was a chair with a nervous looking Tony Montoya wannabe sitting there. It was the man who had tried to tail me the night before. I pointed the silenced gun in his direction. “Don’t kill him. I have something worse in mind for him.” The man began to whimper.

  “Okay, but I owe him. The moron he sent tried to make a bogus traffic stop and search of my car less than two blocks from here. He started to go for a gun when two DEA types intervened. I assume you know that they have you under observation?” I said and then suddenly swung the silenced pistol in my right hand up and fired twice into the couch cushion the frightened man was sitting on. A stain spread from his crotch but it was not red like blood. “That felt good. Now who had the idiot try and rob me that night?”

  “I figure that someone is always watching. I was the one who set that guy on you at the club. He was only supposed to hassle you. Robbery was his idea and I guess it was not a good idea according to my people. That guy was a pain in the ass, always asking to work for me, and I wanted to see how you handled yourself. I was not there but I had people watching. If something happened to him then he would be out of my hair.” He shrugged. “By the way where is he?”

  “I have no idea but I do know you will probably never see him again. Are you through with testing me? If you aren’t I may just kill you now.”

  “You would never make it out of here alive if you did that.” He grinned like a cat with the canary.

  “If I don’t walk out under my own power in,” I looked at my watch, “fifteen minutes then no one else walks out of here alive either. Your choice will be get shot down or die burning. I try to cover all of my bases.” His grin faded and mine grew hard and cold. “I don’t work for you but I am willing to work with you on some projects. Your choice, but remember I am not one of your hangers on. I do not kowtow to you! It is very dangerous to piss me off.”

  He was trying to be jocular as he spoke but the tone was very forced, “I can live with that. Have a seat; get a drink, get high with us. This is a birthday party.”

  “No, I prefer birthday parties with cake and ice cream, besides you said last night was a birthday party. We discussed this the last night. I don’t dress like something off of “Miami Vice” so that I don’t get harassed by cops. I dislike being messed up so I don’t do drugs. Are we going to work together or not?”

  “Someone is having a birthday every day. You call my dealership Thursday about 2PM and we will get that job we discussed set. You want to do things your way. I can respect that.” I really doubted that he meant the respect part. He seemed to me to be a control freak and the drugs would not help at all with that. For the first time I noticed that his pupils were going from pinpoint to fully dilated. I had no idea what chemicals he had in his system but whatever it was was not a good combination. Here was a snake that could never be trusted. No matter what he said he was still a snake and his nature was evil and duplicitous.

  “I will talk to you Thursday. By the way the asshole just cost you an additional 50K. The price is now $50,000 dollars more than you were originally going to pay me.” I put the silenced gun back in my belt and backed toward the door. I closed the door behind me as I exited.

  The guard was still sitting on the floor as the door closed. My personal opinion was that he would be okay. Having a very big gun pointed at your private parts can garner some sympathy so they probably would not blame him for this incident.

  My cold and tough exterior lasted until I sat down in my car. That was the point that the sheer audacity of what I had just done crashed in on me. Well it had seemed like a good idea at the time. A statement had been needed that I would not be intimidated or scared. After the fact I wondered if there had been another way. Maybe there was but nothing would have gotten the job done faster
than what I had just done. They have to think that you are just like them. They may never trust you but they have to think that they understand you. I started up the car and drove off before the adrenaline had a chance to leave my system and make me start shaking. I called Jacob on the radio and called off the dogs for the day and to let him know that I was going to make sure no one followed me. He had been in situations like this himself and knew what the real reasons for my riding around were.

  Chapter 22

  Padre

  I drove around for a while after leaving my confrontation with Robertson and his cast of idiots. Part of the driving was tradecraft to shake loose anyone following me. Part of the driving was just a need for fresh air and solitude. My body was trembling slightly as the adrenaline rush from my confrontation wound down. After action is like that a lot. A lot of people have felt that reaction after an accident or other situation that courses massive amounts of fight or flight chemicals through their body. There was also more to it than that this time. My target was such scum that I physically felt dirty. Robertson would have let me shoot the idiot who had set their tame cop on me. I knew now that I could not come close to being paranoid enough to deal with these people. People? Even that was questionable. How they had yet to go totally off of the rails was beyond my understanding.

  As I headed down a street in a small neighborhood I saw a small Catholic church with an open door. The late afternoon sun shone on the stained glass. I am not an extremely religious person and I am definitely not Catholic. There are not a lot of Catholics in the old families of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Stopping there seemed to be the right thing to be doing at that moment. I tend to follow instinct and feelings at times and my gut said to stop in... Maybe I just needed some faith at that moment. The world I live in can be disheartening at times and anything that helps to keep you centered is much more than useful. I pulled the car over to the curb and parked.