Hard Case VII - Red Waves (John Harding Series Book 7) (26 page)

“Gary thought he was the ‘Karate Kid’,” Nick said. “When you tackled him, slammed his ass to the floor, punched him in the nuts, and then swabbed the deck with him… that was entertainment. What happened to old Gar anyway?”

Lucas sighed. “He’s in the justice department. Gary sends me photos of his kids and wife and never misses a holiday. The boy turned out okay. I shouldn’t mention him in this but our interaction sure turned his ass around. If he ever needed anything I’d corral you bunch together for him. He learned. Gary wasn’t cut out for our life. Think about the bunch you guys went through the rest of training with. They thought it was all about the physical. Killing people in calculated situations without thought is not something I could teach. I knew you two would make it through, you cold blooded psychopaths.”

“It takes one to know one, Lucas,” Casey called out.

Lucas sighed while leaning against the van wall, noting with pleasure the looks he drew from their captives. “It does indeed, Case. It does indeed.”

* * *

I sent Tommy, Jafar, and Samira home. Naji went home with his masters, Jafar and Samira. They would stop at Clint’s house to pick up baby Mia. Jess and Agent Tonto went with us to help with the terrorist captives. Dev would be along to help after driving duties with the other crew.

Clint and I were merely observers to the Cruella Deville punishment phase. She would, of course, extract every single detail about victims, modes of killing, and why this inhuman bunch of zombies chose to execute their victims with acid. It became apparent the group adhered to each other online, feeding off of each other’s perversion to the point of connection and actual cohabitating sharing of lives and murderous tendencies. Nothing was held back because Crue worked them as no one else in the world could. Lynn did the Woodrow/Neely couple side by side with her Podiatry interrogation technique.

Jillian Woodrow still thought killing young teens with acid baths deserved more sympathy. Strapped to a gurney next to the terrified but silent Donovan Neely, Jillian demanded all manner of items she would never get. Lynn, Clint, and I listened with interest to all of her grievance list in quiet contemplation. Jillian kept at it all the while Clint and I adjusted Lynn’s equipment.

“You people don’t scare me,” Jillian told us. “When you’re through playing games, I’m hungry. When do I get my phone call?”

Lynn patted her cheek. “You are just too precious for words, Jill. We’re going to play a game. You and Don will be answering questions. My assistants can tell when someone’s lying in an instant because of all the experience they’ve had with pathological liars like you two. My game is called ‘Truth or Consequences’ but only the name of the game is based on a TV show. When-”

“I’m not playing your stupid game, bitch!” Yes, Jillian was that stupid.

Lynn smiled. She gestured at Clint. “Would you show Jill what her interruption earned her in prizes, Clint? I think sixty seconds of the juice will be reward enough for the moment.”

Clint dialed it in, made sure the acupuncture needles were inserted correctly in Jillian’s feet for maximum nerve attention, checked the clips to the needles, and then zapped the woman with electrical pulses rather than the heat. The minions had made fitted boots that attached to the gurney and held their subject tightly. For sixty seconds Jillian screamed nearly nonstop, evoking small cries of anguish from her partner, Donovan. Clint then shut it off, leaving Woodrow gasping for breath in between pleas for mercy and sobs of pain.

“I think we’ve cleared up whether you’ll be playing the game or not,” Lynn said. “Let’s begin. Remember, the first to answer gets only thirty seconds of hell. Second place gets you a full sixty seconds unless information given adds to the discussion. No answer merits a nice three full minutes of hell and you have five seconds to start your answers. I’m not bothering to ask whether you slime-balls understand because you will eventually. Let’s start out with the main puzzler question none of us understand. Why in God’s name would you execute teens with slow acid baths? What sick fantasy does that fulfil?”

Lynn’s question stumped the two past the five second time. “Maestro, we need a nice three minute reminder for our contestants to answer quickly.”

After that three minutes, they answered until they couldn’t answer anything.

By the time she finished with Woodrow and Neely, their sanity exited an hour into the exercise. Believe me when I say they paid somewhat for the travesty they fronted for. No one got off easy. We forwarded all revelations to Sam and Janie, letting them know we would be releasing an interrogation and kill video. After viewing what we obtained, they didn’t care what we decided. They would quietly inform all of the victims’ families about the endings, with an FBI disclaimer the agency had no part in the inadvertent killer ending, or condoning of the endings. It would of course await the Muerto ending, soon to be administered.

Lynn expressed un-satisfaction with what she had obtained while we awaited the arrival of our other mission in our main meeting room. “You guys know I love making bad people scream and die in spectacular fashion. I’m a monster. These sub-humans bathed innocent kids in acid slowly just because they were young and innocent. I hope by the time Muerto gets here our serial killer gang will be in their right minds to enjoy his ending to the fullest.”

“I believe no matter what, you definitely achieved closure, Lynn,” I told her with Clint nodding his head in agreement.

“Amen to that,” Jess said.

“Cheese is right, babe. The questions were to satisfy our curiosity and add an edge to the game. We’ll let Muerto end them on video for the victims’ parents. Think about what they would have received if we hadn’t gotten them. That lawyer and his whole family would probably have died at their hands along with countless other innocent teen. If they were ever caught and convicted, what punishment would they have received? Nada. You ended that and made them pay. I’ve seen Muertos ending videos. His bleaching is some old school horror – messy but damned effective. I know that lawyer will be happy to see the movie.”

“You’re right of course,” Lynn agreed. “We have some terrorists to question now. I know if we’re to let Denny have most of them for trades we’ll have to concentrate on Yaman. He’s the one with any info worth a damn to us. Jess, can you, Dev, and Tonto watch Yaman’s crew in the action van until I get through with Yaman? That way, they won’t hear anything about our Starlight questions in case we can’t keep them with the rest of our prisoners.”

“Sure,” Jess replied. “I know it won’t take you long. It’ll be a piece of cake with Tonto. Dev and I will look over our video selection and pick a few beauties to show our guests.”

Our outer garage door which led to our action van parking spot opened. Casey, Lucas, and Nick joined us at the table, leaving the prisoners they transported in the action van. It appeared we were all on the same page as to keeping the prisoners separated from Yaman.

“We assumed you’d like to keep only Yaman in the know about Starlight,” Lucas said.

Dev, Gus and John brought in Francois Yaman then from our parking lot. Yaman bleated the whole way inside, demonstrating he thought this concerned his detainment and transport to proper facilities. Agent Tonto walked over to investigate. Inexplicably, Yaman kicked out at Tonto proving he wasn’t the brightest bulb in the light display. Agent Tonto moved slightly, grabbed Francois’s leg, and yanked him flat on his back. He then leaped atop his playmate, gripping Francois around the throat. Lynn walked over near the terrified Yaman who decided silence was golden.

“Did that bad man try to kick you, Tonto?”

Tonto, who has a vocabulary far superior than some humans, snarled a little and shook his head with Yaman’s throat in his mouth. Lynn chuckled and patted her leg. Tonto leaped from Yaman to her side.

“That wasn’t a very good beginning, Francois. Agent Tonto was merely introducing himself to you. Obviously, you now realize he’s not patient with idiots. Bring him along boys. Let’s get this interrogation over with so we can have Muerto help us make a quick movie before our Pacific Grove guests go home with Laredo. Is he at the hangar, Lucas?”

“Yeah, we didn’t see any reason to bring him along on mission,” Lucas answered. “He wanted to check our propjet before flying the Unholy Trio home. Tito followed orders to the letter, Crue. He made sure Yaman was separated and protected while backing John’s play.”

Lynn put an arm around the docile Tito Rontos with a friendly shoulder hug. “That’s so sweet. You were my good little helper. We’ll let you stay with John since you and he worked so well together. Would that be okay with you, John?”

“Yes. I will watch Tito. He and I got along well. You have convinced him of his duty from now until you have no use for him.”

I grabbed Francois off the floor as the amused Gus and John relinquished prisoner control. “You guys can go with Lucas and Casey to the viewing room if you want to see Crue interrogate Yaman. Nick wants to see her technique in our home headquarters. Crue can show him the exact needle placement then.”

“I would like that,” John said.

“I think I’ll have a coffee here if that’s okay,” Gus said. “I’ll keep Agent Tonto company.”

At the mention of his name by Gus, Tonto went right over to him and nudged into him for pets which Gus administered.

“That works for us,” Lynn said, moving to the other side of Yaman. “Hi there, Francois. I’m your interrogator, Cruella Deville. I’m getting partial to another nickname you can know me by: Crusader Crue. To make sure we don’t have any misunderstandings, I don’t take shit from you terrorist turds. I know all about what you’ve been supplying to America’s enemies, ID’s, passports, papers, safe houses until you can place them, and even door to door service delivery. Yep. I’ve heard all about you. You’re going to help us with another very dangerous situation. We’re betting you know something about this assault on the ocean involving the Starlight of the Seas. I also believe you supplied a bunch of the infiltrators on board ship with papers so they could get jobs aboard ship.”

I grinned at Crue as Francois momentarily gave away his knowledge of the coming assault when he heard the word Starlight.

“Oh yeah. That’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Jess said as Dev joined him in peering into Yaman’s face. My guys were more and more conscious of the nuances we looked for during interrogations.

Dev clasped Francois’s shoulder momentarily with a friendly shake. “Tell everything you know, partner. Take my advice. The moment you get a chance, start telling Crue your terrorist life story. Don’t leave anything out. I mean nothing. Don’t make Crue have to ask you questions. That won’t go well for you.”

Francois grimaced at Dev and Jess. “I know this routine well. Soon, when the threats and pretend toughness ends I will be transported to authorities who will treat me like a human being. My lawyer will have you all behind bars for this. You have let that unclean animal put its mouth on me! That blasphemy will not go unpunished!”

Jess and Dev backed away from Francois as if he were glow in the dark radioactive.

“Oh my,” Lynn said. “Lucas? Will there be a problem if the floor gets a little messy?”

“No, Crue. Tonto has been insulted. That cannot go unpunished,” Lucas replied.

“Cheese? Help Mr. Yaman into position please.”

I bitch slapped Francois so hard I probably loosened a few teeth. He hit the floor on his back and bounced. I knew what Lynn had in mind. Jess started laughing because he knew too. Lynn knelt next to Tonto, putting her arm around his neck.

“Normally I would simply take this disgrace into the interrogation room, Agent Tonto. As a vital FBI asset this insult by a worthless piece of crap unworthy to even be in the same room with you must have an answer.” Lynn straightened and pointed at Yaman. “Water.”

Tonto went right over to the cringing Francois and peed on his head. I can tell you the Unholy Trio, and the rest of us enjoyed the hell out of Tonto’s insult answer. He recognized we loved his action. Tonto pranced around amongst us, getting hugged and petted. Then he went back and watered Francois again. That adlib nearly put Nick on his back laughing. A good time was had by all. Lynn gestured at Yaman.

“Strip him, Cheese. Leave the Tonto deposit, but spray him with Fabreeze. It’s time again for ‘Truth or Consequences’.”

“On it, Mistress of the Unimaginable’.” I petted Agent Tonto, making sure he didn’t think Lynn meant for him to also water the Cheeseburger as he had done a few times. “I’ll take it from here, Agent Tonto.”

“Grifffff…” Agent Tonto said, and joined Gus, who was definitely taken with our canine crewmember, hugging and petting him along with Nick and John.

I stood the now miserable Francois on his head. I used him and his clothing to mop the extra deposit Tonto had made before righting him. When he made as if to spit Tonto residue I smacked him on top of the head to get his attention. “Don’t do that, Francois. I will turn you upside down and mop anything you spit on our floor. Swallow anything you need to because you’ll be sorry if you don’t.”

“How…how can you people think to do such things? I have rights!”

“Slow learner, Dark Lord,” Dev said, shaking his head.

“Dead man walkin’,” Jess said. “C’mon Dev. We’ll take Kabong with us to the viewing room with Case and Lucas. We have one of those one cup wonder machines for coffee on the shelf beside the meeting table, guys. There are plenty of cups for anyone wanting some.”