Authors: Bernard Lee DeLeo
“It was a pleasure. Now what do you want to do with Mao here Mutie?”
“Just a couple of questions Nate. I waited for you, because this brave little crime boss does not like pain. He has been moaning over my little slap the whole time you have been gone. I guess Sammy can take it a bit better. Would you like to explain our questioning procedure to him?”
Nate smiled grimly, and walked around to the man. He gently grabbed hold of the man’s entire suit front, lifting him slowly up in the air. Nate let him down on the top of the conference table. The man sat gasping for breath, as it had been choked off while in transit to the tabletop.
“My partner and I have photographic memories. We would like you to begin telling us everything you know. My friend has a rather annoying talent of knowing exactly when you tell the truth, or if you stray from it. When you stray from the truth, you will be punished.” Nate slapped him across the face.
The man screamed in pain, covering his head with his arms. Nate shook his head angrily. “Amazing how you can send out an army of thugs to whip up on a teenage boy without batting an eye, but you scream like a little girl, when you get a taste.”
Nate sat down next to him with a big sigh. “Get started talking chump, I have to get home for some dinner. Begin now, and start with your full name.”
The man looked at Nate fearfully. “I have money. “
Nate put his arm around him. “Did I ask you for a financial lesson on your wealth status? I will let that pass, because it reminded me of some more information we will need. Include all of your account numbers, and then we will verify them here in your business trophy room. Don’t forget the passwords.”
The man looked at Nate again, and then pleadingly at Connor, who had been enjoying Nate’s interrogation techniques immensely. “Can we not come to some…”
Nate slapped the man, coldly shutting off the plea. As he raised his hand again, the man quickly began talking, beginning with his name: Raymond Yee. Connor stopped him for a moment as he took out a mini-cassette recorder, which he switched on. Connor stated the man’s name into the recorder, and had the man affirm it. Connor then signaled for the man to begin again. Mr. Yee then started thinking he had been tricked, and this was simply a government sting. He unwisely began to make things up. Connor shook his head sadly as he turned off the recorder. Nate got up, and began slapping Yee with forward and backward strokes, until he screamed for mercy. Connor waited for him to regain some composure, and then restarted the recorder.
A story unfolded, which filled in many gaps in their information, between what had been a tightly run ring of drugs, slavery, and intelligence gathering. The connection between Pierre, and the Red Chinese now became apparent. The lower rungs of the organization were now totally in chaos. Many of their leaders, who had known who to contact, were now dead. The last of the enforcers died in the warehouse where they held Sammy. When Yee finished with the description of the operation, and the names of the men he knew, Connor shut off the recorder.
Connor took out a notepad and pen. He handed them to Yee. “Write down all of your passwords, and all of your account numbers.”
Yee wrote them down with a shaky hand, and handed the pad back to Connor. “Now Mr. Yee, kindly go to your hidden safe and open it please,” Connor directed.
With Nate’s help, Yee trudged out of the room and down the hallway to his bedroom. A false panel in a bookcase revealed the face of a large safe. Yee opened it, and stepped aside. Connor looked inside, and then began piling everything out on the floor. Besides a half million dollars in cash, Connor found ledgers, notebooks, and labeled tape backups for the computers. He went back into the conference room, and picked up a briefcase he had spotted there. It contained a sheaf of papers, which meant nothing to Connor. Connor dumped the contents on the floor. He took the briefcase back into the bedroom, and filled it with the contents of the safe.
Connor signaled Nate to bring Yee along. In the conference room again, Connor directed Yee to get into the accounts, and confirm the passwords. Connor transferred all of the funds to his and Nate’s Swiss account. Yee waited in resignation for what he knew would come next. Connor finally turned to him and asked him in Chinese to tell him a story about his homeland in Chinese. Yee looked at him strangely, and then began describing the village he had grown up in. After a few minutes, Connor knocked him out.
“What did you say to him Thomas?”
“I needed to hear what dialect he spoke. We are going to make Mr. Yee disappear without a trace Nate. I may need to travel as Mr. Yee to follow this game to the end. I hope not, but you never know.”
“You planning on dropping him off in Quenton’s loving care?” Nate asked.
“You got it,” Connor confirmed. “Derek can question him all he wishes, and I will give him the ledgers and hard drive back up tapes to provide him with some excitement. He can hold Yee for at least a few months, while I see if I need any special information from Yee we have not covered.”
Connor suddenly sat down and put his head in his hands. Nate came over and put a hand on his shoulder. “What’s bothering you Thomas?”
“I am beginning to think you, me, Quenton, Karen, and our boys are the only ones not in on this whole deal.”
Nate sat down next to him. “Think of it this way buddy, there are a whole lot less in this deal than when we happened upon it. Remember, we will just have to defeat evil incrementally, just like all the other mutant superheroes. I thought this was supposed to be about justice, doing right, and having fun mixed in with a bit of adventure. You fading on me Mutie?”
Connor sighed. “No Nate, I just took a look too far down the road. Thanks for anchoring me down. Let’s take Yee and blow this joint. I told Karen we would have dinner with her. She wants a ride in your Lincoln. Although we will be a bit early, she can get off. Would you like to pick up Claire and Nate junior?”
“Not until we clean out all the nests Thomas. At least we know with Yee gone, the only link to the boys will be gone too.”
“Yea,” Connor replied, “remind me to kill the little prick when Quenton gets done with him, and we can no longer use him. Sure as hell, they will tell Quenton to let him go, and we will all be in danger again.”
“I’ll do him myself, if I find out he walks,” Nate said. “Quenton will not do that without letting us know.”
“Not if he knows. Like I said, let’s just stay cautious with old Yee.”
“Agreed Bwana. Get your loot together, and I’ll let you go get some food.”
Back at the Center, Nate and Connor dropped Yee off with Quenton, who seemed to be less and less surprised at the bounty of information he received each time he saw his two operatives. They left Quenton after
Connor cautioned him to put Yee somewhere incommunicado. In the hallway, Connor tried to get Nate to go with him and Karen to dinner again.
“Don’t you want to come with us?”
“I better get back to Claire, Thomas. We can have dinner together with Karen another time after we get everything going.”
“Fine Nate. I should have thought about how late you would be getting home. We’ll get together when we can have one of the boys chauffeur us around.”
“Sounds good Mutie, I’ll see you bright and early. Don’t forget you have to visit the Russians tonight, and see if they took the hint.”
“Yea, I know. Karen will probably be dopey enough to want to come along.”
“I could call you at a pre-arranged time, and give you an excuse.”
“Thanks Nate, but I better stick with the truth.”
“Always the best plan,” Nate agreed. “Good luck. I hope all of them split. Of course I know you will be disappointed if they did. You’ll probably have to go out and play Batman on the street to see if you can find someone else to whack. It must be hard being an evil mutant.”
“Well, see you later Nate,” Connor replied smiling. “Your naked Kathy program awaits her ride home even as we speak.”
Nate laughed. “Even you can’t do all you plan on and still pull that off.”
“We’ll see,” Connor said as he turned away. “Have a nice evening Nate.”
“Come on Thomas, you know I was just teasing.”
“Sure Nate,” Connor waved as he walked away.
“Okay, I’m sorry.”
Connor made a little backwards wave as he continued walking.
“I’ll hunt your mutant ass down, so help me God,” Nate called after him, but Connor had already rounded the corner at the end of the corridor. The few people walking by Nate heard him mumbling ‘mutant freak’ over and over as he headed out of the building.
Chapter 16 Cementing Relationships
Connor continued on until he found Karen’s lab again. He flashed his ID to the security guard and was waved through. He found Karen cleaning up to go home. She saw him and waved.
“It looks like you finished on time today.”
“You too,” Karen replied. “Anyone left alive out there?” she asked, kissing him.
“Only the good guys.”
Karen stepped back in mock surprise. “You have decimated Washington D.C., and all three branches of government are dead?”
“Sarcasm can be so appealing coming from such an attractive little package. Want to get something to eat?”
“Most definitely,” she affirmed, “but this time I will cook you dinner.”
“Sorry Karen, but we will have to go out to dinner. I do not want you going home with me until I do some last checks on the Russians tonight.”
“I see your point. Would you like to go somewhere inconspicuous, out of the city?”
“Perfect.”
“Italian?”
“Great choice. You want to drive and then bring me back for my car,” Connor asked.
“Sure, but what time do you need to go out?”
“If I could be back at my car by midnight, that would be fine. Nate had to get back home, so he said we will get together after the business gets up and running.”
“I really like Nate.”
“He’s the best,” Connor agreed. “Just don’t tell him I said so. Let’s eat.”
Later, Connor gaped at the inside of the restaurant. Old style Italian motif, including red and white checked tablecloths, and candlelight, adorned the spacious eating area. There were only ten patrons, so Karen and Connor were seated immediately. Karen ordered coffee, as did Connor. They looked over the menu together, with Karen pointing out dinners she had liked.
“Hey, they serve Pasta di Fagioli,” Connor exclaimed. “I have not had Pasta di Fagioli since I was a teenager.”
“What the heck is that?” Karen laughed.
“It’s a bean type soup,” Connor replied.
The waiter came up and Karen ordered Fettuccini Alfredo, while Connor ordered Pasta di Fagioli, and a salad.
“Leave it to you to pick the most obscure thing on the menu,” Karen said.
“Obscure is my middle name.”
“I saw in your records you were born in Ohio.”
“Guilty,” Connor admitted.
“You didn’t like Ohio?”
“I liked the people, but I love California weather. We may have to branch out into California. Washington D.C. weather reminds me of Ohio.”
“You have family in Ohio. Do you think of them?”
“They think I’m dead, and I plan on leaving it that way. My parents died years ago.”
“Do you remember much about growing up?”
Connor chuckled and shook his head.
“What?”
“I just remembered a name my Father called me. When my brother and I were young, we always carried on after we were sent upstairs to bed. My Dad would yell, and we’d be quiet for a few minutes, and then start back up again. Pretty soon we would hear him on the steps. We got real quiet, but he opens our bedroom door, leans on the knob, looks right at me, and says, ‘well, Terror of Beal Street’. Naturally my brother and I start laughing like hell. Pretty soon he’s cracking up too. He just gives up and leaves. After that, my brother told everyone I was the Terror of Beal Street, which got shortened to Terror.”
“You have certainly lived up to that name,” Karen commented.
“Thanks.”
The waiter brought their meal, and then left them alone. Connor tasted his soup, and his whole face lit up. “Good Lord Karen, this tastes as good as my Mother’s.”
“I am glad you like it. I will get the recipe and make it for you.”
“I will have to keep you around if you learn to cook Pasta di Fagioli,” Connor said.
“I’m counting on it Terror.”
“Uh oh,” Connor sighed. “I should never have told you that one.”
“I’m glad you did,” Karen replied. “It makes you more human.”
“I am human.”
“Sometimes I wonder,” Karen said thoughtfully.
“I love having dinner with you.” Connor said.
“I love you Thomas. Get used to that fact. I.”
They heard a commotion and then a man was shouting. “Get on the floor now,” he screamed. He fired a burst from the AK47 he carried into the ceiling. Everyone dived to the floor. As Karen looked towards Connor, he no longer sat next to her. She heard a strangling noise and looked back in time to see Connor crushing the man’s neck. The AK47, Connor already held in his hand, he put on the floor. An instant later, Connor sat next to her again. In the midst of the screaming, Connor took three one hundred dollar bills out and put them under the corner of his coffee cup plate. He guided Karen up, and out of the restaurant, quickly past the still stunned people. Karen could see the man’s head was at a weird angle. Sirens wailed in the background as they found Karen’s car and left the parking lot.
“I can’t take you anywhere,” Karen said.
“Never a dull moment with the Terror of Beal Street.”
“Are you getting faster?”
“I think so. Practice makes perfect.”
“We will have to change your name from Terror to
The Flash.”
“Let’s go back to the Center and I will show you something I am very slow at.”
“Ooooooh, desert after all.”
“Yes, but I will be the only one eating.”
“Terror!”
“You will do better than that,” Connor promised.
Thomas lay in his room at the Center, with his hands behind his head, watching Karen get dressed. They had taken a shower together and ended up in bed again. She smoothed her skirt as she looked up to see him watching her. She came over to the bed and sat next to him, leaning over to kiss him tenderly. She felt him again become aroused, and she stood up quickly.
“Terror!”
Connor laughed. “So, I guess one for the road is out, huh?”
“You were the one with work to do, remember?”
“Shit,” Connor sat up looking at the clock. “It’s already 11:45.”
“You seem to be getting more human all the time there Terror.”
Connor stood up, kissed Karen goodbye, and escorted her to the door. “Sorry to rush you, but I have to get moving.”
“Will you call me later when you get done?”
“Sure, but it will be late though,” Connor warned.
“I don’t care. Do you have my number?” Karen asked.
“I have everything about you,” Connor answered.
“That’s scary.”
“Get moving,” Connor ordered. “I’ll talk to you in a couple of hours.”
Karen kissed him lightly and left. Connor dressed quickly and headed to the first address on his list. The man’s apartment building lay in an upscale residential area. He saw a list of tenants near the entranceway, and picked out his target. Leaning on the door, Connor slowly pushed on the knob until it broke inward through the jamb. He wanted this to look like a burglary.
The man lay with a Glock 9mm next to him on the nightstand. Connor sat down on the bed, and grabbed the man by the hair with his left hand, while clamping his mouth shut with his right. The man jerked violently, but could not move.
“Lie still John. Why haven’t you left the city? Didn’t you get the message?” Connor released his mouth.
“Why the fuck should I,” the man asked as he made a grab for the Glock. He screamed as Connor broke his hand at the wrist and then his neck.
Connor stood up, realizing it would be another long night.
Karen awoke suddenly, sensing she was not alone. She started to sit up, but an arm reached around her tightly.
“Honey, I’m home.” Connor whispered.
“I thought you were going to call,” Karen said sleepily.
“I can’t do this through the phone line,” Connor replied moving closer, yet.
Nate made his way through the security checks at the Center, and headed towards Connor’s room. The door swung open as he approached, and he chuckled appreciatively. Connor was just putting on his suit coat.
“Well Mutie, how smart were the Russians?”
“I am afraid I found out last night why they lost the Cold War,” Connor informed him.
“Did any of the retards take off?” Nate asked.
“Not a one.”
“Well, you had a busy night. At least those mooks won’t be setting up anywhere else,” Nate said.
“I thought of that Nate, but I am glad you did too. None of this bunch had family with them at least. If they had, maybe a few of them would have taken off when they had the chance.”
“At least we can begin doing something more entertaining today. Have you accumulated anymore loot ‘Long John’?”
“Small change compared to our other hauls,” Connor replied. “I have left off from getting into the Chinese piggy bank for now. I want to let things quiet down for a couple of weeks before stirring that hornet’s nest again. Once we have our own information center set up away from prying eyes, you and I will make life miserable for these evil doers.”
“From Wolverine to Captain America. You and Karen must have had a good time last night. I heard on the radio coming over here about a guy storming into a local restaurant with an AK47, threatening a bunch of people while firing the gun, and then he mysteriously fell and broke his neck. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you Captain?”
“At least we finished our meal,” Connor sighed. “This, I assume was in addition to numerous reports of other mysterious deaths in the area?”
“The police are baffled Captain. You have become more of a magnet for trouble than anyone I ever ran across. Do you think it’s safe to meet with the boys this morning?” Nate asked jokingly.
“Nothing seems very safe anymore. When that guy popped in at the restaurant, I began to wonder if I had powered myself into a curse. Well, no use feeling sorry for myself. I wanted to make a difference, and Nate my friend, we have made some impact over the last couple of days.”
“We have definitely made Washington D.C. a safer place to live and do business,” Nate admitted. “I am hungry. We told the boys to meet us in front of the restaurant right?”
“Yep, but we have another hour and a half to go. I better fill Quenton in on last night’s adventure, and see how he made out with the Chinese Kingpin we brought in.”
“Okay, but remember not to get too long winded. I am starving,” Nate complained.
“Claire didn’t feed you this morning?”
“We barely had time to say hi this morning. She started a new job over at a law office today.”
“You did explain to her she would never have to work again did you not?” Connor asked.
“Of course,” Nate sighed, “but with Nate Junior in school, she gets a little nuts. She said she needed to have something going.”
“We could bring her in with us.”
Nate gave Connor the Vulcan Death Stare as he started laughing. “Do not even go there Mutie. As much as I love Claire, I do not want to spend every waking moment with her.”
“Okay, no need to get all testy with me. Let’s go see if we can find our boss.”
Quenton sat quietly as Connor brought him up to date on the happenings since their last meeting. He jotted down some notes as Connor talked. Nate added a few points concerning the hierarchy of the Russian Mob structure he knew from past experience. When they were done briefing him, Quenton got up and walked over to his filing cabinet. He returned with two manila folders, which he placed before Connor and Nate.
“I filled in some more of the blanks in the Chinese connection structure from Mr. Yee. As you can see, we have a number of morons at different levels in the Pentagon unwittingly supplying information to the Chinese. This tree has so many roots we may be a long time in locating them all. With the sex and drugs, they have managed to set up a huge information gathering network. I am glad you brought Yee in for me. We have already begun the arduous task of plugging our security holes.”
“I did make it clear Mr. Yee can never get out again, right,” Connor asked.
“Yes,” Quenton replied. “He will never see the outside again. Do the police have any plausible stories they can make up for themselves to explain your nocturnal adventures?”
“I believe Nate and I left them with enough to fool around with. You seem a little upset Derek. Want to tell us what has you in a bad mood?”
“I feel like I am on a freight train heading over a cliff. So much has happened in the last few days, I guess I am having trouble deciphering it all. Does it seem to you guys like we may be the only good guys around?”
Nate laughed. “Thomas laid the same stuff on me earlier. Something has been set into motion here, and we will just have to play the hand out to the end.”
“Nate’s right,” Connor agreed. “We can only go forward now buddy. The time to duck back down in our holes, for good or bad, has passed. Once we get our place set up away from here, we can double check each other, and watch each other’s backs. Anything we scare up we will bring to you. If you come up with something, we will go over it from our place. How are you doing with the supercomputers we talked about?”