Monster (78 page)

“You are the man,” McDaniels said reverently as both Tamara and Reskova reacted indignantly to Rasheed’s camp follower comment concerning Suraya.

“Please don’t feed that ego of his, Colonel,” Donaldson pleaded. “He already talks most of the time in the third person as if he were some all knowing oracle of wisdom.”

“Jealousy does not become you, young Pete,” Rasheed chided Donaldson to the amusement of the others before addressing McDaniels. “Where are you headed now, my friend?”

“We can stick around and visit for a while until you start getting swamped with customers. Red and I can…” McDaniels paused as Donaldson and Rasheed exchanged a quick look. “Hey, what’s up with you two?”

“They’re probably tired of seeing me around.” Reskova smiled to show it did not upset her.

“No, Boss,” Rasheed said quickly. “
Shaun of the Dead
thinks everyone is trying to get rid of him. I just thought you two would have other plans.”

“What was that look between you two?” McDaniels cut in, grabbing Pete’s ear. “Pete?”

“Easy, Colonel, Nancy just wanted to browse for a piece to decorate our entryway table, and then go spend some time with Ansa while Kay and I watch the shop. We…”

“Wait a minute,” Reskova jumped in suspiciously. “You two want to spend more time together away from the wives playing retail clerks? You’re right, Cold. Something’s up with these two.”

“It is nothing.” Rasheed shrugged at Donaldson. “Pete agreed to help me with a little problem Ansa and Suraya have been having this week.”

“What would this little problem…” McDaniels started to ask as the little bell rang on the entrance door.

Five casually dressed young men of obvious Middle Eastern descent walked into the front entrance. They ranged from just under five feet ten inches tall to over six feet. McDaniels figured them to be roughly around Mehmed’s age. McDaniels smiled knowingly at Rasheed who nodded his head in affirmation. Donaldson walked Nancy around the counter. Rasheed opened the door leading into the back for her. McDaniels walked away from the counter, appearing to look over some knickknacks of Washington D.C. Rasheed had placed near the counter. Reskova remained in front of the counter. The young men eyed McDaniels, paying no attention to the others. When McDaniels walked toward the door of the shop, the group moved into a line near the register while waiting until McDaniels exited the store.

“Greetings, brother,” the lead man said in Arabic.

“Speak English,” Rasheed ordered. Donaldson moved to the customer side of the counter. “My wife and daughter have told me what you and these other scum have been saying about them in my shop.”

“You betray Islam by having women run your business!” The man’s face screwed up into a mask of infantile rage Rasheed had seen many times before. “They were dressed as common street trash.”

Mehmed entered the store through the same door Rasheed had opened for Nancy. He took up a position just behind Rasheed. Rasheed glanced back at Mehmed.

“Did you hear, Mehmed, what this donkey’s penis has said about Suraya?” Rasheed asked, causing Donaldson to clamp a hand over his mouth.

“I heard, Sir,” Mehmed acknowledged, his manner calm and cold. “Suraya has told me these vermin have been trying to blackmail her and Mrs. Rasheed, using their false indignation for Allah as an excuse. They called your wife and daughter many names, any of which would be worthy of death.”

“Who is this virgin you hide behind shopkeeper?” The young man in front glanced back with arrogant mirth at his comrades.

When the young man turned his attention to Rasheed, Mehmed was standing in front of him. Reskova was in a position to see the sudden fear which raced across the young man’s countenance before remembering his fellow extortionists behind him. He reached for Mehmed’s shirt to push him into the counter. Instead he found his wrists locked more strongly than he had ever felt before. Mehmed forced the young thug to his knees. Before the young man’s friends could move, Mehmed snapped his captive’s right wrist, evoking a scream of agony. Mehmed released him and stepped back near the counter.

“As you wished, Mr. Rasheed, no blood,” Mehmed stated, glancing at the grinning Rasheed.

The young man’s friends were stunned. Donaldson and Reskova closed in on them. McDaniels had crept back into the store directly behind the group.

“Put your hands behind your heads, fingers locked!” McDaniels ordered in Arabic.

The four men turned furtively toward McDaniels. Seeing the same giant who had been in the shop before had now reappeared as if from thin air, they clasped their hands quickly behind their heads. Mehmed frisked each one, removing all personal items they carried. He handed them then to Rasheed. When he finished with the four standing, Mehmed relieved the ringleader of his belongings. Reskova stepped closer, showing them her badge and identification.

“How do the ID’s look, Kay,” Reskova asked.

“They are American citizens.” Rasheed walked out from behind the counter. “Mehmed, go and bring my wife and daughter out. I wish to know if any of these other swine insulted them.”

Mehmed hurried through the door behind the counter to do Rasheed’s bidding.

“You…you cannot do this,” the man on the floor groaned. “We…”

Rasheed grabbed his hair, yanking him upright into a seated position. He banged the young man’s head against the counter.

“Speak again and I will rip the ears from your head and stick them down your throat,” Rasheed whispered menacingly. “Do you understand?”

The man nodded, all prior bravado completely gone. Ansa, and Suraya came through the rear entrance with Mehmed.

“These are the ones, my husband,” Ansa stated right away, walking over to look at the men standing in front of McDaniels. She pointed to the one rocking in pain at her feet. “That is the one who spoke to us.”

“He called us whores, Father,” Suraya added. “He wanted money for what he said were transgressions against Allah.”

“Did any of these others speak?” Rasheed gestured at the four standing.

“No,” Ansa replied. “They only laughed at this one’s comments.”

“You have everything here in America,” Mehmed shouted, moving to face the other four. “Why would you do this?”

Rasheed pulled the injured man to his feet.

“Do any of you have anything you want to say?” Rasheed asked.

The other four exchanged glances.

“We are very sorry,” the tallest one of the group said finally, addressing Ansa and Suraya.

“Take your friend and go. Your belongings and ID’s will be returned later. We will investigate all of you and your families. Pray to Allah we do not find anything in your backgrounds that force us to speak to you a second time. Never come near my shop again. If ever you see my family on the street, run away in the opposite direction. This is the only warning you will ever get. I know where to find each of you, now get out.”

The men hurried out of the store, pulling the injured one along. After they were gone, McDaniels came over to shake hands with Mehmed who was trying to unsuccessfully keep Suraya from holding his hand in front of her Father.

“That was one calm no nonsense piece of work, Mehmed,” McDaniels complimented him.

“I am very happy to see you again, Cold Mountain,” Mehmed said enthusiastically, not noticing Suraya had moved her hands up and was now clutching his arm. “It is good you are back, Sir.”

Ansa, Reskova, and Donaldson noticed Rasheed’s face twist slowly into a scowl while watching Suraya draw closer and closer to Mehmed. Mehmed glanced at Rasheed momentarily as he spoke before realizing Suraya was now holding his arm tightly, resting her head against his shoulder. Mehmed’s smile vanished. He gently but firmly disengaged himself from Suraya. Rasheed sighed in resignation as the others laughed appreciatively.

“This is not a game, Suraya,” Mehmed whispered fiercely to Suraya. She smiled up into his eyes while trying to regain a grip on his hand. “You must abide your Father’s wishes.”

Rasheed put an arm around Mehmed’s shoulders.

“Ansa did the same thing to me in front of her Father, a brutish monster of a man who would have made the Cold Mountain tremble. As
Shaun of the Dead
stated, you did very well. The broken wrist was most satisfying. I forgive you for the liberties my daughter takes. I will not forgive any you take or allow to happen willingly. Remember our talk, young Mehmed.”

“I will not forget, Sir,” Mehmed promised, smiling at Ansa who had reacted to Rasheed’s description of her behavior when they were younger with both hands at her mouth.

“I…I did no such thing.” Ansa blushed as Suraya looked at her questioningly.

Rasheed picked up the ID of the man Mehmed had injured and handed it to Mehmed.

“I have already copied the information from this driver’s license and retrieved a fingerprint. Go as Pete and I discussed with you before and find out everything about this man’s residence. Shadow everyone who visits his home and anyone who lives there. It is most important you find out whether he visits any Mosque’s or meeting places. Do you have what you need?”

“Yes Sir. I have the digital equipment to record all who come and go near his place. I will blend in as you have taught me.”

“Arm yourself. Do not hesitate to call me or Pete if you have any difficulties,” Rasheed instructed. “This weekend will be very important for your training. Do not lose concentration, Mehmed.”

“I will not, Sir.” Mehmed turned to walk out past McDaniels who had been listening with interest.

Suraya grabbed Mehmed’s hand, looking at her Father imploringly.

“Let me go with him, Father,” Suraya pleaded. The others watched with great amusement as Mehmed’s face turned ashen.

“Release the young man!” Rasheed looked accusingly at Ansa as if she had instigated Suraya’s actions. “Do not embarrass yourself in front of our friends any further. He is not going to Disneyland. He is on assignment. Go and take little Cold from Nancy.”

Suraya began to speak again but stayed silent when she saw the vehement head shake from Ansa. Instead, Suraya turned and quickly kissed Mehmed on the mouth, causing the young man to nearly pitch backward into a store shelf full of antique porcelain. Only McDaniels’ steadying hand at his back allowed Mehmed to regain his balance and hurry out of the store. Suraya gave the startled Rasheed one more rebellious glance before hurrying through the inner shop entrance with a smiling Ansa following.

Donaldson walked over to commiserate with his partner.

“Geez, Kay, I hope I’m dead before my kid gets to be fifteen.”

“You see now why I have been trying to shield you from the disillusionment which is an integral part of parenthood.” Rasheed placed a reassuring hand on Donaldson’s shoulder. “I am blessed it is Mehmed Suraya has become infatuated with.”

“I think it’s more than infatuation, Kay,” Donaldson replied.

“Indeed,” Rasheed confirmed glumly.

“Kay, you act like Suraya’s trying to run off with an axe murderer,” McDaniels began. “What if…”

“Stay out of this,
Shaun of the Dead
.” Rasheed gave McDaniels a dismissing wave of the hand. “If parents and prospective parents need advice on how to kill and maim a legion of unsuspecting people, we will say oh please
Shaun of the Dead
, please bless us with your wisdom. Because we are only trying to ascertain the best course in guiding a recalcitrant child, I must ask you to withhold your gems of wisdom.”

This statement set Reskova off. She was unable for many moments to speak, resisting any looks McDaniels tried unsuccessfully to give her. Her laughter was infectious. Soon Donaldson as well as Rasheed were laughing at McDaniels’ expense. McDaniels kept smiling throughout, remembering how he had missed being around with his friends in just this way.

“Point taken,” McDaniels stated finally.

“Did you talk this over with Tom?” Reskova asked Rasheed.

“I told Tom about this bunch. We went over what I was going to do. The Boss was not thrilled but he thought if there were even a remote possibility this harassment might be tied in with the Syrians or Russians, he wanted it pursued. I do not like coincidences. Tom agreed I may have been outed to the Middle Eastern community, some of whom feel they can seek any kind of retribution they wish for non-existing offenses.”

“In other words, the Russians may have caught you up in their surveillance of me,” Reskova added somberly. “You were right to have started this action, Kay.”

“I’m in,” McDaniels stated immediately. “I have confirmation Romanko and Kojovich were part of Diane’s kidnapping. They obviously had Diane under surveillance for God knows how long before they enlisted the Hughes brothers.”

Absorbing all the implications of what McDaniels had told him, Rasheed nodded his head slowly as he went over the information in his mind.

“It makes sense, Kay,” Donaldson put in. “If Mehmed or our investigation of these ID’s turns up anyone connected with the Russians or Syrians you and your family are in danger. Remember, Jen found out about the apartment the Russians were using to watch Diane’s place. They may have seen you then.”

“I think it might be a good idea to close up shop until I kill everyone involved,” McDaniels said matter-of-factly.