Monster (79 page)

The others turned immediately with apprehension to Reskova. She laughed lightly at their concern.

“Don’t look at me. We’re not cartoon characters. If you think for a moment I give a crap any more about fighting this shit with my hands tied behind my back, you’re nuts. I’m in all the way. There’s nothing like waking up in a trunk with people talking about your demise to make a person see the big picture. I’d rather go to prison than see any of you killed because we played this game by their rules.”

“Pete helped me put in a closed circuit alarm system already. I will do as Cold suggests and close up for the time being until we see how Mehmed’s surveillance goes.”

“I like that kid,” McDaniels said. “Does he have enough skills for this, Kay?”

“I’m on with him, Colonel.” Donaldson pointed to the receiver at his ear. He’s wearing a GPS tracker. Kay and I like him too. He’s the best choice for doing this. We’ve been training him ever since he arrived in America.”

“He is very good, Cold,” Rasheed confirmed. “I am most grateful for your commitment to this, Diane. We were unsure how to proceed if we did find a tie-in to the Russians or Syrians.”

“Frankly, as with Mero, there really isn’t any other way to proceed,” McDaniels said with a shrug. “Like the saying goes, if you find out your enemy wishes to put a bomb in your house, put one in his first.”

“Gee, Cold, it seems so simple when you put it like that,” Reskova remarked with just a hint of sarcasm.

“I’m beginning to think it is just that simple,” Donaldson said. “Nancy and I are sticking around here for the day. Maybe Kay and I can even make a few bucks in the shop here. I have my car right outside in case Mehmed needs help. Aren’t you glad I talked you into putting in those pull down metal shutters for your storefront, Kay?”

“Indeed. I was foolish to think I could have a secret identity like Batman.”

“Wait a minute,” Donaldson objected as McDaniels and Reskova laughed at Rasheed’s comic book reference. “If you’re Batman, that would make me Robin. I don’t like it.”

“I would have said Green Arrow but then you would have to be the Black Canary,” Rasheed explained, evoking more laughter. “You can be the older Robin, ah… what is his name… ah yes… Nightwing. Mehmed can be Robin.”

“You are really up on the comic book lore, Kay,” McDaniels complimented him.

“I bought out a couple of private collections after seeing how much comic books sell for on E-bay. I have been reading them along with the comic book price guide. I can begin selling some comic books in the store too. If you wish, my sidekick can escort you into the house now.”

“Why you…” Donaldson headed toward the counter.

“Stay where you are,” Rasheed warned. “Batman will not brook disrespect from his groupies.”

“You see what happens the next time you need a sidekick when Jen decides to frag your butt at the office.” Donaldson settled for something he knew would give Rasheed pause. Rutledge had been beating Rasheed to the punch in almost everything of a kidding nature at work. “See if I give you a heads up the next time she lures you into making a fool out of yourself.”

“There is no need to act like a recalcitrant child,” Rasheed observed with a stern expression.

“I’m taking Diane out to breakfast,” McDaniels broke in before Donaldson could reply. “You guys want to round up everyone and come along?”

“I think it would be better if Batman and I monitor Mehmed’s surveillance, Colonel,” Donaldson replied. “I have my notebook with satellite hookup in the house. We’ll keep an eye on him today. I need to run some checks on the closed circuit system I put in.”

“Did you get them on camera?” Reskova asked.

“Yes, we had the system running, hoping they would visit,” Rasheed answered. “I will send the digital images of them out right away and see if they have been into anything else besides extortion.”

“Sounds good,” McDaniels replied. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will, my friend,” Rasheed said. “Stop for dinner tonight.”

“Only if you let us bring dinner,” Reskova replied. “What would you like?”

“How about Chinese?” Rasheed asked, turning to Donaldson. “Is that all right with you, Robin?”

“I’m Nightwing.”

“Not since you disrespected me.”

Chapter 56

Beyond The Law

Reskova watched McDaniels playing Frisbee with Dino. The two had collected an audience as they played in the small park near Reskova’s apartment building. The weather remained in the middle sixties without a cloud in the sky. Each time Dino caught the Frisbee he walked near the kids standing around McDaniels, pretending to let them have the disc, only to pull it back and turn away at the last moment. The kids, ranging in age from around seven to ten years old of both sexes would then yell and chase Dino. Dino then circled around out of their reach to give over the Frisbee into a laughing McDaniels’ hand. The parents of the kids in attendance were enjoying the repeated antics of Dino, the devil dog, almost as much as their children.

Hearing some of the parents mentioning McDaniels by name, Reskova silently cursed the newspapers and local television stations which had made his Senate confrontations a daily lead for three days after his testimony. She looked around uneasily, knowing anything could happen out in the open if the Russians were still keeping tabs on her whereabouts. Rasheed had set up traps to try and draw them out, with Donaldson watching every angle from the rooftops in her neighborhood, without a response. Rutledge had managed to uncover the likely apartment the Russians had used to watch her. She made sure the building manager would from then on report new tenants to their office.

Reskova stopped scanning her surroundings. She turned toward McDaniels from where she had been kneeling. Dino licked her face, causing a bout of spitting and wiping. Dino closed in on her, pushing Reskova onto her back. Reskova twisted and turned, trying to stop laughing, but pushing Dino away at the same time. She could hear McDaniels and the kids laughing at her predicament. McDaniels whistled. Dino immediately sat down at attention. McDaniels helped Reskova to her feet.

“Did you have to wait until he fouled my whole face before calling him off?” Reskova asked sternly, drawing chuckles from the kids still surrounding them.

“You are the Cold Mountain, aren’t you?” One lady asked who walked over to get her daughter.

“My name is Jeremiah.”

“I told you it was him,” a man whispered to his wife. “It’s good to see you, Colonel. My wife and I saw you handle that drunken parasite on television.”

“My cousin was on the flight you handled those Syrians on,” another woman spoke up. “She said you saved them all.”

“I wasn’t alone, Ma’am, but thank you.” McDaniels guided Reskova toward her apartment with Dino prancing along at his heel. “We have to go. Bye, kids. Thanks for playing with me and Dino.”

The chorus of farewells from both the kids and their parents were a pleasant change for both McDaniels and Reskova.

“Wow, this is like hanging out with a superhero.” Reskova hugged McDaniels’ arm, overplaying her tone of awe.

“Turn that record over, Red.” McDaniels nudged Reskova off balance. “I told you my chances of being undercover in this country were slim. Our stint as a Russian couple will probably be the last undercover mission I’ll ever pull off here. If you like though, we’ll fit into the group as Superman and Lois Lane.”

“I’d like that. Who will Tom and Jen be?”

“They can be Mike Hammer and his secretary, Velma,” McDaniels suggested.

“Jen will never go for that.”

They walked in a comfortable silence to Reskova’s apartment building, holding hands. Inside the apartment, Dino jumped around until McDaniels filled his food bowl. The phone rang and McDaniels picked it up.

“Cold Mountain residence, Cold Mountain speaking,” McDaniels joked, knowing from the caller ID screen it was Rasheed.

“Very funny. Gather Diane and come over now, Cold. Mehmed has been in touch. ASAP.”

“Be there shortly, Kay.” McDaniels set the phone aside and went into the bedroom.

McDaniels halted abruptly, his heart in his throat. Reskova lay across the foot of their bed in a black negligee, stockings, and high heel outfit he had never seen.

“Oh my God,” McDaniels whispered.

“Who was on the phone?” Reskova asked, pleased with the stunned look on McDaniels’ face.

“Uh…uh…”

“C’mon, Cold, spit it out.”

McDaniels stuttered unintelligibly for a moment. “Give… give me a second. It was Kay. We have to go over to his house right now.”

“Right now?” Reskova murmured, twisting slightly.

McDaniels scooped her up as if she were a small child, engulfing her in his arms, drinking in the scent of her perfume. He kissed her gently at first, and then with an ardor which provoked a moan of rising passion from Reskova. McDaniels pulled away. He pitched her on the bed again. His chest heaving, he grabbed a pre-packed bag from their closet as Reskova protested.

“Get dressed, Red. We have to leave like right now. Mehmed came up with something important. God, you look fine.”

“This better be good,” Reskova mumbled under her breath as she slipped off her negligee.

* * *

Rasheed met them halfway up his driveway, Donaldson trailing a step behind.

“We tapped the jerk’s line Mehmed busted up today,” Donaldson said quickly. “As soon as he returned from the hospital he called Kojovich and demanded the Russian meet him.”

“We thought Kojovich and Romanko were in hiding,” Rasheed added.

“I’ll call Tom and meet him and Jen at the office. We’ll coordinate from there.” Reskova turned toward her car.

“Diane.” McDaniels walked over to her. “Go back home. Let us handle this. Sorry… I should have driven over alone.”

Reskova started to protest but squeezed McDaniels’ hand instead. “Okay, but if you need anything, don’t…”

“Of course, Red,” McDaniels cut her off. “I’ll be home later. I love you.”

“You better.”

McDaniels watched her drive away before turning his attention again to Rasheed and Donaldson. “Please tell me you know where this meeting will take place. I don’t want Mehmed’s tailing this guy to give us away.”

Rasheed clucked his annoyance at McDaniels’ tone. “Give us some credit, Cold Mountain. Mehmed tagged the kid’s car the moment he went in his house.”

“The meeting is in two hours, Colonel,” Donaldson said. “I’m sorry they didn’t mention a specific location. On the other hand, it means they’ve met there before.”

McDaniels nodded. His body and face betrayed an uncharacteristic tenseness.

“What is wrong with you, Cold?” Rasheed picked up on his friend’s body language. “Are you mad because I thought at first you should bring Diane?”

“No. Kojovich supervised the Hughes brothers’ kidnapping of Diane. She needs to be ready anyhow until we figure out what needs doing.”

“He won’t be alone, Colonel,” Donaldson said.

“John Hughes told me he always had two bodyguards with him. If he meets the kid alone, I need you guys to take care of his comrades. If they go in with him, what we do will depend on the meeting place.”

“We will take my SUV.” Rasheed tossed the keys to McDaniels. “One other thing, the kid’s ID is a phony. He lives by himself. He moved into the place Mehmed is watching only two months ago. The other young men he came into the store with have legitimate backgrounds. Put your stuff in the SUV while Pete and I get our things.”

Donaldson sat in the rear seat, his laptop on his knees in front of him.

“Has Mehmed said anything?” McDaniels twisted around in the front passenger seat.

“Not since you asked me two minutes ago, Colonel.” Donaldson smiled up at McDaniels’ scowling face. “The kid’s car hasn’t moved yet.”

“Let’s go over and pick Mehmed up.”

“Too risky, Sir,” Donaldson replied. “We’re only two blocks away. Mehmed knows to stay in place once the… wait one… here we go. Start it up, Kay. Let’s swing by for Mehmed.”

“You get that, M?” Donaldson spoke into his lapel transmitter. “M’s waiting for us. The kid just drove away.”

Rasheed drove the SUV toward where they would pick up Mehmed. Donaldson tracked their target car, making notes as to how he would guide Rasheed after they picked up Mehmed.

 “Were you guys able to pull anything useful off the database with that fingerprint?” McDaniels asked as they drove away.

“Not yet, Sir. I went international with it. That will take time,” Donaldson explained. “He’s not on any watch lists.”

“He’s probably like Mehmed, fresh from some place no one is likely to have heard of.”

Donaldson made room for Mehmed to jump quickly into the backseat.

“What’s wrong with you, M?” Donaldson asked, seeing the grim look on the young man’s face.

“When we are done with this man, you must let me kill him. I…I entered his house while he was still away and…”

“You what?!” Rasheed yelled as Donaldson called out directions.