Dark as Daylight Ch. 03

"You mean I can start needling her now, instead of her doing it to me every day?"

"If you want, I'll even buy you a bigger needle."

"Thank you Mister Laver, lunch is going to be a lot of fun today."

"Thank you Sally; I will see you again soon. We will definitely see each other after you call me in seven or eight months."

"Have a nice day Mister Laver."

******************

8. Retribution

Two men hung by chains 3 feet above two buckets of water that were filled to the brim. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and ball gags were in their mouths to prevent them from screaming. A group of men sat by a wall in the sub-basement of a commercial building, waiting for his arrival. When the steel door opened, the first two men in yelled, "ATTENTION!"

The five men sitting at the table stopped what they were doing, jumped up, and braced themselves, straight as a steel posts. Then the Colonel walked in wearing a very expensive suit, a shirt with French cuffs, a tie and very expensive shoes. He looked at the five men standing at attention, and judged each one individually.

One was as big as a house, and stronger than a bull. They were unable to put enough weights on the bar to keep him from lifting it.

All 153 pounds of Lucius Canyon walked over to him, looked him up and down, and patted his stone hard stomach. "Getting soft Andy, getting soft."

No one in the room could hold back their laughter, not even the Colonel. Andy could have folded him in three and eaten him for a snack.

"Take those things out of their mouths, and give them a drink of water."

The two men thought they had received a reprieve of sorts, until the drink of water they received was directly below them. The chains were lowered slowly until their heads were completely submerged. Their bodies shook, twisted, and rebelled against their inability to breathe.

After one minute Lucius said, "Bring them up."

The men sputtered, spit out water from their lungs, and puked everything they had in their stomach all over the floors around them.

"Good morning gentlemen, my name is Colonel Lucius C. Canyon. You may call me sir, or Colonel. If you call me anything else, Andrew is going to hit you in your kidney. The reason they do not allow kidney punches in boxing is because of the pain it causes, and those men wear 14-ounce boxing gloves. Andrew is not going to wear boxing gloves. He will hit you, and moments later you will be bleeding through your nose and mouth. You will not be able to speak because of the pain for 5 to 10 minutes. That is my time, and I don't like wasting my time. I want you to answer my questions truthfully the first time, or I will put your head in that bucket and leave you there. Do you both understand?"

Both men said, "Yes sir."

"Why do I have a feeling you are both ex-military. What branch of the service where you each in?"

"U.S. Navy sir."

"Excellent service, you should be proud of yourselves. Now, let's do this the easy way so you can walk out of here. You notice I said you can walk out of here? I am not lying to you, because if you give me the information I want you will go home. One lie, just one, and you will become plant food. Are we clear with one another?"

"Yes sir."

"Sir, may I say something?"

"Keep it short."

"The men who ordered us to plant the bomb told us if we ever opened our mouths they would kill our entire family from grandparents to kids. What were we supposed to do? We didn't get a penny to do it, it was just the threat of violence against our families."

"Very interesting, do you know who these men were?"

"I don't know them by name, because they never use them. If I ever see a picture of any of them, I could pick them out of a million people."

"How about you, do you know any of them by name?"

"It's funny, if you can call the situation funny, but I think I know his accent, because he was in the building a lot. I don't know if he was a salesman or a technician, but I know he didn't work for us because he wasn't there every day, but like Fred says. I could pick them out of a million people. If I ever saw a picture of them."

"Gentleman, have you ever heard a bigger bunch of bullshit than these guys have just thrown at us. It has been so well rehearsed, they even put the periods in the same place. Down."

"Honest Colonel, it was the truth. We told you the truth."

"So did I, you two are plant food."

One minute and 30 seconds later, their heads were raised above water. They coughed, sputtered, and when they finally came back to their senses. They saw 340 pounds of Andy staring them in the face.

"Do you two assholes think we didn't check on you before we picked you up? Each of you deposited $20,000 into your bank accounts on the same day. Did you win the lottery; we checked, you didn't. Did you rob a bank, we checked, you didn't. Did your grandmother die and leave you the money? She didn't, we checked. Did you hit it big on the World Series; you didn't, we checked. We did it by computer. It took us five minutes, now you two are dead, but know this, we are not going to touch your families, because they are not responsible for the damage you tried to do to the spacecraft. I want names, and I want them now. Are you going to cooperate, or am I going to turn Andy loose? You have five seconds. 5,4,3,2,1.0. Andy the big one."

"Thank you sir, it will be my pleasure.

"Henry pulled the little one away so we can watch his friend die."

"Yes sir."

Andy asked, "If you want to say a prayer, go ahead, I will give you 15 seconds. One minute from now you will be dead."

Fred closed his eyes, and his lips moved. Then he yelled, "Stop, I swear, as God is my witness, I will tell you everything. I want to be with my family. I'll tell you about my brother-in-law, and the people he's involved with. I'll tell you everything. You can give me a lie detector test. You can keep me captive, until you check it out, but I swear I'm going to tell you the absolute truth."

"What about your little friend here, what was his involvement?"

"As you said sir, he's smaller than I am, and quicker. He entered number three, went to the evacuation tube and planted the device deep inside, believing no one would see it. He was in out less than five minutes."

"So you made $40,000 for five-minutes work. Who gave you the $40,000, and who did he work for? Remember, I should not be talking to you now. Andy should, and he is deeply disappointed. I don't like disappointing Andy. One false word and your dead.

"My brother-in-law's name is..."

"Record this, it may be his last will and testament, or his pass to a new life. Go on."

"My brother-in-law's name is Randall Smallwood. He lives at 21 Bristol Rd., South Boston. He banks at the Bridges Community Bank, and has three safe-deposit boxes there. He works for a company called "Isstiron Intelligent Systems. They are a subcontractor, of a subcontractor for the new rocket being built for Boeing. It is their biggest moneymaker, but that's not their main claim to fame. It's owned by the Irish mob, but it is so well hidden under corporate names, it would take the FBI two centuries to find it out."

"How do you know this?"

"My brother-in-law threw a big Super Bowl party a few years ago, but his baby contracted chickenpox, so the mothers would not let the fathers go. So it was me and him, a ton of food, and more booze then is handled by a bar in a week.

I don't drink. He drinks like a fish. That night he told me things that scared the shit out of me. Not only did he tell me his corporation is owned by the mob, but he is connected. He is considered a captain. He is so good with computers that he steals money from banks all over the world, including Russia and China. He brought in $420 million for them that year. He jumped over so many people, now he is untouchable now. Mickey put out the word that if anybody touches him, they are dead. So he works for this company that looks like a little nothing, and makes a decent salary in the neighborhood of the $160,000 a year, plus incentives, and bonuses. Last year he cleared $400,000. He was audited by the IRS, and cleared.

His little place is a subcontractor for General Scanning, who is a subcontractor of Control Technology, who is a subcontractor for Agiligent Automated Intelligence. He fell asleep after that, but it keeps going. All of these companies are owned by the Irish mob. Straight up the line, the mob is making money off this new rocket. Boeing doesn't know anything about this, because they're all subcontractors, until they reach one company who is legitimate. If you're looking from the top down, everything looks wonderful. All your big contractors are legitimate. Who they subcontract to is none of their concern. There are like 15800 subcontractors for that thing, and for, $1 trillion, who's going to miss 50 or 100 million dollars going to 7, 8 or 9 subcontractors doing important work for their contractor, and making money for him, while the money they're making is going to the mob."

"What families are involved?"

"Only one family is involved sir, the White Hill Gang. They control the entire South side, all the way through the business district. They are even making inroads towards the airport, because they becoming nonviolent."

"That's an awful long way for them to get involved in something like this by themselves, without permission, from the commission in Chicago, and the truckers, in Kansas City. Someone was spreading heavy money around, really heavy money.

Carlos put this down in your memory banks, for the things to do list. We need 10 more top-flight men, who can beat the pulp out of you. If they can last 30 seconds in the ring with you there hired. If they knock you out, you're fired."

Carlos grinned. He lasted a full minute in the ring with Andy. When they were finished, Andy had a bloody nose. Of course, Carlos couldn't use his left arm for a week, because Andy kept pounding on it with his right hand. Carlos had bragging rights though, because he didn't bleed."

As they stepped outside the building, Paul said, "Good Afternoon Colonel, I'm back."

"How the fuck did you find me? I specifically told Jemma not to tell you where I was."

"Jemma didn't tell me, sir."

"Are you going to tell me how you found me or not?"

"I am not sir. In case we get separated, I will know how to get to you."

"I've been trying to get separated from you for 40 years Paul, and it hasn't worked."

"I know sir, isn't life grand."

"Gentleman, this is Paul, your second in command. If I shit, this is the smell that comes off it. A better shot you will never meet, except for me, of course. Don't test him, you will lose."

"Excuse me sir; you had a birthday, can you still pick up a rifle?"

"That's your one for this year, Paul. The next one earns you 100 push-ups."

"Thank you sir, it will be my pleasure."

"He is in an unusual mood today. We will do the formal introductions later today. We will take six cars, and do a 20 block radius of Randall's house. We will be looking for a BMW 650 Grand Coupe in carbon black. It should not be that hard to pick out. As soon as you see it block it in if it's in a driveway, and deflate a tire if it's in the street. Just make sure he can't get out until we are all there. Everyone take a look at this picture of him and memorize it. If we are lucky enough to see him going into a house, or an apartment, you all know the drill. He's the bottom rung of the ladder, and he will be the first to die. I will do that personally, because that is my job. Your job is to protect me. If something happens to me, a dear friend of mine's wife will kill him. Trust me, she means it."

There was a slight chuckle going through the men, but they did have a feeling the Colonel meant it.

They tested their communications gear, and weapons, moved into their transportation and headed off to South Boston. They passed in front of 26 Bristol Rd., and then proceeded to fan out. They were early, very early, so they stayed well within the speed limit, and drove very courteously.

**********

"Colonel, I have him."

"Say your position."

"Bishop, just south of I-95. He stopped at a gas station to fill up."

"Everyone hold position."

"Subject is moving south on Broadway."

"One block intervals."

"Passing Mercer."

"Passing Bridges."

"Traffic light at Nathan Hale."

"Turning left on Buhl, left again on Berkeley, left again on Buhl. Pulling into the driveway, middle-class one-story house that is very well-maintained. It's the best one on the block, you can't miss it. I can't see a number. No children's toys are evident, and a smaller blue BMW is in front of his. He is using his own key to enter the house. The roof has black tile, with a grayish green paint job. The yard is fenced, and I am parked blocking the exit by the posts."

"Coming up behind you right now, Ralph." Don't forget to put your FBI and police jackets on. This is a working class neighborhood so there should be no one home, if we're lucky."

*****************

"Are the phone lines and cable lines cut?"

"Yes Colonel."

"Turn the cell phone jammers on both sides of the house."

"They are on, and tested sir."

"Stan the deadbolt."

"Burned clean through Colonel."

"Is there sound in the bedroom?"

"There is sound and movement in the bedroom."

"Remember gentleman he may be armed. I don't want him getting near his weapon. Let's try not to use ours. Here we go quietly. Stan!"

With expert hands, Stan clicked the tumblers into position in under 10 seconds. He opened the door less than 1 inch and sprayed the hinges with a super lubricant, and let it sit for three seconds. He smiled at the Colonel and opened the door. It didn't make a sound.

The entire team went in without a sound. The only room they didn't go into was the master bedroom. They checked every other room, closed every shade and drape darkening the entire house as they went along. When they were finished, the four-man bedroom entry team opened the door quietly, and walked in without disturbing the lovers.

The Colonel walked in, stood at the end of the bed and said, "Mister Smallwood, I'm sorry to disturb you at such a delicate time, but we have business to discuss. My men will keep your young lady busy for many hours to come. What a wonderful word, cum. 16 men. That's an awful lot of cum.

The Colonel had not even seen the young woman yet, but as Randall moved off of her, she was a little slip of a girl, 19, possibly 20 years old. She was frightened out of her mind.

"What did you do, Mister Smallwood take her out of the cradle? I will ask you again outside this room, and I will get the right answer from you, so you may as well tell me now."

"Kathy is the daughter of a good friend of mine. We've been seeing each other for a few years now. This house is in her name, just in case anything happens to me, she will have something to fall back on."

"Kathy, I am not a very nice man, and what I do for a living is not very nice either. The man, you are in bed with at this moment is not a very nice man, and what he does is not very nice. I want you to tell me the truth, because I do not want to hurt you in any way. All 16 of my men can take advantage of your body, or one of them can. Which would you choose if you had a choice in this matter?"

"Just one please sir."

"I will grant your wish, if you will answer one question for me truthfully. If I suspect that you're lying to me. You are going to have a very long and uncomfortable day."

"Just one please sir."

"Excellent, because my men are going into combat, and that's exactly what's going to happen outside that door. You will hear screaming and yelling as your lover, if that's what you call him, begs for his life. Now for your question: at what age did this person take your virginity, and remember don't lie to me."

Kathy dropped her head into her hands, and began crying, because she was so embarrassed by the question, and by the answer she was about to give.

"Randall was my godfather at my Confirmation. I was in my white dress, white socks, white shoes, white veil and a white crown. Everybody was telling me how wonderful I looked, especially Randall. He couldn't take enough pictures of me. I was so flattered by his attention. Here was this wonderful gorgeous looking man, my father's best friend, my next-door neighbor, and my sponsor that couldn't say enough about how beautiful I was. Then he said, "Oh my God, I forgot your gift at home. I'll go get it. I said I'll go with you. He said okay. I told my mom and dad where I was going, and they said fine. When I came back to the house I had an envelope with $10,000 in it, no panties, no longer a virgin, and he had pictures of me naked from head to toe. He told me if I said a word, the pictures, and my name would be all over the Internet before he was arrested.

He told me when I reached 18 years old, I was to move out of my parents' home and into a house he would purchase for me. During the intervening years, he continued to use me at his will, because of those pictures. He told me they were in a safe place and that he was putting money aside for me. I don't know if I am his only mistress, but I have the deed, and title to this house, which I've checked through the bank and with a lawyer, and title company. He gives me $15,000 a month to live on, and a new car every two years. He doesn't want me to work, so I don't. I take a heavy load of college courses online, and I'm now 13 credits short of my Master's Degree in Economics. I know he's never going to leave his wife, and I would never marry him if he did. She is wonderful, and I could never match up to her. One day I will be too old for him, and we will part company. He will have received what he wants out of this relationship, and I will have profited nicely. Does that answer everything you wanted to know sir?"

"Kathy, I think you're a very strong person. I admire you for the way you overcame such a horrendous beginning to your teenage years, and into your young adulthood. What is your favorite vacation spot?"

"I would have to say Switzerland. I love it there."

"As I told you before one of my men is going to have sex with you. It is better than the 15 others, without him being involved, had you lied to me. He will be gentle and caring, even though he is a large human being. Do you have your passport with you?"

"No, it's at the bank. Randall keeps it for me in his safety deposit box."

"Carlos take him inside; I have to ask him a questions."

"Yes sir."

"Gentleman, you can stop gawking at her now. You've seen a pretty young lady before, I assume."

"Sir, before you leave, may I ask you a question."

"Go ahead Kathy."

"I know you're going to visit Paul's safe-deposit boxes, and probably empty them. If you happen to find the pictures he took of me, when I was 14 years old, would you destroy them for me?"

"You didn't have to ask that question Kathy. Anyone involved in child pornography belongs in jail for the rest of their lives. I could give those pictures to the federal authorities, and have him put in jail for the rest of his life. However, that would mean you had to see them, and have to testify against him in a court of law. I would never do that to you or any young girl in your situation. If they are there, they will be destroyed. You have my word on it."

****************

"Paul, where the fuck are you?"

"In the kitchen having coffee. Why, are you having trouble with the 20-year-old girl?"

"Paul, you've had your one for this year."

"Colonel, it was a simple question. I gave you a simple answer."

"I'm going to simply smack you upside the head."