thirty-one
Rolly parked near the restaurant parking lot. He watched as Danny arrived. His wife was with him, pushing a baby stroller. She entered the mall while Danny headed for a restaurant.
He pulled up alongside Axle and Nails, who were parked in a van, and gave them a detailed description of O’Reilly’s car before calling Wizard on his cell.
Wizard waited impatiently at the airport. Damien’s flight was to arrive in ten minutes. It would be some time after that before customs was cleared.
Wizard answered Rolly’s call.
“Bad news,” said Rolly. “Just one pig. Not the main one.”
“One is better than none.”
“I guess. The pig also brought along a sow and a piglet. Your call. Now? Or some other time?”
“Do it now! It’s our asses on the line!”
“Understood.”
“Cover the delivery, then get the hell away from there.”
Rolly watched Nails carry his package in a paper shopping bag across the parking lot. He disappeared for a few seconds behind the pig’s car. Rolly felt a few tense seconds as a woman parked nearby. Nails stood up quickly and walked back toward the van. He was still carrying the shopping bag, but it was swinging freely and Rolly knew it was empty. He then drove and parked a block away.
Minutes later, Axle and Nails drove out the restaurant exit to park far enough away that they couldn’t be identified but would still be able to see when O’Reilly’s car approached the exit. Then they could easily detonate the bomb and leave unnoticed while everyone else was distracted by the explosion.
Neither Axle nor Nails knew what Taggart looked like, but their faces were ingrained into his memory. He arrived in the lot as they passed him in the opposite direction.
Danny knew by Sid Bishop’s abrupt tone that he was less than impressed that Jack wasn’t with him. He fired several questions about the reliability of the informant, but Danny was able to answer them all. Their informant was a member of Satans Wrath and had been proven reliable. There was no reason to call Jack. Sid spent more time discussing personal safety than he did the actual investigation. Danny also noted that Sid loved his coffee. Lots of it, black.
When the meeting was over, Danny shook hands with Sid and went into the mall to look for Susan and to call Jack. He didn’t need to call. Jack was inside the mall entrance.
“It went well,” said Danny. “All he had were the basic questions. I could handle it myself. He said we should have the authorization signed by tomorrow or Tuesday.”
“We need to talk,” said Jack.
“Are we meeting our friend?”
“Yes, in about an hour, but…”
Jack’s attention was diverted by a gentle poke in his ribs. “Hi, Jack!”
He smiled politely and then said, “Hi, Susan. Done your shopping already?”
“Afraid so. This cheapskate keeps us on a tight budget.”
Jack looked at Danny and said, “With all the overtime you make?”
“Yeah, right! And when do I get time to spend it? I’m always working!”
“A cheapskate and a complainer. I don’t know, Susan. It must be rough.”
“It is. I just live in quiet desperation and bear the pain.” She grinned and said, “He is pretty good in the sack, though.”
“Only pretty good?” said Danny, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.
“Okay. You’re great!”
“That’s better!” He kissed her and Tiffany each on the cheek. “See ya, hon,” he said, passing her his car keys. “I should be home around twelve-thirty.”
Damien and his family cleared customs faster than Wizard had hoped. Buck entered the public part of the terminal first, followed by his two sisters. Wizard was just hanging up his cell as Vicki and Damien appeared.
“What’s going on?” asked Damien.
Wizard tried not to smile as he stuffed his cell back in his pocket. “Had some business to take care of. Tried to reach you but couldn’t.”
Damien checked his cell. “It’s been on.”
“Must not work down south or on the plane.”
Damien partially covered his mouth with his hand. He was always conscious of the possibility of someone pointing a directional microphone at him. His voice was quiet, but the tone was angry. “What is it? What have you done?”
Wizard partially covered his own mouth and gave Damien an update on what happened during the last week. He saved telling him about killing O’Reilly and his family until last. When he was finished, he added, “Just one pig to go. Jack Taggart. We’ll have his address today or tomorrow.”
Wizard expected Damien would be furious, but it wasn’t his ass on the line. Besides, the election for national president was only eight days away. Showing enough class to off a pig, or two pigs by then, would prove that he had the balls to do the job. He looked at Damien. You’ve only got a few days left. You know it and I know it! By the look on Damien’s face, he knew that Damien was thinking the same thing.
“This is my fault,” Damien said. He didn’t sound angry, but calculating and matter of fact.
“What? What do ya mean?”
“I should never have left you in charge. You don’t have the … capacity to handle the position. I see that now.”
“Bullshit! I did right! It’s easy for you to talk! The cops aren’t about to bust you for —”
Damien stabbed a finger into Wizard’s chest and said, “You have no idea what you’ve done! Do you really think there won’t be retribution over this?”
“They’ll never pin it on us!”
“You dumb fuck! I didn’t say that they’d be looking for evidence! I’m talking retribution!” He then turned and walked back to his family.
Wizard watched as Damien herded his family to an airline counter and bought them all tickets to Mexico. Yeah, well, if you’re worried about your family, you shouldn’t have one.
Danny rushed out of the mall as Susan was putting the stroller in the car. “There’s been a change of plans,” he said, glancing around the parking lot.
“Aren’t you going with Jack?”
“No, we’re going for a drive right now. Jack is going to follow us. Hurry up and get in.”
Susan could tell by the look on Danny’s face that he was either angry or scared. Or perhaps both. “Danny, what is it?
