Hard Case VII - Red Waves (John Harding Series Book 7) (38 page)

“Me and Smokey are going to see if we can help old Hands see Spongebob.”

“That’s evil, brother,” Jess said. He turned to Dev. “Do something, Dev. The Dark Lord’s possessed. Do an exorcism."

“I don’t know that one! Damn, Jess, I just learned last rites and then you put me onto the exorcism. Be happy. That’s it… sing DL some Bobby McFerrin.”

“Don’t do it, Jess! I hate that stupid song.” It was too late. Tommy, Jafar, and Dev teamed with Jess doing McFerrin’s ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’.

I was ready for death then. Forget the lessons. The crowd and my Monsters loved it. Dragon hands looked less than thrilled to see me though. I took him down. He was surprised, but happier than standing with me pounding his arms again. Hands tried all his spider monkey tricks to no avail. I took nothing for granted, reversing holds and keeping Hands from closing holds with legs or arms. I worked my ground and pound offense while slowing his attack. With the round drawing to a close, I blasted hooks into Hands’ tender rib cage from full mount for the last ten seconds. By the time the round ended, Hands only movement was semi-successful attempts to lessen the impact of my strikes. The crowd didn’t like the round much, but my crew did.

“Damn fine mat work, DL,” Dev said. “Hands was in his primo position and couldn’t do shit.”

“That was a disciplined round,” Tommy admitted. “You carried him through the third round, reversing everything he tried. Are you going any longer than four?”

“I don’t think so. It was probably dumb to work this for four rounds. He’s dangerous, but I have been careful. It would be really stupid to allow him to keep getting chances to ace me.”

“Agreed,” Tommy said. “I like you keeping him on his feet, smashing his arms to pulp. If you decide on another take down, go for the full naked choke. I don’t think he has enough strength to stop you.”

“Uh oh,” Jess said. “His crew just gave him the juice while blocking off Jack’s vision.”

“Jack can’t do anything, Jess. We don’t have any rules pertaining to hotshots yet.” I paused as Dragon Hands leaped to his feet, pumping his hands again. “Damn… look at him… that’s some good shit they porked him with.”

“Perhaps this is one round too many,” Jafar said.

“Nothing to be done about that now. My bad.” I came forward at Jack’s gesture. He started us again.

Hands, slightly taller than me with a reach advantage, shot out very formidable combinations to stave off any thought of a ground and pound. I believe he intended to soften me up for a round. It might have worked, but the enhancement made him forget about mixing his timing. He repeated the same combo once too often with identical lead in. I took the shot while priming the pump for a left hook from my knees. Dragon realized a split second too late what had happened. When my left dug in under his rib cage, he squeaked like a dog’s chew toy. My leg whip smacked him to the mat without time to break his fall. I scrambled into full choke, but I held on instead of ending it. Leaning down next to his ear, I decided to try out the power of suggestion as he fought tooth and nail to break free.

“I’m going to choke you out slow, Hands, so before you pass out you’re going to see Spongebob.” I began squeezing ever so slowly, increasing the pressure until Dragon Hands’ arms began to do the wobbly flail as the hands attached to them failed to dislodge my grip.

Jack hovered worriedly as Hands’ face took on a purplish color. “C’mon kid, he’s done, John.”

“He hasn’t tapped out, Jack. I’m going to make him see Spongebob!”

Jack grunted at that declaration. “It’s over. Let him go.”

For a moment I considered snapping Dragon’s neck. Instead, I released him, pushing free. I got on my feet with Jack waving the unmoving Dragon out for his corner to see. He raised my arm for the victory. Having already experienced Monster land, Dragon’s handlers meekly helped their fighter to a sitting position with wet towels. I couldn’t tell how the crowd felt about the fight. They were a bit subdued. The camera crew hustled the hell out of the arena. Jafar handed me a wet peroxide laced towel to wipe Dragon Hands’ residue off of me.

“Smart fight, John,” Tommy said. “I don’t think you’ve ever looked better on the mat. Denny called during the round. He and Laredo brought Al Sirani to Pain Central. Nick prepped him well, but he thinks he’s being held now by regular law enforcement. He told Denny he was tortured into making a video taking blame for the deaths of his companions at the masjid. Denny tried to reason with him. Al Sirani thinks the Cruella Deville interrogation videos are fakes.”

“Oh boy, I bet Crue got a charge out of that.”

“We could hear her laughing the moment Denny finished the call with it,” Jafar said. “I think you could have something to drink at Pain Central, John. I doubt it will take long for Dr. Deville to convince Al Sirani to cooperate.”

“That boy should have spilled his damn guts while Denny wanted to take notes,” Jess said. “I think I’ll head home after we help with the prisoners.”

“Do you have any thoughts on the ‘Loners’, DL,” Dev asked.

“Yep. I think we absorb them, strip them of colors and name. If we catch them anywhere in our city doing anything as a Loner, we kill on sight. Something else is going on here. You saw the gangsters in the audience. I’m betting the two suits still alive are part of a conglomerate of gangsters who want us the hell out of the area or dead. That will require a response. Although I wouldn’t think twice about exterminating these Loner punks, I’d rather own them. Let’s get out of here. Did everyone hear what I said, Achmed?”

“They heard.” Jafar handed me my earpiece and transmitter.

“It’s about time. Can you quit living the moment and get your funky smelling ass down with the rest of us peons.” Lynn was incensed or pretending to be.

“Can you guys handle the punks with our message? We’ll be watching but I’d rather have a private conference on our new prisoner.”

“Sure. Go on, John,” Tommy said. “We’ll alter the parameters. I’m with you. We kill these turds if they give us a bad time. What do you want to do with Dragon Hands?”

“I’m certain the camera crew was related to the fight and Dragon. I just don’t know how other than a UFC legitimate promise about the winner getting a shot, or… better yet… someway for Dragon to get closer to something. I have a feeling this gang’s got more than beating me in the cage and screwing with Oaktown in mind.”

“You’re right, DL,” Tommy said. “All the more reason they should be going on a bay cruise.”

“Nothing’s off the table right now. We can’t let this get any more complicated before the mission.”

I went down to join the Monsters while Tommy, Dev, Jess, and Jafar took care of Oaktown business. Lucas had descended from his sniper’s nest too. “I heard Denny has a prisoner gift from Nick. If Dr. Deville does her magic, and Denny sticks to facts in evidence, maybe we can stop by The Warehouse. We have the limo and the action van.”

“We’re agreed,” Clint said. “We all want to hear what Al Sirani has to say. He definitely had another rogue cell building in Pacific Grove. They’re focusing on the tourist spots like our San Francisco Bay and Monterey area near Nick.”

“Did you notice the politicos stayed away as if they knew there would be a large gangster showing,” Casey remarked.

“We’ll ask the suits,” Lynn said. “Let’s wrap this. I didn’t see ‘Rique and Earl either. Maybe Alexi told the police and politicos to take the night off just in case there was a gunfight. He’ll be over in a minute with our Loner honchos. Good fight, Cheese. I see Hands is still sitting on his stool trying to remember how to breathe.”

“You nearly popped his head like a balloon, Recon,” Lucas added. “Achmed gave me some good closeups.”

“He’s alive,” I replied. “Here comes Alexi with our new guests.”

Lucas and Casey took charge of the Loner guys. Casey yanked them toward the door. “We’ll take these two with us to Pain Central.”

“Okay, Case.” I turned to Alexi. “Weird night, my friend.”

“Such was my feeling. I told the authority figures to take a night off when they called after the rumor mill spread the word about the fight. I allowed a number of outsiders in. I imagine you noticed. They represent a contingent from Las Vegas. The camera crew was theirs too. It seems Dragon Hands was offered a title shot as an unknown by the Rock if he could beat you in this side fight. The two men you corralled confirmed it. I am surprised my usual contacts in Las Vegas didn’t call me.”

“We’ll get all the answers, but that’s an interesting slant with Costigan offering Hands a title shot if he beat me. What the hell’s he thinking?”

“Probably spacing time to the ‘Berserker’ rematch. I would wager he saw the YouTube match Dragon Hands almost won,” Alexi replied. “He may have it in mind to get an unknown tune-up match billed as him taking on the guy who beat John Harding in a dark alley match.”

Pretty fair reasoning. “I like your take on it. It’s tough to get the promoters to lay off when there’s a big money match out there. Okay… good background. I’m hitting The Warehouse in the limo tonight if Crue cracks Al Sirani early.”

“What the hell is this – insult Dr. Deville night. I’ll crack that pansy in minutes. He thinks my videos are fakes. I ought to go old school on him.”

“Too messy, babe,” Clint said. “Let’s get ‘er done and go have a drink with the Monsters.”

Crue sighed. “You’re right. I’m ready. Darla really warmed me for the evening. Cute kid.”

“She should have kept her stupid mouth shut,” Clint stated.

“Lesson learned.” Lynn shrugged.

“I have to talk with Hands. I see him getting off his stool,” I told them. “I’ll be outside in a moment.”

I joined Hands and his crew while they were exiting the cage. One of his corner crew stepped in stupidly to get in between us. I tossed him into the seats and pointed at the others. “I’m here to talk to Hands. If you want to die get in my way like your buddy.”

They backed the hell away. I put an arm around Dragon Hands, who still had enough brain power to cringe. “I heard about the title shot. I can’t blame you for taking a chance to get it, even with a punk ass group like these ‘Loners’. Don’t ever face me up again, Hands – not on the street, not in a restaurant, and certainly not with a gang. Next time… you die. Got it?”

He nodded.

I grabbed his chin in my vice with attitude. “I asked you a question, punk! Answer it, or you won’t need to answer for anything.”

Fear seeped across his features even the residual chemicals couldn’t hide. “I got it!”

I patted his cheek. “Don’t ever forget, Dragon, because if you do, I’ll put your fire out forever and your passing will not be easy.”

Chapter Fourteen

Rock Costigan

Denny sat with Mohammed Al Sirani at our meeting table. Surprisingly, he had our two sullen ‘Loners’ gangsters sitting with Al Sirani. Lucas and Casey sat with them, charged about something.

“Hi, Spawn,” Lynn greeted him. “I see you’ve met our gangster guests. I’m interested in that little cutie who thinks I make fake videos. Dr. Deville is in, baby. I’m going to clear those doubts from your head in short order.”

“They know each other, Lynn,” Denny said.

“You should have seen their faces when we brought them in, Crue,” Lucas said. “I don’t know what the hell it is between these clucks, but they knew each other.”

“Sucks to be them,” Casey said.

Lynn plopped down on a chair with her elbows propped on the table while she held her head in the palms of her hands comically. “Oh my… that’s just so special. It must be nice to hook up with old friends. Well, ladies, let’s get to work. I’m so tempted to start with these two street posers. I’ll bet if you view my skills with feet, you’ll be barking to tell Denny anything he wants to know, Moe.”

“You are lucky, bitch. You had better pray once I am sent to one of your holding facilities they do not allow me to contact anyone,” Al Sirani stated.

“Oh my… that is so sweet,” Lynn said.

Denny slumped in his chair. “Oh shit! Damn it, Moe! Didn’t I tell you to keep your mouth shut? Couldn’t we forget you heard that, Lynn?”

Clint leaned down on the table in front of Denny. “You can forget anything you like, Den. Take notes, because I believe Moe’s going into the examination room first.”

Denny sighed. “Sorry. I’ll be in your ear with whatever I think to ask.”

Lynn smiled while massaging the shoulders of our two ‘Loner’ guests. “Watch closely, boys. I’m sure you can avoid some of what Moe’s going to get if you concentrate on telling my friend Denny here everything you can think of during my new video creation. Take Moe to interrogation, Cheese. Clint and Jafar will network for checking out all Moe’s secrets.”

I turned to our crew. “I can tell I’ll be at The Warehouse earlier than expected. Anyone wanting to join me, watch a movie or something. We’ll be along shortly.”

“Okay, DL,” Dev said. “At least keep the door closed. That damn sound carries.”

“I will. Any other requests?”

“Don’t forget to tarp under the exam table,” Lucas reminded me.

“I won’t, Pappy.”

* * *

After Moe expired, the two suits, Enos Cabrerra and Rand Dosti tried to barter for everything under the sun. Denny recorded it all but they weren’t getting locked away without an introduction to Dr. Deville. They remembered a few details we hadn’t heard, including a few of the places a certain Victor Sopa liked to hang out in New York. Yes… Victor was behind the ‘Loners’ since his original pals all languished in our holding cells or were dead. Moe had been a key missing ingredient though. He named the player in charge of the infiltrators on board the Starlight. His name, Perry Halii, struck a chord with Denny who hurried away from Pain Central with an abbreviated goodbye. Jafar drove the limo after I fed and watered all our detainees.