Mega #02 Baja Blood Read online

  John looked at where the body had just sunk then at the armed men. He reluctantly shook Espanoza’s hand.

  “Okay, Mr. Espanoza, who the fuck are you?” John asked.

  “John, not now,” McCarthy warned. “Just hang tight, okay? I’ll explain later.”

  “You keep your men in the dark?” Espanoza asked McCarthy. “Good practice, James. Never give out information unless you absolutely have to. Information is currency in this world.”

  A large cargo door began to roll up into the top of the hangar and a truck beeped shrilly as it backed into the space, headed for the dock everyone stood upon.

  “But there are many types of currencies,” Espanoza laughed. “Some more valuable than others.”

  The truck stopped and Espanoza snapped his fingers. Half his men hurried to the truck, lifting the back door to reveal several white bundles wrapped in heavy-duty plastic. Each bundle was the size of a large barrel and it took two men each to pull the bundles out of the truck and onto the dock. When they were finished, there were a total of sixty bundles waiting by the water.

  “Jesus,” Bart said. “Is that…?”

  “It is,” Espanoza smiled. “Never seen that much coca before, Mr. Stern?”

  “How do you know my name?” Bart asked, looking over at McCarthy. “How does he know my name?”

  “I know all of your names,” Espanoza said. “Information as currency, remember?”

  “But I don’t know you,” John said, his face scrunched up in anger. “How about you tell us who you are?”

  “John!” McCarthy snapped. “Clam it!”

  “No, no, no, that’s fine, James,” Espanoza said. “I have already said my name, but I assume you want to know what I do since that truly defines a man.” With barely a movement, he had a 9mm pistol in his hand, pointed at a spot right between John’s eyes. “I am the man in charge. There is no disputing that. And I am the man that holds your life in my hands. Would you like to live, Mr. Sherman?”

  “Yeah, I would,” John replied, not impressed with the pistol pointed at him. “But that’s not up to me, is it?”

  “No, it is not,” Espanoza replied. “I am very glad you are realizing that. Do you need me to explain myself more, Mr. Sherman? Or can you infer from what is happening around you what it is I really am?”

  “I’m getting the picture,” John said, his eyes glancing at the bales of wrapped cocaine kilos. “Loud and clear.”

  The 9mm was gone as quickly as it had appeared and Espanoza clapped his hands together.

  “Have your people load the cargo,” Espanoza said to McCarthy. “You have practiced the routes I gave you?”

  “They have,” McCarthy replied, looking at the three sub pilots. “They just finished a run a few minutes ago.”

  “Good,” Espanoza nodded. “I would like the submarines to depart within the hour. There is a fishing vessel waiting within US waters, just off the coast of San Diego. They expect delivery by 5pm this evening.”

  McCarthy quickly checked his watch and blanched. “That’s cutting it close.”

  “Is it a problem?” Espanoza asked.

  “No,” Dr. Morganton said, stepping up. “Let me make some adjustments and they can be ready for service.”

  “Dr. Morganton, right?” Espanoza asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Dr. Morganton replied.

  Espanoza looked her up and down. “Your career is impressive. Why are you working with James? I’d think you’d have a better future elsewhere.”

  “Money provides whatever future I want it to,” Dr. Morganton said. “Don’t you think, sir?”

  Espanoza laughed. “That it does, doctor!”

  ***

  “Really?” Kinsey said, her phone to her ear as she talked to her cousin Max. “I thought you were coming here first?”

  She looked down at the pancakes she was busy scorching, then over at the pile of pancakes that looked even less appetizing.

  “There’s breakfast, Max,” she said.

  “Yeah, sorry, Sis,” Max replied over the phone. Not having a sister of their own, the Reynolds always called their cousin Sis. It was endearing, but unfortunately, it seemed to give them license to pester her like a little sister. “Wait…breakfast? It’s like noon, dude. You gotta get a regular schedule, Sis.”

  “You saying you won’t eat pancakes after a certain time?” Kinsey asked.

  Gunnar walked into the kitchen, a towel wrapped around his waist, and squinted against the bright Southern California sun that streamed in through the many windows of the open floor condo. He watched as she mangled the food, shook his head, then went into the living room and turned on the TV.

  “-that officials are calling the most addictive form of cocaine they’ve ever seen,” an anchorwoman reported. “911 calls of overdoses and drug induced psychotic breaks have almost doubled in areas such as La Jolla, and other affluent areas, puzzling police-”

  “What was that, Max?” Kinsey asked then pulled the phone from her mouth. “Gun! Can you turn that off or turn that down?”

  “Fine,” Gunnar said as he switched off the TV and walked back to the kitchen.

  “I said I have no time limit on pancakes, and could totally go for some now, but we’re hitting the VA first,” Max said. “Tell Gunnar we’re sorry we missed his cooking.”

  “Gun didn’t cook,” Kinsey said. “I did. It’s my new thing.”

  “Oh,” Max said. “Uh…great?”

  “Fuck you, cuz,” Kinsey said.

  Gunnar picked up a pancake from the plate of “done” ones, looked at the almost white side, flipped it over and stared at the pitch black side for a second before looking at Kinsey.

  “Fuck you too, Gun,” Kinsey snapped.

  “Yeah, so I love you and will see you soon,” Max said. “Totally stoked to hang with my cousin and her gay roommate.”

  “That’s Dr. Gay Roommate, assmuncher,” Gunnar said, leaning into the phone. Kinsey shoved him away. “You should really turn the volume down. Or just put it on speaker.”

  “Oh, shit!” Kinsey shouted as one of her pancakes burst into flames. “How the fuck is that even possible?”

  Gunnar took the phone from her as a second pancake caught fire.

  “Um, Kinsey is busy burning my condo down, can I take a message?” Gunnar laughed then winced as Kinsey grabbed the flaming pancakes with her bare hands and threw them into the sink. “Jesus, Kins…”

  “How’s the roomy sitch going, dude?” Max laughed. “Out of the honeymoon phase yet?”

  “Oh, we left the honeymoon phase the first time Kins didn’t shut the bathroom door to take a shit,” Gunnar replied.

  “Nice,” Max laughed. “It’ll be good to see you.”

  “You too, Max,” Gunnar replied. “How’s Shane?”

  “He’s about to go in and get his eyehole probed,” Max said. “He’s looking forward to it.”

  The voice of Shane saying, “Fuck that” could be heard easily.

  “Sounds like it,” Gunnar laughed. “Oh, shit! Kins! The drapes are on fire now!”

  “You better go,” Max said and hung up.

  “Sorry,” Kinsey said, hosing down the drapes with the kitchen sink’s spray nozzle. “There. All fixed.”

  ***

  “You’ll have to push the subs at speeds we haven’t tested yet to make your deadline,” McCarthy said.

  “Do what you must,” Espanoza said.

  “What I must? How do you mean?” McCarthy asked, pointing at the subs. “You want delivery, here is delivery. Once these subs leave this hangar I’ve done my part.”

  “Oh, no, I am sorry for not being clear,” Espanoza said. “Since I have not had time to train pilots, I will need yours to make the deliveries.”

  McCarthy blanched. “You can’t be serious? My guys didn’t sign up for this. They’re here to test the subs only, not be a part of your drug trafficking.”

  “Their roles have changed,” Espanoza replied. “They will be compensated, of
course.”

  “I’m out,” John said, throwing his hands in the air. “I didn’t agree to run drugs for some cartel fuck!” He pointed a finger at Espanoza. “You gonna shoot me? Then shoot me! I could give a fuck, asshole! At least I die with my honor!”

  “Will Carli die with her honor, Mr. Sherman?” Espanoza asked. “Or what about little Jack? Will he die with honor too?”

  John stumbled a bit at the mention of his children’s names. He was able to keep his balance, but he didn’t know for how long.

  “What do you know about them?” John asked. He glared at McCarthy. “What did you tell him about my kids, Jimmy?”

  “Nothing, John,” McCarthy said. “The guy does his homework.”

  “Which will be something your eight year old daughter will never do again if you do not get into your submarine, Mr. Sherman,” Espanoza smiled. “And little Jack is what? Five? He will never get to do homework at all. Not when my men are through with him.”

  ***

  “Shane Reynolds?” a nurse called as two double doors swung open.

  “That’s me,” Shane said, jumping to his feet. He smiled at the nurse, looking her up and down. “And who are you?”

  “Off limits,” the nurse said. “And don’t wink at me.”

  “I wasn’t,” Shane said. “I was blinking. Blinks look like winks when you only have one eye.”

  “Whatever,” the nurse said. “Follow me.”

  Shane turned and gave his brother a thumbs up as the double doors closed behind him. Max laughed and looked about the waiting room, studying the others that sat, stood, paced, and grumbled.

  A woman with her son and daughter in tow stood at the reception counter, her hands gesticulating. Max couldn’t hear what she was saying since she was making a point of keeping her voice down, but it was obvious she wasn’t happy. The boy turned around and caught Max watching them. Max gave the kid a wave, but the boy didn’t respond, just kept staring.

  The boy’s sister turned around to see what caught her brother’s attention. Max waved to her too, but received a glare in response instead of a blank stare.

  “Nice kids,” Max muttered, his hand going to the left side of his face and his missing ear and scars.

  The woman’s voice started to rise and the kids blanched at the scene their mother caused. Max didn’t want to keep looking, but since everyone else now was he didn’t turn away.

  “He hasn’t answered his phone in days!” the woman shouted. “All I need to know is if he came for his check up yesterday.”

  “Ma’am, I cannot tell you that,” the receptionist stated. “As you have admitted yourself, he is yourex-husband, not your current husband. It is against the law for me to give you any information without his consent.” The receptionist checked her computer monitor. “And I do not see that consent here in his file.”

  The woman grabbed the monitor and tried to turn it around so she could see, but the receptionist smacked her hand away.

  “Hey!” the woman yelled. “You can’t assault me like that!”

  “I can and I will, ma’am,” the receptionist said. “Do I need to have security escort you from the premises?”

  “You’re goddamn right you do!” the woman screamed. “Because I’m not leaving until you give me some information!” She grabbed her daughter’s upper arm and shook it. “He hasn’t paid child support in two months. You want my children to starve, is that it? Are you such a heartless bitch you would rather my kids not eat than risk violating my deadbeat ex’s precious privacy? I was married to a SEAL for ten years; I am fucking sick of privacy!”

  The mention of the SEALs got Max’s attention and he stood up and walked slowly towards the counter. The boy saw him coming, reached back and grabbed his mother’s hand, his eyes locked on Max’s face.

  “Not now, Jack,” the woman spat.

  “Ma’am, I’m calling security,” the receptionist said, picking up her phone.

  The woman grabbed the phone and yanked it from the receptionist’s hand and was about to hit her with it when Max rushed forward and stopped her. The woman looked at the hand clamped around her wrist then up at Max’s face. She blanched at the sight, but recovered quickly.

  “Do you mind?” she snarled at him.

  “Do I mind what?” Max asked, not letting go. “Watching a good looking lady like you get tossed out of here on her ass? Yeah, I mind. No one should treat a fox like you that way.”

  The woman sputtered and blinked, unsure of how to take the compliments from a stranger while the stranger also held her arm immobile.

  “Mind you own business,” the woman said finally, yanking her arm free.

  “I was trying to,” Max said, waving at the waiting room and the spectators. “But you kind of distracted me.”

  The woman looked about and a range of emotions crossed her face as she saw everyone staring at her. Her features finally settled on a mix of resigned embarrassment. Then her eyes went wide as two officers of the VA Police marched over to her.

  “Hold on, boys,” Max said, stepping between the woman and her children and them. “I got this. We were just leaving.”

  The police officers glanced at the receptionist. She in turn glanced at Max then back at the officers and shrugged.

  “Then go,” one of the officers said. “You are disturbing the other patients.”

  “On our way out,” Max said, looking down at the children. “Ready, kids?”

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” the woman snapped.

  “Keeping you out of the brig,” Max said. He looked at the police officers. “You do use a brig, right?”

  “We have a holding room,” the other officer replied.

  “Well, even though that’s not as scary sounding, I’ll bet it has the same piss smell as a brig,” Max said. “Am I right?”

  The officers just glared at Max.

  “Right,” Max said. “We’re outta here.”

  He took the woman by the elbow and started walking her to the exit. She tried to resist at first, but as the police officers fell in line behind them, she stopped her struggles and let Max steer her and the kids outside.

  Once the automatic doors slid shut, and they stood on the sidewalk out in the bright sunlight, she yanked her elbow free and whirled on Max.

  “I don’t know who you are, but I didn’t need your help back there,” she snapped.

  “Yeah, you did, Mom,” the girl said.

  “Smart kid,” Max said. “I’m Max Reynolds. I heard you say your ex was a frogman. Me too.”

  “You’re a SEAL?” the boy, Jack, asked. “Does your face hurt?”

  “Jack!” the woman snapped.

  “It’s fine. I was a SEAL,” Max said. “I’m in private security now. And no, my scars don’t hurt.”

  “Another frogman. Great,” the woman said. “You skip out on your wife too?”

  “Nope,” Max said, holding up his hand to show his empty ring finger. “Never been married.”

  “Then the women of this country dodged a bullet.”

  “Ouch,” Max said. “That’s a sharp tongue you have there. Got a name to go with that tongue or should I call you Crazy Angry Ex-wife Lady?”

  The woman started to respond then saw the amused look on Max’s face and laughed.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s been a shitty few months. I’m Helen Sherman.”

  “Good to meet you, Helen,” Max said. He bent down in front of the kids. “And this guy is Jack, I heard. What’s your name, pretty thing?”

  “Carli,” the girl replied.

  “Hey, Carli,” Max said.

  He stood up and pulled out his phone then looked at Helen.

  “What’s your ex’s name?” Max said as he hit the contact for his uncle.

  “What?” Helen asked. “Why?”

  Max held up a finger as Thorne answered.

  “What, Max?” Thorne responded on the line.

  “Hey, Uncle Vinny,” Ma
x said. “Good to hear you too.”

  “You in trouble?”

  “No, just need some help with something,” Max said as he pulled the phone away from his mouth a little and looked at Helen. “What’s you ex’s name?”

  “John,” Helen replied. “John Sherman.”

  “Hey, Vinny, could you make some calls and see what you can find out about a former frogman named John Sherman?” Max asked, putting the phone back to his mouth.

  “Right now?” Thorne responded. “I was taking a nap.”

  “Good for you,” Max said. “Keep that specter of Death off your back a little longer.”

  “Max, I love you, but fuck off.”

  Max smiled at Helen and the kids, walked a few feet away and lowered his voice.

  “I’d really appreciate your help on this,” Max said. “I’m at the VA with Shane and this woman came in with her kids. Sounds like her ex-husband has skipped out on her. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

  “She’s hot, isn’t she?” Thorne asked, sighing.

  Max turned back around and looked at Helen.

  “Uh, yeah,” he smiled at her. She smiled back. “Very.”

  “Fine, fine,” Thorne said. “What was the guy’s name again?”

  “Sherman,” Max replied. “John Sherman.”

  ***

  “Fuck,” John said. “What kind of monster are you that would kill kids?”

  “Oh, I’m just a businessman,” Espanoza said. “I’m not the monster. I’m the man that hires monsters. Would you like to hear what those monsters will do to your children, Mr. Sherman? Would you?” John didn’t reply. “Let me tell you anyway. First, your children will have to watch as my men rape your ex-wife in front of them. She will be violated in ways that I can’t even imagine, not being a monster myself. Your girl and little boy will have their heads held and eyelids sliced off so they cannot look away. Shall I go on?”

  “Mr. Espanoza, please…” McCarthy begged. “You don’t need to do this.”

  “You cannot get your men under control, James, so I will,” Espanoza said. “Where was I? Oh, yes, what happens next? Once the monsters are done raping your ex-wife, they will move on to young Carli then little Jack. Finished with their fun, my men will then systematically dismember each one, piece by piece, keeping them alive for hours on end. Finally, once their bodies can take no more, they will be mercifully killed by an ice pick to the back of the brain.” Espanoza tapped the back of his own head. “Right here.”