Chapter 18 The Crucial Clues
“Brick, are you sure we’re supposed to meet Jack here?” Keith complained. “We’re under the Buck O’Neal Bridge in broad daylight.”
“Yeah, Brick. This does seem a bit odd for a meeting with a confidential informant,” Danny agreed.
“You saw that missive last night. Andy alerted everyone because Jack found the tracking login that Jenny Easthaus has been using for all her agents,” Brick said. “That puts his life in grave danger. We’ve gotta extract him now, or he’s going to die for what he’s exposed to us.”
“Man, this sucks!” Keith complained. “I’m missing the Kline wedding over this, Brick. That’s top notch food and beverage, plus Veronica LaFayette is performing the Wedding song as well as the reception,” he whined.
“Stop your moaning,” Brick retorted. “You know this is much more important.”
“But we left our girls in there with Gerard, Eddie, Marcus and Randy. We need more guys watching them.” Keith let out a long exhale. “Maybe I need to call Roddy again?”
“Hell no!” Danny immediately rejected. “We’ve kept Grace Mitchelson Pendergast in hiding because of Roddy.
Are you trying to get them both killed?” Danny shot eyes from the passenger seat at Keith.
Keith grabbed the steering wheel tightly with deep frustration.
“We’ve got to stick with the course we all agreed to.
Those girls are going to bring ‘The Enforcer’ out into the open so we can take him down. ”
“There he is!” Brick called from the back seat as Jack Martin peeked his head out from behind a cement pillar. “I’ll go get him.”
“I’m coming with you as cover,” Danny confirmed as both exited the vehicle and sprinted over to Jack.
“Thank God you got the message, Brick. You gotta hide me fast. I cloned Jenny’s phone at Marsdens office when she came in to chew out Lance for screwing up the assassination of Greg Garrelson.”
“WHAT!” Brick and Danny exclaimed in unison.
“Didn’t you get that memo?” Jack demanded before shaking his head. “Nevermind that! We need to get out of here to someplace safe, NOW!”
“Come on,” Brick said as he started to lead the way back across the street, with Danny taking rear guard position.
They were nearly across the street when Brick called out, “HIT THE DIRT!” Everyone dropped to the ground as three or four rounds passed over their bodies, striking the front of Keith’s Jeep.
“I’m coming!” Keith yelled as he floored his Jeep and put himself between them and the shots.
Another three shots rang out and struck the left side of the Jeep as the three men climbed or dove into the vehicle.
“We’re outta here!” Keith exclaimed as he floored the Jeep, the engine revving up above five-thousand rpm and tires squealing with smoke starting from the burning rubber.
The tires suddenly grabbed, forcing everyone back in their seats and the open doors to slam shut.
“I’m heading to Overland Park Two,” he called.
“I’ll call it in,” Brick said as he pulled himself upright in the back seat off the top of Jack.
“I’ll call Randy for backup,” Danny confirmed as he got upright and tried to pull the seatbelt on.
“Good. And text Tanaka-San. He needs to know they can be tracked now.” Keith screeched around another turn as he headed up into the neighborhood to make his way back to I-35 south.
He literally jumped the rails as he flew through the red light onto the entrance ramp for I-35 south, his engine still revving high at over four-thousand rpm.
“Don’t worry,” Keith uttered through gritted teeth as he could see Danny’s expression in his peripheral vision.
“I’ve got this. Make those calls boys. I need that escort Brick! ”
“I’m calling Marvin now,” Brick replied just as Marvin answered.
“Marvin, we need full cruiser escort, I-35 south to Overland Park. We’re in Keith Dankards red Jeep.
” Brick paused as he listened to Marvin.
“Yeah, I know we’re crossing state lines, but I need that escort the whole way or we’re all dead.
” Brick blew out a raspberry. “Then call the Kansas State Troopers. Whatever it takes. Millard Calput just missed us because one of his assistants stepped on some broken glass.”
“Now, that’s what I call taking action,” Danny proclaimed as he sent the text to Tanaka-San. “I texted Randy and Tanaka-San, shall I call Roddy and update him?”
“No,” Keith replied as two KCPD Cruisers pulled beside him in flanking position as they made the turn out of downtown past the Summit Street exit. “Great work Brick!” he continued. “Danny, we’ll call everyone else once we’re safe at the Overland Park Two site.”
“Okay, Keith. It’s your town, I’m just here to help,” Danny confirmed as the vehicle sped past Cambridge Circle at nearly eighty miles per hour. “At least we have the escort.” Bricks phone rang, and he answered.
“Yes Marvin!” He breathed in deeply. “Thanks. We’ll look for them at Stateline,” he confirmed.
“I’ll call you when we’re safe and sound.
” He disconnected the call and put his phone back in his vest. “Kansas Highway Patrol are sending three cars, one will meet us at Stateline as we cross into Kansas.”
“Alright then, it’s pedal to the metal,” Keith called out as they continued up to ninety miles per hour.
The sirens were blaring loudly as Darren escorted Greg on the gurney out of Club Euchre.
The EMT’s hopped out of the ambulance in front of the club, and seeing Darren with Greg, rushed over to assist. They got Greg loaded up and Darren climbed in with them.
He saw everyone had been following them out of the club, especially Carry and Veronica, both of whom had mascara running down their face in river-like movement from the tears they were shedding.
Darren helped to secure the gurney into the ambulance then called out the back doors of the vehicle, “We’re headed to Stamson Medical Center!
” He shut the door and the ambulance flipped the sirens on and pulled away with great haste.
Carry and Veronica stood there in complete shock as they watched the ambulance leave.
David and Tessa came running out just as the ambulance disappeared.
Darren grabbed his phone to call Steven Sanderson.
“Steven, I’m inbound with Greg,” he said quickly.
“He’s collapsed, but something is all wrong.
He’s breathing way too shallow and rapid for the heartbeat and low blood pressure.
His eyes are reactive, but it’s like they are looking at absolutely nothing.
” He let out a long exhale. “I don’t get it either.
I’m drawing blood samples on the way. We’ll be there in less than five minutes.
” He drew in a deep breath. “Have Tilde call Greta to meet us. Mary is behind us.”
David stood still, staring at the empty street where his best friend, partner, and brother-in-law just disappeared.
He felt the buzz in his pocket and looked at Tessa with soft, sad eyes as he reached for the phone.
She smiled as best as she could, not knowing what was going on.
They’d been busy with Alex and Gail when Greg went down, unaware of the situation.
David held the phone in his hand and saw that he was being texted by Danny Blaine.
He held the phone tight in his hand and pulled Tessa to him in a tight embrace.
“Darren’s got him, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.
“They’ll take care of him once again, just like after the shooting last year. ”
“I know,” she whispered back. Her voice started to break as she forced out, “was it wrong of me to be relieved this wasn’t you?”
“No, sweetheart. It wasn’t wrong. It’s natural.” He soothed her by running his right hand with the phone in it up and down her back. “I love you.”
“I love you too, David,” she said, choking back the tears. “What is in your hand?” she asked with confusion?”
“My phone. I got an urgent text,” he replied, “but I could see you needed me more.” He pulled back and kissed her softly. “Danny Blaine sent the message?”
“Danny?” Tessa said with confusion. “Do you think he was warning us about Lance Marsden being at the wedding reception?” she asked with curiosity.
“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t opened the message,” David started then froze for half a second. “WHY did you just ask about Lance Marsden?”
“Because he just left,” she said, pointing toward the garage exit.
“WHAT?” David said abrasively, then spun to look. Just at that moment Lance came speeding out of the garage in his little black beamer. “How’d that asshole get in here?” he strongly complained.
“I don’t know, dear.” She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. “What was in the message from Danny?”
“Let’s take a look,” David replied as he pulled his phone up and logged in. He tapped on the message – ‘Jack being extracted, has evidence that Greg is in danger and so is Norikuko. Heading to safe house OP2 – D.’ David dropped his head.
Erica Stamson overheard the call Darren had made to Steven and was immediately at his side.
Steven looked more than concerned, but not quite afraid, and that worried Erica, especially when she heard Steven replying, “We’ll be ready for Greg.
I’ll definitely have Tilde call Greta, she’s only minutes away grabbing some food.
” Erica waited as patiently as she could until Steven hung up and turned around to see her there. “Ms. Stamson?!” he said with shock.
“Sorry to startle you Steven. Did I just hear you talking about Greg Garrelson?”
“Yes. That was Darren Michaels. He’s bringing Greg in from Club Euchre. Now, if you don’t mind I’ve got to activate the trauma team and contact Tilde.”
“You contact Tilde, and I’ll activate the trauma team. I won’t let anything happen to Greg if there’s anything I can do about it!” Erica said with fierce determination. She moved over to the desk and pressed four buttons which activated the trauma team while Steven texted Tilde.