CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Carl stood in the baggage claim area with a sign in his hand with the names of the Olympic committee members. They walked down the escalator together, all with carry-on luggage, dressed in suits and ties.
“Gentlemen,” he smiled. “This is N’awlins. Ties are definitely optional.”
“We prefer business dress,” said one of the men.
“Whatever you say. Right this way, gentlemen.” He led them outside and across the circular passenger drive. The large SUV was parked in the garage, keeping the interior cool. Once their baggage was placed in the back, the three men piled into the second-row seats.
“Ritz-Carlton,” said one of them.
“Yes, sir. Have it in my notes,” said Carl. The locks engaged as he pulled out of the driveway, silence in the backseat. What they didn’t know was that Luke, Eric, and Hex were in the third row with the stealth netting over them.
They would know soon enough.
When they were nearly to the Ritz, Carl veered off and headed toward the river.
“Where are you going? This isn’t the way,” said one of the men.
“Construction. Have to go around,” he said calmly. He knew the man was suspicious but continued driving until he was right on top of the levee.
“What are you doing?”
“Hello,” said Luke, his pistol beneath the man’s chin.
“Take whatever you want. Take my watch, my wallet. Take it all.”
“I can see how this is confusing for you,” smirked Carl. “We’re not the bad guys. You’d better damn sure hope you aren’t either.”
“What are you talking about?” asked the second man.
“Butch and Helen Williams.”
“What about them?” he said innocently.
“Don’t fuck with me. You’re here to meet with them about something special. Something that could change the sports world,” said Luke.
“Yes. Something to change it for the worse, not the better. We needed to understand what he has so we can combat it. He says it’s undetectable.”
“Well, it’s not. It’s killing the kids that he’s pumping it into. Were you aware of his family connection? Who his father was?” asked Carl.
“His father? No. Why would we know his father?” asked one of the men.
“Vladim Woerter.”
The silence could be cut with a knife. Their expressions of shock were genuine and told the team what they needed to know. These men didn’t know the whole story.
“What do you need us to do?” asked one of the men.
“Get on a plane and go home. We’ll take care of the rest.” The three men looked at one another, then at their captors.
“Who are you?” asked one of the men.
“Right now? We’re confused but we’re working on it,” said Carl. The three strangers stared at them, looking confused themselves. “We know the drugs have to be stopped, destroyed, but there’s a lot of layers to this.”
“If it matters,” said one of the men, “destroy it all. They will try to sell to other countries that don’t have the same ethical code as we do.”
“Alright,” nodded Luke. “Carl will take you back to the airport. Have Butch or Helen ever seen you before? Do they know what you look like?”
“No. Never. They sent e-mail communications only.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“Why do we have to wear suits?” asked Cowboy as he tugged the tie at his neck. “And what is that funky ass smell in here?”
“Sweat. Specifically, teenaged boy sweat,” smirked Conor. “You remember that smell. The one that would gag our mothers when they did our laundry. And yes, we have to wear suits.”
“I’m choking,” said Leif.
“Heads up,” said Cowboy. “I think that’s our couple over there.”
Helen nodded at the three men, identifying them as different immediately. Cowboy started walking toward her, Leif and Conor following.
“Ms. Williams?” he asked stretching out his hand.
“Yes. I’m Helen Williams. This is my brother, Butch Williams. We coach most of these kids ourselves.”
“It’s a small contingent compared to some of the other gyms,” said Leif.
“Uh, yes. Our kids came down with a flu that spread like wildfire this week. These are the only ones healthy enough to compete.”
“Okay,” nodded Cowboy. “Why did you ask us here? What is this miraculous thing you’re going to show us.”
“Well, some of it will need to be explained but some of it you’ll see during the competition.” There was an announcement on the loud speaker and the siblings turned, nodding at their team. “Just have a seat and we’ll show you what this can do.”
The three men took their seats, then spotted Luke, Hex, and Eric walking into the massive gym. The three men hid behind the crowd, watching as the kids were paraded out by weight class and told what to do.
When it came time for those coached by Butch and Helen, they collectively held their breaths as the kids lifted weights heavier and heavier.
“No need for the final life,” said the judge. “Your team has won the event.”
“They’re lifting more,” said Butch. “Records matter.”
“No,” said the judge definitively. “You’re not doing that to these kids. They’ve won. Leave it at that.”
“We’re doing more!” yelled Butch. The silence in the gym was deafening. Everyone turned and stared as the judge held his ground. Butch turned, pointing to one of the students. “Lift.”
“But Coach, he said I don’t have to. My shoulder is killing me,” said the boy.
“Lift the damn weights now!”
“I’ve seen enough,” said Luke. “Move in.”
“Butch,” whispered Helen.
“Stop! Stop acting like a fucking pussy! Just like dad always said.”
“Butch,” she said staring at him.
“I can’t lift the weight,” said the young man staring at the judge. “Please don’t make me.”
“Get up, kid,” said Eric grabbing his elbow. “You go stand by that man over there.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” growled Butch.
“I’m the man that will snap you in half. Helen,” he said whispering the last part. Butch’s brows lifted, his face flushing red as Helen stepped back. “We don’t give a shit about that. We know who you are and what you’re trying to do. You’re not going to kill any more kids.”
“You won’t stop me. You won’t stop us,” he said looking at his sister.
“Butch. It’s done,” said Helen with a sigh.
“I knew you’d bail on me. I knew it! You never could take the pressure. I was the one that bore most of it from dad. Me!”
“Butch,” she whispered. He shoved weights off the bar, running toward the emergency exit door. The Legacy crew followed, chasing him onto the Canal and toward the Quarter.
“Don’t let him get to the Quarter. We’ll lose him,” yelled Luke. He’d no sooner yelled it at the team when there was a screeching of brakes and screams were heard. Carl was the first to arrive.
He kneeled beside the bloody body of Butch Williams, he breath rapid and labored.
“It’s better this way,” he gasped with his last breath. Carl just nodded as the others looked over his shoulder.
Luke looked around at the faces, then turned to the others. The face he was searching for wasn’t there.
“Where’s the sister?”