Yawn, Stretch, Fire
Fascinated horror
It was the next morning when Simo saw a restricted call come over his phone; he pressed accept. A voice with a quiet, distinct Southern drawl came over the line. “Simo. Shit’s fixin’ to come down. Ain’t got time for shitty chit-chat. Copy?”
“Copy that, Alabama.” Simo replied.
“They’re making a grab for your guy’s daughter at the police station. Three contractors, fully kitted, close by now. Y’all wanna keep her outta Joel’s shitty hands, get her the fuck out. Halo’s still next on the list.”
“Why the girl?”
“The little bitch knows Halo is soft for her. If he can’t get Halo, he’ll trade for her. He knows she’ll do it. I got y’all covered on my end. Also, Harding added four new operators and is boxing us out. Harding’s gone sideways, if you get my drift.”
“Copy. Can it be a ruse?”
“Negative. This is real. I’ll text updates. Y’all watch your six.” The line went dead.
Simo tapped his earpiece. “You all get that? Get on the horn if you haven’t already. Call Yreka CHP and inform them.”
Simo looked to Xander, who was already calling Athena.
“Athena! Let me talk to the nearest cop, now!”
“This is Officer Gonzales. Who am I speakin’ with?”
“Listen up. I am Athena’s father, Xander Kostinos. You are going to be attacked by three gunmen who are on the way. They are heavily armed and ex-military. You need to get my daughter out of there!”
“Sir, if this is some joke…”
Athena’s voice came over the phone. “Dad, it’s on speaker. I heard what you said. You want me to run?”
“Yes! Get to the airport; Halo will be landing within the hour. If the police won’t listen, then go, and go now!”
“Sir, if this turns out to be a double… oh, wait.” Xander heard other voices in the background. “We are good to go. We are evacuating your daughter; we will be in contact at the airport.” The line went dead.
Xander got up and kicked his chair, sending it flying across the kitchen and slamming into the wall. “Shit! We need to go after that fucker, and now!”
Simo watched Xander fume. “Fine. What do you propose?” Simo asked calmly. “What was your plan?”
“I was going to flush him out using Molotovs. I was going to wait until he left and firebomb his car so he can either sit inside his car and roast, or he can get out.”
Simo eyed him. “Best you didn’t try that. He could have simply driven…”
Xander smiled as he held up his hand. “Joel’s engine has two pounds of iron oxide and aluminum oxide in sealed bags hidden next to the front cowl vents… fire and thermite is not a good combo.”
Simo let out a chuckle. “Ah… that might have worked. Then what?”
“Take his men from cover with more glass and gas, and grab Joel’s sorry ass… unless he died in the fire or caught a bullet.” Xander gave Simo a wicked grimace.
“Feudal Japan…” Simo said. “The Samurai loved their fire, didn’t they?”
“Yes. I have enough hidden by the pool house to turn his garage or driveway into a furnace,” Xander hissed back.
“I knew there was something I liked about you.” Simo tapped his earpiece. “Gear up! We are heading to Joel’s. Emergency frequency, now.” Simo then hit his earpiece twice, then twice again.
Xander switched channels. “Seriously? We are heading out?”
“Yes. Not like I said, I think they’re tapping our channels or watching us. They are close to us here or at the camp.” Simo tapped his earpiece. “Jessie, get on the move right now.”
“Roger that. On the move.”
“Gunnar, what’s happening at the little bitch’s house?” Simo barked.
“A church mouse would make more noise.”
“How many, last count?” Simo asked.
“Five positive contacts. Six with the little bitch. Nothing this morning as of yet.”
“I bet they’re not there. Start a delayed rear-perimeter fire at Joel’s; check for Molotovs at the pool house if you can. Set the surveillance to automatic and return to central. Understand?”
“Rear-perimeter fire delayed, surveillance on auto, returning to main house. Roger that.” Gunnar replied.
“Theo, head to Halo’s.” Simo followed quickly, “ETA on VIP wheels down?”
“One moment,” came a new voice. “ETA twenty-three minutes, Weed Airport.”
“Tell them to push it and do not land until we give clearance. Update Eleni.”
Xander’s phone rang. “Athena, what’s going on?”
“Dad! We are in the police car heading…”
“DON’T SAY ANOTHER WORD!” Xander yelled into the phone. “Omilite Ellinika!” Speak Greek!
“Nea, bampa!” Yes, Dad, she replied, switching to Greek. Athena continued in Greek. “Heading north on the freeway, meeting more police, then we are going to the airport. On their radio, I heard two men were spotted tear-gassing the police station.”
Simo grabbed the phone from Xander’s hand and began speaking rapidly in Greek. “This is Simo. Tell the cops to go radio-silent or move to a tactical frequency. They are being monitored. One man may be covering the airport. Beware of a sniper.”
“Done,” Athena responded.
“Jessie, alternate airport?” Simo asked into his radio.
“Scott Valley Airpark. Runway is adequate for VIP jet. Destination time from Weed… under thirty minutes.”
“Hold.” Simo switched back to Greek on Xander’s phone. “Ask if they can make it to Scott Valley airport.”
“Yes!” came Athena’s reply.
“Divert VIP to Scott Valley ASAP. Eleni, take up defensive position upon landing.”
“Roger.” A moment later, Jessie’s voice returned. “Confirmed: VIP to Scott Valley Airpark. VIP will call out final approach.”
“Roger. Have CHP call and evacuate all personnel from the airpark before VIP is wheels down.”
“Roger. Ari has been informed; he is returning from Palm Springs.”
Two beeps came over the headset, then Gunnar’s voice. “Fire is engaged. Rear outbuilding at the little bitch’s is fully engulfed. Emergency units are responding. No movement from main house.”
“Roger, Gunnar. Return to main ASAP.” A confirming beep followed. “Chen, ground and motion sensor report on Halo’s?”
“Steady.”
Simo turned to Xander. “Keep having Athena update us. I am moving to Halo’s; I need to confer with Ari about police involvement.”
“Simo, can’t we just call the cops on Joel?”
“For what?” Simo asked. He went to the coat closet in JJ’s hallway and began pulling out black cases with handles, followed by ammo boxes and the green-and-black box from yesterday. “Get these loaded, then park your ass inside JJ’s safe room. You can listen from there. That’s an order.”
Xander grabbed the gun cases and loaded them into the trunk of the Challenger as Simo deposited two ammo cases.
Simo stopped Xander with a clap on the shoulder, pulled out his earpiece, and covered it with his hand.
He signaled Xander to do the same. When Xander complied, Simo spoke quietly.
“Hang in there. What comes next is the hard part. You must remain calm, no matter what you see or hear. My nose is itching; it usually means shit is going to fly. I want you to stay in JJ’s safe room out of Joel’s reach.
Stay in contact with Athena. We have a plan in motion and I don’t have time to lay it out. ”
“Roger that,” Xander replied, putting the earpiece back in.
Simo ran back inside, and Xander stealthily slipped open one of the boxes.
“Open the garage door. Reset all surveillance right now! Theo, do a walking perimeter search in the back. Chen, you get the front. I want a thorough search.” Two beeps sounded in their ears as the garage door opened and Simo backed out of JJ’s garage.
Xander felt his phone vibrate as he grabbed his bag and ran upstairs to JJ’s safe room. He opened the door and stepped inside the tight little room; the lights came on automatically. He pulled the steel door shut and locked it.
“Ah, shit,” he muttered aloud as he remembered his phone. “Athena, are you ok…”
Athena nervously gave him her situation.
“Xan, you get something over there?” Simo asked.
“Yes! Two cars were chasing them. A CHP took one out with his car and both went off the road. One car is following them at high speed. Two men inside. They have her on the floorboards.”
“Copy. Keep us informed. I want you to stay inside. As a reminder, that is an order. No coming out. Understand?”
Xander sighed audibly. “Roger.”
Xander reached into his jacket and turned the mic volume down. Then he texted Athena in Greek: You are being so brave, I’m so proud of you. Stay down. I know you are scared. Halo and Eleni are on the way. I love you and miss you!
Athena responded: I love you too, Daddy!
Xander set his phone down, opened his bag, then picked the phone up again and texted: How are you doing?
Scared, but ok, came the reply.
They still following?
Yes.
They might try for the tires in a remote area. You have to be ready. If they come for you, don’t fight them. Just cry and follow their instructions. They want to trade you for Halo, so they really don’t want to hurt you. Understand?
Yes.
Hang in there. Tell the cops what I just told you. I’ll check back.
KK, was Athena’s reply.
Just tried to ram us. They see the airport the cop said. They keep trying to ram us.
“SHIT!” Xander yelled, quickly typing back: Help is on the way! Hang on, koukla. I love you!
Xander turned his volume up and hit his earpiece twice. “Simo, Athena’s vehicle is in sight of the airport. They are trying to ram. Cops are trying to evade. Over.”
“Copy. Tell them the jet just landed; Eleni is on the ground as we speak. Airpark is evacuated. Eleni is setting up at the last building south: the one with the blue roof. Have them turn hard right after the building and head toward the runway. Do it now!”
Xander typed as Simo gave the orders and hit send. Athena replied: Affirmative.
Then came: Shooting at us!
“Oh, God, no,” Xander moaned.
In his earpiece, Simo yelled, “Xan! Advise now!”
Xander muttered, “Shots fired. Lost contact.”
“It will be fine, Xan. Just stay calm,” Simo said.
Dad! Eleni is here! I see her!
Xander’s lip quivered, threatening to break. He covered his face with his hands and fought to control himself as he replied to Simo. “She sees Eleni.”
“What did I tell you? I’m getting a report in from Eleni. Stand by.”