Title---Repercussions!
Rating----NC17--- Chris/OMC-non-consensual-Chris OFC
Author----Winnie
Disclaimer---Mag7 and the characters do not belong to me and that’s such a sad thing because I do enjoy playing with them.
Warnings----This is a rape fic and deals with M/M non-consensual sex of a mag7 character. This is my first attempt at this and I hope you all enjoy it.
Comments----This story is written in honor of all the Chris ladies celebrating their birthdays this month and especially for one of my wonderful betas Marti who celebrates her birthday on July 3rd. Happy birthday ladies, hope you enjoy the ride. Many thanks to Jackie, Marti, and Antoinette for their help during this fic. Thanks also to LaraMee and Charlotte for their input on a major scene in this story.
May 21st
The courtroom was silent as the foreman of the jury stood to announce the verdict. Seven men sat behind the prosecutor as they waited for the man to speak.
“Jonathan Richard Clawson would you rise and face the jury!” All eyes were on the defendant as he reluctantly stood and turned towards the twelve-man jury seated to his right. To anyone watching the proceedings the man appeared genuinely afraid, but to the seven men of The Firm, Clawson was a cold, calculating murderer and wife beater.
“Mr. Forman, please read the verdict.”
“On the count of aggravated assault…guilty! On the count of premeditated murder…guilty!”
“NO! I didn’t do it. They lied! They lied! Tell them you lied, Larabee! Tell them or so help me God I’ll kill you!”
“ORDER! Mr. Robertson, control your client!”
“Jonathan, calm down!”
“Calm down! How the hell do you expect me to calm down?” He screamed and turned to face the man he blamed for his predicament. “I’ll get you for this, Larabee! You mark my words and make sure you look over your shoulder because someday when you least expect it I’ll be there!”
Two bailiffs moved in to take control of the prisoner as the man tried to get to the blond leader of The Firm. They gripped the small man’s arms and forcefully turned him back to the jury. Clawson’s eyes bulged with anger as he faced the foreman and each of the other members of the jury.
“All of you! I swear you’re all dead! Mark my words!”
“Mr. Robertson, your client…”
“Is distraught, Your Honor. He doesn’t know what he’s saying!”
“I know exactly what I’m saying and so help me God you will all find out that I’m a man of my word!”
“Mr. Clawson, you will be remanded into custody until June 21st at which time you will be sentenced! The jury is dismissed with our thanks for your time and patience!” Judge Walter Parsons explained.
“All rise!” one of the bailiffs ordered and the sound of shifting feet and chairs sounded as Clawson turned his head to look over his shoulders.
“You’re a walking dead man, Larabee,” Clawson said before being dragged from the courtroom.
“Jesus, Chris, that’s one mean sonofabitch!” Buck Wilmington explained as he turned to look at his friend and team leader.
“It’s about time he was put away for good,” Josiah Sanchez said.
“Bastard fucked with the wrong man,” Vin Tanner supplied as they walked out of the court.
“Mr. Larabee…Chris, may I be the first to procure you a celebratory drink?”
“There’s not much to celebrate, Ezra. That bastard killed too many people. I was lucky I had you boys to watch my back until it came time to testify. Guess I should be the one buying you a drink.”
“Sounds like a plan, Chris,” Nathan Jackson said, grateful that for once they hadn’t needed his medical training. Although Larabee had been through an emotionally charged trial and was the DA’s primary witness, the blond seemed to be managing, but the medic in Jackson made him weary. He walked a little to the right of his boss and cast several sidelong glances his way, before Larabee turned to face him.
“Nathan, I’m okay. I’m dead beat, but I’m also ecstatic that the bastard is off the streets and can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
“You saw to that, Chris,” JD Dunne said, his voice filled with awe as he looked at his mentor.
“No, JD, we all had a hand in it…it just happened Clawson made his first mistake on my watch,” Larabee explained as they exited the courthouse. Chris looked up at the old building and smiled inwardly. The courthouse had seen many cases, but none so big as the one tried there today. Jonathan Richard Clawson had been found guilty and now all that was left was his sentencing. It would be a long time before Clawson saw the outside of a prison and for that, Chris was grateful. The man had murdered a woman in cold blood and now he was about to get what he deserved.
“Come on, Cowboy, let’s get that drink and maybe a burger or two!” Tanner suggested and smiled conspiratorially at Dunne.
“Vin, Micky D’s is not what I consider a burger,” Larabee said.
“It’s grease on a bun,” Jackson said.
“Yep, and it’s just what a working man needs,” the Texan told him.
“Working man? Come on, Vin, how hard have you been working in the last week?”
“Twice as hard as you, Bucklin,” Tanner answered.
“Yeah, but Vin twice nothing is still nothing!” Dunne retorted and ducked as Wilmington made to swat him.
“Okay, boys, behave or they’ll ask you for ID at Buck’s Place!” Sanchez said and pressed the button to unlock the club van.
“Perhaps we could drop our three children at juvenile hall?” Standish suggested and quickly moved away from the ladies’ man.
Chris had grown to know his friends over the years they’d been working together and it was times like this that gave him new insight into his strange family. JD, Vin, and Ezra were the youngest member of his team, but they worked just as hard as Buck, Nathan, and Josiah. The group worked long hours and it was at the end of a case that you could see there was still that hint of childhood buried deep inside. He climbed into the seat next to the ex-preacher and smiled as the older man rolled his eyes.
“You picked them, Chris,” Sanchez explained.
“Yeah, I did, Josiah,” Larabee said and knew Sanchez understood his simple answer. He heard seatbelts being locked and finally the older man drove away from the courthouse, blissfully unaware of the cold grey eyes that followed the van.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘On the count of aggravated assault…guilty! On the count of premeditated murder…guilty!’ Guilty - the word echoed again and again in his mind as he watched the group of men exit the courthouse. They had not taken any notice of him, but he’d been watching them throughout the case. His brother’s explosive outburst at the end of the trial would not go unheeded. Chris Larabee and his men would pay for taking his brother down, but first he needed a plan. Tomorrow he would visit his brother and together they would find a way to make Chris Larabee sorry he’d ever laid eyes on Jonathan Richard Clawson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris smiled as he accepted the beer and toasted the men at the table with him. He took a long swallow of the cold liquid and nodded his appreciation at Inez Recillos. The beautiful bartender was also one of their favorite waitresses and she seemed to know what each of them needed. The heat of the day had made the hours spent in the courtroom even more tiring than normal and beer was just what he wanted.
“Hey, Chris, isn’t that Jake?” Dunne asked
Larabee looked towards the door as it opened and an older man stepped inside. He instantly recognized the man and motioned for him to join them. Jake Taylor worked at Saint Vincents Hospital where Chris had spent too much time over the last few years. Taylor was a hospital sitter and was called on to stay with patients considered in need of a suicide watch. At the time Chris had been put through a significant amount of torture and was considered a suicide risk. In the two years since they’d first met, Taylor had become a close friend and Chris respected the man’s opinion. Now the ex-cop often gave advice on cases and sometimes even accompanied them on stakeouts.
“Jake!” Larabee called as the older man made his way towards the bar, but stopped and changed direction when he spotted the members of The Firm.
“Hello, Boys,” Taylor greeted and pulled another chair over. “Are we celebrating?”
“Yep, Clawson was found guilty!” Tanner explained.
“It’s about time that bastard was taken off the streets!” Taylor exclaimed.
“Damn right,” Wilmington agreed.
“One down…but there are still way too many miscreants on the streets,” Standish said.
“Well, Son, we take them down as fast as we can and perhaps one day the good people of the world will again outnumber the evil,” Sanchez said.
“I wish I could believe that, Josiah, but things just seem to get worse,” Taylor said.
“Does that mean we should stop what we’re doing?” the ex-preacher asked.
“No…never stop, because if you do then we’ll have lost the battle for sure,” the former cop answered.
“Want a beer, Jake?” Larabee asked.
“Sounds like a plan, Chris,” the older man said and motioned for Inez.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Clawson looked up as the door opened and his brother entered. They had been born less than two minutes apart and yet were nothing alike. Where he was short and stocky, his brother was tall and well muscled. His brother’s dark blond hair and grey eyes were a complete contrast to his own jet-black hair and dark brown eyes. Seen together people tended to laugh when they said they were not just brothers, but twins. He lifted the phone and placed it against his ear as he looked through the glass.
“Michael, thank God. Tell me you’ve found a way to get me out of this place!”
“Chet is planning on asking for a retrial, but that’s not likely at the moment. Everything is on the up and up and there are no grounds for it. How are you managing, little brother?”
“I’m okay…least at the moment, but Michael, I don’t know if I can take being in prison. I’m not like you…I don’t…well, you know.”
“I know, Jonathan, and don’t worry, I’ll make damn sure you don’t go there,” Michael William Clawson answered truthfully.
“How can you say that? Two weeks from now they’ll pronounce sentence on me and we both know what that means!”
“Calm down, Jonathan before the guard overhears.”
“This call’s probably being monitored anyway, Michael!”
“All the more reason not to discuss delicate situations. Now relax and I’ll speak with your lawyer and anyone else I need to in order to procure your freedom from this establishment!”
“I’ll try, Michael, but don’t make me wait too long! The guard’s coming so I’d better hang up. Get me out of here. Okay?”
“You have my word, Little Brother,” Michael said and hung up the phone. He sat watching as his beloved sibling was taken away and knew he would do anything and everything in his power to free the younger man. Standing and glancing around the room, a plan began to formulate in his mind. Walking towards the exit he smiled as a picture of Chris Larabee on the witness stand sent a heated sense of longing to his groin. Yes, he had a plan, and yes, Chris Larabee would play a pivotal role in that plan, one he would not soon forget. Humming a tune he walked out of the prison and made his way towards his black Jaguar. He had a plan, now it was just a matter of getting the pieces together and putting it into action.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
June 21st
“Jonathan Richard Clawson, you have been found guilty of aggravated assault and premeditated murder. Do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?” Judge Walter Parsons asked.
“Nothing ‘cept that I’m innocent, Judge. Larabee lied about what he saw!” Clawson said and grew quiet as sentence was passed. He swallowed painfully as he looked over his shoulder at his brother and saw the smile on his face. He knew Michael was making plans to get him out of prison, but he had no idea what the plan was. He also knew that Chris Larabee would play a pivotal role in those plans and Michael would make the blond pay dearly for testifying against him.
Clawson stared at Larabee and smiled before the bailiffs removed him from the courtroom. The seven men who worked for The Firm were present and he noted how they tended to protect their leader and knew they would be unable to stop whatever Michael had in mind for the blond.
‘You’ll be sorry, Larabee…so sorry,’ he thought as he was escorted to the prison bus that waited outside the courthouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris took a deep breath as he watched his men file into the conference room. The case they’d been working on was being kept low profile and would hopefully be concluded today, but they would need to make sure everything was in place. This operation had been in the works for nearly four months and Ezra Standish and Buck Wilmington were about to play a major role in its completion. The duo had worked hard to ingratiate themselves with a couple of men who often worked with Ronald Templeton and tonight they would be making a buy that would end with Templeton in custody for illegally dealing in weapons and drugs. The man seated to his left was the captain of the Billings Police Department and was not averse to asking for their help when he needed unknown faces. The fact that Larabee’s elite team often did black ops for the government placed them in good stead with the officials in Billings. Chris waited for his men to take their seats before speaking.
“All right, this is our last chance to go over things before we move out. Vin, why don’t you start?” Larabee asked.
Tanner stood and moved to the map of Macmillan’s warehouse tacked to the wall. There were several colored pins situated at different intervals in the main building. He picked up the pointer and used it to trace an upper pathway above the main storage area.
“I’ll be up here and will watch fer anyone coming in from the east, south, and north. The west end doesn’t have any windows or doors and there ain’t no way fer anyone to get through there without explosives. From this height I can see everything that’s happening!”
“Buck, you and Ezra are going in as buyers. You’ll both be wired and I want to make damn sure JD and Nathan can hear everything that’s happening in there. The money you’re using will have a tracer hidden in the case, so don’t try anything stupid if Templeton decides to take the money and run. Vin’s gonna be covering your backs and he’ll take care of anyone who decides to shoot first and ask questions later.” Larabee said as Tanner moved back to his seat.
“Mr. Larabee, Templeton is sure to check us for wires.”
“I’ve already thought of that, Ezra,” Dunne said with a grin as he pushed two digital watches towards Wilmington and Standish. “Try these.”
“What’s this, Kid?” Wilmington asked.
“I believe these are the watches JD and I have been refining and as such I am assuming you worked out the pesky quirks we were having,” Standish asked.
“Yep, sure did. We had the wrong wires geared to the radio receivers. Not something Buck could understand.”
“Thanks, Kid, I owe you for that one,” the gentle rogue said and put the watch on his wrist. “Have you checked these things out?”
“As a matter of fact he has, Buck, and they worked perfectly as long as you don’t bang them against anything,” Sanchez explained.
“Now, Josiah, when have I ever banged…”
“Ah, Buck, let’s not go there,” Jackson declared as Larabee stood up and walked over to the board. He turned and looked at each man as he took a deep breath. “Josiah and I will be there as back up and will watch for anything we haven’t planned for. Vin, it’s up to you to make damn sure Templeton and his men are covered once they take Buck and Ezra’s weapons.”
“I’ll have ‘em covered, Chris.”
“JD, you’re sure about the watches?” Larabee asked.
“Yep, worked like a charm.”
“Good. Bob, do you have anything new to add?”
“Just that there’ll be black and whites in the area and ready to move when this starts to go down.”
“Just make damn sure they don’t move prematurely,” Larabee warned.
“I’ve drilled that into their heads, Chris. These men know how long we’ve been after Templeton and the fact that you’ve been able to get your men close to him shows how well prepared you boys are. Believe me no one wants this to go down more than me. Templeton’s been a thorn in my side for too many years and now we’re this close to taking the Sonofabitch down!” Miller said as he held his thumb and index fingers less than an inch apart.
“Ezra, what time is the meet?”
“Eight sharp,” Standish answered and knew Larabee was just going over the fine points again.
“Good, JD, you and Nathan make sure you’re set up by seven!”
“No problem, Chris,” Dunne agreed.
“Vin, how are you getting inside the warehouse?”
“The place shuts down at five and I figured I’d slip in while the employees are leavin’. There’s always a mess when that alarm sounds.”
“Vin, have you tried this already?” Larabee asked.
“Yep, worked every time. Waited in the bathroom until they cleared out and made it up inta the rafters without a problem.
“You’d think Templeton would have better security,” Wilmington said.
“This is not Templeton’s usual place to conduct business, Buck, but you can be sure he’ll have more than enough men with him. Just be damn careful because I don’t want to hear Orrin complaining about your health insurance going up.”
“Thanks, Bob, you’re all heart,” the ladies’ man said with a grin.
“Okay, boys, anyone have anything else they’d like to add?” the blond asked.
“No, I think that about covers it all,” Tanner said and was glad when the meeting adjourned. The tension in his body would disappear as soon as he stepped foot inside he warehouse. His weapon of choice was like a soothing balm when he touched the cold metal and became a part of him as soon as he was in position.
“Vin, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Chris, just thinkin’ ‘bout tonight. Ya know how it goes!”
“Yes, I do, and there’s no one I’d rather have watching our backs!” Larabee told him as the meeting broke up. Chris knew his men would spend the remainder of the day going over tonight’s operation and the office would be quiet except for the occasional click of a keyboard or the sound of soft conversation as the men readied themselves for the deadly game that would play out that night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Clawson leaned back in his chair until it was touching the wall. There were three men and one woman in the room with him and he trusted them with his life. Cecil Franklin, Barry Atwater, Gerald Stephens, and Melanie Lewis had been part of his organization since he’d taken over from his uncle nearly fifteen years before. They knew what he had planned and were now going over the details on the hows and wheres that went along with his plans.
“So, you’re really serious about this?” Melanie asked as she crossed her legs, revealing more than a little of her shapely thighs.
“I want Jonathan out of prison and he wants Larabee and his men to pay. I think this is the best way to see both those things happen. Don’t you?”
“It’s dangerous, Michael. There’s bound to be a lot of security in that building!” Franklin warned.
“That’s where Barry comes in. Have you been able to access the building blueprints?” Clawson asked.
“Does a bear shit in the woods?” Atwater asked sarcastically. “I have the blueprints and like a lot of the older buildings, this one has an access that got deleted from the newer plans once it was rebuilt. There’s a way in through the main vents that’ll lead us into the sub-basement. I figure that’s our way out! We just reverse the directions and come out in the old part of the building!”
“Perfect. Now I believe you and Melanie are going to go in first.”
“That’s the plan. It’s basic, but sometimes it’s best if you go with the simplest plans,” Atwater agreed.
“I take it you won’t have a problem over-riding their internal security measures once you’re there?”
“That’s where Melanie comes in. She’s the security expert here,” Atwater answered.
“Melanie?” Clawson asked, returning his attention to the pretty red head.
“Oh, I believe security will not be an issue once I’m inside. How many men are we taking with us?”
“I figure you and Barry go in first and once you take the security office the rest of us can come inside, but not all at once. I don’t want to give the other renters anything to cause them alarm. We send in two at a time and have them get off on different floors and make their way to The Firm’s office. Once they are in position we make our move and take the seven hostages. After that it’ll be up to this city how much their lives are worth.”
“What about the other people on the tenth floor?” Stephens asked.
“Ah, now see that’s just a stroke of luck for us. There are two other businesses located on that floor and both are under major renovations. The work being done is noisy and as such is not done until after hours so there’s no one there!” Clawson said, a ghost of a smile on his handsome features.
“What about weapons?” Atwater asked.
“That won’t be a problem once I have control of the main security office,” Melanie explained. “I’ll simply disable their weapon detection and render it inoperable.”
“When do you plan on making this happen?” Stephens asked.
“I believe we have everything in position so we’ll make our move tomorrow afternoon. One PM is a good starting point. Say an hour to get all our people in position and another fifteen minutes to take control!”
“You sound sure this is going to happen without a hitch!” Franklin observed.
“Of course. I have complete confidence in the people who work for me and as such leave nothing to chance. There will be a total of twelve men and women, not counting us of course.”
“All right, so that covers how we get control of the security, but I don’t think Larabee’s men are going to be that easy to take,” Stephens said.
“Maybe not, but I believe all men are suckers for a damsel in distress…”
“Melanie?” Atwater laughed and received a kick for his actions.
“I’m sure Melanie would make a wonderful damsel in distress, but we need her in the security office. However Vasquez is available and I believe she…ah here she is now,” Clawson said, standing and moving to meet the newcomer.
“Oh…oh, Michael, I think it’s time…”
“Shit, she’s having a baby!” Franklin said and moved so the raven-haired beauty could take his seat.
“I’ll call for an ambulance!” Lewis told them as she picked up the receiver.
“Got you!” Maria Vasquez said with a smile and stood up to face the people in the room. She lifted her top and showed them the fake pregnancy pillow hidden there.
“Sonofabitch!” Atwater said with a grin. “You’re…you’re…”
“Not pregnant?” Vasquez finished for the stammering man. “No, not at the moment, but I do know how to act the part and no man can resist a woman in labor.”
“Especially one as gorgeous as you, Vasquez,” Clawson said and hugged her for several long seconds.
“Ah, too bad your taste doesn’t go both ways, Michael,” the woman said when the strong arms finally released her.
“Yes, well, if I did straddle the fence then you would be a temptation I could not resist,” Clawson said with a smile. “Now, I guess all that’s left is to go over the timing of the operation. I want everything to go smoothly and there’ll be a bonus to each of you if this is accomplished in less than two hours.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ronald Templeton knew this meet could mean the difference for him. In the years he’d been selling drugs and weapons he still hadn’t made a big name for himself, but tonight could change all that. This sale alone could amount to over ten million dollars and would put a new spin on how the others saw him. He looked towards his right hand man and knew he was nervous about this operation.
“Come on, Rico, things are finally looking up for us.”
“Are they, Ronald? I don’t like this. It smells of corruption!”
“We’ve taken extra precautions, Rico, trust in that!”
“I’m suspicious by nature…”
“And for that I’m grateful, but tonight will make us rich beyond anything we’ve had before. It’ll give us access to things we never could before and that means more money…women…and that nose powder you enjoy so much!”
“I have always been happy with the way things have been, Ronald.”
“You always were an underachiever, Rico, that’s why I have to look after things for both of us,” Templeton said as he reached for the bottle of bourbon in the cooler. The driver maneuvered around a stopped city works van and continued along the street towards the warehouse district.
“I just hope we don’t live to regret this one,” Rico said and accepted a glass from his employer.
“We won’t, Rico, our men are in position and will take care of any unwanted intruders!” Templeton said and sipped the fiery liquid before settling back in his seat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sharpshooter watched the area below him and knew he could take out any threat against his friends. The last of the employees had already left and the security guard had been given the night off. Vin knew this was because of the meet going down in a little over an hour and he settled in for the long wait. The warehouse was quiet except for the sound of water dripping into a sink at the south end of the warehouse and his soft breathing. Taking the time he had left, Vin checked his rifle and then walked along the scaffolding until he was sure he had the best view of the room below.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“JD, are you getting this?”
“Coming through loud and clear, Buck.”
“What about this, Mr. Dunne?”
“I got you too, Ez. Looks like everything’s working perfectly.”
“JD, I hate when you say things like that,” Wilmington said as he exited the car.
“Sorry…forgot you were superstitious, Buck,” Dunne answered.
“You boys might want to be quiet. There are several cars moving towards your location,” Jackson told the two men. He knew Larabee and Sanchez were on one of the roofs and watching with high definition binoculars.
“You heard the man, JD, cut the chat!” Wilmington said and leaned against the Porsche as three cars entered the empty parking lot. “Are you ready, Ezra?”
“Not for a minute, Mr. Wilmington,” Standish answered in his usual manner. He had to admit that the dark Armani suit and white silk shirt and tie looked good on Wilmington, but could not bring himself to compliment the ladies’ man. His own suit was tailored to fit by a man who specialized in his style and for that he was grateful as he straightened the vest and looked down at his arm. He held a locked briefcase in his hand and felt the cuff encircle his wrist. The bills inside were unmarked and if he relinquished them they would be virtually untraceable. As the three cars came to a stop he let the tension leave his body and became the man his fake identification said he was.
“Mr. Templeton, it’s good to see you again,” Wilmington said as the newcomer and three of his men joined them.
“Do you have the money, Mr. Edwards?” Templeton asked.
“My associate is holding the funds and might I add he will not release them until we see the goods.”
“What’s stopping us from just shooting you both and taking the money?” Rico asked wearily.
“That wouldn’t be a wise decision. We might not be well known in these parts, but I’m sure you checked our credentials and realize that our lives are of value to the people we work for. Now, since we both have other plans I would suggest we get this over with.”
“Relax, Rico, and put the damn gun away!” Templeton snapped and was relieved when his associate did as he was told. “All right, gentlemen, I do hope you are not carrying.”
“You asked us to come unarmed,” Wilmington answered.
“Then you would not mind consenting to my men searching you?” Templeton asked,
“I am not one to allow anyone to search me, but if it will make this any easier, then by all means go ahead,” Standish told them, his tone bored as two men searched for weapons and wires.
“They’re clean,” the man who searched them explained.
“Very good,” the crime lord said and relaxed even more.
“Where are the guns?” Wilmington asked.
“Inside,” Rico answered and led them towards the doors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“JD, tell Vin to keep his eyes open!” Larabee ordered as he watched the group of men walking towards the main doors. So far things were going as scheduled, but Chris knew his men were ready if anything should go wrong.
“They’ll be all right, Boss,” Sanchez said through the headphones.
“I hope so, Josiah, but that man with Templeton looks edgy. JD, tell Vin to watch him closely!”
“Will do, Chris,” Dunne agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Vin, they’re coming in through the main doors. Chris said to watch Templeton’s right hand man.”
“I got ‘em, JD,” Tanner said and watched as several men entered the warehouse. He lay on the hard metal floor and was glad he’d chosen this vantage point. All totaled there were eight men in the warehouse, but Vin’s main concern were the two members of The Firm. He knew if Templeton’s men panicked it would be up to him to make sure Standish and Wilmington made it to safety. Taking a deep, calming breath, the sharpshooter held the gun to his shoulder and watched the proceedings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris watched the men who remained outside the warehouse and knew they could handle them easily, but it was what happened inside that worried the blond. He knew second-guessing his own orders amounted to nothing, but he found himself doing exactly that. The Texan could easily handle what was happening inside, but if and when the time came they had to be ready for all contingencies.
Chris looked towards Sanchez and made sure the older man was aware of the volatile situation. A nod from the ex-preacher eased some of the tension from the blond, but he knew he’d have to unwind once the operation was over. Until then, he’d remain on edge, ready for anything, and willing to do anything to protect his friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JD looked at Nathan as they monitored the conversation taking place somewhere to the west of them. They knew Larabee, Tanner, and Sanchez were in direct contact with the two undercover agents, but until they had evidence of Templeton’s illegal operations they would not move in.
“JD, make sure the tapes running on this!” Jackson ordered and watched as the younger man’s fingers flew over the keyboard.
“It’s all set, Nathan,” Dunne said.
“Good, I’ll be glad when this is over.”
“Me too. You’d think we’d be used to these damn things by now!”
“Kid, if the day comes when we find ourselves becoming used to busts of this nature I’ll damn well hang up my hat and take cover. Listen, I think this is about to go down!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The eight men stood inside the warehouse as the door was secured and the overhead lights turned on. Templeton stood between two men while the other three took up positions at the edge of the well-lit area.
“All right, Gentlemen, show me the money…Oh God, I’ve always wanted to say that,” Templeton said and laughed at his own joke.
“Very funny,” Wilmington said as Standish placed the briefcase on a stack of boxes. Buck motioned for him to open the locks and waited as Templeton moved forward to inspect the cash. He reached for a pile of bills and handed it to the hardened criminal and watched as he fanned through it.
“How do I know this is not the only stack of real bills?”
“Check for yourself!” the rogue offered and moved to the right. The gun hidden inside the briefcase was well hidden and would be triggered by Standish when the time was right. He’d seen the gambler use the spring-loaded mechanism before and was confident in the man’s ability with the small weapon.
Templeton reached for a second stack of bills and smiled as he rifled them through his fingers. This was something he’d been working towards and now was the time to make his move. With this buy he could easily take over a major part of the organization and no one would deny it as his right.
“All right, we’ve shown our good faith, now where are the guns.”
“All in good time, Mr. Edwards. Rico, would you mind opening the crate?”
“Certainly, Ronald,” the second man said and moved towards a stack of crates set against the wall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
High overhead a muscle twitched as the rifle moved a fraction of an inch. Even in the heat and pressure of this situation Vin Tanner showed no sign of life except for his own silent, steady, even breathing. Two friends were in a tight spot, and relied on him to keep them safe. Again the muscle twitched as Tanner set his sights on the man at the crate. This man seemed to be unsteady and somehow the tracker knew if there was trouble it would start with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The men standing around the cars outside the warehouse seemed to relax with the passing of time, but Josiah knew each one carried a gun somewhere on them. Several times the lights from the parking lot reflected off metal and he knew Larabee was seeing the same thing. He remained still, watching and waiting for any sign that trouble was starting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rico used the crowbar to pry open the top crate and moved aside in order for the buyers to see the merchandise. He knew the weapons were hot, but the serial numbers were filed off and could not be traced back to the shipment stolen two months before.
“Whoa, very nice,” Wilmington said. “May I?”
“Certainly. Make sure you check the merchandise is one of my favorite mottos,” Templeton said as the other man reached for the weapon and pulled it from the packing.
“XM8 with XM320 40mm grenade launcher…”
“I’m impressed, Mr. Edwards, you know your weapons.”
“Hell, I love new toys and these are very new. How the hell did you get your hands on these babies and how many can I have?”
“We have maybe a dozen, but there is a good chance I could lay my hands on more as long as you have sufficient funds.”
“Money is not an object. What about ammunition?”
“I can supply ammunition for these and anything else you decide to take.”
“Now it’s my turn to be impressed,” Wilmington said as he placed the weapon back in the crate. “If I decide I need more than what you have how soon can I expect delivery?”
“That would depend on my contact, but I think two weeks would be doable,” Templeton said, smiling as Rico placed the lid back on the crate.
“So, do we have a deal?” Templeton asked.
“Oh, I think we can say this is a done deal. Ezra, you can remove the cuffs and pay the man…I’ve always wanted to say that,” Wilmington said with a smile as he moved to the opposite side of the room.
Ezra opened the cuffs and turned away from the men as he pressed a button releasing the hidden weapon. He palmed the small handgun and nodded imperceptibly towards his partner as he turned to face Rico. The man’s eyes were cold as they stared at him and Ezra knew this was where the real threat lay. The man stared at him as he reached for the briefcase and the gambler had no idea what set him off, but the next instant he found himself staring down the barrel of a Sig.
“What the hell’s going on, Templeton?” Wilmington asked as he moved forward.
“Rico, what the hell are you doing?” Templeton snapped.
“I don’t trust them, Ronald….”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Chris, something’s happening. Looks like one of Templeton’s men is having second thoughts,” Jackson explained as JD continued to monitor the action inside the warehouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~`
“Josiah, we need to take care of these guys and get inside!” Larabee ordered and moved towards the stairs leading down into the parking lot. “Nathan, let Miller know things are going to hell fast!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
“Already done,” Jackson said as he turned towards JD. “What’s happening in there?”
“Right now it sounds like Rico is holding a gun on Ezra. There’s been no shot’s fired, but the Sonofabitch seems trigger happy,” Dunne explained worriedly. He fidgeted in the chair, hating the fact that they could do nothing to help from where they were.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vin sited down the barrel of his rifle and eased his body into line to take the shot if necessary. So far Wilmington was handling things and there was still a small hope they could get out of this without gunfire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“God damn it, Templeton! We came here in good faith and you’re letting this bastard ruin it!” Wilmington snarled as Rico’s gun wavered slightly.
“Rico, put the damn gun away and go check on the men outside!” Templeton warned.
“These bastards are not who they say they are!”
“That remains to be seen, but if they are not real buyers we have enough men to take care of them. Right now I want you out of here and let that fucking temper of yours cool off! Understood?”
“Ronald…”
“Rico, you fuck this up and I’ll put a bullet through your thick skull myself! Now get the hell out of here!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vin breathed a sigh of relief as Rico lowered his weapon and turned away from the gambler. Through the telescopic site, Vin could see the cool façade that still clung to the conman and knew his friend would need to talk this out once it was over. Sighting down the rifle he followed the retreating figure until he reached the main door and exited the warehouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris held his place as the door opened to his right and a single man came outside. He watched as the angry man kicked at a cat that crossed in front of him, and was glad the cat was able to leap out of the way. There were four other men in the parking lot and he knew Sanchez was waiting for him to make a move. Right now things seemed to be under control, but Chris knew that could change quickly.
“Nathan, have Miller hold back until I tell you otherwise.”
“Will do, Chris.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josiah had seen the man exit the warehouse and had ducked behind the garbage bin before the man spotted him. The smell of rancid garbage was nauseating and he fought the sickening stench by holding his hand over his mouth and nose as he cautiously looked around the container.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I do apologize for Rico’s suspicious nature, but it has saved us many times. Now, why don’t we finish this and get the hell out of here!” Templeton’s good mood had dissipated with Rico’s exit and he seemed to be on edge as he reached for the briefcase without realizing he was no longer flanked by his two bodyguards. He trusted Rico and wondered why he’d made the man leave. If these two were buyers he could still salvage the sale, but he needed to find out for sure. Without warning he reached for the weapon in his shoulder holster, but was surprised by movement to his right.
With a nod to the gambler, Buck reached for the first man as Standish dropped the briefcase and pulled Templeton closer. Buck didn’t take the time to look at his friend as he slugged the man closest to him and grabbed the gun from his hand before rolling behind the crates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vin fired at the man nearest the door at the same time Buck wrestled the gun from the second bodyguard. He turned the gun on the third man and took the man down with a shot dead center of his chest. He quickly spotted the struggle between Ezra and Templeton and tried for a clear shot, but there was no way he could chance it as Wilmington turned his attention to the fourth man.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as the first shot sounded, Rico turned back to the warehouse and a long string of muffled curses escaped as he reached for the handle.
“I wouldn’t if I were you!” Larabee warned and ducked back as Rico fired a shot in his direction. “Nathan, tell Miller to get his ass over here!”
“On it!”
“Get those bastards!” Rico shouted and tried for the door again as Larabee fired another shot in his direction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sanchez fired at one of the men who moved towards the driver’s seat and heard the man curse as the bullet entered his leg. He turned his weapon on a second man who was moving in Larabee’s direction and fired a shot, but missed as the man ducked behind the door of the nearest car. Josiah moved back as a bullet ricocheted off the garbage can he was using as a shield. Taking a quick look around the corner he fired again and heard a shot from Larabee’s direction at the same instant a loud yelp was heard from behind the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rico raced back to the cars and fired a barrage of bullets towards the man using the building as cover. He knew he didn’t hit anything, but cursed as another of Templeton’s employees fell to the ground and the sound of sirens echoed through the night air.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra grabbed the man’s hand as he tried to bring his own weapon up. Templeton was stronger than he’d looked and the conman used every ounce of his strength to keep the man from grasping his own gun.
“I s…should’ve let R…Rico k…kill you, but that w…would h…have taken the p…pleasure from me!”
“T…that r…remains to be seen!” Standish countered as he managed to twist around and force the man into a defensive position once more. He heard gunfire and would later wonder how they both managed to escape the bullets.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Vin knew there was no point in staying in the rafters and hurried down the steep stairs towards the small war being wagered below him. He heard the sirens in the distance and knew Miller and his men would soon be there, but right now his friends needed his help. He took the steps two at a time and glanced around the corner just as Wilmington shot the man he’d originally took the gun from. Vin turned to see Standish roll to his left and finally get the upper hand as Templeton struck out at him.
Ezra felt the glancing blow but had finally gotten his gun in his hand and had placed it against the criminal’s chest.
“Now, Sir, I believe it would be prudent of you to lie still!” Standish warned and used his left hand to remove the man’s still holstered weapon.
“Ezra, you okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Wilmington,” Standish said. “Perhaps it would be advisable for you to check on Mr. Larabee’s predicament!”
“I’ll go! Buck, you stay here with Ezra!” Tanner said and hurried towards the side door. The main gunfire was from the front of the warehouse and he hoped he could take Templeton’s men by surprise.
“Buck, are you guys okay?”
“Just peachy, Nate,” Wilmington said as Standish stood and kept his weapon pointed at Templeton. He checked the other men and removed their weapons before making the two that were alive sit beside their boss.
“Anyone hurt?”
“Just the miscreant for a change,” Standish answered.
“Good, now if Chris and Josiah would check in we’d be doing fine!”
“It sounds like the cavalry has arrived,” Wilmington said, but was still nervous about the gunfire he heard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris watched as several squad cars pulled into the yard and smiled as Miller and his officers joined them. Templeton’s men were caught in a crossfire situation and he knew it wouldn’t be long before they were arrested. Rico fired between the police cars and Larabee’s location, but didn’t come close to hitting him.
“Josiah, cover me!” Larabee shouted and heard Sanchez’ answer as he raced across the parking lot and hid behind a stack of crates. As soon as Rico turned to fire at the police officers, Chris pointed his weapon and pulled the trigger, relieved when the gun flew from Rico’s hand and clattered across the pavement.
“This is Captain Bob Miller with the Billings Police Department! Put down your weapons and lie face down on the ground!”
Chris heard a sound behind him and turned his weapon on the newcomer, but smiled as he recognized the sharpshooter. “Good way to get yourself shot, Tanner!”
“Nah, ain’t likely ta happen. Sounds like Bob’s got things under control!”
“Yeah, but keep an eye out anyway!”
“Always do, Cowboy,” Tanner said as he watched Miller’s men surround Templeton’s remaining forces.
“Buck and Ezra?”
“Are fine. They’ve got Templeton and a couple of his cronies inside!”
“Chris, you boys all right?”
“Think so. Buck and Ezra have Templeton.”
“Jacobs, Miletti, take a couple of men and secure the warehouse!”
“Yes, Sir!” Miletti said and signalled for two men to follow him as the remaining officers cuffed the prisoners before putting them into patrol cars. Once the area was secured they allowed the paramedics to come in and take care of the wounded.
“Chris, we owe you boys big time! We’ve been after Templeton and Rico for a long time,” Miller said as Larabee, Tanner, and Sanchez joined him at his car.
“Glad the bastard is finally off the street,” Larabee answered as the Firm’s surveillance van entered the parking lot. They had enough to put a major dent in Templeton’s organization, but there were others that would take his place.
“Looks like you have a lot of paperwork ahead of you. Those weapons Buck and Ezra were looking at were stolen from a shipment over a month ago,” Wilmington said as he and Standish joined the group.
“Yeah, the FBI is probably going to be pissed that we didn’t let them in on this one!” Miller said.
“They screwed up the last operation,” Tanner observed.
“Yes, but they managed to cover that up and will probably figure out a way to take credit for this one,” Miller explained.
“I don’t really care who takes credit for it as long as we get a conviction,” Sanchez said and knew the six members of The Firm agreed with him. He watched as the police put up the yellow tape that sealed the area off for forensics to come in and go over the crime scene. The rest of the night would be filled with giving statements and it would be late by the time they reached home, but at the streets were a little safer with Templeton off the streets.
“I know, Josiah, but it can get a little disheartening sometimes. I’ll see you boys at the station as soon as I finish up here,” Miller said and watched the seven men climb into The Firm’s van. He admired Larabee’s team and understood that sometimes they walked outside the law, but never exceeded their own limitation.
“Captain, the weapons have been secured and we’re searching the rest of the warehouse, but it looks like there were only those two cases,” Miletti explained as the van drove away from the parking lot.
“Make damn sure of that, Miletti. Go over the damn building with a fine tooth comb!”
“Yes, Sir,” Miletti answered turning back towards the building.
Miller watched his men as they continued to secure the area and took a deep breath. The paramedics were transporting the injured to the hospital, but several of his officers were escorting the prisoners. All in all it had been a well-planned operation and he was glad Larabee’s men came away unscathed. He opened the door and climbed in behind the wheel, knowing the night was still young and there were other crimes happening around the city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Believe me, Jonathan, everything is going to work out,” Michael Clawson explained as he walked alongside his brother. Today was family day at the prison and as such they were given time alone and Clawson could see the other man was more than a little angry.
“How can you say that, Michael? You’re not the one in here! You’re not the one who’s locked in a room with a man who thinks your ass is grass and he’s the fucking lawnmower!”
“No…no I’m not, but it sounds kind of kinky to me,” Michael said and grinned at his brother.
“Jesus, is sex all you ever have on your mind?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact it is most of the time. Now this man…your roommate…has he tried anything?”
“No, not yet, but I don’t think he’ll wait much longer. I can’t do this, Michael. I’m not like you!”
“I know you’re not, Jonathan, but I do have several contacts and one of them just happens to be in a cell a short distance from yours. He owes me a favor and I spoke to him about this man and if he tries anything, tell him Murdock does not appreciate anyone touching his assets.”
“His what?”
“His assets. Murdock seems to think he owns my ass, but it’s actually the other way around. Now he knows you’re my brother and that you’re straight and he is going to put the word out that you’re under his protection. He’ll keep you safe.”
“But who’ll keep me safe from Murdock?”
“Murdock’s tastes are for bigger men…he’ll probably think of you as his little brother! He won’t touch you, Jonathan!”
“I wish I could believe you…”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No.”
“And I’m not going to start now, but I have to leave now.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Hell, yes, and you know there just might be some fringe benefits while I’m at it.”
“Larabee?”
“Well, he does fit into my dreams of a perfect lover!”
“Damn, I wish I could be there to see Larabee’s face!”
“I wish you could too, Jonathan, but I think we’d better take off as soon as we get you out of here. Perhaps we could take Larabee with us!”
“Only if you let me kill the bastard!”
“I think that could be arranged. Anyway, Brother, you take care and make sure you go see Murdock, he’ll watch your ass…”
“Don’t say it that way, Michael!” the younger man said as they walked towards the entrance to the prison’s main building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melanie Lewis took a deep breath before entering the building and walking towards the security desk. One man sat behind the desk itself and another was in the office behind the desk. The monitors would be showing the main parking lot, the underground area, and each of the stairwells and elevators. Her job was to take control of those monitors and make sure it was secure until the others were in position. It would be a simple matter to take the front desk, but they knew they could not hold it once the news got out about the hostages. Barry Atwater came through the main doors and joined her at the security desk.
“Can I help you?” Tom Carter asked the couple. “Hi Jake.”
“Hey, Tom, is Chris in?”
“Yes, is he expecting you?”
“I think so. You can call up if you like.”
“No, go on up.” Carter said and turned his attention back to the newcomers. “Sorry about that.”
“That’s okay,” Melanie smiled sweetly and bent down so the man could have a clear view of her breasts. “I was hoping there was a bathroom I could use.”
“Sorry, Ma’am, but you could try the restaurant across the street.”
“Sorry, Pal, but she needs to use one real bad!” Atwater said as he moved behind the desk and entered the office before either security officer could react.
“Now, Tom, we don’t want to hurt anyone so please just continue to smile and look like you’re enjoying yourself while my partner sees to your associate.”
“What the hell’s this all about?” Carter asked as she reached out and took the gun from the man’s holster.
“Bring him in, Melanie,” Atwater called and Melanie motioned for the man to stand up.
“Please, don’t try anything stupid or your associate will no longer be amongst the living!” Lewis warned as she joined the man behind the desk and moved into the office. Atwater was already pulling on the security jacket and was placing the fake ID on the lapel as she entered with Carter. Before the man had a chance to say anything, Lewis struck him on the back of the head and smiled as he slumped to the floor.
“Nice work,” Atwater said with a grin as he moved around the two unconscious security guards. “Now get to work on disarming those cameras and sensors!”
“Piece of cake,” Lewis said and used a set of cuffs to secure the second man. By the time she finished both men were bound and gagged and she moved to the keyboard on the desk. She knew Atwater would contact Maria Vasquez and Cecil Franklin and that the couple would be watching from the park across the street. Once there were three teams in place the man and woman would proceed inside and up to the seventh floor where The Firm’s offices were located. She heard Atwater explaining to Orrin Travis that Tom Carter was called away on an emergency and that he was told to report for duty and knew the layout of the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Tell Tom to take all the time he needs and let us know what hospital his mother is in so we can send a gift basket.”
“Yes, Sir, Mr. Travis, I’ll tell Tom when I see him,” Atwater told the older man as he pressed a button on the console.
“Good,” Travis said as he finished checking the man’s ID and credentials.
“I’m sure you’ll get a call from the head office…just can’t say exactly when. They’ve been having trouble with the phone lines!”
“Yes, I have noticed that,” Travis said unaware that the problem was prearranged and the interference was caused by Melanie Lewis. “Well, you just make sure you give us the same quality service Tom does and everything will be okay.”
“I will, Mr. Travis. Have a good afternoon, Sir,” Atwater said and watched the former judge walk towards the main elevator. “Let the show begin!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hello, Boys,” Jake Taylor said as he entered the outer office of The Firm. Wilmington and Jackson were working on several files spread out over the rogue’s desk. Standish and Dunne seemed to be going over something on the computer monitor. Sanchez was reading the front page of the Billings Gazette, while Tanner was working on a stack of papers at his desk.
“Hey, Jake, how’s it hangin’?” Wilmington asked with a grin. This man had become a close friend to the team since the days he’d watched over their boss.
“Still in the same place, Buck. Is Chris around?”
“He’s in his office working on the Templeton file,” Dunne answered.
“Ah, Yes, it seems we owe you boys our thanks again. I was glad to see you boys came away unscathed.”
“You and me both,” Jackson mumbled as he stood and walked to the coffee machine. “It’s nice not to have to file an insurance claim.”
“I bet. Who made the coffee?”
“I did,” Standish answered and smiled as Taylor accepted a cup from the medic.
“Thanks, glad to see you boys have wizened up about who makes this stuff.”
“Yes, well, we do not all have the need to use a knife to cut through the sludge…”
“Ezra, my coffee ain’t sludge!”
“I beg to differ, Vin. Your coffee has all the requirements of the substance used to tar the roofs of many homes…”
“Yeah, sort of like that vegemite crap Marita brought you back from New Zealand,” Dunne quipped.
“Marita and vegemite go hand in hand, Kid, they both have more’n a little bit of sass,” Tanner said and smiled as Wilmington snickered knowingly. The Texan had met Marita while escaping Saint Vincents after being hospitalized during an explosion at Rimrock Mall. The two still kept in touch, but did not want to get serious yet.
“I don’t think I want to hear anymore,” the ex-cop said and turned towards the closed office door. “Do you think Chris wants company?”
“Chris is always willing to see you, Jake,” Sanchez said.
“Lord knows he could use the break!” Jackson told them.
“Grouchy?”
“Like a grizzly with a burr up his ass!” Tanner answered and smiled as Jackson spewed coffee from his mouth and nose.
“Jesus, Vin,” the medic cursed and reached for the paper towels.
Jake shook his head and smiled as he walked to the closed door and knocked once.
“This better be damned important!” Larabee’s voice was laced with tension as the door opened.
“Well, not really, but…”
“Ah, hell, Jake, come on in! How are you doing?” Larabee asked as he came around the desk and shook hands with the older man.
“I’m fine, but it sounds like you’re swamped again. Paperwork?”
“Yeah, seems like every time we finish a case another one comes up. You’d think the assholes would take a vacation and give us a break!”
“I’ve been saying the same thing for nearly forty years, Chris, so it doesn’t seem likely to happen in our lifetime, but at least we have a chance with men like your team working at it.”
“Thanks, Jake, have a seat.”
“Are you sure…looks like I was interrupting something.”
“You are, but believe me I can use the break and just maybe you’ll be able to save a tree or two while you’re at it,” Larabee said as he looked at the balled up paper in and around the wastebasket.
“I can see that…still not fancy on computers?”
“They have their uses, but sometimes it works out best to do the files this way.”
“I always was a paper man myself,” Taylor assured him.
“So is this visit business or pleasure?”
“Pleasure, I hope. Are you busy this weekend?”
“Not that I know of. Just going to clean out the barn. Why?”
“Well, I have this cabin in the mountains and was wondering if you’d like to come with me. It’s not a big place, but it’s got some pretty scenery and a lake full of trout,” Taylor smiled as he watched the younger man’s face.
“Sounds great, Jake.”
“So you’ll come?”
“Hell yeah, better than what I had planned. What time do you want to leave?”
“It’s a five hour drive so I figure if we leave around three we should be there in plenty of time to get an hour or two of fishing in. Might even catch enough for dinner.”
“I can’t think of a better way to spend the weekend.”
“Think the other boys would like to join us?”
“Maybe…why don’t we ask them?” Larabee stood up and walked towards the door. Pulling it open he shook his head as his friends seemed to lose themselves in what they’d been doing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Franklin and Vasquez nodded imperceptibly towards Atwater as they passed the security desk. So far three teams were in place and three more should be set up by the time they made the scene in The Firm’s office. The pillow she wore held a small semi automatic pistol and was easily accessible to her once they were ready to make their move.
“How the hell do you stay so damn cool, Vasquez?” Franklin asked as they entered the elevator and he pressed the button for the tenth floor.
“It’s in the genes, Franklin,” she said with a grin as her companion laughed and looked at her behind.
“Yeah, and those are some jeans, Honey.”
“Get ready,” Vasquez ordered as the high-speed elevator neared their destination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris glanced from one desk to the other and knew he’d been in a bitch of a mood the whole morning. He also knew these men understood him better than anyone. “All right, Boys, I guess I owe you all an apology…”
“And then some,” Tanner muttered softly.
“What was that?”
“Vin was just…”
“I heard him, JD,” Larabee smiled as he looked at the young Bostonian and Dunne tried to look serious. “Now boys…”
A sudden gasp and a cry of pain caught their attention and Chris and Jake hurried to the open door in time to see a man trying to hold his wife upright as water seemed to pool at her feet.
“Oh, God, help us…Please help us!” the man cried as Larabee made it to the couple first.
“Cecil, my water broke!”
“I know, Maria! Please we need to get her…”
“Buck, help us out here!” Larabee ordered. “Get her in my office!”
“Sure, Chris!”
“Nathan, get over here! Josiah, call the paramedics!” Larabee ordered as he helped Buck carry the woman through the main office and into his private one. He knew the others were staying back to give them room as they placed the woman on his couch. “Buck, get the blanket…”
“No need,” the woman said as she drew her hands away from her stomach.
Chris found himself staring down the barrel of a weapon he’d seen many times over the years. He heard Buck gasp from beside him, but only had eyes for the woman. “What’s going on?”
“What the fuck does it look like? Put your hands behind your head and move back!”
“All right, Gentlemen, you heard the lady! Clasp your hands behind your head and move over to the far side of the room!” Franklin ordered and smiled as he heard the same commands coming from the outer office.
Chris did as he was told and moved back as the woman stood up and removed the fake pregnancy pillow from around her waist. He heard a sharp cry of pain from the outer office and immediately moved towards the door.
“Uhuh, Larabee, stay where you are!” Vasquez snapped and motioned the blond away from the door.
“Vasquez, you have control in there?”
“No problems here, Gerald!” the woman answered.
“Gentlemen, on your knees,” Franklin ordered.
“What the hell do you want?” Wilmington asked.
“Right now all we want is your cooperation. Anything else will be explained later!” Vasquez told them. “Franklin, are the other teams in position?”
“Teams five and six should be arriving any minute. Sammy and Joe’s team just arrived. They’re securing the perimeter and will shut down the elevators as soon as Michael arrives!”
“Excellent,” Vasquez said and watched her partner as he moved behind Wilmington. “Now, my partner is going to put handcuffs on all of you and then we’ll go into the outer office. Your cooperation in this could very well save the lives of your friends out there!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josiah held the gambler and lowered him to the floor. They’d been caught by surprise when four men entered the room with weapons drawn and ordered them face down on the floor. Ezra had been closest to the invaders and tried to grab one of the guns, but was taken down when a second man struck him with the butt of his gun.
“Easy, Son, just be still!” Sanchez warned as Tanner and Dunne stood angrily facing the newcomers. Blood streamed from a cut above the conman’s left eye and Sanchez knew he needed to stop the bleeding. “JD, bring me the first aid kit!”
“Stay where you are!” one of the men ordered.
“This man is hurt and I need to stop the bleeding!” Sanchez spat angrily and smiled as Tanner moved to get the items he needed. The Texan was an imposing figure when he was angry and right now the anger was clear on the younger man’s face as he crossed the room.
“Joe, gather the weapons and make damn sure there’s nothing they can use!” Gerald Stephens ordered as he followed the longhaired agent as he grabbed the kit and knelt beside Sanchez.
“How bad, Josiah?” Tanner asked worriedly.
“Not too bad, but we need to stop the bleeding.”
“Feels like the miscreants have opened a chasm in my skull,” Standish said and winced as Sanchez pressed a bandage against the wound.
“I wouldn’t call it a chasm, Ezra…small rift maybe,” Tanner said as he tried to lighten the mood.
“Put a band aid on it and get away from him!” Stephens warned and found himself face to face with an enraged tiger.
“Fuck off!” Tanner spat.
“Vin, not now!” Larabee warned from the doorway of his office as he and the others were herded into the main room. Chris looked at his men and saw the blood on Sanchez’s hands as he held the pressure bandage to the wound on Standish’s head. “Josiah?”
“He’s okay, Chris, it’s a good thing he has a hard head!” the ex-preacher said as he taped a clean piece of gauze to the wound.
“Enough chit chat! All of you move over to that side of the room!” Vasquez ordered and watched as the eight men did as they were told. “Cuff those two!”
Chris glared at the woman who’d so easily duped them, but there was nothing they could do about that now. Standish had already been hurt and he didn’t want any of the others to suffer the same fate. He stood his ground as the others were forced to the far end of the room and the desks were pushed up against the walls.
“Sammy, you and Joe take your team and seal the stairwell doors!” Vasquez ordered and watched as the four left the room even as two newcomers arrived.
“Hey, Vasquez, how did it go?” Brian Bauer asked.
“Piece of cake! That little bit with my water breaking was the perfect touch. Has Michael arrived?”
“Yes, just got here and is making sure the teams are in place. He should be up in a few minutes.”
Chris watched the men and women who’d successfully commandeered his office and got the upper hand on them. There was something about the attention to detail that bugged him, but he knew he wouldn’t get any details until their leader arrived. He turned to see Nathan checking on Standish and breathed a sigh of relief when Ezra seemed to protest the healer’s touch. He quickly glanced at Tanner and knew the Texan was as angry as the rest of them, but he could not let the young man’s volatile temper jeopardize anyone’s life. The seventh man was watching him carefully and Chris couldn’t help feeling sorry for his being caught up in this mess.
“Sorry you got caught up in this, Jake.”
“Not your fault, Chris. Who are these bastards?”
“No idea, but guess we’ll find out when they’re ready to tell us.”
“Shut up over there!” Vasquez ordered as her partners took vantage points around the room while they waited for Michael Clawson’s arrival. She pressed a button on the phone closest to her and waited for Lewis to pick it up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barry Atwater smiled as the well-dressed man entered the main lobby of the building and hurried over to the desk.
“How did things go?” Clawson asked as he straightened the lapels on his royal blue suit.
“The timing has been perfect. Vasquez has her group in position and they were sealing the main doors leading into the stairwell. They’ll hold off on shutting down the elevators until we reach the tenth floor.”
“Excellent. Tell Melanie we’re ready to go!” Clawson said and knew once they were on the tenth floor they could seal themselves off until the time was right. He’d studied the blueprints and knew Atwater was right about a way out. All he had to do was get into the main elevator shaft and go down to the parking level. Once there he could open one of the access vents leading outside and disappear before anyone even knew he was gone, but that was only if they encountered problems he had not foreseen.
“Michael, it looks like you were right. Vasquez has everything under control up top,” Lewis explained as she closed the security office door.
“Excellent. Now why don’t we join the others before someone comes looking for security,” Clawson ordered as Atwater placed a sign on the desk that said he would be back in fifteen minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~`
“All clear!” Joe Willis said as he came into the main office.
“Excellent!” Vasquez smiled as she looked at the prisoners. “Where’s Sammy?”
“She’s walking the perimeter with Mac and Robert.”
“Good, Michael should be on his way up here and then I’ll want someone stationed at the elevator.”
“I thought Melanie was going to override the commands so that it wouldn’t stop on this floor.”
“She is, but it’s always good to have a back up plan,” Vasquez said and smiled as she heard the elevator doors open. “Looks like the fun’s about to start.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Chris, stay away from that big one who just came in,” Taylor warned.
“Which one?” Larabee asked.
“The big one, blond hair...”
“Why?”
“He’s got an arrest record a mile long,” Taylor said, feeling the other members of The Firm watching him curiously.
“I saw him at the courthouse…what kind of record?” Sanchez asked.
“Sexual assault,” the ex-cop answered.
“What’s that got to do with Chris?” Dunne asked softly.
“He’s got a preference for blond haired green eyed men,” Taylor warned just as the big man turned in their direction.
Chris would never admit to fear, but when his eyes met the dark grey ones set in the ruggedly handsome face of the newcomer, he felt it jolt through his body. Sanchez was right about this man being at the courthouse, but Chris had no idea what he had to do with Clawson. The man strode towards them and stood over the seated members of The Firm before turning his gaze on the older man.
“Well I must say this is a surprise, Jake. How long’s it been?”
“Not long enough in my book!” Taylor told him.
“Who the hell are you?” Larabee asked from beside the ex-cop.
“Ah, you must be Chris Larabee…my name does not matter, but my brother’s does. He’s in prison because of you and I think it’s time you helped me get him out, don’t you?”
“It’d be better if we just have you join him instead!” Larabee spat.
“That’s highly unlikely, Chris…”
“That’s Mr. Larabee to you asshole!” the blond said and received a vicious backhand for his comment.
“You and I will need to have this conversation in private, Chris!” Clawson said, sneering the blond’s name as he grabbed Larabee’s arm.
“Leave him the hell alone!” Wilmington snarled but could do little to stop the man from dragging the cuffed blond to his feet.
“Now, Buck, Chris is your boss…leader...chief or whatever you wish to call him and as such he must answer for your actions. What that means is that should any of you decide to make an escape attempt or attack one of my people, Chris will be the one to pay for such transgressions. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly!” Jackson answered before anyone else could. They watched as Larabee was marched towards his office and the door closed behind them.
“Jake, who is he?” Sanchez asked.
“His name is Michael William Clawson…”
“Clawson…sonofabitch!” Tanner snarled as he realized the implications of the man’s identity.
“You know him?” Taylor asked.
“Not him…his brother. Jonathan Clawson. Chris testified against the bastard a couple of months ago. We all did, but it was Chris’ testimony that sent him to prison,” Jackson explained.
“You boys might want