He knows that his life span has been considerately shortened. He also knows that Coke screwed the pooch and 'lost' his leverage in the form of detective Beckett. This is why he needs to be on alert. Knowing that he can expect the worst from Coke and he might as well be prepared.
"Jonesy, fortify the front entrance. I'm not taking any chances. If you see anything out of sorts don't bother asking me for permission. Use whatever means necessary." Simmons says to his head of security.
"Does Coke still has that crappy stretch Chrysler 300?" His security chief asked.
"Yeah it's a brand new 2009, silver in color," Simmons advises.
He will never turn over Manhattan to him. But deep down he feels that this will be Coke's last push to get it from him. He knows a war is brewing on the horizon and if Coke wants to fight him for it then so be it. He will be prepared no matter what the cost.
Xx
Never had he misjudged a situation good or bad. He was always ahead of whatever came his way. This is how he survived for so long. His information network was second to none and he prided himself on what he found out. He had been in business here in New York City for over four years. Ever since his father left what was his drug business to him, he only built it into a larger empire. His father had done all he could do with what he was given at the time he was doing it in and that was a lot. But times have changed since he took over from his father after his unfortunate passing but, he still was able to strike fear into the hearts of the people who had crossed him. It happened more times than he could count.
Now he needed to deal with Simmons. That was going to be a little more than he can handle. He knows that Simmons has control of Manhattan and he doesn't have the manpower to take on Simmons' head on. It's too late for him to hire men who will be faithful to his cause because he doesn't trust anyone here in New York. There won't even be enough time for him to fly men up from Jamaica. So now he's left with more problems than he ever thought he would face.
"Do we have intel on what Dixon is facing?" Coke asks.
"He's in a holding cell at the 12th precinct. There are charges pending ranging from kidnapping, attempted murder and I'm sure that they will trump up a whole lot more." One of his men respond.
"Damn. I need him here." Coke after giving his situation some thought ordered his now second in command to call his lieutenant in the Bronx. If they could think of something that would get him out of this mess, he'd welcome his thoughts.
"Able, call Jonas and tell him to get over here now. I don't care what he is doing right now I want his presence here in front of me within the hour this a top priority."
"Yes, Coke. I'll place the call now."
Coke thought about how he could eliminate Simmons. He tolerated him enough to keep him close but now that he could not deliver the detective all bets were off. He needed to strike first and he planned to do just that. Washington Heights was his area and the police presence would be almost nonexistent so this worked to his advantage. He would set up his limited manpower armed with the latest weaponry and hope that he could take out Simmons.
Xx
There are many types of information that the NYPD receives from various sources on any given day. Most are hearsay but there is a very insignificant amount that turns out to be credible. Many times, even though the information that the precinct commanders receive is usually dismissed as nothing but unfounded after an inspector had checked out the information and given his views to his commanding officer. But all this has changed when a woman about 65 years old entered the precinct.
"Can I speak to the person in charge?"
The desk sergeant who has seen just about everything asks,
"Ma'am, can I ask what this is in reference to?"
The older woman looks away in shame, or at least that is what the sergeant thinks that's what it is. He waits for her to collect herself before she continues.
My name is Etta Jones. I have some information to share and I'm not very proud of how I came into it."
"Ms. Jones, can I ask what this information relates to? The desk sergeant asked.
"It has to deal with a drug dealer who practically owns all of Manhattan. I really don't want to get into particulars because it would implicate someone near and dear to me. I would like to tell this story once and once only if that's possible."
"Ms. Jones Please have a seat across from this desk and I will get my captain down here to take your statement."
Etta movies over to the wooden bench across from the sergeant's desk and gingerly sits down. She doesn't have to wait long because about two minutes after she sits down, an African American man stands in front of her asking what he can do for her.
"Ms. Jones, I am Captain Montgomery I am in charge of the robbery and homicide departments here at the 12th precinct."
"Captain what I have to tell you needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I think lives are at stake."
"Ms. Jones why don't you come with me so we can talk."
"Okay, Captain."
Roy takes Etta directly to his office. He offers her the seat across from him and then he seats himself.
"Ms. Jones, please feel free to tell me anything. This is a safe place to do so." Roy reassures her.
"Thank you. Earlier today my grandson who has been on the wrong side of the law for the longest time was talking to one of his friends in my living room. I was in the kitchen and heard the whole conversation. What I heard was there was going to be a showdown of sorts between two drug dealers that practically run our neighborhood. Well, I should say one runs our neighborhood, the other one is trying to take it over."
"Washington Heights?" Roy guessed.
"Yes. They were talking about a coup that was going to happen between Vulcan Simmons and Christopher Coke. My grandson is always wanting to be on the edge of what's going on with the shadier side of the drug world and decided to be a part of this takeover. When they were done talking, they left the apartment never realizing that I had overheard them talking."
"In what capacity? And when is this happening?"
"From what I heard, it happens tonight. As for his involvement, I don't know what he is there for. I'm just fearing that he won't come out of this alive."
"Etta, you're right about what could happen to your grandson. Both Coke and Simmons are out for blood. I'll see what I can do about keeping him safe but I can't guarantee anything." Roy says sadly.
"That's all I can ask Captain."
Roy rises from his seat and escorts Etta back to the elevator. As the door opens the car is already occupied with his lead detective, her fiancé, her best friend, and her partners. Roy steps to the side to let them exit and holds all of his questions as he ushers Etta into the elevator. Turning to the group he says two words.
"My office!"
Dutifully they all walk single file to his office with the exception of Rick and Kate who bring up the rear side by side.
Closing the door as he reenters his office he cools his temper as he sits back down. Leaning forward he steeples his hands together as he gathers his thoughts. When he's done, he starts.
"I'm going to ask this once and only once. Then I want one person to answer me."
The group looks to the only person who could possibly answer and all eyes land on Ryan.
"Yes, sir." Ryan nervously says as he swallows hard.
"Then tell me how it is that my lead detective is standing in front of me?"
"That's a complicated list of events sir."
"Try me."
"It started where we left the precinct. We followed commander Rogers to the crime scene where detective Beckett was abducted. It seems that our CSU team didn't collect all the evidence they needed to locate Detective Beckett. Commander Rogers found a dart that had DNA on it from the person who shot it from a blowgun. He took this to Dr. Parish at the OCME's office. Once he got there we knew where he was going before he did and intercepted him there. It was at this time where there were words exchanged between Detective Esposito and Commander Rogers. What happened next was something coming close to assault on my partner."
"Let me guess Esposito shot off his mouth?" Roy said.
"You could say that sir," Ryan admitted. Roy looks to Esposito and at least has the decency to drop his head in shame.
"Alright continue."
"Detective Esposito ended up on the floor unconscious. Commander Rogers had the results from the DNA test and we found out that Devon Dixon was the person who abducted Detective Beckett. We responded to Dixon's last known address and found that an Asian American couple was now living there in had no knowledge of his new address. Then I remembered when detective Beckett told me that she kept everything down on paper about places she went to and her new experiences or even thoughts on cases that stuck out to her. Knowing that she kept this book at her apartment we responded there. As we pulled up Devon Dixon was just leaving her lobby. I gave chase and Dixon was subdued by good samaritan's. I Mirandized him and then I took him into custody returning to Detective Beckett's building. As I was walking up to her building she was walking out on to the stairs with Commander Rogers. The prisoner was transported back to the twelfth precinct by an RMP and that's where we are as of right now." Ryan finished.
"Let me get this straight, a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard, with no training what so ever, found your lead detective without you?"
"Well if you put it that way…then yes he did."
"Okay while you guys were dealing with that, we have received some intel on what's going to go down tonight in Washington Heights. It seems that Coke will launch an attack to gain more real estate against Simmons and will do anything to get it."
Kate hearing this new information speaks next.
"Sir why don't we just let them fight it out between the both of them, let them kill themselves. It'll be one less thing that will put us at risk. And then will just waltz in and pick up everybody else who is involved."
"As simple as that might seem, detective, we are going to have to initiate a response. This is a large operation on many levels. This will be a multi-agency response. The FBI, Homeland security, the NYPD and other supporting agencies. We have surveillance in place by ESU and they are reporting in hourly. So, what I need you to do now is get cleaned up change and then be back here in an hour. Commander Rogers, it's not necessary for you to be here so if you need to be somewhere else, I will understand."
"I not leaving."
"Commander that wasn't an invitation. I'm appreciative in your efforts in finding detective Beckett. But please leave this to the end of things to the NYPD."
"No offense Captain Montgomery, but I did just that and look where it got us. So no I'm not leaving Kate's side."
Roy knew what happened the last time he told him. So now he reconsidered and told him that he could stay in the precinct only. When it came time to go out into the field he was to stay put.
"Commander you can stay here until we leave for the raid. And then you'll be escorted off the homicide floor and out of the precinct. Can you live with that?
"Yes."
"Then it's settled. Detectives be back here in an hour." Roy gave Esposito a knowing nod and the room emptied out.
Xx
The best Coke could do was find seven local men who were good at handling weapons. He could supply them with the most current up to date handguns, long rifles, shotguns. He only hoped that they wouldn't turn tail and run when they found out who it was, they were going up against. He told them it was a turf war and there was going to be bloodshed. They didn't seem to care one way or another. If anything, they looked hungry enough to kill anything that got in their way.
But he was fortunate enough to stumble upon five mercenaries. One just happened to be a long-range sniper and he was good and his job. What his plan now was to have the two groups men and set up a plan to take out Simmons. They would attack Simmons base of operation around ten pm. He placed a call to the mercenaries, and then two the seven men he had hired as extra muscle. They were all scheduled to meet at six pm in Brooklyn.
Xx
Simmons is no fool. He expected an attack from Coke he just didn't know when. He knows that most of his men are in Jamaica and nowhere near Manhattan. This is the only advantage that he has because he knows that Coke will have to hire people to pull off this attack that he is expecting. But Simmons has an ace up his sleeve. When Coke does finally arrive, he won't make it far into the building before being taken out. There is no honor among drug dealers and he knows that Coke will never give up until he's dead. He just hopes that he will make it out of this alive. Not knowing when to expect this battle Simmons will have a meeting with his top men to discuss what will happen next.
Xx
One hour later…
Kate, Rick, and Ryan sit in captain Montgomery's office. The captain walks in two minutes later and they get down to business.
"Sir, aren't we missing a member of our team?" Kate asks.
"Detective it seems that Detective Esposito had an issue with his health. He won't be here for this operation. Now what I want to go over is your assignments for this operation. What I need to do is keep you out of harm's way. And when I say that I mean all you will be able to do is arrest and transport. Because if you want my honest opinion there won't be that many people to arrest. The coroner will be very busy tonight."
"Yes, sir." Ryan and Kate say a little hurt.
Xx
Coke is going over the plan with his mercenaries and hired help in Brooklyn. What is sees in the eyes of the people he looks into looks like defeat. He knows that the mercenaries do not use names so all he can do is point to the sniper and give him his instructions.
"I need you to take out Simmons. At all costs, you cannot miss. If you miss, I will personally come after you and your family. All of you are making a bundle of cash on this job and I need results. If all goes right this will be over in less than an hour. When we get done here, we will be leaving. Once the sniper is set up in position and lets us know we will move in ten minutes."
Coke looks at his hired help and mercenaries and there are no questions. The group breaks up and go to two unmarked black Suburban's parked outside. The sniper makes use of the motorcycle he came on and heads to the apartment building right across the street from Simmons' base of operations. Coke has his own armored limousine and two minutes after the meeting is over, they are heading over towards Simmons' headquarters.
Xx
Montgomery's phone rings and he's quick to pick it up knowing who's on the other end.
"It's set for nine pm tonight at Simmons' headquarters." Before Roy can respond the line goes dead.
Xx
Simmons has his headquarters well protected. He has two GE M134 miniguns positioned right inside the front door. They will cut down anybody who tries to come through it. If they can get through the front door in one piece and get past his minigun emplacements which he doubts then they'll be facing claymore mines and shotguns.
This will really be a bloodbath he can feel it and doesn't know who is going to come out the victor. He has the NYPD in his vest pocket in has paid off the cops in the patrol cars that usually patrol his area. There will be no police response to any gunfire or shots fired calls in this area for at least thirty minutes. He has his men stationed inside and outside just in case Coke can get back to his car.
Xx
The sniper arrives ahead of schedule thanks to light traffic. He sits on his bike and thinks where all this will lead when it's over. He scopes out the height of the floor for his shot, places his windage indicator within view and takes a temperature reading. Satisfied with what he sees in the way of information he enters the building across from Simmons' headquarters. He pulls out his rifle and assembles the weapon. His rifle has been with him for about two years. Before he had this model, he had a Barrett M90. Since he moved to the M95 he has had no complaints about how dependable it is. The two things he likes about his rifle is that the barrel is longer than his last rifle and the bolt action is smoother. He also likes the kick he can deliver. He can chamber a 12.7x99 mm .50 BMG cartridge that is able to penetrate through concrete and walls where targets could possibly hide. He attaches the bipod and mounts the Leopold lto-tracker 2 hd night vision scope in place. He zeros his scope on his target across the street and it's still quiet there, no movement. Pulling out his cell phone from his holder he places one call. When it connects, he says three words.
"I'm in play." The call ends and he lays down on the table that faces the window that is open.
Xx
Coke knows that this will be it. He has his driver start the car up and drive to last four blocks to Simmons' hideout. He knows to expect something but what exactly he's not clear on. He'll send two of the hired men to announce their presence at the front door and the mercenaries will enter from the rear. He just hopes he can kill Simmons before he realizes what his plan is.
Xx
The two suburban's pull to the curb and Simmons has to laugh when he sees them. They stick out like a sore thumbs on his security cameras. He waits to see what they will do and the doors open and Cokes men get out. One suburban then pulls away and leaves. Simmons' cameras don't have the range to track where they are going so, he concentrates on the men coming towards the front door.
"Entry team get ready and wait for my signal," Simmons says over the walkie talkie.
Simmons watches as they approach and then he sees Coke's limo pull up behind the lone Suburban.
No sooner than the limo door opened the order to open up is given by Simmons. The two men who were going to try to enter the front door are literally cut in half by the 5000 rounds that blast through the front door by both miniguns. Blood spews in every direction. Coke's limo has also been hit in the crossfire and is now better used for a boat's anchor. Coke traverses the front of the property with two men armed with Uzis and one RPG. They slip away unnoticed down a side alley and find the four mercs waiting for the go signal. When Coke waves his hand, they are inside in seconds.
Xx
The sniper who has been watching the entire clusterfuck from the start keeps watching for his opportunity to take out Simmons. He is staying well hidden and only has a shot at his second in charge who is hiding behind a wall so he waits knowing that Simmons will pop his ugly fat head out at some point.
Xx
The mercs have entered and met little resistance. That is until gunfire starts erupting around them. Coke halts his entry until he gets the all clear from them. The gunfire dies down and Coke sees the blood bath as he steps inside. Three of Simmons men lie slumped against a wall in one room, and one lies sprawled on the floor of another each of them carrying fully automatic weapons. One of his mercs is dead in the hallway. They venture further into the building and find Simmons hiding behind a wall of all things.
"HA! I always knew that you were a coward Vulcan." Coke said and that scared the shit out of Simmons not knowing he had made it that far into his hideout. His hand slipped off the dead man's switch he was holding and the next thing anyone heard was a massive explosion. The dead man's switch made contact and the M18A1 Claymore mines that were positioned in and around both front and rear entrances detonated. Simmons was still hit in the leg when they went off even though he had a wall to stop the steel balls that pushed outward but he was satisfied that Coke and his mercs would never give him trouble again because they had more holes in them than Swiss cheese.
After the smoke cleared Simmons limped to Cokes dead body and spit on it. He was a thorn in his side no longer. Turning to leave through the front door Simmons motions to his second in charge and he slides his arm over his shoulder helping him to the front door. Simmons has just pushed the front glass door open when the crack of a rifle sounds. His second in charge is now trying to stop the dead weight he is supporting from hitting the ground but it's useless. Simmons goes down in a heap, dead.
Xx
The sniper has already broken his rifle down and stowed it before a minute has passed. He is on his bike heading West before Simmons body becomes cold.
A/N #1: Swordwriter one this is for you.
A/N#2: The epilogue will follow this chapter for real this time next week!