Chapter eleven,
.
"Ok Mike I thought we'd keep this simple, Fiona and Jesse have already found Ray Duvall, his stash house and Jake Sawyer. How's that for a piece of good luck." Sam's cheerful tone did not fool Michael for one second.
"In two days not bad at all." Michael agreed. Waiting for the catch, the was always a catch.
"Now I know you wanted this done quick so what I thought was, we frame Duvall for stealing the drugs of a rival dealer."
And there it is. Michael smiled. Waiting for the rest.
"While the two of them are settling their differences, we call the cops and you get Jake."
"So we steal a load of drugs off one drug dealer?" Sam nodded. "We plant the drugs on Duvall?" Sam nodded again. "And while the two of them are shooting holes in each other I sneak into the stash house, grab this kid Jake and haul a fifteen year old out, when he isn't going to want to go." Sam smiled his agreement. "And this last bit is while the cops are turning up?" Michael laid out the plan, arms crossed, leaning back in his chair.
"You got it." Sam agreed.
"Easy?" Michael didn't think he needed to say more.
"Well Fi thought it was a good plan." Sam elaborated.
"You both have a high estimation of my abilities." He replied.
"That we do Mikey." Sam lent back in his own chair and took a long sip on his drink. "Now to other business. Not so good news, I can't find anything else about Doyle and Meyer. Are you sure the was nothing in that hotel room to say who the buyer was?"
"Nope. Just three memory sticks and nothing to check what was on them. I had to hand them all over in case Ottoman knew how many the was." Michael explained. His eyes scanning the passing crowd. He hated talking business in a public place but with the loft still full of listening devices the wasn't much choice.
"Oh I have had a thought about what you said about a tracker. You give me your watch and I'll see what I can do."
Michael slipped the watch from his wrist, glancing at the time before handing it over. "Any idea when Fiona wants to put this plan into action?"
"Nope." Was Sam's reply. "She was searching out a suitable stash house to rob last time I saw her."
"Great." Michael smiled. It did not quite reach his eyes. "Well I need to go and see my Mother. Something about an urgent vacuum repair." He got to his feet, leaving a twenty on the table, to help towards Sam's bar bill.
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Michael tried to point out to Madeline that she had a perfectly good vacuum repairman staying in her garage. She countered by telling him all about her friend Florence, who had a wonderfully thoughtful son. who came to see her everyday and took her on holiday twice a year. Michael did his best to block out the lecture. If he could go on a holiday the was no way he would take his mother with him. To save himself from a further discussion on the failings of his character, he decided to keep quiet about that fact. Eventually he got the ancient piece of machinery working and took his leave, after promisng to bring Fiona over for dinner.
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Fiona had gone all out on this job. Once she had found Duvall, she went looking for a rival for them to rob. She found Manolo, who had a very nice supply of drugs and much to her delight quite a stock of fully automatic rifles. She had manged to check out his store without to much trouble, his security was young and fairly inexperienced. They would not stand a chance against trained operators and his locks would be no match to her lockpicking skills.
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She saw Michael's Charger pull up around the corner, she watched as he did his own sweep of the area. Before coming over to join her.
"Sam told me your plan." He said, as he climbed into the passenger seat of her car.
"You wanted quick. This will be quick, over in a couple of hours." She pointed out.
"Fine when do you want to do this."
"How about now Michael?" She smiled at him, eyes bright. She licked her lips. Her voice husky, "You. Me. I've C4 in my trunk. It would be fun."
"I'm sure it would, but it won't be safe." He replied.
"Kill joy." She pouted.
"Tonight you can have all the fun you want." He promised.
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That evening all four of them joined Madeline for dinner. Afterwards as she washed up the dishes, they prepared to put Fiona's plan into action. Michael, Fiona Sam and Jesse, changed into black combat clothing. Bullet proof vests and strapped on a variety of weapons. Then While Fiona and Michael fixed detonators to small blocks of C4, Sam and Jesse loaded up the car with extra equipment, basically anything they thought they might possibly need.
It was dark when Fiona made her way around the perimeter of Manolo's stash house planting explosive devices. Sam found a high spot where he could keep watch and orchestrate any changes to the plan. Michael and Jesse prepared to raid the drug den, balaclava's hiding their faces. They waited for Fiona to join them and then made their entry. Smashing through the door they had the room covered before any one could react. Then while Fiona watched the captives Michael and Jesse started emptying the drugs into hold alls. With their faces covered it only needed a couple of dropped names to put the blame firmly where they wanted it. Once they had everything they wanted, they herded the prisoners outside. When sure everybody was clear Fiona blew up the building.
Next they headed over to Ray Duvall's stash house. While Jesse parked the car out front, making sure it was in a prominent position. Michael headed around to the rear with Fiona backing him up. They easily picked the lock on the back door and made their way inside. They only had to wait a few minutes before the was the squeal of tyres and the sound of gun fire. Hidden from view by piles of boxes and rubbish they watched Duvall's men try to launch a defence. when sure everybody was occupied they searched for Jake Sawyer.
He was so high he was having trouble taking the saftey off his gun and cocking it when Michael marched up and hit him between the eyes with his pistol butt. Michael caught the kid before he could fall to the ground. Picking him up over his shoulder, Michael then headed for the exit with Fiona clearing a path. The Police had now turned up and as a three way fire fight erupted around them Sam appeared in Fiona's Hyundai, once Fiona was inside Michael threw Jake inside and got in himself. Sam floored the accelarator working the clutch and gears as he sped away.
The cops had a field day, drugs, money, a fairly large supply of C4, which matched what had been used in an explosion a little earlier and a lot of local drug dealers off the street. All from an anonymous phone call.
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They took Jake straight back to Jenny's house. On the way he came round and began to struggle. It wasn't Michael's threat to shoot him that quietened him down, it was the cold, icy expression that accompanied the words. Once at Jenny's a subdued Jake was sent indoors. Michael pulled Jenny to one side and handed her an envelope. When she looked inside she gasped. It was packed full of hundred dollar bills.
"What's this?" She asked her eyes wide.
"Jake is going to need rehab." Michael spoke quietly.
"It's too much." Jenny said still looking inside the envelope.
"I have no need for it." He turned away noticing the rest of them were looking at him.
"Thank you." Jenny caught hold of him and pulled him round. reaching up she hugged him. "Thank you so much." The was tears in her eyes. Michael just nodded embarassed by her gratitude. He disentangled himself from her grasp.
"Don't mention it." He muttered.
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They retreated to Fiona's home. Michael leading the way. Once inside Fiona turned him around and gave him a peck on the cheek. "That was very thoughtful Michael." She told him.
Sam didn't seem quite so pleased. "You've accepted that money from Ottoman." He accused.
"It would just sit in that account otherwise Sam. It might as well get used." Michael retorted. "It's not like they don't already have their claws into me."
"What does that mean?" Fiona asked looking between the two men. "Michael?"
"Ok Jesse let's go." Sam made the decision. He pulled the younger man back toward the door. One of two things was about to occur and he didn't think he or Jesse should present when either of them happened.
"Michael?" Fiona queried again.
"That debrief, it was more than I let on." He held her head in his hands and stared into her eyes. "The people I was watching. Ottoman gave me a choice, kill them or be killed." He hoped she understood.
"And you're still here." She said, staring straight back at him. She paused searching his face with her eyes. "I'm glad." She moved his hands away, wrapping her own around his neck her fingers playing through his hair "You did a good thing today Michael. Just think about that." She whispered into his ear.
As he lent in to claim her lips she pulled away, her hands leaving his neck. Instead she caught hold of his waist band and pulled him towards her bedroom.
"You promised me all the fun I could want remember?"