One Down: Citizen Warrior Series - Book 2, page 21
“They told me to leave it alone.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. We’re supposed to look the other way because he’s a congressman? Oh, and the mosque, what’s with that? Afraid of being accused of being a racist because we’re doing our job? Fuck that shit!”
“They told me to leave it alone.” Nottingham said repeating himself as he turned and walked back to his office.
Rebecca slammed her fist into the side of a metal file cabinet. Rubbing her knuckles, she thought; Politicians getting free passes on breaking the law. Confederate statues being torn down, Antifa, football players kneeling during the National Anthem. Hundreds of murders in Chicago and other cites continue to go on unchecked. What the hell is happening to our country?
Reaching down to her right she paused noticing the bottom righthand drawer of her desk was unlocked. Did I leave it this way in my rush yesterday? Pulling it open she looked for the pack of cigarettes she’d placed there a year and a half earlier. They’d fallen to the right of the manila folder. Rebecca almost didn’t notice sitting half turned on a forty-five-degree angle with an inch sticking out of the folder was her legal pad. She paused reaching for the cigarettes looking down at the folder not grabbing them and closed the drawer making sure it was locked. Who the hell was in my office? Nottingham… Sylvia?
9:38 A.M.
X7 Ranch Road
Garrett turned right off the main road onto the X7 road. Pulling over and stopping he removed the AR-15 from its case and racked a round into the chamber. He put the butt of the stock on the floor resting against the seat next to him. His right hand went to the Glock 30 on his hip with his left hand reaching down to touch the two double-stacked magazines in their pouches. He always carried a sidearm. But having a rifle with him was reserved for when he’d go to the rifle range, training, hunting… or on a mission. Knowing of the cartel’s threats to Eric’s parents the preceding year was reason enough to have his rifle at the ready; especially since he knew the truth about the goings on in San Miguel. He was on edge from being involved in the melee the other night and having shot and killed two Mexican Federales. He hoped nothing would happen, but if it did, he’d be ready. He thought about Mick and wondered how he’s doing.
It felt surrealistic to be driving down the same dirt road he’d just been on two nights prior. It was daylight though and his thoughts drifted to the many trips over the years when he was young and coming down to hang out with his best friend Eric. They hadn’t seen each other in over three years. Harold and Agnes always made him feel like he was part of their family. He smiled thinking about seeing the three.
Coming up and over a small rise in the road, Garrett hit the brakes. The scene unfolding a quarter mile ahead made no sense to him. He looked around; did I turn down the wrong road? No, it was the same picture as always. The Grimms house up on a rise to the right of the road, only there was something else that gave his pause. His heart sank. Something dark, something ominous, something bad had happened. He let up on the brake and crawled forward. Up ahead coming into view was a fire truck and sheriff cars. The roof on the house had a large distorted blackened hole in it and the sides of the house showed telling blend of the same color. Oh my God! Sadness and anxiousness swept over him he’d never felt before. He stopped behind one of the sheriff’s cars and watched two of them approach him in his truck.
“Sir, what’s your business......GUN!” The deputy on the left side yelled backing away and drawing his pistol while the one on the left did the same.
Garrett knew anytime approaching law enforcement to keep both hands on the steering wheel......especially if he was carrying.
“Turn your truck off and reach over with your right hand and open the door. Keep your other hand on the wheel. Step out of the truck and put your hands behind your head. Do it now.”
Garrett complied with the order. He knew of too many cases in which law enforcement ended up shooting an innocent person. They’re human, they can get jumpy just like everyone else. Even though he wasn’t a threat to them, they didn’t know that and would assume he was until proven otherwise. Once outside he watched the second deputy came around him from behind gripping his clasped hands. The deputy with his left hand and removed his handgun from its holster and stepped back. The other deputy continued to have his gun trained on him.
“Put your right hand behind your back and then left one. I’m going to put handcuffs on you but you’re not under arrest. It’s for our protection,” the second deputy said.
Complying with their demands he felt the deputy going through his pockets. He pulled out his ID and handed it to the other deputy who turned moving to one of the patrol cars. Up the driveway was a large black van with FBI Forensics on the side in gold letters.
“What’s going on here. Where are the Grimms?” Garrett asked the deputy standing next to him.
“He checks out.” The other officer said walking back towards them.
“You knew the occupants? What’s your relationship to them?”
“What do you mean knew? What happened here? Where are they and my friend, their son Eric? Are they ok?”
The two deputies looked at each other and then the older one spoke.
“There are three bodies inside on the second floor. They’re burnt bad. It doesn’t look like they died from the fire. Someone shot them first. There’s a dead dog on the first floor, also shot. Do you know anyone who would want to harm the Grimms?”
A black SUV pulled up behind them with two women inside just as Garrett replied. The younger of the two was behind the wheel. As they got out, the older one held up an FBI badge. She motioned to the older deputy to come join her at her vehicle.
“What’s going on here? Who do you have hooked up?” Rebecca asked nodding her head toward Garrett.
The deputy explained to her who Garrett was and what he claimed was his relationship with the three deceased individuals inside the house. He also let her know they had checked him out, and they were going to un-cuff him.
“Ok, but see if you can keep him around a while. Who’s here from Fire I can talk to?” She said.
Rebecca motioned to Sylvia to follow her as they made their way over to the fireman the deputy pointed out. Garrett watched the three of them talking for a minute and then they made their way into the burnt house.
The reality of the situation took hold on him. People he loved were gone, Eric, Harold and Agnes. Did this have something to do with the Stingers? God, I hope this isn’t some payback. The thought their death was because of their actions sickened him. He wanted to scream.
10:10 A.M.
“Hey Garrett, how are you doing? Good to be back in peace and quiet,” Carter said into his phone as he closed the door on his refrigerator.
“Not so good. Somebody shot and killed the Grimms including Eric and his dog. Then they torched the place. God Carter, I feel terrible. This is so fucked up. I want to kill whoever did this,” Garrett said crying.
“Oh shit brother, I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry. I know how much they meant to you. Do you know what happened? Where are you?”
“I’m at the ranch. They don’t know exactly what happened. FBI forensics along with two agents are here. They won’t let me go inside. Do you think this happened because of the other night?” Garrett said lowering his voice.
“I hope not. Maybe Harold wouldn’t let the cartel use his road any more. Maybe it was a random event. Hell, I just don’t know Garrett.”
“I’m going to stay down here for a while then head back. Carter, can you get a hold of the guys? There’s nothing I’d like better right now than to be with my brothers.”
“I’ll give Doug a call to round up the other four. I wish Mick could join us. He’s still in the ICU. Fuck man, I’m so sorry,” Carter said.
“Thanks, I know you are. Call me as soon as you find out.”
“I’ll call Doug as soon as we hang up and ask him to call Dax. Maybe he can find something out.”
“Ok, talk soon,” Garrett said.
Carter hit the end button feeling nauseated. What if it was because of our actions? He’d never been one to think in terms of revenge but if they find out it was the cartel......I’ll kill every god damn one of them myself! Had to be the cartel. Who else would want to hurt them? But if it turned out it was the cartel, he knew what they’d done in recovering the Stinger’s was the right thing. For the safety and security of the country, it had to happen.
“Carter what’s up?” Doug asked.
Carter explained to him what happened including Garrett’s request for them to get together as soon as possible.
“Could you call Dax? Maybe he can find out something.”
“Sure, He’ll find out whatever he can. I’ll also get hold of the guys and get back with you ASAP,”
“Wow, a lot has happened in just the last few days. I’m going to check on Mick this afternoon. I’m afraid it’s not looking good. Garrett is planning to be there as well. As upset as he is, he knows there isn’t anything he can do for the Grimm’s. We’re there for Garrett and Mick,” Carter said.
“We’ll be there, see you then. Out,” Doug said.
10:33 A.M.
“Son of a bitch! Let me see what I can find out, and I’ll get back with you,” Dax said to Doug shifting in his favorite chair watching the flames dancing in the fireplace.
“Thanks, I know it would mean a lot to Garrett and the rest of us. I hope it wasn’t some sort of demented payback for us jacking the missiles from under their nose or that we wasted some of his hired heat. It is what it is though; we can’t change that. I’m just glad we got the Stingers out of the hands of the cartel,” Doug said.
After hanging up Dax was just finishing a report he was working on when his phone rang.
“Hey Dax, how are you doing?”
“Remember the old ranch couple, the Grimms? Dax, I’m here at their ranch,” Rebecca said putting distance between herself and prying ears.
She explained to him what they’d discovered.
“I was just inside the house. Looks like the two elder Grimms and, I assume, their son got themselves into one hell of a vicious gun fight and then someone torched the place. I can tell you though, it looks like they went out in a blaze of glory. There’s lots of spent shell casings on the second floor, five-five-six, thirty-ought-six and twenty-two. There’s even more on the first floor, all five-five-six. The old man has shrapnel wounds in his back and legs. It looks like someone tossed a grenade through a window on the second-floor master bedroom and the other bedroom. Lower level has grenade damage also. The son has two rounds to the head plus multiple rounds to his body. The old woman took five rounds to her chest and torso. They all had rifles lying next to them including the old woman. She had a little Ruger 10-22 rifle with shell casings laying on the floor next to her walker. One tough lady. Oh, and there’s a dead dog on the first floor shot up. Looks like he chewed up someone pretty good. We found a piece of dark blue fabric with blood on it in its mouth,” Rebecca said as she paced backed and forth keeping her eye on her partner and Garrett and wishing she had a cigarette.
” Also, there’s a lot of charred blood on the first floor, no bodies. I’m going to send the fabric and blood samples to Washington and see what we find out. Pretty sure who did this. My guess it’s Mexican Federal police hit. The fabric in the dog’s mouth looks like the color of their uniforms. Grenades, five-five-six shell casings on the first floor? Had to be the Federales plus there are multiple large tire tracks heading south to the gate and across the line. We’ll see what Washington comes back with but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts it was them. I hate to say this but this may have been a vengeance killing for the operation you guys ran the other night. I’ll give you a shout if and when I find out for sure. Oh, one more thing. When I was inside the house, I found what looks like was a hidden room underneath the staircase. There was a lot of what looks like things from Eric and his father’s childhood. Among the items though I found something rather interesting. A laptop and three cell phones and two AK-47’s.”
“You might be right about the payback. I hope not, but securing those missiles had to happen. Something you should know. Last year elder Grimms killed the nephew of Juan Ortiz and two of his thugs who came up to their house threatening them. The old man dumped their bodies along with their vehicle across the line. So yes, I’m with you for the motive might be vengeance. Maybe Ortiz is trying to send a message to American citizens not to mess with him. Do you still have the laptop and cell phones?” Dax asked.
“Yes, they’re in the trunk of my car along with the two AK’s. Why?”
“Does your partner know about them?”
“No, she was busy talking with one of the cute fire fighters when I came out of the house with them. Don’t ask me, I already know where you’re going and yes, I’ll hang on to them for you. I’ll turn the AK’s over to ATF and see what they come up with. I’d rather you have the computer and phones than our headquarters in Washington. Seems lately they’ve been good at erasing data on cell phones and computers. I’ll get them to you ASAP.” Rebecca said.
“Sounds good. Keep me posted and I’ll do the same Rebecca.”
“Will do. How did it go with the Stingers? Everything work out?
“Mission accomplished but one of our civilians got shot up bad, he’s in ICU over at DM. I’m afraid it’s touch and go for him.” Dax said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said looking over at Garrett getting into his truck.
Tuesday 4:18 P.M. Guaymas, Mexico
After returning from the attack and killing of the Grimms, the captain and his men returned to San Miguel. Upon their arrival Sr. Ortiz ordered he and his men to head to Guaymas to pick up the inbound shipment of Stingers. Hours later, Captain Sanchez arrived there with twenty-four of his men in five Chevrolet camouflaged painted pickups and a large military cargo truck. After what happened in San Miguel, he would not get surprised again and lose any more of his men. If he did, it could raise questions from his commanders why he’d be requisitioning more soldiers. Even though a little greasing of the palms would quiet things down, he just didn’t want to deal with the problem. This far into the interior of his country it was doubtful anything like that would happen, but he wasn’t taking any chances. At least, not when gringos were involved. Rival cartels were a different matter.
His men off-loaded the thirty-eight Stinger cases from the Luna Sea into the cargo truck. He counted each one as they went by him randomly opening cases to ensure their contents. Once completed, he hit the send button on his phone.
“Mario, this is Captain Sanchez. Let your cousin know all the missiles are in safekeeping, and we’re heading back to San Miguel.”
“That’s good news. Change of plans. Juan is shutting down the San Miguel operation. He wants you and your men to head over to Nogales. We’ve got a building right on the line with a tunnel being completed as we speak. Just across the line is another building my cousin also owns or I should say it’s not in his name but he owns......comprende? Listen, you have those two suit cases I gave you right?”
“I do. What do you want me to do with them?”
“Before you leave Guaymas, my cousin wants you to go over to the La Paloma Hotel in San Carlos and give them to Hector Granada. He’s in room number forty-two.”
“Do you think he’s awake?”
“Who knows? If he isn’t wake him up, he’ll be more than happy to get the suit cases. Trust me on this one.”
“Ok, will do,” the captain said listening to Mario laughing at the thought of waking the congressman up.
Wednesday 10:18 A.M.
Colonel Doug Redman’s House
As Doug and Liz Redman walked into their kitchen from a trip to the grocery store, his phone lit up. Doug put the bags on the counter grabbing his phone out of his right-hand pocket.
“Doug, Dax here. I just spoke with Alex. Granada is going down to Guaymas to be there when the Stingers arrive. I think there’s a good chance they’ll be heading to San Miguel and into the hand of Juan Ortiz. But then again, after all the heat you guys put on him there, maybe not San Miguel.
Either way I’m sure Ortiz will try to get them across the line and sell them to our little buddies at the mosque,” Dax said pausing for a moment.
“This isn’t over. I got a call from the boss who got a call from The White House. They’re spun up on everything that’s transpired since the downing of our UH-60. For the time being, San Miguel is the only shot we have unless Alex picks up on something. Can you get some of your guys back down there and set up recon on the two houses ASAP? I know you’re one man down, but what do you think?”
“Consider it done. I’ll send Rocco, Mike and Conway. Probably a good idea to give Carter and Garrett some time off and do what they need to for Mick and his family. Garrett is a whole other story, with Mick and his best friend Eric Grimm and his parents getting killed the other night. Besides, I think Garrett will pick up Eric’s wife and children at the airport tonight,” Doug said.
“I think that’s a good plan to send your guys. Hopefully, we can find out if and when they’ll try to get the Stingers across the line. If they do and if you can, I want you guys to put an end to their attempts to put those missiles into the hands of the terrorists. And with extreme prejudice.”
“Roger that,” Doug said knowing the exact meaning of what Dax had just said.
“Alex is monitoring the phones and maybe he’ll pick something up. I don’t want your guys going further than San Miguel… recon mission only. Let’s hope they can get eyes on the new shipment of Stingers. This is bad, really bad.”
“The terrorists and the cartels......they’ll never stop. If we can end this in my lifetime, I’d be a happy man, but I doubt it. I believe the worst is yet to come for us as a country. I’ll let the guys know right away and get them moving. I’ll keep you posted.”
