When we got to the hospital, we went in and went to the intensive care unit. I checked in with them and little John told me he'd wait out in the waiting room.
I told him, “Go ahead and go on up. Send the limo back for me and I'll fly on out. There's no sense in you having to be waiting down here.”
“Ok, check in with me when you get home.”
“I'll do that, but you check in with my mama and check to see his room is ready. We'll be life flighting him out of here just as soon as possible.”
He nodded and left.
I went in to see Dave and got told by the nurse. “You can stay for ten minutes, but then you'll need to step out.”
“Is he stable yet?”
“No, far from it. He's got a lot of internal damage from the beating he took.”
“I know. That's a mistake that won't be overlooked again.”
“How'd it happen?”
“Someone got through security and did this with but a few hits.”
“They had to be a hired assassin in order to do this!”
“Well, they won't get that chance again.”
She gave me a look and said, “I'd hope not.”
“Is the doctor still in the building?”
“He's in a room down the hall sleeping. I'm to notify him if his condition changes.”
“May I speak with him?”
“I'll go see.”
I sat there and said, “Dave, you probably can't hear me but you can't check out now. I'm not telling you because I need you, but because it's not fair to Rose. You're the one person who can make her life from bearable to amazing. Think of that because she's putting you into her room up there when you get home.”
I felt his hand squeeze mine.
“Don't try to talk. They got shit down your throat that's deeper than what I'd even thought about. Just know as soon as I can, I want you to be transferred so you're up there protected.”
The doctor came into the room and said, “You're not Rhette Michaels!”
“Yes I am, who are you?”
“Nurse, get me the police.”
“Listen up motherfucker! For you to tell me I'm not who I am, you better think again.”
“I've met Rhette and you're not him.”
“I don't recall ever meeting you sir. When was it?”
“Ok, I'll tell you, but as soon as I do, you'll be going to jail. It was in Kansas City. Someone got brought in with massive head trauma and I was his doctor.”
“Oh my God, Dr Jenkins!”
“That would be my name, but you're not Rhette.”
“I'm Rhette, you saw me before all the plastic surgery. Take a look at my right eye and then take a look at my left cheek and ear. You can feel the skin and you'll see I am me.
The person you helped was Tony. I was his lover and Gino got you in to help him.”
“Oh my goodness, what happened!”
“I got beaten. The people were all caught. This happened two years ago. Please call the nurse off.”
“One moment.”
He went out of the room and came back in with the nurse. “Here, touch his face. It's scarred. Now you can see why I was mistaken.”
“Oh my dear!”
“Yeah, it wasn't fun on this end either.”
I turned to the doctor and asked, “Are you down from Kansas City?”
“I am David's private physician.”
“They allowed you to practice in this hospital?”
“With reluctance, but when a doctor is insisting and has the power of attorney papers for the patient, they tend to let me in.”
“Good. Now just as soon as he's able to fly, I want him brought up to my house. We have a room up there done like an ICU room.”
“I'll get him there, but his internal injuries were such I'm afraid to move him. If we have to go back to surgery, you won't be able to provide those facilities I'll need.”
“Ok, can you get him to the hospital up there?”
“Right now, I don't think he'll be able to make the flight.”
“Oh.”
“Son, I'm aware of what line of work you're in. I know this was the work of someone trained and he's a very lucky person to have survived. Had he not been better fit than the average person, he'd be most likely in a morgue right now.”
“Well, what I'll do is I'll get Rose down here then.”
“Who's this person?”
“They're seeing each other. He's said she's the person for him and she's just as set for him.”
“It's about time. I've told him many times he needs to find someone.”
“She's my mother in law.”
“You're married!”
“No, but in the eyes of this nation, you'd think I was!” I said chuckling.
“Ok, I'm not following.”
“Today, we had a big explosion up home. My lover is the Sheriff. CNN is really spotlighting him right now and needless to say, I was dressed in drag to be undercover for an operation we're doing. They kept the cameras on us and I got called Mrs. Jackson enough I'll be willing to bet everyone that is watching thought he and I were legally married.”
“Oh. I bet that puts you in a spot.”
“Yes, because it's rather touchy. He's going to be running for Governor and I'm wondering if I'll have to be the first lady of the state of something before this is over.”
He smiled and I said, “Don't be laughing. It might sound funny, but for us to be legitimized by a state, we'll have to do it lying to people. That's not right. Right now, his handlers of his campaign are wondering if it's good for us to come out of the closet, or if it's such a thing we can pull off.”
“If you want, I can perform the operation.”
“Not on your life! I'm gay. I have nothing against transgendered people, but there's not a thing I consider priceless enough to trade the family jewels.”
He laughed and said, “Ok, I was just wanting to make the offer.”
“I understand. What we might do is have you say we performed the surgery to get the birth certificate changed, but I'll tell you now I think we can get it changed without resorting to that.”
“So it'd be a sexless sex change.” He said with his fingers rubbing his chin.
'
“It's technically a sex change, but we're reassigning the wrong gender to the same gender and you're not laying a scalpel on my body!”
“Ok, I'll look into it. Who's your plastic surgeon.”
“Why?”
“I could use a time we said we did it and point at the time he's got you in for a surgery.”
“I've got three surgeries left. Two are oral maxophilial and the other is for my eye socket.”
“Let me take a look at that.”
He looked and said, “This is damned good work.”
“Yeah, that eye was hanging totally out It gives me migraines still but that's because the nerve was stretched. When you see him, you might have him tell you what all he did. I know my cheek bones are plastic as are my sinuses. He took the hump out of my nose and he's gotten everything put back to where it should be.”
“You look so much different.”
“The problem is I lost so much weight while in the hospital. I had my jaws wired for nearly six months because of the surgeries. Kevin, my ex, said it was the most peaceful time we had together since he'd known me.”
“Your ex?”
“Yes, we split up due to the lack of trust associated with the emotional side of it.”
“Oh, I can understand that.”
“I do to an extent, but I also am human and get emotionally attached in relationships.”
“We all do.”
“Well, you'll keep me informed?”
“Yes, let me give you my cell number.”
I programmed it in and said, “Here's mine. If he comes to, you put him back under until we can get him out of here. Under no circumstances is he to have anyone in here. I'll get guards stationed so he will be safe.”
“OK, I'll allow that. I know it's a wise choice.”
“Let me make that call and I'll get them here.”
I opened my cell phone and dialed. “Hi, I need David's guards to come to the hospital.”
“All of them?”
“No, rotate them every four hours.”
“I'll get them there.”
“Thanks.”
I turned to the doctor and said, “They're on their way. Now, is there a way we can video this room?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don't trust anyone. I do trust video. It's nothing against you, but his guards I don't know, so I'll have that to use in case anything happens.”
“I'll get that done.”
“No feds are to be in here. Before they do anything, I'll trust you to kill him first.”
“You sure about that?”
“I love him enough to do that favor. He'd never see daylight again and what he knows would topple an empire.”
“Ok, I'll do that, but cover me on this.”
“I'll cover you and you can rest assured about that.”
“Good. You'll have my support.”
“When this is over, I want us to speak. I need you and you know why?”
“I'm already under you.”
“Not after this. This is the one favor you could do for me that rests on top of the other. For that, I'll not hold you to a thing.”
“You're paying my malpractice and keeping me covered. For that, I'm beholden because it's almost four hundred thousand a year.”
“Jeez, that's a lot.”
“It costs money to make money. Now you know why your hospital bills are so high.”
“Jeez, that's robbery on their part.”
“Yes, but there aren't many options.”
“I think there will be as soon as I can get to speak to a friend.”
“I know we'd appreciate it.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
He nodded and I said, “I'm flying back home. I'm but forty minutes away by air. If you need me, give me a call.”
He nodded and I went over to Dave.
“Hey, I'm going home. I'll bring her back down tomorrow. I love you and you get better, ok?”
I walked out and down to the front entrance. The limo was parked over to the side and I went and got in. When the door shut, the driver sat up straight in his seat.
“I'm sorry, you never called.”
“No, I forgot. That's my fault. If you would take me to the airport, I'd appreciate it. If I need you, I'll call and have you meet me at the airport. If I need you, I'm going to expect you to break every traffic law known to get me here fast.”
“I'll be prepared. Let's hope it doesn't come to this.”
“Are you our driver, or are you a service?”
“I'm yours now.”
“You need to get pledged. I'll be down here tomorrow at about four. When we get into the building, you park the car and I'll get you pledged. Now, I've a few questions to ask.”
“Ok, what would you need to know?”
“Did the men who were over Miami before go anywhere routinely?”
“Yes, they went here, to the house, and to the lab.”
“What's at the lab?”
“Nothing much except the lab.”
“Where'd they bank?”
“They spoke of an offshore account.”
“Who knew about
it?”
“Those three and that's it. I did because I overheard conversations.”
“Who are you pledged to?”
“You...or I will be.”
“Not Little John?”
“No, why? Am I supposed to be?”
“No, but he does have men working down here. If I find out otherwise, I'll be pissed.”
“I'm not.”
“Where's that account?”
“Luxembourg. It's transferred through the Bahamas to the Cayman and on out to Luxembourg. I know the password for the Luxembourg account if you need it.”
“Ok, I'm going to check to see what I'll need. Thanks for the offer.”
“Am all I going to be is a driver?”
“Were you promised something different?”
“Yeah, but I guess that doesn't matter now.” he said rather disappointedly.
“Well, let me tell you something, I'll promote you upwards providing I can get to those accounts. The position I've a mind to put you in doesn't apply now, but will be one of the most trusted in our organization down here.”
“What's that?”
“Ordinance manager. All they have right now is in the basement of that house. We're going to need a lot more than that to keep control. We've got jets and copters ordered and a lot of trucks are on the way. I'm going to need about five more warehouses just to store everything.”
“I'll sure be glad to get up out of this car.”
“You'll have a few tests to pass first, but I think you'll be able to do that.”
I sat back and said, “Guy, what's your name?”
“Dominic Mandoni”
“Ok Dominic, I'll keep you in mind for that position.”
He drove me on to the airport and let me out at the hangar. The jet was waiting and I went over to the office. There, I asked if the plane was prepped and was assured it was. I filed the flight plan and then inspected the plane. When I was ready, I fired it up and then pulled the doors to.
I tested the radio and got permission to taxi out onto that tarmac. During one of the rest periods for my turn, I called little John.
“Hello!”
“Where you at?”
“We're about to land.”
“Good. I'm waiting to take off. I'll be there like I was let out of a slingshot.”
“How's Dave?”
“He's in damned good hands. He'll be getting better, but he's not well. They'll transfer him just as soon as he stabilizes, but it's still touch and go.”
“That bad.”
“Yeah, now, here's what I need from you.”
“What?”
“Is Dominic Mandoni one of yours?”
“Who is that?”
“The driver for the limo.”
“No, why?”
“I want the man investigated to the depths he can be investigated. I even want to know the size of bowel movements on the man.”
“Why?”
“Let's just call it a hunch, but I think the man's a fed.”
“Oh Lord, what's the hunch?”
“The hunch is he knows the accounts and the password of where they put the money. If you knew those things, how easy would you let off the information?”
“Not on my life or yours.”
“The man's all too happy to give it to me. They promised him something and he wants out of being a driver. He never said what he was promised, but I think I was being played.”
“So they probably know Dave's in the hospital.”
“Probably, but I told the doctor to kill him if a fed comes close.”
“Oh jeez.”
“Yeah, but the doctor is good people. He's a part of us.”
“Good. What I'll do is I'll ask and I'll find out, but what I want is permission to blow that car if needed.”
“You've got it.”
“If I need it, I'll call you and give you a code name of Dorito. You just say yes and I'll expect you to call him and tell him you're on your way to the airport and you'll need him to meet you there. You file a flight plan and you fly out and you come on down, but the man will be blown.”
“Ok, what I expect is you to do it so there's no possible way anyone else is hurt and I expect it to be enough to totally obliterate that car.”
“We'll get it.”
“One second, I've got to move up here in line.”
I taxied up and then locked my brakes again.
“Ok, I'm back.”
“How many more before you?”
“A Southwest and a Delta. Then it's me.”
“Ok, about five minutes.”
“Yeah, they're really dragging ass.”
“It's a busy place. I wished you asked about account numbers.”
“They transfer to the Bahamas and then to the Cayman and then to Luxembourg.”
“Ok, that's a typical pattern, but not smart.”
“No, but I think they weren't really thinking about getting caught.”
“Who knows about the accounts.”
“He said the two guys and the head knew besides him. He did say they only went to the house and then to the lab and to the warehouse.”
“I'll have our guys go over to the house and get it gone through.”
“When you go through, look up under the coffee table in the living room.”
“Why?”
“It's the safest place in the whole house. When the police come in, the drug dog goes off on it. The cops think it's because of what was on top of it. Then, they see there's nothing there, so they start looking through the sofas and laying everything they find on that coffee table. Usually, not one time do they look up underneath it.”
“Smart.”
“I learned it in prison. When seven out of eight drug dealers say it's the safest place in the house, then I believe them.”
“Ok, I'll do you the favor and look there. If I don't find anything, I'll say it was a cherry turned over. If we find something, I'll tell you poptart.”
“Is there a reason you're going all codeword on me?”
“Yes.”
“Someone with you, or do you think we have ears.”
“She's enjoying the trip and looks forward to it. She said her husband spoke of you in the highest regards.”
“You think he's a fed!”
“No, She's doing well and said she was doing plenty fine by herself but appreciates the sentiments.”
“Oh! Ok. Let me speak with her and get her to have a glass of tea tomorrow. We'll find out what she knows.”
“No, I'll speak to you later. We're getting ready to land.”
“Ok, I'll see you when I get there. Leave my copter at the airfield.”
“Will do and if it's not there, I'll get it there.”
“Dave said we have a lazy copter and we need to have it gone through. Would you get your men on it?”
“Ok, if it's not done yet.”
“Bye now.”
“Bye. Land safely.”
I rung off and taxied up into position. The Delta began to taxi out on and I stayed clear of its jet wash. The whole time I sat there, I thought about all I was involved in. Me knowing I had over thirty seven thousand men that counted upon me was a bit overwhelming. The thought I'd soon have over a hundred thousand was daunting.
It became my turn to taxi out and I rolled onto the runway. As I got permission to takeoff, the entire instrument cluster began to smoke. I attempted to get a Mayday out, but all I received was static. I hit the engine kill switches and got up to run to the door. I still heard the hum of the engines and knew the switch hadn't worked.
Knowing if I stepped out the door, the suction of the jet would take me in, I quickly looked around the cabin for something to use to get the engine to fuck up. I saw seat cushions and gathered them. In the cockpit, I grabbed a flotation device and then I saw the emergency life raft! I brought it into the cabin and then hit the expansion ring. As it expanded, I shoved it out the door and sent everything else out.
I heard a whumm wamm wamm bump. I still heard the other engine, but looked out and saw the engine was on fire. I jumped out and ran as fast as I could. About twenty seconds later, the entire plane went up in flaming black smoke from inside.
I opened my cell phone and called little John. “Hello!”
“My plane just caught fire. Get me a Citation X down here!”
“What the
fuck!”
“The dash caught fire. It's now at the end of the runway burning.”
“I'll get you my jet down there.”
“No, call someone and get me a Citation. I want the fastest and lightest they have.”
“I'll see what I can do.”
“Fuck it, I'll call the company myself. The sons a bitches are under me out there, so they can get me something to fly.”
I clicked off and called Vinnie in Kansas City. “This better be good or your ass is mine.”
“You don't want it Vinnie, besides, your wife would kill both of us.”
“What the hell!”
“Vinnie, look at your caller id.”
“Holy Shit!”
“Yeah, now what I need is a Citation X down here. Dave's just caught fire. It's out on the runway as we speak burning.”
“I hear the fire trucks.”
“I'm in Miami. Tell them I want something now!”
The fire trucks rolled over and began hosing foam onto the plane.
The red car came over and parked by me. “You ok?”
“Yeah, the dash caught on fire.”
“It looks like the engine was on fire to me.”
“I hit the kill switch and it never shut off. I put the life raft and all the cushions in it out the door and let it suck them in to get it to stop.”
“Smart thinking as little as you are.....hey, you're that Sheriff's old lady.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“I recognize you from CNN. You're having kind of a bad day aren't you.”
“Yeah, could you give me a ride back to the terminal. I'm supposed to have a Citation X coming.”
“At this time of night!”
“I called them and told them this one was burning and to get me something down here I could take home.”
“Man, you must have pull!”
“Let's just say if I let them know I'm looking at a Russian plane, they'll shit all over themselves to get me one free.”
“Whoa!”
“Well, that's a fifty million dollar piece of toast! I can get one over there for eighteen and get it in no time. They better never tell me it'll take three years to get one from them.”
“I'll give you a ride.”
I got into his car and he did too. “Be thankful you weren't in the air.”
“You telling me!”
“You'll have the FAA investigating.”
“Nah, they'll see it never left the ground and it'll be labeled as a taxiing accident.”
“You been through this before?”
“My first jet, I ran into the terminal with it. It clipped off most of the right wing. That was when I was getting my license.”
He chuckled and said, “You drive cars like this?”
“No, that's the first fire I've ever had...hopefully it'll be my last.”
“How can you afford a jet on a Sheriff's salary?”
“It's not his money keeping me happy. Do you see those billboards that have the ads which look like they're stalking you?”
“Yeah.”
“For each set of six billboards, they pay me four hundred grand for my program. Now, think about how many billboards are using those around the country and know I can afford it.”
“Man, you've got to be cleaning up!”
“Yeah, they just started publicizing the things and already we're at over fifty million in sales in the past six months.”
“Jeez, how long will that stay at that level?”
“Probably for the next three or four years. I figure by then, I won't have to worry about it. My cost to make the things is about four dollars. From the time they get the disk, it's pretty self explanatory. The first few, I sold them a server to use with it to attach to the billboards, but they quickly told me they had their own and didn't want them.”
“You down here in Miami selling them?”
“I had a business meeting for some investments, yes.”
“Nice city down here, but the place needs something for drugs.”
“I imagine that will happen. I know it would if Steve were Governor down here.”
“He going to run up there?”
“Honestly, I don't know. I'd love for him to run, but he wants to take some time to travel with me. I've told him we can travel and see the state on a campaign, but he says he wants to see the world.”
“He's too young to retire.”
“I tell him that, but he thinks otherwise.”
“Well, I know the country's rooting for him. I imagine that had to be a surprise.”
“Yeah, it blew windows out all over town. Well, you saw how many trees the shock wave knocked down. It's like that even over on Bull Island which is to the Southeast.”
“They're not reporting that.”
“I think they should.”
My cell phone rang and I answered it.
“Hello!”
“They'll have one there in fifteen minutes.”
“Ok, I'll be at the fire personnel office filing papers. Tell them to bring a truck and get this motherfucker.”
“The new one doesn't have those engines.”
“Tell them I'll expect them to get me those engines on it or I'll go with the Russians. They'll know what I'm talking about. I'll get off here and thanks.”
“No problem.”
I clicked the cell phone shut and said, “Fifteen minutes is how long it'll take.”
“They must have one flying in from someplace. It'd take longer than that for them to get preflighted.”
“Yeah, they're probably getting me a leased one.”
“What about the engines.”
“The engines on my plane are an experimental version for fighter jets. The current version will get about five hundred and twenty five miles an hour. The ones on mine took it up to about nine hundred and sixty.”
“Damn!”
“Yeah, the way I figure, if you're going to spend that much on a jet, why the hell not spend another ten mil and get something that's damned fast. The difference is worth it and it's not going to matter if I crash at a thousand miles an hour or five hundred. The only thing is one will have my ass buried into the ground and the other will have me spread out all over the top of it.”
“Boy! It guess that's one way to look at it!”
“When it's your time to go, it's your time.”
We pulled up to his office and I said, “What paperwork will I need to fill out?”
“I've got it in here. I'll need your flight plan if you have it.”
“I threw the clip board into the engine too.”
He laughed and said, “Well, it worked.”
“Beats me going in!”
“Well, we'll have the one we've got here someplace.”
“I hope you're not going to make me wait until you get the thing!”
“No....no....I'll find it.”
“Good. Because I told them I'd be home in a couple of hours and as trying as this day has been, I don't need to add to the problems.”
“You been together long?”
“A few weeks. It's one of those things that when it's right, it's right.”
“You look good together.” He paused and said, “I'll need your pilot's license.”
“Which one. I've got the helicopter one and the jet. Someplace in here, I've still got my prop one.”
“The jet will be fine.”
“Be advised it doesn't have my current address. I just moved to that area. That's how we met.”
“How's that?”
“I got into it with a real estate man. He left me at the house and then called me in as a trespasser.”
“Oh, I bet you never bought the house.”
“Yeah, I did...just not from him.”
“I don't blame you there.”
He took my license and photocopied it.
“It says your a male here.”
“Probably.”
“You're gay!”
I looked at him and thought, 'well, here goes everything!', “Yeah, but CNN learned and they're keeping it on the down low. When I got off the plane, I was in disguise because where I was at previously I needed the protection. CNN ran with it and never pulled the cameras off. When they found out, it was pie in their face, so they're keeping it quiet.”
“What about what you said about having babies?”
“We can adopt.”
“Does he know!”
“Yeah, he knows. It doesn't make him do his job less effectively.”
“Well, we'll probably have to stay here until the FAA gets here.”
“Let's see...you're finding offense in me being gay and you're going to harass my ass.”
“I don't like thinking one thing and finding out another. I wonder what your state will think about that.”
“Let's see...you were wanting him to run for Governor until you found out he was gay. Now, you're harassing me on your job because of it. I wonder what the airport manager will think of that.”
“I don't know, why don't you call him at home and see.”
“One moment, I'll do that.”
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed little John.
“Yeah”
“The fire chief for the airport is now harassing me because I'm gay. We'll be waiting until the FAA shows. See what you can do about him finding different employment.”
“Where's your protection?”
“I don't need it to fly.”
“I'll have someone there soon.”
I got off the phone and said, “You'll be seeking new employment and the airport is now going to be getting a lawsuit filed. Your holding me here without placing me under arrest is considered false imprisonment. Let's see how fast that terminal manager can make his golf cart scoot.”
“If you have those connections, then it's worth my job.”
“I certainly hope so because you have no clue the connections I've got.”
We sat there for ten minutes and I heard the jet taxi up.
“I'll go out and sit in my jet.”
“You'll stay right there.”
“Ok, gladly. You do realize this just went into civil action.”
“I can deny the whole thing.”
“We'll see about that.”
The terminal manager came screaming up on a gator. He stormed into the office and said, “What the fuck's the problem!”
“This fag thinks he can intimidate me and make him let him get out of here.”
The man looked at me and said, “I'm sorry Mr Michaels.”
“That's ok, your airport can stay open. I know that's what you were told. Do you want my voice recorder for your reports on terminating him?”
“I'll take a transcript, but you go ahead and go. If you go out and taxi to the other end of the runway you were using, you'll be able to take off. I'll radio the control tower to give you immediate clearance.”
“I appreciate it. Is there any other paperwork I'll need to file?”
“No, I'll take care of it.”
“I will trust this man will be terminated, otherwise, this airport will be locked down as soon as I find out.”
“No! I'll take care of it.”
“See he doesn't get another position in any airports stateside. I know I'll be making phone calls myself requesting that. And, whatever you do, don't tell the dumb fuck what my connection is to this city. He's thinking he's got a news scoop already. If he gets the other, I'll have to see his physical being isn't one which stays alive.”
“If you've got that power, you little faggot, then by all means do that!”
“JOHN! You don't know who he is! HE WILL do that!”
The guy looked pissed, sick, and surprised all at the same time as I slowly pulled out my cell phone. I hit speed dial and said, “Would you find out who this dumb son of a bitch is and speak to all of his banking concerns to pull all of their extended credit back?”
“On top of that.”
“Thank you.”
I got off the phone and said, “Sir, I could have your legs broke. I could do a lot of things. What I've chosen to do is have your house foreclosed, your credit cards shut off and any car loan you have shut off. When you see how I just fucked your world, you'll wish you'd had a few of my fellas work you over. Now, you're not going to be able to get a place to live when you get that other employment.”
I turned and walked out.
I heard behind me, “Who the fuck was that!”
“Believe me, you don't want to know.” I said over my shoulder.
I went out and got on the jet. The pilot said, “Mr. Michaels, the makers of this plane want me to inform you this one is complimentary. We'll make any adjustments you need.”
“Tell them I'll expect those engines from the other one put on this one, or ones just like them. And tell them while they're at it, I'll take three of them. I could buy three Russian planes for the price of one over here.”
“I'll tell them that sir. Would you like for me to fly you to where you're going?”
“No, I can do it. Just be sure to get that jet loaded and gotten out of here. I'm not sure whose name it's listed under.”
“What happened exactly?”
“If you have the time, you can fly up with me and find your own way home. If not, it's on the report in there.”
“Ok, Thank you sir.”
“No problem. I'm sorry for being so short with you, but I've been inconvenienced enough and now I'm going to be seriously late for my arrival where I need to be.”
“Fly safely sir.”
“If I could get the damned thing off the ground, it'll be a lot more than what we have with the other one!”
I hit the button to shut the door and then went up front. I'd not preflighted, but my flight plan should be the same if I radio in my planes numbers.
“This is Action Jackson 41009er radioing tower for clearance.”
“Your clearance is approved sir.”
“Use my pre-existing flight plan and change the plane's numbering to correlate with this one please.”
“I'll make you a flight plan that gets you up in the air sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Go to the northern end of the runway and know you're cleared for immediate take off.”
“Thanks.”
I taxied out and then got into position. “You're green AC41009.”
“Roger”
I took it up in the air and then eased forward with the throttles. I don't know whose plane it was, but the speed they got it to me was amazing. The glass cockpit was nicely laid out and all the instrumentation seemed to be working beautifully.
I got up and got my heading. They took me up to my ceiling of 45k and I let the throttles go to the full forward position. Checking my fuel weights, I noticed they were pulling from both tanks evenly. I put it on auto pilot and then went back to check out the cabin.
On the seat was a note.
To whom this may concern;
Please enjoy the plane with our compliments. If you find things unsatisfactory, please call and we'll make them corrected.
Most Sincerely,
Ron Poppoff
I called the number and it went to voicemail.
“Ron, This is Rhette Michaels. The plane will be fine. I've requested three with the engines of the one which burned. What I'd like is you to contact me for the interior and exterior specifications I require. I'll fax them to you when I receive your call.”
I snapped the phone shut and had no sooner shut it when it began ringing in my hand.
“Hello?”
“Rhette, CNN just contacted me and notified me the man you pissed off down there attempted to contact a news source down there.”
“Ok, What's my contact number down there?”
“Here's the number.”
He gave me the number and I called it.
“Yeah, this is Rhette, I need that man brought into the warehouse. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Put him in the freezer with those bodies for fifteen minutes nude and then pull him out for five minutes. Do this for three hours and go get a jacuzzi rented. At the end of the three hours, begin putting him in the jacuzzi for five minutes and then putting him in the truck for the fifteen minutes. I want him to know his life just turned into hell froze over.”
“Will do boss.”
“Hey, don't ever call me boss. My name's Rhette to my friends. If you can't call me that, then little Gino will do nicely. Ok?”
“Sorry bo.....umm Rhette.”
“When you're doing that to the man, you tell him Mr Michaels sends his regards. I want him so damned dead tired he's having to be thrown into each.”
“Gotcha! We'll get it done.”
“When you do it, record it and then have a copy of the DVD on hand for me.”
“All the time?”
“No, just the first twelve hours.”
He chuckled and said, “It'll only record for so long.”
“I know that. That's why I said I wanted it for that long. IF you fill the thing with his pain and misery, then I can use it for training purposes. Make sure all the new guys get a chance to be in on it. I want them to see what I do to people who piss me off.”
“Anything else?”
“No, you can leave the electrodes off of him. I think this will do nicely.”
“Holy shit!”
“What? You've never tortured someone before?”
“No, not with that measure!”
“Well, it's effective. I want that fucker so contrite when I get back down there, he's begging me to leave him alone.”
“Do we need to dispose of the body?”
“No, we're not going to kill him. We're just going to make him think that's our purpose. While you're at it, get a portable sauna from the rental place and have it on hand. I think I'll speak to him in there.”
“He'll have pneumonia for sure!”
“Yes, and when he goes home to find his wife and family don't know who he is, he'll wonder what powers I have.
That will be all.”
I rung off and then called little John.
“Yeah, I can hear you're in the jet.”
“Yes, but it's a loaner.”
“No, that's yours.”
“I'll give it to Tampa. Mine aren't going to be this color inside and out.”
“Oh, well, they'll appreciate it.”
“I'll be there as soon as possible. It's not that fast.”
“You flying in over the ocean?”
“Yeah, I don't want to get into any problems with the military flying over their airspace.”
“My guys are getting that other plane. It doesn't sound right. The dash shouldn't catch fire.”
“Me neither. If things had been normal, I'd been up and to where I couldn't have gotten out of it. What irked the shit out of me was the engines wouldn't shut down.”
“Did you hit the emergency shut down?”
“Yeah, it didn't do anything.”
“That's on a separate control. It should've. How'd you get it shut down?”
“I took cushions from seats and the emergency life raft and blew it up and shoved it out the door so it'd go into the engine.”
“Smart thinking.”
“The man who is the fire chief is going to be seeing what it's like to piss me off.”
“What'd he do?”
“He looked at my license and then thought he could hold it over my head that I'm gay and he was thinking I was a woman from seeing me on CNN.”
“Did you call in help?”
“Yeah, I called and got the terminal manager down there and then the guy thought he could continue making threats.”
“What did you do?”
“In front of him, I called in all his banking loans and his credit. He was told then he would be looking for another job and another house and not have any credit to do anything.”
“You should have done more.”
“I am. I got a call he tried contacting a news service and that's getting him pulled in. Until I'm back down there, he'll be dunked in a jacuzzi and then into that freezer. I want him to have walking pneumonia by the time I get there. Then, I'm going to take him into a sauna and have a talk with him. I want him to wish he were dead.”
“You're a whole lot nicer than me. You throw in a lot more torturous things than me. I should probably learn from you.”
“I need to teach those guys down there and yours what it's like to do so when we need it done, they've got experience.”
“Did you learn those things from Gino?”
“Gino's guys did a lot, but by the time I came on the scene, he was mellowing out. I learned what they did through scuttlebutt from the guys. Down in one of the tunnels is a torture room they used. Instead of a freezer, they'd dip the guys in cold water and then into the hot water and before each, they'd hit them with a cattle prod. What's bad is they'd kill them too fast with the prod. With me, I'd rather have them wishing they were dead a long time before it happens.”
“What are you going to do with him?”
“When the feds go out to that lab, they'll find his sorry ass out there. It's going to be hard to have him deny he was not involved if he's found guarding the place.”
“He'll probably make a run.”
“No, we're going to have the guard dogs outside the place making sure he doesn't leave.”
“Shrewd. I might have a few people in there myself.”
“You're welcome to it.”
He chuckled and said, “You know, you're teaching me a lot about things and yet, you're teaching me you're more than able to handle things.”
“After I got off the phone while I was in line, I got to thinking about the number of men I'll have under me. A big part of me is feeling overwhelmed, but another part has admiration for your position. You probably don't look at the numbers and think how many you have, but for me, I looked at the numbers and found it a bit amazing.”
“With me, I look at them as under you. If I looked at them as being under me, it'd be too much. Even my guys up here I look at as being under my leaders and not as being under me.”
“I understand. I'll have to start doing that too, but I want everyone to know they can call and get me.”
“I like that part of your operation. It has them thinking they can talk to you and get things done.”
“Yeah, I'll probably have to delegate it back down, but if I am the one delegating it then the problem better be taken care of.”
“Just make sure your leaders know they've got that responsibility. That one guy down there I don't like.”
“Me neither, but you never know how useful he might be. I think what I'll do is put him over the bar guys. We're going to need someone in there who's an asshole to deal with those guys.”
“You're right, but I think you and Dave need to get a clear understanding with the business owners that your guys aren't to be running off customers.”
“Oh, we will. That's why I'm going to be going in and having people watching the men. If they think I won't pull them out of there to walk a dock, they're nuts.”
“Speaking of the docks, what are you going to do with them?”
“We'll run them like San Diego.”
“You need to make time to go see La Don.”
“I will.”
“Like soon.”
“I know. Don't ask me how I know, but I know.”
“I was wondering. He needs to know you know indirectly.”
“He's going to feel so lost. Hopefully, this cure will work.”
“I think it's too late.”
“We'll see. From what I heard, this cure makes it look like the person is really sick before it makes them better. The reports I've had, the people were about to give up hope of even taking it, but they kept on taking it and it made them better.”
“It's probably got to do that to kill off the cancer.”
“Yeah. We all think we're indestructible, but when it's time, we know it.”
“You've had that beating to make you realize more than I have.”
“Yes, what's strange is waking up in a hospital and not knowing why you're there. It's the one thing that really sends you reeling.”
“I understand. Just thinking of it would make me wonder. You really should do something more than what you're doing.”
“I'm doing it my own way. Let me do it my way.”
“You're going to have to start having your security around you a lot more.”
“I don't trust them. When Gino and I were together, I realized he ran around with a whole entourage and thought he was safe. I got to thinking about it and realized one bomb could take out everyone. To me, it's not safe thinking I'm safe and not be.”
“If anyone wants to get you, they can get you.”
“Right, that's why I figure I can go it alone and get by a lot easier.”
“You're going to have to have security. Just as soon as we call those guys from the St. Louis group to the table, they're going to try to whack you.”
“No, I'll make it clear the moment they do, even if they succeed, I'll have people in place to take not only them out but their whole families. That is when you can say I did it too nice.”
“Between you and I, you're doing it too nice with them now.”
“I've got more tricks up my sleeves with them. Things which when you see what I pull, you're going to wonder where I come up with this shit. I think one of them will find himself down in Miami before this is over. That one will probably be Michael. He's got the charisma and the charm to get things done.”
“Just make sure you're not one of the things that gets done. I think he's stuck on you as much as you're stuck on him.”
“He's got a wife and nine babies!”
“Doesn't matter, everyone sees it. You are attracted to that, I think.”
“I'm definitely attracted to him. The man leaves me weak in the knees, but there were those like that in prison I learned how to manipulate and I have a strong feeling Michael's not going to know what's hit him when I'm done.”
He chuckled and said, “I imagine you're right. Just be sure he's not thinking you're giving him the city.”
“No, he's going to know it's mine, but he'll probably be led to believe had it been another place and time, he'd gotten that and more.”
“And he'd be wrong.”
“You're damned right. A whole lot of life is selling the fantasy. If he has his, then he'll bust his ass to show me it's still possible. He has no clue I'm not resting on someone who has nine dependents to support who wants me to be a secret. No. I'm above him now and he'll realize any fantasies he's got are fantasies. I've got who I want.”
“Make sure you keep that part of you a secret. It's going to be hard, but I think you're too bright to let them get to you or to Steve.”
“No, Steve's content with the security. I think he understands it's a part of the game for him. For me, it's not a part of the game. When we reach a point, it's beyond being a part of the game. You're at that point and so am I. The moment someone thinks they can rise into power by getting rid of us then that's when they need to know that's not how the game's played.
Dave is my right hand man. I put that on the table. He's down right now, but he's not out. He'll come back and then when he does, he'll still be there. Right now, I'm still undecided about number three. I think Alex is a good one for the job, but I've got to test him. If he can pull St. Louis in, then a large test is accomplished but the other part is him getting his strength and leadership under control. Hell, I'm not even tested under that guideline, but Dave sure is.”
“Yes, you're correct. You will be too. What you're doing so far is amazing. You're gathering your strength down there and you're making people think you're not all about much. However, I'm seeing what you're doing and I know just as soon as you're through with this part, you'll have more happening down there than even I can imagine.”
“The next part of this thing is to turn the tables. When Gino and I would play chess, we did something that made me learn a whole other facet to the game. We'd turn the board so we were facing the sides and then look at our strengths and weaknesses. Then, we'd play the other man's pieces for so long. If you do that enough, you learn it's a part of this game we're playing in life. We need to look at the game through our opponent's eyes and see if we can find weakness. That's why I never fully trust someone I've got on my side because I know when the tables are turned, they can be used against me.”
“Smart. I've never thought of that.”
“Now you see why I never placed too much stock in this swearing in ceremony tonight. It's just words and it's just a rite that someone can use to get in and make himself inside. You've demonstrated none of us are safe from having your men in amongst us. My test will be when I've got to pull my men back out of there and see what they do. What I think is I'll have them watched and I'll have them really thinking they're safe for a year and then I'll do a switch and pull all my guys out of wherever I am and take them down there and pull them out and put them in another town. Those that are insecure because they're suspect will not want to leave the part they're taking money from on the sly. What's their downfall is my guys will report to me anyone trying to pay them something they're not entitled to.”
“Smart!”
“Yeah, it's a part of the testing of the loyalties. If I can discover the flaws then they better know they'll be brought to trial. When that happens, they'll have to answer to me and will find I'm not about to forget the disloyalty.”
“Did Gino do that?”
“No, because he had such a strong base already in place. On top of that, Me-maw had ears in places he could only wish to have. Those old women all told her what was going on.”
“She was a lot stronger than she let on.”
“I saw that strength in the hospital room with Tony. She laid out to me where she had ears and how she got those ears. Gino was more direct and in the front door with men. Me-maw would cultivate people's household staff with her staff and get them to talking amongst themselves. Then, they'd report to her. If something was happening, she was the hotline to contact and she'd get to Gino with it. That's how she knew what they were planning before it ever got accomplished. Before that would happen, she'd have Gino counteracting and pulling their actions into his strengths.
That's why when I used the banking thing tonight, I knew it would work. It'd been tried with me by Tony's family. What Gino did was he went in and paid off all my bills before they had a chance. The banker was sitting there with a stunned look upon his face wondering how he was going to explain it to Tony's dad. By that time, Gino had a few phone calls made and he was making them play dodge ball against cannons.”
“Is that why you got everything you did?”
“Yes. From the first moment, Tony's dad was evicting me and then he wanted me to turn over my car. I drew the line at the car and burnt the son of a bitch in front of the tow truck operator. Then, I told the man to take it to his dad and dump it. That pissed the old man off. He knew I had one thing and that was my credit cards. We went and paid those off and then opened a joint account with Gino and I's name on it. He told the banker, 'You try shutting this one off and I'll have you so far on the bottom of the river, even the fish will be above you.' The man never tried anything.
That's when Gino went and started burning paper mills and doing work stoppages. Then, Gino told the man he'd start hitting closer to home for every thing the man did. Tony's dad tried putting an arson charge on me over the car and Gino burned Tony's mom's real estate office. Gino called him and said, “One more thing and your office tower burns with you in it.” and the man had balls enough to tell him to try it. Not fifteen minutes later, the office tower was on fire and Gino was on the phone with him telling him how he was going to have the whole family killed.”
“What was this over?”
“The family owns an insurance company and yet, they wouldn't pay a policy with me as beneficiary to bury him. I put that funeral on credit with me being the one to pay. I attempted to collect and they refused to pay citing it was his suicide. Well, we'd arranged with the doctor to keep him alive until his death couldn't be deemed a suicide. They had to pay.”
“Oh. So it was the principle of the matter.”
“Yeah, but Gino tacked on all sorts of things. I was to get the deed to the house and I was to get a new car every year for ten years and I was to get the insurance. By the time it was over, Gino added on the trust fund just to make them know I wasn't going to be fucked with. The man gave us everything.”
“Good.”
“Now he's dead and his brother wants Tony's body. I'll give them that as long as I can see.”
“His brother thinks a lot of you.”
“His brother knew me and knew my love for Tony. I took him to the grave and he saw the extremes I went to in order to keep his family away.”
“What are you going to do about that now?”
“We'll have a talk. Soon, you're going to see that company up under us. I imagine I'll be on the board because of two reasons. Tony would be there now and there are some who have long memories. Tony's cousin is on the board as is Douglas. We'll put me on the board so I can have a say in things... in his memory.”
“You've not had it easy with men.”
“No, but it's getting better. It took changes on my part and I've made them. Now, I'm more independent than I've ever been and a large part are the changes I made. I think that's a huge part of what Steve likes about me is that independence.”
“He should, he's not got anything if he doesn't.”
“You're right. Well, I'm about to land, so I'll see you in a moment.”
“Land safe.”
“I'll see. I think I'll have to see how these brakes are. This is a totally different plane than I'm used to flying.”
“It should be fine.”
“We'll see. I'll be there in a moment.”
I got off the phone and then landed. There was a heavy cross wind, but it landed like a dream. When I got through I put it over in a hangar and then went over to the helicopter. One thing immediately made me feel uneasy was where the skid was sitting. When I had landed, I landed it with the skid running down the line of the H they had painted on the tarmac.
I stepped away from the chopper and called little John. “I'll need a car. This chopper isn't parked how I parked it.”
“No one here has flown it.”
“Well, it's been moved.”
“You sure?”
“Get me someone here to pick me up. I'm not flying it. If you want, you can bring one of your guys to be blown all to hell, but I'm not getting in it.”
“I'll have my bomb people there and have someone come get you.”
I stayed back away from the chopper and waited. When the chopper flew in, I went over to the guy and said, “I parked it with that skid running along that H. It's a trait of mine I always do. You can see how it's sitting. Get fingerprints from the stick and the door handle to see whose they are before you mess with anything but I want a complete report.”
I went over and got in the other helicopter. It was my pilot.
“How's it going?”
“Not well, but everything's going great. How are you liking the new ones?”
“It flies like a dream. We've got that one torn down, but it looks like someone put a plate under the fuel injector plate so it wouldn't breathe as good as it should.”
“Is that normal?”
“No, the others didn't have it. It's not hooked to anything, it's just strange they'd do it.”
“Well, see if you can hook a nitrous plate to it and see if it will make it scream. If it does, then I'll use it.”
He chuckled and said, “You're really something with the aerobatics, aren't you!”
“It's something I found I was good at and the thrill of it makes me want to do it. I'll have to watch it while I'm training Steve.”
“I heard about your jet burning. I've never heard of one burning before.”
“Me neither. We're going to take it and see what caused it. The emergency shut off for the engines didn't work either.”
“Oh man.”
“Yeah, so I'm thinking someone did it. That and this one really is getting me irked like hell.”
“I'd say you need to put guards on them.”
“I'll be doing that, but they'll have shoot to kill orders. This is pissing me off.”
“I don't blame you.”
We landed and I thanked him.
When I went across the yard from the side gate, someone opened the door and let Gypsy out. She came running and I picked her up. She gave me lovings and I carried her on in.
In the living room, I saw everyone still sitting and visiting. Steve came over and gave me a huge hug and kiss. “Hi babe. You had me worried.”
“Not half as worried as the person that did it.”
“You think it was someone?”
“If it was an isolated thing, I'd be suspicious. Now, we just found that helo at the airport moved and I'm really thinking we've got someone that wants me dead.”
Mom heard the conversation and asked, “What are you going to do?”
“First thing I've got to do is get a guard on that jet at the airport. Then we're going to guard the hangars from here on out. If they think they've gotten to me, then they'll find out I'm about to get to them.”
“You're not happy. I can tell it by your eyes.”
“No, I'm not. There's not much I can do but be on the defensive but I'll find out who it is and it'll be taken care of.”
Kevin and JT were sitting over together. “How's things going?”
Kevin smiled and said, “Things are going wonderfully. I'm really liking him a lot.”
“How are you doing JT?”
“I'm really liking him more than I thought I would.”
“Good. Just keep each other happy is all I ask. IF not, then try to work through things.”
Rose came over and said, “We just got a call they're taking Dave back into surgery.”
“Ok, I've not been called. I'm glad he informed someone.”
“Tomorrow, when you go down, I'd like to go too. By then I'll have the funeral plans made but I'd rather be there with him than up here.”
“Sure, let's make sure the plane's safe and then I'll fly you on it. One thing that's going to change is we're going to start having a helo flying us to the hospital and the penthouse.”
Mom asked, “You're getting a penthouse down there?”
“Yes. Hopefully, it'll be like La Don's out in San Diego. I want it to overlook the docks and use it for a base of operations plus somewhere to stay. It'll be big enough for you guys to stay down there if you want.”
“Is Dave going to stay down there?”
“Her asking this told me she'd overheard someone speaking.”
“Yes, but it's going to be a base and not his home. To me, his home will be across the way as soon as it's built. One other thing I want everyone to know is we're going to have a fleet of jets at our disposal. I'm making it so whenever you want, you can fly to Las Vegas and stay in my suite. I've asked for a suite to be made so it's mine all the time. Until Dave's better, I'll have to be doing the circuit and making sure things are operating.”
I looked at Mom and said, “When you've got a few moments, I need to speak to you privately.”
“Sure hon, what's going on?”
“It's private.”
“Ok, let's go in here so we can speak.”
We went into the kitchen and I said, “Lance has cancer. You might want to let La Don know you're supportive of them. Don't let him know we know because it's a secret Dave wasn't supposed to let others know.
I'll be going out and being there, but I won't let them know I know. I figure if they want me to know, I'll be told.”
“Oh Lord, how bad is it?”
“It's bad. But, Dave has gotten him an herbal mix which is supposed to be amazing. One of the parts of the mix is a tea from Great Britain and another part of it's from China. There's a third part and when it's done together, it's supposed to be amazing.
From what Dave's said, he's trying that, but I don't know how long he's been doing it or anything.”
“Ok. I'll call and start making him on my weekly call list.”
“I'd appreciate it. He needs to know we still care and we're there for him.”
“I'll keep this under my hat. If we do that then we'll be giving them both support.”
“I need to make a call. Someone's been in my helo at the airport up here. It's been moved and after the fire down there I'm going to have guards all over the place.”
“Are you in over your head with this?”
“Mom, right now I'm swimming and keeping up with the current. It's going to be ok.”
“Don't let it drag you down.”
“I'm not. I'm needed and I think if I stay in good communication with Steve, we'll be fine. I'm staying mum in front of Kevin because if he and I were together, we'd be at each other's throats over this. I'm glad I'm not with him right now because of that.”
“Things work out for a reason.”
“He's happy?”
“It appears so. Everyone's so nice and Steve is a complete doll. I think I was worried over how he and Kevin were going to be, but they're really hitting it off.”
Good. To me, that means a lot. I think I was worried about that most. If he can be happy, then I know something good can happen between us still.”
“Honey, he really is sorry for what happened.”
“Mom. Dad was sorry every time he hit you too. How many times does it take for someone to pull up off the floor to realize sorry is another word for bullshit.”
“Honey, maybe this is best. A big part of things is forgiveness.”
“I was forgiving to a fault. I forgave the first time he screwed around and he did it again. I attempted to forgive him for the second and then I got cool cocked. I'll be damned if I forgive that to find it happening again. However, with me stepping back, he has a chance with someone again. BUT, if he does it again, he'll have to find away to make me not cut his arms off so I'm assured it doesn't happen again.”
“Honey, let him live his life.”
“I am, but I assure you I'll be there to see it doesn't happen again. He'll not cause an embarrassing situation more than once in this family.”
“Maybe you shouldn't have introduced them.”
“If he's going to do it again then he shouldn't have been introduced. If he can live decently and normally, then he should be able to be trusted. He has the one time to fuck up.”
“He has pressures and issues just like anyone else.”
“You're going back into the battered wife mode of making excuses. I'll tell you now, millions of people face issues without beating the shit out of the people they love. That's a cop out and you know it. How many times has dad raised a hand to you in this marriage?”
“Not one ever.”
“See. So, you think about that because I sure am. A man will get by with what he can but when he knows his balls are in a vise, they'll say what they can to get out of it. Well, his balls are released to find we're going about this differently. I love him and always will, but I'm not going to be a punching bag no more.
Let's go back into the living room. I'm really glad you guys came.”
“I am too. Rose is such a strong woman.”
“She is. I love her to bits.”
“She loves you too. It's amazing how how deeply she thinks of you already.”
“It makes it nice. I'm glad we have the closeness we do. I only wish Kevin's mom had been as close.”
“She's a bitch hon. I don't even call her a mother. A mother will stand with her kids. That one stood just far enough away to say she was there but that was it.”