was clear and he was moving in on the targets. He moved silently and almost effortlessly through the undergrowth. The man was a machine in his element.
Rigs signaled that he was in position. Cash moved out of the house and towards the targets. The three moved, raising their weapons but Cash moved too quickly, already finding cover behind the Chief’s car.
The targets ’ movements had opened them up as planned to Rigs. He raised his P90 and was about to start shooting, when he paused, noticing their clothing for the first time.
“Jesus, don’t shoot !” screamed one of the targets. They all dropped their weapons, suddenly realizing they had been outplayed.
Cash stepped out as Rigs whistled the all clear to him.
Three police officers stepped out of the woods, their hands held high above their heads.
“What the hell were you guys doing?” asked Cash.
“We were on our way back from the Observatory when we spotted you in the Chief’s car. We tried to sneak up on you but obviously you spotted us.”
“I’m afraid the Chief’s dead.”
F ear turned to anger on all three of the officers’ faces and their hands instinctively dropped towards their holsters.
“It wasn’t us, they killed my father , Professor Harris, as well,” Cash quickly explained, realizing their misunderstanding.
“Cash?” asked one of the officers.
Cash nodded.
“Jesus , I didn’t recognize you! It’s been so long. Paul Banks,” he stepped forward offering his hand.
Cash couldn’t place him.
“Banksie!”
“Banksie, as in pot-head Banksie?” asked Cash.
Banksie’s face dropped slightly . “All in the past,” he said awkwardly.
“Of course . Have you got back up on the way?” asked Cash, scanning the area.
Ban ksie shook his head. “We’ve been trying to radio for back up, but nothing. We’ve tried our cells, none of them are working!”
Cash looked at Rigs, knowingly; it wasn’t over.
“Are Sophie and Mrs . K alright?” asked Banksie.
“Obviously upset but yeah , they’re fine.”
“And that handsome young lad of yours?”
Cash looked at him.
“Seriously,” chipped in Rigs quietly to Cash. “You didn’t see it?”
Cash shook his head . “No, I didn’t.” He walked back into the house and straight upstairs.
“Sophie? It’s fine , they’re police officers,” he called out.
Sophie, Kyle and Mrs . Kramer appeared from one of the bedrooms.
“Can I speak to you in private , please?” he said, looking at Sophie, who nodded.
“Kyle?” he began , as they walked into Sophie’s old bedroom.
Sophie nodded and began to cry. Cash looked on with contempt.
“Me or my father?” he asked angrily.
Chapter 8
Santa Cruz, CA
Gray grabbed his radio. “Yes?”
“We failed to stop everyone leaving, they even got past the Surenos team that you sent as back up.”
“Shit,” he said, uncharacteristically . His missions never went anything other than according to plan. “It is imperative you stop them, I’ve got the mountainside locked down. No cell towers or phone lines are working. Police radios are also blacked out. You have time to clean up the mess. I need to know that every piece of the professor’s research is gone.”
“His house and all who were inside will be gone, there’ll be nothing left.”
“Good, I’ll deal with his office, did you get the flash drive?”
“What flash drive?” asked Green.
Gray scrolled through his records on his tablet, where every detail of everyone they had watched over the previous two years was noted. Professor Charles Harris wore a necklace with a small flash drive around his neck.
“The one he wore around his neck .”
“It wasn’t there,” said Green.
“Perhaps you missed it?” asked Gray angrily.
“I searched him myself, there was no jewelry on him whatsoever. Hold on,” he paused listening to an update from his colleague. “We’ve found them, they’re at Chief Kramer’s house.”
“Be careful , we can’t afford to
Lawrence Sanders, Vincent Lardo