Page 32 of Rattler
Rattler
The electrician did a hell of a good job, and he did it with a smooth efficiency that made it look easy.He’d checked the wiring, installed a heavier box to support the weight of the new fan, and had the aforementioned new fan delivered and installed in just over a day.By noon of the second day, he was packing up his gear and heading back to his home base in Atlanta.
I was impressed, and at the same time a little annoyed.I’d figured I’d have at least another day with Lily before I had to leave.
Joker and Preacher were all packed and eager to get on the road.Of course they were.They didn’t have anyone to leave behind.The three of us were in Ace’s office, getting a briefing on what to expect.
I crossed my arms on my chest.“I think it best if we leave early tomorrow morning.We’ll be fresh and ready for the trip.”
Ace narrowed his eyes.“I get it.You don’t want to leave your little sweetie, but consider this.You leave now, you get there at dusk, or better yet, dark.Makes it easier to set up, find a good spot to watch from before the town wakes up.Tomorrow morning you can search the house once he leaves, scout out his workplace, maybe the brokerage he spends so damn much time at.”
Joker nodded.“Sounds like a good plan to me.We leave early morning we’re going to get there at noon, or later.People will see us coming, and they’ll talk.We don’t exactly fade into the freaking background.”
Preacher smiled grimly.“Yeah.Three guys in leather cuts on bikes?They’ll notice us for sure.”
The look Ace gave me was laced with sympathy.“I get it, but sometimes life sucks.The sooner you get there, the sooner you get back.”
I ran my hands through my hair.“You’re right.Promise me you’ll keep her safe while I’m gone.”
“You know it.”A wry smile lifted the corner of his mouth.“The old ladies have tomorrow all planned.Some kind of group thing where they stuff shit into fancy bags for the wedding.She probably won’t even notice you’re gone.”
“You mean welcome bags for the guests?”Preacher grinned.Since getting registered to officiate at weddings, he’d performed quite a few.Although he tried his best to live his life by Christian values, he felt everyone was entitled to their own interpretation of God as long as it followed the “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” rule.He could perform just about any kind of service a couple could ask for.He bragged that he’d once officiated at a Wiccan handfasting and an Evangelical ceremony on the same day.He was also the team sniper, and didn’t seem to find that an odd combination of talents.Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in, he’d point out when questioned.At least now he had the option of saying no if he didn’t agree with an assignment.In the SEALs, you obeyed orders without question.
Ace brought the meeting back on topic.“Shadow gave you the rundown on this guy?His house, office, favorite drinking holes?”
I tried not to sound too eager.“Yup.Got them all memorized.”
Ace gave me a sharp look.“You arenotto engage him, you understand?This is surveillance only.”
“I got it.And you’re sending two brothers with me to make sure I behave.”
“Shit.”Joker punched me in the shoulder.“You mean this is a babysitting mission?”
Ace shook his head.“Surveillance is not babysitting.The target is less likely to spot you if you spell each other off.And while we know Rattler here is doing it for his new bedmate,weare doing it to honor the memory of our fallen brother.If Jack were here, and one of you had a sister taking a beating from some asshole you know he’d be all in.He’d track the fucker down and make sure he never hurt so much as a fly again.”
“Or a kitten,” I added.“The asshole was gonna shoot Scrapper just for being alive and hungry.”
“Sounds like a real winner.”Joker stood up.“We about ready to saddle up?”
I nodded.“Just got to grab my kit from my room, and I’ll be right with you.”
Preacher rolled his eyes.“We’re timing you.No dropping the pants for a quickie.”
I grinned.“What’s the matter?Jealous?”
* * *
We rolled into the target’s town well after dark.I had the location of Tim’s house on GPS, so I led the way.There was a deserted old factory three blocks south of his location.The lock on the gates had long since rusted off, and the hinges creaked as we opened them enough to get our bikes through.We’d approach the target’s house on foot to avoid being noticed.Much as I’d wanted to stay with Lily tonight, I had to acknowledge it made more sense to do our initial reconnaissance under the cover of darkness.Cutting the engines, we walked our bikes around the back of the rickety building and parked them between two concrete barriers where they wouldn’t be easily spotted.
“We got a plan?”Joker took his helmet off and hung it on his handlebars.Preacher and I followed suit.
“Best approach is from the street behind his place.”I pulled out an aerial photo Shadow had managed to acquire.The guy was a fucking magician when it came to finding intel on the Internet.“We should be able to gain access to the back yard.There’s a stand of oak trees in the south corner of the property.”
I nodded to Preacher.“You’re going up in them.You should be able to get high enough to see in the house without being seen yourself.Joker and I will be stationed at either end of the street.Once the target leaves the house, you signal us and we go in and see what we can find.While it’s still dark, I’m going to put a tracker on his car so we know where he is without him having eyes on us.Remember, we do not want to tip him off that Lily’s found protection.”
“Roger that.”We all pocketed our ammo and anything else we thought we’d need and set out on foot.
Surveillance is the crappiest part of what we do.Necessary, but boring as hell until something happens, and then it usually happens way too fast to keep up.The asshole was settled in for the night, giving me time to plant a tracking device under his front bumper, and a second one in a back wheel well just in case he lost the first one.
