Page 40 of Fear the Reaper
“I remember him.” Star bit into a cookie. “Young, stupid, thought the rules didn’t apply to him. But that was almost six years ago. I didn’t even think—shit, Heller’s kid?”
Swede nodded.
“Apparently, after you outed him, Junior fell into a depression.” Swede grabbed a piece of paper from the printer and handed it to her. “It didn’t end well.”
“Wow—he committed suicide six months after the piece was published.” Star’s voice sounded sad.
I accepted the article from her and read. “While I sympathize with a father’s pain, his son had done the wrong thing. It still doesn’t give Osman the right to take a life because his son was a pervert.”
“Agreed.” Kujo said. “Bad behavior is bad behavior. There is zero accountability in that family from the looks of it.”
“Daddy Heller should have taught his kid some decency.” I muttered. “But I have no issues doing it.”
“Well.” Swede sipped from his mug. “Now, we know who is behind this, I did some digging. We’re going to have to put our plan in motion tonight. Osman leaves the country for Switzerland tomorrow evening and if he does…”
Star frowned. “I might as well go live under a rock in Narnia.”
No one said anything but I agreed with a nod. There were no extradition treaties with Switzerland. Even if there was, with Osman’s money, there would be no finding him. Swede was correct, anything they did, they had very little time to do it in.
After checkingwith Montana at a nearby coffee shop, and dropping Six off, Kujo, Swede, Star and I set the plot in motion. We had Brian set up a meeting with his boss. We then sent Swede and Kujo ahead to the pub. Next, we drove Brian there but before we were able to get out of the car, I slipped one of Swede’s bugs into his pocket without him knowing.
“We should get Heller before he comes inside,” Kujo’s voice was crisp in my ears. “I didn’t think it would be so packed.”
“Shit.” I muttered.
“What?” Star asked.
“We have to change our plan. The pub is packed.” I reported. I reverse from where we’d been parked for Brian to walk inside. Pulling the vehicle around, I found a spot by the entrance with Swede, occupying the slot on the other side of the entrance.
“He’s not here yet.” Kujo reported. “New plan?”
“Reaper and I are parked by the door. We’ll try grabbing him before he enters.” Swede plotted.
“I’ll keep an eye on Brian.” Kujo sent back.
With a new plan in motion, I glanced over at Star to see she was staring out the window, her lips in a thin line and her jaws clenched. I reached over and took one of her hands in mine and lifted it to my lips to brush my mouth against it. She smiled at me and the sadness in her eyes broke my soul.
“This will be over soon—either way,” I told her. “Just hang on for a bit longer.”
“You know what I want at the end of this?” Star asked. “I want a night with you. Just us. No outside noise.”
I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. She would have her hands full dealing with the insurance company and sorting out her life. Where would I fit?
“See? You’re questioning it.” Star pulled her hand away from me. “I know I don’t deserve forever with all the things sitting on my conscience. I just want one night with you where there is no impending doom hanging over our heads.”
“You two are going to have to sort this out later.” Swede’s voice filled my ear. “Here comes Heller and he has back up.”
I frowned and turned my attention to the mirrors. The men with Heller were heavies. They had bulges in their sides which always meant weapons. I frowned. It was going to make it harder to get to him. Irritated, I pulled one of my guns and quickly instructed Star on how to use it. Once that was done I handed it to her. “Swede, you and I will get the heavies. Star will keep Heller’s attention.”
“Roger that—on your go.”
I watched until after Heller was by us and almost to the door, before I gave the go ahead. Swede and I jumped from the front of our vehicles and attacked. We managed to get the two guys who were in the immediate area but Star screamed for us to look out. We spun in time to fend off attacks from three other men. With a quick glance to see that Star had her gun trained on Heller, I sent a fist into an attacker’s gut, kicked him in the side of his knee while grabbing his arm and wrenching it painfully behind his back. The man cried out but I didn’t let go until there was a sharp sound of bone snapping. I released his throat and shoved him hard into the side of the SUV. He bounced off and hit the ground.
Swede had gone through his guy as well and we both turned on the other. Instead of running away, he swung for Swede. The computer tech dipped out of the way and the fist missed. Mine connected to the side of the man’s head followed by a quick knee to his midsection from Swede. Both Swede and I grabbed arm and launched him. When he was unconscious on the ground we rushed over to where Heller was glaring at Star.
“You’re going to call off the hit,” Star said.
“Like hell,” Heller growled. “You’re going to suffer like my boy did.”
