Page 27 of Zero
Rei accepted the cell and handed it back to Eton.
“It doesn’t make sense either that he’d drive all that way to just stare at the place.” Eton shoved the phone into his back pocket.
“Maybe Tex made a mistake.” I shrugged.
“John Keegan doesn’t make mistakes.” Rei spoke lowly. “If he said Justice was on that property, then Justice was on that property.”
We sighed.
“Eton, go relieve Jasmin.” Rei ordered. “I’ll stay here and talk to our guests.”
Eton nodded and was off.
When Rei opened the trunk, Ortega tried attacking him. Rei grabbed the man’s hand and shoved. Ortega spun midair and slammed into the ground. That didn’t seem to bother Rei as he locked the second man back inside the compartment, grabbed Ortega by the back of the neck and dragged him across the space to drop him against the far wall.
As the man seemed to curl in on himself, Rei reached for a nearby chair and planted it in front of Ortega before taking a seat.
I approached slowly but didn’t get too close to the whimpering man.
“Where’s the soldier?” Rei asked.
“No estoy hablando.” Ortega spat.
“English.” Rei growled.
“Fuck you!”
Rei nodded. “Okay.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and braced myself for what was to come next.
Rei rested his combat boot on Ortega’s hand and added his weight until the snap of bones echoed through the large space.
Ortega screamed.
“Where’s the soldier?” Rei asked again.
“Fuck!” Ortega moaned then yelled in pain again.
“You want to know a secret?” Rei asked. “You can probably tell by my accent that I’m not from around here. Which means, I don’t have to play by their rules. I can break every bone in your body and be on a plane home by dinner time. And I’d sleep very well, butt-ass naked with my ass in the air in front of a fan. I hate repeating myself.”
“I—” His words died in a pained cry. “I don’t know why my boss had him grabbed!”
Rei took his foot off the broken fingers and sat again. “Talk.”
“A few months ago, the soldier was in Haiti.”
I stepped in then and gripped Ortega’s face to twist him to meet my gaze. “His name is Justice. Say it!”
“What?” Ortega looked up at Rei.
I slapped him hard across the face. “Look at me!” I snapped. “He can’t help you right now. His name is Justice. I need you to say it, memorize it, so later, when I’m chopping off your dick with a rusted machete, you will have no confusion as to why. Justice—say it.”
“Justice!” Ortega shrunk backward, away from me.
I released him and stepped back.
“Tell me about what happened in Haiti.” Rei continued.
