MOB RULES (James Harris Book 2) Read online

  “I’ll outlive you by fifty years, old man,” she jabbed.

  “Probably, but trying to give me a heart attack is stacking the deck.”

  Christi laughed. She reached for his hand.

  “Go home, Carl. Or go back to work. I’m just fine.”

  “I’ll leave in a minute. I haven’t finished giving you shit yet.”

  “Well save it for tomorrow when I’m back at the office.”

  “The hell you will be,” he snapped. “You are being placed on paid leave for at least a week.”

  “Bullshit!” Christi yelled. She sat up quickly. “Don’t you do that to me, Carl! I’ll go stir crazy not working for a week.”

  “Not my call, sweetie. Came from upstairs.”

  “So fix it!”

  “Christi,” Carl began slowly as his demeanor changed. He looked down upon her and his face was all business. Gone was the mirthful play. “You were kidnapped under a hail of AK-47 fire. You were held captive. You had to listen as thugs planned your execution. You had your throat cut. And you witnessed two men get killed right in front of you.”

  “So?” Christi spoke defiantly.

  “So I think a little time off is warranted. Maybe even a little counseling.”

  “Oh for God’s sake, Carl. Don’t get touchy feely with me.”

  Her boss simply frowned at her.

  “And I didn’t get my throat cut. It’s just a damn scratch.”

  “Caused by a knife. At your throat.”

  Christi opened her mouth to reply but was stopped by a soft knock. Both Carl and she looked as the door pushed open and Sylvia Blumquist stuck her head through.

  “Is this a good time?” the district attorney asked.

  Christi’s face lit up.

  “Sylvia!” She screamed shrilly.

  “Ouch,” Carl said quietly as he covered his ears.

  Sylvia burst into the room followed by her daughter Emily.

  “Oh my God,” Christi said with genuine surprise. “Emily!”

  “Hi Christi,” Emily spoke warmly as she smiled. The two had become like sisters in a very short time. “How are you?”

  “I’m just fine! This is total bullshit keeping me here!” she exclaimed loudly. Christi changed gears and smiled again. “I thought you were at Duke?”

  “I drove in yesterday when I heard.”

  Carl backed away from the bed to allow Sylvia access. The older woman leaned in to embrace Christi. Emily followed her mother’s lead and she hugged Christi fiercely.

  “Hello Carl,” Sylvia said as she turned to face the editor.

  “Ma’am,” he replied with a nod.

  “Seriously,” Emily piped up. “How are you? Really?”

  “I’m good, Emily. I just want to go home,” Christi answered. She looked to Carl. “And back to work!”

  “Uh-oh,” Sylvia spoke. “I know that tone.”

  “They are kicking me out of the office for a week, Sylvia! Can you believe that?!”

  “Well good. You can come out and stay with us at the house. We’ll go shopping.”

  “You hear that, Carl?” She laughed. “Shopping with the Blumquist’s. I’m going to need a slight raise.”

  All four laughed.

  “Thank you for the flowers, Sylvia. They’re beautiful.”

  “You’re very welcome, dear.”

  “Okay,” Carl spoke up. “This is where I say goodbye.”

  “Good,” Christi said. “Get back to work, boss.”

  Carl leaned in and hugged her. He placed a fatherly hand atop her head.

  “Call me if you need anything, okay.”

  “I will. Thank you, Carl. Talk soon.”

  “Yeah,” he said. He turned and extended his hand to Sylvia. “Good to see you ma’am. And you as well, Emily.”

  “You too, Carl.”

  He shook Sylvia’s and then Emily’s hand and nodded at her with a smile. Then he turned and exited the room.

  Sylvia placed a hand upon Christi’s shoulder. She looked at her with sad, concerned eyes.

  “Now cut the shit, honey. How are you really?”

  Christi’s lower lip quivered. She looked down to avoid eye contact as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. The sudden rush of emotions was unexpected and she turned her head to stare out the window as she struggled for control.

  Sylvia walked around the bed as Emily took up her spot. Now the two stood on each side of her. Emily leaned in and hugged her again as Christi began to weep openly. Sylvia joined the embrace and the three were silent as Christi loosed her emotions.

  “It was horrible,” she spoke between sobs. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to die.”

  She stared up into Sylvia’s eyes.

  “The things they said to me were so horrible.”

  “I can’t imagine,” Sylvia consoled, stroking her hair.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emily spoke in a hushed voice as she too reached out a hand and laid it on Christi’s arm.

  “No, I’m sorry, Em,” Christi spoke to the younger woman. “I know you know.”

  “Stop,” Emily answered. “Both were horrible.”

  Emily still bore the scars, both physically and emotionally, from her kidnapping, rape and imprisonment just three months earlier. She too was close to being murdered when Harris and Christi had located her whereabouts and staged a daring rescue.

  “When do you get out of here?” Sylvia asked. She spoke in an upbeat voice hoping to lighten the mood.

  “Well, they said twenty four hours so I guess tomorrow morning.”

  “Good. We will be here in the morning to pick you up. You’re coming out to the house for a few days.”

  “Sylvia, I-”

  “Nope!” Sylvia cut her off. “Not taking no for an answer.”

  “Damn right,” Emily added with a smile. “I don’t have to get back to school for a few days so this will be perfect.”

  “I don’t have any of my things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Uhhhh, toothbrush, toiletries, clothes.”

  “We have everything at the house.”

  “I want my stuff.”

  Sylvia glared down at her and frowned in a humorous attempt to stifle any further complaints.

  “Fine. We will stop by your apartment first. Good enough?”

  Christi smiled and shook her head.

  “I can’t win this fight, can I?”

  “Why no,” Sylvia laughed. “Did you ever think you could?”

  The three women laughed.

  Mob Rules

  38

  Deputy Commissioner Blake Shannon knocked softly on the office door.

  “Enter.”

  Shannon opened the door to see Harris sitting behind his desk. He was filling out paperwork.

  “Hey Blake,” Harris spoke.

  “Thought I’d find you here,” Shannon replied. He entered the office and shut the door. The room was dark, just a desk lamp on in the windowless office. There was a framed picture of Bonnie and Danny hanging on the wall and a folded American flag in a glass case alongside a picture of some troops in the Middle East.

  “Just trying to stay ahead of the paperwork.”

  Shannon took a seat as Harris continued to type. He waited for his subordinate to stop. Finally he interrupted him.

  “Jimmy,” he said in a stern voice. “We need to talk.”

  Harris stopped banging away at his keyboard and looked at his boss.

  “Shoot,” he said.

  “Jimmy, you know we have to place you on administrative leave. It’s policy.”

  “Yeah, I know that.”

  “So that means you can’t be here working. Leave means leave.”

  “Blake,” Harris spoke plainly. “I get that. I’m here on my own time.”

  He and Shannon went back many years and enjoyed a relationship built on mutual respect. They were colleagues.

  “But that’s just the point, Jimmy. Not only is it against regs, it als
o sets a bad example for the people beneath you.”

  “People beneath me?”

  “The people you outrank,” Shannon said in frustration. “Jesus Christ, don’t play games with me, Jimmy.”

  “Look Blake, I understand. You are doing your job. But you and I both know that I’m not going to stop doing what I have to do.”

  “Yeah,” Shannon answered slowly. “I know that. I just can’t know about it officially. Understand?”

  “Yeah, I understand.”

  “Well, when I hear you’re sitting in your office working, it makes it pretty hard for me to claim I didn’t know. Can’t you do this shit at home?”

  “You have two fucking cops sitting at my home. I don’t want to go there.”

  “We are trying to protect you, Jimmy.”

  “I don’t want protection,” Harris spoke coldly. His tone took on the familiar chill that he was famous for adopting under duress. “I want them to come for me.”

  Shannon shook his head slowly as he stared up at the ceiling.

  “Jimmy, we can’t have you waging a war in the streets.”

  “They waged the war, Blake. I’m just trying to win it and protect my family.”

  “Yeah, I understand. But Jimmy, don’t treat me like an idiot.”

  “And what the hell does that mean?”

  “Did you really have to cap that last guy? Really?”

  “Are you fucking serious?”

  “Jimmy,” Shannon said with a grimace. “It’s me.”

  “It was a clean shoot, Deputy Commissioner,” Harris growled. “Jesus, they were going to cut her throat, chop her into pieces and dump her in the East River.”

  “And there was no way to bring him in so maybe we could have extracted some intel?”

  “He came at me with a knife, Blake. I had a civilian to consider. I did the right thing.”

  “You probably had seventy pounds on him, Jimmy. You could have disarmed him easily.”

  “Blake,” Harris slowed down. “I really can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  He stared coolly across the desk at the senior officer. Shannon, however, was not a man to be intimidated by an icy stare.

  “And why didn’t you call for a team before you stormed that place?”

  “There wasn’t time. They were literally about to kill her,” Harris said. “Oh, but first they were going to rape her. The first guy I shot guy was unbuckling his pants when I made my move.”

  The two sat in silence. They stared at each other. Will against will. Finally Shannon broke.

  “Okay, Jimmy. Okay,” he rose from the chair and stood facing Harris. “Just try to remember, we’re on the same side.”

  “Of course, boss.”

  Shannon walked to the door.

  “How you doing? No shit.” He asked, turning back to face Harris. His concern was real.

  “I’m fine, Blake.”

  “You want to talk to the shrink?”

  Harris chuckled. He cocked his head and gave the man his best look of condescension.

  “Yeah, had to ask. Gotta cover my ass,” Shannon laughed. “Take care, Jimmy. Get the hell out of here.”

  “I’m leaving.”

  The Deputy Commissioner turned and left the office, closing the door behind him. As he headed down the hall, the sound of typing resumed.

  “Asshole,” he muttered under his breath as he suppressed a smile.

  Mob Rules

  39

  Bonnie shuffled to the front door of the cabin, struggling under the weight of her two suitcases. She plopped them down by the entrance to the cabin and walked back towards her son’s room.

  “How’s it coming?” She asked as she poked her head into the room.

  “Good,” Danny answered. “I’m almost done. I can’t wait to get home.”

  “Me too, kid. Me too.”

  She walked back towards the kitchen and began to put together a lunch which they could eat in the car. She grabbed a loaf of bread and went to the refrigerator for cold cuts and mustard. Bonnie quickly made a stack of sandwiches which she then placed in individual zip lock bags. She grabbed a grocery store sack and placed the sandwiches inside. Then she went back to the fridge and grabbed a bunch of bottled waters. She placed these in the sack along with some apples, bananas and a few small bag of chips. This complete, she walked the bag over to the front door and placed it next to her suitcases.

  At that moment, Steve walked out of the back room which served as an office and his bedroom, thanks to a fold out couch. He walked over to Bonnie and stopped in front of her, glancing from her to the suitcases. He said nothing, only offered an inquisitive look.

  “How long will it take for you and Mike to get ready?” She asked with a smile.

  “We going somewhere?” the man responded slowly.

  “We’re going home,” she answered matter-of-factly her tone suggesting he was foolish for even asking the question.

  “And Captain Harris has okayed this?” The bodyguard asked.

  “Well, Steve. I haven’t consulted him on the matter.”

  “Uhhhh, ma’am. I’m afraid I have to call him before I can get on board with this.”

  “Why?”

  “Ma’am,” the man drawled slowly, weighing his words carefully. “We have orders.”

  “Oh, well I’m sorry to hear that. Luckily for me and my son, we do not.”

  “What exactly does that mean, ma’am?”

  Bonnie tossed her head skyward in exasperation. She turned and looked sourly at the man.

  “Would you please stop fucking calling me, ma’am? For Christ’s sake, Steve. How many times do I have to ask you that?”

  “Sorry. It’s kind of ingrained.”

  “Well un-ingrain it. My name is Bonnie.”

  “Okay Bonnie. But I still have to call Captain Harris.”

  “You do what you have to do, Steve-O,” she laughed aloud as she turned and walked back towards the bedrooms. “I’m going home.”

  Steve reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone. He sent a quick text. In moments his phone chimed with the reply. He walked back to where Bonnie was helping Danny finish up with his packing.

  “Ma’am, he began. “Ooops. Bonnie. May I speak with you?

  “Go ahead.”

  Steve looked towards her son and then back to Bonnie.

  “Alone?”

  “Oh just spit it out, Steve. Anything you tell me I’m just going to repeat to my son anyway. Out with it.”

  “Okay. I’m afraid I cannot let you leave.”

  Bonnie threw her head back and laughed. It was not a forced laugh but a genuine and hearty one. She smiled at her bodyguard.

  “How in the world do you propose to stop me? Last time I checked this was still a free country.”

  “Bonnie, I suggest you call your husband.”

  “Nope. I have nothing to say to him.”

  “Ma’am, I highly suggest that you call Captain Harris.”

  Bonnie looked to her son and chuckled.

  “There he goes with that ma’am stuff again.”

  “Please,” Steve added.

  Bonnie took in a deep breath and let out a sigh.

  “You’re not hearing me, Steve. Danny and I are going home. Now. Today. So please go get your stuff and then warm up the Suburban. We are ready to leave.”

  Mike appeared in the doorway.

  “What’s up?” He asked.

  Steve turned and gave him a look.

  “Go get packed, Mike,” Bonnie ordered. “We’re all going back to New York.”

  “Steve?” Mike pondered.

  The man simply shook his head.

  “Or if you two want to stay that’s just fine. Give me the keys and I’ll drive myself.”

  “Did you talk to Captain Harris?” Mike asked his partner.

  “Yeah, we just traded texts. He said no way.”

  “I don’t give a good goddamn what he said!” Bonnie erupted. Her face wen
t red as she lost her temper. “I’m sick and fucking tired of having my life planned and discussed without my consent like I’m some kind of preschooler!”

  The two bodyguards stood silently and let her vent.

  “Now go warm up the fucking car or give me the goddamn keys and I’ll do it myself!”

  “I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Steve said apologetically.

  “Give me the keys, Steve!”

  “Call your husband, Bonnie,” Steve spoke somberly. “There has been a development that you need to know about.”

  “What are you talking about?!”

  “Please,” Mike interjected. “Call your husband.”

  Bonnie stared at the men silently, her mouth twisted in anger. She saw their faces and knew that they had information that she did not yet possess.

  “Shit,” she finally mumbled. She reached for her phone as she pushed past the men and headed towards the kitchen. She pressed dial and waited as the connection was made.

  “Hey Bonnie,” Jimmy answered. “How are you?”

  “I am furious right now, Jimmy. Your goons won’t let me leave. This is bullshit!”

  “I understand,” Harris spoke calmly trying to placate her. “But I can’t tell you how glad I am you weren’t here yesterday.”

  “What happened? Give it to me straight.”

  “Okay, no bullshit. Here it is.”

  Harris spent the next few minutes explaining what had gone down. From the house being shot up, to Christi’s kidnapping and how he had saved her. She remained silent and let him talk. When Harris finished he waited for a reaction. Bonnie just stood, rooted in place. She felt her body tremble as the gravity of the situation came into greater focus. Her mind struggle to grasp the fact that there were actually men who were trying to kill her and Danny. It hadn’t seemed real until now. After what seemed like an eternity, she spoke.

  “So it’s true? We’re being hunted?”

  “Well,” he answered slowly. “By one group of lowlifes. And I will handle that very soon.”

  “Handle it?”

  “I will eliminate the threat. I can promise you that.”

  Bonnie sobbed openly. She hadn’t even felt it coming but the fear and frustration poured from her without warning. She let the phone drop from her ear and hang by her side as she wept. She placed her free hand on the counter to steady herself.