“We have the authority to get him wherever he is in the globe. It’s just that it’ll be a lot easier in California.”
But Brady was already worried that might not be a true statement.
Chapter 5
The first new team member to arrive was John Pawley. John had been one of the best junior medics Brady ever trained, a natural-born healer with good hands and quick wit. It was helpful to have someone who didn’t panic in an emergency, someone who could identify the problem, quickly mitigate possible further injury, and thereby probably save someone’s life. He also was a skilled surgeon, if quick battlefield amputations and wound stitching could be called surgery. It was more like butchering, Brady thought to himself.
John had gotten in trouble with some pain killers and his attention span difficulties. He’d had to bail out of the pre-medical courses he was required to take before he could apply to medical school. He washed out and joined his then father-in-law building houses around the Las Vegas area.
His hair was a little long, sporting a four-inch ponytail, but other than that, he was clean-shaven, his eyes were clear, and he didn’t look like he had any shakes, reddening skin, or indications of substance abuse. And that was the first question Brady had asked him on the phone.
“John, my man, you look fit. Tanned. How’s married life?”
Brady didn’t really want to know how his married life was, but it was something he had to get out of the way, because he knew someone coming from a recent divorce would have to be watched over extra special, especially if he had a new proximity to drugs and alcohol. John would be carrying a lot of tempting designer drugs on their mission, while Brady was busy doing the prep work, running the mission, and manning the comms.
“Always a puppy dog with your questions,” John answered with a sly grin. “As a matter of fact, my blood pressure is impeccable, and my hands perfect, except for a few scars from the hammering and stuff. I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol or Oxy in over five years. I’ve been divorced for four, so I had a stretch there where I was tempted, but I’m good now. Got a new girlfriend, and life’s good. I’m finally making some money. ’Bout ready to pay off my last debt.” He grinned again, showing his pearly whites.
“I see you got your teeth done, too.”
“That I did, with my first big paycheck,” he said, showing them off again.
Brady always thought he could’ve been an actor with his rugged good looks. He never knew John to have trouble with the ladies but, like himself and several others on the team, definitely had trouble keeping them. And it had nothing at all to do with satisfaction. It was from the lack of attention. John probably was less so.
“John, I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t question when you told me you were clean. Just had to ask. Part of the job.”
“I got you, Chief. I know.”
John grabbed Riley, and they gave a manly hug, something John didn’t do with Brady.
“Glad to have you, John.” Then Riley grabbed the carpenter by his upper arms, feeling his muscles. “Well, you’d never get those working in a hospital. I’d say building houses has been good for you, bud.”
“Vegas isn’t exactly a family town, but I make good money. And people are moving there in droves. Not exactly where I’d like to settle down someday, but for right now, with the shows, the pretty girls, all the glitz and movie stars, and a chance to make some money, it’s my kind of excitement.”
Brady began his host duties by taking the newcomer’s duty bag and bringing it inside the house. “We’re going to bunk in here for a night or two, until everybody comes. We got two more on the way. I’m going to have to put you up on the couch here, unless you’d rather be on the floor. I got extra blankets and pillows no problem. The head’s in there. I got another one outside off the back porch. Help yourself to anything in the refrigerator, and if you’ve got any special needs as far as food requests or anything, I’m not listening. Mostly what I feed people is wild game, beef, and vegetables because I got it all here. And if you tell me you don’t eat pork, well, you’re going to be the sorriest son of a gun you’ve ever seen.”
Brady was having fun.
“You raise pigs?” asked John.
“In a way. We got wild boar up in these hills. Can you believe it?”
“I understand they’re mighty tasty.”
Riley had been fidgeting. “So while you guys are exchanging recipes and talking about menu plans, I’m getting back on the computer. Brady and I are researching the area we’re going to be heading to as soon as the rest of the team arrives. I got more stuff to do and maybe some calls before we can formally show you what we got. So excuse me.”
Riley left the living room, walked into the dining room, and took up his seat across from his computer.
“Okay, John, I’m going to give you a medic kit that I made up. I’m going to take the pony pack while you take the heavy. I got the radios and other stuff. You’ll be the lead medic on this team, and hopefully, we won’t need it. We might find women and children there, so we need to take note and plan accordingly. They also might get hurt in the crossfire while we’re getting this guy, or they could be in rough shape, abused. We don’t know what we’ll find, but we have to be prepared for all of it.” Brady studied John as he finished. “I need you to ask me questions, because I got a lot going on, and I may not remember to tell you everything.”
“I get who this guy is. I know the history, and by the way, I’m sorry, Brady. So sorry.”
Brady held up his hand as a stop sign. “Not necessary, but I appreciate it.”
“My understanding is we’re supposed to nab him, not take him out. Is that right?”
“You would be correct. Yes, sir.”
John scratched the back of his head. “And what about the other guys? He’s going to have bodyguards and handlers. Are we authorized to use lethal force?”
“My understanding is that we can, but we probably shouldn’t. There is a chance that we’ll be dealing with some Mexican nationals, and Rojas himself is not a U.S. citizen. At least I don’t think he is. He wasn’t a few years ago. That’s just not the information I have anyway. So we have to be careful about handling people from other countries here, but my understanding is any of our actions will be protected from scrutiny.”
“Just who are we working for?” John asked.
“I’m not quite sure.” Brady was going to be honest with everybody on the team. “My guess is, this guy was being protected or is being protected by someone in our government, and we are either working for a private outfit or another branch of the government that needs to bring him in. I honestly don’t know whether they’re going to try him or just get him out of the way, because he is pulling off some bad stuff. Everyone knows it. He has been doing it for more than a decade now. And we just found out he also has set up a nonprofit organization, finding homes for orphan children. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Wow. That’s a new one.”
“And that’s what I’m checking on,” shouted Riley from across the room. “I’ve got a bunch of names to research here. This guy is a registered charity. He actually can take cash donations.”