Read Online Running Dark by Jamie Freveletti - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jamie Freveletti
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trust you’ll be feeling better soon?”
Tarrant nodded. His throat was dry.
The Vulture held up two thick white envelopes. “Here’s another five thousand for each of you and detailed information on the next job. I need you to persuade a certain gentleman to halt his operations in the Red Sea. Or, more specifically, in the trade route through the Gulf of Aden.” Tarrant took one of the envelopes and shoved it into his pocket without looking at it. The Vulture had never shorted him.
“Dead persuaded? Or just hammered-into-the-pavement persuaded?” Tarrant said.
The Vulture shrugged. “Beaten first. Homicides draw too much attention. Of course, if the beating doesn’t work, you can escalate the force. I’m aware that you have a reputation for killing people by accident.”
Tarrant snorted. “Once my temper gets away from me, I have a hard time pulling back.”
“If you end up killing him, be certain that his vice president gets the message, too.”
“Is it true that you want us to stick the runner again?” the African asked.
“I understand that she got up and finished the race.”
The African nodded. “She ran away, fast. Real fast. Is that what she was supposed to do?”
“Yes. But we also expected much more erratic behavior as well. No one seems able to confirm that aspect. If she was behaving within the bounds of normal, then the dose may not be enough.”
The African frowned. “I hit her hard. Gave her every last drop. I thought the drug works better on fit people. Enters their system faster. If that’s true, she should have turned into a lunatic.”
The Vulture shook his head. “She did not. Not at all. Dose her again.” He looked at Tarrant.
“Whatever. We’ll get it done,” Tarrant said.
“Good. I’ll be in touch.” The Vulture sketched a wave with his hand, walked to the curb, and reached a hand into the air, as if he washailing a cab. Tarrant was just about to inform him that there were no cabs willing to risk this particular neighborhood at that hour of the evening when a large black sedan pulled up and halted. The Vulture swung open the door and disappeared inside. The car drove off.
“That man is a psychopath in a suit,” the African said. “I won’t be crossing him.”
The drug was in full flower now, giving Tarrant a feeling of bravado. “He’s just a rich guy in good clothes who’s afraid to do his own dirty work,” he said.
The African scoffed. “I’d like to hear you tell him that to his face.”
Tarrant shrugged. “He’s gone now.”
“But he’ll be back. Let’s just be sure we get this Gulf of Aden guy good. I don’t want to fail the Vulture. He’d start his testing on me. I wouldn’t make it a week.”
“We’ll get him, don’t you worry.” Tarrant grinned like a fool all the way back to his car.
12
SUMNER TOOK THE FIRST WATCH, TEAMED WITH JANKLOW. THEY walked the deck, moving in opposite directions. Every twenty minutes or so, they’d pass each other. Sumner’s watch showed three o’clock in the morning. He met Janklow in the middle.
“You know, taking this shift means that we’re most likely to see some action, right?” Janklow said.
“If we don’t fall asleep first,” Sumner said. A thought occurred to him. “If these guys come back and actually board us, what can they get? Besides the hostages and the money in the casino, I mean.”
Janklow leaned against the railing for a moment. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to Sumner.
“I don’t smoke,” Sumner said. He watched Janklow light up, take a deep drag, and blow out the smoke before answering.
“We’re carrying some cargo as well. It’s unusual, we don’t often do it, but it’s for a charity. Our hold contains vaccines and pharmaceutical products that we were to deliver to Mombasa when we docked there.”
“Is it worth anything?” Sumner said.
Janklow shook his head. “Invaluable to the kids who need it, but not worth a thing to the pirates.
Tarrant nodded. His throat was dry.
The Vulture held up two thick white envelopes. “Here’s another five thousand for each of you and detailed information on the next job. I need you to persuade a certain gentleman to halt his operations in the Red Sea. Or, more specifically, in the trade route through the Gulf of Aden.” Tarrant took one of the envelopes and shoved it into his pocket without looking at it. The Vulture had never shorted him.
“Dead persuaded? Or just hammered-into-the-pavement persuaded?” Tarrant said.
The Vulture shrugged. “Beaten first. Homicides draw too much attention. Of course, if the beating doesn’t work, you can escalate the force. I’m aware that you have a reputation for killing people by accident.”
Tarrant snorted. “Once my temper gets away from me, I have a hard time pulling back.”
“If you end up killing him, be certain that his vice president gets the message, too.”
“Is it true that you want us to stick the runner again?” the African asked.
“I understand that she got up and finished the race.”
The African nodded. “She ran away, fast. Real fast. Is that what she was supposed to do?”
“Yes. But we also expected much more erratic behavior as well. No one seems able to confirm that aspect. If she was behaving within the bounds of normal, then the dose may not be enough.”
The African frowned. “I hit her hard. Gave her every last drop. I thought the drug works better on fit people. Enters their system faster. If that’s true, she should have turned into a lunatic.”
The Vulture shook his head. “She did not. Not at all. Dose her again.” He looked at Tarrant.
“Whatever. We’ll get it done,” Tarrant said.
“Good. I’ll be in touch.” The Vulture sketched a wave with his hand, walked to the curb, and reached a hand into the air, as if he washailing a cab. Tarrant was just about to inform him that there were no cabs willing to risk this particular neighborhood at that hour of the evening when a large black sedan pulled up and halted. The Vulture swung open the door and disappeared inside. The car drove off.
“That man is a psychopath in a suit,” the African said. “I won’t be crossing him.”
The drug was in full flower now, giving Tarrant a feeling of bravado. “He’s just a rich guy in good clothes who’s afraid to do his own dirty work,” he said.
The African scoffed. “I’d like to hear you tell him that to his face.”
Tarrant shrugged. “He’s gone now.”
“But he’ll be back. Let’s just be sure we get this Gulf of Aden guy good. I don’t want to fail the Vulture. He’d start his testing on me. I wouldn’t make it a week.”
“We’ll get him, don’t you worry.” Tarrant grinned like a fool all the way back to his car.
12
SUMNER TOOK THE FIRST WATCH, TEAMED WITH JANKLOW. THEY walked the deck, moving in opposite directions. Every twenty minutes or so, they’d pass each other. Sumner’s watch showed three o’clock in the morning. He met Janklow in the middle.
“You know, taking this shift means that we’re most likely to see some action, right?” Janklow said.
“If we don’t fall asleep first,” Sumner said. A thought occurred to him. “If these guys come back and actually board us, what can they get? Besides the hostages and the money in the casino, I mean.”
Janklow leaned against the railing for a moment. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to Sumner.
“I don’t smoke,” Sumner said. He watched Janklow light up, take a deep drag, and blow out the smoke before answering.
“We’re carrying some cargo as well. It’s unusual, we don’t often do it, but it’s for a charity. Our hold contains vaccines and pharmaceutical products that we were to deliver to Mombasa when we docked there.”
“Is it worth anything?” Sumner said.
Janklow shook his head. “Invaluable to the kids who need it, but not worth a thing to the pirates.
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