The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort Sheriff My men and | were stationed at the hidden door, just right outside Highland Oaks, waiting. for Liam's call, so we could enter the residential area. | was tired, but an absentee Sheriff during a tragic tspelled murder for his career.

Just as Liam said, there were motorcycles parked against the wall, but there was no sign of a gang. | had a feeling they were still inside Highland Oaks causing mayhem, but it seemed. pretty quiet.

Or maybe... they hoofed it out of here.

My phone suddenly vibrated. The call | have been waiting for. | took my phone out from pocket and to my dismay, | saw Jack’s non the screen.

my ‘Sheriff, eight out of the nine suspects are dead. | don’t know who did this, but | suspect Liam had his hired guns kill these as sholes to shut them up,” Jack said. “Unfortunately, their bodies are sc ttered all over the place, so we need a plausible story. Might as well tell the media it was you and the other deputies who took these b astards down while they were shooting at all these people. | mean, it works... you and sof the men have done training with SWAT.” “Yes, it does work,” | replied. “As for the dead suspects, it is possible Liam's hired guns kille them off. | heard Liam tell the Colonel earlier to await orders after they brought all the cars to impound,” | said.

“You knew about this?” Jack asked, shocked.

“No, | didn’t, but I kind of suspected after you showedthat alert. | actually found it strange Liam would want the dead bodies from the OI’ Barn transferred there. Anyways, we're here, positioned behind the wall. | need an alibi and being part of the team who took down a bunch of punks sounds better than Dan coming over to bringchicken soup,” | said. “I could say we had intel a group of hoodlums were making their way to New Salem. No one else needs to know the details. So tell me, what do you know so far?” “Nine perps, eight dead. Two died by sn iper, long range, large caliber, one shot in the chest. One by assault rifle, multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. The rest small caliber. Two in the back, two in the back of the head, and one in the chest. | have two phones. One phone with messages from a Demon looking for a deed of sale. He's currently on the run. | estimate 1/7 11:18 Fri, Apr 5 CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort seventeen dead, however with the bodies from the OI’ Barn, it brings up the casualties to thirty-five.” “Anything else?” | asked.

“Suspects appeared around midnight, coming from inside Highland Oaks, asking the people to play hide and seek, that is, the suspects would give the crowd twenty seconds to hide and after the twenty seconds were up, the suspects would cand kill anyone they found. They killed the guards and deputies first, making the people run inside the residential area for cover. Power went off around ten minutes after twelve and lasted until twelve-thirty. Within those twenty-minutes, the suspects were killed.” “We were about done at the OI’ Barn when the ruckus started at Highland Oaks,” | pointed out. “Convenient, don’t you think? Anyway, I'll see you on the other side, Jack.” | moved the brick which concealed the security panel and punched in the combination. The hidden door slid open.

“It’s tto play heroes, boys,” | said, walking into Highland Oaks. “Remember, | do the talking.” Earlier at the station, | called the men to my office. | told them to dress into their tactical suits before we headed to Highland Oaks.

“What's up, Sheriff?” “There are armed suspects at Highland Oaks. We are going to kill them,” | stated nonchalantly. “Don’t worry, boys. We are going to be hailed as heroes.” “Are we going to be paid extra, Sheriff?” One deputy asked.

“Sure boys. Just keep your mouths shut and letdo the talking. Ill tell the press it was a coordinated effort,” | assured them. | placed a map of Highland Oaks on the table. “We go through the back of Highland Oaks and pretend we’ve been doing clearing operations since the shooting started,” | explained.

“Sheriff, how are we going to go through the back of Highland Oaks? That residential community is surrounded by a tall wall,” one of the deputies asked.

“There's a door there, commissioned by Theodore Cohen. It was purposely hidden for cases like these, not even the blueprint shows it. But | know it’s there and when it’s t| need to I'm going to tell the now Sheriff of its avistance” | said “We'll be using dirt bikes to 2/7 CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort cut through town so we can get to the forest behind the community. After we enter, we proceed to the main gates of Highland Oaks looking like the b adas ses we are. So suit up, gentlemen!” It's a good thing | get to end this day with a smile.

Xavier | was on the phone with Joy, seated in the middle of the van, trying my hardest to stay awake, as Lou drove to Mandan. We decided to spend the night there, since, according to Dina, there were checkpoints being set up at all the entrances and exits within the town.

In the back were the Martins. Their heads were covered with black hoods, their ears covered with ear plugs, and they were asleep. We drugged them at Arnold County. | couldn't deal with Norma... she was a pain in the neck.

While we waited for Sebastian and Cristos to cover the fence, | pulled Link to the side.

“You have the deed of sale?” | asked Link. He nodded his head and patted his coat pocket. “Good. Use that as leverage against Liam.” | glanced at the motorcycles. We only had three. S hit. “Since we have to save these as sholes, we don’t have space for you.” “It’s okay. Ill walk to the front and act like a victim. Liam won't be able to touchwith media around,” Link pointed out.

“Alright. Tomorrow, I'll ask Jake to move in with you. He can stay in your guesthouse... you know, just as a precaution,” | said.

“Sure. After tonight, | think | do need someone with me. To even out the odds,” Link said, as we watched Cristos slide down with such finesse.

With Cristos over the fence, it was tto leave The Martins took one look at our motorcycles and shook their heads. | felt offended. My motorcycles were BMWs.

“It’s the only way out of here,” Link explained. “Look, it’s either this or you go back inside. and deal with Liam.” “Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, who are they, Link?” Norma asked, staring atcuriously. With the night vision goggles, masks and head gear, she couldn't identify us.

3/7 11:18 Fri, Apr CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort E “Sof my pals from the military,” Link answered. “I needed help and they were only twenty minutes away. By the way, is there a safe place we can drop you off?” “I have a place in Fargo,” Tomas said. “Can you lend us a carr or something?” “Sure,” Link said. “Get on the motorcycle and well get you to that car.” “No other way, huh?” Tomas asked rhetorically. He quickly climbed up, seating himself behind Sebastian while Ford sat behind Cristos, however Norma, she kept shaking her head disapprovingly.

“I don’t want to move to Fargo,” Norma complained. “I like it here in New Salem.” “Norma, Liam is going to kill us,” Tomas said. “We can’t stay in New Salem. There's nothing. left for us to stay.

Link, I'll leave it up to you to sell all our properties. | will issue a power of attorney. Just don’t tell them where we are.” “I won't,” Link said.

“I'm not going,” Norma said like a petulant child. “All my jewelry, all my clothes are here.” “You'll get more clothes and more jewelry, | promise,” Link said. And with all his might, he lifted Norma and placed her behind me.

“What about you, Link?” Norma asked before we drove out.

“I'll be fine,” Link assured her. “Don’t give my friends any trouble, okay? They're ris lives to save you. And oh, hold on tightly.” At the boundary of New Salem and Arnold County, Lou was waiting for us with a white Once she got off the motorcycle, she complained about her hair sticking up from the wi No wonder Tomas divorced her. She complained about everything.

Isecretly handed Cristos and Sebastian each a syringe. We positioned ourselves behind the Martins looking as if we were their guards.

“Please, get in,” Lou said, courteously. Norma eyed him warily.

“Where are you taking us?” Norma asked, as if we were planning to kidnap them.

“My boss has instructedto drive you to Fargo,” Lou said. “If you may...” 04/7 CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort “Who's this boss-" | stabbed her neck with a syringe and pushed the plunger. She was out like a light. | grabbed her waist to stop her from falling to the ground.

Finally, silence. She asked too many questions and talked way too much.

Beside me, Ford and Tomas collapsed onto the ground, on top of each other.

“Smooth guys,” | said.

“It’s because of this family, people are dead. | mean, why couldn’t they just give Liam the dam n pharmacy in the first place?” Cristos exclaimed, pulling out his gun. “I should just shoot them in the head.” “These guys have intel,” | reasoned. “Con. Let's load them into the van.” | helped Lou carry the two men to the back seat placing them beside Norma while Sebastian placed ear plugs and hoods over their heads.

We took off our goggles and boarded the van. Finally, speace.

“Bo, you still awake?” Joy suddenly asked.

“Gosh, | must have dozed off,” | replied, yawning “You need to get srest. You've been up almost forty-eight hours,” she scolded me. “I going to take a shower and get ssleep. This day has been something else.” “Alright. Get ssleep. We'll see you at the funeral tomorrow morning,” | said. “Good night.” “Good night, Bo.” I hung up, feeling at ease. This day may not have started out right, but it did end well.

At Mandan, my men replaced us as soon as we got off the van.

“Drive them to Fargo and drop them off at a motel. Leave this with them,” | instructed, handing them a bag of money. “Then follow them when they wake. To make it easier for you, equip this bag with a tracker. Once you know where they're staying, if they have a car, place a tracker on it.” “Yes, Beaufort.” 5/7 CHAPTER 164 A Coordinated Effort “I don’t know about you guys, but I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys in the mor-" “Beaufort, we have a problem,” Max said, running towards me. “I know you're tired, but this can’t wait "til the morning.” You have got to be kidding me! “What is it this time, Max?” | asked, yawning. “Gosh, I'm so sleepy.” “Randy wants to save his wife,” Max said.

us “Christine? No one will touch her. She's pregnant and a devout Christian,” | argued.

“She's also one of Pete's drug smugglers. When Randy left, Christine got a call from Dan and he said Liam was agreeing to her terms. Randy and Christine thought it sounded kind of fishy, so instead of meeting with Dan, she went into hiding. She's at that motel along the highway near the Biker's lounge.” “Uhm, that’s hardly hiding,” | said. “Unless she changed her car and won’t cout until | don’t know like...

forever.” Sebastian hitin the chest and gavea warning look.

“If we save her, what is in it for us?” Sebastian asked.

“Information,” Max answered.

“What kind of information?” Cristos asked.

“He’s willing to tell us the exact location of the drug laboratory.” | woke up... just li Finally, an answer to an old question. Where in the world was that drug laboratory an couldn't we find it? “Well, Sebastian? Cristos? Is that good enough for you?” Sebastian smiled. Drugs and smuggling was his arena.

“Let’s go get her.” | sighed. Truly, there was no rest for the wicked.

6/7 11:18 Fri, Apr