Book Five - Part Ten - Ending Evil: Chapter Six

Wednesday – January 2nd

Baker’s Office – 9:06 a.m.

After letting everyone know she would be handling Satchell’s duties while he was away, she decided today was as good as any other day to clean out her desk of useless items and pull some files to begin the next quarterly reports. She was finishing up with only her second drawer when there was a knock on the door. She looked up to see Lee Austin.

“Yes, Mr. Austin? Come in. What can I do for you?”

“Actually, Lieutenant, it’s what I can do for you. The name Carleton Vangard may mean nothing to you, but I think Manny Delgado might.”

“Delgado rings a bell.”

“It should. You arrested him about eight years ago.”

“I remember now. He tried robbing one of the branch banks in town.”

“I’m here to give you a heads up. He’s in town.”

“How do you know this?”

“I was having lunch at Lucy’s, and I overheard their conversation. Lieutenant, he plans to kill you.”

“You’re certain of this?”

“Like I said, I heard them talking. When they left Lucy’s, I saw them get in a green van and drive off.”

“How is it you know their names?”

“Like I said, I heard them talking. Vangard let Manny’s name just fall out of his mouth. The other thing, when I left Lucy’s and was driving back to my place, I saw them parked a block from the police station. I’m sure they were waiting on you to come out, so they could tail you.”

“Interesting. You wouldn’t happen to know where they are staying, would you?”

“No, but my guess is they’re staying at one of the motels on 60. Vangard said something about leaving something important in the room.”

“All right. I’ll have a few of my officers look into this, Mr. Austin. Thank you for the assistance and the information.

“How is your business working out for you? I spoke to your aunt the other day. She worries about you, but she said you already have a few clients.”

“Things are getting better all the time, Lieutenant. Couldn’t be better.”

Johnson County Airport – 11:16 a.m.

Once more, with the assistance of his pilot, Cragg, he took to the skies.

Lee had confirmed with Cragg that the package he wanted delivered, made its destination. Lee relaxed, knowing his idea would remove Delgado and Vangard off the streets for an awfully long time.

For now, his travel’s would require a few additional stops more than usual. After all, not even a Lear Jet can fly halfway around the world on a single tank of fuel. For this trip, he would have his own stewardess, Janice, on board to prepare his meals and for conversation, other than about his line of work. Half he would explain if she asked, the other half, he would not. It wasn’t her concern.

Chicago’s O’Hara Airport would be first, followed by Sea-Tac outside of Seattle,

Washington. From there it would be on to Juneau, Alaska, and from there to Sapporo, Japan, which houses a modest airport. Lee planned on getting at least six hours of sleep as well. He would need to be well-rested and on top of his game for what lay ahead.

Lee would spend three days in Tokyo.

According to the dossier, Mitsu Taniku, an industrialist in mining, construction, and manufacturing, also dealt in about five percent of the drug traffic that went through half his export business to the United States, Australia, and South America. It accounted for nearly one-hundred million dollars annually of the worldwide drug trade. At five percent of the drugs moved around the world; you do the math.

For that alone, Lee would love nothing more than to put a bullet in the man’s head.

But Mitsu also had his hands in the underground market as well. Illegal porn sites, prostitution utilized by young women bought and sold to the highest bidder.

Lee had been thinking if he could free some of those girls being used, he could save lives and return them back to families waiting on news, any news of their whereabouts, be they dead or alive. Ask any parent and they will tell you when it comes to their children, the not knowing kills their heart and soul more than anything else.

In truth, me may be able to save two or three at best. Usually, the girls are so far gone, being saved isn’t an option any longer. They could care less one way or the other. Sad, but true.

The other truth, Lee wasn’t an army. What he would do in the next three days would either work, or he could end up dead.

That was an option he didn’t find satisfying.

Motel Six – 1:56 p.m.

Several police cars converged in front of Room 231.

Both Carleton Vangard and Manny Delgado were arrested and handcuffed and taken to jail, while both were crying foul the entire time.

In the motel room and in the van, four handguns were found. Also in the van, six kilos of cocaine were found. Delgado and Vangard were screaming bloody hell over that one.

“That shit ain’t ours!” cried Vangard.

“Yeah, one of you fucking assholes planted that shit! This is a fucking set up! You hear me!”

“Yeah, we hear you Delgado. Lower your head and get in the car.” Larry said as he look over at his partner, Sadowski.

Manny raised his head back and struggled against Lucky to be heard.

“This is all your damned fault, Vangard! You and your big fucking mouth! Somebody heard you flappin’ your gums!” That quickly, Manny turned toward Baker. “And YOU! You one lucky bitch! I got a bullet with your name on it!”

Sixteen witnesses heard that. That statement alone would prompt the judge to tack on another ten years on top of the first ten to Manny’s sentence. Carleton ended up getting ten years for being an accomplice to commit murder.

All in all, it was a solid arrest.

Baker looked at Sadowski before she left and said, “Wasn’t that nice of Delgado? He actually engraved my name on a bullet. How sweet of him. Get their asses downtown.”

As Baker got back in her car, she quietly said, “Thanks, Austin.”

The Call - 2:56 p.m.

“Baker.”

“Lieutenant Baker?”

“Yes.”

“This is Johnson County Port Authorities.”

“Yes, what can I help you with?”

“We thought you might like to know a Lear jet took off from here at 11:15 this morning. It was logged in but never reported to our office until a just now, but we figured you would want to know.”

“Okay. Who is it registered to?”

“Paperwork read, Lee Austin.”

Baker sat upright in her chair.

“Did you say, Lee Austin?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay. Thank you.” Baker hung up.

He had just been in her office for a short time before he left, and now he’s on a jet. How did he get his hands on a Lear Jet? Business can’t be that good.

She called his cell phone.

He answered from 12,000 feet in the sky.

“Yes, Lieutenant, what can I help you with?”

“First, thanks again for the information. It paid off.”

“You’re welcome, but I hear another reason in your voice for the call.”

“Yes. Would you mind telling me where you are at the moment?”

“Not at all. Just passing Cleveland as we speak.”

“In a plane?”

“I’m certainly not jogging. It’s called a Maverick 360-C Lear Jet. Eight-seater, pretty much state-of-the-art.”

“How did you manage to get your hands on one of those?”

“I didn’t. It belongs to a client of mine.”

“According to the airport, it’s registered in your name as the owner.”

“I know, but the client set it up that way as he wants to remain anonymous.”

“I see. Sorry to take up your time.”

“Then, I’m not in any trouble?”

“No, but should you be?”

“I just hope I have no problems with this case I’ve taken.”

There was something he said right before he hung up that bothered her, but she wouldn’t interfere with his work unless he broke the law. And for the moment, she had nothing.

Before her day was over with, Lee would be the last thing on her mind, but that didn’t mean she forgot about him.

Looking at the clock, she saw it was time to get to the Arena. The parade from Montie High was under way and she didn’t want to miss any of the festivities that would happen or miss seeing Stevie waving to the crowd with his teammates.