Note: This is a work of FICTION! Although the areas this story takes place in are real; all of the landscapes depicted, the people described, and everything this story uses to make it enjoyable reading for you are NOT REAL. As you read this please remember:
This is a Novel
*
96. The Reaper Claims Us All
Bruno and Victoria Valentino were walking down a path at the Fort Polk Joint Use Base that they had walked many times before. It was a pleasant fall day in Louisiana. The summer heat had finally given way to more pleasant temperatures. Without the stress of running the 'Family Business' and looking over his shoulder for someone to kill him, he had found a life of leisure. Victoria also seemed to youthen during their time together.
Bruno said, "Damn this pain in my back, it just won't go away."
Victoria replied, "I will rub it for you, again, but why won't you go see the doctor?"
"Those quack chiropractors are just going to adjust my spine, and crack every rib I have."
"Bruno, go see the doctor. Maybe he can give you a pill to relax your muscles."
"I don't think it's..." Bruno fell to the ground face first.
Victoria screamed as she turned him over, "Bruno, talk to me. What's wrong with you?"
The cameras that were following their movements alerted the medics. Military personnel, and a military ambulance were there within minutes, but it was too late. Bruno Valentino, head of the New York crime family that controlled the Island of Manhattan was dead.
Victoria was devastated. 42 years of marriage had ended. She tried to console herself saying they were together at the end, and he did not suffer.
She had duty's to perform now. She had to call Stephano, her daughters, and the 'Family.' Stephano would be her first call.
Stephano looked at his cell phone. He smiled when he saw it was his mother. He was excited to hear from her.
"Hello mother; are you well?"
"Yes, my son, I am very well, but I have some terrible news. Your father passed away a few hours ago."
Stephano could not breathe for a moment. Victoria asked, "Stephano, are you all right?"
"Mother, I didn't know he was sick."
"The truth is he wasn't sick. We were both fine. We were out for a walk, and he was complaining about a pain in his back. It didn't seem like anything major, and I asked him to go to the doctor. He just fell to the floor. The medics were here in moments, but he was dead before they could do anything for him. Apparently, he had a heart attack. They will be doing an autopsy, to verify it. Damn him, Stephano; him and his pizzas. He could have lived another 20 years without them."
"Mom, Patricia, and I will be down tomorrow. Don't worry; we will take care of everything."
*****
"Patty, call Michael, my father just passed away. We are going Louisiana."
"I'm so sorry, Stephano. Your mother must be devastated. I will call Michael this instant. His agents aren't even here yet. He is going to have a fit."
"I don't care, my mother is more important."
She picked up the phone to call Michael. "Michael, I have a problem. Bruno Valentino just passed away. Stephano wants to go to Louisiana now. Your people are not here yet. Please don't be angry with me."
"What do you mean my people are not there yet? They should have been there more than an hour ago."
"They are not here, Michael. No one has shown up."
"Patty, take Harold and get out of there now. Tell everyone else that anyone that shows up from this point on is not a friendly. Patty move, and move quickly."
She hung up the phone, and yelled, "Alan, we have company coming, and they are not friendly. Michael wants me and Harold out of here now."
Alan came bounding down the stairs. "I bet they're looking for their two friends as well as you and Harold. Take the Rover, go out the back way, and get to your aircraft in Prescott. We will make their visit very unfriendly."
"Do you want me to take Callum with me?"
"No, just drop him off at Cassie's, and tell Sergeant to get over here. I'll call in the cavalry."
******
Alan called the Public Service Building in Cottonwood, and told Amanda to let him speak to the idiot.
"Alan, only I am allowed to call him an idiot. You have to call him Sheriff, Sheriff Idiot, or Elmore."
"Okay Amanda, can I speak to Sheriff Idiot, please?"
"I heard that Alan. Whatever it is, you can't have it."
"Okay, the next time the town Council wants to elect a new Sheriff, it won't be you. There is going to be a shootout at my house very shortly, and we are going to be outmanned and outgunned. I will have Susan send an email to your office explaining why we are all dead."
"Who is after you now, Alan?"
"They are not after me, you idiot, they are after Patricia, Harold, and our two hostages. They cannot afford to have four witnesses against them. Do you think you can send some help now?"
"Cars will be there in less than 10 minutes."
"Thank you Elmore."
The two men in the barn were gagged, and then covered under a mound of hay.
Susan took up a position in the loft of the barn, with her rifle and ammunition. Alan was on the roof of the house, behind the chimney, with his rifle, and Beretta. Sergeant took a position close to the gravel road. He was well covered by trees and brush. He had his rifle and a 9-mm. automatic, courtesy of one of the captured gunmen.
The men who came for them this time were experts. They did not drive in. They walked in slowly, in camouflage fatigues, and looked for anything that was out of the ordinary. Two men walked within 15 feet of Sergeant's position, and never saw him.
There were no vehicles in front of Susan's home. The men were wondered if they had come at a very opportune time.
Local birds were chirping, as if nothing was wrong in the area. Sergeant saw two men approaching from the rear of Susan's house and he needed to warn Alan. He imitated the call of a Cactus Wren, but just a little louder than the real bird.
Alan recognized the fake birdcall, and peaked towards Sergeants position.
Sergeant did not raise his head, just his arm pointing towards the rear of the house, with two fingers in the air. Alan understood the significance of the message. He had to take those two men out, before they entered his home. He stayed on the lee side of the house, and quickly moved below the ridgeline.
The two men had their weapons pointed towards the ground as he fired his first fatal shot, with his Beretta. The second gunman was startled, but raised his weapon and started to fire on full automatic mode. Alan slid to his right, over the ridge of his house, before he could take out the second man. The back of his home was now secure, but every other man, in this contingent, was now aware that there was a trap waiting for them.
From his hide, Sergeant took out the two men who passed him by. He returned to cover before anyone could see him.
As soon as sirens could be heard coming down the dirt road, the remaining men scattered. One became a target for Susan, and she hit him square between the shoulder blades, as he retreated. She changed her position to the far side of the barn, and caught another man as he reached the alternate route out of her property. She shot him in the hip. He was going anywhere.
The police captured three more, after a furious firefight. This left one man unaccounted for, as he disappeared through the brush.
Elmore and another officer greeted him, when he reached their hidden vehicles.
It was getting to the point that Susan's barn had almost as many inmates as horses. The horses were still in the lead by three head: two geldings, eight mares, against seven men.
Doctor Ted Vincennes, with some helpful hospital staff, was doing as much outpatient surgery, as he did inpatient. He made sure to leave very impressive and identifiable scars on each of the men he treated. He took pictures of his work, just for his records.
*******
97. Fight or Flight
They tried to reach the crew of the aircraft all the way to the airport, but they could not contact them by cell phone. They were nowhere to be found. No one at the Flight Service Station had heard from them since they parked the aircraft the day before, had it serviced, and the tanks filled with fuel.
Patricia looked at Stephano and said, "They may all be captured, or killed for all we know. These people may have gotten to them. I can do it Stephano, I know I can. We have to get out of here now. I know I promised you I wouldn't, but please trust me, I can fly this airplane. We are in grave danger on the ground, and if they get to us, you, I, and our babies are dead."
Harold said, "I can't fly, but I can help you with air traffic control. I played with the simulators at home."
Callie took Stephano's arm. "Steph, I'd rather take a chance on these two in the air, than wait to get shot on the ground."
Stephano shook his head in defeat, as he looked at the three people waiting for his decision. He looked at his wife and said, "Patty, just make sure we have enough gas to get there."
She smiled at him, and said, "I promise, I'll even check the oil."
"Wife, you are going to be the death of me."
Patty kissed him, and said, "I certainly hope so."
He smacked her ass, and said, "Alright Captain, let's get off the ground, quickly."
Patty ran into the Flight Service Station, filed a flight plan to Polk AFB, put in Hank's Pilot ID number, and was out the door in less than five minutes.
Stephano and Callie were strapped in their seats, praying. Harold contacted the tower for takeoff clearance, and Patty was at the controls. As she started the engines, and began her systems check, she looked at Harold and asked, "Which way is Runway 01?"
Harold looked at her with horror on his face.
"Relax Harold, I was just kidding. Call for taxi and take-off clearance."
"Love Tower, this is 254 November, ready for taxi and takeoff instructions."
"254 November, altimeter 3003, winds calm, climb and maintain one seven thousand, Contact Center 125.15, upon leaving 10 thousand. Cleared for takeoff, runway 01."
Howard replied, "254 November, Roger, one seven thousand, contact Center 125.15 after leaving one zero thousand. Cleared for takeoff."
Patty pushed the throttles forward; she released the brakes, turned onto the main runway and increased to 90% power. As all the dials showed positive readings, she increased to 100% power and waited for Harold to give her the speed-readings; from the card on his lap.
He called out, "V1," seconds later, "VR" and finally, V2.
Patty pulled back on the yoke and the aircraft soared into the air, and raised the landing gear, when Harold called V2. She continued straight ahead; until she passed 3000 feet and started a right turned to heading 093 degrees, GPS, direct to New Orleans.
******
As they passed through 10,000 feet, Harold called Phoenix Center and asked for 43000 feet as a cruise altitude.
Patty put the aircraft on autopilot and called Michael. She knew what his reaction was going to be, so she turned the volume down low.
"Hello Patty, where are you?"
"I'm flying at 43,000 feet, on the GPS route to New Orleans."
"Patty, repeat that for me please."
"Don't yell at me, Michael. We couldn't contact our flight crew. We thought they might be dead. I have flown this airplane once before and I did fine. The airplane is flying itself right now, and will do so until we get to Louisiana. The only thing I have to do is land it. It is not that hard to do."
Michael yelled, "Are you out of your fucking mind? Pilots train for years to get that right."
"What would you have me you, Michael. Stay on the ground and get shot by those men, or take a chance and fly an airplane I flown before. The four of us made a decision, and we are flying safe and sound to Louisiana."
"Okay Patricia, I forgive you. There was a shoot-out at Alan's place. They are all safe, and we have several more in custody. I think you made the right decision. I will get you an escort as you approach Louisiana, all the way to landing."
