Jack sat in the car across the street from Ma and Pop’s Java, with Tucker in the passenger seat, watching Hunter, Judd, and Dennis at their table, apparently engrossed in a serious discussion. Accompanying Jack and Tucker were four of Jack’s associates and two of his captains, strategically located around the coffee shop to ensure their targets wouldn’t be missed. Jack was careful in his planning, knowing that the morning’s events would be a public event and had given specific instructions to make sure there were no unnecessary losses.
Tucker turned to Jack with an impatient look. “How much longer do we have to wait? He’s right there.”
“What’s the rush? You got a hot date?”
“I don’t like waiting.”
“Waiting is part of the game. We don’t spend time planning for no reason. We have to be precise and get it done right the first time. You’ve been with Parnell long enough to know that.”
Tucker let out an exasperated sigh. “Yeah, well, Mr. Parnell gave me exact instructions for the boyfriend and I’m not going to fuck it up.”
“What were his instructions?”
Tucker stared out the window, ignoring Jack’s question. Jack dealt Tucker a slap to the side of his head with so much force that Tucker’s forehead hit the window. As Tucker tried to rub the pain off his scalp, his irritation turned to confused panic as Jack pressed the barrel of his gun under Tucker’s jaw.
“I asked you a question, boy, and I expect an answer, or my first bullet of the day will exit the back of your skull. What were his instructions?”
“He wants his heart!” Tucker cried out, and Jack’s eyes widened in disbelief. “He wants to give it to his daughter so she’ll know he will make sure nobody will ever be able to love her as long as he draws breath! That’s what he told me, word for word! I swear!”
Jack slowly drew his gun back and sat back in his seat, contemplating. David had told him how Matthew felt about Renee, and knew that Matthew was an asshole, but never would have imagined he could be so sadistic.
***
Hunter was cornered by Mrs. Davidson and grateful that Dennis decided to save him. She was still hell-bent on finding him the perfect woman even though he had already told her he met somebody else.
“I won’t believe you until I meet her,” Mrs. Davidson told him.
Thankful for the rescue, Hunter cordially said goodbye to Mrs. Davidson and joined his friends at the table in front of the window facing the street. Hunter opened a file and started scanning the documents inside.
“All this is new?” Hunter asked.
“Everything I could find last night,” Judd said. “Unfortunately, there isn’t much more than there was a few days ago.”
Hunter thought about telling Dennis and Judd about the recorded confession regarding the murder of Wyatt Lundy all those years ago, but he had promised David and Chloe that he wouldn’t pursue it. Hunter had to respect the fact that David had the right to deal with Matthew concerning the death of his son and the father of his granddaughter.
Hunter went back to focusing on the papers in front of him and, finding nothing new, tossed them on the table in frustration. “She talked about these two guys, Crescent and Tucker. Have you been able to find anything on either of them?”
“If I could, you would have it in front of you, man,” Judd said, then took a bite of his pastry. “So far, the only one I can find anything on is the doctor, and even that isn’t much. It’s like the second he retired, he fell off the map.”
Surprised when they saw who entered the shop, the three men turned to watch as Jack walked in, greeted them with a wave of his hand, and went to the counter to order a coffee.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Judd asked.
“Good question. I’ll be right back,” Hunter told the others, and then joined Jack at the counter.
“I understand you met Mr. Lundy.” That was all Jack had to say to let Hunter know he knew what was going on.
“I got quite the education. Are you here to tell me more secrets?”
“Have you told them?” Jack asked, indicating Judd and Dennis, who had turned their attention back to the work in front of them.
“No. They know what they know, but the fewer people who know, the better.”
Jack took a photo out of his jacket and handed it to Hunter. “Do you know who this man is?”
It was a man in his mid-thirties, with broad shoulders and sandy blond hair, standing on a sidewalk outside of a restaurant, looking to be waiting for somebody or something. Just from the look in the man’s eyes, Hunter instinctively knew everything about this man was dangerous, but he didn’t know who he was.
“Did Chloe ever mention a man who works for Parnell by the name of Tucker Wilson?”
Every muscle in Hunter’s body seemed to atrophy as he remembered everything Chloe had told him.
“I see you’ve heard of him,” Jack observed.
“This is him?” Hunter asked.
Jack nodded. “It is. He’s sitting outside in the black SUV waiting for you and Fowler. Parnell has issued a contract on you both. Sanctioned, of course.”
Hunter tried to maintain a casual demeanor, but to say he was speechless with disbelief was an understatement. Hunter had too many questions running through his head and knew with this revelation time wasn’t a luxury for getting answers. Giving Jack a skeptical look, Hunter asked, “Why are you here, Jack?”
Finally getting his order, Jack took a drink of his coffee. “I will explain only what I can as quickly as I can. There is a schedule in place, and if we are to make Matthew believe his orders have been followed, it is my job to get the two of you outside. Make no mistake, I will get you outside if I have to drag you both out by your balls.”
***
Hunter had no choice. He had to get Judd outside without telling them what he knew and hope that following Jack’s orders would succeed. Once Jack left, Hunter squared his shoulders and mentally prepared himself for what was coming.
“We should get back,” Hunter said to Judd and Dennis.
“I need to hit the head,” Dennis said. “I’ll meet you at the car in a few minutes.”
Take as long as you want, Hunter thought as Dennis excused himself and Judd gathered the clutter from the table.
Hunter and Judd exited the coffee shop and walked toward Judd’s car. Hunter’s eyes quickly scanned his immediate surroundings and, just as he was told, he saw Jack standing on the passenger side of the SUV talking to Tucker as he exited the vehicle. Hunter quickly assessed his options for the inevitable and realized he couldn’t formulate a plan fast enough as a shot rang out and a bullet lodged itself in the grille of Judd’s car. Traffic stopped and pedestrians scattered at the sound. As three more shots were fired from different directions, Hunter pushed Judd, who was completely caught off guard, behind the car, where they both drew their guns.
Judd was in his first fire fight and Hunter was confident he would be able to handle himself. He had no other choice than to trust Judd would do the right thing and hope for the best. Judd didn’t let him down as he took cover and returned fire, even though Hunter wasn’t completely sure if Jack’s plan included them being able to hit anything they weren’t supposed to. Hunter had to trust Jack knew what he was doing when he told him the plan.
Jack and Tucker broke their cover from behind the SUV long enough to fire shots in Hunter and Judd’s direction. Both Judd and Hunter returned fire, but Tucker got off three shots; two missing his target and one going through the window of Ma and Pop’s Java. The world seemed to move in slow motion as Hunter turned to look through the window just in time to watch as Mrs. Davidson fell into Dennis’s arms with a gunshot through her neck. Infuriated and without any concern for his own wellbeing, and completely ignoring Jack’s instructions, Hunter broke his cover and ran for the SUV.
“What the hell are you doing?” Judd yelled, but Hunter ignored him.
Hunter ran toward Tucker and Jack, firing every bullet he had in Tucker’s direction as fast as he could. He crouched in front of the SUV and was able to take quick cover to reload his weapon. He caught a glimpse of one of Jack’s associates standing on a corner the next block over, standing down, his gun at his side, and another of Jack’s associates randomly firing his gun into the air. Hunter could only hope Tucker hadn’t taken notice of these two men and figured out what Jack was up to.
The play of gunfire continued as Tucker turned back to get to his cover when Hunter rounded the SUV and pulled the trigger, firing four rounds before Tucker could think about getting another shot off, all rounds hitting their mark. It took about two seconds for Tucker to hit the ground with one bullet taking him in the forehead, one in his right eye, one in his right thigh, and one in his neck. Gunfire ceased and all Hunter could hear were sirens in the distance and his heart pounding in his ears. Both stunned and furious, Hunter watched Jack smile down at Tucker’s corpse, then give Hunter a satisfied nod.
Hunter knew Jack’s associates had quietly and discretely concealed their weapons and left their positions by now. Judd ran over to make sure Hunter and Jack were okay and, once convinced, ran back to the coffee shop to help Dennis try to control the panicked people hiding under tables.
Hunter looked toward the coffee shop, then back to Jack, shaking with anger. “Goddammit, Jack.”
There was true remorse on Jack’s face. “I’m sorry, Hunter.”
Hunter spoke through clenched teeth. “She was a good, innocent woman. You tell your boss that I made the choice to play along with his game and did what I was told, but if he doesn’t kill Matthew Parnell, then I will.”
Jack spoke low and hard. “You do realize that the only reason you and your partner are still alive is because my boss ordered it, don’t you? Matthew wants you dead, and it’s only because of Mr. Lundy that you aren’t. Trying to stare me down doesn’t change anything, Agent Lawton. An innocent woman is dead because of Matthew Parnell and I can promise you that Mr. Lundy will not forget that fact or let it go unpunished.”
With no other outlet for his mixture of sorrow and anger, Hunter turned and punched the window out of the SUV, leaving shards of glass embedded in his now broken hand.
As the paramedics rounded the corner, Jack started to walk toward the coffee shop, then stopped and turned to Hunter. “Get your hand taken care of, then go home.”