Jack Taggart Mysteries 9-Book Bundle. Don Easton

down his shirt. They were the ones he robbed outside of the Spotted Owl Motel. Hope they don’t recognize my voice.

      “With me, señor!”

      Jack felt the barrel of a gun nudge his kidneys. He tried to smile and nodded politely as he followed. The side door of the van opened and a sharp jab from the barrel told him to step inside.

      The search was thorough and did not take long. One of the men took Jack’s cellphone, then he was allowed to dress himself before being hustled out of the van. He was then brought to the Mercedes, where the rear door opened on the passenger side and he was shoved inside.

      “I am Carlos,” said the short, squat man sitting beside him. He wore a green beret and a light jacket that was open to expose a pot-belly.

      Thoughts of Charlie flashed across Jack’s mind. He thought of Holly and the terror that Danny and Susan were still living with. Wonder if I could grab his throat and squeeze the life out of him.

      Carlos’s eyes peered at him from under the beret. Jack knew that his hatred showed, but for a brief moment he didn’t care.

      Carlos barked out a command in Spanish and a burly man sitting in the seat in front of him turned to face him, while reaching into his waistband. At the same time, the driver reached into his shoulder holster while staring at Jack through the rear-view mirror.

      “You have my money?” snapped Jack, pointing his finger at Carlos.

      “You do not talk at me in such manner!” roared Carlos.

      Jack stared back. He knew his actions were not professional. I’m supposed to make this guy like me, or at least not appear as a threat. He sat back and looked down in submission.

      Carlos appeared to relax and then said, “After Damien is dead, you will be paid.” He gestured to the two men in the front and said, “You tell my men to drive to Damien now! They come back from Canada. They speak English good.”

      Jack glanced quickly at the two men and then said, “I will tell you how to find the place when you let me out of the car. I do not have a gun. It would be dangerous for me to go with you.”

      “You will tell me now or you will die!”

      “If I die, then...”

      “Then my men will wait for Damien on the road to the airport,” countered Carlos. “He leaves tomorrow. I can wait.”

      Jack looked around him. I feel like I’m in the middle of a movie. It’s all so surreal. I may never see Natasha again ... Carlos might win.

      “Talk my men now!” ordered Carlos.

      When the small convoy consisting of Carlos’s Mercedes, three vans, and two SUVs drove past the tiny bar with the Aguila sign, Jack pointed to the end of the street and gave directions into the villa.

      Carlos immediately ordered the convoy to park down a side street while one SUV left to check out the area around the villa.

      Muted light from a nearby home illuminated the men’s faces in the car. Carlos accepted a call on his cell and then looked suspiciously at Jack and said, “There is a Jeep in front of villa. Is that Jeep belong to Damien?”

      “I think he borrowed it from whoever he hired to kill you.”

      “That Jeep, it look like a Jeep belong to man I were at war with.”

      “You’re joking!”

      “I am no joking!”

      “Maybe tonight is not such a good idea. Is this man dangerous? The one whose Jeep —”

      “Enough! I think maybe you know this man!”

      “I don’t. I know your reputation. I am not stupid enough to do anything to make you angry!”

      Carlos stared at Jack for a moment and then said, “We will wait here until Damien is got by my men.”

      “You’re not going in as well?” asked Jack. “I thought ... man to man ... you would wish to avenge your brother!”

      “I will revenge when it is safe,” replied Carlos. “There is a small bridge to the villa. I do not think it wise to cross bridge until my men have Damien.”

      Jack looked at the two bodyguards in the front seat and noticed four more standing outside near the car. I’m dead!

      Carlos continued to stare at Jack and said, “You know that I telled my men to kill you in Canada. Yes?”

      Jack saw the distrust in Carlos’s eyes. I’ve got to gain control — and his trust — fast! He smiled and said, “That was simply business. I understand that.”

      “That man my men shoot. The news it say his baby cannot walk. What you think?”

      “I think ... I’m glad you made a mistake and didn’t shoot me.”

      Carlos was determined. “I am told you upset that my men try to drown the policeman’s baby. Yes?”

      Jack shrugged and said, “It was expected that I should look upset, so I did.”

      Carlos leaned closer. “Tell me. What woman think when she see her baby die in water?”

      Jack’s mind flickered back to an undercover operation years earlier when he had purchased child pornography. The operation was successful, but he had found it humiliating and degrading to even pretend to be that kind of person. Now I have to pretend to be worse — to be like this man. He looked at Carlos and laughed, and then said, “I think she squirmed ... just like a baby kitten when you light it on fire!”

      The shock was evident on Carlos’s face, and then he sat back and laughed too.

      Jack watched him laugh but also saw something else. A glimpse of a holster on the side of his waistband under his jacket.

      Carlos then slapped Jack on the shoulder and said, “Yes, amigo. That is what I think too!”

      “I would like to see Damien squirm when you catch him,” said Jack. “Just like a kitten!”

      “He will, amigo. He will squirm long time.”

      “But if your men kill him, we will not see that. It is better if we go with your men.”

      Suspicion returned to Carlos’s face. “No! We wait here!”

      Jack’s mind raced for a solution. “How will your men catch him?”

      “I send everyone to drive fast to the villa. My men call me when safe and we go see.”

      “Damien might be killed before you catch him. I know how to catch him alive.”

      “Alive? How?”

      “Have some of your men sneak up to the back of the villa first. Then have the rest of your men drive up to the front really fast. The more vehicles the better. We could go too but stop at the bridge. Damien will get scared and run out the back door. Bingo!”

      “Bingo?”

      “You would have him! Your men could jump on him in the dark!”

      Carlos thought for a moment, then said, “That is a good plan. I want caught him alive!”

      “There is a small problem, but I can fix it.”

      “Problema? What problema?”

      “Damien sometimes sets a booby trap.”

      “What is booby trap?”

      “A grenade to go off. It could kill your men and warn Damien.”

      “He has a grenade,” said Carlos quite simply. An item that did not surprise him.

      “Give