A Man of Honor (4 page)

Chapter Six

Dominic concluded he hated flying. He lost count of the cities he’d flown to, but that inner fear never left him. He didn’t want to have it all end in a place crash. He’d rather just not wake up one day. He peered out of the small cabin’s window. Yeah, he just wanted to go to sleep and never know what hit him.

Sometimes he had nightmares after finally tracking down the low life’s he’d been chasing all over the country. Reading about the brutality and seeing some of the victims, these animals killed or tortured made him see how very precious life was. He couldn’t imagine the suffering and fear those people had to experience before praying for death. An eye for an eye was his belief. Too bad, it wasn’t a written law.

The engines on the plane were quiet, as well as the men aboard. The Leerjet 85 sat ten of them comfortably.  The rest of the teams boarded an Airbus A321. ETA was 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Dominic was confident they’d take the little bastard by surprise.

He’d been tracked to a private brothel in Sparks, one of the first towns on the outskirts of Reno. The establishment catered to men who were looking for transgender women. The advertisement online indicated that they offered the best of both worlds, meaning some had never completed the transformation and still had cocks.  Shivers traveled through Dominic. Maybe the thought of their cocks chopped off changed some minds. He’d finished a complete report, along with an in-depth profile. The last few lines of his report where by far the most important.

Ty Forsberg is a certified sociopath who will kill without any remorse. We will be approaching his nesting place with great care. He will take hostages if he anticipates we are near, and he will kill them along with taking his own life. I believe this is a suicide mission for Ty Forsberg; his last and final stand.

Thank you for your devotion and expertise. It is our goal to overtake the escapee without the loss of any further lives.

Deputy  U.S. Marshal Esposito

He always ended his reports on a more personal level.

Dominic sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. He’d been upholding the law for years and crawling inside sick minds for as long as he could remember. When he’d been a cop, his commendations and medals spoke for themselves. He never tired of doing what was right, although other aspects of his life had been grossly unsatisfying.  With Shauna, he was exploring a darker, yet far more exciting part of who he was. This avenue made him feel complete; exorcised from him all his demons.

A man of honor, one woman had called him as she kissed his hand after saving her son’s life in a bank robbery.

“There are few men left in this world like you, sergeant,” she’d told him in the ambulance that was taking him and her injured son to Bellevue hospital after a shootout. The kid was shot in the shoulder and would live. He took a bullet in the gut, and it hurt like fucking hell. Once the EMT administered the IV he could barely remember his response, but he never forgot her words.

“There a so few men of honor left in this world, and sergeant, you are one of them.” That day he considered himself an idiot for believing he could make a difference. It had been a hostage situation, and he had offered himself in exchange for the release of several hostages. The whole scenario had gone by the book, and he’d already had twenty successful hostage situations under his belt. That day didn’t go as planned. Innocent people died, along with the perpetrator, with four injured, including himself. Yet he was lauded a hero. It was the first time Dominic lost faith in his own decision making.

He threw on a pair of headphones and turned on the television. He needed to clear his mind. Then he heard the muffled jangle of glasses and ice. He looked up and saw it was Inspector Jack Andrews. “Thought we’d have some iced tea.”

He removed the headphones. “Thanks,” he answered. 

“We’ll eat light. I know some of the guys have no appetite at all. But we need to eat.”

He took a sip. “This is a big one,” he said. “All of us here, and the others on the way, wonder if anyone will be hurt or killed today. I do know Ty will have help. There’s money, and he’ll spend every penny to make a stand. He has no regard for his own life, let alone anyone else’s. I know I’ve written and voiced my concerns countless times. I just need everyone to realize he’s the worst sociopath I’ve come across in years.”

“Dominic, we’ve learned to trust your judgment. We take every word you say seriously.  It’s our lives at stake. So much so, I know they’ll offer you an inspector’s badge again. What I don’t understand is why you don’t accept it?”

“Not ready, Jack. Maybe I’m closer this time, maybe I need to settle down. We’ll see. First they need to offer that promotion to me again,” he said, finishing his iced tea.

“True, Dominic, true, yet there’s no doubt in my mind that they will.”

Dominic checked his watch, which he’d already set to PST time. They were still three hours away. He leaned back. “Jack, I’m gonna try and get some rest before this whole thing comes down.”

“Me too, Dominic, me too,” Jack answered, grinning. He got up and went over to one of the couches. Dominic turned his head toward the window and let his head roll slowly to the side. He caught a glimpse of the clouds floating by; they seemed to call for peace and serenity. He closed his eyes.

Dominic seldom had dreams. Since meeting Shauna, when he had an opportunity to sleep, he found himself dreaming. His dreams centered on the beautiful redhead. He also saw himself retired with children. Even in his dreams, he caught himself saying
even in my dreams.
Shauna and he hadn’t discussed marriage, but he did know she loved children. He wondered how having a family would fit into the BDSM lifestyle he was willing to explore with her.

As he sat back in his chair on the Learjet 85, Dominic wasn’t dreaming; he was letting his mind drift.  What he did need was a good power nap. He watched guys do it all the time. He did try; maybe he had to learn how. At forty-five, he realized he still had a lot to learn. Shauna was showing him that. He wondered if he was grinning, because he sure as hell could feel his lips and the muscles in face straining.

He folded his hands on his lap and turned his head toward the window once again. He opened his eyes and surveyed the clouds. Soon they’d be landing and he’d be after another monster.  Ty Forsberg turned out to be a nasty bug. He’d crush him. He had him all figured out. Dominic’s plan was already in place.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

****

“Please fasten your seat belts. We are now approaching the runway.” The pretty flight attendant announced.

The wheels of the plane hit the tarmac. The landing was smooth and uneventful. They landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport; the airbus was a half an hour behind them. Dominic had finally fallen asleep. Now his mouth was dry and the taste foul. He had no doubt he’d been snoring, along with probably half the plane. He needed to pee, swish some mouthwash, and wash his face and hands.

Everyone aboard was alert and holding on as the plane slowed down. Laptops, tablets, surfaces, and phones began clicking and shutting down. He checked his watch again. Twelve thirty p.m., Tuesday morning, PST. On the east coast, it was already late afternoon. His mind went to Shauna. She’d be busy at her shop, either waiting on some rich ass customer or fussing with displays. He missed her. He smiled; it felt good to know there was someone home, always waiting for him.

The plane halted, and he undid his seat belt. Shit, they’d be rocking and rolling before anyone knew it. He peered out the window of the jet, and watched black, armored SUV’s drive out to meet the plane. He was up and adjusting his tie when he was tapped on the shoulder. He ignored the interruption until he heard her voice. He turned.

Chapter Seven

“Hello. I’m Deputy Elaine Webster. I’ve been assigned to you.”

He smiled and was surprised by the female agent who stood before him. She was tall, at least five feet nine inches, had pitch-black hair, and almond shaped eyes, betraying her Asian heritage. Her cheekbones were high and her lips full. All he could think of was why she wasn’t acting in some Hollywood movie. He held out a hand. “Nice to meet you.  I have quite a few people on my teams, so welcome.”

“No, sir, you don’t understand. I’ve been assigned to you personally,” she explained. “I’m a computer whiz, and I have an extensive background in profiling.” She smiled brightly at him.

“Wonderful, but don’t you think it’s a little late? Ah, sweetheart, what the hell. We don’t have enough people who can do this job, so maybe you can learn from me.”

“Deputy Esposito, I requested this assignment. I have a master degree in psychiatry, and I have an uncanny ability to get inside a sociopath’s mind.”

He grinned.  She sounded so much like he had when he first became a U.S. Marshal. “Really? Webster, have you read my notes? What’s your opinion?”

Her cheeks turned slightly red. She probably never expected him to ask her for her opinion. But she’d learn as the years went by that two heads, three or even four, were better than one. Anyone can and may miss a vital piece of information or pass by an important characteristic. He had done that, been there.

“Oh, I read every last detail, and Deputy Esposito, I do believe you are right on the mark, down to his girlfriend. How did you know she was a transgender male? You reported that before her death. Of course, an autopsy would show she was still physically a male, but from what I saw and read, she was gorgeous. Even the forged records and her birth certificate stated that at birth he was a female. How did you know?

“I had my suspicions. I’d done an in-depth investigation into his past. A great deal of shit came to the surface, namely his estranged relationship with his parents. During one psychiatric session, he did speak about them. He mentioned how overbearing and controlling his mother was and how submissive his father was and how he despised her for making him less of a man. Also, Ty himself was everything he despised. He hated what he saw in the mirror. Self-loathing. We see it all the time with girls who have anorexia. Ty also has a severe eating disorder. He’s bulimic.

“One day, as I was examining some photographs of him and his girlfriend, I noticed she had what I thought was a pronounced five o’clock shadow. Now this really threw me. So I began examining the extensive cache of photographs we had of Ty and her. After studying each one, I noticed the hair growth on her face. Sometimes it was completely unnoticeable, other times she’d seem to neglect taking care of it. After a lot of scrutinizing, we knew for sure that it was a man. Then the blocks began to fall.”

“Please, Deputy, I need to grab my things. Could we please continue our conversation as we walk?” she asked cautiously, yet he could see the wheels turning.

He nodded and followed her back to her seat. Dominic wondered why he hadn’t noticed her on board but then again, he’d been deep in thought and was exhausted. Lately, since Shauna, other women were of little interest to him.

All ten of them on board had lined up preparing to leave the plane. As usual, they all converged slightly on one another, and Webster’s ass was touching him just below the belt. He had to admit he tried not to think about it.

She leaned back slightly, “Sorry about all this togetherness, Deputy.” There was a humorous edge to her voice. He chuckled softly in agreement.

“It’s okay, I’m from New York. I ride the subways, and I’m used to pretty asses in my crotch.” Now she laughed and shook her head slowly.

They stepped down the staircase of the Learjet. He thought these small expensive planes were definitely the way to travel.

“Webster, I’m starving, and I hear they have a luncheon waiting for us. It’s all business but at least we can compare notes. I’d like to see what you have,” he said before they made their way off the plane.

The ten of them walked off the tarmac as the luggage was loaded into a van and headed toward the hotel. They housed them all in a hotel as close to the airport as possible, and Reno was minutes away. It seemed they had the upper hand. The landing was kept as quiet as possible because it was assumed Ty had feelers out everywhere.

Ted Collins, another seasoned agent he’d worked with before, walked over to his side. “He knows we’re here,” he stated.

“Of course he knows but excellent conclusion, Collins.”

“Just a thought, but I was sure you already knew that,” Collins said, taking out his phone and walking past Dominic.

“It’s really sad that such a brilliant mind is so devious and cold. I often think that even a man like Einstein could have very well been a serial killer,” added Elaine Webster, who was beside him.

“Now that’s a thought. But he was far too unorganized. Killers are methodical, organized, and retrace every step. They’re planners, anal, and more than likely suffer from OCD,” Dominic said.

As he walked with Webster, he could see she was pensive and maybe even a little confused. “Elaine, it’s okay not to know everything about Ty. That’s unfortunately my job,” he explained.

Her head snapped up. “Thanks for using my first name, Dominic. I was beginning to think I didn’t have one.” She smiled broadly at him.

“That’s okay. I still think when we have females on board we should act accordingly. Guess I’m from the old school.”

“Deputy, forty-five is far from the
old school.
Let’s just say I like mature men, and most men nowadays don’t mature until they hit forty.”

He let out a laugh. “I must say, you’ve done your homework well. Yeah, I’m forty-five as opposed to your thirty-three, and I have to admire any agent who tries to have the upper hand. You’ve got an interesting theory, or should I say observation. I think I’m going to enjoy working with you.”

Walking along the tarmac, they stayed in a tight group then boarded several SUV’s that were waiting for them. Dominic knew the sooner they began to put their plan into action, the sooner they’d have Ty…either dead or alive.

Once the SUV’s were loaded, they were on their way to a small hotel on the outskirts of Reno that had been set up as a command post. Dominic had just settled in his seat when the shit hit the fan. Reports came in that a man had taken a number of people as hostages at a local brothel in Reno. There was no doubt it was Ty.

“God Damnit” he muttered as they sat in the SUV.  “Son of a bitch. This was what I was afraid of. He figured we’d find him, so he’s pulling a stunt, and an out of character one. Ty is a coward. He murders them when they’re helpless then leaves them. A showdown is not his style. It’s an idle threat to throw us off base.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Laptops were out, along with tablets and phones, as the SUV became a hub of excitement. Webster spoke up. “Esposito, you did everything possible to keep this operation a secret,” she yelled to him from the front seat. “He was going to make a stand like this regardless. He had to know we were directly behind him, right up his ass.”

“Very astute, Webster,” he said, pushing himself into the leather of the back seat. He never looked up from his laptop, “Inspector, how far are we from the hotel?”

“Ten minutes, and they’re ready for us.”

“And from that brothel?” Dominic continued.

“Around the corner,” Williams said. “Christ, how did he figured this one out …we did all our moving around at night. He must have had spies everywhere and at all times. How the hell could he have done that?”

“How long you been doing this job?” Dominic said, finally looking up from his computer at the inspector. “These animals are brilliant, and they outthink the best of us.”

Elaine Webster turned around in the front seat to look at him and smiled. “Really, outthink and outsmart the best of us? Esposito, you’ve been doing this job a long time. I find it difficult for anyone to outsmart that devious mind of yours.”

“And how would you know?” he questioned her.

“Because I do my homework.”  A huge grin appeared across her lovely face. “You’re one of the department’s most successful agents. You’ve recaptured all your fugitives. You have a perfect track record.”

What was she getting at, Dominic wondered?

“I find it hard to believe that you haven’t finally figured Ty out. I’m sure you’re one step ahead of him as we speak. However, deputy, you seem to be on edge. I guess that’s only natural. We are, after all, dealing with life and death.”

“Webster, I’d wonder about any man or woman here who isn’t on edge before an assignment like this one.”

He watched her face. “Esposito, you’ve restored my faith. I’m nervous. This is only my second time in the field and with this kind of assignment.”

“I’m aware of that, and it’s only natural to show fear and be nervous. What separates us from so many others is how we handle it.”

The deputy next to him had finally raised his head from his laptop, cocked his head to the side, and then spoke. “Deputy Esposito, everyone and everything is in place. We’ll be at the hotel in three minutes.”

“Excellent. Thank you,” he answered.

Dominic had to agree with Webster. He’d been on edge from the moment the little bastard went on his first killing spree. He wasn’t going to stop. He wasn’t given ample time to delve into Ty’s head, but he did his best and managed to probe deep. He had to check out every detail of Ty’s life to understand how his mind worked and why.

Further investigation revealed Ty had an estranged relationship with his mother and father. There was no love loss there, and he hadn’t seen them in years. The attraction to transgender men seemed to be from his deep-rooted hatred for his parents. His parents practiced the Jewish faith, but Ty had chosen to follow none. Dominic wasn’t surprised. Faith in something greater than oneself required humility, kindness, and the need for your fellow man. Ty had none of those redeeming qualities. 

The SUV stopped. The hotel was now crawling with U.S. Marshals, FBI, and local cops. There was no reason to keep their operation under wraps any longer. Ty had figured them all out, taken hostages, and was threatening to kill them one at a time. It was now their job to stop Ty and apprehend him, alive if possible. Soon, the entire country would be watching.  Dominic always laid out his plans carefully. Catching Ty was no exception. He had an ace in the whole.

He saw Webster look his way. She was frightened. They all were. He winked and gave her the thumbs up. Her smile was wide and, he was hoping, confident. Execution of orders was of the utmost importance now.