The Price of Disrespect (Gray Spear Society Book 6) (42 page)

"We'll go in this afternoon," he said. "Full armor and weapons, just like last night. This time we won't bother with reconnaissance. We'll just kill everybody."

"Are you coming, sir?" Tawni said.

Aaron nodded. "I can't let you guys have all the fun."

"I thought a commander was supposed to stay home."

"Sometimes commanders don't do what they're supposed to do. That's our prerogative. This is the end of the mission. I want to be there."

"So do I," Wesley said.

Aaron turned to the boy. "We've had this conversation several times. I will not allow you to go into a dangerous situation under any circumstances."

"Then I'll wait until the fighting is done. I just want to talk to Gains before you kill him."

"Why is this so important?"

"I don't know." Wesley shrugged. "It just is."

Aaron stared at him for a long moment. The kid was so beautiful it was like looking at a sculpture. His unearthly blue eyes sparkled in the light.

"Fine," Aaron said. "After I give the all clear, you can come in. The assault team will be me and all of my
legionnaires
. Yvonne, I'd like you to join us. We might need somebody who can bend bars and lift heavy gates."

"Sure," Yvonne said, "if Charles approves."

Charles nodded. "Go ahead."

"Thanks," Aaron said. "Charles and Atalanta will guard Wesley until it's safe for him to enter."

Bethany's phone chirped. She quickly examined the display. "Rascher has been located. He just purchased a train ticket in Union Station."

Aaron smiled. "Smythe, Odelia, and Tawni, fetch him, and bring him back here."

"To headquarters?" Smythe said.

"I have special plans for him. The meeting is adjourned. Norbert, stay nearby. You're going to run an errand with me in a little while."

"Yes, sir," Norbert said.

"And, Charles, can I have a moment alone with you?"

Everybody but Charles left the conference room.

Aaron studied the former legate. As usual, he was elegantly dressed in a tailored suit, although today it was brown instead of gray. Not a single silver hair was out of place. Somehow, Charles always managed to look fresh even after a long night.

"I haven't forgotten about the bugs in my headquarters," Aaron said.

"I'm sorry," Charles said, "but I had little choice."

"Are you going to remove them?"

"I honestly don't know where they are. Carlos planted them. The good news is the batteries will die eventually."

Aaron rubbed his tired eyes.

"What are we doing about Wesley?" Charles said.

"He's leaving with you tomorrow. I don't care how much he yells and whines."

Charles nodded. "Fine by me, but my team is short a man."

"I don't have any to spare," Aaron said. "Ask the legate for help. I'm sure she can find somebody qualified for the job. Are you upset about Carlos?"

"Not really. Frankly, our lives will be easier without him." Charles appeared troubled.

"What's wrong?"

"Now I have to relearn how to have fun. Wesley will be a relentless tutor."

"Take it as a challenge," Aaron said.

Charles frowned. "Here is some advice from an old commander to a young commander. Don't become me. Don't let yourself get so burned out and cynical that you can't enjoy life. I'm just a shell of the man I once was. Wesley was right to chastise me."

"I'm going to enjoy what I do to my enemies today."

"You shouldn't take so much pleasure in cruelty."

"I'm merely obeying God's wishes," Aaron said.

Charles stared at him. "You and the legate are cut from the same black cloth. So is Tawni for that matter."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Take it any way you want." Charles stood up. "Are we done?"

"I suppose so. I have to get ready for the doctor's arrival."

Aaron got up and followed Charles out the door.

Chapter Seventeen

Tawni followed Smythe and Odelia through Union Station. The two lovers were holding hands and looked very cute together. Tawni now understood their relationship had a dangerous side. A
legionnaire's
life could end abruptly at any time. In this business, love was a serious gamble.

Smythe and Odelia wore police uniforms which looked completely authentic. The plan was to simply arrest Rascher and haul him away. Tawni had civilian clothes instead. She expected to just observe and learn the fine points of making an arrest. She would be available as backup if needed.

Tawni looked up at the arched roof of the great hall. Sunlight was pouring in through the glass ceiling. Her footsteps on the marble floor echoed in the vast space. The room was enormous yet it only contained some wooden benches. It seemed a waste. She loved the tall, beautifully sculpted columns.

The team eventually entered one of the rooms where passengers waited for trains. The benches were packed with people, and some had to stand. A man and a woman watched with defeated expressions as their young children ran around like idiots.

"There he is," Smythe murmured.

Tawni recognized Rascher from a picture she had seen earlier. He was pudgy and wrinkled. His head was mostly bald, but the white hair around the sides and back needed to be trimmed. He wore a nice tan suit and a striped tie. Two brown suitcases were beside him. He didn't look like a cruel serial killer who was a wanted man across Europe.

"That's trouble," Odelia said.

Smythe nodded. "I noticed."

"What?" Tawni said.

"Let's see if you can figure it out."

Yet another test,
Tawni thought.
These guys never give me a break.

She looked around. One man in particular caught her eye as different. He wore a stylish black jacket over a silk shirt. He was muscular and tapered like an athlete. While everybody else was playing with their phone or reading, he was standing alertly like a soldier. Most of his attention seemed focused on Rascher.

"The sharp guy in black?" she whispered.

"Right," Odelia said. "Now guess what he's doing here."

Tawni thought about it for a moment. "He's a hit man. Gains sent him to kill Rascher for running away."

"You're really smart."

"Thanks." Tawni smiled.

"Here's the plan," Smythe said. "Odelia and I will arrest the doctor. The hit man will follow us out. Tawni, I want you to kill him from behind. Can you do that?"

"I think so."

"When you attack, be quick and accurate. He's a professional. Wait until there are no witnesses."

She nodded. She was feeling a lot of pressure to do this job right. A mistake would be embarrassing and put her new friends at risk.

Odelia walked over to Rascher and announced, "You're under arrest. Stand up, turn around, and put your hands behind your back."

Smythe hung back a few paces and observed with his hand on the grip of his gun.

"What am I charged with?" Rascher stood up.

"Unspeakable crimes against God and humanity," Odelia said. "Hands behind your back!"

He tried to run. Smythe stepped in Rasher's way and punched him so hard he was lifted off the ground. Rascher landed flat on his back. Smythe quickly flipped him over and put handcuffs on him.

Tawni glanced at the hit man. He had a concerned expression.

Smythe and Odelia picked up Rascher and hustled him away. The doctor looked dazed. They left the waiting room at a quick walk.

The hit man quietly and discreetly followed them. A moment later, Tawni followed him in turn. She made sure to give him plenty of space and not show any obvious interest.

Smythe and Odelia were moving so fast they had to drag Rascher by the arms. The hit man and Tawni hurried to keep up.

Eventually, everybody entered a long service corridor. Nobody else was in sight, and Tawni realized this was her opportunity. The hit man was about fifty feet in front of her, and Smythe and Odelia were the same distance beyond him. Fluorescent lights cast blue-white light onto concrete walls and a tile floor.

Tawni drew a .38 caliber pistol with a suppressor from a holster under her shirt. Without hesitating, she shot the hit man in the back. He stiffened and arched his spine. She pumped a few more bullets into the same spot.

A lack of blood troubled her, and he wasn't dying like expected. She realized he was probably wearing a vest under his shirt. He spun around with his own gun in hand. She dived sideways but was a little too slow. A bullet caught her in the thigh. She had no protection there, and the pain made her cry out.

The hit man was aiming his second shot when his forehead exploded. Blood sprayed onto the floor. Smythe had his gun in hand, and the barrel was smoking.

Tawni checked her injury. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but it wasn't life threatening. She limped over to her friends.

"What happened?" Smythe said.

"I shot him in the back."

"Where he had body armor?"

"I didn't know," she said.

He shook his head. "Rookie mistake, but you're a rookie, so you get a pass. Pull down your pants."

Feeling some embarrassment, she unbuckled her jeans and pushed them down. He knelt to examine her wound.

"Who was that guy?" Rascher said. "What's going on?"

"He was sent to kill you," Smythe said.

Rascher's eyes widened. "You saved my life?"

"I suppose that's technically true."

Smythe put his hand into Tawni's thigh. She clenched in anticipation, but the sensation didn't bother her this time. She was actually getting used to it.

Rascher made a little squealing noise.

"This is the third time I've healed you," Smythe said. "Next time, I'll have to send you a bill. It's getting ridiculous."

Tawni smiled. "Will you take solid gold bars as payment? I know where I can get my hands on some."

He continued to work on her thigh. Rascher watched with an expression of astonishment and horror.

Smythe finished after a couple of minutes. Tawni bent her leg and felt no pain. There was still blood on her skin, but the wound seemed completely healed. She pulled up her pants. He gave her the bullet as a souvenir.

"You're a very handy guy to have around," she said.

"And he's mine," Odelia said.

Smythe grabbed Rascher by the arm. "Let's go. Aaron is waiting."

Everybody started walking.

"Who is Aaron?" Rascher said.

Smythe just grinned in a very evil way.

* * *

Tawni was standing in the secret basement parking lot in the hotel. She knew something truly horrifying was about to happen.

Rascher was lying on the concrete floor face up. A number of taut ropes went between the cars and his body. His arms and legs were stretched painfully tight, and a rope around his neck was squeezing his throat. He couldn't move an inch. He was whimpering but nobody cared.

The entire team had come to witness the show including Nancy, Kamal, and the twins. Wesley was also present, and Tawni wanted to send him away. A boy his age shouldn't see stuff like this.

Aaron was the last to arrive. The elevator door opened, and he came out pushing a shopping cart. He went straight over to Rascher.

"Who are you?" Rascher said.

"I'm Aaron. We're going to do a little experiment together. But first, I need to prepare the test subject."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"For the same reason you tormented and murdered so many people," Aaron said. "The joy of scientific discovery."

Rascher swallowed. "If you let me go, I'll pay you. I have money."

Aaron reached into the cart and took out two large pipe clamps. He put these around Rascher's upper arms, just below his shoulders. Aaron began to tighten the clamps with a screwdriver.

"What are you doing?" Rascher said fearfully.

"The clamps will act as tourniquets. I don't want you to bleed to death."

"Why would I bleed?"

"I'm going to remove your arms," Aaron said.

Rascher began to thrash and scream for help. Aaron just continued to turn the screws. The creepy smile on his face made Tawni shiver.

He tightened the clamps until Rascher's arms turned purple and the metal edges were cutting into his skin. Aaron took a rusty hacksaw out of the cart next.

"Please," Rascher said, "I'm begging you. Don't do this!"

"How many times did your victims beg for mercy?" Aaron said. "And how much mercy did you show?"

"That was different!"

Aaron started sawing at Rascher's arms. Tawni could tell Aaron was taking a long time on purpose. His strokes were slow and grinding. Dark blood oozed out and Rascher moaned in agony. By the time his arms were finally amputated, the stumps looked like hamburger meat.

"They say idle hands are the Devil's playground," Aaron said. "Now you don't have any."

Rascher spoke in a hoarse voice, "You're insane."

"You're the expert."

Aaron grabbed a small knife from the cart next. He knelt down over Rascher's face.

"What are you doing now?"

"Just hold still," Aaron said. "I don't want to accidently blind you."

"You're cutting my eyes?" Rascher said.

"No, just your eyelids."

Rascher screamed as Aaron went to work. He stood up a minute later and nodded with obvious satisfaction. Rascher's eyelids were completely cut off.

"Now for the
pièce de résistance
," Aaron said.

He took a gray plastic helmet out of the cart. It looked like the kind of thing a fighter pilot might wear. It covered the head almost completely and had an opaque visor. Aaron jammed it onto Rascher's head, and the fit was a little too tight.

"That's a virtual reality helmet," Aaron said. "There are two tiny television screens over the eyes. It was made for video games, but today it will serve glorious science instead."

"What science?" Rascher yelled.

"I want to see if I can melt your brain."

"What do you mean?"

Aaron took a DVD player from the cart. He tossed an extension cord to Norbert, who plugged it into an outlet in the wall. Aaron wired the player to the helmet.

"Any last words?" Aaron said.