Chapter Five.
Riddle noted the silver SUV that raced pass them on the way to the home of the next guy that he wanted to talk to. A woman, of course, had been behind the wheel. He always associated bad driving with women do to the simple fact that most of them were terrible drivers. The fact that a relatively attractive one of them managed to qualify for the world’s greatest auto racing circuit had the media in orgasmic awe. They never bothered mentioning that she had about as much of a chance to win the 500 hundred as a drunken squirrel.
Riddle checked the G.P.S. on his smart phone then looked around to make sure that the surroundings matched. They did and for once the foreigner that was driving him today had not made a wrong turn. They had reach the street where the one named Daniel called home.
His driver Luis had instructions to park right in front. All of that sneaking around stuff was for spies in the movies. If you wanted someone you just walked right up to them and most people were stupid enough to open the door and let you in. The guy from earlier in the day had done just that. A few knocks on the door and they were all in. The look on the guy’s face was like so many who had come before him. Steal millions in precious stones from a drug dealer famous for more than one US border massacres and he still looked shocked when the man himself walked in flanked by a half dozen of his cartel’s most ruthless thugs. He had even looked shocked when the beating started. Funny thing was that the only time that he did not look shocked was when Riddle had ended his life by cutting open the femoral artery. Even the jetting spurts of blood had not seemed to surprise him.
Riddle reached into his well-tailored suit jacket and popped the strap that held his FN 57 in place. He was careful not to touch the gun itself. The gun always felt like it had a mind of its own and that mind always seemed to have only one thought,
killing.
He allowed Luis to knock on the door stand back and off to one side just in
case the door was turned to splinters by a shotgun. Nothing happened for almost half a minute so Riddle stepped forward and knocked even harder. No sound from inside and the place felt empty.
It took Riddle less than half a minute to pick both locks, and it had amazed him how it was that good thieves always seemed to select the worst door locks.
Once inside Luis and another of the men pulled their guns. Riddle did not bother. There was no one here, his instincts told him that and his instincts were never wrong. There was the smell of a home that could have been cleaned better. The smell of children, girl children. Girls smelled different from boys. It was not politically correct, but true. There was also the smell of a woman. A woman who was in or close to her prime. The smell of youth and strength and a floral scented perfume.
Riddle listened to the sound of his guys tramping around upstairs while he strolled over to the mantle and gathered the pictures. A little girl with light brown hair and big eyes, she looked eight or nine. A second girl, prettier, with darker hair and big sad sort of eyes that reminded him of the kind they looked for in print models. The girl looked close to her teen years. The next framed picture was of a woman dressed in a crisp military uniform. Dark brown hair and the family’s big dark eyes. This woman was a beauty despite the serious expression that she wore. The next picture was of the happy couple. Daniel, a dark-haired guy who was young and average looking. They said that beautiful girls loved bad boys and that must have been the truth in this case. The beautiful woman in the picture, Liz, was clinging lovingly to her husband’s arm. She had not looked nearly as attractive in the SUV that they had passed five minutes earlier.
“We passed her. She is going for the kids and making a run I would bet.”Riddle said and took out his phone. He asked the G.P.S. for the location of all the
local schools. He only needed fourth through max seventh grade. It would be great if one school fit the bill and bingo one school was forth to eighth grade. “Jackie.”He said into the phone. It dialed the person he had picked to linger in the background. It rang only once before he heard her voice.
“I am nine minutes from your location.”Jackie’s voice was business like as always.
“Go to the Hillside school on twenty first. Locate the woman and/or children that I am going to send you pictures of. The woman is in a silver SUV. Do not engage. Bird dog them until further notice.”Riddle told her.
“I am on it.”Jackie said and hung up.
Riddle clicked a picture of the wife’s picture and the kids, then sent them to Jackie. He took another of the husband. He started to take one of the woman in uniform, then thought better of it. He popped the back of the frame and pulled the picture free. Carefully folded it before slipping it inside his jacket.
“Let’s give this place a going over. Remember jewels are small and can hide anywhere.”Riddle yelled although he believed in his heart that they would not find a thing here. The target and the merchandise were on the run. The question was how far he would have to chase.
Riddle noted the silver SUV that raced pass them on the way to the home of the next guy that he wanted to talk to. A woman, of course, had been behind the wheel. He always associated bad driving with women do to the simple fact that most of them were terrible drivers. The fact that a relatively attractive one of them managed to qualify for the world’s greatest auto racing circuit had the media in orgasmic awe. They never bothered mentioning that she had about as much of a chance to win the 500 hundred as a drunken squirrel.
Riddle checked the G.P.S. on his smart phone then looked around to make sure that the surroundings matched. They did and for once the foreigner that was driving him today had not made a wrong turn. They had reach the street where the one named Daniel called home.
His driver Luis had instructions to park right in front. All of that sneaking around stuff was for spies in the movies. If you wanted someone you just walked right up to them and most people were stupid enough to open the door and let you in. The guy from earlier in the day had done just that. A few knocks on the door and they were all in. The look on the guy’s face was like so many who had come before him. Steal millions in precious stones from a drug dealer famous for more than one US border massacres and he still looked shocked when the man himself walked in flanked by a half dozen of his cartel’s most ruthless thugs. He had even looked shocked when the beating started. Funny thing was that the only time that he did not look shocked was when Riddle had ended his life by cutting open the femoral artery. Even the jetting spurts of blood had not seemed to surprise him.
Riddle reached into his well-tailored suit jacket and popped the strap that held his FN 57 in place. He was careful not to touch the gun itself. The gun always felt like it had a mind of its own and that mind always seemed to have only one thought,
killing.
He allowed Luis to knock on the door stand back and off to one side just in
case the door was turned to splinters by a shotgun. Nothing happened for almost half a minute so Riddle stepped forward and knocked even harder. No sound from inside and the place felt empty.
It took Riddle less than half a minute to pick both locks, and it had amazed him how it was that good thieves always seemed to select the worst door locks.
Once inside Luis and another of the men pulled their guns. Riddle did not bother. There was no one here, his instincts told him that and his instincts were never wrong. There was the smell of a home that could have been cleaned better. The smell of children, girl children. Girls smelled different from boys. It was not politically correct, but true. There was also the smell of a woman. A woman who was in or close to her prime. The smell of youth and strength and a floral scented perfume.
Riddle listened to the sound of his guys tramping around upstairs while he strolled over to the mantle and gathered the pictures. A little girl with light brown hair and big eyes, she looked eight or nine. A second girl, prettier, with darker hair and big sad sort of eyes that reminded him of the kind they looked for in print models. The girl looked close to her teen years. The next framed picture was of a woman dressed in a crisp military uniform. Dark brown hair and the family’s big dark eyes. This woman was a beauty despite the serious expression that she wore. The next picture was of the happy couple. Daniel, a dark-haired guy who was young and average looking. They said that beautiful girls loved bad boys and that must have been the truth in this case. The beautiful woman in the picture, Liz, was clinging lovingly to her husband’s arm. She had not looked nearly as attractive in the SUV that they had passed five minutes earlier.
“We passed her. She is going for the kids and making a run I would bet.”Riddle said and took out his phone. He asked the G.P.S. for the location of all the
local schools. He only needed fourth through max seventh grade. It would be great if one school fit the bill and bingo one school was forth to eighth grade. “Jackie.”He said into the phone. It dialed the person he had picked to linger in the background. It rang only once before he heard her voice.
“I am nine minutes from your location.”Jackie’s voice was business like as always.
“Go to the Hillside school on twenty first. Locate the woman and/or children that I am going to send you pictures of. The woman is in a silver SUV. Do not engage. Bird dog them until further notice.”Riddle told her.
“I am on it.”Jackie said and hung up.
Riddle clicked a picture of the wife’s picture and the kids, then sent them to Jackie. He took another of the husband. He started to take one of the woman in uniform, then thought better of it. He popped the back of the frame and pulled the picture free. Carefully folded it before slipping it inside his jacket.
“Let’s give this place a going over. Remember jewels are small and can hide anywhere.”Riddle yelled although he believed in his heart that they would not find a thing here. The target and the merchandise were on the run. The question was how far he would have to chase.
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