R. Ruggiero - Reckoning

Jason cocked his head to one side, “And, he’s a good boss to work for. Should we get down to business?”

Cooper motioned Dranko forward and the trio walked to the hood of the Jeep. Dranko spread out the map that showed the area where Jake was being held. They reviewed the plan with Jason first. He had a few questions that they answered in turn. Then, he brought his men in for a briefing. They talked through the plan.

Cooper pulled out a picture of Jake and showed it to the gathered men, “This is my son, Jake. Take a good look. I don’t need him getting killed in the attack. Be careful, please.” The men who were clustered about him were a hard-looking lot. It was clear to Cooper that Huynh had sent some of his better men. Experienced. Still, he saw them nodding in rapt attention. He guessed several of them had children of their own and hoped that connection would compel them to be careful during the attack.

Jason spoke, “Our men will pay good attention, but you know there’s a risk.”

Cooper nodded gravely, “I do. Thanks.”

Dranko explained to them the location from where they were going to jump off into the attack.

“Any other questions?” Cooper asked the men.

“We need the gold now. Weapons after the attack,” Jason’s voice was firm.

“Sure thing,” Cooper said and motioned to Dranko to retrieve the pouch holding the gold from the Jeep.

Dranko handed it to Cooper. In turn, he motioned Jason to step away from the other men with him. They slowly walked side by side down the asphalt.

“I have to ask you one thing,” Cooper began.

“What?”

“Why aren’t you just hauling me in? I’m worth far more than this bit of gold.”

Jason laughed, “That’s a good question. The boss would have to answer it. But, my guess would be that you have been very good for business. The greater the chaos, the greater the business opportunity. You get into the authorities’ hands; the chaos would probably go down. You get it?”

Cooper smile was rueful, “Yeah, I don’t like it, but I get it.”

“Now, I have one question for you.”

“And?”

“If you were that worried about us just nabbing you and turning you over for the reward, why’d you even call us?”

Cooper didn’t miss a step, “That’s easy. I had no choice. We didn’t have enough firepower to get my boy out. I had to take the risk and hope.”

Jason’s smile withered from his face, as he turned serious, “I get that. I have a six year old son and I’d risk anything if he was in danger.”

“Thank you. I need the best from your men.”

Their eyes fixed on one another, “You’ll have it. Mr. Huynh was very clear about that. He wants our work to be solid. Always. And, most of my men have children of their own.”

He reached out and handed him the pouch full of gold. When Jason took it, he extended his hand and they shook once more. The grip was firmer this time. Then, they separated and made it back to their vehicles.

Dranko was already sitting in the Jeep when Cooper got back in.

“What was that all about?” He asked.

“I had to find out why they weren’t just hauling me in for the reward.”

Dranko grunted, “I was wondering about that myself. I figured it was a very high risk, but didn’t want to bother you with it.”

“You went into this, thinking it could be a trap?” Cooper’s tone revealed his surprise.

“Sure did, brother.”

“Damn, you are a good friend.”

Dranko shrugged, “Nah, I just know something to be true.”

“What’s that?”

“You’d have done the same for me if the shoe was on the other foot.”

Cooper gave his friend a warm smile, “True.”

“So, what’d he say?”

“He said I’m good for business because of the chaos I’ve caused. And, I’m better for business while on the loose.” Dranko heard the sorrow in his friend’s voice.

“Sorry, brother. But, look at the bright side.”

Cooper turned to look at him, “ You’re telling me about the bright side? The apocalypse must truly be upon us!”

“That I am. As much as you don’t like it, it is keeping you from getting kidnapped and turned over to the government.”

A forlorn grimace took hold of Cooper’s face, “I guess. But that’s gotta be the worst ‘bright side’ I’ve heard in my entire life.”

Dranko made a mocking low bow, “Forgive me, sir. I don’t have much practice.”

That brought a chuckle from Cooper.

Their vehicles were stacked upon the side of the road, about a half-mile from where Jake and Julianne were being held. Cooper closed his eyes deliberately and sniffed the air, trying to calm his nerves. The pine was heavy with a faint hint of lavender mixed in. He was pacing up and down the line of pickups and SUVs. They were waiting for one more, carrying two more men from Miles’ group. Cooper couldn’t remember being more amped up before an action than he was now. A lot more at stake than any time before.

He edged up to Freddie, who was puffing on a cigarette at the end of the line.

“Can I have one?” Cooper asked.

Freddie’s eyes opened in surprised, but he quickly recovered, “Sure. The first one’s free. The second will cost you a pound of gold!” Freddie’s quip was nearer the truth than not. Cigarettes were quickly becoming very scarce and expensive. Dranko was endless in pontificating about the stupidity of being addicted to any substance.

“I won’t be having another. I just need something to calm my nerves before we do this thing,” Cooper responded seriously.

Freddie fished the pack out of his pocket and handed a cigarette to Cooper.

“Yeah, that’s what I said two weeks ago. Now, I’m hooked like a heroin addict.”

Cooper took the cigarette into his mouth and leaned in so that Freddie could light it with his Zippo. He inhaled deeply. He hadn’t smoked in a long time and coughed loudly. Freddie smiled at him.

“Been a while?”

“Not since basic training. I tried it then but it never took.” Cooper’s cigarette glowed again as he pulled in another drag. The rush from the nicotine was already hitting him. I need every advantage today.

Freddie saw the pleasant look on his face, “You feeling it?”

Cooper nodded, “I figure it will make me a bit more alert. I need anything that will help today.”

The two men puffed away without saying another word. By the time he had finished his, Cooper’s head was buzzing. He felt more awake than he had. As his heel crushed the butt on the roadway, the final pickup came whining over the hill and eased into a spot behind the last vehicle.

“Right on cue,” Freddie mused.

“Thanks,” Cooper said as he strode toward Dranko’s Jeep, where the map was spread out. This was where they would do the mission briefing. As he walked down the line, he called out to those around him to gather round. The word quickly spread down to the farthest vehicle at the head of their queue. Men quickly finished cigarettes, adjusted their gear, were woken up by their friends, and assembled around him after a few minutes’ delay.

Dranko had taped the map up onto the Jeep’s driver-side door and everyone crowded around it. Cooper motioned the front rank to kneel or crouch so that the second rank could see it clearly. The groups clustered by those that they knew best. The Asian gang members were off to Cooper’s left, in the second row. Miles’ group, which included seven men and a woman, were to his right, evenly split between the two rows. His friends did the same, filling up the space directly in front of him.

He reviewed the plan once again and liked that it was simple. He knew no plan survived the point of first contact with the enemy. So, he reasoned, a simple plan was even more needed with a group of largely untrained people. He was hoping that Hodges’ men were also inexperienced. If they weren’t, it would likely be a bloodbath in the wrong direction.