Chapter Five

Solomon Beinoni

I’m sitting at my desk at the police station, finishing up the last of my paperwork before wrapping up my ten-hour shift. I’m looking forward to my three day weekend. After a chaotic week such as this, the best way to unwind and relax is to head forty-five minutes out of town to my favorite strip club, where hopefully Jazzlyn will be on stage.

My cell phone rings and the caller I.D. says “unknown”, meaning one of two things: a spammer, or Declan Wolfe. I’ll bet on the latter.

“This is Solomon,” I say as I answer the call.

“Solomon, this is Wolfe. Are you alone?”

“I’m heading out of the office now, honey. I’ll be home soon.” I’m not alone, and this is how I inform Wolfe of that information without them suspecting anything.

“Call me back in twenty.”

“Okay babe. Talk to you soon.” I hang up. The other police officers and office staff know I have a wife; what they don’t know is that we are separated, and though we still live in the same house, we rarely see or speak to each other.

Once I’m back in my own car, I drive several blocks away and park in the parking lot of an old, abandoned gas station. I dial the number that I have written on a tiny scrap piece of paper that’s usually taped to the underside of my dash.

“Yes?” Wolfe says in his usual greeting.

“I’m alone.”

“What’s the situation?”

“The target managed to leave her home and escape in her car before the executioner, G1387, was able to apprehend her. Sources say she was given a half dose of the opioid concoction, but she stayed awake long enough to get away. G1387 followed her in his own vehicle, but she made it to the police station and crashed into a ditch. G1387 attempted to drive away but he was stopped and terminated by one of our own for compromising the mission and failing to perform his job duty. The target was taken to the hospital to recover and was recently sent home.”

“What of G1387’s body?”

“He was disposed of using Method 2.”

“And what about an internal investigation at the police station? Police officers don’t just go around shooting people in their vehicles. Usually.”

“The Chief of Police has everything under control, and he is keeping the media silent. There were no witnesses of the shooting, so they’re saying the driver of the vehicle pulled a weapon. G1387 had several on him, anyway.”

“Good.” Declan Wolfe pauses for a brief moment. “What of the other situation? That untrustworthy cop I had ordered to be killed. Susan, I believe.”

“Police found her body after a neighbor complained of a putrid smell coming from the apartment. They ruled it a suicide by hanging.”

“Even though she was considered missing for several days before that?” Wolfe asked.

“Yes. There was a fake suicide note that mentioned going out of town for several days before finally deciding to come home and take her own life.”

“Good. Everything is going according to the plan then, aside from our newest target – the girl named Vienna.”

“What do we do about that situation?” I ask.

“Do nothing. In a few weeks when she is starting to feel safe again, we’ll send out a new executioner. Someone less green. Volkov, perhaps. Though he’s expensive, I believe The Others won’t mind paying extra to ensure they don’t have to pull off another risky coverup.”

“R0785? The Bear?” I use his nickname – the name that brings a twinge of fear to everyone who hears it because of the man’s extra violent reputation. Knives, I believe. Knives are his thing. He prefers his kills to be up close and personal. But he’ll use whatever means necessary to get the job done. And he’s very good at it.

“Yes, The Bear,” Wolfe says with a hint of annoyance. “I must go now. I have extra work to do since my eldest son, Oscar, is off doing business in another country. Keep me updated, though. If you catch any hint of someone poking their nose in our business, inform me immediately. And keep an eye on the girl, but from a distance. Don’t make any moves without my approval. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good. Lay low and keep your mouth shut, and you’ll come out of this a lot richer.” Wolfe hangs up, leaving me sitting alone in my car in an empty parking lot.

I really should head home, but the strip club seems more tempting now than it did before. I don’t think I have the willpower to resist the thought of watching Jazzlyn dance on stage. So I turn my car back on and head toward the freeway, promising myself that I won’t get too wasted. I need to make sure I’ll make it back in time to meet up with Tony tomorrow. His interrogation is supposed to be finishing up tonight – hopefully it didn’t break him.