Today’s excerpt is from Baghdad
Butcher, Book #1 of the nine-book Janitors Series. Jim agrees to take on the new assignment. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
m.j.
After the third and final load, Jim looked at
the smallish man in his living room. “Well,
Director, what brings you here?
Something I’m not going to like, I’d guess.”
“We do have something to
discuss. But I’m afraid it’ll have to be
in private.”
“I can take a
hint.”
“Thanks,
Peggy. Take my truck home. The keys are in it. I told your dad you’d probably be keeping it
awhile. Thanks for your help.”
“Thanks for
ridding us of that lion.”
“Well, I
think we just beat Billy and Joe to it by a little bit. Though, your dad would have more than likely
been short one more cow.”
“Bye…oh, I
turned off the radio in your gun shop.”
“See you,
Peggy. Safe home,” he replied, knowing
that Peggy had just told him where her flasher had been placed.
“Now,
Director, I see you have a drink, so what can I do for you?”
“I have a job
to offer you…from the President.”
“That dirty
trick committee of yours been at it again?”
“Something like
that. It seems Saddam Hussein has been
processing and selling drugs in this country to destabilize us. The President thinks the time has come to put
the last nail in his coffin. You’re
elected…if you choose to do it.”
“Yeah,
okay. The bastard has it coming. He’s the best description of a war criminal I
can think of in today’s world. Though
that part of the world has a few other prime suspects.”
“The usual terms
of your engagement will apply. Anything
you have to do in this country that may be…uh…outside the law, will be covered
by a full pardon when the job is done.
The government will in no way be party to the doing of the job. You will in no way be compensated for your
efforts. In short, as always, you’re on
your own.”
“I know the
drill.”
“There is one
slight difference this time.”
“Oh?”
“A Special Agent
by the name of Holly Hollins, out of our Los Angeles office, will accompany you
as far as Los Angeles and offer whatever assistance she can—without being
directly involved, if you know what I mean.”
“I know what you
mean. But I’m not sure I understand
exactly why she’ll be involved, and why I’m going to start this little
operation in Los Angeles.”
“Because the
President wants to be sure the information we are operating under is
correct. As much as nobody likes the
Iraqi President, we can’t just go off killing him on a lark.”
“Now wait a
minute. The President is vexed enough to
have me go kill Saddam, but nobody is sure of the information that got him
vexed in the first place?”
“Well, put that
way, yes. What the President wants you
to do is start in Los Angeles and back track the drug trail to Saddam. Since Agent Hollins was the one who basically
came up with the information, she will brief you and accompany you to Los
Angeles. She can be of whatever
assistance you want, so long as she does not actively engage in any…um…well,
illegal activities.”
“Okay. If you say so.”
“Good. I’ll go out and get Agent Hollins.”
“You mean you
left her out in that car, freezing her butt off all this time?”
“Yes. I didn’t want her involvement known until you
accepted the assignment. And, anyway,
she has the keys, so she shouldn’t be cold.”
“God, Director
Finn, you’re a case. Go get her.”
While Director
Finn was getting Holly, Jim greeted his dogs that had wagged their tails when
he came in, but had maintained their place guarding the Director. When Holly and the Director came in, both
dogs went over to her, but avoided Finn.
“Mister Scott,
this is Special Agent Holly Hollins.
Agent Hollins, this is Jim Scott.”
Holly ever so
slightly raised an eyebrow and gave a small dip of her shoulder. As Jim frowned in a barely discernable way,
she extended her hand. “Pleased to meet
you, sir.”
“Same, here.”
“All right, I
briefed Agent Hollins on the way here, and since you’re briefed, and I have no
intention of being presumptuous enough to tell you how to do your job, I’ll
leave now. Good luck.”
“Goodbye, sir.”
“So long,
Director.”
As Director Finn
drove off, Holly smiled. “Jim, long time
no see.”
Giving her a big
hug, Jim replied, “It’s been too long.
How’s your dad?”
“Fine. Do you think Director Finn really doesn’t
know that we know each other?”
“It’s hard to
believe he doesn’t. He knows I was CIA
after Desert Storm. And, he damn sure
knows Drew Hollins was CIA. Hell, I know
for a fact he, Finn, took some anti-terrorist classes your dad taught. I don’t know if he’s being too cute by half,
or just stupid.”
“He’s not
stupid, Jim. Maybe he just never made
the connection.”
“Hard to
believe, but I guess it’s possible.
Well, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt us, and the hell with him. I’ve never liked that little prick.”
“Nice way to
talk about the Director of the FBI, who just happens to be my boss.”
“Then why do you
have that smile on your face?”
“Because I agree
with you. What does a girl have to do to
get a drink in this palace of yours?”
“Oops,
sorry. Help yourself while I stow this
gear.”
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