Jack and Bear owned or leased more than thirty five apartments and homes. Twenty of them were located in or just outside of the city. Last night they went to the one furthest from the old man’s compound. You were never fully out of his reach though. His network was vast. He owned police precincts. He owned other criminal organizations. The Godfather had nothing on this man.
Jack sat in a rocking chair on the front porch. He had been stationed there since before dawn. Watching. Waiting. He expected one of the old man’s teams to show up any moment. He was so focused on the street and surrounding homes he didn’t notice when Bear sat down next to him.
“Nice morning,” said Bear.
“Jesus, Bear. Scared the shit out of me.”
Bear let out a belly laugh and handed Jack a cup of coffee.
“Thanks,” Jack said. He took the mug and sipped on the coffee. “She still asleep?”
“Sound.”
“Poor thing. She must have been in a panic the whole time.”
Bear nodded.
“I want to take him down, Bear.”
Bear raised an eyebrow and looked at him out of the corner of his eye while scratching his bushy beard.
“I know it won’t happen overnight, but we can do it.”
“Jack, you need to relax. Get this job done and then take a few weeks to think about it. You don’t just go around declaring war on the old man. He has more contacts inside the government than you and I combined.”
Jack said nothing. His eyes scanned the street looking for anything out of the ordinary.
“He don’t know about this place, Jack.” Bear stood and opened the screen door. “C’mon, let’s get some breakfast and get the little girl ready to move.”
Jack followed Bear into the house, sat down at the kitchen table and continued to look out the window for any sign of the old man’s guys.
“Mornin mister Jack,” a soft voice said.
Jack turned and smiled. Mandy was standing there, holding her teddy bear, eyes bright and blue. “How’re you, sweetheart?”
She shrugged.
“What would you like for breakfast?” He stood and walked to the cupboard to find some cereal, certain she would want something loaded with sugar.
“Can I have some eggs?”
“Sure sweetie. Bet you didn’t know that Bear over there is the finest egg-chef in the northeast!”
“Your name is Bear?” she asked.
“Yeah. That ok with you?”
“Like Ted E. Bear,” she asked. She smiled, holding up her tattered teddy bear.
The big man chuckled. “No, not teddy. More like Grizz Lee Bear.” He lifted his arms, threw his head back and made a loud roaring sound.
Mandy laughed uncontrollably and before long the two men joined her.
The laughter was interrupted by the sound of Jack’s cell phone ringing. “It’s the old man,” he said while holding up the phone.
Bear nodded. “C’mon Mandy, let’s go see what’s on TV.”
The little girl hopped up and followed Bear into the other room.
“I’m here,” Jack said into the phone.
“Mr. Jack, I will keep this brief.”
“Let me talk to Clarissa.”
“There is no time for that, Mr. Jack.”
“You want the documents, you’ll let me talk to her.” Jack wasn’t sure if it was the lack of sleep, but he had never talked to the old man like this before.
There was silence on the other end. Jack heard muffled voices and thought he could make out the old man telling Charles to bring the girl over.
“Jack,” a soft voice said through the phone.
“Jesus, Clarissa, I’m sorry. You ok?”
“A bit banged up, slight concussion. But other than that I’m alright.”
“I’m gonna clean this up,” he said. “I need you to stay strong for a bit longer. He won’t do anything to you until he has what he wants. Hang in there, OK?”
“OK.”
“Now say goodbye. I need to wrap this up.”
“Goodbye, Jack.”
The old man returned to the line. “Mr. Jack. Paris. Thursday. Bring the documents. Go alone. Understood?”
“Yeah, I got it,” Jack replied. “Where do you want—”
The old man cut him off. “We’ll be in touch Thursday morning. Goodbye.”
The line went dead.
“Son of a bitch,” Jack said.
Bear was leaning against the refrigerator. He stood a good six inches taller than the appliance. “What did he say?”
“I have to go to Paris… alone. I have to be there by Thursday,” Jack said. He thought for a second and then started to ask, “Bear, can you—”
“You don’t have to ask. I won’t let her out of my sight.”
Jack smiled at him. Thanks weren’t necessary. “We should get out of this house. Best to consider it a compromised location from now on.”