Chapter 11

“I can say for certain that Discarsio Enterprises is behind the surveillance on your ex,” Jess declared the following day. “I can even tell you where in Highland Park the shots are being called from,” she smiled brightly.

“Excellent,” Kurt replied excitedly. “I established a few contacts with some of your financial contribution, who can start keeping an eye on things on that end.” He stepped out of the room with his cell phone.

“With any luck, we can get an early enough warning before Franky Sr. decides to put a tag on Molly’s head,” Jess explained to Chad as he joined her at her perch on the loveseat. “And I am sure once Kurt sniffs out his location, he’s gonna be all over him like a bloodhound.”

Later that afternoon Kurt and Molly met for the first time over an early dinner. It was relatively benign for first dates, but he must have made a hard first impression because she was texting him before he even returned home, and the tone of her messages had taken on a deeper, more lustful nature. It had been a while and she was horny.

It was clear she felt insecure being out in the open so when he suggested they meet again at her place she eagerly accepted. They reunited two days later when he brought a full-course Italian meal and two bottles of wine, treating her like royalty as he wined and dined her with impeccable charm. After several glasses of liquid courage, he easily redirected her towards the emotional turmoil of her lost love who was so savagely taken from her. It was child’s play to get her to call out the Discarsios and implicate them in a laundry list of evil doings. Naturally, the surveillance gear (both Jessica’s and the mob’s) caught every word — effectively signing her and Kurt’s death warrants.

While they were wining and dining, Jess was busily scrubbing Kurt’s online profile from cyberspace, eliminating all traces of his fake existence.

After dinner he begged out of staying, citing early business the following day. Molly was disappointed, to say the least, but eagerly accepted his offer to come back three nights later for a romantic celebration of their relationship. It would be a Thursday night and he hinted at taking her away the following morning to parts unknown. That was certain to light a fire under the would-be assassins to wrap things up before she possibly vanished.

All of this was discussed and replayed around the dining table in Jess’ condo. Kurt mentioned that he had recruited the aid of a few ‘compadres’ from the old days and that he was easily prepared to foil any attempt on their lives. He wouldn’t offer many details and encouraged all of them to remain ignorant and distant from the action when it went down.

Over the next two days, Jess overheard and viewed a lot of chatter regarding Molly’s impending termination. She recorded several discussions that revealed the location, time, and detailed descriptions of both Molly and her new boyfriend. She even learned that the assigned hitmen were the same ones who gunned down Paul at the courthouse. It was also revealed that the senior killer was none other than Franky Sr.’s nephew Tony Discarsio.

Assuming the three-man team would include a driver, Jess decided to add several exterior cameras to cover the front and rear of the house. Kurt arranged for 4 friends to cover either end of the street in two different vehicles while a 5^th man would wait concealed in Bobby’s Fort to assist when needed.

Chad, Jess, and Evie would watch video coverage of the events and provide an electronic overwatch for Kurt who would be in contact with them via TAC COM mike. Chad was intrigued with all the gadgetry and surveillance equipment.

“The best money can buy,” Kurt quipped, “and you bought it.”

It was dusk when Kurt arrived at Molly’s door and found her clad in a thin revealing negligee. She was ready to go and was not ashamed to show it. He grinned and kissed her deeply as she wrapped herself around his hard body. He closed the front door with his foot and carried her into the main room where he set her on the couch. Chad found himself surprisingly free of any emotion as he observed from several miles away.

“Where is your bed darling?” Kurt asked as he removed his coat and hat, lying them on the couch beside her. He kept his driving gloves on, but she didn’t seem to notice.

She smiled coquettishly and stood before him reaching for his hands, “Follow me.” As she spun and led him toward the stairs, he reached into a hip pocket producing a syringe. With one hand he flicked off the needle cap and plunged it into her trapezius muscle between her neck and shoulder.

“What...” she cried out as he pushed the plunger down. She struggled to pull herself away from him, but he gripped her tightly and held her back against his chest. In seconds she went limp, and he caught her in his arms as he tossed the syringe aside. He quickly carried her up to the master bedroom where he lay her on the bed and stripped her naked. He tossed her negligee on the floor in the center of the room and partially covered her with the duvet.

Returning downstairs, he went out the front door to his sleek stingray and returned with a medium-sized duffle bag. He set it on the couch and opened it. The first thing he removed was a tiny earpiece that he placed in his right ear.

“Comm check.”

“You are loud and clear Kurt,” Jessica said softly into hers. Chad was wearing one as well and picked up both voices.

They watched as Kurt began stripping off his dating clothes, tossing them about the floor and up the stairs. He replaced them with a pair of black tactical khakis and a skintight black long-sleeve turtle neck. On his feet, he placed a pair of soft-soled black hikers, and he completed the ensemble with a black balaclava.

Moments later he was geared up in a Safe Life FRAS vest, shoulder holster with a silenced Sig Saure, hip holster with a second Sig, combat knife, flex cuffs, ASP, and NVGs which he activated once the interior lights were killed.

“Any static?” he almost whispered.

“Some,” Jess replied. “I think the kill team is on the move and someone else. Not sure.” She stood aside allowing Chad to take her spot at the computer. “I’m about to head out.”

“Copy.”

She disappeared into their room and reappeared moments later in a skintight black one-piece with low wedge riding boots. She had a thin ski mask pulled down to her neck. She walked over and kissed Chad deeply before staring into his worried eyes. “I’ll be fine baby,” she assured him and walked over to the garage entrance. Moments later her Kawasaki zipped to life, and she buzzed away.

“I don’t like this,” Chad muttered under his breath.

“Touch your earpiece if you don’t want to broadcast sweetheart,” her voice said in his ear as clearly as if she were standing beside him.

“Oh ... Sorry — crap!”

He heard a soft snort and a giggle.

Evie was standing over his shoulder when she reached over and pointed to one of the exterior camera feeds.

“There is a car pulling up to my ... er her front driveway,” Chad said excitedly.

“Talk softly!” Kurt reprimanded.

“Sorry,” he whispered, turning red.

Three armed men exited the vehicle and it stayed in place idling. Another figure could be seen sitting behind the wheel.

“There are three guys, all armed plus a driver,” he whispered as he watched them slink up to the door. There was no reply. He looked at the other three camera views but couldn’t see Kurt anywhere.

Chad was shocked at how quickly they had the door open. It was like they had a ... oh yeah. He was glad he kept his thoughts to himself. He watched from the interior view of the entrance and saw them flick the light switch bathing the room in bright light. None of them wore masks, which surprised him. Regardless their features were so similar he could only differentiate them as being tall, short, and thin.

The short one whispered to the others directing them to search the lower level while he crept up the stairs, pointing his weapon before him. Chad relayed this information and then updated it as soon as Shorty stood before the master bedroom door. He listened carefully for a few seconds and then boldly turned the knob and entered. Chad looked at another view and watched as he reached over and flicked the light switch while aiming the long, silenced pistol into the room. The room remained dark.

“What the...” Chad heard a muffled curse as the killer stepped further inside allowing the doorway to light up a portion of the bed. Molly’s partially covered form was revealed, and he lowered his aim towards her. Then he crumpled where he stood, falling straight down over his legs. A loud whack was heard and then a grunt. Kurt materialized right behind the intruder and caught him before he thudded loudly to the floor.

Chad was impressed with how quickly the unconscious man was tossed over, restrained by his hands and feet, and gagged with a piece of duct tape over his mouth. Then Kurt disappeared from view again as the door quickly closed. From the living room view, he could see the blur of his form as he darted silently down the stairs and over to the light switch. The room was once again plunged into darkness. It took a second for the camera to adjust but then he spotted Kurt with his NVGs in place creeping across the room skirting the wall.

“Sitrep,” Chad heard in his ear.

“One is headed your way from the kitchen and the other...” He looked around at the different views. Evie pointed to the back porch where Tall was looking around the backyard. “Still outside on the back deck.”

Suddenly Tall seemed to lurch sideways and flew off the deck onto the ground where he was tackled by a near-invisible figure. Several punches were thrown and then Tall was tossed expertly and bound similarly.

“Scratch that,” Chad whispered harshly, “He has been taken out.”

Evie gasped behind him at the suddenness of the assault.

Thin didn’t have a clue what he was walking into as he peered into the dark living room before stepping cautiously forward. Kurt didn’t bother to catch him as he fell with a sick-sounding smack onto the hardwood. He was on the still form like a spider trussing him up and silencing him with a piece of tape.

“Sitrep on the driver?” Kurt hissed.

“Secured,” came a strange voice. Chad jumped and looked at the exterior front view. The car had been shut off and the driver had been flex cuffed to the steering wheel. It was clear he was unconscious and the shadowy figure bent down below the dash, presumably to restrain the feet too.

“Approaching the back,” Jess said in his ear, and he looked to the rear camera to see if he could spot her. He heard Evie gasp and looked just in time to see another male figure creep into view in the backyard.

“Jess!” he hissed. “There is someone else in the backyard creeping around!”

There was no reply, and he grew more alarmed as the seconds went by. The creeping stranger was halfway across the yard when a smaller figure darted forward from the shadows, directly behind him leaping onto his back. Chad watched dumbfounded as the stalking figure was spun around violently and then flipped over backward to land on his face. His head and neck were sandwiched between two black legs, and he thrashed about for a second before he twitched and was still.

“Secured,” Jess’ sweet voice chirped calmly over the earpiece as she tied him up.

“Jesus H Chr...” Chad swore as Evie jumped up and down behind him clapping excitedly.

“Language baby,” he heard Jess chide him.

Back inside the house, the living room was lit up again and Chad watched Kurt drag Tall and Skinny across the floor, propping them against the foot of the couch, while his partner retrieved the short one from Molly’s bedroom. He dragged him by his feet which didn’t do his skull any favors going down the stairs. When he too was sat up against the couch Kurt produced a smelling salt ampule and cracked it. Waving it under each nose until the owner jerked awake.