It was now 11am and I called Painter to see if we could meet earlier. He said that would be fine, so Mac, John and I were soon walking into his office. Storm was allowed to come in too, providing he stayed on my shoulder, which was fine with me. “What is this important information you have for me?” he asked. “About Menton,” I said, “he has been cheating you for a long time now, plus taking customers from you.

And, he has been arming the Lightning with sub machine guns so they can start a war with you to take over your territory.” “You have proof?” he asked. “Here is the name of his contact in Mexico, check with him,” I said, “he can tell you prices you should be paying, and the weapons Menton has been buying.” “Call him,” he said to one of the men in his office. Then I put papers on his desk.

“These are Menton’s bank statements in 5 different banks,” I said. He handed them to the other man in the office. “How much Dan?” he asked. “A little over 25 million altogether,” he said. “A lot for a man like him,” I said. “Too much money for him,” said Painter. The other man finished his call and told the news to Painter. By this time Painter was not in a good mood at all. “What do you want for this?” he asked.

“Nothing at all,” I said, “Menton owed money to a friend of mine and I came to collect. Menton paid, though reluctantly. He is planning to run today, likely at the bank already to get his money transferred.” “He will not be needing it where he is going,” said Painter, “Pick up Menton and his boys and bring them to me, and I mean now,” said Painter to someone on his phone. We started to leave, but…

“You are not going anywhere Lieutenant,” said Painter, “sorry to say it like this, but you know too much about our operations.” “Do not be a fool Painter,” I said firmly, “do anything to us and you will be destroyed.” “I am not afraid of your friends in Italy,” said Painter, “they will not do anything to help you.” “I do not need them,” I replied. “The doors to this building are locked now,” he said again, “your friends outside cannot help you either.”

“You are a fool Painter,” I said and activated my alarm transmitter. “Trouble!” yelled Rock. Galyna, Bridgette and Crystal stayed with Carrie in the van, but everyone else attacked. We came prepared with everything we needed this time and explosives were quickly set off at each of the doors. Rock and Vince led the way with sub machine guns of their own. My transmitter let them know where we were in the building.

But before they blasted their way inside, I had been standing right in front of Painter’s desk and Storm jumped off my shoulder and onto Painter’s face. Painter screamed which got the attention of his two men and that gave Mac and John the opportunity they needed to jump them. I grabbed the gun that Painter dropped and Storm jumped off of him and onto the desk.

I put the gun to the head of Painter. Mac and John quickly subdued the two men and took their guns just as Rock smashed the office door off its hinges! “For someone in your position Painter,” I said, “you really are a foolish man. I actually thought you would be reasonable since we were helping you. Big mistake I see. Now, call off your people.”

He did so right away, telling his men to put down their weapons and leave us alone. Then, after cleaning off his face a bit, he came with us out to our vehicles, something that I insisted. Then we let him go back inside. We waited around for a while though and after about 30 minutes the men that had gone looking for Menton and his sons came back with all 3 of them. I thought maybe Menton would have killed Willie already.

We waited around a while longer and soon some men brought out a pine box and loaded it into a van and drove away. That was odd. Soon Menton and Kenny came out and got in a taxi and drove off. Menton actually convinced Painter that it was Willie behind it all. We went back to the house and waited. Menton and Kenny obviously had gone to the banks to transfer their money somewhere else, but they eventually came back home…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.