Hard Target (The Silencer Series Book 3) Read online

  “Was starting to get worried,” Simmons told them. “Thought you’d already be here by now.”

  “We had some things to take care of on the way,” Malloy replied.

  “Oh. Well no big deal. As long as you beat The Silencer here that’s all that really matters.”

  “So where are they?”

  “Who?”

  “The two people you’re holding.”

  “Oh, back here.”

  Simmons led them through the office and down a hallway to show them his two prisoners. Mia was in an office to the left and Jones was in an office to the right directly across from her. They checked in on Mia first. As soon as Malloy saw her with the gag in her mouth, he walked over to her and undid the string that held it in place to remove it.

  “What’re you doing?” Simmons wondered, perplexed by his behavior.

  “I don’t think this will be necessary,” Malloy said, dropping the rag on the floor.

  “You might be sorry about that. She’s a feisty one.”

  “Are you OK, miss?”

  Mia moved her jaw around a few times then nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Is Vincent coming?” Simmons asked.

  “He’ll be here shortly,” Malloy confirmed. “Where’s the other guy?”

  “What about her?”

  “What about her?” Malloy asked.

  “Well, undoing the gag, what if she calls out or something to warn The Silencer when he gets here?” he worried.

  “I’m sure she won’t do anything like that, will you miss?” Malloy asked her.

  Mia looked at him with a painful expression and agreed, even if she wasn’t sure she actually would comply with the request. “No.”

  “See, she’ll be fine.”

  Malloy told one of his men to stay in the room by the door to keep an eye on her as Simmons led them across the hallway to see Jones. He then told another of his men to go wait by the front door to keep an eye out for Vincent’s arrival.

  “Is he not as much trouble?” Malloy wondered, noticing that Jones wasn’t as tightly restrained as the girl was.

  “Nah. He’s pretty mild mannered,” Simmons answered. “He seems resigned to whatever’s gonna happen.”

  Jones recognized Malloy from the photos that he dug up of Vincent’s organization for Recker when he was initially checking into them. Since they didn’t seem to know who Jones was, in relationship to Recker, he just played along like he wasn’t familiar with any of them. Another man stayed in the room with him as Malloy and Simmons went out into the main office to wait for their boss. About five minutes later, the front door opened, with Vincent confidently walking in. A sigh of relief crossed Simmons’s face, finally feeling like the situation was secure.

  “Jimmy, Joe, how’s everything looking?” Vincent asked.

  “Everything’s good,” Malloy answered.

  “No issues?”

  Malloy just shook his head.

  “Joe, I have a few more questions for you,” Vincent said.

  “Sure.”

  “On the way over here a couple things hit me out of the blue that I didn’t initially think about. You talked to The Silencer on the phone, correct?”

  “Yeah,” Simmons replied.

  “How did you get his number?”

  “The girl gave it to me.”

  “And how did she get it?”

  Simmons shrugged. “She said she knew him.”

  “Really?”

  Simmons shrugged again. “Yeah. She had it memorized. Said they were friends.”

  “Well that’s interesting. Wouldn’t you say Jimmy?”

  “Sure is,” Malloy responded.

  “Let’s meet this girl.”

  “She’s back this way,” Simmons said, leading them back to the room she was in.

  Vincent, Malloy, and Simmons stood just inside the door, looking at the tied up woman. As they continued to stand there, Mia couldn’t help but feel she was in a lot of danger. She could tell by the way Simmons stood behind the others that these guys were the ones in charge of the situation now.

  “Pretty girl,” Vincent stated to anyone who was listening.

  Vincent looked around the barren room and noticed a metal folding chair standing up against the wall in the corner. He slowly walked over to it and grabbed it before taking it over to Mia’s location and setting it up a few inches away from her. He unbuttoned his coat as he sat down, wanting to have a conversation with her.

  “Mia, is that right?” Vincent asked.

  “Yes. Are you the one that holds his leash?”

  A grin overtook Vincent’s face, appreciating her feisty manner. Smiling, he looked over at Malloy and Simmons, the latter of which wasn’t as amused by the comment.

  “I told you she was a feisty one,” Simmons said.

  “I understand you know The Silencer. You’re friends with him?” Vincent asked.

  “I’m not telling you anything,” Mia rebuffed.

  Vincent made an expression that hinted at his disappointment with her answer. “That’s an unfortunate response. You see I already know that you do. Having his phone number proves that. I don’t really need a confirmation from you to acknowledge that.”

  “Then what are you asking me for?”

  “To participate in a truthful and engaging dialogue,” Vincent replied. “I abhor people who lie to me. It’s something that just gets under my skin and irritates me to no end. When I find people I can talk truthfully with, and feel like we’re having an honest conversation, I truly appreciate their candor, even if it doesn’t necessarily jive with my own views. I have a certain respect for them and feel that a bond develops between the two parties.”

  Mia didn’t exactly know who the man was that was sitting in front of her. But there was something cold and dangerous about him. He seemed nice enough, well spoken, obviously had some degree of intelligence. But underneath all that, she could tell there was something that said he could be more ruthless and dangerous than anybody else in that room. Someone that you didn’t want to mess with.

  Vincent could see that she was having an internal debate as to how she should handle their conversation. He wasn’t upset at her lack of trust to that point. Under the circumstances, with her being kidnapped, tied up, and whatever else Simmons had done to her, he understood her hesitancy. But he viewed her as a great resource at trying to understand Recker further. Up to that point, he knew little about Recker. He obviously knew what most people did, what was broadcast on TV, what was written in the papers, along with whatever intel he got off the street. But here sitting in front of him was someone who knew Recker personally. It was his chance to get more information about him. Something other people didn’t know. And with luck, he could learn something he could use at another point in time down the road.

  “So if I may ask some personal questions, just how close are you two? Friends? Girlfriend? Casual acquaintance?” Vincent wondered.

  Mia took a big sigh before she revealed anything, knowing it was probably in her best interest not to dodge any more questions from him. “Uhh…we’re just friends.”

  “Nothing more?” Vincent asked, not sure that her response was accurate.

  “Nothing more. We’re just friends.”

  “OK. How may I ask did the two of you meet?”

  “Umm…some of those stories you read about of him in the paper…I was one of them,” she told him. “I was having problems with an abusive ex-boyfriend and one day Mi…he just showed up.”

  Vincent smiled, appreciating her resilience and restraint. He could tell that she was still trying not to reveal too much out of loyalty to Recker. It was a trait that he was fond of and one he required in his own men. Before going any further, he looked toward Malloy and nodded for him and Simmons to leave the room. After they did so, Mia started looking a little more nervous, thinking that something was about to happen to her.

  “You don’t need to play games with me, Ms. Hendricks. I’m fully aware of his name,” Vinc
ent said.

  “You are?”

  “Mike Recker. I’ve had the pleasure of doing business with Mike on a few different occasions.”

  “Oh.”

  “I take it you two have been friends ever since the day he helped you with your problem,” Vincent assumed.

  “I guess in a way.”

  “Not so sure?”

  Mia shrugged. “I guess I try to be more friends with him than he does with me.”

  “Keeps you at arm’s length, huh?” Vincent asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Smart on his part.”

  “Why do you say that?” Mia asked.

  “A man as dangerous as Mike is, someone who does the things that he does, it makes sense that he wouldn’t want anybody to get too close to him. Take yourself for example. Say you two had feelings for each other and got involved, then someone like Joe out there found out about that, that would make you an appealing target to anyone who was trying to either hurt him or avoid him,” Vincent explained.

  “Oh. Yeah, I guess it would.”

  “I’m surprised that he’d still interact with you at all. I’d think that after helping you he’d just move on to his next case. Not get involved with anyone.”

  “I guess I kind of kept after him.”

  “Tell me, Mary, what is it that you do for a living?”

  “Why do you wanna know?”

  “Curiosity mostly.”

  “I’m a pediatric nurse,” she told him.

  “A nurse, huh?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Have you always done that?” Vincent wondered.

  “Well, not always. Before that I worked in an ER. But that’s what I went to school for.”

  “I see. Good skill to have around for a man like Mike. Going to the hospital for some type of procedure for someone like him could be pretty dangerous. Never know who might show up.”

  “What are you getting at?” Mia asked.

  “Honestly, I don’t really know. I have a theory though. Hear me out and let me know what you think.”

  “OK.”

  “Several months ago, I heard Mike got shot. It was actually a man named Mario Mancini that did it. He worked for the Marco Bellomi crime family. Long story short, Mike came to me in hopes of finding Mancini, which we did. Well, I don’t know if you know the results of that but both Bellomi and Mancini were widely featured on news telecasts after they turned up dead,” Vincent said.

  “Why are you telling me all this?”

  “Like I said, curiosity. Now, I’m assuming after Mancini shot him, Mike, didn’t go to a hospital. A nurse that he has as a friend, though, that might be very helpful indeed if the need should ever arise.”

  “Must be.”

  As the two of them were talking, Mia started looking more relaxed, not so uptight. But as the conversation continued, that worried look returned to her face. Vincent was pumping her for information and she could only assume that he was trying to get as much out of her as he could before he killed her. From Vincent’s standpoint, he had as much information as he thought he needed. He was quite convinced that he had a good grasp on things. He figured that Recker kept a relationship with her, albeit one from not that close a distance, just in case he ever needed medical help. He thought it was a genius move and frankly one that he expected from someone who had the talents that Recker did.

  Without wanting anything else from Mia, Vincent reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small folding knife. Mia’s eyes widened as she saw him remove the lethal instrument, worried that she was about to feel how lethal the object was. Seeing how scared she was becoming, Vincent sought to put her mind at ease. He leaned forward, the knife dangling off his knee.

  “You can relax, Ms. Hendricks. I’m not here to hurt you,” Vincent said. “You and your friend will be leaving here shortly, both of you unharmed.”

  Mia scrunched her face, not sure she believed him. If he was being truthful, she certainly didn’t understand what was going on. “You’re letting us go?”

  Vincent nodded his head. “Yes.”

  “Not that I’m not happy or grateful, but why?”

  “You see, Joe works for me, but what he did to your friend, what he’s done to you is not something that I condone,” he explained. “I don’t wish any harm to come to you. You’ve done nothing wrong that I can see to be in the position you are right now.”

  “I thought he said you were setting a trap for Mike?”

  “Well, I told him what I thought he wanted to hear in order to keep him here with you long enough for me to arrive. As I told you before, Mike and I have done some business dealings before. We have a standing arrangement of some sorts.”

  “So you’re not gonna try and kill him?”

  Vincent let out a feeble laugh. “No, trying to kill Mike would be a tall task for anyone regardless of the odds. I value the skills that Mike possesses. A man like him could be very valuable and in demand for someone in my position. Men like that, you just don’t get rid of unless it’s absolutely necessary. Men like Joe, however, well, they’re highly replaceable. You may or may not know that Mike’s out of town on business right now and he called me a little while ago and explained the situation. There was obviously no way he could get here in time to save you and your friend so he called me. And I told me I would rectify the situation. And so here we are.”

  Vincent then took his knife and put it between Mia’s ankles and cut the rope that tied them together. He then got up and walked behind her and cut the rope that bound her hands. Once Mia’s hands were free, she rubbed her wrists to try and relieve some of the pain from the pressure of the ropes. Vincent walked back in front of her as she begun to stand up. Vincent put his arm up to keep her there a few more minutes.

  “Am I free to go?” Mia asked.

  “I’m going to ask you to remain here a little while longer,” Vincent responded. “I first want to talk to the other man that was with you.”

  “Are you letting him go too?”

  “After a brief conversation, yes. I wasn’t informed of his name. Perhaps you can save me the trouble of finding out.”

  “Uhh…David.”

  “David? David what?”

  “Uhh…Jones.”

  “Jones, huh?” Vincent asked, not believing that was his real name.

  “Yep.”

  “How do you two know each other?”

  “Umm…friend of the family. Yeah,” Mia replied, saying the first thing that came to her.

  “OK. I’m going to leave a man just outside the door. For your own protection. You’re free to walk around in here if you like. I will let you know when it’s safe for you to leave. Shouldn’t be too long.”

  Mia nodded, and though she was anxious to go, figured a few more minutes wasn’t too much to ask. She was just relieved that she’d be leaving at all considering a half hour previous to that she thought she was on her final breaths.

  Vincent walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. He instructed one of his men to just stand there and make sure the woman didn’t exit the room. Vincent stood outside the other door, thinking about how he wanted to approach Mia’s friend. He took a deep breath, then walked in, grinning and looking relaxed. Once again, Vincent looked for a chair and found one in the corner of the room. He grabbed it and walked over to Jones, setting it up right in front of him. He then sat down about a foot away as they began to converse.

  “So…Mr. Jones,” Vincent said. “I’ve been told you have no identification on you to confirm who you are.”

  “Sounds as though you already know,” Jones replied.

  “Courtesy of your lady friend across the hall.”

  “Is she OK?”

  Vincent nodded, “she’s fine.”

  “Am I correct in assuming that you are Vincent?” Jones asked, even though he already knew.

  “And how would you know that?”

  “Well, your man told me he was waiting for you and seeing as how you
have a certain presence about you it would only seem to reason that you are him.”

  Vincent smiled. “Very astute observation. So is Jones your real name or is it some type of alias that you and The Silencer have worked out?”

  “Alias? I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “So are you telling me you don’t know the identity of The Silencer?”

  Jones shook his head, hopeful that he wouldn’t get tripped up in a lie. “No, I don’t. I only know what I read and hear. Nothing more than that.”

  “So you’re telling me that Ms. Hendricks knows The Silencer, you know her, but yet you have no intimate knowledge of him?”

  “That is correct. Mia’s relationship to The Silencer is no concern of mine and whatever that relationship is…is not my business.”

  “And yet you accompanied her today. Why?” Vincent wondered.

  “While her relationship to The Silencer is not my concern, her safety is. I was concerned about her meeting this man alone and wanted to protect her in any way I could. Obviously that did not work out as well as I would have hoped.”

  Vincent smiled. “Seems playing the bodyguard isn’t really what you’re suited for.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Exactly what is your business?” Vincent asked.

  “I’m a…professor,” Jones replied.

  He couldn’t believe he was actually using the nickname Recker had given him. But, he could see how it might fit in the eyes of other people. And if it helped to get him out of this jam, he’d be more than happy to keep on using it.

  “Of what?” Vincent asked.

  “History. I teach at Temple.”

  “So if I call down to Temple, they’ll have knowledge of you?”

  “Of course,” Jones answered, staying strong in his bluff.

  Though Vincent still wasn’t sure he bought Jones’ story, he didn’t want to get too in depth with the questions. He was mostly trying to just scratch the surface and get whatever information he could without it sounding like an inquisition.

  “So how long have you known Mike Recker?” Vincent asked.

  “Who?”

  “Mike Recker.”

  Jones answered with a slight shake of his head. “I’m afraid I don’t know the name.”

  “And you’re telling me you’ve never asked Ms. Hendricks who The Silencer is? Knowing full well that she probably knows his real identity.”