Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1) (39 page)

“Huh.”  The engineer grunted and looked up at the gun aimed at his head, his eyes going so wide his irises seemed to be small islands in a sea of white.  He was so shocked Hanna thought he would faint at any moment.  It was entirely possible he was literally pissing himself in his chair.  The camera didn’t show anything below his chest, so she couldn’t tell.

“Don’t do anything stupid and you’ll both live through this.”  Valerie said and jabbed the gun pointed at the pilot slightly.  “You.  Come here, slowly.”  She holstered her right pistol and held out a couple of bindings to the pilot.  “Secure his hands behind the chair.  That’s it, now his feet to the leg.”  Valerie told her, referring to the single pillar the chair sat on.

“Good.”  She said when the pilot was finished.  “Now sit in the co-pilots seat and put your hands behind your back.”  The pilot complied and Valerie secured her as well before sitting in the pilots own seat.

She keyed her com.  “I take it you’re still watching, Hanna?”

“Yep.  I saw it all, Valerie,” Hanna told her.  “We’re still in position right behind you.”  She started tapping a few commands into her datapad.  “Right, the new flight plan has been filed aaannnndddd is approved.” 

“Good.  I’m installing your override program now.”  Valerie got out the small flash drive Hanna created for her a couple of days before, inserting it into the cargo flyers console.  The program would allow Valerie to fly the aircraft herself, without flagging it to traffic control, just like their aircar.

“The board says green for manual control.  Hanna, can you confirm that?” 

Checking the signals going from the cargo flyer to Traffic control, she could see that as far as they were concerned it was still on automatic.  “Signal is still for automatic, you are clear to fly.”

“Rush, see if you can stay with me.”  Valerie said with just the slightest hint of humour in her voice.

“I think we can manage.”  Rush replied dryly.  No matter how good a pilot Valerie was, there was no way that massive aircraft could out fly the aircar.

They were now well outside the city limits.  Valerie started a gentle curve back to the warehouse within Inferno.  Troll and Barney would be there, with a few junior members of the crew to unload all the cargo.  A number of trucks were already sitting there, waiting to haul it all away to the various buyers Sneaker lined up.

Hanna sat back and smiled.  Another successful Job had been pulled off.

Valerie echoed her sentiments.  “Well done, team.  Don’t relax yet.  Not until all of this is delivered.”  That was just like her, never satisfied until the Job was complete and everyone was safe.  Hanna didn’t mind and nor did anyone else.  More than once in the last few months, that attitude had paid off and avoided some dicey situations.

Valerie walked into the Dawning Sun six hours later and the time was now two in the morning.  It had taken that long to unload everything and ship it all out.  She made a mental note to ask Sneaker about recruiting more people.  She liked the small well-knit team and didn’t want to change the Crew for the Heists.  Hanna, Deni, Rush, Troll, Barney, Hobbs, Judge and Sneaker, when he could spare the time, were a tight Crew.

After the raid, Valerie did have some reservations about Hobbs.  He came round though and worked with them several more times.  Sneaker, after checking with her, asked him to join officially a couple of months back and since then, Hobbs proved his worth many times. 

He was more relaxed with Valerie now and even started to try and flirt with her.  She resisted slapping him down as everything inside her screamed at her to do.  It seemed a betrayal to Tom to even tolerate it, but she didn’t want to push Hobbs yet, in case he turned resentful of her.  After she ignored him for a few weeks, he should get the message.  If not, she would have a quiet word with him.

Judge had been a complete unknown for her.  He was out of town for the first heist and the attack on Tumbler’s tower.  She found she liked him though.  The slight man was cool, calm and collected.  He reminded Valerie a lot of Chao Button, but not as flippant.  She could see why they called him Judge.  He never let his emotions take over, he was always in control. 

The Crew was all she required for the front line aspects of the Heists.  What she needed were more people in a support role.  Today, after she landed the cargo flyer, it had taken all of them to off-load and drive the trucks.  The four extra bodies Sneaker gave her wasn’t enough.  Both Hanna and Deni needed to drive, with an Enforcer along to ride shotgun.  Valerie knew none of them minded doing it, but it wasn’t the best use of their skills.  As they were light on Enforcers, it also meant Hobbs and Judge had to stay and guard the Dawning Sun.

Following the power vacuum caused by her killing Tumbler, the Tops gave Sneaker permission to take over her territory.  He started by buying the Dawning Sun with the proceeds from the first Heist.  The bar itself hadn’t changed much, it was still the dim and dark hole Valerie lost herself in for so long.  The only real difference being the number and type of clientele after the drunks moved on.   Those who came here now, had money to spend and wanted to hitch themselves to Sneaker’s rising star.

The bar wasn’t where the real action was, that was upstairs.  Sneaker turned it into a very sophisticated casino it was now the place to be, if you had money to burn or wanted to make your fortune on the turn of a card or roll of the dice. 

With Sneaker’s extensive contacts and Valerie keeping the peace, it also became neutral ground for the Bosses to parley.  They would come here and iron out any differences and problems they had with rival gangs.  Not even the most vicious Boss dared to cause trouble in the Sun.  They knew they would have Valerie to deal with and no one wanted that.

The basement was Valerie’s.  She turned it into her base of operations for the Heists and Enforcers.  A powerful fully equipped armoury, including a workshop with every tool she would need, had been installed.  There was a gun range, where she could train their people how to shoot properly, rather than on the Job, the way most around here learned.  She also converted one of the derelict floors above the casino into a training ground, with holo targets and variable lighting.  It was a good place for their people to put her training into action, in the tight confined corridors that was the most likely place many of them would fight.  Another floor was also in the process of being renovated.  When finished it would represent a fight outside in the streets.

Also in the basement was a full briefing and planning room, with simulators that could train people in every type of vehicle and Hanna’s work space.  That one room contained more computer power than the girl really knew what to do with.  If the authorities ever found out about the Rig in that room, in the hands of a Hacker with Hanna’s abilities, they would come down on this building with everything they had.  Valerie knew Hanna was more skilled than the best in the Legion and she was still learning.  Sneaker might not be able to help directly with the Heists anymore, but he always made time to continue Hanna’s training.

Along with needing the support for the Heist’s, they also needed to keep control of their territory.  Hanna had some very strong views on prostitution and the drug trade.  The girl knew they were too profitable to not be part of the business, but they needed to be regulated.  They had always been the areas in the Ghetto that were the most open to abuse, and Tumbler let the Dealers and Pimps do whatever they wanted.  Sneaker and Valerie fully agreed with Hanna, but they just did not have the numbers to enforce their will yet.

Valerie personally stepped on a half dozen men and woman they heard about going too far.  It wasn’t enough and until they employed more Enforcers, the Pimps and Dealers would continue to abuse those they had power over.  Hanna was being patient at the moment, but that wouldn’t last for long.  As the number three in the gang, behind Sneaker and Valerie, her opinion mattered.

Walking over to the bar Valerie, took her seat on a stool at the end.  The barman came over and placed a double whisky in a large wide glass in front of her.  “Thanks, Frank.”  He nodded and turned to serve those he skipped to give Valerie her drink.  She turned her stool slightly into its normal position, with her back to the wall and elbow propped against the bar.  From here, she had a clear line of sight to the front door on her left and the Casino and Basement entrances at the back of the room to her right. 

This was her stool and it was always kept clear for her, just as she was always served before anyone else when she came in.  The on duty Enforcer was in a similar position on the opposite side of the room.  Valerie nodded to her.  Jackal nodded back, her eyes continuing to sweep the room while she sipped her ice water.  Judge would have finished for the day and Hobbs would be upstairs, keeping an eye on the casino until late.  Jackal joined a couple of months ago and was a good solid presence in the bar.  People noticed she was there, knew not to cause trouble and weren’t so afraid they didn’t feel relaxed.

Jackal had been a good hire, though she may not have been the fastest or the best shot.  What she did do is get the job done with just the right amount of force, not too much and not too little.  In a way the woman represented what Sneaker was trying to build, a profitable business that was firm and fair.

Leaning back slightly, Valerie relaxed as much as she was able, which wasn’t very much.  She knew what was waiting for her back at her apartment.  The dreams would come the moment she drifted off to sleep and would not finish until the morning when she would wake crying.  They never stopped and she did not believe they ever would.

She had not found peace, she would never call it that and not contentment, maybe distraction would be the right word.  Her days were taken up with enough things to do to keep her mind away from her grief, while allowing her to function.  She did not feel bad about that, when she went to bed, she would relive it all, again and again. 

There was still something else inside, caged and waiting.  The rage hadn’t cooled in the slightest.  It was not just tears of sorrow that fell in the mornings, but also tears of rage against those that hurt her family.  Even now, as she contemplated it, she felt her grip tighten on the glass and forced herself to relax before she shattered it.  That rage still needed to be fed.  It still needed to be released, just as she had on Furioso.

Even now, two years later, she felt little regret at her actions, but there was some guilt for the deaths of those she knew and worked with.  What she mostly felt was satisfaction she hurt those running the Pantheon.  She let those powerful men and women, who luxuriated in their wealth and power, without a thought to those they hurt, know they were vulnerable.  It was possible for someone to attack them where they should be strongest.

With a big swig, she downed the last of her drink and left the bar.  To go home to her dreams and tears.

The sun was up and shining when Valerie walked through the Dawning Suns doors at noon, after her normal restless night.  Tatiana, this morning’s bartender, was already pouring Valerie’s daily coffee.  Valerie took the large cup and thanked the woman before heading upstairs to the casino.

Unsurprisingly, there were not many people in there, Judge nodded to her from his usual place on the balconies above as Valerie crossed the floor.  Suchao, another Enforcer, stood next to the stairs leading up to Sneaker’s office.  He nodded to Valerie as she passed.  The door was open and Valerie didn’t even bother to shake her head about it as she went in.  It was an old argument, Sneaker wanted to be accessible and she wanted to make sure he couldn’t be a target.

“Good morning, Valerie,” he greeted her from behind his desk.  “How did it go last night?”

“It went well.”  Valerie said.  She passed the small conference table and sat in one of the three comfortable chairs arranged in front of his desk.  “No casualties on either side, our customers got exactly what they wanted and paid in full.”

“Yes, I have had a call from a couple of them thanking me for the deliveries.”

“Always nice to hear, but we really need to discuss recruitment.”  Valerie said.  “I can think of several more productive things that Hanna, Troll, Barney and myself could be doing instead of driving trucks.  Also Rush and Deni maybe our Drivers, but anyone can drive a truck and they were on the Job for over twelve hours.”

“I know, I know.  You’re the one who’s always cautioning me about getting people we can trust.  I’ve used up my contacts and those of the Crew.”  Sneaker said, meaning Troll, Barney, Deni, Hanna, Judge and Rush.  “I know you don’t have any around here to call upon.”

“That’s true.”  Valerie said with a nod.  “What about Hobbs, Jackal, Suchao and the others?  I’m sure Hobbs knows some Merc’s who want a steady payroll.  I think we can trust people Jackal vouches for.”

“You’re right.”  Sneaker said smiling ruefully.  “I’m so used to trusting only our Crew and you do have better relationships with the Enforcers than me.  Why don’t you sound them out and get them to let me know who they recommend.  I’ll have Hanna run background checks and give me a short list of those who fit the bill.  We can then go through them and see who’s worth speaking to.”

“I’ll have a chat with them.”  Valerie agreed and then noticed something on Sneaker’s desk.  Quirking an eyebrow she asked.  “Is that Billy Bacc’s Manifesto?  I didn’t take you for a rebel.”

Sneaker picked up the fifty-four page hard copy and looked at it slightly quizzically.  “I’m not really.  Have you read it?”

Valerie shrugged slightly.  “Once.  Quite a few years ago.”  Although banned throughout the Pantheon, it was required reading for senior Devil commanders.  “It’s well written, but I honestly don’t think he has a chance of actually changing anything.  Can you see anyone around here rising up in mass rebellion?”

“You’d be surprised, Carter, you’d be surprised.”  Sneaker shook his head and Valerie got the impression he didn’t want to talk about it.  “Anyway.  I have another Job for you,” he said changing the subject.

Valerie raised her eyebrows again.  “Already?  That’s a bit quick.”

“I realise that and I agree the Crew do need some downtime between Jobs.  This is a special order from Top Garson.  He wants it done and he wants us to do it.  Here.”  Sneaker passed over a file of hard copies.  If you wanted to do something and make sure no one knew about it, you sent the details on hard copies and a stand-alone drive. 

Valerie flipped through them.  “It’ll raise our profile then?”

“Massively,” Sneaker said nodding.  “It’ll also give us an option on Helmdon.”  Valerie thought about that.  Helmdon was a neighbouring area and Alecto, the Boss there, was getting old without a clear successor.   She was steadily losing control of her area, with small independents setting up shop inside of it.  The option meant their Crew could move in when they wanted and more importantly, when they were ready, after completing the recruitment drive.

“I would suggest an alliance with Alecto once we have the people, with the understanding her operation will be absorbed by us when she’s ready.”  Valerie told Sneaker.

“I agree.  You’re getting ahead of yourself though, we need to complete the Job first.”

Valerie closed the file.  She hadn’t read it properly yet but she had seen enough.  “It won’t be a problem,” she said confidently with a wave of her hand.  “Our Crew can handle it.  I’ll get Hanna started on background and Deni out scouting with some flybys of the area.  Once we have the data and I have put a plan together, I’ll let you know.  Did Garson say when he wanted it completed by?”

“I told him we can have it done in a couple of weeks,” Sneaker said with a shrug.  “He seemed happy  with that.”

“OK.”  Valerie stood up.  “I’ll call Hanna in now and get Deni to have a poke around this afternoon.  Is there anything else?”

“Nope,” Sneaker said with a shake of his head. “I’ll leave you to get on with it.”