Chapter Two-Hundred and Sixty-Four

Chapter Two-Hundred and Sixty-Four
Looking saddened, London went on, “Then eight years later, my dad told Ronnie about what she planned to do to stop them and Ronnie killed her. That mugging wasn’t just a mugging, he had to stop her from spilling his secrets to the cops. That’s why she died. To protect Ronnie’s secrets and my dad knew it all along.”

Mark let out a heavy sigh as he glanced over at Allen and shook his head. “We knew it wasn’t just a mugging but we couldn’t prove it. I wish you would have come to us sooner. We might have been able to stop it.”

London shook her head. “Then Ronnie would have killed me too. As it was, Ronnie hurt Chris and carried him up to the caves a few days ago and then threw money at my dad after he passed out and told him he just paid for me. I was supposed to go to the farm a few days ago but instead, I came here. Ronnie is still looking for me. I was supposed to be his way of controlling my dad. I guess Ronnie didn’t expect me not to follow his orders.”

“Well, thank God, you didn’t,” Allen said as he looked disgusted by her news. “Don’t worry, after the cartel gets done with them, we’ll mop up what’s left and we’ll clean up this town.” 

They got up and Hawkins walked them to the front door. They spoke in hushed tones for a moment then they left, leaving behind a silence that dragged on for a few minutes. 

Hawkins turned to JuJu and snapped, “That was a damn reckless thing to do. Sabotaging their boat. What if they caught you?”

JuJu shrugged. “Well, I couldn’t just let them escape, could I?” 

At the airport...
When Carlos Ruble and his friends got off their private plane, they were met by Hondo, his five sons, Brute, Titan, Wanderer and Nash. 

Carlos stopped and looked at the men opposite him and he smiled faintly. “Hola Hondo, No estoy tan feliz de verte.” I can’t say it’s good to see you again.

Hondo shook his head. “No bueno. I can’t say it's good on my end either but here we are.”

“Si, here we are and I have orders not to shoot you. Mores the pity about that.” He gave him a huge grin.

“More’s the pity,” Hondo told him. “That I can’t shoot you either, so I guess we’re even.” He smirked at his rival.

“Si, so we come together to vanquish a common enemy. That is so odd.” Carlos shook his head.

Hondo raised both his hands and said, “Muy rao.Tan extraño… Very odd. But that is between you and the other men you seek. I want no part of the killing as I told Braza late last night. We found out what they were planning and as a favor, I let your boss know. I am no longer in the business and I never was  a part of the violence. This is your place to know what is going on behind the scenes. That they gave you the wrong address shows intent on their side, not mine.”

“Si, it does and we are here to clean up the mess they would have made.” Carlos snarled. “Los bastardos would have started a war and then simply disappeared, selling something they had no right to sell and betraying all of us. Los cerdos.” Those pigs. Shaking his head he gritted his teeth and said, “That stops today.”

“And we clean up our town today as well,” Brute told him. 

Carlos looked over at him. “We will not be operating here. So that is your business.” Then he looked over at Hondo to ask, “Is Mezla still around?”

“As far as we know he is.” Hondo gave him a nod. “I think he was going to leave with Ronnie and his crew.” 

Carlos smiled again. “Hecan die right beside them then. This will send a message to the Mezla cartel as well.” 

“It is your lesson to teach.” Hondo handed him a file with the corrected information in it. 

Carlos nodded his thanks. “I will not say gracias. Your life has been spared.” He straightened his suited soldiers in an arrogant s flinch.

Hondo chuckled and stepped close to say in a low menacing voice, “You are lucky I am here. Because of that…Your life has been spared by me.”

Carlos shook his head.

Brute, Nash, Titan, and Wanderer all stared at the two men. 

Tension filled the air as Hondo gave him a half smile.

Suddenly, Carlos leaned his head back to laugh.

His men and Hondo’s sons all stared at the two older men. They all shook their heads.

The men then went to the cars they had parked waiting for them and they all headed to Granite Falls. When they reached the city limits, Hondo and his group went one way and Carlos and his group went the other way.

Hondo went to the clubhouse and once they arrived, everyone was watching JuJu’s monitor. Hondo noted the time, it was almost three o’clock. They watched as Carlos’s vehicles all arrived at the farm.

Ronnie, Abe and Luthor all came out of the farmhouse with duffle bags. Surprised expressions appeared on everyone’s faces when Carlos stepped out of the lead vehicle and then the surprise turned to pain as the Mezla men came out of the house shooting.

Ronnie, Abe and Luther all ran for cover as did the men that had arrived with Carlos.

They were at a standoff for the moment.

An hour later…

Hal stood from his desk, getting ready to leave.

Mark had been covertly watching him from across the hall. He glanced at the clock briefly then looked across the office and nodded at Allen. Finally, he stepped out of his office and called to the mayor, “Hal, I need you for a moment.”

Hal looked at Mark then glanced at the clock and said, “I was just about to go on patrol to finish out my shift.”

“This will only take a moment,” Mark assured him.

Hal reluctantly joined him in the office.

Next, Allen joined them and when he came in, he shut the door behind him. 

All three men sat down.

Hal looked from one man to the other then asked them, “What is this about?”

Mark pushed a file across his desk toward him. 

Hal opened it. He paled as he read the first page then he looked up at Mark and Allen. “How did you get this information? This is my personal bank statement.”

“Well, you know the drill,” Allen replied casually. “First, we got a warrant. We then did everything by the book and Judge Hardin signed the warrant.” He cocked his head at him. “What we want to know is why. Why did you break your oath and go along with these fools?”

Hal sat back and shrugged. “For the money of course. My wages weren’t enough to live the good life I always dreamed about. But I wasn’t the only one who went along with this.”

“Yes, we know.” Allen gave him a nod.