Part II

Now were cooking Chapter 12

At 85 years old, Duke was nobodys fool and though he was with Lucys formidable nephews, he knew that in a firefight it would be every man for himself. Andrew made it a point to keep Lucy close to his left, with his right hand just inside his jacket while kept Lucy on his right with Bobby following up the rear. Duke walked next to Bobby, not close but not more than two arms length either. For most of his life, Duke had been a man to reckon with. Though he had given up guns when his son was born, he had not given up weight lifting and training with a heavy bag. Even now, one hung in his modest flat in Brooklyn, covered with duct tape and well beaten every evening before dinner. Of course, at his age he was nowhere as fast or agile as he once was, but he could still punch like a prize fighter in his prime. In close combat a man would want to have him as a friend rather than an enemy. Inside the Marriotts lobby the only sound was Lucys heels tapping on the marble floor. The nephews shoes all had silent crepe rubber soles while Dukes New Balance cross-trainers made an imperceptible squeak. Duke quickly corrected this by stepping onto the surrounding carpet area. Behind Duke and to the right of the lobby tables filled with businessmen having their late afternoon snack, cookies, and watching the late day version of Fox News. The reception desk, placed at the most convenient height for most people to sign their checks, credit card slips or room vouchers, was a foot too high for Lucy. Behind it stood a young black man in a non-descript sport coat, white shirt and black tie. The nameplate on the desk identified him as J.M. Sommers, while the badge on his shirt said his name was simply John. Hello, Lucy said, extending her hand in greeting to the young man behind the desk. I have some things for Detective Danny Marks. Could you tell me his room number? Sorry mam, John smiled. We cannot give out the room numbers of guests. I can hold the items and leave a message for Mr. Marks. Well, Lucy thought, just call his room and tell him Im here. Im sorry, but Mr. Marks has a do not disturb setting on his phone. John began to shuffle some papers about, avoiding looking at Lucy. Andrew stepped forward slightly and slid the left side of his coat such that the butt of his Desert Eagle was clearly visible to John. Perhaps you could help the lady since she is Mr. Marks aunt.

John quickly considered the strict privacy rules of the Marriott and weighed them against the fact that he was a college student and due to be off work in six minutes. As I said, I cannot give that information out. However, I am just now leaving work, and my relief is not here yet. So, if you were to look at the pink wakeup call slip laying on the desk, after I leave, there would be nothing I could do about it. John smiled and started to step through the rear door. Just a minute, Bobby stepped forward. Johns knees went weak and he began to consider all of the things he should have told his sister before going to work today. How much he loved her, where the last two cookies went, that her boyfriend was cheating on her. All these thoughts and more raced through his mind in a fraction of a second as Bobbys massive hand lunged for the young man. Here. Bobby opened his hand to reveal two crisp one hundred dollar bills. I know how tough it is to put yourself through school. Thanks for the help. John smiled, took the money and was out the door as fast as possible. You know, that kid could have been me, Bobby said to the group. Yeah, replied Andrew, if hed been two hundred fifty pounds heavier and a foot taller. Everyone laughed, except Duke. Something felt wrong, but he couldnt put his finger on it. Maybe it was just being in an upscale motel rather than the Red Roof. Still, he was not about to let his guard down. Lucy picked up the pick slip of paper and noted the room number, 318. Ok, got it, she said. Ill just step down to the elevator, drop these off and Ill be right back. Andrew slipped her arm through his as if he were helping his mother across the street. Well just step down to the elevator and well be right back. OK, fine. You boys are so protective. Lucy tried to scold them, but overall she liked the attention and the security. Bobby wandered over to the coffee bar and poured himself a Styrofoam cup full of the gourmet blend at the end of the counter. To that he added six creams and 4 packets of sugar. Duke was watching the exhibition as he walked toward Bobby. Did you want a little coffee with that cream and sugar, Duke joked.

Hey, I drink it just like my momma. Wellalmost. Momma would dump the coffee out of the cup onto the saucer and blow on it. Then shed drink it off the saucer. Bobby smiled. Im off to Louisiana next week to see mamma. Its been nearly a year. Good for you, Duke replied, still looking around the room. Duke sized up the room, probably thirty by twenty or twenty five. It was almost a square, but no quite. There was an emergency exit in one rear corner and another door in the other that probably led to some kind of a mini kitchen where they made the coffee and heated up the cookies. The reception desk was straight across from where he was sitting, maybe an additional twelve feet beyond the large arch that formed the entrance to the eating area. Nine tables evenly spaced and about three feet square each formed the actual dining space. Each one could seat four, but all contained one business man except for the table at the rear, nearest the kitchen and the one where he and Bobby were now. There was a woman; probably in her fifties with a boy, possibly eight, probably her grandson at the table near the kitchen. Duke continued to consider the environment. Nine tables with seven men, each sitting alone. One more time; seven men in suit coats, without brief cases, all facing the lobby and each sitting alone. One more time; seven men, all late thirties to early forties, wearing identical black suits, are sitting in a two, three, two formationwithout brief cases, facing the lobbyat six in the evening. This wasnt even afternoon snack time. Bobby, Duke leaned and whispered, do you carry a gun? Depends, Bobby replied. Depends on what? Depends on if you are a cop or not. Bobby smiled. Of course Im not a cop. Look how old I am, Duke tried to whisper, but was getting loud enough that one of the men glanced back, then returned to watching the Sheppard Smith. Then the answer is yes, I have and gun and a permit to carry. Bobby patted his coat near his heart. Do you have another gun? Duke continued. Depends, Bobby replied now squinting slightly trying to read Dukes expression. Depends on what? Depends on why you want to know. Bobby again patted his concealed weapon.

Well, it looks like you and I are about to be part of a gunfight and I dont want to be the guy who only brought a knife to a gunfight, if you know what I mean. Besides, I didnt even bring the knife. Duke glanced back over his shoulder toward the middle of the room where one of the guests was adjusting his chairs position to get a better view of the lobby. I dont think I get what you are talking about, Bobby looked puzzled. This may take just a little imagination, but think about this Duke started to draw on the table with his fingers, using the table to represent the layout of the room. See, we are here and the lady with the kid is here. Ok, I get that, Bobby replied, so what? And why are you whispering? Simple. Heres where the rest of the people are sitting, all men. Notice anything about their arrangement? Think football. Duke was lining his fingers up on the table in the two, three formation. Yeah, I guess if I thought about it, it could be like an offensive blitz. Bobby was beginning to understand. I get it. These guys are here for something and they plan to do a rush. The first two guys split wide, the next three guys are defenders and the back two take out the runnerehI mean the target. Yep, Duke replied, and I think Lucys friend Danny is probably the target. I think we need to break up this play before it gets started. Im in, Bobby passed Duke a Glock 17 he had strapped to his leg. Whats the plan? Well, youre the football player while Im just an over-the-hill old sailor. But, heres what Im thinking. Duke began to lay out the play. Bobby made a couple of adjustments mainly because of his size and speed, but overall they stuck to Dukes idea. You know, Duke winked, this could end badly for us because it is seven against two. Yeah, I did the math and Im figuring a seventy-one percent chance of failure, Bobby frowned. Duke smiled and reached in his pocket. Really, seventy-one percent? I figured our chance of failure was more like ninety percent. I feel a lot better now. Duke pulled out a small brown bottle, unscrewed the cap and shook out a tiny while pill. Whats that for, asked Bobby. Nitro. Take it if Im having a heart attack Are you having a heart attack?

Nah, Duke winked again. Just planning ahead. If these guys dont kill me, Ill probably have one by the time its over. You know the old saying an ounce of prevention is better than a case of the crabs. I never heard that saying, Bobby scoffed. You must have made that one up. Dont think so, Roy replied. Think it was the Navy motto back in the day. Duke slipped the Glock into the waist of his pants and lowered the shirt tail to cover it. Ok, its time. Once I get the woman and the kid out, you get to the front and do your part. I got it. Bobby seemed a little sad for a moment. Hey, Duke. If this goes south and I dont make itwould you give my mom a call? Course, if it goes the other way, anyone you want me to call? Are you kidding me, Duke smiled wide. They couldnt kill you with a tank! And besides, there aint anyone left to care if ol Duke is wearing a d irt comforter. Heymaybe Ill meet up with Elvis. Duke slapped Bobby on the shoulder and made his way to the table nearest the kitchen door. Bobby tried to relax by taking some deep breaths and focusing on what was about to happen. He told himself to think of this as a playoff game. Sure he had the jitters, but that was good because it made him more alert. Like the coach said adrenalin is your friend. Bobby saw the woman and boy move quickly though the door. Duke was walking along the breakfast bar picking up a plastic spoon and knife and as he did, he moved closer and closer to the two men at the rear tables. Bobby rose from his chair, adjusted the Glock nineteen under his coat and moved to the front of the room, directly between the two front men and the television. Look at that cracker talking like he has any idea what real Americans think; black America ns for sure. Bobby raised his voice as if Shepard Smith could hear him. Bobby turned to the two men, now within three feet of them. What do you think? You got any idea what a black man wants? The man on the right adjusted his position and slid his chair back slightly while the man on the left seemed stunned having an angry giant black man in front of him. Shut up and sit down, Duke yelled from behind the other two men. Nobody cares about that stuff. Were just trying to hear the news. Am I right guys? Duke stepped between the two tables.

Yeah well youre just like that cracker on TV, Bobby yelled and like Duke, he stepped between the two tables in the front of the room. Hey, we dont want any trouble here, started the man to the left of Bobby. Lets just calm down. At that point the man put both hand in front of him, over the table in a pushing down motion. It was just as Duke predicted. Duke made the first move. As he was moving down the breakfast bar, he had unplugged the waffle iron and wrapped the cord around his right hand. While the two men at the rear table were watching Bobby, Duke swung the waffle iron with all his might and contacted the back of the first mans head. The ensuing thud and crunch sounded like someone dropping a cinderblock onto a watermelon. At the same time he drove a crushing left hand upper cut to the jaw of the second man as he turned to see what was going on. Two down and Duke dove for cover. Bobby, on the other hand took out his two with a hard right to side of the guys head on his left and a returning elbow to the throat of the guy on the right. There was no running for cover for Bobby, he was charging for the guy in the middle of the group of three in the second row. Bobby made a sweeping tackle across the table driving his head into the solar plexus of his target. Duke heard the expelling air across the room. The man to Bobbys right fell to the side but came up quickly with his gun drawn. Duke got off two shots. The first went through the shoulder with little damage; the second went through the heart, driving the gunman back and down to the floor. The other guy had made a similar move but his gun was pointed at Duke. He fired three shots in rapid succession. Duke headed for the cover of the over turned table and, had he been twenty years younger, he might have made it. The first shot pierced his lung, even with his arm pit, the second his stomach, exiting through his L4 and L5 vertebrae and the last shredding his femoral artery. The shooter would not be able to enjoy his marksmanship as Bobby fired at the same time placing a single shot between the eyes. Bobby quickly ran over to Duke. Just relax. This is going to be OK, its not as bad as it looks. Duke coughed struggling for air, do ya think I got to be this old being stupid? I know Im done and thats fine. You were a great lineman Bobby, great. That was it. A small gurgling sound rattled from somewhere in Dukes chest and he was gone. No time for sympathy, Bobby knew what had to be done. He walked over to the guy Duke had coldcocked with his massive left hook and calmly snapped his neck. The others followed in

succession. Next he collected the guns, moved a couple of bodies and collected what little identification or cash any of the men had on them. Duke was right, one had a credit card, probably stolen, one had about eight hundred in cash and one had a drivers license and a set of keys. Bobby opened the phone app on his phone, pressed a code and waited. Someone picked up the phone but said nothing, which he had expected. I have a dry cleaning order at the Marriott that needs to be picked up right away, Bobby was cold and precise. How many suits, asked the voice. Seven, replied Bobby, and a delicate. Is the delicate ours, asked the voice A very close friend so I want it handled with extra care, Bobby paused and reflected on his short time with Duke. Got it, replied the voice. We will be there in three minutes; we have a service truck in the area. Thanks. The lobby clock chimed that it was 6:00 PM. Unconsciously, Bobby checked his watch to confirm its accuracy. The elevator door gave a familiar chime. Someone was coming.

************************** There was no chime in China, yet Huli was awake as though he had heard the lobby clock, his nose filled with the smell of dumplings, fried cakes and perhaps even a duck egg or two. This morning he would need to eat well because this would be the beginning of a great journey from which he might not return.