Tanner- Year One Page 10

  Gracie led Tanner, Pullo, and Kate over to the mess hall and into her small office. On the way there, the group received many stares as Tanner, Pullo, and Kate walked about dressed in the garments of cult members.

  Gracie gave brief answers to anyone who approached her while also stating that the events of the day would be discussed at an upcoming council meeting. The monthly meeting was days away and she assumed dealing with Isaac’s actions would be on the agenda. However, the decision to do so would have to come from Nick Cannon.

  Tanner had learned Kate’s name on the ride from the cult’s compound to the militia base, but he still didn’t know her story.

  As she sat between Tanner and Pullo on a sofa in Gracie’s office, Kate began telling them her reasons for infiltrating the cult.

  “My little sister, Joy, she joined the cult after becoming friends with people from the group back in Maryland. Later on, she traveled here to be near Shasta Shah.” Kate gave a small shake of her head. “Joy wasn’t stupid, and I never thought of her as being weak, and yet, the cult attracted her somehow.”

  “When did your sister join?” Tanner asked.

  “A little less than two years ago. At the time I was still in college and cramming for finals. Maybe I would have paid more attention to Joy if I hadn’t been so damn busy. On top of school I was also working, and so I was on the run all day. When Joy said she was moving here I did try to talk her out of it, and so did our mother. She wouldn’t listen to reason. You can’t believe how fast she changed. One day she was a typical eighteen year old interested in her friends, clothes, and music, and the next day she was declaring she worshipped the goddess Saisis. It was bizarre, and now… and now she may be lost to us forever.”

  Gracie had been seated behind her desk. She rolled her office chair over near the sofa to be nearer to Kate.

  “What happened to your sister, honey?” Gracie asked.

  Kate told them about Joy’s return home and her statements that she had left the cult behind.

  “Mom and I were so happy. We hadn’t seen Joy in a year and had been worried about her. She was nothing like her old self but at least she was free of the cult. I’d hope she might begin taking classes in the fall, but then…”

  As she wiped away tears, Kate told them about Joy’s sudden disappearance.

  “It was as if she dropped off the face of the earth. My first thought was that she had gone back to the cult. When the police investigated, they were told that Joy had left weeks earlier and never returned. They have her listed as a missing person.”

  “I don’t blame you for thinking she returned to the cult,” Pullo said.

  “Yes, it seemed logical, and I wasn’t satisfied with the answers the police were getting. On top of that, Shasta Shah’s lawyers kept her from having to be questioned about it. All we had to go by was the word of the monitors who guard the gate.”

  “You must have been sure Joy was back inside the compound if you joined the cult to investigate,” Tanner said.

  “I didn’t know where she had gone, but I felt like the answer had to lie within the cult. After she came back home, Joy was acting like someone waiting for something. She didn’t go out, she didn’t seem interested in anything, she just sat in her room and waited. I didn’t see it at the time but looking back I realize that’s how it was. I thought she’d been programmed, brainwashed into doing something illegal.”

  “Did you learn anything while you were in the cult?” Gracie asked.

  “I believe Shah and her partner were paid to provide my sister to some other group. Shah and her partner are selling women for sex slaves… and my sister was one of them.”

  “Oh, good Lord,” Gracie said. “Do you have any proof?”

  Kate shook her head. “Nothing that would stand up in court. I bugged Shah’s phone and have overheard veiled conversations that led me to that conclusion.”

  “Conversations with who?” Gracie asked.

  Kate stared at her. “How well do you know Nick Cannon?”

  Gracie blinked rapidly. “Nick? You think Nick is Shah’s partner in this?”

  “I know he is, and I believe he’s the one dealing with the buyers. Shasta Shah has the brainwashed minions, but Nick Cannon has the connections. They’re selling young women to whoever has the money to buy them, and I can only imagine the horror my sister has been through.”

  Gracie looked as if she might be sick. After fighting back the bile rising in her throat, she asked a question.

  “Does Shah really have that much control over her people?”

  “You saw for yourself what happened when she uttered a single command. She turned a charging mob into a group of kneeling worshipers. Believe me, many of the people there would die for her. It’s sick but true, and the evil bitch is warping their children too.”

  Gracie wiped away a tear. “I’ve known Nick my whole life. The thought that he could be involved in something like this… oh God, and he’s dragged the militia into it too. When the truth comes out, we’ll all be blamed for it.”

  “The truth doesn’t need to come out,” Tanner said. “Shah and Cannon just have to be stopped.”

  Kate raised an eyebrow. “The way you stopped those two militia members… the ones you killed?”

  “Damn right,” Pullo said.

  Kate released a sigh. “I can’t say I’d be sorry to see Shasta Shah dead, but if she were killed, her people might martyr her. I’d hate to think what would happen to that group if she were murdered. I think it would only make the group grow larger and more fanatical. If she went to prison for her crimes, it might keep the gullible from falling for her scam.”

  “You have a point there,” Tanner admitted.

  Gracie stood and began pacing in the little room she had available to do so, while pulling at her hair.

  “If you’re right about Nick’s involvement, Kate, the militia will be damaged if the truth comes out. I can’t let that happen. But, if I can find proof, maybe I and a few others on base can force him out.”

  “It won’t just be Cannon, Gracie,” Pullo said. “His boy Logan must be involved, along with others.”

  Gracie stopped pacing and looked back at Pullo. “Logan? Yes, I guess he would have to be, Isaac too, in fact, all of the new people Nick has brought into the militia. It’s like a conspiracy.”

  “You can’t mention anything about this to anyone, Gracie,” Tanner said. “It would be too dangerous.”

  “I won’t say a word, not until I have proof.”

  “Getting proof is why I came here,” Kate said. “Does Cannon have a computer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Give me enough time with it and I’ll extract his records and emails. That should provide all the proof you need.”

  Gracie wiped at more tears, even as anger marred her features. “That son of a bitch! He’s risking the ruin of the militia in order to get rich, and to use Shah’s people like that—it’s sick!”

  The room grew silent for several moments. There followed the sound of approaching footsteps, then a knock on the door.

  Gracie opened it and Tanner saw Briggs. He hadn’t seen the militia member since his first meeting with Logan at the bowling alley. Tanner wondered if he were involved with Cannon’s scheme.

  Briggs held out clothing for them to take. It consisted of a set each of camouflage pants and shirt, along with a T-shirt that had the militia’s symbol screen printed on it.

  “These clothes are for our new arrivals here. Russo and Hollis gave Logan their sizes the other night, but we had to guess on the young lady. If you need footwear, try the PX, the base store.”

  “Thank you, Briggs,” Gracie said.

  “Nick wants to see you and the others in his office in half an hour, Gracie.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Gracie took the clothing as Briggs studied her face.

  “Are you all right?”

  Gracie forced a smile. “I’m good, and thanks for bringing the clothes.”
>
  “Sure,” Briggs said. The big man looked over everyone in the room before turning and heading back down the corridor. As his footsteps faded, Tanner asked Gracie about him.

  “Is Briggs a member of Cannon’s Inner Core?”

  “No, but he wants to be. He’s always kissing up to Nick and Logan.”

  Gracie escorted Kate to a bathroom to change and told Tanner and Pullo to use her office. As they exchanged the orange cult clothing for green fatigues, they talked about their targets.

  “I’ll still kill Cannon since I have a contract on him, but I think I should wait until after Kate and Gracie reveal what he’s done.”

  “Yeah,” Pullo said. “Once his people know what he’s been up to, no one will mourn for him. I’ll also hold back on killing Sullivan, but Kate better find her proof quickly.”

  “You’re eager to get back home?”

  Pullo smiled. “Not since I met Gracie, but Tanner, remember that warehouse we found with all the cots? I think Cannon and Shah set that up to house her people. There were fifteen cots there, that could mean fifteen more women to be sold.”

  Tanner had been in the middle of lacing up a boot, he stopped as he pondered Pullo’s words.

  “This has become more serious than a hit and getting revenge. I plan to stop these people.”

  “I’m with you, but like Kate said, killing Shasta Shah might make things worse.”

  “Yeah, but she still has to go.”

  “How?”

  Tanner smiled. “I’ll think of something.”

  20

  Stripped Of Rank

  If Tanner hadn’t known Nick Cannon was the leader of a militia, he would have guessed the man sold shoes or worked in a factory.

  Unlike Briggs and Logan, who had the stamp of former military written all over them, Nick Cannon was as average as they came. On the walk to Cannon’s office, Kate relayed her belief that Cannon and Shasta Shah were lovers.

  Shah, although sick and twisted, was an undeniable beauty. On the other hand, Cannon was nothing special. He had dark hair, a medium height and build, and the beginnings of a gut. What Cannon did have was control of a militia his grandfather founded, along with a pipeline that could supply him with arms, drugs, and a range of associates who operated outside the law.

  Although not every militia was filled with extremists, some were. As the leader of such a group, Nick Cannon would be able to reach out to other radicals, or even terrorist organizations. Tanner imagined those cots in New York City being occupied by an endless stream of Shasta Shah’s eager to please followers. According to Kate, there were people in the cult who would do anything for their “goddess.”

  Once they were in New York, Shah could order them to travel to any location. After they arrived there, their instructions would be to do whatever they were told. When it was too late to save themselves, they would be forced into sexual slavery by their new handlers. When Tanner thought of Anna and Anya being abused in such a manner due to their misplaced religious fervor, his hands balled into fists.

  Extra chairs had been brought into Cannon’s office and lined up in a semi-circle in front of his desk. Cannon sat behind it and looked at the assemblage before him.

  Logan was on his far right with Pullo seated beside him, followed by Gracie, Tanner, Kate, and a beat-up looking Isaac. Pullo’s punch had broken Isaac’s nose. The trauma damaged the small blood vessels beneath the skin, and Isaac had a pair of black eyes forming.

  Cannon wore a sour look on his face as he spoke to Logan.

  “Which of these men killed Marcus and Miranda?”

  “That would be me,” Tanner said.

  “Why did you kill them?”

  “Forgetting that they drugged me and kept me locked up for two days, Marcus also tried to kill me with a knife. I turned the knife against him, then used it to keep Miranda from shooting me.”

  “And you’re certain Isaac was involved?”

  Pullo answered. “He’s the one that brought us to the cult, and Marcus and Miranda were his people.”

  Cannon stared at Kate, liking what he saw. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Kate Wyman.”

  “Why did you leave the cult?”

  “It wasn’t the paradise I’d thought it would be.”

  “This isn’t heaven either. If you hope to stay here, you’ll have to contribute. Have you any skills?”

  “I’m good with computers, and I’m not afraid of grunt work.”

  “I’m going to start her out in the mess hall,” Gracie said. “I was thinking of training a new prep cook. I need a new person anyway since our head cook, Barbara, has decided she wants to stay home after she has her twins.”

  “All right, she’ll be under your wing,” Cannon said, he then turned his attention toward Isaac with a sigh. “As for you, when did you get so stupid?”

  Isaac bristled at the comment, turned in his seat, and gestured at Tanner. When he spoke, his voice had a nasal quality to it.

  “That bastard killed two of our people, Inner Core members, and the other sonofabitch broke my nose. Aren’t you going to make them pay for that?”

  “It was self-defense,” Logan said. “Ray was threatened by Marcus and Miranda and he responded to that threat. I think you’re lucky I stopped Joe from giving you more than a punch in the face. If you dragged me to that zoo of Shah’s, I would have wanted to kill you too.”

  Isaac faced front again and slumped in his seat.

  Cannon stared at him while shaking his head. “I’ve no choice but to punish you, Isaac, you realize that, don’t you?”

  “You’re going to dock my base pay?”

  Logan laughed. “That’s not punishment enough. I recommend we court-martial you and kick you off base.”

  Isaac sat up straight again. “What?”

  “Your actions are responsible for two deaths and you made Shah angry enough to kick us out of her compound. Plus, like Nick said, you’re stupid.”

  Isaac clasped his hands together and leaned them on a corner of the desk.

  “Don’t kick me out, Nick. I know I screwed up, but I don’t deserve to be kicked out.”

  “I agree,” Cannon said. “Here’s how we’ll handle this, as of right now, Isaac is stripped of command and has the rank of corporal.”

  “A corporal?” Isaac said, his face displaying shock.

  “I guess I can live with that,” Logan said. “I’ll also reassign him to work on the septic system for the new barracks we’re building.”

  Cannon looked at Tanner. “Didn’t Logan tell me you had experience with construction?”

  “I do.”

  “Good, you and your friend can also work on that project. As far as reestablishing ties with the cult, leave that to me. I have Shasta Shah wrapped around my little finger.”

  The meeting broke up and everyone stood to leave, before making his exit, Isaac glared at Tanner, then Pullo. There was malice in his gaze.

  Tanner was certain that Isaac would need to be put down one day, and he was betting Pullo would be the one to do it.

  21

  Dude, Where’s My Car?

  Gracie and Joe traveled into town to reclaim his vehicle from the used car dealer Isaac had sold it to. T.J.’s Used Car Sales was located at the end of a dead-end street and took up three acres.

  Pullo spotted his vehicle as he stepped out of Gracie’s ride, which was a vintage Mustang. The car was parked along a curve and had yet to be processed for resale. Instead of going straight to the office and demanding that they give him back his car, Pullo told Gracie he wanted to walk around the lot for a bit.

  T.J., or possibly one of his salespeople were busy with an older couple and a teenage boy. They looked to Pullo like parents searching for a reliable ride for their soon-to-be college-bound son. Pullo was grateful for their presence as it allowed him time to look around.

  A late-model Mercedes drove past the car lot’s main entrance and onto a narrow gravel road at the rear of the prop
erty. The guy driving it had long blond hair and a three-day growth of beard. After it disappeared from view a horn honked twice, two short beeps, followed by two longer honks. Seconds later, Pullo heard the sound of a garage door opening. While the door was sitting open, Pullo recognized the noise formed by the use of pneumatic tools, along with the whine of an air compressor.

  “What are you hoping to find?” Gracie asked, as she walked fast to keep up with him.

  “Nothing in particular, but by studying the way the business is set up it lets me know how the people running it think.”

  “Why is that important?”

  “They bought my car from the cult believing it was a square deal, and now I’m going to ask them to give it up for nothing. If I don’t want to involve the cops or threaten to sue them, I need an angle.”

  “An angle?”

  “Uh-huh,” Pullo said. He had stopped walking when he spotted the side of a building through the trees. It was a garage with a small loading dock. It had been built back beyond the lot’s other buildings and repair garage, where it would attract less attention.

  Pullo and Gracie kept heading deeper into the parking lot while pretending to look at cars. When the Mercedes’ driver came walking along the gravel path on foot, headed toward the bus stop, Pullo knew he’d found his angle.

  “Why are you smiling, Joe?”

  “T.J., or whoever owns this place, is running a chop-shop out of that garage back there.”

  Gracie did a double-take at the building. “You mean stolen vehicles?”

  “That’s right.”

  “If you threaten to expose him you can get your car back without a problem.”

  Pullo smiled. “I’ve got a better idea.”

  An hour later, Pullo followed Gracie back to the militia while driving a two-year-old Cadillac with low-mileage. The car was black with a white interior and a wood dash kit. It was given to Pullo in an even trade for his old car.