Soulless (A Tanner Novel Book 43) Read online

“That would never work. If everything was free, who would go to the trouble of producing anything, knowing they wouldn’t be compensated.”

  “True, but that sort of anti-establishment mentality brings in a lot of young or disenfranchised people. Others seeking to join the group will rob banks. Since they aren’t officially members of the cult, if caught, they can’t be tied to it in any concrete way. But getting back to your main question. Krakoff is hard to kill because he’s so well protected and isolated. He never leaves that compound, and it would be almost impossible to infiltrate it.”

  “Have there been other attempts on his life?” Cody asked.

  “Several, but only two of them were made by professional assassins. Both of those men died. Before he went missing, the undercover operative reported that the men never made it within a mile of Krakoff.”

  Rhona brought up a new photo. It showed a building that was made of brick and painted white. It resembled a church and was four stories high. A second photo showed the rear of the building. There was a balcony in its middle, off the third level. It looked out over a courtyard.

  “That’s where Krakoff lives. He makes speeches from that balcony about once a week but without a set schedule. Whenever that happens, his elite forces spread out and run a sweep of the area surrounding the compound. It’s a rather desolate landscape out there, and few places to seek concealment. During the speech, there are over a hundred people combing the land, the small hills, and the dry riverbeds. If you were out there looking to take a shot at Krakoff from a rifle, there would be no way to remain unseen, even if you were a mile away.”

  Rhona passed over a file folder. “All the photos we have of the compound are in there. Let me know if you have any questions.”

  “Does Krakoff use a microphone when he makes his speeches?”

  “Yes. That way the people working security in the hills can hear him, as well as those gathered in the courtyard below.”

  “I’m guessing that the sound travels quite a distance.”

  “I would think so,” Rhona said.

  Cody studied the photos he was given. Henry, seated beside him, looked them over too. When Cody was finished with them, he passed the file folder over to Henry to hold.

  “What else can you tell me about Krakoff’s security?” Cody asked.

  Lawson answered him. “When he makes his speeches, they’re aware that he’s vulnerable, so they have people searching the area with binoculars and will send up drones. Because of that, we see no way for you to kill him with a sniper rifle, even if you were to set a record. His people would spot you no matter how far out you were. And the closer you got to Krakoff, the less likely it is that you’ll escape.”

  “What is the record distance for a kill with a sniper rifle?” Rhona asked.

  “A little over two miles,” Henry said. “That’s a confirmed kill, and a nearly impossible shot.”

  “What do you say, Cody, do you accept the contract?” Lawson asked.

  “I accept it if you’re willing to wait as long as six weeks for me to fulfill it. Henry and I have to travel soon and won’t be back in the country for a while. After that, I’ll need time to work on this.”

  “That’s acceptable,” Lawson said. “And the best of luck to you. Once Krakoff is dead, I’d love to know how you pulled it off.”

  “There’s something I’ve been wanting to try; this will be a good opportunity to do so.”

  Rhona was seated to Cody’s left. She reached over and laid her hand on top of his. “Please be careful. If you’re caught, those cultists will bury you in the desert.”

  “I won’t be caught. If what I have planned works, they’ll never see me—and I’ll never see Krakoff.”

  “What?” Rhona said. “How do you kill a man without ever seeing him?”

  “There’s a way,” Tanner said.

  Rhona looked past Cody to Henry. “Do you know what he has planned?”

  “No, and I can’t wait to find out.”

  In California, the assassin named Soulless was living in a home that overlooked a tranquil lake. Soulless was handsome, but not to the point that he would attract more than casual attention to himself. He was fit, but not overly muscular, and of a height and weight that made him average. Appearing average was a good thing in his opinion. His goal was to blend in wherever he went.

  Like Tanner, Soulless had also been offered a contract. His offer arrived over the dark web and originated from a Mexican cartel located in the southern end of the country. A new cartel had formed in the area and was taking over territory at a furious pace. An older cartel had already fallen to the newcomer and its competitors sought to kill the man leading it.

  The target would be A.J. Pirrello. Pirrello was in his twenties, had come up from the streets, and his large family of brothers and cousins acted as his personal bodyguards. Pirrello’s people were loyal to him because he didn’t hog the wealth all to himself. He compensated his people well and had funneled some of his drug profits back into the town he had grown up in. The town had a new church, a new school, and free daycare centers. A.J. Pirrello knew how to get the people on his side. Pirrello was smart, charismatic, handsome, and had enough ambition for six men. His dream was to eventually grow his cartel so large that none of the others could stand against him. By the time he was fifty, A.J. wanted to run all of the drug trafficking in Mexico. It was quite the aspiration, and one that drove him to ever expand his territory. It also made him enemies who wanted him dead.

  Soulless perused the material sent to him that concerned the security around Pirrello. It was impressive. A.J. was guarded at all times, rode around in a bulletproof limo, and reportedly wore a bulletproof vest. Six would-be assassins had already died attempting to kill Pirrello. Not one of them had gotten within a hundred feet of the man.

  The contract was a challenge. Soulless liked challenges and agreed to take it but insisted on being paid upfront. The contact wrote back that it was no problem. They added words that made Soulless grind his teeth.

  We’ll pay you upfront and know that you’ll succeed because of your reputation. Other than Tanner, you’re the best assassin there is.

  Tanner. He was always being compared to Tanner, and in every instance, he was judged to be the man’s inferior. It made Soulless furious.

  He ended the exchange on the computer after telling his contact he would need several weeks to complete the assassination. They agreed and forwarded his payment. It was the biggest fee he had ever gotten for a hit, but Soulless’s enjoyment of the accomplishment was spoiled by the anger he was feeling at once again being judged as Tanner’s inferior. If Tanner was so much better, than why not hire him instead?

  After pouring himself a drink, Soulless went out onto the home’s deck and stared at the lake. The view helped to calm him down and he thought about the contract he had just accepted. Pirrello was a difficult target and one several men had died trying to kill. No doubt, they had all used conventional methods. No one had ever accused Soulless of being conventional when it came to killing.

  He spent two hours going over different ideas in his mind and drank three glasses of whiskey while doing so. When he came up with an idea he thought would work, he decided he first needed to do research before he could implement it. Soulless opened up a laptop computer and began learning about the region where A.J. Pirrello lived and was building an empire. There was a lot of natural beauty mixed in with poverty.

  Soulless made travel arrangements online while using a fake ID that was connected to a phony passport. Afterward, he went out and did some shopping for a suitcase, clothes, and other items.

  The next morning, he left the house and climbed into a car that belonged to the home’s owner. That man’s body was weighted down at the bottom of the lake. Soulless had killed him when he took over the house. The owner had been a client who hired him to kill an ex-business partner who had wronged the man years earlier. The client insisted on meeting Soulless in person before he would pay him. Soulle
ss obliged him, fulfilled the contract, then returned to kill the man. Soulless killed anyone who could identify him. Although, there was one exception. Tanner had seen Soulless’s face when they’d encountered each other in Africa.

  Soulless planned to kill Tanner someday. He was also wise enough to know there was a good chance he wouldn’t survive if he went up against the man. Soulless was waiting for an opportunity to show itself, one where Tanner would be at a disadvantage.

  Soulless hated Tanner. He wanted to be who everyone conceded Tanner already was—the greatest assassin of all time. If Soulless ever hoped to claim that title, he would have to start by killing Tanner.

  2

  South Of The Border

  While Cody would be training and testing Henry in Mexico, Sara would be with the children in California. Sara’s grandmother had died weeks earlier and the home and property she lived in had been divided between Sara’s mother, Aunt Grace, and Uncle Gary. Aunt Grace was the only one who lived in the home. She was in her sixties and felt the house was more than she needed. Uncle Gary and Sara’s mother, Lily, had agreed the property should be sold, and the proceeds divided.

  Sara was traveling to California to help her aunt ready the home to be put on the market. Franny was coming along to look after the children. She also had family in California and would have a chance to visit them.

  To Sara’s delight and surprise her Uncle Gary was at the house when they arrived. Gary was the black sheep of the family. He was a professional gambler who had been married four times. He was also one of Sara’s favorite people in the world.

  Sara hugged her uncle. Gary was slim and had a gray beard.

  “Uncle Gary, it’s so good to see you.”

  “You too, Sara, and now I’ll get a chance to meet your rug rats.”

  When Franny was walking up the steps with the children. Gary bowed to her.

  “Who is this vision of loveliness, Sara?”

  “That’s Franny. She’s our housekeeper, and a friend. Franny, this is my Uncle Gary.”

  “How do you do, young lady?”

  Franny squinted at Gary. “You must need glasses if you think I’m young.”

  “You’re only as young as you feel,” Gary said. “So, let me feel you and I’ll guess your age.”

  That made Franny smile. “I see your uncle is one to look out for.”

  Sara’s Aunt Grace came out of the house. “Gary has been married four times. Lord help the woman who becomes wife number five.”

  “That won’t be me,” Franny said. “I have someone waiting for me back home in Texas.”

  Gary sighed. “Ain’t that just my luck.” He gazed down at Lucas and Marian and grinned. “You two are cute little devils, and my oh my but look at those eyes of yours. You must get those from your daddy. Hey Sara, when am I going to meet that husband of yours?”

  “Probably when you finally come and visit us in Texas. Cody would have been here, but he had business to see to in Mexico.”

  BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

  * * *

  There was no water to be seen anywhere at the site owned by Cody, but the air was thick with moisture. The humidity level was off the charts, as was the temperature. Cody and Henry arrived there in two rented Jeeps that were loaded down with supplies for the weeks to follow.

  Over twenty-five years earlier, Cody had come to Mexico to train alongside Romeo, his fellow apprentice, now it was his turn to train a successor. The property had been passed on to him by Spenser when Cody became Tanner, and someday he would pass it on to Henry.

  The cactus in the area were huge, and vegetation such as yucca plants and ball moss stretched to the horizon. There was even the odd elephant tree, discernible by their short, stout branches.

  Almost everything looked the same as it did when Cody trained there as a teen. The one exception was that he had upgraded the trailers they would be using while they were there.

  The current trailers, although not new, were a damn sight better than the old ones that had been there. Cody and Henry would each have their own trailer, and for Henry, the trailer would become a haven from the rigors of his training regimen.

  Henry wiped his brow with his hand. “I thought it was hot in Texas, but this is a whole other level.”

  “It is, and it’s one you need to get used to. We’ll get settled in, then change into your running clothes. I want you to put in twenty miles today.”

  “I’ve been doing that at home.”

  “Yeah, but the humidity and the high elevation here will take more out of you. There’s also the sand. It’s harder to run on and stresses your legs. Make sure you bring a canteen with you when you run.”

  “And when will you test me?”

  “In about two weeks. You’ll need that long to get adjusted to the desert.”

  “And now that we’re here, will you tell me what the test is?”

  “Not yet. Only when I think you’re ready to take it.”

  “I assume it has something to do with running, so I’ve been working on improving my speed. I can run twenty miles now a lot faster than I could when I first started doing it.”

  “Not here you won’t. You’ll see what I mean once you’ve covered a few miles. The elevation here wears you out at first.”

  Henry pointed at the trailers. “Which one is mine?”

  “Take the one on the right. When you’re changed, we’ll go take a drive and map out a route. I’ll also be dropping water and supplies at the halfway mark that we might need.”

  “Drop them where?”

  “There are several large rocks with crevices in them that can be used like cubby holes. Those rocks will also provide shade if the sun isn’t directly overhead, like it is at noon. We’ll leave the supplies there. When we run, I suggest you stop there and take a short break to eat something and refill your canteen.”

  “You said, ‘When we run?’ Are you running too?”

  “I am.”

  Henry smiled. “I’ll race you.”

  Cody grinned back at him. “I accept.”

  “This might be something I’m better at than you. I’ve been training to run for distance for weeks, while you’ve been keeping to your regular routine.”

  “You’re forgetting one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’ve got experience on my side.”

  Cody and Henry drove along the property. They came across broken bottles and old beer cans near a cluster of flat rocks. The garbage was all sun-bleached and looked as if it had been left there years earlier. It was a desolate area. It was not surprising no one had made it a regular hangout.

  They cleaned up the mess and moved on. As Cody drove along, he remembered his days of training in the area. He and Romeo had spent months in the desert together. They had both passed the demanding test and had become better men by doing so. When Henry’s time came, he too would change and be stronger for it.

  After marking out the route, they were back at the trailers. The twenty-mile run would take them away from their camp then lead them back to it. The first one to return to the trailers would be the winner.

  After getting a drink of water, they were ready to run. They both wore brown hiking boots that resembled sneakers and were rather bland in their appearance. The tough boots were made for desert conditions and were lightweight. Over the boots they wore cloth gaiters, which covered the boot and kept out the sand.

  Cody and Henry each carried a canteen, along with a combination watch and compass. Strapped around their waists were small packs that contained first-aid kits, a change of socks, spare shoelaces, and salt tablets. The packs contained one other item, a small pistol.

  Cody started the race by saying, “Let’s go.” As he’d expected, Henry took off fast. By the end of the first mile Henry had the lead by more than two hundred feet. At the start of the fourth mile, the boy was so far ahead that Cody couldn’t see him.

  At mile nine, after cresting a hill, Cody caught sight of Henry in the
distance. His lead was at least a mile long. When Cody took a quick break at the halfway point to refill his canteen and get something to eat, he saw Henry had taken water but not food. He would regret that decision later in the race.

  He saw Henry again near the fifteen-mile mark. Henry’s lead had shrunk, and he appeared to be moving slower than he had.

  When Cody rounded a sand dune along mile eighteen, he spotted Henry. He was only a few hundred yards behind him and catching up quickly. The boy’s speed was much less than it had been, and Cody was eating into Henry’s lead with every step. When he drew close enough to be heard, Henry seemed surprised to see him. The teen was drenched in sweat and running with his mouth hanging open. When Cody drew even with him, he asked Henry if he was out of water.

  Henry nodded yes. It was easier than trying to speak while panting. Cody passed him his canteen, which was still a third full after he had refilled it. Henry gulped from it, while spilling some of it. Cody took it back from him and resumed the pace he’d been keeping throughout the whole race. Henry tried to keep up, but his stamina was ebbing.

  Cody made it back to the trailers and watched Henry come plodding along two minutes later. He handed Henry a bottle of chilled water. The boy sucked it down greedily. Afterward, he panted again, but spoke when he was able. He was bent over with his hands resting on his knees.

  “You were right about the altitude. It’s a killer.”

  “It is. But you’ll learn to pace yourself. In two weeks, you’ll make that run with energy to spare.”

  “I’ll be glad when that happens. I haven’t been this worn out after a run in a long time.”

  “Get used to it.”

  “I thought you said it would get easier.”

  “It will, but you’ll be running longer distances, and it may get hotter than this.”

  “What do you mean by longer?”

  “Thirty-mile runs.”

  “Thirty? And I only have two weeks to reach that?”