Chapter 4

~Chapter 4~

~June 18th, 2014
New York, concrete, glass and honking cars and people all boxed inside the city limits. It is city where one could come on vacation, or to get away from their stressful life. This was the place one could disappear for ages before being found. Some people even came here to disappear forever.
Regent Taske stood looking out of one of the glass wall panels of his great office building. One of the tallest skyscrapers in the business district, Regency Inc.’s headquarters had been finished a year ago. It was a tribute to modern business and architecture, standing strong and tall as a symbol of America’s success. What many didn’t know, was that the Regency Tower was also home to the United States number one crime syndicate. No one pushed drugs, blackmailed senators, slandered celebrities, or fenced counterfeits without Regent Taske and his “board of directors” giving some form of consent.
Regent turned and surveyed the long table in the center of the conference room. At the head of the table were two large seats. One was his; the other belonged to his niece and heir of the family business, Janelle Taske. Across from the seats of power at the other end of the table were seats for representatives from other countries when they could be in town. The most common attendee was the representative from the infamous Mafia families. Other guests in the past had been reps from the European Underworld and the Asian Triads.
Along the sides of the table were fifty seats, twenty-five on each side. The fifty men and women who occupied those chairs were the most powerful crime lords in the United States Underworld. Each person was in charge of some aspect of crime, whether it was drugs, assassinations, gun dealing, or any other of the myriad of other vices known to mankind. If Satan ever decided to establish his kingdom on earth, he would not go to the governments or the social elites; he would come to Regent Taske.
“Sir, the last of them has arrived. It’s your show.”
Regent turned from his window and nodded to a heavyset man with reddish hair. Pyros Lite was Regent’s traveling secretary, bodyguard, and when needed, personal assassin. Pyros, known the Underworld as Lighter, used to be the most notorious arsonist to hit the US before Regent hired him and curbed his lust for flame.
Regent strode to the head of the table and took his seat next to Janelle. Bleach-blonde with strange gray eyes, Janelle could have been a supermodel if the gun business hadn’t caught her attention. Recognized by the crime world as “Athena”, after the ancient gray-eyed goddess of war, Janelle knew how to use her guns, as well as her lithe and seductive body, to get almost anything she wanted.
As Regent sat, Janelle tilted her head slightly in his direction. Her voice, as intoxicating as she was, glided over the space between them.
“Uncle, I hope you have a good reason for calling an emergency meeting of the Underworld.”
“Don’t worry; my reason will soon be laid before all.”
Arranging some papers on the table in front of him, Regent looked over to his left where Jeff Mirky, the only one in the room who could claim to have an honest position, sat awaiting instructions. At Regents subtle gesture, Jeff rose and called attention to the head of the table. As he sat, Regent rose and addressed the room.
“My friends, you are all wondering why I called this emergency meeting. There is a matter I must bring before you that is of a personal nature to Miss Taske and myself.
Some of you may remember back in 2001, a member of our family left the business and joined the United States Marine Corps, strictly against the wishes of me and his now deceased mother. To add insult to injury, he later married a girl he met in high school.
As punishment for his disobedience, I came before the Board and requested his family to be dealt with, on a date I specified. The assignment was carried out the same day, the same moment even, that our prodigal arrived home after being discharged. He reacted unexpectedly and over the next year and a half killed many of our agents and contacts, effectively crippling our business. He also gave Federal agents information about our operations, causing damage we are still recovering from. I see some of you do not know of what I speak. To those who have not heard this little story before, you would know our rouge by his codename of “The Sharktooth”.”
Regent paused to look each board member in the eyes, letting his story soak in. Taking a breath, he continued.
“Early in 2012, he disappeared with the help of his own small group of contacts. He disappeared off our radar and we haven’t seen anything of him since then. At the beginning of this year I received some information suggesting the whereabouts of The Sharktooth, and I obtained the services of the assassin Trissex to try and fix our little problem once and for all.
I’m sure all of you heard of the attempt on the President’s Daughter’s life yesterday. Needless to say, Trissex has failed. But, I know the whereabouts of Josh Taske. I know where we can find The Sharktooth!”
This statement put the board members into a state of unrest. In the space of about a year, The Sharktooth had managed to deal fatal blows to each member’s personal enterprises. If The Sharktooth came back and decided to finish what he started, who knows how long it would take to stop him, or if they even could.
Jay Marco, a drug lord from Chicago, called the meeting back to order and looked sternly down the table at Regent.
“It would have been wiser to inform us before sending Trissex to his death. The Sharktooth is too dangerous for average assassins to handle; especially now he has the resources of the President’s Secret Service to aide him.”
Regent bowed his head meekly, “Yes, I admit the Board aught to have been informed, but I thought that maybe The Sharktooth would have gotten soft and careless after we stopped chasing him. I was wrong, but I am prepared to make up for my lapse in judgment.”
A tattooed gun dealer from Los Angeles called Hosea De Carlos spoke up from nearer the far end of the table.
“Senor Taske, I assume since you bring this problem before the Board, you have a solution for your problem, Si?”
“Yes, Senor Carlos, I do have a plan. And I will give it, if the Board wishes to hear it.”
Regent waited for a nod from Marco before going on.
“I believe my first idea will work. There shouldn’t be any need to go any farther than a simple assassination. I do believe we need a better man than Trissex. I suggest we call in Carl Mash.”
Heads nodded in consent up and down the table. Carl Mash was a big time hit man from Britain. He had what some might call class. Instead of being called an “assassin” or “hit-man”, Carl insisted on being called a “bounty hunter”. He was one of the best, although one of the most expensive.
But Regent wasn’t finished yet, “I also am a firm believer in the maxim, “Two heads are better than one”. I believe we should send Lighter along.”
Marco glanced at Pyros, who stood arms crossed behind Regent’s chair.
“And what makes you think Mr. Lite has the qualifications to work alongside the likes of Mash? And against the Sharktooth no less.”
Pyros grinned evilly, “I was the one who off’ed his wife an’ kid in the first place. An’ he knows it was me who killed ‘em. I’d have a, how’d’ya say, psychological advantage against him.”
Marco and the other Board members looked around at each other, comparing thoughts with just a glance. When he had collected all the invisible votes, Marco turned to Regent.
“Very well, contact Carl Mash and set him on The Sharktooth’s trail.”
Regent gathered his papers and, rising along with Janelle, bowed to Marco and walked out of the room.
As the two entered the elevator and began their descent, they did not feel the black eyes of the janitor take in their every move. Neither did they realize that there wasn’t even supposed to be a janitor working the top floor today.
Putting his broom and dustpan back on the custodian’s cart, the man known only as Wraith wheeled the cart to the elevator and pushed the “down” button. Today’s meeting had been interesting, and disturbing at the same time. Wraith had to get word to Josh; Regent was back on the trail.

As Regent Taske planned his wayward nephew’s demise and Wraith looked for a way to warn of the coming doom, Josh Taske and his security team went over all the events leading up to and during the party the night before. They didn’t find anything Josh didn’t already know, even after investigating Shale Madeck’s hotel room.
Rosas and Vale were shocked at their Captain’s stamina. Even though it was obvious his wounds were almost unbearable, Josh refused all aide. Nevertheless, Vale refused to let him do any serious investigating, so she investigated while Josh supervised. Rosas did a bit of investigating, but for the most part he ran messages and kept Josh supplied with as much coffee as he could drink. Josh had woken up with a hangover from his painkiller of choice the night before.
It was the next day that things really started to happen, but nothing having to do with the case. Josh, Rosas, and Vale where all in the Security Bunker looking over the case files they had compiled the day before. Josh had gone from coffee back to drinking tequila, but it was near lunchtime and he was still on his first bottle, so Vale wasn’t too worried about him. Rosas on the other hand, looked envious.
Matt was on the phone in his office reassuring politicians and press members from all over the US that he was unhurt. Later on he swore that he never had so many requests for interviews in his life.
Lexy was upstairs in her room with her best friend Gwyn Nettleson. Gwyn lived in Maryland and was Lexy’s cousin on her mother’s side. The two girls had been best friends since Lexy’s mother had died four years back, and they often had sleepovers at the Gold Estate. They normally would sit on Lexy’s bed and talk about everything from boys to politics, although boys came up more than politics did.
Today however, Lexy sat on the chair in the middle of her room, staring into the mirror, while Gwyn tried to decide if Agent Rosas or Agent Taske was cuter. Gwyn rambled on about her normal list of “cute factors”, but Lexy was barely listening. She was still couldn’t get Josh, or blood, off her mind.
All of this was suddenly interrupted by a commotion by the front gate, and Agent Bono bursting into the Security Bunker calling for Josh to come out front. Josh and Vale raced for the door as Rosas got on the radio with the agents outside.
When Josh reached the front steps, and saw what all the commotion was all about, he slowed down and waved the agents down.
Matt Gold came out of the door behind Josh and saw the individual who had the Secret Service so worried. One look and his face darkened.
“Dammit. It’s you.”
Nathan Wolv had his Honda parked lengthwise across the gateway. He leaned against the bike’s seat, seemingly ignorant of the seven Glock 9mm pistols that had been trained on his head only a second ago. He grinned widely and saluted Matt.
“Mr. President, it’s been a long time, aint it.”
Matt was not happy, “Not long enough.”
Ignoring the daggers being sent his way by the President of the United States, Wolv turned to Josh.
“Damn Josh, you look like Hell.”
Josh stepped forward and the two grasped forearms in a familial handshake.
“I feel like Hell. But the good President has given me access to his store of tequila, so it aint all bad.”
Wolv’s eyebrows shot up and he glanced up the steps at Matt.
“Hey, mind if my ‘ole buddy shares a bottle or two with his best friend?”
Matt shook his head at the irrepressible soldier.
“Why not, I’m more of a vodka kind of guy myself.”
Nathan grinned and turned back to Josh.
“Take me to the treasure trove, Mate!”


Three minutes later found Josh, Nathan, Vale, and the President seated at one of the round tables in the performance hall. Nathan had just popped the top on his first tequila, and Josh was starting his second. Josh was filling Nathan in on the events of the night before last, and Vale was watching Nathan warily.
Lexy and Gwyn walked in near the end of Josh’s narrative and, grabbing a plate of food set out by the cooks for lunch, sat down between Nathan and Matt.
Lexy seemed happier than earlier, and she looked Nathan up and down with an obvious curiosity.
Josh introduced them, “Miss Gold, Miss Nettleson, this is an old friend of mine, Nathan Wolv. Nathan, this is Lexy Gold and Gwyn Nettleson.”
Nathan threw a roguish fastball of a smile at Lexy.
“Heya, Sexy.”
Lexy looked confused, “No, it’s Lexy.”
“That’s what I said.”
Nathan took a second look at her, and then turned to Josh, wide-eyed.
“Damn, Josh. She looks just like…”
Josh cut him off, “I know.”
Nathan studied Josh for a moment, his face serious. Then he turned back to Lexy, this time decidedly respectful and courteous.
“Sorry Darlin’, I’ve had a bit to drink and I get like that. I’m Nathan, but you can call me Wolv. Josh has been tellin’ me about all the crap goin’ on around here, an’ just so yah know; I’m with yah all the way; ‘till bullet or beer does me in.”
Lexy looked at the newcomer and instantly knew that, even though he had a hard outer shell and might drink to much and swear to loud, he was a good man and loyal to the bones.
“Thank you, Wolv. But I hope death by either a bullet nor by beer will not be necessary.”
Nathan grinned lopsidedly, “Well I dunno, dying by beer might not be so bad.”
Matt coughed slightly, “Ehem, Lexy and Gwyn, why don’t you two go and eat in the dining room. We have a lot to discuss.”
As the two girls rose to leave, Wolv nodded at Gwyn.
“It was nice to meet you two.”
Gwyn, blushing slightly, gave a small curtsey and smiled sweetly.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Wolv.”
Nathan watched the two leave, then turned to look at Josh again.
“Damn it, man. She does look like her.”
Josh nodded, his eyes dark and sad.
“I know she does.”
Shaking himself slightly, Josh took a swallow of his drink.
“So, why did you track me down? You in trouble again?”
Nathan shook his head, “Not just me, you too. Turns out your uncle has a price on our heads.”
Josh stared at Nathan as if he had just told him the world was ending.
“Regent is hunting us again?”
“That’s what it looks like. Word’s put in the Underworld that there is a million for the assassin who brings in The Sharktooth, and another half for the guy who brings in his buddy the Wolf.”
Josh rubbed his temple and shot a look at Matt.
“Well, now we know what Trissex was trying to do.”
Now Matt looked confused, “What?”
“He was either trying to set up a confrontation between me and him, or trying to get to me by killing off one of my charges.”
Nathan looked at Josh over his tequila bottle.
“Hey, Trissex was here? How is the old devil? I hope you put a bullet through his kneecap for me.”
Josh shook his head, “I forgot to tell you, he was the assassin who tried the hit the other night. And I put the bullet through his head.”
Nathan nodded, watching the amber liquid in his bottle swirl in circles.
“Damn, I bet that was a sight to see. But I guess it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fellow. May he rot in Hell.”
Nathan glanced at Matt and gestured the scar on his face.
“Trissex was kind enough to give me this little token to remember him by. I was kinda hoping I would be the one to send his soul onward, but I guess all’s well that ends well.”
Nathan gestured to Josh’s patched shoulder and leg.
“Looks like Trissex gave you some memories to.”
Vale was studying case notes on her PDA. She brushed her hair out of her face and voiced the question that was on her and Matt’s mind.
“What do we do now? We can’t just assume that your Uncle won’t send another assassin because his first failed.”
Josh nodded and looked to Nathan.
“You with us on this?”
Nathan turned to Matt, “That depends on what the good president says. What you think Matthew? You want my help keeping your daughter safe?”
Matt threw an annoyed look at Josh, but gave a helpless sigh.
“I guess this is more your area of expertise than most of my agents.”
Nathan grinned and slapped Matt on the shoulder.
“There yah go! Here that Sharky? It looks like I’ll be bunking with you for a while.”
Josh smiled slightly, “It’s good to have you on the team, Nathan, just try not to drink all the tequila before the end of the week.”
“Nah, you’re still recuperating! I can’t deprive a good Marine from his medicine!”
Josh turned to Matt, “In light of what Nathan has told us, I believe it would be wise to let me have that augmented security team I asked for, and to move Lexy and maybe yourself to a safe-house until this blows over.”
Matt shook his head and rose from the table.
“No, no safe houses. Just because there has been one attack does not mean there will be more. You can have the security team; I’ll send Nicolas a memo with instructions to give you whatever you need. Now if you will excuse me, I have some more phone calls to make.”
As Matt walked out, Josh also got up to leave.
“Vale, I need to get the new team put together; can you escort Mr. Wolv to my house when he’s ready?”
Vale nodded, “Yes, Sir. Shall I meet you in the Security Bunker when I’m done?”
“Sure. See you later tonight, Nathan. Help yourself to whatever you can find at my place.”
Nathan nodded his acknowledgement, and Josh left the room.
When Josh was gone, Nathan turned to Vale and gave a winning smile.
“Hey there beautiful, what’s your name?”
Vale gave Nathan a glance that would kill weeds.
“My name is Lucy Vale.”
“What do you do around here?”
Vale looked like she would rather die than talk to him.
“I am senior field agent of Gold Estate security, and Captain Taske’s unofficial secretary.”
Nathan nodded, seeming to think that over.
“Sounds like a good job; Josh is a good guy to work under.”
Vale’s curiosity finally got the better of her.
“Mr. Wolv…”
“Please, call me Wolv.”
“Ok, Wolv, I would like to know, exactly what is your relationship to the Captain?”
Nathan took a pull from his bottle.
“We served in the Marines from ’01 to ’06, and then Marine Recon from ’06 to ’11.”
Vale nodded, her respect for the strange man going up a hair.
“And what do you do now?”
Nathan had to hide a smile. Since leaving the Marines he had actually been working as an assassin, carrying out jobs similar to the one Trissex had tried a few nights before.
“I work in murders.”
“Like an investigator?”
“Yeah, kinda. It’s my job to figure out how a murder is carried out.”
“That sounds like it would pay well.”
Nathan laughed softly, “You might say that.”

~June 19th, 2014
Regent and Janelle Taske stood outside of Gate B32 in the Dulles International Airport. Regent was calmly checking stocks on his iPhone, but Janelle was fidgety.
Dressed black jeans, a form-fitting white tank-top, and black leather coat, she looked almost like something out of Grease. Her gray eyes were currently hidden behind a pair of designer sunglasses, but Regent knew they were flashing with nervousness. Janelle did not like airports.
A few years ago Janelle had been on a mission to take out a rouge agent known as the “Wolf”. She had been teamed with the now deceased assassin Trissex, and had been chasing the Wolf in a chopper while Trissex pursued from the ground. The Wolf had somehow found a miniature rocket-launcher and knocked Janelle’s chopper out of the sky. She had barely escaped by jumping to a rooftop beneath her, but after that accident all flying vehicles made her almost psychotic.
Regent looked up at her, “Have you heard anything from Mr. Hughes yet? He was supposed to report when he had found that one programmer.”
Janelle didn’t even turn her face to look at him. They were probably lucky Regent had the foresight to have her leave all her weapons at the car; she might try to kill someone when like this.
“James called an hour ago saying he had found the hacker called Cipher and was trying to negotiate with him. The job we are asking is a difficult one.”
Regent nodded, “Yes, something on that scale would take a few years I should think. What was Mr. Hughes’ estimate?”
“Four to five years.”
“Ah, yes. I think we can wait that long. But if what Mr. Hughes said is true and Cipher is the only one who can design the program, he must get on board now or never. Please call Mr. Hughes and tell him I have authorized him to use force if necessary to get Cipher to sign the contract.
Janelle nodded and, pulling out her own cell phone, walked a few feet away to place her call.
Regent turned around as a voice with a clipped British accent addressed him from behind.
“Mr. Regent Taske, I presume.”
“You presume correctly. May I assume you are Mr. Mash?”
“Yes, you may.”
Carl Mash was a handsome man, in a dangerous sort of way. He wore kaki slacks and a blue polo shirt. His sandy hair was short, almost military. He carried a black backpack in one hand and a jean-jacket in the other. His eyes were a dark blue and had an almost lazy expression. A small scar decorated his upper lip.
He nodded to Janelle, who was still on the phone.
“And is that the one called Athena?”
Regent nodded, “Yes; that is my niece Janelle. But I advise you to keep your distance.”
Carl turned his hard eyes on Regent.
“I am here on a job, nothing more nothing less.”
Regent smiled broadly, “Good! I like you Mr. Mash, why don’t we go get your bags and we can talk in the car.”

Twenty minutes later found the three in Janelle’s BMW, on their way to the hotel they had reserved rooms at. Janelle and Carl had been introduced and regarded each other with a professional air of indifference. Currently, Regent was driving the vehicle while Janelle sat in the back seat with Carl, giving him his marching orders.
She had started by handing him a folder with information on Josh Taske, the Whitehouse and Gold Estate, and as much as they could get on the security at both buildings. She had explained the history behind Josh and the Board, and explained that they simply wanted Josh dead.
She then brought out two more folders, one a bios with limited information on Scarlet. The other Janelle opened and looked at the photo inside before handing over.
“This second person is a mercenary called Nathan Wolv, also known as “The Wolf”.”
Carl missed nothing.
“You have had dealings with this one.”
It was more of a statement than a question.
“Yes, Nathan Wolv was brought into our family when he was very young and grew up with Josh. They left the family together as well. A few years ago, during Josh’s purge of our operatives, Nathan and Scarlet both helped Josh kill our people. I and another assassin were sent after Nathan, but he managed to escape while destroying my helicopter and injuring me.”
Carl seems confused a moment, “Getting shot at and injured is a part of our job. Why does this upset you?”
Regent called back over his shoulder, “My dear Janelle was in the helicopter when Nathan blew it up.”
Carl nodded, “Ah, I see.”
Janelle took a second to regain her composure.
“We want all three dead. You have agreed to our price?”
Carl nodded, “It is high considering the number of targets.”
Regent nodded, “Yes, but the information Josh has on the Board and the all of our operations could ruin us if he chose to give it away of sell it.”
“This is very true.”
“Well, here we are. We already checked you in.”
Carl nodded, it was work time.