The Cartel Affair Read online

  “Falcon, do we have eyes on my wife and son yet?”

  “Negative Skipper. Nothing yet. They should be there in about two minutes.”

  “Roger that, keep me up to date.”

  “Roger, Skipper.”

  “My secretary didn’t come in to work today. I have a bolo out for her. We’re checking her residence and all known acquaintances. We’ll find her. We are also checking all routes out of the country and out of DC where she lives.”

  “When you find her, bring her here. I want to talk to her personally.”

  “As do I Sergeant Travis, as do I.”

  “General Stevens, may I have a word in private, Sir?”

  “Gentlemen, give us the room please. What’s on your mind Sergeant?”

  “Sir, with all due respect, I’d like to have Director Turner's access to intel limited for the time being Sir, at least until we can rule him out as having a hand in this, Sir.”

  “I think that would be a good idea. I don't like thinking he would be involved, but Hell, I didn't expect Baker to be involved either!! I’ll handle taking care of that. That way, he doesn't get mad at you and do something stupid. I just don't really trust those boys at Langley. They have screwed up too many times in the past for me to trust them.”

  “I totally agree Sir, but he might be a good asset later down the line if he’s not involved. I don't want to screw the pooch at Langley unless we have to, Sir.”

  “Good point Sergeant.”

  “Skipper, the bird is on scene. It doesn’t look good. There’s been an accident. The car is over the side in a raven. It’s on fire, Skipper.”

  “Where are Squeaker and the boys?”

  “Arriving on scene now, Skipper. They’re making their way down to the car now to check. Skipper, they said there are two bodies in the fire that they can see.”

  “NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

  GOD NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

  Travis Bones drops to his knees and sobs uncontrollably. The boys come to his side, but even they can’t console him. No one will ever be able to console him again. Travis Bones fills with rage for God, whom he feels let him down when he needed him most. At himself for missing the one thing that would have saved their lives. At Senator Baker, for starting this all-in motion. At Williamson for what he did to his family and most of all, rage at the cartel for funding this madness!!!!! He will never be the same man he was ten short minutes ago. His heart has died and, in its place, will grow something very cold and very, very evil. The face of the landscape and his very life itself will be changed forever. His very first thought is - kill them all and let God himself sort it out. Everyone must die

  ELEVEN

  TRAVIS BONES AWOKE to what seemed like a dream. Then he slowly realized he had awakened in Hell instead. But Hell could not and would not be able to hold him in check. Hell was about to be unleashed upon the world and anyone involved in his family’s death. Today he would find out what happened to his wife and son. Today he would make plans to bury them. Today his world officially ends, and his new life begins.

  Travis called his family and Sarah's family to let them know what had happened. He could not bring himself to tell them the truth. He simply told them they were taking a trip to San Diego to visit friends when the car ran off the road and went down a ravine, bursting into flames. He nor they would be able to see them again. Because of the fire, he had to have the caskets sealed. He nor they would be able to kiss them goodbye.

  Travis found out that they were forced off the road and down the ravine. Williamson had followed them down, shot each one in the head, and then set the car on fire. There will be a special place in Hell for him when he finds him. It will be slow and oh so painful before Travis lets him go to that place.

  Travis had gone to the funeral home and made all the arrangements. Everything was ready for the funeral. Travis had talked to General Stevens and Stevens had told Travis that Travis wouldn’t be able to be at the funeral. Travis remembered telling Stevens that he would be at the funeral and anyone trying to stop him would get hurt, starting with him. Stevens tried to order him not to go. Travis snapped and grabbed Stevens and beat the living Hell out of him. Travis knew why Stevens said what he said, but it didn’t matter to him. Travis knew the General was trying to protect him. But another thing Travis knew was that no one was stopping him from being at the funeral. Travis told Stevens that Williamson wanted him to be at the funeral. That Williamson would be watching and laughing the whole time. Stevens asked him how he knew he wouldn’t do anything. Travis explained that Williamson would want to enjoy the pain that he and the families would go through. He will come for Travis later. What he doesn't realize is that Travis will be hunting him, not the other way around.

  Stevens told Travis that he understood and wouldn’t do anything to him for hitting him. Travis said he could do whatever the Hell he wanted to because the world was about to change for them both. He could do it now or later. It didn't matter to Travis. Stevens told Travis that if he tried to follow up on this, he would be discharged from the corps with a general discharge and might face federal charges. It was the best he could do for Travis. Travis became enraged and told Stevens to go ahead and do what he had to do because he was not going to sweep this under the rug and act like his family was still here and that nothing had happened. Anyone and everyone involved in any way in this deal would be held accountable to him personally. Travis told him to consider this his resignation effective immediately. “Excuse me Sir, I have a funeral to attend.”

  TWELVE

  Houston, Texas

  TRAVIS BONES HAD arrived in Houston, Texas early on the morning of September 21st and checked into the hotel. He was dressed and ready for the car from the funeral home to pick him up. He had decided to be the only one speaking at the funeral. No preacher or priest or any man of God would be in attendance. He had too much rage in his body to allow that to happen today.

  The car arrived and Travis slowly got in the back seat. Travis didn’t like funerals as a general thing, but today seemed like each minute lasted an hour. He knew he was going to say goodbye to the two people in this world that meant everything to him and defined him as a person. That person had died when they did. Right now, he had to find some way to control the rage boiling inside of him and he had no idea how he was going to make that happen.

  When the car arrived at the chapel, all Travis could feel was sorrow and pain. Pain for himself, his family and Sarah's family. He got out and was greeted by his mom and dad. He looked around and there were his brother and sisters. They hugged and cried and held each other. Then he saw Sarah's mom and dad and brother. They looked like they were yet to believe this was really happening. Travis knew the feeling well. He greeted them and hugged them and tried to tell them how sorry he was. As they entered the chapel a strange calm came over him and he did not understand, but he now had control over his rage. He would not, could not let the families see this. He had no idea what he would say until this moment. He knew it was Sarah doing this to him. She could always calm him, and he knew she was doing this even from the grave. His heart lightened for a moment and he proceeded to the altar.

  “I would like to thank everyone for coming today. We are here to celebrate the lives of Sarah Hines Bones and James Henry Bones - the lights in my life. I remember the first time I ever saw Sarah. I was dating her roommate, Sue. I went over to pick up Sue and Sarah answered the door. It was like I had been hit in the chest. The long brown hair and the dazzling blue eyes - she captured my heart from the first moment I saw her. I just knew I had to spend time getting to know her. Sue was not there so I asked her if she wanted to get something to eat. She said sure, and the rest is history. I asked her to marry me six weeks later and she said yes. I thought I was the happiest man in the world. I became happier three months later when she told me that she was pregnant. I had never known happiness like that in my life. Our son was born healthy and happy and we were on cloud nine. I didn’t think life could be
any better. As time went on, we only loved each other more deeply.

  Sarah and Jamie were the light in my day and the very air that I breathed. I have to do a lot of ugly things in my line of work, but no matter how dark or ugly things got, I always had that light at the end of the tunnel - my loving wife and son. They saved me from all the bad things in this world. Now I don't have that anymore and my world has become dark and empty. I don't know if I’ll ever be able to find that light and love again. I can only carry their love and memories in my heart and use their love to lift me up. I only hope that the rest of you can do the same.

  That’s what Sarah and Jamie are all about. They don’t want us to grieve at the loss of them but carry their love in our hearts and lives and be joyous to have known them. They may be gone from this mortal earth, but they will live forever in our hearts and memories. They were always there for each and every one of us and I know that we’ll be there for them now. Let us now lay them to rest and say our goodbyes and celebrate their lives. I want to thank my brothers in arms for being here and being the pallbearers and helping me lay my family to rest today. Sarah loved each and every one of you. I look forward to the day I’ll be reunited with them both. Thank everyone again for coming today and may God bless each of you.”

  Travis watched as if in a dream as the caskets were loaded and unloaded and lowered in the ground. He wasn’t sure he would be able to walk to get back to the car. Nothing seemed to be working in his body right now. He was hoping it was all some sick dream and he would wake up and find everything fine, but he knew that would not happen. He barely could focus as people streamed past to pay their respects.

  He was grateful that they came and cared, but he just wanted to be alone, to give in to his rage and grief. He wanted to hurt something and get started on what he knew could not bring his family back but would settle the score and give him some sense of justice and peace of mind. He didn’t like thinking like this, but the light was gone, and only darkness stood before him. He knew the darkness and he welcomed it with open arms. He wanted now to be consumed by it to ease the pain. He didn't know if he would ever see the light again and with this realization, he smiled. He had become comfortable with the dark. It was warm and wrapped around him like a blanket and he was home.

  THIRTEEN

  Oceanside, California

  TRAVIS DECIDED HE needed to take some time to pack up his home and put together his plan. He called Stevens and told him he was taking 30 days to get his things in order. Travis went about packing up his life and home and putting it in storage. Once he was finished, he felt drained and empty. His whole world was packed in a ten by twenty storage bin. He needed to reenergize himself and get his plans together. Travis decided he would take a trip but needed to figure out where. Suddenly, he smiled. He had the perfect place. Since Baker wasn’t using his cabin at Big Bear, he might as well. Maybe he could learn more about him while he was there.

  Travis packed a bag and headed out the door. It would take about three hours to get to Big Bear. He would wait until dark to go up to the cabin and make sure that no one was watching it or staying there. He stopped at Thelma's restaurant for dinner. He had prime rib, baked potato, salad and iced tea. For dessert he had a piece of homemade lemon pie. He felt full and content. He would wonder around town like a tourist until he was ready to go to the cabin.

  Travis got back to his car and headed up West Big Bear Boulevard to Greenway Drive. From there he would go to 40147 North Shore Drive. The cabin was on the lake. Travis pulled down the drive and pulled into the garage. He got out and shut the garage door, then went about 100 yards in the woods to watch for company. He waited till nine thirty. Seeing no movement or signs of anything out of the ordinary, he headed to the house. He easily found a key hidden under a plant on the back deck. He checked and found the wires for the alarm system and circumvented the alarm. He then entered the house of his enemy. He began putting together his plan to bring the responsible persons to pay for their involvement in this tragedy. He went about learning the layout of the cabin to set up a defense if anyone came around. First things first. Since he was working in the dark, he put the red lens in his flashlight. That way there’s no bright light for the neighbors to see and he keeps his night vision intact in case someone decides to visit.

  “Let's start finding out about his family. Look for pictures. Here we go, looks like he has a daughter and a son. The daughter looks to be mid to late 20’s, son looks to be early 20’s. Graduation pictures from Ivy League schools. Wife looks like she may be a few years younger than the Senator. Let's find the Senator’s office and see what we can come up with. Here we go. Ok, let’s see what he has in his drawers. Locked. What are we trying to hide, Senator? Nothing a knife blade can't fix. Looks like a Senator would buy better quality locks. Oh well, makes it easier for me. Ok, standard nongovernmental bull shit, bills, correspondence, press clippings, standard office supplies. This drawer seems just a little bit shallower than the rest. Ah hah! A false bottom. Let's see what we have here. Pictures of me and my family, my house, our vehicles, three deposit slips, each for $1,000,000. Well, this definitely puts the Senator involved. It looks like he orchestrated everything from here, which means he was here possibly as late as a few days ago. Intel said he was in DC with his family. We need to look into the son and daughter. Maybe one of them is trying to protect Daddy. That paints a horse of a different color.” Travis decided he needed to make a trip to Langley and have a talk with Director Turner. Travis finished searching the house without finding anything new. He tossed his bag in the car and backed out with no lights on. He had a long drive ahead and a lot of time to think.

  FOURTEEN

  Cross Country Road Trip

  TRAVIS STOPPED IN town at a phone booth, pulled a card out of his pocket, and dialed the number.

  “We need to talk. Not on the phone. I’ll be there in three days. We'll meet in the Memorial Garden at two o'clock.”

  Travis hung up and got in the car. He decided to take 18 North out of town to 247 at Lucerne Valley. He would take 15 at Barstow, then hit 70 in Utah. He would follow 70 to Fredrick, Maryland, then 495 to Georgetown Pike in Mclean, Virginia and on to 1000 Colonial Farm Road. He had three days and 2600 miles to try to figure things out. Where was he to start and where would it lead? He hoped he would have an answer or at least some idea of how the information he found tonight played into all of this. He knew in his heart that the deposits were to the groups that they knew, but he needed to prove it. Follow the money and he could take it back to the cartel. With no deposit slip going to any of Baker's accounts, Travis figured that the cartel delivered cash to Baker or whomever was coordinating this whole thing for them.

  This whole thing started when the government wanted to put an operation into effect to try to get intel on the cartel and try to take out operations to slow them down and cost them money. They couldn’t put the whole team in without making too big of a footprint, so Travis had agreed to go in alone and the team would be support and intel for him. Travis had cost them millions in money and time to rebuild operations he took out. He had cost them family and the cartel took that personally. Now Travis was taking it personally also. Someone was going to pay and pay with family!!!

  Their northern operations were in shambles and it would take a long time for them to get everything operating again. This worked to Travis's advantage. He knew where they would be and who would be there. Travis estimated that he had eliminated at least 80 to 100 of the cartel's men during the operation. Travis knew his career was in the crapper now and before he was through it would not be salvageable.

  Travis was a highly decorated Marine. He had received the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, one with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Silver Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Defense Superior Service with Bronze Cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Marine Corps Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. He had met President Carpenter and had dinner a
t the White House.

  “Now look at my sad state of affairs.”

  It was 23:45. Travis decided he would drive through the night and sleep during the day. His mind was running a 1000 miles an hour with the new information he’d found. This is what he was trained to do. Find intel and process it and come up with an action plan. This one is going to be tricky. He no longer had his back-up and support so he would have to improvise, adapt and conquer. That's just what Marines do. Travis settled in for the long drive and started thinking about Williamson and where he might be and how he could get to him. Travis had been going over everything he had read and knew about Williamson when he realized that the sun was coming up.

  Suddenly, Travis pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out of the car. It hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew where Williamson was and how he could get to him. This was the way Travis wanted to start the day. He suddenly realized how tired he was and decided to stop and get some sleep. Travis got back in the car, found an open restaurant, and had breakfast. He asked the waitress where a good motel was, paid the bill, and headed there to sleep.

  FIFTEEN

  Coming into McLean, Virginia

  CIA Headquarters

  TRAVIS WOKE UP and looked at the clock. It was 17:30. Travis got cleaned up and headed out to get something to eat. As he was heading out, he stopped and looked at the reflection in the mirror. He was in game mode and this made him smile. He had already decided how he would handle Williamson and he was going to make it very slow and so very painful before he put out his lights for good.