One by one the members of Torpedo Ink returned to their vehicles. They left before the place was overrun with police, fire and other emergency vehicles, and drove straight to the Devil’s Palace to once again find they ran into the same setup, the Diamondbacks waiting for them.
They’d been set up by the club asking for help. Still, Czar ran their operation like clockwork. Once again, after determining that no one was inside, Devil’s Palace was burned to the ground. The Diamondbacks would find that none of the cameras had been recording, including in the parking garages.
They were to meet Savage, Destroyer and Transporter with the six deceased members of the Venomous club at the Gypsy Club. This would be the most dangerous time for all of them. It wasn’t going to be easy to get all six bodies of the managers into the club without the Diamondback sentries seeing.
Savage and Destroyer carefully transferred their equipment from their truck to Absinthe’s car. Transporter would be driving the Dodge Viper home. Bringing the tools of the trade, weapons and the patches of the Venomous club would fall to Transporter. The weapons and patches would be turned over to the Diamondbacks. There would be nothing incriminating in the truck that Absinthe would be driving.
A few blocks from the Gypsy Club, the Torpedo Ink team parked their vehicles and slipped out, spreading out. Each had large oily blankets to create smoke. Czar went to the highest rooftop with Code and the night-vision high-powered binoculars.
Two on roof of the restaurant across the street from the Gypsy Club. The wind is blowing away from them. Ice, Storm, you’ll have to deal with that. You’ve got two on the balcony of the two-story residence. I believe that is owned by Joico. All the windows are dark, but I caught a glimpse of movement on the lower story, front window. That might be a problem.
No problem, Czar, Storm replied. Lightning flashes are blinding after staring into the dark. We’ll light up the night when Savage is going in.
Let’s get it done fast then. Cameras need to come down, Mechanic.
On it, Mechanic replied with confidence.
Ice, Storm, start occasional lightning in the distance so the approaching weather front is believable. Savage, Destroyer, Transporter, be ready.
Standing by.
Torch, light the decoys. Ice and Storm, bring up the winds and lightning.
Within minutes the air was filled with smoke, covering the rooftops where the sentries were stationed. Lightning flashed bright and hot in front of the residence, nearly crashing right into the windows and onto the roof, shaking the structure and throwing the Diamondbacks to the ground. Savage, Destroyer and Transporter carried the six dead bodies of the day and night managers into the Gypsy Club, where Reaper waited for them.
They took the bodies straight to the stage and strung Wings upside down on the pole exactly as the managers had Diane, leaving the other bodies on the stage floor with the emails of the step-by-step instructions of what they were going to do to the stripper to ensure all the other girls would comply.
We’re done here, Reaper reported. Bring us out.
Czar gave the order and once more lightning flashed and the winds went wild. Smoke swirled around the buildings and rose into the air. Alena collected the oily blankets one by one, rolled them up to put out the smoldering ruins of material and placed them carefully in the disposable garbage bags she’d brought with her.
Torpedo Ink slipped into the various vehicles and began the four-hour journey home.EIGHTEEN“We’ve divided you children into groups according to where we think you’ll be for weapons and self-defense training,” Absinthe announced. “The older children will go with Lana, Preacher, Reaper and Maestro. Lucia, Benito, Kenny, Darby, the four of you go with them now and they’ll take care of you. You’ll be receiving more advanced training. The program we’ve put together calls for training every other week, but that means practicing on your part daily. You have to be dedicated. All of you, not just the older ones.”
He waited until the older ones got up from where they sat in the grass and followed the four Torpedo Ink members across the field to where they would be working. The other children nodded at him, acknowledging that they would practice.
The little ones looked at him very wide-eyed and it took all he had not to smile. Little Emily was so cute it was heart-stopping. He decided he needed a little daughter just like Emily, with Scarlet’s bright red hair.
“The middle group will go with Ice, Storm, and Ink. Siena and Zoe and Nicia, you’ll be with them. Again, whatever you work on, you’ll have to practice at home and when you come back to class in two weeks, we expect that you’ll have it down. Czar only gave us a week to practice and hone our skills before he gave us our next assignments, so you’re getting extra time.” He waved them toward Ice, Storm and Ink.