We maneuvered our way past what few stalled cars blocked our way in the road and down into the city. The SUV grumbled. A pinging noise loomed from the engine. It grew louder the longer we drove, but it didn’t matter.
“How long has it been since we’ve had any contact with McCone?” Jackal asked, touching his swollen lip.
“It’s been a couple years, I think. Maybe more,” I answered, cruising down the city streets that had a few cars on the roads. “We at least have a good rapport with him. We’ve done good work for him, so I think he’ll give us a hand and offer up any insight he can.”
“Let’s hope so,” Jackal shot back, not sounding as convinced.
We turned, drove past the handful of cars parked next to the curb, then pulled into the rear entrance to McCone’s building.
Dead bodies lying in the circular drive caught my eye. I slammed the brakes at the top of the brick driveway, bringing us to a screeching halt. We studied the eerie scene for a moment with the vehicle idling.
“That doesn’t look good,” Jackal said. “What do you want to do?”
I thought about it for a moment. “Let’s go inside and see what we find.”
I killed the engine and removed the keys. The headlights faded away. We grabbed pistols and got out of the vehicle.
Jackal took point and advanced down the sloped driveway. I followed behind, sweeping the east side of the courtyard.
He approached a corpse lying flat on his back. “It’s McCone’s man.”
I glanced at the dead man and continued past the SUV, toward the open door of the building. More bodies lay about on the pavement. A mixture of McCone’s men and other’s who I didn’t recognize.
“Looks like they got hit by a rival gang, maybe?” I asked, studying a Hispanic man’s bloody face.
A light shone from behind me and pointed at the dark entrance. Jackal walked past the corpse with a rifle shouldered. I grabbed one the flashlights from the bodies and followed him inside.
We moved down the corridor, past the dead bodies in the storage room, and around the bend. We stepped over copious amounts of spent casings that carpeted the ground.
“Looks like a war zone here,” Jackal said, guiding us through the familiar corridor.
“Let’s check McCone’s office. It’s like a damn fortress. That’s where he would’ve gone,” I said, turning and checking behind me.
Jackal trained his light at the opened door and the body slumped over in it. We stepped around the dead man’s legs and continued on.
“Who would’ve been ballsy enough to take McCone on?” Jackal asked, moving down the hallway toward the open doorway ahead of us.
“I can think of only one crew who has had a beef with McCone and has the stones to do this,” I answered.
“Sanchez Domingo?” Jackal said.
“Yep, though, I am a bit surprised that he hit them here. He must’ve caught them off guard or something,” I replied.
Jackal shined his light over a stocky dead man, and stopped. “They got Sunny.”
I studied the multiple bullet holes in Sunny’s chest, then looked at his pale face. The gleam from my flashlight reflected off his opened eyes. A trace amount of blood stained his upper lip. I didn’t much care for the man.
“Come on. Let’s keep moving.” I said, walking away.
We passed through the double doors, and made our way through the silent hallways.
Jackal skirted the blind corner. He stopped on a dime, then held up his arm. He pushed me back around the bend.
“We’ve got company down the hall,” he said in a whisper. “Three targets, I think.”
We traded spots. I thumbed the button on the flashlight, then peeked out into the hallway. Beams of light moved in the darkness at the far end of the wide hallway, near the passage that led to McCone’s office.
Shadowy figures talked loudly, their voices carrying with ease. They spoke Spanish from what I heard.
“It’s Domingo’s men, I think.” I glanced over my shoulder. “I’m counting three as well.”
“You think they got McCone?” Jackal asked.
“Not sure. I’d like to find out, though.”
The men moved on, vanishing beyond the wall. Their lights grew dim, then faded away.
“Keep your head on a swivel in case there are any more lurking around,” I said.
We moved down the hallway and past the bloody bodies on the floor. I craned my neck and looked toward the front entrance for Domingo’s men, but didn’t see them within the low light.
I toed the edge of the wall next to the passage. Darkness loomed with no signs of movement or light. I peered around the corner, and spotted a flash of light.
“Someone’s down there. Let’s go.” We funneled down the enclosed walkway, picking up more chatter and lights. Jackal flanked me as we closed in.
We killed the lights and crept through the darkness, stalking the two men. They stood near the entrance to McCone’s office, arguing in Spanish and pointing at some bags on the floor.
The light generated from the flashlights illuminated the chairs and other furniture that sat against the walls.
Jackal stooped at my side as the two men continued their heated argument. They turned and faced McCone’s office, giving us their backs.
I touched Jackal’s arm, then pointed at them. He nodded, then slung the rifle over his shoulder. I secured the piece in my waistband, then grabbed my dagger.
We moved as one across the carpet, stalking our prey. The padding silenced our footfalls, concealing our presence.
Jackal grabbed the shorter, pudgy man in front of him and snapped his neck. The flashlight dropped from his hand and pointed to the open
