Dead Shot by Jack Patterson (adventure books to read .TXT) 📕

Kelly. Instead of helping the reporters out, Mercer was driving them to their death. Not that he was going to kill two innocent people – Mercer knew that Gold wanted to oversee the reporters’ deaths himself. Just collateral damage.

Then and only then would Mercer make his own move on Gold. Mercer would be the hero, single-handedly busting the mastermind of the great Northwest drug ring – and a wanted mob hit man. Mercer’s reputation and the nobility of the FBI would be held in the highest regard. After all, this was all for the greater good.

Chapter 64

Mayor Gold positioned his car in the exact spot he had held less than 24 hours ago. Except this time, Gold knew Cal and Kelly would be in the back of Mercer’s squad car. Finally, his nightmare would end once the two reporters’ dead bodies hit the bottom of Cold River Canyon. The accident awaiting the two reporters was a rock climbing mishap.

The afternoon sun was harsh in the rock faces. Though standing in scorching August heat was a small sacrifice for Gold. He had long since proved his resolve in protecting Statenville and the drug empire he had concocted.

He smiled as he saw Mercer’s patrol car swing into view down the winding dusty road leading to the canyon’s edge. No vanishing act was necessary – not for him, anyway. Gold’s fondness for his family had begun to blur the bigger picture for him. Not that it was a bad thing, but it was definitely a weakness. Gold knew it, too. However, he never played it safe, choosing to prance upon the ledge of danger. It was an exhilarating place to be, though Gold had yet to feel the effects of falling off. He always pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He could always run and re-invent himself. But not this time. He preferred to stand pat and build something that was lasting – yet it wasn’t family he valued this deeply.

In a matter of moments, his fortress would become that much more impenetrable.

***

Cal had been hoping that he wasn’t about to be led into a trap, but here he was. He didn’t even bother protesting to Mercer. Cal knew he had been duped. At least he was prepared for it this time.

Mercer broke the awkward silence.

“So, I guess you’ve figured out we’re not going to Gold’s office.”

“Yeah, I’m not stupid.”

“Says who?” Mercer said, nervously cackling at his one liner. “And, oh, you won’t be needing this,” Mercer added as he picked up Cal’s iPhone off the front seat and whipped it out the window and into the canyon below. “Don’t worry, the mayor will let you go look for it in a minute.”

Mercer chuckled again. Cal couldn’t believe just how dark Mercer really was, how cold and calculating he had become in the past minute. He decided not to react, not to give Mercer the pleasure of knowing he was bothered or scared.

Finally, the car skidded to a stop along the remote dusty road. With the exception of Gold, there was no one around this portion of Cold River Canyon, a spot considered the beginning of the Idaho wilderness area.

Chapter 65

Cal didn’t take Mercer for an opportunistic FBI agent, the kind who would abuse his power for a cut of a hefty payday. But neither did he think Buddy Walker was even an FBI agent. But the biggest shock thus far came when he learned that Mayor Gold was actually one Carmen Deangelo, a top captain from the Scarelli mob family who had disappeared years ago. Before talking with directors at the FBI field office in Salt Lake City, Cal had no idea who the Scarellis were – but they sounded tough. Then one director shared just how ruthless Gold was before he left Boston.

While waiting at the FBI offices for Mercer, Cal had learned from an FBI agent that Mercer and Walker were both being investigated for being a mole. Walker’s secret was buried with him, but Mercer might still prove to be the man the FBI was searching for. But mole or no mole, Cal was convinced the primary reason the FBI would be so willing to help a reporter was because they wanted to downplay the fact that one of their agents was directly responsible for the deaths of three high school student-athletes in their prime. They wanted to control the story and spin it their way. Cal wasn’t going to play that game, but in the moment, he considered it best to gather all the evidence possible and make judgment calls later on which promises to keep.

In his briefing prior to Mercer’s arrival, Cal and Kelly’s FBI liaison made it clear that surviving Gold in a situation where he may turn desperate wasn’t a guarantee. There were risks involved, serious risks. But Kelly didn’t mind. She let it be known just how determined she was to see Gold brought in that Cal never had a chance to even ponder backing out. The FBI was willing to put its full resources into protecting them. It was an opportunity the FBI couldn’t pass up, snuffing out a mobster on the FBI’s most wanted list and taking down a large drug ring in one shot. They might even catch a mole, too.

For this particular Salt Lake City field office, Cal’s scenario represented a gift worthy of being wrapped under the tree at Christmastime by Saint Nick himself. All that remained was for Cal and Kelly to slip down the chimney with ease.

***

Cal and Kelly reluctantly got out of the car. Mercer was shoving them around. Cal and Kelly did their best to feign shock and surprise at the double-cross. They played off the part that was genuine, the part they thought would never happen. Plan B was in full force.

Gold got out of his car and walked slowly toward the reporters, whose backs were a safe 15 yards away from the cliff’s edge. With outstretched arms and a mischievous grin across