Enter the Headhunters Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lt. van der Ness announced the corporal to the room.  He saluted the panel and they, in turn, returned the gesture.  After everyone had taken their seats, Major Morris was once again the first to initiate the interview.

“Welcome Corporal Williams, I am pleased that you applied for this task force, and I would like to commend you on a truly impressive resume. An Army Ranger, Special Forces, a previous member of the Night Force and a social services minor to boot.  That’s an excellent show of service soldier! But tell me, beyond your resume, why should I put you on this task force instead of the other qualified candidates? What makes you the best choice for this team?”

The corporal was someone known for his unconventional answers.  He was more of a doer than a talker, but now he had been given an opportunity to speak his mind. He looked around the room briefly, as he collected his thoughts and formulated his response.

“First and foremost, thank you for the compliment and the opportunity to be here today.” He paused once again. “Quite honestly Sir, I had the pleasure of meeting another applicant in the waiting room. He is one of our newest recruits and I know you can’t discuss his interview with me, but if he is going to be on this task force, I would be honored to serve alongside him as a mentor and a peer.  If being a part of G.I.Joe has taught me anything, it’s that teamwork and loyalty are important.  I’ve always strived to go above and beyond what others expect of me because I am my own biggest critic.  Being able to work with my very capable brothers and sisters in arms to possibly put an end to the heartless drug cartels and the poisons they peddle would bring me a great deal of satisfaction.”

“And which candidate did you meet in the waiting area?”

“PFC Steven Kordos, I’ve heard about his exploits in Kenya and how Mainframe and some of the others threw a monkey wrench into Cobra’s plans for the region.  The kid shows a lot of potentials. He reminds me of a younger version of myself, and I would be honored to be one of the Joes serving alongside him. If not on this task force then maybe on another one in the future.”

“Fair enough.  Could you talk a bit more about the task at hand?”

“Certainly. Let’s be honest here and call a spade a spade. Illegal narcotics are bad news for everyone involved and need to be taken off the streets.  The bad guys continue to use new and creative ways to get them into the hands of future addicts.  I’ve dealt with many of these dealers over the years, and have found various ways to suppress their illegal activities. In addition, my experiences over the years as a social worker would enable me to develop a viable plan to provide help for all parties negatively affected by this horrible epidemic.  What do you say major?”

“Well corporal, I have met with a handful of highly qualified candidates and several more interviews left to conduct today.  I appreciate your enthusiasm and candor and will get back to you by the end of tomorrow. Thank you again for coming in and please exit through the side door.”

With that, the meeting concluded and all in attendance stood and saluted.  Corporal Ross exited the room not really sure what to make of his interaction.  Normally there was some type of positive reaction to his candor, but the major and general had left him questioning his responses.

The interviews were moving along at an acceptable rate.  It was 1343 hours and only two interviews remained for the day.  Major Morris had been concise with his notes and already had a pretty good idea of who he would be selecting, but he also knew that two other highly qualified applicants awaited his scrutiny.  General Abernathy felt confident in the fact that he had provided Bulletproof with some of his finest operatives for selection and regardless of his final decisions, that each candidate would be a valuable asset in waging the war on drugs.

“Well major, who do we have left?”

The major flipped through the last two applications on the desk before responding.

“I’ve got Captain John Zullo and Sergeant First Class Christopher Groen.  Both are impressive individuals and I would not want to leave them out of the selection process.  I do however feel that I’m close to finalizing my task force.”

“I can have the Lieutenant inform them that our interviews are over when they arrive if you would rather end early.”

The general paused and waited for a reply.

“No sir, I requested each applicant come in for an interview and I intend to give each of them a fair shake.  Keep in mind, I am allowed to select two reservists in addition to my core team, so if you’re offering them up for selection, I’m aiming to interview them!”

The final two Joe interviews were as prompt just like all the others had been.  Captain Zullo and SFC Groen approached the interview room together.  They had both known each other for several years and had partnered up for some exciting missions over the years.  Both had spent time out of the country fighting terrorist organizations in South America and Africa.  Captain Zullo had been selected as the field commander for Mission Brazil I and II, so dealing with illegal drug activity was nothing new to him.

“Hey Claymore, if you and I get on this team it will be just like old times.  Remember our field assignments in Argentina and later on in Venezuela, hunting down Mortal and de’Aco?  Those were some crazy times. I can still see the faces of those poor, scared peasants when they realized that we had finally liberated them from their oppressors.”

“Those were some difficult and rewarding times, but I think this mission might hit a little closer to home.  I did some research on Major Morris and his outfit.  They have been operating up and down the eastern seaboard, as far west as Chicago and Michigan and as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  Many of those states over the last few years have become some of the largest suppliers of both medical and illegal opioid drugs.  This drug war will be taking place right here on our doorsteps! And I, like you, old friend, definitely see the need to be amongst the ranks that help our country win!  So good luck amigo, let’s do this.”

 The two gave each other a firm handshake and a clap on the shoulders before finally entering the interview room.  Upon entering, they were greeted by the somewhat monotone voice of the receptionist, Lieutenant van der Ness.

“Name and appointment time gentlemen.”

“Captain John Zullo 1400 hours ma’am.  And this is Sergeant First Class Christopher Groen 1430 hours.”  The secretary looked up at the two briefly and acknowledged the two. 

“Thank you, sirs, if you could take a seat, I’ll inform the interview board of your arrival.”  With that, she pressed the intercom button on her desk. “Sirs, Captain Zullo and SFC Groen are here.”

The voice on the other end of the intercom took only a second to reply.

“Thank you Lieutenant, we’ll let you know when we’re ready for them.”

The two seated gentlemen recognized the voice of General Tomahawk and gave each other a reassuring nod. 

“Well, we know this is a serious assignment if the General is involved in the interviews.  He could very easily have assigned this to Flint or Duke, but the fact that General Hawk is in there, just puts the exclamation point on this task force for me.”

Tracker had always been a bit dramatic outside of combat, and got great pleasure from over analyzing situations from time to time.

“Oh come on John! you’re not even the least bit unnerved by this?” 

The army veteran scoffed a bit at his friend’s question.

 “Really Chris? You have to stop looking into things so deeply, the general is involved because he’s the one who presented the task force to us and went through the initial screening process.  This task force is no more or less important than any other created by the G.I.Joe team in recent years.  You know the drill.  If Uncle Sam sees a need to get us involved, it’s definitely not anything insignificant.”  The two shared a knowing nod as the intercom buzzed on the receptionist’s desk.

 “Lieutenant, could you please escort Captain Zullo in?” 

“At once sir.” As she released her finger from the button, she looked up at the captain who was already standing. “That’s our que.  Come with me sir.”

“Good luck buddy. I’ll catch up with you later on in the mess hall.” Tracker watched as his good friend walked through the doorway into the interview room.

“I present Captain John Zullo.” The three men exchanged a salute and then took their seats as the receptionist closed the door behind her.

Bulletproof was wearing his dark sunglasses as he leaned forward to address the candidate.

“So, Captain Zullo, multiple international tours.  Many dealing with unscrupulous characters and equally offensive dealings.  Your service detail is nothing short of impressive, but so has every other officer’s record been thus far.  Could you tell me why you feel you are more qualified to be a member of this task force than all the others who have been through here thus far?” 

“Well first off, thank you for recognizing my service and for considering me for this task force, but far be it from me Sir, to think that I am better than the other men and women I have served with on my missions.  I may have a little more experience in countries outside of the U.S., but that only gives me an edge.  I still rely highly on my team members for backup, ideas and all around support.  No man is an island, nor is any soldier.”

Major Morris, continued leaning forward throughout the entire response.  He didn’t want extreme ego on this task force, he wanted men and women with a strong work ethic, but also ones who valued their team and their contributions.  He nodded and placed a star next to the captain’s name.

“Have you done a lot of single missions captain?” Although the narcotics officer already knew the response from reading the dossier.

“I was undercover infiltrating an alleged drug cartel in South America for close to a year.  My mission was to gain their trust and to get close to the hombres in charge.  I am fluent in many hispanic languages and I looked the part. It took me three months to infiltrate, another two months to become part of the distribution and after proving myself there, I finally was brought in to meet the individual known as Mortal. What we uncovered went far beyond just drug trafficking.  This South American terrorist organization known as “Los Muertos” was funding government coups, gunrunning and was known on occasion to dabble in human trafficking.  The rest of the mission is ‘classified’ Sir as there are still operatives working in the area to keep some of the younger upstarts from moving in and taking over the organization.”

“Well, I appreciate you sharing that with me, and I am quite aware of the group you spoke of.  I will be making my decisions by the close of business today.  It was a pleasure to meet with you.  One other question, how did you get out?”

“With all due respect Sir, I never said I did.” The three then rose for salutes and the captain exited the room.  Bulletproof escorted him to the door and called out to the final candidate.

“SFC Groen?” the navy S.E.A.L stood and nodded. “Please come with me Sir.”

The two entered the room and Major Morris once again took his place behind the interview desk with the general.  After salutes, the trio sat. 

“SFC Groen, may I be the first to commend you on your outstanding military career. You caught the eye of the G.I.Joe team at a young age and have been excelling ever since.  We’ll have to discuss how you were able to track down Snake Eyes and Spirit in basic training some time, but that’s not why you’re here.  So I’ll cut right to the chase.  Why do you think you are  better than all the other candidates we’ve interviewed today?”  The major had once again left his sunglasses on for this interview.

The Navy S.E.A.L. seemed quite unintimidated and his facial features gave him the appearance of an extreme badass, but when he opened his mouth to speak, the major was pleasantly surprised by his true demeanor. 

“I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be considered for this task force, and anytime you want we can talk about my second run on the indoctrination course.” He winked and smiled at the panel which was also quite unexpected. “In regards to your overall question Sir, I have to be honest.  If it weren’t for my teammates challenging me, I wouldn’t be half the soldier I am today.  They have continued to push me into being the best that I can be. So, I guess what I’m saying is, if you are selecting a team composed of the best that G.I.Joe has to offer, I want to be a part of it because together we will continue to hone our skills and be the best drug elimination force ever!”

Major Morris seemed satisfied by the response and the overall personality of the candidate. 

“Well, I’m glad that your fellow Joes have been so instrumental in your growth as a military operative.  I will be discussing all the candidates with General Hawk and making my final decisions by the end of business today.  It was an honor to meet you sir.”

“Wait, that’s it? That’s the entire interview?”

“Is there something wrong SFC?” the general now spoke.

“No, not at all sir, but I was anticipating a little more rigorous vetting process is all.” the S.E.A.L was respectful in his reply. 

“The major has gathered all the information he feels he needs, and will be in contact soon.  If we require any additional information, you will be the first to know.”  SFC Groen seemed hardly defeated by the rebuke and instead, stood up to salute the selection board.  To which they returned the motion.

“If you ever want to get the lowdown on how I was able to track down the Joe’s resident ninja and Native American tracker, just let me know.  It’s a great story.”

“Thank you SFC, I’ll keep that in mind.” and with the major’s response, the  candidate turned and exited the room.

“Well, who do we have left? I imagine Corporal Jason Faria is still on your list to be interviewed.”

The major sorted through his notes and produced one additional dossier. “Well sir, you are good. Corporal Faria is on my list, but I was informed that he was called out on assignment early this morning.  It appears he was needed in his hometown of Detroit for a covert ops assignment.  Between you me and the wall, he was automatically on the team due to his service in Russia and Central America. In fact, I have worked with Corporal Faria in the past, and he is already a trusted asset.”

 “So then I guess what you’re saying is that you’re ready for a late lunch/early dinner. I was thinking of ordering a pizza and some buffalo wings.”  The major smiled at the offer. 

“That sounds like a great idea, and it will give us some time to go over the candidates once more, although I have a good feeling about my selections.  Can you have them send extra blue cheese dressing with the wings?” 

“Absolutely.” General Hawk buzzed his receptionist to have her place the order.  “In the meantime, do you mind if I have a look at your notes?”  The major slid his folder over to the general for review.

G.I.Joe series

Hello all,
     I will be releasing four chapters over the next week for you to peruse as we work our way into the development of the DEF and the establishment of the Headhunters. 
     "A war is possibly brewing between the upstart Headhunters organization and the Dreadnoks.  Speckle in the threat of the feds, and the ever-lurking Cobra terrorist organization lurking in the shadows, and things are really heating up. Be sure to check back daily between 8 and 9a.m. EST for new posts.
     As always, Thanks for your support.  Without you as my readers, I would only be entertaining myself.
Cheers!

Drakov

Enter the Headhunters Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

I had been super excited ever since my computer chimed the day prior alerting me of an important impending email. The message sent from the private secretary of General Hawk informed me that I was being considered as a candidate for the D.E.F.  I was assigned the first interview spot of the afternoon, but the combination of excitement and anxiety had prevented me from sleeping well that night.  I had taken a longer than usual morning shower to help myself wake up and eat a light breakfast.  I had hung my dress blues on my closet door the night before and was contemplating when I should put them on.  I glanced at the clock on my nightstand and decided that now was as good a time as any.

Since joining the G.I.Joe team, I had been searching for an assignment or task force, that I could make my own. The Marine Corps had trained me in urban warfare, but I had had little opportunity to further hone my skills. I saw the possibility of joining the D.E.F. as an opportunity to not only expand my military horizons but also to use my training to do some good in the world. 

I hated drugs, especially the illegal ones, but more importantly, I despised the drug dealers peddling their wares to the innocent and destroying families and communities around the nation.  As if the whole operation of synthesizing and smuggling the drugs around the country wasn’t bad enough, these devilish individuals were making a profit off of poisonous substances that were causing painful addiction and horrible deaths.

 It had been roughly nine months since I finished basic training and became a full-fledged enlisted member of the G.I.Joe team, and now I was being given the opportunity to possibly join a specialized task force.  The whole experience seemed surreal. I continued to toss around the idea in my head as to whether Dangerous should accompany me to my interview.  The two of us had become quite a team, and I would want to bring him with me if, I was indeed chosen as a member of the D.E.F.  Professionally speaking, I figured it was better to place all my cards out on the table than to surprise them after the fact. 

I checked my uniform in the mirror one last time.  I was satisfied with my overall appearance and had made my decision. I fitted my pet cheetah, Dangerous, into his working harness. I crouched down on one knee to get closer to his level in order to deliver some very important directions. 

“Alright kitty, you can come with me, but you need to be on your absolute best behavior.  No funny business. Got it?”

 Dangerous chirped and looked at me as if to say, “Who me?” then attempted to roll over to elicit a belly rub.

“Ehhh! What did I say?”

The tone of my voice further established my seriousness to the cheetah, and he immediately returned to an upright position, slightly flattening his ears and awaiting further instructions.

 “Good Boy! O.K. Dangerous, time to go and make a good first impression.”  With the tone of my voice returning back to normal, the large cat perked up his ears and accompanied me out the door.

The walk to the interview room would take about five minutes, I had timed it the day before, but being early meant being on time in my mind.  I was greeted along the way by several familiar faces.  I passed Mainframe first.  He glanced over at me and gave me a thumbs up but continued walking because he was in a conversation with Dialtone and Firewall.  As I got closer to my destination, I noticed two of my friends, Clutch and Footloose, in the vicinity.

“Hey! Are you guys interviewing for the D.E.F position too?”

Footloose seemed less than interested.

“Woah, take it easy there bro! I’m gonna be taking a ginormous pass on that one.  I’ve got my mind set on joining the Dino-hunters team.”

“We have one of those?”

I was really hoping they did in my mind.  How cool would that be? Who was I kidding? What purpose would they even serve?

“Shh! it’s a top-secret man. I don’t want everyone else knowing about it.”

I never knew when Footloose was being serious, and when he was making S#!T up.  Sometimes, I wondered how he was even on the team.  He was always such a stoner in my opinion, but the team had mandatory drug screenings and he always passed. So, I guess he was clean, but it didn’t change the fact that he was still a really weird dude.

“What about you Clutch? Any interest?”

“Nah, my place is in the garage turning wrenches, but good luck bro.  I hope you get it. I think it would be a good opportunity for you to get out there and make things happen.”

He shook my hand and gave me a fist bump for good measure.

“Oh and man, that cat of yours sure got big.  Are you seriously bringing him into your interview? I mean, kind of weird no?”

It bothered me a bit, but I anticipated a similar question once I got into the interview room.  Dangerous was my partner, and at the moment was being very well behaved standing pressed against my right leg.

“He’s part of the team just like Junkyard, Max or Freedom.  He’s not my pet if that’s what you’re implying.  When he’s wearing his vest or leash, Dangerous is working.”

“Well, good luck to both of you then.  Hey, one more thing, are you coming to the Pit Pub tonight?  They’re having karaoke.”

Clutch knew I was a sucker for karaoke, and it was almost the weekend, that combined with the fact that I had the late security shift tomorrow, made a late night a definite possibility.

“Come on man.  You gotta belt out some GNR bro! Plus it’s been a while since we all sat down and shared a beer together.  Look--- Don’t answer now.  Just think about it alright?  Hey, good luck again with your interview. Text me later.”

“Thanks for the invite and the vote of confidence guys. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

Clutch and Footloose threw up some devil’s horns like we were all at a heavy metal concert, and I stuck out my tongue and returned the gesture.

I really hope the security cameras didn’t catch that.

 “Come on Dangerous.  We’re almost there.”

We continued up the stairs to the fifth floor.  The interview would be taking place in General Abernathy’s private office, known as the War Room, and I was excited to see it since I had never been there before. My nerves had calmed a bit by this point, and I reached for the doorknob to let myself in.  Lieutenant Nadine van der Ness sat at her desk and looked up briefly from her computer.  I recognized her from around the Pit, but we had never engaged in anything more than a brief conversation.

“Name and rank please?” She inquired.

“Um yeah... you know me, I’m PFC Steven Kordos.”

She glanced at me once again but made no indication that she did or didn’t recognize me.

“What time is your interview?”

“1300 hours Ma'am.”

“Great. Have a seat! I’ll sign you in.  The general and major haven’t returned from lunch just yet but should be here shortly.  Make yourself at home and make sure that overgrown cat doesn’t have an accident anywhere. I’m all out of kitty litter” 

Her tone was flat with no effect whatsoever.  Seriously, what was her problem and why was everyone hating on Dangerous?

“Don’t worry, he’s housebroken.”

I had made the comment in jest, but she clearly didn’t get it, as she simply shrugged at the response and went back to her paperwork.  The sounds of her fingers tapping on the computer keyboard immediately filled the room.  She was an attractive woman although a bit rigid, with brown hair and brown eyes, standing about 5 foot 8 inches tall.  I had seen her in the mess hall and at the Pit Pub, but she was not an official enlisted Joe team member.   As far as I knew, she had never even been a field operative, but she did have the illustrious position of being the personal secretary for our leader, General Clayton Hawk Abernathy.

 I took a seat and picked up a recent issue of Modern Soldier. When next the office door opened, an unfamiliar face appeared. Since I had only been on the G.I. Joe team for nine months, I still didn’t know all of our operatives.  Lieutenant van der Ness stopped typing and looked up briefly from her work.

“Name and rank please.” She asked.

“Corporal Ross A. Williams, Ma'am.”

“What time is your interview Corporal Williams?”

“1330 hours.”

“I’ll sign you in and you can have a seat.  The general and major will be back from lunch shortly, and after they interview PFC Kordos and his giant kitty-cat, they’ll be calling you in.  Thank you for being early.”

“Of course Ma’am. Early is on time.”

She gave him a half-hearted smile and I looked back down at my magazine as the army ranger took a seat across from me. Seriously, did she just compliment him on being early? I looked up from the article I was reading, feeling as if someone was staring intently at me.

 “Hey, aren’t you the team’s newest recruit from the Marine outpost in Kenya?”

“Yes Sir, that would be me.  And you are?”

“Corporal Williams, but my friends call me Muskrat.  I know we’re not supposed to be using our code names, but let’s be honest, that’s what Joes do and we’re not officially inside the interview room yet.  You got yourself a codename kid? And what’s with the overgrown feline?”

“I’m Armed and this is my partner Dangerous.  You know, we got that Law and Order vibe going.”

 I leaned over and scratched my furry friend behind the ears.  He was being very well behaved and I couldn’t be more proud.

“I see, I kind of got that.  I heard you went toe to toe with the Croc Master and Big Boa.  Kudos to you kid! Those two are some tough opponents.  Not to mention, getting hit with Crystal Ball’s mind-control voodoo.  What makes you want to join the Drug Team?  I mean seriously, wouldn’t you rather be back out there tracking down those guys?”

I pondered the question for a moment, but my instincts told me that he might be pumping me for information.  I mean, after all, he was scheduled for his interview after me, but still...  I couldn’t help but think that he was trying to use me to get answers for his own interview questions.  Before I could answer, he held up his hand.

“Hey, I get it.  We’re in competition here.  Look, I hope we both get selected that way you and I can work together in the future.  I’ve been part of a couple task forces over the years, and I’m always looking to make new friends.  So good luck PFC Kordos. I’m going to take a minute to hit the little boy’s room.  Got me a little nervous bladder you know.”

With that, he stood up and exited the room.  I glanced at the clock on the wall.  It was now 1258 hours.  The intercom on Lieutenant van der Ness’s desk buzzed.

“Could you show PFC Kordos in please?”

“Of course general.”  She looked in my direction.  “Follow me PFC Kordos, the interview board will see you now.”

I stood up and with Dangerous in tow, we followed the lieutenant into the next room.  She announced me to the room, and I stood before the desk and saluted both members of the interview panel.  General Abernathy and Major Morris stood and returned the salute.

“At ease soldier. Please have a seat.”

I sat down and Dangerous laid down at my feet.  There was little reaction from either of the interviewers to the large cat.

“So PFC Kordos, you are one of the newest members of the G.I.Joe team and yet, here you sit ready to apply to my new task force.  I applaud your enthusiasm, being that you’re still very much a rookie. What is it that you feel you possess that will make you the best choice to join this task force?  And... what’s with the cheetah?”

The major was a rather intimidating-looking individual.  He clearly had at least fifteen years of service on me.  To his right sat General Tomahawk, or General Hawk for short.  He was my commanding officer and someone  I also wanted to impress with my service record and abilities. 

I’m not going to lie, I was completely intimidated.  In my mind, I was a young upstart and as far as I knew, the newest member of the Joe team.  I was certain that most of the other applicants had twice, if not three times, the experience that I possessed, but I wanted to make a difference.  Clearly, the general thought I was a worthy candidate, or my resume would have been overlooked and pushed off to the side. But then a little bit of my insecurity kicked in because I began to think that the reason I had been considered was so that the Joe team could simply trade me off to a new task force and no longer have to deal with me.  So many thoughts filled my mind, and I began feeling slightly overwhelmed.

 I quickly steadied myself, took a deep breath and finally offered up what I considered to be a respectable response.

“Well, Sirs.”  I addressed them both. “I would like to start off by saying thank you for giving us the opportunity to be here today.  I know that we are quite possibly the newest recruits for the G.I.Joe team, and that there may have been several other candidates with way more credentials than us, but nonetheless, here we are ready and willing to meet the challenge.   I am not better than my teammates, nor would I ever say or imply that I am, but I feel this assignment can provide with valuable experiences that will further cement my value to the G.I.Joe team.  Dangerous and I have been training really hard in anticipation of an opportunity such as this.  I want to be part of this team so we can make a difference not only militarily, but one that firmly society.  Drugs and the opioid epidemic are a terrible problem, and tens of thousands of individual lives are torn apart every year by them.  Dangerous and I would like to be given an opportunity to be part of the solution.”

The major looked up at me for a brief second and then back down at his papers.  “That’s a wonderful sentiment PFC, but what can you offer this team?”

I felt at that moment as if the position was drifting further and further out of my grasp, and I pondered my response.

“I sir, want to make a difference, and I am willing to learn any necessary skills that would assist me along the way.  I have been trained in urban warfare by the Marine Corps so, I have some experience in dealing with civilian matters in and around major cities and towns. I have also spent countless months training Dangerous to seek out controlled substances and in apprehending hostiles. I may not know all the answers to the problems, but I am willing to put forth my heart and soul to work with the other members of this important task force to save the lives of others.

Please, Major Morris, drugs are evil and you need good team members to wage the war against them.  Everyone has to start somewhere, please allow Dangerous and I the opportunity to make a difference. I promise that we will not let you down.”

“I appreciate your candor PFC Kordos, and you wouldn’t be sitting here today unless your commanding officer saw fit.  I have several other interviews to conduct today, but I thank you for sharing your passion with me.  One more thing, how would you feel if I called you PFC Melvin?”

I sat frozen for a second but had learned to no longer be paralyzed by that childhood nickname.  It was a traumatic experience from my past that I had learned from and one that I would no longer allow to have power over me. I laughed aloud at the notion.

“I’m ok with that.  What are your feelings about me referring to you as Sergeant Shaft?  I’m one bad mother. . . shut your mouth!”

At first the major didn’t get my joke, but then snickered.

“I see you like your comic books PFC.”

“No, not comic books sir.  I just can’t help myself and I like to quote movies that I think are appropriate, or fitting to the situation at hand.”

“Well soldier, I do happen to be one bad mother and that’s damn right.”

We both laughed.

“Well thank you again for coming in today.  I will be making my decisions and everyone will be notified by the end of business tomorrow.  Please exit through the side door.”

We all stood and exchanged salutes. Dangerous chirped once before the two of us left the room.  I wasn’t completely sure of how well the interview had gone, but I would not know until the next day.  Overall I was satisfied with my responses and the only thing I could do now was stay positive and focus on the remainder of my obligations.  Dangerous definitely deserved some belly rubs and more than one treat for his exceptionally good behavior. I was a little unnerved and wanted nothing more than to just grab some lunch and return to my room to veg for a bit. Maybe I should meet up with Clutch and Footloose for karaoke later. I really needed something to help me decompress.

As I made my way through the exit, I could hear the intercom buzzing on the Lieutenant’s desk and the General’s voice asking for Corporal Ross Williams to be shown in. I exited into the hall with Dangerous in tow.  I would be sure to check in with Corporal Ross later, but for now, I had other matters to attend to.

Enter the Headhunters Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

The elevator easily ascended to the fifth floor and the doors slid open.  The finely dressed man stepped out of the car and proceeded in the direction of the CEO's office.  He knew the way because he had been there before, only this time he noticed that many of the lighting fixtures had been replaced and some new, potted office plants were decoratively positioned along the walls of the hallway. 

It had been no more than five weeks since their initial meeting, but clearly, the doctor was putting some of his earnings back into the building’s overall appearance.  The observant visitor also took note of several new engraved nameplates on office doors that had been previously unoccupied.  This impressed him, as Vincent was truly working to improve the corporation’s reputation by hiring additional qualified staff.  All his observations indicated that the company was once again thriving, and if Bacro Industries was back to turning a profit, this would only benefit the Headman in the long run.  He checked the positioning of his face mask prior to knocking on the doctor’s door but wasn’t too concerned as he hadn’t seen any surveillance cameras in the building. They could possibly have been hidden in the ceiling tiles, but nothing had seemed too conspicuous.

He knocked on the door twice and heard movement behind the door.  Years of operating in hostile neighborhoods had sharpened his senses making him more in tune to the slightest movements around him.  He counted the footsteps as they approached the locked door.  He could tell by the timing of the stride, that it was definitely Vincent, and that the man was alone. 

“Who is it?” but in all actuality, the CEO already knew the answer.

 “My dear, dear Vincent are you going to let me in, or am I going to stare at a locked door all night?” 

The inner lock clicked twice and the office door swung inwards revealing a man who was cleanly shaven and sharply dressed in a navy blue Armani suit and an expensive silk tie. 

“Ah, Mr. Headman in Charge.  So good to see you again.  Please come in and make yourself comfortable.  I am really liking the new attire.  It is quite. . . unique if I do say so, and quite frankly, it suits you. No pun intended of course.”

The drug lord eyed him curiously at first and then confidently walked over to his desk.  “I could say the same of you, doctor.  Quite a transformation since our last encounter. Glad to see that your belt is securely fastened around your waist again.” 

Doctor D’Alleva grimaced at the statement, then motioned for his visitor to have a seat before occupying his own chair behind his desk.

“Can I offer you some Scotch? A cigar perhaps?” 

The Headman graciously accepted the offer, and the CEO reached into the lower desk drawer to retrieve two tumblers and a twelve-year-old bottle of Balvenie. After pouring two glasses, he lifted his own in a toast and waited for the drug lord to reciprocate the gesture.

“To new partnerships and the future of Bacro Industries.”  The two gentlemen clinked glasses and then each took a long sip.

“This is some really good Scotch doctor. Thank you for your hospitality, but I hate to remind you that this is not a social call.” 

The drug lord’s proclamation stung the doctor and a thin line of perspiration began to form upon his brow.

“Yes, yes. I’m quite aware, but I saw no reason why we couldn't still be cordial.”

“Fair enough, this is a business agreement more than anything else so, I’m here to present to you my plans for expansion mister chief executive officer.”  Vincent nearly choked on his next sip.

“I’m sorry, but did you say an expansion plan?” 

The Headman removed his hat and settled back more comfortably in his chair while lighting the cigar that Vincent had previously provided. 

“I did.” He took a few puffs off of the Cuban cigar.  “You wouldn’t happen to have an ashtray handy old chap, would you?”

Vincent immediately produced one from within his desk and placed it within reach of the well-dressed man.

“I would also like to discuss some ideas I have in regards to new product offerings and the creation of our Northeastern distribution hub.   It’s my understanding, that there is an abandoned warehouse located behind the main industrial complex on the western lot that once served as a functional shipping terminal?”

 “Yes, it was in use as recently as 2011. Back then, it housed a fleet of nearly two dozen tractor trailers. I even had my own diesel mechanics on site to perform routine maintenance.  There were close to ten service bays with functional heavy duty lifts.  It’s been decommissioned for quite some time now, and I sold off a lot of the heavy equipment to appease some of my debt collectors.  The area is in various levels of disarray.”

“I see.  Well, I’d like to get it back up and running again. I need to make an important delivery tonight and feel that it would be the perfect location to house my products. I’m thinking in the next three hours or so. That won’t be a problem for you.  Will it partner?” 

The CEO had feared that this type of business arrangement might very well be part of the favor he owed, but it seemed innocuous enough as the western factory was not directly connected to the main structure and was currently serving no purpose other than being an eyesore. His new business associate had kept his part of the bargain by getting his products back on the market and keeping the government inspectors away. Was there really any harm in letting him revitalize the old distribution center?  The building didn’t even have Bacro signs on it.  If Vivian inquired, he could simply say that the new increase in accounts warranted reopening the area as it would save the corporation millions in private shipping costs. Or he could say that he was renting it out to turn a profit. He contemplated the positives and negatives of the Headman’s proposal before answering. 

“So, you’re saying that you want permission to refurbish the warehouse and start a shipping company?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.  Your decision to use the services my business will provide are solely up to you.  No pressure.  Like I have said before, I don’t want control of your company.  I simply want access to some of the perks of being a silent partner.” 

“Alright then, I’m on board with that, but you also mentioned an expansion plan and some new products.  Care to elaborate on that aspect as well?”

The Headman didn’t answer immediately.  Instead, he took another sip of Balvenie.  After savoring the drink, he took another puff off of his cigar.

 “I have a financial need to extend my network outside of the United States.  Let’s just say that packaging, distribution and shipping costs are interfering with my overall revenue.  All I require from you is permission to use the company name and patents. I can handle the rest.”

The new conversation was beginning to make the good doctor feel uneasy.  He didn’t want his company tied in with the illegal drug trade, but his new partner had quickly gone from asking for his permission to telling him how things were going to unfold.  The thought of shooting the overly smug man as he sat unknowingly in front of him crossed his mind, but he wasn’t a murderer.

“Tick-tock doctor.  Do we have an agreement or not? Oh, and if you’re planning on doing something with your gun, now might be a good time. Yes, Vincent, I know about the Glock locked and ready in the desk drawer.  I didn’t get to where I am by being naive.” 

Vincent’s surprised expression lasted a little too long, and only further proved his previous intentions.  He quickly put up his hands to show that he was unarmed.

“No Sir. . . I mean... I was never going to shoot you. I just. . .” The CEO stammered, but the cartel lord held up his hand to silence him. 

“No worries doctor.  I’m not going to kill you if that’s your concern, but if you ever think of crossing me, I will not think twice about going after your son Antonio and what’s your daughter’s name again? Oh yes, I remember now, sweet little Isabella.” 

How did he know about his family? Better yet, how did he know where to find them? The doctor’s emotions went from rage to fear, and everything in between.  He realized then that this was slowly becoming the worst mistake he had ever made in life, and with his children's lives at stake, he would have no other choice than to cooperate with the criminal in front of him and continue to hope for the best.

“Please, don’t hurt my children.  I’ll do whatever you need me to do.  You can use my company name and patents.  I’ll have my lawyers draw up the contracts in the morning.”  The Headman smiled once more. 

“I knew you were a reasonable man doctor.  But you still don’t get it.  I’m not your enemy. I’m not here to take over your corporation.  We are partners and most of the time you will never see me, but I would rather be civil than a bully.”

Vincent did his best to nod in agreement, but he could not trust the masked man.

“If you excuse me a moment, I need to make an important phone call.” 

He activated his cell phone and his second in command was quick to answer the call on just the second ring. 

“Yes, boss?” 

The line was quiet for a few moments, and then he delivered a single word command.

 “Proceed.”

As the phone line disconnected, Gristle turned to the nearest Headhunters and told them to spread the word throughout the ranks.  The delivery would take place as scheduled.  An address appeared in the form of a text message shortly after.  Within a matter of minutes, the first ice cream truck loaded with product left the storehouse, followed by a bakery van five minutes later, a potato chip truck ten minutes later and finally a FedEx conversion van.  Random delivery vehicles would continue to hit the road at set intervals over the next hour. In order not to raise the suspicions of local authorities, various routes would be used to arrive at their new storage facility, the western warehouse just outside of Bacro Industries.

“I imagine that right now you are quite angry with me, doctor, but that in time, will pass. The sooner you come to terms with the fact that you will not in any way be included in my organization’s criminal activities you’ll feel better. I can assure you of this Vincent. Your business will continue to thrive and if all my overseas arrangements go as planned, Bacro Industries will be trading on the international stock market within the next two months.  All at no added cost to you. And once we get some of my other product ideas out on the market, your stocks will continue to soar. Ultimately, you’ll end up thanking me.”

The CEO did not answer, he merely hanged his head in defeat. 

“Oh, and how’s my new plant food coming along? I understand you are close to completion. Would it be possible to use the company greenhouse in the near future?”

Vincent had almost forgotten about the plant food part of the agreement.  He had never attempted to use any of his supplements on the various illegally grown controlled substances but imagined these tests would be happening in the very near future. 

“I  just received a sample of the new formula earlier today, but I will need at least another two weeks to conduct trials.”  The sharp dressed man seemed pleased. 

“I look forward to those results.  Might I get the keys to the western warehouse now?  I am expecting some very important guests within the next two hours.  Dr. D’Alleva reached into his top right desk drawer and handed him a key ring tagged with only a “W”.

 “Thank you, doctor. It has been a pleasure doing business with you, partner. I’ll be in touch to discuss some of my other business ideas soon.” 

The dangerous man in the mustard-colored, pinstripe suit placed his hat back on his head, then politely bowed as he finished his scotch and placed the tumbler on the desk.

“Thank you again for the scotch.  You have a well-trained palate.”

After the Headman left, Vincent slumped in his chair and poured himself another heavy-handed drink.  He raised the glass to his eagerly awaiting lips. the meeting had left him with many unanswered questions and many new concerns. What exactly had he gotten himself into?