Forward

Sonny J posted the first chapter of his action novel “The Asset” recently, where we discovered Mason Steele lead detective for the National Bureau of Special Crimes. In chapter one Mason went undercover to take down a drug kingpin in Miami. Here today is chapter two and the continuation of the story!

Christopher

Chapter 2

For Mason, the black site reminded him of a large storage facility being kept to house high grade military weapons; the way perfect yellow lines on the grey cement flooring sectioned off large containers, and an entourage of vehicles that were parked in the back.

However, the main thing he noticed the very first time he walked in, was how unusually high the ceiling was. It had to have been at least 50 feet up from the ground. Even still. The small, round strobe lights that hung in rows had no problem illuminating the entire facility.

The first time Mason had toured the massive area inside, he couldn’t help but wonder what was being stored in the huge black containers that lined both sides of the middle section of the warehouse. Though maybe one day soon he would find out, if he was lucky.

It was no secret.

Everyone who knew Mason Steele, knew that the rough, tough and murderous crime fighter was a fiend for action. And with the dozen, or so armored vehicles inside; mostly SUV’s, that stayed parked in the back, Mason was for certain that this mission wouldn’t disappoint.

After the shootout in the city, Mason headed straight back to the Black Site to meet with agent Cooke, in hopes of finding out just how the whole operation went haywire.

Infuriated, Mason pulled in and parked the red Ferrari next to a row of offices in the front. All of the offices looked the same from the outside. With large glass windows shielded by white mini blinds, on the inside. Though the exterior of each room was a different setup of machines, devices and screens that all played a vital role in the investigation.

As Mason got out of the car, he immediately spotted Agent Cooke walking up with Agent Murphy.

“What the hell was that?” Mason growled at Cooke, boiling with anger as he calmly demanded answers.

Somewhat nervous and fearful for Agent Murphy, Cooke tried to downplay the whole technical mishap. “Fucking reception from your earpiece kept going in and out,” he said. “It was totally Murphy’s fault for screwing with it.”

Mason instantly lunged at an already frightened, Agent Kyle Murphy. “You son of a bitch!” he snarled, as Cooke immediately stepped in between the two. “You almost got me killed!” Mason snapped, pointing a stern finger at Murphy while he flinched in horror.

“I know. I know. I got tech problems,” Murphy said, barely audible.

Mason Steele calmed himself as he gave Cooke a look of disappointment. “Is he fucking serious right now? This is the best you could do?”

“Yeah, unfortunately. Bureau’s in the middle of cut back, right now.”

“I’m serious, Pat.”

All agent Cooke could do was shrug in embarrassment, “Come on, Mason. He’s young, and new to the system. So cut him some slack.”

The undercover agent mocked Agent Cooke, “Cut him some slack? I’d tell you what I’d like to cut.”

“Hey, hey. Easy now, big fella,” Cooke interrupted.

“It won’t happen again. I promise,” Murphy managed to say.

Mason Steele was at a loss for words. He simply dismissed Murphy with a glare of disgust and proceeded toward the row of offices.

Both men began to follow Mason as Field Agent, Patrick Cooke focused his attention back on the case. “You didn’t get any useful Intel from those assholes before you killed them, did you?” asked Cooke.

“Not shit… What about Mateo’s bodyguard you took into custody? He saying anything?” Mason replied, as the Field Agent followed him back into a back office; leaving rookie agent, Kyle Murphy outside.

“He’s not talking,” Cooke answered. “Keeps saying fucking ‘lawyer’ in Spanish.”

As the two men continued to talk, Mason began changing his top attire into a black T-shirt, covered by a thin, black bulletproof vest. Agent Cooke paused, as he once again briefly marveled at the massive, tattoo covered frame of the undercover agent; that was seemingly unparalleled to any other human he had ever seen.

His concentration was quickly broken, as small machines and devices continued to beep and buzz on just about every wall in the office. While a large table stationed right in the middle of the room, doubled as an 80-inch, touchscreen Info Center that was linked directly to the NBSC database.

“Maybe we can get him to speak in English if we put his tiny little balls in a vice.” Cooke suggested, looking at the screen on his cellphone as it began to ring. “Here’s, Conrad. I’m sure he’s pissed.”

Jack Conrad, who was Cooke’s superior, was also a high level Field Director for the NBSC’s Utah Division. He was also the man responsible for initially bringing Mason Steele into the bureau’s Intelligence Division.

Several years back. Once Conrad and NBSC Intelligence officials got wind that the infamous, Cecil Camara had fled from the city of Columbus, Ohio and eventually landed in Las Vegas. Bodies started piling up all over the place. The only thing was, Cecil Camara was mostly known in the state of Ohio for trafficking guns and narcotics. He had been suspected of murder, once. Yet it wasn’t his forte.

Whereas, what got the arrogant crime boss the recognition he so desperately wanted, was two of the biggest diamond heists that Ohio had ever witnessed. Ultimately, it made Cecil a wanted man.

After fleeing to Sin City, he proceeded at all cost to take over the lucrative drug trade, throughout the city.

Local authorities and the NBSC worked tirelessly trying to apprehend the lunatic fugitive. Where eventually, he was placed on every ‘Most Wanted’ list you could possibly think of. Along with World News Updates and postings on the sides of local metro buses. They even aired a two hour documentary right after the Super Bowl.

Yet, still no luck.

Wherein after, Cecil Camara grow out a Mohawk and change his appearance. Eventually becoming a tall, dark complected, musclebound ghost covered in tattoos.

His ghostly persona existed for some time.

Up until his old friend, Mason Steele was brought in by Conrad to hunt him down.

See, Mason and Cecil were one in the same.

The two had grown up together in one of Columbus, Ohio’s most dangerous neighborhoods, known as Southfield. And because of their similar interest in almost everything, Cecil and Mason had become inseparable all throughout their childhood.

Sometime thereafter, during the days that ended high school, Cecil Camara eventually become wrapped up in the wrong crowd. Anything illegal he could get involved in, he did.

It was around the the same time that Mason Steele began to soar through the ranks of the National Bureau of Special Crimes. Creating his own, no nonsense tactics that eventually made him Lead Detective over the Homicide and Narcotics Division.

Everyone who knew Mason was proud of him. Everyone that is, except for Cecil Camara.

The former childhood friend felt betrayed. How could Mason do such a thing? Cecil wondered. He so desperately wanted the gangster lifestyle for the both of them. It was something that they even talked about on occasion, as teenagers.

However, Mason Steele had different plans.

And once Cecil Camara became a wanted man by the NBSC, his longtime school yard buddy vowed to bring him to justice, no matter the cost.

And ironically, it was the same case that earned the rough, tough murderous agent the appellation of honor: A criminal mastermind’s worse nightmare.

*See Sonny J’s bio and thank you! for following. Please like and share this post with others, and if your heart moves you feel free to post a comment. Your comment will be shared with the author. — Christopher