Enemies Domestic (An Alex Landon Thriller Book 1) Read online

  Enemies Domestic

  By Gavin Reese

  Download THREE stories featuring Detective Alex Landon.

  Copyright © 2017 by Gavin Reese Publications LLC.

  Published by Cyanide Publishing 2017

  www.cyanidepublishing.com

  All rights reserved. Copyright promotes and rewards creativity, encourages diverse points of view, protects free speech, and helps create and foster a vibrant, artistic culture. By purchasing an authorized copy of this publication, and complying with copyright laws that protect intellectual property by not reproducing, digitizing, or redistributing any part of this text in any form without permission, you support authors, their original stories, and make creative fiction possible. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Although based on some portions of true events, this is a work of creative fiction. The characters and their names, along with the events, plots, and motives are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Gavin Reese Publications LLC donates a portion of all our sales to non-profit organizations that benefit law enforcement professionals and veterans, their families, and the heirs, survivors, and memories of our Fallen Heroes.

  More information is at www.gavinreese.com

  Foreword

  All cops are not created equal. When I try to define a “cop,” I don’t think of the morbidly obese office rat who’s a liability in a foot pursuit. I think of the workers, the producers, the hustlers. The cops who show up every day to make a difference, love taking the assailant to jail, and are first on–scene at “Man With A Gun” calls. You’re my heroes, and the world is a better and safer place because you exist in it.

  The Enemies Series depicts the harsh realities of policing American streets today. Our police officers have always been social workers, negotiators, bare-knuckle fist fighters, marriage and family counselors, and child psychologists; following 9/11, positions such as close-quarters-combat specialists, intel officers, EOD specialists, and Terrorism Liaison Officers have become much more common. We have graciously accepted roles and assignments that had been the exclusive purview of military and national intelligence services. We have stepped to the domestic front lines to protect the American Homeland from global terror campaigns and, more recently, focused additional resources on homegrown terrorists who wish us harm from within.

  I hope officers find the Enemies Series an authentic representation of our daily efforts to hold the Thin Blue Line, and that the protagonists' personal struggles and perseverance help inspire them to suit up and fight again tomorrow. The circumstances into which our dispatchers routinely direct us are often stranger than fiction, and I believe our most vocal opponents would benefit from seeing, reading, and feeling our day-to-day lives. What most folks would consider an outrageous, life-altering travesty, we call Tuesday, and unceremoniously move on to the next pending call.

  I hope the public we serve and protect finds in these characters a group of everyday heroes to love, admire, and trust. More importantly, I hope they realize these same heroes presently fill the squad cars and precincts in their neighborhoods and hometowns.

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I have to thank my wife. You have proven to me time and again that no one in the world is stronger than a dedicated cop spouse. You’re among a truly special breed of person who gives us the support, the room, and the commitment to live out our purpose. This profession isn’t a job, or even a career. I would, at the barest minimum, call it a lifestyle. Most accurately, it is a calling. Cop work performed simply for a paycheck will never be worthwhile; there are simply too many negative impacts on our personal lives, and on the ones we love. For my part, I couldn’t have done it alone, Darlin’. I owe you more than I can ever repay in time, missed family events and holidays, hopes and dreams (both delayed and crushed), a predictable home life, and financial security that my calling hasn’t yet allowed. You have stood by me through thick and thin, accolades and persecution, and you’ve loved me far more deeply than I deserve. This novel is as much yours as it is mine. You’re the love of my life; my lobster, my quail, my soul mate in this life and beyond. Thanks for playing along. Mo Anam Cara.

  I would be excessively remiss if I didn’t specifically thank a few other folks who made this possible. J, you started my writing career, although I had no understanding of where that first essay would lead. A sergeant once called me a “Gen Xer with a Greatest Generation work ethic;” you and L are primarily responsible for my intrinsic values and motivations that brought about that compliment, certainly among the greatest I’ve ever received. You, too, are among my heroes.

  L, you brought us up to dream big, pursue our dreams with reckless abandon, and never compromise our integrity along the way. You gave freely of your time, love, support, advice, and expertise; thank you, more than you know. We effectively grew up together, and you remain among my best and closest friends to this day. More than anyone else, you’re most responsible for the successes in my life.

  T, you came into this game a bit late, and I genuinely appreciate your buy-in, support, humor, and willingness to be a friend. I love you all, and I owe you all more than I can ever repay.

  R&P, you somehow span my Venn diagram of parents, friends, and family. You have had more influence in my life than you know, and I’m a better person and citizen for it. You showed me what a healthy partnership looks like, and I learned how to be a better husband, mentor, and father because of you both.

  Abuelo, I can’t put this into words, but I’m willing to try. You’re the longest running, greatest, and best model in my life for how to be a just and righteous father, parent, man, neighbor, and American citizen. Regardless of what advice I’ve needed, I never had to look farther than you. Thank you for setting and maintaining a high example for all of us.

  Abuela, you’ve given us all unconditional love from our first moments on this Earth, and we felt that even when we earned righteous discipline. You taught us about the importance of Family, and the reality that we can always count on each other. Family first, all the time, every time. I doubt either of us imagined how far my definition of “family” would eventually stretch.

  I also want to thank my squadmates. My Brothers and Sisters In Blue. We’ve kept each other safe, fought and bled together, cried together, rejoiced together, and, somehow, managed to complain through it all (usually about change or the way things are). More than once, we’ve lived through mistakes that could’ve killed us, but Murphy smiled on us more than we deserved and allowed us to live to see the debrief. We’ve saved lives together, hunted and found the Bad Man, and brought relief to innumerable victims. It’s been a helluvuh ride, and I’m grateful to have served alongside you. I’m honored to wear our badge and patches, and I’m humbled that we get to serve our community and nation in this manner. Thanks for tolerating my rants, tirades, and bitching, as well as the constant self-assigned tasks. Your love and support mean almost everything to me. She wins out over all of you, if it ever really came down to it, but all you assholes are a very close second.

  To my lifelong friends, I simply want to thank you. You all knew me before the badge’s siren song lured me in, and you managed to accept this cal
ling and purpose, probably because you were tired of loaning me beer money. This life and my calling have proved difficult for all of us at times, and, for my part, I could’ve made several better decisions when adversity came between yours, mine, and ours. Thanks for sticking it out and seeing it through to the other side. The next round’s on me. Seriously, I swear.

  To the rest of my family, my actual, red-blooded kin: you are, collectively, both the nature and nurture that led me to this calling, and allowed me to live such a life as to pass the background. Your religious dedication to abstract ideas like the Rule of Law, Faith, Justice, Morality, Community, Nationalism, and Service all made me who I am, and I firmly believe these cornerstones have made me successful. Sorry about all the missed holidays, I’m pretty sure Thanksgiving and Christmas fall on my RDOs this year. I’ll let you know what the boss says, but we may already be down to shift minimums…just for something different.

  I owe a special debt of gratitude to my friends and family who made time to provide guidance, constructive criticism, and support during this project. This would’ve been a far inferior product without you, and I hope you’re willing to continue on.

  For anyone considering a career in law enforcement, please ponder this: if you don’t wake up in the morning with a deep, burning desire to be a cop; if you aren’t willing to fight for those unable to defend themselves, even if they hate you; if you aren’t willing to walk alone in dark places and hunt Bad Men who don’t want to be found; if you can’t imagine yourself harming, shooting, or killing another human being in defense of your life or that of another…please, I urge you, go sell insurance. Unless God has called you to defend His people from Evil, go do something else that won’t get you, your partner, or the public beaten, maimed, or killed. This isn’t all fun and games; life behind the badge is far less glamorous, and far more psychologically and emotionally dangerous than Hollywood has led you to believe. Opportunities to serve your communities abound outside cop work, and you should relentlessly pursue them. However, if you have the requisite, intrinsic courage and moral compass, have been blessed with a heart of service, and aren’t a closet sociopath, we welcome your application.

  In God We Trust; all others we Clear-and-List.

  Gratum in obsequium,

  Gavin

  Cast of Characters

  Dry Creek Police Department Officials

  Detective Alex Landon: Neighborhood Enforcement Unit (NEU) investigator

  Detective Ronald Berkshire: Terrorism Liaison Officer

  Detective Wall: Property & Persons investigator

  Detective Mike Hansen: Property & Persons investigator

  Detective Michele Lindsey: NEU investigator

  Detective Douglas Melner: NEU investigator

  Detective Sergeant Rudiger: Supervises Property & Persons and Sex Crimes units

  Detective Sergeant Jones: NEU supervisor

  Detective Lieutenant Dobbins: Supervises Criminal Investigations Division

  Patrol Officer Bradley Johnson

  Patrol Officer Dennis Talbert

  Patrol Officer Scott James

  Sergeant David Templeton: Patrol supervisor and SWAT Team Leader

  Chief McNulty

  Lieutenant Herrmann: Patrol and SWAT Commander

  Additional Police Officers and Federal Agents

  Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Donnie Williams

  Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Nick Xyphos

  Federal Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent In-Charge White: JTTF Director

  Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent In-Charge Franklin Tubbs

  Montana Highway Patrol Trooper William J. Raheps

  Montana Highway Patrol Captain James Willoughby

  Beaverhead County Deputy Sheriff Wilford Nichols

  Buckeye (AZ) Police Department Sergeant Bradley Schultz

  Civilians

  Jonathan Michael Patrick McDougal: resigned US Army Captain

  Colleen McDougal: wife of Jonathan and mother to Michael

  Michael Patrick McDougal: son of Jonathan and Colleen

  Genevieve “Gen” Landon: wife of Alex Landon

  Marjorie McDougal: mother to Jonathan and Billy

  William “Billy” McDougal: brother to Jonathan

  Ned “Cleveland” Foster: known leader of The Chosen Few

  Mikey: member of The Chosen Few

  Paul: member of The Chosen Few

  William “Duke” Augustus Bennett

  Joe “Rocky” Degliani: SSH Security Officer

  Tom McNealy: SSH Security Officer

  David Martinez: SSH Security’s Dayshift Watch Commander

  Dominic Divorjac: Dry Creek resident and low-level criminal

  Oaths of Office

  Arizona Peace Officers

  “I, Alexander David Landon, do solemnly swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of the State of Arizona, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and defend them against enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge, the duties of a Peace Officer, to the best of my ability, so help me God.”

  United States Army Officer

  “I, Jonathan McDougal, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of Captain, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”

  Blood Oath of The Chosen Few Militia

  “I, William Edward McDougal, do solemnly swear as a free man, that I will support and defend the original Constitution of the true United States of America, and I will do so against enemies foreign, domestic, and within its own tyrannical government. I understand that following in my Founding Fathers’ footsteps risks my treasure, my life, and my liberty, should we fail. I swear to guard my Brethren and Commanders with my life, to protect our Godly and righteous work, and that I will never betray my oath, upon penalty of my willful Death.”

  Contents

  Foreword

  Acknowledgements

  Cast of Characters

  Oaths of Office

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  Thirty-Four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-Six

  Thirty-Seven

  Thirty-Eight

  Thirty-Nine

  Forty

  Forty-One

  Forty-Two

  Forty-Three

  Forty-Four

  Forty-Five

  Forty-Six

  Forty-Seven

  Forty-Eight

  Forty-Nine

  Fifty

  Fifty-One

  Fifty-Two

  Fifty-Three

  Fifty-Four

  Fifty-Five

  Fifty-Six

  Fifty-Seven

  F
ifty-Eight

  Fifty-Nine

  Sixty

  Sixty-One

  Sixty-Two

  Sixty-Three

  Sixty-Four

  Sixty-Five

  Sixty-Six

  Sixty-Seven

  Sixty-Eight

  Sixty-Nine

  Seventy

  Seventy-One

  Seventy-Two

  Seventy-Three

  Seventy-Four

  Seventy-Five

  Seventy-Six

  Seventy-Seven

  Seventy-Eight

  Seventy-Nine

  Eighty

  Eighty-One

  Eighty-Two

  Eighty-Three

  Eighty-Four

  Eighty-Five

  Eighty-Six

  Eighty-Seven

  Eighty-Eight

  Eighty-Nine

  Ninety

  Ninety-One

  Ninety-Two

  Ninety-Three

  Ninety-Four

  Ninety-Five

  Ninety-Six

  Ninety-Seven

  Ninety-Eight

  Ninety-Nine

  One-Hundred

  One-Hundred-One

  One-Hundred-Two

  One-Hundred-Three

  One-Hundred-Four

  One-Hundred-Five

  One-Hundred-Six

  Epilogue

  Gavin Reese

  One

  Maricopa County island. North Buckeye, Arizona.

  A bare, red lightbulb intended for photography dark-rooms hung from the rough ceiling inside a small rotting plywood shed, expelled the nighttime darkness immediately beyond the open doorway, and cast Duke and his malicious undertaking in its eerie glow. Seated on an aging, rickety metal stool before a shoddy plywood-and-two-by-four workbench, he carefully placed a soldering iron upon a porcelain tile to avoid burning himself and the rough, splintery surface. At least I won’t hear the boom, he thought. Wiping his sweaty hands atop his faded, six-color-desert fatigue pant legs, Duke took a deep, calming breath, shut his eyes, and gently opened and closed his hands to relax his unsteady fingers. After several unsuccessful seconds, he decided to break from his deadly efforts to better calm himself; opening his eyes, he carefully scooted the stool back away from the workbench and slowly stood on the unsteady wood floor. The beams strained and creaked beneath his weight as Duke first stretched his lower back, and then removed a small metal case that contained a stash of hand-rolled cigarettes and an American flag-engraved Zippo lighter from his right cargo pants pocket before turning to his right and approaching the shed’s only doorway.