OUTCAST: Trust, Friendship, And Injustice (Beauty 0f Life Book 9)

by Laura Acton

  After Charley rolled off him, Dan got to his knees. He eyed Brogan who stood between him and the door. Making a split-second decision, Dan pushed off the ground, and bolted straight towards Snow, keeping his focus on him and witnessing Brogan’s eyes round with surprise. Dan jagged left at the last moment and increased his speed. Freedom only ten feet away … nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … three … two … one …. Excruciating pain exploded in Dan’s torso as something struck his damaged ribs with force, hurling him straight into oblivion.

  Robert dusted his hands together, grinning. “That’s how you bring down a running asshole without firing a shot.”

  Sitting on the floor, still rubbing his burning throat, having difficulty swallowing, Charley stared at Broderick’s crumpled form and a boot lying next to his body. He shifted his gaze to Robert’s awkward gait, noting he wore only one steel-toed boot as he walked toward Broderick to retrieve his shoe.

  Recovering from his shock over Broderick’s ability to fight and run after the beating they inflicted upon him, Brogan ordered, “Tie him to a chair. He better not get loose again, or your heads will roll.”

  Brogan picked up Dan’s phone and smirked. The rookie doesn’t possess any personal contacts. The only numbers stored are for several take-out food places and the direct line to the station. No one will miss him except the old witch, but she will be dead too, so we are back to not a single soul will care. Brogan switched off Dan’s cell and removed the SIM card as a precaution in case the Inept Assholes trailing Dan decided to ping his phone for a location.

  Ridgewater Home – Entry Hall – 11:25 p.m.

  Bella hurried to the entry to greet the police officer after buzzing him in at the gate. Thoughts of Danny plagued her all day, and she couldn’t shake the sense something was amiss with him when she stopped by his station this morning. Opening the door, she said, “Constable Riqueti, come in, please.”

  Al nodded, adopting the mannerisms needed to dupe the old woman, ensnaring her with false politeness as he did with all their other marks. “Thank you, ma’am. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but this is an urgent matter.”

  After closing the front door, Bella motioned towards the sitting room with an elegant hand, barely controlling the scrunch of her nose as she caught a whiff of the man’s rank body odor. “Please, come this way.”

  “Ma’am, I don’t mean to be rude, but as I said it is urgent.” Al scanned for any other people in the house, not wanting to be seen.

  “Quite. Please explain.” Bella clasped her hands wishing tonight was not Wilson’s poker night with the boys. He wouldn’t be back for another hour.

  Allowing fake concern to cover his features, Al said, “You are acquainted with Daniel Broderick, correct?” When his mark nodded, he continued, “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but tonight he was assaulted on his way home from a local bar.”

  “He isn’t old enough to be in a bar,” Bella spoke without thinking, and as worry took over, she asked, “Is he alright?”

  “No, ma’am. His wounds are severe. The doctors fear Dan might not make it.” Al let his voice wobble with emotion. “Sorry, ma’am … Dan is a friend. We work together. His training officer is with him now … Brogan thinks the world of Danny. Almost like a son. The thing is … Dan’s been calling for you. He keeps mumbling he is afraid to die alone. I understand it is an imposition and rather late, but would you consider coming with me to the hospital?”

  Al pulled up the photos and turned his phone towards her. “I understand you might be cautious, but I wanted to prove this is on the level.”

  Bella paled, and her eyes misted, viewing Danny’s battered face. Memories of the night he showed up on her doorstep in much the same state made her shiver. Dear Lord, not again.

  Al reached out a hand. “Ma’am, do you need to sit down?”

  Inhaling, Bella centered herself. She was made of stern stuff, not a fragile flower. Danny needed her. “I’ll be only a moment. I must retrieve my purse from upstairs and put on shoes.”

  “I’ll wait right here, ma’am.” Al hid his grin as the woman hurried up the staircase in her slippers.

  After putting on sensible pumps, Bella picked up her handbag and stopped at her desk to scribble a note to Wilson, telling him Danny had been injured and Constable Riqueti came to fetch her. She placed the missive on the hall table outside Wilson’s room, a place they often used for communique.

  If Bella had not been distracted by worry, she would’ve asked which hospital, and questioned why a uniformed officer didn’t arrive in a cruiser. But she was, and she didn’t, and her oversight would become the source of immense guilt and self-condemnation.

  The Price of Freedom

  37

  May 2

  Warehouse District – Derelict Building 12:10 a.m.

  Dan kept his chin to his chest, breathing slow and shallow … feigning unconsciousness as he regained his wits. Every part of his body ached, his bruises would have bruises if that were possible, and every lungful caused him so much agony he almost wished he could stop breathing. But to do so would mean death, and he didn’t want to give the general the satisfaction.

  His father’s angry words to him when he informed General Badass that he chose the police over the army, rang in Dan’s head. You’re shirking your duty and snubbing your heritage. You are a Broderick, and as such, I expected more from you. I raised you to be a soldier, not a damned constable. If you persist in following this path, don’t expect me to support you. You’ll be entirely on your own.

  Dan recalled his father turned away from him and strode to the door, but stopped and pivoted, nailing him with a hard glare as his icy last words sliced deeply. When you’re ready to put away your childish notion of playing cops and robbers to make a real difference and become a man … call me.

  While Dan stood at attention in Bella’s morning room, the furious general stormed out with Bella rushing after him. Overhearing snippets from the entryway, Dan filled in the blanks, grasping the gist of their private exchange. In the general’s eyes, he was immature, irresponsible, and a blemish on the family name because he disregarded his lineage to follow his dream. They had not spoken since, and his parents never bothered to come to his academy graduation. Only Bella and Wilson showed up to celebrate his achievement.

  Pushing the hurtful thoughts aside, Dan refocused on the here and now. They put him in one of the rickety chairs, pulled his arms behind him and bound them with rope instead of zip ties. Although his left eye began to swell shut, he ventured to crack both open to assess his current state.

  Shifting a foot ever so slightly, so as not to draw attention to himself, Dan discovered to his surprise that his legs were unbound. With his valiant escape effort thwarted only steps from freedom, Dan contemplated his next move. Part of him wanted to attempt to run again but worried what might happen to Bella if he left and they succeeded in luring her here. Hopefully, Wilson will be suspicious and won’t allow Bella to go without checking first or insist on accompanying her.

  Dan’s thoughts abruptly stopped, and his heart plummeted as a door opened and Bella’s angry voice said, “What is the meaning of this? You said Danny was in a hospi…”

  Bella’s eyes landed on Dan. “Oh, dear Lord! Danny.” She yanked her arm from Constable Riqueti’s grasp and rushed forward, only to be halted by another man. “Release me,” Bella demanded as she struggled to free herself.

  Brogan smirked as he waddled up to the white-haired old lady and backhanded her as Robert seized her upper arm. “Shut your mouth. I’m in charge. You will do as you are told or you’ll be witness to Danny boy’s slow and agonizing death.”

  “Leave her alone, Brogan! Get your filthy hands off her,” Dan bellowed as he reared up, the chair coming with him. Charley spun, connecting a roundhouse kick to Dan’s side knocking him off kilter. With hands secured to a spindle on the chair’s back, Dan was unable to halt his downward motion. The rotted chair legs contacted with the
unforgiving floor first and snapped off. When Dan hit the ground the rest of the unreliable chair disintegrated around him, sending pieces flying in every direction.

  Stunned as the air whooshed out of his lungs and pain skyrocketed, Dan teetered on the edge of consciousness once again. Fighting to remain aware, he dragged in jagged, half-breaths as the fire in his chest engulfed him in blue flames.

  “Don’t hurt him,” Bella begged, her eyes watering from the stinging hit which cut the inside of her cheek and from worry about Danny as he struggled to breathe. “Why did you do this? He needs medical attention.” She tried to wrench her arm from the vice-like grip holding her. “Let me go!”

  “The rat bastard got what he deserved … or at least part of it,” Robert smirked as he jerked the old woman towards the other chair, increasing his bruising pressure on her bicep, eliciting a stifled cry from Ridgewater.

  Charley turned to Riqueti. “Al, we need more zip ties from the car. Dickhead managed to bust the ones on his legs and attempted to leave our little going away party. We found only enough rope to tie his hands.”

  Al chuckled. “Appears he failed.”

  “I took him down with one of my boots after the snitch almost choked Charley out.” Robert roughly pushed Ridgewater into the only chair left.

  “Broderick, got the upper hand on you in his condition?” Al laughed. “Your kung-fu moves must only work when someone is tied up. You should’ve just shot him.”

  Bristling at Al’s dig on his skills and rubbing his still sore throat, Charley said, “Brogan said we couldn’t. Brodickhead got lucky is all, and I broke his hold. The cocky, little shit can’t best me.”

  “Whatever. I’ll grab the bindings.” Al tossed the purse to Brogan. “Turned off her phone and took out the SIM card already.” He neglected to inform Snow that he also pocketed the five hundred dollars from Ridgewater’s wallet.

  Striding out, Al whistled a happy tune. Things went quite well tonight, and soon they would be wealthy men and on their way to Aruba. A tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela with sunny weather, beautiful white sand beaches, gentle surf, and most importantly, no extradition treaties with Canada.

  Gaining slight control of the pain coursing through his body, Dan focused on Bella, locking gazes with her … his eyes pleading for forgiveness.

  A tear slipped down Bella’s cheek as she sought to silently reassure Danny that she did not blame him for this … whatever this was. She still had no clue beyond an abduction. Riqueti remained quiet on the entire drive. After getting into the car with the officer, it took her about ten minutes to realize they were not heading to the hospital. She considered jumping from the moving vehicle, but at the speed Riqueti traveled, it would’ve been suicide.

  Bella chided herself for being gullible and sucked in without obtaining verification before leaving. Although, another part of her brain was okay with her decision. At least I am here with Danny. My boy is in trouble, and I don’t want him going through this alone. Her view of Danny was blocked as the heavy-set constable moved in front of her. She recognized him from this morning and wondered what the Sam Hill was going on.

  Brogan surveyed the old lady, sizing her up, believing she would be an easy target. “Danny boy’s life is in your hands. Comply, and you both will go free. Resist, and you’ll both die painful deaths.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Money.”

  “I figured, but why?”

  “None of your business. Now, will you comply?”

  “How much do you want?” Bella sat up straighter, recalling Wilson’s instruction on how to behave if kidnapped. She also held an ace in the hole. Although they deactivated her phone, the tracking device Wilson embedded in her purse lining would ensure he would discover her location in short order. Bella only hoped he found her note and when he couldn’t reach her via her cell, he would activate the tracker.

  Al returned holding only two ties. “This is all we have. Do you want them for the bitch or the snitch?”

  Pivoting, Brogan peered at Broderick and chuckled. “Use them on Ridgewater. Danny boy isn’t in any shape to stand, let alone run again. The rope will hold him for as long as we need.” He nudged Dan in the chest with the tip of his shoe, receiving a soft groan from the rookie. “If you move one inch, I’ll let Robert and Charley at her. Doubt her brittle bones are a match for steel-toes and roundhouse kicks.”

  Dan nodded … he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Bella. He remained docile, needing to recoup some strength and figure out how to ensure Bella got out of here alive.

  To turn her abductors’ attention away from Danny, Bella cleared her throat. She needed to keep them engaged with her to prevent them from continuing to harm Danny. “What is the price of our freedom?”

  Refocusing on their cash cow, Brogan said, “Five million in cash. Unmarked banknotes, none larger than a hundred and no police involvement. We will be aware if you do somehow manage to alert the cops.”

  One of the men wrenched her hands behind her and bound them with the plastic ties as another did the same to her ankles. “I don’t have that amount of cash lying around, and it will take some time to gather. I will need to call my accountant to arrange for delivery, but if I call him tonight … well, that would be suspicious since it is out of the norm for me to contact him after hours.” Bella hoped her words would buy Wilson time to locate them.

  “She’s too cooperative.” Al narrowed his eyes. As a con artist, he could spot duplicity a mile away. He wondered if they misjudged their target … most old biddies would be quaking in their high heels at this point, not calmly speaking as if having tea and crumpets.

  “I’m an old woman,” Bella allowed her voice to quiver, not too far off from reality as she glimpsed Danny once again and noted the blood bubbling from his mouth. She feared he suffered internal injuries and might bleed out before help arrived. “I’ve learned it is only money, and life is irreplaceable. You want money. I want Danny and me to live. I’ll comply with your demands if you don’t injure Danny further.”

  “Arrrgghhh!” erupted from Dan as Robert kicked him in the shoulder, jarring his busted ribs.

  “You’ll do as we tell you!” Robert sneered. “And I’ll beat the shit out of this traitor if I damned-well please.”

  Her heart wrenched for Danny at his pained cry. Bella rose, wobbling with her bound ankles. “Stop! You’ll kill him.”

  Charley spun and delivered a kick to Ridgewater’s midsection, sending her to the cold concrete.

  “Don’t hurt her again, or I swear I’ll hunt you down and kill every one of you bastards,” Dan yelled as his face contorted with fury and his eyes became shards of blue ice.

  “What are you gonna do about it? Huh? Nothing. This is your fault. You’re going to be responsible for her death just like your little sister’s. No wonder you’re a disappointment to General Daddy. If you had only gone along with our plan, IA would still be none the wiser, and neither of you would be here now. But no, you stupid, idealistic, shithead had to go blabbing to them about our schemes,” Brogan spat out.

  Her hip took the brunt of her fall, and Bella moaned as pain radiated down her leg. She bit her lower lip as she tried to hold in her pained sounds, aware Danny might attempt to do something foolish. She blew out a breath as the fat man said disgusting things to Danny. She gleaned a few items … Danny was involved with Internal Affairs, and he must’ve turned these constables in for criminal activity. Her voice shaky, she interrupted, “Danny, you are not to blame for this. You did the right thing.”

  Yanked up by her hair, Bella glared into the beady eyes of Riqueti as he seized her shoulders and lifted her back into the wobbly chair. Realizing these four never intended for them to leave here alive, she said, “Their souls are black. God will punish them for the evil they do.”

  Brogan laughed. “There is no God, and we will live the rest of our lives on easy street. The ransom is now twenty million. As a billionaire that shouldn’t
be too difficult for you to scrounge up.”

  Bella put on a brave face, unwilling to allow her emotions to rule her again. She would treat this as a business deal, at least until Wilson came to their rescue. Noting Danny’s labored breathing, she understood she must do all in her power to save him. “Bring me my phone. I will call my assistant. He’ll comply with your ransom demand on one condition.”

  “You are in no position to be defining conditions.” Robert pulled back, ready to kick Dan again.

  “Stop!” Bella commanded.

  Robert halted at Ridgewater’s superior tone.

  “My condition is you release Danny now.”

  “No,” Dan’s voice came out pained and weak. Fresh blood dribbled out, following his jawline towards his ear and down his neck as he lay on the ground. He sucked in a breath and asserted more forcefully, “Bella, I’m not leaving you here with them.”

  Turning her eyes to Dan, Bella smiled. “It will be alright, my boy.”

  Dan never got the opportunity to respond as Robert’s steel-toed boot rammed into his lower back sending him over the edge and into the pit of darkness yet again.

  “Dannyyyy!” Bella’s scream of despair echoed off the walls of the warehouse as his lids shut. Tears welled, wondering if her precious boy breathed his last. Her gaze remained riveted on his chest, waiting for … the rise and fall. After watching several breaths, Bella turned wrathful eyes on the leader. “If Danny dies, you’ll receive nothing!”

  Brogan turned to Al. “Gag her, and secure her to the chair. We have work to do.” He strode over to his crate and took a seat. “Robert, go grab us some hot coffee and something to eat. We’re staying here until morning, and we will send the ransom demand after the bank opens. Charley, you take up a watch position.”