The Premise

by Andy Crossfield

  "Then we go back to my original plan. Offer free trials as a nutritional supplement."

  "An injectable, over-the-counter supplement? That would be a first." Colleen scoffed. "And just what benefit would you say the 'supplement' provided, Jack?"

  Jack paused, and then touched her hand to get her attention. Something was wrong. The cab was headed in the wrong direction. Jack checked the destination again. The address for their condo was correct but the cab was headed in the opposite direction. He tried reentering the address but none of his changes were being accepted. He scanned the car’s options list and discovered the security program was disabled. That meant they could have been followed, or worse, their destination history could be compromised. He tried his door but it was locked and wouldn’t budge.

  Colleen started to speak but Jack put his finger to his lips and pointed to the screen showing the disabled security features.

  Quietly, Jack pulled out a pen and wrote, "Don’t panic. I have no control of the car. We are being kidnapped" on a napkin and showed it to Colleen.

  Chapter 35 Loss of Control

  The Consulate Car drove on for miles, past the most famous sights of Washington, D.C. as if on some VIP tour of America’s seat of power. Outwardly, it was just another limo in a city teeming with them; but inside, Jack and Colleen tried desperately to first reach Karen, and then Sam to alert them the condo location might compromised. Calling and texting were jammed by the car’s electronics. Each time the car stopped for a light, Jack would try another strategy to open the doors, roll down the windows, set the emergency brake, or shut off the ignition. Each time the car won.

  Almost an hour into their kidnapping, the limo pulled into the entrance of an industrial park just outside Bethesda. The car slowed and then drove around to the back of a large building identified as Monarch Industries. The Consulate Car waited for a large gantry door to open sufficiently, and then it pulled inside.

  As the massive door closed, Jack and Colleen were plunged into total darkness. Jack put his phone into flashlight mode and continued trying to escape, but he had run out of ideas to defeat the car. He held Colleen’s hand and could feel her trembling, still not speaking for fear of being overheard by whoever was in control. After several minutes Colleen jumped at the sound of her door unlocking. A bright light from outside the car illuminated the back seat just as Colleen’s door flew open and a hand pulled her roughly from the car. Another set of hands pulled a black cloth bag over her head and tied her wrists behind her. Colleen desperately fought the panic rising inside her as she heard Jack struggling against the same fate just feet away. When her attackers left to subdue Jack, Colleen began feeling her way back down the car, stumbling in the darkness toward the direction of the huge door.

  Jack had decided to resist with as much force as he could offer, his wild swing caught his first attacker square on the jaw, making the aggressor reel backwards. Another attacker moved in from behind and brought a bat down across Jack’s back with such force that his knees buckled. Colleen heard the bat crashing into bone, then the thud of Jack’s body crumpling to the hard concrete floor. She only made it a few feet before one of her assailants grabbed her arm and led her away.

  When Jack woke up, he was seated with his hands tied behind his back. His shoulders, arms, and wrists ached in pain. His chin rested on his chest and raising his head took all his effort. A heavy black cloth bag covered his head but he could tell from the light coming in below his chin that he was in a lighted room.

  "Colleen?" he asked in a low voice.

  "Jack? Are you all right?" Colleen whispered just a few feet from him.

  "Just sore as hell, how about you?"

  "I’m tied up but I'm not hurt."

  "Can you see anything?"

  "A little, I worked my head sack up enough to tell we’re alone in what looks like an interrogation room. I tried to slide my chair over toward you but it’s too heavy. Can you move yours?"

  "I’m sorry I got you into this mess Colleen." Jack said wincing as he tried to move his chair. "If I had just let this whole mess alone."

  "You won’t get any argument here." Colleen said cringing as she tried once more to break her restraints.

  Jack paused. He seemed surprised that Colleen would agree with him so quickly.

  "You know we really didn’t have a choice though. They were going to come after us whether we let this thing go or not."

  Jack listened intently for any reaction from Colleen. Without being able to see her expressions, he had no idea what she was thinking.

  "So, you don’t think injecting a United States senator with an unproven drug made even the teensiest difference in our lives?"

  Jack didn’t need to see Colleen’s face to recognize her biting sarcasm.

  "Well, okay, if you put it that way!"

  "Well just what other way should I put it Jack?"

  "How about my foolish act actually turned out okay? How about, now we have a powerful advocate for real and absolute change in the world? Change for the better!"

  "Jack, do you really think our current situation is change for the better?"

  Colleen stopped before making her next point. She could hear footsteps approaching, then the door opened and more footsteps crossed the room to a spot in front of them.

  "Don’t let me interrupt your little chat!" said a deep male voice. "Go on Jack, I’m as interested in your reply to her question as anybody!"

  "Bob? Bob Platt, is that you?"

  "Right you are Jack! "Allow me to shed some light on your situation." Bob said, pulling the head sacks off Jack and Colleen and causing them to blink in pain as their eyes adjusted to the brightened room.

  "Bob, you’re mixed up in this too?"

  "Wow, what’s the matter Jack? Don’t tell me today’s foremost mystery writer is slipping?"

  "Hello, Dr. Baker, so happy to finally meet you in person." Bob mockingly held out his hand as if to shake hers. "Since Jack seems to have temporarily lost his manners, I’ll have to make the introductions I suppose. My name is Bob Platt, also known around Washington as William Downs. I’m a big fan of your work!"

  "William Downs?" Jack shouted as his mind raced trying to recast his long time acquaintance as the monster William Downs.

  "I know, right? Surprise!" William said bringing his hands to his head and wiggling his fingers. "I must say Jack, after all my attempts to hinder your progress, I almost fell over when you called me! And asking for help with my man Max to boot! Kind of made me feel we were working together there for a bit."

  William turned toward Colleen. "And as for you my dear, what are the chances of my being in Vegas on the exact day you gave your inspiring lecture?"

  "But why?" Colleen stammered. "Why would you do this to us?"

  "I assure you, it never would have been necessary if that idiot Dr. Moran had been more conscientious in his work. His shoddy product failures caused me to break my one and only rule; never get involved at the ground level. It was pure fate that I attended your lecture Dr. Baker, A most rewarding day indeed!"

  William hovered over Colleen as if he were inhaling her. "Sometimes answers just come to those who keep an open mind. When I saw your novel approach, I realized I could incorporate your technique and modify the AIDS virus to deliver my Termes drug. What an elegant solution to the clumsy delivery method Mark had designed! Getting your notes proved more of a challenge, and I apologize for the ham handed manner my now future-felon employees used… I assure you, they will be properly chastened. But, I suppose we all sacrifice something in order to further scientific progress. At least I now understand how to apply your concept to my problem. I suppose you should take it as a compliment."

  "You almost killed us!" Colleen shouted.

  "Another poorly executed job, I’m afraid. I really can’t continue to hire local help and expect anything like superior results. On the bright side, their mishandling of things allowed this little get-together today! William turned to Jack, "I’m
so happy you followed my leads to DC, Jack! You have no idea how long I had to stumble around in your data before someone found me!"

  "So all this was just to obtain a fix for Termes? What about Ramy and Hank?" Colleen shouted.

  "I’m very sorry to say I don’t find it the least bit cathartic to clear up all your questions my dear. Although your glare is most appealing, you really do have the most delicious eyes. But I’m afraid I still must insist on your unfortunate demise. A lamentable over-reliance on the latest technology of the day I’m afraid. There’s just a few loose ends to be attended to first, and then my colleagues here will send you on your way."

  Two large men entered the room and stood beside the door. They didn’t look familiar to Jack, but then he noticed they each had the same wrist tattoo as the guys that had harassed them in Vegas, and one of them was holding his briefcase.

  "Don’t expect any answers from me, William." Jack said coldly.

  "Oh, dear dimwitted Jack, I wasn’t anticipating you would give any. I think all I'll need is right here." William nodded, and the man placed Jack’s briefcase on the desk."

  "I won’t give you the combination, you know." Jack said as he struggled against the plastic ties holding his wrists tightly bound.

  William pulled a gun from his waistband and fired, shattering the locks. "No need for that old friend." He started to open the damaged case, and then paused. "Perhaps, you can be of service after all, Jack. You see, I need to know how you injected the senator. Such resourcefulness should surely be worthy of imitation."

  William studied Jack’s facial expression as he reached again to open the case. Jack was getting harder to read. He had a calmness about him that was uncharacteristic of the old Jack he had known.

  "Release my hands and I’ll show you."

  "Nice try Jack, but just tell me where it is… I can get it myself."

  "Don’t open it! If the combination isn’t entered, the case will detonate a nerve agent!" Jack shouted, surprised at his ability to fabricate a lie, even if it was for self-preservation.

  William looked at Jack with an expression of pity. "Nerve agent? Dear Jack, has it come to this?"

  William spun the case around so it pointed toward Colleen. He made a move to open the case while watching her expression. Detecting no fear, he opened the case and began rifling through Jack’s papers and folders. William inspected each pen for some type of hypodermic needle, studying anything that could deliver the vaccine while appearing harmless. Nothing stood out. He closed the case slowly.

  "Oh well, it was worth a try." William said as he nodded to the two goons to take them away. "You’re both going for your last ride in the Consulate Car. More like a flight really. Right off the Chain Bridge into the Potomac. What a marvelously useful invention that car is!"

  "Wait," said Colleen. "I know what you’re looking for."

  "Ah, now that’s better." William said turning his glare toward Colleen. "A scientist and a pragmatist!"

  Jack gave Colleen a disapproving glance and struggled against his restraints, then turned away when he saw William noticing.

  "The syringe… please describe it for me if you would Dr. Baker."

  "It’s handheld. It fits in the palm so it can’t easily be detected."

  Jack let out a disgusted sigh, as he began to realize what Colleen was doing and hoping afterward that he wasn’t overacting.

  "Ingenious!" William said as he smiled broadly. "But there is no such device in the briefcase I’m afraid."

  "If I can find it for you, will you let us live?" Colleen pleaded.

  "No, but I do have room to bargain." William stroked his chin while he thought. "I know! What say I give you a sedative before I kill you? Save you from the terror of the fall?"

  Jack started to struggle more, ripping his restraints back and forth trying to break them.

  "Deal." Colleen said in a soft, defeated voice. "Release my hands and I will get you what you want."

  "My dear Doctor, we’ve been through this all before, and frankly, your childish attempts to stall the inevitable have grown insulting." William nodded again to the men by the door.

  "There’s a secret compartment in the briefcase!" Colleen shouted.

  Jack protested even more loudly.

  Colleen turned toward Jack and gave him a defeated look. "It’s over Jack." Colleen said, turning to stare down William.

  "Now," Colleen said speaking very deliberately. "I understand your reluctance in freeing me. After all I am an intelligent, powerful woman, and you have only two large men plus your gun. I completely understand your reticence to free my hands. However, since you have an interest in gadgets, it would be a shame to have been so close and come away with nothing."

  "Ah, Colleen, you have the most wonderful wit! I will truly miss that when you are no longer with us." William chuckled as he walked around the desk and cut Colleen’s restraint. He then spun the open briefcase around toward her.

  "Your move!" William said, standing behind Colleen as she rubbed her aching wrists for a moment and surveyed the briefcase. Slowly she approached the back left corner.

  "He keeps it in a carved box" she said as she moved a hidden clasp along the sidewall, causing the leather wall to flip up and reveal the contents.

  "Excellent!" William said as he reached eagerly for the box. But soon his delight faded as he realized he couldn’t easily decipher the ornately carved container. He took the box back to his side of the desk and sat there studying every facet of his newest obstacle. Try as he might, he could not find a way into the contents of the box.

  Finally, his patience exhausted, he slid the box toward Colleen. "Open it!" William said impatiently.

  "It’s been a long time since I’ve done this; I’m not sure I’ll get it on the first try." Colleen said hoping Jack had caught on to her plan’s intent.

  Colleen manipulated the box in many orientations, pushing and pulling its raised figures, turning the box this way and that while William watched intently. Finally, she raised the box over her shoulder, holding it to her ear as if she were listening to the tumblers in a safe.

  When Colleen was ready, she pressed down and slid the scarab figure, the last remaining latch was free– and she felt the end of the box pop open. She held the box in its most comfortable position in her hand, and with a slinging motion like an atlatl, Colleen whipped the box forward which propelled the knife at high speed directly at William’s chest. She knew from experience the knife would exit the box blade first and hoped it would find its target. She got her wish. The heavy onyx handle drove the stone blade deep into William’s chest, throwing him back against his chair. William made a feeble attempt to grasp the knife, but failed to summon the strength.

  The two men at the door were slow to react. By the time they made a move to help their stricken boss, Jack, still tied to the chair, rocked to one side enough to fall over, causing one accomplice to trip over him. In the same instant, Colleen leapt onto the desk and pulled the gun from William’s waist and fired at the attacker just as he lunged for her, dropping him with a resonant thud just inches from her as she lay sprawled on the desk.

  William died slumped back in his chair, his eyes wide with fear and a look of absolute surprise that twisted his mouth into a macabre grin.

  The other attacker saw Colleen’s gun pointed directly at him and struggled to his feet with raised hands.

  "Lock the door!" Colleen commanded her prisoner. "Is there anyone else outside?" she demanded.

  The man just shook his head no. Colleen could see he was assessing his chances, trying to decide his next move. She grabbed William’s clippers and cut Jack’s restraint.

  "Oh, my God!" Jack shouted scrambling to his feet and rubbing the circulation back into his wrists. "Did you see that?"

  Colleen looked at him in disbelief.

  "I mean, holy shit girl! We were goners! Three against one? Are you freakin' kidding me? Where did you learn to do that?"

  "I grew up in Chicago
, remember?" Colleen said as she rifled the drawers and found another plastic tie. "Here," she said as she tossed it to Jack. "Tie him up, but be careful"

  Colleen stared down the gun's barrel at her assailant, hoping he would make a wrong move. Her eyes had turned dark violet and her expression left no doubt she would kill again if pressed. A quick assessment of his situation and the condition of his associates was enough to make him comply. Jack cinched the restraints as tight as he could, and then went into the warehouse to scout out their situation.

  When Jack came back from his search of the warehouse the pounding in Colleen’s chest had just begun to subside. The accomplice was right, the warehouse was empty, but Jack could also find no sign of their phones. Colleen held the gun on the injured attacker while Jack put restraints on him too. Colleen’s shot had hit him in the shoulder, and Jack knew he would need medical attention soon. Colleen pulled the black cloth sacks onto the heads of their captives; sacks that only moments earlier had symbolized their captivity and certain death.