Caribbean Fire

by Rick Murcer

  The van made the turn down the service street and accelerated toward the resort at the end of the secluded drive. He tried again and threw up his hands in frustration. This time he left a message.

  “No luck?” asked Sophie.

  He shook his head.

  “She’s probably trying clothes on or something,” said Alex.

  “Maybe.”

  Squeezing the phone in his hand, he decided to call again. Same result.

  As he jerked the phone away from his ear, he looked out the window and saw it.

  “Stop the van, now!”

  “We will—”

  “I said stop the damn truck.”

  The driver slammed on the brakes, sending every loose object, and everyone inside, pitching forward.

  “What’s wrong with you?” asked Sophie.

  Pointing toward a stand of trees near the south end of the resort’s long driveway, Manny unfastened his seat belt then threw open his door.

  “That silver SUV has a smashed front end.”

  CHAPTER-53

  Never in her life had Jen felt what she did when her hand burst free from Preston’s knot. The rush of untainted hope was such a stark contrast to the fear and anger she’d experienced over the last few hours that she had to focus to truly believe it was real.

  Calmly, she looked toward Preston. He was still leaning over Haley Rose, trying to wake her.

  “C’mon, darlin’. You’ve been hit harder. Ya need to wake up to see what’s comin’.”

  There it was again. That quality in his voice that offered an insight to just how far south Preston had gone.

  Keeping her eye on him, her heart pounding so loudly that she thought he might hear it, Jen slowly removed the rope from her left wrist then slipped her right hand through the loop.

  Now what? Was she ready to try what she’d only seen done in the movies?

  No. She wasn’t. But she had been painted into a corner and had to do what was necessary, as her dad would say. She was beginning to grasp what that meant.

  Holy God in heaven, she missed that man at this moment. If she got out of this alive, she was never going to let him out of her embrace. Never.

  She found Ian’s face. He was still looking at her. The wide grin had disappeared but he wasn’t crying, yet. He would be soon, she guessed. He was ready to eat, and she could tell by the pungent odor that his diaper was past the ripe stage. She doubted Preston had noticed because, frankly, he smelled worse.

  Trying to steady her nerves, she closed her eyes and breathed slower, deeper. Calling upon her training on the track team was easy; making it work was another thing entirely.

  “Stop touching me, Ennis. I don’t need ya over me like that.”

  Haley Rose was back. She sounded weaker, but there was no mistaking the fire in her granny. Jen fought the quick onset of tears. No matter what happened, she was proud of Haley Rose Franson. She was as tough as they came.

  The more she thought about it, the more strength she found in the extraordinary idea of that toughness.

  “I’ll touch you whenever I want. You used to like my touch, now didn’t ya?”

  “Yeah. I used to like your kissing too. But that was before ya went bonkers and killed that young man.”

  Preston’s wide eyes darted left and right, then froze, making him look like some reject from a Marty Feldman movie. He was close to being totally gone. He grabbed Haley Rose by the hair again, his voice rising. “I did that for us. I loved ya. I didn’t want no man a touchin’ ya. You was mine, Haley Rose. No one else’s. Then you left me to rot in that prison. Never came to see me. Never wrote.”

  “What did ya expect? What ya did was terrible and scary. I didn’t want to be anywhere near ya,” said Haley Rose, keeping her voice calm.

  His voice grew louder still. “I expected ya to honor me for protectin’ ya from men like him. But I can see now that you was never my woman, not truly. It took comin’ here to figure that one out. You’re just like the rest of ’em.”

  “What does that mean, Ennis?”

  “It means I made a mistake, and now I have to clean up after myself. I can’t let you go, Haley Rose.”

  “Why not?” She reached a hand toward his cheek and caressed it. Preston’s eyes closed, his expression one of pure ecstasy. “We didn’t do ya no harm and won’t say anything.”

  His dark eyes bolted open. He raised his hand again then stopped short of hitting Haley Rose.

  She didn’t flinch.

  “Ahh, but ya did do me harm. Ya broke my heart. Now you’re gonna pay. Old Ennis ain’t had much say on things over the last thirty years, but none of ya are getting out of here alive. I can’t take the chance.”

  “No, Ennis. At least let the children go. They didn’t do anything.”

  He laughed. “Maybe not, darlin’, but the pain you’ll be a feelin’ when I cut them to pieces will be that karma shit your granddaughter so smartly brought up. You killed me inside. Now it’ll be your turn.”

  Preston stood, looking at Jen. “You’ll be next, smartass girl. I want you to feel a little of this too.”

  “My dad will hunt you down. You’re a dead man.”

  “Ahh. So I hear. The FBI’s Great Manny Williams. That may be true, lass, but that ain’t gonna do you no good now, is it?”

  Pulling the long blade from his boot, he laughed again then turned away, reaching for Ian.

  Haley Rose screamed.

  Jen sprang from the bed, seizing the Smith and Wesson .38 from the dresser. As she swung around, Preston’s expression exploded into pure rage.

  “Stop. I’ll shoot. Don’t think I won’t,” she demanded.

  “I’ll be killin’ ya now, girly,” he roared, stepping at her.

  She pulled the trigger . . . and nothing happened. In her haste, she forgot to check the safety.

  Preston lunged with the determination of a man on a mission. She ducked to her left, hearing the knife create a menacing swoosh that barely missed her head. Strands of hair left her scalp.

  Feeling for the safety, she stepped closer to the door, just out of reach of another wild swipe of the long blade.

  “Damn ya. Killin’ ya is going to be more special than a second ago,” he snarled.

  Gathering himself, he started toward her again and then stumbled, thanks to a well-placed foot on Haley Rose’s part.

  Hitting the wall in an awkward angle, his shoulder took the brunt of the fall. Preston yelped then swore as he rose from the floor.

  He stood breathing hard, looking at Haley Rose, then back to Jen. “You’re both dead. Then the wee one.”

  If there had been any decency left in this man, it had left the building. The madman had taken a full dose of insane.

  “Put it down. I really will shoot,” said Jen, feeling calm in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

  “Ya think it easy to kill a man, girly? We’re done here.”

  With that, he came charging toward Jen, knife raised high.

  The revolver exploded in her hand, then again, then again. Three times bullets ripped into his chest, the last one sending him to his knees, a look of unadulterated confusion etched on his face.

  Ennis Preston then tumbled face first to the floor, inches from her feet.

  Dropping the gun, she crawled over the bed, picked up her crying baby brother, held him tight, and began to rock him.

  CHAPTER-54

  “And you are positive this is the right vehicle?” whispered Josh.

  He caught up with Manny just as they reached the last small grouping of trees to the left of the SUV. They knelt low.

  “I am now. See the yellow paint on the bumper and lower fender? The cab was yellow,” Manny whispered. His mind raced with hope. Could this really be this easy? Had they caught such a break? They were about to find out.

  “Okay. Then let’s do this the right way,” whispered Josh. “You hear me?”

  Manny caught the look in Josh’s eyes and realized he was right. They had the manpow
er. They had a restricted area with minimal danger to the rest of the public.

  “I hear you loud and clear, but we need to move now.”

  By then, the rest of the BAU, Munoz, and four of the locals had arrived.

  Ten to one looked like good odds to him.

  “I didn’t know why you had stopped, Agents, but now I see,” said Munoz, the perspiration flowing from his temples.

  “How do we want to do this?” asked Sophie.

  Josh took control, something Manny loved to see. Josh’s gift wasn’t profiling so much as understanding how operations like this worked.

  “Listen, the tinted windows and the dusk will make it impossible to tell if he’s inside, so we do it my way, got it?” Josh’s voice was firm.

  The collective nods told Manny everyone was listening loud and clear.

  “First, turn off your cell phones. No surprise calls here.”

  “Good thinking, Agent,” said Munoz.

  Josh gave them a moment to do just that.

  “Inspector, you and your people need to swing around the back and cover each corner. It will give you better sight angles in the event you have to use your weapons.”

  “Yes. More good thinking.”

  “Sophie and Alex. I want you to align yourselves with the passenger side of the SUV, no closer than twenty-five feet. If he’s in there, he might try to leave on that side of the vehicle.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” said Sophie. “Don’t worry, Dough Boy. I’ll watch over your ass.”

  “Thanks, I think,” said Alex.

  “Manny and Belle, take the driver’s side angle, over by that red-flowered bush. That way we'll have a good look on each side of the truck.”

  “We’ve got that,” said Manny.

  “And like Sophie said, I’ve got your ass . . . er, back.” She grinned.

  “Also good to know,” he said, returning her smile.

  “Dean and I are going to stay here and ask him to politely exit the vehicle. Dean will watch my back, in the event he’s coming from behind us for whatever reason. Are we clear?”

  “I can do that,” said Dean.

  “Listen. He has a gun and will use it. Don’t be stupid,” said Josh.

  “When you start talking, and if he’s in there, and if he’s going to shoot, you’ll be the object of his affections,” said Manny.

  “I know that. But he’ll need to roll down a window or come out through that sun roof. If you see that happening, don’t wait. Take him out.” Josh exhaled. “Okay. Dean and I will have you covered while you get to your positions. Now hit it.”

  There was a flurry of motion as eight cops went to their appointed positions while Dean and Josh held their guns high, eyeing the SUV.

  Belle and Manny reached the bougainvillea bush and waited. From there, they could see everyone except Sophie and Alex, but Manny knew it wouldn’t take long for them to reach their position.

  His heart pounded in anticipation.

  “I hate these dark-tinted windows. I can’t see anything, even this close. Belle, watch the door. I’ll keep my eye on Josh,” said Manny softly.

  “I don’t like it either. Nothing we can do, and . . . I will.”

  The seconds seemed like hours as Manny awaited Josh’s signal. He wanted this one to be over. More than that, he wanted everyone safe. The last face-off in Vegas hadn’t ended to anyone’s liking.

  Finally, Josh raised his hand. Then he stepped closer to the last tree in the line.

  Before he could speak, a gunshot exploded from inside the SUV.

  The startling, unexpected roar sent them into protection mode as eight cops sought better cover.

  “What the hell was that?” asked Belle, breathing hard as she slunk closer to the base of the bush.

  “Suicide?” asked Belle.

  Manny frowned. “Or murder.”

  “What? Why murder?”

  “We know that at least one person is inside. Maybe there are two—”

  He didn’t finish his statement as the driver’s door opened and a familiar figure exited the vehicle.

  Penny Rathburn brushed at her red sundress, dropped to her knees, and began to cry, the thirty-eight still in her hand.

  Manny rushed to her, grabbed the gun, and slid it along the asphalt away from the SUV. “Penny. What happened?”

  “Agent Williams. I . . . I . . . look inside,” she said barely loud enough to hear.

  He stood, turning to get a full view. A man he assumed to be Andrew Kelter lay sprawled in an unnatural position against the passenger-side door. He’d been shot in the face, removing his cheek and a section of his eye.

  “Damn. That did some damage,” said Sophie, coming up beside Manny.

  There was no humor in her voice, only the truth they’d all come to expect dealing with a world like this one.

  “Not as much as he did,” Manny said.

  He took one last look as Munoz’s people began to redirect local traffic away from the SUV.

  Once again, murder had only brought more death, closing the circle it had begun. His frustration grew because he knew someday, maybe even tomorrow, they’d be called to help close another circle.

  Would the beat from hell ever stop?

  CHAPTER-55

  Bursting through the front door of their home, Chloe at his heels, Manny hurried into the living room and through the arched doorway.

  Jen sat on the sofa, Haley Rose on one side, Big Frank Wymer on the other. Ian was fast asleep in his crib a few feet away.

  His daughter’s eyes met his. There was a brief smile, then she was in his arms.

  “You okay, baby?”

  She nodded, tears rolling from her face as she buried deeper into his shoulder.

  He held tight as the rest of the world disappeared.

  The flight home had been the closest thing to hell since he’d lost Louise. In some ways, worse. No one wanted to hear that their daughter, their eighteen-year-old daughter, had to shoot a man to save her life and the life of her family.

  No one.

  Manny knew what it felt like, more than once, to take a life.

  No matter the justification. No matter the circumstances. It was unnatural for most people to take another life. The act of killing another was something that never left one’s soul.

  True to their word, the FBI’s pilots made sure the minor damage to the jet had been repaired quickly so there was no delay leaving Cozumel. Manny was more grateful for that than he could have imagined back then, especially now that he was here for Jen.

  After Penny Rathburn had been placed into custody, the BAU went back to the resort, greeted by Chloe and Barb.

  The look on his wife’s face had been heart-stopping.

  She’d quickly explained that Frank Wymer and the LPD had picked up Jen, Ian, and Haley Rose from the motel room and had taken them home. He said there had been a shooting, the family was fine, and the police were still sorting out the details . . . but it might be good if they got home as soon as possible.

  Manny stroked his daughter’s hair, telling her it was all right. But would it be? Could it be?

  Jen and he had talked three different times on the way home. Chloe had spoken with her as well. She seemed to be his normal Jen . . . until she broke into tears after a few minutes of hearing their voices.

  Each time the phone went dead, his heart followed suit.

  “I’m okay, Dad. I couldn’t let him do what he was going to do. I did what you taught me to do. I . . . I did what needed to be done.”

  The calm in her voice was reassuring, yet the underlying confusion and pain also had a voice.

  “It’s a good thing you did, Jen. If you hadn’t, we’d be out two kids and a granny, and I don’t think I could take that. You did the right thing. Thank you for being strong enough. I love you.”

  She pressed tighter still. He held on, fighting his own emotion. He’d cry later for her innocence lost, irretrievable.

  Eventually, Jen pulled away, wiping
at the tears, holding her dad at arm’s length.

  “Thanks, Dad. I hurt inside. Shooting him was the second worst thing in my life. But I’d do it again, you know? I’d do it again.”

  “I do know, sweetheart. And if you had to do it a hundred times again, it’d be worth it. We have to protect our own,” he said softly.

  She reached up and kissed him again. “Well, I’m tired, and I’m going to bed. We can talk some more tomorrow, okay?”

  “Sounds like a good idea. We can talk whenever you want, Jen. No rush.”

  After hugging Haley Rose and kissing Ian on the cheek, she embraced Chloe for a long moment and then headed down the hall toward her room.

  He watched as she stopped, turned, and smiled his way. “I don’t think I’m going to put this on my babysitting resume, you know?”

  He smiled back, then she disappeared into her room.

  “Tough kid,” said Frank. “You should be proud.”

  “You have no idea,” said Haley Rose, her eyes moistening. “She reacted with perfect poise, and if she hadn’t, you’d be making funeral arrangements for us all.”

  Rising, she stood between Manny and Chloe, touching them both on the arm. “It was my fault. I hadn’t given Ennis Preston a second thought in years. I had no idea he’d go this far off the deep end. I should have paid more attention. I’m so sorry, Manny and Chloe. My heart is broken for her and both of you.”

  “It’s not your fault. I know what you’re feeling. I understand the guilt. The thing is, you can’t control or figure out how everyone on this messed-up planet is going to act. How would you know he was going to do what he did?”

  “I should have checked on him. I knew he’d be out in thirty years. I just didn’t think of him.”

  “Mum, you didn’t know. He was crazy; like Manny said, you can’t control that,” said Chloe, her own green eyes glistening.

  Haley Rose stared at her feet then looked at them. “Thank you both. You’re wonderful people, if I say so myself. I suppose you’re right . . . about folks, I mean. I simply seem to be unable to judge them so well. First Preston, then the Good Doctor, then Gavin, not to mention Chloe’s father.”