Fire in a Haystack: A Thrilling Novel

by Erez Aharoni

  The quiet one now approached Gali as well.

  Ofer felt rage welling in him. “Cut it out, you sons of bitches,” he screamed as loud as he could. “Cut it out… you’ll pay for this.” His screams echoed from the walls and reverberated in the sealed space.

  “You’re threatening us, eh?” the talker said, chuckling.

  He cupped Gali’s breasts with his hands and began to massage them. She bit her lips and closed her eyes. He left her breasts and tried to take off her pants. The close-fitting jeans were too tight, and her bound feet prevented him from continuing with his plan. He scratched his covered head.

  The next thing they knew, the talker was opening the zipper of his pants. The silent one stepped aside, as if waiting for his turn. The first man drew closer to Gali, lifted his ski mask a bit, exposed his mouth and attached his lips to her neck. He passed his tongue across her neck. Gali shivered and tried in vain to move away.

  He straightened up and said, “I’ll make you feel real good, lollipop. Until you or your friend remembers. You hear me? And if he doesn’t, my friend here will join the party. When was the last time two men spoiled you rotten at the same time?”

  Gali didn’t answer, just tried to move her neck away from his threatening lips.

  “And if you still don’t remember, we’ll fuck both him and his mother as well,” he detailed his plan aloud, making sure Ofer was getting all the details.

  He took off his pants and let them drop to the floor. His underwear bulged in front of their eyes. Apparently, he found the situation to be highly arousing.

  Ofer realized what was about to take place. He had no doubt. Some things, a man just doesn’t take out unless he intends to use them.

  The kidnapper grabbed Gali’s hair with a sudden movement and pulled her down. Ofer couldn’t take it any longer.

  “I’ll tell you… I’ll tell you where the test tube is,” he screamed.

  The kidnapper let go of Gali’s hair, and she straightened up again. Her face was wet with tears.

  “Don’t tell him,” said Gali. “Don’t tell the bastard anything.”

  Ofer didn’t listen to her. “I’ll tell you,” he said once more.

  “Well, talk already.”

  “Let us go and I’ll talk.”

  “Only God can let you go now. Do you want us to continue? You’re playing games with us?”

  “No, no games. I know where the test tube is, but you need to take us there.”

  “Where is ‘there’?” the kidnapper asked.

  “In Yavne. At the industrial area. In a place called Viromedical. That’s where we took it from. We hid it next to the factory. You’ll never find it by yourselves. If you take us there, I’ll give you what you want.”

  The talker thought for a moment. He liked the idea. He put on his pants and closed the zipper. The immediate danger was over. Ofer emitted a sigh of relief.

  The talker whispered with his friend and said, “All right, but if you’re lying, you’ll end up inside a shredder. Got it?”

  “Of course I get it,” said Ofer. “I have another condition. You don’t touch the girl anymore and you take us out from this filthy room and put us someplace where we can actually breathe.”

  “You have conditions, eh?” The kidnapper considered this for a moment. A few seconds later, he said, “All right, let’s get a move on.”

  He gave some instructions to the quiet one and opened the door.

  From the corner of his eye, Ofer saw a window and outside of it the evening skies that had darkened.

  “Only you are coming with me. My friend will stay here to watch over your girlfriend. He’ll wait for my message. If you’re cheating us—he’ll know exactly what to do, is that clear?”

  “Clear,” said Ofer. He glanced at Gali. She kept calm and didn’t even blink. “Give her a shirt,” he ordered the quiet one.

  “Where will I bring her a shirt from?” Apparently he could speak after all.

  “Take yours off.”

  The quiet one was hesitating.

  “Give her your shirt or I’m not going anywhere,” Ofer persisted.

  “You’re not in a position to order us around,” said the quiet one but took off his shirt anyway and covered Gali’s shoulders with it. She grimaced when he buttoned it up and left her hands tied underneath the shirt. He wrapped duct tape around her head to cover her mouth again.

  Meanwhile, the talker dragged Ofer to the elevator then from the elevator across the garage, where he pushed him inside the back of a commercial vehicle.

  Ofer lay his head on the bench by his side. A small protrusion from the lower part of the seat pressed against his head and caused him pain. He got his face closer to it and tried to use it to take off the blindfold. The sharpened metal scratched his temple deeply.

  The rag shifted a bit, and he was able to see a margosa tree and a fragment of a street sign, an image from a billboard and a small portion of an old building’s porch.

  He recognized the area. He knew that street corner like the back of his hand. That’s where he regularly ate the best falafel in town. Homemade pita bread and mouthwatering delicious sauces. He realized he was very hungry.

  He decided not to continue to try and remove the blindfold so as not to injure himself. He rested his head on the vehicle’s floor and waited.

  Chapter 45

  “We’ve reached the place,” Ofer heard the talker saying in a sharp voice. “What now?”

  Throughout the drive his mind was feverish with thought. What would he do once they got there? How would he escape from his kidnapper? And what would become of Gali, who had remained behind with the sadistic kidnapper?

  The kidnapper dragged him roughly out of the car. The skies were dark; streetlights cast a pale light over the barren industrial area.

  “Talk, where is it?”

  A large gray structure could be seen a little ways off behind a high concrete wall. It had a strange-looking roof. Large and threatening graffiti was painted on its walls. What kind of twisted mind would come up with such monsters? Ofer asked himself.

  He recognized the Viromedical signs in the distance. “We need to get inside. I know where I left the test tube. See that building over there?” He pointed at the large lump that protruded in the darkness. “It’s in the cellar there.” He had no other choice but to try and gain some time.

  “OK. Come on. I’m releasing your feet. The hands remain tied. How do we get inside?”

  The kidnapper released his lower limbs and Ofer began to walk, leading him to the building’s entrance. As they got closer, the painted monsters on the walls appeared even more terrifying, almost alive. I sure hope there’s a cellar there, Ofer prayed.

  Not too far off, the flickering blue lights of a passing patrol car could be seen. The knowledge that the police were in the area comforted him a bit. Perhaps there was a real chance someone would actually rescue him.

  Ofer noticed that the man had removed the ski mask from his head. He was careful to continue and stand behind him at all times so that Ofer would not see his face. It was clear to the kidnapper that this was not a place to be seen wearing a ski mask, in spite of the fact evening had already fallen and there wasn’t much traffic in the area.

  He showed Ofer a glimpse of the gun that was concealed in his large hand. “One small mistake and this time I’ll use it,” he said.

  “All right, all right,” Ofer attempted to settle him down. He was still hoping a miracle would happen and he could escape. But how the hell was he supposed to do that with his hands tied and a gun, clutched in the nervous hand of a test tube-obsessed maniac, against his temple?

  The kidnapper took out his cell phone, dialed and reported, “We’ve reached the Viromedical factory in the Yavne industrial area. He claims it’s here.” He listened briefly and then replied, “All right, I’m not moving an inch from him. I’ll wait for your phone call.”

  They walked single file. The place was completely deserted. The patrol car
was gone. No people or vehicles could be seen. They entered the building lobby. The place was filthy and looked abandoned.

  Ofer felt a wave of nausea overcome him. “I’m about to throw up…” he tried to say, but before he could actually speak, murky liquids spewed from his mouth.

  The kidnapper turned on a flashlight. Ofer should have guessed he would be equipped with one. His original plan to escape under the cover of darkness was now off the table.

  The kidnapper did not relent. “You’ll have plenty more opportunities to throw up. The truth is, you’re making me feel sick as well. Come on,” he said and forced him to go down the stairs towards the cellar.

  Ofer knew he wouldn’t get another chance. Ignoring the severe weakness that had struck him, after going down three steps he leaned his body forward as if he were about to fall. Then, swiftly, he moved back and, with his elbow, hit the flashlight with all the strength he could muster. The flashlight fell and rolled down the stairs. Ofer leaped after it and crushed it with his foot. It was easier than he thought it would be; cheap plastic, probably made in China. He escaped downstairs. The remains of spit and vomit dripped down his lips. He couldn’t wipe it off now, so he had no choice but to swallow it.

  Suddenly, he stumbled and fell on his face.

  He knew the kidnapper would run after him. He was not the sort of guy who gave up easily. Ofer barely managed to rise to his feet and continued to race away in the near absolute blackness, ignoring the pain in his back, the wounds on his shoulder and his battered ankle. He ran with his lips clenched and in the darkness felt along the wall with his hands. He advanced down a corridor and turned left at the first intersection he reached. He continued to move quickly down the wall. Then the wall ended and he felt he was touching a door. He opened it with a kick and went inside. Once inside, he went down on his knees and crawled across the floor.

  A moment later, a sense of dread washed over him. He wasn’t alone.

  The light of a flashlight flooded his eyes. How was he able to restore the smashed flashlight to life? The desperate thought ran through his head. That’s it, another thought came to him. This is what the end looks like. You’ve been caught, and this time he won’t show you even a shred of mercy, he had specifically promised that.

  “What are you doing here, Mr. Lawyer?”

  There was no mistaking that voice. It was Morris Dahan.

  “Be quiet. Turn off the flashlight immediately,” said Ofer.

  “What’s wrong with you? No one can see the light outside,” said Morris.

  “Morris, turn off the flashlight. They’re trying to kill me,” Ofer begged him.

  Morris acknowledged his request, the flashlight was turned off and Ofer rose up and stood next to him.

  “Morris, they’re trying to take me out,” Ofer whispered in his ear. “I’m not here by myself. I’ve been kidnapped and they’re trying to kill me and my girlfriend.”

  “I know, I got that, that’s why I’m here,” said Morris.

  “How do you know?”

  “Why do you think I’m here? You called me some time ago, didn’t you? You didn’t answer, but the line remained open, I heard your conversation with the bastards.”

  “My phone is still on?”

  “Yes. Where is it?”

  “In my pocket.”

  “So why don’t you turn it off?”

  “My hands are tied.”

  “So I’ll turn it off.” Morris reached his hand into Ofer’s pants pocket, took out the cell phone and closed it.

  “Why are you wet?” asked Morris.

  “I wet my pants,” said Ofer. “So how did you find me?”

  “Ha…wet your pants… I just told you. The cell phone was open. I heard you and the girl were being interrogated and beaten up. It’s very easy to locate someone by tracking the location of his cell phone. I found out where you were being kept, and I immediately went there. Then I followed you here.”

  “How did you manage to get the cell phone’s location?”

  “Friends, your honor, friends. When your sister works for the cell phone company, you don’t need any other connections.”

  “So why didn’t you call anyone?” Ofer continued to whisper.

  “Who would I call, cutie? Who? The police? Don’t make me laugh, your honor. Besides, you told your interrogators they were from the General Security Service, so I didn’t know whether or not this was all a prank.”

  “So how did you get here?”

  “I followed you from the building you were interrogated in. They took you out of the elevator and tossed you in the back of a white SUV. I quickly found a cab and followed you. I saw the car arriving here. I saw him taking you out and both of you going to this building. I guessed that what you were looking for was in the cellar. You always hide the important stuff in the cellar. I ran to the second entrance, came down here and waited for you.”

  “So what will we do about my girlfriend?”

  “Where is she?” whispered Morris, adopting Ofer’s manner of speech.

  “She’s tied up in the same place I just left.”

  “Why did you tie her up?”

  “It wasn’t me who tied her up, you idiot, it was the kidnappers.”

  “Got it. You didn’t explain it properly. Don’t be angry.”

  “Now try to at least untie me.”

  Morris tried to open the cable ties without any success.

  “Forget about it, we’ll get them off later. I’ll hide here in the dark. We have to rescue Gali, my girlfriend. One kidnapper brought me here, and the other one is watching her in the shelter where I was. You go over there. Saving her is more important.”

  “Don’t worry, Ofer, Ijou will be right there to rescue your girlfriend.” Judging by the tone of Morris’ voice, Ofer assumed he appreciated this new task.

  “Where is Ijou?” he asked.

  “Outside the building, where the shelter is. We went there together. I caught a cab and headed out to follow whoever was taking you. He stayed there in my car, waiting for my instructions.” It was difficult to convince Morris to lower his bass voice.

  Ofer felt a sudden urge to hug the large grizzly bear as soon as he saw him again and put all the mutual suffering of their shared past behind them on the first opportunity.

  “I’ll go up to call him and be right back. Don’t move from here.”

  “Tell him to be careful, the kidnapper has a gun,” said Ofer.

  “Ijou loves weapons. No gun, no fun,” said Morris and evaporated into the darkness.

  Chapter 46

  Morris headed up the stairs and a complete silence fell over the basement. Ofer leaned against the wall. A paralyzing fatigue fell over him. He felt sweat running down the sides of his face, his hands and his back. The dust filled his nostrils, and he was barely able to contain the sneeze that wanted to erupt from his nose.

  A million questions ran through his mind, but he never got the chance to ask them. Nausea struck at his guts wildly. His body twitched and the pain became unbearable. He tried to vomit again, but his stomach was empty. He lay on the floor and tried to relax his body. Then, with great effort, he managed to rise to his feet.

  Suddenly, the light in the cellar was turned on, and his kidnapper was facing him.

  How did he know where the light switch was?

  His tormenter’s eyes he was already familiar with and would never be able to forget. Now Ofer saw the rest of his face for the first time. He had black curly hair and a terrifying expression. His shoulders were broad, his forehead low, his nose was upturned and slightly slanted to the right, possibly from a punch it had once received.

  He held his gun with a confident hand and said, “Thought you managed to run away from me? I suggest that you don’t move. One unnecessary word or movement and you’ll have as many holes in your body as a finishing net.”

  The fact that his face was now revealed was not an encouraging sign; the odds he’d show some compassion towards Ofer were even lower.
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  “So where’s the test tube? And that’s the last time I’m asking,” said Curly.

  “It should be here,” said Ofer, his mind nearly short-circuiting from all the thoughts running around in it. “It’s there, inside that cabinet,” he said and pointed at an old, rusty cabinet that stood at the end of the cellar. Only now, with the lights turned on, could he examine the space he had chosen to enter.

  Curly took a few steps towards the cabinet Ofer had pointed out to him.

  Through the open door, Ofer saw Morris lunging inside towards the head of the kidnapper, as if he were a ball to be kicked towards the goalpost. Curly managed to turn around at the sound of Morris’ steps and a fiery explosion erupted from the barrel of his gun. The shot thundered in the enclosed space of the cellar and its echo nearly tore Ofer’s eardrums.

  Ofer couldn’t see if Morris was injured. In a split second, Morris and the kidnapper rolled on the ground, embraced in a deadly fight. They howled like wounded animals and fought with all their might, using their hands, feet, teeth and heads in an attempt to overcome the enemy.

  Ofer approached them. His hands were tied, but his feet were not. He kicked Curly’s ribs as hard as he could.

  “You son of a bitch,” he heard Morris cry out. Curly had just turned Morris with a quick movement, and he was the one who took the full force of Ofer’s kick. A sudden shock appeared on Morris’ face. He couldn’t breathe and was forced to let go of his opponent. Curly took advantage of the opportunity and jumped to his feet. “This is the fucking end for both of you,” he said.

  Just then, the sound of another gunshot was heard. Curly cried with pain and dropped his gun on the floor. The bullet had hit his left shoulder and blood spurted from the wound.

  The unknown shooter slowly entered the room. Curly was still convulsing. The shooter kicked Curly’s gun to the end of the cellar. He now concentrated his attention on Morris and Ofer.

  “Hands up, everyone. If anyone tries to jump, leap or shpring I’ll neutralize him as well,” he commanded.

  Morris looked at Ofer. He didn’t know what Morris was planning, but the distance between them was too great for the both of them to try and jump the newcomer together. Through the shock and surprise, Ofer found the stranger’s voice to be so very familiar. “‘If anyone tries to jump, leap or shpring.’ To shpring, shpring.” Something was so familiar about his speech…but Ofer couldn’t quite recognize him.