“What? You’re not coming with me? Why?” Leecy asked.
“Like you said, we’re up to something. Mom will fill you in on what you need to do once you two are safely away from here. Now go. We don’t have a lot of time.”
She kissed me and was gone.
I finished dressing Julia in the dark, and retrieved the black plastic bags. I peeled a strip of duct tape away from the plastic and used it to cover Julia’s mouth. I spent another moment searching the floor of the room before finding the hood Leecy had been wearing, and I placed it on Julia’s head. I tied a knot in the drawstring that would be difficult to undo, and most likely need to be cut. I left the room, closing the steel door behind me, and walked down the short corridor to the main body of the old jail.
I turned on my earpiece and said, “Granger, here. Status update: all clear.”
I heard ‘all clear’s from the team and smiled. I felt my way around the main room of the old jail. It was smaller than I remembered, about the size of a large master bedroom. I looked at the glowing face of my watch and saw that it was 11:37. We were eight minutes ahead of schedule. I took a seat on the floor against the wall, about four feet to the left of the entrance. Valerie was up next. I thought she would begin her part in the next thirty seconds. I figured it would take her that long to get to safety with the kid.
I was wrong; Valerie was early when she said, “Ryan, any movement?”
“No, nothing.”
“Hodges?” Valerie asked.
“All clear.”
“Zach, cut the feed to the metal door.”
“Cutting feed now.”
“I have four armed men exiting the PCPD,” Ryan announced. “Four men are now on the move from PCPD. Two men are on foot. Two men are in a black Suburban. I’m bugging out to support position on the ground.”
“Do not, I repeat, do not move. Hold your position. I repeat, all hold. This is a test. I want to see how Moore and his crew respond. Hold your positions,” Valerie ordered.
Hodges came over the earpieces next. “Two armed men heading across First Street on foot, and moving fast. The two males are descending the stairs and entering the old jail. I’ve got the Suburban backing up over the curb onto the lawn of City Hall. Looks like two men in the front seat. The SUV is backing up to the entrance of the old jail. The vehicle has stopped. The two coming up from the old jail are meeting the two men exiting the vehicle. They are gathered at the rear of the vehicle. I think I can get a directional microphone on these guys. Hold on. If it works, you’ll hear them in your ear…now.”
There was a burst of static and then another voice came in loud and clear.
“Girl is in the room asleep on the floor,” Briggs Smith could be heard saying. “She never even bothered taking the bag off her head.”
“Okay, then it was just a loss of video, probably because of the crap Internet,” Moore offered. “Besides, we were here too fast for anyone to get in and out of the jail. But to be on the safe side, Smiths, you stay put here at the top of the stairs and keep an eye on everything. At five minutes to midnight, head on down and get ready. Porter and I will head back over to the police station in the SUV. I need to get back to my computer. You two keep your heads on a swivel. We’ve come too far to blow it now.”
“Hodges here, Moore and Porter are walking toward the SUV now. No, check that.”
Moore’s voice replaced Hodges’ voice in my ear. I heard, “Remember boys, I want the kid stripped down, but unharmed.”
“Hodges here, Moore is removing something from the rear of the SUV. It appears to be a bag.”
“Travis,” Moore said, “there’s an air-powered nail gun loaded with masonry nails and some rope in the bag. Shoot some nails in the floor and tie the girl down spread-eagle, but no funny business unless Valerie refuses to cooperate. You read me?”
I heard, “Ten-four, boss.”
“You boys lay it all out for Mrs. Granger like I told you. You make sure she understands I want a copy of everything her company sells to or makes for the government. The sight of her kid bound naked on the floor should be all the persuasion she needs. If mommy refuses the offer and won’t work for us like I want her to, one of you boys come and find me at the PCPD. Porter and I will want to take part in the persuasion party. Everything I’ve read and seen on using this method to break someone indicates the more vicious the process, the sooner the results. I want to scare the woman to death. Even if that means we have to beat and rape her and her daughter. Do you understand?”
“Normally, I wouldn’t go in for that kind of approach, boss,” Briggs said, “but I can make an exception with two women that look like they do.”
“Yeah, me too, boss. I don’t think we’ll have any performance anxiety,” Travis added.
“Good to know, boys,” Moore said.
“What about the husband?” Porter asked.
“If the husband shows, which I highly doubt after the boot to the face Briggs gave him, shoot him on sight,” Moore said.
“That will be my pleasure,” Briggs said, “I only wish I had done that earlier.”
There was a moment of silence. I think that silence would have stretched into tomorrow had Hodges not reported in.
“Hodges here. SUV is driving away.”
“Ryan here. SUV is pulling into the PCPD parking lot.”
The normally quiet town square of Park City was buzzing with activity. Hodges and Ryan were calling the action as they saw it happen, and the earpiece in my ear meant I didn’t miss anything going on in the streets above.
“Hodges here. I got a car moving north on Second Street. It looks like a Honda Civic. Is that you Valerie?”
“Nope, not me.”
“Hodges again. The car has the same plates as the car you and Ron were driving.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t the car I was using,” Valerie retorted.
“Hodges here. Who is in the car? Ron?”
“No, it’s not me,” I replied.
“Who is in the damn car?” Wakefield asked.
“It’s me, Leecy. I’m rolling to your location, Wakefield.”
I heard Ryan bark, “What the fuck is going on?”
“Settle down people,” Val said, “it’s all part of the plan.”
“Let’s not forget there are two armed Rangers positioned at the top of the stairs, and two more armed men soon to be at that location at midnight,” Hodges said.
“Good, that’s where I want them to be. Valerie out.”
“Granger out,” I said.
“Wait! Don’t turn off your earpieces. Zach, are they gone?” Wakefield asked.
“No, I’m receiving their transmission signal. I think they’re just being quiet.”
“That’s advisable. Radio silence till we receive the call from Moore about the meet,” Wakefield said. “I see headlights coming our way. It’s Leecy,” Wakefield said.
I was feeling good. All was going according to Valerie’s plan. Now, Leecy needed to get Wakefield to do what Valerie wanted. I could hear Leecy’s voice coming through my earpiece as she made her pitch to Wakefield.
“We need to get everyone out of here and into town. We need to meet my mom in the alleyway behind the pharmacy,” Leecy could be heard saying excitedly. “Zach, Mom said to bring that voice analyzer thing. And I have a list of things I need from the lab. Grandpa, give me hand? Hurry up; we need to get moving. We need to be in position before Moore makes the call at midnight.”
Wakefield didn’t hesitate one second. “Franks, hustle the Simons out here after Reuben helps the kid, and split them between the SUV and the 4-Runner. Zach and I will ride with Leecy in the Honda. Rendezvous in the alley behind the pharmacy. One of the Simons can direct you where to go. Let’s move.”
The sound of closing doors and revving engines flowed from the earpieces. The Leecy-led brigade would be cutting it close, I thought. Checking my watch, I saw it was 11:45 p.m., fifteen minutes till Moore made
the call. Depending on driving speed, it was a three to ten minute drive from INESCO to the town square. Valerie had driven the distance in less than five minutes earlier tonight. I figured Leecy would cover the distance a little quicker, given her level of excitement.
“What’s the plan, kid? And how did you get out of that room?” I heard Franks ask.
“Let’s get into position and Mom will brief you,” was Leecy’s answer to the first question. To the second, I heard her say, “My dad opened the door. I walked out. Kill your lights, okay? We’re almost there.”
“But it’s pitch black. There are no street lights anywhere,” Franks objected.
“It’s only a few more blocks. You’ll be fine,” Leecy said. “Just get on my tail, and I’ll lead you there. I’m turning right in three, two, one,” Leecy instructed.
“I’m with you,” Franks said, and David’s voice could be heard over the earpiece as he offered his help, “Get ready to turn left now. See the alley? Good, Val is just ahead. I can see her holding a flashlight.”
“Got it, thanks,” Franks said.
I was a spectator now. All I could do was listen to the action on my earpiece. It reminded me of the stories my grandfather and Uncle John told about their childhoods. They reminisced about listening to the radio at night before they went to bed. I imagined them sitting on the floor listening to the radio, just as I now sat on the stone floor of the old jail listening to the show unfolding on the streets and alleys of Park City.
It was 11:50 p.m. now. We had ten minutes before Moore would make the call. Ten minutes was more than enough time.
“Ryan, you and Hodges still in position?” I heard Val ask.
“Ryan here. All quiet at the PCPD.”
“Hodges here. Two Smiths at the top of the stairs leading to the old jail. No change.”
“Hodges here. How did you, Valerie, cross town square unseen?”
“I hitched a ride with Leecy when she drove out of the town square. I bailed out of the car at the intersection of Second Street and Third Avenue on the northeast side of the square. I used the alley behind the vacant buildings that face First Avenue and walked here, and I made a few phone calls along the way.”
“Who did you need to call?” Wakefield asked.
“I needed to get in touch with the local cops. Like I said before, I don’t want them involved. I didn’t want to risk Moore or Porter flashing a badge, fake or not, to coerce the locals into doing something, or have one of those guys get caught in the crossfire. So I called Lester and brought him up to speed.”
“Lester is the one with the pregnant wife Moore and Porter were talking about, right?” Zach asked.
“That’s right,” Val said.
“Hodges here. What good does that do us? Lester’s not the Chief.”
“Lester is not the Chief in title only,” Val replied.
“Ryan here. So what about the local police? What are they doing?”
“They are holding positions around the square, Ryan,” Val answered and then instructed, “Hodges, check your six, twelve, and four o’clock; you’ll see,” Valerie explained.
“Hodges here. I got a patrol car in my sights two blocks southeast at the corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street. There is another car one block northeast at Second Street and Third Avenue. And the last car is directly behind my position at the corner of First Avenue and Third Street. You guys should’ve seen that car on your drive down the alley.”
“I could barely see the Honda in front of me,” Franks said.
“That’s real nice work, Valerie; seems you thought of everything,” Hodges said.
“Slow down, Hodges,” Wakefield said. “All that is well and good, but it doesn’t explain why we all have to be here in this alley. I don’t like all these civilians on scene.”
“Lester will be rolling up at the police station any second now,” Valerie began.
Ryan cut her off, saying, “I’ve got a car pulling into the PCPD now.”
“This is why I brought you four down here,” I heard Valerie say. “David, you and Isaac bring Mom and Dad to the police station. I need you guys to create a little distraction for me. I want the four of you to drive over there and raise as much hell as possible. Demand action on whatever you can think of. Like, use the APB as your reason for being there. Just be loud, obnoxious and angry. Lester is expecting a good show,” she explained.
“From what I’ve heard, that shouldn’t be a problem,” Franks added.
I heard Reuben’s voice in my ear. He asked, “Valerie, you want me and Catherine and the boys to go into the Park City Police Department and raise a ruckus? Why? Why should we do that? We have Leecy. Leecy is all that matters. Let’s just leave. Let’s go.”
Leecy said, “You’re just scared, Grandpa. I’m scared, too, but I need you to do this.” Following her mother’s lead, she said, “We need to help Wakefield and her team. Please, Grandpa, do this for me.”
Reuben responded, “Valerie, I know there is more to your involvement than just INESCO. I feel that in my bones. I will help you now and you explain everything later. Come on; let’s go.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Valerie said. “We’ll talk when this is over.”
“You don’t forget that,” I heard Reuben say before the sound of a car engine filled the earpiece.
“Ryan here. I got a Honda pulling into the PCPD parking lot. The Simons are on-site.”
It was five minutes to midnight. I expected to see the Smith boys at any moment. Moore had instructed them to get the girl ready before the meeting took place. I listened to the earpiece chatter and readied myself.
“That didn’t take long,” I heard Ryan say. “I’ve got a visual on Moore and Porter. They’re outside the PCPD and moving toward City Hall.”
“Hodges here. I should have Moore and Porter up on the microphone in a few seconds. Be advised, Smiths are moving down the stairs of the old jail. Granger, if you’re down there, I hope you can hear me.”
I whispered, “I am, and I do.”
Moore’s voice came over the earpiece. “That’s exactly why I could never be a small town cop. I’d just slap the lot of them and throw their butts in a cell for causing a public disturbance.”
Porter’s laugh followed, and then his voice. “Yeah, I hear you, man. Looks like the Smith boys are doing their job. I don’t see them outside. Are we heading over now, or what?”
“Let’s walk over and wait outside. It’s too soon to make the call just yet.”
I clicked off my earpiece; I didn’t want the distraction. I was about five feet away from the door to the old jail when I saw them. The two Smith boys walked through the open door and into the shaft of summer moonlight reaching across the floor of the old jail. I watched them walk to the metal door, and heard the slide of the bolt. I crossed the stone floor. I listened for the sound of the door opening, and timed my movements with those of the door. I was behind the two men now. Two feet of floor was all that remained between us.
“Looks like we got a live one, Travis. She’s kicking her legs and rolling all over the floor,” Briggs Smith said.
“Give her a smack on the head; that’ll calm her down,” I heard Travis instruct his partner.
I wasn’t about to let these two do to Julia what Moore had told them to do to Leecy. But I didn’t want to act too soon, either. I needed the two men to be fully engaged in the task at hand. I needed them distracted.
“No, man; I’m not hitting her. Moore said no rough stuff unless he said so. Just come hold her legs for me and stop her kicking. I’ll get the bag off her head. Maybe that’ll calm her down.”
“Okay, I’ll hold her legs, but leave the bag on over her head. I don’t want to be looking at her face if Moore wants us to rape her. Move over a little and let me slip past you so I can reach her feet. You grab her by the arms and we’ll carry her out of here into the main room.”
I could tell the mention of the word ra
pe had sent Julia into a panic. I could hear her trying to scream through the duct tape gag. That was enough for me. I engaged my earpiece and covered the last two feet of stone floor, making my presence known.
“Hello, boys. I think that’ll be all for the day,” I said.
I got an immediate response in my ear, and regretted powering up the device. “Hodges here. Did everyone copy that?”
“Shut up, Hodges. We copy,” Wakefield ordered.
The shaft of moonlight stretching from the open cast iron jailhouse door illuminated the area directly in front of it. I could see Travis Smith was the closest one to me. He was bent at the waist, holding Julia’s legs by the ankles. He reacted quicker than I thought he might, launching a back kick in my direction but missing his target, my knee. I caught his ankle and drove my right elbow down into his knee joint. The resulting snapping and popping was joined by screams from the now disabled former Ranger. Travis collapsed on top of Julia momentarily before rolling to the right and off of her.
“One down,” I said, as Briggs Smith met my eyes. We both stood slowly, with only the length of Julia’s body between us. I was awash in the moonlight. He was in almost total darkness.
“Jesus, old man,” Briggs laughed. “My boot print would look good on your face if it weren’t so damn spooky in the moonlight.” He looked at me sideways and then continued. “No gun? Doesn’t seem like a fair fight.”
“I agree. The fight was fair till your boy went down in a whiney heap, but that’s what Rangers are known to do, right? That’s why the Marines have to come save your asses all the time, isn’t it?”
I didn’t have to say anything else; that got the reaction I was looking for. He drew his sidearm and I threw my knife, burying it up to the hilt in his right shoulder joint. I’d missed. I guess I was rusty after all. I was aiming for his throat. The gun fell to the stone floor shortly before its owner hit the ground, screaming in pain. I stepped over and around Julia’s body and retrieved my knife from Briggs Smith’s shoulder, wiping it clean on the Ranger’s shirt.
“Shut up,” I said. “Time for you to take a nap.”
I finished him off with a boot to his face.
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