Two pairs of headlights shot around the curve of the road. The first had a flashing blue light in the front window. They drove straight across the field, not bothering with the dirt paths. The headlights bounced forward until they were within twenty yards of the shed. That’s when a shot rang out a few feet from Jordan’s ear.
****
Caleb was behind the wheel of the BMW when Connor pulled a handgun from the glove compartment.
“What am I supposed to do? I didn’t even think about needing a gun.”
“Just stay close to the car. Before this is over you may have to run the son of a bitch over with it.” Connor checked to make sure his clip was full. “They jumped out, leaving their doors open, and ran to the back while Butler took two more shots. Connor was afraid to shoot without taking careful aim. Bobby Ray would have both women close to him. They squatted in the weeds and peered over the hood of the car. A low and dangerous growl came from Connor’s throat when he spotted Jordan hanging naked with her back to them. Red and purple welts striped her body from shoulders to knees. He jumped up to run to her.
Caleb grabbed his shirt and wrestled him to the ground. “If you run out there he’ll shoot you, Connor. Then what good can you do her?”
Tucker scurried from the back of his car to where Caleb laid across his brother. “You try something that stupid again and I’ll lock you in the back of my car. We’ve got to play this smart if we’re going to get those women back alive.”
The scuffle behind the cars had given Butler time to untie Joyce from the conveyor. He held her in front of him as a shield. “Somebody is going to die here tonight, gentlemen. Who and how many is up to you. I make all the rules. First, I’m willing to trade this tramp for Connor McCrae. He has to strip down to his shorts so I know he’s not armed. He walks over here with his hands in the air and a pair of handcuffs. I’ll send her back to you with no more holes in her. One of you can leave with the woman. It’s up to you which one. Then I’ll give the man left the instructions for the next trade. I’ll give you two minutes to talk it over.”
Crouched behind the car, Connor handed his gun to Caleb and pulled his shirt over his head. “You get Joyce in this car and drive away, Cal. Tucker is trained and experienced with guys like this. That’ll give me two less people to worry about. Meet the ambulance on the road.”
“I can’t just hand you over to that lunatic, Connor. There has to be another way.” Caleb turned to Tucker with a helpless expression.
“I’m sorry, Caleb. Your brother’s right. Head the other cars off. Have them turn off their lights and sirens and tell them to come in on foot through the woods. If Butler sees them he’ll kill Jordan first.” Connor watched Butler’s smiling face as he walked toward the shed. He tasted the bitter hate and anger in his throat.
Joyce clutched the front of her kimono closed and staggered toward Connor. She stopped as she came alongside him. “I’m so sorry, Connor.” Her voice shook.
“Don’t you worry, honey. I’m going to try my best to send Jordan back to you safe and sound. If I don’t get to come back with her, I want you to promise to take care of her for me, okay?”
She looked down and nodded as she began to cry then continued toward the cars.
Butler was holding his gun to Jordan’s head.
“Climb up on that crate and cuff yourself to that rafter. Then, I’ll trade Jordan for your cop friend.” He reached up with his free hand and slipped her wrist strap off the hook she’d been hanging from. “As soon as you’re done, I’ll cut her feet loose so she can walk to the car and drive away.”
Smug satisfaction spread across Bobby Ray’s face while Connor obeyed his instructions. Then he kicked the crate from under Connor’s feet and turned to Tucker with Jordan as his shield. “Lay the gun down and strip to your shorts. Walk this way. Jordan can leave in your car when you get here.”
Tucker undressed, his expression a mixture of disgust and suspicion. Like Connor, he held his hands up and walked forward.
“I lied.” Butler pulled the trigger.
****
Jordan screamed as Tucker jerked back and fell. The world spun and tiny bits of dirt, shell, and rock imbedded into her bruised and bleeding back. Bobby Ray had shoved her down. She could see Connor hanging from the beam. Sweat coated his straining muscles. No matter how hard he tried, he wouldn’t be able to avoid a bullet. Her mind began to slip into that safe place that had been her refuge six years ago.
Bobby Ray laid his gun on the conveyor and knelt between her legs. He slapped her hard across the face. She raised her hands in defense; the moonlight glittered off her diamond. She couldn’t let Connor die. She couldn’t leave Lizzy alone in this monster’s world. She had to fight. But how? He was stronger and she was in so much pain.
When Bobby Ray grabbed her hand and tried to pull the ring off, she brought her head up and spit in his face. He jumped to his feet, screaming and wiping his eyes with his shirttail. “Look what you’ve done, you disgusting bitch!” He grabbed the gun from the conveyor.
Jordan rolled under the belts. A deafening blast sounded from the field. A crate by the wall exploded from the shot. Bobby Ray crouched behind the belt stand next to her.
“You may be a crazy old man, Coleman,” Bobby Ray shouted toward Tucker’s car, “but you wouldn’t risk shooting one of your friends.”
Bobby Ray brought his gun up to take aim. Before he could pull the trigger, he fell to the ground beside Jordan with Connor on top of him.
****
“Only a true idiot would let a man handcuff himself and expect him to actually do it.” Connor dangled the set of cuffs for Bobby Ray to see before snapping them on the murderer’s wrists.
“You may have the upper hand now, but you’ll remember me every time you look in the mirror,” Bobby Ray snarled. “Did you think I wouldn’t remember that night in Tampa? My mark will be on your face for the rest of your life.”
“But, look at it my way, Butler. Jordan and Lizzy will love this face while your ass sits in prison for the rest of your life.” He leaned down close to Bobby Ray’s ear. “I wonder who’ll be loving you.”
The sound Bobby Ray made was half-scream, half-growl. He twisted ineffectually beneath Connor’s weight.
“It sure felt good to shoot my daddy’s old gun again.” Coleman knelt to attend to Tucker. “It looks like the bullet passed right through his side, nothing important was hit. He’ll live.”
“I appreciate the help, old man,” Connor shouted. “You were the perfect distraction. But, dammit, you could have gotten yourself killed.”
“It would have been worth it,” Coleman replied. “And, unlike you, I didn’t have anything to lose.”
The sound of loud voices poured from the trees. Spotlights lit the scene. Despite the pandemonium that quickly ensued, Connor’s only concern was the woman in his arms.
Epilogue
Bobby Ray Butler was sentenced last week to five consecutive life sentences on multiple counts of first degree murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and various other charges. He’s being transported to Florida State Prison today by the Lee County Sherriff’s Department.
On a lighter note, the Arnold Coleman Memorial Park will open this weekend, thanks to the McCrae family, and the support of our local citizens. We hope everyone will turn out Saturday for a barbeque lunch, craft booths, and games. All profits will be donated to the American Cancer Foundation.
Connor clicked his truck radio off before he opened the door for Lizzy on her last day of kindergarten. He was content in the knowledge that she and Jordan carried his name, and they’d never have to worry about Butler again.
“Are you ready to meet your new brother?”
When they arrived at the hospital, the room was crowded with more family and friends than they’d ever expected. People no longer stared at Connor’s scars as they waved and shook his hand on the street. He was just another citizen of Mayville.
He kissed Jordan tenderly before taking the
baby from her arms. “We’re naming him Coleman John McCrae. But, we’ll call him Cole.”
“Cole McCrae, attorney at law. Sounds good.” His father grinned.
Caleb patted his shoulder before leaving the room. Connor knew his brother was happy for him, but the event had brought back painful memories.
“I wish Arnie and John could be here to see this,” Joyce sniffed.
“They are,” Jordan assured her. “I’m sure they’ll both be watching over us for a long, long time.”
A word from the author...
From childhood I’ve moved from place to place, from Indiana to Florida, stopping in several places in between. I also moved from job to job; as a waitress, soldier, retail manager, dental assistant, etc. The one thing I never had to leave behind was my imagination.
Storytelling has always been my favorite way to pass time. I’ve often been told I should write a book. Finally, I did. It was so much fun: I feel I must write more.
I’ve been a student of Long Ridge Writers Group and once won a short story contest with Harlequin.
I currently live in north Florida with my husband, whom I torture with crazy story lines and half written manuscripts.
Visit me at:
http://www.sandradailey.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/sandradailey.author
http://www.twitter.com/sdaileyauthor
~*~
Other Sandra Dailey titles
available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.:
THE CHIEF’S PROPOSAL
(Amazon rated 5 stars)
TWICE THE TROUBLE
(Amazon rated 4.5 stars)
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Common Enemy Page 21
