The Face of Fear: A Powers and Johnson Novel

by Torbert, R. J. ;

  “What the hell,” Joey Z remarked.

  “Joey!” Paul yelled, “my gun, there’s a small box underneath the sink in my bathroom. Please bring it to me!”

  “Paul,” Joey Z remarked. “Why are you locked up in handcuffs?” Paul replied, “If I tell you, will you bring me the box?”

  “Before I pee my pants try me,” Joey Z said.

  “Bud thinks I’m the masked Ghost Face doing the killings of the kidnappers.”

  “Ugh,” Joey said. “OK, that makes me feel safe, maybe I will pee my pants,” as he went to get the box.

  “I’m not a kidnapper,” Paul said to Joey as he handed him the box. Paul opened the box with his free hand and out came a small 22 handgun.

  “Oh shit,” Joey Z said, “almost too late to hold it.” Paul ignored Joey Z as he fired into the chain that held him.

  “I’ve got to get out of here before the officers come to pick me up.” He ran to his closet and tore apart the bottom drawer as he pulled out an older 9MM Glock from a combination box. He put on his shirt, got his car keys and ran down the stairs.

  “Thanks Joey,” he said as the restaurant owner and landlord was now standing in the middle of the apartment he said to himself aloud, “maybe it’s time for a new tenant.” He looked around the apartment in disbelief, then walked into Paul’s bathroom and shut the door.

  Bud had called it in for an officer to go to Paul’s apartment to bring him to the precinct as a person of interest. He was afraid of a total blow up of the media if he said anything else before they had a chance to formally question him. Bud pulled up to the driveway of the Wilkerson’s and met with Officer Dugan. Status was all good with no problems as Bud went to the front door. Lynagh opened it before he knocked which startled Bud.

  “How’s it going?” he asked Lynagh.

  “Quiet, which is good,” Lynagh answered.

  “Healey and the girl are upstairs sleeping.”

  “OK,” Bud answered “I would go up there but knowing Healey he would shoot me so I’ll just stay down here.” Lynagh didn’t crack a smile.

  “Good idea.”

  Ron, Eric and Brian drove to Cliff Road and parked the car about one hundred yards away from Bell Circle. Ron and Eric had handguns called Grandpower R100 Slovak semi-automatic pistols while Brian carried a pump action Remington 870 Shotgun. They walked in the still of the night and stopped about twenty five yards away from Officer Dugan now sitting in the cruiser. The three of them split up to their assignments while Ron attached a silencer to his gun. Ron walked to the left of the road and was given four minutes to peacefully cause Dugan to take a walk or to get outside of the car. The plan was to eliminate him before he could request back up. Once he was taken out, they figured they had five minutes to decoy what would be happening about a mile down the road to allow Simpson, Phil and the voice to secure the cash. The only thing that the three of them didn’t realize was Phil had already beaten them to the money. Ron began his walk in front of the house and true to form Dugan got out and stood by his car. What the three intruders didn’t realize was Dugan had texted Lynagh there was a pedestrian on the road before he got out of the car. Lynagh told Bud and the detective started looking out the front window. He had started to tell Lynagh to get his shotgun but he heard the officer already pull the gauge back.

  “Probably nothing,” Bud said, “but let’s be ready.”

  “Excuse me, sir,” Ron said. Officer Dugan spoke, “Kinda late for you to be walking the streets alone, even in Belle Terre.” As Dugan spoke, Eric was able to quickly climb from the side of the house to the front bedroom window where Lindsey slept. The twelve year old girl had heard noises on the house but was used to creaks and noises, especially from the heating system. This time her gifted hearing heard someone working quietly to open her window. Lindsey began getting nervous but was too startled to even run. She started throwing her plush pigs she always slept with against her room door to awaken Healey. By the time the window was open, she had thrown her last and final pig against the door. As she started to pull the covers over her head, Eric was already sitting inside the window ledge. He pulled out his knife in order to keep it as quiet as possible and even liked it that Lindsey covered her face with the covers. He noticed the door slowly opening and he pulled his gun out from his sleeve and pointed it at Lindsey just as he saw Officer Healey standing there with his 9mm Glock on him.

  “So,” Eric said. “You are truly the good bodyguard. How did you hear us?” Healey stood there. No words but with the gun focused on the intruder. Lindsey lowered the covers and without moving her head, her eyes were rotating from Eric to Healey. Eric continued to speak. “Looks like we have a problem, I’m not leaving here ’til she’s not breathing and you will most likely shoot me, so either way, you have failed because she won’t be alive. You have failed, Officer.” Still, the officer with his arms straight out would not respond. The silence was uncomfortable to Eric but he continued to speak. “You shoot me, I will still pull the trigger. The question is who will shoot first.” Healey focused on Eric’s eyes without saying anything. Finally, the twelve year old girl spoke in words barely audible.

  “I trust you,” as she finished those words, Monty who was sleeping under the bed let out a small sigh. Eric’s eyes quickly glanced to the bed and Healey took his shot. The bullet hit him squarely in the head as he fell through the window onto the secondary roof and on to the ground.

  Dugan turned around and Ron fired twice hitting Dugan in the back and his leg. Healey’s shot was heard as Lynagh started to run upstairs but was held up by Bud.

  “No! Stay here! Call for backup! If there are more of them, you need to be down here! Justin! Justin!” Bud yelled.

  “I have the girl!” Healey yelled from upstairs.

  “Get the family all in one place!” Bud screamed, “Now!” He saw Dugan on the ground in the circular driveway, he looked back at Lynagh.

  “Nobody gets upstairs! You hear me!” Lynagh nodded as he stood against the wall with his shotgun pointed up. He had called for back up thirty seconds prior but it already seemed like ten minutes. Bud left the front door and reached Dugan to pull him to cover. As he looked down at the fallen officer, he could see he was still alive from wearing his vest. As he pulled Dugan toward the car, Ron had moved to the opposite side of the cruiser when Eric had fallen out the window. Bud tried to save Dugan, but he was about to realize it was a mistake. Ron crawled around the front of the car, stepped around the side and by the time Bud knew what was happening it was too late. Ron raised his gun and shots were fired. As Ron stood there, he looked down at his stomach and chest and saw blood coming out. As the blood started coming out of his mouth, he fell to the ground. Bud held on to Dugan and held out his gun as the figure started walking out of the darkness into the motion light of the driveway. It was Paul. Bud yelled, “What the fuck are you doing here!”

  “Saving your fat ass! ,” Paul yelled.

  “I’ll accept that,” Bud replied. Paul crouched down to look at Officer Dugan who was bleeding heavily. Paul started wrapping his leg from a cloth scarf that was in the cruiser when they heard shotgun blasts in the house.

  “Fuck!” Bud said, “Where is the back up!”

  “Stay here with Dugan” Paul replied as he ran into the house. “Lynagh, it’s Detective Powers! I’m coming in!”

  Lynagh was behind the sofa, and he had fired a round from seeing Brian come in through the side door. Paul started moving around the back of the dining room to get over to the side. He looked at Lynagh as he spoke.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m staying here, he needs to get upstairs and this is the best place to be.”

  “You!” Paul replied, “Are a sitting duck!”

  “It is what it is,” Lynagh answered. “He’s not getting upstairs this way!” Upstairs, Healey moved the girl to the large bathroom and put her in the hot tub. By now, the mother Shar
yn, was screaming and Walt was holding on to her. Healey grabbed them and moved them to the bathroom and had all three of them in the hot tub.

  “Monty!” Lindsey started yelling. “They will kill my dog.” Healey put his hand out to her.

  “Wait! You are not going anywhere!” He looked at the father and gave him the shotgun.

  “Anybody but me coming through the bathroom door you shoot to protect your family, do you understand?”

  “Yes,” Walt replied as his hands shook. Healey crawled out into the hallway with his handgun and stated yelling to Lynagh.

  “I’m in the hallway upstairs! Who else is in the house!” Paul answered.

  “Justin, you have me and Lynagh and we know of one in the house downstairs! We don’t know how many more are here. Two dead outside. Dugan is badly injured.” Lynagh spoke up.

  “I’ve got the stairway covered. I can’t speak for upstairs!” Healey started calling for Monty as the dog looked out of Lindsey’s doorway but was afraid to leave the room. The officer crawled all the way to Lindsey’s room and grabbed Monty as the dog whimpered. It was too uncomfortable to crawl back with the dog in his arms so he stood up and started running for the bathroom.

  Brian couldn’t resist. He fired his shotgun at the running officer and it struck Healey down as Lynagh started firing his shotgun toward the wall where the shots came from. Three rounds he fired as he moved closer to the wall.

  “Lynagh,” yelled Paul. “Get under cover.”

  “He’s not getting upstairs!” Lynagh answered.

  “What if there’s more in the house!” Paul answered. Bud heard the shots inside and it was killing him but he was afraid Dugan would not be able to defend himself. His BlackBerry buzzed as he grabbed it. It was a text from Cronin to get to the Lance mansion right away. “What the fuck,” Bud said.

  “Go,” Dugan said. “Leave me with my shotgun. I’ll either bleed to death or kill someone. Either way I’m a hero.” Bud called Paul, and he answered.

  “Bad time to work out our problems partner. Cronin needs me at the mansion, this was a decoy. Dugan is out here with his shotgun. Are you OK with me leaving. Back up will be here any second.”

  “Go,” Paul said. “But it looks like Healey is down. I’ve got to get upstairs to the girl.”

  “OK, I’ll compromise. I’ll wait ’til back up is here then I’ll take the car with me to the mansion.”

  “Deal,” Paul said as he disconnected.

  “Justin!” Paul yelled upstairs. “Justin! I’m coming up if you don’t answer!” Lynagh, still lying on the floor with his shotgun ready just stared waiting to hear a response.

  “No one,” Justin Healey responded. “No one comes upstairs, I’m not dead yet.” The officer was bleeding from the pellets that hit him in the shoulder, arm and leg. His vest had prevented further damage as he crawled to the bathroom with Monty. As he entered the bathroom, he let the dog go which went straight for Lindsey. Healey crawled inside bleeding as the young girl started crying when she saw him bleeding. Monty was not shot and was trying to lick Lindsey but she was visibly shaken by seeing Officer Healey laying on the floor bleeding and not breathing regularly.

  “It’s my fault,” Lindsey said crying.

  “No honey,” Healey replied. “Just stay in the tub,” as he took the shotgun from her father.

  “All of you just stay in there, I’m here.” He crouched up against the back wall of the bathroom with his legs stretched out and held the shotgun barrel toward the door. He looked at the father who was in the tub with his family.

  “You know how to use my gun if something happens to me?” The father nodded as Lindsey tried to get to Healey but Sharyn held her back.

  “No.” Lindsey was shaking as her mother held on to her tightly to keep her from going to Officer Healey. Healey looked at Lindsey.

  “It’s going to be OK, but you need to be quiet, OK? It’s going to be fine.” Lindsey just stared at him and tried to hold back her tears. Her face told the story of how frightened she was, but not for herself, for the policeman who was injured trying to save her life. Sharyn Wilkerson held on to her daughter tight to control her shaking and the volume of Lindsey’s cries.

  Downstairs, Paul continued to move toward the wall that Lynagh obliterated with his shotgun blasts. He started talking to the intruder.

  “You are not going to get out of here alive. We will have no problem killing you, so why don’t you just surrender right now, your friends are gone. There were only three of you, right?”

  “That’s what you think,” the answer came back.

  “If there are more of you,” Paul spoke again, “then why are they not here to help you?”

  “Maybe they are somewhere else asshole,” Brian answered. Paul got on his cell and called Bud outside.

  “Get to the Lance mansion now. The others are there. We will hold the fort here ’til back up gets here.” Bud left Dugan with the shotgun and as he ran onto Cliff Road, three police cars and two ambulances came roaring down the road. Bud held up his badge and directed two squad cars and both ambulances to the Wilkerson house while he jumped in the car with Chapman who left Port Jazz on the call to go to the Lance mansion. Paul started speaking inside the house again while Lynagh was still lying on the floor with his shotgun ready to burst again.

  “Back up is here, there is no way out. Don’t become a dead man and dumbass at the same time.” Brian sneaked a peek and saw

  Lynagh lying on the floor and knew he didn’t have much of a chance with Eric and Ron gone but he still felt he wouldn’t be a failure if he got the girl.

  As back up officers and medics attended to Dugan, Brian started blasting toward the floor at Lynagh as the officer started firing back. Lynagh rolled over twice as Brian ran up the stairs, Lynagh got up and ran firing toward the stairway with Paul firing from his handgun. The blasts hit Brian halfway up the stairs as he fell sideways taking the railing with him.

  “Christ!” Paul yelled. He could smell the wood like it was burnt from the splinters in the house from all the blasts of gunfire. The cops outside had all their firearms out as they entered the house. Paul and Lynagh were standing there as Paul told them to secure the premises as they all scattered about. They started to walk up the stairs toward the bathroom as Paul grabbed Lynagh.

  “Let’s be careful here. He will bleed to death before leaving the girl if he thinks she is still in danger.” Lynagh nodded.

  “Not to mention shoot us if he’s not sure it’s us.”

  “Justin,” Paul said. “It’s Powers and Lynagh. It’s all over in the house. We got them, all three of them. We are coming in with no guns drawn. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” the answer came back.

  “You recognize my voice, right?” Healey looked at Lindsey as she nodded yes.

  “I want to hear Lynagh’s voice,” Healey spoke back.

  “It’s me Justin,” Lynagh replied. “We need to get you to a hospital.” The officer looked at Lindsey and she nodded it was his voice.

  “Come on in,” he replied to Paul and Lynagh. They slowly pushed the door open showing their hands in the doorway hoping Healey did not have a quick trigger finger. He was laying there badly bleeding from the shotgun wounds. Healy dropped his shotgun when he saw it was Paul and Lynagh. Paul started yelling for the medics to come upstairs and tend to Healey as he looked at the family in the hot tub.

  “Come on,” he said as he stretched out his hand to help them. Lindsey jumped over the tub herself and went straight to Healey holding his hand as she began to cry again. Paul warned the parents the house was practically destroyed downstairs and there was a dead body near the stairway. Most of all, he warned them it may not be over just yet.

  “I’m going to have four officers stay outside to secure the premises. Lynagh will still be here while we take Officer Healey to the hospital.”

  “I’m going with him,”
Lindsey said as she stayed by his side. “Lindsey,” her Mom said. “Lindsey answered still crying.

  “I’m not leaving him Mom. He didn’t leave me and I’m not leaving him,” she replied in her shaken voice. Paul looked at the parents, then Lynagh.

  “Let her go, she will ride in the ambulance with Officer Healey and Lynagh. I’ll have an escort take you behind the ambulance.” He waited for Sharyn and Walt Wilkerson to acknowledge, but spoke again.

  “It’s probably safer for you there while we finish this.” Sharyn Wilkerson replied, “I can’t say no to her.” Healey was put on a stretcher and carried down as Paul spoke to Lynagh. “Don’t let the girl out of your sight and keep the shotgun visible. Make anyone think twice before getting close to her, remember Phil Smith is still not in custody.” Lynagh jumped in the back of the ambulance as Lindsey got in and continued to hold his hand as the medics worked on him. Sharyn and Walt got in a cruiser and followed it to Mather hospital. Paul yelled to the ambulance driver.”take him to Stony Brook hospital!” The trip was an extra 10 minutes but Stony Brook was a trauma center and Paul felt it was the right thing to do for Healey. He stood outside the Wilkerson House and noticed how wet the back of his head was. When they arrived at Stony Brook Hosptal, it was quite a sight to see. Between the 2 cruisers that escorted the ambulance and Lynagh jumping out of the back with his shotgun. There were so many lights, it looked like a scene from a movie. Officer Dugan had already been at the hospital for 15 minutes and Mayor Margot Garant of Port Jefferson Village was on her way to the Hospital to extend her support to the injured police officers.

  Simpson had the suitcase of money with him on the grounds between the mansion and the guesthouse when Agents Sherman and O’Connor pointed their weapons at him.

  “Where are you going?” O’Connor said.

  “Nowhere,” Robert said. “I’m just doing what I was told.” Agent Sherman moved around the other side for a different angle while he pointed his gun at Simpson.