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Christmas Justice

Page 17

by Robin Perini


  “Why do this, Fiona?” Garrett asked, clenching his muscles against the ropes. He needed room to work if he was going to escape and get Laurel, Molly and James to safety.

  “I’m not having a reveal-my-inner-motivations conversation with you, Garrett, because there are none. I’ll make it simple. I did it for the money. A lot of money.”

  “He’s secure,” Léon said. “What about the little girl in the closet?”

  “Leave her.”

  Fiona stalked up the stairs, then whirled around. “I don’t want any evidence left behind. Everyone in that room is dead or missing. They aren’t to be found.” She paused. “And, Léon, this is why I smuggled you into the country. Those explosives should take the house down. Get it down so it’s too hot to find even a fragment of bone.”

  “Where’s your loyalty?” Laurel shouted. “To my father, if no one else. He loved you.”

  “Ah, love and loyalty. How quaint. Almost as heartwarming as Léon’s amusing use of handcuffs.” Fiona looked down from her perch on the stairs. Her eyes hardened. “Haven’t you learned there is no loyalty? The powerful feed off the powerful. And heroes die for nothing. The only thing you have is yourself and your needs. You should have remembered that, Laurel.”

  Léon and his friend followed Fiona up the stairs. The door closed behind them.

  Garrett palmed the key that Léon had placed in his hand. Twisting his wrists, he maneuvered free of the handcuffs, then pulled out of his other boot the knife...the one Léon had left.

  Laurel stared at him. “How?”

  “Daniel’s inside guy. We don’t have much time.”

  Garrett cut through the zip ties around Laurel’s wrists. She ran to the door.

  “I’m here, Molly.”

  “Aunt Laurel, help me!”

  She tugged on the doorknob. Locked.

  “Molly, step back from the door, honey. Hide in the corner.”

  Garrett gave the lock a hard kick and the door broke free. Laurel scooped up Molly.

  “I’ll get your father,” Garrett said.

  Above them an explosion roared. Glass shattered; timbers fell. Laurel raced up the stairs and put her hand on the door. “Fire. Smoke’s starting to come through. We’re trapped.”

  “If Léon set the charges, I hope to God he gave us extra time.” Garrett knelt in front of James and shook him. “Tell me you followed your own advice, old man. Where’s the escape route out of here?”

  Laurel hurried down the stairs.

  “James, we don’t have much time.”

  The old man blinked. “Behind their mom’s picture.” His voice croaked.

  Garrett spun around, but he didn’t see a painting of a woman on the wall. “Where is your mother’s picture, Laurel?”

  “There’s only the mural she painted.”

  The starry night sky covered one wall.

  Murky smoke began to filter into the room. “Get washcloths from the bar area and wet them,” Garrett shouted. “Use them to breathe through.”

  His eyes teared up from the smoke. “Where is it?” He ran his fingers along the brick wall. Finally, at the Big Dipper, he felt a notch at one star. He pressed the button. The brick gave way. He pushed the concealed doorway open.

  “It was good of Fiona to have our meeting at midnight. Darkness will help hide us.”

  Garrett paused at a weapon safe in the corner. He grabbed a hunting knife and a rifle. “Laurel, here you go.” He shoved an old Colt .45 at her. “You couldn’t have had an Uzi in here, could you, old man?” He pulled a Bowie knife from a drawer and pressed it into James’s hands. Even with his injuries, he gripped the weapon.

  “Get them out,” James choked. “Leave me.” He passed out.

  “Not on your life.” Garrett heaved James over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Laurel, let’s go.”

  She clutched Molly to her and followed him out through a short passageway leading up to a tunnel. The gradient rose.

  A dim lighting system lit the narrow path. Garrett struggled with James’s weight. At the end of the tunnel there was a small door. A key dangled at the edge.

  “Thanks, James.” Garrett grabbed the key and unlocked the door. It led into what looked like a storage shed. Garrett recognized it from his previous visits.

  “I never knew this passageway was here,” Laurel whispered.

  Garrett didn’t turn the light on. He laid James on the ground and propped him up against the rough wooden wall. Garrett peered through a small window in the shed.

  Laurel stood at his side, her entire body stiff with resolve.

  Flames erupted from James’s house, searing through brick and wood. Loud crackling overwhelmed the quiet neighborhood. Smoke billowed into the air and the fire painted the midnight sky red.

  Another explosion rocketed through the house.

  “That one waited for us to get out,” Garrett whispered to her. “Not bad, Léon.”

  “He’s on our side. He can help.”

  “Rafe Vargas is out there, too.” At Laurel’s questioning glance, Garrett added, “Another CTC operative. We aren’t alone.”

  “If they haven’t been caught,” Laurel said. “What’s the plan?”

  “I’m going out there. Fiona’s not getting away with this.”

  He gripped the old Remington hunting rifle he’d snagged from the safe. “Stay here,” he ordered Laurel. “Protect them.”

  She gripped Garrett’s arm. “Be careful. Come back to me.”

  He gave her a small smile. “Count on it.” Then his gaze turned serious. “Have you got your weapon?”

  She pulled out the Colt. “I know what to do with it.”

  He kissed her quickly. “I love you. I should have told you before.” Garrett raced out of the building.

  A lone figure, carrying an M16, emerged from the smoke. Fiona pointed the weapon at Garrett. “I don’t leave witnesses.”

  Garrett didn’t hesitate. He raised his weapon. Before he could get off a shot, a bevy of bullets tore across his body.

  He blinked and looked down, then sank to his knees.

  Chapter Twelve

  A spray of bullets sounded from outside, and then another volley came a moment later. Some pierced the shed. Laurel dragged her father to the ground and covered Molly with her body.

  The little girl cried out in fear.

  Laurel’s heart raced. Garrett hadn’t had an automatic weapon.

  Please, God, let him live. “Molly,” Laurel ordered. “Get over by Grandpa. Hide in the darkest corner.”

  Molly crawled over toward James, and Laurel quickly stacked a wheelbarrow and other tools in front of them. “Stay here. Take care of each other.”

  She slipped some metal spikes and a small scythe next to her barely conscious father. It was all she could do for weapons.

  “Back up Garrett if he’s still—” Her father paused and looked at Molly. “You can’t let Fiona escape. Do what needs to be done.”

  Laurel grabbed the old .45. Handguns were hard to shoot accurately. She’d need to get close.

  She opened the shed door slowly, only to see Fiona standing over Garrett’s prone body. Behind them, the bodies of her two minions lay on the grass near the burning house.

  Fiona pointed her weapon at Garrett again. “You’ve been damn tough to kill, Bradley, but this head shot ought to do it.”

  Laurel didn’t hesitate. She aimed and fired. Once. Twice. And again, until the gun was empty. Fiona jerked, but she didn’t go down. “Stupid woman,” Fiona taunted. “Never heard of Kevlar? You’re going to pay for that.”

  Laurel dropped her weapon. She had one chance. If she could get the right angle—

  “Aunt Laurel, Aunt Laurel. Come quick. Grandpa’s not moving.” Molly ran into the yard.

  Fiona met Laurel’s horror-struck gaze. The woman smiled and swept her gun around, pointing it at the little girl. “Guess the rug rat’s next.”

  Just as Fiona was about to squeeze the trigger, a shot rang out
from behind her. The bullet struck her in the head. She hit the ground hard, the wound fatal.

  Molly screamed and cowered on the ground.

  Laurel’s eyes widened. Garrett’s arm shook and he dropped the Remington. “She’s not the only one who’s heard of Kevlar.” He coughed. With that, his head dropped to the grass. Laurel grabbed Molly and raced over to Garrett.

  Blood pooled at two gunshot wounds.

  He glanced down at the red seeping through his shirt. “I needed a bigger size.” He looked up at Laurel. “I’m sorry.”

  Sirens grew louder in the distance.

  “Garrett, you’re going to be fine. Just hang on. Help is on the way,” she said softly, then gasped as his eyes fluttered closed. “Garrett, no!”

  “Sheriff Garrett?” Molly whispered. “Please don’t go away.”

  “I’ll try, sugar.” He coughed.

  Laurel leaned down closer. “You told me you loved me, Garrett. You can’t leave me now. I love you, too.”

  There was no response. His chest barely rose.

  “Oh, God, no.” She didn’t know what to do. The vest might be stanching the blood. She needed help.

  Suddenly, a crush of police cars, fire engines and ambulances skidded to the curbs. Various personnel carrying hoses, guns and medical equipment came around the house. Laurel yelled to them, “We need help here. A man’s been shot!”

  She clutched Molly tightly as tears streamed down their faces.

  Two paramedics rushed over. “Move back.”

  Laurel jerked away, hiding Molly’s face against her own chest. “My father is in the shed over there.” Laurel pointed out the small bullet-ridden structure. “He’s badly hurt. Please help him, too.”

  The paramedics called another of the backup teams to check out the shed.

  The yard was complete chaos. The firemen futilely fought the blaze, but whatever had been used to blow up the house did not back off easily.

  “Another injured,” a cop shouted. “Guy’s pinned under a wall.”

  Men raced around the house. The police hovered over the paramedics, watching them work on Garrett. Others checked the gathering crowds. Still more hurried to where Fiona and the other two bodies lay.

  “Hey, this one’s alive,” someone called out, bending over one of the men lying near Fiona’s body. “I need a medic, quick.”

  Laurel couldn’t tell if it was Léon. She hoped so.

  “Please, Garrett. Please make it,” she said, clutching Molly to her.

  More responders dragged gurneys across the grass to the injured. Laurel stood back, holding Molly, her attention split between Garrett and the activity in the shed. She prayed her father wouldn’t come out in a black bag.

  What seemed an eternity later, Garrett, her father and Léon were all loaded into different ambulances.

  Laurel carried Molly over to the back of the one carrying Garrett and tried to get inside.

  “You can’t, ma’am.”

  “Why not? That’s my father and Garrett is my...my...fiancé.”

  A police detective walked up beside her. “Lady, as the only person still standing on a field with multiple dead bodies, you have a lot of explaining to do. I can see the gunshot residue on your hand. We’re not letting you near anybody. The kid will have to go with Child Protective Services.”

  Laurel panicked and held Molly close. “No, she may not be safe without special protection. Please, she’s been through so much. Let me call a family she trusts to come take care of her.”

  “Aunt Laurel,” Molly cried. “I want to stay with you. Don’t make me leave.”

  Laurel knelt down in front of Molly so they were face-to-face. “Molly, honey, I have to go with these policemen for a little while to tell them what happened. It’s not a place for children.”

  She shook her head. “You said you wouldn’t leave me. Not like Mommy and Daddy.”

  Laurel couldn’t control the tears. “I’m going to call Daniel and Raven. You can stay with them. You could play with the twins, too, and their doggy.”

  Molly bit her lip. “I like Raven a lot. She gives me cookies. Daniel’s nice, too.” Then she shook her head. “But I want you and Sheriff Garrett.”

  Gripping Molly’s hands in hers, Laurel met the little girl’s gaze. “Please, Molly Magoo. Can you be brave for me one more time?”

  “Like Sheriff Garrett?”

  Laurel squeezed her niece’s hands. “Like Sheriff Garrett. Go to Daniel and Raven.”

  “You’ll come back for me. Promise?”

  Somehow she would. “I promise.” Laurel looked up at the officer. “Please, let her go to them. You’ll understand what’s going on soon enough. I cannot have her put through any more trauma.”

  The detective’s brow furrowed. “I got kids of my own,” he relented. “Give me the family’s info and I’ll check them out. Otherwise, the girl goes with CPS.”

  * * *

  THE POLICE STATION reeked of the sights and smells of nighttime indigents and criminals. Molly wouldn’t let go of Laurel’s hand.

  She desperately wanted to pace the walkways of the police station, but she had to shield Molly. She glanced over at a tired-looking woman standing in the corner, ever watchful. If Daniel didn’t arrive soon, CPS might just take Molly away. Laurel’s heart broke at the idea of being separated from her niece.

  How could she explain everything that had happened? Would the cops even believe her?

  Finally, the door opened and Daniel strode inside, along with another man wearing a patch over one eye, who looked as if he’d been on the wrong end of a fight. She recognized him from somewhere. He walked over and had a few words with the officer assigned to watch Laurel. Her interrogation would start as soon as Molly left.

  Laurel finally placed the man’s face and scowled. “Exactly who is your friend?”

  Daniel looked back at the man who was now approaching them. “Laurel, this is Rafe. He’s part of CTC, the organization I work for. He was stationed outside the house, but got buried by a wall.”

  “Is there a problem?” Rafe asked seriously.

  “I don’t know,” she said, her voice full of suspicion. “I saw you driving the ambulance with that man, Léon, inside. You didn’t go the same direction as the other ambulances. Why?”

  Rafe lowered his voice when he spoke. “Léon is one of ours, too. I took him to some medical facilities that were a little more...discreet. His recovery will take a while and we wanted him safe.”

  “Great,” she snapped. “What about Garrett and my father? What about keeping them safe?” She knew she sounded like an ungrateful witch, but no one would even tell her if Garrett and her father were alive or dead.

  “Garrett and your father are alive,” Rafe said, “but in critical condition. We have guards both inside and outside their doors, as well as throughout the hospital, keeping watch for intruders. My boss is trying to keep the feds and agency people out of this so they don’t have access to Garrett. If they identify him as a fugitive before we prove his innocence, the government will claim him.”

  Laurel rubbed her face with her hands. “They’re alive.” Her knees shook.

  “I’ve brought enough evidence that you should be out of here soon, Laurel. Just be patient. I’ll take Molly now, and Rafe will wait and handle bail or whatever comes up. He won’t let you down, Laurel. I swear it.”

  Tears filled Laurel’s eyes as she hugged Molly and sent her off with Daniel. “Please keep her safe.”

  “Daniel would give his life for Molly. He’ll guard her well.”

  Just then, a policeman walked over. “Ms. McCallister, it’s time.”

  * * *

  FROM SOMEWHERE FAR OFF, Garrett heard a sweet female voice calling to him.

  “Garrett, please wake up.”

  He felt a gentle touch on his forehead, but couldn’t make much sense out of the soothing, soft words being whispered in his ear.

  The dreams had been haunting him again. Strange dreams, where Li
sa and Ella were running to him, holding him close, but suddenly they were waving goodbye. No! Don’t go. Something was wrong. It was very wrong. He fought his way toward consciousness.

  The dream changed, colors swirling and spinning in his mind, and this time he was reaching out for Laurel and Molly. He tried to reach them, but they were so far away. They were leaving, too. Sadness in their eyes. The gray returned and pulled him back into the darkness.

  The whispering continued, more urgently this time. The voices were louder. Why wouldn’t they leave him alone?

  “Garrett. Wake up.”

  He strained to understand, but each time he tried to open his eyes, they didn’t respond at all.

  “Come back to me now. You can do this.”

  Laurel? Was that Laurel trying to get him to do something? He struggled again, forcing the fogginess in his mind away.

  A firm hand gripped his, as if to will him to do something. His eyelids were so heavy, but somehow he forced them open for the briefest second. The blaze of sunlight burned his eyes and he groaned, flinching from the light. Even that slight movement sent a spear of fiery pain through his chest.

  “He moved!” Laurel yelled. “His eyes opened for a second. Get the doctor in here fast.” A firm hand gripped his. “Come on, Garrett. Open your eyes.”

  “Hurts,” he rasped.

  “Shut the blinds and turn off the lights. It’s too bright,” Laurel ordered, then suddenly laughed. “Oh, my God, Garrett. You’re waking up. I thought I’d lost you. I love you so very much.”

  Laurel’s voice pulled him from the darkness. He needed to reach her. He had to reach her. He fought with everything inside to open his eyes.

  A halo around beautiful brown hair slowly came into focus. He blinked again. She was beautiful. Like an angel.

  “Laurel?” His voice sounded strange, hoarse, and when he tried to raise his hand, that blasted pain speared through his chest again.

  “Don’t move and don’t try to talk, Garrett. They just took the breathing tube out.” She put the tiniest ice chip on his tongue to soothe his throat. “You’ve been in a coma. But you’re going to be okay.”

 

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