by J M Dolan
“You Canadians, so highbrow and naïve you think your country is immune from what you perceive as atrocities. You are wrong.” Volkov’s pupils narrowed to pin-points.
“Give me strength,” Jamee rolled her eyes, “there’s actually something we agree on. I have no doubt real evil exists in the world and its closer to home than we think.” She had her back on the outside edge of the kitchen pantry door. One good push and it would swing open. From there she could run through to the dining room.
“I’m not keen on helping you fill in the blanks or your delaying tactics,” Volkov spoke softly with a granite edge to his voice. “Not sure what more I can tell you that your government hasn’t already discovered, suka...” There was an odd calmness about him, devoid of emotion he seemed to be standing apart from himself. Almost as if he were an objective observer to the situation.
“No need to call me a bitch, I understand what suka means. Rather, let me quote from your Interpol profile — immorally perverse, ruthlessly manipulative, knowing right from wrong but thrilled at defying societies’ laws. Normally cool and constrained, able to fool people for years. When were you diagnosed a psychopath — before enlisting with the SVR, or after?”
“Before,” Volkov admitted. It is one of the reasons I was recruited. I can lead a double life and fool people without much effort. I am the best they’d ever had.”
To her surprise, the man seemed to relax. Where the hell was Sam?
“Hmmm. Isn’t that just swell,” she mocked. The seconds ticking off the old mantle clock seemed to be taking far too long.
Volkov took a step closer, Tess’s growl escalated.
“I had been thinking.” He eyed Jamee up and down. “Appetizers first, entrée second, but the little morsels can wait. Children and mothers are too much trouble, anyway. I owe myself the pleasure of concluding our unfinished business. It seems to me I promised you before, it wasn’t over between us.” Malice darkened his face, the eyes almost reptilian in their cold detached expression. His tongue flicked snake like at his upper lip. “Co-operate, and I’ll finish the others quickly.”
“Not bloody likely.” Jamee couldn’t conceal the shudder of loathing. “You’re asking me to barter with you?” She gave a brief snort. “Huh, I don’t think so. We’ll finish this now. You’ll do what you intend in the end anyway.”
Jamee signalled Tess. The dog let out a razor-sharp series of barks. She stood poised, eager for Jamee’s next command. Jamee signalled and they charged together.
Volkov moved to intercept her, and block the dog’s attack. Jamee reached for the stun gun tucked in the back of her waist band. She pulled it free and pulled the trigger as she closed with him.
Volkov jerked when the voltage coursed through him but managed to misdirect her angle at the last minute. The gun was set to maximum volt. He went down even with the glancing contact.
Jamee leapt over the sprawled Volkov. Forget the pantry, he was down. She and Tess bolted across the dining room making for the basement . Jamee crashed open the door and the dog bounded past her. Inside the stairwell, she pushed the door shut and turned the skeleton key in the lock.
The move used up valuable time, but Volkov couldn’t follow her without breaking down the door. She prayed Abi realized Tess’s barks were the signal and was clear of the cellar, and on her way with the children to her vehicle. Jamee raced down the stairs being sure to hold to the rail. She couldn’t risk a fall. The light from the root cellar doors beckoned and she made a run for it.
Tess was ahead of her when they scrambled up the cement stairs and burst from the cellar out into the bright sunlight. Glare from the melting snow momentarily blinded her. The slam of the backdoor and movement on her right caught her attention. Her plan had been to round the house and dash across the yard to the garage, but the opportunity was lost. Volkov stood between her and escape.
With no time for hesitation, Jamee bolted in the opposite direction arrowing to the back of the house. She still hadn’t heard Abi’s vehicle. Not only was she in danger of Volkov running her down, but she hadn’t created enough of a diversion for Abi’s escape. She could think of only one way to evade Volkov but it would take her away from the garage. She prayed she wouldn’t get herself and Tess killed. Despite the danger, the loyal little dog wouldn’t desert her.
Jamee sliced a glance to the main road. No sign of traffic. “Bloody hell Sam, where the frick are you?”
Moving as quickly as possible, she pushed her way through the caragana hedge and dodged amongst the small stand of spruce and mountain ash to the rim of the coulee.
Jamee took a fleeting look over her shoulder then dropped to the ground and squirmed over the edge. The snow was helping to camouflage, Tess’s white and brown coat but she stuck out. Her crimson sweater was a beacon.
Jamee slid down the slope and crawled under an outcropping of shale. She peeled off her sweater and tucked it deep into the crevice. The white turtleneck made for good camouflage. Maybe she would be safe here. She shivered in the cold. It wouldn’t take Volkov long to track her down, not with her tracks clear in the new snow. Just before she dropped into the coulee the Wolf had been emerging from the tree line, but at least he wasn’t pursuing Abi. The pump house! She’d lead him there, further away from Abi and the kids.
A shot of adrenaline propelled her out from under the overhang. She scrambled and slid in the slick snow, careening down the side bank and onto the coulee floor. She jumped the hummocks, gaining momentum on that bit of straight away before crashing through the pump house door. The shed offered little protection. It was nothing more than a tin tunnel with an opening.
“God, now what?” Moving to the pump, Jamee looked around wildly for some kind of weapon. If only she still had the taser. Volkov had managed to slam it from her hand during their altercation. The floor of the shed was dirt and everything on the metal pump was bolted down. Her only hope was Sam.
Inside the pump house, Jamee kept Tess glued to her side. The sound of her thundering heart drowned out other sounds.
“Did you think you could provoke me into a mistake?”
The guttural snarl took her by surprise. She couldn’t hold back the startled scream that escaped her.
Volkov smiled — a brief twitch of lips that didn’t reach his eyes.
“It’s time.” He leaned nonchalantly against the door frame.
“What? You think I’m just going to lay down and die?” Jamee glared at him defiantly.
“No.” He chuckled. “I’ll help.”
“You can’t do that.” Jamee frantically scanned the ground around her while keeping track of his location.
“Why, not?” He started forward.
“It’s not my turn to go.” Jamee stooped and threw the frozen cow pie at him as hard as she could.
Tess leaped after it, hitting Volkov square in the chest. The cow pie, hit the door frame and sent bits of matter spinning around Volkov’s head. Tess’s reaction startled them both but the distraction got Jamee out the door. Volkov caught up to her in two steps. She’d made it outside the pump house, but he had a grip on her hair and yanked her back hard against his chest. His hot breath fanned her face.
Jamee stifled a groan. Her scalp was on fire and her eyes watered. Volkov forced her to her knees, dragging her head back to expose her throat.
Tess launched herself, clamping her jaws on Volkov’s arm. It compelled him to let Jamee go as he administered a wicked punch to the side of the little dog’s head. Tess went limp, her teeth still caught in his jacket. Volkov shook his arm and flung the dog like so much waste to one side. He raised a booted foot intending to administer more punishment.
Jamee scrambled from the dirt. Tess, she had to save Tess from that bastard. Frantically, she threw herself at Volkov. The force of her shoulder hit him low and she pushed up rising powerfully, using her legs for leverage. It moved him off the dog, but did little else.
Volkov turned on her, and anticipating the move, she drove the heel of he
r hand into his face. Blood fountained from his broken nose. He bellowed like a wounded bull. He would kill her now. It would be over in seconds.
The gun shot took her by surprise. She turned in the direction of the sound. Sam stood above them, half-way down from the lip of the coulee, a raised rifle in his hand. Near but not near enough.
“Move away from her, Volkov.” Sam’s voice carried clear over the distance that separated them.
Jamee saw Volkov glance from Sam to her, indecision written on his face.
“I wouldn’t advise running,” Sam shouted the warned. “I don’t miss.”
Jamee took a step, angling away from the line of fire. Volkov moved with lightning speed, wrapping his arm around her neck and tightened his hold until she could barely breathe. Jamee clawed at his arm, struggling to find air. Volkov backed away, dragging her with him back inside the shed, blocking any shot Sam might have had. Jamee resisted as much as she dared, white spots beginning to dance in her vision.
They reached the far entrance and Volkov, releasing his hold, shoved her to the ground to wipe away the blood on his face. Jamee stayed down, pulling in huge gulps of air past her bruised throat. Volkov stood to one side of the doorway and peered out.
“What happens now?” Her voice was husky and thin.
“Shut up,” he spat, not looking at her.
The man jumped at the sound of the pump coming on, loud in the tense silence.
“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen.” Jamee could hardly swallow, but she forced the words past her tortured vocal chords. “The cows will be coming for water.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Now, he did look at her.
“I rent the pasture out to a dairy farmer and soon the cattle will be shoving around the pump house. We’ll be surrounded, you’re not going anywhere, asshole. That Jersey bull will make sure of it. He’s a mean one — takes his duties to protect his cows seriously.
Jamee nodded to the opening and Volkov glanced out once more. A large herd of cattle were making their way from the protection of the coulee to the pump house at a quick pace. Jamee had installed a timing device for the pump to bring water to the surface and the livestock were precise in their appearance. You could set your watch by it. She wasn’t sure how that could help her situation, but she didn’t see how it could hurt.
“Shut your damn mouth” Volkov snarled menacingly.
“Yeah well, Sam’s got you covered from above and the cows are moving in. You’re trapped in here.” Jamee needed to give Sam opportunity to make his play
Sam came nearer, angling for a clear shot at Volkov. Jamee twisted in an attempt to minimize herself as a target. Volkov was leaning against the door frame facing away from Sam who remained outside the opposite entrance to the shed. He stood with legs braced, his expression grim. Involuntarily she took a small intake of breath, hardly a noise at all, but enough to alert Volkov who turned around a malevolent smile on his face.
“, join the party Craig.”
“I think the party’s over, Volkov. The lady, is going home with me.” Sam eased a little further into the space.
“Are you okay, Jamee?” he asked. “I found your sweater. Sam’s eyes were glued to Volkov
“I’ve been trying to convince Aleksey here, that there’s no future for a failed spy in Russia, but he’s not going for it.”
“Bloody spies, don’t even try to reason with them,” Sam picked up the flow and kept the conversation light, all the while inching closer to her. When he had closed the gap, she got to her feet and slipped behind him.
“The cattle will start pushing in here any minute,” Jamee whispered. “The water trough is on the outside, but they tend to swarm the place.”
On cue, the pump kicked on with a loud hum and the pipe creaked and clanged. The racket was followed by the rushing sound of water. The animals outside stuck curious heads, into the doorway next to Volkov, before moving off to the outside trough.
Volkov was getting antsy, he wouldn’t wait much longer before making a move.
“Volkov, I’m warning you, stay put!” Sam’s voice was implacable. He raised the rifle higher.
Tess came out of nowhere, obviously recovered from the blow to her head. She shot past Sam, in full charge towards Volkov. Her attack forced Volkov to veer outside. The cows came flooding in despite the commotion.
Jamee and Sam moved to get out of the way, sliding out the opening Volkov had chosen. He’d cleared the shed but was now caught between the cows and the bull, who bellowed in rage. Tess was at Volkov’s heels barking fiercely. The bull had his head down and back arched as he pawed the earth, his forefeet sending clods of dirt flying over his back. He drove his horns into the ground in agitation.
Volkov warily maneuvered sideways in an attempt to get around the massive creature.
“If Volkov gets any closer, it’s going to be a drive through, said Jamee.”
“Stop!” yelled Sam. “Quit moving and back away.”
Strings of saliva and snot spewed from the massive beast. Muscles bunched, the bull let out a terrifying bellow.
“Look out,” Jamee yelled.
The bull ploughed forward, snorting and bawling. For all his ginormous size the animal moved at an amazing speed.
Volkov stopped his advance, turned and sprinted away from the angry bull.
“Don’t run!” shouted, Sam and Jamee in unison.
There was no place for Volkov to go. He was too close to the bull to save himself.
Tess, seeing the danger darted in snapping at the bull’s heels and nose, but the animal was intent on his target now and ignored the dog’s attempt at intervention.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” Jamee covered her mouth with her hand as if stopping the words, could stop the attack. She watched in horror as the bull pinned Volkov with is massive head and ground him against the frozen ground. Not content with that, the creature trampled the man as well.
Satisfied the threat to his herd was no longer a danger, the bull stood over top of what was left of Volkov. Blood stained the snow, mixed with snot and manure.
Jamee fought back the bile rising in the back of her throat. She tried for nonchalance, but her voice came out hoarsely. “There’s a saying — pigs get slaughtered.”
“And, that God doesn’t have a sense of humour,” said Sam placing an arm about her waist “but it would appear that revenge is best delivered by Him.” He pulled her close. “That was an invidious way to go.”
“Seriously big word.” Jamee cuddled against him, glad of his warmth and the strong arm that supported her weight.
“Word of the day,” said Sam. “Horrible.”
“I wish I could just take your word for it.” Jamee shuddered, “Terrible thing to see.”
The bull turned his head and stepped away from the body to return to his cows.
“Call Tess,” suggested Sam. The dog had taken up a protective stance between Jamee and the bull. “We’ll cross opposite the shed and hike back up the trail while Spike there is taking a breather.”
“She stuck her fingers between her lips to whistle, but her mouth was dry and the attempt proved weak. Sam whistled for her and Tess raced towards them.
“Jamee bent to Tess then quickly straightened as Sam opened his coat and wrapped his arms around her.
“You must be cold. I picked up your tracks to the coulee and found your sweater.
Jamee let herself relax into the full length of him before she felt something hard against her buttocks.
“That better not be Mr. Johnson,” she chided. “This is really not a good time.” Jamee’s shock was rattling off through verbal diarrhea. “Why is it, a woman can’t bend over without a man wanting to rub up against her?”
“Jamee you slay me,” his voice was a quiet whisper in her ear, “but that was my cell phone.” Keeping an arm around her, Sam shrugged out of his coat and wrapped her in it. “Can you make it? I can piggy-back you up.”
The coat was big, but
warm and smelled of Sam. Jamee let out a grateful sigh and hid a giggle in the sheep wool collar.
“Let’s go, cowboy.” Her smile was a tad strained, “I’m one hurt’n unit, but I’ll make it. And, don’t you repeat that,” Jamee added. “I don’t want to worry Abi and the kids.”
Sam picked up the rife then grabbed hold of her hand. They moved past the shed and up the trail.
“Sam…Jamee…you guys okay? Thomas Avery’s sturdy frame appeared on the pathway above them. “If you got your man, don’t think this will curry any favours with me, you brown-nosers. You’ve lopped a couple years off my life.” His voice was gruff with emotion.
Jamee let Sam pull her up the last bit of steep trail. When he stepped to the side at the top, it was to put her hand into the one Thomas held out. Avery assisted Jamee the last few steps.
“Where’s Volkov?” said Thomas.
Jamee motioned to the coulee below. “He thought he was faster than a rhino and in the end he got squashed.”
Thomas sent Sam a questioning glance.
“The bull trampled him. Jamee’s right, there’s nothing much left. Bad way to go”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The farm was a mad house for the next few hours. Jamee’s first concern was for Abi and the kids, and Sam was quick to reassure her. He’d met Abi on the road. She’d flagged him down not far from the farmhouse gate and briefed him on the urgency of the situation. Sam confessed he’d been astonished when Abi thrust the hunting rifle at him.
Apparently, Sam wasted no time with questions either. He’d taken up the weapon, told Abi too sit tight and wait for Thomas and the Mounties. He’d made her promise.
Now, the excitement over, Jamee and Sam stood off to the side letting the RCMP do their work. Thomas, in conjunction with the constabulary, sorted through the preliminaries. When a break came in the action, he was quick to locate them lingering by Sam’s BMW.
“Ambulance just pulled in and the farmer’s here,” said Thomas, stating the obvious. “Thanks, Jamee for calling him. He’s gone the extra mile and loaded that Jersey bull into a trailer. The cows followed the hay wagon like it was their mama, no problem. Farmer Brown says he can keep them away from the accident scene for as long as we need.” Thomas paused, levelling a stern gaze at them. “I’m more relieved than you know that I can say accident scene instead of crime scene. What were you guys thinking?” he scolded.
