by L C Hayden
Honey yelped and sprang forward, jumping into the front seat of the car.
The three laughed, releasing the pent-up tension that had built around them like a thick, dense cloud.
Chapter 64
Even when Daniel or Sandy drove, Bronson kept a constant eye on the side mirror. Although relieved that the sniper was nowhere in sight, it bothered him that the criminal had given up. That meant that all was well. Bronson had nothing to worry about.
But life was never that simple. What was going on? Think like the sniper. What would cause me as a sniper not pursue and finish my job? The answer stunned Bronson. They knew which highway he was using and could estimate where he would show up next.
Bronson reached for the road map and studied it. He looked up, then back at the map. “Take the next exit.”
Daniel’s eyebrows came together. “Why? Where are we going?”
“We’re going to be doin’ back roads and stayin’ off the main highways. We, ourselves, won’t know which roads we’re going to be travelin’ until the last minute. If we don’t know, there’s no way Bobbi will know. We’ll always be one step ahead of her and her assassins.”
Sandy cast her eyes downward. “Somehow, Papa Lazzarone will find out. He always does.”
“Not this time, Sandy. Not this time.” Bronson reached to the back seat and wrapped his hand around hers.
Even though deep down Bronson knew no one was following them, he still kept a watchful eye. He checked every approaching car, each car parked off the road, and he definitely checked on the cars heading towards them.
By the time they left Colorado and entered Kansas, Bronson began to relax.
At the outskirts of Garden City, they went into a ma and pa pet store and bought Honey all necessary items—and some that weren’t essential, but Honey would definitely enjoy. They walked out of the store with three huge bags and a bill for sixty-dollars. Bronson had insisted on paying cash, in case Bobbi could track them by their credit card charges.
At the convenience store, they purchased cell phones for each of them and the necessary clothes and toiletries. “I know,” Daniel said, smiling. “Cash. This one is on me. You can pay me back later.”
Bronson smiled and stepped back, allowing Daniel to pay.
“Now what?” Daniel asked once they walked out of the store.
“We get back on the road.” Bronson retrieved the car keys and opened the car.
Daniel groaned. “We’re tired. Why can’t we stay here?”
Sandy pointed to her left. “Look, there’s a Sleep-Inn. It looks like a nice enough motel.”
“There will be more up ahead.”
Sandy grunted. “Can we at least have dinner?”
“In the next town.”
“Which is?”
Bronson shrugged. “Let me look at the map.”
* * *
Three hours later, close to midnight, they crept into the Quality Inn at the edge of McPherson. Its almost empty parking lot both pleased and filled Bronson with apprehension.
When checking in, Bronson insisted on a downstairs room, in case they needed to leave in a hurry.
“You need to relax.” Daniel wrapped his arm around his uncle. “No one knows where we are.”
“Yeah, not even us.” Sandy smiled.
Bronson ignored them. “We’re also going to get one room with two queen beds. Daniel and I on one bed. Sandy on the other.”
“This is going to be a fun trip.” Daniel removed his arm from Bronson’s shoulder.
The price of the room further depleted Bronson’s cash flow, but still he insisted on paying cash. Daniel and Sandy shook their heads and exchanged looks.
Half an hour later, Daniel and Sandy were sound asleep.
Bronson, unable to sleep, spent the next two hours watching the parking lot from their motel’s window. Only one car drove up, and an elderly couple got out, unlocked their door, and went into their room.
Bronson scanned the rest of the area.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing suspicious.
He, too, should be asleep. God knew he needed his rest. But the feeling in his gut…
Bronson drifted into a sleep which consisted mostly of tossing and turning. Gradually, he let go and sleep’s sweet goo engulfed him.
But not for long.
Chapter 65
Bronson’s eyes snapped open.
He had heard—something. Or had it been a dream? He lay perfectly still, listening to the night noises. Nothing. The alarm clock magnetized his eyes. It read 5:21. Nobody had any business outside.
Bronson was about to dismiss the incident when Honey sat up on the bed, focused on the door, and softly growled.
A rapping at the door caused him to sit bolt upright.
“What’s wrong?” Daniel rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He gasped when he saw his uncle reach for his gun and place it in the small of his back.
“Take Sandy and go into the bathroom. Stay there.” Bronson spoke to Daniel, but never once took his sight off the door.
The gentle tapping at the door increased in urgency until it became a constant pounding. Daniel turned his head and stared at the door as though it would grow fangs any minute. “It’s them.” Daniel’s eyes were full-moon huge, and his lips trembled, visible even in the shadows of early dawn.
By now, Sandy was awake and stood at the edge of the bed, unsure as to what to do.
Bronson grabbed Daniel’s cell and handed it to him. “Go.”
Daniel looked around. The only way in or out was through the front door or the window next to it. Neither would work. “Where?”
“Bathroom.”
Bronson watched as Daniel reached for Sandy’s hand and led her away from the danger. They climbed inside the bathtub.
“Call 9-1-1.”
Daniel nodded and immediately began dialing.
Bronson drew the shower curtain closed and stepped out. He semi-closed the door and returned his attention to the pounding outside.
As long as a closed door stood between them and the predators, Bronson knew that the three of them stood a good chance of survival, provided the police got there in time. He pushed the dresser toward the door.
He had barely moved it a couple of inches when a woman’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Mr. Bronson, please, please…open the…door. Th—they are g-going to…kill me if…if you don’t.”
Shiiit!
Bronson plastered his back against the front wall and slightly opened the curtains. Leonardo stood behind an elderly white-hair woman—Bronson recognized her as the night teller.
Leonardo held a knife to her throat. He must have noticed the curtain’s slight movement as he said, “Bronson, I don’t want any trouble. You know what I want. Give it to me, and I’ll let her go. Otherwise, she’s dead meat. Your choice. Are you going to open the door?” To show him, he meant business, Leonardo moved the knife closer to the old lady’s throat. A thin line of red appeared.
She attempted to scream, but all that came out was a hoarse snarl that sounded like an injured bird in its death throes.
“What guarantee do I have that you will release her unharmed?”
“You got my word, and you got three seconds before I start cutting deeper.”
Shiiit! Where was the police?
“One…”
Bronson unbolted the door.
“Two…”
“Count slower. The bolt is stuck. I’m openin’ the door.”
“Thr—”
Bronson swung the door open and stepped back, his arms raised to show Leonardo he was unarmed. The woman stared at Bronson through eyes that shone with fear, like twin spotlights. They begged him to help her.
Bronson kept his hands up. “Let her go. You don’t need her. I’ll give you what you want as soon as you release her.”
Leonardo snarled and held on to her tighter. “I know you and your tricks. She stays between you and me all of the time. One false move
and she’s dead.”
The woman gasped, and her breath caught in her throat. The knife penetrated deeper, and a new flow of blood ran down her neck.
“Don’t move,” Bronson told her. “The more you squirm, the greater the chance of that knife cutting you.” He flashed her what he hoped was a comforting smile. “What’s your name?”
“O-Olivia.”
“Olivia, this man wants a book I have. As soon as I give it to him, he will release you.”
Leonardo shook his head. “Not so fast. I want The Ledger and Sandy.” At the mention of her name, his eyes scanned the small room. “Where is she?”
“Oh, come now. You don’t really think they’d want to stay in the same room with me, do you? They got their own room, upstairs.”
Leonardo’s eyes narrowed. “Two beds are undone.”
“Yeah, one for me, and one for the dog. I made a real nice and comfy place for her.” Honey remained sitting on the middle of the bed, staring at the intruder.
Leonardo’s gaze jumped back from the dog to Bronson. “Get me that book and Sandy, and as promised, I will leave you, Daniel, and this old bag alone.”
Bronson shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. Sandy is not part of the deal.”
“She betrayed us.”
“She did no such thing. She’s simply trying to right a wrong.”
“That’s not how Papa Lazzarone sees it. He wants Sandy, and I will deliver.”
“Fine,” Bronson said. “But let’s work on this one part at a time. You want The Ledger. I want Olivia unharmed. How about we trade?”
“You’re stalling, Bronson, and truthfully, that’s making me very nervous. I’m here for The Ledger and for Sandy. There’s no negotiating.” He squeezed his grasp on Olivia a bit tighter. She gasped. “I really don’t care if I kill her or not, so I’m giving you exactly three seconds to get that Ledger.”
Bronson lowered his right hand and reached for the dresser.
Leonardo stepped backward, almost forcing Olivia to fall.
“Calm down,” Bronson said. “The Ledger is out in the rental, hidden underneath the passenger’s seat. I was reachin’ for the car keys. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, but you’re not getting it. You probably have a gun stashed in there. I’m no fool.”
Bronson grabbed the keys. “I don’t have a weapon, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll give you the car keys so you can get it.”
Leonardo remained quiet as though considering his choices. At long last he said, “Here’s what we are going to do. The three of us will walk to the parking lot. You hand Olivia the keys, and she will get the book and hand it to me.”
Bronson shrugged. “Fine by me.” He took a few steps as though he intended to head outside.
Leonardo scooted over, allowing Bronson to pass, and still keeping Olivia between him and Bronson. “You go first.”
Bronson inched his way to the door, keeping a firm eye on Leonardo, but he didn’t step outside.
“What are you waiting for?” Leonardo, still holding onto Olivia, stood between Bronson and the bed.
“Now, Honey!” Bronson gave the command while keeping his attention focused on Leonardo.
The dog leaped and threw her weight onto Leonardo’s back. He stumbled forward, knocking both him and Olivia down.
Bronson retrieved the gun from the small of his back and pointed it at Leonardo who seemed disoriented and had not gotten up. Bronson helped Olivia up. “Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“Go,” Bronson told her. He kept the gun pointed at Leonardo who attempted to stand.
“Drop the gun.”
Bronson heard the firm command coming from behind him.
Shiiit.
Chapter 66
Bronson dropped the gun as far away from Leonardo as possible.
“Put your hands up,” the voice behind him said.
Bronson did and slowly turned. He faced a very young-looking policeman, possibly a rookie. Relief flowed through Bronson’s veins.
The rookie kept his gun pointed at Bronson. “Put your hands up, I said, and keep them up.”
Bronson hadn’t realized he had lowered his hands. He put them back up. “I’m Detective Harry Bronson, retired, Dallas Police Department, and this is the bad guy.” He pointed at Leonardo.
“That’s true,” Olivia said. “This man,” she nodded toward Bronson, “saved my life.”
The rookie maintained the gun pointed at Bronson, and then at Leonardo, then back at Bronson. From behind him, another police car arrived, and Bronson chose to keep his hands up.
“Who called 9-1-1?” Officer Clark spoke as soon as he stepped out of the car.
“That would be my nephew,” Bronson said.
“Where is he?”
“He and his girlfriend are barricaded in the bathroom.”
Leonardo cast him a glare as cold as steel in the winter.
Bronson returned a sarcastic smile.
Officer Clark took out a notepad and a pen. He addressed his partner, Officer Stanton. “I’ll get preliminary statements from these folks while you get the ones in the bathroom.”
Soon, Daniel and Sandy led by Officer Stanton stepped out. When Sandy saw Bronson, she ran, hugged him, and watched as they loaded a handcuffed Leonardo into the back of the police car.
“We’re going to need official statements from each of you,” Officer Clark said.
Bronson nodded. “We’ll follow you in our car.”
The policeman shook his head. “Sorry. Police procedure. All four of you ride with us.”
“Fine, but let me first take Honey inside the room.” Bronson did and closed the door. “Stay. We’ll be back for you.”
“Bronson, Daniel, and Sandy, you ride with me. Olivia, you go with Dwayne. He’s a rookie, but he can handle this.”
Dwayne eagerly nodded, and all headed for their perspective cars.
Once inside the police car, Daniel said, “We could hear everything from the bathroom.” He put his index finger and thumb together and squeezed them. “I came this close to jumping out and helping you.”
“Glad you stayed with Sandy.” Bronson nodded an approval.
“Only reason I stayed was because I didn’t know if I’d be facing Leonardo, and that would have complicated matters more.”
“Definitely so. You made a good decision.”
“Speaking of decisions,” Sandy said. “I heard you order Honey to attack, and she did. How did you know she was going to do that?”
“I didn’t. What I thought was going to happen is that Leonardo would be startled, and he’d turn to look at Honey. I’d take advantage of that and jump him.”
“That dog is amazing,” Daniel said. “I wonder who taught her all of those tricks.”
“The Hermit, I suppose.” Bronson shrugged. “Maybe that’s how he managed to survive out there all by himself.”
They reached the police station, a building no larger than a medium sized house. Bronson knew they would be tied up the rest of the day.
* * *
It took two calls to the Dallas Police Department and one to the Philadelphia Police Department to have the Emporia police believe Bronson’s innocence. Chief Davis hung up the phone and stared at Bronson, “Looks like your story checks out.”
“So we’re free to go?” Bronson leaned forward on the chair.
“Not so fast. You still have a lot of questions to answer.”
“I’ll tell you who has the answers. It’s that young man, Leonardo Lazzarone, you have locked in your cell. Are you plannin’ to question him?”
Davis intertwined his fingers and rested them on his chest. He remained quiet.
“Because if you do,” Bronson continued, “I’d like to be there in the room and ask him a couple of questions myself.”
“You know that’s not how things are done.”
“I realize that, but I’m a desperate man. I was hopin’ that as a professional courtesy, you’d allow
it.”
“You don’t wear a badge anymore.”
“And you’re not a real chief.”
Davis smiled. “You got me there. That’s just a title everyone here gave me. I don’t even know why.”
“I think that’s a good title for you. Now, what do you say? You know you’ve got a mess on your hands, and if you had the answers, things would go so much smoother, and isn’t that what you want?”
Davis took a deep breath. “Fine. I give in. Let’s go.”
Bronson stood, gave Daniel and Sandy the thumbs up symbol, and followed Davis down the corridor and into an interrogation room.
Chapter 67
Before reaching the interrogation room, Davis said, “I think it would be more beneficial if you talked to the suspect alone.”
For a brief instant, Bronson hesitated, but before anyone could detect anything, Bronson picked up his pace and followed that of the chief’s. “Yes, definitely. I agree.”
“I’ll be watching through the two-way mirror.”
“Absolutely.” Bronson opened the door, stepped in, and closed the door behind him. “Leonardo.”
“Bronson.” Leonardo folded his arms and looked at Bronson directly in the eyes.
The room was like hundreds of other rooms Bronson had seen. A plain wooden table with two wooden chairs on each side, the plain walls devoid of any decorations, and a large mirror occupied most of the wall to the right. Every object in this room was familiar but its every familiarity bothered Bronson. “You realize you’re in a heck of a big mess, don’t you?”
Leonardo shrugged.
“You’re a pretty man.”
At first, Leonardo’s expression mirrored one of confusion, but soon transformed into general curiosity. “I’ve seen myself in the mirror.”
“Have you, now? Hope you memorized what you look like, because once you’re thrown in jail, you certainly won’t be able to keep that pretty boy face.”
Leonardo looked away.
Bronson continued, “You know what they do to pretty boys in prisons?”
