Innocent Shadows

by Warren Ray

  Wilson’s left eyebrow hiked at this information. “Then why didn’t you come through the border entrance up the road?”

  “If we had we would have been arrested by the National Police, who are trying to kill us.”

  “Oh?”

  “They’re corrupt as they come and would like nothing more than to take us in.”

  Wilson looked doubtful. “Why do they want to take you in?”

  Scar paused before answering knowing he was about to roll those dice. “Have you heard of the Shadow Patriots?”

  Wilson nodded his head.

  “I’m one of them.”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  Scar cocked his head in confusion. “Why would I lie about that?”

  “Not sure that you would, but I wanted to make sure.”

  “Why? Are you gonna let us go?”

  Wilson choked back a laugh. “I’m afraid not.”

  “Listen, it’s extremely important that we get back to Michigan. We’ve got a town that is surrounded by bad guys and they’ve already killed over a thousand innocent people. For the last week, we’ve been defending that town while sneaking the citizens out of there. They’re down to their last few days of food and we still have over a thousand people to remove. We need to get back.”

  Wilson looked apologetic. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Don’t we get a phone call or something?”

  “Things are run a little differently over here and especially with so many Americans. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to see the judge first.”

  Scar wasn’t giving up. “Then can you do me a big favor?”

  “Depends on the favor.”

  “Can you make a phone call for me?”

  “I don’t know about that,” said Wilson in a hesitant tone.

  “Please, it’s important.”

  “Who is it you want me to call?”

  “General Standish at his base in Winnipeg.”

  “Winnipeg? A general? What does he have to do with you?”

  Scar wasn’t sure if he should tell this man. He wasn’t sure if Standish’s help was something he’d get in trouble for. “He’s a friend of mine is all.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” said Wilson.

  Scar wasn’t convinced the man would keep his word, but could only hope for the best. They made a tactical error going into the restaurant. However, the more thought he put into it, the more convinced he became they would have been eventually arrested. With all the trouble the Canadians had been going through with refugees, it would have only been a matter of time before some cop stopped them for questioning.

  Chapter 35

  Sabine Iowa

  Winters had been waiting on Pine Street for the thugs who were holding Finley and her family. After giving instructions to the girls, he was standing in the middle of the street to block any escape. It didn’t take too long before Laney yelled that they were coming. He pulled the slide back on his Colt M-4 and flipped the switch to full auto. He had four magazines ready to go. He looked down the road and watched the car as it moved toward them.

  “Girls, get into position, and fire when they pass that house I pointed out.”

  Winters stepped away from the van but stayed in the middle of the road. His heart began to quicken as the car got closer. He took in several controlled breaths and rolled his shoulder before pressing the rifle in place. The car began to slow down as it came within three hundred feet and the driver didn’t seem to know what to do.

  “C’mon, just a tad bit closer,” said Winters, knowing he was well within the effective range of the gun. He just wanted maximum exposure before he opened fire.

  The car came to a stop, and Winters wasn’t sure if they would begin to back up, so he pulled the trigger. The quiet neighborhood exploded in thundering echoes as rounds ripped through the still air and into the car. He emptied the magazine in seconds and slammed in a fresh one. The car’s engine roared as it shot forward. It closed in fast as he squeezed the trigger again. The car began to swerve left as it passed by the designated house. Laney stepped away from the tree and unloaded her rifle into the side of the car. Collette flipped around and began taking pot shots as the car zipped past her.

  Winters slammed in a third magazine as the car drew within a hundred feet. Both occupants were bleeding, and Winters shot at the windshield peppering the glass with holes. The car careened off to the left and headed toward a house. It crashed into the foundation, and the engine began to rev high as the dead man’s foot pressed on the pedal.

  Winters charged in keeping his weapon pointed at the car. He pulled open the driver’s door and found the man slumped over the wheel with the air bag draped over his head. He peered over him and found the passenger to be bleeding out of multiple wounds. Winters grabbed the driver’s left arm and pulled on it. He fell over and the engine settled down. He reached in and turned the key off just as Laney and Collette raced over.

  “Oh man,” said Laney. “Look at this.”

  “You know these guys?” asked Winters.

  Collette and Laney looked at the bloodied bodies and nodded. Laney pulled out the list and checked off two more.

  “That was Brian Holiday and his buddy Smitty.”

  “Wow, you called that one right,” said Collette.

  “That leaves two,” said Laney.

  “Yes, and these will be the toughest to get at.”

  “Do you think they heard the gunfire?” asked Laney.

  “More than likely. It’s only a couple of blocks and that gunfire would have echoed off these houses, so yes, they heard.”

  “What are we gonna do?” asked Laney.

  “I’m hoping to flush ‘em out. Let’s grab some more ammo and get down there.”

  Winters helped the girls reload and gather some extra magazines before running through backyards toward Billy Gamble’s house. Winters wasn’t sure what he wanted to do and wouldn’t be able to make a decision until he set eyes on the place. He had only two more people to go, but now there were hostages involved.

  “There it is,” said Laney as they came around a house.

  The house was a single-story and sat at the very end of the cul-de-sac. A quad cab pickup was parked in the driveway. White curtains, which were shut tight like all the other windows, covered the picture window. The houses on either side appeared to be empty and one even had a few broken windows.

  Winters kept staring while trying to come up with a plan. He could try to enter through a back window, but he had no idea where anybody was. He couldn’t storm the place without risking getting someone killed. He shook his head remembering all the hostage movies and shows where they had high-tech gadgets to help.

  “Any ideas?” asked Laney.

  “Well, we can’t see inside, which limits our options.”

  “We could ring the door bell,” smirked Laney.

  “Or, I could do my naked act again,” said Collette.

  “I’d like to see that, again,” quipped Laney.

  “Girls, can we get serious?”

  “I am being serious,” said Collette. “I don’t mean get naked, but I could, like, yell out from the driveway and distract them.”

  Winters looked at her as he gave it some thought, but knew it was too dangerous. While he needed for them to come outside, he wasn’t sure of just how agitated they might be. Perhaps she was onto something when she offered to distract them. He wouldn’t let her be the distraction, so they needed something else. Then an idea struck him.

  “Either one of you ever been inside?”

  “Well, yeah, we both have,” said Laney.

  “Is there a room where you know for certain he wouldn’t have them in?”

  Laney looked at Collette. “What about the laundry room?”

  “Or his office,” suggested Collette.

  “Where are those located?” asked Winters.

  “Office is in the back corner,” said Collette. “Give me that list of names and
a pen.”

  Laney pulled out the paper and handed it to Collette, who then drew a layout of the house. Winters stared at it and came up with an idea. He told them it and they both nodded their heads.

  Winters ran back to the van and grabbed a couple of empty water bottles out of the back. He then hustled over to the car that had crashed into the house, got down on his knees and drew out his knife. He punctured the gas tank and waited patiently for the bottles to fill with gasoline. It reminded him of when he was on the run with Elliott and Reese out on Robinson Road. They had set an SUV filled with weapons on fire so they wouldn’t fall into the hands of their enemies.

  The last bottle overflowed with gas, and Winters put the cap on before racing back to the girls. The three of them snuck over to the corner of the house where Collette had indicated there was a small office. Staying behind overgrown bushes, he studied the vinyl-covered house, which would melt and create a deadly smoke. The occupants would have no choice but to exit from the front door or the sliding glass door in the back. Winters kept the girls next to him where they could keep an eye on both exits and would be able to draw down on either of them.

  He left the safety of the overgrown bushes and rushed to the house to splash the corner of the house spreading gasoline up and down the house. He stepped back and flicked a lit match into the flammable liquid. The fire huffed as it instantly lit, and within seconds, the back corner was in flames.

  Chapter 36

  Detroit Michigan

  Coffee spilled on his desk as Vatter sat down in his office. The thirty-year old station commander cursed at himself because he had filled the cup to the brim and hadn’t taken a couple of sips before moving it. He leaned over to grab a couple of napkins out of the trashcan to blot the liquid up before it damaged his papers.

  As he lifted the cup to take a sip, the steam from the hot liquid floated up into the bandage on the side of his face, which was still sensitive from the knife wound he’d received from his cousin. This reminded him of the decision he’d made to kill her and sell the twin girls to Mordulfah. At first, he was ecstatic to have come up with such a brilliant plan to save his own head. There was no way he’d be here today had he not done so, which was an easy way to rationalize the decision. However, he then had to deal with his mother, who unfortunately was the one who had found her bloody corpse. He didn’t want to put her through that but figured it was the only way to divert the attention from himself. He tried to act shocked about the whole thing, but his mother knew right away that he had killed her. The wounds he had received were a giveaway and besides, he never could keep a secret from her.

  He hoped it wouldn’t take her too long to forgive him for not cleaning up his mess. Surprisingly, having to see the mess, rather than the actual killing, was what she angriest about. She grieved for the twins but shrugged her shoulders because their lives were not as important as her son’s was.

  He took another sip of coffee and thought about the disaster that took place the other night in Grosse Pointe. Once again, the Shadow Patriots got away, but this time, Mordulfah couldn’t blame him. He and his men had stayed right where he had ordered them to be. Somehow, Winters knew what was really going on and staged quite a rescue of his daughter and the twin girls. Satisfaction spread across Vatter’s face because the twins were no longer with Mordulfah. He was surprised at how happy this information made him. Even though sacrificing the twins had saved his life, it hadn’t been an easy thing to live with and he actually lost sleep over it. When he heard what had happened, he found himself silently thanking the Shadow Patriots for easing his conscience.

  He hoped the girls were doing well now that they were safe in Jackson. He let out a laugh because they had the town surrounded and would eventually lay siege on it. He hoped they’d keep their heads down when it happened, which would probably be sooner than later. After what happened the other night, the men were making bets on the timeline. There was no way Mordulfah wouldn’t want revenge and strike back.

  Vatter stayed away from Grosse Pointe yesterday, figuring nothing good could come from it. He wasn’t asked to come out and he sure as hell wasn’t going to voluntarily go, especially with what happened the last time. His guys were also taking bets on how many men Mordulfah would execute if any. It wasn’t as if he had an endless supply of M and M’s, a term the cops used for Mordulfah’s men. Some of these guys had to be regretting their decision to sign up with the Saudi Prince. They were losing vast numbers of men with little to show for it. He knew how disheartening it was from his own loses, and he had not lost anywhere near what Mordulfah had. Besides, it wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own for having Cara Winters there, to begin with. It was ridiculous to think the Shadow Patriots would believe she was in Detroit. These guys didn’t get this far for being a bunch of idiots. He’d learned that the hard way over the past week and had to hand it to them for their tactical ability. It was a daring rescue to sneak into the mansion, again and had it not been for Charlie Chivers screaming out, they’d have gotten away with a clean break. Vatter shook his head at the stupidity of that girl getting herself killed. She’d be alive today if she had just waited a couple of minutes. Stupid girl.

  The holes in Mordulfah’s plan were obvious to begin with, but Vatter didn’t dare tell him because he was too arrogant to be told anything. He had tried in the past but learned a valuable lesson when Mordulfah gave him a long cold stare. Those black eyes of his freaked the hell out of him. It was as if you were in some sort of horror movie. They penetrated deep into your soul making you quiver in fear. He remembered he was so nervous that beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. You never knew what this man was capable of doing. Vatter choked on his coffee laughing. “Beheading his own people is what he’s capable of doing.” How could he forget?

  A knock on the door brought Vatter back to reality. Without permission, in walked Tannenbaum, a twenty-five-year-old cop who sported a splotchy beard on his baby face. He was Vatter’s right-hand man but didn’t always know his place.

  “Oh, just come right on in,” said Vatter in an annoying tone.

  “Sorry, but you’re not going to believe who I have on the phone.”

  Vatter raised his eyebrows waiting in anticipation.

  “Some cop over in Sarnia has some Shadow Patriots in custody.”

  Vatter had to think for a moment where Sarnia was and then remembered it was in Canada. “And?”

  “Wants to know if the reward offer is still good.”

  Vatter leaned forward excitedly. “Hell ya it is. Is he on the line?”

  “Yeah man, let me transfer him to ya.”

  Vatter waited for the button to light up. His heart began to beat faster hoping it was Winters. He couldn’t believe this was happening and had to control himself when the line lit up. His finger shook as he pressed the button.

  Chapter 37

  Sabine Iowa

  After setting fire to the house where Billy Gamble was keeping Finley and her family hostage, Winters rushed back to the hiding place where the girls waited for him. They were alert and breathing rapidly as they stared wide-eyed at the exits. The knuckles on Laney’s left hand were white as she tightened her grip on the AR-15. The girls’ hearts were pounding as fast as Winters’ was. This was a risky move with little leeway for error. Too many things could go wrong, starting with Billy Gamble or Bobby Boxers not even being in there. If that was the case, and Finley was tied up, then she’d die of smoke inhalation. He kept that in the back of his mind as he watched the flames start to engulf the back of the house. The fire crackled and snapped as the flames ate through the wood. Putrid black smoke filled the morning air, which had started to seep all around the area and was blocking his view. If the occupants heard this and still didn’t come out to investigate, then they might know who was waiting outside for them. Would they come out to investigate what was happening first, or would they just drag their hostages out with guns held to their heads? With the fire raging, he wouldn’t have to wait to
o long before finding out.

  Movement at the sliding glass door caught his attention and Winters watched as Bobby Boxers crept out holding onto Finley’s twelve-year-old sister, Kayley, who was crying in his arms. He kept her close to him while holding a gun to her head. Winters then heard a muffled scream on the other side of the house. Billy Gamble staggered out with his arm wrapped around Finley and a pistol to her head. He kept spinning around looking for any shooters.

  The fire began to envelop the whole house when Winters realized Finley’s mom was still inside. He had to make a choice who to go after first. He looked back and forth to both men and decided.

  Without looking at the girls, he ordered them to stay put. He pulled out his knife with his left hand and crept down low using the black smoke as cover. He pointed the blade up as he came out of the smoke and charged Bobby Boxers, who had just turned toward him. He looked confused as Winters reached up with his right hand to push on the pistol while shoving the blade into his armpit. Bobby let out a yelp as Kayley squirmed out of his clutches. Bobby threw a punch at Winters, which landed on his right cheek but didn’t deter him from pushing Bobby backward. The force tipped them both over and Winters fell on top, which gave him the advantage. He took the blade and thrust it into his throat finishing him off.

  Kayley stared at Winters in shock while Collette rushed over and took her into her arms.

  “Where’s her mom?” asked Winters.

  Collette brushed the girl’s hair off her face and got the answer Winters had expected. She was tied up inside.

  Winters raced into the burning house. The smoke hung low in the air and Winters dropped on all fours trying to take in short breaths. It took a few seconds before finding her in the living room tied to a chair. He scooted over to her and grabbed his knife to cut her free. He led her outside where she coughed a few times trying to suck in clean air. Her daughter rushed over and wrapped her arms around her while continuing to sob.