Mark One

by John Hindmarsh

  “And my dog whisperer,” said Miss Victoria. “He’s done marvels with Betsy.”

  Mark returned Susie’s cautious handshake and acknowledged their praise. “They just listen to me. Your pony only wanted to get out of the trailer, she told me.”

  Robin dug him in the ribs.

  “So what brings you to this wild town?”

  Robin explained to Susie when her friend looked concerned at his question. “He’s joking. Wild? All the wild ones left the village years ago. It’s very quiet and peaceful, except for the occasional dog whisperer. I brought Susie here—she needs somewhere to stay for a little while, like someone else I know. We’ve taken some teacher’s days off.”

  “Where’s your pony? Doesn’t she get a break as well?”

  “No, a friend is looking after her. A neighbor.”

  Mark could see Susie’s bruised face and thought Robin would explain at some stage. “Well, I’m taking Betsy for a walk. Volunteers?” Betsy thumped her tail when she heard her name mentioned.

  “Give me thirty minutes and I’ll join you both. I’d like to stretch my legs, and also hear your opinion of Jekyll Yards and its ‘wild’ inhabitants.” She looked at Susie. “I’ll get you settled first, OK?”

  “Sure. I need to rest. If I can shower?”

  “I’ll wait. Just knock on my door when you’re ready.” Mark signaled to Betsy and led the dog out to the back garden.

  ~~~

  “So you see,” concluded Robin as they walked one of the trails, “I thought of Nan. I just hope Susie will be safe here. Her partner’s a monster, he really made a mess—I cleaned her up before we left. I think she has a broken rib and we might need to take her to the emergency department in Brunswick, if it causes problems.”

  “Count on me and Betsy.” The dog looked up and wagged her tail.

  “I agree, she knows what you’re saying to her. Nan told me about your demonstration to the girls—everyone was impressed.”

  “Except perhaps Cody. He worked out who I am. We discussed it and he seems OK. There is a risk, however. I’m trying to build up courage to tell Miss Victoria that I’m going to leave.”

  “I’ll have words with that uncle of mine, he should be offering protection—that’s what sheriffs are for, after all. You stay here as long as you need to—besides you paid Nan for six months, she told me.”

  “Thanks. He’s right, though.”

  Robin snorted her disdain. “Typical male.” She waited for a few seconds. “What are your plans?”

  Mark looked sideways at her as they rounded a bend in the trail. “It depends, doesn’t it? The FBI’s arrested a number of people involved in the raid on LifeLong. This Senator—Boothby—is still in hiding somewhere. I won’t be safe until he’s arrested, maybe not even then, if he keeps offering money for my death.”

  Robin squeezed his hand. Somewhere along the walk she had taken hold of it and had not relinquished it. “You should only leave if you really think you need to. Jekyll Yards is doing you good—you seem a lot more relaxed.”

  They eventually returned to the village and walked down the road to the wharf where Tom was fishing. Betsy sat in the shade of the heavy bollard while Mark set out some water for her. After a brief chat with Tom, they returned to check Susie’s condition with Miss Victoria.

  “She’s sleeping. She seemed tired. I gave her some painkillers, just to ease the pain. Did you enjoy your walk?”

  ~~~

  Two days passed, two days of rest for Susie and of a developing relationship between Mark and Robin. Their interlude was interrupted by Cody’s arrival mid-morning on the third day. He hugged his niece and was introduced to Susie.

  “Now, it’s not you I came to see,” he told Robin. “It’s Mark I need. This is an unofficial visit, so I left my official vehicle at home.”

  Robin snapped. “Mark told me you said he should leave. I won’t have it—you should be working out how to protect him, not sending him away.”

  “Whoa, there,” Cody put his hands in the air as a gesture of surrender. “I know Mark’s a good guy. But he’s a target for some very tough criminals.”

  “Yes, and that’s why you need to protect him.”

  “The FBI want to speak with Mark, they need his evidence. The senior agent in charge knows him, and asked me to discuss their request for him to go to Quantico. I can take him, or they can send a vehicle. They prefer to come and get him. They can protect him far better than I can. Although he could probably protect me, from what I hear. When the FBI captures Boothby, he—Mark—can come back and stay for as long as he likes. Besides, you don’t want to see a gang war break out here, in Jekyll Yards, do you?”

  “No—OK, I’ll talk to Mark for you. Now go and keep Nan company, and don’t scare Susie.”

  Mark and Robin sat for almost an hour, discussing the FBI request communicated via Cody. Mark was doubtful of his safety, even with the FBI. He realized Cody would probably communicate his location to MayAnn and Schmidt, assuming the deputy sheriff had not already done so. Either Mark agreed to give evidence, or he left Jekyll Yards, almost as though he was a fugitive. He was reluctant lose the chance to live a normal life.

  “You will be safe with the FBI,” said Robin. “And once they have caught this Boothby, you can come back here. Or visit me in Rock Hill. If you want to.”

  At last Mark reluctantly agreed with Robin and she went to find her uncle, with Mark following at a slower pace, reflecting his reluctance, even though he acknowledged an obligation to work closely with the FBI. He needed to set some barriers in place, otherwise he would be treated as some kind of genetic specimen—and, for the moment, he had had enough of laboratories. Schmidt would, he hoped, understand his needs. He wandered around to the kitchen door and knocked. Just as Robin opened the door, two men stepped around the corner of the house, behind him. They were wearing biker leathers, and one had tattoos all over his face.

  Marks’s suspicion was confirmed when one of the men snarled at him. “Where’s my Susie?’

  “Who are you?” Mark asked.

  “Answer his question, ass,” ordered his heavily tattooed companion.

  “Look after him, Billy. I’ll check the house.” The other man headed for the back door.

  “My pleasure, Ross. I can handle him.”

  The man’s grin, decided Mark, was feral, bordering on evil. Undoubtedly, he meant to do harm. Betsy came rushing over from behind the garage, fur raised and teeth bared, when she heard the raised, threatening voices. She arrived just as the other man slammed through the kitchen door. She was barking and from her demeanor, intended first to savage the man who was threatening her master and then she would deal with the other stranger, now in the kitchen.

  The tattooed man, Billy, drew a revolver and aimed it at Betsy. It was, Mark noted, a traditional Colt, and more than capable of causing death. He momentarily regretted he had left his Glock in the apartment.

  “Betsy!” he shouted. “Hide! Go!” The urgency in his voice penetrated the dog’s frenzy and she skidded to a stop, looked at Mark and just as quickly retreated around the corner, away from the man with the weapon. Mark could hear screams from within the house, and trusted Cody was able to cope with the man who had entered the kitchen.

  Billy laughed. “Oh, the poor doggie might get hurt.”

  “No,” said Mark, “I was protecting you. Rottweilers are killers.”

  “Now that you’ve mentioned killing,” Billy said, and raised his weapon and aimed it at Mark.

  “Oh, come on,” exclaimed Mark. “I thought you wanted to demonstrate how much better you are. You don’t need a weapon.”

  Billy laughed, threw his revolver on the ground, and leapt at Mark.

  ***

  Chapter 21

  It was a one-sided fight. Mark had struggled to keep the lid on his anger, which had been ignited by the murder of his parents, and now was unleashed by this attack. His was a slow burning anger, not a red and reckless flare. He kept his head
and stepped back from the heavier man’s leap, avoiding his outstretched arms. Mark knew he was far lighter than his beefier opponent and needed to keep out of the reach of those long, powerful arms. Time slowed as his adrenaline surged.

  “Stand and fight, you fucking coward,” swore Billy. “What are you, some kind of dancing queen?”

  Mark moved forward and unleashed two fast, high-powered, consecutive right jabs to Billy’s face, breaking his nose, and stepped back before he could retaliate. His opponent screamed with pain and anger and again tried to lunge for Mark. He slid sideways and pulled the man’s arm to add momentum and then tripped him as he went past. Billy landed face first on the ground, his nose again transmitting pain as it impacted the hard earth. He came up with a roar and Mark carefully aimed and kicked through his assailant’s right knee with the edge of his boot. The impacted kneecap crunched. Billy screamed and again collapsed onto the ground, his left kneecap shattered. He was only yards away from his revolver and tried to lunge towards the weapon. Mark waited until he had almost gripped the weapon and then jumped on his right arm, breaking it at the elbow. He moved back, giving his assailant room. Billy lay there, moaning with pain.

  At least, thought Mark, while the man was a bully, he was no coward. He was not giving in. Mark smiled. He was venting anger, and Billy was his target. He stepped towards the weapon and kicked it away, across the lawn. Billy tried to stand, using the side of the house as an aid. He pulled a hunting knife from a sheath on his right leg and stabbed it towards Mark. Mark swayed back out of reach and carefully aimed and kicked through Billy’s right knee, with a sickening crunch of bone and ligament. He collapsed again. Mark stepped closer to his fallen assailant and was about to deliver a kick to his face when Robin screamed from the kitchen door.

  “Don’t, Mark, don’t do it. Stop! We need you here, quickly.”

  Mark looked up at Robin; for a moment, anger continued to cloud his vision. He used the toe of his boot to nudge Billy.

  “This is not finished,” he promised, and then called Betsy. When the dog came around the corner of the house, he pointed at the man on the ground.

  “Guard him,” he commanded. The dog growled a fierce rumbling threat and sat beside Billy’s head, teeth bared.

  Mark turned to Robin. “What’s wrong? I thought Cody could handle Ross?”

  “He attacked Cody and grabbed his weapon. He’s holding Susie as hostage. Nan’s there, too. Cody needs your help. Quickly.”

  Mark rushed into the house, down the long hallway to Susie’s room. He slowed and stepped softly, stopping just outside the door and listened. Cody was talking to Susie’s ex-partner, Ross, and for the moment seemed to have quietened the situation. He turned to Robin.

  “My weapon’s under my pillow,” he commanded in a whisper. “Please get it for me. If the other guy—Billy—is unconscious, bring Betsy in here, as well. I’ll wait outside unless Cody needs me. Go, quickly.” He continued to listen outside the door while Robin rushed on her errand.

  The weapon felt comfortable in his hand. He stepped into the living room where Cody was attempting to negotiate with Susie’s ex-partner. Ross had Cody’s gun and was holding it against Susie’s right temple. He had a choke hold around her neck with his left arm. His head swung towards Mark.

  “Who the hell are you—where’s Billy?”

  “Your friend’s waiting for an ambulance. He can’t walk and his arm’s broken. You won’t get much help there.”

  “I don’t believe you.” His grip tightened on the weapon and his arm pressed harder around Susie’s neck. She moaned.

  “Cody, take Miss Victoria out of here,” instructed Mark. “Ross, she’s an old lady, and doesn’t deserve to be put through this experience.”

  “Stay put, all of you,” said Ross, trying to retain control.

  Mark continued, his voice authoritative. “Cody. Move out. Call an ambulance for Ross’s friend. I think he needs professional emergency care.” Mark raised his Glock as Cody helped Miss Victoria to stand and walk out the door. The old lady appeared to be shaken and slightly unsteady on her feet. “Ross, you can try to kill whoever you like. However, I promise you—I’ll kill you before you fire your weapon.” His hand was steady. The barrel, unwavering, was aimed directly at Ross.

  “Susie’s mine, and I’ll have her. No one else. No one!” Ross pointed his weapon back at Susie.

  “Ross, why are you doing this to yourself? I’m sure you and Susie can work through your differences, without resorting to violent threats.” Mark moved further into the room, towards Ross’s right side, away from the angle where he was holding Susie.

  “Stop there.” Ross waved his weapon again.

  Mark ignored the instruction and took another small step, further into the room. He now had a very clear line to Ross, unless the man moved. If he did, his attention would be diverted, providing an opportunity for Mark.

  “Please, Ross. Consider the consequences of what you’re doing. I don’t think you want the law to come here, to arrest you. You can end this, just let Susie go. The poor girl’s so upset. She didn’t mean to make you angry.”

  Ross sneered. “She—you can’t sweet talk me. I want to leave, with Susie.”

  “That might be difficult, don’t you think? Susie can’t travel on a bike, her injuries are too severe. Look, she’s hardly conscious, as it is. Ease up on her neck, please.”

  Nonplused, Ross relaxed his left arm, and Susie took a deep breath. “I can take one of the cars—the deputy has one.”

  “And how far will you get, with all the sheriffs in the county chasing you? That won’t work. No, the best thing for you to do is to let Susie go; she needs medical attention, and the ambulance will be here shortly, for Billy— they can take Susie as well.”

  “Billy—what did you do to him?”

  “He tried to fight me. He has two fractured kneecaps and a broken elbow.”

  “Shit. I’ve seen him in action.” He remembered his situation as Mark made another small movement. “Back off. Susie is mine.”

  “Ross, I don’t want to shoot you. So, let’s relax here. Ease off on Susie, let her go. Robin’s outside, she’ll take care of Susie for you. Then you and I can talk this through, as reasonable people.”

  Ross snarled. “Robin caused this—if she hadn’t interfered, this never would’ve happened.”

  “Susie was hurt and Robin’s her good friend. You’d help a friend, wouldn’t you?”

  Ross said nothing. He could not see a way out of his predicament. His anger was cooling and he was beginning to realize he had created a major predicament for himself.

  “Let Susie go, please.” The weapon was still aimed at Ross, the barrel steady.

  “And when I do, I’ll be arrested.”

  “I’m sure Cody wants this to end without anyone getting hurt. I don’t want to hurt you, either. Also, I’m sure you don’t want to be hurt. Put your weapon down. Look, I’ll put mine down. Now you put yours down.” Mark lowered his Glock.

  Ross thought for a moment. “All right.” He lowered his automatic and released Susie. She swayed and almost fell.

  Mark walked over and took hold of the barrel of the weapon. Ross released it and Mark tucked into his belt, in the small of his back.

  “Stay there,” he instructed, as he held Susie.

  He raised his voice. “Cody, you can come in, now.”

  Robin gave Mark a hug. Susie had been checked by the emergency response team and declared bruised but not broken. They had checked Miss Victoria, just in case, to the old lady’s disgust.

  “It was just a little bit of excitement,” she claimed. “Nothing to fuss about.” Although she had quietly thanked Mark when no one was listening.

  Cody had been very subdued in the aftermath. He thanked Mark profusely; expressing his gratitude the matter had been resolved without harm to his family or to Susie. He undertook to file a report describing how Mark had dealt with Billy in self-defense. Billy was unlikely to object, given
he had initiated the attack. Ross had remained silent throughout the arrest process, saying not a word. His world had collapsed on top of him, and he did not know how to cope.

  The ambulance departed with Billy, after the responders said he indeed was in need of professional care. Finally, Cody had carted Ross off, handcuffed, to face a range of charges.

  “Thank you,” Robin whispered as she wrapped her arms around Mark. “Cody was so embarrassed when Ross took his weapon. You did worry me, though. I thought you were going to shoot Ross. I saw what you did to Billy, and—just worried.”

  “I was angry. I think Billy was a substitute for the people who killed my parents. Ross? No, I was not going to shoot him. Unless he tried to shoot Susie or one of us first.” He was enjoying Robin’s closeness.

  “I do have a problem,” Mark said, eventually releasing Robin. “Cody will file a report—covering my fight and the details of the standoff with Ross. I told him—well, he worked out my real name. He cannot file a false report, so I expect his report will have Mark Midway all through it—and the people looking for me will soon discover the details, I’m sure.”

  “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. I agree, Cody’d be in major trouble if it got out that he knew your real name and hadn’t used it in his report. What will you do?”

  “So—by tomorrow, at the latest—I need to leave. If I remain, you’ll be at risk, all of you. I’ll contact the FBI. They’ll probably want to come and get me. I agree with them, I need to give evidence about the attack and the murder of my parents and the other people working for LifeLong.”

  “So we have one night, before you’re taken away from me?”

  ~~~

  The black FBI SUVs arrived at midday the following day. One contained a SWAT team. The FBI regarded Mark as a vital witness who needed their protection. The other vehicle had one passenger—Schmidt. Mark introduced him to the ladies and then, farewells completed, including a teary hug from Susie and an even more teary kiss from Robin, he climbed into the rear seat of the Suburban with his small backpack. Miss Victoria and Robin had promised to take care of his other possessions, including the motorcycle.