The car slowed. “Uh, Joel?”
Joel bolted upright, unhooked his belt and swore an oath under his breath. Kirin raised her body up to see a long stretch of road ahead, and traffic at a full stop in front of them. Like a jackrabbit on speed, Joel barked out directions while shoving two guns inside the black bag and slinging it on his back.
“See that patch of trees? Pull into the grass close to them, jump out and lift the hood. Turn your flashers on.”
The truck slowed. Joel pushed Kirin’s bad shoulder down, so her head wasn’t visible. She winced, and he noticed. She reached down to re-tie one of her boots. The driver did what he was told and parked the truck right next to the trees. Joel grabbed hold of the young man’s arm before he could open the door. “Watch your back.” He cared about the boy, she could tell.
As soon as the young man opened his door and lifted the hood, Joel pushed Kirin’s door open and shoved her out. With one hand on her back, he pushed her body to run crouched like they were boarding a helicopter.
When they hit the woods, they ran side by side for a long time until she signaled to him. She had to stop. Her lungs burned. Joel growled, glanced at his watch as Kirin bent over, hands on her knees to breathe.
Joel finally spoke. “We’ve got ten minutes to make it to the extraction point. It’s a little over a mile. There will be gunfire, but I’ll get you safely on the boat.”
“Safely?” Still bent, she turned and looked at him like he had three heads. “That’s like saying, I’ll place you gently inside the lion’s den right before dinner.”
“Whatever.” He waved her off. “I’ll take you as far as the house, but after that I’m gone.”
“Whatever. Good luck sleeping at night.” She looked down at the gold band on his left hand. “Wonder what your wife will think of you. I bet you have little kids too, don’t ya? They’ll know. They always find out, you know.”
Joel’s face turned beet red. She’d hit a nerve.
“Move out.”
Kirin took a deep breath and jogged alongside him. The kindness he’d shown her was finished. She was now only a paycheck to this man. This family man with a wife and kids. Then it dawned on her. What if they’d threatened his family? What wouldn’t she do for hers? Would she turn someone over to them if they had Jack or Will? No...Well if she was being honest, maybe. She couldn’t definitively answer that because she knew as a parent she’d do anything to keep them safe.
Even with the sun setting over the water, what should’ve been a beautiful sight, looked ominous and threatening. They ran until they could see the clearing up ahead, then slowed to a stop. She had to get her breathing under control if they were going to sneak up on whomever would be there.
She’d already made the decision to put her head down and run. But what if Sam was there? Couldn’t she just run to him? She could, and he’d save her, but then how would she find Stacy? In her heart she knew her friend was back inside that horrible place and she couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t at least try to get her out. Plus, she still held onto the idea that she could stop these people. Although, she had no magic envelope this time.
When they’d crept to the clearing, a small open field lay before them that butted up to the lake. Beyond a patch of scraggly trees at the water’s edge, was a small black boat. In the dying sun, it was hard to see anything except the rocking of the boat. It looked abandoned and unmanned. Kirin sat on a patch of pine straw and stretched her legs.
Joel sat a few feet away, glanced at his watch and took a long breath. “Delivering you, protects my family. I’m sorry about that. But there are people on the inside who’ll help you.”
Kirin stared at him for a beat before looking away. His face was sincere. This was why he didn’t seem like them. He wasn’t one of them, but someone pressed into service to protect his family. Probably ex-military and they needed his skill set. Kirin stood and brushed off her pants, not allowing him to see the mist in her eyes.
“Let’s get to it, then.” She readied herself to run into the open field.
Joel cinched up his pack and grabbed her hand. She pretended it was a kindness, but he probably didn’t want her to trip or run toward those that might be there to save her.
Joel counted to three and they took off like a rocket. His long legs made him stride like a gazelle, while she seemed to be tiny stepping like a penguin. But in a flash, they were halfway to the boat. Both of their heads swung from side to side. She felt like she was running through an unmanned haunted house, just waiting for someone to jump out and yell, ‘Boo!’
Nobody came to save her. Not a soul. Then she remembered. She was bait. They wouldn’t stop her here because they were trying to find the hideout. A feeling of dread felt like a black cloud hanging over her, just waiting for the opportune moment to rain.
When they reached the other side, a wrinkled, fat man popped up from the driver’s seat and pointed a rifle at Joel’s head. Joel skidded to a stop.
“Team one, reporting.”
The old man looked from him to Kirin and lowered his gun. “Hurry up, you’re late. Where’s two?”
Joel shrugged as he held out a hand to Kirin to help her aboard. She refused it and climbed onto the boat herself. He watched her. Although she didn’t question his motives, she refused to make eye contact with him. He’d handed her over to die. She flopped onto a bench, just behind the driver.
The old man smelled like he’d licked a pack of Marlboro’s. With hatred filling his eyes, he picked up a life jacket and chucked it at her head, hard. She caught it, glared at him, and put it on. This was how she’d expected to be treated.
Joel stood on the bank, shook his head then climbed in.
The stinky old man stared at him. “What the hell?”
“You need a lookout while you drive. You can take me back after. Team Two will be there by then.”
“Suit yourself.”
The old man threw the small boat into reverse, then took off down the lake at full speed. Damn, the cold air cut through her sweatshirt. She remembered it had a hood and pulled it on but had to hold it as the wind tried it’s best to rip it from her head.
Joel sat across from her, on full alert. It was curious. She’d overheard a conversation at the barracks that they couldn’t find The Club’s local fortress anywhere.
Even though Stacy had lived there, she couldn’t describe exactly where it was, only that it was a rehabbed mansion on the outside, but the inside was something out of a horror movie. A place where people were taken to the dungeon, tortured, and died. Kirin shuddered, which had nothing to do with the cold.
The sun was a half glowing orb that appeared to be sinking into the water. The boat slowed, but no house came into view. Only miles and miles of lake and trees. The old man’s bald head turned toward Joel.
“Supplier’s already there,” he yelled over the noise.
Joel looked confused but seemed to recover quickly.
“Yeah? I didn’t think they were supposed to arrive until tonight.”
The man scoffed, “Asshole thinks he’s better than us. More refined. Like his drugs are the best and we can’t afford ‘em. It’s all bullshit. Nicky’ll show ‘em what a true family looks like.” The man cut his eyes toward Kirin, then back to Joel. “He’ll make a show of how we treat our enemies.”
The old man hacked and coughed, lifting an old brown handkerchief to his lips, then shoving it into his back pocket. She was to be entertainment for their dinner guest. A show of power. Her legs began to tremble. She stretched them out to stop them from shaking. Escape plans ran through her mind. She was a good swimmer. But, unless she knocked both the dumbass driver and Joel out, they’d catch her. She could take the old man’s rifle, which was propped up next to the wheel, but then could she shoot Joel? She felt like she’d connected with him.
An image of her boys danced across her mind. She swallowed the huge lump forming in her throat. This boat was taking her to her end. What would happen to them? She’d miss the
ir whole lives. Graduations, proms, weddings and grandbabies—all seemed like fairytales now. She knew her aunt and uncle would raise them well, like they’d raised her. But damn it, she wanted to be there. Kirin swiped at her eyes. But if she didn’t stop these killers now, they’d come after her boys.
No.
How had her life come to this? And what of Sam? If these people had their way, Sam would be with Gianna and Kirin would be dead. His life would be forever enslaved to those people, like it’d been since he was sixteen.
No.
Then there was Stacy. She knew her friend was there. Felt it. She couldn’t leave her to save her own skin. They’d tortured Stacy because of Kirin. Tortured her to the point of almost mind twisting Stacy to believe she hated Kirin. Plus, she’d made Stacy a promise. She couldn’t live with herself if she escaped without her.
No.
The lake curved around a corner, then straightened out. Just when the sun dipped below the trees and she thought they would have to navigate in the dark, they slowed and headed for a tree lined bank. Just beyond the trees, she saw a sprinkling of lights.
Even from a distance, it looked like a dilapidated dock she wouldn’t allow her dog to walk on. Joel stood quick and looked around. Nobody was there to greet them or take Kirin off his hands. The old man butted the boat up to the dock. Joel huffed, grabbed his bag and motioned for Kirin to stand. When she did, he stripped her of the lifejacket and spun her around, handcuffing her once more. His hands were gentle, but his actions weren’t.
Joel climbed onto the dock, then grabbed her by the elbow and helped her on to it as well. No sooner than her foot had left the boat, the gruff driver lit a cigarette and slammed the boat in reverse.
Joel navigated the uneven dock, helping her jump from it onto the eroded ground, still holding her up at the elbow. She noticed he’d switched sides and was holding her good elbow. Ahead lay a patch of trees. Joel threw his bag on his back then pulled her along as he jogged through the knobby, unkempt grass toward the trees. After a moment, he slowed, then stared straight ahead as he spoke.
“Once we reach the house, I’m gone. Keep your head about you. And remember not everybody inside is against you.”
Kirin stared. Was he referring to the mole? Or maybe he was the mole? She’d love to think he wasn’t entirely bad.
When they’d trotted to the edge of the small forest, she stopped. A looming, dark mansion rose up from the side of a hill looking like something out of a horror film. If there’d been spooky music or lightning, she’d have run the other way. The façade was made of moldy brick and old stone. It looked like a rundown, miniature Biltmore. It had to be at least a hundred years old. And some of the turrets and statues had crumbled to the point of being unrecognizable.
But even though it was spooky, there was something familiar about this place. She’d seen it before. She just knew it. In the paper or on the news...she wracked her brain. Finally it came to her. The local TV station, WBIR had run a piece on this place a few months back. It’d been left by a widow to the University of Tennessee in honor of her father, with strict stipulations that it was not to be sold but used by each incoming president of the college.
Her lungs stung with the cold air as they trudged on and her mind spun.
The widow’s name was Eugenia Williams. Since the college presidents wanted to pick out their own homes, the house stood abandoned and vandalized for twenty years. The reporter had indicated that the University challenged the will and won, selling the property to an investor. The house was to be revamped and restored to its glory days.
As they moved closer, she noticed scaffolding attached to the brick in the back. The main structure was at least fifty yards long, and two stories. Balconies overlooked the lake from the top floor. Wrought iron finials and crumbling gargoyles adorned the roofline, making it look like a castle and showcasing it’s early 1900’s roots. Two fireplace stacks could be seen from the lake, but no smoke billowed out.
All shades were drawn. Very little happy light shone through. As they reached the house, Joel squeezed her arm. A grungy man dressed in a suit too big for his frame, stood quick and snuffed out his cigarette, pointing his gun, too late, at Joel.
Joel shook his head, “Team one.”
The man lowered his gun, then looked Kirin up and down. “That her?”
Joel ignored his question, “Be on the lookout for team two.”
The man licked his lips at her, then flopped back on the wrought iron chair to wait.
Joel ushered her inside and stopped. Her eyes adjusted. They’d entered a long parlor with several couches, but no people. He glanced about the room. Gripping her elbow tighter, he led her off to the left, through two small sitting rooms, toward a door that looked like a tiny, musty old closet.
When he opened it, it smelled like one too. Joel ushered her inside and followed. She felt like an elephant in a phone booth. In the back of the closet was a hidden door. Joel fidgeted with the rusty latch that looked exactly like the one on her farmhouse screen door. With a grunt, he opened the door. Rickety, splintered wooden stairs led down. Joel went first, sideways, still holding her elbow. The rungs were narrow, and she was grateful he held on to her tightly. More than once her foot slipped out from underneath her.
At the bottom, dark concrete hallways jetted out in three directions. Joel looked around, his eyes scrunched like he was trying to remember which way to go. He picked the hallway to the right and scurried along its path.
It was a cave of sorts. Cold, damp gray walls littered with only a sliver of light every ten feet. Under one of the lights, she glanced up at him. His face held determination and something else.
Fear.
In the distance, a faint cry echoed, stopping her in her tracks. She strained to hear. Joel stopped too. It appeared to be coming from every direction. The sound alone caused her blood to boil.
It was a cry she knew.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rosa smiled in the rearview mirror as Will chattered the whole way to school. Nonstop. Not a nervous or anxious chatter, but more like an excited one. Competitive hallway paper football with his friends was all he breathed. And he was in the lead.
Dean and Kathy had made extra sure he hadn’t heard any of their conversations with Sam.
Rosa had her own bodyguard of course, but she could move faster than that old coot. Besides, nothing was going to get to her baby. If there was one thing she learned on the street it was to be fierce and to notice everything. It’s how she’d picked Kirin out of all the harried moms at the grocery store the day they’d “met.”
Rosa’s head swiveled back and forth at every light from Dean and Kathy’s house to Will’s school. She felt like she was driving a precious gem to market. One that everyone wanted to steal. A few times, she’d thought she was being followed, but she’d sped up to ensure she’d lost them. The only time he got wind of anything being different is when he questioned why she’d taken so many side streets. She’d chalked it up to being old.
When she pulled up to the school, she only recognized a few teachers opening the car doors for the kids. Sam had been taking Will to school more than she and Kirin had and it’d been a while since she’d dropped him off. The school’s security officer was different, too. The big house of a man, Officer Greg, that never stopped talking was now replaced by a small dark headed man—no it was a woman. It was hard to tell from the back.
When Mrs. Whitney flung open Will’s door, Rosa startled. Damn happy morning people.
“Hi Will! Good Morning, Rosa,” she chirped.
Rosa exhaled, then touched Will on the arm. When he turned, he flashed her one of his best smiles. A smile that said she was his and he was hers. It always warmed her heart when her big kid did that. She hoped he’d do that all the way to high school.
As he flung on his backpack and walked toward the front doors, she answered Mrs. Whitney the same as she used to when he was smaller:
“Keep him safe.”
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Mrs. Whitney smiled, “Always!”
Rosa checked her mirrors and pulled out.
Now that Will was safe at school and Little Jack was safe at Kathy’s, it was time for a quick meeting with her informant...without getting caught.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kirin sprinted ahead blindly. Running toward the cry. Joel swore under his breath as she’d tore away from him and got the jump on him. His long legs caught up to her fast. The hallway was littered with closed doors. The first door she came to, she tried knocking it open with her body. It didn’t work.
Joel grabbed her and spun her around to face him, whispering through gritted teeth. “Damnit Lane be quiet. What are you doing?”
Kirin twisted, showing him her hands, “Take them off—please. I swear, I won’t run from you. Please Joel.”
Joel’s expression was that of a man who wanted nothing further to do with this place. He blew out a long breath, then lifted the tail of his black jacket and pulled keys off the carabiner attached to his pants. He flipped through quick and agile and found the key. Pulling it off his key ring, he turned her the rest of the way around and unlocked the cuffs. Without a word, he stuffed the key into her back pocket.
Kirin didn’t hesitate. She begged, “Help me find her.”
Joel grabbed her by the arm. “I have to deliver you in the next three minutes or I’m dead.”
“She’s down here...My friend Stacy. Put me in a cell with her. Tell them...tell them I was a freakin’ nightmare and you needed to secure me somewhere before finding them.”
Joel’s long legs began to move and without the cuffs, Kirin could move just as fast. They sprinted together from door to door, listening. The cry stopped, damnit. Kirin let out a low whistle. Joel stared at her wide-eyed then slid her a look that said, “you’re going to get us killed.”
Two doors down from where they stood, she heard a tiny voice, “I’m here.”
Kirin ran to the door and shook the handle. No dice. Joel strode up and felt along the wall. An oval shaped button, camouflaged by being the same drab grey as the walls, had been placed next to the door. Joel pressed his right thumb against the oval until the door clicked. Kirin opened it wide and gasped.
Unraveling Page 14
