Fatal Vendetta

by Sharon Dunn

  Neil Thompson’s car slowed as it went by but didn’t stop.

  “Guess he’s given up for the day,” she said.

  “Seems like a lot of trouble to destroy someone’s career,” he said. “I just don’t think Neil is smart enough to pull something like this off.”

  “Like I said, maybe he had help. Or maybe he’s telling the truth about the tip being anonymous, and someone’s just using him as a tool. It wasn’t Neil who grabbed me at the fire or the country club.” She rested her head in her hands. “I need to get back to the station and face the music about the news van. Not exactly a great first day back.”

  He patted her back. “The good news is it can only get better.” He turned the key in the ignition. “Come on, intrepid reporter. You can do this.”

  Her eyes rested on him for a moment, and he thought he detected affection there. Now he understood why part of her was so walled off. A friendship might be the most he could hope for.

  She had shared her darkest secret with him. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to share his.

  TEN

  Tension coiled around Elizabeth’s throat and shot down into her chest. This story was big, a hostage situation at a ranch. A grown son had barricaded his parents, his younger sister and his wife in the house.

  Up to this point, she’d been doing the fluff pieces since her return. After four days of work, her boss had confidence in her that she could handle this big story. Now she just had to believe in herself. She reached out for the dashboard as Dale rounded a curve on the dirt road.

  Her cameraman glanced over at her. “What do you know about these people?”

  She looked at the notes she’d scribbled when the call had come in. There was not much information. “I recognize the last name. They’ve had a ranch out here for generations.”

  “Wonder what made the kid go bonkers.”

  “It’s my job as a reporter to find out,” she said.

  They rounded the corner, and the ranch house came into view. The place was surrounded by police cars. Members of the SWAT team were strategically placed around the house. She saw a sniper on the barn roof.

  Sweat formed on her forehead as she curled her hand into a tight fist.

  Dale pushed open the van door. “I’ll get some opening shots. You gather the information you need for your stand-up.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them several times.

  Help me, Lord. Help me get through this.

  “You all right?” Dale spoke with fatherly concern.

  She lifted her chin. “Yes, I’m just taking a breath and coming up with a plan.”

  That was the most sincere prayer she’d prayed since being lost in the forest with Zach. She wasn’t sure why it had felt so natural to turn to God now after so many years of turning away from him—but it had felt natural, whether she could explain it or not.

  She pushed open the door and stepped out into the summer night. She took in the scene, searching for an officer who might be open to talking to her. Of course Zach was here already. He’d shown up to a lot of her fluff pieces over the past week. Stories he normally wouldn’t cover. She wondered if maybe he’d asked her producer to let him know when she was headed out to a story. She wasn’t sure how she felt about his protectiveness. Yes, she was afraid every time she went to cover breaking news. But she needed to be strong and professional. As much as she liked his company, having a babysitter worked against her.

  Zach made his way toward her.

  “I still can’t beat you to a story, Mr. Beck,” she said.

  He shrugged. “You’re always the second one.” He turned back toward the house and then looked at her. “Here’s what I know. After the first phone call where the guy let police know he was going to kill everyone in the house, he broke off communication. The guy’s name is Tyler Kinkaid.”

  She looked at the house. The shades were pulled on all but one window.

  Zach kept talking. “They don’t know which room of the house he’s in. They’ve seen movement on the second floor.”

  Feeling a little miffed, she planted her feet. “I could have gotten that information myself. That’s my job.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you could have. I just wanted to help.” Hurt tinged his words.

  “Zach, I appreciate it, but I have to show that I’m able to do my own reporting.”

  He nodded and swung his arm in an arc. “Go forth and report.”

  Was her ire about his over protectiveness or because he knew her secret? She’d closed that door so tightly. Opening it made her afraid as shame rose to the surface. Did he think less of her?

  Both of them noticed a police officer making his way over to the chief.

  They ran to be within earshot of the exchange. Though she could not pick up the whole of the conversation, she gathered that they had some background on the hostage taker. She heard the phrase no history of mental illness and something about a tour of duty.

  “He’s a vet.” Zach’s tone was full of emotion, but Elizabeth wasn’t sure what the emotion was. Fear? Trepidation? Empathy?

  Clearly upset, Zach stalked off, stopping to talk to one of the officers who stood behind the open door of his police car with his gun drawn.

  Part of the SWAT team disappeared around the other side of the house. Something seemed to have shifted as far as what was going on. Had they figured out where the hostages were in the house? Maybe Tyler Kinkaid had decided to talk to them.

  She didn’t see Zach anywhere.

  Dale came up to her while she was still looking around for Zach. “Things look pretty tense,” Dale said. “Probably no chance for an interview until it’s over.”

  “I have enough prelim info for a live feed. I’m sure they’ll want to cut into regular programming. Let’s get ready for that.”

  While Dale placed the camera on the tripod, she wandered behind the line the police had set up to keep reporters from being interfering. Still no sign of Zach. She studied the ranch house, seeing shadows moving around the outside. Her breath caught.

  Zach raced from one bush to another straight toward the house where the hostages were being held by an armed man bent on killing them.

  * * *

  Zach had overheard the order that if either of the snipers got a clean shot at Tyler, they were to take it. He couldn’t stand the thought of it. While he didn’t know what had brought Tyler to the point of holding his family hostage, he knew what men like Tyler had been through and that the former soldier didn’t deserve to die here today.

  Zach crouched low by the wall of the house until he found an open window. He slipped into a dark, silent basement. He could hear no footsteps above him. The SWAT team hadn’t entered the house yet.

  He felt along the wall and found his way to the stairs, keeping his ear tuned for any sound above him. By the time he made it to the top stair, adrenaline raged through his body. His heartbeat drummed in his ears. He entered a dark kitchen.

  The SWAT team wouldn’t want to risk the lives of the hostages. They’d be patient and wait for a moment when they could incapacitate or kill Tyler without harming anyone else. Staying low, he moved along the kitchen island. He detected footsteps, light and fast.

  He raised his head. A girl of about twelve or thirteen opened several cupboards and pulled out plastic containers, which she dropped twice. She was clearly agitated. She found a container with a lid and filled it with water.

  When she turned around toward the island, he stood up.

  He held up his hand and spoke in the softest voice he could manage. “I’m here to save your brother’s life.”

  A look of fear crossed her face as though she were trying to process what he’d said. She raised her voice. “How do I know that’s true? Nobody has cared about him since he got back.”
/>   He touched his fingers to his lips. “Quiet. You have to be quiet.”

  Her voice trembled. “He’s not a bad person.”

  “I know. I used to work with soldiers like him.”

  She shook her head.

  “I was a reporter in the Middle East. I’ve been around these guys.”

  That news seemed to make her want to cooperate. Her body relaxed. “He’s acting crazy. He thinks Mom and Dad are trying to hurt him.”

  “I understand what he’s going through. We don’t have much time. There are police outside who will kill your brother if they get a chance. Can you take me to him? I want to help him.”

  “I’m the only one he trusts,” she said. “If I bring you in, he’s going to go all crazy and blame me.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Cassie. He’s only twenty-two. He’s always been a good brother.”

  He pointed to the water jug. “Did he ask you to bring water up to him?”

  She nodded.

  “You do that. I’ll be behind you. It doesn’t have to look like you led me to him. Cassie, we need to hurry before someone gets hurt.”

  Cassie picked up the water jug and raced toward the stairs. She led him up several flights to an attic. She entered the room while he pressed against the wall by the door.

  “Tyler, I have the water you asked for.” Cassie’s voice trembled.

  “What have you been doing, Cassie? What took you so long?” Tyler’s words dripped with suspicion.

  While still pressed against the wall, Zach eased toward a window and lifted the shade. The SWAT team was moving into the house. They’d go through each floor until they found the hostages.

  Cassie sounded like she was about to fall apart. “I wasn’t doing anything. Please, I got you the water like you asked. I came back.”

  Zach tensed. It would take the SWAT team only minutes to clear each floor. He didn’t have much time.

  He heard stomping and then Tyler yelling. “I just don’t get you.”

  The voice of an older woman said something Zach couldn’t understand.

  “How long have you wanted me dead?” Tyler shouted.

  A different male voice responded. “Son, we’ve never wanted you dead.”

  More stomping.

  Zach eased toward the door and stared through the slit between the door and the frame. Three rifles leaned against a wall. Tyler paced the floor, swinging a handgun wildly. Two older people sat on the floor back-to-back and tied up. A young woman sat in a corner with her hands bound. Only Cassie and Tyler were free, and Cassie was cowering in a corner.

  Zach steeled himself and slipped into the room. Tyler swung around, pointing the gun at him. His eyes glazed, teeth showing.

  Zach put up both his hands in a surrender gesture. Though his heart pounded inside his chest, his voice remained level.

  “I’m not armed. There are men coming with guns. They will kill you. You need to put the gun down.”

  Tyler’s finger slipped inside the trigger. “I know you. You’ve come to hurt me.”

  “No. Please, I know soldiers like you. I worked as a reporter in Syria and A-stan. I know what you’ve been through.”

  Tyler lifted the gun so it was pointed at the ceiling. “You don’t know.”

  Cassie’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I think he’s telling the truth.”

  Tyler’s posture softened for a moment. Then he pointed the gun at his parents.

  Zach rushed to draw Tyler’s attention back to him. “When I was overseas, I saw men like you every day. Good men. Men who volunteered to serve their country.” Zach took a step closer. “I’m grateful for your service. We all are. And we know it’s been hard on you, that you’ve had trouble since you got back. But your family wants to help. I want to help. Please. Let us help you.”

  Cassie cried out. “Tyler, please.”

  The sound of men moving up the stairs landed on Zach’s eardrum.

  Tyler’s whole demeanor changed. He seemed to crumple and shrink. “Oh, little sister.” Tyler let the gun fall to the floor. Cassie rushed over to him and the siblings whispered back and forth, too low for Zach to hear.

  Zach yelled down the stairs. “Can you stand down? I think he’ll surrender.”

  One of the SWAT team members stepped from the shadows holding a high-powered rifle. “And you are?”

  Cassie came to Zach’s side. “He says he’ll come out, but he wants you to go with him.”

  Zach nodded. “I can do that.” He yelled down the stairs. “He’s not armed, and he’s ready to surrender. I’m bringing him down. It would probably be a good thing if he didn’t see you and your guns.”

  When Zach leaned over the stairs again, the men were gone.

  Zach turned his attention back to Tyler, who had collapsed to his knees and was sobbing, holding his hands over his face. Cassie kneeled beside him, rubbing his back.

  “Soldier, if you’re ready, I’ll escort you out and put you into police custody. I’ll let them know that nothing bad happened here tonight. I’m sure your family will back you up in that.” Tyler’s mom, dad and wife all nodded. Zach would see to it that Tyler got the psychological help he needed, too. Even if the money had to come out of his own pocket.

  Tyler rose to his feet, wiped his eyes and squared his shoulders.

  “I’ll stay right here with you all the way,” Zach said.

  Cassie gave her brother a hug before he fell in beside Zach. They made their way down two flights of stairs and out into the night. Though he knew they were watching closely, the SWAT team stayed out of sight. He could only imagine the frantic messages being communicated to the snipers and the rest of law enforcement. He suspected once they’d left the house, the team would move straight up to the attic to help the hostages.

  When they stepped outside, floodlights caused Tyler to take a step back. He groaned and shielded his face. Zach touched his arm just above the elbow. “Do you want them to turn off the lights?”

  Tyler’s voice filled with agony. “Yes, please. It’s so bright.”

  A sliver of a memory played out before Zach’s eyes. When he was held captive, he’d spent time staring at bright lights while men with brutal voices paced the room in the shadows. The images made him nauseous.

  The police chief yelled from the darkness. “What’s going on?”

  Zach took in the scene in front of him. He was here in Montana. He was safe. “Can you kill the lights, please?” Yet he could not let go of the fear the memory brought to the surface. Fear he’d stuffed away in a dark corner of his mind for a long time.

  The lights popped off one by one. A small flashlight flickered on behind one of the police cars.

  Tyler stiffened beside him. Zach said, “I’ll walk you all the way over there. Police Chief Rains is a good guy.”

  They made their way across the grass. Zach glanced up. The two snipers were still in place, ready to pull the trigger if anything went wrong.

  “Listen to me, soldier. It’s very important that we stay calm. Do you understand?”

  “Sure, I see the shooters on the barn, too,” said Tyler. Once a soldier, always a soldier.

  His own stomach felt like it had a tornado whirling through it.

  The police chief stepped out from behind the car. He waited for Tyler to move toward him.

  The police chief’s voice filled with kindness. “Son, you understand why we have to take you in.”

  Tyler nodded. He turned to face Zach. “Thanks, man, I think you saved my life tonight.”

  “I’m honored that you let me help. Godspeed, soldier.” Zach cupped Tyler’s shoulder and watched as he was led away.

  Elizabeth was suddenly beside Zach, gripping his elbow and ushering him away. “My turn to help
you.”

  He stared over his shoulder at the slew of reporters headed in their direction.

  “The van is right over here. Dale will catch a ride with someone else.” She’d been strategic about where she parked for a quick getaway. “The local stations are tapping into national feeds. Your story is going to blow up, nationwide.”

  He hopped in the passenger seat. She pressed the accelerator before he’d even buckled up. His stomach still felt like it was full of rocks. He stared at the ceiling as memories of his own captivity bombarded him. Memories he could no longer push down.

  She drove down the dark road. “My dad had a cabin. No one would think to look for you there.”

  He couldn’t respond. All the images he’d locked away and the emotions that went with the memories assaulted him.

  Elizabeth seemed to understand that he wasn’t in a place where he could talk. She kept driving deeper into the forest.

  If the national news teams had picked up the story, it would only be a matter of time before someone connected the dots and realized he was Zachery Tan Creti, war correspondent from Baltimore, former terrorist captive. He hadn’t buried his identity that deep.

  It would be better if Elizabeth heard the story from him. She deserved that courtesy.

  “Doesn’t look like anyone is following us,” she said. “I took a bunch of side roads.”

  “Can you pull over?”

  “Sure.” She stopped the van.

  He got out, ran to the side of the road and threw up several times. He could not hide from the memories any longer. He heard footsteps, and she placed a hand on his back.

  “Come on. Let’s get you up to that cabin.”

  She didn’t pressure him for explanations. As he heard the compassion in her voice, he was suddenly very grateful to have her as a friend.

  * * *

  Elizabeth awoke in the cabin early and got the generator working. She crept past the couch, where Zach still slept beneath a plain blanket. He hadn’t said anything once they’d arrived at the cabin late in the night. She fumbled in the kitchen to find the coffee. It had been months since she’d come up here.