The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.)

by Marnie Perry

  Eventually after one last huge twist the chain snapped.

  Leyton bowed his head even further forwards and gritted his teeth against the pain but also with relief. He very slowly brought his hands in front of him.

  Adela knew how he felt; she had suffered the same pain and discomfort at the shack.

  She massaged his shoulders for him and he gave her a grateful smile over his shoulder. After a few minutes the feeling began to come back into his wrists. Adela then ripped off the bottom of the blouse she was wearing. She tore the material into two strips and moving the cuffs still attached to his wrists as far up his arm as she could she bound the cloth around his wrists. Again he smiled gratefully, ‘you’d make a good nurse, Miss. Faraday.’

  ‘That’s Nurse Faraday to you. Or Nurse Adela if you prefer.’

  He laughed softly, ‘sorry, Nurse Adela.’ She smiled at him.

  She finished her task then looked up to find him staring at her a strange look on his face.

  She was embarrassed by his scrutiny and said shyly, ‘does that feel better?’

  ‘Very much. Thank you, Adela.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ They both smiled but their smiles vanished simultaneously as they reflected on their dilemma.

  Still he held her gaze until she looked away and around the room. She said, ‘there doesn’t seem to be any way out, Ellis.’

  Leyton stood up and helped Adela to her feet. They both walked around the room trying not to visualise what horrors had gone on here. Adela thinking about Olivia, who seemed very close right now.

  Leyton cursed under his breath,’ you’re right, there doesn’t seem to be any way out of here.’

  ‘What if we wait and hide somewhere then when they come in we leap on them and run?’

  Leyton looked at her oddly and she said, ‘yes, sorry, I know, silly idea.’

  ‘No, it’s good idea, it just made me realise that there might be cameras in here.’

  She looked quickly around and whispered, ‘cameras?’

  Leyton nodded and still whispering she said, ‘but if there were they would have come in and stopped us from removing your handcuffs.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not, that guy seems like the type to take pleasure in witnessing the pain and frustration of others.’

  She was amazed at his perception and nodded ‘you’d be right.’

  She thought about what Glissando had said about telling Leyton why they were here. But she had to be careful not to give too much away.

  She said, ‘I should tell you what happened and how all this came about.’ She raised her voice slightly and spoke to the ceiling. ‘And if that man is listening then it will save me from telling it twice.’ She looked back at Leyton, ‘but the first thing you should know is that Mr. Lando has nothing to do with this, only in that he helped me when I needed it. I didn’t tell him anything except that I’d been kidnapped, but not by whom. They set his house on fire and tried to kill him and he didn’t even know why.’

  This was of course all lies but she didn’t want to speak Hennessey’s name, she didn’t want Glissando to know he had been at the cabin, and she couldn’t implicate Lando any further than she already had. She hoped that Glissando might believe her and not go after him, maybe thinking it wasn’t worth the risk, she hoped this with all her heart because the thought of something happening to Jonas Lando because of her made her feel ill.

  She said, ‘please Det…Ellis, if you get out of this please tell them that he is not involved.’

  Leyton’s eyebrows had been almost in his hairline as she'd been speaking but at her entreaty he put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, ‘yes, I’ll tell them. But just so you know, we’re both getting out of this then you can tell them yourself. All right?’

  The eyes that looked back into his were filled with gratitude but not enough to hide the fear there. He had the urge to pull her into his arms and hold her tight but if they were being watched he didn’t want that repulsive guy Glissando getting a kick out of it so he removed his hands from her shoulders and turned away.

  She said, ‘now I’ll tell you what happened and why we’re here.’ So she did.

  **********

  It was by now completely dark as Lando followed Hennessey through the trees and he was beginning to think that this was some kind of trick or that Hennessey was mistaken about there being a house here.

  He saw nothing, nothing but trees and water. But suddenly there it was and Lando only just suppressed a gasp. This was no house; this was a mansion, a castle, a frigging palace.

  It was surrounded by huge gardens and leading up to the door of the house were two pillars either side of six stone steps.

  He looked at Hennessey who gave the inevitable grin, ‘impressive, huh?’

  Lando shrugged, ‘I seen bigger.’

  Hennessey laughed, ‘yeah, sure.’

  Lando said, ‘what about the dogs?’

  ‘Let me worry about them.’

  Lando didn’t like that idea, he didn’t like being kept in the dark and especially by this man but he said nothing and followed Hennessey towards the fence.

  Hennessey said, ‘there are no cameras here but when we get inside the fence the lights will come on then the dogs will be alerted as well, so stay close to me.’

  They had reached the fence by now and Lando said, ‘how do you know the fence is electrified? There’s no warning.’

  The fence was divided into four foot sections with wooden posts on either side, Hennessey picked up a stick and threw it at the fence which sparked and the wood hit the ground smoking.

  Hennessey looked at Lando, '200,000 volts.’

  ‘That’s some juice.’

  ‘Yeah. And no warning notice, that’s something else he can be charged with later.’

  Lando looked impatient and said brusquely, ‘so how do you aim to get us in?’

  Hennessey reached into his pocket and pulled out a device that looked to Lando like a cell phone. Hennessey held it up, ‘with this.’

  He turned to the fence and pressed a button on the keypad fitted on the device. That part of the fence sparked as it had when he had thrown the stick at it but this time for longer. It sizzled and spat sparks onto the ground and into the air then eventually fizzled out.

  Hennessey waited a moment then once more reached into his pocket and drew out a small black bag; he opened it and took out a pair of wire cutters. He bent to cut the fence but Lando caught his arm saying, ‘what the hell ya doing, Hennessey?’

  Hennessey looked up at him, ‘I’m gonna cut the wire,’ he looked down at Lando’s hand on his arm then up at his face, ‘if you let go my arm.’

  Lando did and Hennessey grinned, ‘I knew you cared really, Lando.’

  Lando rolled his eyes, ‘well if this don’t work, Hennessey and you wind up dead, I can get in by just stepping on your body.’

  Hennessey chuckled and began snipping the wire. Lando studied Hennessey’s face closely. He was enjoying this, but why not, this is what he did for a living, breaking into people’s homes and killing them, it excited and stimulated him. But then maybe it wasn’t the killing that excited him but the thrill of the chase, the hunt, the tracking down, the crawling threw fences and facing down dogs and sneaking past guards. He considered himself the hunter and his mark the prey, yes, that’s what he looked like, a hunter on the prowl and he was in his element.

  But then was he so different, hadn’t he enjoyed the chase, the thrill of chasing down suspects, the excitement of an arrest and interrogation? Yes, he had loved all of those things. But obviously the outcome was not the same. If the perp they were chasing died it was because he had been cut down by an officer of the law in the commission of his duty, not for money or satisfaction. He was not killed in his home without warning but by state sanctioned execution. Needless to say Lando was not comfortable in the man’s company but realised that this unholy alliance was necessary.

  Hennessey said, ‘when I’m through follow me
right away, but don’t touch any other part of the fence, okay?’

  Lando nodded but looked uncertain which made Hennessey chuckle again. He said, ‘but first.’ He took out a bottle from his pocket and handed it to Lando saying, ‘put some of this on.’

  Lando didn’t take the bottle but said suspiciously, ‘what is it?’

  ‘You’ll see, just put it on, liberally.’

  Lando took the bottle and opened it then took a sniff, he recoiled screwing up his face, ‘you gotta be kidding me.’

  Hennessey laughed at his expression, ‘no. Look, it’s not poison although it might smell like it, it’s just cologne.’ When Lando hesitated he said, ‘just put it on will ya and be quick.’

  Lando said, ‘tell me what for before I douse myself in au de cesspit.’

  Hennessey laughed again, ‘good one, Lando. All right, it’s Glissando’s favourite aftershave.’

  Lando said, ‘no wonder he has to force women to have sex with him.’

  ‘Tell me about it, you didn’t have to sit opposite him while he was wearing that.’

  ‘Neither did you,’ replied Lando wryly.

  Hennessey raised an eyebrow at the jibe, ‘Yeah, well.’

  Lando cottoned on, ‘the dogs will recognise it.’

  Hennessey grinned, ‘at last, you’re thinking like a cop again.’

  Lando sniffed the bottle once more and once more recoiled but poured some into his hand and splashed it over his face and neck.

  Hennessey said, ‘your clothes too, if we get separated you’ll be safe from the dogs.’

  Lando looked at him as though he might throw the bottle at him but complied.

  Hennessey took the bottle from him grinning from ear to ear and splashed the remainder of the bottle over himself. He pocketed the bottle and crouching down crawled through the gap he had cut, Lando following close behind.

  Hennessey had been right because as soon as they were through the lights came on in that part of the grounds. They stayed low amongst the bushes and Lando whispered, ‘so what now?’

  ‘Now we wait for the dogs and just hope those guys don’t check the fence.’

  ‘That don’t seem like a good idea to me, the cologne might not work, why don’t we just run for it?’

  ‘So impatient. Look, if we run we wouldn’t make it more than fifty yards. Just trust me, okay.’

  This time it wasn’t a question and Lando said nothing because just then he heard the unmistakable sound of dogs barking and growling coming straight for them. He tensed and Hennessey commanded, ‘don’t move whatever happens, okay?’

  Lando obeyed without question. The dogs came bounding up as a man’s voice yelled, ‘go get 'em boys.’

  Hennessey placed a restraining hand on Lando's shoulder as he stood. The dogs came within a few feet of them then suddenly stopped dead no longer barking but panting and sniffing round him. Lando noted that the lead dog was a Doberman; there were also an Alsatian, a pit bull and a bull mastiff, all big and all ferocious looking. Hennessey reached out and patted the lead dog saying, ‘good boy, that’s a good dog.’

  Lando looked at him in astonishment, he didn’t even sound like the Hennessey he knew. He realised what he was doing, impersonating Glissando. He just hoped the dogs were fooled and before they were joined by the man who had yelled. Hennessey said, ‘go on, boys, nothing to concern yourselves with here. Go home.’

  To Lando’s relief the lead dog turned and headed back to the house followed by the others.

  The men must have been close behind because Lando heard one of them say, ‘huh, must be squirrels or cats getting in again or maybe that damn fox.’ Despite Lando’s fears they did not check the fence Hennessey had cut but followed the dogs back to the house.

  Then there was silence and Lando gave an almighty sigh of relief. He had to admit he was impressed with this guy, if he hadn’t taken up the career he had he would have made a terrific cop.

  Hennessey couldn’t resist saying, “oh yea, of little faith.”

  Lando said nothing only gave him an exasperated look but Hennessey noticed how pale he was and asked, ‘you all right?’

  Lando nodded, ‘you’re something else, Hennessey.’

  Hennessey chuckled, ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

  Lando wasn’t sure himself if it was one or not but said nothing.

  Hennessey said, ‘come on, let’s go get Miss. Faraday, sorry I mean “The woman.”

  Lando gave him an impatient look but crouching low followed him along the fence to the trees, dodging the moving cameras as they went.

  ********

  Adela had finished telling her story to Leyton leaving nothing out but the fact that she had told Lando everything and that Hennessey had turned up at his cabin. If they survived this she would tell him that part later.

  Leyton leaned back against the wall they had been sitting next to while she talked and let out a slow breath, ‘wow, that’s some story, Adela. If it were anyone else telling it I would think it was some story out of a book.’

  ‘So you believe me?’

  He looked at her and frowned, ‘of course I do. It fits in with everything else. Except why Hennessey beat up Maxwell maybe.’

  ‘No one can understand why a man like that does what he does, Ellis.’

  ‘I hope I get the opportunity to meet Hennessey, I’d love to slap the cuffs on that guy. But this Lando guy, he’s quite something; he put down all those guys by himself.’

  Adela shifted uncomfortably but made it look as though her back was aching sitting on the stone floor, which it was. Leyton said, ‘so Glissando wants to know where this Desi is?’

  Adela hadn’t told him Olivia’s real name. She nodded, ‘yes. I’m sorry, Ellis.’

  ‘Will you stop saying that; I’m here because I’m a cop on the trail of a killer, Hennessey, not because of something you did.’

  But if I hadn’t given you the coat…

  She was cut off, ‘you did the right thing, Adela, a courageous thing. But you are a very brave woman.’

  She shook her head, ‘I’m not brave, terrified is what I am. I think back on what I did, helping Desi I mean, and the trouble that one simple thing has brought. If I’d listened to her and let her leave alone and told those two men that she had ran off or something and that I never saw her again. If I had heeded her warning and gone home right away none of this would have happened. Dean Maxwell would not be lying in hospital not knowing if he will ever walk again, Mr. Lando’s house would not have been destroyed, and you wouldn’t be here now.’

  Leyton reached out and took her hand, ‘all right, all you say is true. But, Adela, those men would have killed you anyway, this Glissando seems like the kinda guy who must have his revenge.’

  ‘But that changes nothing, if I’d died then no one else would have been hurt.’

  He gripped her hands tighter, ‘listen to me, you did what you thought was right by helping that girl, and it was right. You did the right thing, the brave thing. You have nothing to blame yourself for, nothing to be ashamed of.’

  He saw the tears come into her eyes and pulled her to him unheeding that Glissando might be watching, she needed comfort and he needed to comfort her.

  Suddenly they both jumped startled as a key turned in the lock of the door and it opened.

  Borachio entered and held the door open for Glissando. He was followed by two other men. Leyton, his arm still around Adela stood up bringing her to her feet; he left his arm around her shoulders and looked at Glissando defiantly.

  Glissando’s lips twitched as he said, ‘you’re both right of course. You, Miss Faraday, should have let Desi go when she wanted too then I would have found her, just like I did before. Or you should have been sensible and gone home when you had the chance, now you’ll never see your home again I’m afraid. So all of this is of course your fault.’

  Leyton squeezed Adela’s shoulder as if to say, take no notice of this bastard.

  Glissando noticed and smiled
an awful twisted smile,

  Leyton said, ‘if you heard everything we said you’ll know that she had no idea where the girl went after she left her.’

  'Perhaps. But, "Methinks the lady protesteth too much." He quoted.

  Adela snapped, 'it's true, I don't know where she went.'

  Maybe, maybe not, but if you suspected I was listening then you would be unlikely to tell the truth would you? But as I said you, Detective Leyton were right also in that I would have had her killed anyway, just for interfering in my business. But we shall see whether she lied or not.’

  He turned and nodded to Borachio who grinned a horrible, cruel grin and walked towards Leyton and Adela followed by the other two men. Borachio took Adela’s arm and pulled her form Leyton’s grip while the other two grabbed Leyton’s arms and began to drag him forward.

  He struggled but to no avail, they dragged him over to the far wall and pushed him roughly against it then pulled his arms above his head. Leyton managed to get one of his hands free and punched one of the men in the nose the man cried out and sank to the floor. Leyton kicked the other man in the stomach and he doubled over groaning. He ran towards Adela meaning to grab her and get out of there but was stopped in his tracks by Borachio, or rather the gun that Borachio had pointed at his face.

  The two men had gained their feet and once more took Leyton by his arms holding him very firmly. Borachio stepped forwards raised his arm and hit Leyton in the face with his closed fist. Leyton heard the bones in his cheek crack and blood gushed from his mouth and ran down his chin. He saw stars and felt sick and dizzy as the pain shot through his entire body.

  Adela gasped and cried ‘stop, please, please stop this. I told the truth, I don’t know where Desi went. Hennessey threatened to torture me for the information but I couldn’t tell him where she went because I don’t know, and I still don’t know. Torturing Detective Leyton is not going to change that.’

  Glissando stared hard at her. He knew people, he could read them very well and he knew she had lied to Leyton when she had related her story, or at least omitted some things. But he didn’t think she was lying when she said she did not know where Desi had gone. He said, ‘I believe you.’