by Terri Marie
She placed her keys and badge on the table as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, you guys. I don’t know why I acted like I did, but you’re right. I don’t deserve to be here.”
“Elissa, you’re good at your job, but your behavior is against everything this company stands for. Though I’m saddened to terminate your employment, I’m even more bothered that you practically had sex with my brother in the middle of the cafeteria.”
“What the hell were the two of you thinking?” Jacob pounded his fist on the table. “Sean, I swear to God—”
“Okay, let’s finish this up so we can get some work done today.” Tyler handed Sean and Elissa their folders and a pen. “You’ll need to sign the two lines I’ve highlighted. I hope the date, which has already been written in for you, burns into your memory. I know I won’t forget it for as long as I live. Not even in my wildest imagination did I ever believe I’d be throwing my own brother out of the family business. To be honest, Sean, I don’t think I want you in my life either.” The guards were looking at him with sympathetic faces, while nodding their heads in agreement. So far so good, thought Tyler.
“Are we done here?” asked Vincent with a scowl on his face. “I have work to do…like hiring a new secretary for starters.”
“We’re done.” Tyler picked up the keys and badges that Elissa and his brother had placed on the table. “Security will escort you both out. Take Elissa to her office to retrieve her purse. Do not allow her to remove any property that belongs to the company.” He turned to Sean. “You’ve always been the black sheep of the family, but this time, you totally outdid even your lowest of lows. I wish you peace, but stay the hell away from here and my family. Do not allow Sean to return to his office. He can pick up his things at another time. I don’t think I can stomach looking at him anymore today.”
Tyler gathered the signed papers and tucked them back in the folders, before addressing the guards. “Include in your reports the statements from all the witnesses. I wouldn’t put it past my brother to drag us all into court for wrongful termination. Have the papers on my desk by the end of the day.” Tyler left the conference room and walked back to his office, loudly closing his door. He could hear the muffled sounds of his brothers’ doors slamming shut from up the hallway.
He only had two more things left to do in this orchestrated drama. Act pissed off for the rest of the day, and wait for Renee to come and chew his ass out at lunch time. He’d much rather have Sean punch him again than face the wrath of Renee.
CHAPTER 6
CARRIE SAW THE shotgun in the man’s hand immediately. He looked to be about sixty, and his face looked weathered from the sun. She briefly glanced down at her purse. There she stood, with a gun pointed at her and Brian, and their only defense couldn’t be accessed before the man had a chance to pull his trigger.
“Get your hands up where I can see them!” His voice was loud and gruff, and Carrie had the feeling it wasn’t the first time he’d raised that shotgun.
“Listen,” she began in a soft, calm voice. “My little brother and I were just looking for shelter. If you don’t mind, we’ll pack up right now and be on our way. We didn’t know anyone owned this land.”
“Oh, I see. So you just figured someone had erected a barn on state land?!” He laughed at her.
She took a slow step in front of Brian. “He’s just a kid.” She wanted to motion for him to get out of there, but the man looked trigger happy.
“The both of you, sit down with your backs together. Keep those hands up!” He was still pointing the gun at them. “I wouldn’t harm no kid, but you’re an adult. You’re fair game if you try anything stupid.”
Carrie was trying to weigh out her options. If he had a heart for kids, maybe she should tell him about Brian being in danger. Having an ally in this town wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“I’m going to ask you just one more time. What the hell are you doing on my property?” He had an evil grin, but his eyes didn’t match the toughness he was trying to portray.
“It’s a long story,” she answered, as she thought about ways to get her weapon out of her purse.
“I got plenty of time. Start talking.”
She felt Brian turn his body a little. She wanted to yell at him to stop moving.
He calmly began to engage the armed man in conversation. “You heard of Robert Preston?”
“Yeah, even the folks here in Ohio heard of that serial killer.” The older man shook his head in disgust. “That bastard should be hung!”
“We were on the news a few times. I’m the kid he shot. I can show you the scar.” Brian slowly began to lower his hands, so he could show his scar.
“I said to keep your hands up!” the man yelled. Carrie wished Brian would stop adding to his irritation.
Brian began to speak again, right away. “Robert was caught, but now my mother was awarded custody. She’s far more dangerous than Robert. That’s a long story as well, but their names are Hank and Shirley Waters. They were in the paper recently. You can call the cops on us if you want, but when they send me back to live with my mother and father, they’ll murder me. You’ll have my death on your hands.”
Carrie watched as the look of anger began to slip away from the man’s face. She took the opportunity to let him know how much trouble he could get into for shooting her. “I’m a cop. I got laid off recently, but I was the officer assigned to protect the people, including this kid, who Robert was trying to kill. Please, just let him go and keep me here, if that’s what you feel you need to do.”
“A cop? No shit…” the man raised his eyebrows in amazement, before the anger quickly returned. “I didn’t know you was a cop when I walked in here. I can’t be charged with anything!”
“No one’s going to know about this,” began Brian, in a calm, reassuring tone. “The point is, we need to get far away from Michigan. The cops are looking for me.”
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” The man stared at Brian suspiciously, while squinting his right eye.
Carrie knew that if the man’s finger slipped, her head would get blown off. “Obviously we’re not a threat to you. Could you please lower that shotgun?”
“If you have access to the internet,” explained Brian, “you could look this all up. My name won’t be in the paper, because I’m a minor, but I have a photo identification card in my wallet.”
“Slide me your wallets nice and slow. Don’t make any sudden movements, or you’re going to kiss one of these slugs.” The man aimed right at Carrie’s head.
Carrie was grateful that the money Tyler had given to Brian was still in the envelope down the front of his pants. Her money was divided up in different hiding places on her body and in her purse. If this man found it all, he’d get the idea to hold them for ransom in no time flat.
Brian carefully tossed the man his wallet, while Carrie slowly walked over to her purse. She removed her wallet and did the same. When he lowered his eyes to look at their ID’s, Carrie quickly removed her gun, took off the safety and pulled back the slide. The sound made the man jump; his eyes widened as he lowered the shotgun. She pointed her weapon right at his chest.
“Easy now…” he pleaded.
“Very carefully, I want you to set your gun down and step away from it, then lay on the ground face first. Lock your fingers behind your head. Any sudden movements, and I’ll kill you. I’m dead nuts at a hundred yards, so just think of what I can do from only a few feet away.”
The man did as he was told. Carrie walked over and picked up the shotgun. It was fully loaded. She put the safety on, pointed the 12-gauge in the opposite direction, and then pumped the shells out.
“I’m not a threat to you and the boy. I only came out here to take a look at the barn. I’m fixin’ to have it torn down, and I needed to check on road access. Please, let’s just go our separate ways in peace.” His voice went from gruff to whiney.
“What’s your name,” Carrie asked, while continuing
to point her gun at him.
“Ralph Charles. I own this here forty acres. Please don’t kill me. I have a wife who needs me,” he pleaded.
“Carrie, he doesn’t have the gun anymore. Let the man stand up.” Brian walked over, took Ralph’s arm, and helped him to his feet.
“Thank you, son.” Ralph brushed the dirt off of his shirt and pant legs.
“We need to get some food and water. How far is the town from here?” Brian asked.
“It ain’t right to have this boy homeless and hungry. He needs shelter and a good meal. There’s some leftover meatloaf back at the house. You’re welcome to it. Stella’s a pretty good cook…But, you can’t be pullin’ that gun out anywhere near our home now, ya here?” Ralph pointed a thick finger at Carrie.
“I need to have a few private words with, Brian. Stay right where you’re standing.” Carrie waited until the man nodded, and then she gently led Brian by the arm, until she thought their conversation couldn’t be overheard.
“We can trust him, Carrie. I’ve gotten pretty good at judging the character of people,” he whispered.
“I don’t know, Brian. He could kill us.” She glanced over at Ralph. He was standing there in a flannel shirt and worn jeans, nervously jingling change in his pocket.
“Here are our options, Carrie. We continue to run through the trees after dark and hope like hell we find a store open. If not, we’ll have to find someplace new to pitch our tent and take our chances in town during daylight. Or, we go back to his place. I’m not afraid, so you shouldn’t be either.”
“The second something smells fishy, Brian, we bolt. Even if we have to jump through a window to get out, we’re leaving.” She looked at him sternly.
“Deal, but it really is okay to relax. He’s harmless.” Brian patted her back.
“Yes. Everyone who points a double-barrel shotgun at a woman and a kid is perfectly harmless.” Carrie wasn’t convinced one bit.
“Come on.” Brian began to walk back over to Ralph.
Carrie lowered her handgun, put the safety back on, and tucked it back inside her purse. She stretched her arm out and shook his hand. “We don’t want to inconvenience anyone. We just need to be pointed in the right direction.”
“The folks in this town are pretty damned nosey, Miss. If you’re wanted, they’ll know. A cop and a kid can’t be that dangerous, so come with me. At any rate, Stella will love the company. She’s my wife.” Ralph bent down and picked up the empty shotgun. He walked to the back of the barn and picked up some of the bags. Carrie and Brian did the same, until all of their camping gear was collected.
Once they reached the old Chevy pickup, Ralph placed the shotgun and bags in the bed of the truck, then Brian lifted the remaining gear, placing it on the opposite side of the truck bed. Ralph held the door open for Carrie to climb in, while Brian got in on the passenger side.
As they drove, Ralph turned to Carrie. “I have a gun collection back at the house.”
She turned to Brian as the hair on the back of her neck rose.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Sean tried to convince Elissa to let him drive the Equinox, but she wasn’t having any part of that. He climbed in the passenger side and buckled himself in. The look on her face showed nothing but determination, as she stepped on the gas, squealed her tires, sped through a yellow light, and hauled-ass down the main road.
“You’re going to kill us,” he said, as he held onto the arm rest.
“You need to learn to relax. Are you buckled up?” she asked without taking her eyes off the road.
“Damn straight.” He thought he’d start hyperventilating at any moment. “You didn’t take our bags out of the back, did you?”
“Yes. We’re going out of town, so I removed the bags. I’m not dumb.” She rolled her eyes at him.
Sean knew that he was going to have his hands full. Elissa was beautiful, sexy, sweet…but crazy. He swore that she’d beat him if they ever arm wrestled. “Elissa, I don’t want to piss you off or anything, but the speed limit doesn’t hit seventy, until we’re on I-94. This is a 45 mph zone. You’re going to get nailed by the cops.
“I’m not going seventy, and I’m not going to get pulled over. Relax.” She patted his hand and smiled. “I’m only going fifty.”
When they got on the entrance ramp to I-94, Elissa gunned it, throwing him back in his seat. He was grateful that it wasn’t rush hour. “We’re away from Montclair Pharmaceuticals. You can slow down some now.” He tried to sound calm, but it was proving to be impossible.
“How about this? If you gripe about my driving one more time, I swear to God, I’ll drop you off on the side of the road. The speed limit is 70, and that’s how fast I’m going.”
Sean decided that the best thing to do was keep his mouth shut. When they drove onto US 23, Elissa set the cruise control to seventy, giving him a little more hope for not dying. Where she’d been keeping the real Elissa for all this time was beyond him, and if his brothers had witnessed the full display in the cafeteria, they were thinking the exact same thing. Vincent is probably still trying to pry his jaw off the floor. He looked over and noticed that the look of determination in her eyes had changed. Sean realized he didn’t know much about this woman at all. She certainly wasn’t just the shy secretary at Montclair Pharmaceuticals they all thought.
“Are you feeling alright?” he asked cautiously, trying to test the water. He didn’t need to piss her off again while she was driving.
“Not really. I’m pretty worried.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled, but Sean could tell it wasn’t genuine.
“What’s wrong? I didn’t mean to upset you back there about your driving.” He really didn’t want to offend the girl.
“The Montclair family has done so much for me. Saved my life, and the lives of my boys. I can’t let any of you down, you know?” Her voice cracked a little, making Sean feel guilty about picking on her driving skills.
“You deserve everything we’ve done for you, and then some. We don’t want you doing all of this, just because you think you owe us something.” Sean’s guilt was growing by the minute. After all the hype back at the company, he was clearly seeing the small woman he knew, sitting behind the wheel, and the soft spoken girl who’d shyly thanked him for the roses.
“I owe you guys the world. If I fail, Brian’s a –well, failing won’t be an option.” Elissa wiped at a tear.
“We included you in this plan, not because of a debt we expected you to pay, but because you’re family. Not everyone has the last name of Montclair, but that doesn’t make you less than us.” Sean wiped away another tear that dripped onto her cheek. “If you want to get some rest, I can drive.”
“I suppose I could use a nap. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?” Elissa kept her eyes on the road, but Sean could tell how badly she wanted to close them.
“Just pull over up here. I’ll wake you up when we reach the border. We can stop for a quick bite then.” When Elissa pulled over, he helped her into the back seat so she could rest. Sean had never driven an Equinox before, and he found himself really looking forward to it. With Elissa fast asleep, and as quiet as the engine is, he could really find out what this baby could do.
Once Sean buckled up and started the ignition, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw a set of calm, but serious, eyes looking back at him.
“Act like a teenager behind the wheel of my Equinox, and you’ll be calling for a ride home from good, ole’ Oh. Hi. Oh.” She leaned back and closed her eyes.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Carrie knew that they’d driven at least twenty miles or so before stopping in the gravel driveway of a modest, ranch-style home. She could see that the front of the house and yard had been well cared for, but the roof was in desperate need of repair. Ralph would have probably fixed it if he could. He wasn’t as tall as Brian, but he had a good two hundred and fifty pounds on his frame. He waddled when he walked, kind of like a pregnant woman, but Carrie didn’t think h
is stomach stood out far enough to cause it. Whatever his ailments were, it didn’t take Einstein to figure out that Ralph going up on a ladder was a bad idea.
“Well, here’s my castle. Stella will poke her head out in just a sec. She does that every time she hears tires on the gravel. She’ll be real excited that you’re here.”
“It looks like a very nice home,” said Brian, as his eyes moved up to the roof.
Ralph held the truck door open so Carrie could climb down. Before he shut the door, he gently took her by the elbow and whispered in her ear. “I just have to ask you one last time, not to let my wife see your gun. She’s petrified of ‘em. If you feel the need to shoot me, do it outside, and not in front of Stella. If you want to rob us, just tell me what you want, and I’ll give you all we’ve got. Like I said, I don’t think a cop and a kid will bring us harm, but I just have to make sure.”
Carrie pulled her head back and stared at his face. Suddenly he looked like the kindest, most gentle man in the world. But then again, a wolf could wear sheep’s clothing. If she were by herself, she’d let her guard down some, but protecting Brian made her unwilling to take any chances at all.
Carrie leaned in some and kept her voice low. “We don’t want to cause harm to you or your family, Ralph. The only reason I pulled my gun on you, is because you’d raised that shotgun at us. The only law I’ve ever broken was to snatch that kid out of his mother’s grasp. She will literally kill him. I won’t go into the gruesome details, but if you knew what they’d done to their own child, you’d help him to run for his life, too.”
“Fair enough,” said Ralph as he nodded his head. “He’ll be safe here.”
“Before we go inside, I need to know where this gun collection is that your wife is so afraid of.” Carrie looked hard into his eyes. She was ready to call the bullshit card.
“I can show it to you. There’s a footlocker in that shed back there. The guns belonged to my father, and they’re pretty old. I really don’t think they’d fire to be honest. I don’t have any ammunition for ‘em anyways. Heck, I haven’t even hunted in years, so I sold my rifle. That shotgun is the only weapon I keep loaded, and even that stays in the truck behind the seats. If Stella knew it was back there, hell, she’d never ride in it. Let me run inside and get the keys to unlock the shed and the chest.”
