Out of the Dark

by Geri Foster

  “No money is going to exchange hands. Remember, I still have the pictures. I could hang your asses. You and Marino both.”

  Nicholas raised his hand. “Okey dokey,” he said. “And you Americans say Russians are rude.” Nicholas threw his hand up. “What is it you want?” Nicholas paused and raised his finger as if remembering something. “But when it’s all over, Ramón Marino must be dead...and the pictures become mine.”

  “That leaves one little issue we have to solve.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The man who killed your right hand man, Lev.”

  “Nyet, nyet, nyet!” Nicholas shouted. “That man must die. He killed my friend.”

  Tony took the glass from Nicholas’s hand and pointed at the door. “Then get out. We have no business to do. I can find others who will help.”

  Nicholas walked toward him, his eyes narrow. “Did you kill Lev?”

  Tony shook his head.

  “It was a Falcon agent, was it not?”

  “Yes, it was. Lev broke into his hotel to kill the woman who innocently took the pictures, and the Falcon agent protected the woman. She didn’t do anything wrong but go sight-seeing.”

  “I heard her on the phone say, ‘I have all the pictures I need’.”

  “She has a friend who invented a camera. She was testing it for him. Nothing more.”

  Nicholas took his drink out of Tony’s hand and slumped into the overstuffed chair. “I loved Lev. He was a good friend. And loyal, too.”

  “Nicholas, we know for the right amount of money he would have killed you. That’s not a friend, that’s just a killer.”

  Nicholas shrugged. “Probably, you are right.” Nicholas let out a loud sigh. “We are in an ugly business, Archuletta. The whole world goes on about normal living, they drive their cars, they cook dinner. Us, we kill people. It is sad.”

  Tony nodded. “Necessary evil. But maybe you can escape to live in peace with your wife.”

  “Okey dokey, how do we go about getting what we both want? I will tell you, I have men in your big state Texas. They stand by should I need them.”

  “You know Marino’s in Texas?” Tony had just spoken to Frank so he knew where the Columbian was, but how did Nicholas find out?

  “I have people everywhere. You never heard of the Russian Mafia?”

  “Yes, I have, but I didn’t know you were connected.”

  “I’m not, but my brother is. He owe me favor.”

  “Okay, this is what we do.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Bedford, TX

  Brenda Sullivan walked up the three steps to Stanley and Victoria’s ranch style home. She rang the doorbell. Dumb and Dumber barked like a Rottweiler who’d just sucked on a helium tank. Brenda wanted to squeeze their little heads until their brains popped out.

  After a second ring, Victoria answered the door with a flourish. Maybe she expected more TV cameras. Stanley stood behind her. That’s good, Brenda thought.

  “Hello Brenda,” Victoria said with a smile. “Did you hear what happened to Emily’s house?”

  Brenda stepped into the foyer, doubled up both her fists and planted her right one directly in the middle of Victoria’s perfectly made up face. She dropped like a ten pound weight. Stanley, the idiot, didn’t seem to know it was his job to catch her.

  Standing over Victoria, with the dogs yelping like air heads, Brenda waited for her eyes to open. In a matter of seconds, Victoria sat up and raised her hand to her bloodied nose. To fix the nose, thousands, to replace the bloody sweater, hundreds, but the look of shock on Victoria’s face...priceless!

  As Emily’s sister looked up at her, bawling like a two year old, Brenda said, “Listen you stupid brat. You went on TV and told the whole world that your sister was still alive. Then went on to say where she was hiding.”

  “Brenda,” Stanley said. “Victoria didn’t mean any harm to come to Emily.”

  “I don’t believe that, stinky Stanley. She knew what would happen. She got her ugly, plastic surgery face on the air.”

  “I didn’t mean to slip and give them the address.”

  Brenda leaned down. “Liar.”

  “I’m not.”

  “The hell you aren’t. All your life you’ve wanted anything and everything Emily ever had.” Brenda looked at Stanley. “Even this weirdo.”

  “Brenda!” Stanley stuttered, his brown eyes wide with shock.

  “Mac called me and said that Emily has been kidnapped. I’m calling my brother to see if he can help. But I don’t think this is a police matter.”

  Victoria picked herself up off the floor and buried her bloody nose in the front of Stanley’s shirt. “I’m completely innocent. And you come in here attacking me.”

  “Be glad I didn’t bring my gun.”

  Stanley patted Victoria on the back. “You need to leave Brenda,” Stanley said, “before I call the police.”

  “Oh, I’m going and I’ll be the one calling the police. My brother. And if I see her face on TV again, I’m going to black both her eyes.”

  Brenda turned and stomped back to her car. Anger shook her whole body. How could Victoria be so damn stupid?

  She couldn’t.

  Tears blurred her vision as Brenda imagined her best friend being harmed. Emily never hurt anyone. She’d always been a good person. Now someone had kidnapped her. Batting away the tears, Brenda drove to the Fort Worth Police Station on Belknap. There she parked her car and fed the meter. After whisking away all the tears, and straightening her clothes, she stepped into the precinct where her brother worked.

  A female officer sat at a desk near the door. “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “I’d like to see Detective Sullivan with CID.”

  “May I ask your name?”

  She took a deep breath. “Tell him it’s his sister, Brenda.”

  Within seconds she watched as her brother came walking toward her. He was a tall, handsome guy if you were into bald heads, and hairy mustaches. “What brings you here, sis?” He smiled, reached down and gave her a big hug.

  “I guess you heard about Emily?”

  “I heard her house blew up.” His hand on her back, he propelled her in the direction of his office. “She okay?”

  Brenda took a chair after her brother closed the door. “I don’t know. She’s been abducted from a friend’s apartment, and I think this is some kind of spy thing.”

  “Spy thing?” he said, sitting in the chair behind his desk.

  “Well, see, she met this guy. He’s actually one of her clients. Anyway something happened and the bad guys blew up Emily’s house.”

  “Did you call the police?”

  “No, Mac is looking for her.”

  “Mac, the client?”

  “Yeah, she said his name was John McKinsey. He works for Falcon Securities.”

  “Oh, those guys.” Her brother leaned back in his chair. “Not much to say about that company. I know they do a lot of undercover stuff.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “If one of those agents is on the case, I don’t think you have a lot to worry about. I hear they’re the best of the best.”

  Brenda couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Her brother stepped around and pulled her against his chest, and hugged her. “I’m so worried, Kenny. What if something happens to Emily?”

  “Let’s just pray it doesn’t.”

  He released her and grabbed his jacket off the hook next to the door. “Let’s get out of here and grab some coffee.”

  “Sounds good.” Brenda paused at the door and looked up at her brother. “Oh, by the way, I socked Victoria in the nose.”

  Kenny patted her on the shoulder, and grinned. “Good girl.”

  As they moved toward the exit, two policemen walked in escorting a man wearing tattered clothes and reeking for liquor. “This guy says his name is Rayland McKinsey, and his son is a cop in Dallas.”

  Stunned, Brenda stopped short and grabbed her brothe
r’s sleeve.

  ***

  Mac’s cell phone rang just as he and Brody pulled out of his apartment complex parking lot. Hershey hadn’t wanted him to leave, but Brenda would be there soon. He wouldn’t be alone for long.

  “This is Mac.”

  “It’s Tony. You on your way to Marino?”

  “Yeah, I’m headed there now. Frank just sent me the

  address.”

  “Okay, well I have Nicholas Belskavia backing us up. He has thugs in the area.”

  “Look, Tony, I don’t want some stupid Russian screwing this up. Marino has Em. There’s no telling what he’ll do.”

  “We’ll get Emily out of there. You know that, and I know that. This is what we do, it’s our job. But beware, buddy. You’re driving right into a trap. Get your head on straight and don’t go barging in there and get killed in a hail of bullets. This isn’t something you can shoot your way out of.”

  Mac wanted Em back so badly he could hardly see straight, nor could he keep his car in the right lane. He had the pedal almost to the floor. If a cop didn’t stop him, he could arrive in Southlake before Marino knew he was coming. “I don’t plan to shoot my way out, Tony. You know me better than that. Once I get there I’ll come up with a plan. I always do.”

  “I know, but first of all, slow down before you manage to kill Brody. I know you’re driving like a maniac.”

  Mac lifted his foot off the accelerator. “How do you know that?”

  “I know you.”

  “How did you get Belskavia’s help?” Mac asked as he pulled up to a stop sign. “I thought you two were arch enemies? Like Batman and the Joker.”

  “No, we just kid around. But it just so happens that dumbass Marino paid the Wholesaler in counterfeit money.”

  “We suspected that.”

  “Marino just crossed the wrong man.”

  “We’re almost there. Wish me luck.”

  “Keep your head, Mac. Know it’s a trap and be smart enough to do what you have to do.”

  “One last thing, the Russians,” Mac asked. “Does Marino know?

  “That’s your edge. He’s completely clueless.”

  Mac clicked off his phone and turned to Brody. “Tony sent us some help. Russians. It seems Marino bought his nuclear weapon with Monopoly money.”

  “How stupid can that man be?” Brody replied. “But I don’t like messing with Russians. They’re so damn blood thirsty.”

  “Today, at least, they’re on our side.”

  “That’s a switch.” Brody checked the GPS. “We’re one block away. Turn left at the next street and the address Frank gave us is the second house on the right.”

  “Let’s do a drive-by,” Mac said fighting the urge to slam on the brakes, run up to the house and start shooting. But he knew Marino hoped he’d do just that.

  As they slowly passed the house, Mac saw nothing unusual. There were three cars in the driveway. Two black SUVs with dark windows, and a white Cadillac, right out of the showroom.

  The blinds were drawn, the landscape perfect and a round, flowered ornament with the word welcome hung on the door. From the outside nothing appeared amiss. There wasn’t a hint to what was taking place inside, and Mac wasn’t going to let his mind go there. He had to remain focused and alert. One screw up and Em could die.

  Mac stopped the car after they turned the corner. “Nothing

  unusual,” Brody said. “You want me to hop a few fences and do some recon?”

  Mac pulled from the curb and turned at the next block. Driving slowly, he found the house behind where Marino hid. It had a For Sale sign out front and looked empty. Mac turned and grinned at Brody.

  Brody reared back. “That still doesn’t mean this isn’t a trap. It simply means we may get a look-see into the yard. But my guess is we’re going to see a bunch of armed men.”

  Mac put the car in park, and stepped out with Brody right behind him. They eased to the side of the house and approached the gate to the back yard. Mac saw a swimming pool, several shrubs and two shade trees.

  Carefully he pulled down on the lever of the entrance and opened it a few inches. Through the slats in the privacy fence Mac saw Marino’s guys armed with assault rifles. They lined the back of the house like Storm Troopers in Star Wars, except they wore black. Brody had been right, the weakest area was well covered.

  Quietly, Mac and Brody backed out of the yard and got back to the pickup without being seen. “Well, that didn’t work,” Brody said. “What next?”

  “I’m thinking.” Mac pulled away from the curb.

  “I know you hate that Emily is in there and you don’t know what’s happening to her, but be strong, Mac. I know she is.”

  “Marino is a killer.” Mac’s chest constricted. “She could be dead for all I know.”

  “I don’t think he’d kill her. He’s more likely to use her to pull you in.”

  “Maybe we should let that happen. I’ll wire up, you get Jake and A.J.. I can let you know what’s happening inside so you’d know when to attack.”

  “The first thing he’ll do is check you. And we don’t know when the crazy Russians are coming.”

  “I don’t like the idea of Russians saving our ass.”

  “Stop!” Brody shouted.

  Mac braked in the middle of the street.

  Brody smiled. “I have an idea.”

  ***

  Emily eased off the bed. She nearly screamed when her bare feet touched the rug. Looking down, she saw they were bleeding from being scraped over concrete. Her wrists burned from the zip ties and her hip was sore from being held down on the floorboard of the car by a heavy foot.

  A hundred bees stung her face from Marino’s slap. Her mouth throbbed and her lip felt like an inflated balloon.

  As she managed to move around the room, Emily looked for something to help with an escape. The room smelled stuffy and closed up. Apparently no one had been here in a while. Dust covered the furniture and there were no pictures or decorations.

  She inched the curtains back from the French doors leading to the backyard only to see men walking around with weapons. No escape route there.

  Turning, she looked for other avenues. She had to get out before Mac learned she’d been kidnapped and came looking for her. That’s what Marino wanted. Emily knew Mac would be walking into a trap that would get him killed.

  Determined not to remain a captive, Emily went to the bathroom and pulled out the drawers hoping to find something sharp.

  No such luck.

  However, on the floor, beside the Jacuzzi tub laid a small, cylinder shaped candle. She quickly plucked the candle up and placed it on the vanity and went looking for matches. Start a fire. Make the smoke alarm go off. Then hide behind the door. When everyone rushed inside, she’d sneak out.

  In her mind it all sounded like a good idea, but she knew in her heart that it only worked in the movies. Emily continued to search for another way out. There were no windows in the bedroom. Only the French doors. The bathroom had a large opaque window, but it faced to the backyard. At the end of the bathroom was a closet.

  Emily stepped inside, looked up and smiled

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “Okay Lone Ranger,” Mac said. “What hair-brained scheme have you come up with now?”

  “Well, Kemosabi, watch and learn.”

  Mac’s emotions resembled a tornado knowing Em’s life was in Marino’s hands.

  “Follow me,” Brody said, climbing out of the vehicle. He opened the metal toolbox in the bed of his truck. Inside, Brody pulled out a zip line and hooks.

  “I’m not following.”

  Brody stopped and turned to him. “Listen, we can’t blow up the place because Emily is inside. We can’t go in guns blazing either since we don’t even know what room she’s in.”

  “Okay.”

  “There’s no way to get in without being seen unless...” Brody looked up. “We go housetop to housetop. And since these damn mansions are so far apar
t we can’t jump from roof to roof like Mary Poppins. I thought we’d rig a line and zip across.”

  Now was not the time to imagine how badly they could screw this up. There were far too many possibilities. With Em’s life in danger, the plan had to work because it was the only thing they’d come up with.

  Knocking on the door was foolish because he’d never make it to the driveway before Marino’s guy laid him out.

  Brody was right. A zip line was the only way since his unspoken idea of digging a tunnel would take too long.

  Sweat rolled off Mac in buckets. He couldn’t remember the last time his nerves had been this strung out.

  “We’ll use the house on the left,” Brody said, his gloved hands working frantically. “I don’t think anyone is home. But the closer we get to five, the less likely that becomes.”

  “I know. It’s just so damn hard to concentrate when I’m not even sure Em is in there. They could have taken her somewhere else.”

  “Frank said when Bruno called Marino, this house came up. It’s the only lead we have.”

  Mac started the truck and steered toward the address Frank said Jake’s phone had traced. Since the info came from the boss, Mac was confident it was legitimate. Frank hadn’t been wrong before. Jake and Brody also had his back, and they’d been on hundreds of missions before.

  But now Em was involved.

  What would he do if anything happened to her? Marino’s crazy mind could always come up with something diabolical, or one of his associates playing suck-up to the boss, could run with Em.

  It also didn’t help that guilt gnawed at Mac’s conscience like a hungry dog on a bone. Inside, his gut twisted.

  Brody reached over and touched his arm. “I know you’re blaming yourself for all this, but don’t.”

  Mac looked out the side window and blinked hard. “Yeah, I know. But if I hadn’t gone to her hotel room...”

  “She’d be dead, Mac. Bruno said that Belskavia, the Wholesaler, had sent that wild assed Russian to kill her for taking those pictures.”