St James Gate (James Webb Rescue Book 1)

by BL Burke

  Perry dropped his hand from his belt loop as Kieron pulled up, the black SUV had dark windows but he noticed a small glint of a chain hanging from the rear view. He opened the door Kieron didn’t look at him. The car was put in drive and they were off before Perry buckled up. Through the dark windows he watched his old city go by.

  “I think the tint is too dark,” Perry said.

  “Ticket me,” his eyes were straight ahead. Minutes later they drove down a winding road in West Allis. He could see cars on the freeway speeding past. Trees were overgrown, and he noticed he hadn’t seen a house in a few minutes. Perry thought about texting Marshall, told someone where they were going. An empty garbage can looked like it was used for target practice, holes and scorch marks showed a pattern of Vs or Us, he couldn’t make up which. Then with the wind it rolled off the edge of a hill, it disappeared like it was an illusion.

  He felt the drive start to slow, then going at a few miles an hour Kieron turned into a rust covered warehouse. Wooden pallets and industrial spools blocked the bullet ridden garage door.

  Kieron stepped out with Perry following him through a small side door into a large garage. A pneumatic jack sat by itself in the center of the room. A huge air compressor with flat wheels was rusting next to the walls. Thieves couldn’t lift those to sell.

  “Got your piece?” Kieron said flashing his Sig. Perry guessed the serial numbers were filed off. “Yes it’s registered and I got my concealed permit.” Kieron said, he was in his head like when they were kids. “And you ain’t a cop today.”

  “This guy bad?”

  Kieron shrugged, “depends if you’re on his side, he usually works alone, so likely no ambush.”

  “Oscar,” Kieron yelled into the open garage. No one came out. Perry’s mouth felt dry.

  “I don’t like this,” he said, his eyes shooting around the room looking for any sign of movement.

  “He’s watching,” Kieron said nodding slowly.

  A door slammed behind them. Perry spun around and saw the guy. Oscar almost melded out of some dark corner of the building. From where Perry couldn’t be sure. He put his hand on his gun, he didn’t like not knowing.

  Oscar had a dark black pencil mustache and looked like a sex offender. His sleeves were cut off at the shoulder and Perry noticed a large Mexican Flag tattoo on his bicep and some scribbling on his neck.

  “Who’s this,” Oscar said pointing a very large pistol, at Perry. Perry watched the trigger finger. Was it getting twitchy? Perry’s was.

  “A friend,” Kieron said raising his hands in the air, “he just has a few questions.” Oscar’s eyes were covered by a pair of sunglasses despite the dark room. Oscar slowly lowered the gun, his finger still on the trigger.

  “Speak, I don’t have time, I’m busy man.” Oscar said, his English was broken like a cartoon. His mouth bounced as he chewed something, Perry thought gum.

  “Eddie Jefferson,” Perry said, his hand shook as he said the name, “You know him,”

  “You a cop homes?”

  “Not today,” Kieron interrupted.

  “I don’t talk to cops.”

  “You know Eddie?” Perry said, Oscar was silent staring at him.

  “Something happened to him” Kieron said, Oscar was still silent. “I know he… helped you, does he owe you… or your boss.” Perry didn’t know which of them he was looking at, he kept chewing.

  “He’s my brother…” Perry said, “and he’s missing, I’m just trying to find him.”

  “We don’t touch him, he owes us, yes. But we not ready to collect.”

  “Owes you for what?” The cop was coming back. Oscar smiled but didn’t answer. What the hell was that dumbass into? “We know you didn’t touch him.” Kieron said.

  “Then why you here question me?” Oscar started to look off somewhere, Perry followed his face. Something moved to his right.

  “Need someone of your skills.”

  “You no idea where he?” Oscar said.

  “We may, we have a suspect.” Perry said still looking at the wall.

  “He was kidnapped… just disappeared,” Kieron said. Perry was looking back when Oscar took a few steps toward them, finger still on the trigger, gun pointed at the ground. Oscar stopped, Perry could make out the tattoo, it was in Spanish but read, ‘to the victor go the spoils.’ “We think he’s being held at an animal shelter.”

  “An animal shelter? You mean like he’s a dog?” Oscar said taking off his sunglasses. His eyes were dark and there was a scar above his right eye. The quizzical look in his eyes said he didn’t believe.

  “Yes. In the last couple of months a few more disappeared, Chan, Skitter, we think the same guy…”

  “Hmm… Javier disappear also.” Oscar said.

  “When?”

  Oscar shrugged and slid the gun into the back of his pants, “I can help, I need Eddie to pay.”

  “I want to come too,” Kieron said.

  “Just surveillance,” Perry said.

  “Tonight, pick me up here.” Oscar said ignoring Perry and handing Kieron a piece of paper. Then he looked straight at Perry, “If we no find him, you pay.” Oscar walked past them and out of the open garage door.

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 34

  Kieron was sitting in his SUV surrounded by large semi-trailers. About a hundred yards in front of him was Brew City Animal Rescue. Oscar hadn’t removed his eyes from the binoculars for almost an hour.

  “I have movement,” Oscar said. “No… wait it lady bringing dogs inside.” Kieron could barely make out the woman in the large fenced in area to the south of the building. Kieron took a deep breath.

  “We can’t see the front from here… why don’t I go and watch from there?”

  “You stick out, we both would… that’s why we park here.”

  “But we’re missing…”

  “Quiet… I see vehicle coming dead end street… red Jeep.” Oscar said… “hold on, I check it.” Oscar opened up the door.

  The dome flipped on illuminating them.

  “Dammit,” Kieron said flipping it off. Oscar put on a black mask that made him look like he was the grim reaper and slipped out of the ride.

  Kieron flipped on his beanie and got out. He kept within ten feet of Oscar as they crouched closer. Kieron could hear waves from the river lapping behind them as they moved closer toward the tracks. He spotted the Jeep reversing toward the side of the building.

  “The hell is he doing?” Kieron said. The driver hopped out of the car quickly and threw open the tailgate. He pounded on the door.

  “Making delivery,”

  “This time of night?” Kieron said.

  “It when I get my deliveries.” Oscar shrugged. Kieron heard the rumbling of a metal dock door opening.

  “This don’t look right,” Kieron said. A metal brace of something glinted from the interior light and was placed between the back of the Jeep and the dock like a bridge.

  “Sit tight, I’ll be back.” Oscar said. He stooped from their position.

  “No, wait,” Kieron said watching him start to do some weird squatted run that made him look like he really had to take a poop.

  Kieron looked back toward the Jeep, was it James? He couldn’t tell but something was moved on the bridge now, in the silhouetted light he hadn’t the slightest idea. He saw hands reach out from the dock and start to pull the bridge back in. The driver was pushing. Kieron started to move forward. This wasn’t something he would do in the light of day. He crested a small loose rock embankment. Slowly, one by one he heard them begin to tumble, more and more… they were getting louder. Kieron was in the open, if the man looked he’d see him.

  Kieron slid with them to the bottom, only three feet. The crashing of rocks followed behind him.

  An exclamation sounded from the man. Kieron looked up and watched something drop from the bridge but whatever dropped just hung.

  “What the hell was that?” Kieron strained his eyes in the orange str
eet light but couldn’t tell what it was.

  He crawled forward, crossing the railroad tracks on his stomach. The kid grabbed the hanging thing and put it back on the bridge. A quick white light shined into his eyes. Kieron covered them with his hand. When he looked back up the Jeep was closed and the dock door was being shut.

  “Oscar?” Kieron said getting to his knees. No response, no movement. Kieron scanned the area around the tracks nothing.

  “You see him?” a harsh voice whispered out from a bush ten feet to his right. Kieron jumped.

  “Oscar?”

  “Ya, I think this your guy.”

  “You sure,”

  “Yeah, let’s go get him.”

  “No, we’re just here to watch.”

  “What you high? This is our world, we find him we get him,” he pointed toward the rear of the building.

  “Wait, what if…” Kieron tried to say.

  “Don’t be a bitch, I found the back door.” Kieron heard a gun rack. He took a deep breath and nodded in the dark and did the same. “Let’s find our boys.”

  Kieron followed Oscar toward the building. The grass rose to waist high for about twenty yards. Rocks clapping around in the bushes around them as they stepped.

  It couldn’t have been more than five minutes, but Kieron thought it was an hour before they reached the side of the building. His body creaked as he stood up, but Oscar was already at work on the lock.

  “Make sure it empty.” Kieron said.

  “Why?” he showed his gun. A train whistle called out. It was followed by a crack of thunder. The sky was too dark to know if a storm was coming.

  The door opened. Oscar stuck his head in, he pushed it open further. He just about jumped in. Kieron grabbed his gun from the back of his waist belt and stepped in. Was this how Perry felt in Iraq?

  It was a small room lit by overhead industrial lights. The room was bright with cardboard boxes and wooden crates piled around almost to the ceiling. A shipping label still read ‘Brew City Animal Rescue, St. Paul Road, Milwaukee, WI.’

  “Dog food,” Oscar said. He appeared from around a crate and waved an arm in the air. “This storage room.”

  “Guessed that.” Kieron said. Oscar’s face said don’t be a dick. Kieron swallowed, “how do we get out of here?”

  “Exit over here, little sound.” Kieron followed, pallets with dog food and falling saran wrap were taking up the front. A large entrance that looked like it should’ve been blocked by a garage door was wide open staring into a shipping dock. This should’ve been one of his underlings… but he had to prove himself to Perry. Oscar crept closer, not making any sound. He ducked behind one of the half used pallets of dog food.

  “Anything.” Kieron said. No answer. He stooped behind another stack of dog food and saw the dock. Large boxes, crates, a hand jack. No sign of the driver or his delivery. He walked toward the closed door where they would’ve entered.

  “Wet wheel marks,” Oscar said pointing to the ground, Kieron followed them to the freight elevator. He ran his fingers along the metal gate. The arrow indicator above said ‘B.’

  “He’s in the basement,” Kieron said.

  “Stairs,” Oscar said pointing to the door directly across from it. As they reached the door, the elevator motor started to run again. Kieron slipped into the stairwell, but Oscar didn’t move.

  “Come on, hide,” Kieron said. Oscar lifted his gun and watched. Kieron saw the arrow hit ‘1.’ Through the slats, he saw it was empty.

  It kept rising. It hit two, three then stopped. Kieron stepped back out of the stairwell next to Oscar was still aiming his gun.

  “They know we here,” Oscar said.

  “What?”

  The elevator’s motor started to move again, it was slowly coming back down. Kieron took a spot next to Oscar and raised his gun.

  A shrill voice erupted behind them. “Drop it,” a voice female voice yelled then he heard a shotgun being pumped. Kieron looked at Oscar who nodded. Slowly they both lowered themselves to the ground and put the guns on the floor.

  The elevator stopped on one. It was him, James stepped out holding a handgun on them. He was the guy from the dog fight.

  “Who are you, why are you here.” he said.

  “You know why we here,” Oscar said, “to get you homes.” A train whistle blew outside. If he didn’t get out of there soon, they’d be cut off from their ride.

  The kid smiled. “I’ve got a full house right now… but I’m sure we can find lodgings for you. We’d have fun with you in the Gate.” The way he said it, Kieron knew it wasn’t a place he’d ever want to see. “Now kick your guns over here.”

  Kieron glanced at Oscar, Oscar wouldn’t look at him. He was having a staring contest with the psycho kid. Kieron kicked his gun. It skidded past him, he dropped his gaze for an instant.

  Kieron sprinted to the storage room, stumbling around large boxes and into crates before his hands grabbed the exit door. A pair of shotgun cracks came from behind him. He didn’t look back as he leapt out of the door. The ground rumbled as he ran toward the car. A train’s headlight lit up the ties and field in front of him.

  Kieron could barely keep his balance, as he ran. His body slipped and he used a hand to brace himself he felt something sharp jab his palm. The shaking earth, the grass and rocks made moving difficult. He pushed himself forward.

  He pulled himself up to the tracks, the train was ten feet away, a loud horn blared in his ear. He took two steps and was a third away from being on the other side.

  He heard his name being called. Without thinking, Kieron looked over his shoulder and saw James standing in the back lit doorway.

  The edge of the cow catcher clipped his shoulder. Pain erupted around his body as the world spun around him and his mind went blank.

  Kieron opened his eyes. His body felt like it was destroyed. He could hear squealing train breaks but didn’t care. The pain was too much, if only he sleep here. I won’t ever get back up, he thought.

  He lifted his head and saw he was a twenty feet from his SUV. He tried to calculate how far he’d flown then shook himself out of it.

  Kieron yelled while pushing himself up, he felt more than heard grinding and crushing noises throughout his body.

  “I… ain’t… dying…” Kieron said pushing through the pain, using all the strength he had left he pulled himself into the driver’s seat groans he didn’t know he could make came from his body. He stuck the key in and started the engine.

  His arm felt like it was ripped off, but he pulled out his phone as he drove down the gravel road. He drove even with the train as it was backing up. He drove past empty semi trailers, and through a back-parking lot of some building. He took the left and cruised down toward Canal Street.

  He spoke to his phone, “Call Perry two,” he said to the voice activated machine then placed it between his head and shoulder. Miller Park rose in front of him.

  He had to see her, he needed her help. Kieron grunted trying to turn the steering wheel with one arm.

  “Perry,” Kieron said when he answered. “I’m hurt… on Canal, heading to Molly’s… meet me there.”

  “Molly… as in…” Perry said.

  “Yeah.” Kieron said, “it ain’t good homes. I’m losing it.” The phone slid off his shoulder and dropped to the floor. His eyelids began to droop as the road started to turn left.

  “Kieron? Kieron!” Perry sounded more upset, but his voice was getting quieter. He felt the vehicle impact something then Kieron felt weightless.

  I’m flying, he thought.

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 35

  James stared at the large yellow spot light from the train circling like a lighthouse at sea. The red and blues of two of Milwaukee’s finest spun the opposite way as if they danced to a macabre light show.

  One of the new dogs from the Kentucky rescue stared at him with light yellow eyes.

  “It’ll be okay,” James said smiling at it. The dog was t
here for a week and James didn’t get to know it at all. He needed to.

  Rain began to pound on the roof above his head. From the sixth floor it looked cold and James shuddered at the cops.

  Ascending the spine of the building like a thermometer getting ready to burst dogs started their howls. Wolfish mixed with cubs. It was almost all he could hear. James knew the few dogs that weren’t afraid of the storm would join in shortly.

  Ten minutes earlier the train engineer started to reverse and stopped the engine right behind his building.

  James watched as he pointed to the front of the train, showing an officer something. He spoke with his hands animated then waved toward his world. James saw number six on his list of beasts running from the rear door. Did the conductor see James chase him out with the gun? The uniformed officer started toward the building.

  A dark sedan pulled up and stopped, it was a police car. The door shot open and a man showed his badge to the uniform. It was Marshall.

  The cop started talking to him and nodding his head back toward the rescue… no towards his Jeep.

  “Shit,” James said, he forgot to move it. He couldn’t see what they were doing, it was too difficult of an angle.

  He heard the door slam open behind. “What’s happening?” Renee said stepping next to him, her perfume was Eau’d’Wet Dog.

  “Not sure.” James said. He was intently watching to see the men reappear. “Can’t see anything.”

  “The guest is in his new quarters,” Renee said her voice barely over the dogs, “he’ll be awake… what are they doing over there?”

  “No idea. But a detective just went toward the Jeep.”

  “Do you think someone heard the shotgun?” James ran it over in his mind, the train was blaring, no one else was in the building. Most places around were closed with the exception of the bar four blocks away. It was possible but James didn’t think so.

  “Don’t know.”

  “Then why the hell are there cops?” Renee said. “We should get down there.” James nodded, he didn’t know what happened to Kieron.

  James pressed at two, Renee was shivering in her white tank top with ‘Boston Marathon ‘12’ on the front. Her lean muscles were covered in goosebumps.