St James Gate (James Webb Rescue Book 1)

by BL Burke

  The sirens abruptly stopped, Perry could hear the clattering of footsteps like a pack of wildebeests on the plains.

  “It’s gonna catch, get out of there.” A rough voice yelled from behind him.

  “Detective Jefferson is back here,” Kirkwall screamed.

  “Come on Kieron, need to move now.” Perry tried pulling, but Kieron was limp. “Could use some help bro.”

  “Get out… save yourself.” A stream of gas flowed to his foot, then circling it going toward the engine.

  “No, I’m gonna save you brother,” Perry said shaking his head, “you are my brother… we were always better than me and Eddie.”

  Kieron nodded… “If only you didn’t go away…” Perry felt large arms grabbing him from behind.

  “Come on detective,” the smoker's voice said. Perry tried to shake him off.

  “No, we have to get him free.” Perry started to pull again, Kieron screamed.

  “No time!”

  “Go,” Kieron said letting go, Perry fell back. Another pair of hands grabbed him and yanked him farther… farther away.

  The gas caught on fire and started to move quickly. The water held it back a little, but there was no stopping it. He and Kieron looked at each other as it started to surround him.

  “Ahh!” He screamed as the fire started to climb up to him… it moved up the cab and around the back.

  Perry couldn’t take his eyes from the flames as Kieron’s clothes caught. His hands shook. More ear piercing screams. Perry pulled away from the grasping arms and stood up, he grabbed his gun and looked at the ball of screaming flames.

  Perry aimed and pulled the trigger. The screams stopped.

  Chapter 38

  “Help!” he screamed trying to shake the bars and hoping anyone would hear him. His body shook and his knuckles cracked themselves. He pounded on it with an open palm. Nothing moved. “Down here!”

  His chest heaved, he felt his body tilt to the left. The poisonous air he’d gotten used to. But he started to feel dizzy.

  That was a shotgun, right? He thought.

  Was Perry here? Was it some neighborhood gang war? He had no idea where he was, for all he knew he was a block from where he was jumped. The old plant.

  “Anybody!” He tried to shout, his mouth craved fresh air. His breath tasted like death. He leaned his warm forehead against between a set of bars.

  Eddie closed his eyes, the black world began to spin. His fingers started to slip from the bars. He moved his legs, they were weak and he collapsed. Eddie tried to reach out, tried to brace himself but nothing moved.

  -----

  Eddie’s eyes peeled open. Towering over him was a dark shadow eclipsing the dim light. He tried to remember… how long was he asleep? When did the featureless being start to watch him. Was it ten minutes, or ten hours. Eddie’s breathing felt short, he couldn’t hold it longer than a few seconds. His lungs were dying.

  “Let me go… I want my family.” Tears rolled down his face looking at the dark figure.

  A large clank came from his side. The large metal entry door opened. Eddie glanced toward it. James, clearly visible in the light was pushing a gurney, another body. Who it was it? His head pounded as he watched the feet roll in first.

  “Got a cop for you, straight off the pickup.” James said. Eddie looked toward the dark figure. It was gone. Eddie’s mouth dropped. Perry… he couldn’t kill his brother? All those years he protected him… shielded his brother, his only remaining family.

  He maneuvered onto his knees and slowly crawled toward the gate.

  “No, not Perry,” he put his head to the bars and tried to squeeze it out like a mouse through a tiny hole. His cheekbones hurt, “let me see him!” Eddie said. His hands trembled on the metal bars.

  Now, Perry had his own family, one that didn’t include him. Perry was probably sitting around drinking a beer not worrying… or he could be under that tarp.

  Was it him? Eddie didn’t want to know, or he did? He shut his eyes. James’ had a gleeful smile when he glanced over and ripped off the tarp.

  “It ain’t Perry,” James said. Eddie’s chest thumped as he looked at some white guy on the delivery slab. A soft thump came from the other cell. James was like a train, coming in and out. Dropping off new cargo. Eddie slowly pulled himself to a sitting position. Sliding his butt across the hard ground he leaned up against the wall.

  “That a shotgun? someone here for me?” James stepped from the cell, he was sweaty… or wet. “Yo… what was that? Was Perry here?”

  Eddie looked at James? He closed his eyes for a second and his head toppled to one side. He quickly shook them open.

  James came closer, Eddie looked toward the wall, he couldn’t look him in the eye. “No one was here for you,” he said.

  “Someone…” He was too weak, his breath too labored. Eddie slid backwards to the ground, he tried his best to brace himself, his arm skidded down the wall, scratching his palms on the brick. A familiar sound broke through the walls, quietly, gently at first. A sound he despised before, but now… Police! He thought.

  “Perry…” he whispered as his head gently nudged the floor. Everything went black.

  -----

  Someone grabbed at his wrist. He felt the tug on his eyelid and a bright white light was shining into it. Then the other. A hand gripped his throat and he felt water flushing into his mouth. “He just fainted,” a woman said over him… “he’ll be fine shortly.”

  I don’t faint, that for chicks and homos, Eddie thought. That’s weak… His body felt pain emanating from every part of him

  “I’d suggest giving him some cleaner water,” the woman’s voice said… “and change his bucket.”

  “Where am I,” Eddie said quietly. The hand flew off of his neck.

  “He’s awake,” the woman said her feet retreating from him.

  “Leave,” said the voice, James. His eyes peeled open with difficulty. A haze covered him, everything skewed in a blur, but his brain seemed clearer. A wild vision showed the cell door open… and the girl above him wore a halo. He reached out and grabbed her ankle, he could get free.

  “Angel? “ he said. Suddenly, Eddie felt a surge of strength flow through him, adrenaline like he’d never felt before.

  His grip strengthened. “Let go,” she grunted. He felt her try to pull away. He wouldn’t let go. Eddie yanked her down.

  She yelped and was on her back. Eddie pulled himself above her and pinned her down. He grabbed the bar and pulled himself to his feet taking the girl by her hair to join him. Together they stumbled into the fighting arena.

  The woman looked at him, it seemed like she was snarling. The metal entrance flew open with metal smashing brick. Eddie whirled the woman toward the sound. He put his bicep around her throat. She was in a choke hold facing James. “I’m outta here.” He said. Nothing could stop him.

  The voice of his tormentor yelled at him from a few steps back. Eddie grinned he had the upper hand. James was blocking the door and holding a small gun, maybe a nine millimeter. Nothing like his Desert Eagle at home.

  “Put it down,” Eddie said wrapping his arms around her, “or I’ll break her neck.” He felt the surge of blood through his arms, they were getting stronger. She struggled to swallow, her breathing was quick.

  “You won’t,” James said, “you don’t kill women.” She reached up, digging her fingers into his arm to try and peel him away. The halo shrunk a little.

  “You don’t know shit,” Eddie said, “You watch while she suffocates.” Eddie started to move to his right, circling James. He needed to get to the door just behind him. Her breath got shorter, he had to do it.

  “I’ll kill this bitch, like she wanted to kill me.” James moved to his right, leaving an open route to the door. Eddie glanced down and saw the spot where he killed Skitter… his muscles flexed.

  “Even the animal you are, you wouldn’t hurt a girl.”

  “I’m not an animal,” her struggling stopped, her
arms fell to her side as her legs went limp.

  “You’re an animal, a thick headed dumb piece of shit… you attack innocent boys and their dogs.”

  “You deserved it, damn white folks got everything. Growing up not knowing pain or heartache… not knowing what it is to be fatherless and have ho for a ma. We protect our people, we demand the respect. You deserve to die! All of you!”

  “You had the choice be like Perry or be a thug.”

  “Not all of us do, he abandoned me, I’m his family,” Eddie was moving closer to the door, he heard the woman’s feet drag on the ground. His brain was moving like it hadn’t in years.

  “Why? Because he’s a cop who didn’t want to be you? Because he actually served his country?”

  “You know about our sister?” Eddie said. He started to tighten his grip and clenched his teeth.

  “You don’t have a sister,”

  “She was murdered, baby girl was seven,” James was quiet, his gun barrel dipped. Eddie was just about at the door, “Despite the fact you think I’m a beast… you’re right about one thing,” James raised his gun again. The barrel looking into Eddie’s eyes.

  “I don’t kill women,” he loosened his grip on her “but I don’t mind hurting them.” He pushed as hard as he could toward James.

  “Renee!” James yelled, Eddie heard the gun drop as he ran out of the room.

  He twisted into a white brick wall. Down his right was a long hallway ending in another thick metal door. Cobwebs hung from the corners, burnt out lights were ghostly as he limped while following two rust colored parallel lines on the ground. He reached it and flung it open. Inside he was in another dark hall with a sliver of light coming from the far edge.

  James screamed behind him. Eddie didn’t catch any words, but it was pain, like he did when Sadie died. Eddie ran toward the light, he felt a wooden door. He pushed, it was heavy but it opened. He was in another room with an open door in front of him. He reached back to shut it and felt some sort of metal blade. A shelving unit rattled, it’s shimmering metal reverberated through his bones.

  In the hall he saw the bright red EXIT sign to his right. He ran to it. He saw an old elevator to his right, stairs to his left.

  Eddie turned to his left, clapping footsteps ran behind him.

  “I’m gonna kill you,” James yelled from somewhere behind him. He was at the landing on the steps when the shelves rang again. His legs felt like mush, like they’d collapse at any second. He grabbed the railing and pulled himself to the top. He reached a door with a big ‘1’ on it. He pushed through into a warehouse. The elevator was starting to move. His just ran, no thinking, he reached a door and busted through.

  Before him was a path of kennels. They held the largest group of dogs he’d ever seen, all in large cages. Some started to bark, while a few went toward the front of their cages. His face contorted, they all looked like they wanted to kill him, he felt a some chill.

  Must keep moving, the damn dogs would give him away. Eddie looked down, he couldn’t feel his legs anymore, he was barely moving down the aisle. He glanced back at the door… then more nervously at the dogs.

  He ran to an intersection, took a right. Dogs were all around, staring, growling. He felt them taunting him. He saw a wall and a blue door. He pushed toward it, maybe…

  Somewhere behind him he heard James’s feet. More dogs called out. Eddie stumbled his weak fingers gripped the knob. He turned and looked back. No one. He pulled himself in.

  Directly in front of him sat a large yellow lab, he’d seen it before. It’s face looked like it was ready to maul him.

  A loud bark bellowed from the side of him. Eddie’s heart leapt fifteen feet in the air. The clatter of claws followed. He turned just enough to see a dog leaping toward him. Eddie felt like he was hit by a cannon ball. He was dropped to his back, strong paws crashed to his chest. He tried to scream but couldn’t get anything out.

  The furry face of the dog was scratched and scarred up, the white jaw looked almost ragged. The dog’s mouth open, it was gonna bite. Eddie shut his eyes.

  He felt the warm rough tongue lap his cheek. His eyes opened to his old fighter, his champion. Adeline. Her stub wagged as she proudly stood on his chest as if to say that this is her triumph… her kill.

  The door flew open and in stepped James. His gun pointed at Eddie. His face gave a wicked smile. He was out of breath and put his hands on his knees and looked at Eddie.

  “Despite what you scum have done to her, she still loves you.” James said. Eddie could barely get anything out. His chest heaved. His body wouldn’t move.

  “Adeline, off,” James said. The big pit moved back, her tail still wagging. “They’re the most amazing animals in the world. And you have no right to even look at one.”

  James raised his gun toward Eddie. “That’s what we prove here, and you, just murdered their hero, their savior… their saint.” James swung the butt of his gun crash down on Eddie’s head.

  Chapter 39

  Perry holstered his gun. He walked toward one of the cops, unclasping his badge he held it out. “Take this,” Perry said, “tell Captain Knight I’ll be in in the morning.”

  He took off his holster and put it in the cop’s outstretched hands. “Take this to whatever IA asshole that’ll be investigating.”

  Perry’s eyes were on the canal’s slow flowing water as he floated to the car. I can’t be here, he thought, cracking his fingers.

  For an hour or so, Perry drove in circles, remembering the call. The rain stopped and the half-moon started to poke through when he stopped at the dead-end street. He put his head back and shut off the cruiser. He looked up at the small blue bungalow. Molly’s house.

  A car’s headlights flooded his rearview. Perry watched it turn into the driveway in front of him.

  He didn’t remember deciding to go here. He almost forgot about her until he saw her house, then Kieron mentioned her name.

  Now, something seemed to pull him to her. For a long time he watched out for her. Even after his sister… he kept in eye on her from afar. Perry saw two men step out of the car. Perry looked at his phone, it was off. The men marched to the side of the house and opened a tall wooden gate. Their stance, their walk, they didn’t belong.

  He popped the trunk of his car. Opening his tactical rifle bag he stuck a magazine into the AR and put on his police vest. Perry strapped his knife to his thigh and looked up. About as much gear as he had on the mission into Syria.

  Perry scurried after them. He unlatched the black lock and stepped into a killing zone. A small corridor with an eight-foot fence covered in ivy and her home. Ahead, someone spoke, he couldn’t make it out.

  A shorter gate stood at the end, it swung open a few inches. A hinge squeaked.

  “Come on man, be respectful, shut it.” A voice said from around the corner. Footsteps crunched on some gravel getting closer. Perry raised his rifle to his shoulder.

  A squirrelly black guy turned the corner. One of Kieron’s guys, the same one from the house. Perry stuck the barrel in his face before the guy knew what happened.

  “Cop,” he said turning. Quickly, Perry flipped the rifle around and hit Mr. Fidgety with the butt of it in the back of his head. He collapsed to the ground.

  Back in his original tactical position he turned the corner… Carlitio, the big Mexican was standing there… with Molly.

  It seemed to register slowly on them, until Molly’s mouth beamed. She circled the table and walked straight up to Perry. He lowered his gun and she wrapped her arms around him. Perry kept his eyes on the Carlito.

  “My God, Perry Jefferson,” she squeezed him.

  “Hi Molly,”

  “It’s been so long… too long.” Perry let go the gun with one arm and squeezed her, she smelt good. She let go and looked down at the guy on the ground. “Get up Darius, Kieron’s on his way.”

  She was wearing pink and white scrubs, almost identical to her pajamas when she’d spend the night with... Her da
rk black hair hung loose to her shoulders. Her eyes were the both soft and intense, the way he remembered them growing up.

  Perry looked away. “Kieron ain’t coming.” Carlito shifted to his left behind her, he pointed the rifle in his direction.

  “What?” She said.

  “I just saw him, he ain’t coming… it.”

  “What do you mean?” Perry lowered the rifle.

  “Kieron’s gone.” Darius pushed to his feet and moved toward Carlito. “He was involved in a crash… he ain’t coming back.” Perry felt his eyes start to sting, like he needed to close them for a rest.

  “Come on in, we need to talk.” Molly said taking his hand. Perry wiped his eyes quickly as she turned.

  “You killed him… didn’t you.” Carlito said with his handgun pointing at the ground.

  Molly put out her hand. “Perry would never… ever kill that man.” Perry swallowed… did he kill him, or stop his suffering? Or both. She opened a sliding glass door and ushered him into a blue and white farmhouse kitchen. She sat him on a light brown chair, he rested his rifle against the table. Perry put his head in his hands. “Let me get you something… beer?”

  “Anything stronger?” Perry said. She smiled and walked through a small doorway. A cork popped and he looked up. His eyes crept toward a framed a collage. He scanned them, pictures of young Molly, college Molly, Nurse Molly. In one, she stood next to him, they were both so young. Her eyes looked up at him like she loved him.

  Another one caused him to stand and walk to it. Two young black girls in their jammies, arm over each other’s shoulders with large smiles standing over an empty pizza box. His ma’s place, he wanted to reach out, grab it touch her face.

  “Sadie?” Molly asked, Perry nodded his head. She walked in front of him, placing the drink on the table. “I miss her every day.”

  “Me too,” Perry said still staring at it.

  “She was such a trouble maker though… in the good way.”

  “She was spoiled,” Perry said… “like all youngest.”

  “Or onlys, heard you replaced her though?” Molly said. Perry looked at her, his knuckles cracked. Molly raised a hand protesting innocence. “I mean… her name…”