by D P Lyle
“I thought I was talking to an officer of the law. You know...protect and serve...all that stuff. Captain, I don’t want to piss you off or insult you or anything. But, if that’s the only way I can get your attention, then that’s the way it’ll have to be.”
He sighed heavily. “OK. I’m awake now. Give it to me again.”
*
Sam spun out of the drive onto Gold Creek Road and gunned the engine. The Jeep surged forward, gravel banging against the undercarriage and wheel wells. Billy grabbed the dash with one hand and the handle above the passenger’s window with the other and held on. A broken layer of clouds smudged the full moon, muting its glow, darkening the valley.
“OK,” Sam said. “Which way?”
“The fastest way is to cut across Burt’s property. Up here about a half mile,” he said. “Just past where Gold Creek cuts under the road.”
“Guess we might as well add trespassing to our sheet.”
Following Billy’s directions, Sam jerked the Jeep off the road and pointed it toward Crystal Falls, which, in the cloud dampened moonlight, appeared like a pale white ribbon draped over the dark slopes. The Jeep bucked over the uneven terrain. She aimed at one of the “No Trespassing” signs that demarcated Burt’s property and accelerated. The Jeep’s nose easily snapped the barbed wire strands.
Billy pointed to their left as they neared the trees. Burt’s Range Rover and Wade’s Jeep sat side by side.
Sam parked near the other vehicles and jumped out. “Where to?”
“This way,” Billy said, striding into the trees. He pushed aside a spruce branch and disappeared. Sam hurried after him.
The forest, beautiful, serene, and filled with wonderful sounds and smells during daylight, morphs into a place of disorienting terror after the sun retreats beneath the horizon, it. Gone are the scents of the flowers as if they had died away, leaving behind a dense pungency. Gone are the rich colors, leaving only the monochrome of night. Gone are the birds, the buzzing insects, and the graceful butterflies, replaced by a woolen silence that paradoxically magnifies every sudden sound. The snap of a twig or the tumble of a stone can jerk the pulse into a higher gear.
Sam’s heart thumped loudly against her chest and her senses amped up to full alert as she struggled to keep up with Billy. She was amazed at the agility and speed with which he moved. She expected a man of his size to lumber through the forest pushing aside trees like King Kong. Yet, Billy seemed to dance through the foliage, making little noise and no missteps.
Suddenly, he stopped. “We’re close,” he whispered. “A hundred yards at most. Real slow and quiet.”
Sam followed Billy up the slope, moving more slowly, taking care with each step and each branch she brushed against. Soon, she could hear voices, which became more distinct as they drew closer. Billy grabbed her arm and pulled her down to a knee behind a mulberry shrub. She pushed aside a branch, revealing Burt, Wade, Hollis, and Eloy standing before the mouth of the Glenross Mine.
“Just let Conner go and we’ll leave,” Burt said.
“I don’t see that happening.” Morgan’s voice came from the mine.
“If you hurt him, you’ll pay dearly.”
“I’ve already paid dearly,” Morgan said. “And now, so will you.”
“What do you want?” Burt asked.
“You.”
“And then what?”
“All in due time.”
“You don’t have much time,” Burt said. “Don’t make me come and get my son.”
“You won’t,” Morgan said.
“Why won’t I?”
“Because I’ll kill him. I’m already dead so it won’t change things for me. I just don’t want you walking away clean.”
“After everything I did for you?”
“You mean such as hunting me like an animal?”
Sam pushed through the shrub and stepped into the clearing behind Burt and the others. The men turned and looked at her.
“Well, look who’s joining the party,” Burt said.
Billy stepped up beside Sam.
“Both of you. How perfect.”
“We’ll see if you still feel the same way when the CBI officers get here.”
“They ain’t coming,” Wade said. “I had a little chat with them. Assured them they weren’t needed.”
“Captain Baker seemed to see things my way after I brought him up to date.”
Wade glanced at Burt.
“So,” Sam said. “Perhaps you should listen to what Morgan has to say.”
Burt shook his head, a grim smile on his face. “What do you care about that mutant in there?” He jerked his head toward the mine.
“He’s not a mutant. He’s a man and he’s sick.”
“And he did it to himself,” Burt said.
“I know.”
“And he killed two of my men.”
Sam glared at him. “Yes, he did. In self-defense and you know that. And he killed Lloyd Varney. An accident but he did it nonetheless. And he’ll stand before the judge for it. But, not here. Not like this.”
Burt laughed and glanced at Wade, then Eloy. “And I suppose you’re going to stop us?”
“Any way I can.”
“I don’t see that you have many options. There are four of us.”
Sam pulled her Smith & Wesson, leveling it at Burt. “But, I’ll get you.” She noticed that Wade had pulled his weapon.
Burt’s smile evaporated. “You wouldn’t give yourself up for me. Or for Morgan.”
“Like you said, I don’t have many options. Besides, I figure without you these other clowns will come to their senses. After all, who benefits the most here?”
“What are you talking about?” Burt asked.
“If Morgan and Billy and I disappear, you get to sidestep a shit load of charges and you’ll likely get Billy’s land to boot. What do they get?”
Burt’s eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. “And just what do you want?”
Sam stepped toward him, her gun never wavering from his chest. “To talk with Morgan. See if I can resolve this without anyone getting killed.”
“If he hurts Conner, I’ll kill him.”
“That’s what I’m trying to prevent.”
“What about the CBI?” Wade asked.
“That’s between you, Burt, and them. And Morgan. But, I would suspect cooperation would be better than digging yourself a deeper hole by killing someone.”
Wade glanced at Burt, and then back to her. “I don’t see any harm in you talking with him. Maybe he’ll give this up.”
“Maybe,” Sam said. She motioned to Billy. “Let’s go.”
“He stays here,” Burt said.
Sam looked at him. “I don’t think so. He goes with me.”
They walked past Burt to the mine entrance. Sam peered inside, but saw only an impenetrable blackness.
“Morgan,” Sam shouted. “It’s me, Sam. Billy and I are coming in.”
“OK.” Morgan’s voice, deep and gravely, rumbled from the mine. “Walk straight ahead. Stay along the right side. Near the wall.”
Sam stepped into the mine; Billy followed. The air was cool and thick with the musty scent of damp rock. Her boots scraped against the gritty floor and she heard the plink of dripping water somewhere in the darkness ahead. She jumped when a drop fell against her cheek.
Billy touched her shoulder. “There,” he said.
She squinted and then saw a dim glow, interrupting the darkness along the right wall a hundred feet ahead. “Morgan?” Sam said.
“You’re doing fine,” Morgan said. “Keep coming.”
She saw a shadow move within the faint patch of light, and then Morgan stepped out in front of them.
“In here,” he said and directed them into the side shaft where he had lived for two months. A gas lantern sat in the middle of the floor and cast a feeble light. Conner lay on the tarp in one corner, his hands tied behind his back.
“You OK?” Sam asked.
/> “I will be,” Conner said. “If you can get me out of here.”
Sam turned to Morgan. His square jaw, thick brows, and unruly black beard, contrasted with his deeply blue, sad eyes. His foul breath burned her nose.
“Are the State Patrol guys coming?” Morgan asked.
“Should be here in half an hour. More or less.”
Sam noticed two pairs of boots lying near the wall. Both had tears down the sides where the leather had ripped loose from the soles. One had windows cut through the toe box. She nodded toward them. “Those the boots you took from Varney’s?”
“Yeah,” Morgan said. “I kept outgrowing them. The process...this process...” He spread his hands open. “It’s accelerating. In the past few weeks, the changes have been more dramatic than the previous three months combined.”
Sam took his hand. The skin over his palms and fingers was thick and calloused. The hair wiry and stiff. “We’re here to help,” she said.
“What’s your plan?” Billy asked.
“I want to trade Conner for Burt.”
Sam released Morgan’s hand. “You can’t harm Burt. I won’t be a part of that.”
“I’m not going to do anything to him. God knows I’d love to, but all I want is to force him to tell the truth.”
“And you’ll turn yourself over to the CBI?” Sam asked.
“Yes. I’ll take my punishment, whatever a jury decides that might be. But I won’t let Burt walk free. No way.”
Sam looked into Morgan’s eyes. “We have a problem here.”
“What’s that?” Morgan asked.
“It’s like this, you believe you’re dying. Why would you fear a judge and jury? Why wouldn’t you kill Burt?”
“I don’t want his life. I want his freedom. I want him to live in a box the rest of his life. Like here.” He waved his arm. “Like the lab I was confined to for over a year.”
Sam sighed. “OK. I’ll see if he’ll swap places with Conner.”
“Tell him he’d better. I will kill Conner if I have to. As you said, I’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Dr. Locke said you could be helped with a surgical procedure,” Billy said.
Morgan smiled, revealing yellowed teeth. “No, I can’t.”
“But...”
“They can remove my pituitary, maybe stop the process, but this is how I’ll be.” He opened his arms and shrugged. “I can’t live like this. I’m a freak.”
“But, you’ll be alive,” Sam said.
“Sam, there are things worse than death.”
*
Burt paced back and forth, his gaze focused on the mouth of the mine. He had to get Conner out of there. Once his son was safe, he would think of some way to end this. Some way to win. He always did and this situation would be no different.
“What the hell are they doing in there?” he said.
“Relax,” Wade said. “Maybe they’re talking him into giving up. He doesn’t really have much choice.”
Burt whirled on him. “Really? I don’t see it that way. All he has to do is stall until the State Patrol officers arrive. What happens then?”
Wade stared at him, but said nothing.
Burt stepped close to Wade and spoke softly. “We have to end this before they get here.”
“Maybe we should just give it up,” Wade said.
Burt’s jaw tightened and he spoke between clenched teeth. “If Morgan lives, we’re fucked. Big time fucked.” He looked at Eloy, and then Hollis. “All of us.” He turned toward the mine as Sam stepped out.
“Here’s the deal, Burt,” she said. “Morgan wants to trade Conner for you.”
Thank you, Morgan, he thought. For solving the first part of my problem. “He’ll kill me,” Burt said.
“No, he won’t. Not that I’d blame him if he did.”
“Why do you say that? He’s the killer.”
“Burt, give it up. I know the whole story. The secret research. Your little hunting party.” She looked at Wade. “And the evidence you faked.”
Burt glared at her and jerked his head toward the mine. “And you believe him? Can’t you see his brain is fried from what he did to himself.”
“A judge and jury can decide that. Right now, I’m trying to save your son.”
“And me? Let Morgan do what he wants to me, I suppose?”
“I doubt he wants to kill his ‘Get Out of Jail’ card.”
Burt dropped his gaze to his feet and arranged his face into a look that he hoped portrayed deep thought. Had he played it up enough? Had he convinced her that he was afraid of Morgan? That he didn’t really want to go into the mine? He looked back up at Sam. “OK.”
She walked to the mouth of the mine and shouted. “We’re coming in.”
Burt turned his back to her and spoke softly to Hollis. “When Conner comes out, take him out of here. Get down to the truck and go home.” He nodded toward Wade and Eloy. “We’ll take care of everything up here.”
“What about the state boys?” Hollis whispered.
Burt offered a grim smile. “Maybe there won’t be anyone for them to talk to. And no bodies to find.” He turned and walked toward Sam. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 54
Sam stood at the entrance to the mine, motioned for Burt to turn around, and then patted him down. “No funny business. OK?”
He nodded. “I just want Conner out of there.”
She stepped aside and waved her hand. “After you.”
Burt stepped past her; she fell in behind. They moved deeper into the pitch-black mine until she said, “Just ahead. Turn right where you see the light.”
They entered the side shaft where Morgan stood behind Conner, one hand on the back of the boy’s neck. Billy leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. Sam moved to his side.
Morgan let go of Conner and gave him a gentle shove toward his father. Burt and Conner embraced.
“Thank God, you’re all right,” Burt said.
“I am now.”
Burt released his embrace. “Now get out of here.” He nudged Conner toward the exit.
“What about you?” Conner asked, rubbing his wrists.
“I’ll be OK. Hollis is outside. He’ll take you home.”
Conner shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure you’re OK.”
Burt cradled his son’s face in his hands. “You go home. I’ll be there soon.”
“But...”
“But, nothing. Get going. It’ll be fine.”
Conner took several steps, hesitated, turned and looked back at his father. He started to say something, but fell silent.
“Go ahead,” Burt said.
Conner nodded, stepped into the main shaft, and turned toward the entrance.
Morgan moved closer to Burt, his massive fists clenched at his side. Sam tensed, half expecting Morgan to attack, but he stopped, glaring at Burt from ten feet away. The gas lantern sat on the floor between them. Its dim glow emphasized the hostility etched on each man’s face. Sam could see the pulsating tension in Morgan’s jaw and could almost feel his anger, expanding with each heave of his chest.
“Still making promises you can’t keep, I see,” Morgan said.
“What do you mean?”
“Everything will be OK?” Morgan laughed. “I don’t think so. You can’t buy your way out of this one, Burt.”
Burt looked up at Morgan. “Now what?”
“None of your Goddamn business. This is one show you aren’t running. I am.”
Burt looked from Morgan to Billy to Sam. “Isn’t this cozy? The three co-conspirators here in one place.”
“Co-conspirators?” Sam said. “I think you and Hollis and Wade would fit that description. Maybe Eloy, too.”
“Who do you think the State Patrol will believe?” Burt said.
“I guess we’ll find out soon.”
“We will indeed.”
Sam looked at Burt. “Why, Burt? Is the money worth all this?”
; “What money?”
Sam glared at him. “I told you, I know everything, so don’t play games.”
Burt shrugged. “A couple of billion dollars is a fairly strong motivator, don’t you think?”
Sam shook her head. “You’re amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment, Burt. It’s your greed and complete lack of morals that’s amazing.”
“But I usually win.”
“Maybe not this time.”
Burt shrugged. “Or, maybe I already have.”
Suddenly, Burt reached down and grasped the lantern’s wire handle and hurled it against Morgan’s chest. Its glass chimney shattered and liquid fuel spewed over Morgan’s clothes, beard, and face. An explosion of fire enveloped the huge man.
Morgan screamed and swatted at the flames, spinning as the fire embraced him. Billy snatched up the tarp that lay in the corner and hurled it over Morgan. Sam caught one edge of the canvas and wrapped it around Morgan’s thick chest. The flames leapt from beneath the tarp, blistering his face, He coughed and wheezed with each breath as the fire attacked his lungs.
“Get down,” Sam shouted, dragging Morgan to the floor.
Billy grabbed the sleeping bag and joined in Sam’s efforts to extinguish the flames. Acrid smoke filled the room.
The flames diminished, then died, plunging the room into darkness. With the last flicker of light, Sam saw Burt move toward the exit. Don’t let him get away, she thought. If he did, they had no leverage. They would be trapped.
She tried to lock on the sound of his footsteps and lunged forward as would a linebacker after a runner. Her arms closed on nothingness and she slammed into the rocky floor. She heard Burt scurrying away, toward the mine’s exit.
Sam crawled across the floor, sweeping her hand before her. “Where’s that flashlight I saw?” She collided with a wall, and then worked her way along it. She could hear Morgan moaning and Billy attempting to comfort him. Her hand bumped against the flashlight. She grabbed it, turned it on, and moved to where Morgan lay.
His beard and hair were reduced to dark, smoldering stubble. The flesh of his face, neck, and chest was red and raw. Large charred patches of skin hung from his jaws and arms. His breathing was wet, raspy and his tongue protruded between blackened lips. He spoke in a whisper. “Get out…now.”
