Amy Lynn, Into the Fire

by Jack July

  “Pete’s gonna eat me when you leave, isn’t he?”

  Amy looked him in the eye. “Don’t know, maybe. If Pete wants ya, ain’t much you’re gonna do about it. Like I told you before, if I were you, I’d be thinking about getting’ a dawg.”

  “Your accent is thick when you’re happy.”

  “I reckon.”

  “Pete? Why Pete?”

  “Pete is easier to say than ‘that big ole panther that stalks us every time we walk down this trail.’”

  “Makes sense.”

  They made it to the top of the ridge, turned and started back down. Doc looked over at her. “You do seem happy.”

  “I’m in the woods. I’m usually happy in the woods.”

  “Okay, we need to continue when we get back.”

  “That’s fine, we’re getting to the end.”

  “The end?”

  “Yeah, the last thing I remember.”

  Doc thought okay, the hard part.

  Sonda and Odetta’s heads scanned the room, looking for the source of the smell. Odetta pointed toward the kitchen. “The stove?”

  Moving swiftly, she entered the back room then hollered out, “It’s electric.”

  Sonda and Odetta were on different sides of the room trying to sniff out the leak as the smell grew stronger. They came together in the corner of the room beneath the heater hanging from the ceiling. Odetta pointed. “There, that pipe. It has a tear in it.”

  Sonda moved to get a better look. “That must be it. The valve is on the wrong side. How do we turn it off?”

  “Follow the pipe.”

  The half-inch black pipe stretched across the ceiling and through the back wall of the building. They hurried outside only to see that it disappeared into the ground. Odetta’s cool demeanor began to wane as the beginnings of panic set in. “We gotta get ’em out of there.”

  Sonda stopped. “Odetta, you know, maybe, we do nothing. It may not be the worst thing for these children.”

  Odetta looked at her in shock and disbelief. “No!” She glanced around the back and saw a small fenced-in area where several large scrap bins were kept from when it had been a factory. “There.” Odetta pointed. “We put them in there, close the gate and call the fire department.” She turned to run back into the building. Sonda hesitated. “Hey! Come on! Move!”

  Sonda sighed and followed her into the building. They started on the far side at the front wall. Grabbing two children at a time and running toward the back. Odetta had just cleared the back door as Sonda looked up through a dirty front window to see the silhouette of another car.

  Cody, code name Gator, had moved the blue Audi up another two hundred yards after the gunfight. He was relieved when he saw Odetta had survived it. He’d been caught a little off guard by the first gun battle and was only able to get off one shot with his M24. That was the bullet that took out the uninjured shooter behind the car; Odetta had missed. This time he got out of the car, knelt behind the front fender and set the bipod on the hood. He was peering intently through the scope as the last car arrived. Four armed men climbed out; the two on the driver’s side headed for the front door, the man on the passenger side back seat stayed by the car, while the fourth tried to make it around to the back of the building. Cody didn’t know if they were good guys or bad guys. It didn’t matter. His instructions were clear: protect Fenian. Cody put the crosshairs on the one headed behind the building and pulled the trigger.

  As the first man entered the lobby, the second man froze with the rifle shot. He went down two seconds later. Sonda screamed toward the back door, “ODETTA, SHOOTERS!”

  The back door had been propped open as Odetta cautiously jogged to the doorway. The shooter found his way through the office into the open area when Sonda screamed in Romanian from the other side of the room, “DON’T SHOOT!” He raised the pistol at Sonda. She dove into the kitchen, followed by the crack of the shooter’s pistol…

  Amy reached over to the end table, took a drink from her bottle of water, and looked at Doc Earle. “I heard the dogs barking and that’s it, that’s where everything stops.”

  Doc Earle put down his legal pad. “Okay, that’s enough for today.”

  Chapter 25

  Sheriff Gene Carter held his hand firmly around the keys clipped on his belt so he wouldn’t make any noise walking through the intensive care unit. He stood in the doorway and saw Jack asleep in the chair, his head resting on a pillow next to Carla Jo and his hand gently on top of hers. Her head was partially shaved and bandaged, a breathing tube snaked its way from a machine into her mouth and a myriad of other tubes were connected to her body. Lights from monitors flashed but there was no sound, only the sound of breathing.

  Gene softly approached and whispered, “Jack. Jack?”

  Jack raised his head and looked over his shoulder, then back at Carla Jo. He spoke in a hushed tone. “I was really hopin’ this was a bad dream.”

  “No, it isn’t. We need to talk.”

  “Talk.”

  “Not here.”

  “I ain’t leaving her alone. If she has to, ah, she ain’t dying alone.”

  “I’ll go get somebody; who do you want?”

  “Amy back?”

  “No.”

  “Kelly?”

  “Yeah, she’s out there.”

  “When Amy finds out Bogus didn’t tell her, there’s gonna be hell to pay.”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be around for that. Be right back.”

  A few minutes later Gene returned with Kelly. She gave Jack a hug then looked at Gene. “Make sure he eats. If he doesn’t, tell me.” She looked back at Jack. “I’ll make sure he eats.”

  Jack gave her a little smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Neither spoke as they made their way to the hospital café. Gene had eaten breakfast with Jack so many times that he knew exactly what he always ordered. When the lady behind the counter looked up inquiringly, Gene tilted his head toward Jack and said, “He’ll have three eggs sunny side up, four strips of bacon, two sausage patties, two biscuits with gravy, toast and a large black coffee. I’ll have the low cal fruit platter.” Gene looked back at Jack and grumbled, “I don’t know how you’ve eaten like that all these years and still stay slim.”

  Jack whispered, “I don’t sit in my squad car and polish off a dozen hot donuts every morning on my way to work.”

  Gene chuckled. “Yeah, I reckon that’s got somethin’ to do with it.”

  They found a table back in the corner, away from the crowd. Jack picked up a fork and gingerly poked at his eggs. Gene got serious. “Ever since, ya know, that deal up on the hill over Amy, I’ve worked hard to do things right. Somebody has to do things right. But this is Carla Jo. Few people love her as much as I do.”

  Jack felt the heat rising in his body and he knew what was coming. His eyes narrowed and his voice deepened. “Alright Gene, get to it.”

  “I found the bumper from Carla Jo’s car. It had a red paint smear on it. Matched it to the front bumper of Sitzberger’s car. It weren’t no accident. They tried to kill her.”

  Jack became cold and methodical. “Who knows about that?”

  “Just me, and now you. I hid the bumper in the rafters of my garage.”

  “Whatcha gonna do now?”

  “Well, I have a choice. I can turn the evidence over to the DA. Charge him with ‘attempted’ murder.” Gene wouldn’t even hint that Carla Jo might not make it. “He’d probably get ten years, out in six. Problem is, I don’t know who all was involved. Somebody gave that boy orders. I’d be kinda curious as to who that was.”

  Jack tilted his head a bit. “Or?”

  “Or at 4:49 PM today, he walks out the front door of the Sheriff’s Department.”

  “What are you lookin’ for from me?”

  “Just kinda wondered if you had an opinion.”

  Jack nodded. “Yeah, let him walk.”

  Jack didn’t say another word. He picked up his knife and fork and began to
shovel down his breakfast. He wanted the energy.

  Bogus left the hospital and drove to Rock Creek Regional to pick up Micky. Micky’s friends and their parents all took the time to thank Bogus for the boys’ wonderful adventure. Mr. Princeton had chaperoned and took the driving duties from Bogus, who sat in the back of the car with Micky.

  Bogus had a very different relationship with Micky than he had with Claire. He loved Micky, however it was not something that came from the inside; it was more because Amy loved Micky. Truth is, Princeton was more like the boy’s father than Bogus. Bogus patted Micky on the knee and worked to appear interested. He was trying. “So, tell me of your adventures.”

  “I don’t know where to begin. Do you know how big this country is?”

  Bogus let out a small laugh. “Yes, I have a general idea.”

  “I saw the Grand Canyon from the air. It is gigantic! I would love to see it sometime.”

  “I’m sure we can arrange that. Did you enjoy Hawaii?”

  “Aye, we toured a submarine and a battleship, the Missouri. We stood where the armistice was signed, where World War II ended. We saw an aircraft carrier. America has so many warships. We went to the Arizona memorial; oil still leaks from the ship. We watched it bubble to the top. Mr. Princeton said it was like blood, the blood of the ship.”

  “You sound like you enjoy being an American.”

  That made Micky think. “Aye, I will always be Irish. I like being Irish. But, doesn’t everyone want to be American?”

  Bogus smiled. “No, I’m still a Polish citizen. But I certainly understand your love of this country. It is easy to love.”

  “I’m thinking I would like to join the military, be a fighter pilot like Garrett.”

  “That’s the thing about America: all things are possible. Not easy, but possible.”

  Micky looked out the window, his head swimming with dreams of a seventeen-year-old boy.

  “Micky, I have some bad news.”

  “Is Ma okay?”

  “Yes, but your Aunt Carla Jo has been in a serious car crash. She is severely injured.”

  “Oh, oh no. Will she be alright?”

  “We hope so.”

  “What happened?”

  “We’re not sure. The police are investigating. Micky, what do you know about your Uncle Jack?”

  “He’s a lot of fun. Ma says he’s a war hero.”

  “Indeed he is. Things may happen and people may come to ask questions. Your answer will always be, ‘I don’t know’, or, ‘ask my Ma or Dad’. No more, never any more. Do you understand?”

  Micky sat back and thought for a moment. “Are you saying, the car crash was not an accident?”

  “I’m saying, we don’t know. Can your family count on you?”

  The seriousness on Bogus’ face told him there was much more going on, and that this could be a family crisis. “Yes, sir.”

  “I think nothing will come of this. I just want you to be prepared.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Are you looking forward to seeing Mary Ann?”

  Micky turned and stared out the window for a moment. When he turned back, Bogus saw the sadness. “I think she likes my horses more than she likes me.”

  “Oh, really?” Bogus replied as he watched Princeton’s neck crane a bit so he could hear.

  “And I think she likes other boys more than she likes me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “The week before I left, I had to tell her that Ma said she couldn’t go to Hawaii. That evening she told me she was going to her grandmother’s. My friend Jeremy saw her making out with another boy in Lewistown.”

  Princeton blurted out, “Why, that little bitch.”

  Bogus had to disguise a laugh with a little cough. Micky continued, “His name is Chad Evers. He’s the quarterback of the football team. He has fancy clothes and a fancy car. He’s snooty, thinks he’s better than everyone else. Jeremy said his parents are rich.”

  Princeton glanced to the backseat. “Sounds like they deserve each other.”

  Micky turned to Bogus and earnestly asked, “What is wrong with me?”

  Bogus gave him a curious look. “Wrong?”

  “Girls don’t seem to like me. They like my horses, they say my accent is cute, but they don’t like me.”

  Princeton interrupted, “May I, sir?”

  Bogus locked eyes with Princeton in the rearview mirror. “Certainly, Mr. Princeton.”

  “My dear boy, you ask what is wrong? That’s not it at all. The issue is, what is right. Good God, you are a knight! Your path is one of honor and integrity, goodness and light. When a person of lesser fortitude comes into your presence, they see who they are not, and it is an untenable vision. Just as the knights of old roamed Europe alone, you too may find yourself in the occasional throes of loneliness. But know this, Sir Micky: when you do find her, it will be as if your soul were struck by lightening. At that moment you will know the Almighty Himself presented to you a special woman, a woman of honor and decency. You will know a love like few men will ever know, a love ordained by God. It will be worth the wait.”

  Bogus sat slack-jawed in the back seat, thinking, Well done Mr. Princeton.

  Micky sat up straight, as if he just remembered he was the son of The Lady of Castle Dunn and a Knight, by order of the English Crown. “Thank you Mr. Princeton for reminding me who I am. I will continue to live by my oath.”

  Princeton smiled. “Indeed.”

  After arriving home, Micky retrieved his luggage from the trunk and walked to the house. Bogus gave Princeton a pat on the back. “Well done. It sounded like you were describing me.”

  Princeton laughed out loud. “No, sir, not even remotely.”

  Princeton walked away, leaving Bogus with a simper.

  Dr. Earle sat back in his chair gazing at the puzzle sitting across from him. In the few days she had been there, her emotions had gone from friendly to homicidal and all points in between. He questioned his typical pattern of treatment for what was clearly PTSD-related memory loss. Amy was not psychologically typical in any way. She had treated herself over the years as a way of survival. She didn’t hide from her psychosis, run from it or dull it with drugs or alcohol. She bathed in it, used it as a tool to build a killing machine. No remorse, empathy or conscience for anything or anyone other than those who fit into a pre-established code of honor, children and family. Not necessarily blood relatives, but people that had earned her respect. Other warriors like Tatiana and her Romanian counterpart Sonda earned Amy’s trust because they played her game. The only reason she sat in front of him was because she’d hurt her brother. She broke her own code and knew she was unable to control her impulses.

  She seemed deep in thought with a thousand yard stare across the room. Then she turned her eyes toward him. “Dr. Earle, if I can remember this, will I go back to the way I was before?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. You have layers and layers of psychosis that stretch beyond this event. My only order—and like you, I do get orders—is to help you remember this event. We could spend years together and I doubt I could peel the layers of the complicated onion that is you.”

  She looked at the floor. “I have a fear. I’ve tucked it away, hid it from everyone including myself. I refused to deal with it because I figured I have dealt with everything else, I’ll deal with this too. Then I hurt Joseph.”

  Doc stayed stoic but he was excited inside. She was opening up. “Would you like to tell me, or would you like me to tell you.”

  Her hands subconsciously rubbed her belly. “Tell me.”

  “You are afraid you will kill your own child in some uncontrollable fit of rage.”

  “Yeah, that’s it exactly. I have been thinking about leaving everyone I know, having her, giving her up for adoption and disappearing. I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “What if I told you that was the most normal thought you’ve had since you’ve been here? All new mothers go through p
eriods of doubt. Who and what you are exacerbate the amplitude of your doubt.”

  “No, that’s not it. I already tried to kill her. I took her into some sort of combat, a mission that I think almost killed us both. I cared more about something than I did her. Mothers don’t do that.”

  “Yes they do. If you were to see a toddler run out into traffic, would you try to save it?”

  “Of course.”

  “Even if it meant you could be struck by a car and killed?”

  “I wouldn’t think about that until…oh, I see what you mean.”

  “Before you pass judgment on yourself, let’s get those memories back.”

  Suddenly, her face twisted in realization. Then she scowled. “You already know, don’t you? You know everything about what happened.”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Tell me! Why can’t you just tell me?”

  He replied calmly, offsetting her growing agitation. “If I did know, telling you would not solve your problems. You need to go back, be there, see it, smell it, feel it. It’s the difference between a book and a movie... maybe closer to the movie trailer. It will not help you.”

  She looked away, taking a few moments for her frustration to subside. “Okay then, let’s get it done.”

  Chapter 26

  After breakfast, Jack returned to Carla Jo’s room. He placed his hand on hers and asked to be left alone. Kelly gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek and walked out. There was no door and not much privacy in the ICU, so Jack leaned forward and whispered, “I’m so sorry, honey. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. I didn’t want to be involved. I just figured they’d leave us alone. But they didn’t, did they? We ain’t done nothin’ to nobody, we just try to be happy, and they come here to hurt us, to hurt you. I don’t know why… well, yeah I do. Money.” He ran his finger next to the breathing tube over her lips. “Those people don’t know what they’ve done, who they have hurt. They don’t know how special you are, how much everyone loves you. Most of all, me. I’m on fire. Ain’t been on fire in a long time, but I’m on fire now. I’m gonna make it right baby, I promise you. I’m gonna make it right. God as my witness, those that hurt you won’t hurt anyone else. I love you.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Kelly and Carol will be here for ya. I’ll see you tonight.” He stood up and walked out.