by Sarah Monte
“Listen, I looked around and from what I can see, there seems to be a bit of suspicious evidence but no sign of any struggle…or even a murder. I can’t say for sure where Jennifer is, but I’m pretty sure at the very least that she is alive. There’s a lot of sturdy rope there, which was probably used to bind her, and her phone is smashed in the corner, so we definitely can’t contact her or track her. But on the um, bright side there isn’t any sign of blood or anything that could possibly prove she was harmed. And factoring in the difference in time she left and we followed, the attacker couldn’t have had enough time,” said Ted in a determinedly reassuring voice. Ted knew that if he cracked now, Mike would have a hard time keeping a clear head. While what he had said wasn’t completely a lie, what he hadn’t pointed out to Mike was a dent in the wood which could only happen with extreme force. He needed Mike to be calm and focused now. If Mike stopped thinking, the case would take a huge backset.
Mike’s eyes cleared for the first time in those few minutes, a sliver of hope seeping into them. He got up, dusted himself off a little and looked at Ted. “You’re right. Me breaking down here is of no use anyway, it’s not going to save Jennifer. If I’ve fucked up in protecting her, might as well not make it worse by wasting any more time. We need to head back to the precinct and speak to Rat and Gunther. I’m sure Rat would have come to by now, and I can get enough information out of him to sniff out Donovan. We’ll wait for his call meantime, if he’s keeping Jennifer hostage he must want something from me.”
Ted nodded and together they walked briskly towards the car. On the way back to the precinct, neither of the two spoke much to one another. The silence seemed to bring with it some sort of omen of impending danger. Jennifer was gone, probably dead for all Mike knew. David was in the hospital, and according to the last update from the doctor – doing well enough and asleep. Mike had promised himself that he wouldn’t rest until he brought Donovan down and promised Jennifer that he would keep her safe at all costs. He hadn’t managed to fulfill the latter, a thought that pierced his heart like a cold knife every single time – but he would finish the first one and find Jennifer to boot. He knew he would.
He couldn’t afford to think otherwise.
****
Liam stepped into the light, his head still reeling from the sudden pounding. Donovan was sitting at his desk, his legs upon the table and head tilted back without a care in the world. A freshly stubbed cigar butt in the ashtray caught Liam’s eye, possibly the reason for Donovan’s seemingly calm appearance.
“Boss…I’m here,” came the strangled words out of Liam’s trembling mouth. His life hang in balance here, everything depended on the next few minutes after which he would walk out scot free or be dead. Donovan straightened up and look at him, a partly amused expression on his face as he said “I can see that you are in fact here Liam. What I would like to know however, is if Jennifer is still in this world?”
Liam swallowed slightly as he said in a forcibly firm voice, “No she isn’t boss. I finished her off while she was at home and buried her in her own backyard. Nobody’s going to find her for a very long time now.”
Donovan looked at Liam with his boring eyes, a slightly haunted look about him with the overhead light dangling as he asked, “Are you sure Liam? Because I will find out if you have lied, and I hate liars. You know what happens to the people who get on my bad side don’t you?”
“I do, boss. She is dead, just like you wanted her to be. I’ve destroyed her SIM card too, after driving to a distant location and tossing it in the water. They will waste time tracking her till there and find nothing – which will give us enough window to probably kill David too. He’s been a pest for a long time, you could send someone to finish that job,” said Liam in a mechanical voice.
“Excellent work, Liam,” said Donovan with a satisfied smile. Just as Liam turned around and was about to leave, Donovan stopped him and called out, “Are you sure everything is fine Liam?”
Liam turned around, careful to maintain a carefree, neutral expression as he replied in a straight voice, “Yes boss. Everything is fine.”
Liam walked out of the room, his mind numb as his heart raced far ahead. He had done his job as Liam had asked him to do it, or at least that’s what he had managed to convince Liam of. What he had in fact done, was something much bigger. As of that moment, Liam was definitely the only person on this planet standing alive after deceiving Donovan by looking at him right in the eye. The truth would change a lot of things, particularly Liam’s current status as alive.
More than the lie however, it was also the actual truth that rankled at Liam’s head. He had gone with a perfectly sorted and clear plan of what was to happen – and usually that was what did end up happening. He was just that skilled and effortlessly efficient at what he did. But sometimes, things happen so unexpectedly that it changes a lot of things forever.
Chapter Twenty One
First, only colors appeared in big blotches. Then lines came in and started to form patterns that slowly turned coherent. As he slowly blinked his puffy and sore eyes open, Rat’s first sight was that of Mike’s face directly over his, a crazed sort of fire blazing lazily at the back of it. The memories of what had happened came back to Rat all of a sudden, and he jerked awake and well away from the man in front of him.
“You don’t have anything to worry about Rat,” came Ted’s calm and reassuring voice from behind Mike in the corner. “Mike is not here to hurt you, he merely needs to ask you a few questions and it would be lovely if you could co-operate.”
Mike nodded as Rat finally found his voice and croaked, “Easy for you to say, Sir. My half dead body has been pounded like veal, and I demand a lawyer and some action taken against this as a lawful citizen of the United States of America!”
All remaining colour drained from Mike’s face as he made to move forward, but was stopped by Ted who instead came ahead and looked Rat straight in the eyes as he said, “Listen Rat, this does not need to get any worse than it already is. You’re a smart guy, you know that I’m in charge here. And Mike here is helping me out and has my complete backing. As for your right to a lawyer or anything for that matter – you have done far too many things for you to come out and claim your legal identity. You’ll get booked and deported before a lawyer even got notified. Even if someone did manage to save your sorry little ass from being deported, they’ll put you in jail where you’ll rot till you’re dead. And the things that happen to people like you in jails while you’re alive….well are best left unsaid. Now, will you answer us and save whatever is left of you or risk your asshole?”
Rat seemed to contemplate his answer before he gingerly nodded, and Mike stepped in front of him again – clearly in no mood to be fucked around with. “First things first, we know your boss is Donovan. So there’s no point of you trying to play the hero and protect him till your last breath,” said Mike in a businesslike manner.
Rat’s eyes widened in shock and amazement as Mike plowed on, “Also, as you surprisingly but rightly pointed out, Donovan did strike my weakest and strongest point at the same time. Jennifer is gone. Is there any chance that this was pre planned?”
“No, we did not know of your existence till you arrived ever so foolishly to save David. Boss must have got to know of you with Liam’s help. They would have decided to capture Jennifer to fuck around with you then. If you haven’t found a body there is a good chance Liam managed to convince boss to keep her alive to milk you for all you’re worth. Otherwise you would have found a body, boss likes to make a show of things,” said Rat in a volume barely higher than a whisper.
“Tell us where Donovan’s drug warehouses are, the more valuable the better. Or any other information you have on him,” said Mike, a new energy in his voice mostly fueled by further evidence that his Jenny was fine. “There isn’t really anything more I can tell you, firstly because I’m new and secondly because Donovan is a fucking smart man. He keeps his secrets and dirty laundry in many, m
any different baskets. That way no two people know the same thing, everyone is doing their job and the boss is safe. Anybody who questions or divulges information is eventually snuffed out and killed instantly. It works flawlessly,” said Rat.
Mike pondered over this for a second, just as Ted looked down at his phone and stepped out. What could be so important that Ted had to leave in the middle of this session? Mike looked at Rat and continued thinking about exactly how Donovan worked. If this was really the case and not everyone knew of all the hideouts, maybe the best idea was to send Rat to Donovan and try and lure him out. Mike wondered if he should speak to Gunther as well, but he knew that was one tough nut to crack.
“Okay, look here now Rat. I’m going to give you a chance to live and walk away scot free from this. But you have to do something in return for me,” began Mike, and continued as he saw a look of interest flicker on Rat’s face, “I need you to go to Donovan and tell him exactly this – Your biggest warehouse of drugs is being raided and burned down by the police as we speak. As far as I have connections in the mafia, I know for a fact that the loss of his biggest warehouse will shock him. Once he takes you to the said place, I want you to inform us and we’ll come there and take him alive.”
It was crucial that Mike managed to capture Donovan alive, for he still didn’t know where Jennifer was or whether she was okay. Rat looked at him for a second and chuckled, “Firstly, sending me back to Donovan will ensure my death. He will kill me the second he sees me. Even if I bring this news with me, why would he take me there? And assuming that he does take me there, how will I contact you without being spotted? Once we get there and he sees everything is fine, he’ll kill me anyway. I don’t see myself getting anything out of this, pardon me sir, impulsive plan.”
Mike banged his fist against the wall which caused Rat to jump a little as his eyes opened wider. “Do you take me for a fool? Do you think that I have not thought of all these little things that you’re talking to me about right now? My girlfriend’s life is on the line here – and you think I’m going to make another mistake? I admit, I did underestimate Donovan – but there are no more mistakes on my part from here on. Once you go there, immediately give him the news so he seems interested – or better still, tell him you have a message from the police. I’m sure the slimy bastard would appreciate a challenge. When he asks you how they know of it, say that you know nothing and you were just tied up – he might not kill you then. Press the transmitter as soon as you get into the vehicle and we’ll track your location and follow you. Once you get there with Donovan, Ted and I will handle that son of a bitch.”
“And what about Jennifer?” asked Rat
“I’m sure we will work something out when it comes to that,” whispered Mike desperately, more to himself than in reply to Rat. “I’ll do it, because I’m going to die at the end of this anyway unless a miracle saves me. And if I’m going to be damned, I’d rather it not be for the rest of eternity,” spat Rat as he nodded at Mike, who nodded back with a grim expression.
Just then, Ted burst into the interrogation room and said, “Mike, come outside right now, I need to talk to you urgently.”
Mike looked at Ted in surprise and said, “Is this about the phone call? Listen we’ve got this little Rat on our side right now, I want to talk to you about the plan exactly so we can work out the details and –“
“Come out right now goddamit Mike!” screamed Ted and slammed the door shut. Mike walked out, slightly worried now as to what had triggered his friend as Ted looked at him with a mixture of alarm and elation as he said, “That was the hospital calling.”
Mike’s senses flared up immediately, wondering what it could be. While his mind almost selfishly hoped that it was something about David that could be worked out, his heart prayed that it wasn’t bad news about his Jenny. “What is it? Is it about David? Is he okay? Do we need to rush to the hospital right now? Do they need anything?” began Mike in a rush just as Ted raised a hand to keep Mike shut.
“It’s not about David, he’s fine – still asleep. It’s Jennifer,” said Ted with an unreadable expression as Mike’s heart turned instantaneously cold.
****
Liam knew that the incident had happened just a few hours back, yet the memories seemed to be deliberately trying to escape him. He was sitting huddled up in his office, jumping at the slightest sound and turning around to see if Donovan was about – shit scared for his life. His mind struggled through the haze to make space for the memories of his encounter with Jennifer to register. They would, as Liam and everyone else would discover in time, be the stirrers of events that would change the game and turn it on its head.
“Hello,” said Liam with a smile as he raised his hand to shake hers, “You must be Jennifer.”
Jennifer looked at him with fear in her heart but a smile on her face. She knew that he wasn’t here to protect her at all, possibly the opposite of it. If Donovan had sent this man, he would kill her any second. Her mind quickly processed the fact that her name, number, address and photos would have been easily accessible to this man if they had managed to get their hands on Mike’s memory card. Clutching the gun tightly in her hand behind her back, she struck him in the head with the barrel of her gun as he collapsed with his head striking the furniture.
The movement had been so quick and effortless that Liam’s last thoughts before blacking out were, Damn this girl is good. When consciousness came back to him, it brought with it a splitting headache where she had struck him and the sight of her sitting in front of him on the floor, looking at him with interest. His hands were predictably bound, and he wondered how he, a dangerous gangster had managed to find himself in this kind of a predicament.
“You make really good knots, I’m impressed,” said Liam in a calm and measured tone. He hoped that it would unnerve her, on the contrary however it seemed to please her. Jennifer looked straight in his eyes and replied easily, “Thank you, my father was very particular on my self-defense skills. We come from a small place you see, where safety was everything. If the small talk is done now, how about you tell me what your name is and whether you were really here to kill me or not. I will give you the benefit of doubt that the gun you were carrying along with numerous other sharp instruments was because you’re punk goth.”
Liam chuckled and replied, “You truly are one charming woman, I can see why Mike wants to keep you around. I can’t tell you who my boss is however, because I don’t want to die on an assignment to assassinate you.”
Jennifer flinched a little at the sound of it. She was after all, a mere graduate with a booming career who had just found love. Now she was not only caught up in the warped nature of it all, but also an apparent target for assassination by some of the most wanted and dangerous criminals of the underground. But Donovan had underestimated Jennifer, she wasn’t about to die or leave her Mike behind so easily.
“I know your boss’s name is Donovan, so there’s really no point in you trying to play the hero and save him or even try to save your arse. I’m going to ask you a question and I’m too exhausted to hear anything but the right answer. So if you want to be alive for now, you had better co-operate with me lest I decide to empty all of these bullets in your head,” said Jennifer with a nod towards her dusty Glock. “Why did Donovan send you to kill me?”
At this, Liam actually laughed a little, looked her in the eyes without any hesitation and said, “Firstly, little girl – you have managed to place me in a situation like this because of sheer dumb luck. I could choke your pretty little neck any second, so watch what you say or not only will I complete my assignment but make sure it’s as long and drawn out as possible. Secondly, you really are a smart little lass for knowing my boss’s name – but a lot more naïve and foolish in using it without the appropriate amount of fear. If you had to kill me you would have shot me all this while ago when you had a complete advantage over me. And I’m surprised you haven’t figured out why Donovan has sent me to kill you then, if yo
u’re as smart as you look.”
Jennifer’s mind could come up with only the most clichéd classic theory of the book as she looked at Liam and said, “You mean, he wanted to kill me because he knew that would hurt Mike?”
“Not just the emotional value, you sentimental child. He knew that the despair would firstly destroy Mike and hopefully make him do something stupid. Once Mike does something unplanned, the next we have him,” said Liam with a sinister smile.
Jennifer was just about to reply with an extremely haughty look on her face when Liam caught her off guard and punched her. He had somehow managed to free himself while keeping her distracted with the conversation, and Jennifer could only see through hazy eyes Liam approaching her as she felt warm, moist liquid trickling down the side of her face. She crawled away, knowing her best chance was to get out of the house. Using all the force she could possibly muster through the pain of that moment, she kneed Liam in the groin, forcing him to go to the ground and scream in intense pain.
She grabbed her gun, the keys to her car and sped away – knowing that she had to get to the hospital and to David. She had to warn Mike and Ted that Donovan was onto them. Liam staggered up and limped towards his car, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. If Donovan found out that Jennifer was still breathing, then it wouldn’t be long before Liam’s heartbeat stopped. He couldn’t chase Jennifer now, he didn’t know where she had gone and if she had managed to drive back to Mike – it would be suicidal and foolish to try to get her there. He would have to go back to Donovan and lie, and most importantly, he had to hope that he would come alive out of it.
As all the players in the game come to separate realizations, some hopelessly wrong and some dangerously right in the nick of time – neither of them were aware of the twists that still had to come.
