Ride the Fire

by Jo Davis

  “You’d damned well better. I will not lose my best friend after all the shit he’s been through.”

  “I’m trying, Howard.”

  “Try harder.” Howard pressed into the captain’s space.

  “You need to back off, buddy. Calm down.” Holliday placed a palm in the center of the big man’s chest, though he couldn’t really hold Howard if push came to shove.

  The situation was saved from deteriorating further when Kayne jogged over, closing his cell phone. He waved over Nick and Jack, and included the two spar-ring firemen. “Listen up. Just talked to my colleague Detective Ford. Jesse Rose kidnapped Tanner and Eve Marshall earlier, then blew up the house.”

  Howard’s face was stunned. “Kidnapped? What the fuck is going on? Does this have to do with the guy who’s been harassing him?”

  “Listen, because I’ve got to make this quick. Eve Marshall is okay. She escaped from where Rose had her and Tanner tied up in the drainage system downtown. She says the tunnels are wired to blow, and that Tanner stayed behind to disarm them. Rose had left the two of them, but said he’d be back. She’s scared Tanner and Rose are going to go at it.”

  “Goddamn,” Nick muttered. “If that ain’t the meat on my clusterfuck sandwich.”

  Jack groaned. “Does he know anything about explosives?”

  “Yeah,” Howard said. “He was a marine. Did all kinds of stuff.”

  Kayne turned to Holliday. “They’ve called for all available engine companies to head downtown, block off the streets. The uniforms are evacuating the businesses.”

  “I’ve got my hands full with this,” Holliday said, gesturing to the smoldering house. “But when we’re sure it’s out, we’ll be there if you still need us.”

  Nick slapped his partner on the arm. “Let’s rock ’n’ roll.”

  Time to find a stinking traitor and send him to meet his boss in the underworld.

  In minutes, more and more units arrived. Officers went to the businesses that were open, forcing them to evacuate. The diner cleared out and people left, some curious, others alarmed. After what seemed like hours, two cars screeched to a halt in front of the diner. Detective Kayne emerged from one, the two FBI agents from the other.

  The men approached her. Agent Westfall spoke first, with the demeanor of a man who was in charge.

  “Show us the manhole you escaped from.”

  “It’ll be faster by car. I had to run from that way, across the park.” She pointed behind them.

  “I’ll drive,” the other agent said.

  They jumped in, Eve riding in the back with Kayne. She directed them using the closest route she could see, and pointed to an open cover on the sidewalk. “There!”

  The agent pulled to a stop beside the curb.

  “Right at the bottom of the ladder is where we were tied up,” she said. “The explosives were wired high on the wall of the tunnel, though I hope Sean has managed to dismantle them. I don’t have a clue how much of the tunnel was set to go, but to hear Rose talk, quite a bit of it.”

  “Detective Kayne, would you have one of your uniforms take Miss Marshall to the police station? That will be a much safer place for her to wait.”

  Kayne nodded at Westfall. “I agree. I’ll have one of those guys drive her,” he said, pointing to a knot of officers standing on the corner looking important.

  Eve wanted to shout in frustration. Sean, where are you?

  No way in hell was she leaving him down there, not knowing what was happening. The agents got out and jogged to the hole. One after the other, they disappeared under the street. Eve pretended to be cooperative as Kayne handed her off to the officers and left to follow the two agents.

  The cops then proceeded to argue about who would drive her to the station. Seemed no one wanted to miss the action. While they were hashing it out, one of their radios squawked and an announcement ensued that from the best she could tell sounded like some of Rose’s men had been apprehended. This, in turn, caused a great deal of excitement.

  And allowed her to walk off unnoticed. Any moment, she expected a shout for her to stop, but none came. Reaching the hole, she hauled herself over the edge and found a toehold. Began to descend. She was more frightened than she’d ever been in her life.

  But she wasn’t leaving without her man.

  At the bottom, she peered into the gloom. Smaller lights lined the top of the tunnel, probably for maintenance workers who might have to come fix something. But they weren’t nearly as bright as the bright one Rose had had, which was gone. She heard faraway voices, but had no idea whose they were, where they were coming from, or which way the agents and Kayne had gone. She chose the right for no reason, and struck out, shoes squelching in the muck under the water, on the tunnel’s floor. She didn’t want to think about what was down there.

  Pushing on, she began to worry. If she chose the wrong direction, got lost down here, she might never find her way out. It was right about there that the arrows began. About a foot long, drawn in mud.

  Sean. Setting a trap for Jesse? Had the two of them already met up, had it out? If Sean was hurt or worse—

  Suddenly, a sloshing noise sounded from an alcove to her right. She was grabbed by a pair of strong hands, shoved against the wall face-first. A hard, round object pressed into her lower back. Of course, he’d heard her coming from a mile away and he’d hidden, waiting.

  “Where’s your lover, sweet cheeks?” His sour breath wafted next to her face.

  “I don’t know. I was trying to find him.”

  “Liar.” The gun pressed harder.

  “I’m telling the truth. Otherwise I wouldn’t have come back down here.”

  “Then let’s find him together,” he said, tone mocking. “Ladies first.”

  Pulling her from the wall, he shoved her ahead of him. Legs trembling, she started walking. “He’s going to kill you.”

  “He thinks he’ll try, but in the end? He won’t be able to do it.” So confident. Smug. “When we were in the service and he shot me, he was riddled with guilt. Cold-blooded murder? Sean isn’t made that way. I know him better than he knows himself.”

  She seriously doubted that, but kept it to herself.

  Rose would find out soon enough how wrong he was.

  His theater was ready.

  All he needed was the star of the show.

  God, he was ready to collapse. He hurt all over, was so feverish he was surprised the water wasn’t boiling at his feet. Just a little longer, and this would all be over.

  Splashing sounded. Someone approaching. From the noise it sounded like more than one person. If Eve had gotten help, it could be the police or FBI.

  Flattening himself against the wall, he waited. As the figures drew closer, the bottom fell out of his stomach. Eve. And Jesse was behind her, forcing her to walk.

  Quietly he knelt, scooped a glob of the gunk he’d been using to draw the arrows on the wall—he hoped to God it was mud—and palmed it, holding it at his side. Steeling himself, he moved away from the wall and stood in the middle of the tunnel. Eve’s eyes met his, frightened, but also determined. He read the unspoken message there—she would be ready, whatever he had to do.

  Jesse stopped them a few feet from Sean, his sneering, hateful voice echoing in the gloom. “You lose, old friend. I get the girl, again. But this time you won’t live long enough for regrets.”

  “Oh, I plan to live a long time after you’re dead, fucker.”

  With that, he charged forward, drawing back his arm as Eve dove to the side, landing in the water. Jesse, who must have thought he held a plastic explosive, shouted and threw a hand up in reflex. The mud hit the side of his face with a splat, messy but harmless. As Sean closed the distance, Jesse raised his other hand and something black and shiny glinted there.

  There was a pop, a sting in his side, but his momentum carried him into his enemy in a full tackle. They went over together, and the fight for survival was on— and he had to fare a hell of a lot better
than when they’d fought in the parking lot.

  Because this time, one of them would not walk away.

  Sean rolled in the water and muck, struggled to grab Jesse’s gun arm. They were both slippery, but he managed to grab the other man’s wrist. Slammed it against the concrete wall until Jesse lost his grip and the weapon plopped harmlessly into the murk.

  Jesse brought his knee up and pushed Sean’s chest, throwing him onto his back. The bastard got the upper hand, sat on his chest, grabbed his hair, and forced his head under the water. Sean heard Eve scream, willed her to run and get help. He held his breath, bucking, grasping at Jesse’s arms. Anything to dislodge him.

  Nothing worked.

  His lungs were going to explode. His brain began to grow fuzzy.

  Suddenly Jesse’s body was knocked off balance and Sean was able to throw him to the side. He bolted upright, gasping for air. Wiped his eyes. And stared in amazement.

  Jesse was on his hands and knees, Eve standing over him brandishing a broken piece of scrap wood. From the looks of things, she’d clocked him on the head, and she was ready to deliver another blow.

  Which she did, swinging like Babe Ruth for the bleachers. Jesse went down and didn’t move again.

  Sean pushed to his feet with an effort and staggered to her, pulled her into his arms. “That’s my girl,” he whispered, holding her tight.

  “God, I thought he was going to kill you.”

  “Me, too. Guess I’m not the fighter I used to be.”

  “That’s why you’ve got me to watch your back.” She shuddered, peering around him at Jesse. “What are we going to do with him? We can’t leave him here or he might get away.”

  “Oh, he’s not going anywhere. I’ve got plans for him.” Walking over to a drainpipe near the alcove where he’d been hiding, he fetched the rope he’d hooked over it. “This is what he used on us. Figure we’ll return the favor.”

  “Then what?”

  “And then I’m going to finish this for good.”

  16

  With Eve’s help and no little struggle, Sean bound Jesse, got him fixed to the drainpipe. Her anxiety rolled to him in waves.

  “Sean, let’s just go,” she urged. “He can’t get free before the agents get here to arrest him anyway.”

  “Soon.”

  “What are you doing now?”

  “Giving him a choice, which is more than he gave my family. I doubt Jesse will survive in prison, and despite everything that’s gone down between us—or maybe because I remember the friend he used to be—I want to give him an honorable way out.”

  “I get that,” she said slowly. “But, Sean—”

  “That’s not the only reason, though. His trial will go on for years. Years while we’re beginning our lives together, maybe even starting a family. And even if he does survive in prison, what do you think Jesse will use all that time to do?”

  Her eyes widened in understanding. “He’ll be plotting how to get us, perhaps even our children.”

  “Exactly.” He paused, took her by the shoulders. “You’re going to go back now. Just follow the arrows the way you came, let the agents know where to find us. This once, do as I ask and don’t argue with me. Please.”

  She had been gearing up for an argument, but after a few moments of inner turmoil, she nodded. “This once. Please, don’t do anything that you’ll regret.”

  “I won’t be the one with regrets this time.” Never again. Kissing her soundly, he reluctantly let her go and pushed her away. “Go, bring the cavalry.”

  Though it might not make a difference to his enemy.

  He set to his grim task and, after he finished, stood back to survey his handiwork. Fighting might not be in his repertoire of skills these days, but he hadn’t forgotten everything he knew about explosives.

  Jesse stirred with a groan, coming around. Sean moved next to him and murmured in his ear. “Don’t move.”

  Even while he was semiconscious, the other man’s instincts were honed for danger. He froze, blinked his eyes open. Visibly fought to clear his head.

  “What the fuck?”

  “Oh, it looks to me like you’re fucked, all right. How does it feel to be helpless, Jesse? To know your minutes are numbered?”

  Moving as little as possible, the man took stock of the ropes binding him. The wires threaded through the ropes. The C-4 attached to his middle, the wires ending there. Raising his head, he stared into Sean’s eyes, a spark of something human that used to be Jesse flaring in the depths of his.

  “You don’t have it in you,” he said evenly. “You’re not a killer.”

  “No, but you are. You killed my family that night, didn’t you? Ran them off the road.” Cold fury temporarily took the place of fatigue. He would have this settled before the night was done.

  Jesse licked his lips, a hint of fear breaking his icy calm. “I didn’t do shit to them. I was following Blair’s car, yes. I’d planned to meet your slutty wife later, get a little snatch. The accident was just that, and I pulled over, took a photo. Figured it would come in handy later as something to torture you with.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Sean hissed. “You caused the accident, even if it turned out much worse than you planned. Admit it.”

  “Believe what you want. I didn’t do it.” The other man was beginning to sound afraid. “Tormenting you after the fact was just a bonus.”

  In that moment, Sean realized he couldn’t trust Jesse’s word. Though he believed Jesse had a role in his family’s death, he’d never know for sure whether or not the man was telling the truth.

  That chapter was written. Done.

  And it no longer mattered, because they were just as gone.

  Jesse’s pleading voice intruded into his thoughts. “We were friends, once. The best of friends. Let me go, for old times’ sake. I’ll disappear and never bother you again. I’ll leave the country and—”

  “Can’t do that, Jesse. You’re a thief, an arsonist. A murderer.” More than ever, he was resolved to see this through to the end. “You took the lives of innocent people like the ones in the restaurant. You cut the hoses on our tanks, nearly got me killed. One of my men could’ve been hurt. I can only imagine how many people you’ve terrorized and killed over the years. It stops, here. Now.”

  Jesse swallowed hard. Sean saw the moment he realized there was no recourse. No way out.

  “You’re going down, one way or the other. What’s it going to be? You have maybe another five minutes to decide. Then the FBI will be here to take you away. Know what they’ll do? Send you to death row, where you’ll spend long lonely years fighting the charges, only to wind up with a needle in your arm. Zero tolerance against terrorists, you understand.” His voice was nearly gone now, and so was his strength.

  “And don’t even think of waiting until they arrive to detonate the C-4, because I plan to warn them, and there’s hardly enough there to do damage to anyone but you. So I’ll ask you again—what’s it going to be?” As he started to turn away, Jesse’s voice halted him.

  “I’ll see you in hell.”

  He looked into Jesse’s eyes, saw genuine regret there. At last. That was something, at least. “I’ve already been there, old friend. Good-bye, Jesse.”

  Walking away wasn’t as difficult as he’d imagined. It was Jesse’s choice to make, and he had a choice, unlike all his victims.

  Sean staggered down the tunnel the way he’d come before, using the wall as support. Twenty yards. Fifty. Each second echoed with the heavy beat of his heart. Waiting.

  A loud rumble from behind him told him of Jesse’s choice.

  It was over.

  But not for him. He had to get to civilization before he passed out. Warm wetness seeped down his side. Leaning against the wall, he pulled up his shirt, inspected the wound. Appeared the bullet had simply taken out a chunk of flesh, but it hurt like the devil.

  One last scar courtesy of Jesse Rose.

  He wasn’t sure how long he’d walke
d when he heard voices calling his name. His answering shout came out a croak and he pushed on.

  And was suddenly surrounded by federal agents and detectives. The tunnel was also filled with bomb squad guys, a couple commenting on the fact that the disarming had already been successfully completed. Two men put his arms around their shoulders, supporting his weight.

  “Jesus, you look like something the cat barfed up. Let’s get him to the paramedics!”

  “Wait.” Agent Westfall’s face floated in front of Sean’s. “Where’s Rose?”

  Sean hitched a thumb the direction from which he’d come. “Back there. What’s left of him.”

  “Shit. What happened?”

  “Must’ve tripped over his own bomb, Agent,” he said quietly. “Wouldn’t you say?”

  After a moment, Westfall nodded, lips quirking into grim parody of a smile. “Yeah, you must be right. Shit like that happens when a dumbass plays with explosives.”

  Sean sagged in relief as Westfall and his partner moved past him to do whatever agents did when they had to scrape up a dead terrorist. God.

  The cops got him to the ladder, where he somehow climbed to street level. Vision blurry, he scanned the faces for the one he most wanted, needed, to see.

  “Sean!”

  He found her. She broke away from a group of uniformed cops and ran to him, nearly toppling him over in her enthusiasm. A man in love could do worse than to have this sort of reception waiting for him at the end of the day.

  “God, I was so scared!” Kisses peppered his face.

  “Baby, as much as I love your kisses, I stink, and I need a shower.”

  “Hospital first, shower, and then sleep. In that order,” she said, hands roaming every inch of him she could check. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Missing some skin, that’s all.”

  “What happened with Jesse?”

  “He’s dead, baby. He’ll never hurt anyone again.”

  Her eyes widened in alarm. “You didn’t . . .”

  “Kill him myself? No. Just gave him the option like we discussed. You really don’t want to know more.”