Harry Bronson Box Set

by L C Hayden

  The Raven resumed eating, a tiny smile plastered on her face. “Prior to my leaving the cabin to resume my role as the hunter, I will call them for the last time. At that point, they’ll release Mike and Ellen.” The Raven served herself more vegetables. “I noticed you’re not eating your vegetables.”

  “Don’t like them. You say this is my last supper. I want to carry good memories of it.”

  “That’s the right attitude. For the record, this is your last supper. No one has ever survived. No one ever will. I’m that good. You’re a dead man.” She raised her tea glass as if toasting. “Here’s to your very slow, painful death.”

  “If you don’t mind, I won’t be toasting to that.” Bronson ate his chicken and wished for a cup of coffee.

  Chapter 62

  “You said you used to be Bronson’s partner before he retired,” Devono said.

  “I did.” Mike stood on the sidewalk in front of the comic book store, wondering who else might have seen something.

  “Good for you, but why call me? I have nothing to do with Bronson.”

  Devono’s voice came through so loud that Mike had to pull the cell away from his ear. “I was there that night you invited him to your office at the restaurant.”

  “I don’t deny knowing him. We had a nice long conversation that night. But that’s the end of our relationship.”

  Mike stood behind the same column the blond man had used to hide behind. He had spied on Bronson, and now Mike turned the tables to watch the police work on Bronson’s rental. In order to do so, he had to step away from the column, an inch or two. Enough to be seen. Bronson had to have seen him. “Mr. Devono, I’m calling you not as a policeman but as Bronson’s friend. I’m worried about him.”

  “He’s a big boy. He can—”

  “He’s been kidnapped.” Silence met Mike. He wondered if Devono had hung up. He looked at his cell. The connection was still active. “Bronson left a couple of hints. One involved you.”

  “Explain.”

  “He told me to tell you that his kidnapper had forced him to leave the gun behind, and he was sorry but he wouldn’t be able to return it to you.”

  “Why would he say that?”

  “My question precisely.” Mike watched the police haul Bronson’s rental away. “I’m not looking to get you into trouble or anything like that. I’m doing this on my own, and all I want is information that may be able to save Bronson’s life.”

  A small pause followed. Then, “Did he say gun?”

  “He did.”

  “I lent him two.”

  Oh, Bronson. What were you thinking? That meant he was possibly armed, but any person in her right mind would frisk him. He’d lose the gun in a matter of seconds. Bronson would have known that. There had to be another reason Bronson wanted him to talk to Devono. Think. “Could you possibly know the kidnappers?”

  “Mr. Hoover, if you’re insinuating that I had anything to do with the kidnapping, think again.” Devono’s harsh tone came through loud and clear.

  “No, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m simply suggesting you might know of the kidnappers. Here’s what I know. There are three of them. A set of twins, blond, males, in their late twenties, early thirties. Their ring leader is a woman whose code name is the Raven.”

  “The . . . Raven?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t help you much. I’ve heard of the Raven, but I don’t have any connections with her. I know she’s pure evil and sadistic. And yes, she works on-and-off with the twins. She does them both, sometimes separately, sometimes simultaneously. They’re fiercely loyal to her. That makes them very dangerous.”

  “Do you have any idea where I can find them?”

  “Unfortunately, no. But I do have extensive files. Let me check my folders and see what I can find.”

  Mike knew no such folders existed. What Devono meant was that he would get his men digging up the information. Bronson must have somehow known that. “I appreciate your help.”

  “Don’t thank me. I haven’t given you anything, and I can’t guarantee that I will.”

  “I understand.”

  “Is this the number where I can reach you, the one you’re calling from?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll get back to you. I have a vested interest in Bronson. I don’t want anything to happen to him. Knowing the little that I know of the Raven, if I were you, I’d find him now. You may already be too late.”

  Chapter 63

  “The bullet in your gut will explode inside you, burning you from the inside out.” The Raven droned on in great detail about how horrible Bronson’s death would be.

  He still sat at the table eating, his appetite lessening with each bite. He had long ago tuned her out, choosing to hear only a word here, a phrase there.

  “Your agony . . . beg for mercy . . . want to die . . . pain . . . horrible, agonizing pain . . .” She used each carefully selected word to eat away at Bronson’s will, just like she had probably done with the others. Raw nerves had driven them crazy. By the time she freed them, insanity dictated their actions. They had been easy prey.

  She expected Bronson to be no different, but he would have a surprise for her. Ignore her. Focus on something else. Bronson thought of Carol. Little Carol. Donna. The grandkids. Lorraine’s beguiling smile the last time he saw her.

  Don’t leave me.

  Tears pearled in Bronson’s eyes, and he blinked them away as quickly as possible.

  The Raven leaned back in her seat. The smile she wore spoke of triumph. She wiped her mouth, and set the napkin down. “I got a new drug. I forget what it’s called, but it’s very effective, and it cost me a bundle.”

  Bronson decided to listen. His gaze met hers.

  “I chose you to be my first experiment.”

  Lucky him.

  She picked up the knife she had used to carve the chicken. She stroked the blade like a lover seducing her mate. “You see, I’ve never cut anyone, but always wondered what it would feel like.” She ran her tongue around her lips.

  Sadistic bitch. Bronson swallowed hard, causing his Adam’s apple to bob. He made sure she saw that. He raised his head just a bit and repeated the action.

  “Uuuhh.” She sang the letters. Seductively. She bit her lip.

  Bronson looked away. He should have been an actor.

  “Even after I’ve shot you and you’re writhing with pain, you wouldn’t be able to lie still while I carve you out. No one would.” She leaned forward, elbows on the table, an intent look in her eyes. “So I’ll shoot you with my dart gun. In seconds, the poison will work through your system. You won’t be able to move, but you will feel everything.” She wrinkled her nose. “Every . . . thing.”

  Bronson considered taking her down. The chains around his ankles limited his moves. But if he could get her to come close to him, he could overpower her.

  Surely by now Mike had gotten control of the situation. Both he and Ellen were safe and would be safe even if the Raven didn’t make that call. Should Bronson chance it? “You’re a beautiful woman, and every inch of you is seductive.”

  Her eyebrows shot up her forehead. “You are a live one. I’ll give you a treat. Each time I cut you tomorrow, I’ll remove one article of clothing. I’ll do that until I’m naked.” She stretched out the word naked. “Then I’ll straddle you.”

  Bronson pushed his plate away. “Do that now.” He forced his voice to come out low, throaty.

  She stood up. Walked to the corner of the table and stopped. “And miss the chase tomorrow?”

  “Now, and then. Twice the fun.”

  She took two steps forward. Stopped. “I have a call to make.”

  “Make it now.” Please make it now. “Make it later. It’s your call.”

  Two more steps forward.

  Bronson eyed her from top to bottom. He stared extra long at her breasts.

  She took one more step forward. “Your ring finger shows you’re married.�
�

  “Out of sight. Out of mind.”

  She smiled and took one more step forward. She had reached the halfway point. “Oh, you’re naughty.” She shook her finger at him as though scolding him. “Naughty, naughty, naughty.”

  “Very.”

  She took another step. Paused. Then another step. She stopped. She smiled. “More power to you, Bronson. I knew from the beginning you’d make a perfect opponent, and you just proved me right. You almost had me going. Almost, but not quite.” She flipped him a finger and returned to the head of the table.

  Shiiit.

  Chapter 64

  Joe’s hand lingered on the phone, his fingers drumming the receiver. He had just finished talking to Cannady. He frowned. He picked up the phone once again and punched in the appropriate numbers. “Mike Hoover?” he asked once he had made the connection. “Detective Joe Randig here. I just got off the phone with Cannady.”

  “What did she have to say?” Mike hoped she had cooperated.

  “Unfortunately, nothing we can use. A Frederick Parsons rented the Camry. The computer showed no criminal record for him, but strangely enough, Frederick Parsons had cancer and died at age thirty-two.”

  Damn. “A case of stolen identity.” And a dead end.

  “I’m afraid so. Then, to top it all off, those sons of bitches must have worn gloves every time they used the car. We lifted not even one useful print.”

  Dead ends. Why did it always have to be a dead end? “If we can find the twins, we can find the Raven.”

  “My thoughts, too,” Joe said. “Based on what we know, we place the twins to be somewhere in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. We’ve got our computer experts to generate a list of twins in the area. First, we’re checking criminal records, then birth records in the area.”

  “That must be one heck of a list.”

  “We’re doing everything possible to narrow it down. We’ve keyed in males only. Blond, both still living in the area, but as you say, the list is astronomical. We’re hoping we find something that will help us.” Joe paused. “We’re not giving up. We’re on top of this. We’ve put the word out on the street. Anyone knows about the twins or the Raven, they’ll get in touch with us.”

  “Is there something I can do?”

  “Yeah, I could use help with those lists.”

  “You’re at the station?”

  “Sure am.”

  “Give me about forty-five minutes to get there.”

  “I’ll be here,” Joe said.

  Mike hung up and looked out the window. He didn’t see any unaccounted for cars or suspicious persons lurking around. Still, he didn’t want to leave Ellen alone.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his back. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. You need to be out there, looking for Bronson. He’s counting on you. You’re the only hope he has.”

  He turned around and held her. “You’re forgetting Detective Joe Randig. He’s doing everything he can. I’m impressed with him.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Then go help him.”

  “You can come. You know your way around the police station. Maybe later on we can grab something to eat.”

  “Or maybe you can go by yourself.” She broke the embrace and walked out of it. “I’ve been at the station hundreds of times. Why would I want to go there on my days off?” She pushed him away. “Now go.”

  *****

  Bronson lay on the make-shift bed pretending to sleep, wishing he could remove those ankle bracelets. Due to them, he hadn’t been able to move, and his body felt stiff. He hadn’t slept much. He took advantage of the situation and forced his mind to spit out one scenario after another.

  Problem with each one centered on his lack of wood survival skills but somehow, today, he would have to accomplish what others before him failed to do.

  Think.

  Think, think.

  “Quit faking.” The Raven stood at the foot of the bed. “It’s time to begin our game.” She reached for Bronson’s ankle bracelets.

  Chapter 65

  Mike blinked several times, pushing the sleep away from his eyes. He sipped his coffee while waiting for the light to turn green. He had stayed at the police station until past midnight, first calling sets of twins, and then when it got too late, checking the list. To those he managed to get hold of, he had told them about a “priceless piece of artwork” he owned, and that he wanted their advice. Out of the nearly one-hundred calls he made, only eight seemed promising.

  The light was about to change when he noticed a blue sedan speed in order to beat the light. The signal turned when the sedan was halfway through the intersection. Drivers like that were menaces. If Mike had the time, he would follow and pursue. Instead, he accelerated and blended with the rest of the traffic, eager to reach the police station and continue making the calls.

  Out of yesterday’s eight calls that warranted a follow up, Joe eliminated five after he paid them a visit. That left three possibilities. For two of those two sets, neither twin was home. One set remained a loose wire that had led to a bogus address.

  Today Mike and Joe would follow up on all three leads, focusing their main energy on the missing link. But first, Mike would spend some more time on the phone talking to more twins, adding to the list of possibilities.

  In the meantime, Joe would attend his mandatory daily meeting. Soon as that was over, they planned to trace the twins with the missing address.

  In an attempt to drive sleep’s embrace away, Mike rolled down the car window. Mother Nature seemed to be promising to release a storm, and he inhaled the scent of the impending rain. He always enjoyed a nice, steady rain, but not if it meant slowing him down in his search for Bronson.

  A bolt of lightning sizzled in the sky just as he turned into the police parking lot. His mobile went off at the same time. At first, Mike failed to answer the call, thinking it somehow related to the soon-to-be-here rain.

  He shook his head as he grabbed the cell, upset at himself for reaching such an illogical conclusion. That meant he felt more tired than he was willing to admit. The caller I. D. read Unknown, but Mike recognized the number as belonging to Devono. His heart beat accelerated as he answered the call.

  “I may have something for you.” Devono’s tone revealed his pride in his sense of accomplishment.

  “I’m listening.”

  “As I told you, I asked my, uh, steady customers at the restaurant to dig up anything they could find on the Raven and the twins.”

  Mike locked the car and headed toward the police building. At that moment, the heavily laden clouds released their burden. The steady downpour drenched Mike as he ran inside the police headquarters. Once indoors, he wiped the water away and felt guilty when he saw the mess he had created. Some policemen stood beside him doing the same thing, creating the same mess. Mike no longer felt guilty. “What did your contacts tell you?”

  “Don’t know the exact location, but the Raven got herself a small cabin in the woods. Word is that she takes her guests there to play a cat-and-mouse type of game. Her guests are never seen after that. The cabin, built about ten years ago, is somewhere off Highway 422, close to Lake Arthur. The woman you know as the Raven is really Barbara Culverson.”

  Mike’s eyes widened as he pumped the air with his arm. Yes! “Now that we have her name, finding her cabin will pose no problem. Thank you for the information.”

  “No thanks are required. I have a vested interest in Bronson. I don’t want anything to happen to him until I can collect.”

  You bastard. Mike shrugged. At least he came through. “Either way, thanks anyway.”

  “Bring him safe to me.”

  Yeah, like he was really going to hand Bronson to him. “I’ll find him.” Mike hung up.

  His walk had a bounce as he approached Joe’s desk. Joe set down his pen and looked up at Mike. “Something’s got you going.” Joe stood up to greet him. “What’s up?”

  Mike
told him about the cabin.

  “And your source?”

  “Someone in the streets.”

  “Reliable?”

  Mike nodded. “I believe so.”

  “In that case, let’s download the county map, get the address, and head that way.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Bronson, we’re on our way to you. Just hang on, buddy.

  Just hang on.

  Chapter 66

  “I talked to my friends.” The Raven stood at the foot of Bronson’s bed, the key to unlock his chains in her hand. “The twins told Hoover and his lady they would be released today just as soon as you’re set free. Hoover didn’t believe them. She did, but it doesn’t matter what they think. They will be released, provided I make that final call.”

  Bronson’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Why wouldn’t you make the call?”

  “Maybe you’re planning to do something stupid.”

  Bronson tilted his head and blinked several times. “I wouldn’t think of it.”

  “That’s the opposite of what I’m thinking. The little I know of you tells me you’ve considered jumping me several times and will do so as soon as your hand and leg restrictions come off.”

  She was right, but Bronson would never admit it, not as long as she dangled the phone call above him like a piece of meat being offered to a starving dog. “I want you to make that call. I won’t try anything.”

  “After you have walked out the door and before I go hunting for you, I’ll make the call. From there on, it’ll only be you and me.” She picked up the Astra, and pointed it at Bronson. “I was thinking what a hoot it’d be to shoot you with your own pistol, but first I’ll have to find you.” She walked toward Bronson and tossed him the key to the leg irons.

  Bronson grabbed it in mid-air.

  “You know what to do.” The Raven stood as far away as possible from Bronson’s reach.

  Bronson sat up in the bed without moving, wondering if this was some type of a trap.