Loose Ends
Page 48
CHAPTER 48: ZEKE
As if I don’t have enough on my plate, Brenda decides to get hysterical. She swears she sees someone duck behind a car. Does he follow us? No. Great. Thanks for the distraction. Anyway, what if he is following? I’m dead and everything’s going according to their fucked up plan. Just drive and let a pro handle the situation.
Was I scared? Not really. You try to avoid situations where your intel isn’t solid, but you do what you have to do. Here’s what I could safely assume: some guys had been watching over Adam, but once his pussyness became evident, all but one goon left. Two tops. I hoped Sampson was one who stayed behind. I really wanted to stuff that turkey. Even if he hadn’t, I was a pro. I had training. I could handle whatever.
I had confidence because I believed. You know how these terrorists can blow themselves up without a second thought? Because they believe. They believe more than anyone I can think of. In my darkest hour, I have to wonder if they believe even more stronger than me. Right side, wrong side, doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. When you believe, you can scale the highest mountain barefoot and not break a sweat.
Besides, just the attempt to save Adam would put me right with the big man. You think a punk or two’s gonna stand in the way of that, make me scared and hide? Hell no.
While we drove, I contemplated the sky. It was like God’s blue belly with thin strands of naval hair. Such a gorgeous day. I remember perfectly.
What a waste not to put my faith in Him before. This was the very first day I gave any concern for my soul, and already He sent me so many gifts. Nice weather, chance to save Adam. Man, I’m in awe. Fucking genius.
Brenda interrupted my prayer. “We’re almost close.” It was time to prepare for earthly things.
Brenda was told to honk “shave and a haircut.” They’d come out, inspect my corpse, release Adam. Right. That was the suppose to. The reality was, she’d drop me off a block away and I’d penetrate the apartment building. She’d honk to draw them out. Best case, I’d catch them as they left the apartment and I’d take it from there. Worst case, I’d get behind them and use my charms to learn what apartment Adam was stashed in, who was with him, what they were packing and so on.
Not the best plan. Too many what we call “contingencies.” But it was the best plan I could hope for on such short notice. And I had the element of surprise. After a firearm, this was my best weapon.
I had left Brenda’s pea shooter behind, trusting my Glock would be sufficient. I dug it out from the back and checked the clip. That’s right. You remember. Empty. How the hell did I forget? Shit. I must’ve said it out loud. Brenda freaked out. “What is it? What is it?” I fed her some bullshit and calmed her down.
But guess what? That’s right. I checked Gavin’s gift. Fully loaded, like he said. Now tell me God wasn’t behind that.
Now it’s Brenda’s turn to say “Shit.” I ask what’s up and she hems and haws, but I press. Turns out she forgot to bring the fucking address. Kind of a big deal, wouldn’t you say? She tells me to relax. Says it’s either 1400 or 1600. As if my plate isn’t already loaded.
As it happens, I figure it out. The 1400 hundred block is a parking lot and a dentist’s office. She drives on and spots Adam’s car and parks.
I prepare for battle. I cover the gun with the sleeve of my jacket. Now, here, for no reason at all, I start to number all the ways it can go down screwy. That’s suicide before a mission, you know.
Then I stop because I see the lookout, who must’ve got bored looking out. Sampson. He’s focused and furious, darting toward the apartment building. It was sort of comforting to see a familiar face. I knew who to aim for. Now I’m calm. I can take down Sampson with a spitwad. I can barely wait.
I tell her to give me a minute. I say, and I quote, “I’ll save him.”
This was slick like duck shit because I might’ve meant Adam and I’m sure she took it that way, but the “him” was mostly me. Did you get that? I’d like to think she did too. She says, “Be careful. I love him so much.”
As soon as Sampson’s inside, I jog against the side of the building. I get to the front door. I steal a glance inside. Nothing. So I sneak in and close my eyes. I’m pretty sure I hear a door open on the second floor. I climb the stairs real quiet, heel to toe. I pause at the corner and flip off the safety.
Brenda honks “shave and a haircut.” I’m ready to jam Gavin’s gift into the next face I see. Down the hall, there’s a struggle, then a faint whoosh. Now, plenty of things go whoosh, but only one thing in the world makes the whoosh I heard.
In one way of looking at it, my job’s already done. I tried to save Sutler. If they blow him away early, it ain’t my fault. I should still get the karma.
I hug the wall beside the open doorway. Sampson’s shouting shit like, “Open up, mother fucker. Don’t make me bust in there.” Just as he says that, he batters down a door. But another door’s in his way and his banging and hilarious threats continue.
I spin into the apartment, barrel first. Don’t believe what I see. My first impulse is to fire but I don’t need to. The kid sitting under the window, his eyes fluttering, is dripping a lot of blood from a hole in his chest and isn’t much of a threat. Kid looks familiar. Takes a moment to register. It’s the other kid from Lucky’s.
Meanwhile, Sampson’s around the corner going ape shit.