by Matt Hilton
‘Your call, Tess,’ he replied, but she could sense he was on the verge of pushing inside. At least, for now, he hadn’t yet drawn his knife.
She thumped her hand on the door again. ‘Arlen Sampson,’ she called again, ‘if you can hear me, we need to talk.’
She sensed Sampson’s presence on the other side of the door, the way she had Po’s wish to storm the house. She could picture him standing there, listening but not yet responding. Was he armed? Po had told her that it was Temperance who’d snuck up on him at Maddie’s apartment, but Sampson had shown his hand by drawing a concealed pistol from behind his back.
Tess said, ‘We’re not here to fight with you.’
Po’s expression pinched, but he kept his opinion to himself. Tess had relayed how Sampson had made it possible for her to come to his aid, making it somewhat unnecessary for Pinky’s over-enthusiastic distraction. If Sampson hadn’t ushered her to action when he did, Po might not have survived, or if he had it would’ve been with fewer digits. Po was obliged to give Sampson an opportunity to explain himself.
‘I don’t believe you want to fight us either,’ Tess added.
‘I don’t,’ came back Sampson’s muffled voice, ‘but I won’t let you stop me.’
‘Are Blake and Kelly inside with you?’
‘You don’t have to worry about them, they aren’t going anywhere.’
‘What have you done, Arlen?’
‘I’ve done something that needed doing. It should’ve been done a long time ago.’
‘Are they dead?’
‘I think I made myself clear enough, Miss Grey.’
‘If you murdered them, I can’t let you leave.’
‘Then it’s unfortunate; we are going to fight.’
Po interjected. ‘Suits me, bra.’ He held up a hand to Tess for permission to go on. She shrugged at him, he was going to whether she gave it or not. ‘If you want a fight, why don’t you come on out and meet me like a man this time? No guns, no knives, just you and me.’
‘It’d be unfair.’
‘I promise to take it easy on you.’
Sampson grunted in laughter. ‘It’d be unfair on you. You’re hurt.’
‘Dom thought the same thing. He was wrong.’
‘About that: I want you to know something, Villere,’ said Sampson. ‘It was never my intention to help kidnap you. Temperance was taking her orders from Blake, and when she ambushed you, I was equally surprised. You might say that the situation got out of my control.’
‘You still drew on me.’
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t?’
‘Who knows?’ Po wasn’t about to admit he’d willingly gone along as a hostage, intending drawing all the bad guys into a single neat trap for when Tess arrived with police reinforcements. He knew now that not only hadn’t his plan worked as he’d hoped, it had been risky to the point of stupidity.
‘I take it things didn’t go well with Dom?’
‘Depends on your perspective. Dom’s dead.’
‘Can’t say I’m upset by the news. What about Temperance?’
‘On her way to jail.’
‘At least she didn’t die. Temperance isn’t as bad as she likes to make out.’
‘Believe me,’ said Po. ‘She ain’t a nice person.’
‘Try walking a mile in her shoes, you might have a different opinion. Sometimes people do bad things because life dealt them a bad hand.’
‘Amen to that,’ said Po, without extrapolating.
‘I’m coming out,’ said Sampson.
Po reached towards Tess, but she indicated she was ready. She aimed her gun as the door cracked open.
Sampson’s weapon appeared too.
Po was on high alert, ready to grab at the gun given a chance, but Tess was certain that Sampson wouldn’t shoot unless provoked. She cautioned Po, and indicated they should step back. They did, though she kept the CZ-75 trained on the opening door.
Sampson emerged. Although he and Tess held their guns on each other, it was without rancor.
‘Blake and Kelly are done with, they won’t hurt anyone ever again,’ Sampson stated.
‘You shot them in cold blood?’ Tess asked.
‘Are you prepared to do the same with me?’
‘If I must.’
‘Sorry, but I don’t believe you.’
‘I will if I must,’ Tess repeated.
Sampson nodded. He didn’t lower his pistol.
‘I stopped those monsters,’ said Sampson, ‘because they needed stopping. Is what I did any different to what you guys have done in the past?’
‘We’ve never killed in cold blood.’
‘Neither have I. I was red hot with fury when I shot those bastards.’
‘But now you’re cool?’ asked Po.
‘I’m cool.’
‘Good,’ said Tess. ‘Then you’re probably thinking straighter.’
Sampson nodded behind him. ‘I knew exactly what I was doing, and wouldn’t change a thing now. Other than I wish I’d stopped those monsters years ago.’
‘OK, you’ve done the world a service. It’s done now, so I need you to put down your gun,’ Tess said.
He shook his head. ‘It isn’t going to happen. You’ll try to stop me and I can’t let you. There’s something I need to do first.’
‘I can’t let you hurt anyone else.’
‘If that’s what you’re worried about, don’t. I don’t intend harming anyone. Hear me out and I’ll make you a promise. I’ll give up without a fight, but there’s something important I need to do before I surrender.’
‘I can’t let you go. The police are on their way here; don’t make things any worse for yourself.’
‘I’m going to jail,’ he stated, ‘no way around that now. But before I do, I need to speak to my wife.’
‘You’ll get your telephone call,’ Tess said.
He shook his head. ‘I need to speak to her in person.’
‘Unless your missus turns up here in the next few minutes, it ain’t gonna happen,’ Po interjected. ‘It’s like Tess just said, she can’t let you go. You’ve just confessed to murdering two people, it’s her duty – and mine – to hold you till the cops arrive.’
Sampson ignored him, instead concentrating on Tess. ‘I understand this puts you in a predicament, but I’m calling you on a debt you owe.’
‘She doesn’t owe you a goddamn thing,’ said Po.
‘I made it so you could be saved,’ Sampson replied. ‘If I’d not left calling Tess when I did, how do you think your day would’ve turned out?’
‘I’d’ve found a way to save my own ass.’
Tess wasn’t so sure he would’ve. Only Pinky’s ramming of the building had thrown Dom off balance, and given Po the opportunity to break loose of his bindings; she hadn’t been in position to save him from having his toes amputated. If not for Sampson’s urgent warning she might even have dithered longer on how to approach the situation, and who knew how much damage Dom might have done to Po by then.
‘Why’s it so important you speak with your wife now?’ she asked.
‘I might never see her again.’
‘You’ll get visitin’ rights,’ Po said snarkily.
Sampson grunted in mirth. ‘Logistically, I’m unsure how that could work out.’
Tess had no idea what he meant. She exchanged a glance with Po, but he appeared no wiser. By the time her attention shifted back to Sampson the tableau had changed. His gun was no longer pointed at her but directly at Pinky. She flinched, and aimed at Sampson’s heart.
‘Take it easy there,’ he cautioned.
‘Don’t do it,’ Tess warned him.
‘I can’t think of another way,’ Sampson replied. ‘If you don’t get out of my way I’ll be forced to shoot your friend.’
Pinky held his empty hands aloft. ‘I was beginning to feel insulted at being left out of the conversation. Now I’m not that bothered, me.’
Sampson kept his pistol tr
ained on Pinky. ‘Nothing personal, buddy. I know we’ve never met, but I’m fairly sure you’re a good guy, so I’ll apologize now if I have to shoot you because your friends won’t grant me a last request.’
‘Shoot him,’ Po growled, ‘and I’ll cut your heart out and eat it raw.’
Tess noted Po’s blade had slid from where he’d concealed it in his sleeve: his warning might sound over the top, but if he harmed Pinky, Po would at least try to cut out Sampson’s heart. The alternative was she’d have to shoot Sampson dead first, and would the instant Sampson tried to carry out his threat, and he knew it. She didn’t believe he’d go through with it, but neither would she risk Pinky’s life like that.
She lowered her weapon. When it wasn’t enough to appease Sampson, she placed it on the floor and slid it aside with her foot.
Po frowned at her, remaining poised to lunge at the barest hint of pressure on Sampson’s trigger finger.
Sampson eyed him, without ever losing track of Pinky.
‘C’mon, Villere,’ said Sampson. ‘Put down the knife. You’ve already proved you’re a tough guy, but if you come at me it’s only your friend here that’s going to get hurt. I actually find it reassuring that you’d kill to protect someone you care for. We’re not too different in that respect.’
Po exchanged looks with Tess again. She nodded for him to stand down.
‘It needn’t have to have been like this,’ Sampson said as he moved between them and down the steps, gun permanently trained on Pinky. ‘I was going to suggest you follow me and I would surrender to you once I’m done, but I guess you couldn’t do that, not without feeling the heat from the law yourselves. So we’re going to have to do things another way.’ He directed his next words at Pinky. ‘Get in my car, big guy. You can drive.’
Pinky squinted at the saloon car, then at Tess and Po. Tess reassured him with a barely discernible nod. He moved for the car. Sampson said, ‘Keys are in the ignition. Get her started, buddy, and please … no funny business.’
‘That’s a shame,’ Pinky muttered, ‘seeing as “Funny Business” is my rapper name.’
Sampson again grunted in laughter. ‘I think me and you are going to get along just fine.’ He appraised Tess and Po once more. ‘Please don’t force me to shoot your friend. Oh, by the way, I expect you to follow me, but just in case we get separated I’ll have your buddy ring you and let you know where you can come arrest me.’
‘What’s this all about, Arlen?’ Tess tried, wondering at what the hell was really going on in Sampson’s mind.
‘I love my wife,’ was all he said, before sliding into the back of the car, taking the seat directly behind Pinky. He kept the gun trained on the back of Pinky’s head until the car swung around and was heading down the track towards Bath.
They didn’t wait for more than a heartbeat before Tess snatched up her gun and chased Po down the steps towards the Volvo. Thankfully, Pinky had left the ignition fob in place. Without consultation Tess took the driving duty, Po’s injuries relegating him to the passenger seat this time. Tess drove after the saloon.
‘We could’ve taken him,’ Po said.
‘We could’ve,’ Tess said.
‘But you felt you did owe him for my life?’
‘What do you think, Po?’
‘I’m flattered.’
She squeezed him a smile.
‘You think we can trust him?’ Po asked.
‘I think he meant what he said. Especially that last bit about loving his wife.’
‘Yeah,’ said Po, ‘I believe that too.’
FORTY-TWO
There was no losing track of Sampson and Pinky on the short drive between Bath and Brunswick, most of it on the open highway that took them into town past Brunswick Executive Airport. Pinky kept his speed to the posted limit, and made no rash or injudicious maneuvers, and thankfully didn’t earn himself a bullet in the spine. Tess stayed a respectful distance behind, closing down the gap only after the heavens opened and the battering rain made seeing anything more than fifty yards ahead impossible. When taking routes across town, Pinky always gave warning of his intention to turn by way of the saloon car’s blinkers. They were led through town, past the sprawling campus of Bowdoin College, into the residential suburbs on the south side and into a district clearly dedicated to retirement communities and residential care homes.
Tess’s cellphone rang for the umpteenth time since they’d left Bath. Having taken charge of it while she drove, Po checked the screen and said, ‘It’s Emma again.’
Without asking he declined the call.
‘I hate ignoring her calls like this,’ said Tess. ‘Especially when she’ll be worried to death that something bad has happened to us.’
‘This doesn’t qualify as being bad to you? Pinky being held at gunpoint by a murderer?’
‘I asked for her help, and now I feel bad for cutting her out like this.’
‘It’s best we do. She’s probably communicatin’ with the cops who by now have probably found the Ambroses and want to know where the hell we are. If she’s kept in the dark, she can’t later be criticized for stalling them.’
‘I know. But still …’
‘Maybe I should turn this thing off,’ he said. He didn’t need to remind her that the police would soon triangulate her phone signal to identify their location. The thing was, switched on or off it wouldn’t make a difference as they could still locate it, and she’d no intention of having him chuck it out of the window.
‘What if Pinky calls?’
‘Does it look as if we’re gonna need directions?’
She shrugged. They drove past several medical practices specializing in dental and orthodontic procedures, and various senior rest and rehabilitation homes. They approached a residential health center, and Po said, ‘Maybe you can drop me here and pick me up on your way out?’
He was trying to make light of the situation, but he was concerned for Pinky. She was worried for their friend’s welfare too, but was also sure they’d done the right thing in going along with Sampson. By taking a hostage, he’d offered them a way to help him without them being viewed as co-conspirators. Sampson was determined to speak in person with his wife, and had they tried to hinder him somebody would have needlessly died, most probably Pinky, followed soon after by Sampson. Allowing Sampson a little leeway, on the promise of his surrender afterwards, was always risky, because this could be Sampson’s elaborate plan of escape. Plus, there was a more frightening prospect that she had to consider. What if Sampson’s reason for seeking out his wife was for a similar reason to why he’d gone to the Ambrose house? What if Sampson planned on killing her, and then himself in a murder-suicide? There was no way possible that they could allow the man to be alone with his wife whether he made a plea for privacy or not.
The saloon’s blinkers came on, indicating a left turn. It took the corner into a short dead-end street. Tess followed, and drew to a halt outside the entrance to a sprawling low-level building in a self-contained walled compound. Pinky had taken the car through the open gate, which remained unsecured. He stopped in a desig-nated visitor parking space. Next to it was an ambulance equipped with an automated lift so wheelchair passengers could board.
Tess exchanged looks with Po.
She’d caught the relevance of Sampson’s earlier reply to Po’s suggestion that his wife could visit him in prison. ‘Logistically, I’m unsure how that could work out.’
A sign at the entrance to the building confirmed her suspicion: Assisted Living Residence.
‘D’you think Sampson’s wife could be some kind of health care professional?’ Po pondered as he scrutinized the sign. ‘Or that she’s an old gal and he’s her toy boy?’
She didn’t qualify his jest with a response.
Sampson got out of the back seat of the car. Pinky must’ve rolled down the window to listen as Sampson spoke. The pistol he’d earlier used to threaten his hostage with had disappeared, but that didn’t mean that Sampson was unar
med. Tess immediately pulled the Volvo up alongside the saloon and shut off the engine. She caught a glimpse from Sampson over the top of his car.
‘You’re going to demand that you come with me, huh?’ he asked.
‘I am.’
‘Me too,’ said Po, but Tess asked him to wait with Pinky.
‘No way, no how,’ he answered and began hauling his stiff frame out of the Volvo. Tess got out and rounded the vehicle. She got between him and the car.
‘I don’t think we’ll all be allowed inside,’ she told him, ‘and dare I say it, you might attract undue attention. Stay here with Pinky and I’ll keep an eye on him, OK?’
Po nodded at her wisdom. He was unhappy with her request, but didn’t kick up a fuss. Tess wasn’t the type to require her hand held.
‘The first hint of trouble and I’ll be comin’ in, an’ I don’t care what kind of damn attention I attract.’
Tess tapped her jacket pocket, indicating where she’d secreted the CZ-75. ‘There won’t be any trouble. Look.’ She tilted her head towards the back seat of the saloon, where Sampson had discarded his pistol.
‘Hmmm,’ said Po, and it was enough to show she’d appeased him.
Quietly, she added, ‘Give us a few minutes then call the cops.’
She moved around to where Sampson waited.
‘The clock’s ticking down, I assume?’ he asked.
‘Let’s go.’ She allowed him to take the lead.
The automatic door swished open and Tess followed Sampson inside the building. It was homely in a sense, but there was also an undeniable air of institutionalization about the place. The lobby was decorated with comfortable seating, flowers in vases, pictures on the walls, but the reception desk and various signs behind it were reminders this was no normal residence. As with any hospital she’d ever visited the atmosphere was clinical, redolent with a faint chemical smell and a mild charge of electricity that stirred the short hairs on her neck. The place cast back Tess’s memory to when her father had spent his final days in a hospice before succumbing to cancer; the melancholy she felt now subdued any nerves she’d experienced while following the self-confessed murderer inside.