by Warren Ray
“No sir, I don’t, and it doesn’t matter because she’s coming with me.”
Perozzi puffed out his chest. “I don’t think so.”
Three large men came running toward them with guns drawn. Wagner reached for his own gun and pulled it out.
“You might want to rethink that one,” said Perozzi.
Perozzi’s bodyguards started yelling at Wagner to drop his weapon and he did as he was told. Another bodyguard grabbed the other cop’s gun and then pushed him to the wall.
Stormy breathed a sigh of relief and was glad she had decided to let Perozzi handle this.
“Now, exactly who are you?” demanded Perozzi.
“I’m Lieutenant Wagner, and I’ve been ordered to bring her in for questioning. And who may I ask are you?”
“Who gave you these orders?”
“I’m not at liberty to say and I suggest you unhand me and let me do my job.”
“Son, I’m Gerald Perozzi and you’ll answer my questions or you’ll find yourself at the bottom of a river.”
The color drained from Wagner’s face. “I…I didn’t know, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
Perozzi stared at him with impatient eyes.
“Mister Reed ordered me.”
Perozzi shook his head. “I should have known it was him.”
“Lieutenant, you’ve been dealt a very bad hand tonight. Mister Reed is…let’s just say he has a personal vendetta against this girl. So, I would suggest you take those cuffs off and leave while you still can.”
Wagner gave him a humble nod and approached Stormy while pulling his key out. He took the cuffs off and asked if he could go.
Stormy started to rub her wrist and made a big act out of it while watching the two cops walk back down the hallway. She didn’t have much trouble acting nervous and started to shake a little bit. She hoped Perozzi would rescue her, but wasn’t really sure he would, so she had already developed a backup plan of escape once they were outside.
“There, there, you okay, Stormy?” asked a concerned Perozzi.
“I…I’m a little shaken is all.”
“Nothing to worry about,” said Perozzi as he put his hand on her back.
She cringed at his touch but needed to let him be the big protector.
“I just can’t believe Mister Reed would be this angry with me,” said Stormy.
“Yes, well, he’s gone too far, I can tell you that.”
“You won’t let him hurt me will you?” asked Stormy, playing it up.
“Don’t you worry about that.”
Stormy’s boss, Robert, came waltzing in asking if she needed anything.
“I think Stormy needs the rest of the night off,” said Perozzi.
“No, no, I’m okay. I just need to splash some water on my face.”
She turned and hurried to the ladies’ room. Pushing the door open, she let out a sigh of relief and then turned on the faucet, cupped her hands, and splashed water on her face. The cold water refreshed her senses. She looked in the mirror thinking about her next move. Perozzi would offer to take her home, which she didn’t want to have happen because he would insist on coming inside. She shivered at the thought of the old man touching her let alone hopping in the sack with him. Besides, having to go to Manassas tonight, she didn’t want him to know where she lived. However, she needed his protection from Reed, and if she offended him, he might not be so forthcoming. She kept staring in the mirror, and then it dawned on her why Reed wanted to talk to her. He must have done a background check on her, and if that was the case he would know she was from Brainerd. “Not good, sweetie,” she whispered at the mirror.
An idea struck her and she started breathing in hard and fast working herself back into hysterics. She exited the bathroom and snuck into the kitchen to find her manager in his office.
“Robert, I’m…I’m really shaken up. I need to go.”
“Yes, of course, but what about Mister Perozzi? He’s going to want to see you.”
She sat down on a chair next to him and put her hand on his arm. “Could you do me a favor and tell him thank you, but I just needed to get out of here.”
Robert gave her a firm nod. “No problem, I’ll take care of it.”
She squeezed his arm and scooted out the back door of the restaurant hurrying to her white BMW. She looked all around making sure no one was watching. She started it up and took off satisfied with her exit strategy. Perozzi would just think she was too scared to stay, which would make him even angrier with Reed. She let out a laugh knowing Reed, with little effort, had helped prod Perozzi a little closer to their goal.
Chapter 17
Sabine Iowa
The banging on the front door startled Winters and he jerked his head back as Finley leaped into action. She put her finger to her lips and motioned Winters to move behind the door. He slipped into position as she pulled it open.
Finley locked the screen door as she called out, “Jimmy Boyd, why am I not surprised to see you here? And where’s your wife?”
“I’m right here, sweetie.”
“Wanting a threesome now do we?”
“You know we do,”
“Well, I’m sorry, but Randy is dead tired, so he can’t join ya.”
“Ha, ha. You know it’s you we want,” said Jimmy, as he pulled on the screen door. “Now, unlock the door.”
“It’s against the rules, Jimmy.”
“You never complained before and we got some food here for ya.”
“I don’t want your food, besides, I’ve got to get over to see Jarvis.”
“You got a couple of hours before you need to be there, now open up.”
“No.”
Winters raised his eyebrows impressed by her bantering with these fools. She had the same kind of smart mouth Sadie had. She could outwit anyone, and this girl was just as good if not better. Of course, Finley knew who was backing her up on the other side of the door. Good. She deserved this moment of empowerment. Winters found it surprising to learn the wife was just as guilty as the husband was. He hadn’t been sure about what he was going to do with her but now made up his mind on her fate.
“What the hell’s gotten into you? Where’s Randy?”
“I told ya, I wore him out tonight. He is dead tired,” said Finley in a humorous tone.
Jimmy grabbed the door handle and started shaking it. “Open this damn door, Wannabe, you hear me.”
An odd nickname, thought Winters.
“If I have to rip open this screen, Wannabe, I’m gonna beat your ass.”
“Finally, something you’re good at, cause it sure as hell isn’t screwing.”
Winters formed a lopsided grin and nodded his head. That was a good one.
“You little bitch. I swear I’m gonna beat the hell out of you.”
Winters flipped down his goggles figuring the show was about over.
The sound of the generator got louder when the back door opened. Jimmy’s wife ambled through the dark kitchen toward Finley, who was oblivious to her presence. She wound up her right arm when Winters stepped forward and met her with his right arm throwing her off balance. In one swift motion, he covered her mouth, pulled out his knife, and sliced her throat from ear to ear. He laid her down in the darkness and whispered to Finley to let Jimmy in.
“Okay, Jimmy, you win,” she said unlocking the door before stepping backward.
He stormed inside and wrapped his hand around Finley’s throat squeezing hard.
Winters grabbed onto the back of Jimmy’s hair and pulled him off her. He tripped over Winters’ foot and screamed out as a knife plunged into his stomach. Jimmy’s blood began soaking his dirty white t-shirt as Winters jammed the blade into his throat.
Finley stared through the darkness wide-eyed and didn’t say anything as Winters stood up. He couldn’t decide if she was surprised or in shock as to what just happened.
“You okay?”
“That was awesome. I mean you just took out those two slimy jackass
es and you did it, like, really fast and without, like, any kind of bother. Mister Winters, you are a badass.”
“Oh, well, I thought you might be in some kind of shock or something.”
“Hell, no. Those two deserved it, I mean, let me tell ya something, I’ve been, like, having to put up with these two dirt bags because, Randy was, like, always trading out his time with me for drugs. I mean, these two aren’t even on my list and they smell, I mean they really, really smell bad. And, I swear they never brush their teeth, their breath is disgusting.”
Winters scratched the side of his head and started laughing to himself at how fast she was chatting. A big weight had lifted off her shoulders, which opened the floodgates of non-stop chatter.
She continued as she waved her hands around. “Did you hear how I was mouthing off to him? I swear I was laughing so hard on the inside. Like, I thought I was gonna pee my pants. I mean, I have been dying to say these things in, like, forever, but I couldn’t, cause I mean, you know, I had to act all meek and mousy and pretend I was really enjoying myself. Oh man, I just can’t stop talking.”
“I can see that. Why don’t you splash some water on your face and maybe take a couple of deep breaths?”
“Okay, yeah, yeah, I’ll try that,” she said while turning on a battery operated lamp sitting on the counter.
Winters flipped the goggles up and curiously watched as Finley splashed cold water on her face a few times as she danced at the sink.
None of the girls he had rescued before had acted like this probably because the situation was different from the others. These girls were not being held captive and even lived at home. They had crappy choices, but still, they made them. What an odd thing. Did they understand that even though they didn’t have physical chains, they still wore them? Winters shook his head figuring it was for psychologists to debate.
Finley grabbed a towel to wipe her face and then put her hair in a ponytail. “Hey, let’s go get Jarvis now. I guarantee you that boy is stoned out of his mind right now. I can help you out too, okay? I mean, you know, I can help with any of them really, I mean I can totally help you stop these suckers.”
Winters nodded. “Okay, but on one condition.”
“Sure, anything, I mean I’ll do anything,” said Finley, who hadn’t stopped moving around.
“When we get outside, you need to stop talking, okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry. I talk a lot when I’m nervous.” Finley looked down at Jimmy and his wife. “I mean, I’ve, like, never seen anyone get killed before, but wow, what a rush.”
“I understand. Are you going to be able to handle yourself?”
“Mister Winters, I’m totally up for this. I hate these bastards for what they’ve been doing to us.”
“Good, now just do me a favor and call me, Cole.”
She nodded twice. “Okay, Cole.”
Winters wanted her to settle down and decided to ask about the nickname he heard.
“So, can I ask why he called you, Wannabe?”
“Yeah, cuz, you know, I supposedly want B’s, so, you know, Wannabe.”
Winters gave her a confused look.
“You know, B cups, bigger boobs, you’ve seen me, I’m flat-chested.”
Winters’ face turned bright red and he didn’t know what to say.
“It’s okay, Mister Winters, I mean Cole, I don’t really care. I like myself just the way I am.”
Winters couldn’t change the subject fast enough and asked her to write down all the names and addresses of the guys involved. She took the list Ashley started and completed it in a few minutes. Winters studied the list and nodded in satisfaction. He then escorted her outside. He put his hand to his lips when she started to ask him another question. She raised her hands up and whispered an apology. They scurried through the darkness to Jarvis’ house. When they arrived, Finley grabbed his arm and told him Jarvis had company.
Chapter 18
After checking Randy and Jimmy Boyd off the list, Finley led Winters to her next stop. He was intrigued by the spunky girl who took a bad situation for what it was and dealt with it as best she could. Despite the fact that what she was doing would be frowned upon by any civilized society, she was providing for her mom and little sister. Anyone desperate for food could rationalize that it was acceptable and use it to get through a bad situation. However, her enthusiasm for helping him was evidence enough that she didn’t like what she was doing and wanted it to change.
They arrived at Jarvis’ house and found a couple of vehicles in the driveway. Finley whispered to him that he was having a party with his friends. Jarvis also had a generator running to power the house.
Winters escorted her across the street behind an overgrown hedgerow. He scanned the area with the night-vision goggles and didn’t see anyone outside.
“How many do you think are there?”
“Definitely three, maybe four,” whispered Finley.
“More girls?”
“Oh, yeah, two maybe three.”
Winters continued to look across the street.
“Hey, can I try those?”
Winters took the goggles off and helped her put them on.
“Oh, cool, you can see everything, and it’s all green.”
Winters remembered the first time he had tried them on and of having the same reaction. It was like looking at a TV screen or being in a video game. He’d been using them long enough now to not give it a second thought. He let her keep them on while he asked more questions.
“Will any of them be armed?”
“Hmm, probably just Derek. He usually has, like, a gun on him.”
“What does he look like?”
“Tall and skinny. He’ll be the only blond haired guy. But I wouldn’t worry too much though, because I guarantee you, like, everyone in there is already stoned.”
“Even the girls?”
“Yeah, I mean, you know, it helps you through the night.”
Winters understood and brushed it off. If anything, it was going to help him accomplish what he was about to do. The last thing he needed was a bunch of girls screaming and getting in the way. He wanted to make sure she was correct with her assumptions and came up with a plan. She agreed and took off the goggles before running across the street. He watched her enter the house and sat there waiting for her signal.
It took five minutes before a pen light turned on in the middle window. The light blinked four times signaling there were four guys and then two longer blinks for two girls. Winters’ heart quickened as he ran across the street. He had decided if they were stoned then there was no need to turn off the generator, which would only alert everyone. He wanted them in there as relaxed as possible. He would just go in the front door that Finley had promised to leave unlocked.
He reached the handle and let out a breath as he opened the door. He entered into a small foyer where the smell of marijuana was obvious. Mixed in were various odors from incense and candles. Winters heard soft music coming from the living room. He peeked around the corner. A lamp was turned on low and there were a few lit candles scattered around four people, two of which were in the throes of sex on the couch. Winters pulled out his knife and approached a couple who were sitting together on a smaller couch. The man, who looked to be in his late twenties, had dark hair and was wearing headphones listening to his own music with his eyes closed. The teen girl also had her eyes closed and didn’t notice Winters cover his target’s mouth before pressing down to slice his throat. The victim’s arms reached up for a moment before falling back to the cushion.
This kill reminded him of his first ones back at the train station. He had snuck in on sleeping men who had been drinking. He had been scared and unsure of how to do it. Of course, now he was an experienced killer and didn’t hesitate or question what he was doing.
The girl next to his first victim never moved a muscle. The other two across the room were still going at it and Winters decided to wait on them. He wanted to know where Fin
ley was and heard voices over the soft music coming from the back.
He started down the hallway and slid against the wall to the first opened door. He took a quick peek to find no one there. He looked at the half opened shade where Finley had signaled him. Voices came from the back bedroom where the door was open and a low light spilled out into the hall.
“C’mon, Wannabe, take it.”
“I don’t want it, Derek.”
“Take it,” yelled another.
Winters crept in closer and figured the other one was Jarvis. They didn’t sound too stoned, but then he didn’t know much about it.
“Wannabe, you’ve got a long night ahead of you, so don’t be testing me.”
“Testing you? Don’t make me laugh, Derek. Have you ever passed a test? I mean, I heard you even flunked your GED.”
Winters struggled to hold back a laugh. She was certainly entertaining to say the least. He then heard a slap and Finley curse aloud. Then another slap as Winters came through the door to find a blonde man knocking Finley to the ground. The blonde, who had to be Derek, fell on top of her and grabbed her arms.
The other one was Jarvis and he cheered his friend on. Winters swung his left arm around Jarvis, covered his mouth, and shoved the knife into his throat. The man went limp and Winters guided him down to the carpet with a loud thud, but not enough to alert Derek. Winters then stepped over the dead man and grabbed onto Derek’s blonde hair pulling him backward off Finley.
“What?” Derek yelled out confused.
Finley kicked him in the face before Winters thrust his knife into the side of his neck. Blood ran down Derek’s neck as he floundered on the carpet before taking his last breath.
Winters looked at Finley’s red face as she stared at Derek. “You alright?”
She nodded and got up off the floor. Her eyes lit up under her thick eyebrows. “Did you hear my GED joke? That was so worth the beat down, I mean, his jaw, like, about hit the floor.”
“Keep it down, I’ve got one more.”
“Who?”
Winters shrugged his shoulders. “They were getting it on.”
“Oh, that’s Laney and Owen.”