by K. M. Hodge
He took the bottle and holed-up again in his room, knowing Sally would be disappointed in him for this moment of weakness. Her smell and the smell of their lovemaking still lingered in the room, making it impossible for him to push her out of his mind. He drank so that he could care a little less. His gut protested in earnest but he kept on drinking. When the pain proved to be too much, he popped a pain pill.
Shit, what am I thinking?
He jumped up and went to the bathroom to make himself throw up.
Blood. Shit. Sally....
He had picked the worst time and person to fall in love with. It didn’t surprise him in the least. He may be getting up there in years, but he certainly was no wiser when it came to the fairer sex.
“You all right?” Henry called out from the other side of the door.
“Right as rain.” Jason wiped his mouth and swallowed hard.
Henry continued to check on him every hour or so.
The goon made Jason nervous. He couldn’t figure him out. What side was he on? If Jason had been a betting man, he would say the oaf was an ally, but these days, it was too dangerous to trust anyone.
***
Buffalo Gap Highway
Swoope, Virginia
July 24, 2025
3:00 PM
~~~
The sight of three FBI fleet sedans in Manny’s rear view mirror only served to increase his burgeoning anxiety. It had been a long time since he’d been in the field, and now he was in charge of half a dozen FBI agents on a dangerous mission that could result in the taking of human life. In all his years, he’d never been a praying man, but it occurred to him that it couldn’t hurt to say a prayer now. They needed all the help they could get.
As he pulled back onto the road in front of the fleet, he caught Alcott crossing himself like Manny’s lapsed Catholic mother used to do.
Lord, help us, I hope someone’s listening.
They stopped about a half a mile outside the target and coordinated their plan of attack. Manny would be going in alone to draw the attention away from the back of the building, where the raid would take place.
The fresh-faced agents surrounding Manny concerned him. They all looked scared and ill-prepared for the mission, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
He took a deep breath. “Agents, I know you’re all worried. For some of you this may be your first time in the field. I’m not going to tell you it’ll be easy. In the navy, we used to say that the only easy day was yesterday. So go in knowing that mistakes will be made, but you’ll learn and get better. Either way, from here on out, you’ll carry this moment along with you on all your future missions. This is what you signed up to do, what you swore an oath to do—to protect and serve.”
A sea of worried agents stared back at him.
He sighed, knowing that nothing he could say or do would help alleviate their anxiety. Every agent going out on his or her first mission experienced it.
“You each have your assigned task, and have been trained by one of the greatest law enforcement agencies in the world. You’re ready and able to execute this mission as planned. Today, criminals will be apprehended and innocent lives will be saved. Make me proud.”
He turned on his heel and set the plan in motion. “Here we go.”
He took a deep breath and started the long hike to the compound. As he walked through the heavily wooded area that lined the highway, he thought that it really was beautiful. He wished his wife could have seen it. There were so many things they had pushed off for “later.” Now later would never come. He shook his head to clear away the thoughts—no sense in fretting over that now.
Almost forty-five minutes into the long, muddy hike, he came up to the guarded perimeter.
Manny raised his hands in the air, and armed guards immediately surrounded him. He couldn’t remember a time when his heart had ever beat so fast.
It would be just my luck to have a heart attack and botch the whole rescue mission.
Then Manny thought of Marianna, and his resolve renewed itself. He puffed out his chest and let himself be escorted into the lion’s den.
Chapter 16
Yellow Hat Cab
Millboro, Virginia
July 23, 2025
3:50 PM
~~~
Jason—high and drunk—started to doze in his chair, but a loud commotion outside startled him awake. The guards were scrambling and running into his room with their guns drawn.
“Whoa! Hey, boys, those aren’t necessary.” His hands shot up into the air and he backed up toward the wall.
“Take all the papers you have so far and get some shoes on,” said Roy.
Jason slipped on a pair of old tennis shoes without socks, and gathered up the book he’d written, slipping it into Sally’s leather satchel—it smelled like her. Every nerve in his body urged him to run and never look back, but Sally needed him to stay the course. He had to face this challenge and not give up. If they didn’t stop Scott, who would?
It’s not like Scott will leave us alone. Hell, he may even kill me anyway, but I have to try... don’t I?
They ushered him out the front door and Roy tossed him a helmet. “Only two bikes, so you’re riding bitch, Word-man.”
“Yes sir,” he said, saluting.
Roy rewarded him with an elbow to his gut.
Jason exhaled in agony.
“Enough, Roy!” Henry eyeballed his partner in crime.
“I think I’m not nearly as wasted as I should be,” Jason said under his breath.
Henry caught Jason’s gaze and shook his head in disapproval. “You’re plenty wasted.”
Jason’s face flushed hot and his lips formed a fine, tight line. He really couldn’t argue with the man. Jason knew he was giant mess. The pain in his stomach, which had been a dull ache all day, had now reached unparalleled levels of agony.
He doubled over. “Ahh!
“Come on, man, we ain’t got time for this.” Henry pulled on his arm.
Jason yanked it back. “Unless you want me vomiting all over you, you’ll give me a minute.” His stomach spasmed and he vomited for the third time that day.
More blood. Fuck, I guess this is what rock bottom looks like.
“Let’s go Word-man.” Roy yanked him up off the ground.
I have to be dying.
He knew he didn’t have a choice though, so he swung his leg over the bike and got on behind Roy.
“Puke on me and I will cut your fucking nuts off,” Roy said over his shoulder.
Henry shook his head as he got onto the other bike and took off ahead of them down the highway.
Jason held onto the back of the bike as he tried to concentrate on not vomiting again.
This isn’t rock bottom—this is hell!
***
Abandoned Warehouse
(Off Old Parkersburg Turnpike)
Swoope, Virginia
July 23, 2025
4:00 PM
~~~
The guards caught Manny a little sooner than planned. Either he was losing his touch, or the agents had miscalculated the hold Scott’s men had on this area. It was a moot point, as everything was set in motion now and it was too late to pull out. They were in it, no matter the outcome.
Four men with high-powered military assault rifles flanked him on all sides as they walked down a well worn path to the building, where he hoped his team would move in the next twenty minutes. Everyone was working on a timetable. The agents would not be using any technology, choosing instead to do this old-school. Manny hoped that would give them an advantage, since their enemies would be expecting an entirely different kind of assault. They wouldn’t expect a raid—no one did those kind of tactical maneuvers anymore.
Scott’s right-hand man, Alejandro Martinez, waited at the entrance for Manny. He had aged since the trial seventeen years ago, but Manny would recognize him anywhere.
“Agent Richards, it’s been a long time. How are you? I heard your wife passed away
recently. I was sad to hear about that,” Alejandro said.
Manny clenched his fist. He would not rise to the challenge. “Alejandro, it’s nice to see you out of prison dress. How is life treating you this side of the bars?” He smiled when he saw the small facial tic on the other man’s jaw.
“I can’t complain. Would you like a tour?” Alejandro pointed his thumb at the building behind him.
“Yes, I would love to see what you’ve done with the place. I’ll be honest, it doesn’t have much curb appeal.” Manny kept his tone low and casual.
“Come on, Agent, you might be very interested in one of our guests.”
Alejandro’s eerie smile—with the gold glint between his two front teeth—sent a chill down Manny’s spine. He was both anxious and afraid to see Marianna, but he kept himself in check—a skill he’d perfected during his time with the Bureau. “Please, lead the way.”
Manny followed Alejandro through the double doors of the abandoned building. As he crossed the threshold, he tapped the watch Ashton had given him. His team would receive his Morse code message and start the offensive.
The guards walked single file with him in the middle. They went down several dark passageways to a room with a two-way mirror.
Alejandro lifted his finger and the rest of the men dispersed—leaving the two men alone.
It took everything within Manny to temper his rage at the sight of the bruised and battered detective. “I see you have everything up and running again.”
The facility lights flickered out and a quiet darkness surrounded them. Manny smiled. “Did you forget to pay the power bill, Alejandro? Maybe next time you should go off the grid.”
Alejandro’s shoes shuffled loudly on the dusty cement floor. “Is this your doing, Agent?”
“No, I’m sure it’s from all the storms. And you know I’m not with the Bureau anymore.” Manny’s eyes adjusted to the darkness and he could make out the faint outline of his opponent.
Alejandro’s feet scraped back and forth—growing jumpier by the minute. “No, I didn’t hear that.”
Manny shrugged. “I guess your invite to the retirement party got lost in the mail. You know what the best part of being out of the Bureau is?” Manny charged Alejandro and pressed him against the side wall. His forearm dug into the other man’s trachea while his free hand took his gun out of its holster and smashed it into the other man’s gut. “I don’t have to worry about losing my job for using excessive force.”
Alejandro gasped and thrashed about until he lost consciousness at last. Manny heard his team storming the back of the facility.
It’s on.
He stuffed the weapon into the waistband of his pants and cuffed Alejandro with a twist tie. He gave Marianna one last look before he charged off in search of Tidy.
Unholy grunts and screams echoed down one of the darkened hallways. His heartbeat raced as he drew his gun and proceeded with caution towards a closed door at the end of the hall. A drop of sweat dripped down his balding head, stinging his eyes. He blinked hard until he could see clearly again.
His hand shook as he reached for the knob, and the sounds stopped. An eerie silence followed as he turned the knob, the only sound that of his rapid pulse pounding in his ears. He took a trembling breath and pulled open the door.
A creature with dead eyes stared back at him.
The crack and whine of his discharged firearm briefly illuminated the frightening beast before it came charging toward him. He fired again and again until he heard the familiar click of an empty gun.
The monster had at last fallen. It was never a human... not really. It obviously had no remorse and no hope of rehabilitation. It would kill again and again, if given the opportunity, and Manny had done the right thing by putting it out of its misery. The monster couldn’t hurt anyone anymore.
No one would question his claim of self-defense, and he could live with what he had done. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered... he hoped.
***
Outside Staunton, Virginia
July 23, 2025
4:00 PM
~~~
Jason stood hunched over a ditch under the shade of wide oak tree outside a bustling biker bar. They’d stopped and pulled over only after he threatened to puke on Roy. His stomach roiled from the repeated vomiting.
Fucking scotch.
He clutched his stomach and vowed to God that, if the pain would just stop, he would never drink another drop.
Henry squatted on the ground beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Dude, you’re a mess. You need to get your act together before you kill yourself.”
Jason looked up to him and pleaded, “Take me to a hospital, please. I beg you!”
Henry looked him in the eye, and Jason could see the conflict rolling around inside of him. He knew the man wanted to help him, but it was dangerous to cross The Syndicate.
“I’m sorry, man, but we gotta get movin’.”
“I don’t think I can.” Even the slightest movement sent sharp pains through Jason’s gut—like he’d swallowed knives.
“Don’t have much of a choice, I’m afraid.” Henry helped him to his feet. “I want to help, man, I really do.”
“I know,” Jason said.
Henry squeezed his shoulder again.
Roy ended his phone call and walked over to them. “They raided the facility,” Roy said. “And no one can get ahold of boss man. There’s talk that he split.”
Henry’s shoulders relaxed and Jason caught a brief smile wash over his normally gruff face. “Let’s go home, Roy. I haven’t seen my wife and kids in weeks. We have the manuscript. It’s done enough. We can give it to boss man if he ever decides to resurface.”
Roy kicked at the dirt with the pointed toe of his boot. “All right, but what do we do with this one?”
“Pin it on Alejandro,” Henry said. “We can leave this sack of shit to the buzzards.”
Roy shrugged, obviously not too torn up about freeing himself of the burden of being Jason’s keeper. “Works for me. All right, Word-man, you’re on your own from here.”
Jason sighed in relief. “It’s been real, goons.” He waved. The asshole inside of him couldn’t help himself.
For a second he thought Roy might clock him. Thankfully, the two men jumped on the bikes and kicked dust, leaving Jason to himself. He hobbled into the biker bar and stumbled onto a stool, flagging down the bartender.
“What can I do you for?” the man asked.
“I will have the best scotch you have behind the bar there. It’s my last drink. I want it to be a good one.”
“Are you all right, man?” the bartender asked.
Jason swallowed down the blood that bubbled up. “On second thought,” he said, grimacing. “Call 911 for me instead.” The room started to spin and he slipped off the stool and onto the floor. “I’ll just wait down here, okay?”
The bartender shook his head. “Fucking drunks.”
***
Abandoned Warehouse
(Off Old Parkersburg Turnpike)
Swoope, Virginia
July 23, 2025
4:15 PM
~~~
The door to the storage closet opened and a shadow stood at the center of the bright light coming from the hall. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
Sally was afraid to answer, afraid to move, so she stayed where she was huddled on the floor, next to the mop bucket she’d been using as a toilet. The shadow moved closer to her and her eyes started to adjust to the light.
It was a man wearing a flak jacket with a bright yellow FBI emblem on it.
She let out a sigh of relief and tried to get to her feet. “Yes, I think so.”
“Let me help you.” The man took her arm and helped her to her feet.
Sally walked with the man out into the hallway, which was littered with men and women in twist tie cuffs. The message she had sent to Jude had worked.
The FBI agent led her to the front of the building, w
here they wanted her to wait until the ambulances showed up to take her and the detective, Marianna, to the hospital.
“Shhh,” Sally said as she patted the battered detective’s hand. “It’s all over now.”
***
Richmond Police Department, First Precinct
Richmond, Virginia
July 23, 2025
5:00 PM
~~~
Detective Quinn O’Mally walked into the precinct and Lieutenant McDaniels called him directly into her office.
“Detective, we have a sensitive situation that I need you to put your attention to. I’ve been on the phone with the AG’s office all afternoon over this MacAvoy situation. His lawyer is making a fuss downtown saying that he’s being ‘unlawfully imprisoned.’ The FBI made a major bust in Swoope, and one of the kidnap victims is someone we need to bring in for questioning. MacAvoy’s lawyer claims this woman can corroborate his story. An FBI agent named Richards will be bringing her in tonight.”
O’Mally nodded and headed back to his desk.
Chapter 17
Westwood Hospital
Staunton, Virginia
July 23, 2025
6:30 PM
~~~
Manny strolled into the hospital in search of his witness. He’d gotten word that the Richmond police department wanted to talk to Sally Ride, one of the victims held captive at the compound. Apparently, she was a key figure in one of their ongoing investigations. It seemed Charles MacAvoy’s energetic lawyer was causing a stink about wrongful imprisonment, and was forcing the Richmond PD to reopen the Mitchel murder case.
Manny needed to take Sally to the first precinct and avail himself to them in anyway necessary, as a show of good faith from the Bureau, or some such bullshit. They simply didn’t want to deal with the mess, he thought.
As he walked through the maze of similar, winding hallways, his phone alerted him to a new message. He sighed with relief when he read that Marianna was being evacuated to Richmond Memorial Hospital in fair condition. She had so far survived her run-in with The Tidy Killer and, for that, he was grateful.
***
Jason rested on his side with his arm around his aching belly. The doctors had scoped him an hour ago and found a peptic ulcer and esophageal varices, which was why he had been vomiting up so much blood. He had a new prescription in hand and a renewed desire to quit drinking for good.