The Last Storm

by Jack Hunt

  “You let me take the drugs,” Solomon said.

  “What?”

  “I’ll say that I stashed them in the apartment and I wasn’t going to let you hand them over.”

  “I don’t see how that helps.”

  “I’ll say I killed you.”

  Alex laughed, looking back at him. “Are you serious?”

  “Danny, and Greg are dead. They know that. They’ve killed people to get those drugs. It’s not a far stretch of the imagination to assume that I wouldn’t do the same. They’ve dealt with dirty cops.”

  He shook his head and walked out of the apartment heading for the ninth floor. “They won’t buy it, Solomon, and besides, that doesn’t help Jess. In fact it’s likely to get her killed and the rest of the residents. You want that on your conscience?”

  They ascended the steps two at a time, hurrying to meet the deadline. Alex knew what Solomon was trying to do. It was human nature to try and come up with some harebrained idea but realistically there was no easy way out. The best he could do was to hand over a portion of the drugs as a sign of good faith, and offer the rest in exchange for her. As ludicrous as it sounded that was the only option they had. Every other way ended with Jess dead.

  “Okay, so here’s what we’ll do. I’ll head up the east stairwell. You go to the west. I’ll hand over the bag and tell them they get the rest if Jess goes with me. The only thing they want are these drugs, so the chances are they aren’t going to stay up there with the residents. You can get the residents out via the west stairwell, I’ll handle the rest from there.”

  “Are you insane?” Solomon said.

  “About my wife? Yeah.”

  Solomon shook his head. “You know he’ll kill you or her the moment you try to walk.”

  Alex didn’t respond so Solomon grabbed a hold of him. “Alex. Stop. Are you listening to me?”

  “I know the risks,” Alex yelled back in his face.

  “No you don’t. This idea is absurd.”

  “And yours wasn’t? C’mon, man!”

  “I’ve been doing this job a long time and what I’m trying to do is help you.”

  “Bullshit. You are trying to get yourself killed. The question is why?”

  Solomon stopped climbing the stairs. “You think I want to die?”

  “If Kip was telling the truth, you sure as hell didn’t want to live.”

  He studied him. “Fine. You do it your way but this is on your head.”

  “You didn’t let me finish, did you?” Alex said. “Of course I know he will come after me. Of course I know he’s liable to try and shoot Jess in the back as she walks away, that’s why I had an ace up my sleeve.”

  “Which is?”

  “Down in the basement are containers full of gasoline, and a shitload of empty jars, courtesy of our friend Kip. Once we have gathered together what we need, I’ll show you what I had in mind.”

  Solomon gave him a skeptical look but refrained from questioning any further. They hurried around on the ninth floor to two apartments and one more on the tenth, zipped up the duffel bag and hauled it down to the basement. When they made it to the bottom, Alex looked at his watch. They still had another quarter of an hour left to go.

  “Alex. Would you tell me what is going on?”

  “You’re going to need to do this,” Alex said.

  “Me?”

  “You’re wearing the wet suit. You’re going to see two generators. Nearby should be four army-style metal canisters. That’s the gasoline. Bring one of those back. You’ll also find some mason jars on a shelf if they’re not already underwater in the storage area. We’re gonna need those.”

  Solomon flipped on the headlamp, hooked on the oxygen tank he’d left at the foot of the stairwell and waded down into the water. “This is nuts.” There was about thirty inches between the surface of the water and the top of the ceiling in the basement. It was continuing to rise.

  “Get in. Get out.”

  “Don’t worry. I plan on it.”

  He swam off and disappeared below the depths. Alex fumbled around in his pockets for cigarettes. He put one between his lips, lit it and inhaled deeply allowing the nicotine to calm his nerves. There was no guarantee that what he had in mind would work. The odds were stacked against them. He knew that. But he wasn’t going to leave Jess there. No way in hell.

  As he stood there waiting, he thought back to his conversation with his wife on the day Ethan died. The heartbreaking message had come in the middle of the night. Shaken awake by his superior, he was told he had an urgent call. He figured Jess was having another breakdown, trying to cope with him being away from home. She’d called him numerous times, and he’d managed to calm her down but this time it wasn’t her on the other end of the phone. It was her father. He was clear and straight to the point.

  “You need to come home, Alex.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Ethan has taken a turn for the worst. He’s real sick.”

  “How sick?” Alex replied.

  “Doctors don’t think he’s going to make it.”

  Now he’d seen all manner of horrors in the Middle East, and watched many of his best friends get killed, but nothing came close to receiving that news. There wasn’t much about the rest of that phone call that he recalled. It was like his world imploded.

  “The family is with Jess but she needs you here.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  The military came to his aid and rushed him out of there and within hours he was on a plane home, but by the time he arrived it was too late. He didn’t know until he stepped on the tarmac and was greeted by her father.

  Not getting to say goodbye to his kid destroyed him.

  He didn’t think he could feel as much anguish as he did in the days after. Even though their families rallied around, cooked meals, and were there for them, nothing could have prepared them for what would happen after they left. Eventually everyone had to return home, go back to their jobs and life had to continue. Picking up the pieces, trying to summon the strength to get through another day — that was the hardest part. There were days when he didn’t want to get out of bed, he didn’t want to put on a brave front for his daughter, for his wife or anyone. The truth was he wanted to die. The pain was too much.

  Alex sat there quietly thinking of the past when there was a huge splash off to his right and Solomon emerged like a Navy SEAL trudging out of the sea onto dry land. In one hand he carried a large green canister that was sealed at the top, and in the other a bag full of mason jars clinking together.

  He yanked the respirator away from his mouth and took a deep breath.

  “Holy cow it’s cold. I don’t know how we are going to get people out of here. There’s no way they are going to withstand that temperature.”

  “Well, first things first we have to get people out,” Alex said scooping up the canister and bag and going up to the next level to begin putting into motion what he had in mind. He took out twelve mason jars, unscrewed the caps and poured in gasoline, filling each one before sealing them tight.

  “What are you doing?” Solomon asked as Alex worked in silence.

  Once he had them filled, he emptied out the duffel bag of heroin and filled it up with the jars. Then he covered them and squeezed them together using the bricks of heroin. Once they were completely covered, he took the canister of gasoline and drenched the bag in the flammable liquid, then lifted it a few times and jiggled it around to see if the glass would clatter. It didn’t. He’d packed the heroin so tight around the jars there was no room for them to move. Then he zipped up the bag, leaving two of the mason jars out. He went over to one of the dead men laying on the ground in the hallway and ripped off a scrap of his shirt. He took out his knife and cut a slit in the metal mason jar top and threaded the cloth through it before screwing the top on. He then doused it with more gasoline so it was truly covered. Next he handed it to Solomon. “You got a lighter?”

  “No.”


  He went over to the dead guy and fished through his pockets. There was nothing. “Shit.” He had one but he needed it. Alex glanced at his watch, he had just over five minutes before Cayden would be expecting him. He dashed into one of the apartments and used his flashlight to search around for a lighter. He didn’t find one, but he found matches. He tossed them to Solomon and then told him what to do.

  “Well if this goes well, I guess I’ll see you outside.”

  Solomon nodded. “And if doesn’t...”

  “I’ll see you on the other side.”

  “One hell of a first day on the job, huh?” Solomon asked.

  “Beats working a desk job.”

  There was a chance they wouldn’t see each other again, but that was the risk that came with the job. He scooped up the bag and gave Solomon a slap on the back before heading off up the east stairwell.

  Chapter 19

  Cayden sat in a chair with his boots up on a table and a smug look on his face as if he had somehow proved his point. Leon glanced at his watch, stared down the hallway to the stairwell, then back towards the elevator. Hank was watching to see if Officer Riley would be coming up that way. He shook his head to indicate no one was coming.

  Leon stepped back into the room and walked over to Cayden.

  “A moment of your time.”

  “What is it now, Leon?”

  He cast a glance over his shoulder at the residents huddled together.

  “In private.”

  Cayden groaned and swung his legs off the table. He led him out down the hallway to another apartment so they were out of earshot.

  “What do you want?” Cayden asked.

  “What are you going to do with the residents once you have the stash?”

  He shrugged. “What do you think I’m gonna do?”

  Leon stared back with a look of disbelief. He didn’t need to spell it out, he knew.

  “There are women and children among that group.”

  “And they’ve seen our faces,” Cayden said.

  “So you’re just going to execute them.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Of course not. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience.”

  “What is your problem?”

  Leon shook his head. “I didn’t sign up for this.”

  Cayden cocked his head. “Okay, hold on a second, what happened to you, Leon? You used to have a spine.” He paused. “It’s her, isn’t it? Julie.” He tapped his temple with his index finger. “I’ve seen the way she’s infected your mind. I’m right, aren’t I?”

  He wasn’t wrong. Since meeting Julie in a café in Anchorage, a woman who wasn’t part of their world but soon became his wife and eventually the mother of his child, he’d changed. Julie would say the change was for the better, Cayden would say for the worse. The fact was that growing up in a life of crime Leon knew no better, he didn’t see the other side of the coin until he met her. Those he ran with, including the woman he’d slept with up until a few years ago, only cared about one thing — money. Julie wasn’t like that. She wasn’t pushy, she had a way of helping him see that he wasn’t just damaging lives through violence but destroying his own.

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “Jealous? Please,” Cayden said pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

  “Your wife took your kid and walked out. Now you hate the fact that I’m moving on, and that I want to get out of this.”

  “Get out?” He turned around with a scowl on his face. He blew out smoke.

  “Cayden, we are not teenagers anymore. We don’t have to prove a point. I want to be around to see my kid grow up. I’m gonna be in his life.”

  “I’m gonna be in mine.”

  “Really? When was the last time you dropped by her house?”

  “Screw you, Leon,” Cayden said. “I don’t need to listen to this shit.”

  He turned to walk out.

  “After this I’m done. I’m out.”

  Cayden turned and smiled. “You’re never out. You know that.”

  “I’m serious. I’m done. And as for those people in there. You want them dead, kill them yourself.”

  Leon brushed past him and headed out into the hallway. He was on his way towards the west stairwell back to the homeowners lounge when Vic yelled for Cayden. Leon twisted around and saw an officer standing in the doorway of the east stairwell.

  Carrying the bag in one hand, and the M4 in the other, Alex took in the sight of three armed assailants. Within a matter of seconds, two more appeared coming out of the lounge and walked halfway down the hallway before the sixth emerged, locking eyes with him. He smiled, and Alex had a feeling that was Cayden.

  “Officer Riley. Glad to see you made the smart decision.” Cayden glanced at his watch. “I was just on my way to get your lovely wife and toss her off the roof. Pity.”

  “Where is she?” Alex asked, remaining where he was. He was ready to return fire and duck out if they tried anything.

  “All in good time. Is that my package?” Cayden asked making his way down.

  “Don’t come any further,” Alex said making a motion with his rifle. Cayden was clutching a handgun, it was down at his side. He turned to one of his men and whispered something and they jogged back to the homeowners lounge.

  “I want to see it,” Cayden demanded.

  “Once I see my wife.”

  “A family man. I like that. You know, Officer Riley… or can I call you Alex?” Alex didn’t respond so Cayden continued. “I respect a man who’s willing to risk his life for his own. But I got to ask you, where did you find it?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No, just curious.”

  Right then Jess emerged from the homeowners lounge being shoved forward by one of Cayden’s guys.

  “Alex!” she yelled and was about to run towards him when Cayden grabbed a hold of her and brought his handgun up to her side.

  “Now slide over what’s mine.”

  “That’s not how this works,” Alex said lowering the bag to the ground. He kept his rifle trained on Cayden as he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the bricks of heroin. He tossed it towards Cayden, it tumbled across the floor and landed a few feet in front of him. Cayden looked down and then back at him.

  “What is this?”

  “The first part. You get the rest once you hand over my wife. That’s all I want.”

  One of Cayden’s men stepped forward and scooped up the brick. He showed it to Cayden.

  “I think you misunderstood our conversation. I told you—”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you told me. You want this,” he said motioning to the bag with a nod. “Then you hand over my wife.”

  “This is not a negotiation, officer.”

  “It is if you don’t want this to be tossed off the roof.”

  Cayden stared back, his eyes narrowed. Alex figured he was considering if he was bluffing. “Now I’ve given you something up front, what do you lose by handing over my wife? You still have a room full of people.”

  At the far end of the corridor, Alex caught a glimpse of Solomon. There were several apartments between the west stairwell and the homeowners room. It was closer to the west than the east side. Although Cayden’s men were distracted by Alex, it was going to take more than that to ensure the safety of the residents.

  “How do I know you’re not playing games?” Cayden asked.

  “Do I look like I would screw around with my wife’s life?”

  Cayden ran a hand over his head. “Show me the rest.”

  Alex hesitated for a second but knew he would ask. He dropped down, not taking his eyes off Cayden or his men for even a second. With one hand he unzipped the bag, then lifted one end ever so slightly so Cayden got a good look at the heroin. Satisfied, he rose to his feet.

  “Convinced?”

  Cayden didn’t nod or shrug, he simply smiled as if he was in control.

  He pushed Jess forward and she slowly walked towards h
im. Alex could feel his pulse racing. He saw the look of fear on Jess’s face. There was no telling what Cayden would do. It took her less than 60 seconds to walk between them. As soon as he had Jess inside the stairwell he turned back to Cayden.

  “It’s all yours.”

  “Throw it over here.”

  “Sure.”

  As Alex dropped to a knee, his right arm was out of sight. With one foot holding the stairwell door open, he scooped up his cigarette lighter he’d placed beside the single mason jar with the rag hanging out. He lit the end, and a flame licked over the rag out of view of Cayden and his entourage. Alex scooped up the duffel bag and tossed it a couple of feet ahead of the doorway, then in one smooth motion just as the bag landed and it let out a clinking sound, he tossed the Molotov cocktail straight after. Everything occurred within a matter of seconds. The bag flying through the air, the mason jar following after, the sound of Cayden screaming no, and he and Jess retreating into the safety of the stairwell. Alex didn’t see the mason jar land but he heard the explosion.

  Solomon timed it just right. He’d been standing in the west stairwell waiting for Alex to toss the jar before he lit his one and threw it past the homeowners lounge to create a fire on the other side.

  Cayden’s men were pinned in, surprised and unsure of how to respond. Gunfire erupted as some of them twisted to the sight of flames covering the carpet and creeping up the walls. Solomon darted out and unleashed a flurry of rounds through the flames taking out the two closest to him. The others took cover in the apartments. He darted into the homeowners lounge and began telling everyone to get ready to run for the stairwell.

  Standing at the doorway, he wheeled the shotgun around the corner and opened fire while at the same time sending out five at time. A wall of black billowed up creating enough smoke to hide them as they crouched, clung to each other and streamed into the stairwell.

  Alex turned to Jess and told her to head down to the basement.

  “I’m not leaving you.”