by James Hunt
Kerry continued to seize on the mattress, her muscles spasming out of her control. Brian sprinted into the hall, screaming. “Help! I need help down here!”
A team of nurses and doctors sprinted down the hallway, flashlights in their hands as they raced past Brian and into Kerry’s room.
“Why aren’t the backup generators turning on?” a nurse asked.
“I don’t know, but we need to get her breathing again,” the doctor answered. “Let’s remove the tube and start manual compressions.”
Brian stood to the side, keeping hold of Kerry’s hand while the nurse held her shoulders down and the doctor pulled out the long tube that had been shoved into her throat. Brian gagged when he saw how it was removed.
“Put the mask on her,” the doctor said.
The nurse placed a large plastic mask over Kerry’s face that had a tube and a ball attached to it. The nurse squeezed the ball, which pumped air into Kerry’s lungs, causing her chest to rise.
“We have air moving,” the nurse said.
“Is she okay?” Brian asked. “What’s happening?”
The doctor reached for Kerry’s wrist and checked her pulse. He held it for a long moment and then shook his head, immediately dropping Kerry’s arm. “She’s gone into cardiac arrest, starting chest compressions now!” The doctor pressed down hard onto Kerry’s sternum, and there was a sickening crack of Kerry’s ribs. “C’mon, c’mon!”
All Brian could do was stand there and hold Kerry’s hand, and as he squeezed, hoping to pump some of his own life into her, he felt the tears begin to fall.
It was nothing but a simple press of a button that caused the hospital’s power to fail. One easy, quick movement of Charlie’s thumb, and it was done.
“Clock’s started, Jimmy,” Charlie said. “It won’t be much longer now.”
Jim swallowed and struggled to keep his composure. “Now what?”
“Now, we wait it out, Jimmy,” Charlie answered. “Once I’m certain Kerry’s a goner, which will happen in about five, no, four minutes now—”
Jim looked at Jen. “You said I had to choose and you would let one of them go. So let her go.”
“I will,” Charlie said. “But not yet.” He looked at Jen, examining her like she was a car he was thinking about purchasing. “You know, I don’t understand why you chose all of this, Jimmy. I followed you for a long time. Those early days when you worked alone on cases, that was when you were at your best.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a fan,” Jim said.
“I admire someone who doesn’t need people,” Charlie said. “Life is so much more efficient when you don’t have to deal with others. Just look at what I’ve done all on my own?”
“You and I have very different definitions of success,” Jim said.
“Maybe,” Charlie answered. “But after we’re done here, you and I are going to take a little ride over to our mother’s house.”
“I thought you said you didn’t want to speak with her,” Jim said.
“I don’t,” Charlie said. “You’re going to speak to her. You’re going to be the one to explain to her how I am the better son, not you. All of those terrible things you were talking about confessing? That’s what you’re going to tell her when we get there.”
“Okay, Charlie,” Jim said. “Whatever you say.”
“That’s better,” Charlie said. “I’m glad you finally see it my way.” He looked at the phone. “Oh, only three minutes left now.” He smiled. “You know, it is kind of funny.”
“I don’t see the humor,” Jim said.
“How can you not?” Charlie asked. “Think about it. You were a product of rape and shame for my mother. Your father was a psychopath, and my mother did everything she could to make sure she married a normal, boring man who would give her normal and boring children. Instead, she made me.”
“I’m sure she’ll be so proud to hear you say that,” Jim said.
“For all of your shortcomings, Jim, I have to say you’re still a much more morally centered person than I am,” Charlie said. “I’m the yin to your yang, Jimmy, your counterweight. It seemed that you took all of the good out of my mother when she birthed you in order to combat all the evil of your father. So, naturally, when she gave birth to me, there was nothing but the bad stuff left.”
Charlie smiled.
“But you have to admit that I’m exceptional,” Charlie said. “That’s a redeeming quality, isn’t it? And you’re expectational, too, Jimmy. We just took different paths with our abilities.” He chuckled. “You and I should have been switched at birth. I have a feeling I would have gotten along just fine with your father.”
“Yes, you would have,” Jim said.
Charlie’s playfulness disappeared, and he grimaced. “You know, she’s not a saint, our mother. Of course, you know that since she abandoned you. But the pictures on the walls, the happy family, it wasn’t always like that. She drank a lot. Probably because she never fully processed what happened after the rape that conceived you.”
Jim noticed a distant look in Charlie’s eye as he melded into the memory, and he very carefully and slowly inched forward.
“She would get drunk, and I would hear her say things like, ‘I wonder how he turned out?’” Charlie said. “And then she would look at me, this… expression of contempt on her face as if she were ashamed that I was her son. Like she should have kept the first one,” he snarled. “She never said it aloud, but I know I wasn’t what she wanted. I know I wasn’t the first choice. She really wanted you.”
Jim realized now he had an opportunity, but he needed to capitalize on Charlie’s anger and insecurity. “Of course she would.”
Charlie’s frown deepened as he remained laser-focused on Jim. “What?”
“Look at me, Charlie,” Jim said. “I’m clearly the better specimen. I’m tall, strong, good looking. You, brother, are none of those things. You’re small and frail and sickly looking. You spend all your time behind a desk, with your misshapen body and your tiny, beady eyes.”
Charlie trembled with anger. “Shut up.”
“She was right to want me instead,” Jim said. “But I can tell you right now, Charlie, that if our lives were reversed, if you were the one who had to go through life at the orphanage, I know for a fact that system would have chewed you up and spit you out.”
“Liar!” Charlie pivoted his pistol away from Jen’s head, and it was the moment Jim had needed.
Jim lunged forward, reaching for the pistol as Charlie raised it high and then fired, the bullet missing Jim and landing in the wall. The man had never handled a weapon before, and it played in Jim’s favor.
Even with his fatigue, Jim still easily overpowered Charlie, wrestling the weapon away from him and tossing him to the floor. Charlie lay on the carpet for a moment, Jim aiming the gun at his half-brother as he flipped over to his back.
“It doesn’t matter,” Charlie said. “You still lost your partner. She’s gone by now.”
Jim reached into his pocket and removed his phone, which had been on a call the entire time. “Missy?”
“I managed to get the power back on in time, Jim,” Missy answered. “Kerry’s back on life support.”
Charlie stared at the phone and then looked at Jim, shocked.
“Thanks, Missy,” Jim said, and then he hung up and pocketed the phone. “You mentioned how I always work alone? Well, this is what happens when you work with a team, Charlie. Something you could have benefited from yourself.”
Jim walked over next to Charlie’s side, staring down at his half-brother, who cowered on the floor like a dog showing its belly.
“I didn’t catch you, Charlie,” Jim said. “But my team did. And I hope that eats away at you for a long time while you’re rotting behind bars.”
Jim thought it would be the end of it there, but when he saw the forced smile on Charlie’s face, he knew something was wrong.
“You think this is the end?” Charlie asked. “How
long have you been chasing after me, Jimmy? It’s been months, and the only reason you found me was that you finally went to see our mother. I’m sure she was so glad to see you, so happy the prodigal son had returned home.” The muscles around his eyes twitched quickly, almost as if he were having a seizure. His expression darkened, he narrowed his eyes, and all of the hate he had held for Jim reached its boiling point. “But I’ve already made sure you’ll lose something tonight, Jimmy.”
Jim knelt, looking Charlie in the eye. “What did you do?”
“You came and took my mother from me. You made her believe I’m a monster,” Charlie said, snarling. “But all I have ever done is try my best in a world that wanted nothing to do with me. A world that rejected me at every turn, told me that I wasn’t good enough, told me that I didn’t belong.” He smiled and it was all teeth. “But I carved out something for myself, something that made me feel good.”
“You helped pedophiles abduct children,” Jim said. “You’re a monster.”
“I’m someone who understands what it’s like to be on the outside!” Charlie shouted. “I don’t judge people, not like you do, Jimmy.”
“Well, when you work with people as sick and depraved as I do, it’s pretty easy to judge,” Jim said. “But what did you mean before when you mentioned this wasn’t over? Did you take another child?”
Charlie chuckled, and then it faded into a whimper. “You and I will be on level playing ground after tonight.”
“Charlie,” Jim said, losing his patience. “What did you do?”
“I already told you,” Charlie said. “You took my mother, so I’m going to do the same to you.”
Jim saw red, and he grabbed Charlie by the collar, easily lifting him off the floor and pinning him against the wall. “What did you do?”
“Where do you think Jamison got that explosive, huh?” Charlie asked. “Did you think he managed to get that C-4 all on his own? The man was an actor and not even a very good one. But I made sure to keep some extra for myself to give you a little surprise.”
Jim understood, and he let Charlie go and watched him slide to the floor. He reached for his phone and called his mother. “C’mon, Mom, pick up. C’mon, c’mon, c’mon.” The phone continued to ring and it went to voicemail.
“You won’t have time to stop it,” Charlie said. “It’s going to blow, but you’ll still be able to pick up the pieces! Maybe you can put her back together?” He laughed, cackling loudly as Jim struggled not to beat him to a pulp.
“Jim,” Jen said. “The police. Call the cops who are there.”
“Right,” Jim said, and his hand was trembling when he dialed the number, and thankfully, Mullocks picked up on the second ring.
“Jim, what’s—”
“Tell the officers watching my parents’ house to get everyone out of the house, now!” Jim yelled, and Mullocks didn’t bother to ask why.
“Calling now,” Mullocks said.
Jim paced anxiously in the bedroom, and Charlie continued to laugh, every cackle and high-pitched whine a slap to Jim’s face.
“Jim, something happened,” Mullocks said. “The officers were called away.”
“What? Why?” Jim asked, alarmed.
“I don’t know,” Mullocks said. “Dispatch were emailed orders from the Chief’s office to send them away.”
Jim looked to Charlie, who still had that shit-eating grin on his face, his eyes bloodshot and his smile growing wider, which caused the black hole in the back of his throat to grow larger.
“Get the closet unit over there now,” Jim said, and he walked over to Charlie, handcuffing his half-brother’s hands behind his back.
“It’s too late, Jimmy!” Charlie said. “I made sure those cops were gone, and no one is close enough to get there in time!”
Jim fought the urge to kick Charlie and instead hurried out of the house and back toward his car, Jen following him.
“Jim—”
“Just stay here and watch him,” Jim said, getting into the car. “Officers will come by to take care of him.”
“Be careful!” Jen shouted, straining her voice.
Jim paused and caught Jen’s eyes. She was worried, terrified really, but even with all of that happening, he still managed to draw strength from her. “I will,” Jim said.
Jim sat in the car and shifted the still-running engine into reverse, then sped out of the driveway. He shoved the shifter into drive before the car came to a stop, and it jolted forward.
Mullocks was still on the phone as Jim pulled out onto the highway. “I’ve got units on their way, Jim.”
“We’ll need a bomb expert onsite,” Jim said. “I don’t know how much he used, or where he put it, or when it’s going to blow, but we need to hurry.”
“Our guys are only eight minutes out,” Mullocks said.
Jim was at least ten minutes away, and he prayed he could get to his family before it was too late.
Mary Swisher poured more water and then walked over to the kitchen table where Ray was sitting and handed him the glass.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Ray said.
“Should we be worried the police left?” Mary asked.
“No, I’m sure it’s fine,” Ray answered. “If there were a problem, I’m sure Jim would call.”
Mary knew Ray was right, but she couldn’t help but feel something was off. “My phone has been acting funny today. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it.”
“It’s probably nothing,” Ray said.
Her husband was always dismissive of technology. He preferred the old ways. He was a man stuck in time, but Mary didn’t mind. The pair had been married for decades. She knew what she was getting into.
Mary glanced up to the ceiling, thinking about the six foster children under their care. She had thought about them a lot over the past few weeks as Jim had been staying here.
“I’m worried about him,” Mary said.
“Who?” Ray asked, focused on the crossword puzzle in the paper.
“Jim,” Mary answered. “He needs to go home and make things right with Jen.”
“He has a stubborn streak, that’s all,” Ray said.
Mary wasn’t sure about that. She knew Jim well enough to know when he wasn’t acting like himself. “He’s been working too much, pushing himself too hard.”
“He puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Ray said. “He’s always been like that. You remember when he first joined the academy? He needed to be first in everything. Boy’s had a chip on his shoulder from the day he was born. You know how rough he had it.”
Mary nodded. “I just don’t want him to go back down old roads. He fought hard to turn his life around when he came here, and I don’t want him to waste all of the good things he has going.”
“Mary,” Ray said, reaching for his wife’s hand, “he’ll be fine. You just need to give him some space and time, that’s all.”
Mary nodded. “Right.” She squeezed Ray’s hand and then stood. “I’m going to check on the kids.”
“They’re sleeping,” Ray said.
“I’ll be quiet.” Mary headed for the stairs. She knew it bothered Ray when she was so overprotective, but one of her favorite things was watching their kids sleep.
Mary and Ray had never been able to have children of their own, but they had been blessed with dozens of children who had come to stay with them over the years. They typically took in children who had a low probability of being adopted—older kids, teenagers, children who had a history of violent behavior. Mary made sure they never turned anyone away. Because sometimes, all a child needed was a second chance, a fresh start, and someone who could help guide them into a better future.
And to their credit, Mary and Ray had done a wonderful job of guiding their children into productive members of society. There was no greater feeling in the world than watching these kids grow up.
Mary peeked into the bedrooms for the two young girls they had, age seven and eight, and saw them twisted up in their
beds, tangled in their sheets. She smiled, noting how uncomfortable the positions looked and amazed at how soundly they slept.
The next room had their oldest of the current crew, Mario, who was seventeen. He had a background similar to Jim’s. Mario had come from several abusive homes and was fourteen when he had arrived at the Swisher’s house. On the verge of being expelled from school at the time, Mario was now looking at community colleges for next year.
Each room Mary checked, watching the kids sleep, she reminisced on their journeys, marveling at how far they’d come and how far they still had yet to go. Never in Mary’s life did she think she would have so many children, but life had always surprised her.
Mary gently and quietly closed the last door and then walked back down the stairs, pausing to look at all of the pictures on the walls. The entire home was covered in photographs of all the lives Mary and Ray had touched and changed for the better. She hugged herself as she reached the bottom of the steps and smiled.
There were certain moments in Mary’s life, like this one, where she reflected on all she had gained in love and family. She’d had a full life, a good life, and all she wanted was to continue living that life with her husband, her family, and any other children who needed a place to weather the storm. Because everyone had their own personal battles going on. It was impossible to see what people were hiding, but Mary believed that if she were patient enough and established trust, then people would open up to her.
Mary pressed her hand over her heart, hopeful for the other lives that would someday walk through her door. Because she and Ray still had so much more to give.
But what Mary couldn’t see, what she had no way of knowing, was what lurked beneath the floors of the house.
Because lodged in the center of the crawlspace of their old home was twenty pounds of C-4 armed with a timer currently ticking down from sixty seconds.
Jim gripped the wheel like a driver at a speedway. He weaved recklessly through traffic, foot pressed all the way down on the gas. He had Mullocks on speaker still as he drove.