Ride to Redemption

by D. J. Wilson

  “That’s good to hear, baby. So, when the shooting starts, who do you think they’ll listen to, you or Joey two shoes?”

  “D, all family members don’t have nicknames. And Joseph doesn’t like to be called Joey, ever.”

  “That’s good to know. If he starts shooting at me, I’ll make it a point to call him Joey just to make sure I piss him off.”

  “You’re being mean, D. This is serious. I need to call mom again. Maybe she can help diffuse this.”

  “Good luck with that, Candi. I hate to tell you this, but your mom doesn’t want it to stop. She might even have orchestrated it. I can just hear her saying, ‘The fun’s over. Bring her home, Joseph. It’s time my little girl stops playing make believe and comes back to the real world.’ Can’t you imagine them having that conversation? You’ve told her about me, I presume. How did that go over? Did she say, ‘baby that’s wonderful, I’m happy for you’? Or did she tune you out and say, ‘that’s nice’?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. She wouldn’t do that, not to me, her only daughter. Would she?” asked Candi, as she began to cry uncontrollably.

  “I hope I’m wrong, Candi. Put yourself in her shoes, though. Who would you rather have your daughter in a relationship with: a successful Harvard lawyer who’s rocketing to the top of the family business or a broken-down has been in witness protection, who by all known accounts is worthless?”

  “My happiness, not hers, should be what matters,” cried Candi, slamming her hands on the bed.

  “I’m sure it matters, baby, as long as it’s within her parameters. I’m sure she’ll tell you that your happiness is paramount, especially if the man you’re with is successful, attractive, treats you and the children well and doesn’t disgrace the family. Love, that’s irrelevant, can’t you just be friends?”

  Reaching over to her, I held Candi in my arms and rocked her until her tears subsided. “Parents aren’t perfect, baby. They fail, just like we do. Unfortunately, when they do, it hurts a whole lot more. Sleep now, I’ll hold you till you fall asleep.”

  Chapter 49

  My vibrating phone woke me again before it rang. I got up quietly, brushed my teeth, combed back my hair and eased out of the room down the stairs. Vic was sipping fresh-brewed coffee in the kitchen, as Josie was busy prepping for breakfast.

  “Morning, asshole,” Vic whispered. “You woke me up at 4:30 again and you weren’t even in the room. I was dreaming of you.”

  “I’m sorry, Vic. Dreams that have me in them are usually called nightmares.”

  “Oh, baby, this was no nightmare,” Vic continued to whisper. “If you’d like to go back upstairs with me, I’d be glad to recreate it in real time. I’ll make you the star.”

  “You are relentless, I’ll give you that, Vic. You know they make battery-operated boys for that, don’t you?” I whispered back to her.

  “What are you both whispering about?” asked Josie, handing me a steaming cup of dark roast. “I hope you don’t mind, Jon David, but I’ve filled Victoria in on everything I know about you. It was all good, I promise. Now get out of my kitchen. I’ve got work to do. Ya’ll go play somewhere else. Remember, breakfast is at 7 sharp. Don’t be late.”

  “Come on, Vic, let’s go watch the sunrise,” grasping her hand and leading her outside through the patio doors. “You and Candi acted remarkably civil yesterday. What all did you talk about?”

  “You mostly,” Vic confessed, “she thinks you hung the moon. I’m serious, D. She wants so much to be like you and to make you proud. She sees how your generosity makes a difference in the lives of others. I told her that’s why I’m here and Frank, too, for that matter. You believed in us, and showed us, not just with talk, but with your resources. That speaks volumes, D.”

  “They weren’t my resources, Vic. I was just the default trustee. Candi is a good person, a little naïve in the ways of the world, but she’s growing up fast — especially in these last few days. She’s seen the ebb and flow of life, both the good and the bad. If anything, I hope I’ve inspired her to see the world differently. Her family has done her a great disservice by always protecting her. Maybe that was all they knew, being who and what they are. I believe she’ll be okay now, whether we wind up together or not. I mean, look at us. I have yet to bang your brains out and we’re still okay. Aren’t we?”

  “Speak for yourself. I’ll have you know, ‘BOB’ is not as useful as you think. His batteries always run out at the most inappropriate times,” Vic cooed, gave me a wink, followed by a wiggle.

  “I guess it depends on who’s driving that train. Somehow, resourceful engineers manage to take matters into their own hands when things go south,” I countered, returning her wink, but not her wiggle. “Come on, Victoria, enough morning coffee and sex talk. Let’s get everyone up and moving. It’s gonna be a long ‘come to Jesus’ kinda day.”

  Chapter 50

  With everyone at the banquet table, Josie began bringing out eggs Benedict, spinach and Swiss omelets, hash brown casserole, fresh fruit, fresh baked pastries, link sausages and whipped orange juice. “Stop!” I demanded. “Enough! We’ll never eat all of this. Sit down Josie and join us.” We ate quietly, but heartedly, then retired to our rooms to prepare.

  Gathering in the front hallway a short time later, everyone hugged Josie and thanked her for kindness and hospitality. “I’m sure I speak for everyone here, Josie, these last 18 hours we've spent with you will last us for a lifetime,” I told her. “You’ve made us feel like family, and after today, I hope we always will be.”

  “Let’s do this,” stated Frank.

  “We’re right behind you,” Terry chimed in.

  “Shotgun!” Vic yelled.

  Following the GPS, we made our way to the courthouse, while I crisscrossed the blocks on each side, looking for something or someone out of place.

  “So far, so good,” I announced, dropping off Vic, Frank, and Terry, a block away. “There’s a back entrance that connects to the parking garage. Stay away from the garage, Frank. Best you stay in the open at all times and call me when you’re done.”

  “Will do, D.”

  “Good luck, Vic,” offered Candi, while giving her a hug. “Hurry back girl, we got lots more to talk about,” she added, as both turned to look at me.

  “Got an idea,” I said to Candi and Ron, “we need to go get my bike. No one has really seen me on it, so I might be able to use it to our advantage.”

  Pulling up across the street from the hospital, I grabbed a baseball cap from my daypack. “I’m gonna wander in through the employee entrance and make my way to the bike. That will give me a chance to scout out the area and see if anybody’s waiting on us. Who has the biggest balls when it comes to aggressive driving?” I asked both Ron and Candi.

  “I do, D,” Candi said quickly. “Remember when I drove your M3 across Lookout Mountain in record time? I was pretty aggressive then. I remember how tight your pucker string was when I pulled up to the hospital.”

  “Okay. You’re it, Candi. I remember that day fondly. Ron, pass me a weapon and a box of shells. I’ll put it in my pack. Are they all loaded?”

  “Yes, sir. Seven shells each; just as you instructed, Mr. D.”

  “D’s just fine, Ron — no mister required. Best you put them all up front in the floorboard with you,” I suggested. “That is if you have room.

  “Stay here, baby. I’ll be back in a few with the bike. Just pull in behind me when I drive by,” I said before kissing Candi on the lips. Looking at the trepidation in her eyes, all I could say was, “I know, baby. I know.”

  Maneuvering through the hospital’s main floor unnoticed was relatively easy, because I was able to blend in with shift change. I saw Mike, aka Mr. Muscle, in the front entrance lobby sitting far off to the right, inconspicuously watching the front door. Because of where Mr. Muscle was sitting, I was able to roll my bike away unnoticed and out of earshot, before cranking it. Riding up beside the Suburban, I blew Candi a ki
ss and motioned for her to follow me.

  My plan, still coming together in my head, was to use my bike as a very loud and menacing distraction if Joseph and Donny made a move on Vic when she came out of the courthouse.

  I tossed a hundred different scenarios around in my head before reaching the conclusion that the easiest way to get to me without a fight was through Vic. Besides, it was Joseph’s path of least resistance, while in a foreign country and outside his comfort zone.

  Stopping two blocks away from the courthouse in a Tim Horton’s parking lot, I got off my bike and jumped in the back of the SUV, behind the driver’s seat and waited for my phone to ring.

  “Nervous?” I asked Candi.

  “A little, D. Nothing would happen if Joseph knew I was in the middle of all this. He wouldn’t, I mean, he couldn’t take a chance he’d hurt me.”

  “Collateral damage,” offered Ron. “I mean, if your ex can’t get to D, then he’s still not going to have you. What I’m trying to say is, don’t count on it.”

  “I have to agree with Ron, baby. Joseph is thinking irrationally. His honor has been impugned and he’s out for some blood. Unfortunately, it’s mine.”

  Chapter 51

  My phone rang. “Mission accomplished,” declared Vic. “Now what?”

  “Give me five minutes, then walk out the main entrance and wait near the front door. If you see me drive up and back on the bike, walk to the south corner and Candi will be there to pick you up. If I drive by and disappear, go back inside the courthouse and wait. Did you get that, Vic?” I asked, while looking at Candi and Ron to make sure we were all on the same page.

  “Got it. It’s show time.”

  Jumping out of the Suburban, I yelled at Candi through the driver’s window, “Follow me to the corner and wait.” I jumped on the bike and headed out. Easing into traffic, I rounded the block and turned right, stopping just short of the corner. Pointing to the ground, I directed Candi to wait while I took off around the corner. Looking up and down the street, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I rode down the street and saw Victoria standing on the sidewalk talking to two men.

  Wait … Something was terribly wrong with that picture. She wasn’t talking to Frank and Terry — it was Joseph and Donny. I immediately did a slow speed U turn and jumped over the curb onto the sidewalk and headed straight for them. If I could separate the three by playing chicken, it might buy me enough time to grab Vic and ride off. At least that was the plan until Donny began running straight at me, arms flailing. He had an automatic of some sort in his hand, and was preparing to shoot me off my bike.

  Quick-releasing my helmet with my left hand, I pulled it off and swung it like a club just as Donny raised his weapon and fired. My sudden lean to the right made him miss with the first round and startled him just enough to allow me to steady my hand as my Kevlar reinforced helmet made contact with his face at 25 mph. One down, one to go, I thought, as I righted my bike in time to see Joseph pulling Vic back into the building. “Dammit!”

  Reaching the corner, I jumped the sidewalk and made a sharp left, pulling up beside Candi and Ron. “Go around to the back and pull into the parking garage. Joseph has Vic. We can’t let them leave the building.”

  I did a standing 360 and took off on a side street, then parked my bike in a vacant driveway. Leaving my helmet and jacket on the bike, I headed back to the courthouse. Walking along the all too familiar sidewalk, I saw a crowd of people gathered around a motionless body, just as an ambulance pulled up.

  I joined in the fracas. They were looking at a well-dressed man, lying perfectly still on the ground. He was missing most of his front teeth, and seemed to be out cold, or possibly dead. I couldn’t tell.

  Moving beyond the fray of my making, I strolled into the building and canvassed the hallways for any sign of Joseph and Vic. To the right of the courtroom, I stumbled upon Frank and Terry wrapping up what I can only assume was a third degree interrogation of an officer of the court.

  Chapter 52

  “I give up! What just happened, Frank?”

  “Don’t ask. Right after Vic called you, two well-dressed dicks walked up to that guy we were just talking to and told him we were here illegally and might be armed. Suddenly all hell broke loose and I yelled at Vic to continue with the plan.”

  I grimaced.

  “What? I knew you’d be right outside the door, D. I had this itchy feeling that it was all too easy. Terry and I went into the bathroom right before court started and buried those scatter guns in the trash bin. Man, if those cops had found those guns on us, we’d be under the prison, not in it.”

  “I’m glad you’re okay. Joseph has Vic somewhere in this building. We need to fan out. Everybody take a floor. Candi and Ron are watching the parking garage and rear entrance in case they exit there.”

  “What about the guy who was with him?” asked Ron.

  “Oh, you mean Donny? We’re good. He and I hooked up earlier. I’m sure he’s resting comfortably somewhere, unawares.”

  Joining up, after scouring every floor and office and coming up dry, I said, “I’ll go grab your hardware. You go find Candi and Ron.”

  As I reached the second floor men’s bathroom, my phone rang. It was Vic.

  “D, I’m sorry. We’re at the hospital. We rode by ambulance with Donny. Here, someone wants to talk to you.”

  “You did a number on my guy, I want you to know,” Joseph growled. “He’ll live, minus most of his front teeth, two fractured jaws and with one hell of a headache. I want to make a trade. You and Candice for Vic. Meet us at the Springbank Airport in two hours. Candice’s mom wants her little girl home, almost as much as she wants to talk to you. If you bring the authorities, we’ll take off immediately. Oh, and you can pick up Vic somewhere between here and the border. I’ll send you the coordinates right after I toss this smart-mouthed bitch out of the plane … minus a parachute!”

  Click.

  That’s my girl, veracious with a V, I thought. I knew I really didn’t have a choice. I had to go along with the jerk’s plan. It’s been a long time coming. I might as well get it over with. I will not risk either of “my girls” getting hurt on my account.

  Walking into the parking garage, I found everyone standing around, looking glum. “I found them,” I announced. “They’re at the hospital. They rode in the ambulance with our pal Donny after I rearranged his dental work. I didn’t see that one coming. Good move on his part.”

  “So, are we going?” Candi asked.

  “Kind of,” I replied. “Joey wants us to meet him at the Springbrook Airport in two hours. He wants to make a trade — you and me for Vic.”

  “I’ll go back with him, D. You can’t, I won’t allow it,” Candi, continuing to rapidly come of age.

  “It is what it is. I don’t think anything will happen to me, as long as you’re in the picture. Joseph’s instructions, per your mom, were to bring us both back, along with Gio and Mile. That’s what he intends to do.

  “Frank, Ron and Terry are all here because of me — Vic, too, for that matter. I can’t ask you to do any more, except to make sure Vic gets home safe. I’m tired of running and hiding after all this time. We’ve been able to do some good things over the last two years. I’m satisfied with that. Besides, I still have one card left to play.”

  Reaching into my bag, I handed Frank my Sat phone, “Once you’re close enough to get the tail number off the plane, press and hold the number 8 button. A guy named Jim will answer, I hope. He’s a U.S. Marshall. Give him the tail number and tell him I’m on board. He’ll take it from there.”

  “There’s got to be another way,” Frank stated confidently.

  “I’m sure there is, but I’ll take my chances over U.S. skies,” I confessed, trying to convince everyone it would all be fine.

  “Candi and I will take the bike to the airport. Ya’ll follow, but not too close. Joseph is having a bad day. If he thinks just one thing is amiss, he promised to toss Vic from the plane.”
>
  “He said that, D? In all the time we were together he never once threatened to kill anyone,” Candi confessed. “What’s to stop him from doing that to you if you get on that plane?”

  “You, Gio? I don’t know. I guess it depends how much he listens to your mom. He’s supposed to bring us back. Of course, he didn’t say if that was dead or alive when it came to me.”

  “Let's go get the bike, Candi. Gentlemen, once we’ve got the bike, we’ll meet you at the entrance in ten.”

  “This is all my fault, D. If I hadn’t dreamed up this harebrained scheme, we wouldn’t be here right now. I can fix this; I know I can. I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re a hundred times better than I’ll ever be.”

  “That’s the spirit, baby. You keep on believing that. Everything will turn out just fine.”

  Chapter 53

  Not another word was spoken between Candi and I after we got the bike. The guys met us at the entrance and followed at a safe distance to the airport. I just hope I live long enough to see an intercept and escort from the nearest U.S. Air Force Base. That escort might be my only saving grace, because as long as I’m alive, I am an ever-present threat to Joseph and his efforts to rekindle the flame with Candi.

  Woo-hoo — you’re killing me, in more ways than one.

  Arriving at the private airport, I slowed almost to a crawl and waited for Frank to catch up before heading to an outlying parking lot belonging to an airfreight business. This is where we stopped. Giving them time to get in position, I located the private Learjet, idling off to the right of the runway on the tarmac.

  Pulling up next to the runway fence on the bike put me within twenty-five yards of the plane. Shit! Who am I going to get to take my to bike home? Like I’m going to need it, but I might, you never know.

  While getting off the bike I heard the engines throttle up, preparing the jet for takeoff. Grabbing my daypack from the trunk, I shouted, “It’s show time! Act II … let’s do this!” I kissed Candi on the cheek, before we eased slowly across the tarmac, hand in hand.