by C. G. Cooper
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, me too. Listen, if this thing goes south, I want you safe. Besides, you’ll need to turn that video in if I don’t make it back.”
Hollie glanced at the video camera I’d taken from Laney’s boat and shivered. “Okay, but you’re going prepared.”
“I always do.”
+++
Max Laney wasn’t happy, but had finally met Watts halfway on his fee. It now sat in the passenger seat, neatly stacked in a brown paper grocery bag. Even better, Laney had another request, one that Renley Watts was only too happy to deliver.
Watts flicked on his windshield wipers, looking up at the darkened sky. The storm would be overhead soon. Watts made a mental note to stop and buy a rain coat. The night would be wet.
+++
It’s your fault! It’s your fault! I bolted upright, the ghostly image still wavering before me.
“You okay?”
I looked over at Hollie. We’d decided to take quick naps. Any sleep was better than no sleep. “Yeah.” I rubbed my fingers on my eyes. The rain was really coming down, thunder in the distance. Good and bad for what I was planning.
“You sure you want to do this tonight? That’s storm’s gonna make it tough.”
I shrugged. “Nothing I haven’t done before.”
Thirty minutes, two cups of coffee, and a bologna sandwich later, I grabbed my pack and headed to the door.
Hollie followed. “Got everything you need?”
“I do.”
“How will I know if everything goes off right?”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
Hollie frowned, but stuck out his good hand. “Good luck, Marine.”
+++
“Let’s get on the road. I don’t want to be late.”
Johnny nodded and opened the door for his grandfather, who was dressed casually in jeans and work boots. He’d told Johnny to wear something comfortable, and to grab a rain coat.
They drove slowly down the drive, water already rushing across cutting lines in their path. “Where to, granddad?”
“Take a right. We’re going back to the boat.”
Johnny did as he was told, anxious to be done with the ordeal, the most embarrassing of his life. He’d already promised himself that he’d clean up his act and become the man his grandfather needed. “Yes, sir.” Johnny turned onto the paved road, rain pounding into the windshield.
+++
Everything looked good. I double and triple checked the gear. I was soaked, but the summer heat still lingered, perfect weather.
Navigation lights on, engine purring, I backed Hollie’s boat out of the well. A flash of lightening struck a mile away illuminating the way momentarily. Now pointed into the bay, I slowly increased speed, relishing the thrumming rain.
Chapter 23
The roiling waves slammed repeatedly into the boat’s hull, punctuating the storm’s anger. “You sure you know where we’re going, granddad?”
Max Laney looked down at his GPS, a marker showing the rendezvous point in green. “We’ll be there soon.”
Johnny tried to see out, only catching a glimpse of the Gulf when lightening flashed. “Seems like a crazy place to meet up.”
Laney ignored him, focused on the way ahead.
+++
I sat bobbing for an hour, waiting. Finally, a set of navigation lights came into view. Flashlight in hand, I blinked in the boat’s direction three times. A pause, then the flashes were echoed. On cue, every light on Laney’s boat came on.
Two figures stood in the illuminated wheelhouse.
+++
Max Laney pointed to the controls. “Wait here. Keep us steady.”
“But, who’s…”
“I said, stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Laney, already wearing his all-weather coat, climbed out onto the deck.
+++
I could barely see Laney’s face, still trying to keep Hollie’s boat from coming too close to the other.
“What now, Briggs?”
“I’ll throw you a rope. Have Johnny tie it around himself. He’ll have to jump in the water.”
Laney nodded, bracing himself on the railing as another wave rocked him back. “I’ll get him.”
So far so good.
+++
“Strip down.”
Johnny looked up in confusion. “What?”
“Strip down to your skivvies. You’re going for a swim.”
“You’re kidding. I can’t go out in that.”
Laney sighed. “Johnny, this is the only way. The man on that boat is the only one that can get you out of this mess. Now, would you rather go for a swim or go to jail?”
Johnny didn’t know what to say. He’d expected a quiet dinner. Instead, his grandfather had brought him out into the middle of the Gulf, storm raging, then asked him to swim out to a stranger’s boat. “But…”
“You don’t have a choice. It’s this or you’re cutoff.”
Johnny stared at his grandfather, waiting for the punchline. None came. Reluctantly, he began stripping off his clothes until he stood in only his boxer briefs.
Max Laney turned to go. “Come on.”
Johnny, wide-eyed, somehow managed to put one foot in front of the other.
+++
Laney stepped out onto the deck again, Johnny following behind, his pale body shivering in the rain. It wasn’t cold, but he looked scared. I wondered what his grandfather had told him. He didn’t seem to recognize me from the distance.
Carefully maneuvering into position, I grabbed the rope that sat coiled on the console, one end already secured to a cleat. The waves threatened to smash the two vessels together, so rather than risk a collision, I sat back at a distance I figured I could throw the rope. Worst case, Johnny would have to swim a little bit to snag it.
“Jump in!” I called over the storm.
Johnny looked to his grandfather, who motioned to the angry ocean. The nearly naked man shuffled to edge, muscles clenched.
“I said, jump!”
I stood ready to throw, not wanting to have to make another pass. Johnny ducked between the railing, feet on the edge of the rocking boat. He was trying to time the swells, not wanting to get swept under the boat.
Another bolt of lightning struck, thunder simultaneously booming. A shadow in the corner of my eye. I turned, squinting. Suddenly, a spotlight blinded me, then another. Two more boats had snuck up in the night. I cursed under my breath.
As I went to gun my throttle, gunfire erupted from the two newcomers, multiple flashes, followed by the pings as they hit my boat. I ducked for cover, the familiar feel of rounds overhead.
One round, then two hit the outboard motor, I felt the power slacken and the boats came closer, never letting up with their firing. I counted at least six shooters, maybe seven.
More hits, the glass above my head shattered. I ignored it, still focused forward. Motor sputtering, waves pounding. Another lighting strike up ahead. I could smell the gas despite the hard rain blanketing my movement and the sea water lapping over the side.
Power fading, and with the three boats close behind, I turned the wheel so that the boat was no longer headed into the waves but running parallel. A huge wave crashed over the side almost sending me into the sea. I gripped the wheel with all my strength, rounds still hitting all around. The boat rolled over the opposite side of the wave, literally gliding into the mouth of the next. Just as I looked up at the cresting behemoth, an explosion blew me through what was left of the windshield, and sent me sprawling into the bow of the boat. As I turned to regain my footing, the wave crashed down.
+++
Max Laney ordered the men, led by Renley Watts, to keep firing. There wasn’t much left of the craft, the burning engines already having been swallowed by the sea.
They stayed for another thirty minutes, passing to and fro, spotlights searching the water. Nothing. No sign of the boat or of Briggs.
Laney was satisfied. Ma
ybe Briggs had survived the explosion, and maybe he hadn’t been drowned by the capsizing boat, but no one would survive near hurricane conditions two miles out to sea.
Max Laney signaled for the others to head in. Their work was done.
Chapter 24
Hollie sat waiting, rifle sitting in his lap, pointing toward the door. He hadn’t heard from Daniel yet and was worried. It had been hours since the Marine had left. Hollie said a prayer, asking for his friend’s safe return.
A light in the distance made Hollie lean closer to the window. There was a vehicle coming up the drive. The old Army Ranger controlled his heart rate with deep breaths, watching the headlights. He’d learned to distinguish most cars and trucks by their lights, and these looked familiar.
Hollie squinted. It was his truck, bumping up the gravel road. Hollie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Lord.”
Rising to meet his friend, Hollie flipped on the front porch light. He stepped outside and waved. His pickup pulled into its parking spot and the driver got out, waving back to Hollie. Then three men stood up in the bed of the truck, weapons pointed in his direction. The driver who’d now thrown back the hood of his rain coat, also had a gun pointed at Hollie. “Put the rifle down!”
For the first time in his life, Hollister Herndon relinquished his weapon, and surrendered, his heart broken for the loss of another comrade.
+++
“Why didn’t you tell me what your plan was?”
Johnny had whined the whole way home, making Max Laney think that maybe he should have given his grandson to Briggs.
“I told you, I didn’t want to give it away. You wouldn’t have been that scared just by acting. I had to throw Briggs off. Now quit crying. You’re fine.”
Johnny mumbled something under his breath, wringing his hands in the towel he’d taken from the boat. “So is it over?”
Laney grinned. “Watts says he’s got Hollie and the video camera at the house. We’ll be finished tonight.”
The younger Laney breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a long couple of days. He looked forward to things getting back to normal, having a cold beer, getting laid. “What are you gonna do with Hollie?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I might let you have him when I’m finished.”
Johnny grinned wickedly, relishing the thought.
+++
Hollie didn’t say a word as he was led into the Laney complex. He knew what was coming, but wasn’t scared. He’d lived a good life, married his high school sweetheart, had a son, worked hard. Everybody’s time came at some point. His only regret was Daniel. He thought that maybe if he’d pushed the young man to leave, or taken the evidence to the police, that Daniel would now be on his way to another town.
But that wasn’t the case. Renley Watts had already told him about Daniel. Like so many he’d known before, Hollie mourned silently for his dead friend. Another Marine dead before his time. A kid with so much left to give.
Hollie was shaken from his thoughts at the sound of pounding footsteps coming down the hall.
“Where is he?”
“In the living room.”
Max Laney stormed into the room, drenched, but smiling from ear to ear. “Well look who it is. Our old friend, Hollister Herndon.”
Johnny walked in right behind, looking grotesque with wounds still raw and bandages peeling. “Let me have a little fun, granddad.”
“Not yet. I need to have a word with Mr. Herndon first.” Laney turned to Watts, who stood watching. “Your money’s in a bag in the front closet. Johnny will show you out.”
Watts followed Johnny to the front door as Max Laney took a seat in front of Hollie. “Now, let’s get down to business.”
“I think I’m done talking. Kill me and get it over with.”
Laney laughed. “I’m not going to kill you…yet. We’ve got business to discuss.”
“What kind of business?”
“You’re one of the last holdouts in town. I control most of the land around here except yours. You’ve had a good run, but I think it’s time for you to retire from farming. If you play nice, and deed the property over to me, I might be able to overlook our recent…disagreements.”
Hollie glared. “Over my dead body.”
“Let’s not go there, old friend.”
Johnny walked back into the room. “Can I have him now?”
Laney’s eyes narrowed with annoyance. “Can’t you see I’m talking?”
Johnny closed his mouth, crossed his arms, and waited.
Brushing a piece of lint off the side table, Laney continued. “My attorney will be here in the morning. Hopefully by then you’ll have changed your mind. If you’re pleasant I might even give you a decent price.”
“Go to hell.”
“In time, I’m sure. Johnny, why don’t you take him to the basement and loosen him up a bit.” Johnny grinned. “But don’t make it too obvious. I want him to be able to talk and sign his name.”
“Yes, sir.” Johnny walked over to Hollie, place his left hand on the old man’s shoulder, and without warning, slammed his right fist into Hollie’s gut, doubling him over. “That’s just the start, old man.”
Chapter 25
The storm still raged when morning came. Flash flood warnings were in effect for the entire Florida Panhandle area, and not set to expire for more than a day.
Chief Darryl Knox drove carefully through town, avoiding the raging torrents that had engulfed large chunks of pavement. His staff had already been to the scenes of nine traffic accidents, one involving a bus full of churchgoers. No one had been hurt, but the wreck had clogged traffic for miles.
Despite all that was happening, Knox had an errand to run. He’d called Max Laney as early as he’d dared, not wanting to incur his benefactor’s wrath again.
Pulling into the roundabout in front of the Laney home, Knox’s eyes took in the restoration that was underway, the workers away probably because of the rain.
Knox managed to get to the front stoop without his umbrella turning inside out. He knocked. A moment later, Max Laney answer the door, still wearing stylish pajamas.
“Good morning, Chief.”
“Morning, Mr. Laney. Thank you for having me.”
Laney ushered him into the house, where Knox respectfully removed his shoes and left them by the front door.
“What is so important that you had to drive out here in the storm?”
Knox opened his oversized coat and pulled out a file he had tucked under his arm. “I got some more information on Daniel Briggs and thought you might like to see it.”
Laney’s eyebrow rose. He almost told Knox that he shouldn’t have bothered, but was curious. “Why don’t we go in the kitchen. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, please. Cream and extra sugar.”
While Laney got the chief’s coffee, Knox sat down at the kitchen table and opened the folder.
“What did you find?”
“I think you were right, Mr. Laney. Mr. Briggs is a very dangerous man.”
Laney sat the coffee down in front of Knox. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I did some calling around, had to pull some strings with an old buddy of mine in St. Louis, but I finally got the guy’s military records.”
“Military?”
“Yes, sir. He’s a former Marine, actually he was a sniper.”
“So he was…I mean is dangerous.”
Knox nodded. “He left the Marine Corps a couple months ago. Spent a lot of time overseas. Some of his stuff was censored and not even my buddy could recover it, but the information he did give me describes a very interesting character, someone who knows how to kill.”
Laney slid the file over, scanning the documents. Honor graduate from Parris Island. Scout sniper. Meritorious promotion to Lance Corporal. Meritorious promotion to Corporal. One tour in Afghanistan. Five confirmed kills. One tour in Iraq. Twelve confirmed kills. One tour in Afghanistan. Recommended for…
La
ney looked up. “He was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor?”
“That’s what it looks like, but if you read further, you’ll see that he also suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after his last tour in Afghanistan. I think that held up the confirmation proceedings.”
Marine sniper. Medal of Honor. The words rattled around in Laney’s head, breeding doubt, not for what he’d done, and not for killing a hero, but…
“Based on this information I think we should alert the Marine Corps and the FBI, as a courtesy.”
“Let’s see how this plays out first, chief. No need to scare the whole town. I suggest you conduct a thorough investigation, keep it quiet, then reap the rewards once he’s in custody. You’ll be a hero.”
Knox nodded, thoughts floating on clouds of glory. “That sounds like a good plan, Mr. Laney. I sure do appreciate you letting me run this by you.”
“Any time, chief.”
+++
Hollie spit out another gob of blood, a trickle running down his chin. Johnny had worked him over well, careful to inflict the damage on the old man’s torso, avoiding his face. Hollie was pretty sure he had at least two broken ribs. The stabbing pain came with every breath.
He was alone in the basement. They hadn’t bothered gagging him, knowing that the reinforced structure kept all sound in the bunker-like complex. Bound to a steel chair, Hollie, rendered useless, could only hope the end would come soon.
Chapter 26
The attorney, Henry Ellison, arrived just before lunch time, driving up in a modest Cadillac De Ville. Renley Watts, back on duty at the Laney compound, met the lawyer at the front door and led him in to see his boss.