by Mimi Barbour
Once in the muscle car from the 70’s, a dark wine GTO Judge with the requisite strips, she buckled in and inspected the interior that gleamed with loving care, the man’s attention to detail apparent. “I need to go to the ABC store off of Kalakaua and Koa.”
“Right.” With the ease of someone comfortable behind the wheel, he pulled a U-turn and headed in the direction that would get them there quickest.
“I wish you would have just let me take the car. Or even your truck. I’m a good driver. I hate this, sitting here and fretting, with nothing to do.”
“No doubt. Why didn’t you bring your own vehicle again?”
“Don worried someone would recognize it as an official FBI SUV. He thought it best for me to rent a car while we’re with you. I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Didn’t your Ruby have a car you could use while she’s away?”
Alia hoped her voice didn’t change when she admitted that her nanny had promised another friend—Cassie—the use of her wheels. And when Alia had found out, she hadn’t had the heart to argue… nor the right. After all, the pink and black Smart Car belonged to Ruby, bought and paid for with her wages, and she could lend it to whomever she wanted.
“Yeah, well, she made other arrangements before we knew I might need it. No biggie. Like I said, I’ll get my own tomorrow. Look, could you step on it. The kid we’re going to pick up is most likely in danger, and the quicker I get there, the better I’m gonna feel.”
Already exceeding the speed limit, he sped up and passed two more cars in front. “I noticed Kean took some time to settle in tonight? Was everything okay?”
She looked at him, saw the grin he flashed her way and knew he was trying to settle her nerves with blah-blah and kindness.
“Truthfully, he had to tell me verbatim what Roy had said at the barbeque, and then how him and Les goofed around. How much they made him laugh. And… best of all, they invited him to visit the garage. Promised they’d show him around the joint. His words, not mine.”
“That’s Les. He’s a colorful character, but his heart’s bigger than his attitude and Kean’s already gotten his number.”
“Okay. Pull in over there. Wait in the car and keep the motor running.”
“You got it.”
She exited from the passenger door and ran behind the parked vehicles until she was directly in front of the store. Looking in the window gave her no clue. Nothing seemed out of place. Tourists dressed in their new Hawaiian garb were milling up and down the aisles, shopping and laughing. No one appeared to be concerned or worried.
She entered, looking everywhere, her eyes scanning the place, especially where Sara had waited the last time by the wall of sandals. Quickly she checked the ladies’ room and even the men’s room and found both empty. Next she caught up with a store employee, showed him her badge and questioned him. “Has there been any trouble in here tonight?”
“No more than the usual shoplifting, breakage, denied credit cards and fighting spouses. You know, the regular nutcases, but nothing out of the ordinary.”
She nodded and headed out.
Friggin’, shittin’ hell!
Chapter Thirty-one
As she slid back into the car with its motor purring, Alia’s adrenaline settled into a dull roar. No doubt Sloan saw the confusion and exasperation on her face. He didn’t say anything for a few moments, giving her time.
Finally, she admitted, “Sara wasn’t there.”
“I kind of suspected. Where to now? And while we’re on the way, tell me a bit about this kid you’re trying to help.”
The phone’s ringing interrupted her. “Cassie, Sara’s not there—”
“I know. She called back a few seconds ago in a panic. Said her stalker followed her. But he’s just circling the house. Then she hung up again. You need to come now. The kid’s losing it, Alia.”
“She said house?” Alia figuratively smacked her forehead. “I should have known. Okay, we’re on our way.”
She looked at the man next to her and gave him directions. Then she held onto the door handle as he whipped the car around and drove like a bat out of hell.
Realizing she still held the lit phone in her hand, she added, “Cassie, where do I take her?”
“Bring her to me. I don’t want the kid traumatized any more than she already is.”
“You’re an angel, you old softie. Between you and Ruby, I don’t know which one’s worse.”
“Look in the mirror, Sunshine.”
Alia chuckled to change the subject. “Gotta go. We’ll have her there as soon as possible.”
“Who’s we? Hope it’s a handsome dude who can’t keep his hands off you. Time you had a man.”
“Speak for yourself, Chickie. Soon…”
She shut off Cassie’s laughter—the woman was a huge romantic—and became aware that Sloan’s shortcut had them closing in on her neighborhood.
Glad he wasn’t a showy driver using a lot of excessive actions, she watched as he held the wheel firmly and controlled the car as if they were connected. She liked that. She’d been told she was a gifted driver, so it was easy to recognize the familiar skill in others.
“Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind driving you around Waikiki, but it might be a good idea if I know what to expect when we get to this place.”
“It’s my house. I took Sara there the last time I picked her up. She must have memorized the security code for the back entrance and went looking for me. I told Ruby we can’t be having the kids coming to our place, but when we’re in a fix, sometimes there’s no choice.”
“The kids? Who are they? From the backstory I’ve overheard, I gather she’s young and in trouble.”
“They all are. Young and in trouble, I mean. We help them. Save them. Give them a chance. It’s Ruby’s deal, not mine.” Scanning the road, she noticed the same red Camaro that she’d outrun before. “We’re here. Slow down and pull into the driveway on the left. They’re neighbors and away this month. Drive right up to their garage and turn the car around. We might have to leave in a hurry, so it’s best to be facing the right direction.”
He did as she said, reversing the car with minimum effort, and soon had them facing the road.
“Great. Wait here. I’ll go and get her and we’ll be back.”
He opened the door, but her hand grabbing his arm stopped him.
“Stay here. It’s easier for me to sneak in and out alone.”
“No. You’re not going anywhere without me, so suck it up.”
His tone didn’t waver and neither did the hot determination in his eyes.
Seriously? The dude was going to give her trouble when she had no time to argue. “Okay. Whatever. Let’s go.”
She snuck through the archway hidden by the mass of trellised, rich purple Bougainvillea between their yards. Skimming along the greenery, keeping clear of any lights that might set off the motion detector, Alia directed them to a concealed entrance off the kitchen.
She keyed in the code and slipped into the house in time to hear the sounds of a hand slapping flesh and the ensuing scream. Bloodcurdling, it set off every alarm in her body, ramping up her adrenaline, only to have it controlled by her training. “She’s in trouble. It’s coming from the basement. He must have broken in.”
“He who?”
“Her worst monster. Follow me.”
She pulled out her weapon, headed in that direction and slipped down the stairs, Sloan covering her back. Once at the bottom, he reached for Kean’s baseball bat standing up in the corner. With hand movements, she pointed him to the opposite hallway. He nodded and slunk off in the other direction.
Screams changed to whimpers and then pleas. “No. Stop it. You don’t own me, Roger.”
Another slap rang out. “You’re mine, Sara. And you’ll do exactly as I tell you to do. I treated you good, tramp. And this is how you repay me – running away, hiding, making me search for you? Well, little girl,
here’s the proof that I own you. I’m gonna let my friend Joey here teach you a lesson.”
Alia watched from around the rec room door as Roger’s phone rang and he lifted it to his ear with his left hand, while still gripping Sara’s hair with the other. His foot was pressed on her chest, holding her in place. “Yeah, boss. We’ve got her. Joey’s taming the little bitch and she’ll be ready for your party. Okay, you know where we are. Come meet us and we’ll pass her over.” He slipped the phone into his shirt pocket, shared an evil grin with his partner and gave him a go-ahead nod.
Alia entered unseen. Both hands were on a gun that never wavered. She saw there were two men, Roger, and another who she didn’t recognize but had to be the aforementioned Joey.
The sicko worked feverishly to undo his pants and a look of excitement colored his ugly, scabby face. He’d straddled the now struggling Sara, ripping at her clothes like a starving animal that’d been promised a feast. When she tried to scramble away, he raised his fist.
“You touch her just once more, Joey, you piece of shit, and I’ll shoot off your pecker first and then your ugly face. And you, Roger, you look surprised? You figure Sara has no one who cares?”
Sara pushed away from Joey and, covering her naked chest with the pieces of her blouse, she crawled quickly toward Alia.
“It’s you again, you annoying bitch. You made me run all over the fucking place to get my merchandise back. This time it’s not going to be so easy for you to get her away from me.”
Roger had stood sideways to Alia, but when he turned, she saw the gun he’d concealed by his leg that was now aimed in her direction.
Chapter Thirty-two
If Sloan hadn’t driven the bat into the back of Roger’s knee just then, his shot might not have missed her, striking Sara instead. She’d never know. Nor did she have time to wonder.
By now, Joey had pulled his gun too, but with his pants at half-mast, his movements were hindered. Alia quickly kicked the weapon from his hand and then pistol-whipped him and knocked him down.
Sara, sobbing in pain from the unexpected flesh wound on her arm, nonetheless scrambled to get his gun. Then she slithered close to the asshole and took aim.
From the corner of her eye, Alai saw Sara’s intent and turned so she could stop the girl. “Hey, kiddo, don’t do it. Joey’s no threat to you now.”
“Maybe not now, but he will be again. Could be he’ll pull this kind of stuff with some other poor chump who can’t get her shit straight.”
“It’s up to the law to decide that, Sara. Not you.”
Joey followed the conversation, his hand trying to stem the blood on his cheek while his widened eyes, the whites gleaming, lit on Alia. He nodded vehemently in obvious agreement with her.
Screaming, saliva emitting in white bubbles of froth from her bruised lips, Sara continued. “Where was the fucking law when my own father was raping me? I was seven. And then my brother decided he needed to get some. So where were the cops then, huh?”
A thick cloud of social conscience hit Alia, who crouched down, conflicted but pissed. “Fine, shoot the bastard. They’ll arrest you but maybe a jury will be sympathetic. You might only get justifiable murder because of the special circumstances. Hell, girl. You’d be out of the pen in your thirties. Is that what you want – to ruin the best years of your life?”
Sara laughed, the evil in her spirit ringing clearly. “It’s worth it,” she said. Then she aimed the gun and pulled the trigger.
Good Lord! No way had Alia seen that coming.
Chapter Thirty-three
Alia wrenched the gun from Sara’s hand before she could take the second shot. “That’s enough. You’ve had your fun. We’ve gotta go.” Alia hauled the girl to her feet and pushed her in the direction of the stairs. “His friends will be here soon. We need to get out while we still can.”
Joey lay curled and sobbing, no threat to them now. Blood poured from his head where Alia had pistol-whipped him, but it wouldn’t kill him. Nor would the wound in his hand. The one he’d held up trying to ward off the shot from Sara.
Noises of a TV screen crashing attracted Alia’s attention, and she watched the other two men grappling, punching… destroying her rec room. Evenly matched, the difference was that one fought for the right side and his training and brains drove his strategy.
But the other fought to win.
Sloan, pinned under the man whose hands were clawing at his throat, aimed a powerful punch into Roger’s side that broke his hold. Then he flipped him over and drove his fist into the prick’s face, the crunch of something breaking a satisfying sound.
Backing off, he turned when Alia called to him. “Let’s go.”
“You’re kidding, right? These two bozos broke into your house and assaulted an underage minor. We need to arrest the assholes.”
“Not gonna happen. It’s not how this works.” She grabbed Sara, who’d whipped around behind her and was wildly kicking Joey. “We need to get out before the others come to collect her.” She pushed a struggling, reluctant Sara in front of her, seizing her before she could aim yet another kick and headed up the stairs, an annoyed Sloan following.
“You’re law enforcement. You know better.”
“Be quiet. They don’t know I have a badge. And they can’t know. I’ll explain. Come on. Let’s just get Sara to safety.”
“Then we’ll talk?”
“Okay, fine.” She got to the kitchen door and looked out before she led Sara to the hidden entryway, Sloan bringing up the rear.
Before they could get to the car, Roger, hugely pissed but running on fear and hate, had gotten his gun, come up behind them and began firing. The first bullet went wild, but the second hit Sara and she went down.
“Goddammit!” Sloan reached for her and had her in his arms while Alia covered his exit. Then she ran to the car and opened the back door for him. “Get in.”
Sloan backed in with Sara wrapped in his arms, and Alia dived into the front seat. “Thank God you left the keys in the ignition.” She started the motor, heard the powerful roar and stepped on it, missing the concrete gate post with only inches to spare. A whimper from the back seat sounded in a male voice.
They skidded into the street and saw the headlights of another car coming towards them, beginning the turn into her driveway, only to stop and pick up Roger.
“Friggin’, shittin’ hell.”
“You can say that again.” A Sloan’s sarcastic tone let her know that once they escaped, he’d be asking her questions. A lot of questions…
“Friggin’, shittin’ hell.”
Chapter Thirty-four
Alia hadn’t had the experience of driving a muscle car before, especially not one that ran like a souped-up race car, purred with power and was as responsive as all hell.
She put the pedal to the metal and they swerved up the street, only for her to see a familiar face behind the wheel of a rental a little further down.
Libby!
In the rear-view, Alia saw the savvy broad pull out of her parking spot and cut off the following SUV. She chuckled and saw Sloan’s answering grin. “Someone you know?”
“Kind of. I think she’s my ex’s PI who’s been spying on me.”
“She must be the one who tailed you to my place.”
Alia eyeballed him through the mirror, her heart missing a few beats at his words. “Not sure I know what you mean.”
“I’ll tell you later. You maybe want to keep your eyes on the road.”
She grinned before returning her attention to the traffic. “It’s a sweet ride.”
“And I’d like to keep her that way… please.”
“Her?”
“She’s precious. My baby.”
“Seriously, dude. You need to get a life.”
“That’s what Les tells me all the time. But I like my life just fine, thank you. No inconveniences or responsibilities.”
“You mean like Les and Roy?”
“Besides them.” Hi
s chuckle sounded forced.
Deciding to leave that subject for another time, Alia switched focus. “How’s Sara?”
“She’s still out cold. The poor sweetheart took both bullets near each other, one in her arm and the other in her upper shoulder.”
“Not such a sweetheart. She shot Joey point blank.”
“I knew there was another gunshot. You can’t deny her provocation.”
“You’re sticking up for her?”
“No. Just understanding things from her point of view. We weren’t the ones staring up into those beady little eyes full of malicious intent. Look, she’s lost a lot of blood. Better get us to the hospital as soon as possible?”
“No can do. I’ll take her to Cassie. She’s a nurse, and they have a clinic that looks after these kinds of things.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Not even for a minute. It’s the deal. Unless we have their permission or they’re mortally wounded.”
“A deal… With who?”
“Oh shit, they’re back. Hold on.”
Wrenched sideways, Sara, still unconscious, let out an involuntary squeal, which made Sloan react. “Alia, ditch these guys. We need to get her some medical attention now.”
“On it.”
She took the next corner on two wheels, and Sloan’s groan coming from the back seat almost had her sympathy.
She did her usual tricks to get away from the others, but this time no amount of playing Hide-and-Seek worked. So, she fell back on the one trick that never failed.
Moments later, after she’d jumped a yellow light and earned a few seconds, she pulled the stunt. The others had dropped back, forced to stop at the red light behind another car.
Putting Sloan’s baby through its paces, she screeched around a few more corners and headed into the parking lot, whipped up the four levels at an unhealthy clip while Sloan whimpered, and then shot into the empty stall next to her hidden SUV.