Jarred jumped back over the fence.
“Well, was it her?” It was Ben.
“Maybe. If it was, she’s fast.”
Through the narrow opening, she could see Jarred turn around in the alley.
“You go that way.” He pointed up the alley. “I’ll head this way. Make sure she’s not hiding along here somewhere.”
She started to move deeper but discontinued at the sound of the weeds crunching beneath her feet. As Jarred moved past her, she recognized her folly. If spotted, she had no escape. Her movement was so restricted, her pursuers would have both ends blocked off before she could make it halfway out.
***
“Well, where is she?” Mike had torn up Derry’s sheets and was leaning over him, applying a strip to his wounded shoulder. His hands and feet were bound.
“I saw her run past the gate. She jumped a fence in the alley. I went after her, but I lost her.”
Mike glared at Ben. “And where were you?”
“I was right behind him. She’s fast. We searched the alley, too. She’s gone.”
Mike righted himself. “So she was back there, and neither of you saw her when you came in. How’s that possible?”
Jarred gave Ben a hard look. “Ben must have missed her.”
“Both of you did.”
Jarred took a half step forward, positioning himself partway in front of Ben. “She lives out back.”
“Out back? In that shack?”
Jarred glanced over his shoulder once more before continuing. “The inside is fixed up. It looks new, like this guy Derry’s been planning this for a while. She even has her computer out there. She must have been out there while we were in here looking for her.”
Mike took a step toward Ben. “You said no one came out the back of the house. What were you doing? Sleeping?”
“She—”
Mike’s fist found Ben’s jaw. He flew back, falling into the hall. Mike glanced out the window, then at Derry. Ben worked his way back to an upright position.
“Hey, I couldn’t see all of the yard where I was. I was told—”
“Shut up before I hit you again.”
Derry started moaning.
Mike paced around the bedroom. “Ben, go get the car. Drive it around to the alley behind the house. Grab Sara’s computer and any drives or CDs you see, and put them in the trunk.” Mike tossed him the key before shifting attention to Jarred. “Grab his feet.”
Derry opened his eyes. Mike leaned over him. “After Vance gets a hold of you, you’ll talk—or die.”
Mike and Jarred lifted Derry. He tried to protest, but was too weak to have any real effect. They carried him across the backyard and dumped him in the backseat of the car while Ben set Sara’s computer in the trunk. Mike joined Ben and Jarred at the rear of the car.
Speaking softly, he gave them their orders. “You said she jumped the fence back there.” Mike nodded toward the backyard. “Search through every yard on this block.”
“We did,” Ben interjected.
“Check them again. Then check the streets a couple of blocks around the house, but make it fast. You had better find her, if you want to live.”
Ben was dumb enough to ask Mike why. If she was gone, it wasn’t their fault.
“I told Levy we found her. If you lose her now, he’ll kill all of us.”
“We’ll find her.” Jarred grabbed Ben by the shoulder and told him to come along. “I have some ideas.”
The two of them headed down the alley as Mike jumped into the car.
***
Sara heard noises on the other side of the wall. They were in her home. All they would find was her reformatted computer. It would take them awhile to get anything useful off it, but Kai was resourceful, and would eventually retrieve everything that had ever been stored on the hard drive. Kai’s efforts wouldn’t matter though. Sara’s new account number and password were never saved on that hard drive.
Hearing noises from the alley, she focused her attention between the building and the fence. She could see nothing.
Mike was talking, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. She willed them to leave. Her body itched all over. Pollen from the weeds was up her nose, forcing her to stifle one sneeze after another. Bugs and who knows what else were crawling all over her. They were working their way inside her clothes. She hated bugs.
Hearing a car drive off, she figured it had to be Mike. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to leave while he stayed behind. Hearing more noises in the alley, she caught a glimpse of Ben. She checked her breathing when he paused at the slit to her prison. He was looking down at the weeds. He tried to wedge his shoulder in. He was too fat. He pulled his arm out, and put his face up to the opening. Sara’s pulse raced.
Ben pulled his head back. Picking up a rock, he threw it into the slot. It hit the siding before landing close to her feet. Ben picked up a second stone.
“You got something there?” It was Jarred.
Ben tossed the projectile higher this time, hitting her arm. It hurt. She remained still and silent.
“These weeds have been pushed in.”
Jarred joined Ben to examine her footwork. Sara held her breath. Could she push herself up and over the fence? As tight as she was clamped in, not likely.
“Not even Sara’s that skinny. Must have been made by a dog or something.”
The two moved off. Sara’s heart continued to race.
She waited for the alley to become quiet. They were taking their time. She squeezed her eyes shut to resist the overwhelming desire to squeal each time something ran across her foot or climbed up her pant leg.
After several minutes of silence, she started the trek out. At the end of her personal canyon, she stopped and peeked out. Someone was at the far end of the alley; the other direction was clear. Sara pulled her head back into the slot and slowly counted to ten. She surveyed the alley a second time. It was lifeless.
She slithered out. Staying as close to the garage door as possible, Sara worked her way over to the gate. Although the night was chilly, her body was covered with sweat.
Once inside the yard, she dropped down on one knee to scan the area in front of her. She quietly brushed off her neck and face. It didn’t help. Her skin itched all over. She still felt like something was crawling down her neck and up her arms.
A light was on in Derry’s bedroom, but the house appeared void of assailants. She worked her way around the yard once again. Approaching the bedroom window, she peeked in to spy out the phone’s location. It was right where it had fallen. She dropped to all fours and crawled along the house to the back sliding door. Pushing it open, she slipped inside and closed it behind her. Gazing back out, she paused. Nothing. She rose, and maneuvered to Derry’s bedroom. Dropping down once more, she retrieved his phone before relocating to the living room.
Lamar’s name showed up at the top of the list of contacts. She pushed call.
“What’s going on, buddy? Is everything okay?” He sounded sleepy.
“Lamar, it’s Sara.” She spoke in a soft, quick whisper. Her throat was dry.
There was a pause before Lamar came back. “Is everything okay? You in trouble? Where’s Derry?”
“Some men grabbed him. They’re after me now.” Sara swallowed, trying to get the gruffness out of her voice.
“Are these the same men as before?”
Lamar would learn everything soon enough, but she needed his help now. “Yes, I used to work for them. They want me because I stole their money. I was in the guesthouse when they showed up. I escaped, but they grabbed Derry. They shot him. They’re going to kill him if you don’t help.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m in Derry’s house.”
“I’ll call for ba
ckup, and be there as soon as I can. Go to the Knights’ house and wait for me there.”
“No! Don’t call the police. He’ll have someone monitoring their radios. If he knows the police are involved, he’ll kill Derry immediately.”
“Who’ll be monitoring the radios?”
“Ulrich Levy.”
A short pause. “Ok, I won’t use the police radios. I’ll be there in fifteen. That’s as fast as I can make it. Go to the Knights’ house now.”
“I will. Just hurry.”
The line went dead. Sara slid the phone into her pocket, moved toward the back door, and slid it open.
***
As the car bounced along, Derry drifted in and out of consciousness. They’d thrown him into the car on his wounded shoulder. After several sharp bumps, he twisted his body, hoping to save his shoulder more abuse. This action brought its own round of self-inflicted pain.
“Where are you taking me?” A dumb question maybe, but he wanted to know.
Mike glanced back at Derry. “You’re still alive and up for more questioning. Good.”
Not the answer he had hoped for. “What do you want with me? I already told you I don’t know where she is.”
Mike kept his head pointed forward. “If you want to live, you’d better come up with an answer.”
“I’m dead anyway. What does it matter?” Derry worked to sit up.
Mike backhanded him across the mouth. “Stay down.”
Derry dropped back out of Mike’s view. He peeked out the side window. From this poor vantage point, he observed the tops of some older buildings. That narrowed his location down to half of Denver. Not much help.
The car slowed, and turned onto a side road. Derry ran different scenarios through his head, trying to think of a way to get free. His chances of escape diminished once he was taken into a building. If he hoped to liberate himself, he had to do it outside. But how? His feet and hands were bound.
The car pulled up alongside a brick building. Mike turned off the engine and stepped out. Opening the rear door at Derry’s feet, Mike grabbed his legs by the cloth tied around them and yanked his body partway out.
“Ouch!”
He pulled Derry the rest of the way out and hoisted him up. Derry let his legs give out beneath him.
Mike grabbed him before he hit the ground. “Stand up.”
He acted weak and wobbly, more than he felt. “I can’t. My legs are crossed. I can’t get them straight.”
Mike dropped him back into the car. Bending down, he pulled out a knife and cut the wraps on Derry’s ankles. “There. Now stand up.”
Derry rapidly pulled both legs up and thrust his feet into Mike’s face with a hard, direct plunge. Mike flew against the brick wall, hitting his head. Jumping out of the car, Derry hopped over him and headed toward the alley entrance. He raced past the back of the car. The street was only ten feet away.
A sharp pain exploded in the back of his leg and up to his hip. The leg gave out, and he crumpled to the asphalt.
Rolling over to his stomach, Derry tried to reach back with his bound hands. Just able to touch the area with his finger tips, he felt something sticking out.
Mike walked up. “Nice kick you have there. I didn’t think you had that much life left in you.” He reached down and yanked the knife out of Derry’s leg. “Better get you inside. I need to stop that bleeding. I’d hate to have gone through all this work, only to have you die before Levy questions you.”
He wiped the knife on Derry’s pants before closing it and sliding it into his pocket. Grabbing Derry’s good arm, Mike pulled him up and half carried, half dragged him up a few steps and into a building, then dropped him unceremoniously on the cement floor just inside.
A tall woman about Sara’s age arrived.
“Get me the first aid kit.” Mike rolled Derry to his side, and ripped open the knife hole in the back of his pants. “It’s not bleeding too bad. You won’t die from this.”
The woman was back within two minutes, and handed Mike the kit.
“Now, go get Levy. Tell him we have Derry Conway.”
She glanced down at Derry before leaving. Mike went to work on Derry’s leg. It was a quick patch, not meant to last.
By the time he was done, Levy showed up with the woman following behind. “What about Sara?”
Mike stood. “She must have heard us coming. She escaped out the back before we could get to her.”
“You’re telling me you blew it?” His voice boomed.
“It wasn’t me. Jarred and Ben came in through the back. They let her slip past them.”
“And where are those two fumbling idiots now?” Levy’s voice came down a notch.
“Searching the neighborhood.”
Derry thought it sadly humorous to see the big man cowering.
“If they don’t find her, they’re dead. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll have you replaced, too, if you’ve lost her.”
Levy glanced past Mike to Derry. “Is this all you have for me?”
“Her computer’s in the trunk. It should have something useful on it.”
Levy continued looking down at Derry. “Does he know anything?”
“He’s playing dumb, but she’s been sharing his bed for who knows how long. He has to know something.”
“Take him to Vance. I’ll be down in a few minutes. Tell him to get things ready. Then get back to Conway’s house and help find Sara.” Turning to the woman, he added, “Get the computer. See what’s on it.”
The woman went out the door, and Levy headed back down the hall. Mike picked up Derry, and dropped him at the foot of the stairs. After a few words with an even larger man, he left.
The man glanced over at Derry. A chill ran down Derry’s spine.
Chapter 45
Sara surveyed the backyard one last time. It never looked so big. The door to the guesthouse stood open. Taking a breath, she raced the twenty-five feet from Derry’s house to hers. Rushing in, she made a dash for the bedroom and dropped to her knees just inside the doorway. She grabbed the partially fastened baseboard and yanked on it. Pulling the one small nail loose, she tossed the baseboard aside. She reached in and felt around for her objective.
Her heart froze. Her hand went from one side to the other of the small area before landing on her goal. Grabbing the jump drive, she rose and shoved it into her pocket.
Next stop, the Knights’ house. She stepped to the bedroom door, and stalled. Ahead of her, in the living room, was the outline of a man. Was it Lamar?
Too small, too skinny. Jarred.
She looked around for a new escape route. The window. Jumping over her bed, she unlocked the window and slid the sash up. She punched out the screen, and shoved the top half of her body through the opening. Her belt buckle caught on the windowsill. Kicking wildly, she broke free.
“Got you, you little tramp.”
Her body was suddenly going the wrong way. She was being pulled back into the house. She threw her arms out on both sides of the window and pushed as she kicked, but Jarred was too powerful. Both arms scraped against the windowsill as her body was dragged back in. He tossed her onto the bed like a rag doll.
She bounced up and ran for the bedroom door. Ben blocked her path.
Sara screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear. Ben clamped one hand over her mouth, and grabbed her around the waist with his free hand. With both of his hands occupied, Sara broke her hands free and dug her fingernails deep into his face. This time, he was the one screaming. He drew back. Her hands followed, continuing to rip at his face. His hold on her fragmented then broke as he used both hands to cover her target.
Sara ducked under his arms and pushed with her legs. Again, she felt her body sna
p backwards. Her shirt pulled tight against her body. She flew across the room. Her small frame smashed up against the far wall. She spun around as the lights came on. Ben covered the door. Jarred covered the window. She sprung at Jarred with her claws out.
One well-placed smack across her head knocked Sara off course. She fell on her nightstand, knocking its contents to the floor.
“You want to try that again?” Jarred glared down at her. He stood ready. Her last hope vanished.
Pain shot through her side. It was her rib.
“I guess not.” She worked her way to her feet. She glanced at Ben. She’d done a job on his face. Blood ran down both sides. “You should get that looked at. It could get infected.”
“You think you’re real funny don’t you?” Ben stepped into her bathroom and grabbed the hand towel. He returned, dabbing his face.
Jarred made a short phone call—“We got her”—then informed Ben that Mike was on his way.
Sara’s heart sank. Derry would be killed, and it was her fault. She should have waited to get the jump drive. She should have waited until Lamar was here to protect her.
***
Derry sat in an old wooden chair. Metal strips hung loose next to his arms and legs. His shoulder and leg ached. He looked down at the bands of cloth slowing the blood.
Levy showed up holding a small stack of papers. “Derry Conway, accountant, black belt second degree, former street thug. I see you’ve been mixed up with the police, too.” He set the papers on a table and glared down at Derry. “Where’s Sara?”
“I told your goon, I don’t know.”
“But he thinks you do.” Levy paused for a few seconds. “Do you know what you’re sitting in?”
Derry examined the chair more closely. It was a nightmarish contraption out of the 1930s. It looked like an old electric chair, the type seen in movies.
“A homemade electric chair? Your high school science project?”
Fatal Transaction (Thriller & Suspense, Cyber Crime) Page 24