Sun Catcher - Book Two

by Giselle Fox

  “Put the gun down, Barnie,” Mama said. She stood behind him with her shotgun aimed.

  Joe writhed around on the porch until he found his weapon. He wiped at his eyes and aimed blindly.

  “Better tell him to put that down before I shoot him,” Mama said to Barnie.

  “For Christ sake, toss the gun, Joe!” Barnie yelled.

  “Bitch!” Joe screamed but he threw his gun over the porch.

  “You girls are in some deep shit now,” Barnie hissed between his teeth.

  Taylor blasted him in the face with the pepper spray.

  “Agh shit!!” Barnie screamed.

  Mama handed Taylor the taser. Taylor took it and dropped Barnie to his knees with one jolt. Both women watched his body stiffen in pain.

  “What were you saying about deep shit, Barnie?” Taylor asked sweetly. She gave him another jolt in the back.

  Mama took the porch steps two at a time. “Your turn, Joe.” She pointed the barrel of her gun at his chest. “This here’s a twelve gauge and I really don’t like you so shut up and get up.”

  Joe rose slowly to his feet as he tried to focus on her.

  “Down the steps,” mama coached him.

  “I can’t see!”

  “Then fall down them, I don’t give a shit, just go!”

  Joe stumbled down the steps and landed on the ground beside Barnie.

  “Tell me, did you kill Gus or was it Stinger? I know one of you snakes did it,” Mama demanded.

  “Fuck you,” he yelled. His face had begun to look like a roasted pig’s. Taylor sprayed him again for good measure.

  “Ahhhhh!!!” he wailed.

  “I bet it was you,” Mama said and nudged him with the barrel again.

  “It was Stinger, for fuck sake, isn’t it obvious? He shot him with that gun of his. Dumb shit!” he shrieked.

  Mama gritted her teeth and turned to Taylor. “You’re getting all this, right?”

  Taylor pulled the recorder from her jacket pocket and showed it to her.

  Mama’s smile grew dangerous. “Don’t you think it’s strange that Stinger isn’t here yet?” Mama called to Joe.

  “Fuck!” he shouted and stamped the dirt ground with his feet. His eyes were swollen and his face was so puffy it had nearly turned purple.

  “Let’s cuff them inside the barn,” Taylor said.

  “Oh no you fucking don’t!” Joe waved his hands out in front of him. “You come near me, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

  “Shock him,” Mama said calmly.

  Taylor zapped him in the shoulder and then twice again in the thigh. He hit the dirt like a sack of bricks.

  “You boys got an option,” Mama said. “You either get up and walk to the barn right now or Sandy can keep zapping and spraying you until you do. Which one will it be?”

  It only took a little more coaxing until both cops complied. Mama walked behind them with the gun poised while Taylor cuffed them around the old metal thrasher. Both men screamed and shouted, but once the barn door was shut, things got a lot quieter.

  “Good job,” Taylor said. They pulled each other into a quick embrace.

  “I’ll go get Max,” Mama said and hustled up the porch steps again. When she returned, Max looked as happy as ever.

  “What did you do?” Taylor asked.

  Her mother grinned. “Gave him a movie on my iPad.”

  Taylor shook her head. “We better move.” She hoisted Max’s seat with one arm.

  They headed toward the car but then both women stopped dead in their tracks when they heard a low rumble in the distance.

  “Shit!” Taylor cursed. “You think it’s Stinger?”

  “Maybe,” Mama said as she listened carefully. “It’s more than two, maybe four.”

  Taylor knew if Stinger brought more men than that with him, they were done for. “In the car,” she said. “Hurry!”

  They scrambled behind the barn and into the car. Taylor clicked Max into his car seat and jumped behind the wheel. The tires spun as they peeled out. If they made it to the road, Taylor knew they might have a chance. But as they hurtled down the long dusty driveway, the bikes pulled in. At the head of the pack was Stinger.

  Taylor’s stomach dropped. She turned to her mother and saw the same fear in her eyes.

  “Guess this might get rough,” Mama said as she gripped her shotgun. Her jaw clenched as she turned back to look at Max who was happily playing with his feet.

  “Leave the gun,” Taylor said.

  Mama nodded and put her rifle down on the floor. “Damn.”

  Taylor stuffed the taser into the pocket of her jacket. She held her breath as Stinger cut his engine and climbed off his bike. His two enforcers, Soren and Jimmie were at his side. Taylor had known Jimmie since they were kids. He’d managed to get himself kicked out of school more times than he ever went. Stinger had picked him up and given him purpose. She knew Soren was evil through and through. She’d seen what he’d done to his own girl and figured he wouldn’t have any problem doing worse to her.

  Stinger grinned back at her through the dusty windshield. It sent a cold shiver straight through her.

  “Put your hands where I can see them,” he hollered.

  The women raised their hands above the dash.

  “Come on out,” he ordered.

  “Here goes,” Taylor whispered as they both slowly opened their doors.

  ***

  “At least you’re prepared,” Charlie whispered.

  Jericho slung her vest around her shoulders and strapped herself in. She lowered the trunk quietly. “I say we go through there.” She pointed to a thin patch in the brambles. “That’ll keep us off the driveway.”

  “Roger that,” Charlie said.

  They tucked in through the underbrush and crept quietly over the uneven ground up a small rise of rocks. Below, they could see a lone biker standing guard.

  “Okay, here’s the taser,” Jericho said as she offered it to Charlie.

  “I can’t taze him, he’s a walking heart attack. I don’t want that on my conscience.”

  Jericho sighed. “Then we’ll have to gag him and tie him up.”

  Charlie grinned. “Got any cuffs?”

  Jericho reached into her side pocket and handed them to her.

  Charlie eyed the biker. “Give me a minute.” She scooted sideways through the bush and circled back along the path.

  “Wait!” Jericho whispered but Charlie had already been spotted.

  “Oh, hi there,” Charlie called to him and waved. “I’m Laura Stevens, the realtor. You must be Gary Walsh,” she offered her hand.

  The biker took a step forward and shook his head. “You got the wrong driveway, Laura.”

  Charlie looked around. “No, this is right. Two o’clock Saturday with the Walshs. Maybe I got the date wrong. Just let me check.”

  “It’s not …” the biker began.

  But Charlie cut him off. “Could you hold this for a sec’?” She thrust her purse into his hand. He grabbed it and as soon as he did, Charlie slapped the set of cuffs on his wrist and kneed him in the back of the leg. When he dropped to the ground, Charlie swung behind him and latched his other hand behind his back.

  “Hey! Hey!” the biker began to shout.

  Jericho emerged from the underbrush with her gun raised. “Quiet, big fella.”

  “Stinger! Jimmie!” he shouted. His voice echoed up the driveway.

  “They would’ve heard that,” Charlie said. She pulled the silk scarf from around her head and twisted it up tight.

  “Say goodbye to that scarf,” Jericho said.

  Charlie wrenched the scarf between the biker’s teeth. “It’s either this or the ball gag.”

  “You have a ball gag in your purse?”

  Charlie glanced up at her. “I wish. It’s in my suitcase.” Charlie held out her hand. “Cocktail?”

  “Side pocket,” Jericho said and lifted her arm so Charlie could grab the syringe from her vest. “Let�
�s pull him off the path.”

  “Uff oof!!” yelled the biker.

  “Calm down, big boy. We’re going to take you somewhere where you can have a nice little siesta and forget all about us.” Charlie stuck the needle into his neck. Two seconds later his eyes dropped. “And … down,” she said when he hit the dirt face first.

  Jericho holstered her weapon and nodded into the bush. “Let’s pull him over behind that tree.”

  They dragged his sleeping body through the brambles. When they were safely off the path, Jericho grabbed one boot and Charlie grabbed the other.

  Charlie gagged. “Oh my god, his feet are wretched!” She threw the boot as far as she could. Jericho tossed the other one down the embankment. Everything was silent and still.

  “Maybe they didn’t hear,” Charlie whispered.

  “I doubt it. Put your mask on.”

  Charlie stared at her. “Do I look like I have a mask?”

  Jericho scowled.

  “Forgive me for not having a mask in my purse, Miss Go Go Gadget Vest. This wasn’t exactly planned!”

  “There’s no point in me wearing one then,” Jericho said. “It’s too hot anyway.” She pulled another gun from her holster and handed it to Charlie. “Here, take it.”

  Charlie stared at it. “No guns, Jay.”

  “It’s loaded with rubber bullets. Just aim for something soft.”

  Charlie smiled and took the gun.

  “You go around that way and come up from the back side. I’ll meet them head on.”

  “Roger that,” Charlie said and took off through the bushes.

  ***

  Taylor and her mother stepped out of their car slowly as Stinger watched. Soren aimed his pistol while Jimmie came up fast beside them.

  “Kid’s in the back, Stinger,” he called. He eyed Taylor. “He’s taking back what’s his.”

  “Is that what he told you?”

  Jimmie glared and lunged his body at her to make his point.

  “You think he dragged you out here to take back the boy?” she yelled.

  “Shut up, Sandy,” Stinger yelled as he came at her. He grabbed the shoulder of her jacket and slammed her against the car.

  Max started to wail in the back seat.

  “Fuck you, Jeff,” Taylor hissed.

  He pressed his face against hers. “Think you can run from me?”

  “I did, didn’t I? Get off me.”

  “I want the books,” he said. “Where are they?”

  “They’re buried somewhere along with your soul.”

  Stinger pressed his full weight against her, crushing her back against the car. The smell of him made her sick. “Murdering pig,” she whispered.

  He pulled back and slapped her hard.

  Taylor tasted blood in her mouth. The taser dropped to the ground. Stinger laughed and kicked it away. Then he slapped her again. Her head was spinning from the hit but adrenaline began to rush through her and clear away the fog. “God, I hate you.”

  He glared back at her. “Think I give a shit?”

  “You’re not here to take your son, admit it.”

  “Whatever,” Stinger said.

  She glanced over at Jimmie who was starting to look confused. “I ain’t killing a kid, Stinger.”

  “Shut up, Jimmie,” Soren shouted.

  “You shut up,” Jimmie yelled back.

  “Both of you, shut the fuck up!” Stinger shouted.

  Taylor could see he was already beginning to unravel. “I’ll tell you where the books are if you let us go.”

  “You’ll tell me where the books are anyway,” he hissed. “Or I’ll have Soren rearrange Diane.”

  “Rat bastard!” Mama hollered from the other side of the car.

  “Soren!” Stinger shouted.

  Jimmie looked concerned. Taylor stared at him, pleading with her eyes. He’d spent more than a few nights at her house when they were kids and she knew he wasn’t all bad. Beating up people was one thing, but roughing up someone that had fed him when his parents were too stoned was another.

  “Diane, just tell him what he wants to know,” Jimmie yelled.

  “Soren, get away from her,” Taylor screamed as he grabbed her mother by the hair. Mama kicked at him with her steel-toed cowboy boots and connected with his shins but Soren hit her and she fell to the ground.

  “Feel like a man, Soren? Beating up women makes you feel real tough, doesn’t it,” Taylor yelled.

  Soren growled and held his gun up at Max.

  “Put that fucking gun down!” Stinger shouted at him.

  Jimmie held his gun up at Soren too. “Yeah, put the gun down you sick shit!”

  Soren shook his head and lowered his gun. “Shut the fuck up, Jimmie!”

  And then, Jimmie shot him, square in the shoulder. Soren reeled back a few feet, and examined where the bullet hit him. Then he glared at Jimmie, raised his gun and shot at him, but missed altogether. His second bullet hit Jimmie in the side. Jimmie staggered a few feet and then sat down heavily on the ground.

  Stinger began to scream as both of his men grunted with pain. “Fucking hell!!”

  “Mama! Are you okay?” Taylor called across the hood of the car. She couldn’t see her but she hoped to God she was safe on the ground. Taylor heard a groan that sounded familiar and felt a rush of relief.

  Stinger held his arm out for her to stay where she was. He took a few steps back to look at Jimmie who was looking paler by the second. With a big roundhouse kick, Stinger kicked him in the head. Jimmie hit the dirt hard.

  Taylor didn’t dare move. Soren was still swearing somewhere on the other side of the car. Stinger was madder than a hornet and that made him unpredictable and dangerous.

  “Where are the books, Sandy,” he hissed between his teeth.

  Taylor started to speak but he held up his hand to silence her. “For every bullshit answer you give me, I’m gonna put a bullet in your bitch of a mother.”

  “You’re gonna put a bullet in me anyway, you lousy shit-for-brains excuse for a son-in-law!” Mama grumbled from the ground.

  “Come out where I can see you, Diane!” Stinger ordered.

  Mama laughed. “You want to see me, Jeffrey, you do the moving.”

  Taylor watched Stinger’s face turned three shades redder.

  “Soren!” he yelled. But there was no answer.

  “A fine crew you have here, Jeffrey James. First, they shoot each other, and now Soren here has passed out at the sight of his own blood,” mama jeered.

  Taylor tried her best not to smile.

  “Shit!” Stinger yelled. He pressed the barrel of his gun to Taylor’s throat and stared into her eyes. “I’m going to kill her right now, Sandy. Tell me where those fucking books are!”

  “I’ll tell you, but first you have to let my mama and Max go. Then, I swear, I’ll show you where I buried them.”

  Stinger considered this for a second.

  “Please, let them go. He’s your son, let him live a normal life with a home and someone that loves him.” Her voice cracked and tears began to flood her eyes. “This is just you and me here. Please, Jeff. Please,” she whispered.

  He looked at her sullenly and for a fleeting second, she thought maybe she’d got through to him. But then he gritted his teeth and leaned in closer.

  “No,” he whispered.

  Taylor’s legs turned to jelly. “No?”

  “That’s right, no!” he said louder so that her mother could hear him.

  “Asshole,” she called from the ground.

  Stinger took a few quick steps to the front of the car, leaving Taylor pressed against the driver side door. He raised his gun to take aim. And then Taylor saw it, a flash of movement behind the trees.

  “Drop your weapon, Jeffrey James! Drop it now or I will shoot!”

  Taylor recognized the voice instantly. Stinger stopped dead in his tracks and raised his arms. He spun to face Jericho with his gun still in his hand.

  Jericho emerged fr
om behind the tree with her weapon poised. She moved fast at Stinger until she stood a body’s length in front of him. “Drop it!!!” she bellowed.

  “Why? You gonna shoot me?” Stinger taunted.

  “Drop it!” yelled another voice from behind the car.

  Taylor whirled and saw Charlie creeping along the path behind them with her gun raised.

  Then Taylor heard the familiar click-click. Her mother stood up and took aim with her shotgun. “Drop the gun you sack of shit.”

  Stinger looked from woman to woman and then focused on Jericho. “You don’t look like cops,” he said between his teeth. His eyes moved slowly, calculating each face again. His eyes rested on her mother.

  “Diane, you might hate me enough to shoot, but you wouldn’t do it in front of the boy, now would you?”

  Taylor looked at her mother and knew that Stinger might be right.

  Stinger turned slowly and faced Jericho. “The big question is, who are you?” He took a step closer with his gun still in his hand. “I ain’t seen a badge, that means you’re some kind of friend just trying to help out.” He took a small step closer.

  Jericho thrust her pistol toward him. “I’ll give you one more warning, drop it!”

  “You must be a mighty close friend to put yourself in this kind of situation. Is that about right? Are you one of her close friends?”

  “Drop your weapon,” Jericho hissed.

  “What? You think I don’t know? This is personal, ain’t it?”

  “Drop it, Jeff,” Taylor yelled.

  Stinger lowered his arms and gave Jericho a patronizing look. “You gonna shoot me, bitch? Nah, I don’t think so.”

  “I will,” said Charlie and with that, she let go five rounds of rubber bullets into Stinger’s back and legs.

  “Agh! Shit!” he screamed as he dropped to the ground. Jericho kicked his gun into the brush.

  Everyone looked at Charlie.

  “He totally deserved that,” she said.

  Mama stepped forward and pointed her barrel at Stinger’s foot. “Just so we’re clear, Jeffrey - I may not shoot you dead in front of my grandson, but I’ll have no problem relieving you of a boot if you try anything. Now shut up before you scare the boy!”