Survive The Fall | Book 5 | Fight Back

by Shupert, Derek

  Sarah nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  The Creeper grabbed the table, and moved it away from the bed, setting it near the open accordion door. He moved across the floor to the headboard and bent down.

  The chain loosened a bit, giving Sarah freedom to move her arm into a more comfortable position. Spencer made his way around the foot of the bed and repeated the process with the other chain.

  “That’s much better. Thank you again,” Sarah said.

  “You’re welcome.” Spencer grabbed her foot and removed her shoe. He dropped it to the floor, and took the other shoe off as well. “Would you like a blanket? It can get rather chilly in here.”

  “A blanket would be nice,” Sarah answered, moving her arms on the bed and adjusting the flat pillows under her matted hair.

  Spencer turned toward the dresser against the wall in front of the bed, and retrieved a folded blanket from one of the drawers. He unfolded it, and draped it over her body. “Would you like another drink of water?”

  Sarah nodded.

  He grabbed the bottle and gave her another drink. She gulped it down.

  “I’ll be back in here first thing in the morning to check on you,” Spencer said, removing the bottle from her mouth. “Sleep well.”

  Sarah gave a simple tilt of her head, swallowed what water remained in her mouth, and adjusted the blanket on her body.

  “I’m glad to see that you are warming up to things here. That makes me happy.” Spencer walked toward the door, and turned off the light. “Good night, Sarah.”

  “Good night.”

  He closed the door, then locked it from the outside.

  The calm and pleasant demeanor Sarah had been using evaporated. She laid in the darkness, and stared off into the endless ether, plotting her next move, and figuring out how she could be rid of the Creeper, once and for all.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  RUSSELL

  The dark, ominous sky hung over Boston like a heavy shroud, shielding the city from the brilliance of the moon and stars.

  Russell peered through the windshield of the Silverado at the front of Sarah’s home. The truck sat in the driveway, parked behind her SUV. The lack of light made it challenging to see through the windows facing the street.

  Clyde turned in his seat and skimmed over the dark, powerless homes near hers. His hand rested on the top of the steering wheel while the other turned the engine off. “There doesn’t seem to be much activity around here.”

  “That’s a good thing,” Rick said from the rear seat. “Though, I’ve seen that change in a blink.”

  “Yeah. We have too.” Clyde glanced at Russell, then asked, “You all right?”

  Russell looked away from Sarah’s home and faced him. “About as good as I can be. Why?”

  Clyde pointed at his hand that rested on the top of his thigh. “I’ve noticed your hand trembling for the past day or so. Just making sure you’re good.”

  Russell peered at his hand that trembled without him even realizing it. The withdrawals of not having any liquor still plagued him, but it lessened with each passing day. “Yeah. I’m good. Nerves and all. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

  “All right. Just wanted to be sure,” Clyde replied, removing the keys from the ignition, and shoving them into the front pocket of his jeans.

  Rick leaned forward from the back seat, and rested both forearms on the tops of the front seats. He pointed at the SUV. “Is that her vehicle?”

  “Yeah. That’s Sarah’s car,” Russell said.

  “Perhaps that’s a good sign. She might be here,” Rick said. “Are we ready to go in?”

  Max sat his haunches next to Rick, panting at the side of his face.

  “Yeah. Just a word of warning. Sarah keeps a pistol in the house,” Russell said, opening his door. “I’ll go in first and check it out. You three wait outside. If she is inside, I don’t want her startled or shooting at any of you.”

  “Duly noted,” Clyde said, opening the driver-side door. “I don’t want that either.”

  “Copy that,” Rick replied.

  Russell got out of the truck, and shut the door behind him. He glanced at the street and the row of dark homes that lined the road. He thumbed the button on his flashlight and walked up the driveway.

  Clyde and the others trailed Russell, following five or so paces behind him. The beams from their lights traced along the drive, then moved up to the front of the house.

  Max trotted out into the yard, sniffing through the overgrown grass and weeds. His brown and black fur blended with the darkness, making it cumbersome to see where he was.

  Russell stopped next to Sarah’s SUV and trained the light at the front passenger window. He pressed his nose to the glass, looked inside the vehicle for a moment, then moved on. His hand felt the hood of her car, finding it to be void of any warmth.

  “I wonder how suspicious this looks with us walking around the front of her house, in the dark, with flashlights,” Clyde said, at Russell’s back. “Do any of her neighbors have firearms that you know of?”

  “I’m not sure if they do or not, but keep your eyes and ears open just to be sure.” Russell made his way down the walkway to the small stack of steps leading to the front door.

  The jingling of Max’s tags dangling from his collar rang out. He trotted past Clyde and Rick and up the steps before Russell. The canine sniffed around the small porch, then looked up at Russell.

  “You’re staying out here for right now,” Russell said, hitting the landing and approaching the front door.

  He leaned to the side and peeked through the front windows. The blinds tilted at an angle, hindering him from being able to see.

  Rick and Clyde stood on the concrete walkway near the landing. Their lights shone at the front door and window.

  “Well?” Rick asked. “What do you see?”

  “Not much. The blinds are in the way, plus its dark in there. I can’t make anything out.” Russell moved away from the window, and knocked on the front door. “Sarah, it’s Russell. You in there?”

  No response came.

  Max stood at Russell’s side, head trained toward the door. The German shepherd sniffed, then sat on his haunches.

  Russell grabbed the doorknob and twisted. It turned. Strange. He didn’t think Sarah would leave it unlocked, considering the state of the city.

  Clyde and Rick advanced up the steps to the porch, then moved off to the side of the front door. Max groaned and nudged Russell’s leg.

  Dipping his chin, Russell stared at the German shepherd. “You’re waiting right here with them while I check things out.”

  Max groaned and tilted his head to the side, giving Russell an odd stare. His ears twitched, and he looked at him with his big, soulful eyes.

  “Come here, big man. We’ll go in shortly,” Clyde said, walking past Rick and rubbing Max’s head. Max looked up at Clyde, then back to Russell. “I got him. We’ll be right here.”

  Russell pushed the door away from the jamb, then peered through the narrow opening to the blackness of the living room.

  The beam from his flashlight shone inside of Sarah’s home as he pushed the door open. The hinges squeaked in the silence. The panting and groans from Max sounded at his back.

  Russell advanced, swept the living room, then trained his light at the dining room table and chairs. He craned his neck and looked to the entrance of the kitchen, listening for any footfalls or other subtle warnings of movement.

  The eerie silence made him worry that Sarah wasn’t there, or she might be unable to answer.

  Clyde stepped over the threshold, and stayed within the doorway. He leaned against the door, and shone his light at the blackness of the hallway. “It’s awfully quiet in here.”

  Russell skirted past the dining room table, and inched his way along the wall toward the kitchen. He toed the corner, and peered around the bend. The light shone on the refrigerator, then down the counters and cabinets, and past the stove on t
he far wall. All seemed in order.

  “Max,” Clyde said in a loud whisper.

  The canine sniffed along the wood floor to where Russell stood. He stopped behind him and looked up.

  “You just couldn’t listen, could you?” Russell asked, rubbing his head.

  Max turned away, then faced the living room. His body grew rigid as he inched his way toward the corner of the wall leading to the hallway.

  Rick stepped inside the home, moved past Clyde, and stood near the windows in the living room.

  “Did he pick up something?” Clyde asked, pointing at Max who walked around the wall, and stared down the hallway.

  Russell trailed the canine, and shone his light at the dark hallway leading to the bathroom and bedrooms. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  Max took a step forward.

  “Sarah,” Russell called out, keeping close to the German shepherd. “It’s Russell. If you’re in here, let me know, babe.”

  The door leading to Sarah’s bedroom opened.

  Max growled and lowered his head.

  Russell trained the beam near the jamb as the door swung inward. “Sarah.”

  A woman emerged from the bedroom. Her hand raised, shielding her face from the bright, intrusive light. “Russell?”

  The weak and timid voice didn’t sound like Sarah, yet, he still recognized it.

  Max growled but didn’t advance.

  Russell skirted past the on-edge canine and made his way down the hall, slow and cautious. He lowered the light from the woman’s face and trained it toward her chest. Max trailed Russell, growling at the unfamiliar person before them. “Mandy? Is that you?”

  She lowered her arm and squinted. Her face had splatters of blood covering a portion of the skin. The bottom corner of her lip looked swollen, and had a small cut that had dried blood on it.

  A look of relief flooded Mandy’s face. She exhaled a sigh and lumbered down the hall to him. “Russell, I’m so glad to see you.”

  Russell opened his arms wide and caught Mandy as she deflated into him. He hugged her close, happy to see a familiar face. “What are you doing here? Is Sarah back there with you?”

  Mandy wept into Russell’s chest. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck as she held onto him for dear life.

  Clyde and Rick flanked the trio, standing in the living room with their flashlights pointed at them.

  Max ceased his growling and meandered past them. He sniffed down the hallway, then peered inside the bedroom.

  Russell hugged Mandy tight, then pulled her away. “What happened to you, and where is Sarah?”

  Mandy slouched, arms falling to either side. Her head dangled toward the floor as she sniffled and wept. Russell held onto her arms, keeping Mandy from dropping to the floor. “I–I don’t know where she is now. I came here hoping that she might’ve gotten away from them and would show up, but she hasn’t.”

  “Got away from who?” Russell wrapped his arm around Mandy’s waist, turned, and helped her to the living room.

  Clyde and Rick moved out of the way.

  Mandy gripped Russell’s arm as he sat her on the couch. She fell against the cushions and leaned back. Both shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Each lid dropped, covering a portion of her weary eyes.

  Russell stooped in front of Mandy’s legs. He placed his hand on her knee. “I need for you to tell me everything you know, please. What happened to the both of you?”

  Clyde approached Russell from the dining room, and handed him a bottle of water. “Here, she looks thirsty. I found this in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks.” Russell unscrewed the cap, and handed her the bottle. Mandy grabbed it and took a hearty sip. “Tell me everything you know.”

  Mandy lowered the bottle, swallowed the mouthful of water, and exhaled. For the next ten minutes, she told Russell what happened with the Irish Mob Boss, Samuel Kinnerk, sending the same hitman who’d killed Russell and Sarah’s daughter to kidnap her and Sarah, and what Kinnerk had planned for them.

  Russell’s jaw dropped. He shook his head in disbelief, stood, and rubbed the back of his head with the palm of his hand. A deep breath of stress, anger, rage, and confusion tormented him all at once.

  “Christ,” Rick said in a low mutter, pacing the living room near the front door and shaking his head. “That piece of shit. I knew Kinnerk was trash, but didn’t know all of that was happening to her.”

  Clyde peered at Russell with his arms folded across his chest, unsure what to say to him.

  Russell balled his hands into fists. His fingers clutched the barrel of the flashlight. Both knuckles turned a milky white as he turned around and held his hand up in the air. “So, let me see if I have all of this straight. Some Irish mob boss named Samuel Kinnerk hired this Man-Bun guy to kidnap Jess to be sold to some dirtbag, and Sarah and I were supposed to be killed that night. Jess ended up dying and now this so-called buyer wants Sarah and you in lieu of her, and me with a slug to the head? Does that about sum things up?”

  Mandy nodded with sad eyes and sniffled. “Yeah. That about sums up what I know. It’s still a bit of a blur. The last time I saw her, Kinnerk was dragging her away down the side of the pier during a gunfight. His goon was shot in the back and landed on me. I managed to slip out from underneath him and hide until the coast was clear, but Sarah was gone. I didn’t see where to, though. It took me a bit to make it back here with everything going on in the city. I didn’t know what else to do or where to go. I’m really sorry, Russell.”

  Russell closed his eyes, huffed, then exhaled through flaring nostrils. A swarm of emotions wouldn’t leave him be. The pounding of his heart increased the more he thought of Jess and Sarah.

  Clyde approached Russell from the side, and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Sarah still might be out there. I know all of this is crushing, but there’s a chance she’s gotten away.”

  Max sat on his haunches next to Russell. The German shepherd tilted his head back, and whined. He flicked his tongue at Russell’s balled fist.

  Russell took a deep breath and relaxed his hands. He opened his eyes, and looked at Mandy’s shiny, red eyes, that gleamed with heartache and sadness. “It’s all right. You have nothing to be sorry about. If I had been here, perhaps none of this would’ve happened. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me for not being around.”

  “This isn’t your fault. Not at all.” Mandy shook her head. “These people are dangerous, and I’m not sure what you could’ve done to stop them if you were here. They might have killed you.”

  “She’s right.” Rick nodded in agreement. “Kinnerk is not to be taken lightly. He’s among the more ruthless bottom feeders in Boston. There’s only one other that I’ve heard about that’s just as bad as him.”

  “Oh yeah? I’ve never heard of him,” Russell replied, his voice full of anger and spite. “For now, though, my main concern is finding Sarah.”

  “If she did get away, where else would she go?” Clyde asked, removing his hand from Russell’s shoulder.

  “My buddy Tim’s place,” Russell answered. “That’s the only other place I can think of where she might have gone. If she isn’t there, then we’ll have to try and track down this Kinnerk fellow and go from there.”

  Rick placed both hands on the sides of his hips. “All right. Sounds like a plan.”

  Russell pointed at Mandy, then glanced at Rick. “Can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?” Rick replied.

  “Take Mandy to the police? Who knows if this Kinnerk guy or his hitman is going to come after her again?”

  Rick hesitated for a moment, peered at Mandy’s flushed face, then said, “Yeah, I can do that. I have some contacts inside the department I can tap for some information. See what I can find out.”

  “Perfect. We’ll meet up at my buddy’s place,” Russell replied. He tapped his finger to his lips. “Also, see what you can dig up on a Spencer Lasater. He’s also a person of interest.”

  “I’ll see what I can
get.” Rick approached Mandy, held out his hand, and helped her off the couch.

  Russell grabbed Rick’s shoulder as he walked away, stopping him. Rick looked back at Russell, then down to his hand. “I can trust you with this, right? There’s a lot riding on it.”

  “I got it,” Rick replied, bowing his head. “I told you I wanted to help, and that’s what I’m going to do. I won’t let anything happen to Mandy.”

  “Please don’t. I’m counting on you. So is Mandy and Sarah,” Russell replied, releasing his shoulder.

  “Do we need to give them a ride to the station?” Clyde asked.

  “I’ll find a way there,” Rick said. “I’m good at improvising.”

  “Mandy can give you the address to Tim’s,” Russell said. He looked at Mandy. “I’m glad you’re all right. I’m going to find Sarah, one way or another.”

  Mandy nodded as Rick escorted her out the front door, vanishing from sight.

  “Man. Things seem to be getting crazier by the second,” Clyde said, fishing his keys from the pocket of his jeans. “Irish mob bosses, kidnappings, and human trafficking. I can’t believe it.”

  Russell glanced around Sarah’s place, and rubbed the top of Max’s head. “Me either, but what I do know is that this Kinnerk guy has made the biggest mistake of his life.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  RUSSELL

  The Ruger sat in Russell’s lap. His finger rested against the side of the trigger guard. The sharp reports of gunfire that crackled in the sky above twisted his nerves, making him squeeze tighter.

  “All right. Almost there.” Clyde craned his neck and studied the street ahead for any roadblocks that could pose a threat as they closed in on Tim’s place.

  The blue-painted wood barricades had been busted in half and covered the intersection. An opening within the broken wood appeared.

  “Do we go through or find another way around?” Clyde asked, slowing the Silverado down.

  Russell examined the blackness of the street and buildings. “I say we go through. Just watch the busted wood and other debris on the road there. I don’t see any trouble right now, and Tim’s place is right up the road here.”