by Mary Abshire
A set of cars passed along the street. He glanced at the cell in his hand. The time on the screen showed 12:15. If he didn’t see them by 12:25, he’d know something had gone wrong. The thought of anything happening to them, especially Emily, soured his stomach. He wasn’t the type of person to break into a home, wave a gun, and make threats. But if it allowed him to free Emily and Troy, he’d do it. Besides, Emily and Troy were not the criminals in this situation. Carl and Nancy were the ones who needed to be behind bars.
The area was quiet except for a dog barking in the distance. The close-knit, deteriorating homes with small yards reminded him of several of his friends’ neighborhoods in Chicago. He scanned each house briefly, checking the windows for any nosy neighbors. Either most people were at work or they were hiding inside. Since he no longer saw Emily, he assumed she’d made it into Carl and Nancy’s home. Thankfully, the plan seemed to be going smoothly.
He twisted around to survey the street again. A block away, an older man with white hair and glasses finished rounding the corner. He wore a lightweight jacket and jeans. The small dog on a leash in front of him trotted at a steady pace toward Andrew.
Staying calm, Andrew glanced at the phone. A few minutes had passed. He looked up and peered down the street. Two cars were coming up the road. Aside from the dog walker heading his way, there were no signs of trouble.
Andrew quickly formulated a plan if the old man asked him any questions. Troy had given him a good idea what to say. As much as he could, he’d keep the attention on the dog so he’d seem more likable.
The little white dog paused to check out some bushes. Andrew seized the chance to scan the windows again. He spun and checked for any activity. Nothing appeared to have changed from the last time he’d looked. Facing the street again, he gazed in each direction. A few more cars drove by. He glanced at the cell in his hand. From the corner of his eyes he saw the dog approaching him.
Smiling, he squatted to pet the furry four-legged creature. “Hey fella,” he said as the dog sniffed his hand. He held the phone next to his knee, hiding the tattoo on his arm.
“She won’t bite,” the old man said. “She’s a lover.”
“Those are the best kind to have,” Andrew said while the dog licked his fingers. “What’s her name?”
“Sheila.”
“Oh Sheila.” He chuckled as an old song from the eighties came to mind.
“Are you lost?”
Andrew scratched Sheila’s head. “No, I’m waiting on a friend to pick me up. He should be here soon. How old is she?”
“She’s about five years old.”
“Does she have any brothers or sisters?” Andrew asked, hoping to detain the man long enough for Emily and Troy to finish their tasks.
“She’s the only one we have, but my wife got her from a friend who lives on a farm. They breed dogs and sell them.”
Sheila stood on her back two feet and pawed at Andrew’s knee as if she wanted him to pick her up. He rubbed her back.
“A friend of mine says it’s better to have two dogs instead of one,” Andrew said. “They’ll entertain themselves, which leads to a longer life. Plus, two are good for security.”
“My wife’s been bugging me for another one. I love the little lady, but I don’t like getting up before six to take her for a walk. I don’t think I could handle two that early in the morning.”
Andrew continued petting Sheila. She wagged her tail and continued to bump her head against Andrew’s hand. “I think she likes me.”
The old man chuckled. “I’ve had plenty of dogs in my life and I have to say, she’s the sweetest one I’ve had. I swear she knows when you’re not feeling well. She’ll lie on your lap, give you the saddest eyes, and whimper. It makes you forget about being sick.”
“Dogs are smart.”
“Oh, she’s real smart. She’ll sit and wait until you’re done eating before she’ll bother you. And at night, she waits until the wife and I have settled into bed before she jumps up to sleep with us. She also likes to drag her leash to the door when she wants to go outside. If that’s not smart, I don’t know what is.”
Andrew checked down the street in each direction, giving the appearance he was looking for his ride. With his hand on the dog’s back, he glanced at his phone. Troy and Emily had a few more minutes left. He stood, keeping his inked arm near his side.
“She is a sweet one. I’d like to get a dog, but I don’t think my girlfriend likes them too much. She’s more of a cat person,” Andrew said.
“My wife was the same way until she went to her friend’s and saw all the baby puppies. She fell in love and had to have one.” The old man tugged on the harness, trying to steer the dog away. “Come on Sheila, leave him be.”
Andrew debated if he should let the guy go or continue chatting with him. They’d talked long enough that he feared any more questions might make the man suspicious. “It was good talking to you.”
The elderly man started strolling down the sidewalk. “You too.” He gently jerked the leash.
Andrew watched him walk away and quickly surveyed the neighborhood. Six houses down and across the street, a woman was getting into her white car. All the other homes looked the same. The old guy started to pass Carl and Nancy’s place as the woman backed her vehicle down her driveway. A rumble from behind Andrew caught his attention and he looked over his shoulder. An older model car came whizzing around the corner. The blue sedan honked and swerved around the woman coming out of her driveway, and then continued to the end of the street. The old man watched the entire scene while he passed Carl and Nancy’s house.
A trace of relief flowed through Andrew as he meandered along the sidewalk. The man and his dog headed to the end of the block while the woman in the white car proceeded down the street. All appeared normal again. He checked the time on the cell. Emily and Troy had one minute left. He turned around and strolled back to the corner.
Worry crept upon him as he gazed up and down the road. Since they hadn’t returned, he suspected they’d run into a problem. Sure, he had a minute left to wait, but he doubted much would change in the next sixty seconds.
The dog walker and Sheila had finally left the block. Alone again, Andrew lifted the phone. The screen showed 12:25. Emily and Troy’s time had run out and they were nowhere in sight.
He ambled around the corner, hesitating to walk down the sidewalk. Waiting another minute wouldn’t hurt, unless there was a problem. He stopped and took a deep breath. If Emily was in trouble, then it was up to him to get her out of it. He owed her that much.
He headed toward to Carl and Nancy’s house. His pulse increased with each step. Small pieces of trash were trapped in the weeds of one yard. He tucked the phone into one of his back pockets as he passed a home with a white picket fence. Spray paint stained the wood. The next home looked well maintained and clean. He passed two more houses before he reached the one he needed to break into.
The familiar red van sat idle in the driveway. He walked by it and a white car with a smashed taillight. The curtains were drawn inside and the neighbor’s tall fence gave him some privacy. When he noticed the gravel under his shoes grinding too loudly he paused. He started taking gentle steps toward the side of the house.
Troy was right about a window leading to the basement. Many older homes were set up the same way with a ditch in the shape of a half circle surrounding the window. In Chicago, people often put bars on the inside or a cover over the exposed area to keep intruders out. The small window he stood near looked weather beaten and rusted around the edges. Spider webs crowded the corners. Seeing nothing else to prevent him from opening the window, he squatted and then dropped into the cut out area.
The space was small, but he managed to kneel and tried to see inside. Something dark covered the blurry glass. He listened for any kind of sounds and couldn’t hear anything. The bottom left corner stuck out from the frame. While pushing at the opposite end, he tried to grip the edge. Metal scraped, but th
e window barely moved. He tried again and nothing happened. Frustrated, he withdrew the gun from his front pocket. He stared at the weapon, knowing what he had to do. He didn’t like it, but he had to get to Emily.
Gripping the inside of the gun, he swung the handle at the window. With a loud cracking noise, the glass shattered in the center, leaving large sharp pieces at both ends. A putrid chemical smell rushed out and he had to bury his nose in the sleeve of his shirt. Holding his breath, he hurried to knock out the remaining jagged bits. His thoughts remained focused on Emily. He didn’t care what he had to do to help her, even if it meant if he had to clobber Carl or Nancy. One way or another, he was going to save his friend.
****
Emily heard a dulled smash. She and Troy stood still with their hands up in a cluttered and filthy living room while Carl and Nancy were a few feet away pointing guns at them. The glass-breaking sound had captured Nancy’s attention and she turned her gaze to the hallway behind and to her left. The distraction was exactly what Emily and Troy needed.
She rushed at Nancy and then kicked her leg up. Before Nancy realized Emily had moved, Emily’s foot hit Nancy’s hand. The gun went flying in the air. Fist clenched, Emily threw it straight for Nancy’s face. She smacked the pink-haired woman in the nose. There was a snap and Nancy’s head jerked back. Nancy scrambled to catch her balance as blood started drooling down her lips and chin.
“My nose. My nose,” Nancy cried, her voice sounding distorted. She held her hands to her face.
Emily quickly looked at Troy. His hand was on Carl’s wrist, keeping the weapon lowered while he punched Carl in the face. Troy had always been fast. All he’d needed was the right opportunity to take a shot. She’d trusted he’d make his move when Nancy turned her head. That’s why Emily acted too. Carl stumbled from the blow to his face. Troy snatched the gun from his hand so quick and easy it was as if he were taking candy from a baby.
Emily spotted the weapon Nancy had dropped on the floor. She darted for it while Nancy continued to whine about her nose. The cries of pain sounded worse than an infant screaming. She was half tempted to punch the woman again to get her to shut up. Gun in hand, she spun and pointed it at Nancy.
“About fucking time,” Troy said, aiming his weapon at Carl.
Since they’d entered the house, Carl had held them at gunpoint. Nancy had opened the door to let him in. Emily had dashed inside behind him only to find Carl standing nearby with the gun he’d stolen from her in his hand. Lucy had never made an appearance. They had kept the two druggies busy chatting while they waited for Andrew to show up. Emily had never given up hope that he would.
“Give him a break. This could be his first time,” she said. “And you’re holding my gun.”
“We’ll be taking both guns with us,” Troy told Carl.
“You broke my nose,” Nancy cried, standing near the wall.
“Can I shoot her?” Emily asked, staring at the annoying woman.
“I wish you could so she’d shut the fuck up.” Troy kept a firm gaze on his target.
Carl slowly lifted his hands. His eyes were red and he stank of body odor. “Look, there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Emily almost laughed. The drug-heads had made a huge mistake by stealing from her.
“You right. You misunderstood who you were fucking with,” Troy said. “Now, where are my friend’s belongings?”
“Can’t we talk about this?” Carl asked.
“Are you fucking serious, motherfucker?” Troy lifted the gun to the man’s head. “Where. Is. Her. Bag?”
“It’s back in the bedroom,” Carl said with a slight tilt of his head.
“I’ll look,” Emily said before she moved forward. “Bitch, lead the way.”
She held the weapon firm in both her hands as she directed it at Nancy. Although Emily had never shot a person before, she would in self-defense. She hoped she’d never have to pull the trigger, but if someone ever tried to hurt her, she wouldn’t hesitate. Nancy was safe from a bullet, but not from Emily’s fists.
“You fucking bitch.” The words were muffled behind Nancy’s hands.
Emily stood near the annoying woman. Gripping the gun, Emily swung it and hit the side of Nancy’s face. Nancy’s head turned and she cried like a little girl.
“Get moving or I’ll start cracking your ribs next,” Emily said.
“Honey, do what she says,” Carl said.
“Yes, we haven’t got all fucking day,” Troy said.
Emily grasped her gun with one hand while she shoved Nancy with her other. The woman continued to bawl as she walked down the dark hallway. There were several open and closed doors on both sides. They passed the kitchen on the left and proceeded to a room on the right. Nancy pushed the door opened and it squealed. The unmade bed had money all over it. Emily kept her back to the exit, blocking it. She spotted her bag on the floor near a dresser.
“Put everything back in the bag,” she told Nancy.
The woman started gathering the cash from the mattress. She sniffled, or tried to, and then coughed. Blood from her hands smeared on the bills. Emily’s temper rose and she gripped the weapon firmer. She’d have to clean the money later.
“Speed it up,” Emily said in a stern tone.
Nancy strode to the bag with her hands full of bills. She stuffed them in the computer case.
“Bring it here,” she told Nancy. “Set it near my feet.”
The woman obeyed.
“Now get the rest of the money,” Emily said.
Nancy returned to the bed. While she collected more cash, Emily squatted to retrieve her bag. She placed one hand inside and felt the coolness of her laptop. Taking the strap of the case, she placed it over her head before she straightened.
Nancy delivered more money. As she pushed inside the bag, Emily pressed the gun to Nancy’s head.
“I know there’s more,” Emily said.
Nancy took a step back and swung her hand toward the gun. Emily jerked it out of Nancy’s reach and then punched Nancy’s eye with her free hand. Nancy stumbled back. When she bumped into the bed, she fell backward on it.
Emily lowered her weapon. She clenched her teeth as she tried not to beat the bawling woman. Could Nancy be any dumber? Drugs slowed her movements. She was no match against someone clean and sober.
Shaking her head, Emily moved closer to Nancy. “Where’s the rest of my money?”
“Under the bed,” Nancy said between sobs.
Emily kept her attention on Nancy as she walked to the side of the bed. She squatted and then reached under the mattresses. Her hands bumped into two boxes. She scooted them toward her and then removed the lids. Cash had been dumped into each shoebox. Nancy continued crying like a little girl while Emily reclaimed her money. Even her wallet had been placed in one of the boxes. She left behind the bags of crack, but was half tempted to take them to destroy them.
“You really should get off the drugs,” Emily said as she headed to the door with her goods. “That shit rots your brains and teeth.”
Nancy whimpered as Emily left the room. As she proceeded down the hall, one of the closed doors began to move. Emily paused and raised her weapon. Her pulse sped. Although she suspected the person on the other side could be Andrew, she wasn’t taking any chances. When Andrew emerged from behind the door, his back facing her, she lowered the gun.
“Easy, big guy,” she said.
Andrew spun with the small gun she’d given in his hand. The look of shock on his face quickly changed to relief. She smiled as she walked toward him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Glad you could join our party,” she said as she passed by him.
She couldn’t deny her happiness to see him. He hadn’t done anything, but the notion that he’d come to help showed he cared. She’d doubted him some, but had hoped he’d eventually make an appearance. Now that he had, she could trust him a little more.
She walked around the corner with Andrew in t
ow. “I’ve got my stuff.”
“Glad to see your friend finally arrived,” Troy said. “What took you so long?”
“Me or him?” Emily paused behind Troy.
“Him.”
“The basement is a mess and it stinks horribly,” Andrew said. “I kept wanting to gag.”
Emily stepped near him and took a whiff near his neck. He stood still and his lips twitched as if he were enjoying her closeness. He reeked of a chemical odor.
“Drugs,” she said. “I bet the police would love this place.”
“I feel like I need to shower,” Andrew said.
Emily continued to the door. She shoved the gun into the bag, cramming the dirty cash deeper inside. The zipper didn’t want to move as she tried to close the case. She withdrew her wallet and then tried to align the teeth again. This time the zipper sealed, though she still had a bulge in the bag. She’d have to carry her billfold by hand back to the car.
“Ready to go when you are,” she said to Troy.
“Do I need to remind you not the call the cops?” Troy asked Carl. “Or would you like them to find your drugs?”
Carl frowned. “I won’t call anyone.”
“Good, because if you do, I’ll be back to kill you personally,” Troy said before he backed away from Carl.
Emily opened the door. “Go ahead,” she told Andrew.
He tucked the small gun under his shirt and into his pocket. Once it was concealed, he walked out of the house. She followed him but paused on the porch. Troy came out with his hand and the gun hidden inside his jacket. He shut the door behind him.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he said as he strode down the front steps.