St James Gate (James Webb Rescue Book 1)

by BL Burke

  “You’re a firefighter?” Perry asked nodding toward him.

  “EMT out of Engine 30,” James said looking at Perry. For a quick second, Perry thought James recognized him also, “no tanks yet.” James flung out quickly. Perry heard a crack.

  “Okay, so we just leave him with you?” Marshall asked.

  Perry heard the entrance bell ring. Perry glanced back, so did Marshall.

  Two women came in, both in clothes that could be considered scrub gear.

  “Morning bro,” the slightly taller one said looking at James. Her eyes then saw the pair of Detectives, she stopped, “what’s going on?” Her voice seemed nervous.

  “Councilor Webb,” Marshall said reaching an arm out, “nice to see you out of the office.”

  “Likewise detective,” Said Cindy Webb, assistant DA, taking the hand. Though he never worked with her he knew her reputation for being hot as hell, tough scary and at one-time Marshall’s secret fling.

  “Well, we gotta get out of here, I suppose we give this to you?” he said handing the leash toward James.

  Adeline growled as James took it, James stooped, looking at the girls he pulled something out of his pocket. He opened his palm Perry couldn’t see what it was but it disappeared into Adeline’s mouth like it was never there.

  “Nice to see you again,” Marshall said to Cindy, he was smiling in a different way. It was play acting, they held their gazes and handshakes too long. Maybe it’s still going on. They really “knew” each other, whether it was once or more than once, his partner never told him. Perry let Marshall walk out first then glanced back at Adeline and James, she stopped growling, but there was something else, something about the guy that bothered him. Why did Adeline bark at him? He looks so familiar? Perry rolled up the window as they drove off.

  “By the way,” Marshall said, “I can’t go down for this shit, I did talk to the Captain. I don’t know how long you’ll be riding with me.” Perry nodded absently and checked his watch. He’ll be riding with an old friend soon.

  Chapter 14

  Tomas’s nose itched, he sniffed. Nothing happened. It started to itch more. He tried to scratch but his arms wouldn’t move. His eyes peeled open at the bright light above his head bore down on him with a soft warmth. It felt soothing. Was in the hospital ward? Damn DeShawn beating him. He tried to lift his head, he barely could move his body felt sluggish. His nose itched more, he couldn’t move. His head twisted to the side.

  His chest started to pound, what happened? “Nurse,” he said weakly. They usually had four, where were they? It was itching, more tickling right now, he tried different contortions of his face to stop it. Nothing worked.

  “Nurse?” His voice got louder and the light started to brighten. A loud bang of a metal door rattled. It didn’t smell like the hospital ward, it didn’t feel like one. No other patients, no natural light. He wasn’t in prison.

  He looked at toward his hands. A large orange band crossed his chest, another on his stomach. He was strapped in. He felt his fingers start to move. Beads of sweat flew down his face.

  From his position, he tried to raise his head, it was strapped in. It was almost a doctor’s office. But not a safe place, shiny metal instruments of pain sat on a tray. A clear IV hung limp by his hip. Its needle stuck into the crook of his right arm.

  “What the fu…” he forced out of his dry mouth. Shuffling feet sounded somewhere by his legs, he looked but couldn’t see anyone. He tried to shake hard, violently trying to break free. It didn’t help. His body trembled. The floor was covered with dirt, thin spider webs hung from the ceilings. Spiders can kill you with one bite?

  His breathing started to increase, chest began to heave and strain. The strap dug into him, tearing at his skin. Pressure began in his stomach, he lowered his eyes from his body and saw what he feared from those Slasher movies he enjoyed.

  “Let… me go!” he tried to yell at the silhouette standing above him. The light above him began to burn. He was trapped like those terrible days as a kid, locked in after a good beating. He didn’t like being stuck, he loved open spaces… now he was being held down like a calf at the rodeo. The body didn’t move, they were in green clothes, scrubs with a mask covering the mouth like a surgeon.

  “Where am I,” he coughed out. The steps tapped softly across the floor toward his head, he felt his heart race. His back began to stick to the metal slab as his cold sweat froze. “What are you doing to me?”

  Tomas’s mind filled with random movie scenarios, was he back in a Hostel? In some weird compound for nut jobs?

  “I… Tom… Let me go!,” What happened to him. He saw Vin’s, then flashes, girls, pretty girls dancing, then nothing. Where did he go? Then it hit him he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, like a knife plunging deep into his gut.

  “Nose itch… bathroom” he said.

  The person at his feet spoke. “Then go,” the woman in green said.

  The itch, the pressure in his stomach. He let it go and shut his eyes. Slowly the pressure began to subside. The warmth began to spread down his leg, but he didn’t feel the wetness. Tomas took a deep breath relaxing his stomach. Then realizing someone had done something down there he started to get tremble again… did they mess with him?

  She stepped into the light. The woman’s hair was pushed up, he couldn’t tell the color. But her eyes were brown.

  “You cut it off” he nodded down toward his crotch.

  “It’s there… not that you’ll need it again,” she said, “just didn’t want your disgusting waste messing up the green room.” She looked away, and hung up a new IV bag, she attached a new needle and tube. She started to flick the needle. Bubbles fell down then up on the U bend.

  He swallowed, “what you doing to me?”

  He couldn’t tell what her face looked like he could almost see her scowl. “Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon,” her voice was rash.

  Was she experimenting on him? Going to kill him? Was anyone looking for him? He started to shake again and tried to break free of the restraints. His elbows bounded off the table slightly and crashed back to the metal. A sting shot up his funny bone. Her powerful hand grabbed his elbow, her nails pinching. He tried to pull away from her to his left, he was trapped. The shining needle was inches from his arm, he couldn’t breathe.

  “If I miss it’ll hurt more,” she said. He twisted as the grip clamped and the point was jammed in. He kept twisting as she spun toward the bag.

  A warming sensation began to flow into him and tasted metal in his mouth. He gagged. His body began to feel tired, his eyes started to close.

  “When you wake, you’ll be ready,” the woman said. Her footsteps began to recede. The door latch opened and thought he could hear another voice, a man’s. He drifted off.

  Chapter 15

  James raised his eyebrows at his sister, her keeping secrets from him was like meeting a naturally aggressive dog, rare. Her friend gave him a shot of recognition. Kate, the ballsy chick.

  He smiled. She didn’t. Cindy’s squinted looking back and forth to the two of them, like she was trying to find out where he hid her textbooks so she wouldn’t go back to college.

  “Who was that?” James said, the tall blond cop meant something to her.

  “Detective Thompkins,” Cindy said casually as the door to the dogs opened. Their receptionist walked back in.

  “Abby, could you give Adeline a bath?” James said.

  “Sure,” she said almost skipping. He knew she wanted to do this instead of work the front desk.

  “Hey Abbs how’s finals?” Cindy said to her.

  “Aced em,” She reached for Adeline’s leash, she trotted behind Abby toward the offices. She trusted humans, maybe she wasn’t always a fighting dog.

  Cindy slid her arm around James’ shoulders, they were the same height, though she got the better looks, “James, this is Kate from my office, Kate, this is my fantastic little brother.”

  “Hi,” James said. He could feel he
r staring him down. The dirty jeans, a stained MFD T-shirt, he felt like a bum.

  “Hi,” Kate said, absently looking away toward the wall of cats in their Plexiglas homes.

  “What brings you in today?” James said looking at Kate, her hair was much prettier in the morning light than in the bar. Her green eyes though looked tired.

  “Katherine isn’t a fan of animals,” Cindy said, “she let a cop off the hook for killing a dog.”

  “That’s crap.” Kate said.

  “One of the detectives?” James said nodding toward the door.

  “No, just a beat cop piece of shit,” Cindy said, James knew she rarely swore, unless something really pissed her off.

  “It wasn’t MY decision, I just came to the conclusion and Z. Walter agreed.” She crossed her arms. He knew Cindy was half messing with her, half pissed.

  “I didn’t.”

  “You would’ve if you weren’t so firmly entrenched in the ass…”

  “Who did it?” James said looking directly at his sister, she had a twinkle in her eye.

  “That’s confidential,” Kate said.

  “Sorry.”

  “Where’s Renee?” Cindy asked.

  “In the back I think,” James said. Cindy and Renee became close after James started to volunteer, like a pair of older sisters who tried to look out for him, were always worried about him.

  Cindy looked at James, “can you teach this one why animals deserve our respect.” She headed through the office door. “And don’t be afraid to get her dirty.” She thumbed toward Kate.

  James nodded. Kate waited till the door closed before she uncrossed her arms and walked to ‘Nine Lives.’

  “He’s cute, looks like a baby chicken with that light fur, is he soft?”

  “Extremely,”

  “Can I hold him?” Kate asked. James pulled out his key chain and opened the Plexiglas door. Sebastian walked up to him and rubbed the side of his body on James’ leg.

  “He’s a sweetie.” Kate said as James picked him up.

  “Until he’s hungry, then he’s a punk. He’s knocked over his tree more than once.” He handed the little beige and white cat to her. He barely moved. “This one will just lay and enjoy the attention.” She smiled like a mom with her baby. When she handed him back she gave him a look like Jefferson.

  “So, who were those guys last night,”

  James put him down on the perch on top of his cat tree. “I only know one… the big gorilla looking guy.”

  “They both looked like gorillas.”

  “The one you yelled at,” James said closing the door. “He works with me at the firehouse.”

  “He looks like he wanted to kick your ass.” Kate said. James studied her, she wasn’t interested in volunteering.

  “You know, you don’t have to stay,” James said, “I’ll tell Cindy that something came up.”

  Kate looked back at the cats then toward door to the kennels and the placard reading ‘Safe Haven.’ “No, she’s sort of my boss… and I need to volunteer, good for the resume. Besides I don’t have anything else to do,”

  “That’s the spirit,” James said.

  Kate walked over toward the door to the kennels. “So is this where all the dogs are?”

  “Some, we have four floors with dogs.” He walked toward her. The wall surrounding the door was covered with pictures of animals. “We have about a hundred dogs right now, twenty-five cats or so.”

  She was looking at the photos, “Who are these?”

  “Left side has dogs that are here… right, are dogs that got homes.” James said. “The success stories,”

  “It’s a lot,” she said, her voice seemed overwhelmed.

  “We’d like to not have any on the left, unfortunately that’ll never happen.” James said. Kate looked at a few photos, she ran her fingers down the face of Pixie the collie.

  “You didn’t answer my question, why’d that guy want to kick your ass?” She said.

  “I got him suspended.” James said.

  “Why?”

  “Long story,” James grabbed the door knob.

  “You’re a firefighter and a volunteer, you’re like a hippie chicks wet dream.”

  James smiled and felt himself going red. “I’m an EMT.” He opened the door.

  A few barks echoed around them, the sound proof walls held most back… until you got to the door. He stepped into the kennels, a room that tried to cover up the urine and feces aroma with a white linen masker.

  “Wow,” Kate said as she looked around the large two story room. All the dogs were in six by six kennels.

  “It’s soundproof,” James said knocking on the door. “Want a quick tour?”

  “I guess.” She said.

  “Have you ever worked with dogs before?” James asked.

  “Watched a neighbor’s once.” Kate said still looking at all the dogs, her mouth was open showing a set of almost perfect teeth. “My dad was allergic… but after he left,” Kate stopped short her eyes seemed to be thinking. “I missed out on a lot.”

  “They’re the greatest friend you’ll ever have,” James said.

  “You had a dog growing up then?” Kate asked. James nodded. He thought quickly about Shadow and turned away, he always felt Shadow’s soul in this place. He knew dogs had soul’s and one day he’d see him again.

  “This is Bruno,” he said pointing toward the white and brown splotched hound dog, “he hates Billy,” he pointed at the dark tan and black German Shepard in the cage across the way. “But he love’s Marion, the schnauzer next to him.”

  Kate smiled and walked up to Bruno. “Hi there,” She said in a childlike voice. Everyone did, it was almost innate. Bruno wagged his tail and licked Kate’s hand. A grin appeared on her face as a strand of hair dropped passed her ear. James swallowed. Marion walked up and looked through the wire fence at Bruno, she gave a quick bark and he turned away from Kate.

  James smiled, “We’ve tried to get them homes, but neither will leave without the other,”

  “Wow,” Kate said, “you take care of them all?”

  “Oh no, we have a lot of help,” James said steering her away down toward the line of kennels. “Volunteers and intern’s like Abby mostly, there are a lot of good people in this city.”

  “Not in my line of work.” Kate said keeping pace with him. A strong growl came out and Kate jumped. Grabbing James right arm he felt a pinch in his elbow and grimaced.

  “Ya can’t be afraid of Gloria,” the Doberman started to pant, Kate looked at him her face asked ‘really,’ “she’s caged.”

  “I know,” Kate said.

  “She’s a sweetie,” James said, Kate still looked like she didn’t trust it. “Here, I’ll show you.” James walked up to a small burlap bag hanging on the cage. He reached in and grabbed a bone treat. All the dogs were instantly quiet. He lifted the cage handle. “Come on,” he said smiling, trying to reassure her.

  “You’re kidding,” James shook his head and waived her over. She came up right behind him and put her chest on his shoulder like the night before, her heart beat was faster. Her steps mimicked James’ as they stepped into the cage. Gloria, quietly sat on her haunches with her ears back and her mouth shut. James grabbed Kate’s soft hand and pressed the treat in in.

  “No,” she said, “I can’t.”

  “You can,” James said, “now hold it like this,” he grabbed her hand and put the treat in between her thumb and forefinger. “When you’re ready tell her ‘okay,’”

  “Okay?” Kate said, Gloria leapt toward her, Kate tried to flinch as Gloria’s mouth opened and collapsed on the end of the treat. In an instant, it was gone and she was back in her spot waiting for more. Kate’s smile came back.

  “There are no bad dogs, just bad owners,” James said, he glanced over at Terrance, the burly pitbull that they rescued from an abandoned yard in the middle of winter. “Evil monsters that don’t deserve to live.” He let her out first holding his palm up for Gloria t
o stay.

  “What’s through there?” Kate asked pointing toward the side door as Mad Mario appeared from around a kennel.

  “There you are,” Mario said.

  “Hey,” James said, “Kate this is Mario, one of our employees, Mario, Kate,” but he realized that Mario wasn’t there to make pleasantries.

  “Renee sent me to find you, the guest is awake,” James looked at him questioningly then he knew.

  “I’ll be right there, can you show Kate around, maybe have her feed some of the dogs.” James started to walk quickly toward the side door. It was nearly time.

  Chapter 16

  He passed the joint to Skitter, his mouth grew wide and he bellowed out a huge laugh. He had no idea why.

  “What’s so funny?” Perry said with his arms crossed blowing the smoke out of his face. Eddie smiled, he didn’t remember why. “Stop that crap?”

  Skitter blew the smoke right at Perry, he furiously waved it out of his face and looked at Eddie, pleading. Perry cracked the knuckles on his hand, a brotherly habit… one of the few things they shared besides blood.

  “Cut it Skitter,” Eddie said with a straight face. Skitter looked confused. Whatever weed this was, it was good. He wanted to say the old man got it for him, who knew.

  “I thought we was going out tonight,” Perry said. Eddie grabbed the joint from Skitter. He could feel the flame burning in his fingers.

  “Little bro off to college,” Eddie said and put his free hand on Perry’s shoulder giving it a squeeze, Perry grabbed it and pried it away.

  “Ya know I ain’t say it, I’m proud of you, kid! And jealous, so many white women at Madison,” Eddie said. “We’re just getting loose before the party.”

  “What party?”

  “It will be good bro, trust me.” Eddie said, Perry frowned. “It will be,” he repeated then took a hit of the joint.

  “Hell ya,” Skitter said, “we bout to rough up some fools,”

  “What?”

  “Smear some cheese on the crackers,” Skitter grinned like a moron finding out he could touch his toes.