She dropped the trowel back into the bucket and kept looking. She had to keep him talking. Had to keep him from coming after her.
“If I am this CamaroChick19, then who are you?”
“I am the Death Merchant,” he replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “DeathMerchant6o6o6.”
“That’s an awfully bold name. Just what have you done to be awarded such an illustrious title?”
She was feeling around the floor this time, finding more objects with her feet. She found an old military ammo can full of steel pipe fittings, and another bucket with what felt like plastic pipe fittings. The next thing she touched with her toe grated as she tried to slide it, but it was too heavy. She dropped to her knees.
A toolbox.
“Across five games, I have over six hundred confirmed kills,” the Death Merchant stated proudly. “People want me on their team because I’m proficient. I am the Death Merchant.”
Amanda unlatched the lid of the toolbox and flipped it back. She found smooth steel surfaces beneath her fingertips. She picked one up and found it to be so heavy it nearly took two hands. She felt along its surface and interpreted the shape. She’d seen her dad using something like this when he replaced the hot water heater. A pipe wrench. It would have to do until something better presented itself.
She stood back up. Armed, she felt a little more secure. A little more defiant.
“Those are just games,” she said. “Playing your little games doesn’t make you a killer. It makes you a loser. Especially if you start thinking that shit is real.”
His laugh startled her. “Funny you should say that. I earned my name in gaming but the Death Merchant does not reside only in that world anymore. In fact, I killed the last man to call me a loser. I earned that name in this very house by killing the man who owned it. Then I killed my mother because she thought I was a loser too. So you can see, people who think I’m a loser earn a special place in my heart.”
Amanda’s boldness was wavering. His confession terrified her. He had killed people. Not just people in games but real people. Maybe he was some twisted freak obsessed with video games but he was far from a harmless freak. He was a kidnapper and a murderer. He had crossed a line. Forever more, it would be easier for him to kill at will, until someone stopped him.
There was no point in delaying this and letting him play his little games with her. She did not want to be someone he bragged about killing. Her father told her many times that action was faster than reaction. There were times when it was advantageous to strike first and strike hard. Maybe this was one of those times. As scary as the thought was, she couldn’t think of any other options available to her.
She tried to retrace her steps from memory. Back to the steps. Back through the maze. Where she recalled stacks or obstacles, she moved around them. Her pace was painfully slow, not wanting to make the slightest sound or give away anything.
The stairs creaked loudly and the location of his voice changed slightly. He was standing now. He would come after her. He was done talking.
“You are only delaying the inevitable,” he said. “I’m going to turn the light on now. There is nowhere to hide.”
She sprinted toward him, the heavy pipe wrench raised in her hands like a hammer. The Death Merchant reached for the switch in the darkness. He flicked it upward and light flooded the room. His eyes struggled to adjust, struggled to focus. Struggled to process the girl leaping toward him with the heavy steel wrench raised over her head and murder in her eyes.
She screamed with rage. The Death Merchant tried to stagger backward but couldn’t do so on the steps. He fell into a sitting position and threw his hands up in a defensive gesture. She struck at him, catching a forearm. There was a muffled crack as a bone broke.
The Death Merchant howled in pain.
Then she struck again. With the Death Merchant attempting to cradle his broken arm, she swung for his head with all her might. He saw the blow coming and jerked his head to the side. It was enough to prevent the pipe wrench from caving in his skull but not enough to keep it from connecting with his shoulder.
The Death Merchant screamed, his voice like a chorus of damned souls. Amanda stepped back, putting a little space between them as she raised the wrench for the next blow, but she’d given him too much space. A foot flew up in the space between them and the Death Merchant kicked with all his strength.
Amanda flew backward, landing on a pile of camping gear. Her head thumped hard against the concrete floor and she was stunned. In the distance, somewhere above them, she thought she heard the sound of shattering wood and heavy boots racing across the floor.
Then the Death Merchant was on her, his weight pressing her against the floor and pinning her arms down. She couldn’t even breathe. He fished around the floor and came up with a tent stake. It was the same kind he’d killed his mother with.
The Death Merchant splayed a massive hand across Amanda’s face, pressing her head into the floor. With the other, he raised the nail over his head.
“Noooo!” she screamed, trying to twist away but she could not move a muscle.
He roared as the nail began its arc toward her accusing eye.
There was a suppressed gunshot and the Death Merchant jerked violently, his back arching. The nail missed and struck the floor.
He was not done. The Death Merchant raised the nail again, trying to finish what he started, what he was driven to do. There was a second shot, then a third, and his head snapped sideways. Blood sprayed Amanda’s face. She closed her eyes and screwed her mouth shut. It took forever, but the large man relaxed and toppled away from her, thudding into the basement floor.
There were feet on the steps racing toward her. One man took her in his arms and pulled her away from the Death Merchant, clearing a path for more men. They surrounded him, checking him for vitals, then for weapons. They found neither.
One of the men keyed his mike. “Subject is down. We have the girl.”
Amanda felt weak, disoriented. She felt like she was going to pass out, perhaps even go into shock, but she was certain she could hear the reaction of the men on the other end of the radio.
It sounded like cheering.
58
When Amanda regained consciousness, she was in a hospital room. She had no idea of the time but her father was asleep in the chair beside her bed.
“Dad,” she mumbled.
In an instant, he was awake and holding her hand. “Sweetie, I’m so glad you’re okay. You have no idea how worried I was.”
“I’m sorry for everything, Dad. I’m sorry I took off from the bike shop. I’m sorry I wasn’t very nice when I got to North Carolina. I’m sorry I ever doubted that you loved me.”
Tears filled her Cole’s eyes. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “It was never your fault.”
“Could I borrow your phone and call Ben?” she asked. “I have some explaining to do.”
Her dad smiled. “It’s a little late to be calling anyone.”
She looked downcast.
“But since he’s in the lobby with his family, I’ll get him.”
She broke into a grin. “Really?”
Cole nodded. “They got on the road as soon as I let them know you’d been found. Apparently they like you. Maybe Ben even likes you a little more than the rest of them.”
“Can I see him?”
“You can only have one visitor at a time so I’ll send him in. I’ll grab a cup of coffee while you guys chat.” Cole started toward the door.
“Dad?”
He paused and turned back to Amanda.
“Who was that guy? Why did he do all this?”
Cole returned to the bedside and took her hand. “I don’t know. The police aren’t saying a lot yet except that there’s some connection to the man I shot.”
Amanda’s eyes grew wide. “What? You shot somebody?”
It hit Cole that his daughter had no idea what else had transpired over the course of the e
vening.
“There was an incident at the house last night. I was sitting on the porch waiting for you to get home and two men came walking up the driveway. I thought it was you at first coming home on your bike. When I confronted them, one of them drew a gun on me. I already had him in my sights so he didn’t have a chance.”
“That’s insane.”
Cole shrugged. “The whole night was insane.”
Amanda settled back into her pillow. “Can you get Ben for me? I’m wearing down a little.”
Cole leaned over and kissed his daughter on the forehead. “I’m going to tell him to keep it short. Then I want you resting, okay?”
“Yes, Dad.”
Cole found Ben and his family in the waiting room. He sent Ben in to visit with Amanda and updated his parents. Penny kept shaking her head at how incredulous the entire situation was.
“Thank God they got her back, Cole. The whole thing is crazy.”
“It’ll be crazier when we know the entire story,” Cole said. “I get the feeling there’s a lot they’re not telling us.”
Cole’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and didn’t recognize the number. With a nod to Ben’s parents, he excused himself to take the call. “Hello?”
“Cole?”
“Yep.”
“This is Trooper Thomas.”
“You haven’t had enough of me for one night?” Cole asked.
“Not yet,” the trooper responded. “How’s your daughter?”
“She’s doing okay. She’s got a concussion, some broken ribs, fractured arm, and a shitload of bruises. I’m sure there’ll be some emotional fallout too, but we’ll deal with it as it comes.”
“That’s good,” the trooper replied. “I’m pleased she’s back safe.”
“That why you called?”
There was a pause. “No. They tell me they’re going to release your daughter in the morning. I wanted to see if you all could stop by the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office and give a statement.”
“The FBI office?”
“It’s complicated,” the trooper said. “A multi-jurisdictional thing.”
“Yeah, we can do that. Not sure what time I’ll get her out of here. You know how it is. Depends on the doctor’s schedule.”
“Just give me a call at this number when you’re leaving,” the trooper said.
“No problem,” Cole said. “And thanks again for everything you guys did.”
Around 11 AM the next day Amanda was finally released from the hospital. She felt like she’d hardly slept at all and was starving. Cole took her to a diner where she got a breakfast so large it would have embarrassed her had anyone but family seen her eating it. While they were there, Cole texted the trooper and let him know they would be at the Charlotte Field Office close to one P.M.
When they’d eaten all they could eat, they paid up and headed toward their appointment. Cole expected the Charlotte Field office to be like any other multi-story professional office building with a little more security, but it was a hub of frenetic activity. There were people rushing around everywhere and talking frantically into mobile phones.
In fact, people were more than rushing, they were flat-out running to wherever they were going. Some were in suits but others wore tactical gear or FBI windbreakers.
Both Cole and Amanda found the level of activity to be a little disorienting. The pair had too much activity yesterday and too little sleep last night to manage the stress the chaos was inducing. They both wanted to head home for long naps.
They went through a metal detector and managed to get through without any hassle. Cole had left his knife and gun in the truck. A man in uniform asked their business.
“My daughter and I are here to give a statement,” Cole said.
“Do you know who you were supposed to see?”
“It was a Trooper Thomas who called me last night. My daughter was abducted and they need her to give a statement.”
“Your daughter was the one kidnapped in Boone?”
Cole and Amanda nodded. The guard’s eyes widened and he regarded them seriously. “One moment,” he said, picking up a phone and punching in a number. “I’ve got a man and his daughter here to make a statement,” he said into the phone. “She was the kidnapping victim from last night.”
The man listened for a moment and then hung up. “If you’ll go stand by that elevator, someone will be coming down to escort you up.”
Cole nodded and they walked off in the direction the man indicated. It was several minutes before the elevator opened and a man in a suit rushed out to greet them.
“I’m sorry for the wait. It’s been a little chaotic around here this morning. Actually a lot chaotic. By the way, I’m SAC Greenfield.” The man extended a hand, shaking Cole’s, then Amanda’s. “You’re the young lady who got rescued last night?” the agent asked, smiling at Amanda, taking in her bandages and splinted arm.
Amanda nodded.
“You were very brave, I heard. You did everything right.”
Amanda smiled but Cole could see it was a little frayed at the edges. His girl was tired. She was also on pain meds that were probably making her a little sluggish.
“You guys come downstairs. I have a room waiting.”
They followed SAC Greenfield into the elevator and went down to a lower level. When the door opened they found even more people rushing around.
“Kind of busy around here today, isn’t it?” Cole asked.
Greenfield gave him a quick nod. “Been that way since last night. I guess we have your daughter to thank for that.”
Amanda looked at Cole, her eyes wide, confusion on her face.
“What does any of this have to do with Amanda?” Cole asked.
“I’ll explain in a moment,” Greenfield said. “There are some folks waiting on us.”
They came to a closed door and Greenfield shoved it open. Apparently, when you were the Special Agent in Charge, you didn’t have to knock. He stepped to the side and ushered Cole and Amanda in. They found themselves in a room of nearly two dozen people, all looking at them expectantly.
Cole and Amanda shuffled in uncomfortably, and Greenfield was quick to offer them seats. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’d like something,” Amanda said.
Greenfield nodded at another agent who rushed off, returning with two bottles of water.
Cole looked around the table and saw a staggering variety of badges. There was BATFE, DHS, FBI, and even a group of folks who wore no identification at all. Those were the people Cole would keep an eye on.
SAC Greenfield folded his hands together and looked at Amanda. He was seated directly beside her. “First, I want to assure you that you are not in any trouble at all. We have some questions to ask you but don’t take them the wrong way. We’re trying to piece together a staggering series of events and you, young lady, are at the center of it. Now, I know you’ve had a long night so if this gets to be too much, just let me know. Okay?”
Amanda had that concerned and confused look again, but she nodded.
The SAC smiled at her. “Let me start at the beginning.” He touched a button on a tablet and a wall-mounted monitor began to play news footage. “What you are seeing is a terror attack that recently occurred in Frankfurt, Germany. It was built around a flash mob called Random Acts of Kindness.”
When Amanda and Cole continued their blank stares, SAC Greenfield went on to explain the concept behind a flash mob, which had only been explained to him in the last twelve hours.
“I’ve heard of flash mobs,” Amanda said. “But how could you use one to hurt people?”
“The terrorist uses social media to weaponize the public and turn them into terrorists. These cells use fake social media accounts to manipulate vulnerable and impressionable individuals into setting up these attacks. Those fake accounts are built using real pictures stolen from folks who are usually unaware their pictures have been stolen. Your pictures were among those being used
by the Frankfurt cell.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped, but not nearly as far as Cole’s.
“These terrorists were communicating with the man who took you. His name was Victor Hesse, but online he went by the user name DeathMerchant6o6o6. He thought you were a girl named CamaroChick19, which was the name attached to the fake account. That’s why he kidnapped you. He was able to track the pictures back to your real social media accounts and use those to find you.”
Cole found this a little confusing and very frustrating. He let out a deep, controlled breath. This was yet another example of social media screwing up his life. First it had facilitated his wife having an affair and leaving him. Then it had set his daughter up for being kidnapped and very nearly killed.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions but we believe Victor killed one of the terrorists and we believe your father killed another.”
Cole sat up straight in his chair. “Wait a minute. The man I killed was a terrorist?”
SAC Greenfield looked around the room carefully, then nodded. “Yes, but that’s not something you can go around discussing. This is an active investigation and a matter of national security. Your secrecy is required.”
Cole shook his head in disbelief and settled back in his chair. It was yet another unbelievable component of an already unbelievable series of events.
“You’ll be signing documents before you leave here attesting to your understanding that these matters be kept secret,” SAC Greenfield said. “For now, if I have your word you understand that, I’ll tell you something else I feel you’ve earned the right to know.”
Cole nodded. “I won’t say anything.”
Amanda agreed. “Me neither.”
SAC Greenfield looked around the room before continuing and saw no objections to what he was about to disclose. “The intelligence we gathered from the various crime scenes allowed us to stop a major terror attack here in Charlotte less than one hour ago.”
Amanda looked shocked. She turned to her dad and found the same incredulous look on his face.
Random Acts Page 32