by King, Dean
Nina shivered, and preceded the intruder down the staircase. She desperately searched for anything to use as a weapon. At the bottom, she spied a letter opener on the hallway table. As the three slowly made their way past it, Nina’s fingers discreetly took the object, hiding it among the folds of her white nightgown.
Beth released a muffled cry as she was shoved onto the living room couch. Nina noticed her hands were tied behind her back. Then she felt her arm gripped tight and she, too, was thrown onto the couch.
“Look, we don’t have anything of value,” Nina stated, but she knew this man perfectly. Rafe had said, the man they’d captured had been the wrong man. This was apparently the right man. He wanted her life, as he’d said so many times before. “Just take whatever you want, and get out.”
The man grinned. “I believe I have what I want right here.” His closely cropped hair seemed to glow in the dim light coming from the upper hallway. “I've been watching you,” he said, peering closely at Nina. “Oh yeah, I watched you alright. I saw that boyfriend of yours, too. You know, you two put on quite a show. If my interest didn’t lie elsewhere, I’d be tempted to give you a really good ride. But as it is, I like my women just a bit younger.” His beady stare shifted to Beth.
Nina felt her blood freeze. “No,” she breathed, “no, please! I’ll do whatever you want, but please, you have to leave her alone.”
His laughter mocked her. “I do, do I?” He cocked his head to the side. “Now why should I leave her alone? If I’m not mistaken, she just turned sixteen.” He shrugged. “I must admit that’s a bit older than I like, but I’m sure she’ll do just fine.”
Nina’s stomach turned. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you! I swear to you I will!”
“You keep on swearing, honey. You’ll be long dead by the time I finish with this sweet little thing.”
“Mama?” Beth whimpered, looking at Nina.
A strange voice then came from a dark corner. “Rick, you’re scaring my child. Stop it!” Nina and Beth turned to the chilling voice as a woman emerged from the shadows. She walked with a proud elegance, each step spoke of years of practice. She stood directly in front of Beth; she looked so familiar that Nina could only stare as the woman caressed Beth’s chin, forcing her to look up. “My, my, look at you.” The voice was thick with culture and breeding. “If only your father could see you now.”
“Who… who are you?” Beth’s timid voice filled the silent room.
“Just like your father,” the woman gave a spiteful sniff, and shoved Beth away. “Stupid to the end.” She then turned to Nina, contempt in her hard blue eyes. “If you weren’t so pathetic, I’d thank you for what you’ve done.”
Nina shifted, trying to get a strong grip on her small weapon. “What have I done? I don’t recall ever seeing you.”
The woman threw her raven head back, and gave a throaty laugh. “Idiot! You were at the country club during the campaign. If you’ll remember, I'm only the third woman to run for governor of this god-forsaken state. I’m mother to this little brat you’ve been raising. My name is Juliana Conroy, and you can call me Julie.” She peered at Nina, “You don't remember? By all accounts, if my brother wasn't such an imbecile, you’d be dead now and all this would be over,” she shouted, spittle landing on Nina’s face. “So, basically, this is your fault.”
The sound of flesh upon flesh then filled the room. Nina flinched, at the unexpected assault, her cheek stinging as tears filled her eyes. Beth jumped up from her seat, her face a mask of fury. “Don’t you touch her, you bitch!” She tried to ram her shoulder into the man, who stood directly in front of her, only to have him laugh and push her back into her seat.
“Beth, don’t!” Nina screamed.
“Tsk, tsk. Now see here,” Judge Conroy declared, “is this what you've been teaching my daughter? Such foul language. If you’d just let her die when I wanted her to, I wouldn’t be forced to do this now.” She then crooned into Beth's upturned face. “I can’t have a disrespectful child around, you know?”
They froze, wide-eyed. Nina and Beth stared at each other.
Nina turned towards the woman. “I don’t know what you want. Just tell me, I’m sure we can come to an understanding...”
“It’s too late for that! Don’t you see?” She hissed. “That little bitch will not be my downfall! All for a moment of lust. When I was younger, I thought I was in love. Oh, he was handsome, the son of a judge, but he was black. His name was Travis Weston, I thought if I were pregnant, I could force my father to let me marry him.” She gave a bitter laugh. “I was so stupid. So damned stupid. Up until last year, I thought Travis and this one,” she indicated to Beth, “were both dead. And I was happy. If they had lived, where I would be right now? I can guarantee you, not where I am now. I’d probably have a whole shit load of children and be as fat as a pig. Do you think anyone would respect me being married to a black man? Do you?” She growled. “My father knew what was best for me, and he helped me see it. Now, after all these years, you and she came back to threaten my life. And to top it all off, her father isn’t gone at all. He wants to know where his child is. Someone could leak this information to the press; do you know what this could do to me? Do you have any idea how my life could be ruined if someone found you?” She shrugged. “The only thing I can do is get rid of the evidence.” Her eyes turned hard. “That would be you, precious. If they have no proof that you exist, then it’ll all go away.”
Nina gasped as the man pulled out a gun. “Please, you don’t need to do this. I’m sure there is another way...”
Rick threw his head back, laughing.
Julie turned sharply towards him. “What the hell is so funny?”
“You,” he pointed, still cackling.
She reached over and slapped him. “Shut up! I don't see anything funny.”
“You in love?” He howled, holding his injured cheek. “If you hadn’t spread your legs for that black stud, we wouldn’t have to do this!” A loud smack followed as Julie’s hand again connected with his face.
“I resent that,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits, “I told you what happened. It wasn’t my fault.”
“You are such a lair,” he grated, holding his face. “Hit me again, and you’ll get hit back! I saw you. I watched every time you met him in the courthouse chambers. You told dad it was rape, and now you claim it was love? I knew right from the beginning that it wasn’t either. You wanted Travis and you were old enough to be his mother.” Again his head jerked back as she slapped him hard. “You practically raped him. And there you were about to get married.”
“Do you know sometimes I can’t stand the sight of you?” Julie growled, her fists balled tight at her sides.
He grabbed the front of her shirt in both fists and roughly pulled her against him. “I know, but do you think I give a shit? Sometimes I think you lie so much you actually believe your own lies.” Rick snapped. “If it weren't for me, you’d have to contend with the brat’s father too! I killed him, you know.” He shoved her away in disgust.
She paused and frowned. “You did? When? As of two days ago he was here snooping around, wanting answers.”
“This morning. He was on his way to the nuns. I ran him off the road. You should have seen him, he's still good looking. What was he, about thirty-three now? You’ll be happy to know he never married, and now works for the sheriff’s department. Oops, I mean, he did work for it.”
“Are you sure he's dead?”
“Yeah, if you call point blank in the chest proof.”
Beth gave an involuntary cry, even though she didn’t know her father, she ached for the missed opportunity, tears streaming down her face as she swung her leg out to catch Rick behind his knees and knocking him to the ground. “You killed my father!” She slammed her other foot into his chest.
Nina jumped from the couch to stand in front of Beth as Julie charged her. The women clashed.
Growling, Rick hurried to separate the two women. He
grabbed Nina by the hair and tossed her back to the couch amid her screams.
“You little bitch, I'm going to enjoy this!” Rick grabbed Beth's upper arm and pulled her to her feet.
“You… don't you touch me!” Her voice high, she tried to kick him again.
“Let her go, Rick!” Julie shouted. “We have other things to do right now.”
His eyes nearly black, he clasped Beth tightly. “No, I want what you promised. I'm taking it right now.”
“I said let her go!” For a moment it looked as if he and Julie would fight again. Then he shoved Beth back to the couch beside Nina.
“What the fuck do you want now? I took care of the boys, what else is there?”
“What do you mean you took care of the boys?” Julie asked, pacing. “Bring them to me, I’ve had a small change of plans.”
He scratched his head, but stood where he was.
“Go get them!” She said through clenched teeth, “I need them down here.”
“I had to kill them.” His sheepish voice filled the room. Those words echoed through Nina’s anxious brain, and fell like a stone crushing her heart.
“That’s fine.” Julie heaved a tired sigh. “Just bring them here. We have to place them just right.”
“Umm,” Rick stood uneasy, shifting from one foot to the other. “I had to shoot one.”
“What? Tell me I heard wrong...”
“Upstairs, one started to fight so I had to shoot him. I used the silencer. The other one I, cracked his skull. Those little shits sure put up a battle, that's why this one got up. She heard us crashing around in there.”
“Damn you, Rick!” Julie screamed. “I told you no guns! It’s supposed to look like an accident! God, what an idiot! That’s why they’re not dead yet, you botched up all the accidents! Some times I fail to see how you could be my brother! If it weren’t for you this could have been so much easier!”
Nina reeled as they argued. This couldn't be happening. It’s not true! I know it’s not. She wouldn't believe them. She watched them through a sheen of tears. Then anger raged through her. Pushing herself to her feet she screamed, her face tight with anguish and anger. “You’re lying! You didn’t kill them. You didn't!”
“Oh, will you shut the fuck up?” Rick lifted his gun, crashing the butt of it down on the side of her head. Nina fell heavily onto Beth. She lay still, welcoming the pain as it exploded into millions of bright bursts of light and eclipsing the hole in her heart.
“Let’s get on with it,” Julie snapped. “Rick go get the bodies. I can’t take any chances, you have to get the bullet out of that kid. When the bodies are discovered I don’t want anyone to suspect it was anything other than an accident.”
“Fuck that! I’m not digging in that dead body. What do you think I am? I can’t do it.” Julie grabbed his brown shirt.
“You listen to me! You shot him when I told you not to. So you get your ass up there and fish that bullet out! This is supposed to be death by burning. It’ll be blamed on a candle. They’ll say she kicked it over in her sleep.”
Rick turned, his face a mask of fury as he headed for the stairs.
Julie turned back to Beth and Nina.
Crouching in front of them, the gun dangling loosely in her hand, she said softly. “You know if I could've done this any other way, I would have.” Icy blue eyes turned to Nina. “I just wanted to kill the girl. I’m really sorry about the boys. If only you weren’t such a diligent mother. Do you know how hard it has been for me to get to her? God, you would think the girl was made of gold. If it wasn’t you, it was that old bitch. You don’t know how tempted I was to run Mrs. Montoya off the road and into the lake the other day when she took this girl shopping. But she’s a supporter in my camp. I need her money. Well, her husband was a supporter, but I’m sure I can get her behind me again.” Julie lifted a hand to Beth’s curls. Beth flinched away. “Ah, so much like your father. You look like him, you know? A more honest man you'll never meet. I bet if he hadn’t found out about you he would've never come to me again.” Julie sighed and stood, turning her back to them. She seemed to be looking for something.
Still dazed, and therefore more confident than she had a right to be, Nina leaned over and whispered into Beth’s ear. “When I move, I want you to jump up and run for the door. Run to the forest and stay there. If I don’t show up by morning I want you to go to the nearest phone.”
But Beth shook her head, tears falling from her frightened eyes. “No, I won’t leave you. I have a gun.”
“What?”
“I stole it from that man when I found him in the boy’s room.”
“No, Beth we can’t be like them.” Nina insisted. “If you can get away that’s all I’ll ask of God. I just need to know your safe.”
“But I won’t let them do this to us.” Beth hissed.
“It’s in God’s hands love.”
“It’s in our hands, we are Gods helpers and them people are evil. I’m just going to help God get rid of them.”
“You will do as I say!” Nina snapped. “We don’t have time to argue.”
“I won’t leave you to them.”
Yes, you will Beth. Don’t argue with me,” Nina hissed. “I will not lose you, too. Do you understand?” Nina kissed Beth’s cold brow, and briefly closed her eyes. “Get ready.”
Beth nodded, her lips so tight they appeared white.
“Now!” Nina jumped up from the couch, charging at Julie who turned just in time. Nina held tight to the letter opener as she and Julie fell to the floor. “I… won’t let you do this!” She screamed as she found herself flipped to her back by the older woman who then straddled her stomach.
Julie’s face twisted with rage as Nina fought for the upper hand. “You have no choice!” Julie growled.
Nina began to panic, the grip on her wrist was fierce, she could feel her weapon slipping from her rapidly numbing fingers. In desperation, she inhaled and bucked her hips hard to dislodge Julie. The woman fell to the floor and Nina jumped to her feet.
Julie slowly climbed to her feet. The woman was more agile than Nina would’ve expected. They circled each other as both crouched ready for an attack.
“I never thought I would have to fight you, but you’ll find I’m in very good shape, I can hold my own,” Julie huffed.
“Well, you’ll have to do more than hold your own with me.” Nina drew back her fist, slamming it into the woman’s unprotected stomach.
Julie bent over in pain as Nina delivered a stunning blow to Julie’s jaw and sent her crashing to the floor in agony.
“You vicious bitch!” Nina stood over the wrenching woman. “How could you try to kill you own child?” Nina gave a yelp as her ankle was caught in a tight grip. She was yanked off her feet and fell hard to the floor. Stunned, she lay on her back staring with dazed eyes at the ceiling. Her vision was then obstructed by a head looming over her.
“Think you can get away?” The laugh sent chills down her spine.
Nina clawed at the fingers circling her neck. Her ears began to ring as the blood rushed through her head. She could feel pressure in her eyes as the air was squeezing from her body. Bringing her knees up, she rammed them into the woman's back. The hands lost their hold, and she instantly drank in a few gulp of air into her tortured lungs. Then the hands were back. Nina clawed at them, trying in vain to loosen the woman’s hold.
“Stop it!” Suddenly the pressure stopped but the hands remained. “Stop it. Let her go!” It was Beth! Her voice wavered, Nina was so afraid to hear it.
“Oh, fuck it!” Julie pulled a gun from the waistband of her trousers and pointed it towards Beth. Nina reached up and knocked the gun out of Julie’s hand, but not before she fired. Nina screamed loud and long. She turned her head, and her eyes found the letter opener. She clutched it in her fist and brought it up sharply and deeply into flesh! She felt warm blood oozing down her arms and hands. Screams of pain rang through her head. Looking up, she found herself staring into t
he barrel of a gun and knew her time had come.
“You’ll die for that.” Julie gasped. Suddenly the room erupted into a loud blast of gunfire and smoke.
Rafe heard the screams, it took only a moment to register. He jumped out of bed, hurried to put on his pajama bottoms, and ran to the door. Sleepy confusion made his movements slower than usual for him. Pausing at the doorway, he shook his head to clear his mind, then slowly eased the door open. Peering into the hallway, he saw a slight movement to his right.
“Damned bitch!” A man grumbled under his breath as he hurried by. “Always making me do her dirty work.”
Rafe stiffened. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the man’s pistol and attached silencer. His heart rate increased. What the hell is going on? Nina is out there. What if… He couldn't finish the thought. He scanned the area, no one followed the man. Silently exiting his bedroom, Rafe stalked him. Coming up behind the man, he drew back a closed fist and delivered a punishing blow to the kidney area. The man dropped where he stood.
Rick fell to his knees. He blinked and his mouth fell open, but the pain was so intense he couldn’t speak. Pain exploded inside him. His hand opened as involuntary spasms shook him. The gun fell with a thud to the carpeted floor. Rafe jumped on him. One hand covering the man's mouth he hissed, “I don't know what you want, but I know what you're going to get!” Blow after punishing blow had Rick curled up in a fetal position. Grabbing a handful of blond hair, Rafe hissed into his captive’s tortured face. Then recognition set in. “Rick Conroy,” Rafe whispered, “What the hell?”
Rick spat at Rafe but missed. “I won't tell you anything, Montoya,” he hissed through pain-tightened lips.
“I believe you will!” Rafe caught the man's hair and pulled him into the bedroom.
Rick yanked himself away and scrambled to knock Rafe off his feet and regain the gun. Grabbing it in trembling hands, he quickly tried to aim, but Rafe’s foot lashed out and knocked the gun from his hands.