Sandstorm

by Alan L. Lee

  Alex, who had purposefully aided in the collision by stepping just enough into Lipton’s path, was also quick and strong enough to catch him before he totally fell on his butt. The gesture was not done out of kindness. It afforded Alex the opportunity to discover that Lipton was carrying a small-caliber weapon clipped to his waist at the small of his back.

  Upon pulling him up and noticing Lipton’s perturbed look, Alex couldn’t resist.

  “You okay, little fella?”

  Lipton brushed himself off, knowing he had to have come across like a clumsy idiot. He mumbled something under his breath and shook totally free of Alex’s grasp. The bouncer was about to step in, but Lipton motioned for him to continue, wanting to get the scene over with as quickly as possible.

  Alex was amused as Lipton went on his way. He also shot a look toward Nora, careful not to fixate on her for long, because even though she wasn’t looking directly back at him, he guessed her peripheral vision might catch him watching. He had to admit, she was wearing the hell out of that black dress. He then spotted a table filled with youthful, enthusiastic women. They’d been discussing him for some time. He surmised their location was a perfect place to keep a watchful eye on Baum’s business meeting.

  “Ladies, good evening,” Alex said, giving all four eye contact as he sidled up next to them. “Everybody enjoying the night so far? My name is Alex. Can I buy you lovely ladies a drink?” The women welcomed the intrusion with inviting eyes and an expansive show of teeth. Alex heard the names, but they really didn’t register long-term. He only needed their camaraderie for a short time.

  Baum didn’t stand to greet Lipton, preferring to remain seated as he shook his hand, offering him the space next to him. Alex noticed Craftson ever so slightly position himself just behind Lipton’s right shoulder, all the while keeping his head and eyes moving back and forth on all the bodies that strolled by.

  Alex could also see that Duncan had ensnared the interest of a few females. Everyone was blending in nicely, just faces in a packed house. Alex did his best to feign interest in what the young women at the table were talking about. Each of them seemed fascinated by his presence, asking him how he stayed in shape. He was far removed from the boys they were used to being around. “Former pro athlete,” he informed them. “Football. Not the European kind. American.” Two of the women were familiar with the game, having attended college in the states. The other two were heading into their senior years of higher learning. Alex sensed several other questions were forthcoming, so he reduced the probability by grabbing the hand of the nearest girl, asking her to dance. She jumped at the invitation, overjoyed to be the chosen one. With the music blasting so loudly and bodies bumping into each other, there would be little, if any, verbal communication, just a few flirtatious grins and some innocent physical contact. Of course, Alex forgot about youthful enthusiasm. His dance partner soon laid her back against his chest, one arm waving in the air, the other draped around the back of his leg, pressing firmly. He had no choice but to place his right arm around her midsection so that he could stay in rhythm and not topple over. A few beats later, she gently broke free of his embrace and, bending at the waist, rubbed her butt up and down his crotch. Fortunately, there was a change of songs, and he escorted her back to the table in time to see Lipton carefully and deliberately typing on the laptop. Leaning back with his legs crossed, Baum kept a watchful eye on his methodical dexterity. Alex assumed a transfer of money was taking place as Lipton slid the laptop over to Baum, and after a few more keystrokes, it was over. One of the other women asked Alex if he wanted to dance. He had to almost shout in her ear that he was thirsty. He told her he’d be right back and headed for a bar station that still afforded him a glimpse of Baum’s area. Lipton and Baum were both drinking a glass of champagne now.

  Without knowing any details, Alex had a feeling the world had just gotten a little more complicated and dangerous.

  CHAPTER 27

  Roughly twenty minutes after their champagne toast, Tobias Baum was on his feet, shaking Davis Lipton’s hand, their business concluded. Baum’s bodyguards assumed their positions, effectively forming a sandwich of protection. Craftson brought up the rear this time, and Alex needed to get in his line of sight. He made his way through the crowd as politely as possible, but it still was necessary to use his size to help persuade bodies to give way. Baum was approaching from about fifteen feet and slightly to his left. Throughout the evening, Craftson had managed to keep up with Alex’s general whereabouts. Locating him now was simple, especially since he wanted to be seen. Neither at this point knew the intention of the other, but Alex was hoping Craftson would give him some kind of sign, and Craftson was gambling Alex would maneuver close enough so that he could communicate without breaking stride or having to talk. It was no accident that Craftson brought up the rear. Doing so allowed him to deftly reach into his pants pocket to pull out a ten-dollar bill. Alex was now about to pass the group, heading in the opposite direction. Craftson brushed Alex’s hand, who in turn swiped the currency away, swiftly putting it in his pants pocket.

  With Baum out of the club, Alex made his way back up to where Duncan was waiting. He gave him a thumbs-up sign and then followed Duncan’s head nod toward Lipton.

  It was a wonderful feeling to see a fish swallow the bait so completely. Lipton was already feeling extremely impressed with himself after completing his dealings with Baum. Now, this incredible woman was occupying his airspace. For her part, Nora wondered how long she’d have to keep up this charade. She wanted to jump right into foreplay, let him know that she was horny and ready to get the hell out of here. But that might spook him into thinking something was amiss. A woman like her just didn’t fall from the sky and into your lap.

  Nora had put herself in compromising positions before to take down a target or ensure an operation’s success. In none of those situations, though, could she recall wanting to inflict as much pain as she wanted Lipton to feel. It made her nauseated to think they were supposedly on the same team.

  You poor little bitch. Soon you’ll be mine, Nora thought as she smiled at the smug son of a bitch’s feeble attempts to be charming. In order to avoid hearing his voice, she took him to the dance floor, despite his mild protests about not being a good dancer. She kept him on the floor for a long time, working up quite a sweat. The heat radiating from her body made him want her even more, and every so often, she would coyly rub her breasts or pelvis against him while gyrating to the beat. He wanted to protest the awkwardness of being on the dance floor so long, but he didn’t dare do anything to blow the possibility of sleeping with her. Nora started counting in her head when she saw Alex and Duncan exit the club. She wanted to give them ample time to get in place, and besides, the dancing was actually liberating. It allowed her to relieve a sliver of stress and forget momentarily the predicament her life was currently in. She still had to deal with this bastard who actually thought he had a chance to get her in bed. She pulled Lipton close so she could talk in his ear, purposely letting him feel the sweat drip from her body.

  “Do you have a car?”

  He enthusiastically told her he was parked a couple of blocks down.

  “Great. So am I. Let’s get out of here. You can follow me to my place where we can sweat some more,” Nora offered with a nibble of his ear, pressing her body hard against his for further effect. She then led him toward the exit.

  Once outside, the night air hit their heated bodies and the cooling effect was refreshing. They began walking down the street, Nora positioning her body close to his as they did so. She engaged him in small talk, trying to take his mind off the surroundings, forcing him to concentrate only on her and the location of his car.

  “This is me,” Lipton pronounced, coming to a halt in front of an Opel Vectra rental.

  “I’m just in the next block.” Nora then drew him close and kissed him hard on the lips. That caught him by surprise, and he and Nora stumbled backward against the car, her back bracing the
m. He realized she was stronger than she appeared as her hands held him up until he could find firm footing again. He placed one hand firmly on the roof of the rental while the other found Nora’s left breast. She could tell he was totally aroused as they kissed again. Thankfully, it was all about to end.

  Nora shifted her glance toward Alex’s hovering figure. Duncan was to his side, his frame effectively blocking the view of anyone back along the street toward the club. Nora withdrew her lips and quickly angled her head away from Lipton. He thought she was being coy and made an attempt to kiss her neck, but his intention was derailed by the fierce blow that came crashing down on the back of his neck. Lipton’s body immediately went totally limp. Once again, Nora held him up, but this time Alex also grabbed hold, allowing her to escape from underneath. She searched his pockets and found the car keys, unlocking the doors. Alex threw Lipton’s body in the back seat, unconcerned how it landed. Duncan came around and slid in alongside the unconscious man. Alex shut the door, and seconds later, with Nora behind the wheel, the Opel was out of its parking space and moving down the road.

  Alex continued up the street to their rental car and took off in the same direction as Nora. As he drove, he knew there was no turning back now.

  CHAPTER 28

  “You!”

  Davis Lipton was barely coherent, his mind slowly surfacing from the fog. His eyes were watery and narrowed, but he recognized the man who’d bumped into him at the nightclub. Sensing a sizeable amount of discomfort that ran from the back of his neck and down his spine, Lipton made an attempt to raise a hand. It was then he discovered that duct tape secured him to an uncomfortable chair.

  Alex straddled a chair across from him, his arms resting comfortably atop the back.

  The pain made it difficult for Lipton to keep his head raised for any measurable length of time. It felt much better to let it hang at an angle. He had no idea where they were. The room seemed large, but it could have been just a matter of perspective, since there was very little furniture, save for a few chairs and cabinet. There were no windows, so the only light source was a pair of low-wattage bulbs. The space felt stale, like a little-used basement. He took note that there was only one legitimate way out, and that was through a door toward the back. From the small space under the door seal he could tell it was lighter on the other side.

  With clarity slowly returning, Lipton nervously began piecing together his predicament. Now was as good a time as any to end whatever this was. “If this is about money, you’ve grabbed the wrong guy. I don’t have any.”

  Alex cocked his head. “I guess not. Especially since you recently handed over ten million dollars.”

  The reaction was quick and faint, but the acknowledgment was there with a shift of the eyes.

  “See,” said Alex, pointing at Lipton’s face in a circular motion. “That’s confirmation. So, Davis, show me that you’re a smart guy by making this easy. Why are you paying Tobias Baum ten million dollars?”

  “This is a big fucking mistake. Do you know who I am?”

  “Yeah, and for what it’s worth, I dislike your old man a whole lot more.”

  Alex reached down for a cup of coffee on the floor. He took a taste before continuing. “Let’s try this again. What was the money for?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Look, I’m a patient guy. I can sit here all day. However…” Alex turned to reference Nora, who was leaning against the back wall, her arms folded, waiting for her chance to step forward. “She is a different story. Your dance partner really, and I mean really, doesn’t care for you at all. So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to answer my question?”

  “Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Alex addressed his coffee once more. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He rose off the chair, taking it with him to give Nora plenty of room.

  Lipton fought through the discomfort to raise his head. Her hair was now shorter, brunette, and pinned back. The revealing attire had been replaced with sweat pants and a sleeveless workout T-shirt. It was unmistakably the same woman from the club. He watched with interest as she stood a few feet away, in no apparent hurry as she went about sliding her hands into a pair of thinly padded gloves.

  Her next move was rapid and, for Lipton, painful. Nora took a big step forward and with her weight behind her, delivered a solid right-handed punch to the side of Lipton’s face. His head snapped back as if on a coiled spring.

  Nora tried to hold back her anger. Not hitting him as hard as she could was a nice gesture, but her patience was running thin. “The man asked you why you gave Baum ten million dollars.”

  Lipton shook off the grogginess. “Again, you’re mistaken.”

  Nora followed his lie with a series of left-hand jabs, placing them just below his right cheekbone. When his head stopped bobbing, Lipton spat out some blood. He searched the room for the man who’d sat in front of him.

  “Hey, you!” he shouted. “Come get a grip on this cunt!”

  Off to the side, near the back of the room, Alex and Duncan, who had been quietly observing everything, exchanged surprised, uncomfortable glances. They knew what response that remark would bring and felt no need to intervene. After all, he did just call her the C word.

  Nora didn’t react right away; instead, she inched her face closer to Lipton’s, careful not to get so close that he could head-butt her.

  “Davis, we all know you aren’t cut out for this. You’re just a little pussy, and sooner, rather than later, you’re going to tell us what we want to know. Trust me when I tell you that I have no qualms about hurting you. Somebody is going to pay for my friend’s death, and I don’t mind starting with you.”

  “Death. What death? What the hell are you talking about now?”

  His retort brought forth a combination of strikes that would have made Sugar Ray Leonard raise an approving eyebrow. Lipton’s face was starting to bruise, and soon swelling would accentuate the damage. He fought against the throbbing but knew he couldn’t withstand much more. He wanted to believe the woman wouldn’t dare go so far as to kill him, but she had been right about one thing. He wasn’t cut out for this.

  Through moist eyes, Lipton managed to speak with confidence. “It’s pretty easy for you to beat on a defenseless man tied to a chair.”

  Nora shook her head in disbelief. “Well, fuck me. Where are my manners?” She approached Lipton while reaching around her waist, producing a medium-sized, razor-sharp knife. She cut Lipton’s hands and legs free of the chair. She then smiled and in the blink of an eye, slammed the knife down hard between his legs, sticking it into the wooden chair’s seat. Nora stepped away a few feet.

  “Pick it up and use it. If you get by me,” she said, looking over her shoulder, “they won’t bother you. They’ll gladly let you go free.” She could almost sense Lipton’s mind contemplating his options and the validity of her remarks.

  “Pick it up. It’s the only way you’re getting out of here without telling me what I want to know.”

  Lipton slowly rose from the chair, rubbing his wrists, trying to get some circulation back. He’d had some training in self-defense, and despite her beauty, he’d gladly slice her up if it meant he got to leave. After all, she was asking for it. He put his hand around the knife and dislodged it from the chair.

  “Yes, that’s it, Davis. Pick it up.”

  He accepted the dare and moved the knife around in his hand until it felt comfortable. Nora watched his every move. Lipton went into a slight crouch as he crept toward her. She still had a slight smile on her face, which angered him even more. Two more steps and he’d be within range to strike. He tried to get her off balance by faking a thrust to her midsection. She held her ground, reached out, and slapped his hand away, which gave her an opening. In a move far too quick for him to counter, Nora moved inward and followed with a fierce kick to Lipton’s chest, the force of which knocked him back a couple of feet. He let out a pained
sigh as he reached for his chest. He was certain a rib or two were either cracked or broken, and it became harder to breathe as several more blows caved in his stomach, delivered by Nora’s gloved hands. She retreated immediately after striking, conscious that Lipton might try to unleash a wild knife attack. Instead, he struggled just to stay on his feet.

  “You know her name very well,” Nora said, her fist clenched, ready to go again. “First you lied and ruined her career. Now she’s dead, and I’m sure it has something to do with all of this.”

  “Who’s dead?” asked Lipton, assessing his injuries.

  “Erica Janway, you son of a bitch!” Nora accented her anger with a hard, roundhouse kick to Lipton’s jaw that airlifted him for a second before he crashed with a thud to the floor. As Nora approached, she gathered the knife that had flown out of his hand and put it back in its sheath at the small of her back.

  She stood over his crumpled body, her feet ready to strike once more. Lipton understood what was coming next. Other than feebly raise a hand, he was physically powerless to stop it.

  “What do you mean Janway is dead?” he cried, hoping communication would end the assault. He literally couldn’t take any more of a beating. Hours ago, the woman had promised him pleasure, not pain. “If she is, I had nothing to do with that.”

  “You better start making me believe you.”

  Lipton nodded his head, and Alex and Duncan came forward to help him get back into the chair. “I tried to tell you,” said Alex in his ear. “Now, be a good little boy and answer all her questions truthfully.”

  Nora brought Lipton a glass of water, immediately regretting that she’d done so. He didn’t deserve an ounce of kindness. Punishing him some more was what she really wanted to do. But since he was now willing to talk, inflicting more pain might have an adverse effect, making him think there was no reward for being honest.