by Stuart Woods
Stone turned left on First, then picked up Lance’s radio. “I’m headed up First Avenue in my car,” he said.
“Roger,” Lance replied.
Stone drove on for another dozen blocks.
“Get on the FDR Drive, going north,” Billy Bob said.
Stone made the turn and got onto the drive. “I’m on the FDR, heading north,” he said into Lance’s radio.
“Roger,” Lance replied.
Traffic was light, and he moved well. He picked up a radio. “Lance, do you have me in sight?”
“Roger,” Lance said. “We’re in what looks like a news copter. We’ve got you in sight, so there’s no need to report again. If we lose you, I’ll call. Relax.”
Stone tried to relax.
“Turn onto the Triborough Bridge,” Billy Bob said, “and keep left.”
Stone breezed through the tollbooth, because of the E-ZPass device on his windshield, and moved over to the left lane.
“Follow the signs to Randall’s Island,” Billy Bob said.
Randall’s Island is in the East River; Stone had never been there. He drove down the ramp and approached an intersection.
“Turn right.”
Stone turned right.
“Follow the road.”
It was like having a talking GPS navigator in the car. He was driving past a series of baseball diamonds. He had never known they were there.
“After the traffic circle, turn into Field One Twenty-one,” Billy Bob said.
Stone went around the traffic circle, came out and followed a sign to 121.
“Pull under the bleacher cover, get out of the car and leave the radio,” Billy Bob said. “Leave your other radio, too.”
Stone picked up Lance’s radio. “I’m at baseball diamond number one twenty-one on Randall’s Island. I have to leave your radio here. Billy Bob thinks I had another radio, so be prepared for some sort of surprise.”
Stone stopped under the bleacher cover, at a place where equipment could drive onto the field for maintenance. He got out of the car and, immediately, a man stepped out of the shadows with a shotgun and pointed it at his head.
“Turn around and put your hands on the roof of the car,” the man said.
Stone did as he was told. The man rested the barrel of the shotgun against the back of his head and began to pat him down. Right away, he found the Walther in the holster on Stone’s belt. He found the magazines, too, dropped them and the pistol on the ground and kicked them under the car. Then he started down Stone’s legs from the crotch. He wasn’t shy about feeling everything, but he was doing it from behind, so he missed the Keltec .380 in Stone’s Thunderwear. He found the S&W snubnose, though, and kicked that under the car, too.
Stone felt a handcuff snap onto his right wrist.
“Give me your left hand,” the man said.
Stone did so, and his hands were cuffed together behind his back. The barrel of the shotgun against his head persuaded him not to object.
The man grabbed him by the collar and stood him up, facing the rear of the car.
“Now listen to me very carefully,” the man said.
Stone looked over his shoulder and saw the trunk lid of his car slowly open.
“My instructions are to kill you, if you give me the slightest difficulty,” the man said. He was standing with the short-barreled shotgun at port arms.
“Oh, I won’t give you any trouble,” Stone said. He saw Dino roll out of the trunk of his car, and he had never been so glad to see anybody. “But the guy behind you might.”
“Yeah, sure,” the man said.
Dino put a pistol to the back of the man’s head and said, “Drop the shotgun.”
The man dropped the shotgun.
“Oh, no,” Stone said aloud.
“What da ya mean, ‘oh, no,’ ” Dino said, and then somebody put another shotgun barrel against the back of his head.
“Oh, no, there’s a guy with a shotgun behind you,” Stone said.
“Swell,” Dino replied. He dropped his pistol on the pavement.
Stone watched as the second man put Dino against the car and searched and handcuffed him as had been done to Stone.
“What do we do with this one?” one of the men said.
“I dunno; there were no orders about that.”
“Call and find out.”
The first man produced a radio. “Boss, we’ve got two of them here,” he said.
“I told you it might happen,” he said. “Sit them down and carry out the rest of the plan.” The men put Stone and Dino on the ground, leaning against a light pole.
From somewhere out beyond the field, Stone heard a helicopter. “It’s Lance,” he whispered to Dino.
“It goddamned well better be,” Dino whispered back.
Then another man appeared from the shadows. He was Stone’s height and weight, with the same hair color.
“Let’s go,” one of the men said, grabbing the man by the arm.
Stone was baffled by this turn of events, but then he watched as the man with the shotgun marched the other man toward the center of the little ballpark. They stopped on the pitcher’s mound, and seconds later, a green helicopter swooped in and set down in a cloud of dust. The man with the shotgun pretended to force the other man onto the chopper, then it lifted off and flew away to the east.
“I think you just left by helicopter,” Dino said.
“Yes, and it wasn’t Lance’s.”
The shotgunner ran back under the shelter and waited. Stone could see the helicopter head out in the direction of Long Island, and, a moment later, he saw another chopper in pursuit, one with “News 6” painted on its side in huge letters.
One of the shotgunners spoke into a radio. “Okay, we’re good.”
A moment later, a silver Lincoln Navigator screeched to a halt under the roof, and Billy Bob got out. “God, your people are stupid,” he said.
Stone tried and failed to think of a snappy comeback.
“Put them in the luggage compartment and cuff ’em back to back,” Billy Bob said.
The two men put first Stone, then Dino into the rear compartment of the Navigator, and Stone heard another pair of handcuffs snapping shut. He and Dino could lean against each other’s backs, but they couldn’t turn around. Somebody then pulled a shadelike cover over their heads and fastened it. A moment later, the Navigator drove away.
“All comfy back there, Stone, Dino?”
Neither of them replied, but Dino was swearing a blue streak under his breath.
“I hadn’t expected you, Dino, but you’re welcome. I ought to be able to gain some sort of advantage by having a cop as my guest for a short while.”
“Thanks for coming,” Stone whispered to Dino.
“My pleasure,” Dino replied.
“Now you boys settle down back there,” Billy Bob said. “While your friends are chasing my rented chopper around Long Island, you and I have other fish to fry.”
“Where’s Arrington?” Stone asked.
“I didn’t expect you to keep your end of the bargain, Stone, so I didn’t keep mine. You’ll see her later, though.”
Stone tried to relax and count the car’s turns, figure out where it was going. After five minutes of left and right and U-turns, he gave up.
50
STONE COULDN’T LOOK at his watch, but he estimated they’d been traveling for nearly an hour when he heard the rattle of a metal garage door opening. The Navigator reversed, and the door came down again.
“Get ’em out,” Billy Bob said to somebody. The rear door of the truck opened, the blind was rolled back and Stone and Dino were hustled out of the vehicle.
“Set ’em down in the corner,” Billy Bob said.
Stone and Dino were pushed into a corner of the garage, which was lit only by daylight coming through small, high windows in the door. A moment later, the garage door opened again, and the Navigator drove out. Stone figured there was still a guard inside with them.
&nbs
p; “Excuse me,” he said to the wall, “do you think you could cuff us a different way? This is very uncomfortable.”
There was no response.
Stone managed to turn toward the door and looked around the garage. “We’re alone,” Stone said.
“Now what?”
“I’m not sure,” Stone said. “Since our hands are locked behind us, I can’t get to the Keltec.”
“And, even if you could, there’s nobody to shoot.”
From somewhere outside the garage came a faint woman’s voice. “Get me out of here!” she said, and there was a banging noise.
“Is that Arrington?” Dino asked.
“I’ve never heard her voice under these conditions,” Stone said, “but my best guess is yes.” He yelled as loud as he could. “Arrington?”
“Stone?” she shouted back.
“Where are you?”
“How the hell should I know?” she screamed. “It’s dark.”
“Just hang on. I’ll try and find you.”
“I’d help, but they’ve got me handcuffed,” she yelled back.
“You, too?”
“You mean you’re handcuffed?”
“Yes, but I’m working on it.”
Dino spoke up. “I don’t want to interrupt, but I’d like to know how you’re working on it.”
“Good news,” Stone said. “I have a handcuff key.”
“Why?” Dino asked.
“I’ve been carrying one in my wallet since I was on the force, just for times like this.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful,” Dino said. “Now could you unlock these cuffs?”
“There’s a small problem,” Stone said.
“What problem?”
“My wallet is in my left front pocket.”
“Nobody carries his wallet in his left front pocket.”
“I do. It’s very small and just has credit cards and my driver’s license, that sort of stuff, in it.”
“Can you reach your left front pocket?”
“Well, no. That’s the problem. Do you think you can reach it?”
“Let’s find out,” Dino said. “Sit still, and move your hands to your left.”
Stone moved his hands to his left, while Dino worked his way as far as he could to Stone’s side.
“I can’t reach,” Dino said. “I’m a good eight inches short, too. What now?”
Stone thought about that. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “I’m armed, and I can’t reach the gun, and I have a handcuff key, and I can’t reach that, either.”
“You don’t have to explain the situation to me,” Dino said. “I get it.”
“All right, you think of something.”
“I’m thinking.”
They both sat quietly, their backs against each other, and thought.
“I’ve got it,” Dino said.
“Tell me.”
“What we have to do is hang you up by your feet, and then your wallet will fall out of your pocket.”
“Swell, Dino; how are we going to hang me up by my feet?”
“Jesus, do I have to think of everything? It’s your turn to figure out something.”
“Let’s see if we can get to our feet,” Stone said. “Press your back against mine, and let’s work our feet back until we’re upright.”
“Worth a try,” Dino said.
They pushed against each other and began taking tiny steps backward. They were halfway up, when Stone’s feet slipped out from under him, and they both fell down, hitting the concrete floor hard.
“Shit, that hurt!” Stone said.
“Tell me about it. It’s those faggoty Italian loafers you’re always wearing,” Dino said. “The soles are too slippery.”
“I suppose you’re wearing those black cop shoes with the thick, rubber soles?”
“Sure, I am, and I didn’t slip, did I?”
“Let’s try it again.”
“And what’s changed that’s going to make it work this time?”
“We have to try. Billy Bob could come back at any moment.”
“All right, let’s go.”
They started pushing up again, and this time, after a good minute of trying, they were on their feet.
“Man, that was hard,” Dino said, puffing.
“You’re in lousy shape, that’s why,” Stone said.
“Yeah, sure, like you actually use that exercise stuff in your basement?”
“Of course, I use it.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Stone. You’re breathing just as hard as I am.”
“All right, all right. Now what are we going to hang me from?”
They started to move in a circle, looking at the walls of the garage.
“There are tools in here,” Dino said. “Shovels and stuff.”
“Yeah, it looks like some sort of maintenance facility.”
“You see anything useful?”
“Yes!” Stone almost yelled. “There’s a hose coiled up and hung on a hook!” He moved toward a wall, and Dino followed him, walking backward.”
Dino looked over his shoulder. “First, we have to get the hose off the hook, so we can use it.
The hook was chest high. Stone tried nudging the coil of hose with his knee, but couldn’t reach it. Finally, he bent over and pushed upward on the hose with his head. Most of it fell to the floor, leaving several coils on the hook. “I think that’ll do it,” Stone said. “The hook’s available; I’ve just got to get a leg up that high.”
“Try walking up the wall,” Dino said. “I’ll back up closer.” He did so.
“Push hard against me,” Stone said. He put a foot against the wall, then another. “It’s working,” Stone said. “About two feet higher. Push harder!”
Dino pushed, and Stone continued walking up the wall.
“We’ve got to move about a foot to the left,” Stone said.
Dino worked in that direction, taking tiny steps.
“I think I can . . .” Stone got a leg over the hook and put his weight on it. “Okay, I’ve got a leg hooked. You’ve got to get lower, and as slowly as possible.”
Dino eased himself down to a squatting position. “I don’t know how long I can do this,” he said.
Stone had all his weight on the one leg over the hook, now. He began to shake his hips back and forth.
“What are you doing?” Dino demanded.
“I’m trying to shake out the wallet,” Stone said. “It won’t come out.”
Dino began to jump up and down an inch or two from his squatting position.
“It fell out!” Stone yelled. “Now you have to stand up again, so I can get my leg off the hook.
Making loud groaning noises, Dino slowly pushed himself upright.
Using his other foot for purchase, Stone managed to get his leg off the hook, and the two of them fell to the floor in a heap. They lay there for a moment, panting.
“Where’s your wallet?” Dino asked finally.
“It’s around here somewhere. Feel for it with your feet.”
They scurried around in the dimly lit garage, feeling for the wallet.
“I think I’ve got it,” Dino said. “It’s tucked up under my ass. Let me see if I can reach it. Move backwards a little.”
Stone moved backward.
“Got it,” Dino said. “I pushed it between us. Feel for it.”
“I have it,” Stone said.
“Well, get the fucking key out!”
Stone got the wallet open and shook it. A tiny metallic sound came back. “It’s on the floor.” He felt for it. “Got it!”
“Unlock any bracelet,” Dino said. “Doesn’t matter which one.”
Stone got hold of Dino’s wrist, found the bracelet and the keyhole and turned the key.
“Yes!” Dino shouted, holding up his free hand. He turned to Stone. “Give me the key.”
Stone put it in Dino’s hand, and a moment later, he had a free hand, and a moment after that, they were both free of the cuffs.
Stone unzipped his trousers and fished out the Keltec and its silencer. He screwed the tube onto the barrel, then popped the magazine and counted. “I’ve only got five rounds,” he said. “The guy who searched me took the other two magazines.”
“Then make them count,” Dino said. “You got any qualms about putting one in somebody’s head, say so, and I’ll do it.”
“None whatever,” Stone said. “Now let’s find the switch that opens this door.”
“Before we do that,” Dino said, “you’ve got to hoist me up so that I can get a look outside and see what we’re up against.”
Stone stuck the gun in his belt and made a stirrup for Dino. Dino hopped up and had a look outside.
“Nothing,” he said. “Nobody. Just a wall.”
“You take that wall,” Stone said, pointing. “I’ll take this one. Look for the switch.”
They both groped in the semidarkness.
“Got it,” Dino said. “You ready?”
“Hit it,” Stone said, his gun at the ready.
51
DINO HIT THE SWITCH, and the door started up. Stone ducked under it and stepped outside, the gun pointing ahead of him. He checked both directions. “Clear,” he said, and Dino came out.
“What is this place?” Dino asked.
They were in a kind of alley between two long rows of garages.
“I don’t know,” Stone said. “Let’s find Arrington, then we’ll worry about it. It sounded as though she was nearby, but not too near. You take the other row.”
Stone and Dino began walking down both rows of garages, banging on the door and shouting Arrington’s name.
“Here!” Dino yelled, two doors down.
“Dino? Stone?” Arrington shouted.
“We’re right outside,” Stone said.
“Well, get me out of here.”
“First, we’ve got to figure out how to get inside. You said you were handcuffed. Are your feet free?”
“They’re tied together, and I’m lying on my side,” she shouted back.
“Can you get to your feet?”
“Maybe. What do I do then?”
Stone went over to the side of the garage door and tapped the silencer against it. “There’s a button that opens the door, and it’s probably right over here. If you can get to your feet, hop over this way and find the button.”