“No,” she confirmed. “It doesn’t. It burns with something far stronger than your stupid religious conviction! My heart burns with the screams of those people over there. It burns with the blood of my aunt Beulah. It burns with the blood of innocent cops and civilians whose only crime was they won’t bow down to you, you sick twisted—”
“Tisha,” Danny tried to interrupt.
Her eyes filling with tears, Tisha continued, “You’ve messed with the wrong cop, Mohammed! You killed my family! You killed Americans. You think we’re weak? You think we’re not strong enough to fight fire with fire? Well guess again!”
Seizing the opportunity, Alex looked over at Danny. He made a slight head motion toward Lisa. Trading slightly hostile glances, Alex finally won the battle of wills. While distracted by Tisha’s monologue, the fake Agent Tucker took no aggressive action. He made no move to stop Danny from getting Lisa through the exit door to Alex’s rear.
“Then we shall die together!” Ibrahim finally said, malicious excitement smothering his words. Raising an automatic weapon in Tisha’s direction, he fired a single shot, too quick for anyone to react. The bullet hit her square in the stomach, just below the vest, rocking her backwards. Another hit her shoulder height. She stumbled but stayed on her feet.
“You missed, sucker!” she declared, her voice sounding as if she’d taken a hard punch to the gut. He fired another timpani of bullets, this time at her legs. Though shot out from under her, Alex watched in amazement as Tisha got up yet again. Taking the opportunity himself,
Alex fired at Ibrahim’s head, missing by mere inches as he stepped toward Tisha firing round after round into what Alex finally realized was an entire suit of body armor. Alex didn’t have time to figure out where she’d gotten it. The fact was she was on her back from the force of the bullets. Even without it penetrating her suit, the force of the blasts was enough to overpower her. Cause her to scream in bitter anguish. She’d lost the edge and Alex had to do something.
He took a quick glance behind him just in time to see the door close. With Danny clear, he made the decision.
He aimed again. The “money” shot was out, he thought to himself. Agent Tucker was almost three quarters turned away from Alex. The one known vulnerable shot was not an option. The neck was his best shot. He could shoot for the head, but the neck would sever any ties between brain and body. Smaller target, yes, but served his purpose nonetheless.
As the stalking Ibrahim stood over the frightened Tisha Warner,
Alex fired two rounds into his neck.
Ibrahim fell like a ton of bricks.
His gun flew across the room.
Instinctively, Alex ran towards Tisha.
Scooping her up, he said, “Let’s get out of here.”
“No,” Tisha said, wrestling free from Alex’s grasp.
“What?” he grabbed for her again, but she pulled back. “What are you doing?”
“Look!” she said, pointing towards the body of Ibrahim. He was still moving. To Alex’s horror, he was still alive!
Making his way toward his lost weapon, not a single drop of blood appeared to trickle from Ibrahim’s body, though he was grabbing his throat, gasping as if he’d been punched square in the larynx.
“Alex just go!” Tisha said. “I’ll take care of him.”
“But Tisha…”
“Alex! Go!” she shouted.
“Not without you!” he demanded.
“Alex, we don’t have time for this! It’s the only way to stop him.”
Alex felt the bullet hit his side before he heard the shot. The vest had stopped it from piercing him, but it had hit with sufficient force to send him rocketing forward, cracking his head on the floor.
Another shot. This one hit his foot, launching his leg into the air. It felt to Alex as if his hip had been torn from its socket.
Finally another shot.
He felt no pain this time. His mind filled with a ticking sound—a rattle of sorts. One he couldn’t describe, nor locate.
Someone grabbed him. His neck bent in the most uncomfortable position. His shoulder seemed to want to give way. He felt himself being dragged across the floor.
Weak, he fought against the unseen assailant.
His eyes filled with tears. His mind clouded and his ears echoed with the sounds of phantom gunshots, dead for several seconds.
Too old for this.The words swam to the surface even as Alex sank deeper into an ocean of darkness.
***
He blacked out for—he didn’t actually know how long, but when he came to, he heard Danny’s voice. The echoes of sirens and the humming of… what? A car engine? Whatever it was seemed a dream—far in the distance.
“I gotcha partner, you’re gonna be okay.”
“Lisa,” he whispered.
The sirens broke through the fog, moved closer. Alex became aware of a gentle rocking. An ambulance, he thought to himself.
“You’ll see her soon,” Danny said.
“Christina?” Alex asked, still unable to open his eyes.
When Danny didn’t immediately answer, A sickening feeling swelled in Alex.
“Christina?” he repeated urgently. “Mom?”
He could almost hear the hesitation in Danny’s voice, “Alex, we… I…”
What, Danny? Say it! What is going on with my family?
“Tisha?” Alex said.
Again Danny didn’t immediately answer. This time, he didn’t have to. His face revealed at least one answer.
Finally, “Alex, they are still trying to sort everything out.” Danny told him.
The sickening feeling grew. Alex was going to puke. Desperately trying to turn to his side, Alex grew uncontrollably nauseous. Before
Danny could give voice to his objections, Alex lost it. A vomitous explosion covered the inside of the rocketing ambulance. Finally able to open his eyes somewhat, Alex realized he’d puked on Danny and an EMT.
The EMT reached for a blanket and handed one to Danny, who began to wipe himself as clean as possible.
Trying but failing to sit up, Alex again repeated “Mom? Where’s Mom? Christina?”
“Alex,” Danny said, now trying his best to wipe up the vomit that was on the floor of the ambulance. “I’m not going to lie to you. We had to get you and Lisa out of there. We had to get the wounded some help.
It was chaos.” He paused, sighed. “Alex, I don’t know where they are. I’m sorry. God, I just don’t know!”
Turning his head, Alex balled his fists. He wanted to hit Danny.
How could he leave the scene? How could he leave them? How could he leave Lisa?
“Lisa’s okay,” Danny continued. “She was shot in the leg, but they got her stitched up. Her wounds aren’t life threatening. Neither are yours. But she asked me to ride with you to the hospital. To tell you what’s happening. She didn’t want some stranger responsible. She’s maybe five minutes ahead of us. Alex, I have a car following us. When we get you settled, I’m heading back to the school to get this straight.”
Leaning in, Danny wiped a tear from Alex’s cheek. Taking his hand, Danny narrowed his eyes, “You have my word, Alex. This time, I am not coming back without your family.”
Alex felt a needle prick his shoulder.
“What was that?” Danny asked the EMT.
“Just a little something to relax him,” the EMT said.
“Good idea,” Danny whispered. Looking back at Alex, Danny said “Get some rest, Alex. It’s all over now. We got them. We won.”
We won.
As the words echoed in Alex’s mind, he wondered pondered whatever soldier ponders upon the outcome of the battle.
We won, but at what cost?
***
When Eric Reid saw his brother’s face, there were no words.
Nothing he could say could sort out everything he was feeling. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to bow down and beg forgiveness for not being strong enough to save them. He wanted to cry and bu
ry himself in the protection of his big brother. He wanted to ask for reassurance but at the same time wanted to be able to offer the same.
In the end, he could do none of it. In the end, he could merely watch through teary eyes as Gilmer Fire Department worked to extinguish the burning remains of Gilmer Elementary School. Amid pain, confusion and sadness, he thought of his parents. Their bodies likely burning even as he lay there unable to tell anyone to get them out. He’d failed them many times in life and now the final stab in the heart.
He’d failed them in death.
No peace.
Those words resonated in Eric’s heart. There would be noRest in Peace. A stone marker somewhere, perhaps, a place to put flowers and come to chat to an empty grave. No home for his parents.
Keith’s expression was as confused as Eric felt. For now, brother held hand to hand with brother. For now, family was all that remained—scarred, embattled; broken even.
“We won,” he’d heard a policeman say a few minutes ago. Won what? Won a battle? Eric had lost his parents. He’d lost classmates and school friends. He’d lost co-workers. He’d lost his job, his car and probably his home. If nothing else, Eric Reid had lost meaning. To him, it didn’t feel like anything had been won.
Victory should feel much sweeter, he thought to himself. This was not “happily ever after.” This was “and yet they moved on.”
This was Eric Reid.
Alone and afraid.
As Keith squeezed his hand again, Eric Reid let go a cleansing flood of tears.
Alone? No. The one thing that cop lady had said that was right was that his parents would never truly leave him. And he still had Keith. He still had his two sisters.
As he looked into the night sky, Eric couldn’t help but wonder aloud.
“What about you, Jenny?”
As the wind picked up slightly, Eric couldn’t help but believe that maybe therein lay his answer. Even death itself couldn’t keep Jenny Anderson from stalking him.
Feeling a slight needle prick in his arm, Eric nearly jerked out of his dreamed state.
“Just a sedative,” the young female EMT said. She was cute, Eric thought to himself. A slightly chubby thing with exotic brown eyes and ebony hair.
“Thanks, Jenny,” Eric whispered.
“You’re welcome, Stud Muffin.”
Eric’s eyes widened.
The EMT smiled sweetly. For the first time, he noticed her name badge.
Jennifer Caldwell.
Eric couldn’t help but smile.
As the name echoed through his mind, Eric launched headlong into slumber. Even in dreams he could feel the solemn smile that had formed on his face.
CHAPTER 42
Finale
The baby looked so tiny nestled in Lisa’s arms. So fragile but, at long last, it appeared he was at peace within the boundaries of his own existence.
Stroking the sleeping infant’s tiny head, Lisa looked at Alex as if offering him a chance to hold his sleeping son.
Alex made no accepting gesture, finding himself too joyfully enamored by the long-awaited image of baby boy—happy, healthy, and contented—in the arms of Mother Lisa Mendez.
“We need to give him a name, don’t you think?” Lisa whispered.
The baby twitched when she spoke, struggled against whatever infant frustration momentarily distressed him, yawned and nestled himself comfortable once more. He’d nearly doubled in size it seemed, but Alex felt remiss to point that out to Lisa who was no doubt feeling the sting of time that had been stolen from her.
Perhaps it was better this way, Alex thought. The baby had time to get stronger before Lisa saw him for the first time. Odd as it seemed, maybe God’s great plan worked out after all. One less thing for Lisa to stress over, one more reason for her to simply relax and get better. One more moment to be enjoyed with their son whose name she did not yet know.
“I’ve already taken care of that,” Alex said, finally confident the name he’d chosen virtually from day one had been no accident. “I’d like you to meet Joseph Warner Mendez.”
“Warner?” Lisa asked.
Alex nodded nervously, Lisa, looked confused, gazed upon the face of her tiny son.
“I like it,” she said, looking up, smiling, meeting Alex’s eyes. “It fits.”
“I thought so.”
“Alex?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
Alex could see a tear swelling in her eye. Reaching a hand to her cheek, he said “I love you too.”
“No, I mean it. I’m the luckiest woman alive. And I really love you. I owe you more than just my life, Alex. I owe you my existence. I owe you in ways I’m not even sure I can express. Maybe in ways I don’t fully understand but…” She broke off for a moment, sniffled, looked at Baby Joseph and finally continued, “I just really appreciate you. More than love, I honor you, Alex Mendez. I love you with my entire being.”
Alex gave a gentle smile. “And I love you, my sweet.” Leaning forward, he kissed Lisa’s forehead. “I do love you so.”
Joseph stirred slightly in Lisa’s arms and made a noise that might have been a tiny cough, perhaps a sneeze. Alex wasn’t sure.
“Yes sir!” Alex whispered, planting a soft kiss on his son’s face. “I love you too.”
Joseph let out another noise—this one definitely a sneeze.
“Baby Joseph,” Lisa whispered, smiling.
As with those of days past who carried the name of Mendez, Joseph’s biggest adventures still lay ahead.
As Alex pondered the many mysteries that lay before Baby Joseph, the uncertainties that filled life’s path before him, he grew nervous.
“What’s on your mind?” Lisa asked him.
“The future,” Alex whispered.
“Let’s keep it simple,” Lisa said. “Let’s start small.”
“How small?”
“I’d say Christina-sized,” she said, chuckling. “Let’s let him meet his big sister first and worry about the rest later okay?Shejust started school. Let’s wait a while before we get him in there too.”
“Good plan,” Alex said, winking. He offered a smile that hinted of timid relief.
“Alex?” Lisa said, forcing a stern eye contact with him. “He’s going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay.”
“I hope you’re right,” Alex sighed.
“Of course I’m right.” she said. A playful smile crawled across her lips. “I’m always right. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
Smiling softly, Alex kissed her forehead again.
“Sue me,” he whispered. “I’m a slow learner.”
A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
A tiny set of fingers slowly worked their way into the dimly lit room.
“Mommy?” Came Christina’s timid voice.
“There’s my big girl,” Lisa said softly.
Alyson walked in behind Christina. Subtle signs of the battle of which she’d been a part still lingered on Alyson’s face. There were just some things a hairbrush, a shower and a fresh set of clothes couldn’t erase.
“Well, where is he?” she asked. “Let me see the little runt.”
As Christina approached the bed, Lisa held him down slightly so that both she and Alyson could get a better look at the latest Mendez addition.
“Hi, George!” Christina whispered, excitedly.
Lisa looked at Alex, cocked and eyebrow, mouthed the word
“George?”
Alex laughed. “Um, Honey, I think we need to talk about that,” he said, picking up Christina. “Mommy and I decided we’re going to name the baby Joseph.”
Pouting slightly, Christina remained silent. Alex kissed her on the cheek.
“It’s not that we don’t like the name George,” Alex continued. “We just thought that Joseph was a cool name.”
Christina sighed. Her pout lessened but still didn’t disappear.
“Can I hold him?” Alyson asked.
Alyson was careful, almost graceful in transferring Joseph.
“Joseph, huh?” she said, looking at the stirring child in her arms.
“Joseph Warner Mendez,” Alex confirmed.
Alyson smiled. “I like it.” She held the baby down to let Christina see him better. “Joseph,” she said, meeting Christina’s eyes. “But only if we can call him Joey.”
She winked at Christina, whose expression suddenly brightened.
Alex smiled, looked at Lisa who couldn’t have been more aglow.
“Joey,” Alex whispered, looking at Lisa.
“Joey,” she confirmed, nodding.
Alex hugged Christina warmly and looked at the baby still nestled in Alyson’s arms. He put a hand on Lisa’s leg and said, “Welcome to the family, Joey.”
For the third time—or was it the fourth? Alex had lost count—Joey made the sneezy-cough noise.
“That means ‘thank you’ I think,” Alex said.
“Daddy?” Christina said, turning to try and see Alex.
“Yeah, Baby?”
“Do you think Brandy will like him?” she asked. “He’s kinda ugly.”
Laughter filled the room.
“Honey,” Lisa said. “That’s not very nice. Remember what Thumper’s Daddy told him?”
“Yeah,” she said, hanging her head, pouting, “’If ya can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” Her voice possessed a quality not dissimilar from the small rabbit made famous in the Disney cartoon.
“That’s right,” Lisa said.
“Sorry, Joey,” Christina said. “But he does look like a squirrel.” she added, looking at Alex. “Brandy might eat him for dinner.”
“Honey,” Alex said, turning her to face him, trying desperately not to laugh at Christina’s comparison of Joey and a lawn rodent. “If you love Baby Joey and Mommy and I love Baby Joey, I’m pretty sure Brandy will pick up on that. And she’ll love him too. But if you’re worried about it, when you get home tonight, you make sure to tell Brandy all about him okay? Tell her that he’s coming home soon and she’ll need to protect him just like she protects you.”
“Is Brandy gonna sleep in Joey’s room now?”
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