Deadly Desires and Killer Instincts

by Angela C. Blackmoore

  Reggie looked at John for a long moment but finally nodded, giving Lanie a hug from behind as she held her gun.

  “Well, whatever we’re going to do, we’d better do it quickly,” Lanie said, after giving Reggie a kiss. “I can hear them moving.” She pulled back from the edge of a large piece of wood and handed her gun to Reggie.

  Reggie took her place, glaring over the barrier as Lanie stepped back next to Abby. Gloria came up and pointed, whispering to both of the women. “Go toward the wall. There’s a hallway that leads behind one of the dryers, and then you can cut over toward the main floor. Once there, wait until you hear a lot of screaming and crashing.”

  “Screaming and crashing?” Lanie and Abby asked together.

  Gloria grinned and nodded. “Oh yeah, I have an idea for a good distraction. It won’t get all of them, but I’m betting I can drop some lumber on one or two of them. That should keep them occupied long enough for you to make it up those stairs.”

  Abby and Lanie nodded, then before moving in the direction that Gloria had indicated, Abby moved into Gabe’s arms and gave him a hug.

  “You be dang careful,” Gabe said, holding her tightly.

  “You too Mr. Forest Elf,” Abby said seriously before disengaging. She turned and followed Lanie as quietly as she could.

  Chapter 28

  Abby followed Lanie back through the machines and equipment as carefully as she could. Despite it being an active worksite, it was still scattered with bits of wood and other detritus which made the going slower than usual. However, they finally made it to the spot closest to the stairs. They crouched down by a large bin, looking at the beginning of the stairway that led up to a door.

  “This is almost stereotypical,” Abby whispered as both of the women waited for whatever signal Gloria was going to concoct. She hadn’t been overly specific, but they figured if falling lumber was involved, it would be loud enough.

  “What do you mean stereotypical?” Lanie asked, not looking away from the stairway but tilting her head slightly toward Abby.

  “I mean,” Abby said. “Couldn’t the door have been down here and easy to get to? It’s almost like some stupid movie plot gone bad.”

  Lanie glanced at her and gave her a sick smile. “I’m not going to argue with that. I’m more concerned with Reggie back there in danger, and I imagine you’re feeling the same about Gabe.” She stopped and sighed, looking down at the floor in frustration. “I’m the one that should be back there, protecting everyone. I’m the police officer.”

  Abby reached out and took Lanie’s hand, squeezing it softly. “We’re doing what we can. I think you’re right to be here, rather than back there. We don’t need any delay in the sheriff and the other deputies getting here. Reggie can shoot, can’t he?”

  Lanie nodded and grinned. “Not as good as I can, but he’s no slouch. I bet John is the same, though there’s only the one gun. I swear, I’m going to get a back-up so we have more guns next time. Maybe you should learn how to shoot, too?”

  “Oh, please don’t say that. I am so not some super spy,” Abby whined softly, wringing her hands while Lanie chuckled softly.

  “I know, Abby,” Lanie said, turning to her friend, “But seriously, it’s not a bad idea. How many times have you been shot at since you’ve been in town?”

  “A few,” Abby said evasively.

  “A few is far more than most people experience in a life time,” Lanie answered.

  “The truth is that Danny taught me to shoot, though it’s been a few years,” Abby said. “He took me to the shooting range a few times and let me get qualified, but it’s been years. I didn’t keep it up.”

  “So! You’re saying that you won’t be a complete beginner then?” Lanie said quietly. “That’s a relief. I hate teaching beginners.”

  Abby didn’t answer, preferring to let the conversation lapse though she immediately regretted it once her mind settled back on Gabe and the rest of her friends back in the warehouse.

  Suddenly, she heard John Troutdale’s voice echo out from a different location then they’d left them. “Hey!” he called. “You really don’t want to do this. We’ve called the police and they are on their way.”

  There was a short, hurried whisper sound from back toward the door before a rough voice responded. “Yeah, no they’re not. We blocked your signal. No cops are coming. You should give up now and give us whatever you found out there in the woods.”

  “Well, to be fair, the cops are already here,” John replied loudly. Abby could hear people moving but she didn’t know who it was or where it was coming from. She could only imagine the bad guys moving to flank John’s new position. “Seriously, do you really want to shoot a cop? You know what will happen. They’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks. The senator won’t be able to help you.”

  “Just give us what we want and we’ll leave you alone,” the rough voice answered.

  Suddenly, there was a massive noise and despite expecting it, Lanie and Abby both jumped as a pile of cut lumber suddenly tumbled from where it had been sitting and crashed down to the floor. Almost immediately, there was pained screaming coming from two men who had been caught in the wooden deluge.

  Abby almost forgot why they were there until Lanie grabbed her arm, pulling up and running toward the stairs. For a stark moment, Abby imagined what it might feel like for a bullet to impact her and was sure that at any second, she would find out. She gritted her teeth, moving her feet as quickly as possible as they stormed up the stairway. Each step sounded so loud, she was sure that they would be targeted at any moment, but instead, a moment later, they were up and through the doorway.

  As they crouched inside, panting from the exertion, they continued to hear the yelling and screaming from the main floor of the warehouse. Abby and Lanie looked at each other when they heard a gunshot, and then a woman’s scream.

  “Gloria!” Abby said, frightened beyond belief for their friend. She hadn’t known Gloria long, but she was suddenly deathly afraid. Turning toward the door, she reached for the handle but Lanie grabbed her arm and pulled it back.

  “No! You can’t do anything to help!” Lanie hissed, anger mixed with fear. “Let’s get to the phone and make that call. That’s the best thing we can do.”

  Abby nodded, giving the door a sick look but she turned and followed Lanie as they both crawled across the floor. The room was large, but much of its space was taken up with old, metal filing cabinets with peeling paint and a beaten up old dining room table that had paperwork scattered across it. However, they were most concerned about the large desk which contained an old computer and what looked like an actual rotary phone.

  They worked their way around the side and pushed the old chair out of the way before Lanie pulled the phone down behind the desk. “I’ve never used a rotary phone before but it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out,” Lanie said, staring at it as she picked up the receiver and listened for a dial tone. When she heard it, she made a surprised face and then dialed 911.

  Abby peeked up over the desk as Lanie started talking frantically into the phone. Her eyes were focused on the windows as she heard continued yelling but couldn’t hear what was being said.

  After a few moments, she heard Lanie hang up, putting the phone down on the floor before peeking up over the desk with her.

  “They’re on their way, thank goodness,” Lanie said. “I can’t hear what they’re yelling from here. Let’s go back over by the door.”

  Abby nodded, but before she could, she looked down on the desk and saw a little black flash drive laying on some paperwork. “Hey, give me that tin,” she said, picking up the little piece of plastic. When Lanie handed it over, she quickly removed the blue and white drive and replaced it with the black one.

  When they crawled back towards the door, they could finally make out the voice of John Troutman. “Abby! Lanie! Come on out. They’ve got Gloria. We need to make a trade.”

  Abby and Lanie both slowly raised their heads
until they could see below. Three rough looking men were standing at one end of the warehouse, one of which was holding a gun to Gloria’s head. She was favoring one of her legs, and Abby thought she could see some wetness on her thigh. It was clear Gloria was in pain and terrified.

  John, Reggie, and Gabe were standing not far from them, with John out front. Reggie had his gun pointed at the men, but John was standing there with his hands out. Everyone was looking up at the doorway to the office that Lanie and Abby were peeking out of.

  “Oh, jackrabbits,” Abby said.

  Chapter 29

  Lanie cracked the door and called out. “I’ve called the police!” she yelled down onto the warehouse floor. “They’re on their way!”

  The leader visibly scoffed. “I told you, we blocked your signals. There’s no way anyone is coming. Give us the damn flash drive now, or-“ he growled, yanking Gloria so she cried out in pain when she was forced to put some weight on her leg, “-she dies.”

  “Well, we can talk about that, but there’s a land line up here and you can’t block that. The police are really on their way” Lanie called. She looked at Abby before turning back to the door. “However, no one has to die. We can give you the drive.”

  “The man grinned and nodded. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the other two men who were exhibiting some signs of having been banged up recently. “Finally, some headway.” Turning back he called up to Lanie. “Send your friend down with it. I don’t trust you.”

  Lanie sighed, putting her forehead against the doorjamb before glancing back to Abby. “It’s a risk,” she said quietly. “I won’t lie to you that these guys might just start shooting once they get what they came for.”

  Abby felt her stomach flip as she considered the words. Lanie had been right, earlier. She had been shot at and also stood next to the sheriff while a bunch of state police had trained their guns on them, but these weren’t police. These men were criminals, and she already knew the quality of criminal the senator employed. Finally, she nodded and took the tin that Lanie held out to her. “How long do you think it will take for the sheriff to get here?”

  Lanie gave her a look that said it would not be soon enough, but she rallied and spoke. “About ten minutes depending on where they were. Josh said he’d get the boys moving as fast as possible when he heard we were taking gun fire.”

  Abby nodded and gestured toward the door. “Okay, go ahead and open it.”

  Abby didn’t stand in front of the door when it opened. She was too nervous about one of the men taking a shot at her to risk that. After nothing happened, she took a deep breath and pushed herself out onto the stair landing, calling down to everyone below. “Okay, I’m coming down and I have the flash drive. Don’t sh… don’t shoot,” she stuttered, feeling both terrified and almost silly for saying that line. She wouldn’t have done anything else under the circumstances, but once again the absolute strangeness of the situation impacted her.

  She walked as slowly as possible down the stairs and moved across the dirty, sawdust covered floor. Gabe was staring at her, fear clawing out of his eyes as he watched her approach the group. She knew he wanted to do something to protect her, but it was all in her hands.

  She came even with John Troutdale and held up the metal tin with the flash drive in it, staring at the man that was holding Gloria. “Here’s the flash drive,” she said, rattling it briefly so the man could hear the sound.

  “How do I know it’s really what we’re looking for?” the man said, giving her an angry look.

  Abby frowned, suddenly irate at everything that had happened. “I have no idea,” she said back. “Seriously, when have we had time to even look this? We came out of the forest and you bunch of thugs started shooting at us.”

  The man blinked, looking like he wanted to answer but stopping himself before gesturing with the gun. “Okay, fine, bring it here.”

  Abby began to walk forward, but then stopped. These men had caused a lot of trouble, and she wanted some answers. “Tell me one thing,” she said as she moved slowly forward. “Why did you kill Buck and Demsey Dansen? Why did you try to kill Samantha Green? That can’t have helped you find the drive.”

  The leader frowned and shook his head. “We didn’t kill them,” he growled. “We don’t know who it was, but it sure put a cramp in what we were looking for.”

  Abby tilted her head and stared at him, but despite everything that was going on, she believed him. They had no reason to do it, and he was right, it had kept them from finding Buck. Suddenly in the distance, they could all hear the faint wail of sirens, making the three men shift nervously. The leader suddenly thrust his gun forward, aiming at Abby’s face. “Give me the damn flash drive! Now!”

  She jerked, suddenly terrified once again by the sight of the dark opening to the barrel and she threw the tin down on the ground at his feet. Quickly, one of the other men reached down and picked it up. He stood and opened the tin and quickly took out the black flash drive. “It’s here! It’s here! Come one, let’s get out of here.”

  The leader glanced back, his eyes settling on the little piece of plastic in the other man’s hand and then shoved Gloria forward, making her topple at Abby’s feet. Then they ran.

  Abby crouched down next to Gloria, holding her as the woman grimaced and held her leg. There was blood flowing down the outside of her pants, but other than that she looked okay as she held onto Abby. “Are they gone?” Gloria said through gritted teeth.

  John crouched down next to Abby and nodded. “Yes, it looks like they’re gone. Help will be here soon.

  “Thank goodness,” Abby said, feeling Gabe’s arms wrap around her from behind as she held Gloria. “Thank goodness.”

  Chapter 30

  Abby was never so happy to see the squat, solid building of the sheriff’s department in all her life. Gloria had been sent away in an ambulance for treatment for her leg wound and one of the deputies had ferried them all back into town, leaving them in the sheriff’s office. It would have felt odd, except Lanie was there and made them all feel as comfortable as possible.

  “Well,” John said, hefting his styrofoam cup of coffee. “Here we are again! Bad coffee and the taste of gunpowder, sitting in the police station.”

  They all laughed, raising their own cups and took a drink.

  “How long do you think it is before they realize that’s not the right flash drive?” Abby asked John and Reggie.

  Both men shrugged, thinking it through until Reggie answered. “Probably not too long. Now, how long will it be before they report that to the senator is a better question. I’m betting it will be a few days. They really don’t have a lot of choice. Either they report it, or run, and the senator has a long reach.”

  “Yeah, he’s not a nice person at all,” Abby said, then took a sip from her coffee. Despite the burnt taste, she stomached it. Her nerves were still frayed and the sugar was helping to calm her down.

  “Yes, but at least now your girl Samantha will be safe,” John said. “That’s quite a big deal to become someone’s guardian.”

  “Well, technically, Hazel is her guardian, but I guess I’m on the paperwork as well,” Abby said. “I think Robert Carrington put me on there so we could talk to Samantha easier but I don’t think she’s out of danger. You heard what those men said. They didn’t kill Buck or Demsey.”

  “If you can trust what they said,” Lanie said.

  “I think they were telling the truth,” Abby said. “You saw how relieved they were when they thought they’d found the flash drive. Also, it just doesn’t make sense to kill the people you’re trying to get information from, right?”

  John and Reggie both nodded. “That makes sense. I would expect them to hurt them, but if they didn’t get the information, they wouldn’t have killed them.”

  “Then who did it?” Lanie mused as she leaned against a counter.

  “Someone with a badge,” Abby said. “Remember what Samantha
said? But who would have access to both the prison and the hospital?”

  At that moment they heard the front door to the police station open. Lanie peeked out of the room they were all sitting in and got an irritated look on her face, but the screaming voice announced who it was before Lanie could say something.

  “Where is that woman!” Rachel Clawson screeched into the station. “I want her arrested!”

  Lanie charged out toward the front counter. “Hold on! Just hold on a minute! What’s going on, Rachel, what woman?”

  “You know perfectly well who I am talking about, Lanie!” Rachel answered. “Abby Morgan! She did something at the hospital! I received a call saying she’s taking away my daughter!”

  John and Gabe were both peeking out of the door now, but Abby just wanted to cover her face and hide. After being faced down by thugs with guns, the last thing she wanted to hear was Rachel Clawson’s piercing voice. She could just picture Rick standing behind her, silent as usual.

  “Rachel, that’s stupid,” Lanie said from behind the counter. “No one can steal your daughter but that’s beside the point. You abandoned that girl, and then ignored for years. You don’t care at all about Samantha and just so you know, some murderer has been stalking her. Abby told me she was almost pushed out of a window last week. Did you even know that?”

  There was spluttering from the front and Abby finally peeked out of the doorway. There they were, Rachel and Rick, standing on the other side of the counter that kept the lobby separate from the police station at large but something else caught Abby’s attention.

  Rachel looked not only upset, but horrified at the thought Samantha had been attacked, but Rick had another look on his face.

  Fear.

  Suddenly, it all clicked into place for Abby. When Ruby, Rachel, and Rick had come to their house with the lawyer, Rick was wearing what she at first thought was a security guard uniform, but now she wondered. Striding forward, she ignored Rachel’s renewed sense of outrage. “Rachel, where does Rick work?”