Friction

by Dwayne Gill

  Natalie’s experiments had all seemed to fail, and then again, maybe they had. What pushed Tom over the edge might have been the crisis at hand, knowing his daughter would die unless he intervened.

  Natalie hadn’t been shot, as Calvin had thought; instead, Tom had pulled her into the room. Natalie had been the one who’d dragged Zeke and Wally inside while the rest scrambled to safety, but it appeared too late for Wally. The sentinel didn’t have a pulse.

  Zeke was injured but okay, while Natalie and Kristy were tending to Lynks. His face was beaten to shreds, and he was barely recognizable, but none of his injuries appeared life-threatening, though a bullet had grazed his shoulder.

  The screen continued to show Rick enraged, for now the lieutenant was finished with Tom. He ran at the panic room door, kicked it, and they felt the thud vibrate through the steel frame. Though nerve-wracking, Rick would need much more than his feet to get inside. They were safe, for the moment.

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:00 p.m. CST

  Miami, Florida

  Barkley was restrained in a chair beside Swelling’s bed, where the woman lay bound and barely conscious. The psycho in the next room had spent time physically punishing her, for she had dried blood on her face along with the bruises and cuts. Barkley was feeling the effect of her wounds too, caused by both run-ins with the marked men.

  Barkley had tried talking to Swelling, but the retired cop barely responded. The most she got in return was a weak smile and a nod, which made Barkley think she was resigned to her fate. Barkley couldn’t stop replaying her actions, wondering if there was something she could have done differently. If she had just been a split second faster earlier and a few inches more accurate with her shot, all four of them might be walking out of here right now.

  However, there was no use questioning her actions. She’d done the best she could but had been outclassed by a much stronger opponent.

  In the other room, Barkley heard the man talking. It sounded like he’d received a phone call, and judging by his tone, it was good news, for him at least. Which means bad news for us.

  The phone call was short, and after it ended, Barkley heard lots of movement. A minute later the door opened, revealing the lieutenant carrying Shauna. The young girl was awake and scared, but even she didn’t appear interested in struggling. She looked at Barkley with wild eyes as her captor placed her on the floor near the foot of the bed. Travis exited but returned, this time carrying Tina, and set her down next to Shauna. Tina was struggling but didn’t make eye contact. Barkley felt like everyone there knew what was coming.

  The lieutenant marched out of the room again and returned with a tablet, which he placed on the dresser opposite the foot of the bed. After sliding it around and adjusting it, the marked man stepped back and nodded.

  He’s recording this, thought Barkley. He’s about to execute us.

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:00 p.m. CST

  Herald Harbor, Maryland

  Hart knelt in the center of the big room underground, staring at the marked man he assumed was the leader. He’d never seen him before, but the man was surely one of the lieutenants. He had a certain way he carried himself, and the only reason Hart knew the man wasn’t Vinson was because he’d overheard someone call him Mick.

  There were seven of them kneeling, including Hart. Plumber and the three remaining agents from the failed raid were there, and so were Bowman and Webb. Bowman was in terrible shape, having endured much physical torture, while Webb looked like he’d lost his mind. The CIA agent stared blankly forward and hadn’t acknowledged another soul in the room. Bowman, on the other hand, had winked and smiled like it was another day at the office. Hart admired the grizzled veteran for his resilience; the man must have driven Mick crazy with his stubbornness.

  Plumber too was handling the situation better than Hart would have guessed, but he was obviously scared, and had good reason to be. Hart was terrified as well, but he’d prepared himself for the inevitable conclusion. They would all be dying here, in this room, sooner than later.

  What Hart had found odd was the setup; Mick had arranged lighting in the dark space and had pointed a video camera in their direction. It didn’t take long for Hart to register what was happening, and after Mick took a phone call, the lieutenant confirmed Hart’s suspicion.

  “It’s showtime,” said Mick, smiling.

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:05 p.m. CST

  Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

  Daniel, William, and the rest of their crew were boarding their plane, headed for Calvin’s house in Naperville. William was feeling much better after talking to his family, but Daniel still hadn’t been able to reach anyone. The most frustrating part was that he knew something was wrong but could do nothing about it. The only option was to head home and hope he heard news on the way.

  As Daniel was settling in for the flight, Orlando ran onto the plane, holding a tablet, and he looked like he’d seen a ghost. “There’s something you need to see,” he said to Daniel, holding the device out in front of him.

  Daniel sat up in his seat as Orlando stood beside him, holding the tablet so they could both see. William, Dirk, and Wayne had gathered too, and all five men watched the screen.

  The first camera shot showed a dimly lit area with seven men kneeling. There were masked men surrounding them, while one man in particular paced around holding a pistol. There was no sound, and at first Daniel didn’t see the significance. “What is this?”

  “It’s streaming everywhere,” said Orlando. “Look, you can see Hart and Bowman.”

  When Daniel looked closer, he finally saw. There, on their knees, were their two friends, along with others Daniel didn’t know. He felt his blood pressure rising as he kept a close eye on the armed man walking around the room, knowing what was about to happen.

  Suddenly, William erupted. “Where are they?” His voice was filled with extreme anger and urgency.

  “We don’t know,” said Orlando.

  “What is it?” Daniel asked William.

  “One of the men is Brandon Webb,” said William.

  Daniel remembered everyone at home talking about Webb. “He’s the CIA agent who was captured by Vinson a few weeks back. Do you know him?”

  “He’s my father,” said William. “He raised me.”

  The atmosphere on the plane changed quickly, with no one knowing how to react to the astonishing news. “I’ve gotta reach Mathis,” said William. “There’s no way to trace that broadcast?”

  “No one here would know how to do that,” said Orlando.

  I know someone, thought Daniel. I just can’t reach him. “I’ve gotta call Cane,” he said. “He needs to see this.”

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:10 p.m. CST

  Havre, Montana

  Cane escorted the others back to Bart’s cabin, where April and Mercy greeted the man enthusiastically. Ara stood to the side, smiling, and Cane sat down to give the reunion a few well-earned moments. He didn’t want to appear over-anxious to leave, although that was exactly how he felt. There’d still been no word on everyone’s status back at home, and he had a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  When his phone vibrated in his pocket, he felt a sudden surge of hope as he saw Daniel’s number, but it drained away the moment he heard the big man’s voice. “I’m sending you a link to a livestream,” said Daniel. “You’re not gonna like it.”

  Puzzled, Cane hung up, waited until he received the message, and opened the link. On screen, his worst nightmare played before him as he saw Bowman, Hart, and five other men kneeling, waiting to be executed by a masked man holding a pistol. Cane gripped the phone in his hands and gritted his teeth, but moments later, the image faded into another.

  Cane had to squint a moment to focus, and when he saw what it displayed, he wanted to throw the phone. The camera showed a bedroom, and lying on the be
d was Swelling, although she’d been beaten badly enough that he barely recognized her. Seated on a chair next to her was Barkley, who’d also been roughed up, looking up at the camera.

  On the floor, at the foot of the bed, were the two girls who Cane had assisted in the past, Tina Rogers and Shauna Pool. They were bound and gagged but otherwise looked unharmed, unlike the adult women. There was no man patrolling the room, but Cane knew someone was lurking, waiting to broadcast the executions.

  Cane shook his head and tried to remain calm, but the pure anger he felt at the moment would not be subdued. “I’ll kill every one of you,” he said before realizing he’d spoken it aloud. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at him in curiosity and fear. Cane didn’t say another word but looked on with disgust.

  The camera faded to yet another image, this time confirming his other gut-wrenching suspicion. The screen showed the library at Calvin’s house, but only for a second before going dark. In that moment, Cane had seen two things worthy of note: a man lying on the floor, presumably dead, who looked a lot like Tom, and the panic room door, closed and armed.

  Cane exhaled. I don’t think they meant for that to be aired, he thought. Although the rest of the footage had been heart-rending, there was at least hope remaining for some of the ones he cared about.

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:15 p.m. CST

  Miami, Florida

  Barkley watched in horror as Travis lifted Tina and Shauna off the floor, sitting them up so their backs were against the bed. She’d seen their terrified faces as the big lieutenant grabbed them, their reddened eyes growing large as he forced them into position. Now Barkley couldn’t see their innocent expressions and was relieved, for she knew what was coming and suspected the kids did too. For the first time in a while, Swelling even showed some fight as she thrashed at her bonds with what little energy she had left.

  Though Barkley had never felt emptier and more afraid, she was searching deep for comfort and peace of mind. She didn’t want to spend her last moments begging and frantically pleading for her life, for she hated the thought of these monsters getting the satisfaction. Barkley may have been reaching deep for optimism, but she was even grateful to die alongside these poor innocents and was proud all three knew someone had tried to save them. Even though the effort had failed horribly, at least Swelling and the girls didn’t have to die alone and forgotten.

  When Travis raised his pistol and pointed it at Shauna, the kids let out shrill, muffled screams of protest while the monster smiled at them. Barkley looked around, hoping for some last-second heroics from an unknown savior, but she knew better. It’s over, she thought.

  Barkley jumped straight up in her seat when she heard Travis’s phone go off, and the lieutenant seemed displeased with the interruption. He gripped the pistol hard then sighed as he took the call. “What?” After a pause, his eyes grew large. “Are you sure?” He left the room, shielding the rest of the conversation.

  Barkley exhaled, not realizing she’d been holding her breath so long. Swelling looked at her with pleading eyes, but Barkley shrugged. She didn’t have any answers.

  A minute later, Travis stormed back inside with a sinister grin and walked directly to Barkley. She flinched when she felt something on her leg and turned her head, dreading the worst, but she heard footsteps walking away, followed by the door closing. Barkley looked up to see the door shut with only the four of them inside. She glanced down at her leg, where Travis had touched it. On her lap was a knife, and it was within reach of her right hand.

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:15 p.m. CST

  Naperville, Illinois

  Calvin had been watching Rick closely on the monitors as he moved from room to room. Calvin figured he was up to something, likely trying to find a way inside the panic room.

  No one inside felt truly safe, although in theory they were. The steel enclosure was well-designed to keep intruders out, but their enemies also had access to some high-tech equipment. Everyone there felt like their window of safety was temporary, at best.

  Zeke had moved Wally to the side of the room, his best attempt at trying to shield everyone from the sight of the dead body. The overall mood was somber, although Lynks’s status had given them all something to be glad about. He wasn’t talking but was breathing well and making eye contact. Natalie and Kristy were the main two hovering over him, offering him words of encouragement, but Jordyn and Taryn had done their part too.

  Rick stormed back into the library, and Calvin watched as the angry man took another phone call. As he talked, he paced the room a couple of minutes and Calvin noticed his movement change. Rick suddenly stopped waving his arms and became still, and Calvin swore he saw an excited look appear on his face. What’s happening? After suffering such a humiliating defeat, seeing Rick smile was a scary thing. To Calvin, it signaled something happening elsewhere that overshadowed his recent blunder. Do they have Cane, Daniel, or William?

  Moments later, Rick’s strange behavior reached another level, for out of the blue, he signaled his men, and they all left the room. Calvin watched the cameras as Rick exited the front door, leaving everyone baffled.

  “They left,” said Zeke. Natalie and the others looked up at the cameras with shocked smiles.

  “What could be more important than getting us out of this room?” asked Calvin.

  “I don’t know,” said Natalie. “But we’re staying right where we are.”

  *

  October 2, 2028

  11:15 p.m. CST

  Havre, Montana

  Cane held his phone where the rest could see, unable to thwart them any longer. He’d vaguely explained the situation, since every person in the cabin was now part of their inner circle. They were all highly concerned, for even though they didn’t seem to know the victims, it was obvious what was about to happen.

  The footage kept skipping from one scene to the other, and each time, the captors at each location were getting into position for the next phase. The camera no longer showed Calvin’s house, which Cane saw as an encouraging development, but he still had no way of verifying his friends were okay.

  As the camera panned across Hart and Bowman’s location, Cane heard Ara gasp. “It’s Brandon!” she said.

  April stepped closer to the screen, looking panicked, and had much the same reaction. “Oh, no.”

  “They caught him weeks ago,” said Bart, looking distraught. “I couldn’t tell you, for obvious reasons,” he said to April.

  “You could have told me,” said Ara.

  “I didn’t want you doing something stupid.”

  “How do you know Webb?” asked Cane, trying to squeeze in the question amidst the chaos.

  “He’s William’s dad,” said April. “A great man who saved William’s life.”

  Cane now thought of how everything was connected; Webb had supplied the marked men with Natalie’s location at the hotel where they first met. Marcene had orchestrated the whole thing, and Bowman knew about it. Everyone knew except me, thought Cane, considering how he’d been kept in the dark and wondering how knowing more might have made a difference.

  His anger was growing as the executions drew closer, and his resolve to avenge them all was intensifying. At this moment he wasn’t beyond killing Marcene herself if she ended up being the reason his friends died.

  Everyone was staring at the screen, and Cane watched the captors at both locations get into position to begin the killings. “They can’t do this!” said Ara. April placed a hand on her shoulder, but it didn’t comfort her.

  A strange thing occurred right before the execution began; the marked man tasked with killing Swelling and the rest had left the room and reentered, unarmed. He walked to Barkley as she turned her head away, but the marked man only set a knife down on her lap and left the room again.

  The scene at Hart’s location was much the same, but the masked gunman returned and stood behind the captiv
es. Cane’s phone rang, which interrupted the video, and he answered, turning away from the upset spectators.

  “Did you see that?” asked Daniel, sounding relieved.

  “I saw it,” said Cane. “Don’t get your hopes up. I gotta keep watching.” He disconnected the call and returned to the video, with everyone resuming their positions. For the moment, Barkley and the others with her looked safe, but the other location told a different story.

  The masked man raised his gun and shot one of the FBI agents in the head.

  *

  THEN

  October 2, 2028

  10:55 p.m. CST (TWENTY MINUTES AGO)

  Herald Harbor, Maryland

  Vinson stared into the eyes of the one person he’d longed to get his hands on for so many years. He could hardly believe it when he got the call, and he’d treated the situation as skeptically as he should have. He’d deployed a team of men to scout their meeting place thoroughly, making sure he wasn’t walking into a trap, but this seemed to be the real deal.

  Vinson had already thought the night had been going perfectly, with almost everyone Cane and Daniel cared about captured and ready to be executed. This new development, however, topped it all, and he felt like he’d won the lottery.

  Standing in front of him was the woman behind it all, the only person he wanted more than all the others combined. “Marcene,” he said as they approached each other.

  The empty, open building had been the perfect meeting place, for even if the woman thought she’d be pulling an ambush out of her hat, Vinson’s men were prepared. He had dozens of seasoned marked men perched at every angle of the building, security a president would be envious of.

  Marcene looked as elegant as ever, and Vinson would have been highly attracted to her had he not so much reason to despise her. She walked with the same regal confidence he’d always heard about, and in her eyes dwelled a wild radiance. Her dirty blonde hair had gray mixed in, but she had otherwise aged flawlessly. Her skin looked smooth, and she was slender and tall, exactly as he’d pictured. She didn’t say a word as she approached, but that was all the better. She had her arms out to her side, clearly unarmed, but Vinson remained wary. This lady was more dangerous than any three of her goons.