I’d just stepped to the doorway during a lull in the music and heard a vehicle pass by, heading for the parking lot. Something about it didn’t seem right.
“No lights on,” Dave said, coming up behind me. “Wonder what’s up?”
Mom slipped by us, heading towards the lobby in the building next door. “Probably another lost tourist,” she grumped. “I’d better go up and give Heather a hand. She’s such a scaredy-cat.”
The next tune started, drawing us back inside. “Think I’ll go to my room for a minute,” Dave said. “Be right back.”
I watched him go, mind busy. Yeah, he’d felt it too. Not quite right. Wending my way through the seated crowd, I plunked down next to John. “Heads up. Something’s…”
A dark-haired woman in her early twenties touched my arm. “Francis?”
I turned, noting how white-faced and nervous she was. “What’s up?” Her hand on my arm was trembling, and I eased her into an empty chair next to John. “You okay, Ma’am?”
“I–um–Mom asked you to come to the office.”
Dave was at my elbow, a deep scowl on his face. “Four, maybe five guys. Three in the lobby with Mom, one in the car.” He slipped a folding knife into my hand. “You any good with one of these?”
I smiled in spite of myself. “Prefer ‘em to a gun sometimes.”
By now, John was looking concerned. He stood, eyes scanning the room. “What’s going on?”
I shrugged. “Not sure, but it isn’t good, whatever it is. The SUV that just arrived might’ve brought trouble. Keep this lady here while Dave and I scout out the situation.”
“I’ve gotta go back with you, or they’ll hurt Mom,” the lady said, wobbling to her feet.
I patted her on the shoulder. “The best thing you can do is stay here.” I turned to John. “Start herding everyone out the back and into the trees. Keep ‘em there until this thing’s over.”
Other than a widening of his eyes, John stayed calm. “You got it. Just holler and I’ll have some back-up headed your way.”
“Thanks, John.”
“I’ll take out the guy in the SUV,” Dave said, and disappeared up the stairs again.
Thinking of Mom in the hands of those pukes in the lodge had my emotions spinning between anger and fear. I hefted the knife Dave’d handed me, flicking it open and shut. Nice three inch blade–perfect for close in work. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out the door and strolled towards trouble.
I pushed through the entrance to the now-darkened lobby, glancing around. “Mom? You wanted to see me?”
“No, but I did,” a deep voice said. A large man stepped out of the office, Mom held in one of his hands. “Just turn around and get in that SUV in the parking lot and no one’ll get hurt.” A man appeared behind and to my left, another on the patio between us and the canteen.
A hoarse scream from the parking lot froze everyone for a split second. I flicked open my knife and dove past the one on the left, slashing across his midsection on my way by. He emitted a mewling sound and sagged to the floor, trying to hold his guts in.
“Run, Francis!” I turned in time to see Mom grab the big guy’s arm, throwing off his aim. He clubbed her to the floor, and almost as an afterthought fired into her body.
By the time he swung around I plowed into him, knife swinging. My first thrust was blocked and he flung me to the side, knife knife flying from my hand. Shit, this guy was an animal! I rolled to my feet, and frantically blocked two punches that pushed me back against a full-length picture window.
He grabbed my throat and began choking me. Three rapid gunshots caught his attention long enough to get leverage and peel one of his fingers from my throat. A quick jerk and it snapped, drawing an anguished grunt from him. I kicked him hard as I could in the groin, doubling him over. A spinning kick to the side of his head put him down and out.
Several more shots had been fired by now. Shouts and screams increased to a roar. I staggered over to Mom, who was lying in a pool of blood. Three men burst into the lobby.
“You alright, Francis?” John hovered over me while I felt Mom’s throat for a pulse. It was there, but thready.
“Yeah, but we have to get some medical help. Mom’s been shot.”
“9-1-1’s been called, and we got a couple nurses who are part of the group. They’re on their way.”
Once the nurses arrived, I stood back, watching. This was all because of me. I clenched my fists, the rage building up as in the past. Dave gestured me over to the guy I’d knocked out. “This one’s coming ‘round.”
“Let’s get him into the office,” I grated, striding over. “We’ve got a few questions he needs to answer.”
* * *
I laid the pliers next to the whimpering pile of shit that had shot Mom. It had been easier than before to block off what I did to get information from him. Not a good sign. Had to keep hold of my humanity, or… “Okay, I guess we’re done.”
“You turn into a different person when you’re riled up,” Dave said, shaking his head. “Glad you’re on my side.”
The faraway sound of sirens brought me to full alert. “Time to go. You still want to take part in this?” I asked, looking him in the eye. “It could get messy.”
He nodded, eyes glinting like a bird of prey. “Yeah, I think we need to clean house on the crew that set this up.” He reached down and slit the inside of the man’s upper thigh, which began gushing blood.
When we left the office, I was startled at the number of people in the lobby. Most looked sick, but all had a determined look on their faces. The screams and moans from
