Katie had fallen on her side during Carson’s attack on the first man. Disoriented and petrified of what lie in store for her once she was taken into the building, she struggled to her knees while turning her head left and right in a futile attempt to figure out what was going on. Carson grabbed her shoulders to steady her but, unaware of all that had just happened due to the hood, she started struggling fiercely once again. To keep her from hurting herself, he quickly loosened the restraints holding the hood on her and, not concerned this time about the pain it would cause, yanked it from her head. She looked about wildly until she recognized Carson, and waited while he removed the gag.
“Oh my god! Thank you!” She looked past Carson. “Wow. What the hell happened here?”
“What needed to happen.”
“Are they dead?”
Carson gave her a very hard look. “Yes.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly as she looked back and forth at the bodies. Carson knew the killing, however unsavory, had been necessary. Not only had he avoided the unspeakable acts they were about to visit upon Katie, but anything less permanent would have led to their own deaths.
“I heard what that son of a bitch said to you when he took you out of the trunk. Do you know what he was going to do?” She blinked her eyes rapidly at the recollection and nodded. “There’s more to tell you, and I’ll fill you in later, but you probably wouldn’t have survived the weekend if they still held you.”
That statement snapped her out of her condition, though her voice still quivered with fear. “How do you know that?” she asked.
“I’ll tell you later. But trust me.”
Katie took another look around, and when she finished Carson recognized the backbone he knew she possessed. “All right. OK, I get it,” she said in a strong voice. “I’m with you.” She took a deep breath. “But what happened? How did these guys get away from you?”
Carson quickly explained about the two separate groups at the meeting. “I didn’t even think of that. You were right. I shouldn’t have left you there, especially helpless. I won’t be doing that again.”
“About time you learned to listen to me,” Katie told him without rancor. “Can we get the hell out of here now?”
“Yeah, but first…” Carson went to the door with the keys in the door knob and worked them to open it. He disappeared inside. “It’s some kind of machine shop, so they might – bingo!” Katie was just starting to question what he was doing in the run-down building, but closed her mouth when he stepped out with a large pair of rusty bolt cutters.
“Are you sure we should try them? I’m getting tetanus just looking at them.” Carson pulled at the handles, but they refused to open. He gave another try with similar results. “Forget it, Carson. They’re useless. We’ll find another way.”
Carson looked at her with irritation, vexed that she doubted him. He took a deep breath and pulled, the muscles in his chest and shoulders flexing impressively, and finally the joint of the ancient tool gave way with a high-pitched squeal. He worked the action several times until it moved more smoothly before making Katie turn around.
The rust may have affected the movement of the tool, but the blades were still sharp, and in short order Katie was tossing the shackles to the ground. She rubbed her wrists, which were encircled with an angry red mark. “Damn, that’s nice,” she said after moving her shoulders through their full range of motion for the first time in over 24 hours. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, like you said, we’re out of here.” He dropped the cutters and grabbed her arm. Just as they turned to leave, the electronic ring of a cell phone sounded. Katie seemed perfectly happy to ignore it, but Carson froze. He looked at the heap that was his first victim, the man that had threatened Katie with rape, and realized it was his phone ringing. He stepped over to the body, knowing what he was going to do immediately.
Katie had other ideas. “Carson, come ON! They’re sure to be here soon!” She reached for his arm, but he barely heard or noticed her. He dug the device out of the man’s pocket. With a look at Katie to ensure she knew to remain quiet, he pushed the button. “Yeah?”
Chops’ gruff voice sounded. “Did you get her? Lefty Mike says the Navy still hasn’t shown up at the meeting. Moneybags is shittin’ gold bricks.”
“He should be. You all should be, you motherfucker.”
“Huh? Who the hell is this?”
“Well, I’ll tell ya. I was actually at the meeting. I was so close I coulda’ dropped all three of them before the echo of the first shot faded, but I had to catch the fuckers that took Katie and deal with them.”
“Navy?”
“Present and accounted for. I’m sorry to say, though, your two tough guys won’t be joining you – or anyone else – ever again.”
“You dropped my guys? No way. You don’t have the stones, not anymore. And I didn’t hear no gun.” So you’re that close, huh? Carson knew the sound of a bullet would travel a mile or two given the conditions, giving him a rough radius.
“Didn’t need it, but I sure as shit found my stones. And I’ve discovered my fists are much more.… personal. And quieter.”
There was a brief pause before Chops spoke again, and this time his voice was raspy and strained, like he was trying to control his anger. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on, but you just made the fuck-up of all-time. Do you have any idea of what I do to little pricks like you that cross me? I’m gonna make you watch while I kill that little whore before I finish you off.
