“All right. All right. Don’t shoot.” He lifted his hands, slowly shifting sideways, heading over to the chains. “Fire. Brimstone. Get over here.” He let out a whistle and just like that they trotted over. He connected their chains, and Colby didn’t move until he saw the dogs were definitely on them.
“Get on your knees, hands locked behind your head.”
Matthew did as he was instructed.
“Who else is here?” Colby wasn’t moving until he knew.
“Just me.”
“Your wife?”
“She’s out.”
Colby slung his rifle over his shoulder, and while keeping a close eye on him, he began to descend. It didn’t take long. When his boots hit the ground, the dogs burst forward only to be yanked back again. He smirked. Little bastards.
“Mister. You are making a huge mistake.”
“Am I? Where is she?”
“I just told you. She’s out.”
“No. The woman with the dog. Alicia.”
He stared back and swallowed.
“WHERE IS SHE!” he shouted.
When he wouldn’t answer, Colby grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him to his feet, shoving him into the office. The dogs barked like crazy. He closed the door behind him to mute the noise and pushed him into a grubby seat. The room was a mess. Metal filing cabinets against the wall. A calendar of a blonde exposing her breasts on the wall. A whiteboard with dry marker squiggles all over it. Several tables were covered with paperwork, phones, old computers, and coffee cups. “I want answers. I want them now. No more bullshit. Where is Alicia?”
“She’s gone.”
“That better not be what I think.”
He frowned. “I never touched her. She escaped last night.”
“And the dog?”
“Went with her.”
Colby chuckled. “So what happened?”
“When she left?”
“When I arrived.”
“I told you.”
“Yeah, and you told me that girl back at the house was your granddaughter. She wasn’t! So how about you cut the shit and start telling me the truth.” He removed a handgun and placed it against the front of his skull.
Matthew squeezed his eyes tight. “I’m telling the truth. Okay, I lied about her, but if I hadn’t, Bill would have killed us. She was his property.”
“Property?” He pistol-whipped him. “You piece of garbage.”
Matthew spit blood and tried to sit up straight.
Colby swept the crap off the table. Oily paperwork and two cups full of moldy coffee went across the room. It all crashed on the steel floor, causing the dogs outside to bark. He took a seat across from Matthew. “So you work for Bill?”
“It’s either that or starve. He made that clear. As long as we help we don’t go hungry.”
“Bullshit. You could have left with the National Guard when they evacuated everyone to Los Banos. You could have gone to another town.”
“We could have, but do you think they have it any better there? All those people vying for food? Rationing. Living hand to mouth. Forget that. At least here we don’t have to deal with big brother.”
“Oh but you do. You’re his bitch. Look, I don’t give a shit whose dick you choose to suck or why you do it. That’s your business. All I care about is finding this woman and my dog.”
His eyebrow rose. “That’s your dog?”
“That’s right.”
“Smart animal. How long were you a K9 handler?”
He tilted his head. “What?”
“Alicia said you were a cop in L.A. turned bounty hunter.”
Right then, it was like someone downloaded a wealth of information into his head, and his brain started making connections. The memories flooded back in. His career. The dog. Being a K9 handler. Working for Sure-fire Bail Bonds. Chasing after her. Being pursued through L.A. by Russians.
“You okay, mister?” Matthew asked, noting how spaced-out he appeared. “You look like you could use a drink. There’s a bottle of water over there.”
Blinking hard, his head thumped, causing his vision to blur. “Stay where you are.” Colby blinked again, and the world around snapped into view. “Just tell me where…”
Before he could get the words out, a round speared the window, and glass went everywhere. Matthew lunged forward, both of them flying back over the table onto the floor. On top, he held on to Colby’s wrist.
“He’s in here!”
Colby cracked him on the jaw, knocking him off. He returned fire through the door as it opened. For but a split second, he saw her. Delores.
Then the door slammed shut.
“I thought you said we were alone,” Colby said.
Three more rounds erupted, and glass went all over them.
“Tell her to stop shooting.”
“Can’t do that.”
Colby jammed the gun against his head. “Will this convince you?”
“Delores!” Matthew stared at him, sneering. “Stop shooting.”
“Is he still alive?” she asked.
“Alive and well,” Colby bellowed. He sidled up underneath the window and peered out. She wasn’t alone. There were two men with her. A beaten-up, old truck nearby with a door open. The engine idling. Colby turned and yanked the wire from a lamp and used it to tie Matthew’s hands behind his back.
“Oh, c’mon man! Not again.”
“Is there another way out?”
“A window. That’s it. But you’re screwed. It’s better to work for the devil than dance alone.”
“I don’t work alone,” he said, referring to Kane.
Colby took an oily rag off the counter and jammed it in his fat mouth. He dragged him over to the main door and turned the knob ever so slowly. He brought him up. “You want to dance with the devil? Get ready to meet him. This is for what you did to those women.” Colby removed his jacket, put it around Matthew’s shoulders, and zipped it up. He kicked the door wide and shoved him out. Those beyond must have thought Colby was trying to make a break for it. They opened fire, riddling Matthew with multiple rounds before realizing their mistake. His body hit the ground and flapped around before he stopped moving. The door slammed closed.
Outside Delores screamed then cursed.
Colby didn’t waste a second. He used the shock to his advantage and brought his rifle up the window, and opened fire immediately, taking
