We could hear the sound of the forklift sliding under the boxes, then loading them into the truck.
“So if everyone is busy with the truck, now would be a good time to escape.” James even managed a weak smile.
“I agree. Let’s get out while we can.”
No plans, no chance of any escape.
“I think they may have cracked some ribs. My right side aches and when I breath it feels like something’s sticking me.”
“Man, I wish there was something I could have done.”
“You tried, amigo.”
I hadn’t heard them approach, but someone was turning the door handle. They shoved open the door and stepped inside and I got a glimpse of a shoe before I raised my head to see the rest. Heavy wax coating on a black shoe. I looked up. Buzz cut and open-collar shirt. Krueger from the CIA.
“Jesus, am I glad to see you.”
He smiled. “Told you boys to mind your own business. Remember I said it might come to this?”
I smiled back. “I should have listened. Mr. Krueger, I can’t tell you how glad I am. I believe James and I are on a list to be shot in the not too distant future.”
He laughed out loud. “Yes, I believe you are.” Someone walked in behind him wearing a shoulder holster with a wooden handled revolver inside. “Mr. Moore, Mr. Lessor, let me introduce you to Mark Spense. Mark’s with the Agency as well.”
“Thank God. Listen. James is in pretty bad shape. They beat him up and he thinks he may have some internal injuries. Can we get these ropes off and get some medical attention?”
Krueger laughed again. A jovial guy. “Mr. Moore, I’m afraid you’re mistaken about my reason for being here. Actually, there are several reasons, but right now my primary business is to attend to your death. And you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
I wondered if my old man would ever find out that I’d been killed. Collateral damage. My mom and sister would be busted up, but my dad? He might shrug his shoulders, but you can’t miss something you don’t claim as yours. And James’s dad? Now, like his father, James was never going to amount to much in the world of business, and he certainly wasn’t going to be driving that new Cadillac.
“Mark, get ’em on their feet, and bring in their friend.”
My heart jumped into my mouth. Jesus, they couldn’t have Em. Oh, Jesus Christ, please, not Em.
Jackie Fuentes walked into the sweltering office, a quirky smile on her face. “Hi, boys.”
James raised his head gingerly. I watched Jackie flinch when she saw the damage done to his face. James wasn’t so cute anymore.
“So you’re in on this too?”
“Not so you’d notice.” Mark Spense followed, the gun out of his holster and pointed at Jackie’s back. He pulled me up with his free hand, then eyed James. There was no way James could stand on his own. “You two,” he motioned to Jackie and me, “pick him up. We’re taking a little stroll across the street to the water.” Agent Spense untied my hands and I worked the circulation back into them. Then he untied James’s hands.
For the first time I saw panic register on Jackie’s pretty face. “They’re really going to kill us, aren’t they?”
“We are, little lady. We are.”
I gently took James under one arm and Jackie lifted the other.
“I don’t care if you have to drag him, we’re going outside.”
I stared hard at Krueger. “Before we go, tell me one thing.”
“Oh, Jesus. This is just like the fucking movies. ‘Please, tell me how all this happened before you kill me.’”
“This isn’t the movies. It’s my last request. I just want to know. Is Victor in charge of this little band of malcontents?”
“No. Now shut the fuck up and move.”
“One more question?”
“Move.”
“Are you and your partner really with the CIA?”
Krueger had pulled out his gun and was waving it at me.
“Yes? No?”
“Yes. Get moving.”
James grunted as we helped him stand, but he was able to put one foot in front of the other.
We entered the main area and I could see the large box truck being loaded with the crates of guns and ammunition. The yellow forklift was working off one of the pallets about half way down the wall. Carlos was driving the lift and Vic and Israel were inside the truck helping load the boxes. Juan, his arm in a cast, stood off to the side. All things considered, I figured he would rather be helping. A handful of workers were busy with other projects, two of them carrying the metal canisters that I’d hid behind the other night.
We were herded to the side door and into the parking lot.
“Chains and blocks are across the street. May as well put them on over there.” Mark Spense nodded to Krueger.
“Keep moving.”
“James, if it comes down to it, know that I loved you like a brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
James grunted. We were pretty much dragging him now. He couldn’t move on his own.
“Skip, James, I’m sorry about all of this. I never meant to get anyone else involved. Really.” Jackie’s voice quivered.
Krueger pushed the barrel of his gun into my back. We crossed the street and stood by a crumbling three-foot high cement barrier that ran along the water as far as I could see in the murky shadows.
“Sit him down.” Krueger motioned to James, and I eased him down against the wall.
Jackie stood stock still, looking like a frozen Barbie doll in tight jeans and a simple white T-shirt.
“Put that chain around his ankle.”
I glanced down and saw a chain wrapped through and around a cement block. They were going to toss us into the water and either let us drown or shoot us first. There wasn’t a damned thing I could do to stop it.
“Wrap the chain around his ankle.” Krueger raised his voice. “Mark, do it for her. We’ve got to get this show on the road.”
Mark Spense put his pistol in the shoulder holster, bent down to take the loose end of the chain, and fell flat on his face.
“What the fuck?” Krueger took a step closer, leaned down, and gasped. “Christ, he’s been shot.”
He grabbed Jackie by the shoulder, pulling her in front of him. He gave James and me a hard look, then furtively glanced in all directions.
“Please, don’t hold me so tight, it really hurts.” Jackie was squirming, trying to loosen Krueger’s grip.
“You should be dead by now, so this really isn’t so bad, is it?” His arm reached around her chest, mashing her breasts with a death grip. “Whoever is out there, I’ll shoot this little girl. Swear to God.”
Silence. I could hear the water lapping at the cement wall and across the street I could hear the commotion as the workers loaded the truck behind the overhead door.
“Show yourself or I’ll shoot her, so help me.”
No response. James and I huddled by the seawall. I could smell the rotting seaweed and oil that floated on the surface of the flat black river water. His eyes were closed, but I had the feeling he was not missing any of this.
“One more chance, and I’m going to put a bullet in her head.” Krueger yelled. His voice echoed off the steel
