Chapter 13
All the air rushed out of Piper’s lungs. The convenience store clerk was the Snake. She’d know that tattoo anywhere. All this time he’d been right there. Of course, a tattoo wouldn’t be enough. No one would believe that she could ID him by just his tattoo. She’d need more. But he was here and now she knew what he looked like. God she’d kill for a cell phone camera right now.
“You’ve got it?”
Denlo produced the thumb drive and then immediately tucked it back in his pocket. “What do you want to do?” He indicated Piper, Raider, and the other two with his chin.
“Not here,” Snake said. “Too much exposure. Back to the house.”
“Hey,” Baker said, glancing at Piper and Raider, “I don’t want to go back to the house. I want my money and I want off this god-forsaken island. Paradise? Bah!”
Snake raised his gun and pointed it at Baker. “Get in the van or I will shoot you right here.” The menace in his tone was unmistakable. He meant business.
Baker raised his hands and stared.
“Now,” Snake growled.
Baker and Wells started toward the door. Piper glanced at Raider. This wasn’t going according to plan. Not at all. If they got in the van and went back to the house, the chances of surviving this went down dramatically. Where the hell was her backup?
Baker opened the back door and after tossing a glance over his shoulder at Piper, started out. Wells did the same thing. Piper was next through the door. She searched the darkness for any sign of her back-up. Nothing stirred, and the ash in the air blotted out any light, so nothing was visible. Maybe they were in the van? Baker opened the back door, and Piper’s heart sank to see the vehicle was empty. He shot her another look. She gave her head the tiniest shake.
Fuck! What the hell was going on?She glanced at Raider. She tried to ask him with her eyes. Should we get in the van?
He met her gaze with one eyebrow slightly lifted. Good question. I have no idea what’s going on.
Piper looked around again. Nothing. Denlo might be an amateur, but the Snake was not. He stood back a bit and held his gun so that he covered their every move. If she or Raider tried anything now, she had no doubt Snake would shoot. She looked at Denlo. He was close but not close enough to grab. Shit. They didn’t have a choice. They were going to have to get in the van.
She reluctantly climbed in, relieved just a bit when Raider jostled his way into the van after her. His presence and him sticking close to her side was meager relief, but it was a relief. Denlo slammed the door behind them and then climbed around to the driver’s seat. The Snake got in on the passenger side. They started driving out when suddenly there were flashing red and blue lights reflected on the van’s roof. She looked at Raider who just shook his head. Was this part of their rescue? But Denlo just continued out of the lot and into the street. No one stopped him. Her heart sank.
Piper sat by the back doors of the van between Baker and Wells. Raider was against the wall next to Wells. Baker leaned over and whispered, “I thought they were supposed to come get us.”
Snake whirled around and pointed the gun at them. “No talking.” He stayed positioned to look back at them so any further conversation was impossible. The truth was she had nothing to say. She had no clue what had happened. Where was everyone? They should’ve been there. Then it hit her. They’d finished way early. Like hours early. She glanced at her watch. It was just past one in the morning. They were supposed to be in there for another four hours. Her heart slammed into her rib cage as her stomach lurched.
She tried to suck oxygen into her lungs. At the very least, the ATF should have a spotter on site already. Someone had to be watching the place. Surely the alarm went up when the Snake arrived on the scene. They’d missed him arriving in the warehouse though and it had cost Marta her life. At least when they all came out early, someone would have seen that. She crossed her fingers that the team was probably setting up at the house.
Her nerves settled slightly with the thought. She tried to catch Raider’s eye, but it was dark in the back of the van and he seemed to be avoiding looking at her. He was paying more attention to the Snake. Denlo took a corner a bit fast and they all slid into one another.
“Be careful,” Snake snarled. “We don’t want to attract any attention.”
“From who?” Denlo snapped back. “We’re the only assholes left here. The lava is still flowing and it’s going to cut off the highway. Everyone is gone.”
“Don’t be stupid.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do, Kasinski.”
Kasinski. Now she had a name for him. And she had a face. He was hers. This was all she needed to get justice for Marta.
They pulled up the driveway of the house and Kasinski had them out in the driveway and then into the house in seconds. Piper had been ready for anything when the door of the van opened but nothing happened. She’d been alert when they’d entered the house, but no one was there.
What the fuck was going on?
Her heart rate accelerated, making it difficult to catch a breath. Was help not coming?
Raider stopped in the middle of the great room and turned around. He looked at her and she gave a tiny shake of her head. Wells and Baker both looked at her as well. She didn’t know what to tell them. She had no answers and that was terrifying.
“If you’re looking at her to find out where the guys are who are going to swoop in and arrest us, then I’m afraid you’re out of luck.” Kasinski grinned. “No one is coming.”
Piper’s knees damn near gave out at his statement. She was trying to remain calm, but adrenaline hit her bloodstream like a wave and she was having a hard time keeping her hands from shaking.
“Yeah, we know all about little Miss ATF. Why the hell did you think you were here? A driver? We didn’t need a driver.” He stared at her. “But we do need you dead. You could identify me and we can’t have that.”
“Who is it?” Raider asked.
Kasinski turned the gun on him. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Who’s what?” Baker demanded. “What in the hell is going on?”
Piper kept her gaze on Kasinski. “Who is the crooked ATF agent? The only way any of this works is if someone with power is crooked. Someone who calls the shots. Fielding. It’s got to be Fielding. He was at the warehouse which wouldn’t be his normal routine and he’s here. Also not normal. You work for Fielding.”
Kasinski’s smile bordered on demonic. “Never mind who I work for.”
Denlo frowned. “Let’s just shoot them now and go.”
Wells’s eyes grew large. He looked at Baker and the two of them backed up.
“Stop moving!” Denlo bellowed. His face was deep red and it wasn’t from sunburn. “I’m done with these idiots.” He straightened his arm to shoot but Kasinski held up a hand.
“We can’t shoot them just yet. He hasn’t called.” Kasinski quickly checked his phone. “We can’t do anything until he calls.”
“Why? Just shoot them and be done with this. I’m tired of this shit and my stomach is killing me. I had to eat gluten and I’m in pain.”
Kasinski laughed. “I don’t give a fuck about your eating habits. We kill them when he says. That’s how it works. Tie them up. There’s rope in the van.”
Denlo cursed a blue streak as he stormed outside toward the van.
Piper glanced at Raider. Any ideas he might have had, he was keeping to himself. They needed a way out. A plan. She couldn’t seem to focus though. The idea that Fielding was dirty was too mind-blowing. She took a few deep breaths and tried to center herself.
Denlo was back but he had no rope, only duct tape. “The rope is back at the bank.”
Kasinski shook his head. “Whatever.”
Denlo made them all sit down and tried to tape Baker’s wrists together behind his back but it was impossible. He just couldn’t get his wrists close enough to tape them. “Fucking fat pig,” Denlo growled.
He taped them together in front of Baker and then taped his ankles. He taped Wells’ hands behind his back and did his ankles as well. He had the two men lined up by the sofa.
“You,” he said pointing at Piper. “You sit here in the middle of the room.”
She did as she was told. Kasinski said nothing but he looked puzzled. When he caught her looking at him, he switched to looking bored.
“You,” he pointed at Raider. “Sit with your back to her.”
Raider did as he was told and then Denlo taped their hands together in one big mess. Then he taped their legs as well. He stood up and threw the tape across the room. “I’m going to the can,” he snarled as he stomped off.
Kasinski stashed his gun in his waistband. “If anyone starts talking, I’ll come in and tape your mouths shut.” He walked back to the kitchen out of sight.
Piper struggled against the tape but it was no use. Her wrists had been thoroughly immobilized.
“Raider,” she whispered. She and Raider were sideways in the middle of the room allowing her to keep watch on the corner by the kitchen for any signs of Kasinski. “Can you move at all?”
“No,” he responded. His voice was so quiet she’d had trouble hearing him.
They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Then the sound of the TV in the kitchen being turned on met her ears. Some sort of sporting event.
“Baker,” Raider whispered.
Piper had to crane her neck to see Baker at all.
His eyes were huge and he shook his head. “Shut up, man,” he whispered.
“Baker,” Raider said again. “Just listen to me. Raise your hands as high as you can and bring them down while pulling them apart. The tape will break.”
Baker shook his head. He wasn’t having it.
“Baker,” Raider called softly, “you’re the only one who can do this. It’s easy and then we can escape.”
Baker turned his head away as if he was a toddler.
“Baker,” Wells growled. “I wanna live, dude. You can do this. I would if I could.”
The sound of a door opening reached them and everyone fell silent. Denlo walked by and glared at them.
He disappeared into the kitchen. “Anything?” Kasinski must have shaken his head because Denlo commented. “I don’t know why we can’t just kill them now.”
“Because Raider is a Navy SEAL and the boss is worried about what kind of heat that’s going to bring down on us. He’s tried to get details. It’s gonna have to look like some kind of accident.”
“Fucking shit. I knew this job sucked balls. A fucking Navy SEAL. For shit’s sake.”
“Calm down. We’re getting it sorted.” There was a lot of crashing and banging in the kitchen and then, “Go eat that somewhere else. It stinks,” Kasinski growled.
“It’s cheese.”
“I don’t give a fuck what it is, it smells. Go somewhere else.” Kasinski roared.
Denlo grumbled as he walked through the great room and down the hall.
They stayed a few minutes in silence and then Wells spoke again. Piper craned her neck to see him but she couldn’t he was too far over. She cocked her head to try and better hear what he was saying.
“Baker, you gotta do this, man. I got a kid, I don’t want to die.”
Baker stayed silent.
Wells tried again. “What about your mom? Who will look after her if you’re dead?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Piper saw Baker turn his head. A minute later he said, “What do I have to do?”
Raider instructed, “Move out from the couch.”
Baker scooched forward a bit.
“Raise your arms above your head and bring them down hard as if you’re gonna slap a hip with each hand.”
Baker tried it but it didn’t work.
“That’s okay. You need to really jerk your arms apart as you bring your hands down. Do it as hard as you can.”
Baker raised his arms above his head again and did as he was told. His hands came apart and slammed into the carpet. Everyone froze. Seconds ticked by but neither Snake nor Denlo came running. Baker started pulling the tape off his ankles.
“Baker,” Raider called softly. “Come over here. There’s a knife in my left boot.”
Baker inched in Raider’s direction, but it was taking a long time. Instead, he rolled on his belly and pulled himself over. Piper lost sight of him.
“Good, now pull off my boot.” There was silence and then she heard the snick of a blade locking into place. A few seconds later Baker was standing up. He disappeared again and then Wells was standing there. The two of them were whispering.
“We’re gonna go. Sorry man but we don’t want to be busted. This is whack,” Wells said as he started to back away.
Piper’s belly rolled. “Guys,” she said, “you won’t make it past Kasinski and Denlo without us. We’re trained for this kind of situation. You aren’t.”
“I didn’t see your training doing much for us any other time,” Baker snarled.
There was a loud sound from the kitchen. A chair moving. Baker and Wells froze. They all waited in silence. After a full minute, Wells leaned over to Baker and whispered something. Then they both stared down at her and Raider. “If we cut you loose, you have to let us go and not follow us, okay?”
“Agreed,” Raider said.
“Deal,” Piper responded.
After a slight hesitation, Baker squatted down. He cut Raider’s feet first and then came around and cut Piper’s. Then Piper leaned forward so he could reach her hands. He cut them both loose. Raider and Piper were on their feet in seconds. Her legs tingled numbly, but the adrenaline coursing through her helped steady her.
Now came the hard part. How were they going to get out of the house without alerting Denlo and Kasinski? The front door was an option but chances were good Kasinski would hear them and come running. They wouldn’t have enough time to get away before he started shooting. And they wouldn’t have the van. They’d be on foot with deserted roads and a lava flow between them and safety Think this through, she told herself. Be smart. She clamped her jaws together to keep her teeth from chattering in reaction to the adrenaline.
Raider drew them all in close. “This is what we’re gonna do. We’re going down that hallway. The TV is on the opposite wall from this room so chances are good Kasinski is facing away from the opening. I’ll check it out and then wave you all down the hallway. It’s dark. Stick to the walls.”
“Can’t we go out the front door?” Baker asked.
Piper shook her head and explained the issue. Raider grabbed the tape as he went to the far wall and checked on Kasinski. He waved Wells down the hallway. Wells disappeared and then he did the same for Baker. Piper joined him against the wall and they went together. A sound reached them all as they were lining the walls. Denlo was returning. Piper’s stomach dropped. Raider pointed at the bedroom next to Baker and Wells and they disappeared inside in the darkness. Piper backed into the bedroom they’d stayed in, and Raider followed her but stayed by the door.
Denlo opened the bedroom door and came down the hallway. Before she could blink Raider went out behind Denlo and grabbed him, pulling him inside the room. He had him in a chokehold. It seemed to take forever for Denlo to pass out but once he was out, Piper swung the door closed and they taped up Denlo’s hands behind his back and his legs and then put tape over his mouth.
“Get the thumb drive,” she demanded. There was no way she was putting her hand in Denlo’s pocket. Raider grinned and dug it out and then tucked it in his own pocket. He opened the door and waved for her to precede him down the hallway to the primary bedroom. Baker and Wells followed. Raider closed the door and then walked over to the sliding glass doors.
Piper looked at Baker and Wells. “Okay, guys, we’re all gonna go out that door into the woods. You guys stick to the woods as long as you can but head down toward the main street. Baker, I assume you know how to hotwire a car?”
He hesitated and then nodded.
“Good. Steal one of the cars in the neighborhood and drive yourselves to the airport. Get on the next flight out. I never want to see either one of you again. Deal?”
Both men nodded.
“Remember, stick to the woods, and move quickly. If you’re on the street, chances are good they’ll see you when they come looking.”
“Okay,” Wells said. “Where are you going?”
“We’re gonna do the same thing,” she assured them.
Wells nodded again.
Raider opened the door. “Go left. Stick to the wall until you reach the end of the house and then run for the woods.”
Wells went first and Baker followed. They did what they were told and made the tree line.
Piper glanced around the room. On the corner of the desk was a laptop. She grabbed it. She dug around in the closet until she found a backpack and stuck the laptop inside. “In case we get a chance to check out the thumb drive.” She stepped out onto the deck and made to follow Wells and Baker. Before she could move, Raider grabbed her hand and then pointed in a slightly different direction. She nodded and the two of them took off for the tree line.
Piper’s heart was hammering and sweat was running down her back but they made the tree line but kept running up the hill behind the house. Raider kept up the pace at a good clip.
Piper finally tagged him and asked for a break. “Why are we running uphill?” she asked as she sucked in as much oxygen as she could manage. Kilauea was still spewing ash and making it harder than normal to breathe.
“Because when Kasinski finds us gone, he and Denlo are going to head downhill. That’s what makes the most sense.”
Piper stared at him gasping. “Do you think they’ll find Baker and Wells?”
Raider shrugged. “I hope not, but there’s always a chance.”
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than the sound of gunshots reached them.
“Shit,” Piper said as she bit her lip. She hoped Wells and Baker were okay.
Raider grabbed her hand. “We’ve gotta move.” He pulled the pack off her back and put it on his own.
Piper started running behind him through the trees. How the hell had it come to this? Fucking Fielding. She’d see that man behind bars. If she lived long enough.