Search and… #4
Ari shook his head very slowly this time. He gestured with his head to Harding inside the kitchen as if he wanted Harding to hear it. “Care to hear a horror story?”
“Sure.”
“Some time ago in Miami, an organized crime family attempted to take over some of our business holdings and, in doing so, they also attempted to gain information about myself. The manager of one of the clubs we owned was abducted in an attempt to extract information. What made it heartbreaking was that she did not have that information. Tammy suffered horribly at their hands. She was kept alive for two days as they amputated several inches of various limbs and body parts every hour. They used tar and a propane torch to staunch the bleeding. When each hour was up, they questioned her, then began again. They were atrociously sadistic and cruel, wouldn’t you say? ”
Xander swallowed hard and nodded.
“I am relieved to tell you that particular crime family no longer exists... what you reap, so shall you sow...”
Xander could only nod at Ari as that horrible scene played out in his mind.
“So, this brings us to Mr. Harding. He has destroyed your home, attempted to murder your fiancé and your daughter. He is the reason Johnny is dead and my family here was tortured. Not to mention him attacking my home as well. Unfortunately for Mr. Harding, he is still being uncooperative…”
“Oh…”
“Xander, you are a good man, brave and selfless… your work is done here. Do you not think it’s time for you to go home and be with your loved ones?”
Xander looked into the kitchen. “What about Joel?”
“Ah… let us deal with that sick and evil little man.”
Xander turned to Simo, who nodded silently and solemnly at him. After a long moment, Xander sighed and nodded. “Yes, Ari, I should be home helping Halo and Athena. You will…” he trailed off.
“Yes, Joel Miller will suffer greatly for all his sins. Do we finally have an understanding this time?”
“Yes, Ari, we do. Thank you.”
Ari extended his hand, and Xander accepted it. “You have my everlasting gratitude for helping locate and protect my family.” He gestured toward the living room.
Xander gave Ari a tight-lipped smile. “They are my friends… and kind of like my family, I hope, too.”
Ari returned the smile. “I should think so! If you will, please wait outside with Stealth.”
“Sure, uh, Stealth?”
Ari chuckled. “It’s a callsign…” He pointed toward the front door. With a nod, Xander went outside, the hot, dry air enveloping him. There he saw a petite brunette, dressed all in black and armed to the teeth, smiling at him.
In a high-pitched voice, she spoke to him. “Hello, Xan.”
He recognized her by her voice. “Oh, wow… you—you are the cocktail waitress from Aurae?”
“Yes. I’m Becky. Here, come away from the light.” She directed him into the darkness, and it seemed as if she suddenly disappeared. “Here, Xan.”
“Oh!” He felt her push him gently up against the house, then down. “I tied up a guy out over…”
“He’s dealt with,” she whispered.
Xander heard Ari’s voice drifting across the dark silence of the desert night. He strained his ears to hear Ari speak. “Mr. Harding, please prepare yourself…”
Xander shuddered, remembering Ari’s story, and felt Becky tug at his arm. She whispered to him, “Let’s check the outside perimeter.”
Thankfully, Becky led him away from the house and its gruesome undertakings.
“Did you hear that story Ari told me?” She nodded. “Was Ari trying to intimidate Harding, or was that story true?” he whispered.
“Short answer is yes; it was true… I was there.”
They both remained quiet as they began checking the surrounding area. Soon, they passed behind the hangar and, as he pulled out his phone, he whispered to her, “Hey, ok to call home?”
Suddenly, Stealth reached out and pushed him back.
“What?”
“You smell that?” she asked, sniffing the air again.
Xander took in a deep sniff. He caught a whiff of something chemical and then something like rotting eggs. “I do now.”
“Back up ten feet, retrace your steps.”
Xander backed up and watched as her flashlight lit up her hand, then swept over the dry dirt and lit up five rectangular holes, complete with dirt mounds beside each one. Next to each grave-like hole were several gallon-sized brown bottles. He watched as she slowly approached the holes.
“Oh damn… oh damn, damn,” she sighed.
He started toward her; she suddenly rushed up and pushed him back.
“You don’t want to see that.” She held her hand up at him and pressed her ear.
“Ari… I found five open graves. I recognize the body of Selena Torres, and I believe her family is occupying the grave with her. No, sir, we can’t retrieve their bodies…
they are decomposing due to sulfuric acid. ”
Xander felt his belly turn and suddenly felt queasy. Stealth reached out and patted his shoulder.
“Ten minutes on the helo. Xan and I will find a suitable landing spot. Out.”
Stealth sighed. “Come on… we need to be ready with flares for the helo.”
As they retraced their steps, Xander had the urge to renege on the deal about going home and leaving Joel to them. Then, he heard Harding’s muffled, blood-curdling scream pierce the warm desert night, and he let himself smile.