Chapter 6
Doc grabs my shoulder and I turn to face him, “We don’t know whether she is an accomplice, or a victim herself, but what I do know is she is badly injured and addicted to God only knows what drugs.”
I give Doc a curt nod, “I’ll follow your lead.”
We step into the room and what I see stops me dead in my tracks. Tiny is standing beside Caroline’s bed stroking her dirty hair and I spot Betty sitting in the chair asleep. Caroline is strapped to the bed by her wrists and ankles and is thrashing like Regan from that damn Exorcist movie. She is heavily bruised, covered in filth and looks like a wild animal, and her voice is hoarse from her screams.
Tiny looks up and steps away from Caroline and comes toward us looking worn down and pained.
“Doc, you need to help her, she’s getting worse. She’s pinging off the fuckin’ walls man, she needs something else to help her, either that or the dosage we administered wasn’t enough.”
“I’ll give her some Naltrexone, and Valium, she’ll be a lot calmer soon.”
“Good, yeah, good, thanks man.” Tiny stumbles out.
He’s on edge, which is not his normal character, Caroline has gotten under his skin I get it she resembles Lily and it’s a hard fucking site to see. While Doc goes to assess Caroline, I pull Tiny aside.
“What’s up man, you’re not yourself.”
“I’m good, Chief, it’s just, it’s not fucking easy seeing this woman, who looks like our Lily in this fucking state she’s like a wild fucking animal, whatever drugs she’s been on has really fucked her up.”
“I agree man, it’s a trip that’s for sure. Has she said anything?”
Tiny growls, “Not really, she’s too manic for us to understand half the shit she’s been spewing out her mouth but keeps repeating the devil will come for you.”
“The devil?” I question.
“She’s scared shitless of the devil.” Tiny confirms.
“Maybe that’s what she refers to Trickle as, but then that makes no sense because Trickle rode with you, she would know we have him under our control.”
Betty’s eyes pop open and she stands abruptly and walks over clapping me on the back.
“Harrington, how’s my cupcake?”
“Lily is out of surgery and stable at the moment, she’s in a bad way but Doc thinks she’ll pull through it’s just going take some time.”
“Ohhh thank fucking God. I couldn’t bear it, if I lost my cupcake, how bad is she?” Betty asks point blank.
“She’s stable but has some serious injuries to recover from.”
“Elizabeth is a survivor, Son, she will do everything she can to return to you and your little girl, that I can promise. All she knows is how to love, she’s always been a pure, selfless, angel of a girl.”
I close my eyes, and let out a long tensioned filled breath, “I couldn’t agree more.”
“I can see she picked a worthy man, you’re a gooden, Harrington.” Betty squeezes my arm as she finishes.
“Do you want to get some rest? I can have one of my men take you to the apartment.”
Betty raises her eyes back to mine and fuck me the fierce look in them makes me recoil.
“Boy, you’ll never ask me if I want to rest again, you get me?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I say as straight faced as I possibly can, fuck me, I love this woman’s spunk.
“I need to see my cupcake, have a shot of good whisky and then I can sleep. Think you can manage that, Chief?”
I can’t help it, I smirk at her words, “I think we can arrange that, Betty. What’s your take on all this?” I say looking over to Caroline again.
Betty blows out a whistle, Doc, Tint and I instantly swivel our heads like meerkats on look out. Betty is sure as shit going to give Davies hell, she’s like a female version of our Commander and that’s some impressive shit.
“All I know is that Caroline is meant to be dead, this… this is some whacked out bullshit. Caroline and her father, Andrew were driving home after Andrew picked her up from cheer practice.”
Betty is shaking her head then looks over to Caroline who is a lot calmer now that Doc has given her medication.
“The night of the car accident it was storming something fierce, the weather was some of the worst I’ve ever seen, electrical lightning, thunder and wind, it bout trees down all over the county. The police suggested that while driving in heavy rain, and having low visibility, Andrew either swerved to miss an animal, or possibly an oncoming vehicle when they crashed.”
“Was there anything suspicious about the accident?” I ask.
Betty shakes her head, “No, but then again the car had crashed and then burst into flames, there was no real evidence to examine.”
“So, there was no real investigation done and left it at that?” Tiny asks.
“No, it was ruled a tragic accident due to the weather conditions, Andrew and Caroline were pronounced dead and the only remains were a couple of bones amongst the charred wreck but that’s it, the car was a burnt out shell, no one probably even thought of another scenario but it seems they were wrong. It’s sad, they were a wonderful family, good people, you know.”
We both nod, and yes, I can believe it because Lily has the most beautiful soul I’ve ever known, she had to have been brought up by at least one good parent.
Doc steps over to us shaking his head, “Caroline has suffered years of abuse, she has wounds in all different stages of healing, some badly healed bone breaks and is in a really bad way. Fuck knows what she has endured over the years, what I do know is I’m going to keep reviving that piece of shit, over and fucking over, he will suffer for all he’s done.”
“Hooyah.” We all reply quietly,
There’s nothing more to say, Trickle is the fucking devil incarnate, but his luck has just run out and he has now met his makers.
“We need to keep Caroline sedated and I’ll run tests to see what is in her system and just like Janelle I will study her hair samples to work out a history and the best approach to treat her. But one thing is certain, I won’t rest till I have these women healthy again in body and soul. They deserve to regain their lives back.”
Doc can’t hide his fury he’s that fucking riled up, which doesn’t happen easily. Doc is our astute kind brother, our healer and is always of calm sound mind, but this shit is rattling him, I get it, playing in war zone’s all the time we expect injury, it is part of our life but for this to happen to innocent normal civilians is not.
“Okay boys, can you take me to see my cupcake, I need to lay eyes on Elizabeth before I can sleep.”
“I’ll stay here with Caroline.” Tiny remarks a little too quickly, and I’m taken aback, he’d usually be the main interrogator but something about Caroline has really taken ahold of Tiny.
“Okay, but get some rest, Tiny, Caroline will be out for a while. You need some sleep big guy.” I order.
“I’ll be okay, go take Betty to see Lily, the rest of the team are getting that cunt situated in the basement, go get us some fucking answers, Chief.” Tiny says with deadly conviction.
Tiny’s demeanor is scary as all get out when his darkness takes hold of him, it’s probably wise he remains here we need information from this bastard.
“Will do.” I say, clapping Tiny on the back.
The love Bettyhas for Lily is pure and fierce, she’s stroking my angels head with tears in her eyes trying to hold her composure but there’s no way to hide her love, and the pain it’s causing her at seeing Lily in such a way.
Betty turns to me and looks me dead in the eye, “If you don’t end that mongrel, Harrington, I certainly will. I’m an old woman and have no qualms in ending that son-of-a-bitches life. I have nothing to lose! Besides, I know how to make a body vanish and I’ll be more than happy to make that happen.”
“I will, Betty, but he’s going to suffer all kinds of hell before I do.” I vow.
“Glad to hear it, Son, go make an ol’ girl proud.”
“Betty, may I ask what part of the military did you serve.” My curiosity on Betty’s past getting the best of me.
“I can neither confirm, nor deny.” Betty replies straight faced. Ahhh CIA, interesting, but it makes perfect sense.
“Here, Betty, I found the good stuff,” Doc says, handing her a bottle of Glenfiddich.
“Oooooeee, you just stole first place, ding, ding, ding.”
Betty smiles wide as she takes the bottle and whistles low just like Davies.
“Damn kid, this is a Grand Cru 23 year old single malt scotch whisky.” Betty admires.
“Courtesy of the hospital Chiefs personal stash.” Doc replies proudly with a wolfish grin.
Betty chuckles, “Don’t be telling him you swiped his liquor Doc, but I sure do appreciate it.”
“I’ve also asked for a cot to be brought in for you to…” Doc does a cheeky cough, “to rest on, Betty.”
Betty raises the bottle in cheers to Doc and we all chuckle. I walk over to my angel and lean in and kiss her forehead, placing my hand on her lower tummy. “Lily, Betty is here with you, I have some business to tend to but I will be back with you soon. I love you so much, Angel, mine.”
“Harrington, she’s safe with me and the rest of the crew out in the hall, we will watch over Elizabeth. Go do what you need to do, Son, and get us some damn answers, .”
I step in and give Betty a hug, “It’ll be my pleasure.”
She pushes me back chuckling darkly. Betty is going to fit right into our family, and I know that no harm will befall Lily in my absence, I feel it in my gut that my angel is safe.
Doc and I step out and head down to the basement, I can’t wait to get my hands around Trickles fucking throat. Doc grabs some serious medical supplies so we can keep this asshole alive while extracting the information we will get out of him.
I turnthe handle and when I enter the room Cuddy starts laughing when he notices my stance, and smacks Trickle upside his head.
“Let the fun begin boys.”
I stalk into the room my focus solely on Trickle laying on the slab. He starts thrashing and screaming but his sounds only fuel my hunger for retribution, this mother fucker is about to really hurt and I won’t lose sleep over his pain.
What he’s lying on is fucking perfect, It’s a cold steel embalming table and he’s stark fucking naked, the holes in his knees and shoulder have been plugged with Xstat foam to stem the blood loss, and he’s covered in nasty welts, the boys have been giving it to him good and it makes me proud.
A wicked grin spread across my face because this fucker deserves everything he’s been getting and will receive.
“Trickle, I trust my men have treated you well.” I say in a deadly calm voice.
“Fuck you, Harrington.” Trickle spits out.
I feel the crunch of his nose shattering under the force of my knuckles his blood spraying everywhere, and I revel in his high pitched scream, feeding my hunger for more.
“Ohhh, I will fuck you; I’m going to enjoy every second, every minute and however many long it takes for you to tell me what I need to know.”
I grab his throat and start squeezing, and relish in the bulge of his eyes forced forward at the pressure, and the attempted gasps for air he’s trying to pull into his lungs.
“Here’s the deal, Trickle, you will be telling me everything, one way or another I will get the information I’ve come for. You see, me and my men here are very skilled in the art of extracting information from some of the most evil people in the world. And you, you are nothing, you’re just a scared little filthy rat.”
I loosen my hold allowing air to infiltrate his lungs and he starts coughing on his own bile. I lower my elbow hard directly into his sternum and the satisfaction in stopping his screams makes me grin.
“It’s time for you tell us a story, I enjoy a good story and feel this one will be epic.” I say calmly, “Now, start talking!” I boom.
Trickle thrashes even harder but the restraints keep him firmly in place and seeing his flesh being ripped open by his own struggle is satisfying.
“You w-won’t win, Harring–”
I slam my fist down on his shoulder where the bullet wound is and he passes out.
“Seriously, what a fucking pussy.” I state stepping back.
Doc steps in with the smelling salts, and I slide my Rothco’s blade from my pants and as soon as Trickle’s conscious I slice across his abdomen, he starts gaging and spewing expletives trying to get away from my knife.
“Fuck, G-God help me, fuck, stop, B-Bets is mine, Harrington, she was p-promised to me. She was always m-meant to be, mine.”
I slice again, this time deeper and down his right cheek, and the satisfaction in the crimson flow exposing his jawbone, makes me laugh darkly.
“Lily was never yours, Trickle, she never wanted your advances, she told you repeatedly that she wasn’t interested but you didn’t respect her polite refusal.”
He starts shaking uncontrollably, his body going into shock, I slap the left side of his face hard to garner his attention.
“R-rob w-will f-find me, he won’t let m-me g-go,” Trickle stumbles out, before losing consciousness.
Doc moves in and pulls out some gauze and packs the pricks facial wound.
“How far do you think I can push him, Doc?” I demand.
“He’s weak, start pushing harder, he’s already started revealing information, just do it quickly, this dweeb isn’t going to last.”
The men are chuckling and I do too, I’ll admit, it feels good to laugh. Bad taste, yes! But Trickle deserves no humanity.
“There was a cousin that was named Robert Trickle, he died ten years ago, his death records show he drowned in the lake at the fishery.” Reid informs us.
“Do you think Trickle is lying to cover his own tracks or could this Robert still be alive?”
I look to Reid who is waiting for a response via Comms. He growls and shoots his eyes to mine while shaking his head, listening intently to whatever information Command is telling him.
“Robert’s body was never recovered, Chief. There was an investigation into Robert’s father because he was a known abuser to his wife and kids, but Robert’s body was never found, so they couldn’t charge him, nothing ever stuck. Command are also saying that the fathers of Jay and Robert are deceased, found in a burnt out vehicle a few years ago.”
“Fuccckkk!” I roar, looks like there’s another fucking depraved asshole we have to find.
“Contact Charlie and Delta team, and let Mannion’s men know to be on alert, lock it down.” I order Reid.
“On it, Chief.” Reid jumps on Comms letting the other teams know we need to be aware there’s possibly a second threat.
My body is vibrating with fresh waves of adrenaline. I need answers and I need them right fucking now. I stare down at my hands dripping in Trickles filthy fucking blood and enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor, it feels good to give him the pain he so righteously deserves.