Chapter 8
Another Meeting
Dallas was nervous as he walked to school the next morning. He was worried about Kenny and Davey. He felt horrible for the way he'd been treating them and hoped Starsky and Hutch talked to them last night. He liked them and hoped they understood the reason behind his actions. He was also thinking about Keith Marshall who would be picking him up after school to attend another meeting.
Kenny just closed his locker when Dallas started turning the combination to unlock his own locker. Kenny lowered his head and Dallas could have sworn he saw Kenny give him a very brief, half-grin. Dallas returned the gesture by winking ever so slightly at Kenny. Dallas knew that Kenny understood why he was treating him and his friends so harshly and it was okay. It was probably the best feeling he had since beginning the assignment.
The school day was pretty uneventful except that Dallas had not been doing any school work since starting and he was getting into trouble for it with his teachers. He decided that might not help the shy, timid image he was supposed to have. He was curious just what Keith would do if he found out he wasn't doing his schoolwork. Would anyone tell him? He decided that he would push that issue too. The more he pushed Keith the sooner he might find out who he was working with. He might also find out who was giving the information to Starsky and Hutch. He also knew that if he pushed Keith too much he might end up like that poor kid that had been tased and killed. Dallas put his cell phone in his locker at school before he left. Keith would find out if he had one and that could blow the whole operation.
He had a headache from everything he was thinking about by the time school was over and Keith met him outside the school. He slid into Keith's car and buckled his seatbelt as Keith started driving. "I sold…"
"Don't. Don't say anything until we get where we're going. Not a word."
Dallas shrugged his shoulders, sunk into his seat and stared out of the window like a shy, scared, timid kid would do. He was also looking in the side mirror for Austin's car or any of the cars that had been following him. He was sure he spotted Martin's blue Honda and felt a little safer.
Martin followed Keith until it became apparent that he was headed to the same building he had taken Dallas to the other day. To avoid blowing the whole operation, Martin took a right turn. Keith would know if he followed him much longer. The only thing anyone could do now was wait until they heard from Dallas.
Keith did drive to the same old dusty building he had the other day. When Dallas got out of the car he looked around and saw Timmy along with some of the kids walking into the building. Some of the kids had bags which, no doubt, had items the kids had stolen to give to Keith. He also noticed an older boy standing by the door as if he was guarding it. Dallas recognized the boy as one of the ones in the video that held the boy who Keith tased and killed. Dallas' heart was racing. Was there going to be another murder tonight? How could he stop it? He looked around and didn't see Thompson's car. Maybe it wasn't his after all, he thought. The only thing Dallas could do right now was to go inside when the others did.
Keith entered the building last and quickly turned the flood lights on. When the lights came on, Dallas' fears multiplied ten times from what he experienced outside. He saw Molly sitting against the wall tied and gagged. Dallas was determined that he would not let her be killed. He would do whatever he could to keep that from happening. The other kids gasped when they saw her too. "That's right, gang. Ms. Ramos is joining us tonight." Keith walked toward Molly as he continued, "Now don't worry about your precious Molly Ramos here." He bent down, removed her blindfold, and took out his taser and held it close to her face. She sat still and didn't move an inch. She was scared to death but didn't want to give Keith that satisfaction. She stared at him with the most defiant look she was capable of giving him.
Molly had been taken earlier in the day while she was returning from court. She had often taken the rest of the day off when she had to go to court so her secretary didn't think anything about it today when she didn't return. Molly knew no one would miss her until Hutch called later tonight and she didn't answer. He would know then. Hutch would know and he wouldn't stop looking for her.
As he held the taser close to Molly, Dallas started to make a move toward Keith and was hit on the back of the head. Molly's heart sank as she saw Dallas' body fall to the ground. He was out cold. The older boy that hit him smiled, "Anyone else wanna be a hero?"
The other kids stood where they were. All of them were terrified. All of them had seen Keith's handiwork and knew what he was capable of. Keith surveyed the room and said, "Ms. Ramos here found out about our little operation so we are going to change our tactics just a bit. Don't worry she won't be harmed if everyone follows my instructions."
Timmy stuttered as he asked, "Wha…what do you want us to do?" Keith could hear the fear in his voice and it made him smile. He knew he could get these kids to do anything he wanted. He enjoyed the fear he was able to inflect on these kids. He liked being able to make them do whatever he wanted them to.
Keith nodded at the older boy who knocked Dallas out and he left the room. "What I want out of you is to continue doing what you've been doing."
The older boy came back holding onto the arm of a younger boy who appeared to be about fourteen. The younger boy's hands were tied behind his back and he had a blindfold on. Molly fought to free herself from the ropes that bound her hands together. She twisted her hands so hard they were now bleeding. She felt both wrists burning from the sting of the ropes as she continued to free herself. She also tried to yell, "No," but her sounds were muffled by the bandanna that was tightly wrapped around her mouth sufficiently gagging her. She wiggled and squirmed with every fiber of her being. Her face was red and tears mixed with sweat were running down her cheeks. Keith was enjoying watching her fight. It meant that she cared about this younger boy and knew he could use that against her. "Ms. Ramos, I take it you don't want any harm to come to this young man here?"
Molly shook her head no and tried to say, "Please, don't hurt him."
Keith couldn't quite make out Molly's words but he did pick up on the desperation in her voice. Keith walked over to Molly and squatted to be at the same eye level, "What happens to him depends on you."
Molly quit fighting, leaned against the wall and looked at Keith. "I'm only going to give you, or him rather," he looked behind him at the young boy who was now shaking from the fear that was building inside him, "one chance. Will you do as I say?" Molly nodded. Keith removed the gag, "I'm going to keep this boy in my custody to ensure your, let's say, cooperation."
"I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt him." Molly said, quickly. She moved her jaw from side to side and opened her mouth wide. The gag had been on tight and it felt good to be able to move those muscles again.
"I want you to show up for work on Monday just like nothing happened. If you tell anyone, you know what I'll do to him. Don't think I don't know the cops suspect something." Molly didn't respond, she just stared at Keith. She wondered how he knew about the cops and what he did know. "Do we understand each other, Ms. Ramos?"
"Yes, but I don't know anything about the police. I haven't said anything to anyone." Molly said quickly hoping to protect Dallas' true identity.
"For his sake, I hope not." Keith pointed to the young boy again. Molly looked at the boy but did not recognize him. Keith took the taser out of his pocket and held it against Molly's leg. "The truth, tell me the truth or I swear I'll use this."
"Truth about what?" Molly's eyes were staring at the taser anticipating the burning shock that was about to surge through her body.
"The police. What do they know?"
"I don't know. I haven't said anything to them. I swear it." Molly hoped that Keith couldn't detect her lies as he stared into her eyes. She gritted her teeth as she stared at the man she grew to hate more each minute that passed.
The kids were all watching with horrified looks on their faces. They knew what Keith was capable of and were powerless to stop him. Dallas had already been knocked out and they were petrified to move. They had seen the two older boys already hold down one kid so Keith could tase and shoot him.
Keith put the taser back in his pocket, stood back up and turned around facing the kids now, "You know what will happen if one word of this gets out to anyone." His voice was very authoritative and threatening, "Drop your bags of goodies and what money you have and go home. I expect to see all of you here Monday, same time."
The kids did as they were ordered to do and dropped the bags and money they were holding and left.
When the all the kids had gone except the older boy, Keith looked at Dallas who was still lying on the ground unconscious, grabbed Molly and lead her out of the building. He raised his eyebrows at the older boy and nodded his head. The boy knew that Keith wanted him to 'take care of' Dallas.
"What's he going to do to Dallas?" She barely got the words out when she heard the gunshot. Her knees gave way and she feel to the ground.
Keith roughly picked her up, "I told you, I know the cops are involved. Now there's one less. Be a good girl and do as you're told and no one else will get hurt. It was just a cop this time, next time it won't be. If anyone asks you about Dallas, you haven't heard from him, got it?"
Molly turned her head looking back at the door that led to the building. "The police don't know anything. I haven't…"
"You may not have said anything to them, but someone has. Maybe one of those little brats we're in charge of turning into useful members of society went to the police. Either way, I know he's a cop. Or I should say, was a cop."
"You're a sick son-of-a-bitch, you know that Keith?" She had tears streaming down her face.
Keith rushed her to his car and put her in the passenger's side, "Yeah, I know." After she was in and her door was closed he ran around to the driver's side and got in, "And I don't care," he said, as he buckled his seatbelt.
"Where are you taking me?" She wiped away her tears and stared out of the window.
"I'm taking you home and you'll find that your car is already there. When your buddy, Hutchinson, calls tonight you'd better tell him you…"
"I know what to tell him. You promise you won't hurt that kid as long as I keep my mouth shut?"
"I promise. I don't want to hurt him, I just want your silence," he said, matter-of-factly.
Molly thought maybe this was her chance to find out if Keith did have a partner, "Who are you scared of, Keith? If someone's making you do this…"
Keith laughed, "Me scared? I'm not scared of anyone. No one makes me do anything."
