Chapter Eleven
Before his eyes could focus, Steve swung his arm on blind instinct, sending Benny crashing into the wall. Surprisingly, the young man struggled back to his feet, lurching in Steve's direction.
"You don't want me to hit you again," Steve warned, reaching for the man with the wire (who'd tumbled backward into the stairwell he'd just emerged from).
Benny took a step back, his eyes moving back and forth between Steve and the fallen attacker. "You alright, Kev?" he stammered. "I'll handle him - you get outta here." His jaw dropped as he watched Steve twist the wire that had nearly killed him into manacles for the assailant's wrists, securing him to a railing. "Unless...you...I guess you don't need my help...!"
"Start talking, Benny," Steve demanded, backing his 'friend' into a dark corner. "Who's paying you?"
"Huh? Nobody has to pay me; I'm just glad you're ok. Man...how'd you do that?"
"I'm asking the questions. Who's your friend over there?"
"I've never seen him before!" Benny insisted.
"So you were supposed to meet him here and - what? Get the envelope?"
"What envelope? Kev, what the hell?"
Steve grabbed Benny's collar - and a bit of his throat - and raised him just off of his feet, glaring at him as he dangled. "Who sent you here?"
"Man," Benny gasped, "I was lookin' for you!"
"Obviously!" Steve growled.
"You...you weren't at lunch...you didn't come 'home' tonight...I was...worried."
Even in the darkness, Steve could see the younger man meant it. His eyes held no animosity or deviance - only concern. Still...
"Who are you - and tell me the truth this time," Steve ordered. "Benny Carson doesn't exist."
"You got me there, Man. And I'll tell you - only...can you put me down, first?" Benny requested. Steve set him carefully back on his feet and let go of his throat but kept a guarded grip on his shirt collar, just in case. "So - talk," he demanded again.
"Fine," the young man sighed, standing a little straighter as he dropped the 'street stance'. "My name is Carter Benjamin. I'm a writer."
"Great work, Pal," Oscar exulted as Steve's attacker was hauled away. Carson Benjamin was also on his way back to OSI-LA to give his statement, and without realizing it, both Steve and Oscar had the same thought on their mind.
"Where's Jaime?" Oscar voiced it first.
Steve frowned. "I thought she'd be with you by now. She left the Armory just after 4:00."
"Are you sure?"
"Well, no - I went inside. That's when the King woman approached me. I didn't see Jaime after that -"
"When I spoke to her this afternoon," Oscar explained, "she thought she was onto something but that was hours ago. She should have phoned in by now." Oscar looked toward the car, where Russ had just hung up the car phone and was shaking his head. "We can't find her," Oscar said urgently, "or Sarah King."
The caravan of cars sped urgently toward the Armory but had to stop short to avoid slamming into the throng of people milling around outside. Steve jumped out of the car and began to run - with the screeching sound of the building's fire alarm drowning out the noise of the crowd.
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