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Legal statement still counts...
Chapter 46: Into the Fire
Jerry answered his cell phone as the car neared the town limits of West Jefferson, Ohio. "Green, what's goin' on man?" He seemed happy to get the call. Maybe there was some good news from the Detective.
"We just got done tracing another call from Macks." Green announced on the other end of the phone. "He's headed back your way Jerry. He's probably not too far behind you."
"What?" Jerry cried out and looked at Bobby, whose attention had been drawn to him now. "Mack's is coming back this way." He spoke to Bobby, and then returned to his conversation with Green. "Why? What the hell tipped him off?" He asked the detective.
"We don't know, but Winston called him as soon as we had the equipment ready. He made like he was back in the city, and when we got his location pin pointed he was no more than thirty minutes behind you, maybe less, so keep an eye out for him." Green sounded worried.
"What else is goin' on?" Jerry could hear that Green had more to say, just by the tone in his voice.
"Jack called, wanted to tell me about a visit he had." Green's voice sounded tight and strained, even over the phone.
"What kind of visit?" Jerry pushed.
"Higgins showed up, wanting to know where the hell you three were, claimed he had some information for you." Green sighed loud enough for Jerry to hear him. "I think he's working with Macks, and was sent there to try to pinpoint your location. He might be suspecting you're close." He was only guessing at Higgins intent, that was obvious, but it was a caution worth taking.
Jerry nodded his head. "We'll make sure to keep that in mind." He glanced at Bobby who wanted to know what the hell was going on, but he wanted to make sure he knew all of the facts before he passed any more information on. "How is Jack doing? Did he say?"
"He's worried as hell about you boys, and I can't say he's alone in that. He's supposed to be getting out of the hospital by noon, according to him. I'm going to make sure there's an officer escorting him home, just to be on the safe side." Green hesitated for a long moment. "You guys should go to the local police, let them know what the hell you're doing. I can give them a call and fax them all the information about the case. They need to know what the hell is going on in their back yard."
"Yeah, well, don't expect us to drop in and visit with them. You want to give them a call, that's up to you." Jerry listened to Green's warnings, but ignored the irritation in his voice. Despite Green's objections to the choices the Mercers were making, he tried to give Jerry some general directions to the property where they suspected Macks was holding their brother. He was going off a map, but the directions weren't that great, with some of the roads not named.
When Jerry got off the phone he relayed everything Green had shared with him to Bobby and Angel.
Bobby grumbled under his breath as he drove the car into the small town. "Fucker could know we're here." He shook his head. "Shit. We ain't got any time here. We gotta find that damn house."
"We need gas, so stop at the first station you see. I'll use my card to get some gas, and I'll get us some coffee and ask some questions. I'm sure if Macks tried to burn this place the whole town knows about it, and where it is. Small towns like this, things like that are a big deal." Jerry smiled at Bobby.
Bobby turned the car into the only gas station in the small town. "I don't believe people can actually live in a town this fucking small." He muttered while Jeremiah pulled out his credit card and then got out of the car to pump some gas. "Just hurry the fuck up Jerry, this place gives me the creeps." Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but he really didn't feel comfortable in a town that only had one gas station, at least it was the only one he'd seen, and it wasn't as if there was a lot of the town for another station to be located in.
The upside to the small town thing was that someone might know where in the hell this half burned dump of a house was located. Green had given them an address, and he'd even told them a general location, but they needed detailed directions, or a local map with the back roads marked out. That was Jerry's mission right now, pump the gas and then go in and ask about the house and get another map.
Angel sat up in his seat and looked around. "Hell, this wouldn't be so bad. No fucking gangs running the streets, no organized crime for the teenagers to get involved with. It's quiet, it's peaceful." He nodded his head. "I could live in a town like this."
Bobby snickered at the thought. "Yeah, right, you live in a town like this? That could never happen. I think there's only one bar in this town, and they wouldn't take kindly to your games. Hell, you'd never make any money here."
"Who says I'd be running any con games. I got skills other than that you know. I can cook. I could open my own restaurant." Angel spoke quietly while he was still looking around at his surroundings.
"Hell, you can shoot too, you gonna shoot your own meat for the menu?" Bobby laughed at his joke, though it was more his nerves than true amusement.
"Fuck you. I do shoot well, I could be a cop. Or, a private investigator, yeah, I'd be good at that." Angel nodded his head, with a hint of a smile on his face, giving away the fact that he was thinking about that possibility, "Yeah, Angel Mercer, Private Eye."
Bobby laughed again. "Yeah, I can see it now, a restaurant in the front, a private 'dick' office in the back. Hell, Sofi would sure go for that, now wouldn't she?"
"Shut the fuck up Bobby, it ain't no joke, it's actually serious." Angel reached up and smacked the back of Bobby's head.
Bobby's laughing stopped instantly and he turned to look at Angel. "You don't smack me in the head." He pointed his finger at Angel. "That's my fucking job, smacking the back of your head."
Angel laughed at the fact that all he had to do was sit back in his seat and Bobby couldn't reach him to retaliate.
Bobby was turned in his seat, reaching as far as he could into the back of the car, despite his aching ribs, when his eyes fell on a gold van, driving up the street, past the gas station. "Shit! That's the fucking van!" He yelled the word and turned back to grab the steering wheel. "Jerry, hurry the fuck up! Hurry up!" His heart started pounding hard, trying to beat its way out of his chest.
Jerry was still pumping the gas, and looked into the window as if he was surprised by Bobby's sudden need to urgency. "What the fuck?" He asked when Bobby roled the window of the car down.
"I just saw the fucking van; hurry the hell up before they get out of sight!" Bobby spoke through the window.
Jerry stopped pumping and hung the nozzle back in its place, pressing a button on the pump and getting his receipt. He stuffed both the receipt and credit card into his pants pocket while he ran back around the car and got in.
Angel had his body twisted, straining to look down the street. "They're stopped at a red light, I think." He announced as Jerry slammed his door shut.
"I didn't think they'd be that close behind us!" Jerry cried out, pulling on his seat belt.
"Maybe our luck is changing for the better; all we've gotta do is follow the bitch." Bobby started the car and weaved it through the gas pumps to the street. He pulled out, hitting the gas hard, despite the car that was coming up the street. The other car sounded his horn and hit its breaks.
"Bobby, watch what the fuck you're doing!" Jerry cried out once they were heading down the street.
"I ain't gonna lose them. They're gonna lead us right to Craig." Bobby muttered under his breath. He could see the traffic light ahead had turned green, and the van was moving on ahead. There were three other cars between them. Bobby could feel his heart pounding, and he wasn't able to ease his grip on the steering wheel, despite the fact that his knuckles were turning white. He had to be careful; this wasn't like in the city. The streets were practically empty; there wasn't any traffic to hide in while following the van. He had to make sure he hung back enough that Macks wouldn't see them.
His only comfort was the knowledge that Macks wouldn't know the car. He would still be cautious of being followed though, and if he got too close Macks would be able to see their faces. That would be the worst thing. He had to stay far enough back that the man wouldn't be able to ID them, or suspect that they were being followed, but still be able to keep an eye on the van, and know where the hell it was heading.
Macks sat back in his seat, relaxing for the first time since they'd loft the burned out house in the early morning hours. They were back in his home town, back to his world, really. He didn't have anything to worry about. He would be able to get back to the house, have a little time to spend with his son before grabbing some sleep, and then he would stash the kid in the back of the van, just like before, and they could head out, to Indiana, or maybe Illinois. It was going to screw up his plans for getting the kid on the market in the Columbus area, but hell, he'd just take advantage of the extra time he'd have to drug him into obedience. He would have that kid begging for it, and liking it, by the end of the week. He smiled to himself at the thought of all the money he was going to be able to pull in.
Jordan had been fairly quiet the last half of the drive. He'd just sat behind the wheel, shaking his head from time to time, but not saying a word. They had made one stop at a fast food restaurant to pick up some breakfast to eat on the road. Macks wasn't feeling any real urgency for speed by then. He figured the Mercers and the cops were looking for him around Detroit now. Hell, how were they gonna know that he wasn't in the city? They were getting their information from Winston, they had no way of knowing that he'd caught onto their game, and had turned around and was heading back. By the time they figured out just where the hell he might be he'd already be long gone. There was no reason to rush, he had time. He already had enough distance between him and the people that could cause him any misery.
Jordan shook his head again, and looked in the rearview mirror. "I think that car is following us." He muttered.
Macks laughed and turned to glance through the rear window of the van at a red compact. "Hell, you're paranoid. That's a fucking teenage girl." He turned back to face the front of the van as Jordan came to stop at the light in the middle of town.
Jordan reached up and pushed his glasses up his nose. "I guess I might be a little too jumpy." He drew in a deep breath.
If either man had turned around or looked in the mirror at that moment they would have seen the shiny black Cutlass pulling out of the gas station, cutting off another car, and heading their way. The Cutlass followed them three cars back as they eased through the light and drove on through the small town at the designated speed limit.
Macks didn't mention the speed at which Jordan chose to drive. He felt that it was probably best, considering the local police liked to pull drivers over for going just a few miles over the speed limit in town. The man looked at the fast food back sitting on the console between the seats. "You gonna eat that other sandwich?" He asked Jordan.
Jordan glanced at Macks. "That's for the kid. You know he's got to be starving."
Macks laughed while he picked up the back. "The kid ain't gonna get this. He eats only what I say, when I say. He damn sure ain't gonna get something like this." He opened the back and pulled out the sausage sandwich."
"You can't starve him." Jordan sounded surprised by the man's words.
"Oh, yes I can. He listens better that way. Besides, I left him some crackers." He un-wrapped the sandwich and took a big bite. "He only gets his treats after he's performed well. That is how it is. That's how it always is. We don't want him getting fat now, do we?" He chewed slowly. "I'll tell you what; I'll save him a bite." He looked over at Jordan, who was giving him a dirty look. "He's my kid Jordan. I say what I can and can't do with him. I know what the fuck I'm doing. I know what it takes to keep control of him. You just let me take care of him my own way."
Jordan drew in a deep breath and glanced back in the mirror as they neared the other end of town. "I think that car is following us." He muttered.
Macks laughed again. "Shit, you are too fucking good to be true. We are not being followed." He didn't bother to look back at the car Jordan was referring to this time. He didn't see any reason to bother.
Jordan turned the van left onto the first road outside of town, and picked up a little speed. He looked back in the mirror again. "They turned. I'm telling you that car is following us." He kept his voice even and calm, but gave the van a little more speed.
Macks sighed, wrapping what was left of the sandwich back up and dropping it into the bag. He turned and looked at the black car that was turning onto the road. The car didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry, letting the van get some distance between them. "I don't think so Jordan." He shook his head. "But if you would feel better, make a turn at the next road. Avoid heading to the farm until we lose them." He turned back in his seat and rolled down his window, reaching out to adjust the mirror so that he could see the road behind them and keep an eye on the car himself. He wasn't worried, but it was best not to let anyone see exactly where they were going.
Jordan slowed down for the next cross road.
"Turn right." Macks ordered.
Jordan followed his command, turning the van and heading up the road a little faster than was probably necessary.
Macks watched as the car came to the intersection and made the same turn, staying behind them. He still didn't let his nerves get worked up. He couldn't lose his temper right then. That could have been a coincidence. He sighed and instructed Jordan to turn left at the next road.
Jordan did what he was told without question. Damn, that was what Macks liked about this man, he listened, and the arguing was kept to a minimal. He was gonna hate to kill this man, he really was. He watched the intersection in the mirror. Jordan was putting a good bit of distance between them and the cross roads behind them. He still hadn't seen the car reach the intersection by the time they reached a rise in the road, descended the other side, loosing site of it all together. "Okay, there's a gravel lane up here, it leads into some woods. Pull into it." Mack's ordered. Hell, if the car was still following them, they would see it drive past and then give it some time before heading back out onto the road.
Jordan found the turn off and pulled the van onto the gravel. He drove into the cover of the heavy growth of brush and trees, turning the van halfway so they could see the road through the opening of the trees.
Macks was surprised when he seen the car drive by. He'd been pretty sure that the tail was just Jordan's imagination. Hell, he was still pretty sure that it was his imagination, but he didn't want to chance anyone seeing them going to the house. It was supposed to be abandoned, and he wanted to draw as little attention to himself as possible.
"Okay, we wait here for twenty minutes. Let's see if they come back by." Macks spoke quietly.
The minutes ticked by slowly. There were a couple of other cars that went past, but none of them were black. Macks hadn't gotten a very good look at the car; he only knew that it had been black. His mind tried to stir around some worry; hell, Jordan's paranoia was contagious. He was wondering if the Mercers had caught up with him. He shook that thought out of his head; Higgins would have called him if that was the case. He'd sent Higgins to find out what he could about what was going on with the Mercers, and the man had yet to call back and report, but he would have called if there had been any big news, like the Mercers knew where he was and were heading that way.
Jordan looked at his watch nearly once every minute. The car never came back their way. After nineteen minutes Macks looked at Jordan. "Hell, let's get the hell out of here."
"It hasn't been twenty minutes yet." Jordan shook his head.
"Just fucking drive, Jesus, I can't believe you're gonna gripe about one minute." Mack scolded.
Jordan put the van in gear and eased it back to the road. Both men looked both directions before Jordan drove out of the shelter of the trees, and heading back up the road in the same direction they had come.
Craig was drifting into a peaceful sleep, warmed by the clothing under him and covering him, despite the stench that had been smoked into the material. He could have gone to sleep for hours if Bobby's image hadn't reached out to smack his arm.
"You stay awake." Bobby snapped at him, not bothering to whisper.
Craig opened his eyes in the dark closet and found that he had slid down to rest his head on the floor. "I'm tired." He barely got the words out.
"You need to pay attention. You haven't heard your father yet, have you? He's not here." Bobby's voice was loud in his head.
Craig held his breath, straining to listen for any noise in the house. He could hear voices below him, with his ear to the floor; he could hear them quite clear. "That's not Dad." He muttered, sure that he heard a woman's voice below him. He realized he was directly over the room that his father had called the dining room. "There's a girl."
"Come on, get your ass out of here, get downstairs, they can help you." Bobby spoke quickly, pounding on the closed closet door.
Craig sat up, reaching for the knob and pushing the closet door open. The freezing air seemed to hit him like a brick wall. He crawled across the floor, not sure that he could handle walking the distance back down the stairs. He could hear Bobby telling him he needed to hurry, and he really wished his brother would stop, he already knew he needed to hurry. He reached the door leading into the unstable hallway, and Bobby's voice in his head told him to get on his fucking feet; it was too dangerous to try to walk. He used the wall for support, pulling himself up to his feet and then had to give his weak and shaky legs a chance to adjust to his weight.
The voices below sounded cheerful and welcoming. Probably a couple out for a good time, thinking an abandoned house, half burned would be a safe place to make out for a while. Craig managed to reach the top of the stairs. He managed to call out, "Hey!" He knew it wasn't at loud as it needed to be, but his throat was cracking and dry. He managed to suck in as deep a breath as his aching chest would allow him to, the cold air not helping his congested lungs, "Help!" He managed to get the yell out at a level he was sure could be heard. The voices below stopped, and he could hear footsteps heading towards the stairs as he made his way down them slowly.
A young man, no older than Jack appeared below the boy, and then a girl, who seemed to be pulling her blouse closed appeared next to him.
"Oh my God!" The girl cried out when she seen the boy on the stairs.
At that moment a gun blast echoed through the house, the girls head exploded and Craig felt his whole world close in around him. The sound of a second gunshot filled the air, but it sounded distant to him, as the young man's chest erupted in a mixture of blood and bone, his body thrown against the wall at the end of the tunnel Craig's mind was forming around his vision.
The boy tried to turn to go back up the stairs, not sure of where he was going to, but feeling the need to try to run. He could hear his father's yells; he could feel his legs being grabbed from below, and his body being pulled hard, back down the steps. His ears started ringing, his vision was quickly filling with stars, and his mind trying to close down on him, trying to hide in that haze that had always been a protection to him before. Where the hell was Bobby?
