Welcome to my friends from Argentina and Spain. I know that Money Heist was cancelled in Spain, and then NetFlix bought the show.
Maybe you guys can do the same for Siren?
Chapter 27
Paths Cross
As the evacuation takes on the atmosphere of rats deserting a sinking ship, Nicole continues to direct the exiting personnel.
"Nicole!" Shouts Xander, as he walks up to her.
"Xander, I have no time." She fights the urge to turn toward him. "Later, please…" Stopping long enough to wave the first ambulance clear to leave.
"Where is Ben?" He asks.
"That's him." Nicole points to the vehicle leaving the parking lot. "He'll be going to the finest and safest medical facility in this area." She takes a breath, "his parents are with him. Helen will ride with Hope and Ryn."
Xander sees Ryn walking alongside a gurney. She's holding Hope's hand.
"She's walking?" He mutters to himself. Not able to digest what he sees.
As Ryn walks with a labored stride, the teenage attendant pushing the stretcher scratches his mind to find out an explanation about the apparent miracle recovery of the three gunshot victims. He is unaware of their special circumstance.
This girl was in surgery three hours ago, now she's having a conversation with her mother.
Handing the stretcher to the naval personnel, his inner dialogue speeds for an explanation.
This damn woman next to me was on death's door. Now she's looking for a car. What the hell she gonna do? Call UBER?"
Glancing across the area at Ryn, as she refuses to enter the medical transport. "Where is she going?" He asks.
"Xander, please. I volunteered to come back here to see you. But now there's no time."
Before he can speak, she looks him in the eyes.
"We are in danger. Some Russian hit squad or whatever is on their way here."
"What! The damn Russians!"
"Please, no one knows where they are. They could be anywhere. We don't even know if they're here for them. Chief Hawkins will stay here with two of the guards until a tactical team arrives."
Xander calls to Ryn. She is walking in no apparent direction in front of the Main Entrance.
"Ryn!" Turning from Nicole, he rushes to the distraught woman. "What is the matter?"
"Maddie…" She holds her side as she speaks. "Maddie is in big…trouble. I must go. I feel her. She not far…now." Ryn clutches her breasts.
"Ryn, you can't even straighten up." Xander puts an arm around her back.
"Officer, please take her to the ambulance. She just had surgery." One of the attending civilian doctors unaware of the situation offers to assist Xander.
"No!" Ryn takes the man's arm and swings it about, he stumbles and falls.
"Come with me," Xander tells Ryn. "I'll take her in a patrol car. She's my friend."
The floored doctor says nothing but continues to stare at Ryn.
"Xander, your car. Quick. Take. I show you. She is in big trouble."
After putting the weakened form of Ryn in the patrol car, Xander quick strides to Nicole as she directs the evacuation.
"You wanna talk after all this bull is over?" He flashes a smile.
"The Sheriff has my gun. It was used in a felony. Don't ask, please?" He puts his hand up.
"What do you need?"
"Give me a piece. I may need it." He asks.
"She knows something?" Nicole whispers.
"Maddie is in trouble. We got no time for the calvary to come."
"Xander this is the last vehicle to leave. Ben is stable and…" Her words faulter.
"Good, then you won't need you weapon." He adds.
"I'm going with you. My car has an M-4 in the trunk." He snaps back.
"Wait…" It is now Xander's turn to be interrupted.
"Wait, nothing. I go…or I'll have both of you arrested." Said Nicole.
"Xander, we go her…please…" The distance between the police car and the two feuding ex-lovers is not enough to hinder Ryn's hearing.
Ryn leaves the car and the three enter Nicole's unmarked vehicle.
A motel ten miles North of Bristol Cove
A bound and gagged Maddie sits on the double bed. Her long legs stretched out on the rust colored bedspread.
Pat has been unsuccessful in contacting a number of agents that may help him escape.
The mission is a failure. His knowledge of the Russian operation is extensive. It could mean his death sentence if he cannot come up with an alternative plan to kidnap at least one of the targeted trio.
"I'm so sorry my dear, but this way I do not have to worry about killing you." He shrugs his shoulders. "Escaping or doing something foolish." The man sits next to Maddie. "Now, if you promise, I will loosen your gag." He smiles and tilts his head.
She nods.
Pulling the red bandanna off her mouth and on her chin, he speaks through a growing grin.
"I was in a motel such as this some years ago. A woman screamed most of the night." He snorts a chuckle. "No one checked. All night and no one checked." Pat smirks. "I think they chalked it up to uncontrollable passion."
It didn't take long for the seasoned intelligence agent to realize something was wrong with his passenger. After Hawkins' call, Maddie's friendly state had cooled. Pat's 9 mm kept her silent on the trip to the motel.
"Listen, I enjoyed our flight from the Philippines. You brought me great comfort." He giggles. "Do you think, I like this kind of life?" He asks.
"Then why do you do it?"
"Maddie, I love…the States, as so many people in Russia call your country." He sighs. "We are so envious of your freedom. You can do anything."
"The communists are no more, Pat. You're not living under a dictatorship."
"Well, we do vote our leaders in, Maddie" another chuckle. "It seems once someone gets in," his upper body lets out a slight shaking motion. "They never want to leave."
"Why are you doing this? To me?" She asks.
"Fear makes you do unfortunate things." He tells her.
"Fear of what? You got the gun."
He shrugs his shoulders and snorts a mild laugh through his nose.
"Fear of failure," Pat says. "You see, failure for someone in my position is not an option."
There is a metallic sound at the front door. In a flash the door swings open and two men in black with ski masks aim their automatic rifles at Pat. Two red dots appear on his white dress shirt.
Maddie throws herself backwards onto the headboard as little snapping noises fill the room.
In a second it is over. One of the men takes out a dagger with a slim point and moves to the horrified Maddie. The body of her kidnapper slides off the bed. His chest covered in bullet holes.
Fifteen minutes later
Nicole and Xander approach the ground floor room. The clerk noticed a girl with Maddie's description accompanying an older, well-dressed man with an accent.
Nicole turns the doorknob. It is open.
Sitting on the bed is their friend, she has not moved since one of the shooters cut the rope binding her hands.
"Maddie," Ryn leaps into the room ahead of the armed duo.
As Nicole calls Hawkins concerning the body on the floor. It is evident the Russian hit squad had one mission in the States, and it was not Ryn or any member of her family.
"Ryn, Xander…Nicole, it was over in a second. I can't move. It was horrible." Maddie eases into the gentle embrace of Ryn.
"By sometime in the afternoon, we'll have someone here to clean this up. Meanwhile we should get rooms." Nicole glances at Xander. Turning to Maddie, "do you need a doctor?" Nicole asks.
"No, she is ok." Ryn answers. She will come with me. She no need no one. No one but me and Ben. She is my family. Maddie is love."
Ryn takes Maddie outside and looks straight at Xander.
"You and Nicole one room." Holding the still distraught young woman close to her hip.
"Me, her, we get one room. Go now…" She points at the motel's office. "Get room for us."
"Xander, it's ok. You can get a room for them and yourself, government expense." The young female naval officer presses her lips together. Her dark eyes glisten from the reflection of a neon sign. They begin to moisten. "I'll babysit the Russian." Martinez pushes the words out over a heaving chest. She looks down at the ground.
"No way, the only babysittin' you'll be doin' is with me." His broad smile dominates the man's expression. "And I'm the baby."
Reader's note:
This is a lead up chapter for reviewer B's and Polymarine4ever's suggestions. B has given me the most reviews, and has guided my writing.(No sarcasm, B) I mean that. Polymarine4ever has only given one review, but it did help define me.
Hope you enjoy Chapter 28, B and my polymarine friend.
PS: I write for all you guys. If you can, PM me about your hopes for this story.
Thanks for your interest.