CHAPTER 69
"And everything is in place?" Asher Devan asked Reynolds.
"It's all in place. I've secured the building. It's on the outskirts of town and set for demolition next
week … the week after it will be covered in cement for the foundation of the city's new traffic
initiative's carpool parking area." Jack Reynolds told him. "And the equipment you require is on
the site now."
"And you are certain that the pit won't be disturbed by the demolition?" he asked.
"Once the cement cap is in place … it won't be affected." Reynolds assured him.
"We'll make our move tonight. Be sure the others are ready, and that they know what to do."
Devan said. He could hardly contain himself, knowing that his revenge would soon be at hand.
------------------
"Is that good?" Duncan asked as he and Adam centered the large tree in the middle of the room
between the piano and the back of the sofa.
"Just about half a foot to the left." Beth replied.
"And rotate it half a turn … this side is fuller." Amanda added, which caused Duncan and Adam
to look at one another wearily, wondering how many other ways they would end up moving this
tree before it was 'perfect'.
Once the tree was in place and the lights were strung, Richie stayed on the stepladder so Claudia
could hand him the decorations for the top branches while the rest of them covered the lower
portion of the tree. It was full and the pine fragrance permeated the room.
Adam did his best to join in and make this a special night for Beth. He could see the way her
eyes misted up every now and then while she watched each one of their friends hanging an
ornament or saying something to make the rest of them laugh. He even found himself humming
along with the carols as Duncan and Claudia tried to coax everyone into singing along with the
CD Beth had popped into the entertainment center.
"I wish Joe hadn't had to work late tonight. Of all nights for his bartender to call in sick." Amanda
complained.
"He thought he might close up early if it was slow." Richie told her. "And with the foot of snow
that fell today … if he can find a clear route, I wouldn't be surprised if he got here before we
finished decorating."
"We need more icicles." Claudia called to Adam, who was standing near the sack of unopened
decorations.
Amanda finished hanging one of the ornaments and turned to see Beth standing very still as she
pressed her hand against her abdomen. "Beth? Are you all right?"
Her words got everyone's attention, and Adam was at Beth's side in an instant.
Beth's face went from wide-eyed surprise to a bright smile as she looked up at Adam.
"Can you feel this?" she said, taking his hand and placing it flat against her slightly rounded
middle.
The baby kicked again and Adam laughed with her as he felt the very distinct pressure against
his hand. "That is amazing." He replied, caressing her lightly as he felt another wave of fluttery
kicks.
"Is that the first time you've felt her move?" Amanda asked.
"I thought maybe last night … but I was half asleep so I couldn't be sure." She replied, and
seeing the look on her friend's face, reached for Amanda's hand so she could feel it too.
"I haven't been this excited about anything in a long time." Amanda admitted, and Duncan
wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a little squeeze of understanding. It's the one
thing that as an immortal they could not have.
Beth noticed the silence that had fallen over the room. "Not even born yet and already becoming
the center of attention." She laughed as they got back to the task at hand.
"I think we're just about done." Richie said as he tossed a few more icicles on the top branches.
"Oh I almost forgot!" Claudia called out as she ran from the room. "I found this gorgeous star for
the top. It's in my room."
She had only just reached the top stair when Barkley began to growl and bark wildly at the large
picture window overlooking the garden.
Duncan and Adam immediately realized something was wrong, but before either could reach a
weapon, the front and back doors were kicked in and four men burst into the house spraying the
room in a hail of bullets.
Richie was the first to go down, tumbling from his perch on the stepladder and crashing through
the tree. Barkley whimpered and collapsed after one of the men hit him in the head with the butt
of a gun.
Adam pushed Beth behind the kitchen counter and reached beneath the cabinet for one of the
firearms he'd hidden in the house as Duncan tried to grab one of the men and overpower him.
He managed to pin the man up against the wall and wrestle the gun from his hands, but was shot
in the back by another assailant and fell helplessly to the ground before he was able to get off a
round.
Amanda managed to hit another man square in the throat with the dagger she kept cuffed to her
leg at all times, but she too fell under a flurry of shots from across the room.
Adam emptied his gun into two of the assailants, but because of the body armor they wore it only
slowed them down temporarily.
Beth tried not to make any noise when she heard the room go very quiet. The only sound being
the sound of the gunmen's footsteps as they approached the place where Adam knelt, trying to
shield her with his body.
"You can make this easy on all of us and come quietly … or I can shoot you like a dog and drag
you out of here." One of the men said as he waved his gun in their direction. "She's coming with
us either way … it's all the same to me."
Adam knew there was no way to escape … not now, but hopefully he could find a way to get
them out of this situation before it was too late. And knowing there was still that chance, he
couldn't risk having her hurt by a stray bullet. "Beth … come on sweetheart." He said as he
moved cautiously, hoping these men wouldn't hurt her now because Devan would want to be
there himself for the honors.
But as Adam stood up and started to lift a very shaky Beth to her feet, the man pumped two shots
into his heart. The last thing he heard was her scream. He was dead before he even hit the
floor.
The big man, the leader of the group wasn't happy when he realized Amanda had killed one of
his men. That made his job that much tougher.
"Tie her up. Devan said not to hurt her, but if she gives you any trouble … knock her out." He
yelled at one of the other two men before hoisting Adam's lifeless body over his shoulder and
moving slowly toward the door.
Beth couldn't make a sound as she looked around the room that was literally covered in blood
and the bodies of her friends. And when the man who was tying her wrists pulled her to her feet
and toward the door, his words chilled her to the bone.
"Devan wants their heads. Here are the keys to the other car. Meet us when you are finished."
He said as he tossed the keys across the room.
"No … please … please don't do that." She begged, hating herself for being the reason her
friends would all die. "You have me … please let them go." She struggled against him until he
raised his hand to strike her, and she realized she was powerless to stop them.
The last thing she saw before the door closed behind her on the way down the snow covered
steps was the sight of the long blade in the man's hand as he stood over Richie's lifeless body.
What she didn't see or hear was Claudia slowly moving down the stairs holding the tiny pistol
Adam had given her, telling her never to be without it. She had only fired it a few times that
morning when he took her to an old factory on the edge of town where the practice shots wouldn't
be heard. She prayed she could hit her target, realizing how different this was from the cans and
bottles she'd hit before.
Taking a deep breath, she knew she only had one chance to keep the man from taking Richie's
head and then the heads of the others. When the man raised the blade over his head and
prepared to swing it at Richie, Claudia fired. The bullet hit him in the back, sending him tumbling
forward. The second bullet he took directly between the eyes as he turned to look up at her in
disbelief.
Outside, a lone figure had been watching the events from a window on the side of the house.
They watched as the men stuffed Adam's body into a van and shoved Beth in behind him. started
to interfere when the man inside threatened to take the heads of Richie, Duncan and Amanda.
But after Claudia's shot, their interference was no longer necessary. Moving quickly and quietly
to the car, they managed to follow the direction of the van when it turned the corner and headed
north toward the edge of the city.
When Joe arrived at the house a few minutes later, he found Claudia sitting quietly in the middle
of the floor with Richie's head in her lap. Her eyes were almost vacant as she rocked him slowly
against her.
She didn't have to say anything. He could see what had happened. He knew Devan had Beth
and Adam. And he saw the body of the man lying beside the blade. He didn't know how she'd
done it, but it was obvious what that man intended to do. And if not for Claudia, he would be
mourning a loss from which he didn't think he could recover. There was nothing left to do but wait
for the three immortals to revive and hope something they saw before they went down would lead
them to Devan.
"And everything is in place?" Asher Devan asked Reynolds.
"It's all in place. I've secured the building. It's on the outskirts of town and set for demolition next
week … the week after it will be covered in cement for the foundation of the city's new traffic
initiative's carpool parking area." Jack Reynolds told him. "And the equipment you require is on
the site now."
"And you are certain that the pit won't be disturbed by the demolition?" he asked.
"Once the cement cap is in place … it won't be affected." Reynolds assured him.
"We'll make our move tonight. Be sure the others are ready, and that they know what to do."
Devan said. He could hardly contain himself, knowing that his revenge would soon be at hand.
------------------
"Is that good?" Duncan asked as he and Adam centered the large tree in the middle of the room
between the piano and the back of the sofa.
"Just about half a foot to the left." Beth replied.
"And rotate it half a turn … this side is fuller." Amanda added, which caused Duncan and Adam
to look at one another wearily, wondering how many other ways they would end up moving this
tree before it was 'perfect'.
Once the tree was in place and the lights were strung, Richie stayed on the stepladder so Claudia
could hand him the decorations for the top branches while the rest of them covered the lower
portion of the tree. It was full and the pine fragrance permeated the room.
Adam did his best to join in and make this a special night for Beth. He could see the way her
eyes misted up every now and then while she watched each one of their friends hanging an
ornament or saying something to make the rest of them laugh. He even found himself humming
along with the carols as Duncan and Claudia tried to coax everyone into singing along with the
CD Beth had popped into the entertainment center.
"I wish Joe hadn't had to work late tonight. Of all nights for his bartender to call in sick." Amanda
complained.
"He thought he might close up early if it was slow." Richie told her. "And with the foot of snow
that fell today … if he can find a clear route, I wouldn't be surprised if he got here before we
finished decorating."
"We need more icicles." Claudia called to Adam, who was standing near the sack of unopened
decorations.
Amanda finished hanging one of the ornaments and turned to see Beth standing very still as she
pressed her hand against her abdomen. "Beth? Are you all right?"
Her words got everyone's attention, and Adam was at Beth's side in an instant.
Beth's face went from wide-eyed surprise to a bright smile as she looked up at Adam.
"Can you feel this?" she said, taking his hand and placing it flat against her slightly rounded
middle.
The baby kicked again and Adam laughed with her as he felt the very distinct pressure against
his hand. "That is amazing." He replied, caressing her lightly as he felt another wave of fluttery
kicks.
"Is that the first time you've felt her move?" Amanda asked.
"I thought maybe last night … but I was half asleep so I couldn't be sure." She replied, and
seeing the look on her friend's face, reached for Amanda's hand so she could feel it too.
"I haven't been this excited about anything in a long time." Amanda admitted, and Duncan
wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a little squeeze of understanding. It's the one
thing that as an immortal they could not have.
Beth noticed the silence that had fallen over the room. "Not even born yet and already becoming
the center of attention." She laughed as they got back to the task at hand.
"I think we're just about done." Richie said as he tossed a few more icicles on the top branches.
"Oh I almost forgot!" Claudia called out as she ran from the room. "I found this gorgeous star for
the top. It's in my room."
She had only just reached the top stair when Barkley began to growl and bark wildly at the large
picture window overlooking the garden.
Duncan and Adam immediately realized something was wrong, but before either could reach a
weapon, the front and back doors were kicked in and four men burst into the house spraying the
room in a hail of bullets.
Richie was the first to go down, tumbling from his perch on the stepladder and crashing through
the tree. Barkley whimpered and collapsed after one of the men hit him in the head with the butt
of a gun.
Adam pushed Beth behind the kitchen counter and reached beneath the cabinet for one of the
firearms he'd hidden in the house as Duncan tried to grab one of the men and overpower him.
He managed to pin the man up against the wall and wrestle the gun from his hands, but was shot
in the back by another assailant and fell helplessly to the ground before he was able to get off a
round.
Amanda managed to hit another man square in the throat with the dagger she kept cuffed to her
leg at all times, but she too fell under a flurry of shots from across the room.
Adam emptied his gun into two of the assailants, but because of the body armor they wore it only
slowed them down temporarily.
Beth tried not to make any noise when she heard the room go very quiet. The only sound being
the sound of the gunmen's footsteps as they approached the place where Adam knelt, trying to
shield her with his body.
"You can make this easy on all of us and come quietly … or I can shoot you like a dog and drag
you out of here." One of the men said as he waved his gun in their direction. "She's coming with
us either way … it's all the same to me."
Adam knew there was no way to escape … not now, but hopefully he could find a way to get
them out of this situation before it was too late. And knowing there was still that chance, he
couldn't risk having her hurt by a stray bullet. "Beth … come on sweetheart." He said as he
moved cautiously, hoping these men wouldn't hurt her now because Devan would want to be
there himself for the honors.
But as Adam stood up and started to lift a very shaky Beth to her feet, the man pumped two shots
into his heart. The last thing he heard was her scream. He was dead before he even hit the
floor.
The big man, the leader of the group wasn't happy when he realized Amanda had killed one of
his men. That made his job that much tougher.
"Tie her up. Devan said not to hurt her, but if she gives you any trouble … knock her out." He
yelled at one of the other two men before hoisting Adam's lifeless body over his shoulder and
moving slowly toward the door.
Beth couldn't make a sound as she looked around the room that was literally covered in blood
and the bodies of her friends. And when the man who was tying her wrists pulled her to her feet
and toward the door, his words chilled her to the bone.
"Devan wants their heads. Here are the keys to the other car. Meet us when you are finished."
He said as he tossed the keys across the room.
"No … please … please don't do that." She begged, hating herself for being the reason her
friends would all die. "You have me … please let them go." She struggled against him until he
raised his hand to strike her, and she realized she was powerless to stop them.
The last thing she saw before the door closed behind her on the way down the snow covered
steps was the sight of the long blade in the man's hand as he stood over Richie's lifeless body.
What she didn't see or hear was Claudia slowly moving down the stairs holding the tiny pistol
Adam had given her, telling her never to be without it. She had only fired it a few times that
morning when he took her to an old factory on the edge of town where the practice shots wouldn't
be heard. She prayed she could hit her target, realizing how different this was from the cans and
bottles she'd hit before.
Taking a deep breath, she knew she only had one chance to keep the man from taking Richie's
head and then the heads of the others. When the man raised the blade over his head and
prepared to swing it at Richie, Claudia fired. The bullet hit him in the back, sending him tumbling
forward. The second bullet he took directly between the eyes as he turned to look up at her in
disbelief.
Outside, a lone figure had been watching the events from a window on the side of the house.
They watched as the men stuffed Adam's body into a van and shoved Beth in behind him. started
to interfere when the man inside threatened to take the heads of Richie, Duncan and Amanda.
But after Claudia's shot, their interference was no longer necessary. Moving quickly and quietly
to the car, they managed to follow the direction of the van when it turned the corner and headed
north toward the edge of the city.
When Joe arrived at the house a few minutes later, he found Claudia sitting quietly in the middle
of the floor with Richie's head in her lap. Her eyes were almost vacant as she rocked him slowly
against her.
She didn't have to say anything. He could see what had happened. He knew Devan had Beth
and Adam. And he saw the body of the man lying beside the blade. He didn't know how she'd
done it, but it was obvious what that man intended to do. And if not for Claudia, he would be
mourning a loss from which he didn't think he could recover. There was nothing left to do but wait
for the three immortals to revive and hope something they saw before they went down would lead
them to Devan.