Chapter 69
When Jack turned toward to door his gun raised, Sue couldn't tell what was happening. From his tense stance and unwavering focus, she could tell it wasn't good.
This is all my fault, Sue thought, wishing she knew what was going on. Maybe there is still something I can do to help, she considered, straining to see around Jack.
Suddenly, Jack shifted slightly, and Sue caught sight of the dark-haired woman, holding a gun on her friend, Kayla Jarrett. Sue had talked to Kayla many times at deaf socials and events, but had never met her husband. Could he really be the same man they were looking for? she wondered.
Kayla always spoke so highly of her husband and of how he was so devoted to her. Sue never suspected that the Kyle Jarrett they were looking for would be the same man.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sue saw Matt move forward and reached up to stop him when she realized he was signing to Kayla. With wide eyes, she turned back, watching Kayla nervously open her sweater.
Oh, my God! Sue gasped. We've got to help her, she pleaded quietly.
Sue concentrated on the dark-haired woman, trying to figure out what she wanted. Unfortunately, she could only read a few words at a time, since the woman was talking so fast. Nothing was making much sense.
The next couple of seconds burned themselves in Sue's memory forever. The woman turned her gun on Jack, and Sue saw the flash from the muzzle of her gun.
Jack crumbled to the floor while Kayla turned around to grab the gun as Matt and Sue moved forward to help her. Before they could make it over to the women, Kayla fell backwards into the chair by the wall unmoving, and the dark-haired woman trained the gun on them.
Matt quickly grabbed Sue's hand pulling her back. While the woman ranted over the most recent events, Sue snatched her robe from the end of the bed pulling it on as they retreated towards the far wall.
"…made me do it…don't understand…" the woman seethed, waving the gun around in the air. Sue couldn't understand everything, but she might be their only hope of getting out of there alive, so she had to try something.
"We know it was an accident," Sue started, gasping when the woman pointed the gun towards her. Taking a shaky breath, she continued, trying to focus on the woman's face and not the gun in her hand.
Sue squinted, trying to read what the woman was saying, but she turned and started her angry tirade again. She paced back and forth from the door into the room like a caged animal.
"We want to help you," Sue offered cringing, when the woman stalked over, shoving the gun in her face.
"What can a dummy like you do to help me?" the woman spat. "Throw your hands around in the air like a fool," she questioned, waving her hands around.
She spoke too fast so Sue couldn't read everything she'd said. However, Sue saw enough to know it wasn't good, and her past encounters with people like this woman helped her fill in the blanks.
"What do you want?" Sue felt Matt tense beside her and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Tell us what you want, and we'll do it."
The woman backed away, turning towards the door, and Sue could tell she was considering her next moves. Sue looked down at the floor seeing Jack's shoes, her breath catching in her throat. Please let him be okay, she prayed, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened.
Chancing a glance over to Kayla, Sue's eyes widened when she saw her friend stir slightly in the chair. Snapping her attention back to the dark-haired woman, she hoped that the movements weren't seen by anyone else.
"Somebody probably heard the gunshots," Sue offered, noticing for the first time the gun didn't have a silencer. "You should probably get out of here before someone comes," she suggested, somewhat expecting her proposal to meet with some anger.
Instead, the woman seemed to be considering the plan. Sue felt Matt's hand tighten around hers and regretted that he ended up stuck in this situation. I hope I'll have the chance to ask your forgiveness, Matt, she thought quietly.
"Okay, we're leaving, and you're coming with me," the woman sneered, waving the gun in their direction.
"Let him stay here," Sue pleaded, jumping when the woman thrust the gun into her face.
"You'll both come, or you'll both die here," the woman growled. She grabbed her arm, propelling her towards the door as she snarled, "Now move it, you deaf dummy!"
Sue kept her hand in Matt's, pulling him with her as she stepped cautiously across the room. She glanced down at Kayla and Jack as they made their way to the door. She stumbled slightly, seeing the amount of blood staining his white shirt.
Please God, we need your help, she prayed turning the doorknob.
Chapter 70
Bobby's heart pounded as his eyes shifted between Sue's door as it creaked open and Tara at the end of the hallway. He swallowed the thick lump in his throat as he watched her continue to struggle to dislodge the metal pipe from the doorframe.
Aiming the gun at Sue's door, Bobby knew if the suspect came through the door before Tara could get to safety, he'd do whatever it took to protect her.
When the door finally opened and Sue stepped through, Bobby felt a moment of relief. Then he realized, while Sue was wearing her robe and holding the hand of a dark-haired man, the man was Matt and not Jack.
Sue quickly responded to seeing Tara to her right just a few feet from her. Before Matt could react, Sue pushed him in the petite blonde's direction and turned on her heel, leaping back into the room.
What is she doing? Bobby wondered, his eyes widening when she disappeared.
His head swam and his ribs cried out in pain when Bobby sprung to his feet. Cautiously picking his way down the hallway with his free hand on the wall, the gun ready, he prayed the wave of dizziness would soon pass.
Finally, his vision clearing Bobby saw Matt and Tara standing up from where they collided into each other. Motioning for them to get the door open, he kept his back to the wall, sliding towards Sue's room much like Tara did earlier.
At first, Bobby couldn't tell if the noises he heard were coming from the room or in his head. As he drew closer, he realized from the grunting and the thrashing around his friends in the room were in serious trouble. However, he knew if he rushed it, he could put them in even more danger.
Myles, Dale, Carrie, and Mike came through the stairwell entrance, followed by several other armed agents as Bobby reach the door. They had gotten into position on the other side of the door with Myles signaling Bobby to stay put, because of his lack of vest when another shot rang out.
Bobby's heart stopped as his eyes locked with Myles' across the expanse of the open door. Before anyone could stop him, Bobby spun into the room, stopping abruptly at the site before him.
Never in his law enforcement career had a scene affected him like this one. Bobby could only stare at the blood and chaos before him. The picture would haunt him for a long time.
Chapter 71
Despite the white of the wall in front of her, all Sue could see was the red staining Jack's shirt as she passed him. Her knees were weak as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other. She wanted to drop to her knees and make sure he was okay but she had to consider Matt.
Her breath ragged, Sue kept his hand clasped tightly in hers pulling him close as she approached the door. Matt was here because of her and she couldn't let him get hurt. If she had an opportunity to get him to safety, she would use it, sacrificing herself if needed.
In the window, Sue could see the woman's reflection as she waved the gun behind them. She was saying something again, but Sue couldn't see her lips well enough in the dim image to read what it was.
Opening the door, Sue tried to push Matt out the door first, but he put his hand on her back much like Jack always did making her go first. Glancing back at Jack's still form on the floor she stepped into the hall.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sue saw Tara to her right, realizing quickly it was exactly what she needed. Catching Matt off guard, she pushed him into Tara, praying get him to safety.
Turning on her heal, Sue jumped at the woman, intent on preventing her from further harming anymore of her friends. Sue didn't realize that Kayla also had the same idea and had attacked the woman from the other side. The impact had the three women tumbling onto the floor in a heap, with the gun flying across the room.
Landing on the floor jarred Sue's already sore ribs, causing her to cry out as she lost her grip on the woman. Fortunately, Kayla was able to pin her down while Sue struggled to help, but with both of them injured, it didn't take long before the woman got the upper hand.
Hand over hand, the women fought, reaching for the gun only to have another pull them away at the last minute. Had Sue or Kayla been able to hear, they could have called directions to each other, but without the sounds, they both relied on their sight to overwhelm the woman.
Watching the motions of each other's hands and the woman's, Sue was able to signal Kayla on what to do. As Sue held to the woman, Kayla went scurrying for the weapon. Unfortunately, the woman elbowed Sue in her already bruised ribs, knocking the wind out of her.
The woman caught up with Kayla just as she grabbed the gun. Spinning around she shouted in surprise when she realized the woman was over her, and they struggled for the gun. Sue soon joined the foray, and the three women all fought for the gun causing it to go off. The gun going off at close range was felt…if not heard by all.