Chapter 21
It had been three days and Nate remained in the hotel he had chosen with no contact from Sadiski. He was not sure why, but he assumed that the man was still making his way to LA and was looking for him. He had in the meantime taken some action of his own. He had not reached out to any of his friends because he did not want them involved, besides, he had not seen them in many years, most of them since Sam's death, but he had reached out to the FBI telling them what was happening, Penton had wanted to know where he was, but he had declined her protection. She had informed him that the Marshals were also involved since Sadiski was an escaped federal prisoner. Nate was quite happy with that. Hopefully, he did not have to do much but keep out of sight and let Sadiski chase his tail looking for him and the FBI and Marshals will catch up to him.
He was going a little stir crazy though sitting waiting for something to happen. He had kept his drinking to a minimum. He sat and wondered what his wife was doing, it seemed like such a long time since he had seen her it felt so much longer than three days since he had seen his son. His son he thought, would he ever see him again? He sighed and sipped on his whiskey, he just wanted to pick up the phone and hear her voice, but he knew he could not, he would not put her in danger.
By the afternoon he had decided to send another message to Sophie, to let her know he was still fine, still alive. He surveyed the outside and saw nothing untoward, so he opened the door and stepped out closing and locking the door then moved swiftly to his car. Climbing in he pulled out of the parking area and joined the road heading across town towards St Nicholas. He kept his eyes on the road behind him checking to see if he was being followed when suddenly a car appeared from the side hitting his car on the side and sending him spinning. He regained control and put his foot flat on the accelerator sending the car careering down the road dodging cars as he went. The car that had hit him did not follow but he noted two others that sped after him. Then he heard the gun fire and the back window burst into shards. He ducked down keeping his foot flat as he went. The bullets were now flying as he drove and a car had appeared beside him with Damian Moreau smiling at him as he pulled the trigger sending bullets flying his way, he felt the burn of a bullet into his side and then another. He swung the steering wheel sending his car into that of Moreau's. Moreau kept firing and Nate ducked lower again as the two cars diverged from each other, picking up his phone he pressed redial and immediately got Penton on the phone.
"I take it that is you in downtown LA in the middle of a gun fight?" Penton asked.
"Where are you?" Nate asked.
"Approaching, heading straight for you."
"Green Cherokee…" He said as he felt the impact of the car against his again pushing him to the side.
"I need help."
"Almost there." Penton said as she heard more gun fire and a grunt from Nate as another bullet grazed him.
Then they were there, headed straight for Nate and the other two cars. Seeing the cars he carried on straight for them as Moreau's car and Sadiski's car kept up the chase. He was now feeling a little woozy although the adrenaline kept him going. Then Sadiski and Moreau were engaging with the FBI and the Marshals as Nate sped along. Then it was over, he could hear the retreating sirens as the authorities chased after the other cars and he sped onward he did not want the FBI or Marshals taking him into protective custody. The only way Sadiski could have traced him was through his call to them, and he was not sure if it was an inside source or a hack. Finally he pulled over and into a parking area parking the car between two others and then sitting back in his seat slouched down so that the car appeared empty he focused on his breathing as the pain set in. He waited listening to the sirens passing by and then he passed out. When he awoke he felt as if his side was on fire and he knew he had to get some help with the wounds, he knew they were not life threatening, but they were messy and painful, and he was losing too much blood. He could not go to a hospital, that would bring Penton, there was only one place he could go to and that was to Paul, but he had to be careful, he could not get Paul too involved, he could not leave him to the mercy of Moreau or Sadiski. He started up the car and pulled out driving slowly as he made his way to wards the church.
He pulled up at the back outside the rectory, he knew the church well, it is where he had worshiped for many years, it was where his son was baptised, it was from where his son was buried. Paul exited the rectory on hearing the car and then ran to Nate opening the door and putting his hand on his shoulder.
"I need your help Paul." Nate said looking at his friend. "We have to get inside quickly and then you need to put this car somewhere else." He told him the blood loss starting to take its toll.
Paul did not question Nate he simply nodded and helped him out telling him to go inside, he was alone, so it was safe, then he climbed into the seat and drove the car to the back of rectory to store it out of sight. Nate watched him drive off and then headed into the house and collapsed onto the nearest chair unable to keep his feet any longer. Paul appeared a few minutes later and helped him to one of the spare rooms, laying him down on the bed. Then he disappeared returning a short while later with bandages, a bowl of water and cloths.
"So you going to tell me what this is all about?" He said as he helped Nate out of his shirt and started to clean up the wounds.
"Little trouble…" Nate said gritting his teeth against the pain as Paul worked.
"Yes I can see that." Paul said. "You should go to the hospital."
"No…no Paul please just…just fix me up." Nate said locking eyes with his friend, Paul stared at him for a moment then nodded. He had done advanced first aid in fact he was equivalent to a field medic, all priests are required to train in that if they were of the Jesuit Order, they were missionaries who travelled sometimes to lands without doctors. Paul had started out as a Jesuit missionary in Africa. "This is going to hurt, and I don't have anything to give you."
"Just do it." Nate gritted out and Paul nodded before starting to sew up the deep gashes in Nate's side.
"You were lucky, they were only grazes and a through and through, I could not have helped you otherwise." He said as Nate fought to stop from crying out. "You lost quite a bit of blood though." Paul continued as he finished up.
"Thank you Paul." Nate whispered. "You can't tell anyone…danger, please…" He said then passed out.
