Tom couldn't believe his eyes. He shot a quick and scathing glance at Jason, his son's face was expressionless. But he knew his son, and he had a soft spot for her a mile lone. A soft spot that needed to be eliminated, Tom thought as he reached for his gun.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Tom." Charlie said as she held up her free hand, a very familiar necklace dangled from her fingers. "Not if these men want to see their wives again." Her gaze focused on Doyle and the Secretary of State.
"I believe you recognize this." Charlie lifted the necklace higher. "It's your wife's Mr. Doyle."
Her eyes flickered to Neville ever so slightly. Tom knew in that instant that she knew Mrs. Doyle was actually his wife, and he could only guess who told her.
"Oh and Mr. Secretary," Charlie continued. "Your wife, Sarah, is a lovely woman. A little high strung if you ask me. She was a little upset when I took this from her. I have to admit, I haven't seen a ring like this in my whole life." Charlie showed him the back of hand flashing a large wedding ring. "Judging by your silence I'm assuming I have your attention."
"What do you want?" Truman demanded.
"I want to make a trade. Miles and Monroe for your wives."
"You have no idea who you're dealing with little girl." Doyle growled.
"And you have no idea who you are dealing with dickhead. Just ask Tom here." She turned to Neville. "Tom would you like to fill them in?"
"This is Charlie Matheson, a pain in my ass."
Charlie smiled. "Why Tom, I almost think you missed me." Then she turned her focus on the two visiting Patriots. "Here's how it's going to go. You are going to release both Miles and Monroe and we are all going to walk out of here. If not, then my men will send your wives back to you in pieces. And gentlemen the clock is ticking. If we aren't outside the city gates in one hour they will kill them, and it won't be quick."
"You're bluffing." Tom challenged.
Charlie turned her gaze to him and cocked her head to one side. "Am I Tom?"
Neville glared at her. "You don't have it in you."
"You think so?" she asked calmly. She lifted her bow and pulled the trigger, hitting Neville in the upper thigh. Then she quickly picked up another arrow and loaded her bow.
"Charlie!" Jason yelled as he took a step toward her. This was not part of the plan.
"Don't move." She warned as she pointed her bow at Jason. Tom was grabbing his leg, blood pouring through his fingers. "God I've been wanting to do that for ages." She focused in on Neville one more time. "Next time you doubt me, I'll aim just a little higher." She emphasized her point by aiming at his crotch.
"We'll give you Matheson, but you're going to have to kill us before we let Monroe go." The Secretary negotiated.
"If that's what you want." Charlie shifted her aim and killed the aid standing next to Doyle. In the same instant Conner placed his gun at the back of the Secretary's head.
"You asked for it." He whispered.
"What the hell!" Truman yelled.
"No deal." Charlie stated as she reloaded. "I want Miles and Monroe. You better make a decision fast, time is running out."
"Even if you kill us you'll never get out of here alive." Truman growled.
"Do you really want to bet on that Ed? I've been in and out of here a dozen times and you never even knew it. Ask Tom here how resourceful I can be."
Neville only grunted in reply.
Conner stood back and watched the show. Holy hell. She was like no other girl he'd ever met. No wonder his dad kept kissing her. Yeah he saw their little moment in the woods. Hell he kind of wanted to kiss her right now too. She was a force of nature. Like a tornado he once saw. Beautiful to look at but extremely dangerous and deadly at the same time.
Charlie took aim at The Secretary. He raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine," he said. "We'll release them."
"You can't be serious Jack." Doyle exclaimed.
"Sarah's pregnant. I won't chance my child's life for someone like Monroe." He said through clenched teeth.
"Good choice." She turned to Jason. "Will you do the honors?"
Miles heard keys rattle and the door swing open. He turned his head and groaned. "Well if it isn't nipples."
Jason sighed, it had been a long time since he'd heard that nick name. "I wish I could say it was good to see you too. It's time to get out of here."
Bass was confused. "Why are you helping us?"
Jason glared at him. "I'm not helping you, I'm helping Charlie."
"Where is she?" Miles asked.
"She's here, in Truman's office."
"Is she okay?" Both Miles and Bass asked at the same time.
"Oh yeah she's great, a chip off the old block." Jason groused.
"What did she do?" Miles asked, already afraid to hear the answer.
"It's not what she did, but what she is doing. She's making a trade for your sorry asses."
"What!" both men exclaimed.
Before they reach the door Jason turned to face them both. "What did you do to her? She isn't the Charlie I remember. And why," he asked as he poked his finger into Monroe's chest, "is she sticking her neck out for a duchbag like you?"
Bass thought back to a conversation Tom and him had so many months ago. He remembered him saying that Jason had taken a liking to the Matheson girl. Hell, who could blame him. He'd taken a shine to her too. He could tell the kid had feelings for her and he instantly hated him. He wanted to do something stupid like punch him and tell to keep the hell away from Charlie, she was his. But he was really trying to work on his impulse control. Now wasn't the time. Maybe when they were out of here, then he could smash that pretty boy face in. Well he couldn't punch him, but that didn't mean he couldn't taunt him.
"It's none of your business why she would stick her neck out for me junior."
Jason growled and led them out of the cell, up the stairs and into Truman's office.
Miles and Monroe entered the office and say they were surprised by what they saw would be an understatement. Tom was in the corner, bleeding and Truman, Doyle and the Secretary of State were lined up like school children in front of the principle. And oh yeah there was a body on the floor.
The corner of Bass's mouth turned up slightly. Damn she looked lethal, sitting behind that desk, doing her best Don Corleone impression. And hell even his son looked fierce. He couldn't help but feel a little pride.
"You okay kid?" Miles asked, while at the same time giving her the 'what the hell is going on' look.
"You've been busy sweetheart." Bass commented, shooting a sideways yet meaningful look at Jason, intentionally letting him get the wrong idea about his and Charlie's relationship and why she was really helping him. Hell maybe it was the right idea, he didn't' care as long the little punk got the message. He glanced to his other side and noticed Miles's glare. He winced a little. He knew Miles was going to make him pay for that later.
"You have no idea the hornet's nest you just stirred up." Truman raged. "We are here to help. We're here to bring the nation back to its former glory and we can't do that with dangerous criminals like these two running around. We're bringing back the United States."
Charlie's gaze tore into Truman, but she kept her voice even and strong. "No you're not. I. Am."
Miles closed his eyes and inwardly groaned. With that one statement Charlie just openly declared war on the Patriots. They would be gunning for her like they were for him and Bass. And now the only way to keep her safe would be to surround her with the toughest most brutal army he could find. One that would make the Militia look like school children. And just like that he had been drawn back in. Miles saw the black hole at his feet, felt it pulling him in. How could he do this without letting it swallow him and Charlie whole? Damn, Bass was right. She wasn't going to say no.
"Well it's time to go. Come on gentlemen, you are going to escort us to the gate. Just remember if you try to signal for help your wives are dead. If you even so much as breath in a way I don't like, they're dead. Got me?"
Both Miles and Bass's eyebrows shot up. What the hell had she been up to?
Charlie stepped from behind the desk and walked over to Neville. "Oh and Tom," she paused as she patted him on the cheek, "till next time."
As they walked out the door Bass put his hand on the small of Charlie's back, in full view of Jason, clearly staking his claim. Charlie glanced over her shoulder at him and rolled her eyes. But he also noticed that she didn't pull away.
"How do we know you'll keep your word and release our wives?" The Secretary asked as they reached the gate and mounted their horses.
Charlie took off his wife's wedding ring and handed it to him. "You don't" she said as she kicked her horse into a gallop.
A short ways away from Willoughby the group met up with Gene and Rachel, packed up and ready to go. They slowed down to a walk and Miles finally asked the question that was burning in his mind.
"What did you do their wives, where are they?"
Charlie looked over at Conner and they both smiled and laughed. "Oh their safe and sound in Willoughby. We slipped them something to knock them out when they were having dinner, then tied them up and put them in a closet. They should be waking up any time now. They'll have one hell of a headache but other than that, no damage done."
"Holly crap you were BLUFFING!" Miles yelled.
Charlie just nodded.
"You did good young padawan." Bass quipped. Then he turned to Miles, doing his best Darth Vader impression. "And now the student has become the master."
Miles just shook his head. Charlie turned to Conner, "Do you have any idea what he's talking about? What's a padawan?"
Conner just shrugged.
"So what's next?" she asked.
Miles looked at Bass and sighed. "I guess it's time to put out the help wanted sign."
I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and reviews. This story has been a blast to write so far.