Ch 7 Torture

They shoved Mark roughly into the back of the van. He landed on his stomach, and stayed there, breathing hard. Farnell re-entered the Gatehouse and found a duffle bag to pack. He hurriedly threw as many of Mark's clothes in it that he could, and tossed it next to McCormick as he climbed in.

"Where's the judge?" Farnell asked again, turning to see his captive from the front seat.

"I told you I don't know. Agh!" Mark yelled in pain as air was forced out of his lungs. One of the goons had struck his back again and then sat heavily, his full weight on his chest and lower back.

ooOoo

"It sounds like Farnell's back," Frank said and Milt leaned forward to listen closer.

"He wouldn't tell me where Hardcastle was," Farnell's voice could be heard. "That's okay though, I left Horace at the entrance to Gulls Way. He'll get him when he comes home."

ooOoo

Milt sat up straight and reached over to grab Frank's arm. It sounded like they had McCormick, and he felt a sudden coldness squeezing his heart.

ooOoo

"Horace? He's not that reliable Arthur," Trish said.

"I know. You should've seen him… couldn't even take out an exhausted, dehydrated, gardener without help. And he had the element of surprise on his side."

ooOoo

Frank held up his hand and they both kept listening.

"You still don't know where Hardcastle is or when he's coming back?"

"No, but I'd be willing to bet that the kid knows. I want to take out Hardcastle without relying on Horace. Too much can go wrong when Horace is involved."

"So you're just leaving him there?"

"He knows he's just the insurance policy. He'll probably be glad to camp out there, he was embarrassed as hell that McCormick almost took him down."

ooOoo

Dopson watched the van pull up behind the house and hurried to help carry the half conscious passenger into the dwelling.

"Who's this Henry?" he asked the taller and larger of the goons. When there was no answer, he looked at the other, "Joel?"

"Arthur has a score to settle, that's all you need to know," was the answer.

"Okay, I don't care," the agent backed off. He turned and reached into his pocket, fingering the second microphone. In another minute he had placed it inside a lampshade on a table near the still figure on the floor. In this room, he felt there would be some incriminating evidence.

"Get out!" Farnell yelled as he entered, and Dopson joined Trish in the other room. Henry and Joel stayed, seeming to know what their boss was going to order next.

Farnell nudged McCormick with his toe. "I know you're awake McCormick."

Mark had managed to get his breath back during the ride in the van, but hadn't wanted his captors to know he was conscious. Now, icy water was splashed in his face and he opened his eyes.

"Where is Hardcastle? When is he due back?" Farnell asked again.

"I told you, I don't.."

The thud of the 2 by 4 against his arm stopped him cold.

"The next one will break bone," said the icy voice.

"I don't know!"

ooOoo

A loud crunch, "Aghhh!" Mark's cry filled the headphones and Milt moved suddenly as though he had absorbed the blow himself.

"Frank we have to get him out of there," Hardcastle ordered.

"Hold on Milt, just take it easy.."

"Take it easy? How am I supposed to take it easy Frank! Farnell will kill him if we don't start moving!"

"Milt, all he has to do is tell them where you are, it'll buy us some time."

"I want him out of there now Frank!"

ooOoo

"Get the hose," Farnell ordered, "now turn it on and shove it down his throat until he tells me where Hardcastle is."

"Wait.. wait.." Mark's voice, weak and shaking, could suddenly be heard throughout the room. Someone had turned on the loud-speaker in the command center.

"I told you we had time Milt. Let's get all available units headed out there now," Frank ordered.

ooOoo

"Well?" Farnell's voice was harsh.

"Las Vegas. He's in Vegas for a week," Mark lied breathlessly, desperate to stop the torture but still unwilling to say where Hardcastle was.

The sound of water rushing out of a hose could be heard, "I know that's a lie! I have friends in Vegas. Now how about this!"

The sound of water running and coughing and choking filled the room.

ooOoo

The hose blast hit Mark's face and he turned his head away as much as he could. The water pushed through his nose and seemed to be all around him. He coughed and tried to breath, but he was drowning in the middle of the room.

ooOoo

Hardcastle jumped up, "I have to get there Frank," fear making his voice rough.

"As soon as a car is ready, we'll go," Frank answered, continuing to listen.

ooOoo

"Where is Hardcastle!" they could all hear Farnell's frustration.

Coughing and gasping sounds answered the request, and then after the water was turned off, they heard the first loud, hesitant breath, and the most congested cough anyone had ever heard, a retching sound and after a moment, a whispered answer, "go to hell."

ooOoo

Frank Harper glanced over to Mike Delaney and then at Milt.

"Milt, he's not gonna give you up," Frank whispered, "is he?"

"No Frank, he's not!" and the tone left no room for argument.

"Okay," Frank began loudly, "first, let's make sure those units know what's at stake, getting McCormick out alive is the top priority. This is now a hostage situation. Second, get a message to Dopson so he can help from the inside."

Then, suddenly everyone was talking, and moving, and Hardcastle could tell they were working the problem. He backed away to let them work, fighting a painful lump in his throat.

"Come on Milt, let's go," Frank said and they climbed into the back of a black and white.

"It'll take too long Frank," Hardcastle whispered as he hustled along behind him. "It'll be over by the time we get there."

"There are 6 units arriving right now, Milt. They'll distract Farnell from Mark. We'll get him out," Frank answered, hoping he was right. Never in a million years had he expected the ex-con to protect Hardcastle this way. It was crazy, but it was obviously true.