This was going to be the last chapter, but I decided to split it, so there's one more. The usual disclaimer applies. Don't own any part of Numb3rs or any of the Numb3rs characters, yak yak yak. ..
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"What do you want?" Kerri asked her captor as they walked into the small kitchen.
"I want you, princess" Jack told her, licking his lips suggestively. He couldn't get enough of her in that outfit. She looked just like he'd always envisioned. Should have done this long ago. Oh, yeah.
'I, I meant to eat." Kerri said, backing away from him. "What, what do you want for me to cook?" She heard herself speaking. She sounded frightened, nervous. Suck it up, Kerri, she told herself. Colby wasn't here. No security guards. Nobody but she and Jack. If she was going to get out of this, get away from him, she had to keep cool. Keep it together.
"I don't know. Hmmm, let me think for a minute." Jack replied, fingers stroking his chin as if in contemplation. "I'll leave that up to you. You're the chef. Actually, preparing meals is one of the few functions you can correctly perform as a woman, isn't it? Most of the time you're too busy trying to prove you can be a better attorney than the boys. You think you're better than me in the courtroom, don't you? Huh, princess?"
A tree stump is better than you in or out of court, she thought. Aloud, she answered, " It doesn't matter what I think anymore, does it? That was then, this is now. How about stir fry? Let me see what's available." She moved to the refrigerator, aware of him tracking her every movement. Opening the door, she found it surprisingly well stocked. Meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. Everything looked fresh. Ditto for the pantry. Somebody lived here. There was even wine chilling in a waist high wine cooler near the kitchen's entrance. Who? Where were they? How did Jack know about this place? She glanced behind her to see him obscenely checking her out as she reached for ingredients from the fridge and cupboards. He was getting worked up. She needed a distraction. "Jack, where are we? Whose house is this?" She had to get him thinking about anything but her.
"This place used to belong to my family. Little weekend getaway spot. We played softball, went swimming. There's a pond not too far away from here. These days the place is in the hands of one of our former housekeepers. She's from India. Sort of a retirement gift, you might say. She brings her grandchildren so the little brats can run around and forget they live in a cramped walkup for a few hours. They were just here last week. I called her yesterday, asked her to stock the place up for me. Told her I was feeling nostalgic. She bought it. You believe that? Prema always did have a soft spot for me." A coarse laugh. "Get to work. I'm starving" He licked his lips again.
Kerri automatically went thru her normal meal prep routine, assembling ingredients, utensils, putting everything in order. Once she'd determined what to prepare and had it all arranged for easy use, she got started. Mind going a million miles per minute she forced herself to remain focused. The chance to escape lay somewhere on the counter before her, in the spices, raw veggies and other items to be used in the dish. Seeing two of them, she began to piece together a plan of action. The timing needed to be perfect. She'd only get one shot.
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"David, I don't know where she is! I don't know! He drugged us! I don't know how! I don't even know who! I don't know!" Colby punctuated his frustration and fear with a furious kick to the car he'd just been freed from. "I have to find her and I don't even know where to start looking!"
Knowing he had to get Colby grounded again, Sinclair started to speak. His ringing phone went first. "Sinclair."
"Hello again, Agent Sinclair." Mister Mysterio. The anonymous tiptster. "Did you get him?"
"Look, who are y…?"
"Did you get him?" the man asked testily.
"Yeah, we got him. He's alive and ok, thanks to you. Like to thank you in person. Who are you?" David tried again.
"Never mind that. Put 'im on. He and I need to palaver. Chop chop, Agent Sinclair. Time's a wastin"
Handing the phone to Granger, he said "This is the guy who told us where to find you."
"Who is this? Who are you? How did you kn…"
The man cut Colby's questions off brusquely.
"No time for twenty questions. Jackson Lucern and your girlfriend are in a cottage just outside the city on Route 19. She's cooking for him right now, but I'm not sure how long that's gonna last."
Clarence, in his car, watching Lucern and the lady lawyer from a small rise overlooking the little house, could just see into the kitchen.
"Listen up, Romeo. This is where it gets good. Get it all right the first time. You won't be hearing from me again."
Speaking in a short, clipped tone, Clarence gave Colby and David precise directions to Kerri Walton. It was up to them now. Don't blow it FBI, he thought. Your lady's runnin' out of road.
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Kerri fought hard to keep her anxiety from showing as she diced, chopped and measured the different vegetables and spices for the large sloping skillet that would be subbing for her wok. She'd chosen a dish with as many different components as possible. Actually an easy recipe to prepare, the more complicated she could make it look, the longer she would have to ready her escape plan. The butcher knife in her hand proved quite a temptation. She forced the idea away. Jack was much stronger than she, not to mention watching her very closely. As casually as possible, she doubled the two crucial ingredients. She couldn't afford to give anything away. Ultimately, everything was ready, and she fired up the burners on the stove and combined the dish's different parts one by one, drawing it out as much as she dared.
"So, what's for dinner, sweet thing? It smells um, um, good. Watching you fix it wearing that makes it even better. Kinda makes me wish dinner was over and we were on to dessert. You know, princess" he stood up, strolling indolently over to stand next to her, "when I was a kid, sometimes, I'd eat dessert first. Maybe I'll do that tonight." He hovered over her, sending a shiver of dread and fear shooting thru every inch of her body. She needed to back him off.
"Jack, I need room to work. If I don't pay attention to everything, something will burn and I'll have to start all over again. You don't want that do you? I thought you said you were hungry." Kerri took in a breath and held it.
He shrugged, feeling in control. "Ok, ok, ok. I forget how fussy you artists can be when you're 'creating'. He sat back down. "Hurry it up. I'm not sure how much longer I can wait for my dessert."
"It…it's almost done. We'll need plates and something to eat with. I don't know where any of that is."
" Plates are on the top shelf, right above your head, princess Forks and spoons are in the pull out drawer to your left."
"I can't reach up there, Jack. I'm not tall enough. Could you please get them for me.?" Kerri asked, trying to make herself sound as meek as possible.
"Of course, sweet thing. See, this is how it should be. When you have the proper attitude towards your man, speak to him the way you should, take care of him like a woman should, it's much better for you, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, Jack. I've had…I guess I've had the wrong…I haven't been looking at this the way I ought to. I'm, I'm sorry. I'll try to do better." She could see him visibly become more relaxed as his massive ego soaked up the words. That's right Jack, tell yourself you've finally boxed me in. That I'm crawling to you because I have nowhere else to go. Let that guard down. Go ahead. Keep right on seeing this ridiculous lingerie and nothing else. Just keep right on.
He went to the cabinet he'd indicated earlier, reaching above her and extracting two large dinner plates. Kerri pulled forks, spoons and knives from the other drawer, waiting until he had the plates on the table before setting the silverware next to them.
"I think a nice red wine will go well with tonight's entrée, don't you princess?" Jack bent and reached into the cooler for a bottle, taking his eyes off her.
When he straightened and turned back around, Kerri had taken the large skillet in both hands. Screaming out her fear and hatred of him, she flung it's scalding contents full in his face with all her might. The searing hot oil, vegetables, beef and sauce hit home with devastating effect.
"Auuuuuuuuuugggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!! Jack's agonized wail echoed throughout the house as he fell, stunned to his knees, clawing at his burned skin. Then the double portion of red pepper flakes and bhut jolokia chilis she'd added began to work their poison on his already blistered face and eyes, cooking them even further.
Kerri dashed for the door, pausing for just a second to grab an object she'd spied resting beside it. She cradled it to her chest, protecting it like a football. Then she tore open the door and raced out into the night, bare feet hardly noticing the rough ground. He was down, but not out, not completely. Faster, much faster than she wanted him to be, he was back on his feet. He stumbled to the sink, bathing his abused tissues in the icy water from the faucet. Still moaning in agony, but recovered enough to pursue her, he did.
As Kerri fled, she checked to see if he was following. He was. Killing mad, he closed the gap between them. She ran faster.
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David was talking to Don Eppes, speaking loudly to be heard over the noise of the engine. "That's right, Don! Route 19, Mallen-Haltley cutoff. Better send fire-rescue too, thanks." Call completed, they could now concentrate on getting to Kerri Walton.
Like its four legged namesake, the Charger galloped down the asphalt of
route 19, giving every ounce of speed and power David Sinclair asked from it. It was as if the car sensed the urgent desperation of its occupants. David said nothing, concentrating on guiding the 6.1 liter SRT V8 around the twists and turns. He spared only the briefest of glances for Colby.
Granger's vision locked onto the road ahead, willing the car forward. He felt as if he had the capability to outrace the automobile and literally fly to Kerri's aid. His thoughts swirled around him. Jackson Lucern had Kerri? Alison Gerrard's brother? Colby had barely heard of him. He knew Lucern worked in the same office as Kerri from listening to Robin Brooks conversations with Don. He knew nobody liked the man, only tolerated him due to Roger Kendall, the boss D.A. Kendall, busy trying to get himself re-elected, fawned over the Lucern money shamelessly. Apparently, Lucern's legal skills were marginal at best. But Kerri, aside from an acid comment and an occasional grimace of dislike, rarely mentioned Jackson Lucern. Why hadn't she told him Jack Lucern was such danger to her? Why had she kept it from him? All questions to be answered later, after she was safe, and she'd better be. If Lucern hurt Kerri, in any way, Colby would end him. Tonight.
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No matter how fast and how hard she pushed herself, Kerri could hear Jack getting closer. Working out everyday, going running several times a week, Kerri tried to keep her body in good condition. She had the stamina of a professional athlete. Jack, however, was goaded by madness and pain.
"I'm going to kill you! Do you hear me?! You hear me?!! I'm gonna watch you die while I come inside you!! You hear me?!! You're dead!!"
Lungs burning, legs cramping with effort, Kerri decided to stop trying to outrun her tormentor. She understood she would not be able to, and, besides, she'd had it up to here with running from Jack. No more. Not one step further. Teeth bared, she ducked at a tangent into the thick woods lining the road. She made sure he saw her so he would follow. Taking cover behind the trunk of a thick oak, she waited. She could hear his heavy steps as he crashed thru the trees, bellowing rage and threats. With every inch she grew more calm. He'd almost reached her. She readied herself. He was at the tree. A foot appeared, then a leg and then all of him. When he was completely past her, Kerri raised the object she'd grabbed before fleeing the house. The legend read LOUISVILLE SLUGGER. In the days before Kerri began to notice boys and allowed her mother to talk her out of jeans and sneakers and into dresses, she'd wielded a mean bat. Many a coach discovered to his delight that the little girl with the raven-haired pigtails hit better than any boy on his team. Assuming her old home run stance, Kerri centered on the back of Jack Lucern's head and took a major league swing.
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Colby jumped from the car while it was still in motion, bursting into the cottage.
"Kerri! Kerri!!" he listened for an answer but heard nothing. He passed the empty kitchen, taking no note of the mess spread on the kitchen floor. "Kerri, where are you?! Kerri?! Baby, talk to me! Where are you?!"
Had the man on the phone lied? Colby and David cleared the entire house but found no one. The place was deserted. Sinclair saw a small garage standing twenty feet from the house. He checked and found a steel blue Toyota Land Cruiser but no sign of Kerri Walton or her abductor.
He rejoined a distressed Colby in front of the house.
"Where are they, David? Where could she be?" Chest heaving, Colby lasered in on the wooded area on either side of the road. "You take one side, I take the other." He started off at a run. David pulled him back. "Take this, you might need it." Sinclair was holding out his backup weapon. Colby accepted it with a grateful nod and took off. David headed in the opposite direction.
"Kerri? Kerri? Kerri?!" Years of moving in and out of country that might or might not hold someone harboring hostile intentions for him imbued Granger with an innate need for caution under such circumstances. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Kerri? Kerri, honey please, where are you? Please!" He moved over the leaf and weed choked ground lightly, making almost no sound. He grew more afraid with each step, terrified of what he might eventually find. For ten long minutes he searched, hearing nothing but Sinclair on the other side, Then, ahead of him, he heard footsteps. Raising his gun, he crept forward. It could be Kerri. It might be Jackson Lucern. If it was the latter, Colby would get Kerri's location out of the man, no matter what. Seeing who it was, his gun lowered to his side. Kerri. Weeping with relief, she dropped the bat she held (bat?) and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Oh, God! Colby!" She collapsed against him, still sobbing. All he could do was hold her. Seeing her alive and unharmed rendered him speechless. Thank you, God. Thank You.
He held her tightly for a moment longer, cherishing the feel of her. He didn't ever want to let her go, so, keeping her in the shelter of his arms, he asked, "Kerri, honey, where's Lucern? Where is he?"
" He's out cold about forty yards that way." She pointed back in the direction she'd come from. " I clocked him pretty good. Then I heard you calling me! Colby, I thought you were dead. I thought he killed you! He wouldn't tell me what happened to you. What he'd done. I was so afraid!" Burying her face in her hands, she started crying anew.
"It's ok, baby. It's over. Come on, let's get you out of here. David! We're over here!" His shout brought Sinclair on the run. Holstering his gun and retrieving his backup from Colby, David offered Kerri his jacket for cover. She took it from him gratefully, face flaming in embarrassment. Until that moment, what she was wearing had actually slipped her mind.
"David, can you take Kerri to the car? Stay with her, alright? I'm gonna go find Lucern."
"Maybe you oughta take this back." David indicated his backup weapon.
"No. I won't need it. Kerri put his lights out with this." Colby retrieved the bat. "Don't worry. I can handle him. Meet you back at the car."
Kerri kissed him, trembling with relief, completely spent. She hugged him. "Please, be careful. I thought I'd lost you tonight. I don't think I can take that again."
"I thought I'd lost you too. You stay with David. I'll be careful. Don't worry. I'll be fine." He watched them go.
"The happy couple. You make me want to vomit" Jack said. He'd been watching from the woods for some time, awake, battered, burned and dazed. Kerri's blow had taken him down, putting him out of the game long enough. By the time he was back in it, the two FBI agents were there. Seeing the object of Kerri Walton's affections gave him new energy, a fresh infusion of malice.
"So, the working class hero lives." Jack seethed with hatred and jealousy. "How hard are you to kill anyway loverboy?" he taunted.
"Why don't you come find out?" Colby asked, deceptively mild.
Jack pointed to the bat in Granger's hands. "Big man with the bat. Afraid to put it down?" Lucern sneered.
Colby tossed the bat to the ground. "Kerri already punked you with it. I don't need to."
"The whore's not even a good lay! She's probably spread 'em for every man in L.A.! You can have her, I'm done now!" Jack said, trying to provoke his opponent.
Colby laughed scornfully. "Huh! Robin Brooks was right about you! You're a piss poor attorney and you even suck as a liar. You never touched Kerri. She'd break a dick-less moron like you in half."
Jack snarled and charged the FBI agent, aiming for his rival's rib cage. Colby stepped nimbly aside, watching Lucern do a face plant into the mossy turf.
"Oops. Missed me Jackass. Like to try again?"
Jack's awkward landing put him next to the bat Colby'd thrown away. Seizing it, he made a wild one handed swing, catching Granger's ankles. His feet going out from under him, Colby landed heavily on his back.
Sensing Lucern's followup attack, he rolled lightning fast to one side, and just missed the deadly blow aimed at his head by Jack, who had regained his footing.
"You and that little slut both think you're better than me! That you can deny me what I want! Nobody denies me what I want!" He aimed another vicious swipe at his prone target.
With a speed Jack couldn't counter, Colby reacted. Grabbing and twisting the bat with both hands, he arched up, clamping his legs behind Lucern's neck. Rotating his body a quarter turn, his momentum forced the other man to follow. Jack slammed into the ground, stunned. Colby snatched the bat from his hands and threw it beyond the reach of either. Returning his attention to the man who'd caused Kerri so much pain, Colby aimed one punishing blow after another at his foe.
Kerri sat sideways in the back seat of the Charger, its door open staring into the dense undergrowth. Gathering David's jacket about her, she rocked back and forth, silently willing Colby to come back to her. An eternity passed. Clinching her eyes shut, she felt David's hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see him smiling. He motioned into the distance with his head. Coming out of the trees, dragging Jack Lucern by his tied together heels, Colby dropped the beaten man at her feet. The faint bay of sirens indicated Don and fire rescue were about to be on scene. David put Lucern in cuffs, propping him up against the rear bumper with contempt.
Granger knelt next to Kerri. She leaned forward, resting her head on his chest. Kissing the top of her head, he buried his face in her hair, speaking softly. "Told you I'd be fine, didn't I?" She could feel his smile.
The arriving paramedics took one look at the bruised, boiled lobster complexion of Jackson Lucern and went to work, more than slightly upset at the refusal of the FBI agents to remove the prisoner's restraints. Grumbling, they made ready to load their patient into the ambulance. Lucern revived enough to see Kerri Walton and Colby Granger holding each other.
" Hey, loverboy!" he called, "you know your little slut girlfriend has a secret! Want me to tell you what it is?!"
"Shut up Lucern. Nobody cares what you have to say." David told him caustically. "Get him out of here" he told the medics. Lucern departed, Don and a county deputy in the ambulance.
Colby watched the big vehicle recede. Lucern, he thought, couldn't do anymore damage. He'd promised Kerri it was over. He had no way of knowing that promise wasn't quite his to keep.
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