CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (GOODNESS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT....)
The room was larger than it would appear from the outside. Jim found it odd that the steel door had been unlocked.
He had stepped into the darkened area, instinctively searching for and finding, the light switch to the left of the door. A row of video surveillance screens surrounded a state of the art console directly to his right, several screens showing different shots of the outside of the building. Others, his officers as they searched and generally ransacked the premises inside.
"He watched our approach." Jim shook his head woefully, the truth of the situation hitting him full force. "The bastard knew we were here." A black and white unit set outside the back gate, three officers waited out front, weapons poised and ready by their squad cars. Just where Brass had stationed them.
"This jerk off even has a john over here." Davidson's team moved through the nooks and grannies of the 'apartment', relaying their findings
"Hey..this coffee is still hot." Another had discovered a well-stocked kitchenette.
Brass surveyed the domain grimly. "All the fucking comforts of home."
"What..no flat screen?" Chad scoffed sarcastically. "Why is this screen dark, I wonder?" The man had been playing with the buttons and switches of the console, having pointed to the monitor in question.
Jim studied the same board, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. He absently holstered his weapon. Unlike most people of his age bracket, Jim Brass embraced the 'electronic' age, finding it challenging and addictive in some cases.
"Got it!" Davidson's face lit up even as the darkened screen sprang to life. His team had gathered around the two men, their interest caught, most cradling their weapons lovingly across their arms. Davidson finally looked his true age, his characteristic grin giving him a boyish quality. "What the..." His voice faded away as he observed the image before the men.
A room. A nice room, as rooms went. With a bed. And curtains. A girly room.
Jim had eyes only for..the 'girl' lying so still and quiet on the bed..that was in the 'room'. She seemed so small and...still. Curled up, her face away from the camera.
"Where the hell does this feed go??" He barked, his tone much sharper than he had meant it to be. "How did we miss this fucking room..." He turned his angry features on the unsuspecting officers huddled around him. "Find..." His voice boomed the command. "This fucking room!"
No one needed a second bidding, scattering post haste in all directions.
Davidson was biting his bottom lip, his eyes darting about the screens and board frantically, picking up on his Commander's urgency. "We got the entire place covered, sir. It has to be somewhere we haven't been. Anyone bring the blueprints of this place?" He called over his shoulder and seconds later, the papers miraculously found their way into Jim Brass' hands.
He spread the rolled pages out, smoothing them with capable hands. He had helped his dad build houses in his youth. He could read a blue print but this one was different. Some references he still understood. Some..were strange and... "What the hell is this?"
Davidson glanced, pulling his attention away from the board. "We're here, sir." He quickly found the room. "The general layout appears ..." He..frowned.
"What is this??" Jim's beefy finger stabbed the spot.
Davidson was perplexed. "...I'm not sure, sir..but..." He straightened, his eyes searching for something he could not find. "According to this damned thing..there should be more space in this room. It shows the square footage as eight-hundred, fifty-seven. What would you estimate.."
"Seven-hundred something at most." Jim had followed the young man's train of thought. "It's hidden?"
"It's here." Davidson picked up his discarded sniper's rifle. "We'll find it, sir." He cut confident eyes to his Superior. "...Brayley..get your ass back over here!" He had crossed to the opened door, yelling his order across the echoing dock area. "Bring some tools.."
The young man grinned at Brass, as he pulled himself back into the room. "We got some remodeling to do."
It took less than ten minutes to find the 'hidden' doorway. Ten minutes and two demolished walls, three sections of torn up plywood floor..minus the nicely laid tile, not to mention, one very energy efficient,double-wide, stainless steel overturned refrigerator.
Davidson led his team down the well lit stair case, through the small passageway. Brass was one of the first behind the man, having forgotten all about his usual modus operandi of allowing the young'uns to 'blaze the path of glory'..
The door was made of cherry wood, painstakingly carved, meticulously crafted.
On the second to the top panel, was taped a note. Short and to the point, it read...
'They descend upon us, beloved.
'Alas, I must take my leave of you
'Do not despair .
'Soon we will once again be united..
'I come for you by the dark of the moon
'My blood oath is given.
'Wait for me...
Brass had not touched the fucking thing. He had wanted to touch it. He had wanted to rip it apart, crush it with his heel..spit upon it. But..he did not.
He shifted his eyes to a patiently waiting Chad Davidson. "I want this bastard..." He vowed sacredly. "I want ten minutes alone with him..you got that?"
"I got it, Captain."
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Haley Meadows was awakened from a rather sound, if somewhat disturbing dream by the soft click of a door latch.
She gasped, sitting upright, disheveled and alarmed.
Her eyes wide and unguarded for once, instantly trained on the slowly turning gleam of a burnished knob.
She knew instinctively where she was, even though still drowsy from the rude awakening. She hated this place..and she hated more..the odious being who now intruded into the quiet of her present...private hell.
She hated having to face him again so soon. She held her breath, praying she could once again..muster the courage to continue the sick farce she was forced to play by this insidiously despicable being.
Her senses were on full alert, as she readied herself for another round of hideous absurdity.
Her mouth fell open, her face masking with calm placidity. Her heart was beating thunderously in her chest cavity.
She blinked.
Was she still dreaming?
"W-Who..." She addressed the man who stared back at her. "...Are..you?"
She did not know this man. How had he invaded her dream world?
Well...this was odd.
The man stepped fully into the room, his weapon dropped, his manner completely altered from the harsh, deadly cold one of seconds before.
Haley..recognized ...the accouterments he wore, her eyes devouring the well honed physique suddenly with astonished awe.
"OH MY GOD!" She was up off the bed and running full force the few steps it would take to reach...safety.
At the last second, just before she would have smashed into the man's chest area..something caught her attention to her left, forcing her to stop dead in her tracts.
The green eyes filled with unshed tears of joy. She changed directions rapidly, her arms outstretched. "OHHHH....FUCK!"
Jim Brass welcomed the woman into his embrace, his arms enclosing the petite form protectively. He held tightly, his hand cupping her head, his fingers intertwined with the silk of her hair. The man closed his eyes, releasing the tension in his body, sending a silent prayer of gratitude On High.
"I..k-knew you w-would come!" Haley whispered, her breath fanning his ear. She wept freely, unashamedly, her body shaking tremulously. "I fucking...K-Knew...it!"
"You fucking had better believe it." He murmured right back, his arms taking her breath from her body. She didn't seem to mind. It was as if, she could not get close enough to the man.
Brass' eye caught the slightly sheepish grin of Chad Davidson's. The young man seemed to be waiting for something.
Jim sensed the others in the room finally, clearing his throat gently, reluctantly putting Haley Meadows from him.
"Guys!" Haley could not stop smiling, reaching out to touch each and every one of her 'rescuers'.. "Guys! Shit..." She swiped at her wet cheeks, her face beaming her joy and gratitude. "Where the hell have you been???" She choked back a joke, holding firmly to Jim Brass' flack vest for dear life. "I was ..." She could not find the words. "Just...waiting." Her hand came to cover her mouth as the tears threatened again. For a moment it was touch and go but...she...rallied.
"Gosh..." Her smile lit the room. "Did anyone bring....pizza??"
The tension snapped, a few chuckles erupting..
"Where the fuck is he, Haley?" Brass had never felt less like smiling.
The woman shook her head, her fingers tightening on the man's jacket. "I...I don't know. I..I hoped you had him?"
Brass jerked his head and the men surrounding them suddenly disappeared.
Haley's brain was having a hard time keeping up with everything. She looked to the one place she knew she would find comfort and...answers.
"Are you ok?" Jim stepped, his hand gentle on the side of her cheekline. "Did he..." His eyes swept her figure meticulously, his tone holding his weariness...his...fatigue...the brittleness of the stress he had been under.
"Hey..." she forced a bright smile for him. "Piece of cake." She dismissed his worries with a sweet grimace of the cute little nose.
Jim's hand tightened in her curls, his face masking into a stoic placidity. He guided her closer with the pressure of his intent, stepping forward to greet her arrival, his arms moving about her waist.
His mouth descended without preamble, his tongue pushing languidly between her lips, easing into the warm, delicious depths of her being.
Haley groaned weakly, submitting to a will stronger than her own, melting to the man gratefully, her arms going about his neckline, tightening exponentially with each intake of breath against Jim's cheek.
The man accepted any and all emotions directed his way gratefully, giving fully in return. He allowed his body to react to the stimuli of her breasts crushed against his chest..the heat of her body fusing to his..the feel of her body in his arms..the taste of her mouth..the sweetness of her tongue..
Haley literally went weak in the knees as she felt the ever increasing hardness grow against the curve of her stomach, moaning her sudden confusion.
He thought he had lost her..but...he had not. The evidence was in his arms..to hell with what anyone thought..he had been given a second chance. This was real..this..was the only thing that mattered.
For once in his life, Jim Brass opened himself to the possibilities. He held nothing in reserve..he had to tell her...she had to know what he was feeling..
The man broke a feverish kiss, his breath ragged..his mind tortured, unclear. "...I want to fuck the shit out of you..." He vowed sacredly, reveling in the rush of color to her cheeks, the slight out rush of breath from her body.. "Right here...right fucking now!"
Even as he heard others fast approaching..he could not yet..release his prey. His eyes refused to allow her a reprieve. He held the soft emerald easily... "Let them watch...what the hell do I care. I've been through a living hell!" He grated the truth. "I felt dead inside...make me feel alive baby..." He demanded.
She could only shake her head, helpless to deny him anything. He sensed this. And...it gave him the strength to...move away from her.
When they arrived...all they saw was a shaken girl...and a totally professional police officer..simply doing his job. They had expected nothing less of such a sterling man.
Brass often sought Haley Meadow's eyes.
SHE knew..even though she was calmly answering any and every question put to her now..when she met his gaze.. She would look away hastily, in order to regain her..perspective. She would fight the rush of blood to her cheeks and Jim Brass would hold his smile...quiet the sudden jump in his pulse, slow his breathing.
They were surrounded by people..and yet. He felt that they were the only two people in that damned room.
He could not wait for the opportunity to get her alone.
His palms were sweaty. His adrenalin was high. No one would have even guessed.
This had been the longest day of his life. It was not over yet. The fact was both agonizing yet..exhilarating.
His hands shook. He pushed them into the pockets of his slacks. He concentrated on that bastard, McBain when it got too bad..when his emotions threatened to...no. No, he would not allow her to arouse him just yet.
That...was for later.
He could wait...now.
And knowing that she knew. It was the sweetest revenge a man could ask for. He felt very much like a man right now.
They knew nothing of this.
It was none of their damned business..what he felt. Or who he wanted to share those emotions with.
He would do this..for her. He would do lots of things for her. So many things, it made his head spin with wonder. So many things he was feeling...inside.
His demeanor was nothing short of what was expected. He stayed near her. He couldn't go very far away. It would have killed him to go any real distance from her right now.
So..he hovered near. Allowing the medics to see to her..allowing the others to do their job. Allowing her to do her job.
He could taste her...he remember well the taste of her. The sweet, slick warmth of her. How he could make her squirm with need. How his name sounded when said with such..desperation. How her passion would ebb and flow..as he moved just so for her.
Slow..easy strokes, feeling the taunt little tummy rise to greet each thrust he offered. The tiny kitten-like whimpers of..stress if he denied her..access to what she wanted long enough.
All the little truths that spilled from her lips if he eased into her depths with the right amount of..meaning behind his efforts. 'No..you don't love me...just..parts of me, baby.' But, her words had made him feel..loved. Just for a moment, maybe? Certainly..wanted, at least. 'Tell me again..say it for me.' He enjoyed hearing it. 'Is it bad, Haley? How bad?...let's...share, what'd ya say?'
'Want me to make it all better?' He had never teased a woman in such a manner before. Not and..meant it. 'Can I? What can I do for you?'
'Oh, hell yeah..I can do that. No problem...but then..you got to do something for me..right?'
Jim Brass smiled just a little, biting his lip to keep it under control. He turned his attention to the matter at hand. For the simple fact...he had no other choice in the matter.
The lot pops rang out as if muffled by a great distance.
Every cop present knew the sound of a police issued nine millimeter ruger when they heard it.
Brass grabbed Haley Meadow's hand, dragging the unresisting woman along with him as he headed out the passageway with his contemporaries at a dead run.
The shots had come from above ground. To the North of the building.
Four distinct rounds.