Dangerous Deception - A Short Story (11 page)

Jack leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
“Even if that were true, don’t you think the military might have their hands full trying to keep the rebels from taking over the city?”

“That’s exactly what they want General Kabassa to think.
The police and military knew I’d spoken to the general which means they’ve been watching him. They want to take him down because he’s the second in command. Without him, there is no real organization and the movement will crumble.”

“So why haven’t they tried to rescue us?” Celeste asked.

“You don’t just go charging into a hostage situation without knowing the layout of the building and how many adversaries you’re going to be faced with,” Gwen explained the usual scenario she had encountered while covering similar circumstances. “You calculate the risks very carefully and wait for the opportune moment for entry.” She glanced over her shoulder at the windows. “There’s an open field on this side of the building. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were men with binoculars watching us right now.”

Jack
tossed Gwen a gorgeous smile. “You know, you’re a lot smarter at this than I gave you credit for.”

Gwen slapped his leg
and the others laughed.

“How much longer do you think they’ll wait?” Evelyn asked.

“Keep in mind I’m judging from situations I’ve seen take place in the U.S. and London, things are a lot different here. If they’ve had any kind of special training, though, they’ll strike fast and hard, probably before morning when most of the men are either asleep or just rising.”

“We need to be ready when they do come.
” Jack looked around the room. “We could use the metal chairs to clobber the first soldier who comes in the room and grab his weapon.”

“What if you’re wrong?” Celeste asked.
“I mean what if we weren’t followed yesterday?”

“Then I guess we’re on our own.
”

“
If that’s the case, once we get out of the building we need to head for the bush,” Jack said.

“Why there?
Why not seek shelter in neighboring buildings?” Evelyn asked.

“Because that’s the first place they’ll look.
And there’s a lot more of them than there are of us.” Jack looked at Gwen. “I remember the interviews you did at the hospital and refugee camps. Almost all the children you spoke to said they hid in the bush.”

“Okay, I think we should sleep in shifts tonight,”
Tom suggested. “The person on guard is to wake the others at first sign of trouble. I’ll take the first shift.”

“I’ll take the
second,” Jack added.

* * * * *

It seemed Gwen had just gone to sleep when she was shook awake. She opened her eyes and found Jack kneeling beside her mattress.

“Get up, we have to go.”

Gwen took his hand and rose to her feet. The light from an early morning sun flooded the room. She squelched an oncoming yawn as her eyes lit on Tom and Evelyn standing next to the open door. In Tom’s hand was a folded metal chair and at their feet lay the crumpled body of one of the rebel soldiers.

“Why didn’t you wake me before all the excitement started?”

“He’s been trying to,” Celeste spoke from behind.

Jack chuckled.
“C’mon. Major Anthony and his men have surrounded the building.”

Gwen followed him and Celeste to the door.

A burst of gunfire sounded in the hallway. Tom leaped back, slamming the door shut.

No sooner had Jack grabbed the chair from Tom’s hand, the door flew open.
Jack swung hard, sending the rebel sailing several feet. He landed with a thud, his rifle falling at his side. Tom scurried over and grabbed it. Celeste joined him, using strips of a torn towel to bound and gag the soldier.

“What happened to the other guy’s weapon?”

“I have it.” Evelyn turned and lifted the rifle at her side.

Gwen almost laughed at the sight.

There was pounding at the door and Jack moved to one side, the chair positioned in front of him. Several seconds ticked by before another knock. “It’s Major Anthony. I’m coming in.”

Gwen moved to Jack’s side as the door opened.

The major lowered his rifle as he scanned their faces. “We’re securing the building. You’ll be safer outside in the cars.” His gaze lowered to the weapon Evelyn held. “Unless you know how to use that, I suggest you give it to him,” he said, nodding at Jack. “Leave single file to the front of the building, a man in the front and back, and don’t go into any of the other rooms.”

Jack took the rifle from Evelyn.
“I’ll lead.”

The major’s gaze fell on Gwen.
“We meet again, Miss Jacobs.”

“Major,” she greeted coolly
.

He motioned to the door and Gwen followed Jack out.

They were midway down the hall, near the stairs, when one of the classroom doors opened. Jack stopped in his tracks, prepared to fire.

Gwen held her breath, her heart pounding so fast she could feel it in her ears.

A police officer stepped into the hall, his hand grasping the arm of one of the rebel soldiers. His rifle rose at his side then, after recognizing them, lowered his aim.

Gwen recognize
d the cuffed boy from yesterday as the one who had told the group about Kirabo and brought them fresh water and towels. She moved out of the line and stopped directly in front of him. “Where is the general?”

“I don’t know.
I haven’t seen him since last night. I think he got away.” The boy’s voice shook as he spoke and tears welled in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Where is the room he slept in?”

He jerked his head upward. “Upstairs. The first classroom.”

Gwen turned toward the stairs, but Jack grabbed her arm.
“Oh no you don’t.”

“I need my camcorder, Jack.
All my footage is on there.”

“It isn’t worth your life, Gwen.
We’ll look for it after the building is secure.”

“They’ll confiscate it.
I’ll never see it again,” she explained. But he didn’t seem to be budging on the matter. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“All right, but take this.”
He shoved his rifle at her.

Gwen shook her head and
waved him off. She had taken enough lives. “You don’t know what’s waiting for you outside. You may need it.”

His gaze hardened.
“Fine, you won’t take the rifle, wait until I move them to safety and then I’ll come back and help you search.”

In the background, Major Anthony shouted to his men to hurry.
She was running out of time. Grabbing Jack, she pulled him forward. “I’ll be fine.” She kissed him on the lips then darted toward the stairs.

Gwen didn’t stop until she reached the top of the stairs.
She squatted, her eyes searching the empty hallway. Moving to the first door, she placed her ear against the cold wood and listened for any movement inside.

A gunshot at the back of the building caused her to jerk.
She lifted her trembling hand to the doorknob and slowly turned it. On her knees now, she peered inside. It was empty.

Gwen
rose to her feet and maneuvered around a cot and several metal chairs blocking the desk. Near the window, she spotted a second door. Judging from the layout of the room they were held captive it, she guessed it was a closet. She briefly considered checking it, but knew if someone where hiding inside it she would have no way to protect herself. She would just be quiet in her search. Sitting in the wooden chair, she slowly pulled out each of the drawers and searched their contents.

Her hand froze in the middle drawer at the sound
of a squeaky hinge. She looked up at the main door. It was still shut.
Uh oh.

“Looking for this?”

She whirled her head around and saw General Kabassa standing in a doorway she had chosen not to check. A hideous smile spread across his lips as he held up her camcorder.

Gwen’s heart pumped faster as h
er hand groped around in the drawer for something she could use as a weapon. “I should have known you’d be cowering in the closet like the ugly rat you are.” Her fingers hit something hard and cool, with two open circles.
Scissors.

Gwen grasped them in her hand as he walked towards the desk.

“I couldn’t leave without settling the score. You led them here, destroying my dream. Now I’m going to destroy yours. Then I’m going to kill you.” He dropped the camera to the floor at her feet and raised his foot.

Gwen charged him and plunged the scissors into the side of his neck.

He gave a muffled cry and lifted a hand to stop the gushing blood. “You stupid woman!” He lunged at her. Gwen stepped back, but not quick enough. She barely got a glimpse of the knife as it sliced across her left shoulder. She felt the blood soaking into her shirt. Grabbing her by the hair, he jerked her towards him.

A well placed knee to his groin doubled him over in agony
. She then stabbed him in the back and watched him drop to his knees. Another kick caught him underneath his chin and he fell backwards. She reached for the camera but he grabbed her leg and kicked the side of her right calf which sent her sprawling to the floor.

Dazed, she felt him grab hold of her shirt.
She started to struggle, but saw the pistol in his right hand. Scrambling to his feet, he pressed the barrel against her forehead. She glared up at him. “I thought you didn’t kill innocent people.”

He laughed.
“You are far from innocent. You have as much blood on your hands as I do.”

A
wave of nausea hit, and she struggled to swallow, forcing the bile back down into her stomach.

The sound of breaking wood drew her attention to the door where
Jack and two police officers now stood. All three fired their weapons. The general’s blood splattered Gwen as his body slammed into the wall.

Jack hurried to her side
, wrapping his arms around her, as the officers closed in around the general. She ignored the pain, glad to be alive.

“You
r heroics are going to kill me one of these days.”

Gwen smiled at the hint of a future together.

He loosened his arms around her and leaned back on his heels. His eyes widened when he saw the blood. “Are you hurt?”

“
He cut me, but I don’t think it’s serious.” She pulled back the blood soaked material just as Jack leaned forward to have a look.

“You might need a few stitches.”
He removed his shirt and carefully stuffed it inside hers.

Her eyes were drawn to his muscular chest where a dark patch of hair lay above perfect abs.

He lifted her chin, smiling at her. “C’mon, let’s get you to a doctor.”

“Wait...
My camcorder.”

He fetched it from the floor and looked it over.
“The lens is broken.”

“
Are the memory cards still inside?”

He opened it and then threw her a nod.

“He probably erased them.”

Jack smiled.
“If he did we can restore them with a memory card recovery program.”

“Thank God for digital technology.”
She wrapped her arm around his. “Let’s get out of here.”

Epilogue

Gwen and Jack stared out the ai
rport window, watching as the private jet taxied toward the terminal. “Won’t be much longer,” he whispered against her ear.

She was glad
Jack had suggested they stay behind an extra three days to tour the refugee camps and hospital again. Thanks to his purchase of a new camcorder, she had gathered more than enough footage and testimony from the latest carnage in Lerato for a story that would rock the entire world, exposing both General Kabassa and Liberian President Jonathan Kanneh.

“You know, you’re liable to win a Pulitzer for this story.”

She looked up and met his smile. “That would be sweet.”

“
Then you’ll have every news agency in London offering you assignments.”

“Unless it’s one in the
United States, I think I’ll be turning them down.”

“Really?”

She smiled at the excitement in his voice. “I’ve decided that living abroad isn’t what it’s cracked up to be...and I miss my family.”

“Oh.”

She laughed, then wrapping her hand around his, she kissed him with the same fervor she had in the library the first time they kissed. Afterward her mouth lingered. “In case you didn’t pick up on that, it was an invitation.”

He swaddled her in his arms, his gaze sealing hers.
“That, my love, is the best proposition I’ve ever received.”

The End

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