Justice for Hire (27 page)

She went through the kitchen and into a hallway leading to the front room. There was a door to the right. She pulled it open and peered down a set of wooden stairs into the darkness below. A musty smell stung her nose. She closed the door and peeked into the sparsely furnished living room.

Nothing looked unusual, although the house appeared dusty and unused. She went back to the kitchen and opened the fridge. There were fresh vegetables in the crisper and the contents of a carton of milk didn’t smell sour.

She returned to join Jake. “Nothing out of place, but somebody lives here and they’re not home.”

“Wrong house,” Jake said. “Let’s try the one up the road further.”

They walked to the road and toward the car. Jake stopped. “I want to go back and look in the barn, just in case.”

Annie turned around. “You go ahead. I’ll take another look at the maps and wait for you in the car.”

Chapter 57

Friday, August 26th, 1:47 PM

AS JAKE APPROACHED the barn, he stopped and looked around. It struck him as odd that the vast fields surrounding the property weren’t cultivated, and there were no signs any type of grain or corn, crops common to the area, had been planted either this year or last.

The barn itself appeared to have been built within the last few years. It was a sprawling building, with a round, wooden roof, supported by solid, windowless concrete walls.

The near end of the structure was mainly one large wooden door, a man door beside it, with a small window at each end.

Jake moved to the closest window and peeked inside.

A black Escalade.

He stepped back quickly. This was the place, but is this the vehicle, which had been seen when David was abducted?

Only one way to find out.

He crept to the window again, and took a longer look. By the dim lighting inside, he could see the area where the vehicle was parked was walled off from the rest of the building. The large room had enough space for two or three vehicles, but the Escalade was the only one inside. Another door led deeper into the building’s interior.

A set of shelving on the far wall contained neat rows of white boxes. A workbench held more boxes, tools, and large bottles of water.

No one had been inside the house, so the driver of the vehicle could be inside this building somewhere. He had to get inside and take a look around.

He tested the man door. Locked.

He circled the building completely. There were no more windows or doors; this was the only way in. He peered through the window again, and then stepped back quickly. The door leading into the rest of the building was opening. He chanced another look. A man, possibly the driver, was coming his way, and he was huge.

Jake stepped back and moved around the corner of the building and waited. He heard a metallic grind as the outer door creaked, and then footsteps on gravel and the door slammed.

He breathed cautiously and waited. He could hear the man’s feet on gravel as he shuffled about, just around the corner. There was a faint metallic click, and then the smell of a freshly-lit cigarette as smoke wafted past.

Then, came a rasping voice. He was on the phone. “No luck today.” Silence, and then, “Yeah, we just couldn’t find anyone suitable. We’ll try again tomorrow.” Then, “Yes, sir. I’ll tell him.”

There was more silence. He’d finished with his phone call.

Jake eased forward and peeked around the corner as the man ground his cigarette into the gravel.

This may be his best chance and he had to do something now.

He stepped around the corner and pounced, bore the brute to the ground and straddled him. He punched the ugly face twice before being thrown off onto the sharp gravel. The stones bit into his arm as he twisted and sprang to his feet.

The monster growled like a hungry bear as he spun to a crouch and leaped forward. He clamped Jake around the legs and they both went down again.

The goon was on top, snarling, one hand reaching for the gun strapped to his chest, the other around Jake’s neck. He had the gun free but Jake swung a massive fist and knocked it from the man’s grasp. It spun across the gravel. As the goon leaped for it, Jake’s boot caught him full in the chest. Breath shot from the thug with a whoosh as he was sent sprawling onto his back. Jake rolled toward the weapon, wrapped his hand around it and sprang to his feet, the gun in his hand.

He’d never owned a gun, and didn’t know how to use one in the way it was intended. As the brute growled and reached for him with powerful arms, Jake swung his fist back, the butt end of the weapon catching the thug on the side of his head. The brute groaned as a second swing knocked him to the ground, out cold.

Jake tucked the gun behind his belt and looked at the man. He wasn’t as tough as he looked, and he would be unconscious awhile.

He opened the door to the building and dragged the thug inside. He dug in the cartons on the shelves and came up with a box of medical equipment. Two lab coats were folded neatly inside. With the help of a sharp metal corner of the shelf, he was able to tear one of them into strips, and he bound the goon’s arms and legs securely.

He tested the restraints. The thug was strong, but it should hold.

He tied a double strip of cloth around the man’s ugly mouth, making sure he could breathe properly, and then dragged him over to the workbench and rolled him underneath. He wouldn’t be seen there if anyone else came around.

He peeked through the tinted glass into the back of the Escalade. It was empty. In the front seat, the keys were in the ignition, but it was empty as well.

He turned his attention to the inner door. It was unlocked. He withdrew the weapon from his waist, studied it a moment, and then eased the door open.

There was a long hallway in front of him, several rooms leading off at each side, and a large room at the end, dead ahead.

He listened a moment, and then stepped inside and eased the door closed behind him. He crept up the hall, the weapon in his hand, toward the brightly lit room. Something hummed, machinery of some kind, enough to cover any noise his feet made as he inched forward.

He heard the sound of breathing behind him, and then felt a massive blow on the back of his head. His sight blurred and his thoughts faded as he crumbled to the floor.

Chapter 58

Friday, August 26th, 2:02 PM

ANNIE LOOKED at her watch. Jake had been gone for fifteen minutes and he should’ve been back by now.

She stepped from the Firebird and moved to the tree line where she could see the barn. She couldn’t see Jake, and wondered if he’d gone inside, and if so, what was taking him so long.

Her heart stopped as she was startled by a blackbird that squawked in the tree above her head, and then fluttered and soared away, screaming as it went.

She laughed uneasily, and as her heart took on its normal rhythm, considered going to the building, but decided to give it a few more minutes. Jake was probably inside looking around, or perhaps, out of sight behind the barn.

She went back to the car, got the maps and sat on the grass studying them. She wanted to take a look at the other nearby properties. She could drive there herself, but thought it better to wait for Jake to return.

She grabbed the binoculars and zoomed in on the buildings up the road. The vehicles she’d seen earlier hadn’t moved, and not a soul was in sight. Across the road, all remained the same as before. She trained the lenses toward the barn where Jake had gone. She could see the large wooden door, with the small door beside it.

She lowered the binoculars and went back to the car, beginning to feel uneasy. She would wait, but not much longer.

~~*~~

AS JAKE’S SENSES began to return, he felt a pounding in the back of his head. He lay on a hard surface; a concrete floor perhaps.

As his vision sharpened, he rolled to his back and attempted to clear his mind. He’d been slugged from behind.

He heard a laugh and swung his head in the direction of the sound. A goon, a different one, leaned against the wall, leering at him. He had a pistol in his hand, trained his way.

“Lay still.”

Jake turned his head and examined his predicament. He was in a white room, lying on the floor. There was a small cot pushed against the wall near him. The goon was by an open door that led into the hallway.

He took a chance and struggled to a sitting position. The man was smaller than the one he’d tied up earlier, but was too far away to attempt anything, and unlike himself, the goon looked adept with the weapon clenched in his fist.

“Welcome back,” the thug said, and laughed again.

Jake only glared.

The man’s smile turned to a frown. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m selling vacuum cleaners.”

“And I’m Santa Claus. Now tell me what you want, or . . .” The goon leveled the gun. “Bang, bang.”

Jake stood slowly to his feet. “I’m looking for David Haines.”

“Never heard of him. Now, sit back down.” He waved the gun, and Jake sat down on the cot and leaned back.

“Stay there.” He grinned and reached into his jacket and removed a wallet. “Here’s your wallet, Jake Lincoln.” He tossed it at Jake.

Jake caught the wallet and watched as the man removed a cell phone from his jacket pocket, and kept one eye on his prisoner while he dialed.

“Mr. Craig, we caught Jake Lincoln. He was snooping around here.”

Jake could hear a voice come through the phone. He couldn’t tell what was said, but whoever it was, he was shouting.

“Don’t worry, he’s not getting away,” the thug said.

The goon listened to the voice on the phone, and then, “Yes, he’s alone.” Then, “Yes, I’m sure she’s not here.” More listening, and then, “I’ll check around outside. He must have got here somehow, and when I find his car, hopefully she’s there too.”

The thug listened intently, and then, “I’ll tell Wolff you’re on your way.” He hung up the phone, slipped it back into his pocket and smiled. “The boss is coming over. I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet you.” He laughed. “And before we’re done with you, you’ll be worshipping at his feet.”

The thug turned, left the room and pulled the door closed behind him. Jake heard a grating as a bolt lock slid shut.

He raced to the door but it was securely locked. As he shook it, the metal barrier rattled on its hinges, but remained solid.

Annie was in danger. He had to get out of here somehow.

He felt the back of his head. There was a lump, but the aching had subsided. He looked down at his cell phone holder. No surprise, the phone was gone.

Now what?

Chapter 59

Friday, August 26th, 2:12 PM

ANNIE JUMPED from the vehicle. She had to find out what was keeping Jake. He’d been gone too long, and she was worried he may be in danger.

She ducked under a low-hanging branch, went to the tree line and stopped short. Someone was coming from the barn, and though she couldn’t see clearly from this distance, she could tell it wasn’t Jake.

She crouched down and squinted to see better as he stood and glanced in all directions, as if looking for someone, and then headed to the road.

She had an uneasy feeling something was wrong. Where was Jake? If he’s in danger, and she were discovered, they could both be in big trouble.

She scrambled past the Firebird, and then keeping low, she scurried deeper down the lane-way, hidden by the row of trees, until she was parallel to the rear of the barn.

She stopped behind a sprawling pine, peered around and saw the man, still ambling toward the road, his back to her.

The barn was fifty feet away, but she could make it. It was the only choice she had.

Keeping one eye on the man, she dashed across the open field, and then unseen, to the back of the building. He’d made it to the road and was peering left and right. The Firebird wasn’t visible from where he stood, but she knew he would discover it eventually.

She dashed along the back of the barn and circled to the far side. There were no windows in the building, and as she moved forward, she kept an eye on the road, fearful the man may return.

She peeked around the front corner. He was moving toward the row of pines, and their vehicle. It was still out of sight, but he would see it soon. She had to hurry.

She eased forward and peered in a small window beside the entrance door.

A black Escalade. They had the right place.

She saw no one in the garage, so she tested the door and found it unlocked. Jake must be inside.

She turned and glanced toward the road. The man was out of sight, so she eased the door open, stepped inside, circled the vehicle, and crept across the room to another door that led into the main part of the building. She inched the door open and peered down a hallway. She could see a series of closed doors, leading off both sides, and the main room of the building at the end of the hall.

Where was Jake?

Swinging the door open carefully, she stepped into the hallway. The door clicked behind her as she eased it shut. She spun around. The only way out of this place lay behind, and only the unknown lay ahead. What had they gotten themselves into?

She shook off her fear, took a couple of deep breaths and tiptoed to the first room on her right. There was a sliding panel on the door, and her heart jumped when she saw a hand-written label above the panel.

David Haines was here.

She started to tremble. This was certainly the right place, a dangerous crazy place, and only her thoughts of Jake kept her from turning back.

She slid the panel and peered through the small viewing window. A cot stood against the far wall, and a boy lay on it, his knees bent, with his hands behind his head. He faced the door, and she recognized him from his picture. It was David.