One Simple Memory (19 page)

Sean was curious. He sat up straight and looked at her. “Who?”

“I called my father back.” She raised her eyebrows. “I told him that if and when the police got involved, and he didn’t confess to what he knew, that he was dead to me. That he would never see or hear from me ever again, and he would never meet or see his grandchildren. If he ever has any.”

Sean was shocked that she would make that call. He had thought she was done with him already, but then again, James was the only family she had. “What did he say?”
             

“He told me he was sorry for everything, and if he could take everything back, he would. He said he would do whatever it took to keep his family.” She began to gather the papers and photos on the table to put back into the folder.

“That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“So what’s he going to do?” He helped gather the paper and looked at her.

“I don’t know really, I guess we will have to wait and see.” With all the papers, and photos together she put them in the folder, closed it and set it in front of her.

“All right then, so now we wait?” He questioned her.

“Yep. Let your brother and Simon come to us. They know we’re here. I will call the police and get the ball rolling.” She grinned.

Sean really hoped her plan worked out and no one got hurt. Jenn getting hurt was the last thing he wanted.

Sean knew a little bit about his brother. Knowing that he was human too, is what allowed them the time to sleep. Knowing that he would have to regroup during daylight hours, is what allowed them to relax during the day. His brother proved him right. Jenn and Sean were curled up on the couch watching an early evening movie, when Sean noticed a shadow creep by the window beside the TV. He gave Jenn a little body squeeze. “Jenn.” He whispered.

Jenn yawned. “Yeah?”

Sean shifted on the couch. “I think they’re here.” He turned the TV off with the remote.

She turned her head to face him. “Let’s do this.” She said with excitement in her voice. She sat up on the couch and stretched.

Sean chuckled at Jenn’s excitement. His fierce woman ready to fight. He hadn’t seen her like that before and it was hot. He liked that side of her. Sean noticed another shadow pass by the window. He knew both men were there and it was time. “Grab the phone and head to your room.” Taking charge of the situation he instructed Jenn what to do.

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She grabbed the portable phone and headed towards her -bedroom.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that eye roll, babe.” He laughed shaking his head. “This was your plan.”  He went to his bag to grab his gun. He checked to see that it was loaded and shoved it in the back of his pants. He didn’t plan to use it, but if he had to, he would.

He heard a door knob jiggle. He knew the doors were locked, but Jake knew how to pick them. Sean stalked over to the bathroom and slipped in. No lights were on, and he wanted to try and keep that to his advantage. Jenn’s house was not big, and the layout was simple, but in the dark, you could trip over anything and everything that got in your way.

Sean heard the front door open, it creaked since the hinges needed oiling. Keeping as quiet as he could, he wait and listened. Two sets of footsteps entered. He tried to peek through the crack of the door to see what was happening, but all he could see was shadows. Then he heard whispers.

“They must be sleeping.” Jake whispered.

Simon quietly moved further into the room. “That makes it easier for us.” He looked around.

Jake advanced further into the room, bumping into a table. “Fuck.” Jake gritted under his breath. “It’s so damn dark in here, how the hell are you walking around in here and not hitting anything?” He whispered, pain clearly evident.

“I am taking my time and feeling my way around, you jackass.” Simon grumbled.
             

Sean heard them move further into the room and closer to the bedroom. He needed to distract them. He had tested the bathroom door earlier in the day to see if it squeaked, and it didn’t, so he was safe. He looked around the dark room, glancing from shadow to shadow to see what he could toss. There was a cup on the vanity, it was plastic so he felt that was good enough. He eased the door open and tossed it out a little ways and listened for the slight thump as it hit the ground.

Jake turned around. “What was that?”

Simon pulled his gun from the back of his pants, took the safety off. “Someone knows we are here.” Simon spoke casual.

“What?” Jake whispered.

“Oh, cut the crap you idiot. You can’t be that stupid. Your brother knows we’re here.”

“Yo, Sean. Why don’t you come on out bro.” Jake shouted.

Sean stood in the bathroom listening to the fools in the living room. Did he leave his hiding place, go face to face with them, or pray the police showed up before someone got hurt? He didn’t know Simon that well, but he knew he wasn’t a patient man. With hopes that the police were quick, he opened the bathroom door, and with his gun raised, he stepped out.

The clouds shifted at just the right time, allowing the moon to shine in the windows. Just enough light shone in to make out each person placed in the room and who had what in their hands. Sean noted that Simon had a gun raised and was heading toward the bedroom. Jake was just standing there and was empty handed. “Simon, stop right there.” He cocked the gun in warning.

Simon stopped in his tracks and turned. He kept his gun raised and pointed in Sean’s direction. “Brave little fucker, aren’t you.”

“This shit is going to end here. And it is going to end now.” Sean growled.

Jake stood there. He looked between the two men as if watching a tennis match. Shaking his head, he reached around to the back of his pants and pulled his gun out. He cocked it and pointed it at Sean. “What the fuck man? Why you go turning on us?”

“Seriously, Jake?” Sean gritted out. “Grow a fuckin’ pair and open your eyes. This isn’t our war. It’s dad’s. Too many innocent people have been killed or are being killed.”

“Oh, poor baby has grown a conscience.” Simon laughed.

“And you, motherfucker, are just as bad as our father.” Sean spit out. He looked to Jake. “You do realize, Jake, that if you didn’t complete your job, dear ol’ Simon here would have killed you, too?” He looked back to Simon for confirmation.

Simon shrugged his shoulders. “It’s just business.”

Jake looked at Sean, then at Simon. “Simon knows I would complete my job, unlike some useless piece of shit like you.” Jake taunted him.

Sean had to laugh. Jake was so blind, so corrupted by his father. He had been doing their father's bidding for so much longer than he, there was no help left for him now. He was a lost cause. “Suit yourself, Jake. Either way, you are all going to pay.”

Simon cocked his gun, the sound was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. He narrowed his eyes, aimed the gun and fired.

Sean tried to move out of the aim of fire, but he wasn’t fast enough. He was hit, and it hurt like a son of a bitch. His body jolted to the left. When the impact of the bullet hit his upper arm, he almost lost his balance. Without dropping his gun, he grabbed his injured arm and applied pressure, growling in pain. “Fuck!” He gritted out. Blood dripped down his arm. He heard a muffled scream come from the bedroom and hoped that Jenn wouldn’t come out and get it harm’s way.

Sean returned fire at Simon but missed, as he heard the bullet ricochet off what he assumed was the table lamp and hit a wall somewhere. He was normally a good shot, but with trying to stop himself from bleeding out and worrying about Jenn, his aim just plain sucked. He heard Simon chuckle as he backed up against the wall to hold himself up, never lowering his gun or his eyes from the men both aiming at him.

He noticed Jake moving closer to the bedroom. Not wanting him to get any closer, he directed his aim at his brother and fired. He managed to hit Jake in one of his legs as he watched his brother stumble to the ground. “Stay the fuck down Jake, or I will shoot again.” Sean yelled out.

“Saving me a part of my job.” Simon snickered and peered over at Jake bleeding on the floor by the bedroom. He shook his head and looked back at Sean and moved closer to him. As he moved he began to yell out. “Oh, little girl. If you want your brave boyfriend here to live, I would get out here right the fuck now!” Simon cocked his gun again.

The bedroom door opened slowly, and Sean noticed her trembling body standing in the doorway. “Stay there, Jenn. Don’t come any closer.”  Sean looked at Jake and saw he was more concerned about his bleeding leg than the situation evolving in the room. Which worked out well in Jenn’s favor. He noticed her look down at Jake and then back at Simon and him. In the moonlight he saw the tears streaming down her face.

“Get over here bitch, or I will shoot him again!” Simon yelled at Jenn. “Now!” Aiming the gun at Sean.

Sean squeezed his eyes tight. This was not how he wanted it to play out. He opened his eyes and noticed that Jenn was moving. He looked right at her and shook his head. He didn’t want her any closer.

Simon looked back at Sean then back towards Jenn. He moved his firing arm off to the right just a smidgen and fired.

Sean ducked to the left and Jenn screamed.

“That is the last warning you get bitch, now get the fuck over here.” Simon growled out.

Sean noticed out of his peripheral vision that Jake seemed to have come to his senses. He repositioned himself on the floor and beginning to take aim. He hoped that Jake would aim at him, but Jake was taking aim at Jenn. “Jenn, get down!” Sean yelled.

Suddenly, the front door burst open. “Put your guns down and your hands up. We have you surrounded.” That was when everyone noticed the flashing blue and red lights outside. Several police officers stormed into the house as each man lowered their weapon.

Sean lowered his gun as the commotion began, he thanked the lord that the police had arrived. He didn’t get a chance to move far before Jenn was suddenly wrapping him in her arms and checking him for injuries. He felt her hands on his arm and he winced. He gritted through the pain. He just barely heard her tell the police that they need to call the paramedics. Between the pain and Jenn’s warm body, even though it was trembling and she was crying, he was thankful to be alive.

Down at the police station, Sean and Jenn watched as Jake and Simon were booked for breaking and entering, attempted murder and holstering non-registered weapons. They were placed in separate cells with a bail hearing set for the next day.

They were then placed in an interrogation room after Sean refused to go to the hospital. They sat in uncomfortable chairs, but at least they had a table to lean on. Sean’s arm was bandaged and in a sling. Jenn knew she would have to get him to the hospital afterwards.
             

Sean looked to be getting drowsy from the pain meds he received from the paramedics. The detective finally decided to make his appearance after making them wait nearly twenty minutes. Sean looked at the man, to Jenn, then adjusted his sling.

“It’s quite the coincidence that this all was happening this evening, Miss Samos.” The detective stated. “We have had a James Samos at the precinct all afternoon, spilling his guts on all illegal affairs unknown to mankind about those two men locked up.”