Roll the Dice (22 page)

No matter what, he still intended to see Rhondo pay for his sister’s
death. He couldn’t get on with his own life while the other existed. Jailed,
wouldn't work. He wanted him dead.

His sister had been beautiful, a lovely soul with a future of happiness
ahead of her, and the animal had ripped it to pieces with no thought at all of
what he’d destroyed.

Kai would have no feelings either as a bullet from his gun ripped
through the maniac who kept him from sleeping at night. In fact, he'd consider
that he'd done the world a favour, ridding it of such trash. How could one
person be allowed to hurt so many and get away with it? Take a wife and baby
from her husband and not have to pay the piper? He fanned his hands over his
head, fuzz barely breaking the skin, and rubbed until he felt the blood gather.

All through Aurora’s questioning of the witness, he'd listened. Once the
name came out, he gestured at Ham who watched for a signal from his desk.

“Got it! His name’s Fred Main.” The two high-fived and Ham held out his
hand. “Ten bucks—you’re lucky it wasn’t twenty.”

“Bite me. How did you know she’d get it in ten minutes?”

“Cause she’s the best. I’ll get the IT guys on this. They’ll find an
address if the guy’s getting anything from the government, any kind of army
pension, disability, social security. We’ll find him."

"I have no doubt."

"Oh, and tell Aurora Eddie called. Said there’s a baby shower
planned for tomorrow at a secret location. Only a select few are invited.
Invitation strictly for males.”

“What the hell? What about Debbie?”

“That’s what I wondered. Doesn’t sound good. Means we have to find them
before tomorrow.”

“Shit, where’s Cory?”

“He’s been trying to dodge the media. The hospital let loose some
information about a woman who was taken and they’re all over it. Don’t know how
long he can keep the lid on this. Once it’s out that there’s a baby involved
and it’s his own kid and wife who're hostages, the shit’s gonna hit the blades
if you know what I mean.”

Kai tried not to show his dismay, wanted to be cool, professional, a
lawman. But the human side, the caring for a friend and partner couldn’t be
denied.

“Poor bastard.”

Just then, Aurora led the way out of the small room and turned to stare
at Mike. In case there were any witnesses that could blab later, she hardened
her voice.

“Thanks for nothing, asshole. Go!”

Mike nodded, his head lowered and he went in the direction where a
uniformed officer waited to discharge him.

Kai discreetly reached for her hand and pulled her closer so he could
whisper. “Ham made ten bucks off me because of you.”

She smiled and nestled her head against his shoulder for a few seconds
as if seeking sustenance. It made him feel like he could tackle a whole
football team for her, and… score a touchdown.

They both stepped away when Ham entered. Then she held out her hand. No
words were spoken as Ham paid her with a five-dollar bill and then they banged
their fisted hands together.

Kai tightened his lips and disgust flooded his expression. The only
thing he managed to curb was rolling his eyes, but inside he knew he’d been had
and with no foreplay whatsoever. All he said was, “shame on you,” then led the
way back to their office.

***

Aurora fell into step with Ham and asked. “Anything on the address? Mike
said east of the city. Can’t be too many vacant farms out that way?”

“They’re working on it. Pat will call as soon as something pops. You
know it seems to me as if he planned this once he knew Debbie had the baby.”

“You’re right. Hey, I bet he bought a bunch of stuff for the kid. Get a
couple of guys on the infant sales at various department stores; say in the
last few days. Look up large purchases. Any news yet on which cop car he’s joy
riding in?”

Ham shook his head and said they’d know soon enough. “Evening shift’s
over now. Someone will turn up missing.’

“Sneaky bugger had to have read the manual to know what to answer when
dispatched called for them to sign in.”

“Either that or he beat the hell out of the cop to get him to talk.”

“And probably enjoyed it. The sicko has to be stopped.”

“We’ll get him, Rory. He’s in our sights.”

Before Aurora could snap at Ham for using her nickname, Ham’s phone rang
and he slid it out of his pocket and pushed talk.

“What’s up?”

Aurora watched his face harden and knew the news was bad.

The three went to Cory’s office where Kai informed them all in a clipped
voice loaded with steel blades. “Officer Alison Jones. Beaten and raped. Her
partner, Jim Lynch was shot but not fatally. Call just came in. They were found
in an abandoned warehouse south side of town. His uniform was stolen along with
their car, guns and ammunition.

“Crap! This guy is so pissing me off,” Cory said, voice thick and edgy.
He looked exhausted. “Anything on that address yet?

Afraid to speak, Aurora only shook her head.
 
Profanity had gathered and there was a devil pounding in her head
to let the words loose.

 
We’ll ride together on this
one.” He stared Aurora down and then Kai. “You don’t leave without me, hear?”

They both nodded. Only Aurora felt a chill creeping up her back.
Vigilante stuff didn’t sit well with her. She’d become a police officer because
she believed in the law. The chills hit again and the ring tone in her ear
started to hum low but strong. Satan hovered and wanted his fun.

An excited Pat barged into the room; his nerdy look of Mohawk hair,
tattoo sleeve and dangling turquoise earring didn’t detract from his genius
whatsoever. IT was lucky he’d decided to play on their side. “It’s about an
hour’s drive—old place in the middle of nowhere. Pretty well abandoned
according to all the information. No running water, guess there’s a well,
electricity’s just been turned on and there’s a big default on the taxes. Took
us some time to track it down, but we got him.

Cory had grabbed his gun and vest and was already out the door by the
time the others had collected themselves. Both headed in the direction of their
office to retrieve their firearms and Kai caught Ham’s eye and nodded. “We’re
on. Get the team assembled. Pat has the address and will feed us directions
online. Cory’s riding with us. We’ll need backup so take care of organizing the
rest.”

Kai started to head for the driver’s seat, hesitated, and then nodded
for Aurora to take over. She drove like a maniac, but a skilful one. Within a
short time of weaving through the city streets, sirens screaming a frenzied
warning, they were flying down the highway.

Sunrise promised to soon peek over the horizon and beautify the
lightening of the sky. The damp cool would be gone once the sun took its place
and the hot glare would batter viciously at anyone out in the open.

Cory turned to Kai in the back seat. “Look and see if the medication the
hospital sent over for Debbie is in the pack I grabbed. It’s beside you on the
back seat.” Tension filled the vehicle until Kai confirmed the pills were
indeed there.

“Good. They warned that she shouldn’t be without them any longer than
necessary. They’d just gotten things under control, but a day without the
drugs, and she'd have a dangerous setback."

“No matter what it takes, we’ll get them to her.” Kai’s words evoked
images in all their minds but none were spoken.
 

Finally, Aurora broke the dead silence. As if a baby elephant rode in
the car with them, she couldn’t ignore how badly these two men wanted Rhondo,
or better still, wanted justice.

“So when we get there, we inspect the situation and wait for back up.
Maybe line up a hostage team to talk him down. They'll be no vigilante crap.”

“Right.” Kai answered first.

“Absolutely.” Cory’s croak came next.

At the first sight of the shack, Debbie's stomach plunged and fear rode
her back like a diseased monkey needing a fix. Dread seeped in forming
goosebumps, and her skin crawled. She had no idea what would happen next.
Knowing the revolting male next to her was a psycho didn't help her misgivings.
Sick to her stomach, sweat gathered all over her body, most likely a warning
about the reoccurring infection still raging inside.

Thoughts jangled, zinging back and forth as she looked for a way out
.
Not that she’d give the sicko next to
her the satisfaction of seeing her beg. She did that once, and the disgust and
self-hatred still hadn’t left her.

Cradled in her arms Alec slept, such a little angel. His tiny face
scrunched up like a prune, tufts of hair sticking out, he snuffled and
wriggled.
 
Then he started to waken, and
comprehension hit her like a sledgehammer. She’d do anything to keep her baby
safe. Anything! Beg, scream, even keep her sarcastic mouth shut. Whatever it
took!

Maybe if she played Rhondo, stopped the silent treatment and got him
talking again, he’d be cool. She’d seen his constant glances at Alec and knew
he thought the baby was his. Good thing she’d left the report back in the room
that she’d received earlier this morning. The one where they’d tested Alec’s
DNA with Cory’s and the results were ninety-nine point eight percent positive.

Probably not a good idea to let that little bit of information out just
yet! Alec seemed to be this man's one link to humanity. So as long as the baby
didn’t get hurt, she’d use that weakness to keep them alive until the troops
arrived. If there was one thing she’d roll the dice on, it was that Aurora and
Cory would turn up.

Once he stopped the car, she broke her silence and asked. “Whose place
is this? Looks abandoned.”

Rhondo searched her expression and seemed to relax. “Has been for years,
since my grandpa died in the nineties. The old man’s left it to rot. I wanted
it, but he said he had to die first. Then if the government hadn’t confiscated
it for back taxes, I could have it—but not until then. Bastard! In its day, the
place looked good. My grandpa worked hard to keep it nice.”

His expression had hardened by the time he finished the explanation, and
she’d gathered a couple of things. He hated his dad and had loved his grandpa.

On the up side, if there were a family home recorded anywhere, her
friends would find it and be here by morning. “Your dad doesn’t like the farm?”

“Nah. Fred Main never liked to get his hands dirty.
 
Left as soon as he was old enough to join
the army.

“Fred Main? He’s your dad? How come the different name?” Her heart
stopped beating for a few seconds as a ping of painful anxiety flipped around
her insides.
Oh no!

“He refused to adopt me. Said only a real man could use his name.”
Rhondo’s tone had hardened as he sneered the last words. Then as if he’d
decided that he’d said too much, he gathered up his gun and pointed it towards
her. “Pass the baby here.”

She squeezed the baby closer to her body. “He’ll cry if I do. He doesn’t
know you, and he’ll make strange.” The baby had already begun to whine, and
Debbie knew it wouldn’t be long before his hungry cry blasted their eardrums.
The baby had the same voice level as his father—loud and demanding. “I promise
not to do anything stupid.”

“Give him here. Whether it was the freezing quality in his words that
made her shiver, or the inhumanity she sensed in his soul, arguing with the man
wouldn’t help the situation.

She passed Alec over, carefully holding his head until Rhondo had him
firmly. The light from the now opened door showed a man swooning with love for
the tiny child in his arms. How one person could wear so many masks, Debbie
would never know. But the instincts of a mother kicked in and she knew without
a doubt that this disgusting piece of trash loved her son.

Once inside the house, Rhondo flipped on the lights and Debbie had a
chance to survey her surroundings. There was one main room with the kitchen on
the left, a large country table in the middle and the living area on the right.
Wallpaper from the sixties adorned the walls. Faded grey linoleum, with the
pattern worn off in many spots, gave the space a cold feel. Or maybe it was the
dust everywhere and dirty appliances that had revulsion curling her lip.

“I know it isn’t much now, but when Grandpa was alive, the place looked
good. I bought a bunch of stuff for the baby and brought it out yesterday. The
fridge is turned on and should be ready. Go out to the car and bring in the
stuff from the trunk.”

Debbie took another look, and sure enough, piled on the sagging sofa
were articles she would need. A baby seat for Alec to sleep in sat on floor
while boxes of diapers, and mounds of bags were visible—even a playpen and a
walker, which he wouldn’t be able to use for months. The man must have spent a
fortune.

Finally the little guy’s patience had worn out. When Rhondo had first
cuddled him, it seemed as if the baby sensed that he was in the arms of someone
he could trust—as if he felt safe. But now all he felt was hunger and they knew
about it.