Merciless deaths, p.4
Merciless Deaths, page 4
What’s going on?
“We don’t have time,” growled Randy.
I turned to him, my hands still in the air. “What do you want with a team of boring accountants?”
“Like my buddy said, keep your mouth shut and follow instructions,” he replied in a quiet voice.
He hadn’t corrected me when I said accountants. Did this mean he didn’t know who we really were? If that was true, we had one advantage over them.
My heart was pounding and my limbs were numb, but my brain whirled, trying to figure out an escape plan.
I would have to grapple with Noah who was blocking our only way out and make sure none of us got shot during the getaway. That was an impossible task. Katy and Win were still fast asleep.
My eyes flickered to the open champagne bottle in the bucket. Was that alcohol laced with drugs?
“I don’t know who you are,” I said, turning to Randy, “and I don’t want to know. Why don’t you let me and my friends go and you do your thing? We’ll forget this ever happened.”
“Wish it were that easy.”
“You’re not Chris Grayson’s men,” I said, glowering. “You’re just street thugs.”
“Careful,” said Randy, his voice dangerously low. “Careful who you go insulting.”
“Okay, who are you?”
Silence.
“And who’s in that van behind us?”
Noah guffawed. “Normal people freak out and pray for their lives. You’re all talk back, girl. What’s wrong with you accountants?”
Randy turned to his partner.
“Enough yapping. Get them inside.”
“I’m not carrying them,” said Noah.
“Wake them up then,” replied Randy, irritated now. “Make them walk.”
I doubted their real names were Randy Wilson or Noah James. But an even bigger worry was crawling through my brain. Neither man had had any qualms showing their faces to us.
That wasn’t a good sign.
What did they gain by holding us at gunpoint? Was my new client a member of organized crime? Were these men his goons? Why hire us as private investigators only to abduct us?
“Who’s paying you to do this?” I said, as Noah tapped Katy on the shoulder with his weapon.
“You asking to get shot?” growled Randy.
“Let my friends go. Leave them out of this. They’re innocent.”
Noah chuckled.
“We thought you’d come alone,” he said, his smile widening, goading me on. “Should have thought of that before you invited your pals.”
“Let me talk to Grayson,” I said, reaching over to pick up my phone.
“Move one inch and I shoot you dead.”
I turned to see Randy’s steely eyes boring into mine. He wasn’t joking. This was a man who would follow through with that threat.
“There’s a reason you have silencers on. You don’t want anyone to know you’re here,” I said.
The man’s cool eyes gave nothing away.
“Why kidnap us? Is it money? Tell me how much you want and let’s negotiate.”
“Enough!” snapped Randy. “Wake your friends or I’ll put a bullet through their heads.”
I leaned over and touched Katy’s knees.
“Katy?” I said, shaking her.
She stirred but didn’t wake.
I raised my voice.
“Katy!”
She blinked and slowly opened her eyes. She turned to me, her brow furrowed. That was when she noticed Noah. Her eyes widened as she saw the gun inches from her head.
Her face turned white. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She turned to me and we locked eyes. The gravity of our situation had finally sunk in.
I shook my head. I had no explanation for her except I should have been more careful. I should have trusted my gut.
I leaned toward Win.
“Wake up. Win, honey, get up.”
“Hey,” said Katy in a trembling voice, shaking Win by the shoulders. “Get up, sweetie.”
I cursed under my breath.
Where’s my Glock when I need it?
Win woke up, her movements sluggish.
“Are we there already?” she said in a weak voice, rubbing her eyes.
“Phones first,” said Noah, snapping his fingers.
Win stared at him and his weapon, her mouth open, her face clouded in confusion.
Before I could reply, Noah leaned in and grabbed my phone from the backseat.
“You too,” he said to Katy and Win. “Hand your phones over and no one gets shot. At least, not for now.”
Katy fumbled in her purse and plucked hers out. Then she took Win’s phone from her hand and gave them both to Noah.
Win just stared incomprehensibly, as if she couldn’t talk.
The champagne had been spiked. I was sure now.
I was glad Katy had only drunk half a glass and me none. We would need all our wits about us to escape these gangsters.
Randy leaned through the seats in front, the barrel of his gun aimed at my head.
“When I say when,” he said in a low voice, “I want you three to follow my buddy into the building. No talking. If you even think of running, I’ll shoot that one in the face.”
A chill went through me as he turned his weapon on Win.
Chapter Eight
I made a fast decision.
We were better off outside than in this cramped space with two gun barrels inches from our heads.
I reached over and pulled Win by the arm.
“Hun, we need to get out now. Can you stand?”
She gave me a mute look but allowed me to pry her out of her seat.
It was a raggedy crew that disembarked from the limo.
Win could barely walk. She kept blinking rapidly and making gagging sounds. Katy shuffled alongside me, woozy, though the only alcohol she’d had was the half glass of champagne moments ago.
Holding Win up by one arm and telling Katy to hang on to my shoulder, I guided my friends toward the pavement.
The white van was parked behind the limo, its engine running and those ominous yellow lights still on. Its windows were tinted almost black, but I spotted a shadow moving inside.
A shudder of terror rolled through me. If I had to conjure the perfect serial killer vehicle, this would be it.
But Randy and Noah weren’t pushing us toward it. They didn’t even glance at the van.
“Get the girls inside,” said Randy to Noah. “I’ll go help Russ.”
Russ?
“Move it,” said Noah, pushing the barrel of his gun to Win’s head. She lurched forward. I caught her just in time.
They were smarter than I thought. I was the only one alert and able to put up a fight, and both men had carefully kept their distance from me, their weapons pointed at Win or Katy.
That rendered me powerless, and they knew that.
“March!” said Noah, pressing his weapon against Win’s temple. “Faster.”
Win winced from the pressure.
I swallowed hard, trying to control a storm of fury broiling inside of me.
You hurt her, and I’ll tear your eyes out of those sockets.
I wanted nothing more than to jump on Noah and put him in a chokehold, but I knew better.
“She’s drugged, for heaven’s sake,” I growled. “We’re doing what you asked. Let her walk at her own pace.”
“We don’t have all night,” he grumbled, but he didn’t push Win anymore.
We were halfway toward the Union Lake Bank’s main entrance now.
I looked up at the glass and concrete monoliths surrounding us. It was easy to feel small and vulnerable among these towering giants. In this dark and lonely street, they looked like a mob of monsters, their beady eyes watching us, waiting to swallow us whole.
How do I get us out of this?
“Exactly why are we going to a bank?” I said.
Noah didn’t reply.
I scanned the street, praying to see someone. Anyone. But there was not a soul in sight, not even a janitorial vehicle or a security truck.
The driver of the van had stepped out and was conferring with Randy near the back. That must be Russ. The two men were putting on gloves.
The van’s back doors were wide open, like they were preparing to haul something out or put something in. I looked over at the limo. Tetyana had the plate number, but I was now sure it was forged.
That was when I caught a movement from the corner of my eye.
I turned my head.
My heart leaped.
A squad car!
It was driving at low speed along the crossroads that cut through the banker’s street. The police vehicle’s blue reflective decal was visible even from where we were.
It was all or nothing.
Pulling Win with me, I lunged backward. I whirled around and staggered along the road toward it, yelling at the top of my lungs.
“Hey! Help! Help us!”
From behind me, Noah swore. The men by the van looked up and glared, but went back to their chat.
The squad car kept driving by and soon disappeared behind the next block. I stared at the empty road, my heart pounding.
How did they not notice a bunch of people by the bank at this hour?
I stayed rooted to my spot, holding on to Win tightly, waiting for the police car to turn around, lights flashing, sirens blaring.
But nothing.
They didn’t see us.
My heart fell.
Noah laughed a hollow laugh. I turned toward him. He was pointing his gun squarely at Katy.
“You just chose which friend of yours is gonna die tonight.”
My blood chilled.
Katy had her arms in the air and was staring at me. I’d already made one mistake and had got away with it. I couldn’t risk another fatal one.
I pushed Win behind me and stepped toward Noah. “If you want to kill someone tonight, you can take me, but leave my friends out of this. Let them go. That’s all I ask.”
He chuckled again. “Oh, man, you got this so wrong.”
“Stop diddling around!” shouted Randy from the van.
Noah screwed his eyes tight.
His weapon was aimed at Katy, but his eyes were on me.
If Katy had had her full senses, this would have been the perfect moment to kick that gun out of his hands and bring him down. But my friend just stared, swaying on her feet.
“Stop playing stupid games,” snarled Noah. “Get inside the building. You and your friends. Now!”
With my arm around Win’s shoulders, I stepped toward the bank’s main doors. Katy followed behind me while our captor kept close to her, his gun at her head.
My hopes rose as we got to the main entrance.
This wasn’t a warehouse in the outskirts of town. Or a remote cabin in the woods.
This was a city bank with a security system in place. They had to have cameras, motion sensors, trip alarms, and well-trained and armed security personnel, all watching the building twenty-four-seven.
We slipped under the iron awning in front of the main entrance. As if by magic, the double glass doors slid open.
“Get in!”
I felt a rough hand on my back. Win and I stumbled inside, followed by Katy.
We stepped into the bank’s foyer and walked through the second set of sliding doors, which opened as if operated by invisible hands.
Did they have an accomplice inside the building?
Except for our footsteps on the cold marble floor, it was deadly quiet. Only the security lights were on inside. There were no signs of personnel.
Noah pushed us toward the enormous brass reception desk, which was now empty. Behind that was the bank hall with rows of wooden counters, unoccupied and darkened by the shadows.
The three of us waited by the desk, with Noah watching over us.
I turned around as the doors closed behind us. Outside, Randy and the van’s driver were struggling to pull something heavy out of the van.
While I watched, they hauled out a long black bag, both men bent awkwardly.
I peered through the glass doors, my imagination running wild. Under the dim streetlights, it looked large enough to hide an adult human body.
A body bag?
I gave my head a shake.
It was an ordinary construction bag.
Suddenly, I realized what the men were planning to do.
That bag contained equipment to cut into the vaults.
This was a heist.
Chapter Nine
“Basement three,” barked Randy.
Russ, the van driver, punched a button at the bottom of the numerical pad. The machinery whirred quietly as it descended.
We were crammed in the service elevator. Heavy plastic liners hung on three sides of the lift to protect its shiny steel walls.
No one spoke.
Russ and Randy stood by the door, their backs to us. The bag they’d hauled across the marble floor lay in between them, at their feet.
Randy was ramrod straight, one eye on his phone and another on the elevator screen, which counted floor numbers as we went down at a dizzying speed. In his right hand was his weapon with the silencer.
Russ stood slumped at the other side of the door. He was a heavyset, short man in a pair of denim jeans and a crumpled blue shirt. From the back, he looked like the typical outdoor worker you’d meet at a corner tavern on any weekend, except he was carrying a kid’s backpack, complete with a purple unicorn motif.
Russ was the only man with a black ski mask that covered everything except for his eyes.
Noah was in the back of the elevator with us, one hand gripping Katy’s arm so tightly her skin had turned white around his fingers.
The gun to her head was a clear message. If I was going to outsmart them, I would have to think hard.
From chauffeurs to kidnappers to bank robbers. Just when I thought I’d figured these men out, they surprised me.
I held Win close, my eyes darting back-and-forth, looking for clues to their next step. My brain buzzed, trying to come up with an escape plan that wouldn’t involve us getting killed.
Where are the bank’s security guards? Are they in on this too?
Within seconds, the elevator came to a stop. The doors clattered opened and the two men up front bent down to pick up the bag.
Noah pushed Katy out after them. Win and I stumbled out of the elevator, following the crowd.
We were in an underground concrete bunker.
A quick scan told me there was nowhere to run. A security camera was pointed at the elevator, and another was positioned on the ceiling to get a clear view of the corridor. But I was no longer sure if they were operating or if anyone was watching.
The men were too confident in their movements. While they had yelled at us to hurry, they had calmed down once we were all inside the building.
I took stock.
Even if I could find a way for us to get back in the elevator, Katy and Win were incapacitated, one by an unknown drug, and the other by a barrel of a gun.
Noah turned toward a panel on the wall near the elevator and turned on a switch. It was like he had known it had been there all along. I blinked as a row of bright fluorescent lights flickered above us. Win rubbed her eyes.
While the main hall upstairs was an immense open space, everything was tight down here. Unlike the intricately decorated high ceilings on the first floor, Randy’s head almost touched the bare concrete slab above us.
I wished I knew what their motives were. That would help me plot a getaway, negotiate, or trick them. Right now, I felt like I was flying a seven-four-seven in the middle of a thunderstorm, blindfolded, with a hijacker on board.
Randy and Russ hauled the black bag along the bleak and narrow passageway, while Noah pushed us along after them.
I thought the corridor would never end when we came to a small round foyer. Facing us were three enormous metallic doors, each large enough to drive a car through.
The bank vaults.
Win gripped my arm and closed her eyes, too scared to contemplate what was happening. Katy gave me a frightened look, her face drained of all color. I nodded, but my heart was palpitating and my palms sweating. I had to stay strong for them.
Russ walked to the third door to our right, tapped it, and said something in a low voice to Randy. Randy stepped up to the massive door and scrutinized the combination lock.
Ever since we got to the vaults, the men’s energy had shifted. They didn’t speak, but I felt it. Their faces were taut and their movements jerky. Russ was breathing fast and shallow, like he had just run a mile. Randy scowled and Noah’s grip on Katy tightened.
I tried to figure out their game. There was no way we would be able to stay here this long if one of these men didn’t work for the bank or their security team.
I turned to Noah, who was watching Randy work the lock.
“Why are we here?”
He didn’t reply.
“Why do you need us to rob a bank?” I said, keeping my voice level.
“Shut up, bitch,” spat Noah, turning a sullen face to me, startling Katy. He turned back to watching his partner, the lines on his forehead deepening.
Randy pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and put his hand on the combination lock. As we watched, he turned the lock to the right, then left, and on, until we heard the click.
The vault was unlocked.
The tension heightened even more.
They were in a hurry now.
Russ reached the large gear lever on the door and turned it, but it didn’t budge.
“The other way, you idiot,” snapped Randy.
How could three men with hostages break into a modern bank in the middle of a city with no one seeing or hearing what was going on?
I prayed under my breath for guards or the police to arrive at any moment.
Russ turned the wheel, panting as he did.
Another click.
“Done,” he said, as he reached for the steel handle and pulled on it.
Together, Randy and Russ heaved. The heavyset steel door opened inch by inch. Once open, Russ turned on a switch and the inside lit up.
