“You sure?” the sergeant asked. He looked between Tony and Hank.
Even though Hank had washed the blood from his face where Natalie had scratched him in the warehouse, in the afternoon sun, the long dark scabs atop swollen red streaks drew attention to his marred cheeks. Tony looked back at the soldier. His eyes had drawn to the sorry-assed drunk in front of him, and although he couldn’t see the overweight man’s face, he could picture the terrified expression he must be wearing.
“I thought I had cables in the trunk,” Tony said, “but I was wrong.”
He had been in tight spots before and had always been able to talk or fight his way out of them. He shifted his eyes back and forth between the two lean soldiers and recognized that fighting wasn’t an option. He was probably the only one armed, but he didn’t see any way to shoot everyone and get out of here without being noticed. If he was going to escape this confrontation, he knew it would take his wits not fire power. Hank was too weak to put up a defense and Rudy wouldn’t help since he had allowed his girl to become a victim. That left Tony little choice.
“We just found out this gentleman can’t help us after all.”
“Well then sir, you should be on your way,” the soldier said. Then to Tony, he continued. “Perhaps we can help.”
Natalie had heard voices outside and then the key jerked out of the lock. It was obvious something happened to stop them from opening the lid. Since her surprise attack seemed to have failed, she wondered what to do. One of the voices outside was new. She could pound on the cover like she planned to do before, but she couldn’t resolve that to alert him might hurt him. If she did reveal herself, Tony had no reason to open the trunk and with his pistol somewhere near, his reaction was unpredictable. He had warned her several times to keep quiet if someone approached, or they would die first and then she would. She needed to change her plight but not if it cost someone else’s life. It seemed the odds for now were stacked against her, so, she relaxed, and decided to wait for a better opportunity.
Tony stood behind the big man and buttoned his tweed jacket to hide the exposed gun, He put his left hand on the man’s shoulder, broke a broad smile and said to the sergeant, “Thanks for the offer.”
Tony gave the drunk a gentle push and the man started to walk the narrow path between the two cars. Under Tony’s hand, the fat bastard’s shoulder quivered like a caged bird at the sight of a hungry cat, and he drew strength from the fear building in him.
“You know this thing’s temperamental,” Tony said to the soldier as he stepped to the side of the driver’s door. “Sometimes after it sits for while it just turns right over. Before we bother you further, I should give it another try.”
The soldier stepped aside and let the weighty man pass. Tony watched him disappear around the yellow coupe to the driver’s side. Seconds later, the car slipped into gear and eased away from the scene.
The fact that the drunk within minutes would be weaving his way through the streets of Reno was not lost on Tony, but he threw a smile to the soldier and said, “I’ll just give it a try.”
Tony turned back toward Hank. He stood frozen by the trunk with the dread expression of a skydiver in free-fall who just discovered his parachute wouldn’t open. “Toss me the keys.”
Hank looked down at his hand and, turned his face into a nervous smile and threw them to Tony.
Rudy had done little else but watch the two uniformed men. At one point the soldier nearest him had looked his way and Rudy had tried to telegraph him a plea for help, but with the tinted window between them, he wasn’t even sure the man knew he was there. He had hoped their appearance would create a way out for Natalie. After all, there were two of them, obviously trained soldiers, maybe even fresh from combat in the Middle East. To put their life on the line would be as much a daily routine as waking up. If they got into a fight, Tony didn’t stand a chance unarmed, but he had an advantage they knew nothing about—that silver barreled pistol.
Tony had another weapon in his arsenal, though. While in the warehouse, Rudy had been ecstatic at Tony’s ability to manipulate people with his golden tongue. And he had done it with Natalie. With just a few choice words and the right inflection, he had motivated her to not only take off her clothes in front of perfect strangers, but have sex on camera. Now he was at it again, about to talk his way out of this confrontation. Rudy knew the car would start, the soldiers would leave, and Natalie would not only still be captive in the trunk, but at risk of losing her life.
He opened his door.
Tony heard the rear door’s dry hinges creak behind him and turned to face Rudy as he stood up. His eyes said it all. He had had it and was ready to end this. Tony knew he was out numbered, and with Rudy about to become unpredictable, things could careen out of control in the next few seconds.
“Hey Tom,” Tony said, “finally woke up. My god, you’ve been out a while.” He opened the driver’s door and turned back toward the soldiers. “We’re losin’ all our money on craps and this guy’s droppin’ his in the slots. I think he drowned his losses in beer. Get back in Tom, we’re just about to leave.”
_____
©
Jearl Rugh 2012
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