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It’s the strangest thing, how natural this feels, just like we’re back at work.
He walks over and hands me the key. In the same motion, I give him the gun, and he aims it at the men as I unlock his cuffs.
He grins once the cuffs are off, letting out a long sigh.
“You’ve got no idea how good that feels,” he says.
“Keep them covered,” I tell him. “I need to make a call.”
I take out my cell phone and quickly dial Peggy’s landline.
“Hello?”
It’s Jennifer’s voice, her tone taut. Lucifer yaps in the background.
“It’s me,” I say, trying to keep my tone even. “You need to listen. There’s a safe room in what looks like an outhouse at the rear of the property.”
“Yeah, Patrick told me,” she says quietly. “Before he ran out to the store.”
“He’s not at the store. Peggy betrayed me. My guess is Patrick knew, and now they’re leaving the country.”
“What about Kelly?” Jennifer’s voice cracks. “What happens….”
She cuts off when there’s a loud crashing sound in the background. A moment later, the alarm starts whining over the line.
“What was that?” I snap.
“Somebody broke a window.”
Even Benny’s barking now.
“The safehouse,” I tell her. “Right now. The code is….”
“I’ve got it. Patrick gave it to me.”
“I guess he felt guilty,” I say. “Now, Jennifer. I’m on my way. Stay on the line and tell me when you’re safe.”
Matt is walking between the men, gun aimed as he strips them of ammo and additional weapons. He tosses the knives and guns into the woods, then takes a rifle from a strap over Lance’s shoulder. Lance wakes up and tries to fight. Then Matt sticks the gun in his face.
“I was never broken,” Matt says fiercely. “I just let you stupid fucks believe I was. How do you want to play this?”
“I’m in the garden.” Jennifer’s voice is breathy, gunshots cracking in the background. “Something bad’s happening at the front of the house. The guards are fighting somebody. Jamie.”
“Just keep moving.”
My hand is so tight around the phone.
“Don’t stop….”
The line cuts out, leaving me to stare bleakly for a few moments, wasting precious time.
Matt’s already started zip-tying the men, moving with the casual swiftness of a man who’s drilled a task countless times.
“I have to take the car,” I tell him. “Matt, I’m sorry to ask you this now – and there’s so much I want to say, believe me – but I need you to rescue a civilian.”
“Kelly,” Matt says, nodding. “I overheard the guards talking, and Junior, that deranged fuck, he even bragged about the things they were going to do to her.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, moving for the driver’s seat.
“Don’t be.” Matt checks the scope of the gun and the clip. “I’ve been waiting for this, Jamie. For years. A chance to do some damage.”
“Save Kelly,” I tell him fiercely. “That’s your mission, and then rendezvous at….”
I pause, trying to think of places Peggy won’t know.
“Dad’s old fishing cabin,” I say.
Matt nods. “Sounds like a plan. See you soon.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.
He smirks. “I’m sober. I’m trained. I’m ready. You’re asking the wrong motherfucker if he’s okay. Ask the walking dead men keeping a civilian hostage.”
With that, Matt turns and starts jogging through the forest, his head down.
He looks odd, with his wild hair, but still moving like a SEAL.
I haven’t got time to think about Matt, Kelly, or anybody except for Jennifer.
Lance laughs grimly from his place on the ground, hands zip-tied behind his back.
“You can’t trust him,” he says. “Just a couple of nights ago, he was laughing as the boss had some fun with a girl who owed some money. You know what I’m saying.”
Sudden heat boils into me. I spin on Lance, wrenching him to his feet and head-butting him so hard his legs kick out as though trying to find victory.
His nose erupts, and he stares at me with teary eyes.
“I don’t doubt you forced him to do, say, and endure some evil shit,” I snarl, “but don’t for a second think he wanted it, any of it. Don’t for a second think he wasn’t playing you every step of the way.”
Matt may be many things. A junkie once, a wild man in many ways. But he’s good, when it matters, always.
I throw Lance to the ground and climb into the car, muttering a silent prayer.
The phone cut out because the cordless lost its range. Please let that be it.
Speeding down the dirt road, I can only hope I see Matt again.
But mostly, I’m aching for Jennifer, thinking of her, Lucifer, and Benny in the safe room.
I can’t let anything happen to her.
Our entire future is at stake, our family.
Dialing Jennifer again, I push my foot down on the pedal, speeding down the road and kicking up big clouds of dirt.
