“Hey, slick, before you go…”
Rye shoved open the door to the stairwell and looked over his shoulder at Timmy.
He tipped his head toward the end of the hall. “On her back or hands and knees?”
Rye left him cackling over his own wit.
4:57 p.m.
When the elevator door opened on the third level of the parking garage, Rye was ready with the fire extinguisher. He sprayed them with the foam, most of it aimed at their faces. “It’s not a laser, but you get the idea.”
He threw the fire extinguisher at Timmy’s head. It connected. He howled and bent double. Rye knew he would come up with a knife in his hand.
“Goliad, was he the laser man?”
Goliad, clawing foam out of his eyes, nodded, spat, “Stupid little shit.”
Rye danced backward as Timmy came stumbling blindly toward him, yelling foul epithets as he made wild arcs with a switchblade.
“And Brady White?” Rye asked.
Shaking foam off his hand, Goliad said, “I hit him.”
“Then you’re next.”
“I kept White alive. Timmy wanted to slit his throat.”
Rye growled as he caught Timmy’s arm in mid-swing and, with momentum in his favor, propelled him backward until he came up hard against a concrete pillar. Rye hammered Timmy’s hand against it until he let go of the knife; then he delivered an uppercut to Timmy’s chin. The back of his head smacked against the unforgiving column.
“That’s for Brady. This is for the laser and the man whose plane you wrecked.” He rammed his fist in the man’s shallow belly and swore he reached his spine. “This is for insulting Dr. O’Neal.” He backed up and put all he had into the kick to Timmy’s genitals.
Timmy screamed, grabbed his crotch, and pitched forward onto the floor.
By now, Goliad had drawn his weapon but held it at his side as he faced off with Rye.
Rye motioned to the handgun. “Are you going to shoot me?”
Goliad shook his head. “He had it coming.”
“Thanks for not killing me in the cabin. You could have.”
“Wasn’t the time.”
“Should I be looking over my shoulder for you?”
“I don’t have any orders regarding you now. Can’t promise I won’t.”
“And Brynn?”
He hesitated, then repeated, “Can’t promise I won’t.”
Understanding passed between them. “Fair enough.” Rye backed away a few more steps then turned and walked quickly away.
He didn’t start running until he reached the ramp; then he bolted and didn’t stop, not even when he reached the street. He ran full out for two blocks before realizing he was leaving a trail of blood.
Chapter 16
5:08 p.m.