Chapter Fifty
Precisely at two, the pool cleaner’s van arrived at the back fence and Charli and the girls were waiting to make the costume change with each of the undercover police women that were assigned to the case. Dressed as the normal pool cleaners would, in shorts and t-shirts, caps securely on their heads, they followed the plan.
John stood watch at the front door. As soon as he saw his new friend and his pooch arrive, he strolled out to meet them, and they ambled off together.
First, Charli did the quick change, pulled the cap well down over her hair and strutted out to the waiting van, followed by the other two teens. In no time, they’d made the exchange and were headed to the coffee shop to pick up John.
Kayla spotted him just as they were arriving, and Charli decided to hold back until the other old fellow left before making a move.
“Let’s just wait until he’s alone. I don’t want to call any attention to us in any way.” She pulled over to a parking spot on the side of the road and turned off the motor.
No one thought anything when John began walking their way, his friend at his side. Charli knew when her gramps made friends he could go overboard in his welcome.
Her old Poppa John liked everyone he met until they proved to be unlikable. Only then, did he drop them. When she questioned him about his faith in people, he gave her his this-is-a-lesson look and said, “When I meet a person, it’s with the expectation that they’re good people. When they prove me wrong, my trust disintegrates and I back away. But sometimes, you know, you have to give folks more than one chance to prove their mettle.”
His philosophy in life had always been – nobody’s perfect. If you have low expectations from someone else, that’s what you’ll always receive from them in return.
Only this time, they needed him to lose his new friend and just get into the van. Charli watched as he did just that. He’d turned to the white-haired, white-bearded fellow walker, shook his hand, patted the small dog standing between them and started to walk away.
Except, that’s when his new friend dropped the leash, turned on him, held a gun to his side and roughly frog-marched him the last few feet to the van. The dog began barking, sensing a problem, and got kicked out of the way for his trouble.
John, realizing the crisis, screamed a warning, “Go, Charli, go.” When he began to yell, the dog barked more and only John’s struggling stopped the maniac from taking a shot to stop the yapping.
Charli grabbed her gun from under the seat where she’d stashed it and took aim; only there was no shot without endangering her grandfather, something she had no intention of doing. Once the men had gone past the side of the van where the walls were without windows, she had no chance.
Both the girls were screaming for the monster to let John go and Angie had opened her door, on her way to his rescue. Charli had to haul her back by the hair. “Stop it. Stay in the van.” She didn’t step on the gas, she couldn’t, though everything about duty screamed inside her – you have Kayla… get away.
Kayla yelled, “No, Charli. We have to save Poppa John.”
By then, the decision had been made. Both the men had climbed in the back of the van, Dylan shoving John to get him in, and even the dog had somehow sidled in next to John, huddling close to his side.
The lighter-skinned black man holding the gun pulled off his full beard and his old man’s cap. He ran his hand through his tight white curls and wiped the sweat away. “Fucking costume’s so hot, I could’ve stroked out. Let’s go Agent Madison. I want us out of here or first, the dog gets it and then, the old man.”
Charli stepped on the gas and headed back the way she’d come.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“You told me to drive, you never said where.” Her voice could have solidified rain.
The two girls, seated in the front of the old van with her were crying, huddled together, Kayla secretly typing on her phone.
“If I see anyone messing around, I swear, it’s game over. I’m sick and tired of dealing with this shit. Alicia, you should have minded your own business that night. Look what you’ve done now; everyone has to die because you’re a nosy bitch.” The resentment in his voice came through loud and clear. The man was not happy.
Within a short time, Charli watched in the rearview mirror and saw Blake’s fancy Jeep pull out from behind a car and sneak into the lane next to hers. She felt slightly better, knowing she wasn’t alone. But no telling what the maniac would do before he made them stop.
“I’m driving in circles here. Where do you want me to go?” She kept her voice level, hiding her relief.
“There’re warehouses out by the airport. Head in that direction and while we’re on the way, maybe say your prayers. You know what’s in store for the lot of you. Truth is, I can’t wait to get this over with and get back to the real world. You ladies have led me on one hell of a chase, so don’t expect any sympathy from me.”
Charli heard the thud as he kicked the dog, who had begun to whine. The poor animal screamed in pain, and John snatched him up in his arms.
“Shut up, you stupid mutt. Don’t know why I picked you from all the others. You’ve been nothing but a fucking headache ever since I broke you loose from the pound.”
Charli checked the rearview mirror and saw John cuddle the poor animal onto his lap, while the golden dog, who looked like a mix of terrier and poodle, shivered, eyes enlarged and looking as if they were full of tears.
“Right, you freak. Go to John. Think he’ll save you? It ain’t gonna happen.”
John began to speak, rage apparent, but Charli cut him off. “Do as he says, Gramps. Just do as he says.”
“Listen to your granddaughter, John. Oh, and Charli, if you want the old man to live one more second, you’ll pass over your weapon. No way would any cop worth their wages be out here without a gun. And from what I’ve read, you’re one of Seattle’s finest.” The sneer was unmistakable.
Charli reached under the seat, pulled out the Glock and handed it over her shoulder. She saw Angie holding Kayla close. Tears dripped down Kayla’s face, her behavior screaming – it’s all my fault. I’m to blame.
Angie didn’t cry. Instead, she secretly lifted her shirt and leaned forward enough for Charli to see the gun she’d hidden in her belt. One of the guns from Blake’s cabinet.
Charli’s stomach dropped.
Now the prayers began in earnest.