“Like Santa with a gun,” Hal said.
Ben’s gun zeroed in on him.
“You said I could choose,” Sadie reminded him.
“You choose this one?” The gun switched to Luke. “I thought you’ve been friends since you were kids, not that I’m disparaging your choice. I’m simply trying to follow your reasoning.”
“I would like to talk it through, if you don’t mind. Hal and I are new friends, but I like him. Yes, Luke and I have been friends since we were babies. The thing about childhood friends is that they share all of your experiences. Luke and I used to do everything together. My dad took us camping; he taught us how to shoot. He was really into teaching us how to take care of ourselves. If you want my opinion, he was a little paranoid. Do you remember, Luke, how much we loved to play cops and robbers with him?”
She paused and smiled. Another message, but what? He flashed back to playing cops and robbers with Gideon. The reason it had been so much fun was because Gideon had made it seem real. He hadn’t gone easy on them because they were kids. He had wanted them to figure out how to extricate themselves from tight situations in case they ever got in trouble. Sometimes the game had felt so real that Luke had felt a little afraid. Not Sadie, though. She had thrived. There was nothing Gideon threw at them that she couldn’t handle, and suddenly he understood what she was trying to say.
“Yes, I remember,” he said.
Stall, stall, stall.
“You would have loved it, Ben. In fact, it’s probably because of those games that Sadie became worthy of your attention now. Her dad taught us all kinds of stuff; how to start fires in the wilderness, how to find our way home when we were lost. It was like our personal version of the scouts, like being an army ranger for kids.” That was apparently the wrong thing to say. Ben’s look turned from placid to incensed.
“Nothing is like being a ranger,” Ben said. “They’re the most elite fighters on the planet. They can get in or out of any situation. They think of everything. They’re the strongest, the bravest, the best. Two kids playing some dumb game isn’t the same at all.” The hand holding the gun began to tremble.
“Of course it isn’t,” Sadie soothed. “I’m sure Luke was simply trying to find a comparison you could relate to.”
“Your sixty seconds are long gone. You know I hate being late and off schedule. Choose now.”
“I don’t think I will,” Sadie said.
“Then I’ll choose for you,” Ben said. The gun was already pointed at Luke. His fingers twitched, but before he could fire, Sadie leapt. The extra stalling from Luke had given her enough time to wriggle free of the ziptie. She lunged for Ben and knocked him to the ground. The gun tumbled from his hand. Luke and Hal leapt for it, knocked heads, and slumped into a collective heap on the floor. Sadie couldn’t tell if they were really unconscious or just dazed because Ben was fighting back, and he seemed to be enjoying it.
“I knew you were worthy,” he repeated over and over again.
Sadie wanted to pound him, to pummel his face until he stopped talking. But he was winning the fight. Like Luke, he was bigger and stronger by virtue of being a man. But he also had the added benefits of training and insanity. He rolled her over and pinned her. She wanted to scream with frustration. But that would be akin to giving up, and that she would never do. So she took a page from her earlier playbook. Mustering her courage and drowning her revulsion, she kissed him.
His reaction was as shocked as Luke’s had been, with a faster recovery time. He reached for her and returned the kiss with enthusiasm. Now was the time to get in more blows. She could take him this time; she knew it.
You always want to win; normal people get a foothold, and they run away.
Luke was right. She couldn’t win against Ben; she could only get away, she could only get reinforcements. She gave a mighty shove and gained enough space to wriggle free. He gave chase immediately, but Sadie was fast. She dashed toward the door and flung it open, Ben hot on her heels.
“Saaddiiiee Coooppeerr,” he called, drawing out her name in an eerie, ghostlike chant. “Saaaddiiee Coooppeerr, you can run, but you can’t hide. I’m coming, Saaddddiiie.” And he was. Sadie could smell him, he was so close. He reached out his hand. His fingers skimmed her back. A shot went off and landed in the dirt beside them. Sadie dropped and rolled. As she turned she saw Luke pluck the gun from Hal’s hand and take aim. Another shot went off. This one struck Ben in the right shoulder, but he didn’t go down. He simply changed directions and began coming at Sadie again. She began scrambling away, scraping her knees raw on the rocks and twigs beneath her. Ben was too close. She had to gain some distance so Luke could take another short or else he might hit her.
A car crunched on the rocks. Sadie didn’t know if it was someone coming or going; the world was a blurry haze of noise, activity, and adrenaline. Ben’s fingers tightened around her shoulder, and then he was gone, shoved to the ground by Detective Jenks who wrenched his arms behind his back and applied cuffs in one fluid motion.
“You okay?” Jenks asked.
Sadie nodded. “I’m fine. Thanks for that.”
“You have poor taste in clients,” Jenks said.
“The worst,” Sadie agreed. “He’s been shot.”
“He has?” Jenks said as he inspected Ben. “Hmm, look at that. I bet it hurts.” He jabbed the wound. Ben had no reaction, no flinching, groaning, or screaming. For all the attention he paid his injury, it might as well not exist. “Is your elevator stuck between floors, boy?” Jenks said.
Ben ignored him and focused on Sadie. “We didn’t get to finish our game, Sadie. Some other time, perhaps.”
“I don’t think so, Mary Todd Lincoln. You have a date with Dr. Lobotomy. Consider me your ambulance,” Jenks said. He pulled him up and dragged him toward the cruiser.
“Saaadddiiieee Cooopppeeer,” Ben called, grinning so hard that all of his teeth showed. “I’ll find you, Saaadddiiiieee. Wait for me.”
“Shut up, Cracker Jack,” Jenks said as he shoved him none too gently into the back of the patrol car and slammed the door.
“Too bad he had to go. He seemed nice,” Hal said. He sidled up and rested his arm on Sadie’s shoulders.
“How’s your head?” she reached up to touch the giant knot above his temple.
“Better than my pride. Can we not tell anyone that I knocked myself unconscious and then shot dirt in my attempt to rescue you?”
“I’ve already forgotten,” Sadie said. “Besides, it’s the thought that counts.” Luke eased up on her other side. She slipped her arm around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “How are you?”
“A really good shot, apparently,” Hal muttered. “You think you know a guy, and then he turns out to be Frank James in geek camo.”
“Relieved. That was without a doubt the most scared I’ve ever been. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
He searched her face for signs of strain and found none, but then Sadie was a good actress. One thing he knew for certain: there was no way anyone could be fine after what just happened. Maybe she didn’t want to talk about it in front of Hal. A few more patrol cars arrived before he could contemplate what to do next. They spent the next couple of hours rehashing the event with a dozen officers. An ambulance was called for Vic Hutchens. Jenks returned after about an hour and took over the investigation. At some point Abby and Gideon arrived. Gideon was affecting a walk somewhere between a hobble and a waddle. Sadie guessed he was in a lot of pain, but he had on his stoic “chief” face. Many of the men on the scene recognized him and tried to look busier than they already were. Gideon had that effect on people. He stopped short in front of Sadie.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine, Dad. How are you? You shouldn’t be out of bed.”
He ignored her and focused on Luke. “How is she?”
Luke shrugged.
“I’m fine,” Sadie reiterated.
“Sadie’s right,” Hal said. “You shouldn’t be up and about. How’s the infection? Do you want me to take a look?”
“I’m beginning to think your obsession with my backside is unhealthy, son,” Gideon said. Hal gave him an impish grin, and Gideon shook his head. “I suppose I should get Abby out of this mess before she decides to do something to turn the attention on herself.” Contrary to his words, Abby stood quietly to the sidelines, watching the mayhem with studied interest. Sadie didn’t comment, however. She was too relieved that Abby and Gideon had made up.
Detective Jenks ambled over. He and Gideon faced off. Sadie was reminded of two male lions circling for battle.
Alpha males,
she thought. “You’re the old chief,” Jenks said.
“I’m the former chief,” Gideon said. “You’re the Chicago recruit.” Jenks nodded. “Usually when someone comes to a tiny place from a big city, it’s because they screwed up royally.”
“Usually when someone retires as young as you, it’s because they were incompetent and pressured out,” Jenks replied. “Heard about your butt. Too bad. But at least you can say your daughter’s a crack shot.” He winked at Sadie and walked away.
“I see you’ve added another to your list of admirers,” Gideon said.
“Dad, he’s like your age. Gross.”
“Exactly,” Gideon said. “Abby, leave them alone,” he called. Sadie, Hal and Luke looked to find Abby in the middle of a cluster of officers, taking notes on a pad as she asked them questions. “Daft woman. I’d better get her out of here.” He hobble/waddled away to drag Abby out of the fray. Sadie breathed a sigh of relief knowing they were safe and together. In fact, everyone she cared most about was safe. What more could she want?
When the officers were finished taking their statements for what felt like the hundredth time, they were allowed to leave. Luke tossed his keys to Hal and held out his palm to Sadie. “You want me to give you a five?” she guessed.
“I want you to give me your keys,” he said.
“I’m not the one with a head injury,” she pointed out. She reached out to touch his goose egg, but he moved away.
“Sadie, I’m not having this discussion, period. Give me your keys.”
She dug her keys from her purse and laid them in his hand. “This is not necessary. I’m fine.”
“Sure you are,” he said. He walked her to the car and held the door for her. The drive home was silent, but they were both tired. At least that was why Sadie was quiet. Luke was acting odd. “We need to talk about this,” he said as soon as they arrived home.
She turned and pressed her palm to his cheek. “Luke, not tonight, okay? I’m so tired.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” she said. She leaned across the console and kissed his cheek. He grabbed her and held her close, crushing her in a hug she only vaguely returned. He trailed behind her as she walked into the house, up the stairs, and disappeared into her room.
“What’s up with her?” Hal asked.
“She says she’s tired.”
“But you don’t believe her,” Hal surmised.
“I think she’s heading for a breakdown. How could she not?”
Hal shrugged. “I know I am. That was more adventure than I want for a while.”
“Thanks for going with me,” Luke said.
“As if I wouldn’t,” Hal said. “Sometimes I don’t think you give me enough credit.” The comment had an edge. Luke guessed they had transitioned to talking about Sadie.
“What are you talking about? You’re my brother, my compadre; you’re the dumber, geekier, less suave me.”
“Clearly the bump on your head has altered your reality, although after seeing your secret shooting skills on display, I’m going to slink into the night. Perhaps I’ll go to the hospital and save a life. Maybe I’ll put on the Spidey suit and see if the city needs protecting.” He clapped his hand over his mouth. “Did I say that out loud? Don’t tell.”
“I won’t; Peter Parker is lame. Radioactive spider bite? What’s that about?”
“Yeah, Bruce Banner is way more awesome, what with the gamma poison that makes him turn into a green monster. That’s much more normal,” Hal said. He paused. “Someday we should stop talking about this stuff and start to talk about women and other real people.”
“Someday,” Luke agreed. They bumped fists and Hal went home. After checking on Abby, Luke climbed the stairs to his room. He paused outside Sadie’s room and pressed his ear to the door, but there was no sound from within.
Tomorrow,
Luke promised himself,
I’m going to find out how Sadie is really feeling.