6 Stone Barrington Novels (193 page)

STONE COULDN'T LOOK
at his watch, but he estimated they'd been traveling for nearly an hour when he heard the rattle of a metal garage door opening. The Navigator reversed, and the door came down again.

“Get 'em out,” Billy Bob said to somebody. The rear door of the truck opened, the blind was rolled back and Stone and Dino were hustled out of the vehicle.

“Set 'em down in the corner,” Billy Bob said.

Stone and Dino were pushed into a corner of the garage, which was lit only by daylight coming through small, high windows in the door. A moment later, the garage door opened again, and the Navigator drove out. Stone figured there was still a guard inside with them.

“Excuse me,” he said to the wall, “do you think you could cuff us a different way? This is very uncomfortable.”

There was no response.

Stone managed to turn toward the door and looked around the garage. “We're alone,” Stone said.

“Now what?”

“I'm not sure,” Stone said. “Since our hands are locked behind us, I can't get to the Keltec.”

“And, even if you could, there's nobody to shoot.”

From somewhere outside the garage came a faint woman's voice. “Get me out of here!” she said, and there was a banging noise.

“Is that Arrington?” Dino asked.

“I've never heard her voice under these conditions,” Stone said, “but my best guess is yes.” He yelled as loud as he could. “Arrington?”

“Stone?” she shouted back.

“Where are you?”

“How the hell should I know?” she screamed. “It's dark.”

“Just hang on. I'll try and find you.”

“I'd help, but they've got me handcuffed,” she yelled back.

“You, too?”

“You mean
you're
handcuffed?”

“Yes, but I'm working on it.”

Dino spoke up. “I don't want to interrupt, but I'd like to know how you're working on it.”

“Good news,” Stone said. “I have a handcuff key.”

“Why?” Dino asked.

“I've been carrying one in my wallet since I was on the force, just for times like this.”

“Well, that's just wonderful,” Dino said. “Now could you unlock these cuffs?”

“There's a small problem,” Stone said.

“What problem?”

“My wallet is in my left front pocket.”

“Nobody carries his wallet in his left front pocket.”

“I do. It's very small and just has credit cards and my driver's license, that sort of stuff, in it.”

“Can you reach your left front pocket?”

“Well, no. That's the problem. Do you think you can reach it?”

“Let's find out,” Dino said. “Sit still, and move your hands to your left.”

Stone moved his hands to his left, while Dino worked his way as far as he could to Stone's side.

“I can't reach,” Dino said. “I'm a good eight inches short, too. What now?”

Stone thought about that. “I don't know,” he said finally. “I'm armed, and I can't reach the gun, and I have a handcuff key, and I can't reach that, either.”

“You don't have to explain the situation to me,” Dino said. “I get it.”

“All right,
you
think of something.”

“I'm thinking.”

They both sat quietly, their backs against each other, and thought.

“I've got it,” Dino said.

“Tell me.”

“What we have to do is hang you up by your feet, and then your wallet will fall out of your pocket.”

“Swell, Dino; how are we going to hang me up by my feet?”

“Jesus, do I have to think of
everything
? It's your turn to figure out something.”

“Let's see if we can get to our feet,” Stone said. “Press your back against mine, and let's work our feet back until we're upright.”

“Worth a try,” Dino said.

They pushed against each other and began taking tiny steps backward. They were halfway up, when Stone's feet slipped out from under him, and they both fell down, hitting the concrete floor hard.

“Shit, that hurt!” Stone said.

“Tell me about it. It's those faggoty Italian loafers you're always wearing,” Dino said. “The soles are too slippery.”

“I suppose you're wearing those black cop shoes with the thick, rubber soles?”

“Sure, I am, and I didn't slip, did I?”

“Let's try it again.”

“And what's changed that's going to make it work this time?”

“We have to try. Billy Bob could come back at any moment.”

“All right, let's go.”

They started pushing up again, and this time, after a good minute of trying, they were on their feet.

“Man, that was hard,” Dino said, puffing.

“You're in lousy shape, that's why,” Stone said.

“Yeah, sure, like you actually use that exercise stuff in your basement?”

“Of course, I use it.”

“Don't bullshit me, Stone. You're breathing just as hard as I am.”

“All right, all right. Now what are we going to hang me from?”

They started to move in a circle, looking at the walls of the garage.

“There are tools in here,” Dino said. “Shovels and stuff.”

“Yeah, it looks like some sort of maintenance facility.”

“You see anything useful?”

“Yes!” Stone almost yelled. “There's a hose coiled up and hung on a hook!” He moved toward a wall, and Dino followed him, walking backward.”

Dino looked over his shoulder. “First, we have to get the hose off the hook, so we can use it.

The hook was chest high. Stone tried nudging the coil of hose with his knee, but couldn't reach it. Finally, he bent over and pushed upward on the hose with his head. Most of it fell to the floor, leaving several coils on the hook. “I think that'll do it,” Stone said. “The hook's available; I've just got to get a leg up that high.”

“Try walking up the wall,” Dino said. “I'll back up closer.” He did so.

“Push hard against me,” Stone said. He put a foot against the wall, then another. “It's working,” Stone said. “About two feet higher. Push harder!”

Dino pushed, and Stone continued walking up the wall.

“We've got to move about a foot to the left,” Stone said.

Dino worked in that direction, taking tiny steps.

“I think I can . . .” Stone got a leg over the hook and put his weight on it. “Okay, I've got a leg hooked. You've got to get lower, and as slowly as possible.”

Dino eased himself down to a squatting position. “I don't know how long I can do this,” he said.

Stone had all his weight on the one leg over the hook, now. He began to shake his hips back and forth.

“What are you doing?” Dino demanded.

“I'm trying to shake out the wallet,” Stone said. “It won't come out.”

Dino began to jump up and down an inch or two from his squatting position.

“It fell out!” Stone yelled. “Now you have to stand up again, so I can get my leg off the hook.

Making loud groaning noises, Dino slowly pushed himself upright.

Using his other foot for purchase, Stone managed to get his leg off the hook, and the two of them fell to the floor in a heap. They lay there for a moment, panting.

“Where's your wallet?” Dino asked finally.

“It's around here somewhere. Feel for it with your feet.”

They scurried around in the dimly lit garage, feeling for the wallet.

“I think I've got it,” Dino said. “It's tucked up under my ass. Let me see if I can reach it. Move backwards a little.”

Stone moved backward.

“Got it,” Dino said. “I pushed it between us. Feel for it.”

“I have it,” Stone said.

“Well, get the fucking key out!”

Stone got the wallet open and shook it. A tiny metallic sound came back. “It's on the floor.” He felt for it. “Got it!”

“Unlock any bracelet,” Dino said. “Doesn't matter which one.”

Stone got hold of Dino's wrist, found the bracelet and the keyhole and turned the key.

“Yes!” Dino shouted, holding up his free hand. He turned to Stone. “Give me the key.”

Stone put it in Dino's hand, and a moment later, he had a free hand, and a moment after that, they were both free of the cuffs.

Stone unzipped his trousers and fished out the Keltec and its silencer. He screwed the tube onto the barrel, then popped the magazine and counted. “I've only got five rounds,” he said. “The guy who searched me took the other two magazines.”

“Then make them count,” Dino said. “You got any qualms about putting one in somebody's head, say so, and I'll do it.”

“None whatever,” Stone said. “Now let's find the switch that opens this door.”

“Before we do that,” Dino said, “you've got to hoist me up so that I can get a look outside and see what we're up against.”

Stone stuck the gun in his belt and made a stirrup for Dino. Dino hopped up and had a look outside.

“Nothing,” he said. “Nobody. Just a wall.”

“You take that wall,” Stone said, pointing. “I'll take this one. Look for the switch.”

They both groped in the semidarkness.

“Got it,” Dino said. “You ready?”

“Hit it,” Stone said, his gun at the ready.

DINO HIT THE SWITCH,
and the door started up. Stone ducked under it and stepped outside, the gun pointing ahead of him. He checked both directions. “Clear,” he said, and Dino came out.

“What is this place?” Dino asked.

They were in a kind of alley between two long rows of garages.

“I don't know,” Stone said. “Let's find Arrington, then we'll worry about it. It sounded as though she was nearby, but not too near. You take the other row.”

Stone and Dino began walking down both rows of garages, banging on the door and shouting Arrington's name.

“Here!” Dino yelled, two doors down.

“Dino? Stone?” Arrington shouted.

“We're right outside,” Stone said.

“Well, get me out of here.”

“First, we've got to figure out how to get inside. You said you were handcuffed. Are your feet free?”

“They're tied together, and I'm lying on my side,” she shouted back.

“Can you get to your feet?”

“Maybe. What do I do then?”

Stone went over to the side of the garage door and tapped the silencer against it. “There's a button that opens the door, and it's probably right over here. If you can get to your feet, hop over this way and find the button.”

“I'll try,” Arrington called back. There followed some grunts and groans. “Okay, I'm on my feet, hopping your way.” Her voice got closer.

“Do you see a button on the wall? It's about shoulder high.”

“I see it.”

“Press your forehead against it and push.”

A moment later, the door started upward. Stone ducked under it and found Arrington, her head still pressed against the button. “You can stop pushing now; just hold it right there, and I'll get the cuffs off you.” He unlocked the handcuffs while Dino untied her feet.

Arrington fell into Stone's arms. “Oh, God, I thought I would never see you again. I thought I'd never see anybody again.” She hugged Dino. “How did you find me?”

“We were brought to you,” Dino said. “You have any idea where we are?”

“No.”

Stone pointed upward. “Seagulls; we're near water.”

“That's very helpful, Stone,” Dino said archly. “Come on, let's look around.” He started down the alley, and Stone and Arrington followed.

They came to the end of the garages, and the alley joined a street.

“Look,” Stone said, pointing. A sign said “Field 121.” “We're back where we started; Randall's Island.”

“All that driving was just to confuse us,” Dino said.

“Where the hell is Randall's Island?” Arrington asked.

“In the East River,” Stone replied. “Come on, let's find my car.” He started across the street, and they followed. Then Stone caught a flash
of silver at the end of the street, where it joined the traffic circle. “Quick,” he yelled. “Under the stands.”

They ran across the road and ducked under the grandstand of the ballpark. “Hit the dirt.” They all got on the ground.

Billy Bob's silver Navigator turned into the street from the traffic circle and started toward them. It turned into the alley and drove toward the garages they had just left.

Stone was on his feet. “Come on, we've got to get to my car before they find out we're gone!” They started running down the street toward where Stone had left his car. From somewhere behind them he heard car doors slamming. “They're back in the Navigator!” he puffed. They were still a hundred and fifty yards from the car, he reckoned. Arrington fell, and they stopped to help her. “Hit the deck!” Stone said.

They were all on the ground again as the Navigator turned the corner and drove past them.

“They're seeing if your car is still there,” Dino said. “When they find it, they'll know we're still here and on foot.”

The Navigator turned into the ball field.

“Come on,” Stone said, running toward his car.

“We can't go
toward
them,” Arrington said, grabbing his arm.

“We've got to get to the car. I've only got five rounds in this thing, but there are two guns under the car. Anyway, when they find it, they'll start driving around, looking for us.” He heard car doors slam again. “Hit the dirt!” They all did.

A moment later, the Navigator backed out of the ball field and drove slowly away from them. Obviously, they were searching.

“Come on, but stay as far under the stands as you can,” Stone said. They kept low and ran toward the Mercedes.

Stone could see the rear end of his car, now, and he saw the brake lights of the Navigator come on, then the reversing lights. “Go for it!”
Stone yelled, and he sprinted, leaving Arrington behind. “Make for the car!” he yelled over his shoulder.

He made the car, but the Navigator was reversing toward them, and he had no time to get inside. Dino arrived at the car, and Arrington was close behind.

“You left me!” she said.

“One of us had to get here,” Stone said.

Dino was on the ground, looking under the car. “It's too low,” he said. “I can't get under it.”

“Keep the car between us and the Navigator,” Stone said. “It's good protection.”

The Navigator stopped, the two front doors opened and the two men with shotguns got out, looking around.

“Arrington,” Stone whispered, “stay close to me.” He looked around, but Arrington was gone. Dino was huddled close, on his other side. “Where's Arrington?” Stone asked.

“She was right here,” Dino whispered back. “Here come the shotguns.”

“They're behind the car,” one of the men shouted, and the two brought the shotguns to their shoulders.

“What are you waiting for?” Dino asked. “Shoot somebody!”

“They're too far away,” Stone said.

“You're just chickenshit! You just don't want to shoot somebody!”

“Give it a moment,” Stone said. He heard a shotgun being racked. He looked up, and one of the men was ten feet away. Stone took his shot. The side of the man's head exploded, and he went down. As Stone ducked, he heard a shotgun go off and the sound of pellets striking his car.

“One down, one to go,” Dino said.

“If I stick my head up again, he'll blow it off.”

“Come out from behind the car,” the man yelled.

A millisecond after he yelled, Stone heard a gunshot, and the man cried out in pain. He stuck his head up, and the man was gone. He stood up further and saw him on the ground, holding onto a bleeding foot.

The man saw him, too, and brought the shotgun around.

Stone fired, striking him in the shoulder, but he was still trying to aim. Another shot exploded, and the man stopped moving.

Stone looked under the car. “Arrington?”

“Did I get him?” she asked.

“You did. Stay where you are, and throw Dino a gun.” Stone began to run toward the Navigator. He could see nothing through the darkened windows, but if one rolled down, he was going to start shooting.

The Navigator roared away, and Stone fired twice at it. The rear window shattered, but the second shot went astray. Stone turned and walked back toward his car, spent.

Dino was pulling Arrington from under the car. She stood up, and they all looked at each other, dirty and skint, and they began laughing.

“Okay,” Dino said, finally, “it's time for the cops. Fuck Lance.”

“Right,” Stone said. There was, after all, the matter of the two dead men with shotguns.