Multiples of Six (20 page)

“James, I said drop the gun,” the man said, looking like he was tired of arguing and he might just shoot James to not be bothered with him anymore.

“I think I’ll take my chances,” James said. “I mean…you didn’t even kill Taylor.”

The man looked into James’ face, the wicked smile creasing one corner of his mouth, but it faded when he saw James smiling back, a glint of malice in his eye. Taylor, who had slumped into the corner of the wall, was pushing himself to a sitting position and beginning to mutter at the top of his lungs.

“Stupid asshole…they’re blanks. You think I wouldn’t have killed you a long time ago if they were anything different?” he said, speaking so loudly, that they probably heard him on the next floor.

The man in black looked stupidly at the gun in his hand, which he then tossed to the ground.

“Goddamn prick,” the man said.

He stopped and stared up at James who was now lording over him. James could feel the anger welling up inside him and the arm that held the gun level with the man’s head was shaking.

“This is over. It’s over, you…you son-of-a-bitch. You hear me? Or is it? If they don’t arrest you, I get this strange feeling that you’re just going to pick right up where you left off tomorrow morning. Well, maybe it’s time the shoe was on the other foot. Maybe you don’t need to see another tomorrow, you baby-killing sack of shit.”

“I never killed…” the man stuttered, fear sneaking into his eyes.

“Shut up, dammit! You have no right to speak right now. No right. You…you lousy, no good motherfucker! How dare you! How fucking dare you. I’ve never been so fucking scared in all my life, and for what? Can you tell me that, motherfucker? Can you tell me why you’ve put the fear of death into me? Why I should deserve such treatment? Why? Why?! Answer me, God dammit!”

The man stared at the end of the gun that seemed to waver back and forth across his face. He shrugged a little.

“Someone wants you dead,” he said.

“It’s that simple,” James said, not really asking, and the anger had left his voice.

It was that simple and somewhere inside he knew it. This wasn’t a personal vendetta. It was a job that one man had paid another to do. It wasn’t supposed to be face-to-face. That wasn’t the original plan.

“Yeah, I guess,” the man said.

“James.” Kevin’s voice was soft but firm. “Let him go.”

“Why? Why should I let this bag of shit go? The rabbit’s got the fox by the tail and you’re telling me to let him go.”

The door to their right opened, much to everyone’s surprise. A smallish man, with salt-and-pepper hair, and a long tan trench over a wrinkled gray suit walked in slowly through the door. James could see four police officers crowding the stairwell behind him, pistols in hand, staring at the gun in James’ hand. The door closed behind the man who held up a badge in his right hand. He held up his empty left. James only glanced briefly at the man, quickly returning his gaze to the man on the floor at his feet.

“Because you’re no fox, son, and you don’t really want to be one,” the man said.

“Who the hell are you?” James said.

“That’s just a rusty old piece of sorry FBI garbage,” the man in black said. “Better known as Special Agent John Norris.”

“But you are right about one thing, James. He is a bag of shit,” Norris retorted.

“How the fuck does everyone know my name?” James said.

“You’re big news, James,” Norris said.

“Excuse me?” James said.

“Why don’t you put the gun away first. I think you’re making the rookies back there nervous,” Norris said, and pulled his own piece out of his pocket in a manner that showed he had no intention of pointing it at James.

James lowered the gun, but kept a wary eye on the man at his feet.

“Go on,” James said.

“You’re a ways from home, aren’t you James?” Norris said.

“When you’re running, you don’t tend to care how far, or which direction you head in,” James said.

“And why are you running?” Norris asked.

“Because of these two assholes, I guess,” he said, pointing to the two men on the floor.

He glanced at Norris, who was now staring fixedly at Kevin.

“You guys come in pairs?” Norris said.

“He doesn’t know,” the man in black said with a knowing chuckle.

“What?” Taylor suddenly shouted.

He was daubing the blood that appeared to be emanating from his ear.

“Shut the hell up, Doc!” the man in black shouted back.

“So, it wouldn’t have anything to do with the old man in Jersey…your neighbor,” Norris said, and this made James turn his head again.

“Doesn’t know what?” Kevin said from behind.

“I didn’t kill Mr. Isaacson, if that’s what you’re implying. I wasn’t even in the state at the time,” James said and raised a hand to silence Kevin.

“Then who did?” Norris asked.

James gestured to the man at his feet with the gun.

“Who do you think?” James asked.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“I’m so sorry for all this,” Paynter said again.

“Stop apologizing,” Nicole said.

“You couldn’t have known…,” Doug started, but Paynter cut him off.

“No…that’s the problem. I had thought of this. I just…I guess I just hoped that it wouldn’t be this bad. And now…it seems like it’s worse than I could have imagined,” Paynter said.

“But, now we’re all here and that’s good, right?” Nicole said.

Paynter stared at her.

“You’re a sweet girl, Nicole, but this is just the beginning. If we make it out of here…”

“
When
we make it out of here,” she interrupted.

“Yes, when we make it out of here, we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

“Someone’s coming,” Doug hissed. They froze and listened to the sound of footsteps run past. They all jumped as a loud popping sound echoed through the hall.

“That was a gunshot,” Paynter said.

“That can’t be good,” Doug said.

“James,” Nicole whimpered.

“Is fine,” Paynter said, squeezing her shoulder and patting her on the back.

“Still, where there’s fire…” Doug said.

“Yes, let’s see if we can’t head that way. It didn’t sound like it was on this ward,” Paynter said.

“I’ll check the hall,” Nicole said, and cracked the door to look up the hall. It was clear and she opened it further, leaning out the doorway to look down the hall. Paynter heard a little scream, then she was lifted off her feet and pulled the remainder of the way out. Doug pushed Paynter aside and lunged into the hallway.

“Doug, no!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Old man probably deserved it,” the man in black said.

“What!?” Dr. Taylor shouted out again.

James moved without thinking, grabbing the man in black by the collar and pressing the barrel of the gun against his cheek. He could feel the man’s teeth scrape the barrel.

“You motherfucker, I oughta kill you,” and the look reflected in the man’s face told James he was beginning to believe that James just might be capable of it if pushed hard enough. Rage pierced his thoughts and he could only focus on the movement of the trigger beneath his right finger. He was aware of the movement to his right. The door opening and several shouts to halt and freeze. It would be so easy, he thought. Norris was shouting something and then the spell was broken with a cry from the other end of the hall. It was his name, and it was a voice he recognized. It took everyone’s attention. The rage faded and his grasp slackened on the man’s bloodied shirt. He threw him back to the floor and stepped away, still staring him down. The edge of the man’s lips curled a bit, or maybe James imagined the smile. But, the wink was clear. His left eyelid had definitely batted momentarily and James looked away in disgust. He had heard Nicole. Then there was another scream.

He turned to look down the hall and his knees nearly buckled. Even from the other end of the hall, he could see how ashen she was, her normally neat locks still plastered to her face from her run through the rain. He’d never seen her so scared. She stood awkwardly, as if on her tip toes, her head tilted as if…then he saw him. The barrel of the gun was propped just over her right shoulder. The old man from the stairwell was leading her roughly by the ponytail on the back of her head. Tears streamed down her face. Two of the officers raised their weapons and started moving toward her. A shot rang out, pitting the floor at the first officer’s feet. He jumped wildly and dodged into an office doorway. The others all fell back, but James continued forward.

“Don’t, Fields, at this range you’re more likely to hit the girl!” Norris barked.

“Nic…Nicole!” James said.

The gun in his own hand felt heavy, leaden with the doubt of his ability to use it if necessary. He dropped it, the metal clanging against the linoleum floor.

“James!” Norris called, but James had no reason to stop now.

“James…no…don’t. Please. I’m so sorry,” she said, flinching a little as the old man behind her pushed her a little further.

“It’s ok. Are you ok?”

“Nnn…no?” she said and cracked a frightened smile.

“Awe, how sweet. Take a good look lover boy. You won’t be seeing this one for a while,” the old man said.

“You…who the hell are you?”

“Still haven’t figured it out, huh James? I’m you, plain and simple. Come back from the future. You see, I hated myself so much that I came back to kick myself in the ass,” he said.

“You’re insane,” James said.

“Possibly,” he said, shrugging.

“Let her go. She’s got nothing to do with this,” James said.

“Put the gun down,” Norris called out from behind him. “We’ve got the hospital surrounded.”

James glanced back and saw that Norris had his piece raised.

“Back off,” James hissed. “You worry about that one.”

“Don’t be a hero, kid.”

“Heroes don’t die, remember?”

“Your friend is a horrible liar, James,” the old man said.

James took another step forward and the old man matched it with a step back toward the stairwell behind him.

“Why are you doing this?” James asked.

“Oh, do you really want to know, James? Or, are you just stalling for time?”

“I’m stalling,” James said.

“A moment of honesty in a world of lies…I like that. But really, that’s the best you could come up with?”

“Wanna tell me about your childhood instead? Nicole there is into psychology. Maybe she could help you work through some of the obvious issues you’ve got going on,” James said, spreading his hands before him as he moved continuously forward.

The man looked at his watch, then back at James.

“You’re a cynical little prick,” he said.

“I’m sorry, but until a few days ago, my world wasn’t quite the intricate stack of lies it is now,” James said.

The old man stopped moving backward, looked around Nicole’s head, and straight into James’ eyes.

“You have no idea,” he said.

“What do you know about me?” James asked.

“Stalling, James.”

“No. I really want to know. I’m asking you what the hell do
you
…know about
me
? Who are you?”

“I told you, James. I am you…”

“Bullshit,” James said, cutting him off.

“Maybe so…but probably closer to the truth than you could ever imagine,” the old man said.

“How’s that?” James asked.

The man paused in the doorway to the stairwell.

“Did you ever ask your uncle what he did…does for a living? Hmmm?”

“Ted? What’s he got to do with this? He’s a carpenter. Always has been…I don’t get it.”

“Awe, poor James. Just another lie to throw on the pile. And such a noble choice…carpenter. Yes, indeed. So noble…like he could build a fucking ark if he wanted to and just float away with the flood when it comes. Like it never happened. Well, James…the flood is coming…and Uncle Ted never quite finished his ark.”

The old man laughed dismally and tugged on Nicole’s hair, making her flinch in pain. James’ brow furrowed, but the man quickly dragged Nicole the rest of the way towards the top of the stairs.

“Find your Uncle, James, and let’s see how deep the layers go,” the old man said, then he deftly swept Nicole up over his shoulder with one arm like she was a sack of flowers and bolted down the steps.

James plunged into the stairwell after the old man.

Chapter 35

There were yells and shouts behind him, but James wasn’t hearing anything but the sound of his wet sneakers squeaking on the linoleum as he rounded each landing. Reaching the first floor, he burst out the first exit he saw into what appeared to be a fresh cloudburst. The dark sky made day seem like night. He scanned the parking lot. Halfway across, he could see the old man’s head bobbing along at what appeared to be a jogging pace. He was headed toward a large white car that seemed to be running, waiting for him. Kevin came right after and grabbed James’ arm, but James flinched hard and turned as if to fight. Kevin held up his hands.

“Whoa, brother,” he said, looking scared at what he saw in James.

More footsteps came down behind them and Doug and Dr. Paynter came out the door into the rain. They were barely stopped, when James lunged at Paynter, a finger pointed accusingly.

“You have a lot of goddamn explaining to do,” James yelled.

Doug moved slightly between James and Paynter, raising his cane slightly. His larger girth was enough to keep James from poking Paynter right in the face. James pulled the Ted’s Towing cap off his head and tossed it in Paynter’s general direction.

“I…” Paynter stammered, “It’s good to see you too, James.”

“Has everyone lost their minds? What the fuck is going on around here?” James shouted.

“I…we’d…better go after her,” Paynter said.

“The cops won’t be far behind us,” Kevin said.

“I’m not through with you,” James said, and he turned and broke out into a run back to their car.

“I didn’t think it would be that easy,” Paynter said, and they all fell in behind James, who was almost across the parking lot and up the embankment.

Kevin and Paynter helped Doug up the muddy slope. They all turned to watch as the old man’s car pulled out of the parking lot. The white Grand Marquis disappeared quickly around a corner. Two officers popped out of the door they had just left.

“He made a right,” Doug called out.

“Let’s go!” James said, and they piled into the very beaten looking sedan.

“Glad to see you boys have been treating my ride with care,” Paynter said.

“You should see the other guy,” Doug said as he started the car.

“Hello? Cops right behind us, bad guys getting away…let’s go!” Kevin said.

Doug punched the pedal to the floor and raced out of the parking lot, ignoring the stop sign. He bypassed all means of caution and took corners at much higher rates of speed than James could have imagined possible considering the conditions. And yet every move of the car was controlled. Doug’s hands seemed to glide effortlessly across the wheel, moving precisely, never overreacting. His eyes scanned the road ahead.

“Everyone check the side streets,” James said.

“Rain isn’t helping any,” Kevin said.

“Hang a right!” Paynter shouted.

Doug threw the car into a controlled slide and took the next right. James braced for the impact with a parked car, then unhooked his clenched hand from the door when it didn’t happen. They were barreling down a narrow side street. The white car passed at a cross street, moving just as quickly.

“Where’d you find all-season radials in Florida, doc?” Doug said, conversationally.

He rolled through the stop sign at the end of the road, then pulled out where James saw no room. Horns blared, but they managed to slip through. James didn’t want to know by how much.

“I figured his breaks worked,” Doug said.

“Bought ‘em online,” Paynter said. “You’re Doug, right?”

“That’s me, but you already know all about us, from what I can gather,” Doug said, and they could see the taillights of the white Grand Marquis three blocks ahead of them.

James turned in his seat slightly.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” Paynter said, his voice just audible above the sounds of cars being passed and rain on the windshield. The buildings had thinned as they approached the outskirts of the small town.

“You better get that story straight, Paynter,” James said.

Kevin pointed and shouted at the same time, “He turned!”

“I see him…hold on,” Doug said.

They passed an abandoned gas station and turned at a white clapboard fence. The road quickly turned to dirt. They watched as the big luxury car bounced into potholes without slowing down.

“Jesus,” James said, bracing for the impact, as the wheels bottomed out.

“Sorry,” Doug said, sounding more angry at himself than with the conditions.

“Where the hell…” Kevin began.

“It’s the local airport,” Paynter said. “There was a sign at the end of the road.”

“What’s he going to do? Fly away?” Asked James, the hint of a laugh in his voice.

“Nothing would surprise me at this point,” Paynter said.

“No way,” said James.

“This guy’s been one step ahead of us every time,” Paynter said.

“Well, there’s no way…not this time…,” James said.

The Grand Marquis hung a sharp left and plowed through a loosely padlocked metal gate.

“I guess he doesn’t have an appointment,” Doug said. They were thundering after the white car, which had turned onto the runway. If James hadn’t known better, he might have thought the man was trying to take off.

James watched as their speedometer reached 80 and they were still losing ground to the white car. They were almost at the end of the paved surface when the car spun sideways and came to a halt at the edge of the tarmac. Doug followed suit and the cars could have been parked next to one another. The doors flew open almost simultaneously. The old man came out, holding the gun at James, and slowly alternating it between the three boys. They watched as he opened the back door and pulled Nicole out from the back seat. Her hands were somehow bound behind her and the way she limped, James thought that perhaps her feet were bound as well.

“Let her go,” James said, rounding the front of the car.

Then a second old man got out of the car. He turned to James. He was identical to the first. They were even dressed the same.

“Oh no, you’ve caught me,” the second old man simpered, a Cheshire smile across his face. “Whatever shall I do?”

“No fucking way,” Kevin said.

James held his hands out to his sides imploringly. “What the hell is this about? Who are you? Why are you doing this?”

“Did we miss the multiples convention?” Doug asked.

“Shoot the fat one if he speaks again,” the second old man said.

“More stalling tactics, James,” the first old man said.

“Just wondering why I’m standing in the middle of an old abandoned airfield, soaked to the core, asking some loopy fucks what the hell it is they think they’re doing.”

“Waiting, James. Just waiting,” he said.

“Waiting? For what?” James looked around mockingly. “I think you’re going to have to shoot us after all.”

“James…nooo,” Nicole cried softly.

The smile washed off the first old man’s face. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Well then what? What the hell–”

His words were cut by the sudden rush of wind and rain that spiraled around all of them. The sound of the blades beating the air above them made all of them duck except for the old man. James went prone into the slushy muddy grass as the red and gold helicopter came down ten feet above their heads and landed deftly behind the old man on a patch of solid snow.

“Waitings over, I guess,” the second old man shouted and he turned to run to the chopper, the side door having been opened for his arrival. James running after them before any of the others could hold him back. He saw the first old man swat at the hand of the pilot who appeared to be lifting a gun toward James.

“No!” he cried, then, reaching the door, they tossed Nicole into the back without ceremony. Someone inside was pulling her in further. Someone was shouting “Go” when James leapt. The last old man on the chopper had not yet closed the door.

James felt the chopper lunge beneath his weight. He had caught both the old man’s leg and a part of the landing runner in his grasp and it wavered momentarily. The old man cried out, then began kicking fiercely.

“Get off you fool!”

He leaned down and slowly began to pry James’ hand away from his leg. There was tremendous strength in the thin fingers. A strength that made no sense for his age. Their eyes met, and for a moment James might have mistook a look of compassion in the man’s eyes.

“Let…go…,” he said.

When James didn’t comply, the old man lashed out fiercely, striking James across the face. The chopper lurched off the ground again and this time, James’ feet left the earth. He heard Nicole scream. A second pair of hands was pushing on him and he looked up to find the second old man smiling at James as he put a hand on his face and pushed. His one hand slipped away from the old man’s leg and he shouted a curse that no one heard over the din of the chopper blades. They were ten feet off the ground and moving higher. James hated himself as his other hand slipped away from the chopper’s landing runner. He just avoided a final blow from the second old man as he fell away. They all seemed to be floating together in space for a moment and James had just enough time to register that even the pilot had looked the same. He fell back to Earth and braced himself for the crunch of his bones against the ground, but it never came. The pool of sod, slush, and mud that he landed in must have been about two feet deep. He found his feet quickly, not feeling any pain from the fall. He threw a handful of whatever he could grab at the chopper that was already well out of reach. He ran, or tried to, through the snow and mud after the chopper.

“No! No…you bastards. Come back. Damn you, no! Come back and fight…come back. Just bring her back. She’s got nothing to do with this…damn you…whatever it is…it’s not her fault.”

He stood in the middle of the half-frozen mud puddle, the water well over his sneakers. The chopper rounded back the way it had come, and disappeared quickly into the rain and clouds. It could have gone in any direction for all James knew and a pain welled in his chest as he watched it go. He had just let Nicole die…or worse…he had killed her. Which possibility was worse was not yet clear to him. He had agreed to bring her along and now it was going to get her killed. But they don’t really want her…they want him…they want all of them. He heard the footfalls behind him and a new energy entered him.

He turned, his anger surging into his fists. The three came across the field towards him. He ran toward them, then screamed maniacally and lunged at Paynter, taking the old man down into the mud.