Nothing Is Negotiable (30 page)

While Sonny packed in the bedroom, Rita gathered their gear in the living room. Rosemary was in the kitchen packing an ice chest when she saw something outside the window that scared her. She let out a blood-curdling scream and started backpedaling. Her feet got tangled and she fell back. When Sonny got to the kitchen she was scooting backwards across the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something’s out there,” she cried out, pointing a shaking finger at the window. “It was looking in the window.”

Sonny followed her finger to the window but saw nothing but darkness.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Something’s out there,” Rosemary repeated, still scooting away. “I swear.”

“Like what?” he said, and saw the fright in her eyes.

“Maybe a bear. Or a man. I don’t know. It’s too dark and it moved so fast,” she said, trying to catch her breath.

Sonny had owned the cabin for several years and bears never came up to the cabin. Bears weren’t uncommon, but to be looking in the window it would have been huge, and standing on his back feet.

“Okay, kill all the inside lights, then turn on the lights outside,” he commanded as he switched off the light in the kitchen and went toward the front door.

Rita started turning off the lamps while Rosemary got up and ran down the hallway flipping switches. Seconds later, the entire cabin was dark. Sonny retrieved his pistol from the cabinet drawer and came back into the kitchen and waited for Rita to turn on the outside lights.

When they came on Sonny peered out the window but saw nothing but trees and bushes. Everything looked normal and he could see nothing moving. He stepped out the front door, his pistol at his side. There the lights were brighter and again, everything was just like it was supposed to be. No bears and nothing out of the ordinary. When he turned to go back inside he heard a noise on the other side of the garage.

Clang, clang, clang.

The sound was that of trashcans banging against each other. The sound reminded him of something that happened before he bought bear-proof trashcans. Bears and raccoons were cleaver and could get into them if the iron bar wasn’t secure across the top of the can. He thought about the meal they had eaten earlier and tried to remember who had taken out the trash after they ate. But, it didn’t matter. Whoever it was, probably didn’t close the trashcans right. He looked back and saw Rita and Rosemary huddled together just inside the open front door, watching him.

“It sounds like we might have a bear getting in the trashcan.” Sonny knew that most bears ran off when someone yelled and threw rocks at them. “I’m going to lock down the trashcans, but we need to get going as soon as we can, so start getting everything together.”

“When you’re sure it’s safe, let me know and I’ll change the license plates on the car,” Rita said.

“Good. How long will it take you to get Olivia ready?” he asked Rosemary.

“Just a few minutes,” Rosemary said. “I need to gather her meds and clothes. After I wake her up, I’ll probably need to change her diaper, but I can be ready in five minutes.” She started down the hall toward the back bedroom.

With Rita standing in the front door watching, Sonny went out a little further. He could see the garage, the motor home and Jeep under the bright floodlights, but no bear.

Clang, clang, clang.

Again he heard the trashcan lids, this time in the distance. Now he was positive it was a scavenging bear. He told Rita to wait while he looked on the other side of the garage.

With the gun in one hand, he picked up a rock the size of a tennis ball and started for the other side of the garage, while keeping a safe distance in case something came out of the darkness. The trashcans were on the back side of the garage and though lights didn’t illuminate that area, there was enough moonlight to see they were overturned. The iron bar used to secure the tops was in the open position. Garbage was everywhere and several white plastic bags were scattered halfway to the woods.

“Looks like it’s gone. I’ll open the garage and you can change the license plates,” he said to Rita.

He punched some numbers on a keypad beside the garage door and the door started to open. Rita came up behind him and he pointed to a tool box on the workbench on the side of the garage.

“There’s a screwdriver in the top drawer you can use to switch the license plates. After I clean up the trash and lock down the trashcans, I’ll come in.”

As soon as he got to the other side of the garage he noticed one of the garbage cans was bent, like a bear had stomped on them, and one of the lids was missing. In the forest he heard what sounded like the other aluminum lids being dragged around. He knew the bear was gone for the night as he stuffed the pistol in the waistband of his pants and started picking up trash.

***

Luke hid behind the storage shed and watched while Sonny picked up garbage. When he got close enough, Luke stepped out of the darkness and hit him with a heavy tree limb, dropping him like a sack of dog food.

Luke grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him back into the storage shed. After he closed the door and latched it he looked back toward the forest. Bonnie, who had been banging the trashcan lid on some rocks, trotted up next to him and stopped.

“Let’s go get Olivia,” Bonnie said.

They ran around the cabin and slowly opened the front door. All of the lights were still off except one down the hallway. It was probably the bedroom where Olivia was sleeping. When they were halfway down the hall, Rosemary stepped out of the back bedroom carrying Olivia, a pink diaper bag slung over her shoulder.

As soon as she saw them, she screamed and tried to run back to the bedroom, but Luke lunged and grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arm around her neck. He pulled her to him and clamped down on her throat, cutting off her air. When Rosemary started to choke, her mouth opened wide and she gasped for air. At that point Bonnie pulled Olivia from her weakened grasp and ran back down the hall. All of the commotion woke Olivia and she started to scream.

“Rita’s in the garage. Go out the back door,” Luke shouted.

As Bonnie disappeared around the corner, Luke started to drag Rosemary down the hallway. He had never fought a woman before and couldn’t believe her strength. She kicked and twisted and clawed like a wild cat. When they were almost to the back bedroom, she reached between his legs and squeezed so hard he thought his eyeballs were going to pop out. In an automatic reaction, he threw her against the wall like she was a rabid rat.

She started to run, but Luke grabbed her shoulders and again threw her against the sheetrock wall.

“You bastard,” she screamed as she leaped at him.

Her arms moved like a windmill; she had all claws out, tearing at his arms. Luke tried to hold her off but she was out of her mind with anger and when she started biting at anything close to her mouth, he doubled up his fist and hit her square in the nose. Her head rocked back like a bobble head doll, and she dropped to the floor, unconscious.

By now he knew Lauren would be waiting by the garage, and within seconds, Bonnie would be there with Olivia. All he had to do now was go to the garage and take care of Rita the same way he did Rosemary. He’d tie her up with whatever he could find, disable the vehicles by firing bullets into the tires, and then they’d get the hell out of here.

He started to run and when he was almost to the front door when he heard Olivia’s terrified cry.

His head jerked around and his eyes searched the darkness inside the cabin. He couldn’t see anything until movement on the deck caught his eye. He stepped closer and the luminous figures became clear. Bonnie was on the deck holding the crying child.

But they weren’t moving. Edging closer he saw why.

Over her shoulder he saw Sonny’s face. And a pistol was pointed at Bonnie’s head.

WTF? It couldn’t be. Sonny was locked in the storage shed.

But this was no apparition. He had Bonnie, Olivia, and a gun.

Luke raced to the back door while pulling out his own gun. As soon as he stepped on the deck, Sonny pulled Bonnie close to him like a human shield. In the bright moonlight, Luke could see blood streaming down the side of Sonny’s head where he’d hit him with the limb. Luke breathed hard and tried to steady the gun he aimed at Sonny’ head.

Through a murderous grin, Sonny said, “Drop the gun or I’ll put a bullet through her head.” Luke hesitated and Sonny screamed. “Drop the gun!”

Luke’s heart raced. He was a pretty good shot with a pistol, but he had never shot this gun before and his hand was shaking. And the way Sonny was holding Bonnie, only about four inches of his face was exposed. He could easily hit Bonnie.

He had no choice. Slowly, he bent over and laid the gun on the deck.

“Now put your hands on your head and back away.”

Luke laced his fingers over his head and started backing up.

“You’ve been nothing but trouble.” Sonny’s eyes were wild with rage.

Luke caught movement in his peripheral vision and saw Rosemary stagger into the living room, then onto the deck. Her hand covered her nose and trails of blood ran down to her chin.

“Rosie, get his gun, then come get this kid,” Sonny commanded Rosemary.

She picked up Luke’s gun and like a Frisbee tossed it over the wooden railing into the dark abyss below.

She turned to Luke and yelled, “You fucking asshole,” then drew back her arm and slugged Luke in the mouth with all her might.

Luke’s head rocked back and he fought the urge to pounce on her, but Sonny had the gun. In seconds his mouth was full of blood. All he could do was watch as Rosemary pulled Olivia from Bonnie’s arms and ran off the deck.

“This could have been so fucking easy if you would have just done what we told you. But you just couldn’t leave well enough alone.”

Sonny redirected the gun from Bonnie, to Luke, extended his arm and tightened his finger on the trigger.

Suddenly Bonnie grabbed Sonny’s arm and pulled it down hard. The gun fired into the deck beside Luke’s feet. Sonny pulled the gun back up, but again Bonnie jerked at his arm and this time the bullet went wide.

Bonnie twisted to the side just as Luke plowed into Sonny, knocking both of them backwards. As the three of them fell, Luke grabbed the pistol and yanked. It came free and clattered across the deck in the opposite direction. They began to wrestle on the wooden decking, with Sonny on the bottom. Luke pushed away and scampered over and grabbed the gun.

Luke could see the desperation in Sonny’s face as he got to his feet and eyed the pistol in Luke’s hand. Bonnie, breathing hard, got to her feet and just as she stood Sonny grabbed her and pulled her in front of him.

Luke pointed the gun at him from ten feet away.

“It’s over, Sonny. Let her go,” Luke said as he stepped closer.

Before Luke could react, Sonny lifted Bonnie and slung her over the railing. He held her dangling her over the hundred foot drop.

“If you shoot me, she’ll fall to her death,” he threatened as Bonnie’s screams echoed through the canyon. “Now, drop the gun or I’ll let go of her.”

“I’ll kill you,” Luke screamed, jutting the gun at Sonny’s face. “Bring her back on this side.”

Sonny didn’t move. Luke’s heart raced, knowing Sonny held Bonnie’s life in his hand.

Then Sonny’s grip around her waist loosened, and Bonnie dropped a foot lower. She screamed. Now he held her under her arms and she appeared to be slipping more.

Luke wanted to try to grab her but knew if he did, Sonny would let her go.

“I can’t hold her much longer,” Sonny threatened, his evil eyes widening. Bonnie’s breathing was frantic as she reached to the side, trying to grasp the top board of the railing.

“Sonny, please,” she begged.

“You’ve got three seconds,” Sonny said, narrowing his eyes at Luke. “Slide that gun over here or I’ll let her fall.”

“Okay,” Luke said, knowing he was taking the word of a man who wanted them both dead. “Just bring her back.”

The gun slid over and it stopped a few feet short of Sonny.

“There’s the gun. Now bring her back on this side.”

“Want her? Come get her.”

Sonny let her go.

As she started to fall, one of her arms reached over and hooked over the railing. It stopped her long enough for her to grab hold with the other hand.

Bonnie dangled over the hundred-foot drop. Luke saw the pained grimace on her face and remembered the thumb she’d injured five days ago.
Can she hold on?
But, at this point, Luke didn’t have much choice. If Sonny got the gun, they were both dead.

When Sonny bent and reached for the gun, Luke took a quick step and kicked. Just as Sonny grabbed it, Luke’s hiking boot connected with his face. Sonny flew back and the gun skittered further away. Luke dove for the gun and pulled it up as Sonny recoiled and took a defensive stance. Luke aimed the gun at him.

“I’m slipping—hurry!” Bonnie screamed to a terrified Luke.

But, if he leaned over the deck to help her, Sonny could easily push him over the railing, killing them both.

There was only one thing to do. He turned the gun toward Sonny and pulled off two quick shots. Sonny dove to the side and landed inside the cabin. The bullets splintered the log on the outside wall where Sonny stood a fraction of a second earlier. Through the dim light of the cabin, Luke could barely make out Sonny’s form as he ran. He fired three fast shots through the windows and the glass exploded into a million pieces. Now he could see Sonny’s dark form racing toward the front door.

“Luke!” Bonnie shrieked.

Luke dropped the gun and reached over the railing and grabbed Bonnie by the arms. Adrenaline surged through him and with a single jerk he pulled her up and over the railing. He fell back, pulling her on top of him. As they hit the deck, he wrapped his arms around her so tight a herd of horses couldn’t separate them. From the front of the cabin Luke heard the engine of the minivan revving as it drove away.

A few seconds later they rolled over and sat up. Luke brushed the hair from Bonnie’s face and neither spoke as they tried to catch their breath.