Tuesday, July 23, 2013

24(S3E2)-The Hurt


 

24

(Season 3, Episode 2)

The Hurt

Sidney was in the kitchen, half out of her dress having just gotten home from the wedding, when she got the call from Tobias.

“Spaghetti.”  It was their secret code word for danger.  When they had worked together in the past, it meant the job was blown and they had to drop everything and run.

That was exactly what Sidney did.

Panic filled her as she heard the background commotion, from what could only be a life and death struggle.  She did not bother with shoes, pulling the top half of the dress back up over her bra and sprinting out the front door, keys in hand.

This was the day she had feared.  The day Tobias would be gone, really gone, and she would be on her own.  He had always been her conscience, her life line to the good part of her soul that she so often ignored.  She started the car and squealed backward out of her driveway before slamming it into drive, and peeled away.   

Tobias and Linda’s condo was in Stow, her house was in Ravenna, thirty minutes in traffic going the speed limit.  She would make it in fifteen, as long as she did get pulled over.  She took a hard right off Route 59 onto Brady Lake Road.  The back road was winding but she would have less chance of meeting a police officer this way.  She hit a straight away and opened up the throttle, pushing her little car to its limits.

It was in this moment of peace that she had a moment of levity.  What was she going to do when she got there?  Sidney couldn’t fight, not really, and she didn’t have a gun or a weapon of any sort.  Even if she did, she wouldn’t know what to do with it.

What am I going to do, talk the problem to death?

 She pushed the thought out of her head, she couldn’t just do nothing.  Just sitting at home and hoping everything worked out wasn’t an option.

She finally hit the condo’s parking lot after what seemed like an eternity.  The parking lot was crawling with cops, at least four cruisers and two unmarked.  The dark half screamed at her to put the car in reverse and get out, a natural instinct for a con artist.

The Life Flight helicopter changed her mind.

She brought the car to a stop as the helicopter lifted off into the air.  She was seven feet past the police line before the blue and whites realized it.  She saw Linda standing there in her white dress, covered in blood, watching the helicopter fly away in some kind of trance.

She looked like the ghost of a dead wife, haunting the place where she died.

“Hey, get back here!”  One of the cops yelled, realizing she had crossed the line.

The cop’s shout somehow snapped Linda out of her trance and her wide eyes shifted into that direction, catching Sidney running toward her.

“Linda, what happ-” Sidney was cut off as Linda took two steps to meet her and hit her with a right cross.

Maybe it was the surprise, or just Linda’s pure rage-driven madness, but Sidney had never been hit harder in in her life.  The blow turned her half around and put her on the asphalt.  She saw stares and it took a second to get her barring’s.

“You just don’t get it, do you?!” Linda was screaming down at Sidney and all the cops had stopped moving, confused by the scene they were watching.  “He listens to you!  For some reason, you have some terrible effect on him, and you don’t even see the damage you do!”

Sidney shook her head desperately.  “No, no Linda, this has nothing to do with me!”

Linda shook her head.  “It’s you.  It’s always you!  This only happens when it has something to do with you.  Why can’t you just let him be a good man?!  Why do you keep dragging him down with you?!  Why, God damn it, tell me why?!”

Linda had broken, her face had become a ball of uncontrollable rage and sadness and desperation and Sidney had no answers for her.  A detective stepped in, tall and lean with a tan complexion and short curly hair that made him look younger then he was.

“Come on now Mrs. Snyder.” His voice was low and soothing, made for the task at hand.  “I will take you to see your husband.”

The detective turned to a uniform.  “Put her in my car, Harry.”

The uniform came over and helped lead Linda to the detective’s car.  The smooth detective turned back toward Sidney who had pulled herself to her feet.  “How did you know the victim?”

Sidney decided to take it slow with the cop.  “What happened here?”

“A professional hit man broke in and put two in Mr. Snyder.  He would have killed Mrs. Snyder and her brother if he hadn’t charged in to the rescue.” The cop gave a quick summary.

Sidney turned.  “Oh, God.  Hank.  Is he okay?”

The detective eyed him and Sidney cursed herself.  The emotion of the situation had clouded her judgment.  This police officer would never have just given her the story if he didn’t think she had some kind of information.  He had baited the trap and she had taken it.

“The brother-in-law is in the ambulance.  He’s banged up, but stable.”  The cop said, then stepped in.  “I’m Detective Eugene Sellers of the Kent P.D.  I have to go right now, but if you think of anything that might help, gimme a call.”

Eugene handed Sidney his card.  “Also, you might want to not go anywhere for a couple of days.  I’m going to want to interview you.”

Sidney took the card and gave him another look and decided the best way to go was silence.  She nodded and began to walk toward the ambulance.  She had to figure out what was going on.  She couldn’t shake the feeling that this had something to do with her.  They had made a lot of enemies.  Could it be one of them?

Savannah?

Tyrone Johnson?

“They don’t let anyone on the ambulance other than family and police!” Eugene called to her, then turned to walk away.

Sidney turned to make sure he wasn’t looking at her anymore, then changed direction, slipping over to one of the cruisers and grabbing a hanging police jacket then a police cap she found on a dash.  She turned back and watched as one of the two paramedics got in the driver’s side.  The other, a small, unthreatening, white guy, finished talking to another couple about something and began over to the ambulance.

Sidney knew the jacket would only hold over for a second, the dress and bare feet would be dead give a ways, so timing was everything on the next play.  She kept five or so steps from the paramedic as he approached the back of the truck.  When he was about to get in, Sidney pushed forward and leapt up in front of him.

“Police business, you stay here for the coroner, I’ll ride with him!”  She slammed the back door shut, the entire exchange was a second long, giving the paramedic only time to notice the coat and hat.  She banged on the front cabin quickly being sure to keep herself only visible in the rear view in a way that would only show the coat and hat.

“Let’s go!  He’s going to stay for the coroner!”  Sidney yelled to the front and they were on their way.

Sidney watched the frustrated face of the other paramedic fade away in the window.  Hank saw her and a grin creased his weary face.  Banged up wasn’t the word.  His arm had a blood soaked bandage around it and so did his chin.  His face was swollen.  He looked worse than Sidney had ever seen him.

“Let’s go, siren all the way!”  She shouted to the driver.

“You got it!” He keyed the sirens and they started to wale.

The loud things would mask her and Hank’s conversation from the driver.  “Hank, what the hell is going on?”

Hank shook his head.  “You are gonna be pissed, but we stole something a couple of weeks ago.”

Sidney looked confused.  “Without me?  Why would you do that?”

“You wouldn’t have gone for it,” Hank explained.  “Anyway, it was supposed to be a present, a little revenge job for you.  We had no idea he would come back this hard.”

Sidney suddenly realized what Hank was talking about.  “Tell me you didn’t rob who I think you robbed?”

“It was your dad Sid.  We robbed your dad.” Hank said.

Sidney’s eyes narrowed.  “Tell me everything.”

****

Eugene walked to his car and opened the door, looking back as the ambulance passed, then over to the paramedic standing in the parking lot looking upset and that was all he needed to see to know what happened.

He turned to Harry.  “Hey, make sure he gets a ride back to the hospital, will you Harry.”

Harry followed Eugene’s look to the paramedic and frowned.  “Why the hell did they leave him here? They’re supposed to stay with the ambulance, aren’t they?”

Eugene shrugged. “He got conned out of it.”

Harry looked confused then shrugged and went to gather up the medic.  Eugene knew he was in for some action know.  He knew this because he knew Sidney Thomas, at least by reputation.

Eugene had to admit, he was looking forward to what came next.

END EPISODE 24

Sunday, July 14, 2013

23(S3E1)-The Hit


23

(Season 3, Episode 1)

The Hit

Tobias opened the door to his and Linda’s condo, still laughing from the night’s festivities. Linda was right behind him. Tobias was in a pin striped tux, which was disheveled and undone from the reception.  A fedora pushed back on his head made him look like a drunk lounge singer.  Linda was still in her flowing wedding dress. It was elegant but conservative, and somehow she seemed to shine.

She was his wife as of two hours ago.

“Hank should be here any minute, and then our flight leaves in two hours.  I’m going to change and check our bags one more time.” Linda said with a smile but as she moved, Tobias grabbed her arm and swung her back to him.

“One more look of how beautiful you are in this.” He said with a grin and the two kissed deeply.

When they broke, Linda smiled.  “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Tobias responded instantly and truthfully.  His life was finally coming together.  It had been two months since they had helped Sidney with Savannah, his restaurant was taking off, and now he had married his dream woman.

He had only one more phone call to make.

“You should change too.  Get some comfy clothes on for the flight.”  Linda said, playfully hitting his chest then breaking the embrace to head upstairs.

“I will, I have one call to make.  I still can’t believe you got me to agree to fly!” Tobias called to her as she climbed the stairs.  He pulled out his cell phone, trying not to think of his fear of flying.

“Don’t worry, you’re more likely to get shot!” She called back from their room upstairs.

Tobias shook his head and smiled, dialing the number for Sidney Thompson.  It rang once then her smooth voice picked up the phone playful as always.  “Shouldn’t you be getting on a plane right now, or doing your wife?”

“We’re getting our stuff together now.  Hank is taking us to the airport.”  Tobias answered.

“You sure that’s a good idea?  Hank had quite a few himself.”  Sidney joked.

Tobias snorted.  “He’ll be fine, hell of a party.”

Tobias could hear Sidney nod.  “Easily the best wedding I have ever been to.”

“Your speech it surprised me.  I figured you’d hang me out to dry like a normal best man, but that was…” Tobias struggled to find the word.

“Don’t get weepy on me Bias.” Sidney answered.

Tobias switched gears.  “Look, I got you a present.  You can do what you will with it.”

Sidney’s voice became confused.  “A present?  Aren’t we supposed to give you something on your wedding day, not the other way around?”

Tobias shrugged even though she couldn’t see him.  “This is different.  It’s-”

The front door was suddenly kicked in with one hard decisive blow, loud like thunder.  “What the fuck?”

Tobias took a couple of steps to look down the hall and that’s when he saw him.  The hitter was dressed all in black, was bald and wore black driving gloves.  As he raised the mean-looking, silenced pistol, Tobias couldn’t help but think he looked exactly like the hit man in that stupid video game.

“Spaghetti.” He managed to speak the one word into the phone before he saw a muzzle flash and a wisp of air.

He was then falling backwards now, over a cliff and into a seemly endless void…

****

Linda heard the crash and thought something had fallen, she hurried out of their room and down the stairs and watched as the third bullet hit her new husband’s chest.  Three small holes, blood poured into his blue undershirt at an alarming rate.  He was covered with the stuff before he hit the floor.

She had never thought she was one of those woman that would scream when something like this happened, but now in the moment she felt it rise and escape her throat, almost on instinct.  The hit man now noticed her and turned the gun toward her.

What could she expect?  This is what happens when you marry a man who was a professional thief.  They never really get away and you just end up being collateral damage.

That’s when Hank hit the man.  Having seen the carnage from the doorway, he had sprinted the few steps and hit the man high like some kind of mad linebacker.  The two men went down.

The hitter tucked in and rolled low, his training kicking in, sending Hank toppling over his head.  The hitter popped up to his feet, and Hank scrambled to get up, but the trained killer was faster.  He stepped in with an elbow strike to Hank’s face.  Hank stumbled and the hitter moved in, stepping up and driving a knee into Hank’s stomach.  The blows were fast and side-by-side and they sent Hank crashing through the coffee table to his back, gasping for air.

Linda watched and worried.  The situation was hopeless.  No one brawled like her brother but this man was a killer.  He was trained, balanced, and prepared.  Hank was tough and strong, but it wasn’t going to be enough.

The hitter turned and started to walk back toward her and she wondered why, for a second.  With that thought, her brain began to break the hold that shock had over it and she realized that the hitter had dropped the gun at the foot of the stairs when Hank hit him.

The gun…

The gun…

The gun!

Her brain kicked on and the man saw the understanding in her eyes and rushed for the weapon.  Linda leapt down the flight of stairs, catching the man’s arms as He pulled the gun from the floor.

Two more shots were sent into the wall with a mechanical hiss and the man cursed her under his breath. She didn’t have the strength to pull the gun away but she had to hold on to keep it from being pointed at her or her brother and hope for a miracle.

The hitter fought at her, desperately punching at her face with his free arm and elbowing with her other, doing anything and everything to get her to let go.  One blow caught her on the nose and her eyes watered but she held on.

Hank suddenly wrapped the man around the waist and yanked him backward.  Linda held on for dear life, not knowing what else to do.  Hank dragged the hitter back through the threshold to the kitchen. Linda slammed, head first, into the door arch and fell to the floor, stunned.

The sudden shift of weight threw Hank off balance and he fell, both men crashing into the dishwasher with such force the door broke off the hinges and the machine showered the kitchen with water.  Hank scrambled to get the upper hand on the hitter, getting to his knees first and began to rain down right hands.

“You like that?!  Huh?!  That’s my brother, my sister!  I’m gonna beat your fucking-”  He was cut off as the killer managed to get to a small combat knife and bring it up into Hank’s left shoulder.

Hank yowled in shock and pain.  The momentary opening was all the hitter needed.  He planted his feet and stood at the same time he pulled the dagger from Hank’s arm and took another swing, this time for Hank’s neck.

It was all Hank could do to step back enough to avoid the kill blow.  The blade still caught his lower lip and sliced it open.  Hank was dripping wet, blood poured out of his right arm and from his chin, staining the button up shirt he had worn to the wedding.  The fight was draining out of him with the precious life fluid.  The hitter stood in front of him, blood trickled from his nose.  He was also soaked, but other than that, he was alright.

He also still had the knife.

Hank baited him anyway.  “Come on…  Dick…  I’m not done yet…”

In the distance, sirens could be heard.  Someone had called the cops.  The hitter heard the sirens, then cracked his neck.  “Not bad for some back woods hick.  Too bad the cops are coming and I have to make this quick.  We could have had fun.”

“I’m a lot of things, but quick ain’t one of ‘em.” Hank said, his breathing ragged.

Linda watched through stunned and pained eyes, at first only half understanding.  The blow to her head had done some damage.  It had stunned her so much, in fact, that only now did she feel the cold heavy weight of the pistol.  It was in her hand, she had held on and come away with the weapon in the struggle.  Her fingers closed around it and rage flowed through her.

She hated guns, never fired them, never used them and had no interest in changing that, until of course, that very moment.  She raised the gun and began pulling the trigger, the air popping sound happened again and again and the hitter yelped in pain.  She kept firing until the gun’s slide locked back.  Bullets had pelted the kitchen and she had managed to put only one into the hitter’s leg.  A passing thought that it was harder to shoot these things then people thought entered her pain addled mind.  This was quickly replaced by the desperation that the man was still standing, and still prepared to kill them all.

Hank saw the opening, called forth all his remaining power and lounged forward, throwing himself into the hitter.  The man’s now wounded leg buckled and he fell backward.  As he did, Hank grabbed the knife and turned it, falling with his weight onto the hilt sending the blade into the hitter as Hank came down on top of him.

The knife went deep into the hitter’s right lung and he began to gasp for air like a fish out of water. Hank’s face was two inches away from the hitter’s.  He smiled and whispered.  “We having fun now?”

Hank rolled off the hitter who continued to gag and gasp and laid in the water.  Linda had pulled herself up, throwing the gun away and crawling to her husband.  Her white dress now covered with blood, she tore at it and put a wad over her husband’s wounds before lying on top of him.  His eyes looked lost and lifeless as they stared at the ceiling, but she refused to give up on him.  She depressed herself onto of him harder, trying to hold the blood in.  She had seen it on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy and hoped, more than anything, that it was an actual lifesaving fact, and not just show flare.

“Stay with me…” She whispered it as she ran her hand through his hair.  “Stay with me…”

End Episode 23