Chapter 15: Wet Work

Your sniper walked into the canyon and slipped passed the perimeter alerts by avoiding the road entirely. He was dropped off at the top by your favorite dirty white coupe.

I found it hard to type one-handed but my left paw was wrapped in a bulky dressing that left only my fingertips sticking out.

I didn’t doubt that at all.

Bianca was still sleeping across the hall. I had risen early as usual and made some coffee. The doctor who fixed my hand gave me a bottle of hydrocodone and Tylenol tablets but I found that I didn’t care for the muddling effects after all. I grabbed a big bottle of Advil on the way back home and was happy with the pain relief they offered.

I get the feeling that there is a lot more to that old hermit than meets the eye, I smirked.

Well, the repeaters are already in place to provide secure coms anywhere down there. Let me know and I’ll send you another secure phone.

Go ahead and send it.

Two hours later she texted me the proximity where the car was last seen by multiple traffic cams in town. I knew the area and grabbed my coat and glove (fuck this bandage made life hell!) before heading out to my truck. Bianca tried to join me but I insisted she stay behind with Travis.

Knowing what I was looking for and being familiar with the general vicinity, made my search easier. Being entirely focused on my surroundings and relying upon my heightened instincts enabled me to quickly locate the once-white two-door car, in a darkened lot behind a Value Inn.

I turned off my lights as soon as I spotted it and parked killing the engine, so I didn’t alert the occupant. I got out and retrieved a prybar from the toolbox in the bed, before slinking across the lot. ‘Occupant(s)’, I realized as I got closer and saw the telling motion of the chassis. Someone was getting it on.

The compact snow crunched noisily beneath my feet but they were clearly oblivious to my presence, as I moved up to the driver’s door and peered inside. The windows were fogged up and I could hear a high-pitched panting cry as the small car rocked gently. I could barely see the silhouette of a slight figure bouncing atop the lap of the driver. He sounded as if he were giving birth to twins!

With a disgusted sigh, I brought my right arm back and swung the heavy iron bar, striking the driver’s window dead center and smashing it. Two voices cried out in fright and shock as I reached inside and pulled the door open. Sadly, the young female who fell off his lap sounded more manly than poor Owen—who screeched like a baby piglet as I grabbed him by the throat. I yanked him from the car and tossed his fat ass onto the compact icy ground. He continued screaming as he rolled about, trying to pull up his pants.

I turned briefly to regard the girl huddled in the passenger’s seat. She stared back at me with a terrified expression. “Stay there,” I told her with a calm voice, before turning back to my quarry. I perceived her slight nod from my periphery as I bent over Drone-boy’s crying form and poked him with the prybar.

“Well Owen,” I growled as he cowered in the snow sobbing, “we finally meet.”

He peeked up at me over his protective arm. “Who ... who are you?” he pleaded, “What do you want?” He tried to sit up but I kicked him back over.

“Stay down!” I snapped and shoved him over onto his belly. I stepped on his neck forcing his face into the frozen gravel. Turning back to the car I gestured to its remaining occupant. “Come here girl,” I called gently.

She clambered out of the car and stood before me. She stood about five and a half feet tall and wore a loose-fitting coat over her thin frame. A cheap skirt came down to her mid-thighs and she wore fake leather boots that covered her just past her knees. She had medium-length darker hair with severe bangs that gave her a child-like appearance. Her make-up was smeared beneath her eyes and she watched me with a primal fight or flight expression.

“What’s your name?” I asked her calmly, projecting no sense of hostility at her.

“Trinity,” she replied quietly.

“What’s your ‘real’ name?” I repeated.

“It’s Trinity,” she insisted.

“How old are you, Trinity?”

“Twenty-three.”

Bullshit! “Please don’t start lying to me Trinity,” I sighed disappointed, “I’m not here to harm or judge you. But I demand honesty.”

She took a shuddering breath and looked down at her feet. “Sev ... seventeen,” she whispered.

Holding the prybar in my armpit, I reached into my pocket and produced a zip tie. “Trinity, would you do me a solid and bind this fucker’s thumbs together behind his back?” I smiled at her and indicated the bulky bandage on my left hand.

She quietly stepped forward to take the zip tie and bent over Owen’s prone form. He moaned and tried to twist his torso about.

I rapped him painfully on the head with the metal bar. “Knock it off and put your hands behind your back!” I growled.

I heard the zip tie zip close. “Make it nice and tight,” I encouraged and she zipped it more causing him to cry out in pain. “Thank you.”

She stood back regarding me warily as I stepped off her John’s neck and reached down to pull him to his feet with my good hand.

“Can I ... go?” she asked meekly.

I studied her gaunt thin face as I considered, “Where do you live?”

She looked away and gestured with her chin, “Not far, I can walk to my place from...” She hesitated when she saw my telling look, “I am homeless,” she corrected, “but my boyfriend has an apartment...”

“You are coming with me,” I declared firmly, “get your things.”

“I ... I can’t,” she suddenly pleaded, “I have to get back...”

“Trinity, this life is over for you,” I said, “as of this moment you are my charge and I am going to take you somewhere safe...”

“But my boyfriend...” she stammered.

“I will deal with your pimp if and when the time comes,” I replied with a warning tone, “now get your things and let’s go.”

“Carter ... it’s two in the morning,” Kevin stated groggily after answering his phone.

“Hi Kev,” I said cheerfully, “is the Sinclair Rescue Society still open?” I could hear Rachel mumbling tiredly in the background.

“What?” he muttered, “seriously dude...?” I heard a clattering and then Rachel’s voice filled my cab.

“Carter, what’s going on?” she asked sleepily.

“I picked up a feral kitten tonight and I need to swing by your place so that you can ... you know,” I paused, “do what you do.”

“We will be here.”

“See you soon.”

Rachel met us at the door wearing a thick robe over her bulging body. Kevin came up behind her.

I kissed the tiny Asian woman on the cheek. “God Rachel, you have never looked so beautiful,” she beamed brightly up at me, “and so fat, at the same time ... oof!” Her face clouded as she punched me in the gut.

“Asshole!” she muttered and turned to face Trinity with motherly curiosity.

Kevin rolled his eyes and gaped at my bandaged left hand.

“Rachel, Kevin—meet Trinity,” I said placing my hand gently against her back, “Trinity, these are my best friends in the whole world: Rachel and Kevin,” I nodded towards Rachel’s belly, “and Sinclair 2.0” I got a cold look for that one.

Rachel scooped the girl into her arms and disappeared inside while I explained things to Kevin briefly.

“I am going to be out of town for a few days so I really appreciate the favor.” I was intentionally vague about the details of my injury and how I came upon a juvenile prostitute in the middle of the night. Kevin was no fool but chose not to pry.