examined the spiral of barbed wire, then looked down at Leitch’s upturned face and grinned.
The high pitch of Ray’s voice made it almost unrecognizable as he relayed the details of what was happening as Rellik twirled the broom handle slightly between Leitch’s buttocks.
Leitch’s body writhed and squirmed against the restraints while he emitted muffled screams. Rellik then thrust deep and Leitch’s eyes and fists closed tight as his body arched. His scream was muffled by vomit. A moment later, his body went limp.
Rellik slowly pulled out the broom handle, then walked around and knelt in front of Ray, holding the bloodied implement close to Ray’s eyes. He looked at Damien and said, “I better tape his mouth.”
Damien nodded and took the phone from Ray, who pleaded until Rellik applied the tape.
Rellik then looked at Ray and said, “For you, I will not be so kind. It will be much slower.”
Damien held the phone close to Ray’s mouth. The gag that Ray wore did not block out the screams broken by the intermittent whimpering of a dying man. In the background, the sound of Carlos’s voice could be heard on the phone as he alternated between pleading, offering money, and then screaming when Ray quit speaking.
Damien put the phone to his mouth and said, “How does it feel, Carlos?” before smashing the cellphone on the floor and grinding it with his heel. He then hurried out of the building.
Lance followed and stood silently as Damien vomited before getting in the car.
Jack was awake when he received the text message from Damien. They were to meet at six o’clock.
Jack called Laura and asked, “You awake?”
“Already showered.”
“We meet him in an hour and forty-five minutes. I’ll pick you up. It’s on the way to the meet.”
“An hour and forty-five! He could have let us sleep longer.”
“I’ll buy you breakfast. Something other than olive soup.”
Elvis’s eyes were closed, but he was awake when he heard Laura rummaging in the bureau dresser. She then went to the bathroom.
He listened to the sound of her refilling the bullets in her clip ... and then the backup clip. What the hell happened yesterday? Moments later, he felt her warm kiss on his cheek, then she was gone.
Jack and Laura were just pulling into a coffee shop parking lot when Jack received another text message. It was from Lance.
“Our friend is still up,” said Jack. “Better cancel breakfast. We don’t have much time.”
“Cemetery?” asked Laura.
“You trying to pick up another date? Forget it. We’re using a parkade.”
Twenty minutes later, Lance climbed into the back seat.
“The Brit is Ray,” said Jack, before Lance could speak. “Carlos’s brother.”
“Yeah, I fuckin’ figured you knew that,” mumbled Lance. “I thought I was about to be done with all this bullshit of havin’ to work with you, until Damien met ya at the hospital last night. Thought he would tell ya. Didn’t know you two were so tight.”
“Actually we figured it out before then,” replied Jack. “So what happened? I know Damien had both Leitch and Ray grabbed.”
“They were more than grabbed.”
Lance recounted what happened and Jack and Laura listened quietly to the grim fate of Leitch and Ray. When Lance finished, he stared quietly at Jack for a moment and then said, “So you knew that Ray was the guy before Damien talked to ya in the hospital?”
Jack nodded.
Lance frowned and said, “Shit! I was close to winning this time.”
“Winning what?” asked Laura.
“An agreement with your partner here. He said if I could identify the Brit before he did, I wouldn’t have to work for ya anymore.” Lance looked at Jack and said, “Okay, I better go. I’ll be in touch when I need to be.”
“Don’t bother,” said Jack.
“What ya talkin’ about?”
“We’re even,” said Jack. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve more than repaid your debt. This is the last time I ever expect to hear from you.”
Lance’s eyes opened wide. “You mean it?”
“I mean it,” said Jack, while extending his hand over the back seat.
Lance was quick to shake his hand and then said, “Man, you don’t know what a relief this is! Don’t take it personal — you’ve been real solid with me — but not seein’ ya anymore is ... well, better than winnin’ the lottery.”
“You’re president of the west-side chapter,” said Jack. “Think about it. If you don’t want to see me, don’t look in your rear-view mirror!”
Lance paused as he thought about what Jack said, then laughed. When he got out of the car he turned and automatically said, “See ya around.” He then took two steps and said, “What the fuck am I sayin’? I ain’t never seein’ ya again!”
Laura waited until Lance left the car before saying, “You’re cutting him loose at a time like this?”
Jack shrugged and replied, “I don’t really like it either, but fair is fair. I’ve put the guy through enough. Besides, right now I want Carlos and he can’t help me with him.”
“Your call,” replied Laura. “Right now I’m too sick thinking about what Rellik did. A bullet in the head is one thing, but this ... I feel nauseous.”
“I feel the same way,” replied Jack.
“And we’re supposed to meet Damien in less than half an hour! He’s as demented as Carlos is! ”
“It made Damien sick. Neither of us has thrown up.”
“Yet.”
Jack nodded. I won’t be sick ... but my nightmares are going to become wilder.
“Rellik ... sticking that up a person’s bum!” exclaimed Laura. “You heard our friend. He enjoyed what he did! What kind of person would do that?”
“A psychopath, just like Carlos.”
“And you think we should talk to Damien? Rellik wouldn’t have done it if Damien didn’t let him.”
“You can’t show weakness when you’re the lead wolf. Besides, we can use Damien to catch Carlos. That is who made this personal for us.”
“Yeah,
