Between Right and Wrong Read online

  Pam smiled, “You must think I’m silly sometimes.”

  “We will be just fine, Pam. I don’t think we will ever look back on this and laugh, but it will make us stronger. There will be lots of peaceful days we spend together.”

  Phil knew there was something in the way. He could never have peace as long as this job was unfinished. He had to finish it. Mickey and his family deserved to be safe. Pam deserved to be safe. He deserved to be safe. He sent Mike a text letting him know where he was and what he was doing. Roo had been at home alone in the back yard and was probably wondering why no one had fed him. They drove to Phil’s house to feed the dog. Phil had still not heard from Tom and Pam was bound to wonder about her brother.

  While Pam was using the guest shower, Phil called Tom.

  Tom answered strangely, “Phil, they have us.”

  “Who, where,” Phil didn’t expect that answer.

  “They want Mickey, Phil. They have me and Don. And they say if you don’t bring Mickey, it’s your fault your girlfriend’s brother and I die. You have no choice Phil, they mean business. Listen, I am supposed to text you a GPS coordinate. If you don’t come alone with Mickey, they will finish us. They said they would know if you contacted the police or Mike. Phil, if you don’t do what they say; they will kill us. Be at the coordinates at noon.” Tom’s phone hung up. There were several things about the phone call that disturbed Phil. He knew Tom’s training. He should have given him cue words, but he didn’t. Could his kidnappers have known that? Also, Tom was strangely calm for a person whose life was in someone else’s hands. Tom was a handful in a fight. Whoever had them must have either got the jump on them or was a pretty slick operator.

  Phil hesitated. There was no sense in keeping this from Pam. She had to understand what he was about to do.

  She came into the room drying her hair with a towel; wearing Phil’s old sweatshirt and some sweat pants he gave her. They never looked so good.

  “Pam come sit by me.”

  “What’s wrong Phil?” She could tell he was troubled.

  “I have to tell you some things and I need you to understand why I am going to handle this my way.” He didn’t give her time to respond. “Someone has Don and a guy I work with name Tom.”

  “Oh Phil, how, why??” She was already tearing up; her hands clasping her face.

  “I hid someone from them. A man named Mickey, with his wife and baby son. Apparently he knows something they do not want public. They said to bring them this man, Mickey, or they will kill Tom and Don. They must have taken Tom and Don when I was successful in rescuing you.”

  “Is it the same people Don was testifying against?”

  “I would doubt it. I know there is a retired Senator involved. He was at the house you were tied up in and I believe he is the boss of this group of degenerates. Pam, I have been working with Department of Homeland Security against these people. As you know, they do not play around. They are also the ones who shot at Roo and I.”

  “Ok, Phil, you can explain later.” She stood straight up, as if to encourage herself. “How are we going to get Don and Tom out of this?”

  “Pam I need you to stay here, in the safe room. I need to go take care of this alone.”

  “You cannot give them Mickey. Phil, Don wouldn’t stand for it.”

  “I’m relieved you said that, because I don’t plan to.” Phil had his computer turned on and was entering the GPS coordinates in Google Earth. The map showed a road side park on a lonely stretch of highway in a wooded area. “I will have to figure out exactly how, on my way there. There is not much time. I am sure they planned it that way.”

  Phil was changing weapons in his duffle as he spoke, then put on some camo pants and shirt and hat.

  “Which one do I get?” Pam was looking at the pistols in the duffle.

  “Oh no, I don’t know what you think you are doing but I said you stay here, safe.”

  “Where you go, I go.” She spoke proudly with her chin in the air. “I’ve shot many a varmint, I don’t believe this will be any different.”

  “Pam, you don’t understand. Someone is going to die. I need to make sure it isn’t the wrong someone. I can’t be worried about you.”

  She grabbed the duffle with surprising ease and headed down the hallway to the truck with Phil protesting. “Dang it Pam, when we get home, you and I are going to come to an understanding.” It was obvious he was not going to change her mind. He knew he needed help to pull this off but the thought of her in harm’s way again made his blood feel cold.

  He was planning as they got in the truck. “You drive,” Phil told her and threw her the keys.”

  “How are you at sneaking through the woods?” She asked.

  “Who are you?” Phil looked at her with a new admiration. “You must have read my mind. There is a slight turn in the highway before the road side park. You drop me there and drive past the park about an eighth of a mile. They will think I am being careful. Wait! Don’t back out. Open the garage door, I need to get one more item. The garage door opened and Phil sprinted in. Inside an old foot locker, he pulled out a large black case and a separate canvas bag. Sprinting back to the truck, he put them in the back seat and hopped back in the passenger side. Go! We are losing time and we need to have a plan in place and practiced well before we get there.

  Phil had no choice but to trust Pam could follow his detailed instructions. After he lay out the plan, he made her repeat it back twice. Then they went over things that could go wrong. Phil made Pam promise to leave if the plan did not work. Again Phil went through each action asking for a repeat of each step…

  ‘What is step one? Ok, step 2? Right, step three? You got it. Step four? Right. Now what do you do if one of the steps goes bad?”

  “I shoot all the bad guys.”

  “Pam, I swear, I will drop you off if you don’t agree.”

  “I drive off and call the number on this flip phone and follow his instructions.”

  “Promise.”

  “Yes, but under protest.”

  They were getting close. Phil took out a small camera and mounted it to the passenger side back window. It was set up with a receiver so he could see the road side park as Pam drove by it. An image of where everyone was, would help him lay out his attack. He checked to make sure he got an image and stuck the receiver in an outside pocket. Reaching in the back seat, he opened the case he had retrieve from the garage and pulled the bag into the front seat.

  “At the next stop sign, I need to show you how to use this. Have you ever shot a grenade launcher before?”

  “Once between baking a pot roast and a chocolate cake….sorry I am scared and I can’t help it. No I never used one. When this is over it seems we have a lot to talk about.”

  “Concentrate, let’s make sure there is a later.” He realized he wasn’t quelling her fears. “We can win, we will win, but let’s make sure nothing goes wrong.”

  She nodded; her eyes wide open and alert.

  “It’s pretty easy. Just like the rifle you said your father taught you how to shoot. Aim at target, safety off, pull the trigger. Aim for the window. These are Sulphur grenades. They will burn like hades. The idea is to get everyone out in the open so we can keep Don and Tom alive. We have two angles; you from the east and me from the south.”

  They were at the last stop sign before a right turn that lead to the roadside park. Pam pulled on the shoulder and stopped the truck, placing it in park.

  “What’s wrong Pam?” Phil looked up from his thoughts. He had been in a ‘zone’ thinking through his movements and attack.

  “Two things I have to do before we get there. One, my real name is Elizabeth Roosevelt. My family always called me Lizzy. Daddy always joked that we were cousins to a president or two.” She smiled.

  “And the second thing?” Phil couldn’t imagine what else there could be.

  She unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over and passionately kissed him, her arms wrapped tightly around hi
m. “I had to do that before I died.”

  “You really know how to motivate the troops, Lizzy.” Phil smiled. “Remember I promised you would always be safe? I need you to promise those kisses for the rest of our lives.”

  “I promise and for as many years as the Good Lord gives us.” They smiled at each other and Phil squeezed her hand. Phil went over the grenade launcher with her again. She was a good student. She put the truck in drive and turned on the highway. Phil and Lizzy repeated the steps to each other one last time.

  Phil was watching his GPS and nodded to her when the last curve was ahead. At a quarter mile away, the roadside park was obscured by the tree lined highway. Lizzy slowed down enough to allow Phil to jump out with his bag and launcher. He hit the ground running hard. As the door shut Lizzy floor boarded the truck, flying past the roadside park as if she didn’t see it till she was passing. Breaking hard, the truck nosed to a stop. It was positioned as Phil directed, about one eighth mile past the park. The truck windows were dark tinted. A local custom caused by the intense summer heat. Lizzy took note as the passed the park; only one car pulled in with the front facing the entry. She counted to twenty and put the truck in reverse, backing slowly.

  Phil was able to get behind the park through the woods. He knew the overgrowth was going to slow him down. He also had to stop and view the camera shot as Lizzy drove past the roadside park. He was not surprised at the angle of the car. He was surprised there was only one. While still far enough away to keep his voice from travelling where a hidden person by the park could hear; he called Tom.

  “What do they want me to do now, Tom?” Phil pretended to still be in the truck.

  “Drive up and tell Mickey to get out. When you do they will send Don and I out to get in your truck.”

  “That’s it? We just drive away?”

  “All they want is Mickey. I think they can be trusted.”

  Phil was ready with a demand. “Tell them I want to see you and Don. Just open the door and stand up then sit back in the car and I will do as they say.” Something was not as it seemed, he could feel it.

  Two doors of the black sedan opened. Out of the driver’s door Tom stood up and then sat back inside. The rear passenger side door opened and Don stood up; his mouth duct taped and hands tied at the wrists.

  “Ok Tom tell them I have to cut Mickey’s feet free and then I will pull in. And Tom.”

  “Yea Phil?”

  “Tell them I don’t play.”

  “You are on speaker; they know.”

  Phil hung up and called Lizzy. “Yea, I’m scared but I saw Don. No changes to the plan?”

  “Can you hit the front passenger window from where you are?” Phil was all business.

  “Yes but your friend is in the front!” Lizzy objected.

  “Shoot that window on ten.” He hung up and started counting. At ten Lizzy stopped the truck and was out the door; Phil could see the launcher swing into play; at the same time Phil let go his grenade into the driver’s side window. They impacted within split seconds of each other and Phil was running to the car. He had dropped the launcher and pulled his pistol. He could hear the truck’s tires spinning rubber, going backwards in a hurry. He was within 50 yards of the car as the doors flew open and four people spilled out. Phil shot the man coming out of the rear driver’s side door and was sure he was out of service. Tom was bloody and trying to stand up out of the car. Phil body checked him to the side and shot into the passenger front seat area. Through the sulphur cloud, it appeared he hit the man in the side. Running around the back of the car, he pulled Don back and down on the ground as Tom gasp for air. Phil was around Don’s door and grabbed the front seat passenger by the hair and pulled him away from the car, trying to get away from the sulphur cloud and the burning in his eyes. Too late, he saw the gun in the man’s hand as it swung up. Phil twisted and the shot burned into his rib cage. In a swinging motion, Phil’s gun was up and in action, shooting the man in the face and neck.

  Phil staggered backward as Lizzy was pulling up in front of the car. She got out and ran to Don, not realizing Phil was shot. Phil felt weak, and light headed. He dropped to his knees.

  Lizzy had her back to him pulling the duct tape off of Don’s mouth.

  “Him too!” Don yelled and was pointing to the front of the car.

  Lizzy turned to see Tom, bloody but standing with a gun in his hands walking over to Phil, who was on his knees, gun still in his hands but getting weaker and bleeding out his left side. The blood was already spread the size of a dinner plate and getting larger.

  “You are getting old Phil,” Tom was walking up to Phil, as he raised his gun.

  Phil looked up at Tom. “Sloppy Tom, you gave yourself away.”

  “Maybe but I win. This is better than I planned. You three get killed and I tried to save you.”

  “This is wrong Tom and you know it.”

  “Ha, who are you to tell me I’m wrong. You self-righteous hypocrite. I did my service. I got little pay and a lot of grief. Now it’s time I get paid.”

  “RJ will use you and throw you away.” Phil was gasping as he spoke.

  “Maybe, but by the time he gets tired of me, I’ll be gone.”

  Phil was regaining composure but trying not to show it. The initial shock of being shot was wearing off and he was controlling his breathing and heartbeat, buying time for an opening to shoot. Tom had him in his sights.

  “Why Tom? What’s all this about?”

  “Money you fool, why else. All those military bases they close, the ones they BRAC, who do you think gets all that land and all that timber, and all those buildings? The public? Don’t make me laugh. RJ and his cronies. He figured that out and he’s filthy rich. I’m getting my share.”

  The gunshot ended it all. No more conversation. No more life. No more plans or dreams. He fell in a heap as if struck by lightning. The shot severed his spine and killed him instantly. It was over.

  Phil looked at Lizzy, holding Don up with one arm, smoking pistol in the other. She was one to ride the river with, a woman with whom to build a life and family. He had known it all along. She confirmed him right. There was no question in Phil’s mind she could survive anywhere. The day suddenly got very bright. Blinding lights filled his eyes and he could see nothing else. He felt as if he was moving but not because he wanted to; but felt like he was flying. ‘Am I dying?’ he heard himself say.

  His hand was being squeezed. For a second he thought it was caught in a door or under something heavy. Then he heard her voice. “They are taking you in now Phil, they say you will be ok. I will be here waiting. I love you.”

  He was in a dream. Phil could see his father and mother eating at the dinner table in that old house. It had no air conditioning, so Mother always opened all the windows and the kitchen door that lead to the well house, so there would be a breeze. The cotton curtains would dance as the wind came through, then drop still and the temperature instantly seemed to raise ten degrees. Phil could hear his father talking as he passed the wicker basket of biscuits around. He was giving them all advice, as was his habit at the dinner table.

  “There’s always folks that do wrong. Sometimes it seems they are the only ones that get ahead in this old world; but it isn’t so. The Good Book says the wicked will always fall in their own pit, or something close to that, but it’s true. I know folks like that so always do right kids. If your friends aren’t doing right, find new friends that will. It’s a joy and you will never regret it.”

  “Phil?”

  “Yes Daddy?”

  “Well I have never been called that before, Phil, its Lizzy.” He could feel that squeeze on his hand again.

  “Hey you, we did alright didn’t we?” Phil was still sleepy.

  “Yea, we did, how do you feel?”

  “A little beat up. You may have to fill me in. I had to take a nap.”

  “Yea for like a day and a half. You lost a lot of blood. Doc says you will be fine though, the bullet was in y
our lung. He says you are going to survive but only if you have a wife to take care of you.”

  “Really, do you know one I could borrow?”

  “I know one you can keep.”

  “You take advantage of me while I was napping?”

  “Dang I should have.”

  “You mind filling me in? How is Don?” Phil suddenly realized he didn’t remember if Don had been hurt.

  “He’s good. That grenade wasn’t kind to anyone in that car, but he said he’ll take burning lungs over death any day. He’s actually at home and taking care of Roo for us while I stay with you.”

  “Glad you are here Lizzy.” Phil smiled and squeezed her hand back. He was so very tired but had to know more. “Tom?”

  Lizzy got a tear in her eye but she shook it off, “Dead, but somehow I am not sorry.”

  “No reason to be, like killing a poisonous snake trying to bite you. Mike, does he know where I am? And work?”

  “Mike was here and left about twenty minutes before you woke up. I called your work and told them you were sick and would be out for a while. When you are stronger, I will read you the message Mike left for you. He said you would not be able to stay here without knowing everything that happened.”

  “Let me see it.”

  “You’d better let me read it to you. With all those pain killers in you, I’ll probably have to read it to you again later.” She pulled the note out of her pocket and started to read.

  “Phil:”

  “Hey Bub. Good work. Investigation is over and successful. RJ in custody. Teresa too. Who would have thought it? Mickey is in our safe house and will testify. Much evidence saved by Mickey hiding boxes that came into Elm Street property. Perps using the old building furnace to destroy original deeds so they could take over custody of BRAC properties and keep the royalties from the buildings, supplies, and timber sales. We win. Quite a coup for the good guys.

  PS: Quite a gal you got there; I expect an invite to the wedding.”

  As he faded off to sleep, he was thinking about a Hawaiian honeymoon……… and that kiss.