CULL ARRIVED AT the location as the last light of dusk faded into the night. He and Phoenix had stashed the truck down the road and made their way to the location on foot, using the cover of trees to make their way around the perimeter. Thankfully, the place was in a secluded neighborhood, so they didn’t have to worry about innocent people getting hurt. The killer had done Cull a huge favor by divulging his location.
The compound was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of a small town almost fifty miles away from Cheyenne. The place hadn’t been in operation for several years and from what Cull knew, kids had been using the building for a drinking spot. Behind the complex they found several dumpsters and a dozen old, rusty washing machines.
“She could be anywhere,” Phoenix said.
The compound property had a handful of buildings beside the warehouse. Several metal sheds and an empty trailer sat in the back with the words, Washers and dryers that’ll make laundry fun. The area was dark as they lowered to their bellies and crawled to the corner of the building. “I’m going to check out those outer buildings. You cover me,” Cull told Phoenix.
“Stay safe, bro,” Phoenix whispered.
Cull jogged toward the first building, moving almost silently in the dark.
The door was missing on the shed and he peered inside the empty space, then he hunkered down and made his way to the next one and it too was empty. He motioned for Phoenix.
His next target was the warehouse. The windows were all broken and Cull peered inside each. There was a breakroom and a row of offices. He could barely see into the large factory space. He made it around to the other side, looked in the window and he stopped. He could see the door was open into the basement where the only source of light was on.
“I’m going in,” Cull said.
“This isn’t safe. We both need to go in.”
“Stay here, Phoenix.” He dragged himself up and through the window, careful as he landed on the floor. Shattered glass cracked under his boots. Once he was out in the hall, he barely made any noise as he moved to the next room. The entire upstairs was dark except for the little bit of lighting coming in through the window from the security lamp.
He continued down the hall, keeping his back against the wall, trying not to step onto any of the trash on the floor. Once he reached the end of the corridor, he stopped and listened, not hearing anything except a buzzing sound. His senses warned him that he wasn’t alone. Where was the man?
He heard a footstep behind him then felt a beefy hand grab his shoulder and swing him around. Cull was quick and brought up an elbow, landing it hard against the man’s eye, but it wasn’t enough to slow him down. The man slammed his fist into Cull’s cheek, and he fell back two steps. He had a hard punch, but Cull was quick and agile. He had his balance back and lifted his gun, but it was knocked from his hand, sending the weapon sliding to the floor.
Where the hell was Phoenix?
Cull hunkered down, waiting for the man to lunge at him, looking for something to use out of his peripheral. Seeing a pipe leaning against the wall, Cull raced for it, grabbed it up and hit the man’s broad jaw with a crunching of bone. Lifting the bar again, Cull struck the man on the shoulder, then another to the stomach. Finally, the giant fell to his knees and onto his back, blood squirted from his mouth. The man brought his foot up and kicked Cull hard to the knee, sending him against the wall.
The man pulled a gun and Cull ducked as a bullet hit the wall. Good thing the man couldn’t hit his target any better than Deke.
Running and jumping, Cull landed hard behind the counter. He listened for any sounds but heard nothing. Crawling on his elbows, he peeked from around the corner as another shot rang through the air.
Cull counted three shots and then another that came from a different direction followed by a muffled moan and a thump on the floor.
On his feet in seconds flat, Cull saw Phoenix lowering his weapon. “It’s about time, bro.” Cull kicked the man’s gun across the floor and he dropped to knees beside the bastard who was holding the bleeding gunshot wound in his chest. Cull guessed he didn’t have much time left.
Circling his hand around the man’s sweaty, large neck, Cull squeezed just enough to make his point. “Listen, asshole, tell me where she is.”
The beefy man chuckled, then squinted against the pain. “Fuck. You.”
“Fuck me? You’re not in a position to be so cocky.” Cull pressed his fingers against the gaping bullet wound and the man cried out. “Tell me.”
“You’re. Too. Late,” he said in a croaked voice as he took his last breath.
“Fuck!” Cull wanted to slam his fist into a wall. “Where could she be?”
“We’ll find her. We need to use our heads,” Phoenix said.
Like a dying man, Cull raced through the rest of the warehouse. In the basement he found a room behind a steel door with a bed and wrinkled sheets. He picked up the pillow and brought it to his nose, inhaling the sweet scent. “She was here.”
He retraced the wobbly stairs two at a time and stormed outside, scanning as far as he could see in the dark. “Where could she be, Phoenix?” He turned around twice, frantically searching for something…anything that would help him find her.
“The man inside…he was dirty. His clothes, hands, his shoes were muddy.” Then Cull saw the shovel. He bent to run a finger through the still moist dirt. “Holy shit.”
Phoenix understood. “I’m calling for back up.”
Cull took off, not sure where he was going, but he had to find her. He spun around, feeling like a wild animal searching for shelter. He saw a mound of dirt and once he reached it he sucked in a ragged breath. The hole was empty.
Sitting next to the recently dug grave was a small pine box. It had a lock on it.
“Phoenix! Over here! Bring the shovel,” he yelled while kicking at the padlock with the heel of his boot. Cull grabbed the shovel from Phoenix and smashed the point of the shovel down onto the lock. The metal snapped. He practically ripped off his fingernails as he tore open the top to the wooden lid.
His heart slammed into his ribs.
Sally was scrunched in the box, her legs tucked up against her chest with no room to move. Her eyes were closed and she looked at peace.
Cull dropped to his knees and closed his eyes, overcome with emotion. He was too late. How could he have let this happen?
“Cull? Is that really you?” she said in a whispered voice.
He brought his head up, looking at the sweet angel who now had her eyes open. She wasn’t dead! “I’m here, baby. I’m here.” He grabbed her up from the box, holding her on his lap, gripping her against his chest like she was his lifeline. “You’re okay now. I’m so sorry. I should have never let you out of my sight. I should have sheltered you from this.” He kissed her forehead, her cheek, her eyelids and quickly on the lips.
“It was my fault,” she said in a hoarse voice, bringing her arms weakly up around his neck. “Thank you for saving me again.”
He cupped her dirty, bruised face with his hands. “Did he hurt you?” The bruises on her face made him want to bring the dead bastard on the floor in the warehouse back to life just so he could send him back to hell limb by limb.
“Where is he?” she whispered. “He was right here a minute ago. I heard him cursing that he needed a bigger shovel.”
“He’s gone, my love. He’s gone for good.”