Gone? What the hell?

I barged out the front doors of the nursing home, Vanessa trailing behind me. She didn’t even attempt to fight. Instead, she cowered at my back like a hurt animal. I pulled my service revolver and radioed Cruz.

“I don’t know what happened, Martin. Commander Phillips vouched for him, said he was vetted. We’ve used him before,” Cruz sounded groggy.

I had no idea how late it was, but that didn’t matter now. “You tell Phillips to call his contact, and then me, now,” I commanded and clicked the radio to silent. “You stay behind me,” I instructed Vanessa.

“I am.” At least she was cooperating.

“So, what happened?”

“I don’t know. I woke up and you were gone and so was he and the car was empty and there was a black SUV and the gate was open.” She blurted everything out in one string of words without taking a breath. “And we’re at a castle,” she added at the end.

“It’s a nursing home.”

I felt the air go out of her. “Oh, Martin.”

When we reached the edge of the row of hedges blocking the home from the outside world, I peered around the corner. I could see my car, my dear Rhonda, out in the open. Anger surged in me at my foolishness, trusting locals to do my job. On the other side of Rhonda, the gate still stood wide open, the guard shack empty. The hired police cruiser was nowhere to be seen. He’d obviously returned to it and driven off, completely abandoning his post. I made a mental note to have his badge number when this was all over.

With no other choice, I made my way slowly to my car, Vanessa following tightly behind me, my body shielding her as much as possible. As we neared Rhonda, headlights flashed on, right in my face. The SUV emerged from the darkness. Two massive goons exited the vehicle and stood towering on either side of the lights. “Welcome back, Martin.”

“Who are you?” I asked, still advancing toward cover, my weapon drawn.

Neither of them moved or flinched at the barrel pointed right at them. “The important question, Martin, should be where we are.” The driver mocked me.

I said nothing, not taking his bait.

“You should know, La Familia has eyes everywhere,” the passenger butted his two cents in. “Good evening, Ms. Genovese.” He nodded his head at Vanessa, who shrunk even smaller behind me.

“Not very smart, announcing who you work for like that,” I chuckled at him. Opening the side door, I pushed Vanessa into the back seat and told her to cover herself with whatever she could find. As I closed the door, I could see her laying the front seat back, completely sheltering herself. Smart girl.

I strode around the truck, my revolver still zeroed on the space between the two large figures. As my eyes adjusted to the lights still focused on me, I realized that the tall one looked familiar. His bald head and goatee gave him away. “No wonder you blab about your assignments, you Rent-a-Cop.” I spat the slur at him.

“Mr. Amara sends his regards to the graduate.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Tell him Ms. Genovese appreciates it, but future correspondence should be handled by Mr. Genovese or myself.” I lowered my weapon long enough to climb in the driver’s seat and start the truck.

“I don’t think you realize how this works.” The bald one stepped closer, into the gated area. “Nobody tells Mr. Amara anything.” He smiled, revealing a gold tooth, and nodded his head toward the nursing home. “Not if they know what’s good for them.”

“No, I don’t think you know how this works. Come one step farther, and you’ll be swiss cheese.” I lowered my revolver square to his center line. “After the night I’ve had, you don’t want to try me.”

The goon didn’t step back, I’ll give him that, but his facial expression gave him away. He knew I wasn’t bluffing. “Don’t worry, Martin. You’re not the one we want.”

“You’re not getting her, either. I’ll blow you away right now if I have to.”

“Not my call. I’m just here to relay the congratulations. We tried to give you the message at the safe house, but you took off in such a hurry.” He bared that gold tooth again. “Just remember that Mr. Amara has a knack for getting what he wants. And as you can see,” he waved his hand around to where the police cruiser no longer was, “nobody’s pockets are immune to Mr. Amara’s will.”

“You bribed a beat cop. I’m very impressed.” I revved the engine and threw the truck into first.

“Please, we don’t waste our time on beat cops. We have much bigger fish on our hook.” The silent partner made a reeling motion like he was pulling in a big catch behind him. The big guy continued, “You just keep that in mind, wherever you are. Say, your safe house, or a nursing home, or getting Ms. Genovese’s hair done at a private salon.”

Vanessa whimpered behind me at the reference to her mother. I told him, louder than I needed to for Vanessa’s sake, “That was before I came on the job. Now, I’d like to see you or anyone try something. I’ve been itching to see some action.” With that, I floored it, peeling tires and coming within an inch of the SUV’s passenger side mirror.