Page 22 of Good Girl and Grinches

We already mapped the cabin’s old boxy exterior. Three entry points: this door and two windows. One of them is barely big enough for a child. The other sits several feet from the front door with curtains blocking our view.

“Let us hear Sabrina’s voice.” Ruckus takes the lead on the negotiation.

“You don’t have proof that she’s in here?”

“Do we wait for the cops?” Ruckus whispers. On the drive over, we got confirmation that our investigation turned up enough evidence to arrest Ty. The authorities are assembling the SWAT team and when we confirmed Ty was here, we sent a pin for the location.

As far as they’re concerned, they’re rounding up a serial arsonist. As far as we’re concerned, we can’t leave Sabrina alone with him for another second.

Her safety is pitted against the safety of everyone who might suffer at Ty’s hands if he remains free.

It might be selfish, but I’m not about to let this be an either-or scenario. Despite Ruckus’ ongoing conversation with Ty, we have no evidence that Sabrina is unharmed.

Flame points at himself then nods toward the window. I motion for him to wait.

Ruckus keeps Ty talking. “Let her out, Ty. No one gets hurt.”

I run my fingers over the wooden door, rapping lightly with my knuckles. Keeping my voice down, I say, “The wood’s old and dry, not too sturdy.”

Ty responds to Ruckus. “You’re trespassing.”

Flame grips his axe, holding it over his shoulder, ready to strike. The quietness of his words is contrasted against his intent. “Let’s chop this motherfucker down.”

Ruckus turns to us. “Do you think he has a gun?”

“Doesn’t fit his profile.” I keep my voice steady despite the ice in my veins. “Fire’s his signature. He’s never up close to the people he kills.”

“All the more reason to go in before SWAT,” Flame says. “As soon as he sees their guns, all bets are off. We can be in and out before they get here.”

“Save Sabrina, then zip-tie him for SWAT to find?” I make sure we’re on the same page.

Flame nods. “If he mentions that we broke in, we get to explain that Sabrina was in imminent danger. Doubt he wants to add kidnapping to his list of charges.”

“I wish we could burn this motherfucker to the ground.”

“It would be beautiful irony.” Flame considers it, but none of us would do anything to risk Sabrina’s safety. “On three.” Flame shakes his axe. Ruckus and I get ours ready.

Ruckus stands back to manage the scene and counts off as we prepare to dismantle our entry point. “One. Two. Three.”

The door splinters under our synchronized axe strikes. Ancient wood proves no match for rage-fueled strength. One blow each is all it takes before my boot connects with the weakened boards, sending them crashing inward.

My combat-trained eyes sweep the room. No gun. Just Ty standing behind Sabrina. The fear in his eyes betrays his tough façade.

“How’d you find me?” Ty’s voice cracks.

I advance while Flame circles left. We don’t satisfy him with a real answer. “Should’ve covered your tracks better.”

“The warehouse fire was sloppy.” Ruckus moves right, boxing Ty in.

Ty’s shoulders slump.

With a nod from Flame, Ruckus and I prepare to grab Sabrina.

Flame tackles Ty, pinning him to the ground, the fight draining from Ty almost instantly. Flame secures his wrists with zip-ties.

Ruckus and I make quick work of hacking the chain anchor free from the floor. I scoop Sabrina up, and Ruckus helps with the wood chunk and chain still attached to her cuffs as we rush her to the truck.

“Be right there,” Flame calls after us.

---