Page 72 of Special Agent Jennie

Chapter Fifty-two

This time Lance didn’t get a chance to block Kane’s move on Lee. Maybe just as well, because in that exact instant, the expected task force burst in, guns waving, ready to take every one of them into custody as planned.

“FBI. You’re all under arrest, drop your weapons.”

Lee, thinking Kane had lunged to protect him, pulled his weapon, threw himself in front of his brother, and began shooting. In seconds, he took a bullet and dropped.

Lance then threw himself next to Kane as if afraid of the police. In truth, his intentions were to leave the lane open for the shoot-out happening between the FBI and Gordie.

That man had no intention of surrendering peacefully and after he wounded one of the two officers that had entered the premises, Kane seemed to come alive. He pulled out his own weapon, ran in front of Gordie as if to protect him, and the officers instantly quit shooting.

Knowing he only had very few seconds, he grabbed Gordie around to the back of the room. “They outnumber us, man. Let’s get outta here.” As if he intended to push the smaller man to the kitchen so they could escape, instead he purposely screwed up and thrust him headfirst into the counter. Out cold, Gordie dropped to the floor, his gun flying from his hand.

Seeing the officers waiting for a cue from him, he waved them back. Then he went to check on Lee. Thinking him dead, yet needing to be sure, it shocked him that the man still breathed.

“K-a-ne.”

“Yeah, man. Can you move? We’re clear, gotta get out fast.” He pretended they’d won the battle and took his brother’s hand in his.

“Can’t. You… go. Lu-uv…” Giving up the struggle over the last word, Lee’s head rolled to the side, and he died.

Kane’s emotional reaction surprised him, and it probably shouldn’t have. As unbelievable as it seemed… his brother had cared. Suddenly, Kane remembered the skinny kid standing back from the scene when he went to get in his aunt’s car. That look of reproach on his tear-stained face now seemed more like sheer envy… and just maybe mixed in with someone losing a beloved brother.

Before he could dip further into the past, Lance came over, body shaking… his voice weak and higher than usual. “I just heard from Lisa. She escaped from where her mom had her handcuffed to their vehicle to keep her safe and was able to get to Jennie in time. Both of them are clear and safe. The agents just got there and put out the fire.”

Nodding, relief intense, Kane’s legs gave out, and he dropped… head against the wall, his brother’s hand still clutched in his. “He took a bullet for me, Lance.”

Still crouched down, he answered, “Yeah. He did.”

“Go figure… a guy so filled with hatred for others still cared for his own.”

Lance shook his head back and forth, pretending not to see the tears in Kane’s eyes. “Got no answer for you, man.”

“Me either. In the past, I always believed he hated me.”

“They say hate and love are two sides of the same coin.”

Kane swiped at his face and nodded. “Guess that’s as good an answer as I’ll ever get.”

Just then Lance’s announcement about his girls popped into his mind and the overwhelming relief made him see a possible happy future ahead of him again… not the sick emptiness that had erupted from Lee’s earlier words.

He looked up to see one of the officers he’d been in contact with all along for tonight’s plan. The agent who’d followed his signal to stand back.

“Thanks, Joe.”

“You okay, Kane.” Officer Joe Walker really cared.

“Yeah. How’s Luchinski?”

“He’ll make it. Thanks for stepping in before it went any further.”

“You guys picked up the… ahh, basket cases yet?”

Laughing, Joe added, “As good a name for them as I’ve heard. Yeah. They’re all in custody. Most are talking a blue streak. Of course, they don’t really know much, but we’ll take down all their statements and keep them off the street.”

“Good. It’s what we hoped for. I guess we’re ready to come with you now. Can’t say how happy I am to be rid of this dump.”

Joe glanced around and nodded. “I don’t blame you.” He took out handcuffs and spoke loudly. “You’re both under arrest.”

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