Page 66 of Fight for Me

“Shut the fuck up, man! Don’t make me regret calling you. This isn’t the time for you to play the big detective. This is about saving the woman that I love!” I hiss into his face.

“And it’s about saving my daughter, so I just want to make sure the plan is solid,” Robert replies calmly, looking unfazed by my sudden display of aggression.

I drop my hands and step back from the shorter man. “Daughter? The fuck are you talking about?”

He looks to the side, and his jaw ticks before he peers back at my face. “Jennifer is my daughter. I suspected...” He pauses to rub his mouth before continuing. “I suspected she could be mine when Marissa became pregnant, but after our ways parted, it was easier for me to accept her lie and move on. She looked... happy with David.”

“When did you find out?” I ask in a low voice.

Robert’s face gets a little pink before he responds shamefully. “Ever since I took the case from you three years ago. One look at her file photo, and I just knew...”

“Jesus Christ, and you didn’t say anything? What the...” I mutter, trying to digest the news, but then shake my head and stand straighter. “It doesn’t matter, the time is running out. Instead of chitchatting about your shitty life choices, we need to get a move on before that maniac does something to her or to Henry.”

“You’re right,” Robert agrees and addresses the young cop. “Rusoe, are you ready?”

“Yes, sir,” he answers right away, looking a little more sure of himself now.

We move through the forest, stopping every once in a while to listen for any unusual sounds, but the area seems quiet, with only the birds singing accompanying the rustle of fallen leaves crashing under our boots.

When we come close to the clearing, we get an unobscured view of the ruined house, the dilapidated barn, and acres of outgrown grass. The only indication of anyone being here is Jen’s car parked less than fifty feet from us, at the end of the area that used to be the driveway.

“Okay, this is the place. Rob, on my mark, run to the back entrance. Keep your head as low as you can. I will get through the front and try to divert his attention to me, so you can grab Jen and the kid when possible. Rusoe, you stay back, and if you hear shots being fired, make the call. Hopefully, we can do this without any bloodshed...” The moment I say this, I hear the sound of a gunfire inside the house.

“No! Ricky!”I whirl around at the loud cry, recognizing Jen’s voice, and almost jump into a sprint when Robert’s hand stops me.

“Wait, do you hear that? In the car...” he hisses into my ear, and I realize what he means. Thesound of a baby calling for his mom reaches me, and I know it could only be Henry.

I bend at the waist and start crawling toward the vehicle, hoping the grass covers me at least a little. Then I open the car door, and exhale in relief when I see the baby looking at me with big eyes.

“Hey, little guy,” I whisper, and unclasp him from the car seat.

“Hi.” Henry smiles adoringly, and then looks around. “Where is mommy?”

“We’re going to get your mom real soon, but for now, I need you to stay quiet and hold on to me very tight. You think you can do that?” I ask with a smile, trying not to spook him.

The kid nods and extends his short arms to curl them around my neck. I look toward the two men still waiting behind the trees, and when I get a confirmation that they got us covered, I move swiftly through the grass with Henry grasping onto me like a little monkey.

As soon as we’re in the clear, I hand the toddler into Rusoe’s arms. “Change of plans, take the kid as far away from here as possible. And make the call on your way,” I start to turn but when I see the cop standing still with Henry, and looking unsure, I hiss, “Fucking go!”

The young man snaps into action, and I grab Robert by the arm. “The rest of the plan stays the same, let’s go.”

I run toward the house, without checking if Robert is also on the move, and take my gun out before pausing right outside the door.

My first instinct is to kick it right off its hinges, and go in gun blazing, but I know I need to calm my breathing and wait until Robert has a chance to get into the position.

Timing is key in a situation like this, I tell myself, and count to ten, all the time listening for more sounds coming out of the house, but it’s eerily quiet.

There hasn't been a second gunshot, and I know that was Jen’s voice that I was hearing before. It's only been two minutes, so she has to be alive.

She can’t be dead. She’s going to be all right. I just gotta keep my cool, and...

I kick the door, and walk in holding my gun raised, and yell, “Wallace!” I check the first two rooms but find them empty before I hear a frightened voice calling.

“Get out, Brody! Please run,” Jen begs from somewhere, and it’s the first time I hear her sounding so scared.

I almost trip over something in the dark corridor, and look down, only to realize that it’s a dead body. The man had the half of his head blown off, but his face seems untouched, with a look of shock forever engraved on it.

I lift my head when I see movement, but quickly lower the gun when I recognize Robert lurking in the shadows.

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