Fly Girl V: Base-to-Final
By PygmyCoho
Agent Al Scott murmured to his partner, "So, this is somethin', huh?"
Agent Wayne Little answered, "Yep. Makes a fellow feel kind of important." He chuckled.
The quiet offices of the Sheriff had taken on a bustling life with extra personnel assigned to run down leads. Two of the more promising tips led to areas of interest, one of which was on the list that Tom provided. Al's instincts told him to go with that one.
"How sure are you about this Tom guy, Al?"
"Got a pretty good feeling about him."
"Anything to do with him and your cousin?" Wayne picked up his long-cold sub sandwich, decided against it and tossed the remnants into the trash.
"I thought 'bout that. Thought hard, too. Even allowing for some favoritism, I still like his pick better. Why? You wanna bail on me?"
"Nah, just checking your gut. I'll stick with you. But . . ."
"But?"
"If you're wrong the drinks are on you. For the
whole
night."
"More like tomorrow night, or the next, with all the paperwork. That's if we even go today. It's getting kind of late."
"Yeah," Wayne admitted. "Either way it goes, paper up the wazoo, huh? Okay so two nights after the deal goes down?"
"Okay. Uh, you, or the squad?" His smile faded as the older agent appeared to give the question such serious consideration. Al's brain kept increasing the bar tab as time dragged.
"Ha! Gotcha. Just me." Wayne grinned.
"Okay," Al sighed, relief on his face. "And if I'm right?"
"Same bet," Wayne offered.
"Except," Al stated, "you need to let me invite the civvies."
"That's what, another two, right?"
"Yeah . . . no,
four
," Al confirmed. "You up for that?"
"If I get to invite four, too."
"Deal," Al said, extending a hand. They shook.
"Hey," Wayne thought out loud, "What if neither one hits?"
Al shrugged and turned back to his computer. He did not want to think about a shut-out.
* * * * * * *
"Are you ready, little one?"
The girl nodded, but Maria read her face. Feral fear simmered deep within Lucinda's eyes.
"All right. It is time. Soon we will be free of this place. We will be happy. Together. For always, yes?"
Lucinda nodded again and managed a fleeting smile.
"All right,"
Maria whispered.
"Now."
Despite Maria's warning, the shriek startled Lucinda so badly she almost dropped the table leg.
They heard the thump of boots. Maria screamed again for good measure and the footfalls sounded faster in the hallway. The door flung open and a short, fat man rushed into the room.
"Now!"
Maria shouted. Lucinda closed her eyes and swung with all her might. The improvised club caught the man in his protruding gut and knocked the wind out of him. In the breath-cloud of garlic, beer and beans Maria wielded another table leg and caught him where his shoulders met his neck. He hit the floor face down like a sack of lard and lay motionless.
"I never liked you, Manuel,"
she spat at the man's back. The Maria bent down and rifled his pockets until she found his keys. There was a knife in the back of his belt, and a pistol. She debated for an instant, took them both, and turned to the girl who trembled with shock.
"It is all right now, my little one. You did so well. But we must get away. Now. More men will come, soon. Do you understand?"
Maria grabbed her by the shoulders and shook.
"Lucinda!"
At the sharp sound of her name the girl heard Maria at last. She focused on the woman's eyes, tightened her jaw, and nodded
"Good. Run, now!"
Maria led the way down the hall and into a room. It was empty, just as she hoped. She pushed into the tiny closet and knelt. Putting her weight on the back wall she was just able to push the thin wood away at the baseboard.
"Help me."
Lucinda bent and put her hands on the paneling. They pushed together and the gap widened.
"Manuel?"
came a deep voice from the direction of their room.
"Shit, you stupid, fucking pig!"
"What are you doing?"
Maria could not believe that the girl had run back into the room.
Did she want to get caught? Did she change her mind?
"The door,"
Lucinda panted when she returned a moment later.
"It was not closed. They would find us."
Maria gasped,
"Good, hurry now!"
Lucinda needed no encouragement. She squirmed low behind Maria and shoved on her body. Maria's weight drove forward and the board let go with a sudden crack. The woman fell part way through. Lucinda grew more desperate and pushed again as Maria struggled for balance. They both tumbled through the hole, Lucinda cutting her arm on a jagged edge of the board. Maria rose, surprised that she stood outside in the dark. She grabbed at her lover and helped the girl to her feet. Neither one noticed that the knife dropped into the grass.
"All right?"
she asked.
"Si,"
Lucinda hissed, holding her forearm.
"Vamos!"
Maria flashed a brief, manic grin, turned and ran. Lucinda followed close behind. The foliage swallowed them.
"Here! She's getting away. Shit!"