Tito stood with his back
pressed against the entry door to the attorney's suite while Pia worked on the
safe in one of the large offices to his right. He smiled slightly as he heard a
string of curses in vitriolic Italian. Then he glanced at his watch, debating
whether to tell her that there was less than five minutes left before the
security guard was due to check this floor. The fact that they had relocked the
door once they were inside would probably mean that the guard would just test
its handle and move on, but Pia hadn't been willing to count on that happening.
"Ottenuto voi, figlio
di una cagna," Pia exclaimed sotto voce a moment later, swinging the door
to the safe open.
Tito came over, taking the
thick folder that she handed him. Curious, he opened it, wondering what Civil
War documents looked like in their original form. "We've been
set-up," he growled angrily seconds later. She looked up at him in surprise,
and then quickly stood up, grabbing the folder out of his hands.
"Wait until I get my
hands on that—that bastardo."
"I do not like my
parentage maligned," a steely voice commented from the doorway.
Tito swung around to find
himself facing two men, both holding guns. The taller, dark-haired man held out
his free hand. "I'll take that if you don't mind, Ms. Lupo." The
other man, one of the security guards from his uniform, used his gun to
indicate that Tito should move away just enough to separate him from Pia.
With great reluctance, Pia
held out the folder.
"Thank you, Ms. Lupo.
Now if you would also move to one side there is something else in that safe
that I want back." Demarco waited for her to step aside before kneeling,
reaching into the safe. A second later he was holding a heavy canvas bag which
he opened. With a smile of success, he stood again.
Tito watched, his eyes
flicking from one man to the other, estimating his chances of taking on one of
them without getting shot in the process. Pia took the decision out of his
hands when she brought the heel of her boot down on Demarco's instep. It would
have been a good move if she's stepped out of his reach immediately afterwards.
She didn't though and the man, calling her several less than flattering names
despite, or because of being in pain, grabbed her arm tightly, dragging her to
him.
Angrily, Tito sprang
forward, only to find himself falling forward when the guard kicked the back of
his knee. Seconds later, the guard pulled him to his feet, pressing his gun to
Tito's temple.
"Feisty pair, to bad
you have to eliminate them," Demarco said to the guard. "Caught in
the act, what a pity."
There was a slight noise
from one side of the room as a door opened. Two men stepped into sight, each
carrying guns. "It's you who are caught in the act," one of them
said. "Now I suggest you and your accomplice drop your weapons. I have no
qualms about shooting either of you. If the man and woman get hurt in the
process, so be it."
Before Demarco could say anything
in response, two more police officers appeared through the other door to the
office, also carrying drawn guns. The guard hesitated only a fraction of a
second before lowering his hand, dropping his weapon. Tito moved away quickly.
Demarco was less willing to
cede defeat. Keeping Pia pressed to his body he backed away, the barrel of his
gun resting just under her chin. "I really don't believe you'd shoot her
to get to me," he said savagely. "Now, if one of you would hand her
friend that bag and the file we'll be leaving."
The officers all glanced at
their superior. He growled angrily as he pointed to one of them. "Do
it." The officer picked up the items, handing them to Tito who took them
reluctantly.
"Move away from the
door now," Demarco ordered. The two officers complied and Demarco stepped
next to Tito, still holding Pia, telling her to cease her wriggling. "It's
been fun," Demarco said with a malicious laugh before telling Tito it was
time to get out of there.
* * * *
Kerry stood, his back pressed
to the wall beside the office door, his pistol held in a two-handed grip
against his shoulder. He knew from what he'd overheard of the conversation that
he'd have one chance and one chance only if he wanted to keep Demarco from
killing Pia.
He held his breath. A
slender, dark-haired man stepped into view, hesitated, and then moved forward.
Then came Demarco, holding Pia tightly.
Without a second thought,
Kerry aimed his gun and fired. The bullet tore through Demarco's head,
spattering blood and brain matter as it exited.
Pia yelped in shock when her
captor's body fell, taking her with it. Tito spun around, casting a shocked
look at the scene in front of him before pulling Pia free. Seconds later three
of the policemen surrounded them.
"Are you alright, Ms.
Lupo" the one in charge asked solicitously.
Pia shuddered as she finally
comprehended what had happened. "I—I think so," she murmured. As she
looked up at the man, she saw Kerry still standing next to the wall. "What
the hell is he doing here?"
Kerry winced at the anger in
her voice. "I'm working with the local police," he said before the
man could reply.
"Tu madre cazzo, figlio
di una cagna." Pia turned away, using Tito's shoulder to help her get to
her feet. Then she looked at the cop, totally ignoring Kerry. "Get me out
of here. I don't care if you arrest me; just get me away from that—that
bastardo."
"Pia, calm down,"
Tito said, putting an arm around her waist.
"Calm down? Calm
down!" she almost shouted in reply.
Kerry glanced at his superior
who nodded towards the office. Gratefully, Kerry slipped through the door,
crossing quickly to the window where he stood, staring out into the dark night.
He was still standing there much
later when the police finally finished up. Pia and Tito had been taken to the
station house to make statements, having been assured that they were not going
to be arrested.
"Kerry, it's time to
go," the man he'd been working with said quietly.
Kerry turned to look at him,
sighing deeply. "Yeah, I know. I'll stop by the station in the morning to
write up my report and then head home."
"Give her time to
process it all. Then, hell, come back and talk to her."
"That wouldn't do any
good. This kind of betrayal isn't something she'll forgive. Besides, she
probably never saw me as more than a possible friend in the first place. No,
I'll just fold up my tent and vanish into the sunset. It's best that way."
He headed to the door. "I'll see you in the morning."
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