Shadow Men – 36 – Anders and Grant

Grant opened the door to find a dark-haired man standing on the small front porch. He introduced himself as John Greene, Senator Rogers's assistant, and asked if he could come in. Grant nodded and stepped aside.

"Thank you," Greene said. "If you'll give me those papers, I'll be on my way. The Senator sends his sincere thanks for all you've done."

Grant hurried across to the desk at the far end of the living room, taking the papers from the drawer. He prayed Nicky wouldn't come see who had rung the bell.

"Eastman, down," a sharp voice shouted. It was followed by a soft popping sound, and then a second one.

Grant swung around to look in horror at Greene's body sprawled on the carpet. It took him only a moment to see the gun clutched in his outstretched hand. Then he looked at the man standing in the door to the kitchen.

"I did warn you," the man said as he slipped his revolver into the back waistband of his jeans, crossed to the desk, and picked up the papers. "Now get your son and let's get out of here. There's another one in the car out front. It won't take him long to figure out something's gone wrong."

Feeling numb from shock, Grant did as he'd been asked, calling to Nicky to come downstairs. Grant met him at the bottom, gathering him into his arms to hurry into the kitchen where the man now waited.

Nicky looked at him then asked, "Who are you?"

The man smiled slightly. "A friend of your dad's"

"But who are you?" Nicky persisted.

"The name's Anders McDowell." He looked past Nicky at Grant. "Shall we?"

With a frightened nod, Grant followed him out the kitchen door into the backyard, snagging his and Nicky's jackets off a hook on the way. The only thing keeping him from losing it was the fact he had to remain calm for Nicky's sake.

Anders led them to the back gate in the high cedar fence and held up a hand as he opened it and stepped cautiously into the alley. He carefully checked in both directions before he motioned for Grant to join him. There was a motorcycle parked behind the neighbor's garage. Anders stuck the papers into one of its saddlebags before he got on and then held out his arms for Nicky. Reluctantly Grant handed him over after he'd made Nicky put on his jacket. Once he'd put his own on as well, he climbed on behind Anders who then passed Nicky back to him.

"Keep him between us and hold on to my waist," Anders ordered. "Ever ridden one of these before?"

"As a passenger, a couple of times, yes."

"Good, then you know the drill." Anders turned the key in the ignition then put on the helmet hanging from the handlebars. "Sorry, I've only got one, but I'll try not to dump us," he told Grant as he pulled the bike onto the alley pavement.

"That would be good of you," Grant muttered under his breath as he held on tightly to Anders while trying not to squish Nicky between them.

* * * *

"Where are we going?" Nicky asked, echoing Grant's thoughts.

"Someplace safe," Anders told him.

They were parked on a narrow dirt road well away from the highway about five miles outside of South Bend. Grant asked Anders if that's where they were headed. All he got in reply was a shake of his head and a "The less you know the better," from the man.

"Are we at least going to stop somewhere to eat?"

"Yeah, probably, if I think it's safe."

"Safe?" Nicky looked up at his father.

"Umm, well, we're playing a sort of game of keep away from some not so nice men," Grant told him. Unfortunately, so far, he still wasn't all that certain that Anders was one of the good guys. On the other hand Anders hadn't forced him to come with him, which he guessed was a plus.

"Oh," Nicky said. Then his eyes lit up. "Like in that movie where the dogs are running away from the dogcatcher?"

"Something like that, yes."

"So we're going to hide under the hay?"

Anders chuckled and ruffled Nicky's hair. "Not quite that bad I hope, kid." He looked at Grant for a moment, to which Grant arched an eyebrow in question. "I'll ask later," was all Anders said.

Grant shrugged. Anders said it was time to get moving again, and they got back on the bike.