Everyone's Man – 58

 

 

It would have been nice if things had gone off as easily as they had planned. Unfortunately, that hadn't been the case. The front door to the mansion was unlocked as expected, and Keyes and the two detectives entered. Their target was the owner's workout room, which was located on the second floor. However, someone had decided to change that. They arrived at the room to find it vacant.

 

"Damn it," Keyes had said angrily under his breath. "Where the hell—"

 

He immediately went quiet when they heard someone moving on the first floor. The three detectives went silently to the top of the stairs, listening intently to figure where the person was going. The sound of a door closing at the rear of the entry hall clued them in. Moments later they were down there, facing two doors.

 

'Lady or Tiger' Keyes said under his breath as he cautiously opened one a crack. He found it led to a small, empty office with no other exit. Very carefully, he inched the second one open. A large kitchen faced him, also empty, but with a second door on the far side.

 

"Basement," one of the other detectives murmured as they crept across the kitchen.

 

He proved to be correct. The door opened on a flight of stairs going down, with a dim light at the bottom. When they reached the bottom they stood silently, listening. A sharp laugh and the crack of something hard hitting skin identified their quarry.

 

Keyes pointed to the two detectives and then to each side of the door. They immediately flanked it. Then, gun drawn, Keyes tested the handle. It turned, and he opened the door.

 

One look at the sight in front of him and he knew they could be in trouble. The undercover rookie was naked, lashed to a spanking bench. Kadrey stood over him, holding a flogger. His hand was raised to strike the young man again.

 

"We have company!" one of the other men shouted.

 

Kadrey turned swiftly, staring at Keyes and the two other detectives as they too entered the room. Dropping the flogger, he reached for something out of sight at the far side of the bench. His hand came back into view holding a knife, which he immediately pressed to the back of the rookie's neck.

 

"Don't do it," Keyes ordered, aiming his gun at Kadrey.

 

"He's dead if you move one step closer," Kadrey countered. "Right now I have nothing to lose. You do."

 

"Let him go. Don't add more to the charges already facing you." As he spoke, he tensed, holstering his gun and holding out his hands to show Kadrey he wouldn't shoot. There were, he judged, approximately three yards separating him from Kadrey. He had one chance and one only to take the bastard down before he held true to his threat. Blocking out the sounds from behind him, he took a deep breath and dove forward. Kadrey, totally unprepared for that, instinctively took a step backwards. Keyes's shoulder connected with Kadrey's thighs and they hit the floor hard. Keyes brought his fist up hard under the man's chin.