Authors: Shawna Platt
He approached the front desk and asked the security guard if Brice Rayner was still in custody. After showing his ID badge, the guard indicated he was and instructed Keith where to find him.
Keith approached Brice’s cell and saw the guard sitting in a chair in the corner. The guard looked up and questioned why Keith was there.
“I’m here to take the prisoner to Hakon’s office.”
The guard placed his hand on his gun. “I haven’t received any orders that he was being moved.”
“There’s been a change in plans.” Keith flashed his ID badge at the guard. “Are you going to open his cell or are we going to have a problem?”
The guard studied him for a moment and looked over at Brice. “Nope. No problem here.”
He walked over and unlocked Brice’s cell. The guard opened the door and stood aside.
He addressed Brice. “Sorry, Buddy. I wish I could do more.”
Keith walked up beside him. “What do you mean?”
The guard motioned toward Brice. “Look at him. He’s been through enough already. Didn’t realize Hakon was his dad. I wouldn’t want that man as my dad.”
Keith looked at Brice. “What happened?”
“I don’t know for sure. I was taken from my office at the clinic and brought here. Bastard held a gun to my head. He’s losing it, Keith.”
“He lost it a long time ago.”
“Where’s Kinsey?”
“I dropped her at the clinic. Hopefully, Dr. Westcott will keep her safe until we handle this.”
Keith took out the spare gun and handed it to him. “You’ll need this.”
“Unfortunately, I will.”
The guard didn’t question the gun exchange, but added, “If you guys need any help, let me know. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Keith raised his eyebrows. “You’re willing to help?”
The guard laughed. “You plan on taking down Hakon? Hell, ninety percent of the guards here will line up to help. Just let me know and I’ll start spreading the word.”
“Well, start spreading the word.”
“You got it.”
The guard walked over and picked up a phone hanging on the wall while Keith and Brice made their escape.
Keith had just slid into the driver’s seat when his phone rang. He glanced in Brice’s direction. “Guess who?” He took a deep breath and answered.
“This is Keith.”
“Where the hell are you?”
“On my way now, Sir.”
“I want Kinsey Garrick in my office in five minutes or your head will be on a platter.” Hakon disconnected the call.
Keith pulled away and headed toward Hakon’s office.
“He didn’t say anything about security seeing Kinsey go into the clinic, so apparently, he’s not paying close enough attention.”
“He thought you were on your way in with her. Why would he have to question security?”
“He likes to keep his eye on everyone.”
Brice snorted. “Yeah, but he makes everyone else do it. Unless he has a reason, he won’t waste his time.”
“Well, the shit’s going to hit the fan when we get there without her, not to mention you’re with me. You’re supposed to be in custody, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.” He rubbed his head and thought of the encounter with his dad in the cell. “I’m ready to take him down.”
They parked in front of the administrative building and Keith checked his phone for Kinsey’s location. Her blip indicated she was still at the clinic. He turned to Brice.
“Okay, listen. We have him isolated in his office, but I know him, he’ll have others there as well. He likes to hide behind people. I don’t know how many there will be, so we have to be prepared.”
“I doubt they’ll start blazing the second we walk in. We can always say Kinsey is in the hallway.”
Keith smirked. “Sorry, that won’t work.”
“Okay, then we prepare for a fight.”
“Looks like.”
They double checked their guns and headed inside.
News was spreading quickly among the security guards. A group was attempting to take Hakon down and any assistance would be greatly appreciated. So far, not one officer turned down the opportunity to help.
Kinsey huddled against the back wall of the closet.
What in the hell am I doing
, she thought.
I’m not going to hide here like a coward.
She stood and walked out of the closet. No one was in the nursery. She made her way to the door and walked into the hallway. She had to get to the administrative offices.
She passed Dr. Westcott on her way out.
“Kinsey, where the hell are you going?”
“I’m not going to hide in some closet. I still have some fight left in me.”
She turned when Dr. Westcott approached her from behind.
“Don’t try to stop me, Sorina! I’m done playing this game.”
Sorina put her hands up. “All right, Kinsey. Please, be careful!”
Up in the security office, one of the men nudged another and pointed at the screen. “Isn’t that Kinsey Garrick? What are we supposed to do?”
The men watched Kinsey make her way down the hall and the one who was nudged smiled.
“I don’t see anything worth reporting, do you?”
He looked over and shrugged. “No, Sir. Everything looks secure to me.”
The both stood and watched as Kinsey made her way out of the clinic.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Hakon and Dr. Hartman sat in Hakon’s office. Two security men stood in the room, one on each side of the door. Dr. Hartman caressed a pistol that lay in his lap, while Hakon spun the barrel on the one he was holding.
“I want Kinsey Garrick taken out as soon as she walks in. She stole government property and we have grounds to shoot first and ask questions later.”
Dr. Hartman shot a sideways glance at the two security officers and sent a warning look to Hakon. “I think taking her into custody is sufficient punishment for her crime.”
“That girl has caused me nothing but trouble from day one. I don’t want to give her a chance to cause anymore.”
Another warning glance was sent his way. “Everyone deserves a fair trial.”
Hakon stood and walked to a window by his desk, rocking back and forth on his heels. “She’s already been tried and found guilty in my eyes. This is my program. What I say goes.”
The two guards exchanged glances. Because they had been positioned in Hakon’s office, they hadn’t received the information circulating through the guards. Regardless, Hakon wasn’t high on either of their lists.
Hakon turned and took a seat in his chair. “Actually, I’ll stick with my original plan. I’ll take her back to the holding facility and she can pay a visit to my son before facing her punishment.”
Dr. Hartman sighed. He knew Hakon’s behavior was getting out of control, but he didn’t realize how bad it was. His questions began with Tessa’s situation and he could see Hakon’s obsession with power growing worse with Kinsey’s, but he didn’t know how to stop it. You didn’t stand in the way of Hakon or his plans, and Dr. Hartman had a family to keep safe.
“Taking her into custody is the best way to handle it, Sir.”
Hakon rubbed his hand under his chin. “Yeah, for now I’ll let the lovebirds have their little reunion, but it will be short lived.”
The guards exchanged glances again and stood at full attention, with hands on their weapons, when they heard footsteps coming down the hall.
Hakon stood and faced the door. “Looks like it’s show time.”
Keith and Brice paused outside Hakon’s door.
Keith whispered, “Follow my lead. Let’s try to keep things calm for as long as possible. The second he sees you, he’ll know something’s up.”
Brice nodded and Keith knocked on the door.
Keith entered first, with Brice close behind. The second Hakon saw Brice his face turned red.
“What the hell is this? Why isn’t he still in custody?”
Keith held up his hands. “Brice had nothing to do with Kinsey’s escape. There was no reason to lock him up.”
Hakon drew his gun and held it on Keith. “Are you questioning me?”
Keith stood perfectly still and didn’t respond. This infuriated Hakon more.
“Answer me!”
Brice took a step forward and Dr. Hartman stood and raised his gun at him. Brice followed suit by raising his.
Keith shook his head slightly. “Shit.” He raised his gun and held it on Hakon.
The two guards by the door braced their hands on their guns, but didn’t draw; their eyes darted back and forth between the four men waiting for someone to make a move.
Before any of the men could respond, the door to Hakon’s office flew open and Kinsey rushed in. Dr. Hartman aimed his weapon at Kinsey and fired. The security guard directly behind her tackled her from behind and took a shot in his arm. At that moment, all hell broke lose in the room.
Dr. Hartman aimed his gun at Keith and fired, hitting him in the gut. Keith fired back and shot Dr. Hartman in the head. Keith collapsed on the floor and Kinsey tried to wiggle her way out from under the security guard to get to him, but the guard held her steady. The second guard rushed to Keith’s side and started applying pressure to the wound.
Hakon and Brice were circling each other around Hakon’s desk. Hakon never took his eyes off his son.
“So, it comes down to this. You do realize one of us is about to die.”
Kinsey yelled from under the weight of the security guard, “No!”
Hakon laughed. “Looks like your sweetheart is a little concerned. I’ll make sure and take good care of her as soon as I’m done with you.”
Brice leaned forward and charged in low. Hakon fired at him, but missed. The window behind Brice shattered as he took his father to the floor. Hakon’s gun fell from his grip when they hit and the security guard holding Kinsey down jumped up to kick it out of his reach.
Kinsey crawled over to help care for Keith.
Hakon landed a solid punch to Brice’s face, but it didn’t seem to faze him. Brice struck him in the side of the head with the butt of his gun.
Hakon hissed, “You hit like a girl.”
Brice hit him again and watched Hakon’s eyes glaze over. It only took a moment for him to recover before he flipped Brice over and sat on him, struggling to get the gun out of his hand.
Kinsey rushed to Hakon’s desk and grabbed a statue sitting on the corner. She swung it and landed a solid blow to the side of Hakon’s head. He fell over, dazed, as Brice got out from under him and stood, holding him at gunpoint.
Hakon tried to stand, but fell against the wall. He tried again and succeeded. He swayed back and forth, trying to gain his balance. He pointed his finger at Brice.
“You wouldn’t shoot your own father.”
Brice didn’t even flinch. “Whatever it takes.”
Kinsey rushed to Brice and stood by his side.
Hakon smirked. “Oh, look at the two of you. How sweet.”
Hakon lunged forward and Brice fired the gun, hitting his dad in the forehead. Brice and Kinsey watched his eyes grow wide before they rolled back into his head and he fell to the floor.
A few moments later, the office door opened and a group of security guards, along with Sorina and Conrad Westcott, rushed in. They saw Hakon and Dr. Hartman on the floor, with the rest of the group leaned over Keith, who appeared unconscious.
Conrad rushed to help Brice attend to Keith.
Sorina helped Kinsey up and sat her in a chair. “Are you hurt?”
Kinsey shook her head and wiped tears from her face. “No, I’m fine, but Keith,” she looked at Sorina, “it’s bad. Really bad.” She buried her head in Sorina’s chest.
All the security guards stood grouped together in the corner. One of them stepped forward and addressed the doctors leaning over Keith.
“What do you need?”
Conrad looked up. “An ambulance. Fast.”
A few minutes later, Keith was being loaded into an ambulance and Hakon and Dr. Hartman’s bodies were being taken out in body bags.
The head security officer spoke to Brice and Conrad.
“I just got the whole story of what happened here from the two officers present in the room at the time of the shooting. You’ll have our full support if you need witnesses.”
Conrad shook his hand. “Thank you. There will definitely be an investigation and your help will be appreciated.”
“You’re welcome.”
The guard turned his attention to Brice. “You had to do it.”
Brice nodded. “I know.”
“If you need someone to talk to, we’ll make sure you get it. I mean professionally, whatever you need.”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll be all right.” Brice walked away and sat next to Kinsey who was on the couch with her head lowered on her knees.
“You all right?”
She sat up and threw her arms around his neck. “Is Keith going to die?”