Chapter 59
Roman was none too happy about the scratches on his neck, no not at all. But if nothing else he knew now not to underestimate his opponents. The years had been strengthening for them whereas he, on the other hand had weakened. He needed to get to Oregon so that he could get Reggie's kidneys. He needed to just do it and leave to maybe South America. He'd already made arrangements to set up a new office somewhere else. He smiled at the thoughts of his globetrotting. He was truly an international celebrityâwell at least with the FBI, CIA and now this renegade group of bounty hunters of which Ovan Dominguez was a part.
“Dominguez, what kind of name is that for a Brit?” he asked himself. “But then again, what kind of name was Tollome for a white man,” he said, thinking aloud about his stepbrother Blain for the first time in days. His mother had told him that Blain's father was from South Africa ... Johannesburg. Roman remembered wondering how a white man could be from Africa. “But then again, I didn't know anything back then. Nothing of real value anyway,” he corrected.
It was amazing to him how complex and involving these experiments had become. At first when working with only one live patient and one dead one while in Jamaica, it was easier to cover his tracks that way. But in London, where he caught Ovan's tail, he had worked on two live patientsâkilling them both. As he progressed throughout Europe, all in all the test had been a success. He knew now where he had taken when he should have given and clipped where he should have fused. He'd figured out the magic combination. The ages of the previous victims ... errr ... involuntary kidney volunteers, Roman mentally corrected, were too old, he reasoned. He knew the next experiment would have to be perfectâno mistakes, as the next one would be performed on himselfâright here in the US. Picking up the phone he called Hap.
“Hello,” Hap answered sounding nearly out of breath.
“What are you doing, playing with the children?”
“Funny. Where are you?”
“No, where are you?”
“I'm where I said I would be when I said I would be here.”
“You don't sound happy with me,” Roman laughed.
“Hey, you didn't tell me I'd have all these people to deal with. And you sure as hell didn't tell me you had another son.”
“I don't.”
“Don't be so sure about that.”
“I'm positive.”
“There are two boys here and they are brothers. I've taken blood samples.”
“Who is the other one?” Roman asked sounding almost tongue and cheek.
“Junior.”
“Junior?”
“Yes.”
“That's Chance Davis's boy. The DNA you're seeing is his mother's. They have the same mother.”
“No they don't. He said his mother's name is Juanita.”
“Juanita has my son? Good job Hap,” Roman blurted, his heart was instantly lighter. “This is fabulous news. Now neither boy will die ... this is fabulous.” Roman had just recently pondered the thought of a second donor. He'd thought about using Rashawn's kidneyâanything to keep from killing Reggie. But he'd run out of time in that thought process and had just opted for both of Reggie's kidneysâa full transplant. Once his life had been extended he was planning to continue his studies in South Americaâwhere the population was a bit more penetrable and where he could blend in a bit easier. He'd planned to take Reggie with him. Why not? They would truly be father and son then. “Father in son and vice versa.” Roman smiled.
“Excuse me? These kids are leaving here alive? What about me? I'm not going to prison.” Hap's voice brought Roman back from his reverie.
“You kill my children and you won't have to worry about prison.”
Roman slammed closed the flip phone he'd picked up from the MetroPCS store before leaving town, and put a bit more speed behind his vehicle. Hap was a lot of things, but crazy wasn't one of the things Roman assumed about him. But now he wasn't so sure.
Chapter 60
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Julia called out. It had been hours now. She'd awakened to find herself tied to a chair at the wrist and ankles. Junior was strapped in by the wrist only, with restraints. Reggie was sitting in the straitjacket with his ankles tied now with ropes since Hap found he'd needed more blood samples and the shackles were cutting off a degree of circulation.
Hap came from the backroom. “Fine, I'll take you.”
“You're not about to stand there and watch me pee,” Julia argued.
“If I don't, you can't go.”
“Fine, I'll piss on the floor right here then,” Julia growled.
“My that's not very ladylike. What would the queen say?”
“She'd tell me to cut off your balls,” Julia spat.
“Sounds interesting. Have you ever even seen a man's balls?”
Reggie jerked at his restraints. “Hey man just take her to the bathroom. Why you gotta humiliate her this way.”
“You stay out of it. I'm about tired of you. Frankly, I'm about tired of all of you.”
“But I thought we were friends. Well until you started taking my blood like a vampire. Then yeah, I kinda fell out with you too ...” Junior began.
“Shut up. If I had known you were his kid this whole thing would have gone differently.”
“Well I think I told you whose kid I was andâ” Junior went on.
“You don't even know what you're talking about. You're both Allen Roman's sons.” Hap glared at Reggie who now stared wide-eyed with shock. It was the first time he'd heard the name of his father.
Hap roughly untied Julia, snatching her up from the chair. “Come on,” he said, wiping the sweat that quickly appeared on his top lip. “Now I've got this gun. Don't play with me girlie,” Hap threatened.
Julia jerked at his grip but could not break it. “You're not much fun anyway.”
They disappeared down a hallway that led to the bathroom.
Leaning forward as much as he could, watching them disappear down the hallway, Junior looked at Reggie. “Do you believe him?”
“Believe what?”
“That we're brothers. That that Allen Roman catâ”
“Who is Allen Roman, Junior? Who? He's talking shit to scare us. Your father is Chance Davis. My fatherâ”
“Is Allen Roman,” Junior said.
“Just shut up. He's a liar and if he ...” Reggie stretched his neck to see down the hall, which was impossible.
Suddenly they heard a scuffle. They heard Julia cry out and Hap yell. The sound of a body hitting the wall made Reggie call out for Julia. There was then silence.
“Aww Damn, Julia!” Reggie called again, jerking at the straps.
Julia appeared from the hallway then. She had Hap's gun tucked into the front of her pants before quickly working Junior's restraints. “Come on boys.”
Junior's eyes were wide with excitement. “What the hell?”
“Who are you?” Reggie asked while she struggled with the jacket, freeing him. He began loosening the ties on his ankles.
“I guess you realize I'm not a teenager,” she said, speaking quickly.
“No shit Sherlock,” Junior exploded excitedly.
“Well not quite Sherlock but I guess you could call me a something like that. I'm a bounty hunterâand I'm here to capture your father and take him back to London for trial,” she said looking Reggie deep into his eyes.
“Who is Allen Roman?” he asked.
“Look we'll talk on the road. Shit! Where did he put the car keys?” she asked hurriedly searching the small table where she had seen them last. “Go, go get in the car! I'll find them.” Reggie and Junior started for the door. “They're probably in his damned pocket,” she mumbled.
“No, I'll get them,” Reggie insisted stepping back into the cabin.
“No, you boys go. I'm fine,” she insisted.
Just then Hap appeared in the doorway. He was bleeding from the mouth and looked worked over. “You want these?” He dangled the keys that he'd pulled from his pocket.
Julia pointed at the gun she was holding on him. “Drop them Hap. Drop them and kick them this way. I'm not here to kill you.”
“It doesn't matter bitch, if Roman finds you all gone, he'll do the honors so what the hell,” Hap said. “I've got nothing to lose but a lot to gain!”
“Go on boys,” Julia instructed, noticing them drifting closer to her.
“No. We won't leave you,” Reggie barked. Julia slightly distracted took her eyes off Hap for one second.
Just then Hap charged her. The tussle began. There was a shot and Hap's head went back right before the second shot dropped him to his knees.
Junior ran to get the keys Hap dropped in the doorway before running back over to Julia, that's when he saw Julia bleeding. “Julia!”
“Buggas,” she said smiling weakly, stumbling backward.
“I'll get something,” Reggie said rushing into the back room where he'd seen Hap going in and out of with the blood samples he'd taken from him and Junior earlier. The room was set up like a hospital roomâa surgical room. There were gurneys and stirrups, straps and restraints. There was a tray filled with surgical tools as well. His mind spun with the contemplation of what was to occur here.
“Come on Reggie. She's hurt bad,” Junior said, rushing in with his hands covered in blood. Junior froze momentarily as well noticing the chamber of possible horrors.
“Shit!” Reggie grabbed up some bandages and ran to Julia's side. Her belly was bleeding profusely. She was weak. He held the bandages against the wounded area. “Julia, hang in there. Hang in there. Junior, look over there and see if there is anything for pain. She's gonna need something.”
“I'm looking. I don't know the names. I ...” Junior was freaking out. Reggie could tell. He glanced back at Julia who was coughing softly. Her eyes were at half mast. She was fading fast.
“Julia?” Reggie called her. She smiled weakly.
“Leave me,” she said.
Reggie shook his head. “No way.” His eyes were burning now. He glanced over at Hap, crumpled on the floor. Laying her softly on the floor he ran over to join Junior in his search for painkillers. Just then Reggie heard movement behind them.
Turning, he saw Hap on his knees. He was aiming a dart-like syringe right at Junior. “Die!” he called out letting the syringe fly. Pushing Junior out of the way, Reggie caught the syringe in the shoulder.
“Arrrrg,” Reggie cried out in pain, ripping the dart out immediately.
The gunshot was louder than the last one as the bullet entered Hap's back and did not exit. Although blood spilled from his mouth before he fell forward. It was Julia's last brave act before she closed her eyes. “Julia!” Junior screamed, while rushing over to Reggie all at once.
“I'm okay. I'm okay,” Reggie growled, trying to hide the pain that the fire in his shoulder had caused. The heat was spreading fast.
“Did he kill you? What was in that?” Junior asked, patting Reggie's arm. Reggie grimaced in pain.
“I don't know. I'm a little numb.”
“Julia,” Junior gasped, rushing over to Julia now. He lifted her head. “Julia?”
“Come on. We gotta go,” Reggie said, sounding full of regret. “She told us to take the car. Let's go.”
“We're gonna leave her?”
“We'll get help. We'll come back for her. We gotta get help!”
The boys rushed out of the cabin to the SUV. It was dark now and both knew they had no idea where they were but had to get out. Junior ran around to the passenger seat only to notice Reggie just standing by the driver side. “Come on,” Junior yelled.
“I can't open the door man,” Reggie confessed. “Shit!”
Chapter 61
Ovan climbed behind the wheel of the chopper, sliding into the previous pilot's headset. “Come on!” he called to Chance who shook his head reluctantly.
“Look fool, I've been fooling with your ass, following you all through God's free county but I refuse to just allow you to take me straight to his doorstep without knowing your real intensions. Something just doesn't feel right about youâabout this whole thing.”
“He's Ovan Dominguez, Chance! Get in the helicopter now! Quit playin',” Juanita screamed pushing Chance slightly.
At that point, Chance pushed back. “Juanita, stop it! Just stop pushing me. You've pushed me and pushed me and now I want you to stop.” Chance raised his hand for a second or two of silence to clear his head. “You don't even know where we're going. Why hasn't that person made contact? You act just as lost as we are.” Chance pointed at himself and Juanita. “Why would I allow you to take me any further into this?”
“Chance, now is not the time. You have to get in that chopper and go find your wife's son. You have to find our son ... my son,” Juanita paused. Her eyes welled up with tears. “You have to find my son,” she cried pitiably. Chance stood his ground for a moment longer looking at Juanita as she cried. Ugly hot tears streamed her face. He knew she had no one. No one but him. It had always been that way. No matter how many men she'd been through, it always came back to him. Pulling her into his arms he hugged her tight.
“I'm going to find your son.” He pulled her hair the way he always did when pulling her head back and looking at her face up closeâsomething he hadn't done in a long time. I'm going to find my sons.” He kissed her tenderly. “I'll always love you, Nita ... but I'm through after this. I'm through with it all.”
“So, Chance, are you coming?” Ovan yelled over the sounds of the propellers. He'd not flinched at the questions Chance had fired at him. It was clear he had no intention of answering them right at that moment. Chance, as if accepting that he had no other option, ran around and jumped in the helicopter. Ovan lifted off immediately.