Justice Healed (25 page)

Jason Anderson hung up his cell.  "There are four heat signatures in the house and four outside of it."  His expression was sober.  "Listen, I know that's the woman you love in there.  That's why I think you should stay here and let us get her out.  You're too emotional, Tanner.  And emotion is a luxury at a time like this that we can't afford."

Tanner was already shaking his head.  "I can keep it under control.  I need to do this, Jason.  I don't expect you to understand it.  I do expect you to respect it."

The man looked at Tanner for a long time and then slowly blew out a breath.  "We better talk about strategy.  Once your girlfriend patches Kerr up, Jacks will be wanting to tidy up any loose ends."

Maddie would be one of those loose ends.  He had to get to her and soon. 

The sound of approaching vehicles made Tanner turn on his heel but he breathed a sigh of relief when his friends spilled out of the two SUVs.  Logan, Jared, Griffin, Reed, and Seth strode toward him and for the first time in close to an hour Tanner felt some hope.  These men were like brothers and as he'd told Maddie, he trusted them with his and her life.

They all gathered around Tanner waiting for instructions
, but Jason cleared his throat.  "There appear to be four men stationed around the perimeter of the house.  One on each side.  There are also four people in the home.  We know that one is Madison Shay.  From the GPS chip we placed in Kerr, we also know he’s in the house.  We believe Fenton Jacks is also there.  The last person is probably a henchman of Jacks.  Currently all four people are clustered in the back.  Madison's friend identified that area as one of the examining rooms."

"Are there any weapons i
n the home that can be used against us?" Logan asked.

"We assume Jacks and the other man are armed.  Madison also told me there is one gun in
the house.  I told her to put it in her bedroom, which is upstairs." Tanner replied.  "As far as I know there aren't any more weapons."

"Does she listen to you?"  Seth grinned.

"Sometimes, " Tanner answered grimly.  "Let's hope today's the day."

  Another truck pulled up and Sam alighted and headed for them, holding a large rolled up piece of paper.

"I got it."  Sam handed it to him, and Tanner unrolled it on the hood of the vehicle.  He'd sent Sam to wake up the county clerk to get the architectural plans for Maddie's home.

"This is the floor plan to Maddie's."  Tanner shined a flashlight down and pointed to the rear of the home.  "This is where the exam rooms are and here is where Maddie's bedroom and the lone
spare weapon should be."  Tanner pointed to the top floor of the house.

The men studied the drawing and Griffin stroked his chin.  "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Jason was leaning on the hood on his elbows, shaking his head.  "I know what you're thinking and you're crazy.  Let's call the house, set up a dialogue with Jacks.  Once he knows he's surrounded, we can bargain for the hostages."

Tanner shook his head.  "No way.  Jacks won't hesitate to kill.  He'll never give up.  He'd die and take everybody with him first.  He's an arrogant SOB who thinks he's smarter than everyone else.  He'll never think he can't get out of the situation."

"You can't do shit until we take out the men surrounding the house," Jared scoffed.  "Reed, Griffin, Seth, and I can take care of them.  I assume you want them taken out of play but alive."

Jason nodded.  "Preferably.  I really don't want to explain a high body count to the brass.  It's bad enough I've let you talk me into, well, whatever you're about to talk me into."

"I'm the law in this town.  You can blame it on me."  Tanner turned to Logan.  "That leaves me and you going into the house."

Logan peered down at the drawing and pointed to the window of Maddie's father's bedroom on the ground floor at the front of the house.  "Looks like a good entry point.  It's the farthest room from where they are."  He flicked a glance at Scout.  "Are we taking Scout?"

Tanner scratched his faithful companion behind the ears.  "What do you say, Scout?  Want to come out of retirement tonight and help us get Maddie?"

At Maddie's name, the dog's ears perked up and his tail wagged. 

"You're going to go in there?" Sherry asked incredulously.  "You'll be killed."

Tanner put his arm around her shoulders.  She was worried for Maddie, and she didn't need to be worried about them as well. 

"It'll be okay.  We know what we're doing."

"You're walking into your death," Sherry declared.  "Can't you throw tear gas into the house or something?"

"Fenton will just shoot before it can take effect."  Tanner shook his head.  "This is the only way."

Sherry sighed.  "Then I should tell you that the easiest way to get in and out of the house without anyone downstairs knowing is through Madison's bedroom window.  Oh, and the third stair
step from the top creaks."

Seth frowned and then smiled.  "That's how she snuck out of the house as a teenager, isn't it?"

"We didn't do anything wild."  Sherry bit her bottom lip.  "We would just go driving around or hang out and talk somewhere.   It was no big thing."

"So how did she get out of the window?" Tanner asked, although he had a pretty good idea what the answer was going to be.

"She climbed down the tree.  Heck, her bedroom window is probably still unlocked.  It's been unlocked since we were teenagers."

Tanner was going to have a long talk with Maddie about safety and security when this was all over. 

Fuck that.  He'd have Maddie live with him and he wouldn't need to worry about unlocked windows in the future.

He patted Scout on the head.  "Looks like you're staying here.  Even you can't climb a tree."

Jason crossed his arms over his chest, a dubious expression on his face.  "I believe you can take out the guards around the house, and it sounds like you won't have any trouble getting inside the house.  Just what do you plan to do when you get in there?"

Madison was in deep, deep shit.  Fenton Jacks had a gun pointed at her and Tanner was miles away.  She had a genius IQ, but it sure wasn't helping her at the moment.  She had no idea what she should do or say.  Instead she concentrated on her patient
, blocking out any thoughts of what Fenton Jacks might do to her.  She didn't hurry through the procedure, taking her time, and hoping against hope Sherry had realized something was wrong and called Deputy Sam. 

The fact that Sherry hadn't waltzed back into the house after walking Scout gave Madison hope that help was indeed on the way. 

"Aren't you done yet?" Fenton's henchman growled.  He was pacing back and forth in the small room and making her even more nervous.  She had to steel herself so her hands wouldn't shake as she worked.  She had to hold herself together until help arrived.  She wouldn’t allow herself to believe she was going to die here tonight.  She had too much living left to do to go out like this. 

She glanced briefly at Fenton
.  His expression was one of disgust.  He didn't seem to like the other man too much, but then Fenton didn't really have any friends in town.

"Shut up and get out of this room.  Fuck, you're driving me crazy.  Go in the kitchen and get us something to drink."  Fenton pointed to the door of the exam room.

Madison bent over the wound and breathed a sigh of relief the victim was unconscious.  She'd injected a local anesthetic in his thigh, and at the sight of the needle he'd passed out.

"So why did you break him out of prison?  Is he a friend of yours?"  Madison probed the wound.

Fenton chuckled.  "Curious, huh?  No, he's not a friend.  In fact, he works for an enemy.  That's why I want him alive.  He has something I want."

"Tanner told me about the war over the drug route."  Madison didn't know why she couldn't keep her mouth shut, but she was compelled by something inside of her to speak. 

"That's old news.  I won.  They lost.  Simple as that."  Fenton leaned back in the plastic chair.  "Where is good old Tanner anyway?  I need to see him before I leave town.  I was hoping he'd be here with you."

"He should be here any minute."  The lie slipped out easily.  She wanted Fenton to think Tanner was on his way even though he wasn't anywhere near her
e and wouldn't be anytime soon.

"Good.  He and I need to have a...chat.  Sort of a come to Jesus moment."

Fenton didn't look perturbed that the sheriff of Springwood was on his way.  If anything he looked damn happy.  That wasn't good.

Madison began to stitch the wound.  She'd pulled one bullet from his thigh and dropped it in a metal cup to give to the police.  She learned from her time in Chicago to save it for evidence.

"He's lost a lot of blood.  You shouldn't move him for a bit.  Actually we should really get him to a hospital.  That much blood loss is dangerous."

Fenton shook his head.  "You know I can't do that.  He can stay here in your capable hands while I wait for your boyfriend."  He scowled.  "Shit, where is Hadley?  I told him to get us something to drink
."

Madison indicated the set of double doors on the far end of the small waiting room.  "He couldn't have gotten lost.  But the doors are very thick.  My mother insisted on having privacy in the house from the medical practice."

Madison tied up the last stitch and placed a bandage over the thigh.  "There.  That should do for now, although I still think he needs to go to a hospital."

"Shut up."  Fenton moved restlessly around the confining space.  "Where the fuck is Hadley?"

"Maybe he was hungry.  I think there was some popcorn on the counter."  It sounded stupid, but she was wondering herself what the man was up to.  He'd been gone awhile.

Fenton's eyes narrowed and he grabbed her arm, dragging her into the waiting room and to the back
door.  He pulled it open, looked left and right briefly, he cursed, and then slammed the door shut, locking it.

"Fuck. Fuck. 
My men aren’t in position.  Looks like we have company, Doc."  He placed the gun at her temple.  Her heart raced and sweat broke out all over.  She was screwed.  It wasn't supposed to end like this, but here it was.  She was at the wrong end of a gun of all things.  All the crap that had happened to her in Chicago hadn't put her in this kind of danger, but coming home had.  Now that she had stitched up the man, she was expendable. 

Hopefully, whoever was here was on her side.

"It's too late, Fenton.  If they're here, you're probably surrounded." 

Her voice sounded more hopeful than sure.

Fenton's eyes were cold and hard, his grip on her upper arm merciless, making her wince in pain.  "They must be in the house.  You're my ticket through the cops."

Madison tried to take deep breaths.  She needed to stay calm and think.  Think hard.  She'd been given self-defense training in Chicago.  Now her mind was whirling through everything she'd ever been taught, read, or even seen on television. 

Conflicting advice made her head hurt.

Should she go limp and become dead weight?  Should she try to knee him in the groin?  Maybe she should try and become friends and talk him out of this?

He didn't give her time to make a decision.  He dragged her through the double doors and down the hall to the kitchen, the barrel of the gun pressed to the side of her head the entire time.  He came to abrupt halt in the doorway.

Madison's eyes widened.  Fenton's henchman was sitting on one of her kitchen chairs, duct tape wrapped around his hands and feet and a strip over his mouth.  He was jerking in his bonds, but clearly whoever had done this had done it well.  The silver strips of tape wrapped around his chest and the back of the chair held him firmly.  He wasn't going anywhere until someone set him loose.  His eyes were bulging and he was trying to say something but his words were muffled. 

Fenton's complexion went white, his eyes darting everywhere.  Beads of sweat had popped out on his forehead and for the first time he looked like he wasn't completely in control.

A sound came from the living room area and Fenton fired at it, the blast leaving ringing in her ears and her heart almost stopping in her chest.  He placed the gun back at her temple and tugged her into the center of the living room.  He still kept looking around and his grip had tightened painfully on her arm.  If she lived through this, she was going to have one hell of a bruise.

Another sound, this time from the left side of the living room near the foyer.  This time Fenton didn't fire, but he jumped and yanked her arm hard enough to make her grit her teeth.  His head was jerking from side to side and his breathing was ragged.  He was genuinely shook up as he looked for the source of the noise.

Suddenly a cascade of marbles
bounced down the stairs.  Fenton pointed the gun toward the racket and shot off two quick rounds, a frustrated roar coming from deep in his chest.  The loud bang deafened her and she didn't hear the sound of footsteps behind her.  She gasped when she felt the presence of another person and fearfully turned to look over her shoulder.  She gaped as a gun was placed on the back of Fenton Jacks's head. 

Her heart in her throat, she tentatively looked over her shoulder and almost fainted with relief.

Tanner!

She sagged, her knees almost giving way, but she locked them in place as Fenton still had a hold of her arm with his left hand.  His right arm was extended and had a grip on his gun.  He hadn't moved at all, but he didn't appear to be giving up.

"Let her go, Jacks.  This is between you and me."

Her gaze darted back and forth between the two men.  Tanner looked totally calm and in control, but she could see a muscle working in his jaw.  Fenton Jacks
, on the other hand, had sweat pouring down his face and his complexion was a pasty shade of gray. 

The door to the foyer closet swung open and Logan Wright stepped out
with a long rifle pointed straight at Jacks.

"Should I call in the rest of the guys?" Logan asked. 

The rest of the guys?

If Tanner actually answered, Madison didn't hear him
.  But the front door opened and two men entered the house, while at the same time two more men, one of them Seth Reilly, came down the stairs.  She wanted to faint with relief, but this wasn't over yet. 

All the men were wearing what looked like
bulletproof vests and brandishing guns.  If she were Fenton she would have given up by now, but he didn't look inclined to do so. 

"Let her go," Tanner repeated.  "The house is completely surrounded with
federal agents.  Even if you managed to get out of the house, which you won't, you won't get out of Springwood."

Fenton licked his lips nervously.  "I have her."

"You have nothing," Tanner countered.  "If you so much as move a muscle in your right arm, I'll pull the trigger.  You'll be dead in a split second.  Throw the gun down and let her go."

Tanner's voice was deep and commanding and for a moment Madison thought Fenton might do exactly as asked.  Instead his jaw firmed.

"Fuck you, Marks.  You won't shoot me in front of your girlfriend."

Her heart was beating so loudly the entire town could probably hear it.  She tried to slow her breathing but the tenseness of the moment didn't allow it.  They were all frozen, no one giving any quarter.  A proverbial stand off.  It seemed like forever before Tanner spoke again.

"Scout, fass." 

Before Fenton could respond, Scout tore through the front door, snarling and growling.  He jumped high in the air, his muzzle clamping down on Fenton's outstretched arm.  Fenton screamed, his hand opening and dropping the gun.  He fell to his knees as the weight of Scout brought him down to the floor.  He was yowling in pain and at some point he'd let go of her.

She backed up a few steps and an arm wound around her middle.  Her breath caught and she twisted to see who had grabbed her.  She relaxed when she realized it was Logan.  He was pushing her behind him and toward the door.

Tanner now had a gun pointed directly at Fenton who was writhing on the floor in apparent agony.  She heard Tanner say something that sounded like "ows" and Scout let go of the man and sat down, looking up at his master expectantly.

"Shoot me," Fenton snarled.  "Just fucking shoot me.  I'd rather die than go to prison."

"That's exactly why I won't."  Tanner shook his head.  "It will be much more satisfying to know you're rotting in a
supermax every day for the rest of your life.  You're still a young man, Jacks.  You've got many years to look forward to being behind bars."

A handsome man with dark hair wearing a DEA jacket walked into the room and smiled.  "I see things are wrapped up here.  Looks like I won't have to explain things to the brass after all."  He motioned two more agents in.  "Cuff and shackle this man."  He frowned.  "Where's Kerr?"

No one said anything.  "Um, is that the guy who broke out of prison?" Madison asked.  "He's passed out in the exam room.  At least he was a few minutes ago."

A few more agents stomped through the house and down the hall.  Fenton was led outside and she ran into Tanner's outstretched arms.  He kissed her long and hard, and she lost track of everything and everyone.  It was only when he lifted his head did she remember they had a roomful of amused onlookers.  She pushed at his shoulder.

"Everyone's watching," she whispered.

"Everyone's jealous," he whispered back.  "If anything had happened to you, I wouldn't have been responsible for my actions.  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you, Maddie."

He kissed her until the room spun and her heart was racing again, although for a completely different reason. 

"I love you, too."  She pulled back, giving him a frown.  "How did you get here?  You had some assignment with the Marshals.  You were supposed to be heading for Colorado.  That's all you would tell me."

A grin broke out on his face.  "My assignment was to escort Howard Kerr, aka the man in your exam room, to a prison in Colorado.  Fenton ambushed our motorcade and broke him out.  I figured he'd head here to get Kerr medical treatment.  Sherry confirmed my theory when she found Sam."

"Sherry!  Oh my gosh, is she okay?  I completely forgot about her."  Madison slapped her forehead. 

"She's fine.  Dan is with her and she's waiting at the station.  They will have called her by now to tell her everything is over and you're okay."

Madison slumped against him, the reality of everything she'd been through starting to sink in.  "How did you get in here?  The doors were locked."

Tanner kissed her nose.  "Sherry told us about how you used to sneak out as a teenager through your bedroom window and down the tree."

"You climbed the tree?"  Madison couldn't believe her ears. 

Behind her Logan chuckled.  "We did.  Then we snuck down the stairs and hid in the pantry.  We got lucky when that guy," Logan pointed to the man in duct tape being cuffed and led away, "came out for a soda.  We took him down and then waited for Jacks to realize his buddy wasn't coming back.  Then all we had to do was distract and disorient him."