Christmas Justice (Carder Texas Connections #7)(55)

Garrett cut through the zip ties around Laurel’s wrists. She ran to the door.

“I’m here, Molly.”

“Aunt Laurel, help me!”

She tugged on the doorknob. Locked.

“Molly, step back from the door, honey. Hide in the corner.”

Garrett gave the lock a hard kick and the door broke free. Laurel scooped up Molly.

“I’ll get your father,” Garrett said.

Above them an explosion roared. Glass shattered; timbers fell. Laurel raced up the stairs and put her hand on the door. “Fire. Smoke’s starting to come through. We’re trapped.”

“If Léon set the charges, I hope to God he gave us extra time.” Garrett knelt in front of James and shook him. “Tell me you followed your own advice, old man. Where’s the escape route out of here?”

Laurel hurried down the stairs.

“James, we don’t have much time.”

The old man blinked. “Behind their mom’s picture.” His voice croaked.

Garrett spun around, but he didn’t see a painting of a woman on the wall. “Where is your mother’s picture, Laurel?”

“There’s only the mural she painted.”

The starry night sky covered one wall.

Murky smoke began to filter into the room. “Get washcloths from the bar area and wet them,” Garrett shouted. “Use them to breathe through.”

His eyes teared up from the smoke. “Where is it?” He ran his fingers along the brick wall. Finally, at the Big Dipper, he felt a notch at one star. He pressed the button. The brick gave way. He pushed the concealed doorway open.

“It was good of Fiona to have our meeting at midnight. Darkness will help hide us.”

Garrett paused at a weapon safe in the corner. He grabbed a hunting knife and a rifle. “Laurel, here you go.” He shoved an old Colt .45 at her. “You couldn’t have had an Uzi in here, could you, old man?” He pulled a Bowie knife from a drawer and pressed it into James’s hands. Even with his injuries, he gripped the weapon.

“Get them out,” James choked. “Leave me.” He passed out.

“Not on your life.” Garrett heaved James over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Laurel, let’s go.”

She clutched Molly to her and followed him out through a short passageway leading up to a tunnel. The gradient rose.

A dim lighting system lit the narrow path. Garrett struggled with James’s weight. At the end of the tunnel there was a small door. A key dangled at the edge.

“Thanks, James.” Garrett grabbed the key and unlocked the door. It led into what looked like a storage shed. Garrett recognized it from his previous visits.

“I never knew this passageway was here,” Laurel whispered.

Garrett didn’t turn the light on. He laid James on the ground and propped him up against the rough wooden wall. Garrett peered through a small window in the shed.

Laurel stood at his side, her entire body stiff with resolve.

Flames erupted from James’s house, searing through brick and wood. Loud crackling overwhelmed the quiet neighborhood. Smoke billowed into the air and the fire painted the midnight sky red.

Another explosion rocketed through the house.

“That one waited for us to get out,” Garrett whispered to her. “Not bad, Léon.”

“He’s on our side. He can help.”

“Rafe Vargas is out there, too.” At Laurel’s questioning glance, Garrett added, “Another CTC operative. We aren’t alone.”

“If they haven’t been caught,” Laurel said. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m going out there. Fiona’s not getting away with this.”

He gripped the old Remington hunting rifle he’d snagged from the safe. “Stay here,” he ordered Laurel. “Protect them.”

She gripped Garrett’s arm. “Be careful. Come back to me.”

He gave her a small smile. “Count on it.” Then his gaze turned serious. “Have you got your weapon?”

She pulled out the Colt. “I know what to do with it.”

He kissed her quickly. “I love you. I should have told you before.” Garrett raced out of the building.

A lone figure, carrying an M16, emerged from the smoke. Fiona pointed the weapon at Garrett. “I don’t leave witnesses.”

Garrett didn’t hesitate. He raised his weapon. Before he could get off a shot, a bevy of bullets tore across his body.

He blinked and looked down, then sank to his knees.





Chapter Twelve

A spray of bullets sounded from outside, and then another volley came a moment later. Some pierced the shed. Laurel dragged her father to the ground and covered Molly with her body.

The little girl cried out in fear.

Laurel’s heart raced. Garrett hadn’t had an automatic weapon.

Please, God, let him live. “Molly,” Laurel ordered. “Get over by Grandpa. Hide in the darkest corner.”

Molly crawled over toward James, and Laurel quickly stacked a wheelbarrow and other tools in front of them. “Stay here. Take care of each other.”

She slipped some metal spikes and a small scythe next to her barely conscious father. It was all she could do for weapons.