Chapter Seven

After Jenkins hung up the phone he looked at Mary who was still smarting from the smack to the face. “Well your brothers better bring the money tomorrow or their going to see you being blown away.” Carpenter and Stevens were holding her on both sides.

She just very coolly looked Jenkins in the eyes and said “My brothers are going to kill you but before they do it’s going to hurt really, really bad.”

 “You think so; well I guess we’re both in for a big surprise then. Take her out back and put a muzzle on her.” Jenkins then picked up the phone again and dialed a number. When it rang a man answered. “Hey it’s me. We just finalized the drop off with the Simon's and the Barrett's. You’ll probably be getting a phone call soon. What do you want me to do with the girl when they don’t have the money tomorrow. Yeah I can arrange that, they’ll never see that coming. I know they’re getting too close but you hired them. Yeah, yeah who knew the other detectives would get in touch with them. Just be there as back up just in case though. I have another buyer for the damn thing in the afternoon so I need this to be over fast.”

Later that evening Rick and Mick had stepped out as A.J. was on the phone with Brady. As suspected Brady said no to handing over the money for the ransom.  A.J. had argued with him that he thought he wanted the necklace back at no cost but he said that, that was what the insurance company was for. He was not going to bow down to these low life’s and as far as he knew you weren’t supposed to pay for ransom demands. That’s all A.J. needed to hear, Brady was indeed involved in this.

 As he hung up Jon had overheard his conversation. “He’s in on this whole thing isn’t he A.J.?” Jon asked.

 “I’m afraid so. But we figured he was and now he just confirmed it.” A.J. agreed with him.

 “Where did Rick and Mick go?” Jon wanted to know.

“Town had called while you were upstairs; Brady had left his house and went to his warehouse that’s where we think he’s holding Mary. They’re going to case the place now. If they think she’s there Joe and I will meet them there in a little while and go get her. And No you’re not going.” A.J. said adamantly.  

“But…” Jon tried to interject.

“No Jon she’ll kill us. If you get hurt or worst she’ll never forgive us.” A.J. told him.

 “Fine but I don’t have to like it.” Jon said upset.

As they were waiting for word; Mick and Rick had gotten into the warehouse. They could hear voices and they quietly went towards them. As they got to one of the doors, they looked through so they could see two of the thugs leading Mary out as Jenkins was pacing then picked up the phone. They couldn’t quit hear what he was saying but presumed that he was talking to Brady. They slowly backed out and went back to the car to talk.

“Mick why don’t you stay here and keep an eye on them while I go find a phone and call A.J. If Brady shows don’t do anything but I highly doubt that he will. He may not til morning.” Rick said.

“Don’t worry Rick I’ll keep an eye on things and on her.” Mick said.

“Thanks man.” Rick got into the car and drove off down the road where he saw a gas station not too far. He found the pay phone and dialed the house.

A.J. picked up. “Hey A.J. we found them at the warehouse and they do have Mary there… Don’t worry she seemed fine… Yeah get here as soon as you can and bring Town but that’s all… No we didn’t see Brady but Mick is still there keeping an eye on the place… No I’m at a gas station down the road. Meet us in the back that’s where we got in. How’s Jon doing?.. Yeah well tell him it won’t be long now and he’ll have his girl back before he knows it.” Rick hung up and hoped that his statement was going to be true; otherwise his mother was going to skin both of them.

 Rick got back to Mick “Hey did anything happen?”

 “No nothing it’s been quiet.” He said antsy.

 “Well that’s a good sign I guess. They should be here in about forty minutes.” Rick said.

It seemed liked forever but finally A.J. and Joe showed up with Town.

“Has anything happened since we talked?” A.J. asked.

“No it’s been pretty quiet. I see you were able to get out of the house without Jon in tow.” Rick said.

“Yeah barely, he’s bouncing off the walls but I told him in case Brady did call to stall him on our whereabouts so he didn’t know that we could be looking for her.” A.J. said.

 “He bought that huh? Well it’s partly the truth. What if Brady does call the house do you think Jon can stall him?” Rick asked.

“Oh yeah I do. He’s so pissed off right now that he can do anything as long as we can get his Mary back safe and sound.” A.J. smirked.

 A cold chill ran through Mick but he understood that she wasn’t his. But that wasn’t going to stop him from rescuing her. Mick spoke up “Well do we have any ideas on our next steps here?”

“Well…” as Rick was going to suggest but as he had started they all heard a car pull up in front of the warehouse.

“Joe go see who that is?” Mick said. Joe carefully went around the warehouse and as he peeked around the corner he saw Brady get out of his car and head into the front door. He was greeted by Stevens as they went inside. Joe ran back to the others.

“It’s Brady, he just arrived and Stevens just let him in.” Joe said out of breath.

“Okay we can’t wait any longer we need to get in there now.” A.J. stated.

They quietly went in the back and made their way towards the office were Stevens and Brady were. Mick and A.J. were by the office and could hear their conversation.

“So what if they don’t bring the money then what?” Stevens asked.

 “Look I know they can’t bring the money because I’m not giving it to them. When we go to do the exchange, she’ll have the necklace and when she gets half way there Jenkins and Carpenter, will be stashed somewhere and kill her and then pick off the rest of them. Then we get rid of the necklace so the insurance company pays.” Brady explained.

“Are you kidding me? There are four of them, are you sure you’re going to take all of them out?” Stevens asked.

 “We have two guys stashed shooting up the joint, we’ll get them all. What the hell are you afraid of? You do have your gun?” Brady asked annoyed that his orders were being questioned.

 “Yeah I have mine but what about you? I’m not going down to take this rap alone Brady. You’re coming with us.” Stevens said.

“You’re talking like we’re going to get caught. You can’t think like that. Now if you want your share of the money I do as you’re told, got that. Or you and your friends will go down for the whole thing I promise.” Brady concluded.

Mick and A.J. got back to the others and told them what they overheard. Town and Rick were to go find Jenkins and Carpenter while A.J. and Mick took care of Stevens and Brady. Joe was off to find Mary. It was quiet where Rick and Town were going, down the dark hall and to this recreation room where they found Jenkins and Carpenter. They had their backs to the door as the guys slowly walked in and Rick put his gun to Carpenter’s head. Carpenter felt the cold steel of Rick’s gun to his temple and didn’t move. Town carefully moved closer to Jenkins.

 “I would slowly move around if I was you or I’m going to blow your fucking head off.” Rick told him.

Jenkins jumped up but froze as he saw Town pointing his weapon at him. “Going someplace Jackass?” Town asked.

They handcuffed these two and started leading them out to the hall where they could hear fighting. A.J. and Mick had gotten the drop on Brady and Stevens when Stevens had knocked A.J.s gun out of his hand when Brady had tried to make a run for it. Mick had jumped Brady as A.J. popped Stevens in the face then the stomach and he had fallen. While this was going on Joe had gone down another hall and found a locked door. As he picked it open he found a very pissed off girl tied to a chair not looking all that well.

 “Mary thank God I found you. What the hell?” Joe exclaimed as he saw her face. He ran over to untie her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah just a bit sore that’s all.” She said.

 “Well come on we need to get out of here.” They started to run down the hall when they heard a shot. They just looked at each other in horror not knowing who could have been hit.

As they ran to the main hall Mick had fought with Brady and when Mick had thrown him to the floor Brady had reached down to his pants cuff and pulled out a small gun and shot Mick in the shoulder as Mary and Joe ran to him. A.J. kicked the gun out of his hand and punched him in the face as Rick and Town also came running.

 Mary ran over to Mick “Oh my God are you alright?” she asked concerned.

“Yeah I’ll be fine. Just a flesh wound.” He chuckled half heartily.

 “Yeah right, you’re bleeding pretty good. Joe do you have a handkerchief or something?” she asked him.

“Um yeah here.” He gave it to her so she could cut off the blood so he wouldn’t bleed out.

“I need another one, come on!” she demanded.

A.J. pulled out one of his. “Here you go honey.” She tied that around his wound and without realizing put her head down to his. The others just looked at them and stared.

 Rick whispered to A.J. “So what are we going to tell Jon?”

A.J. went to say something to Rick but then just shook his head.

 Joe looked at the brothers and said. “It’s not what it looks like, believe me.” But they weren’t too sure, they knew their sister too well and this just didn’t look like it was just friendship.

“Well let’s get these sleaze bags out to the car and I’ll call for a few more cars. Why don’t you get Mick to the hospital.” Town said.

Rick went with Town and A.J. took Mick, Joe and Mary to the hospital. While they were there Mary was with Mick as Joe stayed with A.J.

 “Okay Joe what’s this thing with them?” A.J. asked him concerned.

“Look A.J. I’m not really sure what it is, they only know. But as far as I know it’s over between them. She made that perfectly clear to him. She is in love with someone else and he saw that when we were over your mom’s the other day.” Joe explained.

 “Okay well I need to call Jon so stay here in case the doctor comes out or anything.” A.J. said. As he was leaving to call Jon he poked his head in to check in on them and saw them embraced and then Mary leaning in to kiss him. A.J. didn’t know what he should do but he knew he would have a talk with his sister later.

 Back at the house Jon was about out of his mind when the phone rang. “Hello? A.J. is that you?.. No I’m having a hard time hearing you... What? She’s where?.. Hospital! Is she okay? What happened? Never mind I’ll be right there!” Jon hung up the phone and then quickly called a cab to come get him.

 It felt like forever for him to get to the hospital. When he finally got there he asked the receptionist where he could find the Simon and Barrett parties. “No I family!” he said frustrated.

 He was getting really annoyed now until A.J. came up behind him. “Jon calm down. I’ll take you to her.”

 “Is she okay A.J.?” he asked scared.

 “She’s fine don’t worry. But she’s in with Mick. He got shot, not bad but in the shoulder. She’s okay but she felt she needed to be with him.” A.J. explained to him but that didn’t seem to make things any better as he took off running.

 “Jon!” A.J. tried to call him back.    

Jon went off to find Mary. He went out back to where they kept the emergency victims and he finally heard her talking to Mick. “The doctor said you were lucky a few more inches and you would be…” she tried to finish but he stopped her.

“Hey I’m okay, don’t worry I’m tough remember?” Mick said stroking her arm.

“Yeah right. You were lucky though.” She said to him feeling guilty knowing that it was her fault that he got hurt.

 “The only thing matters is that we got you back safe and sound. Which reminds me have you talked to Jon yet?” he asked her.

 “Oh God no I haven’t. I really need to call him he must be going crazy. Mick I’m sorry I do need to call him.” She said as she couldn’t believe how she had forgotten about him.

 “Why what do you need to tell me about?” Jon asked as he stepped into the cubicle.

Mary twirled around shocked to see him. “Jon! Oh my God Sweetie!” she went to him and to put her arms around his neck but he quickly pulled them off. She looked at him mystified not knowing why he would do that after what had happened. But then when she looked at his eyes she could tell that he was angry.

 But before she could explain he continued “What the hell do we have here? My girlfriend checking on her lover?” He asked pissed.

“Jon no! I was just checking on Mick to see if he was alright that’s all?” she said upset.

“Look you have the wrong idea; Mary and I are just friends that’s all nothing more.” Mick stated a little angry himself at the way Jon was acting.

As this was going on A.J. came in as all this was going down. He just stood back; he would jump in when he was needed.

“No I think I have the right idea here.” Jon said as he left.

 Mick just looked at Mary and said “You better go to him and explain things.”

 She just nodded and ran off to find him.

  “I think we need to talk Mick.” A.J. said.

“A.J. as I respectfully say this but it’s none of your business. What Mary and I felt for each other is between us. But that’s over I can see that. I just hope she can explain things to Jon and he’ll understand that there really wasn’t anything to worry about. You guys have an extraordinary sister.” Mick said with a heavy heart.

 “Yeah you don’t have to tell us.” A.J. said.