Trust Me
      Chapter 18
 

John and Mario arrived at Vega's place of business. He directed one of the men to stay at the front door and proceeded to go around the back with the other. The alley was narrow. Litter strewn about, the smell of urine and garbage was over powering. Both men jumped and drew their weapons at the sudden sound of metal clanking to the ground. Upon their approach they saw a mutt making it's way through the trash. Beside the dog was an aluminum trash can cover. At the back entrance he pushed open the door. The room was dark, dusk had settled in. It was too quiet. He recognized the rusty odor of blood.

He walked in, his weapon ready. He made his way towards the back slowly. He felt his feet slide. Looking down he saw the dark liquid on the floor. The trail of blood was congealing. It was a rubbery paste, the color, a dark purplish hue.

His instincts told him the place was vacant. He followed the blood. Entering each room along the way. In the room farthest from the entrance they found the body.

John put away his gun and went to the body. The man was dark haired, he wore black pants and a black shirt. The room smelled of death. The man had been shot through the head. The bullet had ripped all the way through. He turned the body over.

"It's not Ray.," John was mildly relieved.

"John, you know the body was moved for one reason only..."

"I know," he snapped, "to keep us busy."

John got his cell phone out and began calling Danny. The phone rang with no answer. "Shit Danny!"

"John, I don't like this..."

Ray lay gasping for breath. His ribs had been broken and he believed his jaw was too. He leaned against the hard face of an old building. Trying to fight off the desire to close his eyes and sleep. Dietz' beating had left him seriously injured. His mind was filled with jumbled memories. His head hurt. You're alive. He closed his eyes and saw Dietz.

"Why don't you just kill me?

"Padre, I want you to be there for the finale. Michelle and Danny are waiting." Then he had forced him inside the car.

Ray opened his eyes. Get up. Move.

Dietz had driven them through the cobble stone streets. Through one eye, the other was swollen shut, Ray had caught glimpses of people milling around. The ride was anything but smooth as the tires met the old bricks and jostled him about. His hands were tied behind his back causing him excruciating pain. The car had stopped many times. Dietz honked the horn and yelled,

"Get out of my fuckin' way! Damn tourists."

Suddenly the car had stopped. Ray realized he was a few blocks away from the apartment. Dietz had tugged him out of the automobile and thrown him in the middle of a crowd of tourists. He had managed to crawl out of the road and onto the sidewalk. He lay in the entrance of an abandoned building. Ray knew he needed to sit up. He was having trouble breathing. He felt like dying as he winced and moaned in pain struggling to lift his head and chest higher. It was dark. He saw a young boy pointing at him.

Blood trickled to the back of his throat. He spit up.

You have to get to Michelle.

He tried standing up. Clutching his stomach he limped and made his way through the mass of people. The sidewalks were tiny. He stopped in doorways catching his breath.

He coughed up more blood. His vision was blurry and he felt himself loosing conscious again. Dietz' words echoed through his mind. "Now let's see who can make it back to them first. I'd say I'm at an advantage Padre. Wouldn't you?"

He forced himself to continue moving.

Isabel stood outside waiting for the men to finish their search. Who were these people? She had watched in horror as the man had pushed Ray into a car and then sped away. Soon after the other men had arrived. Were they friends of Ray's? She was terrified, but she felt the need to help. There has to be something I can do. She crouched behind the trash cans. Thank God the dog had covered her before. She heard the men coming back. She tried making herself smaller. "Please God. Don't let them see me.," she prayed.

The men passed her. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then she saw a rat scurrying towards her. She held back her scream.

The rat came closer. Stopping at her sandal covered foot. "Ayyyyyyyy!," she screamed and jumped up.

John turned to the high pitched noise. He saw the girl running away.

"Hey!." he yelled. She kept running.

She stumbled and fell hard against the cement.

John was hesitant to help her. Maybe the girl knew something. Maybe she didn't. She was holding her leg and whimpering. She watched in fear as Mario approached her.

"Hey were not gonna hurt you. Did you see something?," He kneeled next her and helped her to stand.

"I didn't see anything.," she wrenched her arm away from him and began to walk away.

"Listen. A good man, a Priest, is in trouble. Do you know something?", Mario persisted.

She stopped in her tracks. "A Priest?"

"Yes. Was he here?"

"I don't know.," She moved forward. Could Ray be a priest?

"He's young. Dark hair. Tall. Please.," Mario asked. Ray had been like a brother to him.

"Mario leave her.," John ordered.

"No! Danny and Michelle are as good as dead. Maybe she knows something to help Ray."

"Michelle?," Isabel asked.

John exasperated stood with his hands on his hips.

"Yes! Michelle. Do you know her?"

"No. The man he took Ray in a car. He beat him.," Isabel sobbed. "He said he wouldn't kill Ray because he had to be there for the finale." Isabel's words were rushed. She was afraid, but these men were talking about the same Michelle as Ray had. Maybe they could save him.

John and Mario ran.

Danny stared at the barrel of the gun in Dietz' hand. Michelle was petrified. She had the look of a person who had a scream stuck in their throat. Danny stood up slowly his gun still aimed at Dietz.

"Let her go."

Michelle's eyes reflected fear. Danny looked away from her. Concentrate Santos. Concentrate.

"Danny. Danny. You know better than that. I'm not lettin' her go."

"Dietz. You have a problem with me. Not her."

Dietz pulled Michelle's head back by her hair. "No man you're wrong. I have a big problem with her. This piece of shit ...,", he spit as he forced her down to her knees.

"DIETZ!"

"Put the gun down Danny. NOW!,"

Michelle was mouthing something to him. In the dark her could see her lips moving, but he couldn't understand her.

"Let her go Dietz."

Sweat covered Danny's brow. His mouth was dry. Think!

"Drop it!," Dietz commanded. His voice filled with venom.

Danny stalled. He watched Dietz carefully. His stance never wavered. The gun remained pointed at Dietz. You don't have a clear shot.

He started to bend his knees. Michelle's eyes closed. He saw her tears cascading down her face. He stood up straighter.

"Stop fucking with me. Put the gun down!" Danny heard the "click" as the Dietz cocked the gun.

He panicked as he saw Dietz poised to shoot Michelle.

Dropping his gun to the floor he waited for Dietz to make a move. Dietz pulled back and pushed down on Michelle's shoulder forcing her to her knees.

"Oh God!," Michelle sobbed

Ray got closer to the apartment building. His body was covered in bruises and blood. There was blood all over his mouth, each breath he took more blood would come up. A few more steps...

He pushed through the tourists in their leisurely strolls. AS he came in contact with them they would move away, repulsed. He heard their whispers filled with disgust. "He touched me..."

He fell against the door. It opened slightly. Ignoring the pain he pushed with his body. The door would not budge. He looked down. He saw Peter's body then. He was laying across the floor. His throat slit. Blood pooled around his body. "Dios Mio..." He eased his way in the opening. He stepped over the body. He crossed himself. "Dios lo guarde". He stared at the long staircase. You can do this. He began the climb. At the fourth step he had to stop. Gasping for air, he leaned against the railing. He felt a different pain in his stomach. He fell to his knees. He began crawling up. "Father, save them. Keep them safe." He stopped again. He leaned his head against the tile. He felt cold. The cool ceramic relieved his headache. He let himself fall against it. He looked up. He wasn't even halfway there. "Oh My God..." Ray grabbed his stomach and fell forward. Everything went black.

John and Mario ran through the crowded streets. There were people every where, standing around, staring in shop windows. In their way. John ran cutting around cars, pushing people, his gun at his side. He heard shouts of anger and surprise as he passed by.

When they reached the apartment they found Peter and Ray.

"Holy Shit!," Mario ran up the stairs.

John jumped over the bodies and flew up the stairs behind him.

"Any last words before you die?"

Michelle was sobbing loudly now. She fell back into Dietz' legs causing him to lose his balance. She realized what was happening and she pushed harder against him. His knees buckled. Dietz grabbed Michelle's hair pulling her back with him. She screamed as he fell backward.

Danny reached for his gun.

Dietz was sprawled on the floor his hands tangled in Michelle's honey colored curls. Michelle, her knees underneath her, was leaning back almost on top of him.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!," she yelled.

The sounds of gunfire at the door startled them. The door fell off the hinges and pounded the wall.

Dietz had regained control of his weapon, lifting himself up from the floor, straining against Michelle's weight and aimed the gun. Michelle saw the barrel over her shoulder. His grip on her hair was stronger. She twisted and turned desperate for him to release her. She saw his index finger moving against the trigger. "DANNNNNNNNNNY!"

The room filled with the echoes of gunshots.

"MICHELLLLLLLLE!"