Chapter 26

 

Kate felt utterly numb.

In her minds eye she kept seeing Archer jerk back as the bullets struck him, each impact sending shockwaves across her field of vision. The waves from the water as he fell sounded thunderous in her ears.

Archer was dead and now they were going to kill her.

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from where she had last seen Archer.

Ray said something, but it sounded muffled, like he was talking to her through a thick pillow.

She looked at him.

“Sorry, kid. Them’s the breaks,” his voice lacked any real sympathy. His face remained neutral.

Bragan’s limo slowly pulled away.

Archer was dead.

So Kate did the only thing she could think of.

Balling up her hand, she slammed her fist into the side of Ray’s face. Caught by surprise, Ray jerked back sharply with the punch, the sound of cracking teeth echoed through the air.

Bragan’s men moved, but it was too little, too late.

Grabbing Ray by the collar, she pulled him around and used him as a shield. As the first bullets struck Ray, she grabbed the gun from his back holster. His body twitched as the bullets struck him.

Pushing him aside she fired back through a haze of tears. Her vision was blurry, as the grief and rage enveloped her, but her aim managed to be true. Bragan’s men dropped.

She whirled around and jumped over the trunk of the taxi, firing at Bragan’s departing limo.

Her aim was off when Santos clawed at her.

She jerked her elbow back into his face. A high pitched scream followed as he stumbled back, cupping his bleeding nose.

Bragan was almost off the dock.

Kate unloaded the remainder of the clip. The rear tires of the limo exploded and it skidded to a stop.

“Stupid little girl,” Ray rasped and grabbed her ankles, pulling her to the ground.

Kate dropped hard, finding herself face to face with a Ray Phillips who was bleeding to death. His eyes were filled a crazy bloodlust. This was not the Ray Phillips she had trusted her life with. His hands wrapped around her neck, intent on choking the life from her, but his grip was weak. She watched as the life slipped from his eyes. Kate had already mourned the loss of her friend. She wasted no tears on this monster.

Kate got to her feet and picked up Santos’ discarded gun.

Bragan already stood outside the limo, looking slightly frazzled. He took in the sight of his fallen men, slowly resting his gaze on Kate.

She leveled her gun at him.

He shook his head slowly, a knowing smile spreading across his face. “Let’s not fool ourselves,” he said, his voice calm and level. “You’re not a killer. Sure, you may have killed before, but killing me in cold blood? You’re not going to do that.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” Kate said, her finger twitched around the trigger. Her vision blurred with tears.

Bragan stood firm. “You’re a cop. You’re all about justice,” he said. “Where’s the justice in killing me without my due process? Please, this is a game you are not nearly experienced enough to play.”

Archer was dead. Ray was dead.

Kate swallowed hard, fighting back tears. “You know what?” her voice trembled slightly, threatening to crack. “You’re absolutely right.”

He smiled.

Then she lowered the muzzle of her gun and shot him in both kneecaps.

Bragan cried out, clutching at his bleeding knees as he dropped to the ground.

“But I don’t see any reason why you can’t suffer a little,” she said and pulled out Ray’s cellphone.

She dialed 911 and turned back to where Archer had fallen.

The dispatcher answered. Kate responded his questions in a hollow and empty voice.

For all she had done, he still died.

It was over.