“Wake up, Fed, it’s time to go.” The hard kick to J.T.’s leg stirred him back into consciousness.
He winced as he grabbed his shin. “What good am I going to be to you? You guys did a number on me.”
“Were we too rough on you last night, Agent Harper? I thought you were tougher than that. Julie doesn’t even piss and moan as much as you do.” Anthony laughed as J.T. tried to swat at him and missed. “Yeah, I guess Antonio’s knuckles were sort of banged up now that I think of it. Anyway, it’s all superficial wounds. We didn’t break any bones. Now, roll over and lock your hands so I can cuff you.”
The sound of heavy footsteps descending the stairs alerted them that Antonio was heading down. “Ready to bring him up?”
“Yeah, in a minute. I’ve got to cuff his hands together first. Is the girl in the van?”
“Yep, she’s good to go.” Antonio looked down at J.T. and chuckled. “Damn, your face looks like shit. Can you even see out of your right eye?”
“Go to hell, moron.”
“Soon enough, but right now we have a job to do. It looks like you’ll be taking one for the team, so to speak.”
Carden yelled down the stairs, “Enough chitchat. Let’s go.”
Anthony gave Antonio a nod. “He’s set. Go ahead and unlock the chain.” Anthony yanked J.T. up, but his legs folded beneath him. “Stand up. There’s nothing wrong with your legs, and we don’t have time for your crap. Pull yourself together or Julie dies.”
J.T. leaned against the beam and stood. “Give me a second to get my bearings.”
“We’re leaving now. You can get your bearings in the trunk.”
With a brother on each side of him, J.T. was pushed up the stairs and out to Julie’s car.
Carden stood in the shadows of the covered porch and watched as the brothers loaded J.T. into the trunk. Once the lid was closed, he walked out to the driveway. “Son of a bitch, Antonio, his face looks like hamburger.”
“He’ll be fine, sir. He’s just putting on a show. He may have a few bruises and scuffs, but there isn’t anything seriously wrong with him. He’ll be wearing a mask, anyway.”
Carden sneered. “He better be able to walk under his own power when this ambush takes place.”
“He will or Julie dies. I made sure he knew that.”
“Get in the car and go to the turnout. Wait there while I drop off Anthony at the U-Haul facility. We’ll catch up with you fifteen minutes later and transfer J.T. and our weapons to the cube van and Julie into the trunk. Do you understand?”
“Yes, boss, I understand.”
“Good. This better go exactly like I had planned. Now move!”
Carden climbed into the driver’s seat of the van. Anthony took his seat on the passenger side, and Antonio drove away in the Fiesta.
“Your brother is going to be the death of me, Anthony.”
“Boss, you shouldn’t say that. You might jinx yourself.”
Carden heaved a deep sigh while he drove the back roads to the U-Haul location. “I can’t wait until this day is done. I’m leaving town as soon as possible.”
At 9:55 a.m., Anthony stepped out of the van at the U-Haul building. “I should be at the turnout soon, boss.”
“Good, but call me if anything goes to shit.”
Anthony gave the windowsill of the passenger side a slap as confirmation before he walked away. “I will, I promise.”
Carden turned left at the end of the parking lot and arrived at the designated spot seven minutes later. He backed into the weeded pea gravel turnout that occupied a space once used as a small parking lot. Ten years earlier, that spot led into a nature preserve filled with trails, bridges, and ponds. Now, all that remained was gravel hidden beneath weeds and brush. The trails had been overgrown and abandoned for years. Most motorists would drive by and never notice its existence. The van and car were well hidden from anyone passing by—the perfect place for an ambush. Julie and J.T. were held captive, side by side, one bound in the trunk and the other restrained in the van. The blindfolds and earplugs kept them from knowing what was going on or where they were.
Carden lowered his window and motioned for Antonio to do the same. With the van backed in and the Fiesta facing forward, the driver’s side windows were next to each other. “Any trouble or suspicious looking characters on your drive over here?”
“No, sir. The morning seemed as normal as any other.”
“Good to know. Anthony should be here soon, then we’ll swap out our guests.” Carden’s cell phone vibrated. He dipped his hand in his pocket and pulled it out. “It’s Anthony.” He apprehensively hit Talk. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, boss, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I’m coming around the last curve and will be there in under a minute.”
“Okay, make sure you back in against the front of the car.” Carden hung up and jerked his chin toward Antonio as he climbed out of the van. “Let’s roll. It’s time to move our guests.”