The taller man laughed and handed the gun to his stocky companion. He rolled up his sleeves to reveal arms thick with hair that they evoked images of a charging bear. Grace looked away as he took a step forward and placed a thick thumb under her chin.
“You’ll tell me everything.” He assured her.
Grace started to shake her head but stopped herself. Instead, she closed her eyes.
“Come on, Ed. We don’t have time for games.” The shorter man tightened his grip on the gun and stepped toward his partner.
“Don’t worry about it, Sam.” The taller man buried his hand in the dark curls that fell past the woman’s cheek.
As he jerked her head to the side, he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Just tell me.”
“Are you trying to romance me?” She asked through gritted teeth.
“Not yet.” He pulled her head backward until her mouth dropped open.
He slapped her until her teeth rattled. A soft keening sound filled the air. The shorter man looked away. His pale eyes focused on the far wall. The keening stopped as Ed released her hair.
“Maybe I need to be a little more personal.” He grinned and reached for her hand.
She tried to pull it from his grasp, which proved impossible with her wrist firmly secured to the sturdy wooden chair.
“This will only hurt as long as you let it.” He produced pliers from his back pocket and closed them over her pinkie.
She screamed. Sam glanced at her and quickly turned away as his face paled. Ed’s face remained unchanged as he moved the pliers to her ring finger.
“Two.” As the pliers locked, a cracking sound erupted from her fingertip and the corners of his lips twitched.
“Stop.” Grace wept. “Please, stop.”
“Not the words I want to hear.” Sam moved the pliers again.
“Stop! I’ll show you where they are.” She pled. “Just don’t.”
He released her hand. Her fingers curled into the palm of her hand. Silent tears trailed down her cheek as her mangled fingertips touched her palm, but she held them there protectively. Her head tilted away as she surveyed the damage from the corner of her eye.
Ed turned to Sam. “Untie her and bring her outside. I’ll bring the car around.”
Sam nodded, putting the gun in his waistband long enough to free her. As she slowly rose from the chair, he jabbed the gun into her back and led her out to the car. She offered terse directions as Ed’s old beater chugged through the crowded city streets. They finally stopped at a storage facility on the edge of town.
“We’re here.” Grace whispered as she looked down at her mangled hand.
Ed stopped the car and circled around to pull her out of the car. “Show me.”
She reached into her pocket, fumbling with her uninjured hand for a worn key on her crowded key ring. “Unit 427. The jewels are in there.”
His eyes gleamed as he took the keys. “Stay with her, Sam.”
“I’m coming with you.” Sam circled to the back of the car, opening the trunk with his spare key. “She can watch herself in here.”
“That works too.” Ed shrugged and helped lift her into the trunk.
She rested her head against something soft, hoping it wasn’t dirty laundry or something worse. Hurried footsteps pounded away from her.
The two men remained silent as they wove through the units in search of the correct unit. As Ed fumbled with the keys, Sam slowly lifted the gun to chest level.
“Put that away.” Ed didn’t look up. “I’m not going to cheat you.”
“I wish I believed that.” Sam replied, keeping the gun leveled and tightening his finger on the trigger.
Ed sighed and turned back toward the door of the storage unit. “I was afraid you might feel that way.” He turned back toward his friend with a gun in his left hand. “Looks like we have a draw.”
Sam frowned. “I don’t mind going if you go with me.”
As they stood their ground in silence, a soft click from the door caused both pairs of eyes to waver. The door swung inward and two men with assault rifles and body armor greeted them.
The closest officer smiled. “I think we can help you out.”
The second officer gestured with his gun. “Drop your weapons, boys. You’re under arrest.”
Sam’s gun clattered to the ground as his hands shot up above his head.
Ed shook his head and lowered his weapon. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.”
It's been too long, so happy May to you. Hope you enjoyed.
