Diamond in the Rough: Chapter 80

Sam went into his closet and pulled out his Spiderman Climber Rope.  "Dad bought me this for the firedrills, Hope."  Hope was sucking her thumb, and her face was red from crying.  Sam, who was crying himself until he heard Jack yell directions, said, "Don't cry.  We're going to leave now.  Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the window.  He attached the ladder the way he was taught, and checked it three times the way Todd had shown him.  Then, he got on all fours like a dog, and told Hope to step on his back and get onto the ladder.  She did.  It was not far down, and she was a trouper.  She made her way down the rope ladder and to the grass.  

Sam said, "Wait for me, Hope."  He began to climb down the ladder after her, and when he got to the ground, he said, "See?  We're going to be okay.  We're going to the neighbor's.  Remember Mr. Carlyle?  He's old but real nice.  We'll go there.  Come on," he said, putting out his hand.

Hope was confused, and tears were still in her eyes.  She said, "Mommy."

"You'll see her again, now come on, it's going to be okay, Hope," Sam said, taking her hand himself and walking her toward the drive way.  

They came along the side of the house, and for some unexplained reason, they both began running at the same time, and Sam, moving his little legs as quickly as he could, felt something in his chest that was strong and fast.  It was fear.  He was afraid.  He didn't want to lose his mom and dad, and have to live with his real father . . . he stopped thinking about it, and raced, Hope trailing into the driveway, where he spotted the headlights of Timothy's car, just parking.  "Grandpa!" he cried out, and the damn burst.  He began to sob and ran to Timothy's door, and put his hands on the glass.  Hope, who had been in tears already, now gave way to wailing at the top of her lungs for her mother.

***

No one moved, and Tina said, "Stay right there.  Don't think about moving."

Mitch was lying on the ground, holding the knife in one hand and looking at Tina's gun nozzle.  

Todd put the chair back down, and sat in it again, one hand still tied, his legs both bleeding from the slices put there by Mitch.   He winced in pain and struggled to keep from passing out.  Blair stood up, revealing her loosened hands, and got hold of one of the guns, and held it on Mitch.  She said, "Tina, take the knife and untie the kids, and Todd."

Tina did as Blair asked, and went to Jack first.  She handed him her other gun, and said, "Hold this," as she used the knife to undo his bonds.  

She went to Starr next, undid her ropes, and Blair said to Tina, "Go.  Get the baby out of here!"  Blair, still covering Mitch, said, "Starr, get the other gun, over there."  Jack put his arm around Starr, who hesitated, and hugged her, and Blair looked briefly to Todd.  "Are you okay?"

Unexpectedly, Mitch saw an opening, and reached behind his head for the loose gun, and aimed for Todd.  Before he got the shot off, Blair shot Mitch in the shoulder, which made him lose his grip on the gun.  At the same time, Jack held another gun on Mitch, and Starr, recovering the last of the weapons, took one and handed one to her father.  Todd, now untied, stood, as painful as it was, and said, "You're not getting your hands on my family.  Ever."  He pointed the gun at Mitch's head.

"I still have the upper hand where you're concerned.  Everyone knows how I've helped to shape your life, indirectly, of course."  Mitch said.  His face was smug, but his eyes were afraid.  "So," he said, "which of you is going to kill me?"

***

"My God, what is happening?" Timothy asked himself, putting the window down and telling Sam to back away from the car.  "Sam step away, and Hope, so I can get out."

"Hurry, Grandpa!  He's going to kill Mommy and Daddy, and Jack and Starr!  Hurry, please!"  Sam cried, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other impatiently, as Timothy got out of the car.  The older man could hear the little boy's distressed sounds as he waited, and then within moments, he scooped both Sam and Hope into his arms and held them.  Hope was very cold to the touch, and Timothy began to worry about shock.  Sam was babbling through tears, and all Timothy could do was look to the house with fear in his heart.

He scrambled to put the children in the car, and as he turned back to the house, he saw a figure running toward him, and she was holding a child.  As she got closer, recognition took over.  "Martina.  What in the Hell are ya doing here, Lass?"
  Little Ray had just opened his eyes again during the run, and was looking into Timothy's face and calling him Da-da.  Timothy said, "Ah, little one, I missed ya.  Are ya all right?"  He looked at Tina for the answer.

"He's fine, but they're still in there.  Mitch Laurence has them, or, they have him.  Either way, we've got to get the police."

Timothy said, "Get in the car with the children, and lock all of the doors and windows.  The keys are there in case ya need to get away.  I'm going in.  Use this blasted contraption to call the cops."  He handed her his cell.  "Ask for John McBain and tell him . . . just get him."

Timothy walked toward the house, determined, and opened the door that Tina left ajar.  He walked into the lobby, and it was strangely quiet.  Alarmed, he went into the living room, and took a fireplace poker with him, since he had no weapon, and ascended the stairs.

***

Todd, holding the gun directly at Mitch's head, said, "Should be me.  You know why."

Starr's eyes darted to her father and back to Mitch.  She said, "Dad . . ."

Blair said, "No, Todd."

He blinked.  Sweat was coming down Todd's brow and interfering with his vision.  He closed his eyes and readjusted.  The pain in his shins was pounding, and the blood loss was substantial enough to cause him to feel woozy and off-center.  "Laurence, you may think you have shaped my life, but Peter Manning is the one who did the shaping.  You just sat by, filled with hate and greed, and let it happen."

Jack looked at Blair, "Mom?  What the fuck happened to him?"

She didn't answer, knowing at this point, it was all up to her husband, though a small fear grew in her that he might take Mitch's life to make everything right that was wrong from his growing up, and especially what happened to Bitsy at Mitch's hand.  

Todd said, "Jack, I got this, it's okay.  Laurence, haven't you got anything to say before I blow your head off your shoulders?"

"What did you want me to say?"  Mitch's shoulder was darkening with blood.

"How did my mother lose her ability to speak?  Why is she in a mental hospital?"

"Oh, God," Starr said quietly, looking to her mother.  She didn't dare lower the gun.

Mitch laughed, "You have to ask?  You're not exactly the picture of mental health."

Todd rapidly walked right between Mitch's spread legs and pressed the gun against his forehead.  He cocked the gun, and said, "Talk or I'll blow your fucking brains out."

Mitch hesitated, and his face twitched with fear.  Beads of sweat were on his forehead.  "How do you think she got that way?  Whatever it is you're thinking is probably true.  I'll not give you the satisfaction of filling in those blanks.  Let your warped mind do that for you."  Mitch winced, at the pain in his shoulder.

Todd squeezed his eyes closed and then wiping the sweat off his brow with one arm, he seemed to give in, for a moment, to the memories. 

Blair said, softly, "You're hurt, Todd.  You're not thinking clearly.  The police will take care of this, you know that.  And, you know what you promised me, what you promised yourself. . ."

What are you going to do, you pansy?  You gonna let this fucker get away with everything he's done?  From raping your sister, to kidnapping your wife, to forcing your niece to marry him.  Not to mention, he let me have my way with you and your mother for years, and probably beat her to brain dead.  You gonna take that, you wuss?

"Starr, Jack, get out of here."  Todd said.  The gun was still resting on Mitch's brow.  

"Dad, we're not leaving you."  Jack said.

"I said go, and you'll go!" he yelled.  

Blair admitted to herself that she was afraid.  She feared her man would not be able to stop himself from finally avenging . . . everything.  That meant that she and her children would lose him, all over again, and be back without him, like they were 8 years ago.


Just as he did, Timothy appeared at the door.  "Son," he quietly said, "Ya don't want to do this.  Not with y'ar children standing by.  Ya don't want to be that old, lonely man.  Ya know what I mean, don't ya?  Ya remember?"

Todd looked up at Timothy, and connected with him a moment.  Todd was reminded of their time apart, Timothy's bitterness, his drinking, his mistakes, and his redemption.  And then, he thought of his own path, and lowered the gun.  "I'll tie his hands.  Stand up, Laurence."  Mitch was sweating now; the smell of his terror was slightly pungent.  

Mitch obliged, standing almost toe to toe with Todd.  The familiar sound of duct tape stripping off the roll filled the room.  Blair continued to hold the gun on Mitch, as did Jack and Starr.  Todd made sure Mitch's hands were secure, and then, still holding the gun at his side, said, "Jack, Starr, put those down.  They don't belong in your hands.  Laurence, move.  Down the stairs, let's go."

Certain to protect her husband and family, just in case, Blair kept her gun on Mitch as they walked, Laurence's hands securely fastened behind his back.  Blair said, "Todd, do you need help?"  

He said, "No, I'm fine."

Both Starr and Jack had laid their weapons on the ground at their father's request.  Mitch went by Timothy, followed by Blair with the gun, and Todd at her side, and the kids last.  Timothy put his arms around both Starr and Jack and walked with them to the staircase.

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