Page 77 of Saltwater Promises
“Yeah. He’s surprisingly fast. And heavy.”
Mike almost stood up, but Lynn pulled him back down.
“I’m going to kill him,” Mike said, glaring at Lenny.
“Please don’t,” Lynn replied in her soothing voice. “That is Lenny, isn’t it?”
Mike nodded, still seething. “I don’t know how you can be so calm about all of this.”
“Calm! I wasn’t calm at all. I thought that I was going to die, especially when that door opened.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She offered a half smile. “It’s okay.”
How many times could he apologize? It was all worthless anyway. He was reminded, however, that there was a good chance that Vinnie was on his way. Mike needed to update the police.
She spoke again. “I was waiting for you to find me, though. And you did.”
Poor Lynn had so much faith in him. Too much. It was a dagger to his heart. He didn’t deserve it.
“That reminds me, I need to make a call. Though I think the police are already on their way.”
“How did you beat them here?” she asked.
“I flew. Commandeered a plane. Well, I guess technically I stole it, since I’m not in the FBI anymore.” All those years, he’d never commandeered anything. Today, he’d taken a plane and a car he saw driving by.
“You’re an honorary member, though.”
He smiled, not taking his eyes off of her as he pulled out his phone and called Hank to update him on the situation. Hank had already engaged the local police, as well as the FBI. They were on their way.
“We need an ambulance, too. Nothing serious, but please have them send one.”
“No problem. Glad to hear everyone’s okay,” said Hank.
They went outside to wait, and Lynn told him everything that had happened – from Lenny coming to pick her up to her figuring out who he was and trying to get on his good side.
“I tried your ‘befriend and betray’ thing,” she said with a smile. “Somehow, it didn’t work.”
“Oh Lynn,” he said, shaking his head. “You did amazing. You really did. Befriend and betray is a long process, not one I’ve seen used in hostage situations. Definitely not by the hostage.”
She laughed. “I did what I could.”
He wanted to scoop her up again and hold her in his arms, never letting her go, but somehow the time had disappeared again. The police were pouring in, sirens blazing.
Mike escorted Lynn to the ambulance and watched as the paramedics tended to her wounds.
Lenny woke up just as all of the noise started. An officer dragged him outside and Mike stared at him from afar.
“Gary,” Lenny called out, voice raspy. “What’s going on?”
Mike didn’t answer him. He turned and focused his attention on Lynn.
The next hour was a blur. Lynn provided her statement as Mike listened intently. Mike also gave his side of the story, leaving out the parts where he’d stolen a plane and a car. He’d have to talk to Joe about that later.
Joe called in, talked to the FBI agents on the scene, and checked in with Mike. He had a lot of updates. Vinnie was caught en route and was under arrest, his bail revoked. The deal with Benzini and the state treasurer went through, and thanks to the quick actions of the Seattle FBI branch, the entire thing was caught on camera. Benzini, David Monroe, Jared, and even Marco and friends were in custody now.
The case was over, and it couldn’t have gone any better.
