Page 30 of Zero
Sighing, I allowed my eyes to roam the building, wondering why it looked so much more menacing at night.
It was about an hour into the watch when a car pulled up to the house. In fact, it pulled into the driveway. I slipped the phone under my thigh just in case it went off, the light would be hidden but I’d still know it was ringing.
For a moment, nothing happened. But then someone alighted from the vehicle and hurried up to the front door. He looked around then hunched down in front of the doorknob. That told me one thing—whoever that was, had no right being there.
Sighing, I pulled my gun and checked it. Once I was satisfied, I picked up my phone, shoved it into my pocket and exited the vehicle.
Checking both directions, I crossed the street to the other vehicle. There wasn’t anyone else in it. When I opened the door, there wasn’t much to find. The interior still had the new car smell. It was either a rental or a vehicle fresh from the dealership. I closed the door by pushing it in, then braced my hips to it and shoved.
I didn’t follow him through the front. There was a side door which had a broken lock that I used to enter the house and slowly made my way toward the rattling of things being moved around. The man was in the living room, going through the music, looking behind books and easing picture frames out of the way.
The shadowy figure glanced back, and I pulled my body out of view.
When the sounds started again, I peered around to see he was on his knees, digging through a drawer at the base of the large bookshelf.
“If you tell me what you’re looking for.” I stepped into the open with my gun trained at his head. “Maybe I could be of assistance.”
The man whirled around. “This is not your fight, German. You walk away now, and we won’t have to make you.”
“So, you do know me.” I smiled. “Good. Then you know what I’m capable of.”
“What? You think we’re afraid of you?”
I scoffed. “I don’t care if you’re afraid of me. Underestimating me will be your mistake. Now, tell me why you’re here.”
His reply was to whip a book at me. I dodged it. The man began peeling books from the shelf and throwing them at me which pissed me off more than I cared to admit. When he picked up a small lamp from a nearby table, I lowered the gun and fired. The bullet wedged itself into the man’s leg just below his knee.
He yelped and hit the floor hard.
The lamp landed on the man’s forehead and bounced to the floor but didn’t break.
“I can put up with a lot of shit.” I growled. “But disrespecting books—well, that’s the line.”
Shoving the weapon into my holster, I walked over and hunched down over him. “Did you not understand my question? Maybe I could bring someone here who speaks Patois. Would that be more to your liking?”
“You fucking shot me!” He squealed.
“I’m playing the world’s smallest violin for you.” I grumbled in German. “And another thing. If anyone is going to be throwing a book at anyone else around here, it will be me at you. You’re trespassing. You’re lucky the bullet didn’t go through your head. The next one—will.”
“That’s a threat.”
I exhaled, trying to hold onto my temper. “This next question is very important.”
I retrieved my gun and pressed it to the center of his forehead. “So, listen very carefully.” I growled. “Are you listening?”
He nodded.
“Good. Where’s the soldier?”
“You’ll never find him.”
I smiled. “This is a very small country. But they’ll never find your body. One more chance to do the right thing.”
When the man didn’t speak, I smiled, put my gun away and pulled the handcuffs from the back of my waist. Once I had him secured, I dragged him outside and tossed him into the back of the jeep and drove him down to the police station. After lodging a complaint, I had him arrested.
Once that happened, the police officers drove him to the hospital.
I couldn’t care less.
