LATE ONE NIGHT

LATE ONE NIGHT

The sound of my footsteps echoed thru the near empty garage. There is something about a cold dark night that makes these high rise parking garages seem even more menacing. I normally park on the 4th floor right by the elevators but some knucklehead had decided to take my assigned spot. Wouldn’t you know I’d end up on the far side of the parking lot on floor 5, on the one night I’ve got to carry a box full of paperwork home to work on.

As I exited the elevator on level 5, I could see the taillights of another late worker heading down the exit ramp along with the shrieking of tires you seem to only hear in parking garages. It must have rained earlier because I found myself dodging oil soaked puddles on the way to my car. I normally would have finished work several hours ago but I was up against a deadline on the Thompson case. We’ve got court on Monday, and since this is a high profile case, I’ve got to be ready. I’m gonn’a nail that sucker.

Shit, I should have called security this morning when that inconsiderate bastard took my parking spot. Now, I’m having to hump all this paperwork halfway across the city just to get to my damn car. I work 15 years to become the top dog in the prosecutor’s office and now I’m parking on the back 9, or in this case the back 5.

To make matter worse there are contractors working on the sprinkler pipes up here, and there is water, dirt, and flashing barricades all over the place. Half the ceiling lights are down, and the place has that Eire yellow florescent glow, accompanied by the faint hum of the remaining lights, vibrating in the wet night air. There are work tools and equipment all over the place. Believe me, after this week, I’ll be glad to be off for a few days. T.G.I.F.

Finally, I approach my car. I hit the remote unlock button on my key chain and my Beamer’s lights go on. I just bough this thing last week and intentionally parked far from the other cars. Wouldn’t you know it, there are only a few cars left on the floor and some son of a bitch is parked right up against my car. A whole empty parking lot, and I’ve got a shitty red van parked right next to me on my drivers side. I set the box down briefly while I open the trunk and throw in my coat, but I decide to bring my homework up front. I quickly pat my pocket to make sure I have my keys before closing the trunk and head for the driver’s door.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice some movement it the van next to me, and an instant latter the side door slides open and two goons jump out. I reach for the panic button on my keys and set off the car alarm, but these guys don’t even blink. The next thing I know, I take a wicked shot in the ribs, and find myself gasping for air. One guys got me by the hair and the other had both arms wrapped around my waist, as they are trying to pull me into the van. I put both arms out and catch myself just before they can get me through the door, but then I feel a blunt strike across the back of my head. My hand quickly moves to the spot of the trauma and I feel hot sticky blood, just as I feel myself losing consciousness.

I don’t know how long I was out, but when I woke up, I found my hands and feet tightly bound with a pair of those nylon ties. I had lost one shoe in the battle and my hair was all matted together from laying in a pool of my own blood. I tried to yell out but they had a piece of duct tape securely over my mouth, I was panicking because I could hardly breath. For a brief instant, I thought about home and my kids and how I wished I had left work earlier when my wife called and told me she had dinner waiting. It seems like I have missed too many dinners, ball games, and school events over the years, and my wife was showing the strain.

I laid there on the floor of the van and tried to get my bearings and remain calm. I noticed that even though I was blind folded, I could barely see thru a small gap they had left just above my right eyebrow. By moving my head around I could make out the images of the two thugs sitting up front in the van, talking and laughing, as we passed under some well lit road signs. From my vantage point on the floor, I also noticed that I could get a quick glance out the front windshield and was able to pick up on a few road signs as we went under them as well. I knew we were on the interstate headed north

I can tell you, I was a little disappointed in myself. Despite my training I allowed these guys to push me into this van. I have to admit that I was not prepared for the suddenness and viciousness of their attack. I broke the two first rules of self defense. I should have been more aware when I noticed the van parked that close to me, and I should never have allowed them to wrestle me into the door. I knew one thing for sure, I had no intention of finding out what’s next on their agenda.

I was still fading in and out of consciousness but was able to overhear the two guys talking up front. I could tell these guys were professionals, because they were cold as ice, and acting like it was just another day at the office. I quickly came to the realization that when we arrived at the destination they were taking me to, it wasn’t going to be pretty. If I was going to make it out of this little joy ride alive it was going to have to be on my terms, not theirs.

Even though I had lost a good deal of blood, I had the presence of mind to try and escape. Fortunately I always carry a small Benchmade folder in my pocket and with a little effort I was able to retrieve it and snap open the blade with one hand using the thumb stud. Just about then, goon #2 looked back to see what I was up to and I pretended to be still knocked out. I still had not cut all the way thru the plastic ties around my wrist, when he decided to come on back and pay me a visit while checking on my restraints.

I figured this might be my only shot at getting away, so when he reached for my wrists, I let him have it both barrels. My wrists were already locked together so I figured a double hammer fist would be in order, and served one up right to his temple. I swear that blow would have knocked out 98% of the world’s population, yet it only seemed to daze old Godzilla. If you don’t at first succeed, try again. So, In the ensuing struggle, I grabbed two good handfuls of his hair and gave him a little fresh air, via the van’s side window. Where are my manners? Damn, I knew I forgot something, like opening the window first. Well, since he was already half way on his way out, I grabbed the door handle and showed him the door. Now, that’s gonn’a leave some road rash. I was pretty sure that the thud I heard right after that was his body being caught by the rear wheel.

At this point goon #1 is craning his head back to see what has happened to his criminal in law brother, and the van is swaying from one side of the road to the other. I thought for a second about using the knife to cut the rest of the way thru the plastic ties, but as the saying goes…there is no time like the present, and opportunity was knocking.

I had the answer, with one quick leap, or should I say hop, I placed myself right behind the driver’s captain chair. It was one of those high back, swivel deals with the arms that fold down. Just as I reach for the guy’s hair, I get a big fat elbow, right in the kisser, for my efforts. Ok, no more mister nice guy, I’m getting tossed around like a rag doll and I need to latch on to something.

I still have my knife in my hand in an ice pick style grip, with the plastic ties still holding tight. The van sways hard right than left, just as I throw both arms over this guys nogg’in and dig the entire 4” blade deep into his shoulder, right under his right ear. The last thing I hear is a deafening scream, probably magnified by the fact that my face was about an inch and a half from his pie hole. The guy lurches hard to the right and with it goes the steering wheel, and then the whole van.

Around two, 360’s latter the van comes to a rest on its side and I’m still lashed to the now very dead driver. The windows are all smashed out and there is glass everywhere. My research papers were scattered all over the van and for 100’ down the road. The dark van is now illuminated with the familiar flashing red lights of the local sheriff’s car. I could hear someone approaching as they crunched the broken glass. It was a sight for sore eyes when the deputy climbed into the van, with gun drawn. He recognized me immediately from the last time he testified in court, and cut me loose from my ex-traveling buddy. I told him about the events leading up to the accident and my suspicion that these guys were hired to keep me out of the courtroom.

As the paramedics were bandaging my head and arm, the deputy confirmed that these guys were hired guns, and part of the Thompson organization. Just as he was closing the door of the ambulance the deputy stuck his head in and said. “Councilor, I believe justice has been done. Consider this case closed.”

P.I.B.