Fiction

Two Before The Wedding Part 12

A Sunny Alexander-Johnson And Henry James Series

My name is Sunny Alexander-Johnson, and I’m Henry James, and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11

It’s been a week of uneasiness, little sleep, jangling nerves, and frantic preparations leading to this one day. Thankfully for us, Manny and Robert convinced the police department not to intervene in our plans. We’d been assured they’d do their part in snagging the shooter and Roger Sterling.

Sitting in the bullpen this morning, we knew without bothering to say it aloud, our job today would be to do one thing and only one thing.

All we had to do was keep Daryl Thompson and Angela Stringer alive.

Although its never really been a strong suit for either of us, we decided to play it safe this time. We were sure the shooter intended to take Daryl out, but what if we were wrong?

We decided to part company. One of us would accompany Angela, the other Thompson. Now, instead of a single human shield, we’d both be in harm’s way.

Well, that’s pretty much how we’ve always rolled on our stories. Why change now?

“You sure you wanna do this, princess?”

“What? Possibly get my ass shot? Sure, it’ll be fun.”

“Right now, I’d rather take a sharp stick in the eye.”

“Getting cold feet, old man?”

“Hey, it’s one thing when it’s just you and me, Sunny. This is an entirely different ball of yarn. If what we try to do today goes south, somebody gets killed.”

“Uh, Henry? We’ve got company coming this way.”

“Where?”

“The elevators. Turn around and see for yourself.”

Stunned, we watched Howard Bartley strolling away from the elevators. He was scowling, and when he saw us, he quickened his pace, his skin quickly adopting a ruddy hue, his scowl twisting into a more profound expression of anger.

“Good morning Mr. Bartley. What brings you here?”

“Mr. James, I had a fascinating conversation with my daughter last night. Where in the hell did you two come up the cockamamie idea I hired someone to kill her? My own daughter? Are you two out of your minds? I’m going to sue the shit out of you two. When I’m done, I’m going to ruin this magazine of yours. I’m…”

“Mr. Bartley, let us explain…”

“How the hell are you going to explain a contemptible, slanderous libel like this, Ms. Johnson? How?”

“Howard, we had to examine all the options, but neither of us thought you’d even think of doing something like that. We believe someone has other plans, though. Have you spoken to anybody at your company about this?”

“No. What does that have to do with this and my daughter?”

“Good. Let’s find a conference room so we can talk privately, okay?”

The man followed us in silence until we found a small conference room and filed in. As we recalled each point of what we’d discovered, Howard Bartley’s anger lessened and slipped away. By the time we’d finished, his complexion had returned to the deeply tanned rugged expression we’d seen the first time we’d met him.

We waited in silence, watching the man slowly shaking his head in disbelief. Finally, he asked, “is there a chance Angela could get hurt?”

“We’re not going to lie to you; it’s possible, but ya gotta believe us here, Howard. Sunny and I are going to do everything possible to make sure nobody gets hurt.”

“What about the police?”

“Already got them involved. Once they hear from Sunny or me, they’ll move in. I trust Sterling will be in the office today?”

“Oh, yes, Mr. James, he’ll be there. Before he left last night, he told me he was almost certain Bartley Manufacturing was getting the award. And he planned on putting some finishing touches on the preparations for the new company.”

“I just bet he does. So when you get back to the office, you need to play this very cool. We don’t want to tip him off.”

Howard Bartley shook his head.

“Not going back to the office. Based on what you two just told me, I’m coming with you.”

“Uh, afraid that’s not part of the plan, Howard.”

“Mr. James, do you have any children?”

“No, sir, I don’t.”

“I know what you’re about to say, Howard. Maybe Henry doesn’t have children, but I’m about to deliver twins into this world. Even before they’re born, I will do everything to protect them, even die for them. Henry, Howard’s coming with us whether you want him to or not.”

“Fine. I’m not going to argue with both of you. Howard, all I ask is that you stay in the car until it’s clear. Understand?”

“Perfectly. When is all this happening?”

“I’d say right about now. Sunny, did you get a chance to talk to Angela this morning?”

“Yeap, she’s expecting me in about an hour from now. What about Thompson?”

“The same. Okay, everybody, let’s saddle up and break this feisty mare.”

“Ms. Johnson, does he always talk like this?”

“Mr. Bartley, you have no idea.”

We made the decision to designate ourselves as drivers of the cars of both Daryl and Angela and parked on the side of the coffee shop using the building itself as protection.

Although we’d instructed the two on exactly how this was going to happen, the four of us huddled on the passenger side of Angela’s car as we ran through the instructions one more time.

“Okay, Angela, you stick to Sunny like glue. Keep a side profile toward the street, and always keep Sunny on your left shoulder. If she stops, you stop. Do not move unless she does. When you both get to the door, you go in first. Make sure to align your body with Sunny’s. Once you two are in, do not sit where you and Daryl normally sit. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Daryl, the same goes for you and me. You got it?”

“Yes, Henry. Then what?”

“Okay, here is the tricky part. After getting your coffee, sit where you normally sit. And this is important, so listen carefully. Both of you sit down and then immediately get up and head to the back door. Do not, under any circumstances, stay in those chairs longer than two seconds.”

“Two seconds?”

“Yes, Angela, two seconds. No more. If we’re right about this, the shooter has been up in that water tower most of the morning. I’m sure by now he’s already sighted in using other people who sat in the chairs you two plan to use. He’s going to need about three seconds to get a shot off.”

“So what will our getting up, do?”

“It will freeze him in place, Angela. He’ll need to wait until you both come back and sit down. By that time, the police will be up the water tower and take him into custody. Is everybody ready?”

Daryl and Angela nodded, and we were about to start moving when a rear passenger window of Daryl’s car slid down, and Howard stuck his head out.

“Baby, be careful, and do what they tell you to do okay, honey?”

“Daddy? Dad, what the hell are you doing here?”

“My job is to take Daryl’s car to the alley behind the coffee shop and get you two out of here. Think of me as your getaway driver. You just do what Henry and Sunny tell you, okay?”

Angela smiled, then gazed at us and nodded.

“Let’s do this.”

Read On — Two Before The Wedding Part 13

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