Fire in a Haystack: A Thrilling Novel (Legal Mystery Book Book 1) (27 page)

Chapter 46

Morris headed up the stairs and a complete silence fell over the basement. Ofer leaned against the wall. A paralyzing fatigue fell over him. He felt sweat running down the sides of his face, his hands and his back. The dust filled his nostrils, and he was barely able to contain the sneeze that wanted to erupt from his nose.

A million questions ran through his mind, but he never got the chance to ask them. Nausea struck at his guts wildly. His body twitched and the pain became unbearable. He tried to vomit again, but his stomach was empty. He lay on the floor and tried to relax his body. Then, with great effort, he managed to rise to his feet.

Suddenly, the light in the cellar was turned on, and his kidnapper was facing him.

How did he know where the light switch was?

His tormenter’s eyes he was already familiar with and would never be able to forget. Now Ofer saw the rest of his face for the first time. He had black curly hair and a terrifying expression. His shoulders were broad, his forehead low, his nose was upturned and slightly slanted to the right, possibly from a punch it had once received.

He held his gun with a confident hand and said, “Thought you managed to run away from me? I suggest that you don’t move. One unnecessary word or movement and you’ll have as many holes in your body as a finishing net.”

The fact that his face was now revealed was not an encouraging sign; the odds he’d show some compassion towards Ofer were even lower.

“So where’s the test tube? And that’s the last time I’m asking,” said Curly.

“It should be here,” said Ofer, his mind nearly short-circuiting from all the thoughts running around in it. “It’s there, inside that cabinet,” he said and pointed at an old, rusty cabinet that stood at the end of the cellar. Only now, with the lights turned on, could he examine the space he had chosen to enter.

Curly took a few steps towards the cabinet Ofer had pointed out to him.

Through the open door, Ofer saw Morris lunging inside towards the head of the kidnapper, as if he were a ball to be kicked towards the goalpost. Curly managed to turn around at the sound of Morris’ steps and a fiery explosion erupted from the barrel of his gun. The shot thundered in the enclosed space of the cellar and its echo nearly tore Ofer’s eardrums.

Ofer couldn’t see if Morris was injured. In a split second, Morris and the kidnapper rolled on the ground, embraced in a deadly fight. They howled like wounded animals and fought with all their might, using their hands, feet, teeth and heads in an attempt to overcome the enemy.

Ofer approached them. His hands were tied, but his feet were not. He kicked Curly’s ribs as hard as he could.

“You son of a bitch,” he heard Morris cry out. Curly had just turned Morris with a quick movement, and he was the one who took the full force of Ofer’s kick. A sudden shock appeared on Morris’ face. He couldn’t breathe and was forced to let go of his opponent. Curly took advantage of the opportunity and jumped to his feet. “This is the fucking end for both of you,” he said.

Just then, the sound of another gunshot was heard. Curly cried with pain and dropped his gun on the floor. The bullet had hit his left shoulder and blood spurted from the wound.

The unknown shooter slowly entered the room. Curly was still convulsing. The shooter kicked Curly’s gun to the end of the cellar. He now concentrated his attention on Morris and Ofer.

“Hands up, everyone. If anyone tries to jump, leap or shpring I’ll neutralize him as well,” he commanded.

Morris looked at Ofer. He didn’t know what Morris was planning, but the distance between them was too great for the both of them to try and jump the newcomer together. Through the shock and surprise, Ofer found the stranger’s voice to be so very familiar.
“‘If anyone tries to jump, leap or shpring.’ To shpring, shpring.”
Something was so familiar about his speech…but Ofer couldn’t quite recognize him.

The man who crossed the room and stood in the center was wearing the uniform of a security guard. Dark pants and a light shirt adorned with the symbols of the security company on the chest and shoulder. He wore a black baseball cap. His hand steadily held the smoking gun at the height of his shoulder.

Morris raised his hands. Ofer’s hands were still tied behind his back.

“Get your handsh up as well or I’ll shoot,” ordered the security guard.

This time, there was no room for doubt. One couldn’t possibly mistake the unique voice and the graying chin tuft.

“Mr. Fliegelman?” said Ofer with a whisper. “It’s me, Ofer Angel, your student.”

For a moment, it seemed Ofer’s words did not register, and Fliegelman’s gun hand began to twitch nervously, but all at once, a glimmer of memory lit up his face and he smiled.

“Yes, of course I remember. How did you get in here? And who’s this hoodlum you’ve got with you? What are you doing here? What’s with all the cowboy games?” He holstered his gun and went to Ofer.

Morris took advantage of the opportunity, lowered his hands and was about to attack. Ofer signaled for him to calm down.

“Why are your hands tied? Who tied you up? The one I shot?” Fliegelman asked when he noticed Ofer wasn’t shaking the hand he had extended to him. 

Ofer crouched on his knees. A gurgling sound rose up from his throat.

“Don’t move or I’ll puncture you with bullet holes,” Fliegelman ordered Morris.

Ofer lay on the floor, twisting with pain. Morris and Fliegelman looked at him with concern. Fliegelman stooped beside him. He touched his forehead, which was feverish and dripping sweat. “What happened to you?” Fliegelman asked gently. “Should I call an ambulance for you?”

Ofer didn’t have a chance to answer. Another man was coming down the stairs. He was also holding a gun, and on the wrist of his extended hand was a gold watch.

Chapter 47

The man who had stepped into the basement was skinny, tall and impressive, dressed with care and clean shaven. He was wearing a light shirt and dark pants. A brimmed hat was on his head and white hair sprouted from beneath it. His lips were thin and his nose sharp. His hand was steady and his voice cracked from too many cigarettes.

The large, black gun in his pale hand didn’t seem natural for a man of his appearance. 

“I suggest no one moves, unless he wants to learn the effects of a nine millimeter bullet from up close,” said the stranger who had entered the basement unnoticed.

“Hello, Dr. Friedman,” said Fliegelman, happiness and wonder mixed in his voice.

“Hello to you too,” said Friedman quietly. He looked around him and saw the curly-haired kidnapper lying motionless at the other end of the cellar. A puddle of blood had spread beneath his body. A twitch passed through his lips and chin.

Morris raised his hands again. Question marks appeared on his face. That wasn’t his plan when he had decided to come and help his “honorable” friend. He had already counted three guns in the small cellar, and none of them were his. It didn’t seem like a safe place to be.

Ofer managed to raise himself up slowly. His skin was almost transparent. His face was distorted with pain. His hands were still tied behind his back.

“What happened here? Who shot this man?” asked Dr. Friedman.

Fliegelman turned pale. “It was me, sir. I heard a shot. I ran from my guard station to this abandoned building. It’s right inside our factory and I was very worried… Then I thought I heard more gunshots. They had a real duel here. I had to stop them, otherwise more blood would have been shed.” The stress made his speech even more difficult to understand.

“Got it. You did well. And who are these two bandits?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t have a chance to find out.” It was apparent that Fliegelman was upset by the factory manager’s visit.

“Well, as it happens, I do know who they are… and I’ll do what that person lying over there should have done long ago.” He walked towards Ofer and said, “You, it’s time you gave us a straight answer. Where’s the test tube?”

“What test tube?”

“Don’t be a wiseass, young man. We’ve had it up to here with you.”

“Why is everyone looking for that test tube? What’s so special about it?” Ofer asked innocently. The painful physical sensations he felt did not prevent him from trying to buy some extra time.    

Friedman’s face became tense and serious. “Don’t ask unnecessary questions. Too many lives depend on what it contains, and you need to give it to me right away.”

Ofer looked around him. Curly lay on the cellar floor, perhaps already dead. Fliegelman, his high school teacher, was just standing motionless, filled with shame. Morris stood next to him with his hands raised in the air. He himself still had his hands tied. And in the middle of them all stood Dr. Friedman who, based on the respect Fliegelman was showing him, must be the manager of the Viromedical factory. All that interested him was the mysterious test tube whose location Ofer was supposed to know.

“I have no idea where it is.” 

“Listen to me carefully, young man. Your lawyer girlfriend infiltrated the factory and stole the test tube. One of you two has it, or knows where it is. You are not going to get out of here without having this matter solved. Is that clear?” Friedman snapped at him, annoyed and angry.

Ofer’s feet failed him. He felt very dizzy. He knew he was about to throw up any moment. “I need to throw up,” he whispered. Cloudy liquid sprayed from his mouth, and he leaned towards the floor.

“Such theatrics will do you no good. Give me the test tube, or vomiting will be the last thing you’ll ever do.” Friedman approached Ofer and brought the gun up next to his head.

Ofer and Morris froze. They had played all their cards, Ofer thought, doing his best to regain control over his body. Everything swirled around him.
Where is Gali? What am I doing here? What do they want from me? Is time running out? The virus is devastating me… the end is so near and I’m so tired… and sick… and hungry…

Chapter 48

Gali felt her hands becoming numb as the blood ceased to flow to them. Her ankles turned blue from the tightened knots. After Ofer and his kidnapper had left, the quiet one had moved her from the small room to a larger space that looked like an abandoned apartment. He wrapped duct tape around her mouth again.

He’s planning to continue to abuse me. He doesn’t want anyone to hear my screams
, thought Gali. Panic overwhelmed her.
Try to figure out what to do. Don’t lose hope. Concentrate. Forget about memories and yearning. Concentrate. I can’t even ask him to go to the restroom. I can’t hold it any longer.

Breathing through her nose was difficult. The quiet one, still wearing his ski mask, sat facing her behind a simple Formica desk, playing solitaire on the computer in front of him. It seemed that he wasn’t really touched by her miserable state. His shirt was sweaty and reeking, and terrible odors rose to her nose. She tried to move her shoulders from time to time, to get the blood flowing in them again.

Suddenly, the door smashed open, detached from its hinges and flew into the apartment with a deafening crash. At the entrance stood a huge man with a threatening face. He wore a white undershirt and shorts. An anchor tattoo was proudly displayed on his shoulder.

Through her shock, Gali puzzled over the riddle of who the stranger was, and whether he was for or against her.

The kidnapper was paralyzed by the surprising entrance as well. The giant took three long strides all the way to the desk. He tossed away the gun that lay orphaned on the table, tore with a single motion of his hand the ski mask from the quiet one’s head and with his other hand shoved a large dinner plate in his face. From the force of the blow, the kidnapper flew back in his chair and turned over. The giant wasn’t about to let go of him. He moved the table with both hands and sat on the man, crushing him with the full weight of his body.

Gali couldn’t see what was happening behind the desk but heard the sound of bones being crushed.

After quite some time, the giant rose to his feet. A wide smile of contentment was smeared on his face. “You Gali?” he asked.

She nodded.

The giant went to her. He lifted the kidnapper’s shirt over her head with a single motion then used a utility knife to cut the thin ropes that tightly bound her hands and feet. With great precision, he then cut the duct tape and released her mouth. She took a deep breath through her mouth. Seeing no other choice, she hurried to wear the sweaty shirt again.

“Who are you?” asked Gali.

“I’m Ijou.”

“Ijou who? Why are you here?” she asked hesitantly.

“Morris sent me here to pick you up. You come with me.”

“Who is Morris?”

“Morris is a friend of Ofer.”

A sense of relief immediately enveloped her. “Where is Ofer? What happened to him?”

“You ask too many questions,” said Ijou. “You come with me and Ofer will tell you everything.”

Gali glanced beyond the desk. The silent one was lying there, his torso exposed. His hair was bright and close-cropped. His lips were clenched, and a long wound ran through his forehead. It appeared fresh. His neck and chest were covered with blood. His face was smeared with a brownish concoction and he was unconscious.

Ijou picked up the kidnapper’s gun off the floor and stepped towards the door.

“Hold on,” said Gali, “we can’t just leave him like that.”

She took the ropes that had just come off her and with skillful and nimble hands tied the silent one’s hands and feet. She wrapped the remainder of the rope around the legs of the table.

Ijou looked at her with curious eyes but said nothing.

“That’s it,” Gali summarized, “now we can get going. If he ever wants to get out of here, he’ll need to crawl with that table on his back.”

Ijou smiled. “He won’t be moving for a long, long time,” he said.

“It sure looks like it… come on, let’s see what’s going on with Ofer.” She immediately reconsidered and went to the corner of the room, where her phone was lying on the floor. “Where are we? Do you know the address here?” she asked Ijou.

“Yes. 21 Ordnance Corps, basement floor, Rishon LeZion.”

She waited on the line for a long time. Just when she was about to hang up, she finally heard the voice of the receptionist. “Hello, police.”

“An armed burglar just entered my apartment in 21 Ordnance Corps, Rishon LeZion, basement apartment,” Gali reported in a cool and collected voice. “I managed to subdue him and tie him up. Send an ambulance, urgently. I’ll leave the door open.”

She hung up the phone and got out of the apartment with Ijou by her side.