Rick Mofina - Every Second

The third book in the Kate Page series, 2015

Roseoak Park, New York

Lori Fulton woke in the darkness of her bedroom to a strange pressure covering her mouth, forcing her head deep into her pillow.

A hideous face glared down at her.

Straining to breathe, Lori thought: Im dreaming! Then her eyes flicked to her husbands side of the bed. It was empty.

Wheres Dan? Whats happening? Wake up!

At the peel of duct tape and the guttural noises of a struggle nearby, Loris brain thundered awake with the horrible realization that the man above her was real. Again, she thought of her husband and her son.

Wheres Dan? Wheres Billy?

She thrashed against her attacker, who countered by seizing her throat.

Dont move!

The lights switched on and she saw Dan was across the room in his T-shirt and boxers, on his knees, hands bound behind his back. A band of tape sealed his mouth. Blood webbed down his cheek. His eyes met hers.

A gun was being held to his head.

Dan! Oh God, wheres Billy?

The two men in her room wore loose mechanic-style coveralls over top of hoodies and white masks with grotesque faces. In an explosion of terror and rage, Lori fought back, shaking her mouth free to shriek.

Billy! Wheres my son? Billy!

Loris assailant pressed a strip of duct tape over her mouth then yanked her by her hair from her bed. Dan moved to protect her but was stopped when his attacker smashed the butt of his gun against his face. Lori was shoved to the floor, her nightshirt hiked up to her waist in the scuffle. Her attacker-Thorne, according to the name embroidered on the patch on his chest-paused to take in her body before dropping his knee hard on her stomach, knocking out her breath. He clamped her wrists in one gloved hand then reached for the duct tape.

Through her pain Lori noticed him fumbling, unable to find the start of the tape. He cursed, shook off his glove, peeled a lead and quickly wrapped her wrists like a rodeo cowboy in a calf-roping competition.

Thorne replaced his glove, then pulled Lori to her knees positioning her next to Dan, both of them now bound helplessly. Lori wheezed, her need for air contending with the ache in her gut. A muffled whimpering sounded through their open bedroom door. Shadows moved in the hallway as two more figures approached, dressed the same as the first two. Their name patches read Cutty and Percy.

Cutty, the largest of the four, carried Billy on his hip as if he were luggage.

Dans muzzled growl nearly burst through his tape as Lori screamed under hers. Billys hands and mouth were bound, his eyes wide with terror as Cutty tossed him on the floor next to them. Lori fumbled closer, feeling Billys body trembling against hers as he sobbed.

Who were these monsters?

The man whod been holding on to Dan-Vic, by his name patch-took charge. He sat on the foot of Lori and Dans bed, casually contemplating his gun, then the family.

Lori, Dan and Billy were on their knees before him, their armed attackers looming behind them-a portrait of contrasts. Dan was in his favorite Jets T-shirt, now bloodstained, and Billy in the new Spider-Man pajamas Lori had bought him for his ninth birthday last month. Theyd been torn in the struggle.

Why had these people violated their home?

Vic tapped his gun to his knee as if coming to a decision.

Are we calm now? Do we have your attention? he asked. Ill make it simple. If you do what we say and do it right no one gets hurt and this will be over tomorrow. If you fail at any stage, youll die.

Roseoak Park, New York

Loris pulse pounded.

As the invaders marched her, Dan and Billy downstairs, fear and questions burned through her mind.

Why didnt the home security alarm work? Why isnt someone helping us? Please, God, dont let them kill us! We have to fight back. What can Dan and I do without guns?

Overwhelmed with panic, Lori drew a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and focus. The attackers had moved them to the living room and put them on the sofa. A duffel bag, zippered shut, sat on the hardwood floor in the middle of the room like an unanswered question. The invaders closed the curtains, kept the main floor lights dim then browsed around as if they were interested buyers at an open house.

Thorne inspected their paintings, the crystal figurines and their furniture.

You got a lot of nice stuff, he said from behind his mask. So much suffering going on, so many people in trouble in this world, but why should you care, huh? Youre living the American dream.

Lori watched as Cutty and Percy went to the kitchen, opened the fridge and helped themselves to leftover takeout-pizza and Chinese food Dan and Lori had ordered when theyd worked late this week.

Lori saw them opening soda cans, lifting their masks to eat and drink. She couldnt make out their faces in detail, but she could see they were white males in their early twenties.

Like college kids snacking after a late night.

Its goin good, Cutty said between bites. Like you said it would, Jake.

Shut up! My name is on my patch! Vic said.

One of them was named Jake. Lori glanced at Dan as they both noted the slipup before a new fear dawned on her. She looked around for Sam, Billys golden retriever. He wasnt a barker or a good guard dog at all, really. He was just gentle, loving Sam.

Whatve they done with him?

Vic sat in the chair opposite the sofa, placing his gun on the arm and staring at her family from behind his mask.

Weve been watching you for a long time, he began. Weve been doing our homework. We know all about you. Billy Fulton, fourth grade at Eisenhower Elementary, dog lover, Little League, shortstop for the Roseoak Park Wild Tigers. Lori Fulton, age thirty-four, devoted mother. You never miss one of Billys games. You work at Dixon Donlevy Mutual Life Insurance investigating insurance fraud. Someone in this house is partial to Ben & Jerrys ice cream. Cherry Garcia, judging by what we found in your trash.

Dan, age thirty-six. You were in the National Guard, army, when you guys lived in Southern California. You work for SkyNational Trust Banking Corp. A few years ago, you were transferred to New York. Now youre the manager of a suburban branch here in Roseoak Park. You like the Jets, but youre still loyal to the Dodgers, according to your Tweets. You both volunteer with charities. How we doing so far? Weve got you nailed, right?

Loris stomach clenched at Vics accuracy. She glanced at Dan. He remained tense, keeping his eyes on Vic as he continued.

Tomorrows going to be a long day. We know Dans branch is one of the earliest-opening branches in the state, opening its doors at 6:00 a.m., to serve commuting customers. This is whats going to happen. Dan, youll be going to work in the morning, as usual, while we stay here with your wife and son. But tomorrow youre going to remove a quarter million dollars from the vault. We know about cash inventory in a branch like yours. Youll place the money in a bag like this one here. He motioned to the duffel on the floor. No dye packs, no radio transmitters, no bait, no silent alarms. Youll leave the bank, follow our instructions. Once thats done and we have the cash, everyone is let go unharmed. You got that?

Dan didnt move. His face was expressionless but for a twitch in his jaw.

You need more incentive, Dan?

Vic nodded toward Thorne, who came forward and unzipped the duffel bag, removing what looked like a small vest bearing thin, brick-shaped items connected to wires. Cutty then yanked Billy from the sofa. He sliced the tape from Billys hands and, with Thornes help, slipped the vest over Billy, then resealed his hands.