An hour later, RJ and Sophia were holding Marco captive at an abandoned barn in Cherryvale. The two tied Dane to a chair to ensure that he’ll remain in their thrall. All of a sudden, the effects of the Mickey Finn were wearing off on Dane. Marco opened his eyes slowly and regained his consciousness. Before he could catch his breath, RJ threw a bucket of cold, ice water in his face.“Rise and Shine!” Shouted RJ as he put the empty bucket down on the ground.
Marco was now soaking wet, but he didn’t lose his sense of humor. Dane spit on the floor and said, “God, that sure hit the spot.” He coughed.
“Well you looked like you could use a cold bucket of water. I thought I’d quench your thirst.” Joked RJ.
“Next time, throw a bucket of champagne in my face . Shaken, not stirred.” Clowned Marco.
“I don’t think there will be a next time.”
“Oh really? Aren’t you overconfident?”
“Your game is over, Dane. When you play against me, there’s no overtime or a rematch.”
“Well I didn’t hear the fat lady sing yet.”
“Does this look like a concert hall to you? In case you forgot, I’m not the one tied to a chair. Get a clue, Dane.”
Marco laughed and said, “You sure lay this torture session on pretty thick, Gannon.”
“Well they say pain builds character.” RJ said with the big crocodile smile on his face.
“Whose character? Yours or mine?”
“I’ll let you be the judge of that.” Answered RJ.
The barn door slowly opens and Sophia walks in and closes it behind her. She went up to the General Store to buy some strawberries for herself and RJ. Marco spots Sophia and says a few words to her.
“Sophia.” Marco paused. “I never saw this coming. I taught you everything I know and this is how you repay me? By spiking my drink with a Mickey?!”
“Well I wanted to drag you out by gunpoint, but RJ decided on an idea that would draw less attention.” Sophia said as she pulled out a forty-four from her pocket.
“What are you doing playing with guns? Why don’t you play with dollar bills and diamonds like all the other women?” Wondered Marco.
“Because a gun is a woman’s best friend.” Answered Sophia.
“Then I guess I taught you well. I'm proud of you.” Marco looks away from Sophia and turns to RJ. “It looks like I should thank you for sparing my life. Thank God for small favors.” Remarked Dane.
“Well before you start counting your blessings, is their anything you want to confess to?”
“Nope. I just have regrets and requests.”
“Let’s hear them, but I want to tell you upfront that I’m not making no promises or guarantees.
“It looks like I highly underestimated you, RJ. If there’s anything I regret, I would’ve preferred to work with you instead of that buffoon with a badge. It isn’t often that I meet a person who’s my equal.”
When RJ heard Marco mention “Buffoon with a badge” he knew there was one person he was talking about. RJ pressed Dane for more information.
“So tell me about this buffoon with a badge, Marco?”
“Why should I? He’s a mutual acquaintance of ours. In fact, he’s your greatest admirer.”
“I’ll tell you what, I want you to arrange for him to come to the barn. What’s his number?”
“It’s five-five-five, three-four-one-zero.”
RJ dials the number on the cell phone he swiped from Marco. After he finished dialing the number, RJ puts the phone to Marco’s ear and let’s him talk. Prior to this moment, RJ warned him that if he pulled any tricks on him, he would be in trouble. Marco heeded RJ’s warning without response. Acting on orders from RJ, Sophia wrote down the directions to the barn for Marco to read over the phone.
Meanwhile at John’s apartment, Sykes is throwing darts at a picture of RJ Gannon when his cell phone rings. He picks it up and it’s Marco Dane at the other end.
“Hello Marco. It’s about time you got back to me. “ John said as he looked at the caller ID on his cell.
“Better late than never, cop. Listen, I have those documents and videotape you wanted.”
“That’s good. Where are you right now?”
“I’m at an abandoned barn on Oakdale Road in Cherryvale.”
“What are you doing there?”
“It doesn’t matter. Do you want the stuff or not?”
“I’ll be there in a hurry. Stay put.” John hangs up on Marco and leaves his apartment to retrieve the blackmail information from him.
Dane is happy that the misleading information he provided to John went simpler than he imagined. Marco then tells RJ what he wants.
“Are you going to grant me my wish, oh Genie of the lamp?” Joked Marco.
“You never told me what you wanted.”
“My Freedom and a small cut of the money I've stolen from you.”
RJ pulled a switchblade from his pocket and pointed it in Marco’s face and said, “This is the only cut you’re going to get.”
“You know, I didn’t have that in mind when I was thinking of a percentage.”
“Now you have something to grow on the next you contemplate plundering or pilfering from people like me.”
“Where would I be if you had never shared your social conscience with me?”
Sophia jumped in the conversation and said, “Shut up, Marco! Here’s a strawberry.” She removes a strawberry from her bag and feeds it to Marco.
RJ engaged in his usual shtick and said, “You shouldn’t feed the animals, Sophia.”
“Well, RJ, I don’t want the Animal Rights people all over us like a rash.”
“You’re so thoughtful.”
“This is what I always dreamed of: being held captive by Boris and Natasha.” Marco sarcastically said.
Sophia, gives Marco another strawberry. “Maybe that’ll keep his mouth shut.”
“I can sense that there’s a lot of hostility in this room.” Marco said as he was eating strawberries.
“How astute and you're clairvoyant too. Here I go thinking that you’re a waste of oxygen.”
“I never thought that I could have so much fun being held hostage. So what’s next? Are you going to douse me with gasoline and then dance around me while you're holding a match?” Joked Marco.
“Don’t give us any ideas, Dane.” Warned Sophia.
“Funny you should inquire about what’s next. I’m going to seal your mouth shut.” RJ walks to the table and grabs some duct tape to silence his talkative guest.
Before Marco mouth was sealed shut, he had some chilling last words to share with his host. “You think you’re walking on easy street, heh? Well let me tell you something, you’re not out of the Lion’s Den yet, Daniel. My game may be over, but the challenge is just beginning. When it starts up, you’re going to wish that you had me as your ally.”
“I don’t think so.” RJ tore a piece of duct tape and sealed Marco’s mouth shut to put an end to his rambling. “When our guest of honor arrives, we’ll see about reinstating your speaking privileges.” RJ said in a firm tone.
Marco was now mumbling for words, thanks to the duct tape. Behind the sticky duct tape, Dane had a devilish grin on his face. When he made his final statement to RJ, it was a prophecy of what’s to come. Marco had a card up his sleeve that he had yet to play. RJ dismissed Marco’s last rantings as nonsense and hot air.
Sophia stood closely and observed the whole situation. Although Pelligrino was upset that Marco was using her emotions for his twisted scheme, the feelings she had for him were still present. For Sophia, Marco was the only man who was like a father to her. The times that Marco and Sophia shared in the past were now behind them. Sophia was now grown up and on her own and it was obvious that she and Dane grew apart. Dane in his own manipulative way tried to rekindle their relationship, but he was unsuccessful.
Undaunted, Dane accepted that Sophia was now an adult and his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Now that Dane was subdued for the time being, RJ and Sophia moved him to another part of the barn for safekeeping. After they finished their latest task, RJ and Sophia were discussing what to do next.
“Looks like we nipped that nuisance in the bud.” Stated RJ.
“Yep. So what’s going to happen now?”
“Well, you’re going to make yourself scarce before our “guest” shows up. It’s better that he sees me than you.”
“RJ, quit treating me like I’m fragile. I can handle myself.”
“I know, which is why I want you to go to the shack on the hill and wait there for an hour. If I don’t show up.......
Sophia cuts RJ off. “You don’t need to go any further, RJ. I know what to do.”
“Solid. Don’t let me down.”
“Have I ever let you down?” Sophia pauses. “Don’t answer that.”
“Actually I was going to kiss you.”
“What’s stopping you then?”
“You’re not keeping your mouth shut.”
“Why don’t you make me shut up? Not with the duct tape though.”
RJ takes Sophia in his arms and caressed her back and slips his tongue down her throat. Sophia’s hand was brushing up against RJ’s dreads. The two were wrapped in an erotic embrace, but the couple realized that they were going to keep their love session short. The two quickly finished up and went their separate ways. RJ prepared for the next phase of his plan.
It wasn’t long before John arrived at the abandoned barn. Sykes got out the car and was a bit suspicious of the whole rendezvous. John slowly walked towards the door and opened it. John was unaware that he was being watched by a mysterious figure nearby. The shadowy person carefully concealed himself so that he wouldn’t be spotted.
When Sykes walked through the door he was shocked to see RJ Gannon. John was ready to wet his pants when he saw his old enemy standing right before him like a road block. Deep down he knew his time was up. John could hear the clock ticking in his head. RJ was smiling and enjoying every minute of it.
“You really screwed up now, John.” RJ said as he shook his head.
“I knew you and Dane were working together. That slimeball. When I get my hands on him, I’m going to strangle that bastard until his brain pops out of his head.”
“You should be concerned about your own hide than your crafty cohort.......” RJ then sees someone walk through the barn door and ceases speaking. He’s stunned when it turns out to be Agent Delmarco Delgado and a couple of his associates.
Sykes is just as shocked as RJ when he sees Delgado enter the barn with some fellow FBI men.
Del is delighted to see Sykes and RJ in the same room and makes his opening remarks.
“Well, well, well, the gang is all here.” Smiled Del.
....