End Game

CHAPTER 69

Randall stepped forward. He was wearing cammie gear, jump boots, and a pair of NVGs on his head, though they were tilted upward.

He was also carrying a Remington rifle with an infrared scope, both Robie and Reel noted.

And he was sporting a malicious grin.

“I was hoping we would hook up again at some point,” he said. “We left things… incomplete last time.”

“I thought the outcome was pretty straightforward,” countered Reel. “You and your wife were lying on the dirt with your tails tucked between your legs.”

Randall’s grin faded. He shook his head. “You were maybe going to get a little bit of sympathy from me, lady. But that just went out the door.”

“I don’t need sympathy, certainly not from a dick like you.”

“You need to learn how to keep your fucking mouth shut,” shouted Randall.

Robie said, “Patti mentioned something about being fair?”

Randall turned to him and chuckled. “You’ll be armed. You’ll get a head start. Maybe you’ll pull off a miracle. But I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.”

“Do we get NV optics?” asked Reel.

“That would be a negative,” said Randall. “And just so you know, I won’t be alone.” He called over his shoulder. “Hey, guys, don’t be shy. Come out and show yourselves.”

From the shadows, seven men appeared. They were all tall and muscular with shaved heads and hardened countenances. They did not appear to share Randall’s cavalier attitude toward what was happening. They said nothing. They held their weapons professionally and stood in the manner of men with military training.

Robie studied them. He assumed these must be the “badasses,” and they looked it. They were completely focused. On the mission.

Killing us.

He said, “You guys look like the real deal. So I can’t believe you’re good with this idiot being your leader. He could lead you right to an early death.”

“Shut up,” snapped Randall. “The only ones dying tonight will be all of you. Especially you and the bitch.”

Robie kept his gaze on the men. “You didn’t answer my question.” He glanced at Randall. “But maybe they already know the answer.”

Randall pointed a finger at him. “I was an ROTC commander in college.”

“Yeah, where I’m sure you killed quite a few kegs of beer,” said Reel.

Blue Man stepped forward. “In the interests of not prolonging whatever this is, how exactly is it going to work?”

Randall focused on him. “It’s a classic thing, really. You run and we hunt you down. We kill you or you kill us. It’s even, right down to the numbers.”

Parry looked around and said, “But there are nine of us and eight of you.”

In answer to this, Randall pulled a pistol from his holster and shot one of the blue scrubs in the head. The man fell where he stood.

The man and woman in the blue scrubs leapt back. The woman started to sob.

“Thanks for reminding me,” said Randall. “Almost missed that one. Never was good at math.” He grinned.

Robie stared down at the body for a moment and then looked at Randall and said, “You mentioned that we’d be armed?”

In answer Randall pointed to a doorway in the wall. “In there. Guns for everyone. You arm up, you get five minutes to run, and then we come and find you. Kill or be killed.”

Reel noted his optics. “But you’ll have the clear advantage with those.”

“Hey, home field advantage, way I see it. But you guys are Feds. You’re supposed to be good.”

“And how many times have you done this thing down here? Enough times that you know the lay of the land like the back of your hand?”

Randall shrugged this off. “Again, home field advantage. Gotta love it.”

“And why are you doing this?” asked Blue Man. He looked at the hardened men behind Randall. “I mean if you’re going to kill us, why go through something this melodramatic?”

Randall patted his rifle. “It’s got a real purpose. It’s honing our skills for when the apocalypse comes.” He pointed upward. “When it hits, you’re going to have all sorts of shit going on up there. And the little people are going to want to get in where we are. And despite all the stuff that Roark Lambert built into his site, some ass-wipes are going to get in. And then it’ll come down to mano a mano. We’ve been training a while now.”

“You mean killing all those enslaved drug workers?” said Reel. “Like that guy?” She looked down at the dead man.

“Hey, it serves a dual purpose. We don’t like to keep them around too long. It’s sort of like culling vermin, you know, that get in your house. And we have to practice our hunting skills, so we always need fresh meat. Win-win.”

Reel continued to stare down at the dead man. “Not sure he’d see it that way.”

“Who gives a shit?” said Randall.

“So the drug op was a way for you to fill your coffers back up?” said Robie. “After you went through your old man’s fortune because you didn’t know what you were doing?”

Randall said defensively, “I’m a good businessman. But people cheated me.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Enough jawing. We need to get going.” He took a key from his pocket and tossed it to one of his men. “Take off the shackles.”

The man handed his rifle to his colleague and came forward to do this.

Randall held up a stopwatch. “Once you’re unshackled, you get five minutes. You can grab the weapons behind that door.” He added with a grin, “And come up with a plan to survive. There’s another door on the far side of the room. You go through there.” He paused as the grin widened. “And then you run like hell.”

Once the chains were off her, Reel rubbed her wrists and said, “Just to be clear, when we kill all of you, we’re home free, right?”

Randall laughed, but Reel’s expression didn’t change. She gazed at each of the other men, lingering on their features, sizing them up. Then she returned to Randall.

“Is that right?”

“I’m not sure you have to worry about that.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, it’s fucking right, okay,” snapped Randall impatiently.

“Thank you,” said Reel. “I’ll be sure to notify your wife of your passing.”

Randall smirked at her. “You’re living in an alternate reality.”

“You have no clue to the reality I live in. But you’re going to find out tonight.”

She walked through the door to get her weapons. Robie and the others followed her.