Double Exposure (4 page)

“We’ve been to the range together. You’re a good shot and have good instincts. Only shoot if you have to, and I mean that as a last ditch measure. There’s no taking back a bullet once you fire it at someone.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “This is a simple retrieval mission. I’ve done it a thousand times. Stay on my six and move when I move.
We’re here for Darwin, but you’re still my priority. Got it?”

“Yes.”

They eased through the fence and made their way to a loading dock. They went in through an unguarded back door and searched each room one by one. Finally they found the room where the men were. Scar had told him in the car to be mindful of his surroundings and sounds. Chris counted four men in the room, and someone
could be heard milling around in a smaller room. From the distance he could see Darwin in there, tied to a chair and groaning. He looked he’d taken a beating, but thankfully he was alive.

Scar held her finger to her lips and motioned for him to keep moving. They were only a few feet away when the men realized they were in the room too and aimed their weapons at them.

The leader, a
tall scruffy-looking dude wearing a black leather vest, spoke first. “Stop right there.”

“We’re here with the money.” Scar held up the bag. “Sixty grand in compensation for your lost
chickens
.”

“Count it.” The guy nodded to the big burly dude in the Hawaiian shirt who was eating his dinner.

Hawaiian Shirt put down the rotisserie chicken leg he’d been gnawing and wiped his hands.
He then took a swig of his soda before coming over and grabbing the bag. He took his sweet time counting the money and when he was finished, he nodded to his boss. “It’s all there.”

A guy wearing a grimy denim jacket stared at Chris. “Hey, aren’t you that actor, Chris Cavanaugh.”

Chris looked at Scar. Of all the times to meet a fan, this had to be the most inappropriate. Not knowing
what to say since he was accustomed to blurting out “yes,” he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“If I were movie star Chris Cavanaugh you’d think I’d be here doing a money exchange? I’d be on a beach somewhere with my hot wife. The name’s Cage.”

The men looked at each other, confused, then they burst into laughter. Finally one of them spoke.

“Too bad for you, then.”
Grimy Jean Jacket Guy said.

Scar interrupted. “You have the money. Where’s Darwin?”

Scruffy Tall Dude looked at Big Hawaiian Shirt Guy. “Tiny. Go get that idiot.”

“Tiny? Are you serious?” Scar whispered to Chris.

“Can we discuss the unoriginal nickname when we get in the car?” Chris murmured back.

The ringleader then motioned for another guy with a toothpick in his
mouth to go get their hostage. A few minutes later he returned with Darwin. He looked pretty beat up with a busted lip, swollen eye and his wrists were bound together with a zip tie.

“It’s all there. Turn him loose.” Scar said.

“Wait a minute. If you can get up sixty grand this easy. Why not a hundred twenty? The price just doubled for his release.”

“But that’s all he owes you.”

“Plus interest.”

“How about you take the money you’re owed and no one gets hurt?” Scar replied.

“Tiny. Detain our guests.”

Scar pulled her gun out. “Not one more step. You got your money and the debt is settled. Now I’m going to give you the chance to walk out of here alive.”

“It’s five on three. Bad odds for you.” Scruffy Tall Dude smirked.

“I don’t know about
that. I’m feeling pretty optimistic,” Chris blurted out, in his toughest voice possible.

“How about this?” Scar pulled a grenade out of her pocket with her free hand and stuck her finger in the loop holding the pin in place. “I detonate this party favor and we’ll all get a free trip to the morgue.”

“What the hell!” Tiny moved back. “Are you crazy?”

Chris glanced at Scar. He knew
that look. He’d have liked to pretend she was bluffing, but he’d spent enough time with her to know she wasn’t. He glanced over at Darwin, who looked like he was trying to decide whether to faint or cry.

“My hand is getting tired,” Scar said.

“Man, I’d do what she says.” Chris said.

“OK. We’re cool.” Scruffy Tall Dude held his hands up. “Tiny, get those zip ties off our buddy
Darwin.”

“It was a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen. I hope I won’t have to pay you another visit.” Scar slipped the grenade back in her pocket and motioned for Chris and Darwin to head for the door.

Outside, Scar continued to survey the area until Chris was able to get Darwin loaded into the SUV. As they drove away, his mind raced at the evening’s events while she seemed
untouched by it all. He played a tough guy in movies but this was her reality. He looked his friend over. He didn’t seem to be missing any appendages. Once they were back on the road and racing away, Darwin went nuts.

“That was intense!” Darwin yelled and banged his hands on Chris’s headrest.

“You’re welcome,” Chris replied.

“I know. I know. You pulled my ass out of the fire
buddy.” Darwin gave Scar a once-over. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“I’m the woman you owe sixty grand.”

“I thought my man Chris—”

“Would what? Give money to random criminals for the release of his idiotic friend? That would be awesome for his image if someone found out.”

“I didn’t think they’d recognize him.”

“Really? Because the guy with the jean jacket had on a
shirt that had the Movie Maniac logo on it.”

“And?” Darwin gave her an incredulous look.

“It’s a Web site that movie fanatics frequent. The hardcore people buy their merchandise. Hence identifying Chris within three minutes.”

“Holy shit. You’re right,” Darwin said.

Chris closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the headrest. She was right. The likelihood that this could
become public knowledge had never occurred to him. It all hinged on whether or not Jean Jacket would be dumb enough to post about his kidnapping run-in with Chris Cavanaugh.

“But I doubt he’d make the correlation. Nice save with the Cage bit.” Scar nudged him. “You didn’t hesitate. It was totally believable. You’re a good wingman, Chris. Maybe I can use your services in the future. Minus
the gun.”

“I’m pretty sure it was the adrenaline that got me through it. I’m crying on the inside.”

“Still. You were grace under pressure. I’m proud of you. The next movie you’re in, I’ll go see it in the theater instead of downloading it illegally,” Scar replied.

“Thanks. I think.” Chris turned to Darwin. “You don’t know how close you came tonight.”

“I know.” Darwin nodded.

Chris looked out the window and spotted the passing exit sign that led to Darwin’s house.

“Scar, do you think they’ll take him this late?”

“Yes. It’s shouldn’t be a problem.” She looked straight ahead.

“What are you two talking about?”

“Buddy, we’re taking you to a top-notch rehab facility.”

“What!”

Chris gave him a stern look. “I think it’s safe to say
you’ve fallen off the sobriety wagon. I risked a lot to help you tonight, not to mention dragging Scar along. It’s time you think about getting clean before you end up in prison…or worse.”

“I don’t need no rehab.”

“Hey!” Chris snapped. “It’s not an option. It’s either get clean, or I take you back to your warehouse friends and get a refund. Which is it going to be?”

“I guess
it’s sobriety against my will.”

Chris let out a sigh of relief. “Good call.”

A half hour later they’d gotten off the highway and were driving up a long, winding road. The rehab facility was set atop a cliff and looked more like an exclusive resort. Scar got out of the car and began talking to a man who’d been waiting for them. Chris and Darwin got out too and walked over to the railing.
The view of the ocean was incredible and the sound of the waves breaking against the rocks below gave the place a gothic feel. Aside from the main gate they’d rode through, there was no escape.

“Chris, I—”

“I don’t want to hear any more apologies.”

“I wasn’t going to offer up any more excuses.” Darwin swiped at his nose and shuffled his feet. “I just wanted to say thank you for
being my friend. I don’t know anyone else who would have come to my rescue and brought along a badass chick with an arsenal and a grenade.”

Chris looked over at Scar. “I’ve got the world’s best bodyguard. But I’ll never tell her that.”

“I’m glad you have someone looking out for you. Heaven knows I’ve been a crappy friend.”

“You’ve had your moments. I want you to know I didn’t
want to leave you behind. I had to stay away from that lifestyle.”

“It was for the best. Look at you now. Action star by day, crime fighter by night.”

Scar came over. “I hate to interrupt the
bromantic
moment, but they’re ready for you.”

“You didn’t sign me up for any experimentation or lobotomies?” Darwin asked.

“No. I didn’t think it would do any good.” Scar raised an
eyebrow. “It’s a legitimate and very exclusive clinic. So don’t be surprised if you see a few celebrities in there. They have a strict confidentiality policy. Be mindful of that. It’s an eight-week program, but Chris has agreed to extend your stay if you feel you need more counseling after that time.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll keep an open mind. Whatever happens in there
is for you. But I can’t allow you to put Chris’s life at risk again.”

“About the money—”

“We’ll square up one of these days,” Chris said. “How about lifetime car and motorcycle repairs?”

“Fair deal.” Darwin grinned and then turned to Scar. “I owe you too. Maybe one day I could return the favor.”

“We’ll see,” Scar replied.

“I hope you get a handle on things in there.”
Chris grabbed him and gave him a big bear hug. “Call if you need a ride when they spring you.”

“I will.” Darwin pulled him in for a tighter hug. “I won’t let you down.”

“I’ll see you in two months,” Chris assured his friend. He and Scar walked toward the SUV as Darwin did a turtle-like walk toward the front door.

Chris spied Darwin talking to the man who’d been chatting with
Scar in the rear view mirror as they drove away. He hoped his friend would come to terms with whatever drove him to do reckless, destructive things.

Scar noticed him watching. “He’ll be fine. I wouldn’t take him to some random place. I know these people. They can help him if he wants it.”

“Good,” he said.

Chris picked up his phone from the cup holder and read his messages. He’d
gotten one from Kate that she’d had to spring eccentric director Max Garcia from a sanitarium and was on her way home. He rolled down the window and let the sea air from the nearby beach waft over him. Tonight had been quite an adrenaline rush. He’d come to the rescue in his movies, but this was the real deal. He’d helped save his friend and it felt more authentic and satisfying than pretending
to be a hero. But he dreaded telling Kate what happened tonight.

By the time they returned to the beach house, he was elated they’d made it back before Kate came home. Scar grabbed a few snacks and plopped down on the couch and proceeded to watch her favorite science fiction television show. She was a woman with peculiar habits, like DVRing a mediocre cable show with low- quality CGI. She
said she liked the show’s message of a never-ending bond between a crew who’d been thrown together by devastating circumstances. She said it was the humanity and loyalty she loved. Something that was rare in the world around her today.

He grabbed a beer and sat down too. Despite his critique of their obvious limited special effects budget, he usually watched it with her. And some days they
were able to get Kate to watch it too. He liked being a secret fan boy. The episode was almost over when Kate walked into the house and joined them on the couch. She looked as tired as he felt. Chris put her feet on his lap and began massaging them.

“How was the babysitting assignment?” Scar asked, her eyes still glued to the television. “Did you enjoy springing the crazy director from the
nuthouse?”

“Eventful.” She kicked off her shoes. “Max is beyond eccentric, but Virginia’s convinced he’ll direct the next big thing at the studio. He’s not as out of touch as I thought he would be.” She glanced at Chris. “He said he’d like to work with you in about ten years after your soul has been totally corrupted by Hollywood commercialism and you’re looking for a project to redeem your
inner thespian.”

Chris forced a smile. “That’s great.”

Kate looked at him then at Scar. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Chris asked.

“You two are usually arguing about the plausibility of half the things in the episode by now. But you’re sitting here like you did something and I’m going to be pretty pissed when I find out what happened.”

“We saved Chris’s druggie
friend Darwin from certain demise tonight,” Scar said in a droll tone. “It was all very cloak and dagger. I
almost
had to use one of my grenades. Then we took him to a rehab facility afterward so he can get clean.”

Kate’s eye widened and she jumped to her feet. “Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. You know Scar would never let anything happen to me,” he said.

“Are you kidding me? You went
off to play cops and robbers with Scar to rescue that crazy-ass Darwin? You’re lucky you didn’t get shot.” Kate paced in front of the coffee table.

“Chris wasn’t in any danger. Although the grenade going off would have been much worse,” Scar replied.

“Scar, you’re not helping.” Chris made eyes at her.

“Guess that’s my cue to finish watching in my room.” Scar turned off the television
and headed for her bedroom.

Chris started to speak, but Kate shook her head like she wasn’t ready to listen. She went into the kitchen poured herself a big glass of wine and returned with the stemware and the bottle. Once she’d taken a few more sips, she sat next to him and kissed him on the lips.

“I can’t leave you two alone for a second.”

He touched her hand, wanting to reassure
her. “I was planning to spend the night pigging out and watching TV, but Darwin called. He was in some serious trouble this time. I couldn’t let anything happen to him, but calling the police would’ve meant prison time for him. He deserved another chance.” He shook his head and sighed. “Scar offered to go get him, but I couldn’t simply dump this on her. So we got him out of there and we put
him in a good rehab program. I think we saved him this time, sweetheart. In more ways than one.”