Chemical Burn by Quincy J. Allen Page B

down Washington. I had to slow a few times to keep from getting nailed by cross-traffic, and Bennie was gaining ground. I crashed through the wood barrier blocking the entrance to the pier and honked my horn to get people out of the way. I swerved around a hot-dog stand and a burrito vendor as we quickly started running out of pier.
    “I have to try and find out what these assholes want, okay?” I said, motioning to our pursuers.
    “Yes.”
    “ Au revoir ,” I said. I opened the door and rolled out.
    “Justin!” she yelled after me.
    I came to a rolling stop just as the truck smashed through the railing at the end of the pier. The truck hopped up a couple of feet when it hit the lip and went sailing into the surf. I stood up and ran to the edge of the pier to see Natalia’s body sagging limply towards the middle of the truck, hanging unconscious in the seat belt. Seawater poured through the open windows, and her body swayed with the water filling the cab. I watched the truck, with Natalia still limp inside, sinking quickly.
    “Natalia!” I shouted in horror.
    Wheels screeched behind me, and I could hear sirens in the far-off distance—lots of them. I heard car doors open and heavy footsteps running up behind me. An iron grip clamped around my arm, and I winced at the strength of it.
    “Get in the fucking car, Case.” Someone jammed a gun into my ribs to emphasize the request. I turned around and saw the wide grimace of Bennie’s biggest brute, Tommy at the other end of the vice-like grip. Antonio held the gun.
    “Tommy … Antonio,” I said sadly. “Long time no see.” Bennie stepped up beside them both and looked out on the water where the truck had disappeared.
    “She come up?” Bennie asked.
    “No sir,” Antonio said. “Nothing. It looked like she was unconscious when it went under.”
    “She must have hit her head,” I said with a tinge of despair. People were starting to gather at the end of the pier.
    “Good riddance, ya fuckin bitch!” Bennie said more loudly than he should have. He spat out into the ocean. Most of the gawkers turned and shot Bennie dirty looks. “Put him in the car, boys.”
    “Yes sir, Mister DiMarco.”
    Tommy turned and headed for the car, with me in tow. Tommy was so strong I might as well have been cuffed to a bull-dozer. Bennie watched for another thirty seconds to see if Natalia came up. Tommy threw me in behind the passenger seat and closed the door. Antonio, now sitting in the driver’s seat, turned around and pointed his gun at my chest. We waited until Bennie was satisfied and then watched him walk back to the SUV, get in to the front seat, and turn around to face me.
    “You’re a real pain in the ass, Case,” Bennie said as he opened the glove box. “You know that?” He pulled out something, but I couldn’t see what it was.
    “Yes, I know. You’re not the first to say so, Bennie. Probably won’t be the last.”
    “Don’t count on that, asshole,” he said, pointing a taser at my chest. “You’re gonna love this. We have these made custom. Got ’em from the fucking Russians. They have … a bit more juice than your average taser. I just hope it doesn’t kill you. I got something special planned for you.”
    “Oh shit,” I said, meaning it. I don’t handle electricity very well.
    “Goodnight,” Bennie said and pulled the trigger. I went stiff as Bennie let the current flow … and flow.… Thankfully, I only remember the first few seconds of it, and then the lights went out.
    O O O
    I woke to the sound of turbo-props spinning up and the realization that my hands were cuffed behind me. My shoulders were sore from leaning on them against the fuselage. My jaw ached, and there was the all-too-familiar taste of blood in my mouth. Someone must have hit me while I was unconscious. Assholes . It took me a minute to fully regain my senses.
    “How we feeling, princess?” Bennie asked from across the aisle. The plane accelerated hard, and we shot