Evil in Hockley by William Buckel

would
have underestimated these two. But he was personally involved and
didn’t look at the big picture. Added to that was a distraction
he’d never encountered before. The gifts of Karma and
Lenea.
    Lenea gave him another drink of water.
There was enough slack in the chains. Lenea and Dean both gazed at
him then left. Harry eyed Shelley and again realized he was in deep
shit.

Chapter 18
     
    Sandy had helped Karma into her car
earlier on that night and was now putting cold compresses on her
brow. It was four in the morning and Sandy was still unable to
control her shaking hands.
    Karma started to stand but Sandy shoved
her back into bed.
    Karma pushed her away and
said,
    “We have to get him out of
there.”
    “Can we finally call in the police to
sort out this mess?”
    “Listen Sandy, Joe Sharky has a legal
firm on retainer not just a lawyer. The police would need
sufficient grounds to search Joe’s properties. Plus we don’t know
where they’re keeping him. And besides all that: it was Harry who
grabbed Bobby Mercer that started all this. They call that
kidnapping. Remember the bikers? Joe’s lawyers can make a case that
looks as though we’re the only ones guilty of anything.”
    “What about Jarrod’s death, Harry being
attacked at Sharky’s bar, Harry being dumped in the reservoir, and
Shelley? What about Tony Moore?”
    “There isn’t a shred of proof that any
of those things happened. Remember who shot Tony and who finally
sent him to meet his maker and buried him?”
    “I guess you’re right. How can anyone
like Sharky be so evil and yet look so right?”
    “They can when someone like Harry tries
to play their game without the resources Joe has.”
    “What do you want to do?”
    “First we have to find out where
they’re keeping Harry. I know a cellar attached to Joe’s house. The
cops could search his basement and never find a thing but there’s
another place. I’ve heard him call it the bomb shelter. He stashes
drugs there.”
    Karma limped to the kitchen with
Sandy’s help, had a coffee, and a cigarette.
    “Breakfast of champions,” she called
it.
    “Lenea caught me off guard,” she
added.
    After a long drag from her cigarette
she said,
    “I’ll be okay in a few minutes. Lenea
is not as strong as she thinks.”
    They took Sandy’s sedan to Joe Sharky’s
Bar and Grill, parked in a farm laneway, and watched through
binoculars.
    “The shed behind the house,” said
Sandy.
    After a time two men came out carrying
a water jug.
    “We have to make our way through the
woods to that shed before dark,” said Karma.
    They were in place near the shed as the
sun went down and light was fading.
    “They’ll be busy with customers
now.”
    Karma searched the shed with a penlight
looking for a door leading to an underground passage. Sandy watched
for unwelcome visitors. The shed was only a hundred feet behind the
house and anyone coming in their direction would be on top of them
in seconds. Karma found the panel in the double wall. It opened
mechanically with a hard push.
    “Come on Sandy.”
    They went down a short corridor which
led to an underground bunker where they found a lit room containing
shelves.
    “About time.”
    It was Harry chained to the far wall,
Shelley close.
    “The keys to my locks are in that shelf
in front of me.”
    Karma unlocked the cuffs holding Harry
then examined Shelley.
    “I’m not leaving without her,” said
Harry.
    He was standing now, stretching. Karma
couldn’t understand how he was able to rise: his wounds appeared
severe. He was bleeding from several and his face was contorted
from bruising and cut skin.
    Shelley wasn’t chained and she rose
when they pulled her arms. She was like a mechanical doll following
physically cues. They made their way through the shed, Sandy
leading the way with a penlight.
    Harry was first out of the door, and
who was on the other side about to open it? Bobby Mercer stood, his
eyes wide. He was partially visible due to