Free Wood's Wall by Steven Becker Page B

but the other guy was outside, and would be on him as soon as he fired. He needed to work his way toward the back door before he shot, leaving himself an exit route.
    “Move Cajun,” Cesar barked. He’d obviously seen the safe, then, and guessed at what it might contain. 
    Trufante let the towel in his hand fall loosely over the gun as he moved backwards, watching as Cesar couldn’t resist the lure of the safe. He went right for it and started searching the shelves as Trufante backed out of the room. He went towards the girls, who were huddled together and tried to move them slowly towards the rear door. Jose was staring at the office waiting for Cesar to appear as they started inching their way out. He eyed the office door hoping for a few extra seconds to get out and make their escape. 
    “Got it.” Cesar yelled. He came out of the office with the brick-shaped box. He looked at the girls standing by the rear door. “Jose, we don’t need them anymore.” 
    “Now?” Jose asked.
    Cesar nodded in the affirmative, and Jose shot them, execution style. They fell to the ground, still clutching each other. Trufante had to make his move now. He raised the gun, his hand shaking violently from the pain. The first shot got Jose in the leg, putting him on the floor. He whirled, looking for Cesar, and saw that the man had hidden behind one of the columns. Trufante took a shot at him, knowing it would miss, but hoping to gain enough time to make it out the door. He glanced at the blood pooling around the bodies on the concrete floor. Nothing he could do now - he had to move. 
    As he dove through the door, both Mexicans fired, their bullets dinging the door jamb on either side of him. He rolled and shot back twice, then heard another shot. A bullet hit the doorjamb, but it had come from outside the house.
    There was another shooter outside somewhere. He prayed that it was Mac.
    Cesar ducked inside, taking shelter from this unknown threat, and Trufante scrambled farther out onto the dock.
    “Come on, move. I’ll cover you. Get the dock lines,” a voice muttered from the darkness.
    Trufante didn’t question the orders. He jumped on the boat and let the lines free as Mac started the engines and slammed the twin diesels into gear. Moments later, they were leaving the harbor, the engines pushing the boat as fast as it could go.
     
    ***
     
    “Shit. They got away.” Cesar quickly inspected himself and, finding no damage, turned to Jose. The large man was writhing in pain on the ground. “I’ll get something to wrap that. You’ll be ok.” He took off his belt, bent down and tightened it around Jose’s leg. “Can you get to the truck? I’ve gotta get rid of the bodies. Police find the same gun was used here as the other house, they’ll up the ante.”
    Jose nodded and started crawling toward the stairs. He used the railing to haul his body erect and limped out the door, a path of blood trailing behind him.
    Cesar looked around and saw the crate of diving weights. He stuffed weights into the clothing of the first woman and carried her to the seawall. Once there, he pushed the body off the edge and watched it sink. Then he repeated the procedure with the other woman, dumping her beside her friend, promising the snapper and crabs a few good meals.
    He went back inside and turned the lights off. A dark house would attract less attention. The door locked behind him as he went for the truck. He set the lead box on the seat beside him. Ignoring Jose in the back seat, he pulled out of the driveway.
     
    ***
     
    Mac had slowed the boat as soon as they were out of gunshot range. Mel was on deck now, staring at the two men in shock.
    “Can you have a look at his finger?” Mac asked quickly. He spun in the direction of the splash.
    “You got anything for the pain?” Trufante whined. 
    “You’re not getting crap until you tell me what the hell is going on here. What just went in the water?”
    Trufante went back over the