A Dagger through Dimensions Chapter 39

Taking Care of an Enemy

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It was nearly dark when my Hudson squeezed down the alley next to the Potter building for a few feet before I parked it. Deliberately blocking the entrance into the darkening alley, I slid out and went inside the building from the unlocked door in the back. Looking at my shaking hands with the realization that my nervousness was building, I hurried to a front window facing the street. The gray car parked next to another warehouse building across the avenue still held my two shadows. Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked at my watch in the dying light of the day.

Not much time left!

Ensuring the doors and windows to the building remained secure, I walked through the offices. I turned on a light in an upstairs office and walked by the window several times for the benefit of my shadows outside. Checking the phone, I noticed there was no signal. However, it didn’t surprise me, but it reinforced how isolated my presence was.

There are no cell phones in this timeline.

Heading back downstairs, I went to the main dock doors while feeling my tension rising. It was pretty dark inside the building, but I avoided using my flashlight. The wide windows placed near the top of one wall allowed enough light in the open space to avoid obstacles when moving about. After flipping on the outside light near the doors, I see a pale light stream through the opening in the battered door. Using my flashlight to look at my watch quickly, I went over to the unlocked back door and picked up an old paint can I found earlier. Cutting off a length of rope, I tied one end to the handle. Then I pulled out a partial string of firecrackers left over from Adele’s bathroom trick to get us aboard the train. Putting most of them into the can, I rose, then locked the door.

When I stepped back to a position near the front door, I peered out the small glass window on the door at the men in the car watching the building. They parked far enough away that I couldn’t see anything but shadows. However, they were good sports about it since both of them were smoking cigarettes, which showed up as red dots inside the car.

I pulled out my bag and nibbled on my sandwich. There was no surprise that my appetite was gone as I thought things over. Maybe it was rationalization, but I considered Lloyd like a festering wound that needed treatment. Outnumbered by his men, I couldn’t let him dictate the terms. Another day or two, they’d find me alone, and all bets were off. Since Lloyd suddenly showed up to meet Adele at the library told me that his confidence was back. I strongly suspected that I’d end up like my predecessor. Still, O’Conner’s words to me about not being too smart in how I dealt with Antonio came back to me.

“Maybe so, but I’m fixing this problem as well,” I said to the empty room.

Finally, car lights lit up the street and I watched as a car slowed to a stop next to the gray car. After watching over their unheard conversation, I saw the car slowly roll forward, then pull into the parking stall in front of the building. I had to move back as the headlights focused on the front door for a moment, then they went off.

Reaching under my coat, I pulled out my .45 and pulled back the slide to inject the cartridge into the chamber. From my vantage point, while looking out the small front door window, I noticed the men in the gray car get out. However, they remained across the street, and I backed away from the door. A moment later, I heard a knock at the front door, but I remained quiet. Soon, the doorknob jiggled, then turned.

Lloyd cautiously entered the building. I could see his outline in the doorway as he called out.

“Dagger, I’m here!”

He moved out of the doorway, and I heard him searching for a light. He flipped the switch, but I had already removed the bulb. After he took another step into the room, I turned on the flashlight, pointing the beam in his face.

“Close the door and we can talk.” I told him with more calm than I expected.

“Get that light out of my eyes,” he grumbled. But he closed the door.

I dropped the beam of light on his chest and came around to the front wall.

“Keep going inside,” I said. “Your boys are out there to keep you safe, so no need to worry. But, if you’re carrying, I’ll kill you.”

His bitter expression remained, but he pulled open his coat.

“That’s right. Don’t you forget those men. They’ve told me all about your time with Sally Vaugh. I don’t need a gun. Now, are you ready to talk business again?”

While he thought he held the upper hand, I went to the door and turned the lock. I noticed Lloyd’s eyes widened at my move. It was the first time he was worried about my gun.

“That’s just so they don’t interrupt,” I explained. “Now come on, let’s talk.”