Book 2 - Part 4: Binding Evil - Chapter Three

Sallie’s Emporium – 3:42 p.m.

“Listen up and no one gets hurt. My partner here has a bag, and in that bag, you are all gonna drop your wallets, purses, and any cash in your pockets, along with the cash in the register.

“Don’t get stupid and try to be a hero. This ain’t a movie. I’m holding the hero-stopper in my hand. Be a hero if you want, but you’ll die like a fool.”

His partner was already going around to the fifteen people in the store counting the cashier and writer.

Edward Carter sat in his seat. To his right were a few dozen books with his name on them, waiting to be purchased and autographed. Carter wasn’t really a fan of book signings, but it helped to promote his sales. Already today, he had signed nearly a hundred copies.

The Devil in Shadows.

It was his fourth in a series of books about a super-sleuth, Aiden Devil, who creates creative ways to thwart criminals. Sometimes it isn’t very pretty what he does. By night, a hero. By day, a federal prosecutor.

“You! So, you’re Carter? You don’t look much like your picture.”

Carter looked up at the very tall, but very skinny man holding a gun.

“Yes, I’m Edward Carter.”

The man grabbed one of his books, then grabbed a second one.

“Sign these. Make the first one out to read: to my very best friend, A.J., and then make the other one read: friends to the end, best of luck, Andy.”

He slapped the books on the table in front of Carter and said firmly, “Do it.”

Without thinking, Carter went into signing mode. He kept thinking that if they didn’t kill him, he would have another Devil story.

Carter’s books always made the best seller lists. Currently, he’s number nine and rising on the New York Times list. After this episode, it may even propel his sales even more. He would check with his agent on how to spin this to the media.

When finished, he handed both signed copies to the skinny man.

“Which one’s mine?”

“Who are you?”

“Andy.”

“The one on top is yours.”

By that time, his partner, very possibly A.J., came up to him saying he got all he could get. Andy threw the books in the bag, and both were on their way out the door to their car.

3:46 p.m.

Baker had pulled up just two minutes before Andy and A.J. were ready to leave.

She got on her cell phone, pressed 17, informing Ed to get a team together and meet her at Sallie’s, ASAP. She was about to work on an arrest. In the process, she told Stevie to stay down and out of sight until told to do otherwise.

Then she slowly slid out of her car and crept along the front wall and stood to the right about four feet from the entry doors. She held her service revolver raised level with her right shoulder, waiting for both men to exit.

Sallie’s has a large plate-glass window, and if she hadn’t seen the man fumbling with a couple books and still holding onto a gun, she, along with Stevie, may have walked right into a trap she wouldn’t have been able to get out from.

She waited another minute when they came outside.

Both men turned right and were facing Baker. Their guns were lowered to their sides as Baker squarely aimed hers at them.

“Party is over, fellas. Drop’em and get face down on the sidewalk.”

The one who had Carter sign the books, Andy, was thinking about trying to outshoot her when three other cars pulled up from out of nowhere and had completely blocked the street off from any cars going anywhere.

The party was indeed over.

After being handcuffed and taken away, it was later found out that both Andy Rivers, and A.J. Duncan (Andrew James), were responsible for a rash of small-time heists all over the county. That wouldn’t happen any longer. They were found guilty, and each man received a ten-year prison sentence.

As they were hauled away, each customer inside Sallie’s were given their personal property back, including Sallie’s register receipts.

After everyone was questioned, and the area cleared, a young boy on crutches approached Edward Carter, who, at that moment, was about to pack up everything and get out of the store, and the city. He had had enough real-life action for one day.

“I just want to tell you that Adrian Devlin ranks up there with Alex Cross and Scarpetta. You are an awesome writer, Mr. Carter.”

After finishing the last of the initial paperwork at the scene she would later file at her office, Baker stood next to her son.

Carter looked up.

“Thank you for your kind words young man.” Then he looked at Baker.

“I also want to express my gratitude and thanks for what you did out there, Miss …”

“It’s Lieutenant Baker. But it’s all right, Mr. Carter. Just a case of being in the right place at the right time. If you would, please sign my son’s copy of your new book. That’s all the reward I want.”

And he did.

Baker and Stevie turned to walk out of Sallie’s and go back to her car. Edward Carter then continued to pack up his remaining materials he brought with him and walked up to the day manager and thanked her for having him on hand.

Outside and in the car, Stevie said, “Hey, mom. Check out what he wrote.” He handed her the book.

“To Stevie, an exceptional son, blessed with an exceptional mother. May you both live in the light of love for all time.

“That was very nice of him, Stevie.”

After the adventure, as Stevie put it had died down, and they were once again on their way home, he couldn’t help but proud of his mom.

Baker was just grateful no one was injured or killed. There had already been enough bloodshed too last Montie for a long time to come.

The Phone Call – 9:10 p.m.

“Thanks for asking, Ed. He’s doing just great. It’s like every day he gets a little bit better and a little stronger. He really is coming along far better than I expected. His therapist has said the same thing.”

“Is, or has he come to grips with Mark’s death? I mean, he was every bit as close to him as he is with you.”

“I know. We went to one psych session a week after he was out of the hospital. Stevie is fine, and the counselor said that for fifteen, he carried an abundance of maturity inside himself.

“Every day that passes, he amazes me, Ed. I always thought raising a child would be difficult to an extent, but Stevie makes my being a mother; a piece of cake.”

“He is a treasure, that’s for certain. But Jan, let me ask you ….”

“I know, I know, Ed. I don’t know when I’ll tell him. Even though the counselor says he’s mature, I can’t help feeling if I tell him our wedding plans now; it might set him off in a bad way. He starts school next week. Let me see how that goes first.”

“I can sit on this as long as needed. But one day, Stevie and I will have that man-to-man talk.”

“Give me until after the first full week after Labor Day. Then we can both sit down and explain things to him.”

“Can do. Will do.

“I love you, Jan.”

“Ditto, Ed.”

Without being heard, a door silently closed.