3 comments/ 7888 views/ 2 favorites Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 01 By: shandal Two and a half years have passed and Patrick, Rachel, Jerry and Megan have settled in the Florida Keys believing Snake is dead. However he is alive and well and still harbours thoughts of revenge against his old friend. Please read on and I hope you enjoy this concluding part of the romantic thriller to its climatic end. The three part story Rattling Snakes Cage is in copyright to the Author and any reproduction or adaptation of any kind must be with her mutual agreement. * Florida Keys -- Two and a half years later Patrick yawned and scratched his chest as he padded down to the bar across the road from the small two bedroom apartment where he and Rachel lived. He had left her lying asleep sprawled across their big bed, her sweet bottom and back showing where the sheet had tangled around her legs, and he had smiled as he had stood naked at the end of the bed that morning admiring her, before grabbing a pair of well worn jeans, slipping them on, pulling on the light blue tank, placing his feet into a pair of flip flops, then easing quietly out of the apartment and walking out into the late morning heat. Running his hands through his thick hair, now worn brushed back and then across his chin where he now sported a short well kept goatee and moustache he jogged across the road waving to his neighbour Juan who was busy loading his diving gear into the back of his truck, and taking the keys out his hip pocket unlocked the main entrance to the bar/ restaurant and stepped inside keying in the security code before it went off. Walking into the darkened room he moved towards the back, skirting behind the bar and reaching across to turn on some lights. Bending down to a cold unit he opened the door and pulled out a carton of orange juice and poured himself out a large glass of the thick yellow juice just as the door opened and Jerry sauntered in. "Busy night last night..." he held the glass out to Jerry who walked over and took it. "Yeah....." Jerry sipped at the drink and leant against the bar watching as Patrick poured out another orange juice, "Megan is still sleeping, how about Rachel?" "Out like a light still....the delivery is due soon.....we got everything packed up and ready?" "Packed and ready...." And the two men moved to the back of the bar and through the door to the storeroom sipping their drinks. In the storeroom there were piles of crates of empty bottles, and among them four crates full of illegally smuggled in Cuban cigars. Opening the back entrance ready for the delivery man, Patrick sat down on a pile of crates, "How many are coming tonight for the game?" "So far four.....I'm waiting to hear from Sam Goodwin, he's not sure if he can make it due to a visit from an auditor down from head office.....I think he's sweating on it...." Patrick laughed, "Never trust a banker....especially with your money." Just then they heard the sound of the delivery truck turn up and wandering outside they greeted the driver as he climbed down out the cab and came over to them. Opening the back of the large vehicle he climbed in and started to move the crates full of bottled beer and liquor onto the hydraulic platform, "Got a lot of returns guys?" "The usual." "Can you increase the amount by a couple of boxes next month.....I've got a new customer lined up....for the usuals." Patrick started to lift the full crates onto the trolley and wheel it into the store room calling over his shoulder, "Come into the office and we'll work out a good price....over an ice cold beer." After the delivery was complete, crates of booze stacked up, empties returned and the boxes of cigars placed on the truck, the money exchanged hands. Then the driver swung up into his cab and waved, shouting out, "Nice to do business with you." as he pulled out onto the road towards the next in the string of Keys nestling in the bright blue clear sea beloved of divers and fishermen, a perfect place for tourists, and for Patrick and Rachel to hide out in their new life, and new identities. By the time the delivery was complete and Patrick had returned to the bar proper, Jerry had opened up the windows letting the bright Florida light blaze into the building, the old fashioned fans to start up on the ceiling, and for Ollie the young but talented chef to arrive with his own delivery of fresh fish that he had collected that morning from the local fishermen, along with fresh vegetables and provisions from the local market. "Mornin' guys......stone crab and lobster specials today." Jerry looked at the moving crab and lobsters climbing over each other in bright blue plastic crates in the back of the flat back pick up truck, "What I'd do for an old fashioned plate of fish and chips.....cod or haddock." Slapping Jerry on the back Ollie told him in his soft southern drawl, "Next time you're up north get me some cod and I'll make you some." "It's a deal." And the three men humped the provisions into the kitchen. * Snake looked across the large cherry wood antique desk at his solicitor, his arms resting on his thighs, his mouth stretched into a wide smile, his eyes twinkling. "So the fuckers are dropping the investigation.....about bleedin' time.......over two years and they haven't managed to pin a fucking thing on me....." "Not for want of trying Nick....it helped that the place burnt down along with all evidence of any drugs." "I greased a lot of palms for a long time to keep the 'old Bill' out of my business.....they grew fat on my money....." "But now you need to keep your head down and your nose clean for a while longer......they might have given up on the past, but don't for a moment think they won't be watching you trying to catch you out on anything you're currently doing." Sitting back laughing, Snake told the smartly dressed man, "I'm not touching a thing.....I'm a rich man and I've worked hard all my life to accumulate my fortune, time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labour." "What are your plans?" "Oh....visit and catch up with a few old friends, travel and see a little of the world...have a little fun." Standing up and walking around the desk his solicitor held out his hand and Snake stood up and shook it, "Send me the bill for your service....." "No problem Nick....nice to see you again." And Snake left the man's office, walking by the secretary at her desk and winking at her as he sauntered towards the exit, a happy man. * Patrick was sweeping up the debris left from the night before in the outside eating area that faced the beach when Rachel wrapped her arms around him from behind, kissing the indent of his spine between his shoulder blades. Standing still Patrick continued looking forwards and said, "I hope that's who I think it is." "Who do you think it is?" "Well I don't think it's Jerry taking advantage of my very manly and sexy body....I know it wouldn't be Megan.....so it's either a certain young woman that I love, or Juan getting a little too friendly." Laughing Rachel moved around the front of him, looking up at his face, "Manly and sexy?" "You thought so last night!" Bending forward and kissing her nose, "you were insatiable....." Kissing him back she then danced backwards telling him, "Behave yourself, do your chores and you might get a replay tonight...." "Yes ma'am....three bags full ma'am." And he carried on sweeping, smiling to himself as she turned around and strolled into the bar. Walking up to and around the bar Rachel started to set it up ready for when the customers started to arrive, calling out to Jerry, "How's Megan?" Wandering in from the store room and leaning on the bar he replied, "Finding the heat a little difficult....trying to get comfortable in bed with a seven month baby bump in this heat is trying her normally even patience. She said she'll be in by one to help serve the lunch crowd." "She doesn't have to.....I've told her we can increase the part time waitress's hours.....she would jump at the chance....." "You know Megan....she loves working here...." "I know but she needs to keep her strength for the baby......" "I know that...you know that...but try telling her that." Just then the first of the customers, a local man, walked in and sat down, "Usual Bob?" Rachel reached down to the fridge below the bar and taking an ice cold bottle of domestic beer she took it over to where the man sat, "Yeah usual....thanks." The day had begun, and the steady stream of customers wanting to be fed, to drink and to just relax wandered in to the easy going atmosphere of 'The Easy Escape" bar and restaurant near the golden beach that spread out into the distance. The crystal clear ocean surf gently lapped the Keys, inviting divers, swimmers, fishermen and tourists to enjoy various water sports and then to slake their thirst and hunger at the friendly bar and restaurant with the two welcoming English couples that had taken it over two years before. In reality Patrick, Jerry and Rachel didn't own the bar and restaurant. They couldn't as they had forged passports and no history for the American bureaucracy to give a liquor licence to, but Danny who already had a Bar in Spain and had owned bars in the UK plus a clean unblemished history applied and was a partner, along with Davy who all put money into the venture. Only last week Davy and Shirley had been staying with Patrick and Rachel for a couple of weeks on holiday, the three couples enjoying themselves, Davy taking back to Danny his cut of the legal profits. Non legal profits they kept, for Patrick and Jerry found it impossible to go straight, their natural personalities finding ways to supplement their income and satisfy their need for excitement. Things like the import and distribution of the illegal cigars from Cuba, running illegal high stakes poker games in the back room and handling the odd stolen item. And when he went North to Miami, Jerry still enjoyed the odd breaking and entering, just to keep his hand in. * Picking up the phone Snake dialled the private investigator he had hired six months ago to find the whereabouts of the people on his list. The first one had been easy, he had only moved out of the area and down to Margate in the east of Kent, and the next two had moved up North and changed their names. But they had been stupid not breaking complete ties with family and the investigator had followed the male's parents up to the small house that they lived in on the outskirts of Leeds. It was well known to the criminal fraternity that Davy and Shirley lived in Marbella, and in fact Snake had been out there to Spain over the years, being an acquaintance of the couple, so all the investigator had to do was check on them and keep his eye on them, and then had followed them to Miami and the Florida Keys when they had gone out to visit the two other couples on his list, completing his investigations. Danny was also known to Snake, and he didn't need any help from his man to give him where he could be found. In the past he had visited the lively bar in Fuengirola when he had travelled over to Spain to do the odd deal. Speaking into the handset he asked, "So is it them?" The voice at the end replied, "Definitely.....what do you want me to do?" "Sit on them a while longer....get me their daily movements and I'll be over towards the end of the week....I'll contact you then." And he disconnected the call. * The lunchtime crowd was buzzing and Patrick moved from table to table chatting and smoozing, whilst Rachel and Megan served and worked the customers, Jerry working the bar, listening to any gossip that he and Patrick could use to their advantage. Patrick walked over to the tourist that had been coming to the bar for the last few weeks, "Hi, everything all right?" "Perfect......" and looking around at the crowded bar, "Nice little business you have here...." Then back at Patrick, "Hard work.....you had the place long?" "Mmmm....how about you. You on holiday....here for the diving, fishing or just chilling out." "Chilling out....here for another week." "Well enjoy...." and Patrick moved on, the man watching him as he left to go and clear a table that a noisy boisterous family sat at, watching his target and waiting as he had been instructed. * Tony and Maria pushed the supermarket cart down the aisle and Maria reached out and took down a box of breakfast cereal, "How about these for a change?" Curving his arm around her waist he looked down at the box in her hands, "Looks good." and he squeezed her gently towards him before letting her go and carrying on pushing the cart as she put the box in there to join the rest of their weekly shop. Her lovely red hair glowed under the supermarket electric lights, and her nerves were getting stronger every day now so that she was beginning to talk about going shopping by herself, but Tony wanted to wait a while longer, making sure she was really going to be alright, and that the panic attacks she sometimes was overwhelmed by wouldn't hit her when she was alone. Moving away and up north from where the bad memories were, he knew, would be the start of getting her better. That and looking after her and making a good life where she knew she was safe with him and wouldn't bump into any of the men that had abused her, and he had begun the long road to building her confidence back up. Living on benefits so that he could be there for her twenty four hours a day was tough but it was for the best as he was the only one that she totally trusted, and he loved her so much. At night he would hold her to him, stroking her as she whimpered in her nightmares, telling her she was safe now and that no-one was ever going to hurt her again. The little two up, two down, one bedroom house was their life now they had moved up north, family visiting rarely, and the two of them only recently starting to go out at night to the cinema, but on the whole they kept to themselves, Maria too scared to make friends, ashamed that they might find out about what had happened to her. * Jerry ran his hands over Megan's swollen belly, grinning when he felt his child move inside her, "Going to be a footballer, the kids got a strong kick." "What do you think of the name Ethan?" "Ethan where did you find that one?" "Old John Wayne film on TV the other day...he played someone called Ethan...I quite like it." "How about John....good solid name." "No.....too common a name." Just then Rachel walked past them, "If you two don't agree soon the baby will be celebrating its twenty first birthday and still be called 'Baby'" Megan turned around to Rachel, "First baby.....we have to get the name right. Maybe the second it will be easier." "Second!" Jerry laughed, "We haven't had this one yet and she's already planning the next." Turning back and throwing her arms around his neck, her large belly between them she told him, "You want a large family don't you?" Holding her close to him he whispered in her ear, "I want what ever you want." then he kissed her and let her go and watched as she walked across the room to take the order of a couple that had sat down and were perusing the large blackboard menu up on the wall showing what was available as specials today. * Dressing in black jeans and black shirt Snake grabbed the gloves from the table and strode across the room, out of the door of his flat and down to the underground car park to climb into his black Porsche. Leaving the garage through the security gate he drove across town towards the East End of London and finding a side street parked the car, got out, and took out the boot of his car the leather sports bag containing the two false licence plates, couple of broken bricks, the glass bottle filled with inflammable liquid and the length of rag. Strolling down the roads in the area he checked out cars until he found the one he wanted, looked around checking for any witnesses and taking the flat long piece of metal specially made for breaking into cars slid it down between the window and the door and pulled it up when he felt it connect with the doors opening mechanism. Climbing in and fiddling under the steering column he thanked the Gods above that there were still people who had really old beaten up motors that could be easily started by hotwiring. Hearing the engine catch he pulled out into the road and drove towards where he could stop and put the false plates on the car in privacy and then continued his journey on towards the M2 and Margate. * Rachel sat in the cluttered office in the late afternoon going over the accounts on the laptop, Patrick sitting on an old battered chair, leaning it back on its legs, his own feet up on the equally battered desk that she sat at. "How we doing.....legally and not so legally this week?" "Legally good, non legally very good.....it seems crime pays." "Should be better next month, Jim wants to up the goods by a couple of crates more. Seems he's got a lot more customers interested. I need to see if Juan can get his contact to smuggle more over for us." Rachel looked up from the laptop and smiled, "What price did you agree on for the extra?" Standing up Patrick bent over the desk tweaking her nose with his fingers, "Stop worrying....I've been at this a lot longer than you....I got him set at a better price for the extra, and I'll make sure we don't get burnt by Juan." and he left the room leaving Rachel smiling as she watched his sexy bottom in the worn jeans disappear out the door, only to hear him say, "Remember, replay tonight, me underneath again....you on top." Calling out answering him she said, "So like a man, expecting the woman to do all the bloody work." She heard his answering laugh as he walked down the small hallway towards the bar, the sound of the music mixed with voices echoing down towards her as the doorway opened, and then the silence as it closed. She loved the life they had made for themselves. Just the right amount of fun, hard work and loving. Absolutely perfect. * Snake sat at the end of the road watching the house, waiting for any sign of the occupants. He settled into the non descript stolen car, opening the glove box to rummage amongst the empty sweet wrappers and crisp packets looking for a CD to play having got fed up listening to the radio. Pulling out the three CD's he groaned, ABBA, Barry Manilow and a compilation CD of middle of the road music. Putting them back he twiddled with the dial until he found a hard rock station and drumming his gloved hands on the wheel sang along in his deep baritone as he sat watching and waiting. * The evening crowd was lively and Patrick and Rachel made sure they went back into the back room where the high stakes poker game was in progress every so often, each player paid Patrick four hundred to enter and join in. The two made sure that the players had plenty of drink and replacing the finger food they left the room and let the men play in peace. Lifting up the curtain of hair at the back of Rachel's head Patrick bent and gave her nape a quick gentle bite, "Don't forget later tonight...." "So like a man, his mind on one thing." Giving her bottom a little pat, "And aren't you glad about that!" At twelve thirty Rachel walked over to Patrick and as was their usual custom took the money out the till, put it in the bag and into the safe in the back office. Then Rachel waved as she left with Megan to walk across the road to the flats, whilst the men finished closing up, turning off lights, checking to make sure that everything was alright, closing up the shutters, and Patrick left, leaving Jerry to look after the men in the back room playing poker until the early hours of the morning. Patrick stretched his arms over his head easing up his muscles as he walked over the road, the sounds of the jazz club up the road drifting down to him on the night air, people walking along laughing in the calm balmy night. He loved the life they had made down here, Rachel was happy...Megan was flourishing....they had got a really good thing going here....the bar and restaurant was doing well. It was his dreams come true. Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 01 * Snake watched as the two people entered the house, the younger one with a drunken swagger, and the older with a slight limp. He settled down further in his seat, glancing at his watch on his wrist. He'd give it another hour for the slightly inebriated pair to go down to a deep sleep before he struck and for the street to be totally quiet. * Patrick lay on his back, the palms of his hands gently holding and squeezing her small breasts, and rubbing his thumbs over the sensitive tips as she moved up and down, setting her own pace, arching her body slightly back as the waves of pleasure built for both of them. Her tanned body raised above him, joined to him, the feel of her tight hot wet muscles encompassing his throbbing prick, pulling him ever closer to that mindless tightening void of pleasure. His hands moved down to cup and squeeze her bottom, and he felt her muscles moving as she rose up and then came down, grinding and riding him. Curving down, her hair falling like a curtain around his face she kissed him, a wet hot deep kiss that had him gasping. His hand moved up to twine into her hair, holding her there when she would have broken the kiss, his hips arching up to meet her thrusts. Tension built and crested and the two lovers, skin slick with sweat rolled over onto their sides, murmuring words of love to each other as they drifted off into sleep, the sounds of the sea and the jazz drifting through the open bedroom window as the soft almost imperceptible breeze ruffled the muslin curtain and then bathed the lovers bodies to cool them down as they slept. * All was quiet in the Margate side street and Snake slide out of the car, leant into the back, took out the bottle and unscrewed it, then poured a little of the liquid onto the rag before stuffing the end of the rag in the bottles neck. Grabbing one of the bricks he walked over to the front door of the house, smiled and threw the brick through the glass window in the front door, breaking it enough to then throw the bottle, the rag now lit by his cigarette lighter into the broken window. He heard the bottle explode, and ran to the car, quickly starting it up and driving away, back towards London and his Porsche. The flames in the hallway of the house quickly took hold, flames licking at the walls, and up the stairs, dark deadly smoke rising towards the sleeping figures in their beds. * Walking back into his flat, Snake sat down on the couch and reached across to pick up the pen and strike a thick black line through the name halfway down the list. John. First step in his revenge complete, he sat back, hands behind his head, a satisfied smile on his face. On to the next on the list. Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 02 Snake is on the prowl for revenge whilst Patrick, Rachel, Jerry and Megan live in bliss in the Florida Keys. This is a three part multi chapter novella, and if you would like to find out why Snake is hell bent on revenge please read Rattling Snakes Cage and Rattling Snakes Cage Part 2 on Novels and Novellas. All three parts are under copyright and therefore cannot be reproduced in anyway without the permission of the author. * The surf swept gently onto the golden sand as Patrick and Rachel lay on the beach catching a few hours relaxing before going to the bar to open up. Jerry and Megan had the day off, and with only the part time waitress to help out it would be a busy time ahead so they were taking this time to enjoy themselves together. Lying on his back his right leg bent slightly, his left arm crooked up over his eyes, Patrick lay feeling the sun beat down on his body, his mind just drifting, and the sounds of children's laughter wafting down from further up the beach where a family frolicked in the waters edge. Rachel lay next to him on her side, the middle finger on her left hand gently stroking his hot skin, tracing down his rib cage, over the small ridges of muscles until they met the slightly silvered scar on his side where the knife wielded by Snake in that last fight had injured him. Biting her lip she shuddered as she remembered that fateful night, and as she always did when the memories threatened to flood her mind she jumped up with energy and tried to do something that would push the thoughts to the back of her mind. "Come on you big lump, lets go get one last dip before we go back." And she grabbed the arm that lay across his face, pulling at it to get him to stand up, "move that arse of yours you lazy sod." Groaning Patrick sat up, and then rose up to his feet brushing the sand off his body, "I should have left you back in the UK brat. I never guessed what a pain in the butt you could be." Rachel stopped suddenly, staring at him with a look of horror, "Do you mean that?" "No of course not....." "Then why did you say it?" "I was joking....come on Rachel, it was just a joke." "Not a very funny one..." Grabbing her and hoisting her up over his shoulder so her head hung down his back Patrick ran over the sand towards the sea, "Where's your sense of humour gone....you know I love you...." and laughing he ran into the surf until he was waist high in the water and threw her backwards into it. When she came up, her wet hair streaming into her eyes, the water gushing from her shoulders, spluttering, Patrick grabbed her around the waist and lifting her up threw her backwards again into the surf, following her body with his, arms twisting around her, legs tangling, his mouth finding hers under the water. Kissing her he pulled her upright and stood in the water telling her, "I love you, you idiot....and you bloody well know it...." Smiling she asked him, "And you're not sorry to be with me here?" Exasperated he told her, "So like a damn woman to not believe what they're told by their man....come on..." and flopping backwards into the water he pushed off from the seabed and floated, the occasional backward swimming stroke taking him deeper into the sea. * Setting his Sat Nav to the address on the piece of paper the investigator had given him Snake started the long journey north to Leeds. In the back of the Porsche was the bag holding the bottle filled with flammable liquid, rag and bricks, for he was on his way to deal with the next names on his list of revenge. It was very early morning and the traffic was heavy, but he wanted to get there fairly quickly to suss out the area before he struck. And he was determined to strike that very night. Then return home to prepare for the next names on the list. * Danny walked hand in hand over the Puente Nuevo Bridge with the beautiful blond girl he had met at his club last week, and looked down into the deep chasm of the El Tajo gorge in the ancient and beautiful town of Ronda in the Spanish Andalusian Mountains where he had brought her for a romantic five days. He glanced away from the spectacular view of the deep gorge and the mountains in the distance down to her long slim tanned legs that rose from small feet encased in impossibly high heeled sandals, a thin silver bracelet encircling her small shapely ankle, and then followed her legs as they rose up to disappear into the short floaty skirt that ruffled with the slight breeze giving him occasional glimpses of the high firm insides of her thighs. Thighs that by tonight he planned to have clamped around his head as he ate her in an intimate place, before thrusting his cock deep inside her. Walking slowly, talking quietly, they made their way to the Tapas bar further into the town proper, and sitting down they ordered their lunch. A selection of Tapas dishes to be washed down by a crisp white cold Spanish Wine before making their way to the small and exclusive Hotel just out of the towns centre and next to the old Arabic baths with beautiful views of the old medieval town. * Stopping off at the motorway service station Snake stretched his long legs and back before he wandered into the building, stopping off at the shop to buy a newspaper and then sitting down in the café to have a strong cup of coffee. Flicking through the paper as he drunk his drink he looked for a particular news item and then put the cup down when he found it on page five. It was a small article under the heading, 'Mother and son killed in arson attack in their home as they slept.' Finishing his drink he closed the paper and left it on the table as he stood up and left, making his way to Leeds, the feeling of satisfaction running through him at the news article. * Juan stood at the helm of his boat, the tourists drinking beer in the back with their fishing gear and their stories and lies of past glories, and of the ones that got away. He had heard it all before from the many fishermen that hired him and his boat for the day, and he only half listened as he headed out to where he knew the catches would be good. Tonight he would contact his friend about the extra order of cigars for Patrick and Jerry. In the past couple of years since the two couples had arrived and taken over the bar/restaurant opposite the apartment where he lived he had increased his income through supplying them with smuggled in cigars and Rum, and he was now preparing to approach the two men with a suggestion on smuggling a little something more lucrative and them selling it on. Drugs. Cocaine to be precise. But he wasn't sure if they would be open to that suggestion. His friend had told him the other day that he could get hold of a small but steady supply of coke, and he wondered if Patrick and Jerry would like to buy into the chain of supply. After all cigars and Rum and the occasional illegal Poker game in the back room was one thing, but getting tangled up in drugs was another and he just wasn't sure if they would be willing or able to do that. * Looking down at Megan's feet in his lap Jerry held one with his hand, his other hand holding the nail varnish brush and started to paint the delicate nails. It was a job he had started to do as the baby bump got bigger and Megan no longer could reach her feet. It was also a job he found he loved to do. Never in his whole life had he figured something so mundane could be so erotic, and his groin was getting tighter as she wriggled the toes on the foot in his lap that he had already done. "Keep still or you'll jog me and I'll make a mess." Megan lay back against the end of the couch, watching him through smiling eyes. "What do you fancy doing today Jerry?" "How about driving down to Key West and getting some stuff for the nursery? We can get some lunch down there and make a day of it." "Sounds good. " and she grinned watching her man as he bit his lip concentrating on painting the nail varnish on her toes and feeling his hard on against her heel. He was a proud papa to be and since they had made the move from Spain to here he had become more and more domesticated. So much so that they were hardly ever apart. No more working for others over night, and disappearing like that last time over two years ago for weeks on end. Also she had realised things about her man over the last couple of years as she had become more sophisticated and her eyes became more open and aware. That he wasn't as innocent as she thought at first, however she let him believe that she hadn't caught on to his little extra's and acted the innocent, turning a blind eye to his and Patrick's sidelines at the bar. * Snake sat in the car that was parked in the run down area on the outskirts of Leeds, graffiti scrawled on walls of houses, litter on the street and boarded up homes making a desolate feel to the road where his targets lived. The house they lived in was a small Victorian brick one in a small row of similar houses, the odd person walked down the street, cars were parked outside homes on the street, and a group of children played on a small area of almost dead scrub grass at the end of the street. Snakes Porsche stood out against the rest of the five years or older cars that lined the street. The area made him shudder as it reminded him of where he grew up, a slum area, with a lousy mother, and very little money or love. Turning on the ignition of his car Snake drove out of the area into the centre of Leeds and parked in a multi storey car park of one of the shopping malls that could be found in the busy city centre. Walking through the throngs of shoppers in the mall he found a place to eat and entered, ordering food and settled down to waste the time until night would fall. * The man sat sipping his second beer watching as Patrick stood behind the bar serving the few people standing there mid afternoon. He watched as his target said something to a young couple, both blond, looking like they were beach birds, and then the three of them laughed. It had been like that since he had arrived and observed his targets. He wasn't sure why his client in the UK wanted to have found for him such a diverse band of people, from the couple living in poverty in Leeds to the two couples here in Florida but he now felt in his guts that it wasn't good. Watching and sipping his beer he settled back into his seat. Why should he care? After all he was being paid a lot of money. He was here in the Florida Keys on expenses, and it really wasn't any of his business. Still he wondered what all these people had done to piss off the man who was employing him. * Jerry and Megan walked hand in hand through the trendy shopping streets of Key West looking at baby stuff. In Jerry's hand was a bag containing a few baby clothes and things that they both couldn't resist, including a little white sleep suit with appliqué cats and dogs and stuffed toy cat with a big grin on its face. Squeezing Megan's hand in his Jerry walked along a happy and contented man. He thought to himself 'Who would have thought that two lost and lonely souls from South East London would find each other and end up here in paradise with everything they need.' Her hand in his, the bag in the other the couple walked oblivious to the hate and the malevolence that burnt in the heart of the very person that Jerry thought was dead and gone but lived for a vengeance against all those who destroyed his business and nearly killed him. * Danny's hands swept up the girls legs as she lay back on the big crisp sheets in the hotel bedroom, her thighs open to him, her womanhood glistening at him, wet and slick and a deep dark husky pink. He moved his face down towards the slit and with his tongue gave a long lick from end to end of her cunt, tasting the sweetness and making her moan. His hands grabbed and squeezed her buttocks and lifted them up towards his mouth, holding her still as he pressed his tongue hard against her clit, now peeking out from its hood, moving it around on the hard nub before he bit down softy and then sucked it into his mouth. The girl arched her body and gasped deep in her throat, her hands holding his hair, pushing his head deeper into her as she moved closer to her crest, and Danny continued to lick and suck and bite her sensitive nub until he felt her thighs squeeze around his head, and heard her breath catch, and her fingers clench tight in his hair, and the wetness between her legs pour forth. * Juan unloaded the very happy tourists from his boat holding their catches and posed for the obligatory photos with the men. Lots of back slapping and handshaking, the men then gave Juan a big healthy tip and made their way up the road voices raised in ribbing each other. Cleaning up the boat and scrubbing it down he knew he would be ready for an ice cold beer very soon, and he knew just where he was going to get it, and maybe have a chat with Patrick and Jerry about the possibility of stashing the drugs and selling them on. * By the time Juan had arrived at the bar Patrick and Rachel and the part time waitress were rushed off their feet as the evening crowd was descending on them, it seemed all in one hit. Juan sat up at the bar and nursed a cold beer; waiting for a time he could corner Patrick to test the waters about the drug smuggling. As the night went on and Juan got more and more drunk he got more and more impatient to be able speak to Patrick until eventually as Patrick stood opposite him he blurted out in a slurred voice, "Hey man I've got a real sweet deal for you and Jerry." Looking at Juan as he set up a couple of drinks for a table that was eating outside in the open terrace Patrick told him, "Later Juan....lets talk later." "Nah man, it's a good one....you and Jerry can make some big bucks if you come in on this....more than we're making with the other stuff....its a sweet deal." Patrick put the glasses aside and leaned across at Juan hissing, "Shhhhh Juan. We'll talk later. Not here and not now......understand?" Nodding and then finishing up his bottle Juan staggered out the bar and across the road leaving Patrick worrying about his neighbours big mouth and his inability to be discreet. * Megan lay back in the car seat, tired but happy. She and Jerry had found a lovely quiet little restaurant and they had eaten well, but now they were making their way up the Keys to home. Quietly she asked him as he drove, "So have you thought about the name Ethan?" "Never heard of anyone else called Ethan....." "I think it's an American name...." "You don't want to choose a typically English name?" "No....baby is going to be born in America....lets give him an American name. Besides there is an actor called Ethan. I think he was in some movie I saw years ago on TV. About going to a boarding school and Robin Williams was a teacher who tried to teach him poetry or something and then it all ended when he couldn't do something or other and killed himself." "You want to name our kid after someone who plays someone who kills himself or something." "No I want to name him after a character that John Wayne plays." "You're crazy.....what's wrong with calling him John after John Wayne." "Everyone knows John Wayne's real name was Marion...you want to name our son Marion?" Jerry glanced at Megan as she sat there, relaxed her belly big and round, "I can't believe I'm having this conversation....I never said call him Marion.....being pregnant has fried your brains." "I still like the name Ethan...." And they drove into the night in silence, Jerry trying to think up a name that he liked and that Megan would like, Megan picturing her baby and turning the name Ethan over in her mind, because she knew with Jerry, she always got her own way. * Danny stood on the balcony smoking a cigarette, the blond asleep in his bed. The sounds of the night in the mountains echoed around him, the loud raucous sound of Hornets cooling themselves by batting their wings, and the crickets could be heard chirping in the long wild grass of the fields. Music wafted down from the town and the sound of laughter could be heard as people walked along the ancient paved narrow streets of Ronda. The warm air of the night surrounded him as he took one last drag and then stubbing the glowing end of the cigarette out on the edge of the wall he turned around and walked back into the bedroom, climbing back onto the bed and lying down next to the exhausted woman he closed his eyes and he fell into a contented sleep. * Patrick and Rachel fell into bed exhausted, and were asleep within seconds. His arm rested across her, his body snuggled up behind her back, his face burrowed into her hair smelling her scent even in sleep. Content, happy and together they slept unaware that there was a madman picking off their friends one by one. Friends that had been there to help Patrick and Rachel at their time of real need. * He watched as the downstairs front light went out from his place at the end of the road on the scrub land, far from any light source so no one would be able to see him where he stood in the shadows. Waiting another half an hour, he stood, the bag at his feet, his eyes never wavered from the run down house that his targets lived in. Snake waited patient, the taste of revenge sweet in his soul. * Tony and Maria lay in their bed asleep, her head on his shoulder, his arm protectively around her, giving her security just as he always did. The soft sound of the radio played on the bedside table as she found it difficult to fall asleep in the silence, and the small dim nightlight gave a small glow to break the darkness, a token light to break the fear from being left in the dark from her time of captivity in the basement. * Walking up the road Snake made sure there were no witnesses before he stepped through the black metal rusty old gate that gaped open and up the broken weed covered short path to the front door. Taking the bottle out of his bag he unscrewed the top, looking over his shoulder, before pushing his gloved hand into the brass letter box in the door, opening up the flap, and pouring the liquid through the hole onto the floor inside. When the bottle was empty he took the rag and lit it watching as the red flames took hold, then poked it through the hole to drop through the door into the house and onto the inflammable liquid inside. He heard the whoosh as the liquid took light and he grabbed his bag and walked as fast as he could without being too obvious up the road and away towards where he had parked the car. Then getting in he drove away towards London. * Tony smelt smoke in his half sleep. Always alert to any sign of a nightmare that Maria might be having he had learnt to sleep lightly and the smell of the smoke had broken into his awareness and woken him up. Sitting up he listened intently and heard the sounds of wood burning and creaking through the closed door and the warmth rising up through the floorboards. Moving quickly he woke up Maria and running over to the bedroom door felt it with his hand. Hot. Very hot. Running over to the window he grabbed the bedside table and threw it at the glass, breaking it as Maria sat whimpering on the bed. "Come on baby we have to get out through the window." She sat there with big wide eyes in fright staring at him, her red hair tumbling around her small face and thin shoulders. Moving over to her on the bed he put his arms around her telling her to trust him and that he would get them out of this. She never took her eyes off him as he grabbed the sheet from the bed and turning back to the window tied one end around radiator that was on the wall not far from the window and looking behind him at the door he could see the deadly black smoke beginning to flow through the bottom of the door towards them, starting to fill the room with death. Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 02 "Maria come over here baby." When she didn't move he went over and lifted her off the bed and carried her over to window. Tying the end of the sheet around her waist over the old tee shirt she was wearing he told her. "I'm going to put you through the window and lower you down, the sheet is not going to be long enough but I'm going to untie it at this end and ease you down. I want you to go over the road and wait for me.....do you understand." When she nodded he kissed her, "I love you baby.....just remember that." And he lowered her down holding the sheet and then undid the end easing her the rest of the way to the ground, coughing as the smoke began to fill the room, starting to take his breath away as it filled his lungs. * Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 03 Snake is on the rampage, hell bent on revenge, whilst over in Florida the two pairs of lovers live unaware that he is still alive. I hope you enjoy this romantic crime thriller as it makes its way to the climatic end. The three part story Rattling Snakes Cage is copyrighted and any reproduction in any form needs the permission and agreement of the Author. * The flames licked the inside of the house, and Maria stood opposite watching, her heart in her mouth as the silhouette of Tony disappeared in the upstairs window, while dark acrid smoke poured out of it. People had come out of their houses to watch, and she heard the sounds of screams in her head and then realised it was herself screaming out for Tony. The sounds of fire sirens could be heard and a fire engine drew up blocking her view. Arms went around her shoulders as she was guided over to an Ambulance, but she cried out for Tony as soft voices tried to calm her, reassuring her that the firemen would bring him out. Tense moments passed as the Firemen raised the ladder; water was hosed into the house and brave men wearing breathing apparatus climbed into the window of the bedroom trying to save the missing man. The crowd quietened as the one of the Fireman disappeared into the house through the window and then appeared with the body of a man slumped over his shoulder. A cheer went up and Maria held her breath as she watched the rescue, her hands grasping the paramedics who were still trying to get her to climb into the back in the ambulance. They brought Tony's still body over to the ambulance and Maria sobbed as they worked on him, watching as they put an oxygen mask on him, and then as they did CPR. Seconds seemed like hours as they worked on him there in front of the ambulance, and the shouts and sounds of the fire melted into the background as all the people involved in the rescue stared at the scene of life or death playing out in front of them. Eventually the paramedic gave the thumbs up and a collective sigh went around, smiles and laughter as the release of tension rippled through the emergency workers and then Maria and Tony were whisked away from their ruined home to the hospital. The police and firemen carried on with their work to get control of the now flame enveloped building, trying to stop the fire spreading to the houses next door, the neighbours in the road praying that their homes would be saved as they stood with the crowds watching. * Snake drove down the motorway his mind focused on his next destination. In the boot of his car was a small suitcase, and in his pocket his airline tickets and passport. He was in a hurry to reach Heathrow Airport and to arrive in time for his flight booked for Malaga Airport in Spain. His next stop. * The morning sun rose early and hot in Marbella and Davy and Shirley rose and had their customary early morning swim in their swimming pool, striking out through the crystal clean water doing laps. Bougainvillea and the occasional palm tree grew in the large garden, and after the swim they sat at the table that two and half years before Jerry had sat with the other men planning the rescue of Patrick from Wandsworth Prison, and ate a breakfast of fresh fruit and yogurt washed down by the fresh orange juice that Shirley had squeezed in the juicer before they had gone for the swim. Overhead the sky was a bright azure blue and Shirley turned to Davy and told him she was going to go with a friend to Puerto Banus shopping for the day and asked him what he had planned. "I've got a bit of work to do, make some phone calls, arrange some meetings. Not a lot. At lunch I'm meeting some guy that has been passed onto me by Danny who needs some new identification down at the bar at La Calla beach front. So I'll see you around late afternoon." Taking a sip of the thick fresh Orange Juice Shirley nodded and held out her hand grinning, "I'll need a thousand more Euro please." "What! Spent the last lot already?" "You make it love....I'll spend it." "You could wait a few days between shopping expeditions. You've got more clothes in your closet than they've got in the stock rooms at the Corte Ingles Store in Peurto Banus. I should charge them for storage for their stock." "Very funny....hand it over." And grunting he got up and walked into the house and to the safe, opening it and took out the money. * Walking down the corridor from the plane towards passport control, Snake drew glances from a couple of interested tourists who were walking down the marble floored walkway near him. He stood out against the other people, his black suit and black shirt, black hair and intense looks, along with the vivid snakes head tattoo on his neck, parcelled up with the forceful personality he emanated drew stares and raised eyebrows as he walked along. More than one woman gave him an interested look, but he was not interested. He had a mission and nothing was going to divert him from it. After collecting his bag from the baggage carousel he strode over to the car hire section and arranged for a car which he picked up on the top floor of the airport car park. Checking the address he pulled out into the bright Spanish sunshine and started the hour and a half long drive from Malaga to Marbella on the motorway that wound its way West. * Davy sat in the beach front café eating Calamari and drinking ice cold beer with the man who wanted a completely new identity. A price was arranged and a timescale for them to meet up and for the man to pick up the new papers from Davy. At no time did Davy ask the man why he wanted a new identity; it was of no concern to him, just that the money would be paid. Shaking hands Davy got up and left the man and strolled along the beachfront, stopping off to buy an ice cream from a small outlet on the way back to his car. Whilst Davy sat making his deal Shirley walked through the fashionable Port of Peurto Banus, visiting her favourite shops along the waterfront and down the narrow street that ran parallel with the harbour where multi million pound yachts were moored and people ogled the ostentatious show of wealth on show. Rummaging through the clothes rails in shops she tried on the occasional thing but couldn't find what she really wanted. Eventually she decided to grab some lunch and she walked down to the popular Italian pizza and pasta restaurant Picasso's on the waterfront and sat down to enjoy her lunch and people watch. * Juan saw Patrick and Jerry walking across the road to the bar, and he ran across to meet them. "Hi guys.....got a moment." Patrick looked at the young man, "Is it about the extra supply?....come on in." Walking through the now open bar door into the gloom he said, "Nope...it's better than that." "Better?" "Yeah....such a sweet deal that by this time next year we could all be stinking rich." Jerry looked at Patrick who then leaned back on his elbows casually against the bar. "If it's what I think it is forget it.....I like to stay alive and all in one piece." "But you haven't heard what the deal is." "I don't have to Juan....its drugs....am I right?" "Yeah...I can get a line on a supply chain...coke....we can get it over on my boat...sell it on, make a big bundle....regular supply...lots of profit for all of us." Moving away from the bar and starting to get the place ready Patrick told him, "Forget it Juan....keep well away from it." Running around in front of Jerry, "Man you don't agree with him do you? Lots of ready's! You could sell the bar...live the life...not have to work." Pushing passed the excited young man Jerry told him, "Patrick's right.....leave it...don't touch the deal....walk away." "You guys are crazy....you're turning down the chance of a lifetime." Stopping what he was doing Patrick looked at Juan, "You think you'll come out in front?...everyone does with drugs...but it rarely happens....think rationally Juan, we're small fry here...you start dealing and you'll be treading on the toes of the big fish in the area...the main men in Miami...they're not going to be happy to let some amateurs muscle in on some of their business....Jerry and I have women to think of, and the baby...we're happy doing what we're doing...just drop it." "Just think it over..." stepping out the door Juan looked back, "we could do it for six months, make the money and get out." Shaking his head Patrick replied, "You always think you're going to get out....but it follows you....trouble never lets you go." * Snake broke into the house and walked around checking out the place. After a while he went over to the small bar in the corner of the lounge and poured himself a glass of whisky. His eyes were gritty and he was tired, having only managed a short nap on the plane, but he wanted to strike as quickly as he could; besides he had another plane ticket booked for later and he was on a tight schedule. Taking the drink with him he wandered into the kitchen opening drawers until he found what he was looking for. A sharp carving knife. He continued looking for rope but unable to find any he grabbed a sheet and using the knife ripped it into long thin strips. Taking the strips he went downstairs and moved two dining room chairs into the middle of the room. Then made himself comfortable drinking the Scotch, and waited. Late afternoon he heard the front door open and then close. * Shirley walked into the house sensing there was someone there. Calling out for her husband, thinking it was him she walked into the lounge and screamed as she felt the arm go around her neck from behind and saw the carving knife out the corner of her eye where it was held up to her face. "Shut up Shirley....." "Nick is that you?" "I said shut the fuck up you bitch....." "What...?" "SHUT UP...." Snake pushed her towards one of the dining room chairs positioned in the centre of the room, "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP." Shaking all over she carefully sat down and faced him. "I don't understand......" He stood in front of her with the knife pointed towards her face in a threatening manner, and then taking a strip of the sheet he went behind her and grabbing her hands tied them tightly behind her back. "Too bad Shirley, I used to really like you....we had a lot of fun way back in the old days....but you're married to a fucking bastard and I intend to get my own back on your old man for burning down my business and watching while I was stabbed in the back by my best friend. Figuratively and literally." "I don't understand...." Taking another strip of the sheet and making a large knot in the middle he tied it so she was gagged. "And I don't give a shit if you understand or not.....now we wait." * Davy pulled the car up in the driveway and got out; it had been a good day's work all in all. Once he got in he would start the ball rolling on getting the papers for his new client. In his pocket was the one thousand Euro deposit, the rest of the money payable on completion which should take a week at the most. Opening the front door he called out, "Shirley......I'm home Sweetcakes...." And he walked into the lounge and stopped dead at the sight of Shirley tied to the chair, mouth gagged. "Oh my God......" and he went forward towards her, all his focus on his wife. Big mistake. "Davy.....nice to see you mate." Turning around sharply on a gasp he stuttered out, "Nick.....I thought you were dead...." Snake lifted the wicked looking knife up towards Davy, "Seems not.....welcome home....please take a seat...the one over there opposite your wife." Sitting down and not taking his eyes from Snake Davy asked, "What are you going to do? Shirley had nothing to do with what went down two years ago.....let her go." Tying Davy's hands behind his back, his feet to the legs of the chair, and then gagging him Snake told him, "I know she had nothing to do with it, but she's a witness.....you remember the rules Davy don't you....or have you gone soft living over here. Witnesses cause problems." Davy looked into his wife's terrified eyes, the tears running down her cheeks and realised for the first time in years he really loved her. Sitting tied to the chairs the couple watched as Snake started to rip the curtains down from the window and pile them on the floor between the couple, and then over to the bookcase, grabbing a handful of paperback books, ripping pages out and throwing them onto the pile. Davy and Shirley watched in growing horror, realising what he was going to do and Davy tried vainly to free his hands, grunting trying to tell Snake to stop. Going into the kitchen Snake opened the cabinet's and grabbed some cooking oil and some barbeque briquettes and then tossed them on the growing pile. Looking at Davy and Shirley he smiled a parody of a smile before saying, "Enjoy your last moments together.....bye." and he tossed a lit piece of paper onto the mess at his feet and turned and walked away. * Danny lay on the sun lounger beside the pool watching the girl swimming in the sparkling water. Her lithe body was streaking through the water, the bright yellow bikini and long blond hair bright in the shimmering blue of the pool. The hot afternoon sun was warming his skin, the cold glass of wine in his hand cooling him down, and a feeling of real satisfaction at the way his life was going washed over him. The club in Fuengirola was a real success, packed every night. Money coming in from his investments including the bar in Florida. His love life was good. Looking at the blond frolicking in the pool, he amended it to very good. And he lay there thinking that he was a very lucky man. * Snake drove down a narrow street in the town of Fuengirola and parked in a residential street away from the main area of the town. Here in the back street was the small white adobe houses of the local Spanish population. Wooden chairs with old sun wizened women wearing black sitting on them in front of the open doorways that led into dark interiors dotted the street. Getting out he walked around the corner to the small shop he had passed as he drove around sussing out the area, and entered, buying a bottle of BBQ lighter fluid and a dish cloth. Paying the short fat man he took the bag proffered and walked out turning down the road and walked along in the heat, sweat trickling down his back. He walked across town until he came to the back of Danny's club where he had partied in the past when over here in Spain and he forced the wooden gate that was the back entrance to the yard behind the club open. Crouching down behind a large black smelly garbage bin he checked out to see if anyone was about and likely to see him. All was quiet so he moved towards the barred small window that he knew was part of the men's toilets and using the heel of his shoe he broke the glass between two of the bars, then poured the liquid through the broken glass before setting light to the towel and pushing it through to fall onto now wet floor inside covered in the volatile fluid. Slipping away he made his way back to the car and drove towards Malaga and the airport. The whole thing had taken just one afternoon and his flight to Miami would be leaving at ten o'clock European time. Plenty of time to get clean and grab something to eat at the airport. * The call came in the early hours of the morning at about four to Danny's hotel bedroom. It was his club manager. The girl lay next to him asleep as he sat up listening to the news that his club was partially burnt, that they were able to save the majority but there was extensive damage. No one was hurt. The staff were doing set up and had all got out without any real injury. Danny breathed a sigh of relief and asked what had happened. Just as his manager was about to tell him that the fire had seemed to start in the men's toilet there was a knock on the bedroom door. The girl turned over and asked what all the noise was about. Getting out of bed and grabbing his trousers and slipping them on Danny went to answer the door to find two Policemen standing there. "Are you Señor Price?" "Yes." "Please can you get dressed and come with us." Behind him the girl sat up clutching the sheet to her naked body, "What the hell is going on?" Stepping slightly out of the Hotel door into the corridor Danny asked, "Is this about the fire at the club, my manager had just called to tell me about it." "Please get dressed and come with us Señor." and the two Policemen stood impassively as Danny went back into the room and grabbing a tee shirt slipped it on and then his feet into a pair of shoes, taking his wallet and keys from the bedside table he bent over the blond still sitting in the bed, her hair a tangled mess around her shoulders, "I'll be back soon, see you down by the pool later." And then followed the two policemen down the stairs and out to the car waiting in the Hotel driveway. * Snake sat on the plane as it made its long journey to Miami, planning and dreaming of his final act of revenge. Slowly his eyes started to close and he drifted into a deep sleep, his long body relaxed, his dreams of Patrick, Rachel and Jerry and how he was going get his own back on all the things that had happened starting three years ago. * Patrick lay back on the bed his hands behind his head, his naked body spread out on top of the white sheet watching as Rachel came out of the bathroom, the water from the shower still glistening on her skin, the white towel wrapped around her hiding her body from his sight. Beckoning her by wiggling his fingers at her he growled, "Come over here woman." Dropping the towel on the floor she climbed up onto the bed and crawled over him, settling onto his hips, "Mmmm, hello there big boy....." the feel of his hard on nudged the apex of her thighs, "....not too tired then." "Never too tired. Want to play first?" Laying down over him her breasts pressed against his chest, she asked, "Play? What do you mean play?" "Just a little something to spice it up..." smiling up into her eyes he suddenly flipped over so that he was laying over her body, her hands grabbed around the wrists by his hands held each side of her head, his legs pinning hers apart, "How about kidnapper and kidnap victim?" Pretending to yawn Rachel told him, "Done that, been there, bought the tee shirt, seen the video, yaddah yaddah yaddah." Laughing Patrick kissed her, "So it's been all down hill from the beginning has it?" Giving a big grin she replied, "How about I'm the kidnapper and you're my victim this time." Eyes sparkling with interest he looked down at her, "Do I get to be tied down?" "Do you want to be?" "Damn right.....then you can have your wicked way with me." "As I keep telling you, typical man....expecting the woman to do all the work." And she smiled up at him remembering that time three years ago when he had really kidnapped her and had taken advantage, and she had fallen in love with her sexy kidnapper in the space of five crazy days. * Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 04 Davy is trying to get hold of Patrick and Jerry to warn them that a revengeful Snake is coming their way. This is a romantic crime thriller in three parts, and this chapter is the penultimate chapter before the explosive climax. Who will come out of this alive... Rattling Snakes Cage Part 1, 2 and 3 are copyrighted and any reproduction or adaptation in any form needs the permission of the author. * The flight into Miami was a long one, with a stop off at Heathrow for an hour to change planes. Snake napped occasionally during the flight and walked out into the early hours of the next day, the lost hours due to time difference making his body heavy and tired, and he made his way over to the car rental office, paying for a MPV with blacked out windows and seats that could fold down. Climbing into the car he started the drive down to the Keys, over Highway 1, totally ignoring the natural beauty of the tidal flats or the islands dotted in the distance as the sun arose, lighting up the incredible magnificence of the Overseas Highway as it wound in a long line in front of him over the sparkling sea. * As Snake drove South Jerry and Megan lay asleep, his hand resting protectively on the curve of her pregnant belly. Patrick and Rachel lay in their bed, feet tangled, and Rachel's long black hair stark against the white of the pillow as it spread out around her face; Patrick lay in a deep and heavy slumber after the hard nights work at the bar. All oblivious to what was heading their way. * Davy ran his hand through his hair for the hundredth time, his head pounding as he sat in the interview room of the Police Station in Ronda. "I've told you I don't know who or why my club was deliberately set on fire. It wasn't me. I've been here with a young lady for the last couple of days. I've told you go back to the Hotel and ask her." "Señor Price, we have gone to the Hotel, but it seems the young lady has left, leaving no forwarding address. Do you have her address where we can contact her?" Davy sat back stunned, "No....she's someone I met at the club last week....I don't know where she's staying." "You have her full name? We can then see if we can find her to support your alibi." "Alibi?....What do you mean alibi....I've told you I did not burn down my own club." "The name of the young lady?" Davy looked at the Spanish Detective, a hot flush causing red to rise up his neck and colour his cheeks. "I don't remember her surname....just her first name.....Susan...." "You don't remember her family name?" "No." "Yet you were spending, as you claim, five days with her?" "Yes." "But now she's gone." "Yes." * Snake pulled into the non-descript motel on one of the small string of Keys, pulling out his case and booking into a room. As soon as he entered the shabby room he pulled off his jacket and shoes and flopped down onto the bed exhausted, falling into a deep and dreamless sleep. He didn't see the bright sunny morning, or the people walking down to the where the boats were moored so they could go out fishing, nor the divers unpacking their diving gear from the backs of their motors, carrying them down to the waters edge and looking out at the sparkling waters that spread out before them hiding the coral reefs that the divers would soon be swimming around, admiring the many multi coloured fish and sea life that festooned the beautiful reefs. * Juan drove into the parking place in the early morning just outside his apartment. He lived under Patrick and Rachel's place, and shared a small back yard. Taking out the small cloth wrapped package from where he had hid it under his car seat, he ran inside his home and pulled down the blinds that would hide him from the sight of anyone who might look in. Sweat dribbled down his back and the palms of his hands were wet with worry, an hour ago his friend had handed over the first package of coke and he was not sure where to hide it or what to do with it. He had lied to his friend telling him that the two guys from the bar were happy to deal it from there, and he hoped that Patrick and Jerry would change their mind once they saw the package and could picture the extra money they all would make. But where to hide it in the mean time, and how to get the money to pay for it by the end of the week. He didn't want it in his place. Just in case. Paranoia was taking hold of him and he wanted the stuff out and away from his home. But where could he hide it? Pacing the small front room, the drawn blinds making it shadowy and claustrophobic he tried to think where to hide it, finally deciding to hide it in the men's toilet in the bar. He knew he could put it wrapped up in plastic inside one of the cisterns there until he had a chance to re talk to Patrick and Jerry and convince them to join in with the new venture and put in some cash. Pulling the blinds back he looked across at the bar to see if it was open yet, but there was no sign of the men and the door was closed, so putting the package under the sink, covered with a pile of cleaning stuff he grabbed his keys and went down the road in his truck to buy some strong weatherproof plastic and waterproof tape to secure up the package ready to put it in the cistern. * Danny sat in the cell waiting for his solicitor to appear driving up from his office over in Marbella, so that he could represent him in the interviews with the Detectives at the Ronda Police Station. He sat in the small cell on the side of the hard bed and ran his hand through his hair trying to figure out who could have possibly set fire to his club and why. He couldn't come up with anyone. He hadn't offended anyone. He'd paid his dues and kept his nose out of anyone's business. None of it made sense to him, unless it was a rival club owner trying to put him out of business. After a while the door opened and he was invited back up to the interview room where he had a half hour meeting with his solicitor. Then the meeting with the detective reconvened. "Mr Price are you acquainted with a Señor and Señora Cox who reside in Marbella." "Davy and Shirley....yes of course, they're friends of mine....you're not trying to pin this on Davy....he would never do this. Why aren't you trying to find out who did this to me. I keep telling you I had nothing to do with burning down my own club." "When was the last time you saw them?" "Davy and Shirley? Last week after they got back from Florida. We went out for a meal down in Marbella, at the fish restaurant just off Orange Square. Why do you ask?" "Can you think of anyone who may want to hurt either yourself or your friends the Cox's?" "What do you mean hurt? Are Davy and Shirley hurt? Are they Ok?" "I'm sorry to inform you that Señor and Señora Cox are dead. They died yesterday in their home, in a fire there just a couple of hours before your club was then set fire to." Danny felt the blood drain out of his face, and his body turn cold with shock, "Davy and Shirley dead, they can't be......" The Detective looked at the man in front of him, shock clearly running through him at the news of the deaths of the English couple. "Would you have any idea Señor on who would want to set fire to your club and kill the Cox's in a fire?" Shaking his head he sat there in shock, "Davy and Shirley never hurt anyone, they were just a retired couple living in Marbella....." "That's not what we understand.....I believe Señor Cox was a well known fixer for the British Community....is there someone that both you and he might have angered enough for them to set fire and kill them, and try to kill you?" Clamping his teeth together so that his jaw started to hurt Danny stared at the man sitting opposite him. The Detective continued, "Maybe someone who is tall, dark haired and according to a witness from whom he bought the fluid used to set fire to your premises; he has a vivid tattoo on his neck." Danny stared dry eyed ahead, his mind reeling with shock, 'it can't be' he thought to himself, 'he's dead....we left him dead." "Señor.....do you have any idea who this man may be?" "No....no idea...." But he knew. He knew the bastard must have survived that last knife fight with Patrick and come back for revenge....and if he was looking for revenge he knew he had to phone Patrick and Jerry as soon as he could. Rising to his feet he asked, "Can I go please....you know it wasn't me...it was some maniac that you should be looking for....so if you've finished?" "Before you go I would like to take a statement from you....please sit down Señor Price." Danny sat down looking at the watch on his wrist. He knew he had to get hold of his two friends over in Florida and warn them as soon as possible. * Patrick strolled over to open up, waving across at Juan who sat on his front steps smoking. Jerry joined him as he started to unlock the door and he remarked to his friend, "Another day, another dollar...." Looking up at the sky Jerry replied, "Wind starting to build, maybe a storm coming." "More customers then coming out of the rain...." And the two men started getting the place ready. * Megan stood rubbing the massage oil into her skin. The baby bump was getting bigger and the baby was moving more and more, making her and Jerry laugh when her tummy took on a decidedly lopsided look. Pulling on her panties and slipping on her bra, she looked down at the plump breasts that now more than filled the white lacy garment. One of the side benefits of being pregnant, Jerry loved her more full breasts, and so did she. Walking over to the window she looked out onto the street that ran down the side of the bar, watching as Jerry stepped out of the back door of the premises to put out a big bag of garbage into the large bin. As if he sensed her watching him he turned and waved, then blew a kiss up at her. Waving back she smiled, and then turned around to finish dressing. * Snake woke up slightly disorientated and then took off his crumpled clothes, walking into the bathroom of the motel bedroom and turned on the shower. After a cranking creaking noise the tepid water came out the showerhead and he stepped into the small shower unit with its mould in the corners, and the missing tiles up near the shower head and washed the sweat and grime from travelling all the way from Europe to this small motel on one of the Florida Keys dribbling off the coast of the USA. * Walking up to the bar Juan asked for a beer and put the black leather bag down next to him, "Looks like a storm Juan. You taking out anyone today?" Patrick asked. "Nah....keeping my eye on the weather though....forecast is heavy rain later on.....I might do a little repair on the boat until then." Passing the ice cold bottle across the bar Patrick nodded, "So you don't think we need to batter down the shutters....the wind is blowing up." "Nope...should blow and pass us by, looks like it's aiming for the Caribbean further South, we'll just get the tail end." Juan drank the beer down and picking up the bag told Patrick, "I'm going to the John for a piss before I go down to the boat. See you later." And he entered the men's checking to see if he was alone, taking out the plastic wrapped and sealed package from the black bag and climbing up onto the toilet pan he reached up to put it in the old fashioned cast iron cistern high up on the back wall. Bit by bit people wandered in to the bar, taking the opportunity to get out of the building wind, and about mid afternoon the rain started to come down in blinding sheets, so that by four o'clock the place was packed to the rafters and the two couples and the chef were rushed off their feet trying to keep up with the orders. * Davy finally got out the Police Station and grabbing his mobile dialled Patrick's mobile, but it just rang and rang with no answer. Trying Jerry's he got the same, it just rang. Walking up and down in the street outside the Police building in an agitated manner, causing the eyebrows of his Solicitor to rise he tried to remember the home numbers for the two couples or the bar number, as they were not programmed like the mobile numbers into the phone, but they were written down in his Filofax in his now burnt down and destroyed office in the club. Getting into his Solicitors car he kept trying to contact the two men as he was driven over to the Hotel to collect his things from the room, settle up the bill, and collect his car for the drive back to Fuengirola to see the damage to his property for himself. * In the bar the noise was heavy, the music from the speakers mingling with the laughter and sounds of people enjoying themselves, the pounding noise of the rain heavy in the background. Patrick's mobile was in the back office and Jerry's under the bar, but they never heard them ring as they moved around the buzzing bar and restaurant, the rain pouring down, the air humid and muggy, the sound of the occasional roll of thunder in the distance, as they served the customers who had escaped the deluge in the lively atmosphere of 'The Easy Escape' bar and restaurant. At one point Megan who was pouring out drinks and had sat down on the stool behind the bar to take a breather heard Jerry's mobile ring and she reached out to pick it up from where it lay on the shelf, but just then Rachel called out, "Two Rum Runners, one Bud and a Vodka shot....table four." And she wearily got up from the stool and started to prepare the round of drinks forgetting the ringing mobile. * The man answered his mobile and heard his clients voice rumble in his ear, "Meet me at The Parakeet Motel, room six in half and hour." Then the phone went dead. Sighing he knocked back the last of the beer in his glass, stood up and left the noisy bar, giving one last look at his targets as they worked the customers, and then stepped out into the pouring rain making his way quickly towards his car parked down the road. * Patrick leant over to whisper in Rachel's ear as they both stood in the kitchen waiting for the orders of Big Conch Fritters and Rum Glazed Spicy Shrimp to be dished up so they could serve them to the waiting crowd of hungry diners, "Crime is a lot easier than this....not so long hours and it pays a lot more...." "And ends up giving you a twenty spot in Wandsworth, sleeping by yourself on a hard bunk bed....keep your mind on the straight and narrow....and on the lovely money that's rolling in right now due to that heavy rain." "Yes Ma'am....three bags full Ma'am." And he took the plates of spicy smelling food and walked out to place it on the table of the four young divers who were working up a sizable drinks tab to go with the food they had ordered. * Davy looked over the charred and damaged premises, the musty smell of smoke, charred walls and furniture, and the squish of water under feet giving the place a damp and dreary feel. Turning to the fireman on his right he asked, "How long before I can get the builders in to start the repairs?" "A while Señor....after the Police teams have finished the full forensics....and the insurance assessors give the ok." Davy grunted, turned and walked out, getting the mobile from his pocket and trying for the twentieth time to get hold of Patrick and Jerry to warn them that Snake was alive and possibly coming their way. * The man pulled his car up at the run down motel about ten miles from where his targets lived and walked along the row of small bedrooms on the lower tier of the cheap holiday place. Stopping outside number six he raised his hand to knock when the door opened suddenly and his client stood there in the gloom of the dingy room, eyes glittering from some inner fire inside of him. Taking a large gulp the man stepped into the room, a feeling of unease running down his spine. Snake closed the door behind him and asked the man if he wanted a drink, then pouring out two whiskeys into two toothbrush glasses asked him, "I want you to go through with me the everyday movements and times of the people I asked you to observe. I need to know exactly what they are likely to be doing at any point of the day or night. Describe the outlay of the premises, both where they work and live, and all the surrounding area." The man nodded and got out the folder from his briefcase that he had laid down on the small round table by the window as he had come in, and taking a big sip of the warming golden liquid he told Snake, "Its all here....the first target is the one that always opens up at about eleven thirty each day, and is the last one there along with target two to lock up at about twelve thirty each night....." And Snake listened as the man rolled out all he had learnt about his targets, intent on working out the best time to strike.... * Juan shuffled back and forth on his feet nervous as the dealer he usually bought his M J from haggled on price. "I got a steady supply coming in; you have to be a fucking good price for me to be interested. How often can you get it in for me and what quality?" "Good, the qualities good...." "I don't take your fucking word for it you dickhead, I need to try a sample." "What now?" "No... fucking next year you prick....what do you think?" "I need to get it for you; I don't have it on me." "Then bring me a sample tomorrow....we'll talk cash then..." * Snake put the 'Do not disturb' sign on his door and threw the case into the back of the hire car, then climbed in to the drivers seat and pulled out of the Motel car park, driving past the investigators car where he had left it, making his way towards his last but one destination. Back in the motel room, folded up into a ball, the spare blanket that was usually kept on the top shelf of the closet thrown over him, the investigator lay slumped; his throat cut from ear to ear, the blood seeping down his body to pool around him behind the closed closet door where his body lay. Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 05 At last the final chapter in the saga of Patrick, Rachel, Jerry and Megan, and not forgetting the villain of the piece, Snake. Will he get his revenge or will the lovers manage to escape the mad man and live happily ever after. Read on and enjoy. The story Rattling Snakes Cage, part 1, 2 and 3 have been copyrighted and any reproduction or adaptation in any media form must be with the permission of the author. * The last of the customers had left, running out into the dark wet night, and Patrick kissed the back of Rachel's neck, telling her to go home whilst he and Jerry locked up, and that he would be over in about twenty minutes, so she and Megan sprinted over the road to their respective flats through the rain, and started to get ready for bed. In the men's toilet, unknown to Patrick and Jerry, Juan stood on the toilet and fished the package of coke out of the cistern, wiping it down with toilet paper and put it in the leather bag. He then stood listening at the door waiting to see if the coast was clear to leave, but Jerry was in the main area outside the toilet door gathering the last of the dirty glasses and plates from the tables. Patrick opened the back door to the bar; dragging out the bag of garbage filled with food leftovers, ready to throw it into the big dumpster near the back of the bar. He never saw the heavy piece of wood that was swung at his head from behind, knocking him to his knees, nor the second blow that knocked him out cold. Juan heard a noise outside the restroom window and stood looking through it carefully peeking out into the dark night and saw the tall figure of a man dragging the unconscious body of Patrick over to a dark MPV, and then he saw him pick up and throw the limp body into the car, before climbing in himself. Juan plastered himself against the toilet wall in fright, he thought that it was the big boys from Miami that had heard that they, Patrick, Jerry and he were muscling in on their dealers and he stared down at the black leather bag at his feet in horror. * Jerry cleared the last of the dirty glasses and realised he hadn't heard any movement from Patrick for the last ten minutes, so calling out, "Patrick....you there?" he moved towards where he had last seen his friend, through the door leading out to the back and the garbage area. As he passed through the door from the bar to the darkened area leading out to the back door he felt an arm loop around his neck and saw the knife in front of his face. "Hello Jerry, long time no see....." Jerry felt his body go cold with shock. He'd recognise that voice anywhere. "Nick is that you?" "Damn right you fucking bastard.....thought I was dead did you cunt?.....you and Patrick living it up on my money are you?....well I've come for my interest....and I intend to take it out of your hides you fuckers." Jerry asked, "What have you done with Patrick?" while wildly trying to work out what to do to get out of the situation. "He's knocked out cold in the car, tied up and secure...and you're going to join him." Pushing Jerry against the wall face first, Snake pulled Jerry's hands behind his back and secured them with plastic ties, then pushed him through the door and towards the car. Juan watched with growing horror through the men's toilet window that looked out onto the side street where the car was parked what was going on. He watched as the tall man pushed Jerry into the inside of the car and then as he lent in, doing something to the secured man. Then Juan sank down onto the floor of the toilet, shaking, unsure what to do next. * Megan wondered what was taking Jerry so long and looked out of the window, just as a tall and very intense looking man strode across the road towards Patrick's and Rachel's front door. She watched as he unlocked the front door to the flat with a key, and seemed to stealthily slink in. Grabbing her towelling robe and tying it over her swollen pregnant belly she ran down the stairs and poked her head out of the door, just as a scared looking Juan ran across the road towards his truck and climbed in. Running over to where he was parked she stood at his window knocking on it as he started the truck. "Juan....where's Jerry...who was that going into Patrick and Rachel's place?" "Get out the way Megan..." and he took off the handbrake, meaning to drive as far away as possible. Opening the truck door she reached over and turned off the ignition. "What's the hell is going on...answer me, where's Jerry? Who was that going into Patrick's place?" "Get in the truck Megan....NOW." and Juan slid down in his seat trying to hide, as Megan went around the front of the vehicle and climbed in. "Get down and shut up....we don't want him to see us." "Who?" but she slid down, keeping her eyes on the front door of where the man had entered. "He's come for us...he's from Miami...he's going to wipe us out..." "Wipe us out...what do you mean?" "It's the coke....the cocaine...he probably works for the big boys up there....Patrick warned me but I didn't listen....its all happening so fast....he's got Patrick and Jerry in his car....I saw him carry Patrick's body into the car...." She grabbed his arm and asked in an urgent voice, "What do you mean Patrick's body, Jerry, is he alright? He's not.....?" "No...not yet...I don't think...but I'm not letting him get me as well...we can get away...." Megan looked at him as if he was mad, "Get away....not without my man I'm not...where's your mobile, we can phone the police." Juan looked at her and frantically hissed, "No we can't....there's a package of coke in the men's toilets and if the police come you can say goodbye to Jerry for the next thirty years anyway." "In that case it's down to us to rescue them." "Are you mad?" Grabbing his crotch and tightening her hold on his balls she ground between gritted teeth, "Don't mess with a pregnant hormonal lady Juan, we can be very unpredictable when protecting the father of our child...we're going to rescue Patrick and Jerry or you'll never get to use your dangly bits ever again after I've finished with them. I promise you that." * Rachel sank down onto the bed in shock, gasping out, "You're dead!" Snake smiled a wicked smile, "As you can see, I'm very much alive..." "But I stabbed you...killed you." Walking over and standing over her as she looked up in horror at him he told her, "After I've finished with you and those two fuckers you'll pray you were dead." Rachel started to scoot backwards in fear over the bed trying to get away from him. But he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back towards him, "Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have time to fuck you Rachel, I'm on a tight schedule. Get some clothes on; we're going for a ride." Grabbing a tee shirt and pulling on her jeans she turned round to face him, "What have you done with Patrick? Have you hurt him.....why don't you leave us alone...that cocaine that Patrick stole was part his anyway...you were supposed to be partners..." "If it was partly his why did he steal it?" "To get away from you...to start a new life away from all the violence." "Well it didn't work did it? Patrick's alive, probably going to have a hell of a headache when he comes 'round. Now get a fucking move on." And he grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back and holding a knife up to her side, "This is what we're going to do...you are going to walk along with me...keeping your mouth shut...get into the car and then lay down on the floor with your hands behind your back....if you make one squeak, try to run or get anyone's attention I will go into the car and cut your lover boy's bollocks off....do I make myself clear?" Pulling up on the twisted arm caused a shock of pain to run up her shoulder and arm and she hissed "Yesss..." through gritted teeth. "Good..now lets get going." Snake pushed her down the stairs and out the door, "Remember, walk as if you're happy to be with me...smile." They walked passed the truck that Megan and Juan were hunkered down in, across the street and towards the side street that his car, with Patrick and Jerry tied up and gagged lay inside. Drunken people walked by coming down from the Jazz club up the road, and a man stood with his dog on a lead while the animal stood peeing against a lamppost, but Rachel stared ahead never seeing them. Her heart beat heavy in her chest, scared about what was going to happen to them all once they were in his car, and at his complete mercy. * Megan and Juan peeped through the window of the truck trying not to be seen and watched as Rachel and the tall man walked across the main drag and into the side street. "Get ready to start the motor Juan, where ever he's going to take them we're following." "WHAT!....you really are crazy! I'm not following a fucking hit man." "Do what I say, or I promise you that what I will do to you will be a lot worse than he can ever do." Juan stared at her and muttered, "And you look like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth." "Just get the truck going as soon as he moves off, keep the lights off so he doesn't see us, and keep well back." "God help me from women that watch too much TV Police shows, we're not in a fucking episode of Law and Order." "Just shut up and let's get going. We're going to save my Ethan's daddy." Watching as the MPV drove off, Juan sat up and turned on the ignition, before pulling out into the street and following at a respectable distance. "Ethan?" "It's the name of my baby...." "Ethan....why Ethan?" "Ever seen the movie Fargo?" "Yeah...." "Burn After Reading?" "Yeah...." "Ethan Coen....brilliant film maker....." "You know Megan.....you're full of surprises." "Just remember that and keep your eyes on the car in front..... and don't let him see us." * Rachel lay on her side, her hands secured behind her back, her ankles tied together, and the cloth gag in her mouth tasting foul. She stared across at Jerry who lay opposite her, similarly secured and read the apology in his eyes through his glasses as he looked back at her. Raising her head as much as she could she stared at the prone body of Patrick as he lay there, secured, his eyes closed, and unconscious. The tears flooded her eyes. It hurt her to see him like this, and she was worried that he had already been too badly injured by the crazy Snake who was driving the car whilst singing along to the music on the radio up front, as if he didn't have three trussed up people in the back of his car. Lowering her head she lay, the car moving along closer to whatever destiny and hell Snake had planned for them. There seemed no escaping it this time. * Megan and Juan followed the large MPV as it made its way Northwards up the string of Keys towards the mainland. There was a heavy ball of worry and dread in his stomach and every so often he glanced across at Megan who sat on the edge of her seat staring ahead as if she were to look away from the car in the distance they were following, it would disappear for ever. "Put your seat belt on Megan, just in case...." Sitting back and pulling it across her swollen belly she told him, "What weapons have you got on you...?" "Weapons? I don't have any weapons." "You must have something...." "I don't carry a gun if that's what you mean?" "What's in the back of the truck?" "Some diving gear...some fishing stuff." "Like what...anything we can use as a weapon? Think, what have you got?" Juan thought for a while and then smiled, "I've got an old boning hook and an inline circle hook amongst the stuff back there. Nasty things if you get them hooked into you, especially the circle hook. Once it's in the flesh it has a barb that will rip as it comes out. Put it on a coil of rope or fishing wire and it could be a good weapon." "Now you're talking Juan...." "But they're still not going to save us against a gun." * After about an hour Rachel heard a groan from Patrick and both she and Jerry turned as much as they could to watch him as he rose up from unconsciousness to consciousness. They watched as he groaned again and moved his head a tiny amount, then as his eyes flickered open. They were glazed, and open only a slit before they closed again. Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, at least he was alive, but he might have concussion which she worried about. She stared at him as he lay there, his eyes closed, but the occasional moan rumbling from his throat and chest, obviously in pain. * Patrick lay on his back, the pain in the back of his head thrumming with every pump of blood as it flowed through his pulse points there, his arms and shoulders felt like splinters were poked into his muscles and his hands hurt, especially his wrists. He couldn't think straight, the pain in his head hurt too much, and gradually he surfaced more and more into realisation that he was bound and gagged, and the last thing he remembered was going to put the garbage out and then a blinding pain in the back of his head. Slowly opening his eyes again he moved his head, trying to ignore the pain that exploded with the movement and saw Jerry laying next to him, also gagged, the blond man watching him with worry. A movement behind Jerry caught his eye and then he saw Rachel, the cloth gag wrapped around her face, her sweet eyes looking at him with worry. He felt the movement of the car under him and the street lights flashing by and he gradually sunk back down into unconsciousness as the pain in his head overwhelmed him. * "Where do you think he's taking them?" Megan asked. "I don't know.....maybe Miami." "No look, he's turning off. The sign says Everglades.....he's heading towards the Everglades..." "Shit, shit, shit..." "What?" "Ever heard the phrase 'swimming with the fishes'." "No..." "Well I have a feeling what he's going to do is send them to 'swim with the alligators'." * After a while Snake pulled up near a boat hire place deep down a dusty road in the Everglades. He turned off the ignition and turned around in his seat to look down at the three people lying in the back of the car on the turned down seats. "Hope you enjoyed the ride." Climbing out of the front and into the back he jerked up Patrick, slapping his face, "Come on you pile of shit, wake up." Patrick's eyes opened and, seeing who was holding him, slumped up against the inside of the car door, He suddenly realised that time had run out for Jerry, Rachel and himself. Snake smiled an evil parody of a smile, "Glad to see you're awake at last....let me tell you what fun I've got planned." And he sat down amongst the three captives who looked at him with absolute horror. "See I've been planning and dreaming of this for over two years....I ran through a lot of different scenarios...I could beat seven shades of shit out of you all before topping you... but that would mean me expending too much energy and too much mess...I could fucking shoot you....knee caps first, then bollocks, then hands and so on, but too much blood and I would still have to get rid of the bodies. So I thought to myself what could I do to prolong the agony, get my revenge and fun and still make sure there is no sign of you left for the cops to do a murder enquiry on....don't want them to trace it back to me. So here's the plan.....Patrick I'm going to let you watch as I feed your woman here to the Alligators, feet first, bit by bit. Then Jerry.....then when they've taken him under and done their death roll with him in their mouths, and both have totally disappeared, eaten by the beasts, with any leftovers at the bottom of the water and tangled in the grass of the Everglades I'm going to hang your legs over the side and let them take you....It should be a long and painful end." Patrick tried to shout through the gag....he wanted for Nick to let Rachel go...show her some mercy, but the cloth in his mouth muffled what he was trying to say. "What's that Patrick? Begging for mercy....tough shit....you fucking stole from me....burnt down my business...lost me face in South East London....stabbed me...left me for dead....you think I'm going to come this far after dreaming of revenge for over two years and let you walk....think on." And he climbed out the car and walked over to the dark wooden hut that stood near a wooden jetty that five boats were tied up to and broke the window with a large stone he had found on the floor. Knocking out the rest of the glass with his elbow he reached in and opened the window fully before climbing in. Grabbing a key from the board he climbed back out and walked over to the boats looking at the number on the key tag and matching it up with a boat. Striding over to a large metal drum he took off the lid and grabbing a plastic bucket next to it he scooped up a pile of meat scraps used as bait chum and placed it in the boat. Next he walked back to the car and pulling Rachel out by under her arms dragged her over towards the jetty and the boat. * Crouched behind a bush up the road, Juan and Megan watched as Snake dragged first Rachel, then Jerry and then finally a fairly limp Patrick out the car, up the jetty and into the boat. Juan ran back quietly to the truck where it was parked further back, grabbed the two hooks and rope and then back to where Megan knelt, the hem of the dark blue towelling robe bunched around her on the ground. Getting down close to her he whispered in her ear, "This is the plan....." and proceeded to explain what he was going to do." * Snake started the outboard motor at the back of the boat and steered the vessel out into the darkness into a narrow channel with large thick Everglade tall grass each side of the water. Juan waited until he was sure he wouldn't be seen and ran to the hut, climbing through the window and grabbing a key. Getting out and going over to the corresponding boat he climbed in then helped Megan, still wrapped in the towelling robe, her large pregnant belly barely covered by the cloth, to get into the boat with him. Laying down the hooks that were now attached to the thin rope coils, he started the boats outboard and steered it to follow where the other boat had disappeared. The sounds of the night were frightening, with clicks and chirps, hoots and splashes making Megan sit very still in the centre of the boat, but her resolve never wavered as they crept forward following the noise up ahead of the other vessel, but keeping far enough behind as not to be seen or heard. * Eventually Snake steered the boat into an area that was a wider channel and stopped it, shutting down the outboard. Megan and Juan had to stop theirs before he heard them, and they drifted over to some weeds where they stayed, their view of the others slightly obscured by the tall grass and weeds. "What's he doing?" she hissed at Juan who stood looking, the darkness only lit by the moon, the slight rain left over from the storm soaking him and Megan as they waited. "He's leaning over them at the moment...I can't make out what he's doing." * Scooping some water from beside the boat in his hand Snake threw it in Patrick's face, "Come on you bugger, wake up more, I want you to be alert and awake to watch this." Patrick felt the cold water hit his face and opened his eyes, his head was still pounding and slightly fuzzy, his first thought was trying to work out how to get out what was happening and save Rachel. Using his feet which were tied together he jerked them towards Snake, kicking him slightly sideways. But it wasn't hard enough to topple him backwards and Snake straightened himself and slapped Patrick hard across the face, making sharp shards of pain to run through his head. "Just for that Patrick I'm going to make sure when your time comes to be fed to those monsters it's nice and slow, and very very painful." And he reached over and took the smelly bucket of meat cuts and tossed the contents into the water, "Just wait and watch." he told the three trussed up captives in the boat, "It shouldn't take too long...." Rattling Snakes Cage 3 Ch. 05 After three or four minutes there was a movement in the water as the long hard back of an enormous Alligator swam up and then a rush of water as the beast grabbed a chunk of meat in its mouth and with a swish moved away. Along the channel of water more long dark objects could be made out gliding towards them. "Ahhh, my accomplices have arrived...." And Snake laughed as Jerry, Patrick and Rachel stared down at the water before Rachel started to cry in earnest and Patrick grunted through the gag, cursing Snake and bellowing behind the cloth. * Juan told Megan to get ready in a low quiet growl, and picked up the coiled rope with the inline circle hook tied onto it with a good sturdy knot, and spread his legs to make sure he was solid on the floor of the boat. * Snake turned to Rachel, "Oh well my sweet.....fond memories and all that....but its time to say goodbye..." and he picked up the struggling Rachel who was crying and squeaking, and prepared to hang her over the side to where a few more Alligators had gathered to eat the thrown meat that now floated on the surface of the water next to the boat. * Megan started the outboard and aimed the boat straight at Snake as he started to manoeuvre Rachel's struggling and twisting body over the side. Snake heard the noise behind him and straightened up; leaving a sobbing Rachel with her feet slightly hanging over the edge of the boat to see what was at the rear of him. Juan swung the rope with the hook around and around over his head getting momentum, easing out the rope to get a longer and longer length as Megan aimed the boat straight at Snake. When they were close enough Juan threw the hook out, encircling Snake so that the rope wrapped itself around his shoulders and the wicked sharp hook embedded itself into the side of his bicep, causing the man to scream out with pain and shock into the night. Juan pulled on his end of the rope as Megan drove the boat straight into Snakes, causing him to lose his balance and the taut rope pulled him over the side into the water. A floundering and screaming Snake struggled in the water, inhibited in getting his arms free by the hook and the rope entangled around him. An enormous Alligator slithered over, grabbed him in its open jaws and then twisted around in its death roll, pulling Snake down into the water as his screams rented the night air. The occupants of the two boats watched with morbid fascination as the churning water eventually became calm as the large animals swam away with their catch.....Snake was finally no more.... * Jumping from their boat into the other one, Juan bent over and pulled Rachel's feet into the boat and then un-gagged her, before undoing her hands and feet. As soon as she was free she moved over to Patrick, releasing him and hugging him, crying in earnest. Patrick held her in his arms, kissing her and telling her it was all over. As soon as Jerry was free he clambered from his boat over to Megan and hugged her, kissing her, murmuring into her ear that she was so brave and he loved her so much. They were all safe....at last. * Back at the bar they all had some stiff drinks, the drive back in Juan's truck had been quiet and subdued, but now they were discussing the possible repercussions. "His hire car will be found tomorrow....our DNA is in the back." "Yeah...but why worry.....they'll be looking around that area...if they find any of Snakes remains they will think we're possibly also down there....dead, besides they'll be looking for other people, not us.... who we used to be....we're here with different names, completely different identities, miles away, no reason they'll tie it up to us." "Maybe not...." Juan asked "You knew that guy?" "That Juan is why we're out here in the Keys....and why I told you to keep away from dealing in drugs." Juan explained about the stuff still in the toilet and Patrick told him to get it out and give it back to the contact....to stay alive and well. Just then the sound of the mobile went off from behind the bar. Walking over to answer it, Jerry heard Danny's frantic voice telling him to be careful that Snake was alive and coming over to get them and that he had already killed Davy and Shirley. Jerry told Davy that Snake was gone, and how, and asked what had happened to their friends. Once he had put the phone down he relayed the sad news to the rest, and Megan burst into tears after hearing that her good friend was dead and how she had died. After thanking the young man for saving their lives Patrick explained that if they are traced by the Police from the DNA they wouldn't mention him, if he kept quiet about their secret so they could continue to live here under their new identities. They shook on the deal and Juan took his package of drugs and left, before the other two couples locked up the bar and walked over the road to their respective apartments. Jerry told Patrick that he would place a sign on the bar saying that it would be closed today due to a death in the family and the two couples hugged before going up to their respective apartments. * Rocking Megan in his arms whilst sitting on the edge of the bed Jerry told her, "There's probably something I ought to tell you about my past." "No need," she whispered, "I don't need to know you're a good man, but that you sometimes go astray a little, especially in the past, but I love you and you're the father of my child and that's good enough for me." Kissing her and hugging her to him he laughed, "You were magnificent. When I saw you in the boat coming straight at us, your wet hair plastered to your face, your belly sticking out from inside your robe, the look on your face like a warrior, I thought I had never seen anyone so remarkable and sexy at the same time. You saved my life." "Does that mean you owe me a favour?" "Big time....anything." "We name the baby Ethan..." "Deal...lets just hope it's not a girl!" * Sitting in the kitchen in their home, Patrick and Rachel sat talking quietly, Patrick holding a bag of frozen peas to the lump at the back of his head. "I nearly died when I saw you lying unconscious on the floor of the car...I thought at first he had killed you." Rachel told him. "Somehow I'm always injured or beaten up at certain critical times in our life. Not much of a hero, when I always have to be rescued." "But such a cute and sexy anti hero, it's definitely been an interesting and eventful three years. Life's never normal around you." "Maybe you should write it all down in the form of a novel. You know, a romantic crime thriller.....lots of murder and mayhem...lovers that the baddie tries to keep apart....a prison escape....some very hot and steamy sex, and lots of colourful characters." "No one would ever believe it...." "Give it a try...you never know...could be a best seller...or even made into a TV drama....or a film. Just change our names so no-one guesses who we are or where we're hiding out.....and make me better looking and sexy than I really am." Standing up and walking around the table to sit on his lap she took the bag of peas from him and put them on the table behind her, then circled her arms around his neck and kissed him, "To me you are good looking and very sexy, and what do you think of the name Patrick for you in the book....I've always liked that name?" "Mmmm.....and how about Rachel for you?" "Patrick and Rachel's romantic adventure and how they rattled the Snakes cage....I'll start writing it tomorrow." "You do that....but for tonight I intend to bury myself deep inside you." And Patrick picked her up in his arms and made for the bedroom and a night of that hot and steamy sex that all readers like to read about." * The End.......definitely.