Lana

Both Windy and Alex knew Jimmy found Lana. The short man Fromanger also knew one thing; these people were not who they said they were and he bolted for the door.

Windy blocked his way but the leader of the longshoremen had his gun and drew it on her. "Federal agents, I suspect? You know you gained entry illegally and all the evidence you found is inadmissible..."

"Shut the fuck up you little piss hole of a man!"

"Just because you are a lady doesn't mean I won't shoot you!" Fromanger became very nervous and shot his pistol into the air. He had men to do this kind of work for him.

The door Windy blocked flew open and her momentum sent her into Fromanger who still had his pistol above his head. She ripped it from his stubby fingers and used him as a human shield.

"Jimmy, we have company!"

Killer, Ray, and Carol rushed in with guns drawn. Their attention is directed to their boss and Windy.

"You are a dead lady. I have thirty men guarding this place." Fromanger tried to free himself from Windy's grip.

"Yeah, how many know what they are guarding? These clowns here and a handful of others?" Windy continued changing angles as the men tried to flank her.

"They work for me. They don't care what's inside these walls." Fromanger laughed.

Alex has never been a fighter and feared guns. Jimmy made his way around the cages and met up with him trying to stay out of sight.

Jimmy slowly approached Alex from behind. "Alex, it's me." He whispered.

Along the way, Jimmy picked up a push broom and a shovel. "Take your pick, Alex."

Alex frowned at Jimmy and chose the shovel then caught a whiff of the odor emanating from it that made him cough. "Shit."

The cough had captured Ray's attention. "Carol, Lawrence." He just tilted his head suggesting they check out the noise.

"There are two bastards back there!" Fromanger squealed.

"Get behind me, Alex." Jimmy snapped the push broom off at the brush head and picked up both pieces. It smelled as bad as the shovel and made them both gag. "Christ, I can only imagine what this smell is from."

"Fuck, I see them!" Alex watched through the cage.

Jimmy raced to the end to meet the first man, Lawrence. He threw the brush head at his handgun just to get him to aim away from him. Then he stabbed at the small-time hood with the jagged end of the broom handle penetrating his shoulder.

"Arrrrrgh," Lawrence screamed, snapped the broom handle in half, and fell forward into Jimmy's left hand. Killer's legs buckled as Alex ran past him and Jimmy with the shovel raised.

"Alex!" Jimmy yelled as his friend passed him.

With Carol readying to fire on a charging Alex Jimmy reared back and threw the last part of broom at the unsuspecting bodyguard.

The handle glanced off the left side of Ray's head allowing the small pickpocket time to knock the gun from his hands as he fired. The thirty-eight caliber bullet went through Alex's calf muscle. "Arrrrrgh son of a bitch!"

Jimmy rushed Carol and ran him into the wall with an elbow to the chin. Jimmy gave up forty pounds to the larger man but Lana consumed his mind. He thought I don't have time for this.

Jimmy noticed Carol reach behind his back and he quickly pounded the bodyguard's shoulder. The man reached back a second time, Jimmy loaded up on his left hand and delivered the hardest left cross he has thrown in his life.

The bodyguard shook his head and fell to the floor unable to protect his face from the impact. Jimmy looked at Windy who briefly looked back at him and mouthed one word. "Go."

Jimmy kicked Carol's gun to Alex who sat up against the wall and took aim at Ray. "Hey, Asshole!"

Ray looked at Alex. "I will get to you."

Jimmy looked at a small closet door in search of anything to help him get to Lana. Then a shot rang out. "Windy!"

Jimmy ran back to the front of the storage bay. Fromanger fell to one knee then rolled over onto his back. "What the fuck happened?"

"He just shot him!" Alex yelled. Blood began pooling around Fromanger as Windy and Ray were in an old-fashioned standoff both pointing guns at each other.

"Lay it down!" Ray yelled trying to scare Windy into relenting.

"Give it up." Windy did not waiver.

Jimmy motioned for Alex to give up the handgun. He took it and immediately shot Ray in the right knee. "Lay the gun down!"

"Fuck you..." Ray raised his gun again and Jimmy fired again with the bullet destroying the bodyguard's shoulder. The handgun slipped from his hand.

Jimmy looked down. "No, fuck you."

Ray laughed. "They are going to rain down hell on you."

"Who?"

"Fuck you!" He laughed again.

"I think he means the armed guards." Windy checked the window. "And they are on the way. Now!"

"You're dead. You are all dead!" Ray laughed again.

Jimmy walked by and kicked Ray in the head, knocking him out. "Windy, can you buy us some time?"

Windy grabbed Ray's gun. "Trust me, Jimmy. Now get Lana!"

"Alex, call Detective Gennery! Tell him exactly where we are!"

"Got it, Jimmy." Alex did as he asked. "He's already on his way. He said to hang on."

"Jimmy." Windy pointed to the keyring on Fromanger's belt.

"Thanks, Win!" Jimmy tore the keys from the belt and ran for the cage Lana was being held. He tried key after key and felt the frustration and his blood pressure rise with each key. "Fuck me. Come on, work damnit!"

A weak voice called out. "Jimmy?"

"Lana! Lana!" He fumbled with the keys and tried the keys a second time.

"Jimmy, I...I..." Lana's voice faded.

"Lana? Lana hang on, Beautiful!" Jimmy slipped one last key in and turned. It opened! He pulled the lockdown and tore it from the latch. "Lana!"

Jimmy pulled the door open and made his way to his girlfriend. Her eyes were closed as he knelt at her side and pulled the cover back exposing bruised shoulders and legs.

"No no no no! Jimmy laid her on her back placed two fingers to the side of her neck. He could not feel her pulse. "Baby!"

He positioned Lana and began chest compressions to attempt to bring her back. "Come on, Baby!" Jimmy blew air into her lungs then felt for a pulse.

The young woman next to Lana pulled her body to a seated position. "She always knew you would come. She believed in you."

Jimmy looked at the young woman then continued the emergency resuscitation but life had left Lana's body. After some time he gave up trying to extend his girlfriend's life.

Jimmy laid beside the woman he loved and hid his eyes that were now releasing a salty flow.

His mind drifted to the last time they laid quietly in bed that Tuesday morning.

"Hey Honey, do you want kids?" Lana kissed Jimmy.

"Babe, you control that. Do you want kids?"

"Jimmy, don't do that. Do you want kids?"

"No," Jimmy answered Lana.

"What? Why?"

"I don't want kids. I just need one child."

Lana laughed, "a boy?"

"Uh uh. A girl."

"A girl?"

"Of course, a girl. Only a girl will change this world."

"You really believe that?"

"Babe, if she is anything like you, she will make this world a better place."

"Jimmy, stop."

"Babe. I love you."

"Awww Honey, I have never been more in love than I am today."

"I believe you, Babe."

"Just kiss me already."

"Jimmy?"

The young woman seated beside Lana broke the silence. "You must be Jimmy."

He wiped the tears from his eyes and slowly sat up and leaned against the cage. "She spoke to you?"

"Whenever she woke up."

"Did she say anything about what happened to her?"

"That man had to be a pervert. Look at her poor body."

"Fucking bastard. I will hunt this man and introduce him to his maker."

"Could you save us first?" The young woman asked.

Jimmy took a closer look at the young woman. Her eyes appeared unable to focus. "How long have you been here?"

Her scratchy voice lacked any moisture. "Too long! Over a week."

"You're all dying!" Jimmy yelled to Alex. "Alex! Call Gennery to bring ambulances. These women are starving!" He turned to the young woman. "I will get you some water."

Jimmy heard shots in the distance. "Win? What's happening?" He quickly made his way to the doors Windy had barricaded. "Alex, are you okay?"

Alex gave a thumbs up to Jimmy.

"Looks like SWAT is outside." Windy looked at Jimmy. "Lana?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Awww, Jimmy." Windy hugged her friend.

"Any water around here? These people are dehydrated and starving."

"And that smell? That smell is death. Isn't it?"

Jimmy nodded to confirm Windy's statement. "Who the fuck does this to people?"

"Check my bag for a bottle of water."

Jimmy found the bottled water and made his way back to the young woman. He handed the bottle to her and sat beside Lana once again and gently moved the hair from her face.

"Jimmy, Gennery is here! He's not alone."

Jimmy kissed Lana on her forehead and headed back to Windy and Alex.