The Devil's Captive

By Larry Ware

Mike Quinn's pregnant wife, Nicole is taken hostage along with three other women in a deadly bank robbery in Omaha, Nebraska in the summer of 1977. To add to his anguish Quinn soon learns that one of the bank robbers is his antagonist, Wei Tu, from Vietnam when he was a prisoner of war. Knowing how sadistic he is, Quinn doesn't wait for the authorities to find his wife. He follows their trail and on it encounters shocking surprises. In a skirmish he rescues Nicole, but in the explosive chaos that follows, she once again is taken. Again he follows and finally at the end of a bloody trail, he finds her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Ware
• Release date: May 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301215836

Larry Ware

Larry Ware is the author of The Devil's Captive, Dangerous Times and Sanctuary. Born in Pennsylvania, he left there at age eight for California then on to Washington and then back to Pennsylvania where he finished high school and his first year of college. He enlisted for four years in the US Air Force which took him from training in Texas to two cold winters in New Hampshire and then for one year in a desert in North Africa. The last part of his enlistment was spent in Omaha, Nebraska where he met a girl and when out, they were married. They raised four children while he worked as a Sales Engineer. His work took him all across the United States and Canada. Business also took him to Germany and South Korea. The places and people he has met has given him many story ideas. He is currently at work on his fourth novel, a thriller set in Washington, D.C.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Mike Quinn felt something cold and wet rub across his naked chest. He bolted awake and his muscular body tensed for action. He made a quick scan around the darkened bedroom.

Sergeant Tu, he hissed, come out of the dark and face me.

A gust of wind came through the open window and blew rain and something damp against his side. He turned to face the danger.

He let out a deep breath; it was only the curtains.

Quinn listened for a few minutes, but the only sounds in the night were the wind and rain outside and the rhythmic sleep sounds of Nicole.

He went into the bathroom and got a towel and wiped the sweat and rain from his body. He went back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.

The nightmare he was abruptly awakened from was the same one he’s had for the last four years since his return from Camp Hell in North Vietnam.

His hands were tied to a tree limb and his feet were just inches from the ground. He was being beaten by the sadistic devil Sergeant Wei Tu. After Tu tired of beating him with his ever present riding crop, he pulled the only picture he had of Nicole out of his pocket. He took his knife and cut it up in pieces, dropped them to the ground then stomped them into the dirt. Lighting fast, Tu took his knife and cut him from above his nose, across his brow and down to the edge of his eye. Tu let out a loud high pitch girly screech that he called a laugh and said he wouldn’t need the picture anymore after he cut both his eyes out.

The wind again blew the curtains in against him and brought him back to the present.

Nicole turned over and the covers slid off her. He looked at her naked body. Her honey blonde hair covered her milky white shoulders. He ran his hand lightly over her back; it was smooth and soft like a baby’s. Her skin was always soft to the touch, but it seemed much softer since she became pregnant.

He pulled the covers up over her shoulder. As he moved her hair out of her face her soft blue eyes fluttered open. The glow that was there when they had made love was still there.

Morning, she said in a sultry voice. She touched his cheek with her long fingers. You’re sweating darling, what’s the matter?

Nothing, the wind woke me up and when I went to shut the window I got rained on.

She reached out her hand. Come here, she patted the bed next to her.

When he was next to her, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her swollen stomach.

Feel him, he’s active this morning.

It was a little kick, he pulled his hand away. Does it hurt?

No silly, she put his hand back. It’s wonderful knowing I have our child inside me.

He smiled and gently rubbed her belly. He kissed her belly then worked his way up to her warm moist lips.

Nicole was at the toaster when he entered the kitchen. He went over and put his arms around and cupped her firm breasts in his hands and buried his face in her hair. You feel so good. She turned and kissed him softly on the lips letting her tongue dart into his mouth.

I’d sure love to stay home with you this morning, but I’m sorry to say I really have to get to a meeting with a client this morning at our office.

She put her finger on his lips. And I, my darling, also have a very busy day. I have be at the doctor’s this morning for my six month checkup and after that I’m off to the bank to deposit our hard earned money and make the house payment. Then I’m off to pick up stain so you can finish the baby’s crib. After all that I’m going to meet your mother for lunch and then we are going shopping for baby things.

He looked at his watch, I need to get moving, I’ll get my jacket and meet you at the door.

As always, when he went off to work, Nicole was standing by the door. It was a ritual she started when she became pregnant. He knew she would stay there until he turned the corner and was out of sight.

Call and let me know what the doctor has to say about my two favorite people.

I will darling.

He patted her belly and kissed her. Her kiss was soft and sweet, he hated to leave.

Tonight for supper I’m going to fix all your favorites and the dessert will be a surprise.

"I’ll make sure I leave work on time, your surprises are always a delight. He kissed her one more time.

As he turned the corner, he waved. He shivered as a chill went through him and it wasn’t from the rain that was still falling. Something wasn’t right and it was upsetting him that he couldn’t put a finger on it. It was the same kind of feeling he had in Vietnam when he was out on patrol in the jungle, just before an ambush.

Chapter 2

Nicole returned Mike’s wave as he rounded the corner. When he was out of sight she went back to the kitchen.

She knew something was bothering Mike and the only thing she could think of was that he had another nightmare. As far as she knew he hasn’t had one in months. He had some bad nights here and there but nothing like the first year after he came back from Vietnam. Those were rough times for the both of them, but they got through it all and she would make sure they do again.

She thought about checking his journal and went to his desk in the den. When she checked the entries for the past week she found nothing out of the ordinary. She felt relieved and sat down at his desk and thumbed back through the familiar pages.

Mike called it his journal; he didn’t like to call it a diary because a diary wasn’t something you shared. He had started it soon after returning from Vietnam. She remembered so well the first time he let her read it. It was a week before their wedding.

He had said, All the time I was a prisoner in Vietnam, thoughts of you gave me the strength to endure the pain and the hardships. You were the center of my life then and you are the center of my life now and forever. I want to share with you the feelings I have now and in the future.

She cried then and tears came to her eyes now. It was still hard to believe how cruel and inhumane Mike and his best friend Jeff Swanson and the other POW’s were mistreated. It was so hard to believe such things could happen in this modern world.

After closing the journal she sat back and looked at the wooden gun cabinets that lined the walls of the den. Mike loved to collect guns and Jeff Swanson in his travels with his International Security Company loved to add to Mike’s collection.

Guns weren’t new to Mike; he has always been a gun nut. He especially enjoyed the ROTC competition shooting he did when they were in college.

Before he and Jeff Swanson went on active duty in the Army, he always looked forward to hunting season. Now, since coming back from Vietnam, he has turned down all invitations to go hunting. He told her that he didn’t want anything to do with killing another living thing. He said he had enough of death in Vietnam to last a lifetime.

The den has gotten too crowded, she was glad that Mike had decided to finish off a room in the basement for his gun cabinets.

Hugo Miller, the driver of a Dodge Van, turned off the street and into the parking lot of the bank. Sitting beside him was Ernst Erhard, who was slowly scanning the area. He selected the spot where he wanted to park and told Miller.

Erhard looked at his watch then turned to face the two men who sat behind him.

We have time, he said in a deep husky voice, before Wei’s Van gets here. Let’s go over your jobs one more time. You go first Gallagher. He poked his finger in Gallagher’s chest. Keep it brief for a change.

Yes comrade Erhard, he said with a thick Irish brogue. When the other Van gets here it’s my signal to enter the bank. I ask to open a checking and savings account. My job is then to keep busy with that until Klausner and Garcia come into the bank and take out the Receptionist. That’s my signal to shoot whoever is waiting on me.

Good, so far Gallagher.

My job then is to check out the rest of the bank and account for all ten employees. That done I’m to help carry out the money.

That’s right Gallagher. Now it’s your turn Robinson. Erhard looked at the young black man seated behind the driver. What’s your job?

I follow Gallagher one minute after he enters the bank. I immediately inquire about requesting a business loan. When I see Klausner and Garcia enter the bank, that’s my signal to shoot the loan officer. I then go with Klausner to take out the drive-in tellers and then get their cash and take it out to the Van.

Very good Robinson, now it’s your turn Miller. Erhard looked at the stocky driver next to him.

Keep watch outside, he picked up a small hand held radio. Click twice, that’s the signal if there is a problem outside. Use this if needed. He patted the sound suppressor end of the Uzi that was on his lap. I have the Van ready for a quick departure.

You will do well as always Miller. Erhard saw the slight nod Hugo Miller made. As usual he didn’t expect any other sign of emotion from the slow-witted East German, only blind obedience as he’s done for the past four years they have been together.

Make a final check of your weapons, Erhard said as he adjusted his shoulder holster under his sport coat. Make sure your sound suppressors are on your weapons.

While making their final checks Erhard saw a familiar Ford Van enter the parking lot of the bank.

Okay Gallagher, they are here on schedule, get ready.

Erhard watched Gallagher place his Uzi in an attaché case, close it and get out of the Van. Erhard looked at his watch when Gallagher entered the bank.

Okay I’m going in now, said Erhard.

The Ford Van pulled into the space on the right side of Erhard’s Van. The driver’s looked at each other and nodded.

That’s the signal, everything goes as planned, said the oriental accented Wei from his seat in the back to the two men in front. It won’t be long now.

Yes comrade Wei, the two men said in unison.

Wei watched Robinson get out of the other Van. He was amazed at the transformation. With the dark business suit and the clean cut haircut, he looked the part of a young business man going for a loan. It wasn’t too long ago, with his afro hairdo, that he looked just like one of the other black gang members they had recruited from the inter city slums.

Robinson was different, he had promise. He had a record for ruthlessness when he was on the streets. His gang name was ‘The Eliminator.’ It fit him perfectly. On the previous three missions that he took him on, he could be counted on and he didn’t hesitate when ordered to eliminate someone. He was his kind of man.

Albert Klausner, his driver, interrupted Wei’s thoughts.

Comrade Wei it is about time.

Good, Klausner you and Garcia go in the bank in two minutes.

Wei looked at Klausner. One of his large hands was on the steering wheel and the other on his pistol. He was always ready for anything. He sometimes thought that Erhard had recruited Klausner from the Red Army Faction, not because he had been active and loyal, but that he looked like him. Up close one can see the obvious age difference and the jagged scar on Erhard’s face, but far off it would be hard to tell them apart. Knowing how cunning his friend Erhard was, he knew he would have use for that likeness someday.

Look Albert, said Jose Garcia as he pulled at his mustache and pointed to a woman who had just gotten out of a jeep.

Wei watched the Cuban as he made noises and gestures at her then blew her a kiss. His obscene talk was the limit; he didn’t want Garcia to scare her off. He was going to intervene, but the woman proceeded towards the bank so he kept his mouth shut for now

With Ernst Erhard’s long strides he was at the bank door quickly. His big fist pushed the door open as his eyes scanned the area. The bank guard was off to his left talking to a customer and the tellers were all busy. Everything looked in order. He went straight over to the counter.

He picked up a withdrawal slip and smiled to himself as he thought about the withdrawal he was going to make. If his information was correct and it always has been, they would be getting more cash than they had from the last two banks combined.

The rain had stopped and the sun was shining by the time Nicole drove into the parking lot of the bank. She felt good about the day, especially since the doctor said she and the baby

were doing well and she was on schedule. She couldn’t wait for the next three months to pass so she could hold the baby in her arms.

When she shut the Jeep’s door, she turned to see who was yelling, Hey Mama.

A Mexican was leaning out the window of a Van and was eying her up and down. He raised his hand, puckered his lips and then blew her a kiss. He turned to someone in the Van and said loud enough for her to hear.

She has one hell of an ass and super tits. I’d hump her any day, pregnant or not.

Scum, she said under her breath and quickly walked towards the bank entrance.

She heard a door slam and turned and saw that the Mexican had gotten out of the Van. He was short and skinny and looked less harmless standing up.

The driver’s door of the Van opened and out came a tall muscular man that made the mustached Mexican look like a small boy.

She quickened her step.

When she opened the door to the bank she glanced back in their direction. They were slowly walking towards the bank. She thought the large man had an especially hard mean look about him. When his dark piercing eyes momentarily centered on her, she shivered and quickly went into the bank.

She brushed against the guard, excused herself and went over to the counter. She fumbled in her purse for the checkbook then filled out a deposit slip.

Someone at the other end of the counter was drumming their fingers on the countertop. She looked up. It was certainly her day to encounter characters. This one was as tall and muscular as the one with the Mexican. As she looked at him closer, they could be brothers. He had the same close-cropped blonde hair, husky build and broad face. Only this one when he turned and looked towards the door she could see he was distinguished from the other by an ugly jagged scar that extended from his ear to his mouth. It gave him a fierce look.

She hurriedly filled out her deposit slip; she wanted to leave as quickly as she could. When she got in line she saw the Mexican and his tall friend come into the bank. The Mexican looked over at scar face and nodded, then walked over to the receptionist desk.

Something didn’t feel right, she had a real uncomfortable feeling and thought it best to leave and come back later.

Mrs. Quinn, it’s your turn.

I’m sorry, she looked to see who it was. Nancy, I’m sorry my mind is elsewhere.

That’s all right, she took the deposit slip, I haven’t seen you lately, you look great.

Thanks and I feel good. Can you hurry Nancy, I’m running late, if not I can come back later.

No problem, I’ll be done in a jiffy. By the way when is the baby due?

There was a rapid pop, pop, pop sound followed by a crash of furniture. There followed more rapid popping sounds. Nancy screamed, dropped her pen as her hands went to her cheeks. Her face went pale and her mouth was hanging wide open.

He felt the excitement of the kill grow as Klausner and Garcia walked into the bank.

The bank guard was now leaning against the other end of the counter. Erhard put his hand inside his jacket and gripped his pistol as he walked over to the guard. When he was directly behind him he pulled out his pistol and pointed it at the back of the guards head.

Chapter 3

Nicole took a step back and gasped, My God, when she saw the guard spread out on the floor.

A dark pool of blood was forming around his head and his mouth was wide open. His dead eyes were staring right at her. Her stomach felt queasy, she braced herself against the counter as she emptied her stomach.

The man who stood over the dead guard was scar face. In his hand was a pistol equipped with a silencer. He had a weird grin on his broad face as he looked down at the guard. He stepped back from the body and shouted out an order.

Everyone shut up and don’t move a muscle if you want to live.

He frightened her when he looked in her direction. He had the look of death in his penetrating blue eyes. She jumped when she heard a loud crash.

The receptionist’s chair had fallen over and the woman was lying on the floor.

A man also with a silenced pistol in his hand was standing on the other side of the receptionist’s desk. He looked over and shouted to Scar face.

Okay over here, then he walked briskly towards the drive-in teller area.

Nicole stepped back and bumped into a woman standing at the next teller’s window. She was holding a sobbing young girl of about thirteen to her chest. The woman’s eyes were nervously looking around at the commotion in the bank as she talked to the girl. It will be all right Jennie; just don’t look at them they will go away soon.

Nicole jumped when Scar face hollered at the teller’s. His deep voice reverberated in the bank.

Don’t any one move, there will be no going for the alarm. He pointed his pistol at each of them. If any of you tries to be a hero it will be the last thing you try in this life.

Scar face then looked at her. You women come over here and put your purses here. He pounded his free hand on the counter.

When their purses were on the counter, Scar face told them to stay there with both hands flat on top of the counter.

Nicole looked across the counter and into a glass walled office and gasped. She was shocked to see another sign of their brutality. Mr. Jenkins, who kindly took care of their home mortgage, was hunched over on his desk in a pool of blood.

The front door of the bank opened. Nicole looked over hoping to see the police. Instead, she was disappointed; it was a short pock faced oriental man. He opened his jacket and pulled out a silenced Uzi.

He moved swiftly to Scar face’s side and whispered something to him.

Then, she saw the Mexican who had made lewd remarks to her in the parking lot, go over and stand by the front door. His back was to the door concealing his silenced Uzi from anyone outside that would approach the bank. He kept looking over his shoulder then back again scanning the room. All the time he kept pulling on his mustache.

The Oriental man startled her when he shouted then fired a short burst.

She turned and saw one of the tellers smack against the wall with a loud thud. It was horrible as blood oozed from his mouth and his lifeless body slid to the floor leaving behind a trail of blood on the wall.

She gripped the counter to steady herself. The Oriental then shot out the security cameras on the wall behind the tellers. When he did, Nancy and the other tellers started to scream hysterically.

Scar face hollered, Wei lets shut these dumb bitches up.

Nicole looked away as they fired. The girl’s screams went silent soon after the bullets struck their bodies.

Her stomach let loose again. She felt dizzy and thought she was going to faint. The young woman next to her grabbed her and held her up.

She heard Scar face give an order to one of his men. Gallagher, get your ass over here and empty out the teller’s cash drawers now that they can’t do it for us.

Nicole thought it was a strange mix of men. Two looked German, a Mexican, an Oriental, an Irishman and a Black man from who knows where. It didn’t make sense and neither did the senseless killing of innocent people.

It was all hectic and frightening. She wished the bank robbers would hurry up and leave before they did any more harm.

Wei, said Scar face to the oriental. Give me a hand here in cuffing these women.

Nicole felt some relief at that, they certainly wouldn’t be wasting their time with them if they were to be shot.

Wei, the oriental man with the pock marked face came up behind her and grabbed her hands and roughly jerked them behind her back. The cold metal went around her wrists then clicked shut.

Wei told her to sit and he put his hands on her shoulders and unexpectedly pushed down hard. She cried out as a sharp pain shot up from her tailbone when her bottom hit the cold hard floor.

The two other women were handled in the same manner. The young girl was last and cried out loudly when she was handcuffed. Wei told her to shut up. Her Mother protested.

Shut your fucking mouth lady. If you want to be shut up permanently, just open your mouth again.

His evil grin sent shivers through Nicole’s cramped body. She had no doubt that he would kill the Mother. Life didn’t seem to have any meaning to any of these monsters.

Nicole shifted position, but there was no comfortable position on the hard floor with her hands handcuffed behind her back.

The young woman sitting next to her was shaking and her eyes were tightly shut. The Mother was sitting close to her sobbing daughter and she tried in vain too comfort her.

Nicole saw the look of irritation on the Oriental’s face as he came over to the young girl and put his pistol to her head. Keep her quiet, he spit the words out to the Mother. If you don’t I will shut her up for good.

Don’t shoot, she pleaded, I’ll keep her quiet, please don’t shoot her.

I’ll just make sure she shuts up. He pulled a roll of duct tape out of his pocket. He grabbed the girl by her long hair and jerked her head back. With his other hand he took out a long knife and cut part of the girl’s blouse away and then stuffed it in her mouth. He then wrapped the tape around her head and mouth.

A muffled sob is all that could be heard from the girl whose face was flushed and her pupils were dilated.

The girl’s mother protested and Wei went to her.

You’re a loud mouth bitch, he said as he smacked her hard across the face. He cut a piece of her blouse away, shoved it in her mouth and taped it in place.

He then did the same with her and the other woman.

The gag made Nicole feel like she had to vomit. The fear of choking to death on her vomit was a repulsive thought. She hoped her insides were already empty. It took all her will power to calm herself down and hold back that horrible feeling.

All they could do is sit there and watch the murderers carry out money sacks. After they made a second trip, she felt uneasy when she overheard Scar face tell the Mexican and Wei to get the women outside.

Wei brought her to her feet just as unkindly as he put her down. She felt a twinge of pain and had to lean her back against the counter to steady her cramped legs.

Wei herded them in single file to a side door. She looked around the bank. It wasn’t a good idea. The bodies and blood made her stomach feel queasy again. By sheer will power again she managed to suppress the urge to vomit.

One of the murderers got behind her with a gun at her back.

Scar face opened the side door and looked around the parking lot. After a few seconds he motioned everyone outside towards two Vans.

Scar face told the Mexican to put all the women in one Van.

Nicole was the first one to the van. The one who came in with the Mexican was waiting in the back of the van. He rubbed his big hands together and had a lecherous grin on his face.

Let’s get moving Jose, I’m eager to check them out.

Nicole didn’t like his tone or the look on his face.

Don’t worry Albert we will have plenty of time later to sample them all.

Jose turned her around with her back to the van. Albert’s big hands went under her arms and grabbed her breasts. Her protest was only a muffled grunt through the gag.

Frisky one isn’t she Jose.

Albert squeezed her nipples. She has great tits for a pregnant bitch. I never had one of them; I hope her cunt feels as good.

Tears filled her eyes as Jose grabbed her legs and they lifted her