The Primal Connection by Alexander Dregon Page B

rang out. Every one of the agents dropped to their knees, swiveling their heads around to try and pinpoint the location of the sound.
    The second drew a more direct response as Benin shouted, “Take the door! NOW!”
    The first agent reared up. At six five and three hundred plus pounds, he was a monster of a man resembling a Viking in both size and coloring. He charged the door just as a third shot rang out. Slamming the door with his full weight, he smashed through just as another shot sounded. Catching his balance, he moved toward the door, followed by a second agent that could have been his twin but for the color of his skin. His Hispanic heritage gleamed through, along with an equal resolution to get his job done, which at this moment meant finding and neutralizing this shooter.
    A second later, though, it all became moot as they heard a voice hollering, “Relax, boys! You can take a breather if you like. The shooting was just me cutting the chains here. Didn’t know if you guys were bringing a key.”
    Benin felt himself flush to the point that his neck got hot. The son of a bitch did it again.
     
    * * * *
     
    It didn’t take long from there. A med team arrived in the last vehicle and took custody of the girl. Terry almost had to pry her arms from around his neck. Her grip was amazing. It took a moment for Terry to realize Charlie was doing what he could to repair anything he could internally. It probably wasn’t much, but it was something, and Charlie obviously felt guilty, given the role the Chrliti had played.
    Benin, meanwhile, stood back patiently as the girl was extricated from Terry. He would not add to her misery. He was saving up all he could to land it on Terry.
    His action didn’t surprise Terry. He knew he was going to say something, and he had no doubt it was not going to be any more pleasant than their last little get together.
    As the girl finally seemed to lose her grip and the two giants lifted the prostrate form of their attacker, Terry readied himself for the onslaught he knew was coming. Benin was, if nothing else, predictable. Terry knew he was as happy about this outcome as anyone, but he also knew he wasn’t going to be happy about the way he had handled it. Nor was he going to let Terry bask in the warm glow of victory.
    The problem for Benin was that while he was pleased and determined not to let anyone know it, the rest of the participants in this little drama were more than willing to let their feelings be known. Among them, arriving just after the girl had released her grip, were the girl’s parents, the sheriff and the mayor that had agreed to Terry coming on as a consultant. Amid tears and handshakes, Terry got the feeling he was going to be the talk of the town for a time.
    He didn’t care. He’d be on his way tomorrow and that would be it. The girl would go home, and Benin would go write his reports. He would probably try to downplay his role, but Terry truly didn’t care.
    He was in the middle of his thoughts when he felt a hand grasp his shoulder and spin him around. The next moment, a huge man with sandy blond hair and a huge square jaw, that reminded him immensely of Tina’s face, was hugging him. Behind him, a woman stood holding Tina’s hand as she watched the man embrace Terry. It was easy to guess it was the girl’s parents.
    The big man confirmed that a moment later as he broke his grip and boomed at Terry, “They said you followed this guy all the way out here on a hunch! I don’t know if that is how you do what you do normally, but if it works this good all the time, keep on doin’ it! And thank you!”
    Suddenly, the big man broke down in tears. He was a strong man, unused to crying or showing any emotion for that matter. Tonight, though, he was a father that had just been run through a gamut of emotions that he was equally unused to and finally decided that little display of emotion felt good.
    The woman holding Tina’s hand fought back tears as she hugged