Derrick dug a hole big enough to throw his brother-in-law in and went to try to start the van. It took a couple of tries, but he finally got the engine to turn over. He put it in reverse and brought it back up far enough that Matthew fell to the porch floor in a heap. The van landed back on level ground with a crash, and the engine shut off again. Swearing, Derrick got out and slammed the door. The windshield was destroyed anyway, and the van was useless to him. He grabbed his brother-in-law by the arms and was surprised that he was still warm. He hesitated and checked for a pulse in the wrist. There wasn't one, but he guessed it had taken him longer to die than he had initially thought. He dragged the body off the porch and went and got the backhoe, using it to maneuver the body into the hole he dug and covered it with the dirt. He went back into the house and looked for the truck keys. When he found them, he sat down and thought about his next steps.
It was getting dark, and he didn't have a way to get all the girls to the next location. And if his wife was to be believed, her lover was waiting for him in Scobey. She hadn't changed any part of her demeanor when she told him what she knew, so he was pretty sure she was telling the truth. He decided to get a few hours of sleep, then go into town and steal a large enough vehicle to hold everyone. Tomorrow he would see if he could find two more girls and take them, then call Draco to come to pick up his payment. Then he would take Mina and figure out what to do with her. Part of him wanted to remind her she belonged to him, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her neck. He had dug into Asher Christianson, and, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was a little afraid to cross the guy. He had a formidable reputation for finding what he was asked to by any means necessary. He was known as Scar in the online community and was spoken about in hushed tones. When he said in the chat room that he was being chased by him and asked what he could do to get help, everyone logged off except for a guy named LexLuthor007, who said: "I'd say pray, but even God can't help you now." before logging off.
Derrick sat down, ate the sandwiches left on the table, got a shower, dug in his brother-in-law's drawers until he found a change of clothes, and lay down to nap.
Asher waved the guys forward. Joe, Eric, and Greg went right, and he and Les went left. They made their way quickly through the trees to the end of the property and fanned out across the back. They made their way forward slowly. "Greenhouse clear." Joe reported.
"Shed one, clear." Eric's calm voice spoke next.
Asher pushed the door to the barn open, and Les entered. He followed, and they quickly went through the building, finding two horses in their stalls. Les frowned and tossed them some hay and oats while Asher filled the water troughs. "Shed two clear." Greg announced.
"Found horses in the barn that hadn't been looked after, but otherwise, clear." Asher explained their delay. "We fed and watered them." Greg, Joe, and Eric cleared the garage as Asher and Les went to the storm cellar entrance.
"Mina?" Asher called softly.
"Asher!" She responded, and the happiness in her voice filled him with joy.
"You guys okay?"
"Liz and I are bruised up quite a bit. He crashed the van into the house and pinned Matthew between the two of them; Liz probably has a broken arm. He hit Jackie, but otherwise, alive and okay."
"Can't tell you how happy that makes me Princess." He looked up as the three men joined him and Les. "What's his weapon situation?"
"If he got into the gun safe, he has access to two shotguns, two .22s, and a lot of ammo for them." A husky voice informed them.
"Otherwise, he has a handgun. I'm not sure what he has for ammo with it though." Mina added.
"Okay. Joe, stay here and guard them." Asher instructed. Joe nodded and took a position with the most cover possible, giving him a full view of everything surrounding the cellar doors. "Greg and Eric, take the front, Les and I will take the back. Greg, we go on your mark. Enter quietly, the lights are all off, so flashlights and watch your backs."
"Be careful." Mina said anxiously."
"Always." Asher reassured her.
Asher and Les took their position, and a few minutes later, Greg announced they were also in position. "And go in three, two, one." When he said one, they opened the door and went in through. They quickly cleared the first floor and started up the stairs. They cleared a room and a bathroom and turned to the master. Just as they began to approach, a loud gunshot went off. Eric was in the front and swore as he was hit with some buckshot in the upper arm. They all quickly took cover.
"You good Eric?" Asher called as they ducked another shot.
"Flesh wound." Eric called back. "I'm fine." Four more shots, and there was a big hole in the center of the door.
"Greg, can you get a flash bang through that?"
"Sure can." Greg threw the canister in through the hole, and they all turned their backs and closed their eyes as there was a loud bang and brilliant flash of light. Derrick let out a scream and stream of curses, and they rushed to the door to find him clutching his face and yelling. Les cleared the guns and quickly checked him, finding the handgun and taking it carefully, checking to ensure the safety was on, and throwing it to the side as well.
Asher walked over to him and kicked him hard in the ribs. "Never. Touch. What's. Mine. Again." He punctuated each word with a kick, leaving Derrick a sobbing mess. "Consider yourself lucky. I was planning to kill you very slowly." Les checked his pockets and found the keys to the cellar, passing them to Asher. "Cuff him and load him up."