Justice by David Wood

toward where Bones lay, but he had to close his eyes and shake his head several times before he could see clearly again. When he could, he saw two men standing over a securely bound Bones. One of the men looked familiar, even in the minimal light.
    Cyrus Jamison.

ELEVEN
     
    The tight straps dug into Maddock’s wrists and ankles, and rough pine bark itched his back where the tail of his shirt had ridden up. Sterling, similarly trussed, sat facing him, her face expressionless. He cast a sidelong glance at Bones, who leaned against a tree about ten feet away. The big Cherokee glowered at their captors.
    “I can’t freaking believe we let these idiots catch us. It’s like the varsity just lost to the chess club.”
    Jamison stepped toward Bones, and his measured tone sounded more threatening than loud shouts could have. “Bonebrake, do you want a gag added to your restraints? We can arrange that.”
    Maddock thought Bones looked genuinely offended. He said. “Forget the gag, Jamison. What do you and Wright want?”
    “We’ll take the journal, for starters.”
    Sterling piped in. “What journal?”
    “I was wondering when we’d hear from you, Lieutenant Sterling. I just didn’t think you’d insult my intelligence by playing dumb.”
    Bones chuckled. “She’s just trying to speak your language. If she used long sentences, we’d never be able to communicate with you.” He shook his head. “Come on, do you honestly think we brought it with us? We’re just bird-watching. Did you know the scientific name for a lot of ducks begins with anas? ”
    Jamison’s face tightened for a moment. “We turned your vehicle inside-out and found the books on codes and ciphers. We know you have the journal. Where is it?”
    “It’s gone. I read it and then destroyed it,” Maddock said.
    “So I can kill these two?” Jamison inclined his head toward Bones and Sterling.
    Maddock wanted to kick himself. He seldom spoke without thinking things through, and this was an example of why.
    “If you want my cooperation, you’ll keep your hands off of all three of us.” 
    Jamison cracked a sliver of a smile. “We could extract the information from you, but I figure you can stand up to interrogation, and I’m in a hurry. Tell you what. I’ll keep you all alive. How long can you watch me cut pieces off of your best buddy before you give in?”
    “Start with my junk,” Bones said. “I can afford to lose several inches there.”
    Jamison’s smile spread. “Let’s see how much of that bravado is real. Where are the knives we took off of these two?”
    Sterling broke immediately. “I have it.” Her face turned beet red as all heads turned toward her. “But it’s hidden, and you’ll never find it.”
    Jamison stepped closer to her. “I’m not certain that’s true, Lieutenant. I doubt you care about your two companions here, but I’ll bet you have someone you wouldn’t want any harm to come to. No one is safe from the Sons.”
    Sterling’s face going pale was visible even in the scattered flashlight beams. Her eyes targeted Jamison until he finally looked away. Then she spoke again. “Do what you need to do, Jamison. We’ve got all night.”
    Jamison turned to his men. “Did you frisk these three?”
    “Frisk?” one man replied.
    Jamison rolled his eyes. “If the book’s not in the car, then one of them has it on their person.”
    In unison, the men cast nervous glances from Bones to Maddock, then back to Bones, before moving toward Sterling.
    “Don’t touch me you perverts!” She struggled as Jamison hauled her roughly to her feet. He waved his men away and gave her a brisk pat-down. He froze as his hand reached the small of her back, a triumphant smile creeping across his face. A moment later he held the journal in his hands. “That’s settled, then.”
    Maddock tensed. What would Jamison do to them now that he had the journal, and was there anything he could do about it?
    Jamison nodded at one of his men,