by Carolina Mac
With the boys taken care of, she and Neil headed home in Farrell’s truck.
“I’m glad you’re driving first, Mom. I am so tired of driving, I can’t tell you.”
“Maybe you need a few more days off before you go back to school. You haven’t had any time to relax or study at all.”
“I’ll have the whole weekend when we get back, that might be enough.”
“Let’s play it by ear. If you need more time I can make a couple of calls to your school.”
Neil smiled. “Is that the couple of extra bucks talking?”
“Might be.” Annie reached over the console and tickled him.
FARRELL called Blacky before the plane took off from California. “Hey, bro, Mom chartered us a plane so me and Trav could get our asses back there to help y’all with Teckford.”
“Fantastic.” Blaine gave Farrell the update on Teckford and the kids. “Need you guys so fuckin bad. Fletch and I are at the river waiting on the dogs. Ty is bringing them to us.”
“Sounds like y’all might not be able to pick us up at the charter terminal. I’ll call Lil.”
“Yep, call Lil and give her the time, then when you land, call and see where Fletch and I are.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
JESSE drove to headquarters thinking about his pretty doctor and wondering if it would be crossing a line to ask her out to dinner. He hadn’t been out in a long, long time, and he was comfortable in her company. He could ask, and she might refuse him on professional grounds, but it might be worth a try.
He parked in his spot at headquarters and took his time walking up the steps. Rushing was no longer something he did much of.
Before looking for the two kids he was interrogating, Jesse stuck his head in the Chief’s office as he walked down the corridor. “Afternoon, Chief. Blacky caught a couple more kids. Seen any sign of them?”
“Yep. Rocky took them downstairs to get them rolling in booking while he waited on you.”
“Wonder what lies these two will try to make me believe?”
The Chief chuckled. “Wait and see. Might surprise you.”
Bastrop Campground. Texas.
BLAINE and Fletcher sat on the picnic table at the campground smoking after a squad car picked up the two East Enders and took them to headquarters in Austin. They were waiting on a tow for the Hick’s RV and for Tyler to deliver Red and Bluebelle from the Quantrall ranch.
“I haven’t worked with the dogs before,” said Fletch. “Think I’ll be okay?”
“I don’t usually do it either,” said Blaine. “It’s best if they have their regular handlers, but Travis and Farrell won’t be back for another couple of hours. Lucky for us, we are getting our crew back today.”
“Guess Hammer is just sitting on his ass,” said Fletch.
“Don’t care what he’s sitting on,” said Blaine. “I gave him an assignment and he blew it off. That ain’t happening in my company.”
Fletcher shook his head. “Don’t know how he could do that, boss. You must be worried about Misty now. She’s…” Fletcher shrugged and didn’t finish his thought.
“She’s what?”
“I don’t know how to say it, but it’s like she’s a little kid and she goes off by herself all happy and smiling and thinking everything will be okay.”
Blaine nodded. “She’s an innocent, Fletch. She thinks everybody is good and the world is beautiful and all that stuff.”
Their conversation was cut short by Tyler’s arrival in the blue Quantrall truck. “Here’s our dogs,” said Blaine. “And, shit, I can’t leave the RV until the tow gets here.”
Tyler jumped out and hollered hello. He let the two big bloodhounds out of the back of the cab and they ran straight to Blaine.
“Hey, doggies. I missed y’all.” He hugged them both, then introduced Tyler to Fletcher.
“You tracking that mean gang leader?” asked Tyler.
“He sprinted out of the RV and I shot at him,” said Blaine, “Think he might be hit. Leg or arm.”
“Jesse is in the city,” said Ty. “He had another appointment with the lady doc he’s so high on.”
Blaine raised a black eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? He’s keeping quiet about that development.”
“Might not be anything personal going on, but he seems to like her all right.”
“What’s Brian think of him seeing someone else about his health?”
“Ain’t flying.”
Blaine grinned. “Didn’t think it would.”
The dogs whined, and Blaine got them ready. “Let them start in the RV. Teckford probably would have had the best bed and some of his stuff might be there. They can pick up the scent inside.”
“Want me to wait until the dogs are done?” asked Tyler.
“No, you go on home, Ty. Farrell and Trav are on a plane on their way back from Vegas and they might need the dogs tomorrow if we don’t wrap this up before dark.”
“Okey dokey,” said Tyler. “When’s our next appointment at Boots?”
“Your band playing anytime soon?”
“Friday night.”
“Yep, good for me.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
JESSE BEGAN in interrogation room four with a red-haired boy, face raging with acne who looked almost old enough to be in second year high school. “I’m Jesse Quantrall. Do you want to tell me your name?”
The kid shook his head. “Not really.”
“Okay,” said Jesse, “I’m going to record our conversation.” He turned on the recorder and gave the pertinent information. “For now, I’m just going to call you, John.”
The kid shrugged and stared at the cuffs on his wrists.
“Let’s start with a fact that we already have. You were found in the company of Kyle Teckford. He might have told you his name is Basil Bernard, but it don’t matter. Same guy. Same police jacket and he’s the guy that’s going to Huntsville to sit on death row until they stick the needle in him.”
Jesse shifted in his chair, then leaned forward across the metal table. “The question is this, John. Are you going to death row with Kyle?”
The kid curled his lip. “Hell no. I ain’t going there.”
“You sure?”
“Course I’m sure.”
“You’ve been printed and photographed, John. Your prints are now in the system. Do you know what that means?”
“Course I do. I watch TV.”
“Good. Then you already know, when your prints match prints found by the crime scene unit in Mr. Fogarty’s office at the blue barn, or at the drug store where y’all killed the pharmacist, or at the pawn shop where you ripped off the weapons—any of those places—you will be charged with felony murder.”
“I never killed nobody.”
“Don’t matter,” said Jesse. “If you were there during the commission of the crime, you’ll get the needle with your boss.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll get a lawyer.”
“Good idea, kiddo. I highly recommend that you have representation, John. You are in more trouble than you can imagine.”
“My boss will send a lawyer for me. I got no worries.”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know how fast your boss will be getting you a lawyer, John. I just talked to Ranger Blackmore before I came in here and do you know what he told me?”
“I don’t give a shit what the super cop told you.”
Jesse grinned. “I’ll tell you anyway. You might think it’s important.”
“Will not.”
“He told me he shot your boss and he’s got dogs hunting him down right this minute.”
“Fuck you, liar.” John jerked his hands back and the cuffs rattled against the metal ring. “I want out of here. You can’t make me talk to you.”
Jesse waved at the window and the door opened. “Give this guy your best room, Ranger Torres.”
“Will do, Ranger Quantrall. I’ll get him settled in.” Torres undid the cuffs and took the kid away.
>
Jesse moved on to the next kid.
Bastrop Campground.
AFTER THE DOGS spent some time in the RV getting the scent of Teckford and the East Enders, Blaine and Fletch took them outside. Whether the dogs could zero in on human scent with the mishmash of odors in the RV was iffy. With half-eaten food, spilled beer and garbage scattered throughout the vehicle, Blaine wasn’t sure Red and Bluebelle could sort it out.
Teckford had exited through the back door of the RV, so that’s where they were about to start when the tow truck arrived.
Blaine held Red’s leash as he spoke to the driver from the impound yard, then he and Fletcher headed into the woods.
Fletcher had Bluebelle by the leash and he was already having trouble with her. “Didn’t know these dogs were so fuckin strong.”
“When they’re on a scent, they want to go forward,” said Blaine, “but its hard to keep up.”
The dogs ran through the trees, then along the west bank of the Colorado river. Blaine and Fletch followed the trail for half an hour, but the gang had a big head start. Daylight was fast disappearing.
“We’ll have to give it up for now,” said Blaine. “Gonna be pitch dark before we get back to the truck. Farrell and Travis can pick it up in the morning.”
“How far does the river go?” asked Fletcher.
“Starts up near Lubbock and flows into the Gulf.”
“That’s hundreds of miles. Can the gang get across to the other side?”
“Yep. Anytime they come to a bridge, or to a narrow, shallow spot if they don’t mind getting wet.”
“Fuck that.”
Austin Airport.
LILY parked near the small terminal at Austin-Bergstrom on the strip where the charter flights landed. She’d never been to this section of the airport before but found it easily enough.
The boys would be back in less than ten minutes and that was a good thing. Blaine was in a bind without them, and things didn’t run smoothly when the boss was pissed off for any reason. And he was super pissed at Hammer.
Fogarty’s Buy and Sell Barn. East Austin.
“ONE MORE stop before we can call it, Fletch,” said Blaine. They loaded the dogs into the back of the cab and removed their leashes. “Chief said DPS was concerned that Bart’s truck had never moved from the blue barn and I haven’t had time to check it.”
Blaine drove up seventy-one past the airport and turned off for the barn. Seeing the big wooden sign for Fogarty’s Buy and Sell at the edge of the property made Blaine angry he hadn’t caught Kyle Teckford yet.
The huge building sat in total darkness, but Bart’s truck, parked close to the double doors, showed up in Blaine’s headlights.
“What’s he doing in there in the dark?” asked Fletch.
“Shit,” said Blaine. “I don’t like the feel of this one bit. The patrol should have gone in and checked the second time they came by.”
“The tape is across the door,” said Fletch. “How would it get taped back on if Bart’s inside?”
“Good point,” said Blaine. “And the patrol should have noticed that. Put gloves on.” He tried the door and it was locked. “Locked. Grab the wizard out of the tool kit.”
Fletcher was back in a flash with the lock tool and handed it to Blaine.
“You do it. Good practice.”
A couple of whirrs and a clatter of tumblers falling into place and Fletcher had the door open in seconds. He turned to Blaine with a big smile on his face. “My first B and E.”
Blaine stepped inside the door and flicked on some of the lights. The light panel at the door held an extensive array of switches. He checked the security panel and the alarm wasn’t set. “Wonder if the cameras are working?” He pointed. “You take that aisle and I’ll take this one.”
“It’s creepy in here at night,” said Fletcher.
They checked all the aisles, all the rental booths and the snack bar. “All that’s left are the washrooms and the big storage shed at the back,” said Blaine. “Let’s finish in here first. You check the washrooms and I’ll run up to Herman’s office.”
Three quarters of the way up the stairs, Blaine could see Bart and he could smell him. Beaten and tied to Herman’s big oak chair, he’d struggled and tipped over sideways onto the floor. Blaine pressed 911, then covered his nose with his hand as he edged closer to check for a pulse. He couldn’t find one, but Bart wasn’t cold. He might have a chance.
He hollered down the stairs to Fletch. “Found him.”
Fletcher came barreling up the wobbly stairs. “Is he dead?”
“Not cold, but barely breathing,” said Blaine. “Wish I’d checked sooner. Damn it anyway.”
“Did you call it in, boss?” asked Fletcher.
Blaine nodded. “Let’s have a smoke out front while we wait, and I’ll call Calhoun.”
The Chief answered on the second ring. “Blacky, did you get Teckford?”
“No, but I got Bart. He’s beat up and barely alive. Waiting on an ambulance.”
“Shit, Teckford caught him following the kids,” said the Chief.
“That’s my guess,” said Blaine. “Hope he makes it.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Thursday, February 19th.
Hampton Inn. Albuquerque. New Mexico.
ANNIE woke wondering where she was, then looked across at the other bed and saw Neil sleeping, his blond curls flopped over his face. With cuts and bruises, and totally exhausted emotionally from his ordeal he hadn’t complained about it once.
She slipped out of bed, showered and headed downstairs to the breakfast room for coffee. She filled a glass of juice from the fountain, and fixed a coffee for Neil, selected a couple of muffins he might like, added a cream cheese Danish and carried the load back to their room.
Neil opened his eyes when the door clicked shut behind her. “Hey, Mom. I forgot where we were, I was so tired.”
“You can sleep longer, sweetheart. We don’t have to rush.”
“Did you bring me food?”
“Not your breakfast but a couple of things to tide you over.” She walked over and examined the bandage on his wrist. “How’s your arm this morning?”
“Sore, but it’s not bleeding any more. As long as it’s healed up before spring training I’ll be okay.”
“I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“It wasn’t you who did it, Mom. Stop saying that. I slept better last night because my arm wasn’t chained to the lamp.” He rubbed his shoulder and Annie felt tears well up for her son.
“I’m so sorry Dougie put you through that, sugar. He never should have been at the ranch.”
“Mom, it’s over. Let’s never say the ‘dog’ word again, okay?”
“Okay.”
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE’S cell woke Lexi and she whined at the door of his room. He made a grab for the jangling phone without sitting up and knocked it flying onto the floor. “Shit, I bet I broke my fuckin phone.”
He threw the covers back and made a dive for it before it stopped ringing. “Sorry, Chief, I knocked my phone off the nightstand.”
No early morning pleasantries from the Chief. “All-night clinic on route twenty-one was robbed last night. Night nurse is dead. The morning shift found her twenty minutes ago.”
“Route twenty-one. Okay, that’s close to Bastrop. Could be our guys. Going down there this morning anyways with the dogs. I’ll call the boys.”
Blaine picked up his smokes and lighter from the dresser and let Lexi into the upstairs hall. He stuck his head in the bedroom across from his and woke Farrell. “We got action, bro. Clinic got robbed. In my mind that says Teckford is wounded and the kids are panicking.”
Farrell pushed back the duvet and shoved a big hand through his mop of straw hair. “Let’s kill the son of a bitch today and get it over with.”
“I’m for that,” said Blaine. “I’ll call Travis and Fletch, and we’ll get rocking.”
Count
y Clinic. Route 21.
BLAINE PARKED at the small white building on the edge of town. The sign above the door read ‘Emergency Clinic-24 Hours.’
Outside: two squad cars, the Medical Examiner’s van and a forensic unit. The scene had been secured.
Inside: the night nurse lay on the floor in a pool of her own blood near the reception counter.
“Shotgun,” said Farrell.
Blaine nodded, then did a walk through. The place was small. Reception area, three small examination rooms, one doctor’s office, a washroom and a storage room. The storage area—not much more than a shallow closet with shelves—had been ransacked. Bandages, antiseptic, gauze pads and tape scattered all over the floor. How much had they taken if this is what they left behind?
Yep, Kyle was hit, and he was bleeding.
The day nurse who’d stumbled on the scene sat in the waiting area sobbing into a wad of tissues. Her statement had been taken but she’d arrived after the fact. She hadn’t seen anything and had no information. Blaine crossed the room and sat next to her. “I’m sorry for your loss, Miss. Why don’t I have one of the officers take you home?”
She nodded, and Blaine escorted her outside.
He walked over to one of the units from Bastrop. “Could one of you gentlemen take this lady home for me?”
“Sure thing, Ranger B.”
Farrell and Travis stood next to the truck with Red and Bluebelle on their leashes. “As soon as the ME removes the body, the dogs can take a run through the clinic. I figured if they track the kids that were here, the trail should take them straight to Teckford.”
“Yeah, should do,” said Farrell. “His little puppets will run right back to him with the bandages.”
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
JESSE took Charity to the barn with him after breakfast. He couldn’t get away without her anymore because she liked to pet the cats at the barn. She knew his routine and Tyler’s as well. Taking her slowed him down a lot because she insisted on walking most of the time now.
“Walk, Da.”
“Yeah, I get it. You have to walk.” He held her tiny hand and it seemed to take forever to make the trip from the house to the barn. His cell rang on his belt. “Hey, Blacky. I didn’t get much from the two kids y’all caught at the campground.”