Dog

by Carolina Mac

  “Don’t worry about it.” He gave the details about the clinic robbery.

  “You did hit him,” said Jesse.

  “Confirmed.”

  “What can I do? You still need the dogs?”

  “Yep, starting over at the clinic with the dogs, but I found Bart last night at the barn. Beat up and almost dead. I wondered if you had a minute if you could see if he’s awake. If not, talk to his doctor and see what his chances are.”

  “Sure thing. Where is he?”

  “Saint Mikes.”

  County Clinic. Route 21.

  ONCE the ME left with the nurse’s body, Travis and Farrell took the dogs through the clinic and let them sniff around. They worked better with clothing or something personal, but nothing like that was available. Go with what you’ve got.

  Bluebelle alerted and wanted to get tracking. She headed for the door tugging on her leash, and Travis followed.

  “We’re leaving, boss.”

  Farrell followed with Red. Out the door of the clinic and around to the rear of the building. Behind the clinic was about an acre of land covered in dry and brittle dead weeds. The land sloped down to a fence and on the other side of the wire fence was nothing but trees.

  Bluebelle tore through the weeds, picked up a few burrs clinging to her short fur and stopped at the fence looking for a way to get through. Farrell pointed. “Down there, Trav. Looks like they cut it.”

  Farrell held the severed wire ends out of the way so the dogs wouldn’t get scratched up running through the small opening.

  Bluebelle had her mind made up and wasn’t taking a break. She plowed through the trees and the scrub bushes underneath towing Travis along behind her at a pace he could barely maintain.

  Saint Michael’s Hospital. Austin.

  JESSE stood at the nurses’ station on the fifth floor waiting for the doctor to come out of Bart’s room. When he did, the doctor waved him into a small office down the hall.

  “We can talk in here, Ranger Quantrall. Have a seat.”

  “Thanks, Doctor, how bad is Bart?”

  “Just a guess because everyone has a different level of endurance, but if he hadn’t been brought in last night, he would have expired.”

  “Any idea when he’ll wake up?”

  “We’re giving him lots of fluids and his vital signs have improved considerably. He’s a big strong man to begin with, and that’s working in his favor.”

  Jesse passed his card across the desk. “Would you mind giving me a call when he wakes up?”

  The doctor glanced at the card. “Sure, no problem. Is this incident related to Mr. Fogarty’s murder? I saw it on the news when it happened, and Bart’s medical is covered by the Buy and Sell Barn.”

  Jesse nodded. “It is.”

  “Hope you catch that gang soon.”

  “Some gang members are already in custody and I believe we’ll have the main player later today.”

  The doctor reached out and shook Jesse’s hand. “Fantastic news. Your team is an asset to Austin.”

  “Thank you.” Jesse took the elevator down to the main level, turned towards the lobby and nearly bumped into Doctor Wagner. “Pardon me, Doctor,” he grinned at her and touched the brim of his Stetson. “Almost plowed into you.”

  Doctor Wagner flashed a smile. “Jesse, nice to see you. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes upstairs and I was thinking about my opening remarks. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

  “Fifteen minutes says time for a coffee,” he said.

  A look crossed her face, then her face softened. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Jesse escorted her to the small coffee shop next to the gift shop and found a table. He bought the coffee at the counter and carried the two cups back to the table. “I should have asked if you wanted something to eat.”

  “No, I’m fine. My friend and I are going to lunch after the meeting.”

  “After our session yesterday, I had something on my mind,” said Jesse.

  “Besides your case?”

  “Uh huh. I wondered if it would be out of line for me to ask you to dinner?”

  “Hmm… interesting idea. I’ve never dated a patient, but then I rarely have time to date anyone.” She giggled. “My practice keeps me busy.”

  Jesse sipped his coffee and didn’t push it. “You’re welcome to turn me down,” he said, “You know what a sack of damaged goods I am, and I may never make a comeback.”

  “Damaged goods?” She winked at him. “That’s one way to put it.”

  “Hey, Jan, are you ready?” A woman also dressed in a suit spotted her and waved from the door of the coffee shop.

  “My colleague. I’m meeting her here.” Jan stood up and touched Jesse’s arm. “Thanks for the coffee. Can we talk later?”

  “Sure thing.” Jesse stood up and touched his hat as he watched her walk away.

  She’s attractive and I like her, but why would she want to take a chance on a train wreck like me?

  County Clinic. Route 21.

  BLAINE and Fletch sat in the Ram smoking and listening to country music while they waited for directions from Travis and Farrell. They might run miles with the dogs before they came out at a point where they could be picked up.

  A call came in and Blaine checked the screen. “Detective Vargas, you heard the news?”

  “Big news in Vegas, Blacky. The Dog is in the morgue.”

  “The fucker kidnapped my foster brother, Neil Donovan, and made the kid drive him to California,” said Blaine. “Farrell took him down.”

  “Chalk another one up for Dead-Eye.” Vargas laughed.

  “The club should be reeling for a while,” said Blaine. “They’ve lost all their top people.”

  “Can’t say I feel bad for them.”

  “Me neither.”

  RED AND BLUEBELL proved tireless in their search of the riverbank. About a mile from the clinic Bluebelle laid down next to a tree.

  “What have we got here, partner?” asked Farrell.

  “Looks like a few streaks of blood and the grass is all matted down,” said Travis. “Teckford might have laid down to rest for a while.”

  “Maybe this is where he stayed while the kids ripped off the clinic,” said Farrell.

  “Yeah, could be. Anything we should bag for evidence?” Travis pulled out his Maglite and searched the area. “Hold on. Little pair of scissors here.” He grabbed a glove from his back pocket, slipped it on and bagged the scissors. He spoke into his headset. “Hey, boss. Got a pair of scissors from a spot under a tree. Looks like they stopped here.”

  “Y’all are on the right track. Keep going. Let me know what road y’all are at when you get to the next bridge.”

  “Yep,” said Travis, “moving on now.”

  “How far ahead do you think they’d be?” asked Farrell, “If Teckford is hurt bad and moving slow.”

  “Shit, I don’t know, partner. If Blacky hit him in the arm, he could be moving quick. If he’s hit in the leg and he’s limping, or better yet, if the kids are trying to carry him, it’s a whole different story.”

  “I hope the boss shot him right up the ass,” said Farrell. “That’ll slow the fucker down.”

  “We can hope.”

  BLAINE made calls while he and Fletch waited for the boys to call them. “Lil, see if you can find a relative or somebody for Bart Townsend. I know he has a farm and he might have stock there that nobody’s feeding. Collie dog too. His dog wasn’t in the truck.”

  “Aw. Okay sure. I’ll try to find somebody.”

  “Let me know if you don’t. Get an address anyway.”

  “Yep. What else? I’m making a list.”

  “The people that own the RV. I think their name is Hicks. Give them a call and tell them we found it and it’s in impound. No clue when they’ll get it back, but we have it.”

  “Yep… and boss, Hammer called twice. He wanted to know if you’d hired anybody to replace him.”

  “No, but you can do that to
o, Lil. Get some people lined up for interviews. And no, we’re not taking Hammer back.”

  “Good call, boss.”

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  ANNIE stopped at the gate at Coulter-Ross and gave Jose a wave. “I’m glad to be home, sugar. That’s the last job I’m doing for a while. I’ll make it known.”

  “I’m glad I’m still alive to come home, Mom. Better if I don’t talk about it or think about it.”

  “Let’s settle in for a long weekend with the kids and enjoy being safe at home with our family.”

  “I’m for that.”

  Colorado River near Bastrop.

  RED veered away from the river and started up the embankment towards the road. “Tell the boss where we are,” said Farrell. “The gang went up to the bridge.” Farrell ran to keep up to Red as the big bloodhound loped effortlessly up a steep hill.

  “Hey, boss,” said Travis, “Hitting a road. They left the river.”

  Farrell followed Red and they’d almost reached the asphalt, when Red plunked down in some dead grass. “Oh, fuckin fireballs,” hollered Farrell. “Look at this, Trav.”

  Travis caught up and reined Bluebelle in. He screwed up his face as he stared down at the corpse, half hidden in the long grass. “Small caliber through the eye.”

  BLAINE PULLED UP a map on his phone and zeroed in on where the first bridge would be. “Okay, I’ve got you. Be there in five or six minutes.” He and Fetcher jumped in the truck.

  Blaine was reaching for the key when Farrell hollered into his ear. “Just stepped on a dead guy, boss. Somebody tossed him in the long grass. Better bust your ass.”

  Blaine arrived at the bridge five minutes later and joined the boys near the corpse. “You guys call it in?”

  Farrell nodded.

  “Any ID?” asked Blaine.

  Farrell wore a pair of gloves and held the man’s wallet in his hand. “Rayford Julio.”

  “What was he driving?”

  “Buick Riviera, black, two years old.”

  “Let me get that out there,” said Blaine. “He called DPS and had them put a rush on it.”

  Two minutes later sirens sounded, and the troops showed up. Farrell and Travis put the dogs in Blacky’s truck and gave them each a couple of biscuits.

  “What now?” asked Farrell. “They’ve got wheels and they’re fuckin gone. How are we ever gonna catch them?”

  Blacky held up a finger. “Chief, it’s me.” He explained about the new victim.”

  “Got any bright ideas, son?”

  “This is what I want to do. He explained it to Calhoun.”

  “Okay, uh huh, I can see where that might work.”

  “It’s only a maybe,” said Blaine, “but we’ve got nothing now, and Teckford is making us look like assholes.”

  “Finish up at the scene, then come to the office. I’ll make a few phone calls and have something worked out.”

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin.

  IT WAS AFTER six when the Blackmore crew made it to headquarters. “The Chief should have gone home by now,” said Blacky. “He’s just waiting on us.”

  “Hope he’s got things worked out,” said Travis. “We need to catch this asshole, Teckford, and be done with it.”

  “Roger that, partner,” said Farrell.

  The Chief was on the phone when the boys filed in and filled up his small office. Farrell set the coffee tray down on the corner of the desk and distributed the containers.

  The Chief nodded once, then ended the call he was on. “I think we’re set. The seven a.m. part was a bit of a stumbling block, but it makes sense if we want to get the most bang for our buck.”

  “We’ll be here at six,” said Blaine. “I’ll have maps and directions for each team. Lil’s working on that now.”

  “He’s got to be lying low somewhere,” said the Chief, “and his natural instinct would be to go somewhere he’s familiar with.”

  “It’s a gamble that he’s in one of the trailer parks,” said Travis. “It’s possible they rabbited. Jumped in the Buick and ran for the border.”

  “Possible,” said Blaine, “but not probable. Running would be out of character for him. Teckford or Bernard, whatever he likes to call himself, is a show off. A smart ass who likes to challenge his adversaries and one-up everybody around him.”

  The Chief nodded. “The most logical thing would be for him to go back where he started and dare any kind of authority to come and take him.”

  “That’s my theory,” said Blaine. “But only a theory.”

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  JESSE tucked Charity into bed and read her two stories. She listened now and pointed to the pictures from time to time. She was smart, and she remembered what Jesse and Ty taught her. When she started school, she’d be the next Einstein. Jesse was sure of it. He tucked her blanket around her again and kissed her one last time before he stepped into the wide upstairs hallway.

  He’d left his cell on his dresser in the next room and he could hear it ringing. “I’m tired. I don’t want to talk to anybody tonight. He crossed the carpet without a sound and glanced at the screen. Jan Wagner.

  “Doctor Wagner, a pleasant surprise.”

  “I said we’d talk later, then you didn’t call.”

  “Sorry. I just finished putting Charity to bed.”

  “We’re you going to call me about dinner or did you re-think your position?”

  Jesse chuckled. “I have no position, Doctor, and yes, I intended to call. I thought I might have been a bit too forward even suggesting it.”

  “It had never crossed my mind before you mentioned it, but now that you have, I’m anxious to pursue the option.”

  “Let’s do it, then. Tomorrow night, I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty and by then I’ll have a reservation.”

  “Would you like my home address?”

  “There’s a thought.” Jesse laughed.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Friday, February 20th.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  FARRELL SAT on the edge of his chair in the kitchen with a mug of coffee in his hand, dressed and ready to go. Blaine registered surprise when he saw his foster brother waiting in the half light.

  “Shit, I’m falling behind,” said Blaine. “Carm isn’t even up.”

  “I tried not to wake her,” said Farrell. “Couldn’t sleep. Got up and made coffee. Let the dogs out. The adrenaline is already pumping.”

  Blaine filled a mug and sat down with Farrell. “Think we’ll get him today?”

  Farrell nodded. “For sure we will.”

  “I should have filled Jesse in on the plan last night. I’ll call him at a decent hour.”

  “It’ll make him sad he can’t be there,” said Farrell. “You know what a cowboy he is.” They shared a laugh, but they both missed Jesse being a part of the crew.

  “The Chief coming with us?”

  Blaine shook his head. “He may want to, but I hope he thinks better of it. I don’t want him in any danger.”

  “Jeeze, no,” said Farrell. “How would we manage without the Chief watching our backs from inside and keeping us clear of the political bullshit?”

  Carm came into the kitchen with a clean white apron in her hand and her dark eyes widened. “Why are you up already?” she asked in Spanish.

  “Big job today,” said Blaine. “The boys are coming extra early.”

  “Want a big breakfast before you go?”

  Blaine shrugged, and Farrell said, “Sure. We might not get a chance to eat all day.”

  “True enough.”

  Carm pulled out her favorite frying pan and got busy.

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin.

  THEY GATHERED at headquarters and Blaine divided the officers into teams. Each team consisted of a dozen men and women suited up in take-down gear, three squad cars and a bus. They had directions to and a map of their assigned property—owned by Mrs. Balstadt—with possible exit routes marked in red. The Chief ha
d done a stellar job of recruiting sufficient manpower and borrowing a number of vehicles to get the job done.

  “Be careful,” said the Chief, “this guy is crazy mean and he won’t think twice about sacrificing the kids to save himself. That’s what he’s all about. I’d rather have holding jammed with live kids than the morgue full of dead ones.”

  “We’ll be careful,” said Farrell. He patted his SW.

  “Everybody vested up?” asked Blaine. “Shotguns? Don’t let them shoot first. The team that finds Teckford will be in the most danger because we know he’s wounded and the kids with him will be in panic mode. If by chance they have automatic weapons, they will lay down fire to protect their leader. No question.”

  Blaine held a list in his hand as they moved to the parking lot behind the building. “One of my men will be with each team and will be in contact with me at all times. Special Agent Jack Prima is with team one. Deputy Farrell Donovan with team two. Deputy Travis Bristol with three, Fletch and I are with team four, Special Agent Greg Shields with five and Special Agents Rick Rozella and Andy Comstock are with team six. Good luck to everybody.”

  The units pulled out in a convoy and headed for the east end of the city. Blaine spoke into his wrist mic as each team neared the abandoned property they were assigned to. “Wait until all units are in position.”

  “Don’t know when I’ve been so hyped up,” said Fletcher. “Never been on an operation this big.”

  “We might not find a damn thing,” said Blaine. “If that happens, I’m gonna look like a fuckin dickwad.”

  Fletch chuckled. “The kids had to take him someplace if he’s hurt. Seems logical to me they’d go back to one of the parks.”

  “That’s just it. The criminal mind is anything but logical, so it makes it harder to guess what’s coming next.”

  Blaine led team four to the first property where they’d discovered Teckford and his gang of kids. He communicated with all the other units and waited until they were all in position.