Night Vipers

by Carolina Mac

  “Tonight, after dinner, you and I will take a run up seventy-seven,” said Annie. “Test run.”

  A hint of a smile crossed Mickey-Jeeter’s lips. “Okay.”

  3:00 p.m.

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin.

  JESSE, Blaine and Farrell met at headquarters in Chief Calhoun’s office. Blaine had briefed the Chief over the phone, and he wasn’t too receptive to Farrell’s idea.

  “I’m not sure this is a great idea.” The Chief removed his bifocals and rubbed his eyes. “Sounds a little too… rogue… and the powers that be might raise a huge stink in the media.”

  “Not if they don’t know we’re out there protecting their tight asses while they’re sleeping,” said Farrell. “And how in hell would they know? They go to bed right after the fuckin news at eleven.”

  The Chief nodded and then his round face broke into a smile. “Sounds like me, and I’d never know you were out there.”

  “Jesse and I agreed on a six month trial,” said Blaine. “Would you give us that?”

  “I appreciate y’all coming to get my blessing,” said the Chief, “but we all know you don’t have to ask my permission, especially if Catherine is behind y’all.”

  She doesn’t know yet.

  “Okay, let’s go with the six months,” said the Chief. He checked his calendar. “The second week of July we’ll have a meeting and go over the stats.”

  Blaine nodded. “Jesse and I will have to go over the costs and the funding too. See what kind of bang we’re getting for our buck.”

  “Annie is going to fund part,” said Farrell, “because we’re using at least one of her boys from the Foundation and maybe more in time.”

  “Oh, that’s interesting, and I can see where her Foundation could provide financial support to her boys. Uh huh. You’ve talked to her already?” asked the Chief.

  “She’s going to ride with Mickey-Jeeter for the first week,” said Farrell. “He hasn’t been off the ranch in five years.”

  The Chief’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing in itself.”

  “As soon as we have new hires, we’ll bring them in,” said Jesse, “and have them deputized. Lil is working on the recruiting end of things now.”

  “It’s going to be an interesting new year,” said the Chief. “Here it is the ninth day of January, and not one murder yet.”

  Blaine knocked twice on the Chief’s wooden desk.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Tuesday, January 10th.

  8:00 a.m.

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  TYLER sat next to Charity in her high chair in the dining room buttering a piece of cornbread for her. Jesse had gone to work already, and the table seemed empty with only Bobby and Marnie.

  “How’s your project coming, Ty?” asked Bobby. “You haven’t talked about it for a couple of days. Anything interesting happening?”

  “I was waiting for Karen Rigby to line up properties for me to look at.”

  “Is that the same Karen Rigby we went to school with?”

  “Yep, that’s her and she looks about the same. Hasn’t changed much. She sells for Re/Max.”

  “Has she found a building that might be suitable?” asked Marnie.

  “I’ve got two to look at this morning and I was thinking about asking Annie to go with me.”

  “I’m sure she’d be happy to go with you, Ty,” said Bobby. “Call her.”

  Tyler nodded. “I think I might.”

  8:00 a.m.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  LIL started off the morning meeting at the Agency. “I went through all of the applications we had on file from the last few hiring jags and pulled up a couple of possibilities. Also, I put the call out there in cyberspace on our website and got seventy five new wannabees. After zipping through the applicants last night at home, I called six that sounded solid and lined them up for today. If none of them make the grade, I’ll call more on my list tonight and have them come in tomorrow.”

  “Jesus on skates,” said Farrell, “Six for today? I hate the fuckin interviews.”

  Blaine snarled at him. “Think I don’t? This is your idea, Einstein. You have to sit in on them and help me sort them out.”

  “What time is the first one coming?” asked Jesse.

  Lexi barked and bounced into the foyer.

  “Eight-thirty,” said Lil. “I think he’s early.”

  “Fuck me blind,” said Farrell. “I ain’t ready and I haven’t finished my first coffee.”

  “Go answer the door,” barked Blaine. “This is on you.”

  Lil giggled as Farrell stomped past her and left the safety of the kitchen.

  Blaine stood up and picked up his coffee. “Who’s the first victim?”

  “Cody Rancourt,” said Lil. “He has a Harley.”

  “Okay. We have to know up front which ones are for night duty.”

  “Uh huh,” said Lil using her patient tone. “I believe I specified which job they were applying for on each of the print-outs on your desk, boss.”

  “Sorry,” said Blaine. “I’m tired and I’m being a dick.”

  The boys all nodded, and Lil giggled.

  Blaine followed Farrell and Cody Rancourt down the long hall to the offices at the back of the house. He closed the door and introduced himself. “I’m Blaine Blackmore, nice to meet you, Cody.”

  Cody shook hands with Blaine across the desk. “Honor to meet you, sir. Seen you on the tube a few times.” Cody was as tall as Farrell, broad shouldered with dark brown shoulder-length hair. He was wearing Harley boots, a leather jacket covering his tats if he had any, a red and blue patterned bandana hung in a loop around his neck. His face was tanned by the wind, a definite frequent rider. Blaine hadn’t heard his bike when he arrived, but maybe it was outside.

  The recruitment had happened so fast Blaine hadn’t had time to read over the resumes Lil had printed for him. “Give me a minute to look over your qualifications, Cody. These openings have come up kind of suddenly and I’m not on top of it.”

  “Couldn’t believe it when Miss Duke called me for the interview. I saw the notice come up on line and I applied right that very minute. Didn’t know y’all had a need for Harley riders.”

  “Special Harley riders,” said Blaine. “Bikers with a certain set of skills. I see that you were an army ranger.”

  “Yes, sir. Only been a month since my discharge. Figured I’d come home to Texas and find me a job, but a lot of my skills are what you might call… specialized.”

  Farrell nodded. “We need those kinds of skills.”

  “How are your skills at the target range?” asked Blaine.

  “Basically good. Might need to practice. Been home almost a month and haven’t touched any firearms.”

  “I have a coach who will test you and get you up to speed,” said Blaine.

  “Okay, fair enough.”

  “And my brother will check out your bike skills.” Blaine hooked a thumb in Farrell’s direction. “Farrell will be heading up the new unit.”

  Cody turned and gave a nod to Farrell who’d been listening more than talking up until then. “How many in the night crew?” asked Cody.

  “I’m thinking four to six,” said Farrell. “Four regular crew.”

  “Uh huh,” said Cody, “small tight unit.”

  “That’s it,” said Farrell. “We’ll work in conjunction with a network of street people I have in place. I’m thinking we’ll check in at eleven and work through until dawn—six a.m. in the morning.”

  “That appeals to me,” said Cody, “I’m kind of a nighthawk. On patrol… over there… you get used to not sleeping too much.”

  “You’re looking good for this, Cody,” said Blaine. “Got interviews all day today and I should have something to tell you by this afternoon or tonight. If you make the cut can you have your guns ready to go to the range tomorrow?”

  Cody grinned. “Yes, sir. Sure can.”

  Farrell walked Cody out to the porch and
watched him ride away on his Harley. “Uh huh. He’s good. I like him. Hope he can shoot.”

  Farrell leaned on the porch railing and had a quick smoke out of the wind while he waited for the next guy to arrive.

  Hope the next one is as good as Cody.

  9:30 a.m.

  NEXT up was Earl Dorsay. Not a biker, he was applying to fill one of the regular spots on the crew. Jesse greeted Earl at the door and showed him into the office and introduced him to Blaine.

  “This is my partner, Blaine Blackmore,” said Jesse. “We run the Agency together.”

  Blaine reached a hand across the desk and felt the power in the big guy’s grip. Over six feet tall and his weight running close to two fifty, Earl might not be the fastest guy on his feet. Short hair and glasses, his eyesight might come into play at the target range. With the resume in front of him, Blaine read along as Jesse asked the questions.

  “You moved to Austin from Chicago area?”

  “That’s right. My wife wanted a warmer climate.”

  “And you have your investigator’s license for Illinois?”

  “Shouldn’t take me long to validate in Texas,” said Earl. “I was thinking of opening my own business, but when I saw your notice on the internet I thought working for you would save me a lot of trouble.”

  “I’d have to check into your Illinois license,” said Blaine. He took a couple of minutes reading Earl’s resume, glanced at Jesse a couple of times, then said, “You realize you’re applying to the Violent Crime Squad, sir? You did mostly divorces in the past. I don’t see anything in your resume or in your past cases that qualifies you for what you might be facing in this job.”

  “Crime is crime,” said Earl with a nervous laugh.

  “Didn’t Miss Duke discuss the job when she screened you?” asked Jesse.

  “Umm… she asked me a lot of qualifying questions. Uh huh. I might have fabricated a little about the murders I’d solved in Chicago. I need this job, and I assure you, sir, I’ll prove my worth.”

  Jesse stood up and said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have the qualifications were looking for, sir.”

  Earl snarled. “You mean, that’s it? I don’t even get a chance?”

  “No, I’m afraid not. I wouldn’t put my men in the line of fire with you backing them up. You have zero experience under fire, and it wouldn’t be right.” Jesse pointed at the door. “I’ll show you out.”

  9:00 a.m.

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  ANNIE started the dishwasher then made a shopping list for later. With Travis beside her, she was sitting on a stool at the island with her second cup of coffee when her cell rang.

  “Morning, Tyler. How are you doing, sugar?”

  Travis sneered at the mention of Tyler’s name.

  “I’m okay, Annie. And I’m not going to say anything stupid about us getting back together or like that. I just wanted to ask if you were interested in seeing two buildings with me this morning in Giddings?”

  “Certainly, I’m interested. What time should I be there?”

  “One is on the main street and the other isn’t. Why don’t I meet you on the main street in half an hour?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “What does he want, Annie-girl? You’re not meeting him anywhere without me, you know that, right?”

  Annie smiled. “I know that. We’re looking at a couple of buildings for the women’s shelter. That’s all.”

  9:30 a.m.

  Main Street. Giddings.

  TRAVIS pulled up and parked behind Tyler’s blue ranch truck. “Don’t get out until I come around.”

  Annie smiled. “I won’t. I respect you doing your job, sugar pop.”

  “I hate this,” said Travis, “you being anywhere near Tyler after the beating he laid on you. I still want to beat him fuckin senseless.”

  “No point,” said Annie. “The divorce is in progress and will soon be a done deal.”

  “That’s one good thing in my life.”

  Annie took his hand. “Don’t look so sad. We’re together—in a way.”

  Travis managed a half-smile.

  “Morning, Annie,” said Tyler. He nodded to Travis, moved closer and pointed across the street at a three story brick building with a bakery sign over the front window at street level. “Used to be a bakery and the owner wants to sell the building.”

  “Have you been inside?”

  “No. I saw the pictures on line when Marnie showed me. She’s helping me find the property.”

  “Marnie is a smart, helpful girl,” said Annie. “I like her a lot.”

  “She’s good for Jesse and she makes him stable. He’s settled right down.”

  The agent parked her Lexus and joined them on the sidewalk. “Sorry I’m a little late. I’m Karen Rigby.” She held a hand out towards Annie. “Tyler and I went to high school together.”

  “Nice,” said Annie.

  Karen’s voice took on a snarky tone. “May I ask why y’all are here to view the properties with Tyler?”

  “No,” said Annie. Travis grinned.

  “Let’s get started, shall we?” Ms. Rigby clad in a navy blue suit led the way across the street. She unlocked the front door and walked in ahead of them.

  Annie’s eyes needed a moment to adjust to the lack of light, but her nose instantly picked up the aroma of baking bread. “You can tell it used to be a bakery. Smells great.”

  Tyler smiled. “What would you think of hiring a design firm to plan the interior and make it what we want?”

  “An architectural designer is a good idea with an old building like this,” said Annie. “The electrical probably won’t be adequate and the plumbing might need an upgrade.”

  They toured the second and third floors and viewed the empty apartments on each floor. The walls on each floor would have to be removed and the space refitted with smaller eight by ten rooms for single girls and women and larger spaces for those with small children.

  When they were back on the sidewalk, Ms. Rigby asked Tyler, “What did you think?”

  Tyler shrugged. “Not ready to decide until I see all the possibilities.”

  Annie nodded, and rolled her eyes towards Karen. Highschool buddy or not, Karen Rigby was pushy and annoying. Tyler would do well not to be influenced by her.

  “Next we have our second offering in the south end of town. Would y’all follow me, please?”

  Tyler nodded. “We’re right behind you.”

  As soon as Karen walked towards her Lexus, Tyler said to Annie, “That building would need tons of work and it would cost a fortune to revamp it. I hope the next one is better.”

  The second property for sale was more what Annie was hoping for. A huge old white house with a more cozy feel to it. Not a big brick prison full of cookie-cutter rooms with an institutional overtone.

  Karen jumped out of her car with a new offering of brochures in her hand. “This place is an historic landmark. The present owner downsized onto the main floor and used the top two floors for rentals. There is also a large addition on the back housing two more apartments.”

  “Are there tenants currently in the apartments?” asked Annie.

  “Yes, in a couple of them. They will all be moved out by the end of the month.”

  “I like this one better already,” said Tyler, “because the women would be able to come outside and sit in the yard.”

  “I agree,” said Annie. “If the house is sound, I like it much better. Some of these maples are magnificent. Lots of shade for the hot weather.”

  “Is this half an acre?” asked Tyler.

  “The lot measurements are listed, Tyler. I’m sure you can figure it out.”

  “Something up her ass?” Annie whispered to Tyler and he grinned.

  After the tour of the house they were in agreement. This one was hands-down better for their purposes. “You’ll want an inspection, Tyler,” said Annie. “You don’t want to run into any hidden costs.”

  “I can
specify that in the offer,” said Karen. “Were you thinking of offering on the property, Tyler?”

  “Would you help me with the details, Annie?”

  “I’d be happy to, Tyler. We’ll follow you to Ms. Rigby’s office.

  10:30 a.m.

  BLAINE and Farrell both filled mugs from the fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen before the third guy arrived. “Hope this guy is better than the last one,” said Blaine. “He lied to Lil, for chrissake. How could we hire him and believe anything he said after that?”

  “I like Cody,” said Farrell. “I’m voting for him for one of my guys as long as he can shoot.”

  “Uh huh. Didn’t mind him,” said Blaine. “Army ranger. He has skills.”

  Lexi barked.

  “Oh, oh. Here’s another one.”

  Blaine headed down the hall to the office and let Farrell get the door. Farrell held Lexi back with his thigh as he let the candidate into the foyer. “She won’t hurt you. Might lick you to death.”

  “Hey, girl. You’re a nice size.”

  “Yeah, big as a pony. I’m Farrell Donovan.” He shot a hand out.

  “Billy McGregor. Am I on time?”

  “Sure, don’t matter. The last guy just left. Come on into the office and meet my brother.”

  “Can’t believe I’m at the Agency. Read about you guys and see y’all on TV whenever you take somebody down.”

  “Want a coffee?”

  “Sure thing. I could use a coffee,” said Billy.

  Farrell showed him into Blaine’s office and went back to the kitchen for the coffee.

  BLAINE pointed to the leather club chair in front of his desk and Billy McGregor sat down. “I see by your resume you did two tours in the service then took a criminology course at the U when you came home.”

  “Yep. I’m aiming to be a ballbuster like y’all,” said Billy with a wide grin.

  Billy was about six feet tall, solidly built with blond curly hair brushing his broad shoulders. A little surfer-ish but Blaine wasn’t given to pre-judging.

  “You didn’t apply to Austin PD?”

  “Nope. I know myself too well for that. Five years of following the rules and that was enough. I need something with a bit more freedom.”