Night Vipers

by Carolina Mac

  He nodded. “Chet brings me food when he comes home.”

  “Does he live here?” asked Farrell.

  “Sometimes.”

  “Where else?”

  “When they aren’t fighting, he stays with Candy.”

  “Kamps has a girlfriend?”

  “Yes. She’s a lovely person. Much like the beautiful Quinn.”

  “I didn’t know,” said Farrell. “He’s never mentioned her.”

  “We move in different circles,” whispered Roy.

  You could say that.

  Farrell could tell Roy was tired just from talking. “I don’t think you should be out of the hospital, Roy. Can you get to the bathroom down the hall by yourself?”

  “Yes.”

  Farrell sat down on the only chair. “I went to see Florin Moffatt.”

  “Our encounter was a horrible mistake on my part. He seemed so affable.”

  “Yeah, well he ain’t affable—whatever the hell that is. He’s an ugly excuse on a power trip.”

  “Some customers are high risk,” said Roy.

  “Do you know any other guys—in your circle—that Moffatt has hurt or injured?”

  “Freddie Flintstone came to see me in the hospital, and he was simpatico. He said Florin hurt him too, then left him a big tip so he didn’t tell anybody.”

  “When was that?”

  “A couple of weeks before my encounter. Freddie felt bad he didn’t warn me.”

  “Yeah. He could have saved you a lot of pain.” Farrell stood up. “Did Moffatt give you a big tip too for beating your fuckin brains out?”

  “I don’t know what was in the room because I…” Roy turned his head. “I guess I was unconscious.”

  “Shit yeah,” said Farrell. “You might have money in the lab. They would have bagged everything. I’ll check for you.”

  “Would you? That would be so helpful.”

  “I’ll do it when I leave here. Do you have any money at all?”

  “I’m not sure, but I don’t need any for a day or two.”

  Farrell pulled out his wallet and put a twenty on the dresser. “I’m putting twenty here in case you need take-out.”

  “You’re a kind person, Ranger Dead-Eye.”

  “Where do I find Flintstone? Is that his real name?”

  “Fred Flint.”

  “And where does Mr. Flint call home.”

  “Are you going to talk to him about Florin?”

  “I want to. Is it a bad idea?”

  “Possibly Freddie has a want, and perhaps he may make tracks when he sees you.”

  “Okay, good to know. I’m not going to bust him. I’ll leave that for vice. I only want to ask him about Florin Moffat.”

  “Mr. Moffatt favors the Lumber Yard.”

  “Thanks, Roy. Maybe I’ll see him in action.” Farrell left Roy’s residence, sat in his truck at the curb and called Quinn at Wylie Coyote.

  “Hey, Farrell. I can’t talk, I’m on the floor.”

  “I know. Just make me a special to go with a milkshake. I don’t think Roy is eating.”

  “I’ll have it at the bar for you.”

  “Thanks, babe. Love you lots.”

  2:30 E.S.T.

  Pearson International Airport. Toronto. Canada.

  THEY didn’t stop at the carousel because all they brought were carry-on bags. As soon as they cleared customs, Jesse rented a Jeep and they stepped out of the terminal into the frozen north.

  Marnie shivered. “It’s colder than I thought it would be.”

  “I’ll drive,” said Annie. “It will be faster because I know where I’m going.”

  “True dat, Ace.”

  Luc hopped in the shotgun seat beside Annie and Jesse and Marnie piled into the back seat.

  “Hope this baby has a good heater,” said Jesse.

  “It will warm up when we get going,” said Annie. “Anybody want anything before we head out of the city?”

  “Can we stop halfway?” asked Marnie. “I might need the ladies’ room in a while.”

  “Sure. We’ll get gas and a bite to eat in Peterborough,” said Annie. “That’s about halfway.”

  3:00 p.m.

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin.

  BLAINE sat in Chief Calhoun’s office discussing the raid on the Blue Tango. “How do you want to handle it, sir?”

  “How do we know the girls are even there?” asked the Chief.

  “We don’t. And I can’t risk going and snooping around in case one of the Russians is there and spots me.”

  “Send someone they don’t know.”

  “Good thought. I’ll send Lily.” He picked up his cell and called Travis.

  “Hey, Travis. I need recon on the Blue Tango Motel for tonight. We need confirmation that the girls have been moved from the gym to the motel before we set up the take-down.”

  “Yeah, boss. I can find out.”

  “No. I don’t want them to see anybody who looks threatening. Take Lily and let her go in the office and nose around. You stay close in case she needs you.”

  “Copy that, boss. Back at you.”

  3:30 p.m.

  Blue Tango Motel. Montopolis Area. Austin.

  THE Blue Tango was a two-storey motel with an outdoor walkway on the second level. Once white stucco, it was now an unattractive shade of aqua.

  Travis parked a block away and walked with Lily as far as a convenience store next door. “I’ll wait here. You have your mic on?”

  Lily nodded. “If I need you, you’ll hear me.” She walked towards the motel office with purpose in the high heels she always wore, bringing her up to an impressive six feet. She opened the door, walked up to the counter and smiled at the middle-aged woman with a spray bottle of Windex in her hand.

  “Can I help you?” She wore a Blue Tango shirt in the same aqua as the outside of the motel and her name was embroidered above the pocket.

  Bev.

  “Good afternoon, Bev,” said Lily. “I see that you have a no vacancy sign in your window.”

  “That’s right. We’re full up.”

  “I represent a Texas travel magazine and we’re promoting economical trips to the Capitol for the summer season. Could you tell me your rates?”

  “Sure. Fifty-five dollars a night. Three fifty for a week.”

  Lily jotted down the numbers in her notebook. “And what would you say were typical guests who stayed at the Blue Tango?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean like, couples, businessmen, families?”

  “Some of each, I guess.”

  “Let’s be more specific,” said Lil. “For example, the motel is full. What category do most of the guests fall into today?”

  Bev smiled when the light went on. “I get it. Right now, we’ve got mostly girls. I’d say college girls. Like that.”

  Lily folded her notebook and offered her hand to Bev. “Thank you, Bev. You have a wonderful day.”

  Back in Travis’s truck, Lil called Blaine. “The Blue Tango is filled up. Mostly girls. Confirmed.”

  “Aces, Lil. We’re a go for tonight. Have all the boys sleep for a couple of hours and report to the Agency at nine.”

  “Copy that, boss.”

  4:40 p.m. E.S.T.

  Maynooth. Ontario.

  AS Annie drove north from Bancroft the wind picked up and brought another round of snow with it. Highway sixty-two was snow covered and slippery and visibility was down to a few feet in front of the Jeep. Luc had hold of the door handle and looked ready to bail out.

  “Dis shit weather, cher. Never seen snow like dat.”

  “It is bad driving weather, sugar. But don’t worry, I’ve driven in lots of snowstorms before.”

  “I haven’t,” said Marnie in the back seat, a nervousness in her voice. “I find it a little scary.”

  “I’ll hold your hand when we go into the ditch,” said Jesse with a chuckle.

  “Nice going, cowboy. You know how to cheer her up.”

 
“I’m just getting over my last ditch experience,” said Marnie. “My gorgeous Mustang had to go to the body shop.”

  “Yeah, but she’s back now looking as good as ever,” said Jesse.

  “It cost money to fix it,” said Marnie, “and it was my fault that it happened.”

  “Hey, you married a rich guy. You don’t have to worry about money anymore.”

  “Funny,” said Marnie. “I still do.”

  “This is my road,” said Annie. She flicked on her blinker and it didn’t look like there was any oncoming traffic, but as she began to turn a tractor-trailer roared by and just missed the front of the Jeep.

  “Pic kee toi,” hollered Luc and grabbed for the holy shit bar.

  Annie giggled as she made the turn and eased the Jeep out of a skid. “Slippery.”

  Five minutes down the side road Jesse pointed. “There’s a Wrangler.” The parked Jeep was covered with a fresh layer of snow.

  “I’ll park right behind it,” said Annie. “No chance of getting up the hill.”

  Luc jumped out of the Jeep and stared at the hill leading up to the cabin. “Putain impossible.”

  “It does look tricky,” said Annie. “Let’s go inside and talk to Tyler before we worry about our luggage.”

  “Maybe Marnie should stay in the Jeep,” said Jesse. “I don’t want her falling in the snow.”

  Marnie laughed. “I won’t get hurt and it’s too soon for a little fall in the snow to do anything to the baby.”

  They struggled through the deep snow for a good ten minutes before making headway up the hill. Annie looked up at the roof and said, “There’s no smoke coming out of the chimney. Maybe he ran out of wood.”

  Marnie laughed as she trucked through the deep snow, one step at a time. “Never seen so much snow, Jesse. It’s amazing.”

  “Ain’t it? I could do with a little less.”

  Annie was first up the porch steps to the front door. She tried the knob and the door was unlocked. The air inside the cabin was frigid. “It’s cold inside. Why doesn’t he have a fire on?” She called out. “Tyler, where are you? Are you sleeping?”

  Jesse was right behind her. He stomped the snow off his boots on the doormat before looking in the bedrooms for Tyler. The cabin was small. One great room, kitchen and living room combination, divided by the stone fireplace. A small hallway led to the two bedrooms and bathroom.

  “The bed has been slept in,” said Jesse, “but he’s not inside.”

  “Then he must be outside,” said Annie. “Go look for him while I make coffee to warm us up.”

  JESSE and Luc stepped out on the back porch and the first thing Jesse saw were the big birds perched high in the leafless trees squawking and looking down at something near the garage. He plodded over that way and saw Tyler lying next to the chopping block—an axe stuck in his leg.

  Jesse turned his head and threw up in the snow. Luc ran past Jesse, picked Tyler up and as soon as he lifted the body, the axe fell out of the gash in his leg.

  Luc ran into the cabin carrying Tyler and hollering in Cajun for Annie to call an ambulance. He laid Tyler on the floor by the woodstove and ran into the bedroom for blankets hollering, “Il est gele.”

  Annie was on the phone talking to the 911 operator when Jesse came in carrying an armload of wood. While Luc wrapped Tyler in blankets, Jesse chopped kindling with trembling hands and tried to light the stove.

  “Can you feel a pulse, Luc?” asked Marnie. She was down on her knees beside Tyler.

  Luc shrugged like he didn’t know anything about taking a pulse. Annie rushed over and tried Tyler’s neck and then his wrist. “I don’t feel anything, but I’m not good at it.” She walked over and checked the thermostat on the wall. “It’s coming up a little, but we need the woodstove on. The furnace has to be on low over the winter or the pipes and the water will freeze. I never turn it off, and the oil company checks on it for me.”

  As soon as the stove was burning, Jesse put his gloves on and zipped up his parka. “I’m going out to the top of the hill to wait for the ambulance.”

  Marnie reached for her coat and Jesse shook his head. “Stay in here. No need of you being frozen solid.”

  Annie sat on the floor next to Tyler with a cup of coffee in her hand and looked for any sign of life in her husband. She didn’t see the slightest twitch and she didn’t see how he could be revived from the frozen state he was in.

  As far as doing anything for him, there was nothing any of them could do. His blood-soaked jeans were frozen hard and stuck to his leg and Annie knew better than to mess with something like that. It was better to wait a few minutes and let the paramedics handle it the proper way.

  Jesse returned a few minutes later with two paramedics bundled up in parkas and carrying a Stokes. A stretcher wasn’t going to cut it on her hill. “Sorry we took so long, but it’s bad out there and getting worse by the minute.”

  “We’re glad y’all are here,” said Annie. “Nothing much we could do for my husband except try to warm him up.”

  The two medics examined Tyler and spoke to each other in low voices. One attempted to cut through the frozen denim then thought better of it. “We need to transport him if he’s to have any chance at all.”

  “I’ll give you a hand to get down the hill,” said Jesse.

  6:00 p.m.

  Bancroft Hospital. Ontario.

  ANNIE, Luc, Jesse and Marnie sat in the waiting area outside the Emergency room waiting to see what the word was on Tyler. Was he dead? Jesse thought he was, but he wasn’t phoning either one of his brothers until he had facts from a doctor.

  Marnie had shed a few tears seeing the state Tyler was in. She was in the early stages of pregnancy and more emotional than usual.

  At least the hospital had heat and coffee that wasn’t the worst. Annie had purchased a half dozen assorted muffins to go with the coffee. The food would tide them over until they could get dinner somewhere in Bancroft. She’d eaten a couple of places in town in the past and the fish and chip place was one of the best choices.

  After an hour of waiting, Jesse changed his mind and called Bobby. All he could tell him was they’d found Tyler and he was hurt. They knew nothing more than that. Bobby promised to relay the message to Paul.

  They’d been sitting for another two hours when Doctor Babcock entered the waiting area looking for them. “Mrs. Quantrall?”

  Annie stood up. “Yes?”

  “Could we have a moment in my office, please?”

  “Of course.” Annie followed him out the door and down the hallway into an eight by ten space with a simple wooden desk and a couple of chairs.

  “Please sit down. This is a stressful time for you.”

  “Yes.”

  “Your husband is still unconscious and we’re warming him up gradually. It has to be done that way, I’m afraid.”

  “I understand,” said Annie.

  “He has a nasty gash in his leg and the axe cracked the bone. That’s probably the reason he couldn’t get to the house. I understood from the paramedics that he was away from the house chopping wood?”

  “Yes, he was,” said Annie. “He was beside the garage where the wood is stored and between the house and the garage there’s three to four feet of snow.”

  “So even if he could have dragged himself towards the house, the snow was too deep.”

  “Yes.”

  “It may be hours yet before we have a turning point, Mrs. Quantrall. You and your friends may as well have dinner. Check back later if you wish, but I think we’re looking at tomorrow morning at the earliest to see any signs of improvement.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. We’ll check back later. I can tell Tyler is in good hands.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Monday, January 23rd.

  9:00 p.m.

  The Blackmore Agency.

  Night Shift.

  BLAINE went over the procedure for the take-down at the Blue Tango. “No bikes tonight. We’re in stealth mode
. No noise. We surround them and take the girls out of all the rooms. Anybody found in any of the rooms—besides the girls—are under arrest and we’ll deal with them individually later. There will be enough busses on hand to transport the girls—approximately forty girls—to a safe house where they will be processed. We’re hoping that many of them will turn up on our missing list and we can get them back to their families.”

  “What if the two Russian guys aren’t at the motel, boss?” asked Fletch.

  “Good question, Fletch,” said Blaine. “If they are not present at the Blue Tango, and odds are they will have guards on the girls and won’t be there in person, then at the same moment we storm the motel to take the girls out, the teams assigned to the two leaders and the gym will take them into custody.”

  “Everybody vested up and earbuds working?” asked Farrell.

  The boys nodded. They were ready.

  “Two to a truck,” said Blaine. “Everybody know their positions?” He stood up and picked up his keys. “Let’s do it.”

  9:15 p.m. E.S.T.

  Bancroft Hospital. Ontario.

  AFTER dinner Annie, Jesse, Marnie and Luc checked in at the hospital. Tyler was in a special unit and a plethora of doctors and nurses were diligently working on him. No visitors were allowed.

  “Come back at the start of visiting hours tomorrow and you may be able to see him for a minute,” said the head nurse. “Don’t worry. He’s in good hands.”

  “I’ve done nothing but worry about Tyler since New Years’,” said Jesse. “He’s not the same person he used to be.”

  “Let’s go to the cabin, build a fire and get some sleep,” said Annie. “I noticed that Tyler had a case of beer in the fridge.”

  Jesse grinned. “It’s been a tough day. I could use a beer.”

  “Moi aussi,” said Luc.

  10:30 p.m.

  Blue Tango Motel. Montopolis Area. Austin.

  BLAINE placed the warrant on the counter in the office and asked to see the registrations. The woman didn’t give him any trouble and didn’t even read the warrant. He jotted down the ten room numbers and said. “There’s going to be some police activity for the next hour. Just ignore it and if you have complaints from the other guests, tell them it doesn’t concern them. Tell them to stay in their rooms, and it will all be over soon.”