Vigilance

by Carolina Mac

  She lay still for a few minutes trying to catch her breath, then she pushed up for all she was worth, and it wasn’t enough. There was pain in her right arm and she seemed to have no strength at all. She was stuck.

  Her cell was in her pocket and it was a tight fit to get her hand in her jeans to pull it out. When she retrieved it, she pressed Mag’s cell number. He answered on the first ring.

  “Where are you, sweetheart?”

  “Seventy-one about five miles from the ranch.”

  “Was it another possum?” Mag chuckled.

  “Fawn.”

  “Fuck, babe. Why the hell are you alone?”

  “My backup went AWOL.”

  “I’ll kill the prick. Hold on. I’ll be there in five.”

  Mag arrived in less than five minutes and Bull, her ranch foreman, was with him. Mag shone a light down on her and she couldn’t help noticing the grins on both their faces.

  “Come on, guys, it’s not that funny.”

  “Oh, yeah, boss, it is.” Bull stepped down into the ditch and hefted the bike off her on the first try. He pushed it up onto the shoulder and Mag wheeled it over to the truck.

  “This grass is wet.” Annie tried to get up and winced when her right arm touched the ground.

  “Take my hand,” said Mag. He leaned down and pulled her up onto the road. “You okay?”

  “Sure, I’m okay,” said Annie. “My clothes are wet from the dew, that’s all.”

  Bull took a close look at her when the cab light came on. “That don’t look okay to me.” He pointed at her right arm. “The bike cut you good.”

  “Dec will fix it.”

  “Make sure he does.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Friday, March 20th.

  EWING woke himself up groaning in pain.

  Kirstin propped herself up on a bird-like elbow and stared at him. “We need to get you to a hospital. The bullet is still in your leg.”

  “How do you know?” His tongue was thick, his head felt fuzzy and he was gonna puke for sure.

  “No hole where it came out. That’s how I know.”

  Ewing leaned over the side of the bed and hurled.

  “Jeeze, now you’re sick. I guess you couldn’t get to the bathroom.”

  “Guess not.” He wiped his mouth on the bedsheet. “I can’t fuckin walk.”

  Kirstin got out of bed and walked to the window. “Where are we?”

  “Motel outside of the city. Nobody will find us here.”

  “Are we going to Mexico today?” she asked.

  “One more little chore to do first. Then we can go.”

  “How are you gonna do another chore when you can’t walk?”

  “You can do it for me,” said Ewing. “You’re my best girl.” He winked at her.

  JESSE picked Annie up at her ranch for Special Agent Greg Shields’ memorial service. She struggled with the handle of the Range Rover trying to get the door open with her left hand.

  Jesse hopped out and came around to help her. “What’s wrong, Ace? Is there something wrong with the door?”

  “Nope. Something’s wrong with me. I fell off my bike and hurt my arm a little bit.” Nothing was visible. Her arms were covered by her long-sleeved black silk suit jacket.

  Jesse smiled. “How’d that happen?”

  “Baby deer.”

  Jesse smiled down at her. “Uh huh. That’ll do it.”

  “We going straight to the funeral home?” asked Annie.

  “Blacky said he’d meet us there. He picked the one in Smithville because it’s more private and he didn’t want any media around.”

  “I like that one too. The man who owns it is a nice person.”

  “What were you doing out riding your bike, sweetheart?”

  “Finishing my assignment.”

  “Lane was there to help you when you fell, right?”

  “Umm… no. He was helping you and Blaine yesterday and he never came back to the ranch when he was finished.”

  Jesse glared over the console. “And why the hell wouldn’t he? He was assigned to you.”

  Annie shrugged. “I don’t know, sugar. He just didn’t.”

  “Did you call him before you left?”

  “No. I told him ten o’clock. He didn’t show, and I figured I’d be okay. I used to work alone—totally alone and I like it.”

  “He can’t do that,” said Jesse. “You could have been killed or badly hurt and you’re out there alone. And you were hurt, you’re just not showing me how badly. I’m not letting this slide.”

  “Job’s done and I’m still kicking. You can go easy on him, sugar pop.”

  Jesse shook his dark mop of hair. “Not happening. My wife could have been killed.”

  THE SMITHVILLE Funeral Home welcomed the staff of The Blackmore Agency and not many others. Greg’s family would hold their own service in Roanoke, his hometown in Virginia. Chief Calhoun was in attendance, along with Misty LeJeune, Mary Polito and Carmelita Flores.

  The service was short and simple. Blaine said a few words about Greg, what an asset he’d been to the Blackmore team and how greatly he’d be missed. Blaine was followed at the lectern by Rick Rosella and Andy Comstock. All of them mentioned Jack Prima, fighting for his life in the hospital and unable to be there to say goodbye to his partner and friend.

  Annie sobbed on Jesse’s sleeve and he held her close to him to console her. “This is a terrible time for us, Ace.”

  AFTER THE SERVICE, the staff returned to the Agency for a private luncheon. Carm had set the tables in the dining room and kitchen in advance and done a lot of baking. Blaine had ordered the main course from Tulley’s.

  Blaine offered everyone a drink on their arrival, and most of the boys opted for beer. He opened a bottle of red and one of white and filled glasses for Lily, Misty, Mary and Carm. Annie drank Lone Star and sat quietly by herself.

  Lane seemed distant. He took his beer and stared out the kitchen window at the dogs, then sat down at the little table in the alcove across from Annie. “Sorry I didn’t make it back last night. We had a busy day and I didn’t realize how wiped I was. I crashed on my sofa when I got home.”

  Annie nodded, then picked up her beer with her left hand and chugged it.

  Lane grinned. “So, you’re not talking to me now?”

  “Nothing to say.”

  Jesse strode over to the table and glared down at Lane. “On the other hand, I do have something to say. You were assigned to my wife and you didn’t show up or call. She had an accident during the completion of her assignment and she was alone.” Jesse pointed a finger in Lane’s face. “Hurt and alone out on the highway with a seven hundred pound Harley on top of her. She could have been killed while you were home sleeping.”

  “I didn’t know she’d be tracking the… we hadn’t done much, and I figured she wasn’t ready. If she’d called me, I would have come. She didn’t so I figured I was good for at least one more day.”

  “Not your call, Forget,” said Jesse. “It’s not up to you to figure anything out. You had an assignment and you were on duty at ten o’clock.”

  “Sorry, boss. It won’t happen again.”

  “Damn right it won’t. You’re fired, Lane.”

  Lane stood up. “Hey, come on, it wasn’t that serious.”

  Jesse hauled off and punched Lane in the face.

  Lane reared back to retaliate, and Farrell caught his arms from behind.

  “Enough,” said Farrell. “Away you go.” He pushed Lane out of the kitchen and across the foyer to the door. “Go home.”

  Blaine cast a confused look at Jesse and then at Annie, “What’s going on?”

  Jesse explained about Lane not going back to the ranch.

  “And Mom got hurt?” asked Blaine. “Show me.”

  Annie shook her head. “It’s not serious, and besides Declan bandaged it after he put the stitches in.”

  “You needed stitches?” Blaine glowered. “You fell off your bike, Mom. Th
ere could have been a car coming.”

  “But there wasn’t, and I’m fine.”

  “He’s still fuckin fired,” said Jesse. “I ain’t changing my mind.”

  “Nope,” said Blaine, “and I’m not asking you to. I agree with your decision, partner. That was a good call.”

  THE GUESTS departed, and Blaine, Annie and Jesse went to the hospital.

  Jesse went to check on Gene Wyman’s condition, Annie went to sit with Jack and Blaine entered the ICU to see if Cat was awake.

  He sat in the single guest chair beside her bed and gazed at her pale face. Her first few months in office had been anything but easy. If she had a husband supporting her, things wouldn’t have been so difficult, but was there a man out there strong enough to take on Catherine Campbell?

  He was debating with himself whether there was or not when Cat opened her eyes. “Hey, about time.” He smiled at her and she tried to smile back.

  Her eyes held questions and she tried to speak but couldn’t. Blaine held a finger to his lips and she closed her eyes.

  JESSE spoke to Gene Wyman’s doctor and was informed Gene had survived the surgery but hadn’t regained consciousness. He was on the critical list and wasn’t allowed any visitors.

  ANNIE sat beside Jack’s bed at the opposite end of the intensive care unit. She picked up his hand and held it, not knowing if he could feel her touching him or not. They’d worked as a team so many times and she knew him better than any of the other junkers. Special Agent Jack Prima was special to her.

  FARRELL and Pablo were alone in the dining room at the Agency eating leftover pie while Misty and Carm cleaned up the kitchen. Farrell’s cell jangled, and it was the Chief.

  “Rest area down I-35, Donovan. Dead guy beside a Porsche. Ring any bells?”

  “Nope, but I’ll go take a look, sir. Any other information?”

  “The highway patrolman who called it in said it looked like a pro job. Double tap to the head.”

  “I’m leaving now. Keep you posted.”

  “We got work?” asked Pablo forking in the last bite of his pecan pie. He jumped up and took his plate to the dishwasher.

  “Yep. Some guy who won’t be driving his Porche any longer.”

  “That’s a sad story.”

  “Yeah, ain’t it?” Farrell gave Carm a hug on the way out. “Good eats, mi Corazon.”

  “Bueno,” said Pablo and Carm smiled.

  As they drove south looking for the rest area, Farrell shoved Annie’s CD into the slot.

  Pablo listened for a while as they cruised along. “That’s a great CD. I don’t recognize the singer.”

  “It’s Annie. A private CD. Only me and Blaine and Trav have a copy. Jesse might have one too.”

  “That’s your Mom?” Pablo was wide-eyed.

  “Uh huh. She has her own house band. What day is it?”

  “Friday.”

  “They play tonight at the ranch.”

  “I’d like to hear them.”

  “See what time we get finished and I’ll take you.”

  Pablo grinned.

  ANNIE jumped out of Jesse’s Range Rover at the gate when he dropped her off at Coulter-Ross. He wouldn’t stay to have a beer with her, saying he’d been away from Charity for too long and had to get home. It still broke her heart that he’d taken the baby away from her to raise her on Quantrall land. Wouldn’t it be better to have a mother than have your own dirt under your feet?

  Every day is worse than the last. I need somebody in my life.

  Annie walked from the gate to the house and didn’t notice the truck that didn’t belong parked in front of the garage.

  Lane sat in one of the wicker chairs on the porch waiting for her.

  “Oh, hi,” said Annie, “I didn’t realize you were here.”

  “I had to come to apologize. I didn’t skip out on purpose, I just fell asleep. I should have called.”

  Annie stood with her hand on the door latch. “It’s over now. The job is finished.”

  “But I lost my job, Annie, because of you.”

  “Because of me? You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, I’m not kidding, and I think you owe me. I want you to talk to boy wonder and ask him to give me another chance.”

  Annie turned and took a stance. “Are you referring to Blaine?”

  “Of course, I am. Anybody can see he’s just a kid on a power trip. What’s the big deal? I fell asleep, missed a shift—doing basically nothing—no harm, no foul.”

  “Jesse fired you and Blaine backed him up. There’s nothing I can do. I have nothing to do with the Blackmore Agency.”

  Lane smiled. “But you have a lot to do with the kid who runs it. Rumor has it you two are so tight it’s… spooky.”

  “Spooky?”

  “Not the word I was searching for. You know what I mean.”

  “Nope. Do not. I’ve got to start dinner. You better be going.”

  “Are you saying you won’t help me?”

  “Can’t help you. Sorry.”

  Lane jumped off his chair and grabbed Annie’s stitched arm. “I need my job back and you’re going to get it for me.”

  Annie screamed, and Jose crossed the compound like a streak of lightning. “Hands in the air.” Jose pointed an automatic weapon at the center of Lane’s chest.

  Lane let go of Annie and raised his hands. “Okay, okay. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I’m going.”

  Jose escorted Lane to his truck at gunpoint and saw him out the gate.

  Annie went to her room, laid on her bed and sobbed.

  THE PAIN KILLERS Kirstin had given him wore off and Ewing woke up groggy. He opened his eyes and didn’t recognize the room. Where was the girl?

  “Hey, kid,” his voice came out in a whisper. She didn’t answer. The TV was on but no sound, the drapes closed and the room in semi-darkness. Maybe she was in the bathroom. His throat was so dry he couldn’t swallow. “Water.” He pushed the covers away and tried to get up but couldn’t move his leg. It throbbed with pain but didn’t feel attached to his body any more. Maybe he was dreaming. He needed more pain pills and more sleep. Where was the girl? He moaned and closed his eyes.

  HIGHWAY PATROL had the scene taped off around the Boxter when Farrell and Pablo arrived. The local Medical Examiner was kneeling on the sidewalk ready to zip up the body bag and a crowd of spectators holding cell phones had gathered to watch the procedure and film their own gory videos for YouTube.

  Farrell strode over to the highway patrolman in uniform. A short stocky man in his early fifties. “Donovan, sir, from Violent Crime. Was it you who found the body?”

  “Dead-eye Donovan?”

  Farrell smiled and shrugged.

  The officer offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Donovan.

  Farrell pointed to his partner. “Deputy Pablo Acosta.”

  The officer gave his hand to Pablo.

  “Anybody around when you found the deceased?”

  “Nah, too early. Barely light out. I was almost ready to go off shift and I came in for a bathroom break and a Coke to get me to quitting time.”

  “You already checked for brass, I bet,” said Farrell.

  “First thing. But if it was a pro hit, there wouldn’t be nothin to find. Always the same.”

  “Gotcha. Good job. I’ll have them send the victim to our morgue and maybe we’ll get something.”

  “Nice meeting you, Donovan.”

  Farrell gave him a wave as he strode across the parking lot to his SUV.

  “Nothing here,” said Pablo. “Prints from the victim are the best we can hope for.”

  “Amen to that.”

  BLAINE left Cat sleeping. At least she’d opened her eyes and seen him sitting there. He wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. Nothing worse than that, and he should know. The worst moment of his life was waking up completely alone in Odessa under the bleachers in the fairgrounds.

  The visit wasn’t a total waste of time when he had so many other thing
s on his plate. Finding Ewing Thompson and putting a bullet in his head or his heart was number one on his list. How he was going to accomplish that, he hadn’t quite figured out. Yet.

  He pressed the key fob to open his truck door and his cell rang. He checked the screen and it said unknown number. “Who the hell is calling me now?” Annoyed, he barked out his name, “Blackmore.”

  “Ranger, this is Kirstin. I need help.”

  “Kirstin,” his voice softened. “I’m so glad you called. Where are you?”

  “I don’t know. That’s the problem. Ewing is hurt bad and he’s getting worse by the minute. He’s dying from the bullet in his leg, I’m pretty sure and I’m stuck here with him. Is there a reward for Ewing like on ‘Most Wanted’ or like that?”

  “If you lead me to him, I’ll make sure you get money, Kirstin, out of my own pocket.”

  “How much?”

  “Umm… how much would be good for you?”

  “Five thousand.”

  “Done. I guarantee it,” said Blaine.

  “Come and get me, please.”

  “Tell me where.”

  “I don’t know. Can you tell by the phone?”

  She doesn’t drive.

  “Okay, maybe. Is it a pay phone?”

  “Yes. We’re in a motel a little ways down the road from the gas station with the phone.”

  “Is there a highway marker?”

  “Let me look. Can you hold?”

  “Uh huh.”

  Kirstin came back out of breath. “One eighty-three.”

  “Okay, great,” said Blaine. “What’s the name of the motel?”

  “I forget. Something with Coach on the front. I’m scared, Ranger. I don’t want to be here.”

  “I’m coming right now, Kirstin. Go back to the motel but stay in the lobby or the coffee room where there’s other people. Stay away from Ewing, will you do that for me?”

  “He’ll wonder where I am.”