Although silent, Alex agreed wholeheartedly. So much death, Alex thought. Including your own nephew.
Taking out his phone, Moe started dialing.
“Who are you calling?”
“Calling Kellan,” Moe said. “I think that boy needs to know it’s gonna be okay.”
“Moe, no.” Alex said, frowning. “You need to concentrate on your family. Josh’s mom and sister are coming. And you need to prepare yourself for when they get here.”
A tear falling down his eye, Moe turned toward the blind-covered window.
“I’m not ready for this, Alex. He’s not my son, but he’s as good as. How am I supposed to go on? How am I supposed to…Alex, I don’t even want to breathe right now.”
“I can only imagine,” Alex whispered, unsure of where to direct his gaze.
But he couldn’t. He couldn’t begin to imagine. He’d come close, sure. He’d flirted with danger enough to cost him everything and everyone he loved, but he’d never really lost…Wow! As he contemplated his life, from his brother to his father to every brother and sister in blue that had fallen, Alex realized he was, in fact, an expert at death. And he had almost lost Joey.
Maybe, Alex realized, he understood better than he thought.
Chapter 28
Once Alyson was safely in recovery, Alex left the hospital long enough to get her some fresh clothes and some incidentals she would eventually need – toothbrush, deodorant, gown and what not. The doctors had said she’d be in recovery a minimum of four hours, so Alex knew he’d have time to get home, gather some of Alyson’s things and get back to the hospital before she was awake. He didn’t want to leave Moe alone, but the arrival of his niece provided the perfect excuse for a quick trip home. Stopping at the information desk, Alex informed them to contact Moe, should any issue arise.
Pulling into his driveway, Alex sighed, turned down the radio. He hadn’t been aware of the sad song that had been playing, so the sudden clarity was a knife to his already bleeding chest. He couldn’t recall the singer’s name, but a song about a father’s love for his little girl as she grew up was more than Alex could bear right then. Though Alyson wasn’t legally his daughter, they’d more than established that they indeed shared a father-daughter feeling that was just as real as it was with his own little girl. Knowing she was in pain right now weighed heavily on Alex.
Exiting his car, he sighed. This was not something he’d been prepared for. A few days ago, he’d watched her nearly bleed to death. He’d blatantly accused Calloway, a man who’d once promised revenge. A man his own best friend had hidden from Alex.
“Okay,” he whispered to himself, “let’s not walk down that road right now.”
Looking across the way, he saw his neighbor sweeping off the porch. It was a bit cold to be sweeping off the porch. Any other time, he might walk over and encourage her to wait until warmer weather. Today, he was pressed for time.
When she waved, he reciprocated, turning and heading into his house in a trot, lest she decide to get chatty.
Approaching the front door, he could hear Brandy barking from the back yard. Poor thing, he thought. It’s cold out here!
“Come inside, Goofy!” He hollered, hoping she’d be smart enough to take him up on the offer to use her personal entrance.
Entering the house, Alex immediately removed his shoes.
Removing his jacket, he hung it on the coatrack near the edge of the foyer.
He reached around to remove his gun holster.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Alex jumped, shrieked. He would not share it with anyone that he sounded, to himself at least, not unlike a small child, when he screamed.
“Nah-ah-ah!” he hissed, when Alex went for his gun. Pointing what looked to be a 9mm of his own. “Careful. Walk into the living room. Slow! Leave the holster on that end table over there.”
“Okay,” Alex said, careful to comply. Slow, cautious, he lay the holstered weapon on the table. Pushing his palms out, fingers spread wide, Alex took a submissive posture, bending his knees just slightly as he stepped toward the intruder. Eyes wide, he tried to force a non-threatening look to cover his face. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. Take whatever you want and go. You want the valuables? I’ll show you where they are. Just take ‘em and go. I’m a cop. Whatever this is, you don’t want to do this.”
“Oh, Alex,” he said, “What I want, I promise, you will not so willingly give.”
Instantly, it dawned on Alex. His mind flashed with images of the Pizza Hut. He’d only seen him for an instant. But that was enough to trigger a flash memory.
“Calloway,” Alex said.
The hand struck Alex so hard he tumbled backwards, seeing stars even before his head struck something hard on the arm of the couch. He grunted, but did not cry out. The scent of his own blood met his nose an instant before the taste touched his tongue. Though unsure, he didn’t think any of his teeth had been knocked loose. Weak, his head throbbing, Alex felt himself being lifted onto the couch. Trying to clear the tear-filled blur from his eyes, he forced the meat of his palms into his eye sockets.
“You know,” he said, “You’re the second person to punch me recently. I liked the last one. I don’t really care for you.”
“Very good, Alex. Now, sit. Let’s catch up, why don’t we? Twelve years is a long time to be apart.”
Chapter 29
Alex at the hospital. Kellan at home. Danny and the Chief now on lockdown by order of the Mayor himself. To say there was a power vacuum at Longview PD was the understatement of the century. She had almost cried when the Mayor ordered the cuffs placed on the chief. As Janet paced the halls, she completely doubted herself. She was in charge, the chief had told her, before voluntarily joining Danny.
Sgt. Myers walked by her in the hall way.
“You okay, Sgt. Busby?” he asked.
“I’m okay, Rex,” Janet answered. “Just—”
“Feeling the weight of the crown?”
Offering a slight smirk, Janet nodded.
“Well,” Rex continued, “We’ll try to keep things light on you. Just think of me as your right hand. Kind of exciting, isn’t it? To get a chance to lead the whole works.”
“Exciting?” Janet asked, indignant. “You do realize that the only reason we—I am in command right now is because the chief and our captain are in a cell, on order of the Mayor. Two of our best Lieutenants are dealing with tragic deaths. The third Lieutenant is dead. Our department has been decimated, so forgive me if I don’t celebrate being in charge of holding the remnants of leadership together right now.”
“Ease off, Janet,” Rex said, winking, “I was only kidding. You know me. We got this. You and me. You’re not alone. We’ll hold it together and it’ll be a good experience for us, honestly. It’s not every day we will get an opportunity like this. Take it how you want, but the big wigs will look at us when this is all said and done. Oh, I’m as sorry for the Lieutenants as the next guy. Can’t say I ever liked Captain Peterson all that much, but the chief was like a dad to me. This whole thing sucks. You know it and I know it. But this is our chance. There’s no way to be nice about this. Escalante’s death creates an opening. And that opening is going to either be filled by you or me. You’ve got seniority and you’re a woman. Chances are they’re going to want to fill a quota with a quota. But, hey, I’m a white guy and working under three minorities for the last few years has about worn me out. They might give it to the little woman, but it won’t stop me for going all in for it.”
Scowling, Janet tried to calm herself before she replied. She wasn’t actually certain what had been more shocking. The coin-flip change in Rex’s demeanor, or the fact that he actually meant the words that had just fallen out of his mouth.
“Rex, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that garbage you just spewed. As to any opening, I’m not thinking about that right now and neither should you be. I have a job to do and so do you. And, for now your job
is to follow the instructions of a woman. Now, if you have a problem with that, I can—”
“You can what?” Rex sneered. “Tell Daddy Tom on me? In case you forget, he’s in a cell next to your beloved captain. You’re it, Honey. You’ve got nobody to tell, sweetheart! Now I tried to play it nice, but you’d do well to remember you’ve got nowhere to run.”
“That so?”
Janet jumped when she heard the voice.
“Lieutenant!”
“Very good, Rex,” Kellan said, pushing nose to nose with him. “Glad to see I haven’t been forgotten in my absence. Now, I don’t know where you grew up, but here in Texas we treat our ladies with respect. Furthermore, we treat our superior officers with respect. Last I checked, Sgt. Busby had seniority, which makes her superior to you. If you don’t like working for me or Janet, feel free to hit the bricks, boy!”
“Boy?” Rex said, his nostrils flaring. A noticeable flush rose through his neck to his ears. “You think I’m a boy?”
“Have a problem with that? Boy! Is there something you want to say to me? Boy! Have I offended you in some way? Boy! Do you want to take a swing at me? Boy!”
“Come to think of it,” Rex said, pausing. Kellan’s eyes grew eerily cold. “No.”
“No, what?” Kellan nearly hissed.
“No… Sir.”
Kellan patted him on the cheeks, flashed a maniacal smile.
“That’s a good boy.”
Seizing Rex Myers by the shirt collar, Kellan turned him around. Pulling him backwards, Kellan leaned forward, barely audible from where Janet stood, Kellan whispered into his ear.
“From this day on, Sgt. Busby’s words are as good as mine, do you understand me, officer? You just think of her as Lt. Busby, because she and I are one. I find out you so much as looked at her cross, you and I are gonna have a conversation. And by conversation, I mean altercation. Got it?”
Without saying a word, the smaller Rex Myers shrank where he stood, nodded. Janet thought he might be trembling.
His teeth gritted, Kellan continued at a whisper. “If you ever speak to her like that again, you’re going to see a side of me you don’t want to see. You got that?”
Rex nodded, “Y-Yessir.”
Shoving him forward, Kellan’s eagle-eyed stare seemed focused more on Rex Myer’s neck than his eyes. “Now get out of here before I find a port-a-potty for you to guard!”
Without a word, Sgt. Rex Myers scooted off like a scared rookie running from a hail of gunfire.
Hugging Kellan, Janet felt a wave of emotions wash over her.
“Kel,” she whispered, still hugging him, “You shouldn’t be here. You should be with your family.”
Letting go of the embrace, Kellan fought for his best smile. Though not genuine, it was as smooth as Kellan had ever mustered. Anyone that didn’t know him would not have seen the pain buried deep behind his eyes.
“It’s a good thing I came back,” he said. “You have any more trouble out of that guy, you just tell me. He’s a little punk.”
“Opportunist jerk was what I was going to say,” Janet said, staring down the hall as if half expecting him to come back for round two any second. “And you still shouldn’t be here. Your son—” Janet stopped when she saw the pain welling up in his eyes. “Sweet Andrea needs you right now, Buddy.”
“Andrea’s cousin and aunt are there. Her other cousin, Trey, is on his way. My house is full of people. It’s too noisy. I needed to come here for quiet, and then I walk into that. Any word from Alex?”
“Not in a while,” Janet said, a tear suddenly trailing down her face, catching her unaware.
“Come on,” Kellan offered, placing a gentle hand on her mid back.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice cracking, causing her to clear her throat several times.
“My office, little friend. And yours for the time being. Lt. Busby.”
She smiled. He winked at her, cocked the side of his mouth in a half smile that seemed more genuine than before.
“Why, Mr. Butler, I do declare.”
“Frankly, my dear,” Kellan said exaggerating a thick southern accent, “I don’t give a care… for ol’ Rex!”
Janet laughed.
“Okay, Sir,” she said, snapping back, clicking her heals together and offering a salute guaranteed to make Sergeant Shultz a tad envious. “Lead the way.”
“Ladies first,” Kellan offered.
Chapter 30
“You’re not going to get away with this. I’m expected back at the hospital,” Alex said, hoping the revelation might spark a bit of irrational fear within Calloway. A rash man doesn’t think clear. He’s more dangerous, but far less focused. “If I’m not there soon, they’ll get worried.”
“Oh you’ll not be going back to the hospital tonight,” Calloway said. “At least, well, maybe.” He stared at Alex as if caught amid some distant memory.
“What is it you want, Calloway?” Alex said, “I can’t give you back twelve years. I can’t give you back your family. You lost that. You did that, Callo—”
The fist smashed hard into Alex’s jaw. His vision filled with tiny prickles of light. Pain coursed through his head, into his neck. He reached a hand up to his jaw, just as another blow rained down on him. This time, the fist hit his forearm, forcing his open hand into his jaw again. As Calloway swung a third time, Alex reached up, his vision clearing just enough to seize him by the wrist. Calloway stumbled, fell on top of Alex, tumbling the couch backwards, spilling them both on the floor.
Again the stars. Alex felt a hand on his jaw. Contorting his face, Alex flexed his jaw open and closed. Finally, he bit down on flesh, tasting blood that was not his own.
Calloway screamed, brought something hard down on Alex. A metal object clanged against Alex’s skull. As his vision swam in and out of focus, a glint of light flashed off of Alex’s own service pistol.
Pulling Alex to his feet, Calloway reached for Alex’s left hand. Giving a quick twist, Alex heard a loud pop as a white hot pain flashed through his wrist, into his elbow.
Stumbling with swimming vision, Alex’s legs went weak. He fell to the floor, only to have Calloway jerk him back up by the shirt.
“Two fingers broken,” Calloway grunted. “Now to break the rest of you. You’re coming with me, Alex. We’re going to walk to my vehicle. If you try to run, I’ll shoot you. If anyone tries to stop me, I’ll shoot them. If you cry out, I’ll shoot the person you cry out to and then you.”
From the kitchen, Alex could hear the echo of Brandy’s claws against the doggy door.
“Or maybe I’ll just start with your mutt!” Calloway screamed, stepping toward the kitchen area.
“No!” Alex urged, falling to the floor, his jello legs unable to support him yet.
The shot echoed throughout the house. Alex listened, but did not hear a yelp.
“No!” he shouted. Urging his legs to work, Alex struggled to his feet. The searing pain in his arm and hand was somehow making it more difficult for him to keep his balance. Struggling toward the foyer, Alex crashed to the floor, hit by something very hard.
He screamed when Calloway jerked his head up by the hair.
“Have it your way, Alex,” he said, “We’ll do this the hard way.”
Thrusting Alex’s head forward, Calloway’s grunt echoed against the crack of skull against ceramic tile.
Chapter 31
It felt good to laugh, even if only for a moment. Sitting in his office, telling jokes with Janet and making fun of Rex Myers’ facial expressions, Kellan felt somewhat human again. As human as he was going to feel for a while.
“Thanks, Janet,”
“For what? You saved me, remember?”
“Nah, Hon,” he said, looking down at his nervously-wringing hands, “you saved me. From myself.” He sighed to himself. A single tear plopped onto his wooden desk. Wiping his eyes, Kellan sniffled, as Janet stood to approach him.
When his desk phone rang, Kellan cleare
d his throat, took a breath and answered it.
“Yello!”
“Kellan?”
“Moe?” He said, “How are you, man? I am sorry to hear about Josh.”
“Heard about your son, too,” Moe said, without acknowledging Kellan, “My sympathies.”
“Thank you,” Kellan said, weak. A feeling of being punched square in the gut spread throughout his body. Whoever invented the phrase “pain of grief” knew what they were talking about. The pain of grief was deeper than tears. Deeper than mere emotions. The pain of grief was downright physical.
“Say, have you heard from Alex? Tried to call Janet but she’s not in her office. Thought maybe she might be in yours.”
“Matter of fact she is,” Kellan said, covering the mouth piece, Kellan held the phone away from his face a couple inches. “You haven’t heard from Alex have you?”
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her cell phone.
“Nope, nothing,” Janet said, “Why? What’s up?”
“Nothing,” Kellan said, returning to the phone call. “What’s up? Everything okay?”
“Well, he was supposed to go get Alyson some stuff. Said he’d be right back. That was nearly an hour ago.”
“Well, we haven’t heard anything. I’ll ask around. See what we can find out. Think I should go out to his house?”
“I dunno what to think,” Moe said.
“Well, let me see what I can find out. I’ll get back to you.”
Hanging up, Kellan looked at Janet.
“Well, you’re obviously thinking what I’m thinking.”
“And I think we need to have a little chat with Danny.”
“Why Danny?” Kellan asked.
“He was there when Calloway escaped. He’s been hiding all along. If anyone’s going to know anything, it’s going to be Danny.”
Growling to himself, Kellan looked at the ceiling. Lowering his eyes back to Janet, Kellan finally said, “Knowing something doesn’t mean he’s going to tell us anything. We’re talking about a guy that kept his relationship with Calloway secret for God knows how long.”
Target: Mendez: An Alex Mendez Tale Page 11