by Tracy Sharp
I’d already been in trouble with the cops. I really didn’t need any more trouble but didn’t want Callahan to think I was chicken either. I wasn’t about to pansy out of the job even though it probably was in my best interest to do so. I sighed. “Fine. We’ll do the job. Don’t expect any police favors after this. What’s the vehicle?”
“1965 Shelby Cobra.”
“Oh my.”
“Yeah, he had it custom made. Just the paint job alone cost a mint. The pearly finish changes color depending on the light.” By the look on Cal’s face he was about to really enjoy this job. “Officer Finn has had a hell of a time paying off his Cobra, thirty-five foot speed boat, the new Dodge Pick-up and the mortgage on his great big house.”
“A State Trooper wouldn’t exactly be rolling in it, so Finn must have himself a little side job.”
“Trooper Finn is awfully familiar with the drug trade. I’m told he even knows Brent Woodard on a first name basis.” Cal looked at me, his eyes steady and penetrating.
And suddenly it dawned on me.
“Holy shit.”
He nodded. “Now you’re getting it.”
“Yup.”
Callahan’s jaw was set, his face stony.
“How did you find out about this?”
“I had Will tail him for a while, like he does with other targets. Check up on him.”
“That’s a little risky. He might be onto us already.”
He shook his head. “No. Will’s a master at tailing people. Besides, Finn’s so arrogant and self-absorbed, I doubt if he’d notice a van full of circus clowns following him.”
“Okay, so what? He’s working right now and we’re going to break into his garage? Wonderful.”
“No, he’s at the track, showing his baby off. And I don’t mean his girlfriend.”
I smiled. “You know? In all the time I’ve lived here, I’ve never been to the track.”
“Me neither, come to think of it.”
“Think we could catch a few races before we steal officer Finn’s pretty car?”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“What?”
“You’re one of a kind, Leah. That’s for sure.”
“Thank God for small favors, huh?”
* * *
I’d expected the place to be packed but hadn’t been prepared for just how busy the track was that day. It was the last day of horse racing season at the Saratoga Race Track and cars were jammed together side by side. Folks from all walks of life made their way to the ticket area. I wondered how we were ever going to find the Rubicon when we made our way back, never mind the Cobra.
I scanned the parking lot for the Cobra. “Where the hell is his car?”
He took his cell phone out of his pocket. “Hang on. Will’s here somewhere.”
“Does he know what’s going on? Or does he think you just really have a hard-on for Finn?”
“He knows.”
After speaking to Will for a moment, Cal closed his phone and returned it to its place in his pocket. “He’s over by the ticket booth. We’ll find the Cobra later. He followed Finn in, so he knows where the Cobra’s parked.”
We made our way through the crowd toward the ticket area. I was amazed at the wide array of people who went to the track. It was a free-for-all of fashion. There were women in gowns, heels and hats and men in suits and ties. There were people in jeans and sneakers, shorts and sandals.
A tall, lanky man in a fedora, polo shirt and black jeans waved, then started toward us. So this was the infamous Will. I’d only had a glimpse of him when Callahan had repo’d my Jeep. He was an interesting looking guy. In his mid-twenties, with auburn waves pushing their way from beneath the fedora and a reddish beard to match. Behind oval glasses, hazel eyes regarded me with a touch of amusement. “I hear you’re a bit of a loose cannon,” he said. “Excellent.”
I smiled. I liked him already. “What can I say? I gotta be me.”
“No other way to be,” he said. “You’ve got to be a bit tweaked to be good at this job.”
“So where is he?” Cal scanned the crowd.
Will tilted his head in the direction of a beer tent. “He’s by the refreshments. Likes his beer. He doesn’t stray far from it. Not much of a betting man, though. And not much of a gentleman, either. He’s making his date use her own money to bet on the horses.”
“Well, she must have low standards. He’s not much of a nice guy, from the way things are looking,” Cal said.
“I’d say that’s an accurate assessment of his character.” Will nodded. “It’ll be a pleasure stealing his car and ruining his life.”
I liked Will more by the second.
* * *
We watched Finn for about an hour with his girlfriend. She was a showpiece, just like his car. I was betting he didn’t treat her with anywhere near the care he treated his car. She was a pretty woman. Blonde hair sprayed to keep her style in place, make-up applied with a careful hand. She had a nice shape and showed it off with snug jeans and a short top. The top lifted to reveal her belly whenever she threw her arms in the air to cheer her horse on, or when she threw them around Finn’s neck to stand on tippy-toe to kiss him.
Finn was a stocky guy. Not very tall, maybe five-foot-eight. He was all about appearances. He wore a blue silk shirt under a black leather blazer and black jeans which actually had a crease in them. I tried to picture him with an iron in his hand, trying to get that crease just right. There’d be no way he’d let the girlfriend do it. It would never have been good enough. Nothing she’d ever do for him would be. I’d known guys like Finn.
I bet on a couple of horses but I didn’t win. That was okay. It was an adrenalin rush just the same. I could see how people could become addicted to betting on horses. When I asked Will if he was going to place a bet, he said he wasn’t a betting man. He just liked to watch the horses run. I liked his open smile that made you feel comfortable right away.
He was a nice guy without any rough edges. Despite any street wisdom he might’ve picked up repossessing cars, I doubted he could get himself out of a bad situation if it came down to it. He’d be the type to try and reason with someone threatening his life. And most times, that just doesn’t work. I hoped he was smart enough not to get into a bad situation.
It looked like Finn had thrown back one too many beers. He was looking mean. He had that narrow look mean drunks get in their eyes just before they start pushing people around. I was watching him like a hawk when Cal placed his hand on my back and said it was time to go.
“I don’t like the way he’s talking to her. Look at him. He’s got her by the arm and he’s shoving her around.” My blood pressure had risen several points.
He watched Finn for a moment, struggling with some decision. “Leah, now is the time if we want to take the Cobra tonight. We can’t draw attention to ourselves if we want this to go smoothly.”
I knew he was right, but watching Finn I could see that in about five minutes he was going to start yelling at his girlfriend and accusing her of things she’d never dreamed of doing. As I’ve said, I’d known guys like Finn. I knew what was about to happen. I’d compare it to watching a train go off the track. You just knew it was going to crash into something.
“There are lots of other people here,” Cal said. “Someone will say something if he gets out of hand.”
“He’s already out of hand.” I was unable to tear my eyes from Finn and his girlfriend.
“Guys, if we’re going to do this, we have to do it now,” Will said.
I looked at Will. “Go do it. I’ll keep him distracted.”
“What?” Cal said. “No. He’s not supposed to see us.”
“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Will asked me. But I could see in his eyes he wasn’t that concerned. He knew I could handle myself. He’d heard enough about me.
“I know what I’m doing. Go on. You’re running out of time.”
Cal looked away, his jaw set and a curse
on his lips.
Without a word, Will turned and started back toward the parking area. He walked a little hunched over, like many really tall people do. It felt good to know that somebody had a little faith in me.
“Leah, we don’t need this. If he goes off, someone will get security.”
“Oh yeah? When? After he pops her one in the mouth?”
Cal blinked, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him.
It amazed me that an ex-defense attorney wouldn’t have thought of this outcome. I could see it all over Finn. He was aching to hit his girlfriend.
That’s just what he did. Just as I turned back toward them, he smacked his girlfriend across the face, sending her falling backward.
That set me off. I ran toward him. I couldn’t get there fast enough. I yelled at him just as he lunged for her, one fist at the ready.
“Hey limp-dick!” I screamed.
That stopped him, as I’d known it would. Most control freaks who beat on women and children tend to be extremely macho. To suggest that they may not be able to get it up is the ultimate insult. He turned his head to me, his eyes incredulous.
“Yeah, I’m talking to you, girlie-boy!” I yelled, standing over him. “Any man who would beat up on a woman is clearly a sissy-ass limp-dick.”
“Oh, Christ.” Cal was standing next to me now. His shoulders squared. He was getting ready to have to defend me.
“What did you say?” Finn whispered, standing up directly in front of me.
My fight or flight instinct was kicking in, and the flight part of it was screaming blue murder at me, but I stood my ground, facing him without blinking.
Cal stepped up in front of me, fists bunched and ready. At least he knew there was no reasoning with a drunk. He was treating me like a girl. This pissed me off and I pushed him aside.
A crowd was gathering around us pretty quickly, curious bystander’s either enjoying the show or wondering what they could do to prevent this obviously drunk and abusive idiot from killing the crazy, suicidal lady.
“You heard me. Or are you deaf as well as a coward?”
“I’ll kill you, you bitch,” he said, swaying, his fists clenched.
“Yeah, yeah. Christ, don’t guys like you have any other phrases in your repertoire? Cuz I gotta tell you, man, that one is like, way old. You know?”
He squinted at me, not quite understanding.
I looked at his girlfriend who was holding her face where Finn had hit her. “Come on, I’ll drive you somewhere,” I told her.
She took a step forward like she was about to come with us but then looked at Finn with abject terror in her eyes and shook her head quickly, looking at the ground. I wasn’t surprised. The consequences of leaving an abusive man was often more frightening to an abuse victim than staying and eating his shit each time he felt like feeding it to them.
Cal was still standing next to me, his posture straight and rigid. He was expecting the worst.
“Why don’t you leave before I arrest your ass? I’m an officer of the law.” Finn’s speech was slurred.
“Oh really? And I suppose your superiors would be just thrilled by your off-duty behavior,” I shot back at him.
“That’s it!” he said. “Down on your knees.”
“Oh, in your dreams, pal.”
“Turn around and get down on your knees!” he screamed, yanking handcuffs from his blazer pocket.
This was strange. How many off-duty cops carry handcuffs in their jacket pockets?
“You’re getting way out of hand, Finn.” I looked at his girlfriend, so scared, dreading the punishment she’d get when they got home. I scanned the gathering crowd, looking for something specific. Then my eyes found it and I knew I had him. I grinned.
“Not only are you not going to arrest me, fella, but you’re not going to have a ride home tonight.”
He looked at me blankly, the hand holding the handcuffs kind of suspended in mid-air. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You haven’t been making your car payments, Finn. Your car is being repossessed as we speak.”
He regarded me with slanted eyes, not believing what I was saying.
“Go ahead.” I tilted my head toward the parking lot. “See for yourself.”
He hesitated a moment, looking toward the parking lot then back to me. It was as if Cal wasn’t even there. He completely focused on his hatred toward women.
Without a word, he stalked away from us. Then he started a kind of running walk, lurching one way then the other. I had my doubts as to whether he was even capable of finding his car, let alone driving it out of the lot. He was clearly way over the legal alcohol limit. I wondered how many drunk drivers he’d pulled over and hauled in during his career as a State Trooper.
He’d be back in a minute and he wouldn’t be as friendly as he’d been before. I was counting on it.
I turned to the girlfriend. “What’s your name?”
She sniffled, eyes darting from her charming boyfriend to me and back again. It was as if she was scared to let him out of her sight. Like as long as she knew where he was, she could see him coming. “Amanda.”
“Look, Amanda. You’re really not going to want to be around Daniel tonight. He’s not going to be in a loving mood when he discovers his baby has gone.”
She looked at me for a moment, then nodded quickly. “Yeah. I know.”
“Can we take you anywhere?” Cal’s voice was gentle when he spoke to Amanda. “Do you have a friend or relative you can stay with?”
She shook her head. “He knows where they all live. He’ll find me.”
Cal put his hand on her arm, gently steering her toward the parking area. “Come on. We’ll take you somewhere safe. He won’t find you.”
Amanda hesitated. “Not to a shelter. He’s a cop. He knows where they all are. He brings women to them all the time.”
Cal shook his head, disgusted.
“Don’t worry. We have a friend you can stay with.” I turned and looked at Cal. “Bring her to the Jeep. Hurry, before he comes back.”
“I’m not leaving you—”
“Callahan. He’s drunk and he’s slow. Don’t worry about it. I can handle it. Besides, look at all these people. What’s he going to do?”
“He just smacked Amanda in front of all these people.”
“Oh, I’d just love for him to try that with me. It would make my damned day.”
He grinned despite himself. “Okay, come on, Amanda. Let’s get you safe.”
Just as we started back toward the parking lot, good old Daniel lurched and staggered his way back. He was screaming obscenities and I would’ve said that I could easily have kicked his drunken ass, except that he was waving a gun around. And I was pretty sure it was loaded.
Amanda’s eyes were as big as quarters. “Oh, my God!”
“Get her out of here,” I said to Cal.
Cal reached for his gun.
“Don’t!” I said. “Just get her out of here.”
Callahan looked at me as if I were insane. I’d become accustomed to this look since he and I’d begun working together.
“Trust me,” I said.
He hesitated only a moment longer then gave in and led Amanda away but stayed within watching distance.
“I’ll kill you, you bitch!” Finn screamed. He was about four feet from me now, pointing the gun at my face. His hand was wavering to and fro and I was more worried about someone in the crowd getting shot than I was for myself.
I shook my head. “More of the same dialogue. It’s really getting boring, Finn.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Oh really? Who’s waving a gun in a public place, Finn? I wouldn’t exactly consider that to be a sane move.”
Finn looked around, seeming to see the crowd around him for the first time. It was finally starting to dawn on him.
“I’m an officer of the law.” He was talking to the crowd, some of the punch having gone from his voice.
“Sure you are.” I nodded. “You’re a drunk, off-duty officer who hit his girlfriend in public and who is now waving a gun in a crowded area.”
He stared at me, speechless.
I continued. “You’re an officer who is about to be suspended at the very least, but an officer of the law nonetheless.”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you!” he shrieked, spittle flying from his mouth. He cocked his pistol and used both hands to steady his aim. He glared at me, murder in his eyes.
“No?” I said. “Then how about explaining yourself to the news crews?” I gestured to the reporters and news cameras that flanked us on either side. Somehow, Finn hadn’t noticed them in the midst of his drunken rage.
Even though I’d never been to the Saratoga racetrack, I’d often watched it featured on the news. This was the last day of track season. I was not the only one who’d known that news crews would be crawling all over the place.
It certainly did look like State Trooper Daniel Finn had some explaining to do. I’d counted on it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We pulled up in front of Jack’s place and sat for a moment, giving Amanda some time to compose herself. She’d wept softly for most of the ride there and she was having trouble stopping.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Cal handed her a tissue. “Hey, it’s okay. If I were dating Daniel Finn, I’d be crying too.”
“Thanks.” She gave him a little smile. “You’re not his type.”
“Neither am I,” I said. “Darn.”
“He wasn’t always like this.” Amanda regarded me with large, brown eyes. “He was really nice at first.”
“Of course he was,” Cal said. “You wouldn’t have gone out with him in the first place if he’d shown you his true colors right off the bat, right?”
She nodded. “He’s been under a lot of stress lately.”
“Sure, so take it out on you. Makes perfect sense.” I said.
“I know, I know. I have to get away from him. I’m just scared he’s going to go after my family. My little sister.”
That got me. Something opened up in my chest and the ache I felt was so strong I had to catch my breath. “Look, Amanda. You can’t stay with him and be his punching bag to protect your family. It’ll hurt them more if he kills you, which believe me, he’s well on the road to doing.”