by J. E. Neiman
Several times during the evening, Mac yelled to Lulu, "Where's Pearl? Get her ass in here."
"She done run away, I think," Lulu said, time after time.
I was grateful to Lulu and Sonny for hiding me, but I feared for my life if Mac found me hiding above his tent of hell. And I felt terror for what he and the men of Empire would do to me if I failed to escape this place.
Chapter 34
Phoenix, Arizona
Allie rolled down the car windows to enjoy the warm night air as she drove along the Interstate. She turned the radio on. "Far, Far Away," by Wilco, filled the air. Allie sang along to keep unwanted images and visions at bay.
Driving east on Phoenix's I-10 reminded her of Denver's I-25 with Wal-Marts, Home Depots and hotel chains all placed strategically. The repetition of the buildings from one community to the next, created a surreal feeling. Allie wondered if caged gerbils riding their private Ferris wheels to nowhere, felt the same way.
She nearly missed the I-17 intersection but caught the second exit to her Marriott Hotel. "Ripples in still waters, where there is no pebble tossed…," played into her car as she neared the hotel. A pond in the circular driveway, rippled. She smiled.
Allie phoned Special Agent Carson in San Diego only to reach voicemail. "Agent Carson. It's Allison Lewis. I've new information regarding Jake Tansey. Please call me on my cell."
She entered the hotel lobby and waited at the check-in counter while a short pale man counted change. No other clerk was in sight. "Excuse me, I have a reservation."
The man nodded and intent on his task, whistled softly through his teeth.
Allie tapped the counter with her hand. "Sir, please. I'd like to check in."
A deep masculine voice from the lobby behind her said, "Leonard, don't keep the lady waiting."
She turned to see familiar brown eyes with flecks of green smiling at her. "Dan, what on earth are you doing here?"
"The same thing you're doing, trying to check-in."
"How are you anyway?" Allie wanted to run into his arms but restrained herself.
"I'm okay. Still wrapped in the same box, tied with a bow," he grinned.
"What does that mean?" Allie asked with one brow arched.
"Think about it. We're all stuck in our individual boxes and it seems we can't get out or perhaps we don't want to." He paused. "Allie, it's sort of a joke. You're supposed to laugh, not look so damn serious."
"Hmmm, sometimes I think humor's anger with a little makeup on," she said smiling.
The conversation halted when Leonard, still whistling without puckering, focused on their presence. "Hi folks, what's the name on your reservation?"
"Two different reservations. Allison Lewis, on one. Daniel Foley, on the other." Dan winked at Allie. "Could be quicker to get one room."
She shook her head. "I don't think so. We're in our individual boxes, remember?"
They laughed and rode the elevator together. Dan explained he'd come to Phoenix to teach an FBI training course at the University of Arizona. They reached the fifth floor and Dan walked Allie to her room.
"It's great to see you," she said, extending her hand.
"You too." Dan didn't let go. "Allie, can we get together again, other than work?"
"Yes, I'd like that. I'll give you a call when things settle down." She smiled and slipped her hand away. "See ya." Allie hesitated then closed her door.
She took a hot shower and let the spray relax her neck muscles. After drying, she slipped into her white silk robe and called her mom. Even though it was after midnight in Nebraska, her mom, a proverbial night owl, would be awake.
During their conversation, Allie heard call-waiting and recognized Maddie's number. She said goodbye to her Mom and clicked flash. "Maddie, how's it going?"
"I'm great, but I felt dizzy and weak this evening. Then I realized it was you. What happened?"
"God, I can't hide anything from you. It's the twin thing." She smiled and paused. "I did have a dizzy spell, but I'm fine now. You know how I forget to eat."
"Allie, you've got to take care of yourself. Hey, I had a vivid vision this afternoon of a man bleeding, lying against a graffiti-marked rock in the desert. I'm praying it's Jake, The Snake, Tansey. Is he still in Mexico?"
"I think so. But what you saw this afternoon's a different case. It's Senator Wheat, who's missing from Phoenix." Allie paused and added, "Oh, it's not graffiti. Sheriff Jon Zanita said its ancient rock petroglyphs. Did you get anything else?"
"I saw part of a license plate on a white truck. It had a cactus on it and N28."
"Great. I'll call the sheriff's headquarters with the numbers. Anything else?"
"No, that's it." Maddie paused. "Of course, the vision came right in the middle of a laboratory experiment at Salk's. Not a good thing, but I'm not complaining. Are you headed back to Denver tomorrow?"
"Yes." Allie sighed. "Maddie, I wish we still worked as a team."
"It was great, but I needed a break. Here, I'm usually vision free. Although today, I couldn't shut this one out." She hesitated. "Hey, how's your love life?"
Allie thought of Dan, two floors below. "Non-existent. How's yours?"
"Same. Nothing. Guys think a wheelchair makes a person stupid, invisible or deaf. Or if they do see me, it's as if I'm a broken swing. I've considered putting a sign on the back of my chair stating, 'Damaged but not out of order.' What do you think?" Maddie laughed. Before Allie could answer she said, "Wait a second. You have a guy on your mind right now. Who is it?"
"Damn, sometimes you even spook me. Dan Foley checked into the hotel the same time I did."
"The handsome FBI hunk you broke up with?" She sighed. "Geez, Allie. Go for it. Call him or go knock on his door." Maddie giggled. "Keep me posted. I want to know everything."
Allie hung up, smiling, and eyed the phone. It rang. "Did you forget something?" she asked. Music played in the background as a man's gravel voice said, "Sweet thing, I never forget."
"Who is this?" Allie glanced at the caller I.D.─ Unavailable. "Who is this?"
"It's Jake. I'm coming to see you, soon."
"Listen, asshole. Don't . . . “ The line went dead.
Chapter 35
Nuevo Laredo-Tamaulipas, Mexico
A few battered trucks and old Chevrolets flecked the dusty parking lot, while tumbleweeds hugged the wire fence on three sides. The bar sat inside the enclosure next to the desert, framed by the distant hills covered with run-down shanties of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
The bars bleached-wood walls hung together with rusty nails and unidentified fortitude. Slices of filtered light and loud salsa music crept out of the cracks and crevices into the early hours of a long hot night. Four grungy travel trailers, parked close together behind the structure, with the knowing-red glow shining from within. Above the building a sun bleached neon sign gave the lot a soft pink halo, offering everything but promising nothing, to those that passed by.
At least five days had passed since Jake had shaved or taken a bath. Filthy from being on the sultry back roads of Mexico, and in need of a beer and more, Jake saw the beckoning pink "Gringo's Cantina," sign over a block away.
He pulled out one of the cell phones he lifted in Monterey and dialed. "Hey, sweet thing. I'm coming soon." The psychic sounded scared. Even though he was tired and hungry, he laughed aloud. You don't have long on this earth, bitch.
As he neared the cantina, a few mesquite trees fluttered in the humid breeze. For a moment, he thought someone followed him. Glancing behind him, he saw nothing. Jake pushed the dilapidated door open and entered the smoke filled joint.
Behind the bar a fat bald man in a sleeveless shirt that revealed naked women tattoos, poured beer from the tap. To his left a small group of men glanced up, and then resumed a heated discussion. A pool table sat in the middle of the small room and a rectangular light fixture dangled over it with one chain and a piece of wire. In the corner, an ancient jukebox wailed a somber Spanish serenade. Four chubby
women and two teenage girls shuffled around, each on display.
"Yo quiero esta beer." The bartender stared at him and Jake stared back. He didn't move. "Did you hear me? I want a beer."
The man nodded his head and raised two fingers. "Por favor, Cuesta esto dos."
Jake pulled out a twenty and slapped it on the counter and the bartender reached for a plastic mug on a shelf above the bar. When the somber man gave him his drink, he thanked him with a mocking toast. Raising the glass, he tossed his head back and guzzled it down. "Give me another, comprender?"
"Si, Senor."
He rotated on the squeaky bar stool and surveyed the room again. A woman and a slender teen, dressed in skimpy clothes, hovered around the table of men. The men were hooting with laughter and the women mimicked the gaiety. Jake couldn't speak Spanish well, but he understood the basic exchange. They men were insulting the two women with rude and offensive sexual overtures.
Jake's dark-brown eyes focused on the raven-haired teen. She nodded her head at him and leaned forward, whispering in the older woman's ear. They ambled over to his bar stool.
"Buenos noches, Damas."
"Buenos noches, Senor" The elder woman answered as the young girl stood behind her.
Jake pointed at the young girl and asked, "Cuanto?"
The girl stepped forward and answered in English. "Twenty dollars for both of us."
"No, ten for you."
"My sister and I stay together."
"Okay, then ten for both and if not, go away."
The girl whispered to her sister and Jake turned back to the bar to finish his beer, ignoring the two women. A few moments later, a tap on his back caused him to turn back around.
"Okay," the girl scowled. "We will meet you behind the building in trailer number two. But you smell like a dead animal. There is an outside shower, use it before you knock on our door. Comprender?"
"Si, Chiquita."
Jake followed the two women through the back door to a hose hanging from a hook beneath the eave of the building. He laughed aloud at the miserable set-up as he threw his clothes off and turned on the hydrant. The women disappeared in the dark, as he stepped under the flowing warm water. Finding a bar of soap on a ledge, he scrubbed the dust and grime away.
When he turned the water off, he found a clean tee shirt, slacks and underwear on a broken chair nearby. Eagerly he put the clothes on and left the dirty ones on the ground. Jake found the number two trailer and knocked on the door. It opened and he stepped inside. The young girl stood alone.
His hands wrapped around her small waist, not soft or gentle. She didn't protest as he shoved her back and pinned her against the bed. "Chiquita, you'll wish you never met me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pressed against her body, his hips showing precisely what he wanted and exactly what she would give him. His fingers slipped up her short skirt, dipped into her panties, and pushed into her. She cried out.
He slowed for a minute and looked at her with cold eyes. She stared back indifferently.
"Tough little bitch, aren't you?" She didn't speak and he tore off their clothes.
Jake plunged inside her and she grabbed his shoulders to hang on. He climaxed and trembled as he pulled away. He smirked down at her and rose quickly.
"I guess I don't have to ask, if I earned the measly ten bucks," she said.
"I thought your sister had to be with you," he chided.
"She is pregnant and I told her to go home to her husband. I knew I would be all you could handle."
"I'm leaving this stinking shit hole."
"Let me go with you. You need help to cross the Rio Grande border. Deal?"
"Chiquita, how can you help me? I'm sure you aren't a United States citizen. You need help, not me. Look at you hanging around this dump, it's sickening."
"My name is Rosie. Don't call me Chiquita. I know you are in trouble. Dirty American with no car. Walking the back streets of Laredo. Easy to know you need help to cross. I need the same thing. I'll show you how."
"Okay Rosie but only on my terms. I know you snaked my wallet. Get it. My money had better be inside. Comprende?"
Rosie reached under the mattress and handed him his billfold. He looked inside and counted the money.
"Very smart, not to steal from me. That's why you're still breathing. Let's go."
Chapter 36
1875-Empire, Colorado Territory
The dreadful activities in the tent ended in the early morning. Below, a lantern flickered on Mac's gambling table inside, but I couldn't see or hear any movement. I pushed myself up from my hiding place to make my escape.
But it was too dark to climb down the outcropping without falling. Worse, a loose pebble or stone could fall and alert Mac of my attempt to escape. I decided to wait until dawn. Exhausted, I lay back down and snuggled tight into the heavy coat Sonny had given me.
I awakened to the smell of Mac's rotten breath and his foul words whispering in my ear. He slammed my head against the ground and I heard loose rocks fall down the hill.
"Did ya think I'd not find ya, little bitch? One pinch of the retard's balls and he told me where ya'd be."
He curved his hand almost lovingly around my throat. My pulse leapt like a mouse captured against the base of his palm. He began squeezing the air from my lungs.
"Glad you hid. I wanted to be your first anyway. Now fight me. I like it better that way."
Somehow, I managed to turn my body and rake my fingernails across his face. He yelped and thrust me back on my stomach. My breath escaped in a painful whoosh when he threw himself on top of me. He pressed my chin against the ground with his forearm while his other hand reached under my skirts and crawled up my thigh. Spots appeared before me, white and swirling. Mac's rough calloused fingers jabbed inside me like a knife.
I felt myself sinking into a dark, whirling vortex. Grandma's face appeared, surrounded by a bright light. "Fight, Pearl," she said. I squirmed beneath Mac searching for traction against the cold ground.
A voice behind us yelled, "Stop it." It sounded like Lulu.
For a second, he released his hold on me. Turning my body again, I slammed a fist into his nose.
He fell back with a guttural cry. I jumped up and reached under my apron for Joey's knife.
"Cunt," he screamed. He picked up a rock, stood and came toward me. "Now you're dead."
I raced at him and plunged the sharp blade deep into his chest. Warm blood spewed on my hands and face. I couldn't believe how easy the knife had penetrated his skin and how fragile even he could be. I pushed myself away from him.
Struggling to stand, Mac gurgled and fell onto his back. "Bitch," he muttered.
It was then that I knew for sure I was not alone. Sonny appeared and jumped on top of the mad man. He hammered Mac's face with a rock. I heard Lulu yell, "Get him boy."
Gasping for air, I pulled myself up from the ground.
Lulu called to me. "Pearl baby. Come here child." She stood near the entrance of the alcove.
Kate and Anna emerged out of nowhere. They moved forward and jumped on Mac's legs, then held him down while Sonny pounded.
The crushing sound of the rock against Mac's head was harrowing. I tried to take a step toward Lulu, but could only brace myself against a large boulder nearby. I rubbed my neck where Mac had nearly choked me to death and realized that I was sobbing.
All at once, it became quiet. No one moved. For a moment, the only sounds were the five of us gasping for air and the wind sighing against the rocks. Then a night owl shrieked somewhere over the river and a coyote bayed nearby. I remembered part of Shakespeare's words from school, "Screech-owls cry and dogs howl . . . while ghosts break open their graves." I shuddered.
The eastern horizon began to glow from early dawn. Lulu picked up a lantern. She moved slowly over to where Mac lay. Sonny stood and dropped the bloody rock. He held his hands out before him, palms up, rocking his body back and forth.
Anna and Kate
moved away and stood next to me shaking.
"He's dead," Lulu said after she felt for Mac's pulse. She placed the lamp near the body, and then wrapped her arms around Sonny. "It's okay, son. It's okay."
I glanced around at the grim scene. Mac's head resembled an ogre. All of us were covered with blood. Lulu wiped Sonny's face with her apron, then held him tight again. Anna leaned forward and vomited. Kate held her shoulders, steadying her there.
I stood alone.
Our lives were all in jeopardy. When we had entered Empire yesterday, we witnessed the results of a public hanging. A man's body swung from a large oak tree while birds pecked at his face and hands. We were in a tent city far from anything close to law and order and we had just killed a man who claimed to own us.
I saw the five of us dangling from the old oak tree swaying in the wind. But a vision showed me that the torture we would endure by the men of Empire would be far worse than hanging from a noose.
We had to get out of there. A rooster crowed in the distance, and a dog barked downstream. We had to move quickly before the town of Empire awakened and found us there with Mac.
"Help me." I stooped over the body and began to roll it toward the back of the small cavern. The space was wide enough for Mac's body to fit against the large boulder.
At first, the others just stared at me in horror then one by one, they moved in to help. After we pushed Mac as far as possible, Sonny and I pulled off his boots. Lulu and the girls removed Mac's coat and shirt. Anna handed me Joey's knife after she had wiped the blade on her dress.
"Why we doing this?" Kate asked.
Lulu looked at me, then Kate. "Got to hide him. Get rid of who he is."
"But . . . who's going to take care of us?"
I wrapped Mac's shirt around his crushed face. "Kate, we will."
Underneath his long underwear, Lulu found a moneybag and sheets of paper pressed tight his chest. She removed her apron and wrapped the bag and documents inside the cloth, then handed it to me. I looked at her questioningly.