Tall Man in Ray-Bans (A John Tall Wolf Novel)
Page 19
He never went so far, though, as to tell her she would be his only woman.
The Bow River had claimed the sisters’ Thompson submachine gun. It was never recovered. Superintendent Kent and other Mounties worried that some local person had claimed the weapon from the shallow waters of the river, and it would be the engine of future tragedies.
Neither Lily nor Annie would confess to causing Randy Bear Heart’s death.
Every interrogator who worked on them got the impression both women still loved the man, and neither was ready to admit she’d been the agent of his death. There was still enough evidence to convict them on numerous other felonies.
Colin McTee, working with Canadian officials who would not deliver any prisoner they held to the United States to face capital punishment, negotiated a deal to have Lily tried by a tribal court at Mercy Ridge solely for causing the death of Officer Daniel Red Hawk and Annie to be tried as an ex post facto accomplice on the same charge. If found guilty, Canada would accept sentencing the sisters to life without parole.
The U.S. government would hold other murder charges in abeyance but not dismiss them, pending judgment and sentencing by the tribal court. Washington could live with a sentence of life without parole, too, but the government was taking no chances that Lily and Annie would game the system and go free.
Special Agent John Tall Wolf thought it a fair deal.
Marlene Flower Moon would have to become president and pardon Lily and Annie, before they’d ever get out of prison. Knowing Marlene, they’d have to wait until the final day of her second term in office to get the pardon. By that time, even Annie would be too old to commit further mayhem.
Canadian and U.S. authorities seized all the assets belonging to the two sisters, leaving Guy and Louie momentarily penniless. But their late father’s former hockey team in Vancouver came through for the boys, buying the townhouse where they lived and allowing them to reside there until they graduated from college at which point they would be invited to tryouts with the team. If they were unable to qualify to be on the ice, other positions in the organization would be found for them.
There was never a determination made as to where the money found in Jackson White’s safe deposit box had come from, and the money was returned to Coy Wilson. She gave it all to a home for abused children, not wanting any possible connection to Lily or Annie’s karma to come back at her.
She kept Jackson’s guitar and was busy writing one song after another. The music grapevine picked up stories she was producing great material. Country and pop music artists flooded her phone machine with requests to have first crack at Coy’s new songs, but she was determined to record them herself.
Chapter 44
Santa Fe, New Mexico — August 15, the present
As he always did between assignments, John Tall Wolf returned home. He spent a week in the wilderness with his mother and father learning to see things he’d never noticed before and sleeping under the stars. He shared what had happened with his parents. They were happy that he had come through the investigation unharmed, and no one else had suffered anything worse than being shot in the foot.
“Ms. Forger is going to have a lifetime limp,” John said.
“And doubtless more atonement to face beyond this life,” Serafina added.
Haden Wolf told his son, “Next time don’t try to do everything yourself.”
Dad was right, John thought. He should have had Rebecca Bramley with him at the house on Muskrat Street. She could have kept Colin McTee from rushing in and throwing him off his game.
The first night John was back at his house, Marlene Flower Moon pulled into the driveway in a Lexus. He stepped out the front door with his duty weapon in hand. He’d retrieved it from Darton Blake after filling the Austin detective in on what he’d missed.
The Texas cop had approved of the way things had been handled.
Not seeing any need for capital punishment.
“We’ve got way too many people getting killed in this country as it is; the good guys don’t need to run up the score. Thanks for rounding out the story for me. You just inched up my opinion of federal lawmen.”
John smiled. “Part of my mission, make friends everywhere I go.”
Except, of course, with the woman for whom he worked.
Marlene saw the gun in John’s hand and stopped ten feet away from him.
She waited to see if he put the Beretta in his waistband. He didn’t.
“If not professional deference,” she said, “you might show me a little common courtesy. Invite me in for a drink even.”
John told her, “I don’t bother you at home. Do you have another assignment for me?”
“I will, if I decide to keep you on.”
“You’ll give me a glowing reference if you don’t?”
Marlene smiled and the moonlight gleamed on her incisors.
“I’d tell anyone just what they’d be dealing with, if they hired you.”
John said, “I heard SAC Melvin was gracious enough to tell the media the case could not have been brought to a successful conclusion without the help of the BIA. Darton Blake even left a message on my phone machine that there was a photo of you, Melvin and Superintendent Kent on the front page of his morning newspaper. International cooperation and all that good stuff. You must be in clover in Washington and, with their sacred relics returned, at Mercy Ridge, too.”
Marlene nodded. “My star is rising. You should keep that in mind.”
“I certainly will,” John said.
“I could take you places you’ve never been.”
John wondered if she’d taken SAC Melvin a place or two. Overcome his better judgment and gotten him to have a drink or two with her and … got him to share credit.
“Show me the kingdoms of the world?” John asked.
“Are you going to invite me in or not?” Marlene said.
As if in response to her question, Rebecca Bramley stepped into the open doorway to John’s house. She wore hiking shorts and a man’s shirt tied off just below her breast bone. She stepped outside and linked an arm with John’s, the one that didn’t end in his gun hand.
John made the introductions.
“Rebecca usually takes her summer holiday at home, but this year she thought she’d see a bit of the USA, outside of Florida. We thought we’d do a little touring and have a frank exchange of views on law enforcement.”
Marlene did an about face any soldier — or Mountie — would have been proud of. She backed the Lexus out of the driveway and was gone in the blink of an eye. There was no screech of tires, roar of an engine or lingering exhaust fumes. She was simply gone in a blur.
For just a moment, John wondered if she’d gotten the better of him. Annie had been smarter than Lily about hiding her monetary connection to Randy Bear Heart. Marlene would have been much smarter than Annie about concealing any money she’d received from one or both sisters. If Marlene had decided her cash in hand was safe but Lily and Annie might cause her trouble down the road, having John put them in prison for life would suit her purposes beautifully.
After all, he’d first learned of Annie Forger’s relationship with Randy Bear Heart by reading Randy’s file … and who would have put that information there if not Marlene?
Rebecca said, “Woman sure knows how to make an exit, you have to give her that.You want to go back inside?”
John held up an index finger, asking her to wait.
For just a second before —
Concealed by the darkness, a coyote howled.
John couldn’t tell whether the sound was plaintive or triumphant.
He was sure, though, his battles with Coyote were far from over.
About the Author
Joseph Flynn is a Chicagoan, born and raised, currently living in central Illinois with his wife and daughter. He is the author of The Concrete Inquisition, Digger, The Next President, Hot Type, Farewell Performance, Gasoline Texas, The President’s Henchman, The Hangman's Compan
ion, Round Robin, Blood Street Punx, Nailed, One False Step, Still Coming, The K Street Killer and more titles to appear in the near future.
All the novels are available for the Kindle through www.amazon.com.
The Concrete Inquisition*
Digger
The Next President
Hot Type*
Farewell Performance*
Gasoline, Texas*
The President’s Henchman [1st book in Jim McGill series]
The Hangman’s Companion [2nd book in Jim McGill series]*
Round Robin*
Blood Street Punx
Nailed*
One False Step
Still Coming
The K Street Killer [3rd book in Jim McGill series]*
*Indicates novels are also available in trade paper format.
You may also read free excerpts of Joe’s other books by visiting his website at: www.josephflynn.com.