by Sue Hardesty
* * *
Loni left the filthy SUV at the police shop with a note on the windshield for Gary to wash it, relieved he wasn't there. That way she didn't have to listen to him say, "You can't rope and jerk that machinery like that!"
Bobby was at the front desk when she stopped to sign out. "Chief find out who robbed him yet?"
"No. Only thing I can think is I was releasing this kid who rents from Carl. He got drunk at Billy's Bar and beat the crap out of a woman, and his dad was bailing him out. Steve O'Neal. I was upstairs a few minutes getting him down." Bobby's long face was screwed up in thought. "Maybe you can drive out there? See what they know?"
Loni was still staring at her computer screen, fruitlessly searching for something on ricin, when the task force group started gathering.
Chui grabbed malt balls out of the bowl on Loni's desk and stuffed his mouth full.
"You enjoying them, Chui?" Loni crossed her arms and leaned back in disgust.
His mouth full, Chui mumbled, "You bet."
"That's good," Loni said. "I got them off the floor of the drunk tank."
She laughed at him as he spit them out. James snorted.
"That's one, Loni," Chui spit at her.
She knew he meant it, but she couldn't stop smirking.
Lola laid her head on the desk and pounded her fists in laugher.
Chui glared at her. "You know what's wrong wit you wimen?" His accent was heavier when he was angry. "What's wrong wit you wimen is that you're a bunch of flat petered cowboys wit penis envy." Chui grabbed his crotch and shook it, staring at Lola.
Well, shit, Loni thought. Isn't he done with that old line yet? She turned her back on him.
"Chui, Chui, Chui." Lola said. "You're such a silly boy." A flourish of her arm sent her bracelets jangling. "You know that's not true. We girls can get all the penis we want!"
Chui was furious now as he stalked toward Lola. "Why you defending that bulldyke? You sleeping with her now?"
"Not yet, but I'm thinking about it." Lola stared back at Chui with a serious expression.
"I know you lie," Chui said. "I seen how you treat men."
"I'd rather sleep with her than you, Chui."
Loni stared at Lola in amazement as Chui fled into the conference room sputtering about goddam dykes. James followed him in, eyeing Lola with a speculative expression, which she studiously ignored. "You put up with a lot of crap in school from Chui?" Lola asked Loni.
Loni shrugged.
"You gonna answer my question?"
"Chui pretty much left me alone after I kneed him in the balls."
"What about James?" Lola demanded.
"James was another matter. He was one year behind me in school and was my biggest tormenter. His friends loved to join him in grabbing my breasts and butt, playing tricks, calling me names. He wasn't happy with me being a lesbian, but he hated me most for being a breed. I don't know which embarrassed him the most." Loni smiled sadly at Lola. "You know defending me is going to get you into trouble?"
"Why? Think I care if someone calls me a lesbian?"
"Well, don't you?"
Lola shrugged. "Maybe when I was younger, but not anymore. Growing up, did you hate yourself for being a lesbian?"
Loni shook her head. "No. I believe what my grandpa taught me. He said I was a two spirit and that was an honor. I was equally male and female, which gave me greater wisdom. But what really got me through high school was hearing his voice repeat to me over and over. I can still hear him. 'Our spirit God made no mistakes. Think on that. No mistakes. Not ever.'"
"What about the truly evil person?"
"I wondered about that myself. He said they're not born that way."
"God made no mistakes. I love that." Lola walked away smiling.
Loni nodded to Tully as he came around the corner, and followed him into the conference room.
Carl was already talking as Loni walked into the smell of sweaty bodies. "I'm sorry to do this to you, but I need you all to work Saturday."
His voice was drowned out by "No way, Jose," "Well, shit on a stick," "I got a sick mother," "I got a sick turtle."
He waited until the loud voices quieted. "Here's what we know, people. We got three more dead in Phoenix. They caught another dealer who pointed to Caliente as his source. Said it was a bald headed, squatty white guy called Jimmy. Couldn't get a better description. The dealer was a young Mexican kid who said all gringos looked alike. Oh, yes. He did say his source drove a dark Hummer. Anybody seen a dark Hummer around?"
"Dark what?"
Carl stared at Tully. "Dark, dark. How would I know?"
Someone would shoot her down, but Loni had no choice. "I saw a Hummer at the post office earlier in the week."
"You see the driver?"
"Yeah. He was mailing a package. Or so he said." Loni patted the notebook in her shirt pocket. "He gave me a phone number. He was mailing it to his wife, so I called her."
"Was that legal?" James asked Carl.
"He had heavy camouflage on," Loni said defensively. "Too heavy for this time of year. I didn't believe him."
"What'd his wife say?" Tully sounded curious.
"Aside from saying she'd shoot him if he ever showed up again? You don't want to hear what else she said, but she convinced me he was who he said he was." She took her notebook out of her pocket and opened it. "I got her name, phone number, and address plus his name and address off his driver's license, and the Hummer's license plate."
Carl nodded. "Chui? Get the information from Loni and check it out."
"Wait a minute," Loni interrupted. "I'm not through. Saw him again this morning in that same black Hummer coming out of your place, Carl. Said he was security. I asked him if they were growing rare plants. He didn't deny it. Didn't deny they had an airport there either."
Carl ducked his head and jotted something down. "I didn't know." His voice sounded stressed. "But it's time we found out." Carl turned to James. "You find anything out from the dealers?"
"Wait. One more thing," Loni interrupted again. "Bobby said only people around when Chief lost his gun were O'Neal and Teag. Bobby said he went upstairs to get the kid out of lockup and left the two at his desk."
Everybody stared at Loni, who turned red and shrank down in her seat. "Just saying."
"Chui, find Teag. We can get a warrant." Carl turned back to James. "The dealers?"
"They were lawyered up and wouldn't say anything." James ducked his head.
"Okay. Tully could use some help with the couple. See him later." Carl turned to Tully then. "Find anything on the couple?
"Previous drug arrests, but no convictions. Arrest sheet from Fresno indicated they were probably dealers there."
"Any connection to anyone here?"
"No. Still looking, though."
Carl nodded. "Tell James what you need."
"Isn't Chief from Fresno?" Tully asked. "Maybe he knew them."
Carl shrugged. "I doubt it. He's been here more than five years, but you ask him anyway." Carl continued to look around the table. "Chui? Rosie talking yet?"
"No. And the two border patrollers are still missing. But I talked to my Mexican contact. Rene flew out of San Luis the day he crashed." Chui paused, tapping his pencil on the table. "My friend, Sergeant Ruiz, said he'd make it a point to find out who Rene met."
"Good, Chui. Keep on that. So, Loni, here's what you do." Loni heard the change in Carl's voice. No longer tentative, he sounded like any other bureaucrat making stupid decisions. "I want you and Coco back at school checking lockers."
"Did anyone check out the lockers I already found?"
"I gave the acting superintendent your information. That's their job. Can't tell you what I don't know."
"And I'm going back because...?"
"Maybe the meth has shown up by now." Carl gave her the look, and she shut up.
Loni caught up with Tully as they reached the door and she walked out of the building with him. "Tully, could you
research ricin for me?"
"Research how?"
"Any report of castor bean trees growing and where. Any animal deaths due to eating the beans. Same for castor bean oil production. Orders for plants or beans. Anybody making ricin for commercial purposes." Loni thought as they walked to the police lot. "I guess any possible source that contaminated the meth. Could you do that?"
"I've already done that," Tully said. "I'll leave the information for you tomorrow." He turned and walked into the drugstore as Loni stared at his back in amazement.
* * *
Fed up with wasting her time searching for the poisoned meth, Loni stopped at Jenny's classroom as the last bell rang. "Hi."
Jenny glanced up and gave Loni a broad smile. "Lunch?"
"Great!"
"My house?"
"Sure! I'll follow you."
As Loni watched Jenny pull away, she saw Phillip Brushard trying to sell his car to a student. Loni started laughing as she looked at the car covered with duct tape. Except for a few streaks, what was once red was now gray. Loni had a hard time believing this was the same car that had rolled into the jumping cactus patch." Got those cholla needles all pulled out yet?"
Phillip took the tall teenager's money, handed him the keys, and turned to Loni. "Nope. Especially where I can't reach. How about a ride home? You could —"
Loni blurted out, "He'll take you." She nodded toward the new car owner as he stepped over the taped door into the car.
"Nah. The motor mounts popped. I don't want to be in that piece of shit when the motor drops."
"You tell the kid that?"
"Of course. Told him baling wire should hold it."
Loni gave up arguing with Phillip and inspected the car. "Looks like you missed a few spots."
"Nah. Tape's already peeling."
"That's because you bought cheap tape!"
"So?" Phillip pulled a money clip out of his pocket. He brushed at it, white fuzz flying. "What is this crap on my money?"
"You're so cheap, Phillip. It's probably cobwebs."
Phillip stuck the money in the clip.
"How much did you get for it?"
"$400."
"You should give him $400 to take it!"
"How about buying me lunch?" Phillip asked as he stuffed the money clip into his pocket.
"Sorry, Phillip. Meeting someone."
"Do I know her?"
"No. And I'm not introducing her to you, either," Loni said as she walker off.
"Worried about the competition?"
Shaking her head, Loni ordered Coco into the truck. As she pulled out of the parking lot onto the street, Coco barked. Something hit the back of Loni's leg, hard, knocking it off the gas pedal. Loni slammed on the brake, slapped the car into neutral, and grabbed Coco's collar to keep her from hitting the dash. Something hit her leg again. Leaning forward, she saw a rattlesnake's head rear up. Loni was up on the seat and squatting before she even realized she moved. "Coco, stop!"
Reaching over slowly and carefully, she opened the driver's door. She reached across Coco and opened the passenger door. A kid walked by and stopped to stare at her. "Get me the shovel out of the back." He kept staring at her. "Now!" she yelled.
He climbed up the tailgate and grabbed the shovel.
"Now! Careful! Stand out there and hand it to me, handle first."
Staring at her, he handed her the shovel.
"Now. Run like hell!"
"Why?"
"Because a big old diamondback is coming out from under my seat and you don't want to be in the way."
The young man scrambled a long way back.
She waved the shovel blade along the bottom of the seat, trying to get the snake to strike. Nothing. Using the shovel as a shield, she carefully looked behind the seat, praying it wasn't trying to slither up. Nothing. Do I jump? Undecided, she waited. A head reached out the driver's side, weaving up and down, tongue flicking out trying to smell his way to the ground.
Telling Coco to stay, Loni stepped out the passenger's side, shovel in hand and ran around to face the snake. They stood there staring at each other until the snake undulated down to the ground. Loni came up behind the surging snake and chopped off its head. In a cold sweat, she dropped the shovel and slid down the side of the truck, leaning back against a tire. As the adrenalin dissipated, she started to shake.
Coco nuzzled up to her and licked her face. It was the first time the dog had reached out to comfort her since Maria died. Loni wrapped her arms around the dog and hung on until her shakes subsided. Someone seriously wants me dead, she thought, amazed. Who?
She was still sitting there ten minutes later when Jenny drove up. "What's wrong? You weren't behind me so I came back." Before she could answer Jenny, Rebecca came at her, furious. "How dare you kill that snake?"
Pissed off, Loni yelled at her. "What? You want one of those kids to get struck?"
Ranting curses at Loni, she muttered, "Next time I won't miss." She glanced over at Jenny's expression and realized she had said it out loud. "No. No. I didn't mean it that way. I meant next time I won't miss finding the snake."
"That was your pet rattler, wasn't it? The one you cut the rattles off?" Jenny demanded to know.
"She can't prove it."
"I guess she doesn't have to." Jenny's voice raised an octave.
"Do you own a motorcycle?" Loni asked Rebecca.
"No."
"Yes, she does," Jenny said.
"You shot at me Tuesday night!" Loni yelled.
Jenny stared at her in horror. "You were shot at?"
"Well?" Loni stared at Rebecca.
A flash of fear raced across Rebecca's face, and she flounced off, hurrying back into the building.
Loni looked at Jenny. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take a rain check. I lost my appetite."
"I understand," Jenny said between clenched teeth, "and I need to talk to Rebecca."
Loni wondered about the female DNA from Rene's plane. Could it be? It seemed a bit excessive for jealousy. She began to wonder if any of Rebecca's DNA was on the snake. Deciding it was worth a try, she gingerly picked up the snake and coiled it up into a corner of her truck bed, half smiling to herself. Bobby was gonna love shipping this to the lab. Climbing back into the truck, Loni remembered the print from the epoxy that came in with the DNA. She wondered how she could get a fingerprint from Rebecca.
Slowly driving home, adrenalin spikes alternated with the shakes, worried about Jenny and no longer able to believe in Carl, Loni knew it was time to consider other options.
* * *
She squashed a handful of saltine crackers into the tomato soup to cool it, but the sight of white pieces floating in blood red was too much. Pushing the bowl away, she opened her laptop.
FROM: Loni Wagner
TO: [email protected]
DATE: July 16
SUBJECT: Still here
Yes, I'm pretty sure Lola is straight. Too bad, because I could really get into her. Even so, she's got common sense and street smarts, and it's good to have a friend at the station.
Found more illegals today. Another dead baby. I went by to check on the heat stroke victim. It will be a long time before I forget the screams of agony from that poor woman. The cramps in her swollen muscles must have been terrible.
Had a good scare with a rattler today. Don't want to face that again. That's the second time a rattler has hit me, thank god for high top boots. The first time, the rattler nearly knocked me down. God, they hit hard. This time he couldn't get the height. Had to kill it. It was at the school and children could have been hurt.
At least I think I know who's trying to kill me. One of them, anyway.
I think our ricin answer is at Carl's ranch. With Teag's Hummer and Chief's robbery enough to get a warrant, I can't understand why Carl hasn't searched the place. If I can figure out a way to get in, maybe I will!
Take care of everyone.
Loni
CHAPTER 17
; July 17, 2:30 a.m.
LONI HAD PULLED onto Old Highway 85 when the call came from Bobby. "Teenager reported dead," he said. "No confirmation. all night party ten miles out on Miller Road."