by Ciana Stone
And then she wanted to talk to the town council about what could be done to help these people.
She headed for the abandoned cobbler shop where Zeb was crashing. As she drew near, she saw that someone had started a fire in an old barrel and a few men had wired coat hangers together to fashion a grill. There were chicken legs cooking on the makeshift grill, a big bag of them sitting on a wooden box waiting to be cooked, and people were sitting around in old chairs they’d found, or on the sidewalk, listening to music being played by Zeb on his harmonica, an old man with an equally old banjo, and a woman on a fiddle.
It was amazingly good and she smiled as she walked over and took a seat on the sidewalk beside Zeb. She leaned back against the brick wall of the building and watched the people.
Aside from the condition of their clothing and the overall hygiene, it could have been a family cookout. People were tapping their feet, humming along, smiling and talking.
When the song ended, Zeb accepted a bottle of water a woman offered to him. “Thank you, kindly, ma’am.”
“It’s my pleasure. Now you share some with your pretty lady.”
“I surely will.” Zeb smiled again and when the woman turned away, he looked at Charli. “How’s it going?”
“Another day, another bag of old clothes, two cans of salmon and a half a loaf of bread. Big score.”
“Indeed. And on the information front?”
“People are scared, as you already know. I got a line on a girl named Crissy who another girl, Deeny, claims she saw one of the women get grabbed. She works the corner over by the old liquor store where the drug boys have taken roost. I figured it might be smart to have some backup if I’m going to scout that area after dark.”
“I agree. We’ll head over when it gets dark. I heard something along the same line—that the drug boys might have sold that girl.”
“Sold her?” Charli was sure she would feel her blood pressure rise at the thought.
“Simmer down, killer.” Zeb leaned over and made a show of kissing her on the cheek and then whispered. “I’d like to put a bullet in ‘em too, if it’s true, but we can’t go off half-cocked.”
“I know.” Charli put her arms around him and hugged up to him for a few seconds, then pulled back. “But we need to make some progress. Any word from the Chief?”
Zeb stood and extended his hand. “Walk with me.”
Charli let him pull her to her feet. He kept hold of her hand and started away from the gathering. When they were half a block away, he stopped and pressed her back against the brick of a building.
She understood what he was doing as he leaned in toward her. If anyone was watching, it would appear that they were getting cozy. She looped her arms around his neck. “What’s up?”
“There’s a development.”
“I’m listening.”
“A farmer in North Texas up around Texarkana butchered two hogs he bought at an auction and inside one of them were the bones of a human hand. It scared the farmer so he took the bones to the police. They called the Rangers and the Rangers took possession of the evidence. Turns out, the bones belonged to one of the missing women.”
“In a hog?” Charli tried not to shudder. “Are you telling me that whoever killed that girl fed her to a hog?”
“Appears so. No other bones were found in either hog, and the Rangers traced the sale, but whoever sold the hogs to the farmer did cash business and gave a fake name.”
“But they’re looking into all the hog farms in the area, aren’t they?”
“They are. But that disappearance is a long way from here so there might not be a connection.”
“Or there might. Are they checking the hog farms around here?”
“They are. One by one.”
“Zeb, we have to find these women. I’m scared we’re running out of time.”
“I’m just as eager as you, but I don’t know how to speed things up.”
“I might.”
“Oh, now I’m listening.”
“Get in with the drug boys. Tell them you have something to sell. Someone.”
Zeb drew back a bit, clearly surprised. “Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Charli, you’re talking about putting yourself—“
“I know what I’m talking about. But I’m not in this alone. If they agree, you can follow, or arrange for someone else to. The point is, it’s been nine days since the last woman disappeared so tomorrow is the day.”
He was quiet for a minute, then gave a short nod. “It’s actually the best move we have now, but I’m still not keen on putting you in harm’s way.”
“It’s what we signed on for, and I sure as hell don’t want some other woman getting grabbed. Look at it this way. If you’re selling me, then chances are, I’m gonna do what you tell me—at least in the eyes of the drug boys. I’ll say, “yes daddy” and get in a car or whatever, expecting to service a john.
“But I’ll know it’s more and I’ll be ready. And you’ll be following. It could work. If we can find out where the victims are being taken, maybe we can find some alive. We have to at least try.”
“Yeah, I agree. Tell you what. Let’s head over to the old ball field a couple of blocks over. People will think we’re going somewhere to get private. We’ll find a nice quiet spot where I can call and talk with our people and we’ll work it out.”
“Sounds good.” Charli removed her arms from around his neck and wrapped one arm around his waist as they started in the direction of the ball field. “So, have you talked with Willa today?”
She’d spent enough time with Zeb to learn that he was married to a woman named Willa who he claimed had been in love with him since she was a child and he never knew until he returned to his home county a few years ago.
He was as crazy about Willa as she’d ever seen a man be. You could tell it by the way his face lit up at the sound of her name and the way he spoke it. Charli found herself wishing she could hear someone speak her name that way. Just once. It was, beyond all doubt, the sound of love.
“Yeah, she’s ready for me to wind this up and get home.”
“No readier than you, I bet.”
“Oh, you have no idea. What about you, Charli? You gonna keep pretending you’re not head over heels for that fella who shipped out?”
“I’m not pretending.”
“No?”
“No. I’m not head over heels for him.”
“Liar.”
She smiled at him. “I don’t do head over heels, but I damn sure am crazy about the man.”
“Ain’t love grand?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer that question. She hadn’t told Grady she loved him and she didn’t know if he was ever coming back, so love might not be grand at all. It might be what finally broke her because if he didn’t come home, she was dead certain all the love she had inside her would dry up and blow away, mingling with the rest of the dust in Texas.
Chapter Sixteen
“And you’re sure this girl, Crissy, saw a man forcing the missing woman into a car?”
“A white sedan. Old, she said.” Charli looked at herself in the cracked mirror and tugged at the hem of her skirt.
“But no make or model?”
“No, just old is what she said and when I asked her to describe the shape, it sounded like a 70s model. A real lead sled. She swears the man shoved the woman into the trunk. And she said the man was big, had on a baggy jacket and a baseball cap and baggy jeans and he looked dirty.” She gave the skirt another couple of tugs and grimaced.
“Okay,” Zeb was texting as they talked. “I’m letting everyone know. Did she by chance notice a license plate?”
“She said there wasn’t one.”
“Great.” He continued to text.
Charli tugged at the hem of the denim skirt for the fifth time. “You have any idea how hard it is to hide a weapon in an outfit like this?”
Zeb, who was leaning against the wall in th
e storage room he’d commandeered as his temporary home, put away his phone and pushed away from the wall to walk over to her. “Turn around.”
She did and he shrugged. “Okay, you got me on that. No way you’ll hide a handgun.”
“Then I’m taking this shoulder bag that Mimi gave me. It has a slit in the inner lining so I can put the gun beneath the lining in case anyone wants to look inside.”
“It might not be smart to go armed.”
“If I wear this outfit, then I’m carrying the purse. With the gun.”
Zeb held up his hands. “Okay. So, we’re on the same page as to what’s going to happen?”
“Yeah. We’re showing up at the drug boys’ place and you’re gonna try and sell your ho.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have put it like that, but yeah, that’s essentially it. And if they want to take you anywhere, I have two Rangers who will be following us.”
“And if they just want to take me somewhere and bang me, those same Rangers are going to intervene.”
“Yes. So, don’t take them out yourself. Let it look like a rival gang moved in and took you.”
“And if they just tell me to hit the streets and turn in what I make to them, I use the money you gave me.”
“Right. Now remember, if that’s what happens and someone approaches you and asks you to get into a car, make sure you’re in sight of me or one of the Rangers. They’ll signal to let you know it’s them by the phrase I gave you earlier.”
“Well, you better hope no one else in the hood yells, ‘Hey, Amazon, brings that ass on over here and plant it on my face.’” She shook her head in distaste. “And by the way, whoever came up with that one needs to be punched.”
Zeb crossed his arms and thrust his chin up. “Oh yeah?”
“Oh, shit, was that you?”
“Naw, just messing with you.”
“Dick.” She said and tugged at the skirt again. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.
“After you,” he gestured toward the door.
Charli walked out and waited for Zeb. When he emerged, he leaned over and spoke softly to her. “Don’t punch me, but girl you make that slut-wear look damn good.”
She wanted to be annoyed by the statement but she knew Zeb didn’t mean anything untoward with the statement. Charli had come to really like him and felt like when this was over, she’d have a friend. At least she hoped so.
He slammed his hand on her rear and together they headed for the other side of the zone, where the drug runners had set up. The closer they got, the more leers and lewd comments she received. By the time they stopped on the sidewalk outside of the old liquor store, she was ready to knock some teeth out.
“Hey, Antony, here she is.” Zeb announced as soon as the boss stepped outside.
“She’s a fucking big bitch.” Antony eyed Charli up and down. She wanted to kick his gonads up to his tonsils but instead, she smiled as Zeb squeezed her ass and then shoved her toward the young man.
Charli had no doubt that she could take this punk. He was probably twenty-five, with hair that stood up like a retarded rooster, spindly arms, and black jeans held up with a belt that looked like it was fashioned from motorcycle chains welded together.
His swagger was what really annoyed her. While others in this zone were struggling for survival, this piece of human excrement was trying to peddle poison and capitalize on their desperation and fear.
“So, she any good at sucking dick?”
“She can take the chrome off a trailer hitch, my man,” Zeb replied.
“How much you want for her?”
“Enough to get me the fuck outta this place. Say, five G’s?”
“Five G’s? Man, you insane. I am paying no five G’s for a piece of ass.”
“For this ass you will.” Zeb grabbed Charli and pulled her in front of him, running his hand up to cup her breasts. “Look at this, boys. One hundred percent real American titty. No aftermarket bullshit here.”
He then moved his hands down her body to the hem of her skirt and pulled it up to her waist. Charli now understood why he had insisted on the pair of lace thongs he’d given her.
One of his hands slid lower and cupped her sex. “And this…” He blew out a low whistle. “This right here is some prime pussy, brother. She can damn near squeeze a man off without him moving a muscle, she’s got so much control. I’m telling you, you can make bank on this snatch.”
“Then why you so willing to sell, big man?”
“Like I said, I need to get the fuck outta here. Got something waiting for me in the land of fake titties and year-round beaches.”
“I’ll give you a thousand.”
“You’ll give me five.”
“Twenty-five hundred.”
“Five.”
“Thirty-five hundred.”
“Five.”
“Fuck, fine, man. Five.” Antony snapped his fingers and one of the men standing behind him stepped forward. “Gimme five.”
The man reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulled out a wad of cash, and peeled off a stack of bills. He handed the cash to Antony, who counted it and handed it to Zeb.
Zeb didn’t bother counting. He just shoved it in his pocket and smiled.
“You not gonna count it?” Antony asked.
“Nope. You wouldn’t short me.”
“No? How you know that?” Antony kind of puffed up his chest until Zeb smiled and took a step toward him.
“Because you know that if you did, I’d tear your throat out while those two dumb fucks watched and then I’d kill them.”
Even Charli got a bit of a shiver at the menace in his tone and that downright ice cold look in his eyes. Damn, if Zeb wasn’t a bad ass. She wouldn’t want to cross the man.
“Well, you got your money, so the bitch is mine.”
“And you treat her right, you hear me, Antony?”
“What’s it to you, man? Yo ass gonna be in the land of beaches and titties.”
“You’re right, it will soon enough, but until I make my arrangements I’ll be around and if I hear you hurt my bitch, I’m gonna take exception to that. You feel me?”
“Yeah, man. I feel you. ‘Sides, what kinda fool you think you doing bidness with? I am gonna damage something that’s gonna make me bank? And you’re gonna make me bank, right, bitch?”
“The name is Delilah, and I suggest you take a page from the Dude’s book and just stay the fuck outta my way and let me do what I do. I’ll deliver your cut at the end of the night but aside from that, we’ve got nothing to say to one another.”
“I’ll be the one who decides what we—“
Charli realized she could be making a mistake, but she had started down a path and now had to continue, so she moved fast. In a blink, she had one hand around his neck and the other cupping his balls.
She lifted him up and smiled at him. “Baby, this is how Delilah rolls. Now you and me can be sweet friends or we can be enemies. I know you have some muscle working for you and maybe you can have them fuck me up. But not before I turn you from a rooster to a chicken. You feel me, sweetie?”
“Put me down.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Charli released him and watched as he rubbed his throat with one hand and his balls with the other. “You’re one crazy bitch.”
“Who can handle herself and make you bank. So, what will it be, Antony? Will you be the man who runs the baddest, most money-making bitch in the place or the man who fucked up what could have been a very lucrative arrangement?”
“I ain’t no fool. Talk is cheap. You come back before dawn with a grand and we’re gonna have one fine arrangement. You don’t and me and the boys are gonna have five G’s worth of fun. You feel me, Delilah?”
“Not a problem.” Charli smiled and turned away, then stopped and walked back over to Zeb. “In fact, I’m gonna make half of that right now. I think me and you need to say goodbye, don’t you, Dude?”
“For five hundred dollars
?” Zeb asked. “For that, I’m gonna want you for more than a quickie.”
“Then let’s get started stud.” She looked back at Antony. “I’ll be back by eleven with half your money.”
“You do know that if you’re trying to run one on me, my guys will find you. And they’ll be packing more than hard dicks.”
“I hear you, boss. I’ll see you at eleven.”
With that, Charli took Zeb’s arm and they strolled away. Once they were halfway down the block, she spoke. “I’m gonna need you to hold all but a grand of the cash. We’ve got enough for three nights so we better get a lead before it runs out.”
“You mean you’re not gonna go out and make your new boss bank, Delilah?”
Charli blew a raspberry. “Come on. Let’s find somewhere to hole up for a few hours. From what I heard from that girl, the last disappearance happened just before midnight a block from the liquor store. I’m gonna be there and we need to make sure everyone else is in place as well.”
“We will be.”
She nodded and tried to push away the niggling feeling that had plagued her all day that something was about to happen. She’d had the feeling before and never had it boded well. Which made her wonder just how close they were to making contact with whoever abducted that girl ten days ago and what kind of shit they’d face when it happened.
Most of all, she prayed that whatever foreboding this feeling might signal, that Grady was safe and would be coming home in one piece.
*****
Grady got out of the taxi and stood on the sidewalk for a few minutes, staring at the entrance of the cemetery. It’d been nearly twenty years since he’d been here.
He hadn’t really planned on coming. When he finally finished debriefing and was released, he made a trip to Kentucky where his teammate and friend Johnny had lived.
The last time he was there was to tell Johnny’s wife Belinda that Johnny wouldn’t be coming home. This time he went to present her with a gift. No one knew, but every time a SEAL was killed in the line of duty, every SEAL, active and inactive, chipped in money to give to the family. Grady had a cashier’s check in his pocket for fifty-two-thousand dollars.
Added to the death benefits the family would collect, Belinda would be able to raise her and Johnny’s little girl, Janine, and have a little nest egg and college fund. It did nothing to ease the pain and loss, but at least they had all done right by Johnny and helped to provide for his family.