Retribution Road

by Jon Coon

  “Must be one hell of a ride.”

  “More than these old bones could stand. The cartel has several and has been hitting our coast with them. We didn’t know where his base was on the Mexican coast, but now we do.”

  “So we’re bait? You stole his boat to draw them out? Nice.”

  “Nice if they don’t blow us out of the water. We’ll know in about fifteen minutes,” he said, checking the radar again. “Better spread the word, pirates inbound. Tell everyone to stay calm.”

  Gabe went below to crew quarters where Paul and Angelica had been sleeping in separate bunk beds. Still fully clothed, they were now curled together in one. He spoke quietly and woke them gently with, “It would probably be a good idea to get up. Looks like we may have company.”

  “Is it the cartel’s men?” Angelica asked.

  “Yes, but don’t panic yet.” Gabe saw the terror in her eyes. “They’ve been expected, and we’re ready.”

  “What do you want us to do?” Paul asked, rubbing his eyes.

  “Stay low. Stay alert. Help with the Benson girls if things get hairy.”

  “Can we have weapons? You know my mom taught me to shoot.”

  “We’ve got enough guns. Just don’t get in the way if shooting starts. Got it?”

  “Yeah, got it.”

  “Don’t look so disappointed. This could be the day you don’t get shot.”

  “Yeah, that could be good.”

  Gabe turned to Angelica. “You doing okay?”

  “Si, gracias, thanks. I’m a nurse if you need . . .”

  “Hopefully it won’t come to that, but thanks. I’m going back to the bridge. Please go to the girls and keep them calm. Hopefully this won’t take long.”

  “So, what’s going to happen, Gabe?” Paul asked.

  “I haven’t a clue. But knowing your grandfather, it’s going to be spectacular.”

  “So where are they?” Tom was saying angrily into his sat-phone. “And what are we supposed to do until they get here? Right. I’ll put a shrimp on the barbie and invite the mates over for a Fosters or two. Bloody hell!”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” Gabe said.

  “Our guardian angels are running a bit late. Every time I have to deal with the feds, I end up getting—”

  “So what are we going to do? What do you want me to do?” Gabe was looking out the stern windows and could see three off-white go-fasts closing quickly.

  “Okay. No one leaves this boat, and they don’t come aboard. If they want to escort us back, that’s fine, but those kids aren’t going anywhere.”

  “Where do you want our guys?”

  “I borrowed the best in the business from the Navy. They know what to do. Just remind them no one fires until I give the word.”

  Gabe picked up the mic for the intercom system and passed on Tom’s orders. Below the bridge, men scattered. The three Picudas were coming at them, wide open. The VHF radio squawked to life, “Enchantress, Enchantress, this is Sea Dragon. Go to eight.”

  Tom switched from channel sixteen to eight and answered, “This is Enchantress.”

  “Heave to and prepare to be boarded, Enchantress.” Good English, bad accent.

  “Just who do you think you are, Sea Dragon? The Coast Guard? Not going to happen. If you approach, we will blow you out of the water.”

  “Nice try, gringo. Better rethink that. We have you outmanned and outgunned. Heave to.”

  “They’ve got rocket launchers,” Gabe said. “Looks like RPGs.” He continued watching with binoculars.

  “Sea Dragon, you know if you fire on this boat, your boss is going to be a very upset hombre. Let’s work this out another way.”

  There was hesitation for a moment before Sea Dragon answered. “We’re listening.”

  The two boats with the RPGs were easing closer as they talked. Tom cut speed, forcing the other boats to slow down to stay abreast of Enchantress, then Tom turned the bow to run with the sea, giving a stable ride.

  “I would imagine your orders are to bring us all back, including the boat. Is that right?”

  “Si.”

  “And I would imagine that El Patrón really likes this boat. Is that right?” Closer, come just a little closer.

  “Si.”

  “And he would be pretty upset if I sink it, don’t you think?”

  “Señor, why—”

  “Don’t you think I know what’s waiting for us back in Mexico? I think I’d rather take my chances in a life raft and have the satisfaction of knowing your boss won’t be killing any more little girls on this boat.” There. That’s just about right.

  “But we will—”

  Tom nodded to Gabe and whispered, “Now.”

  The two snipers lying beneath the launch on the back deck fired simultaneously, and the RPGs on two of the Picudas exploded violently, tearing the boats in half.

  “As you were saying, Sea Dragon?”

  “El muertos, hombre. You are all dead men.” The remaining Picuda jumped onto plane as the three 200-horsepower outboards roared to life and made wake south. There was no need to look for survivors from the other two boats. There were none. Within minutes, only oil slicks remained as a sad memorial to the demolished boats and dead crew.

  “Nice shootin’, boys. Couldn’t have done better myself,” Tom said with a scowl. “Now where is that damn submarine?”

  “Did he really have a submarine?” Paul asked. His eyes were wide with excitement.

  “Apparently so, and it’s supposed to be running under us until we get home,” Gabe said.

  “How cool. Suppose it will surface so we can see it?”

  “You’ll have to ask your grandfather. I’m not cleared for that information.” Gabe smiled.

  They were sitting on the back deck in lounge chairs, drinking Cokes and enjoying the sun’s warmth and the sea’s cleansing air. Angelica had found a bikini and was on her back with a magazine over her face. Her gentle breathing suggested sleep, but at least she was deeply relaxed.

  “I have a lot to thank you for, Gabe,” Paul began, his demeanor serious and voice soft. “I had a lot of time to think while I was in that hospital bed, and I realized how much of a jerk I’ve been. You were only trying to help me and Mom and Emily. I should have trusted you and listened.”

  “It was a hard time for all of us,” Gabe said. “Your dad was more of a brother to me than just a best friend. I miss him every day.”

  “And then there was the drug thing . . .”

  “There was.”

  “That’s over now. I’ll never go there again. Not after seeing all this.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “There’s one more thing. You and Mom. If … well … I guess I’m okay with it if you want to . . .”

  Gabe looked at him more intently. This was a big step for Paul, and Gabe wanted to be sure Paul was serious. “If I want to . . .?”

  “You know, you and Mom, if you want to be together.”

  “Okay. I appreciate that, and I’m sure your mom will too, but right now we’re just good friends, and I don’t know if that’s going to change.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?”

  “Look, I know what I said, but I wouldn’t mind . . .”

  “Yes. Go on.”

  “You’re making this hard. You know what I mean.”

  “Well, if that happens, I wouldn’t mind having you as a son either. But here’s the deal: I can always be your friend. Your dad wanted that, and I do too. That means I’ll always listen and try to help, no matter what. It doesn’t mean you get a free pass to be rude to your mom or do other dumb stuff. But my commitment is to always be here. Does that sound about right?”

  “Yes, sir. That’s about right.”

  “Good. I’m glad. Now we need to talk about your truck. I hope this is all right with you. I bought it from the insurance company and had the engine flushed and filled with fresh oil, then towed to our garage at the river house. I thought
when this is over, you and I might see if we can salvage it. I’m not the mechanic your dad was, but we’ve got his tools, and those old Fords were pretty straightforward. I think your dad would like that.” He put a hand on Paul’s shoulder and looked deeply into the boy’s soul. Paul didn’t react at first. Because the words wouldn’t come. When he did respond, he just nodded. He nodded, and there were tears in his eyes. That was good.

  An hour past the Galveston channel, headed toward Baytown and the slip Tom had reserved by phone at Bayland Marina, Gabe was at the helm and Tom was sleeping on the couch behind the two helm seats. The Benson girls were rested, showered, and fed, and Senator Benson, their grandfather, was flying in to meet the boat.

  Paul and Angelica were on the back deck in the loungers and the other four team members were packing gear and completing reports in the salon. Javier and his two crew were handcuffed on the front deck where Tom could keep an eye on them. It had been an easy night crossing the Gulf and approaching the channel through the Baytown offshore oil field.

  It was an old field, the offshore extension of the Goose Creek inland field discovered in 1903, and that played a significant role in the early Texas oil boom. The Baytown refinery, the second largest in the US, was built in the early twentieth century and was still a major producer. Its towers and stacks were visible as Gabe cut speed and swung the bow toward the marina at the north edge of the expansive bay. Tom felt the power and course change and sat up on the couch.

  “There’s fresh coffee,” Gabe said.

  Tom went to the wet bar, poured a mug, and then settled into the left seat next to the helm. He scanned the radar and the Garmin navigation system before taking his first sip. He put the mug down, ran his fingers through his thinning hair, stretched, yawned, and asked, “Did you have fun?”

  “Fun? Yeah, I guess. Your life seems to have a lot more excitement than mine. I spend most of my time poking around in the mud trying to pry answers out of ghosts. Not as exciting as blowing stuff up and taking out the bad guys.”

  “You could stay, you know. You’d make a great partner.”

  “Thanks, I think I’d like that, but—”

  “But you’re still not certain about Carol?”

  “I think she’s the one who’s not certain. I could make a life here.”

  “Then let’s leave it on the table for now. Give it a chance to play out.”

  “Sounds good to me. Thanks again.”

  They were approaching the marina. “I’ll take her now,” Tom said.

  Gabe stepped aside and Tom stepped up to the helm.

  “Will they let you keep her?” Gabe asked.

  “Keep what?” Tom laughed. “Yeah, they owe me an airplane. Damn straight I’m going to keep her.”

  Chapter 25

  THE BENSON GIRLS—CHRISTI AND THE twins, Cindy and Celeste—were standing on the bow, holding onto the railing with one hand and waving furiously with the other. The Senator was on the dock with a horde of television and various media reporters from the national networks and cable news.

  “What is it about keeping a low profile he didn’t get?” Tom fumed. “Why not just send the cartel an engraved invitation?”

  “Mind if I sit out this dance?” Gabe asked. “Just in case we ever need to go back.”

  “Right. Of course. Go below and let’s keep Paul and that nurse out of the news if we can. I never had a cover to blow, so I guess it doesn’t matter. But that doesn’t make it smart.”

  Tom’s team tossed the mooring lines over, and when the boat was secured and a gangway rolled up to side, the girls took off running, with tears, to be swept up in the arms of their grandfather. Microphones were thrust in his face, and the Senator beamed.

  “This is a proud day for Texas,” he began. “In the hard-hitting tradition of our Texas Rangers, this was a hard-fought and bloody battle to rescue these three beautiful children. And I’m proud to tell you that we took the battle to the enemy and dealt him a mighty blow. Our team recovered millions of dollars in drugs and destroyed millions of dollars of cartel assets. And I’m proud to introduce to you, again, the leader of our Ranger task force and the genius behind this successful raid, my friend and Texas hero, Captain Tom Bright.”

  “Thank you, Senator Benson. I hope all these good folks know that without your support, our task force wouldn’t exist, and that this mission would never have gotten off the ground. Second, it’s very important to acknowledge the help we had from the Mexican government. Without their full support, especially the tactical support of the newly organized PFM, that’s the Ministerial Federal Police, a world-class elite police force, our mission could never have succeeded. I hope this new level of joint agency cooperation heralds a brave commitment on both sides of the border to stop the vicious reign of cartel violence and the tidal wave of drugs coming into this country. Thank you, Senator Benson. It’s an honor to serve.”

  Tom gave a snappy salute and then waved to the cheers from the small crowd. He spoke privately to the senator for a brief moment, then kissed the girls and did an about-face, back up the short gangway to the boat.

  “How did you do that with a straight face?” Gabe began. “It was brilliant, but how—”

  “I hate politics, but sometimes knowing how the game works can save us from being worked by the game later. Mexico City is blindsided by this. They don’t know what happened, who to blame, or how to spin it. We just gave them a way out, a way to save face, and I hope to God they take it. Or we may be moving to Canada.”

  There was a knock on the bridge door and Senator Benson called out, “Permission to come aboard?”

  “Come on down, Bob. We’re in the salon. Watch your step on that spiral stair; it can be a little tricky for old farts like us.”

  The senator descended the stair unscathed and went directly to the wet bar. “Got anything to drink on this floating brothel?”

  Tom got up, stepped behind the bar, produced a crystal decanter, opened it, and took a sip. “Not bad.” He set three glasses on the bar and poured generous servings into each.

  Benson raised his glass and said, “Gentlemen, you have my lifelong respect and gratitude. Now tell me what the hell happened.”

  Gabe set his glass on the end table beside his chair and listened as Tom gave a detailed after-action report. Benson asked direct, well-informed questions, and when Tom was done, Benson asked the critical question: “What do you think he’ll do next?”

  “He’s going to want revenge. I think he’ll try to bring it to us. But I don’t know more than that.”

  “Is Maria still down there?”

  “Yes. I tried to pull her out, but she wouldn’t come.”

  “Have we got other assets on the inside?”

  “She’s our best. Also the most vulnerable.”

  “I agree. How are we monitoring her?”

  “We’re not. She insisted it would be too dangerous.”

  “Probably right. Let’s pray God keeps her safe, ’cause he’s the only one who can.”

  “Amen to that,” Tom said. Gabe nodded agreement.

  “I’ve gotta go. Gabe, son, I can’t thank you enough. If there’s ever anything . . .”

  “Thank you, sir. I’m just happy to be here.”

  “Stay in the saddle, Tom. You’re my man.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  They shook hands all around, and Senator Benson went back up the circular stair.

  Gabe got up and took his full glass back to the bar. He was going to pour it out, when Tom stopped him. “That’s too good to waste. Just leave it there. I’ll take care of it. I didn’t realize you don’t—”

  “My dad was a drunk. I guess that ruined it for me.”

  “I understand. I respect you for drawing a line and keeping on the right side of it.”

  “Tell me about the senator. He seems like a stand-up guy.”

  “He is. His daddy was the last of the big-time oilmen, what was known as a wildcatter. Made and lost several fortunes while
we were growing up. That happened a lot in the oil business back then. Bob and I joined the Air Force together and then the Rangers. His dad put a lot of pressure on him to join the family business, and after ten years with me in the Rangers, his daddy was in bad shape and Bob felt obligated to help out. He thought it would be short term. As soon as his dad died he’d sell the company or close it and come back to the Rangers. But sometimes timing is everything. Turned out Bob is a business genius and his timing was perfect. He turned the company around and before long was buying up his competition and making mergers with the ones he couldn’t buy.

  “Rags to riches, billions I suppose, in less than twenty years. Then he went into politics. Won his first election by a landslide and has never faced a serious challenger since. He was good for the oil business and is great for Texas. He was the best partner I ever had. Like I told you, Carol dated his son, Bobby. Don’t think it was ever serious, but they were pals. I think she wanted to be best man at his wedding.”

  “Have you talked with her recently?”

  “Does that mean you haven’t?”

  “Things have been a little crazy.”

  “She’s had some long talks with Paul. I heard your name mentioned once or twice.”

  “And?”

  “Sounds like you might have gotten through to that boy. That, and he had a real come-to-Jesus moment back in that cave. There may be hope for him yet.”

  “I certainly hope so. But there are still questions about that truck and the dead girl.”

  A plane was waiting for them at Houston International. In a little over an hour, they landed at the ranch and taxied to a waiting hangar. Carol was there and welcomed them with smiles and tears. Emily hugged Gabe like she was trying to get the last glob of toothpaste out of the tube and then planted a polite kiss on her brother’s cheek.

  Angelica held back until Carol pulled her into a mama bear hug and thanked her repeatedly for saving Paul. Tom, the gear, and the kids piled into the truck. Gabe looked at Carol, who smiled at him and said, “I’ve got a four-wheeler, or we could walk.”