by Mimi Barbour
“Why? Do you know the killer’s identity?”
“We only know him as Dylan Ross. We’ve been told he’s a black man with short-cropped hair, medium height and muscular. In the underworld, they call him Silverado because for his executions, he uses a silver .45 ACP – Automatic Colt Pistol – with pearl handles engraved with his nickname. Other than the silver bullets he likes to use, we haven’t any DNA or photographs; the man is careful, and in each country he’s used a different identity. In the last four years, he’s been tagged for six major kills and is wanted by many governments, ours predominantly. As a gun for hire, he’s considered one of the best and paid handsomely for his services. So whatever the victim did, someone willing to pay a lot of money wanted her dead and without any strings.”
Detective Crawly added his two cents. “Look, this Ross character has been on our radar after three prime kills in the US… that we know of. Powerful people internationally, who’ve made a huge noise through their local Police and Interpol, demand action, too. If he’s hunting in our territory, I’d sure like to be the cop to bring him down.”
“And you figure he’ll stick around to take care of loose ends, meaning Alicia.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s not going anywhere until he cleans up this mess.”
Zeroing in on something he said earlier, Carolina questioned, “You mentioned that you talked to my boss, Deputy Assistant Jake Crompton?”
“Yes. He hesitated to speak on your behalf, explained you’d just come off a grueling case, and he wouldn’t be prone to forcing any new assignments on you right now. Said he’d leave it up to you, but would expect a report from you personally before you take on any role.”
“In other words, he’s agreeable but…” This didn’t surprise Carolina. Her boss was a man who believed in respecting his people. He’d taken a shine to her from the first day he’d been assigned to the Bureau in his current capacity. The fact that he’d held back from making any serious personal overtures would be simply because Carolina had let him know right from the beginning… don’t bother.
He’d asked her outright if his being a single dad had anything to do with her rejection, and she’d assured him that wasn’t so. She was totally off any serious relationships, so his circumstances didn’t matter.
She simply wasn’t interested, not in him or any of the other men in the office who’d made advances… and the one woman, who’d only shrugged when Carolina’s eagle eye had shut down her first attempt.
“Exactly, he’s agreeable. Agent Madison, we’ll refund all the costs of your vacation, anything you need, just as long as you can keep that kid alive so when we bring in that animal, she can identify him as the killer. He’ll go down for the rest of his life. But without our only witness, Alicia Shoal, we have no case, only circumstantial evidence that any well-paid scumbag of a lawyer could oppose and get him his walking papers.”
Heart-sore, Carolina stuck to her guns. “You don’t understand, I’m burned out. I’m not giving up my vacation. I can’t. The way I am now, I’m no good to anyone.”
Bristling, Crawly added, “You were damn good earlier.”
“Because my training kicked in. I had no time to think about what to do.” Her pride wouldn’t let her admit to the multitude of negative emotions she’d suffered.
Prowler approached. “What if you don’t have to give up your vacation? What if we arrange everything so you just take the kid with you… into witness protection? We’ll set you up in the same kind of accommodations you previously arranged, and you can choose wherever you want to go.”
“I’ve already chosen my destination, Fort Lauderdale. There’re reasons I decided on that city, family reasons that still stand.”
Catching on to his boss’s line of reasoning, Crawly added, “It could work, Carolina.”
Prowler, still planning out loud, added, “We’d cover any costs, set up protection with the local authorities, whatever you need. All you have to do is enjoy a vacation with the poor kid who looks like no one’s ever been kind to her. Help us catch this scumbag before he claims another kill, Agent Madison.”
Carolina began laughing, her nerves unleashed. “Oh, you’re good, Chief, smooth as stainless steel. Ever thought of the stage back when you were making up your mind what career to choose?”
Rubbing his mustache, a quick wink shared, he tried to keep a straight face and failed. “Did it work?”
“Let me talk to the kid, and we’ll see. Okay?”
“Okay. But don’t take too long. The sooner we get Alicia safely hidden, the better. In the meantime, we’ll get a female detective to follow through on your flight as planned. She’ll take up the residence you’d set up.”
“That means you think he’ll peg me as the female there tonight and come after me.”
“Maybe. He’s good. We don’t want to take any chances. In case he ties you to Alicia, and decides you’re another victim, I want a solid net put in place. Therefore, if you do play along with us, we need your itinerary, your tickets, everything.”
Chapter Nine
In her spare bedroom, Carolina cleared away the jumble from her earlier packing and made room for Alicia and her plastic-bagged belongings.
“Can I really stay here with you?”
“Yeah, for now. With an officer on duty in the hallway by your old apartment and another guarding the entrance, it’s a safe place. If the sleaze returns, you’ll be protected. I have my weapon too in case he gets past security. We need to keep you alive so the department can make future arrangements.”
Carolina thought back to earlier when she told the lead detective and his captain that she was on leave. “I understand, Agent Madison, but you don’t seem to get the gravity of our situation.”
Carolina slumped onto the bed; the pounding in her head hitting an all-time high.
Alicia’s fingers snapped and brought Carolina back. The kid’s pale features screwed up, her shrewd expression surprising. “Something else happened. At the police station, after you talked to the Captain. I saw your face. They shared some information with you, didn’t they?”
Carolina grinned. “You’re too smart by a long shot, kiddo.”
“Tell me about it? I get straight A’s in most of my classes except for Math. And there I just play around because I can’t stand the deranged teacher. She picks on some of the kids until she makes them cry. She’s a noob, like Margo.”
“A noob?”
“A nobody, a lowlife.”
“Can’t argue with you there.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’d hoped you wouldn’t notice.”
“Like I said, I’m smart, when I’m not in my own way. And right now, I know something’s going on. It’s about me, and you’re not sharing. Why did you really bring me here?”
Carolina heard the fear in the teen’s voice. She surveyed Alicia’s features and realized the girl was barely holding on. Poor baby, she’s been through so much. Right now, she needs sympathy… and a friend.
“We called The Dump and Jean Sowdon’s still registered.”
“And…?”
“Blasted hell! You said you wouldn’t stay if she was there. I couldn’t very well, in all good conscience, let you roam the streets and get killed, now could I?”
“There’re other institutions. Other places for kids like me. Why here?”
“Because!” Carolina swiped at the golden-red curls bunched near her ears and blew at the mass on her forehead. “Man, your tough.” She paced the room, her sexy pajama bottoms replaced earlier by a pair of form-fitting jeans that hugged her figure and had pockets where she slid her hands to stop their shaking. Fucking stress! “Look, we know who the killer is now, and he’s not a man to be ignored.”
“You know? How?”
“You told us by your description.”
“No I didn’t. All I said was he was a short-haired, black man with a fancy, silver gun.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, wha
t? Oh…”
“Right. The silver gun gave him away. His name is Dylan Ross, known by officials as Silverado. Among other weapons, he most often uses a silver pistol when he’s on the job as the executioner. In the last four years, he’s been wanted by quite a few governments, ours predominantly. The man is freaky smart, a gun for hire and employs himself without prejudice by those willing to pay top dollar.”
“Without prejudice?”
“He wouldn’t care if it’s a man, a woman or a nosy teenager.”
Nodding, Alicia taunted, “If they know so much about him, why haven’t they caught him?”
“Like I said, he’s freaky smart. Look, we actually know very little, other than one of his names, and now what you’ve told us. He’s brilliant at camouflaging himself. Using makeup, he’s passed as both white and black and has umpteen identities. His MO includes breaking in, doing his job without there being any witnesses, and disappearing. Because of that, we’ve never been able to make an arrest. Other than the silver casings from the bullets he likes to use, we have nothing.”
“I’m the only witness.”
“Yes. You said you’d never forget what he looked like. That you saw enough to identify him.”
“I did tell you that, but maybe I lied.”
Carolina moved to stand in front of Alicia and saw the fear she couldn’t hide. The damn kid was petrified.
“Were you? Lying?”
Alicia slumped, her shoulders curled toward her chest, her appearance suddenly taking on the look of a tired old lady. “He’s nasty – a killer with a rep for staying under the radar and getting his prey?”
“‘Fraid so.”
“Which means – I’m screwed.”
“Not if you let the government take you into the witness protection program. They explained tonight that they’re willing to send you away and keep you safe until he’s caught and on trial.”
“Explained! Like they never let up. Talk about pressure. I felt like I was sitting on a burner and they kept turning the heat higher.”
Needing to explain, Carolina added, “The authorities want this guy – bad.”
“And I want you. In my heart, I know I’ll only be safe with you. Is that so wrong? Am I being greedy?”
“No.”
“But it’s a problem.” Alicia gauged Carolina’s face, her dark eyes questioning.
“Yes.”
“Then the first chance I get, I’ll disappear.”
Chapter Ten
“Why are you leaving me here? I want to go with you.” Alicia’s whine scored a direct hit.
“Sorry, kid. I can’t take you this time. It’s personal business. I’ll only be gone for a couple hours, I promise. Just a loose end I need to tie up.”
“I’m scared without you nearby, Carolina; terrified, actually. I’ll be sick the whole time you’re gone. Please, can’t I come with you?”
From the moment Carolina promised to keep Alicia safe, to be her guardian in witness protection, the girl had become weirdly attached.
Carolina forced her voice to stay calm rather than losing her cookies at Alicia. Frustrated already about the phone call to Prowler – the one where she’d agreed to take on the safety of their witness – she now faced explaining the change in plans to her grandfather.
“Kid, back off.”
Before the last syllable had left Carolina’s raised voice, Alicia’s demeanor changed from beseeching to totally distressed.
Calm down, bitch… it’s not her fault.
“God, I’m sorry, Alicia.” Carolina sucked in some air and lowered her voice. “Kiddo, you can’t be seen with me. You know we’re leaving later today, right. And we’ll be together until the trial. But you need to give me these couple of hours. I made plans that I need to complete in case anyone is watching.”
“I’m sorry. Detective Crawly explained it all to me.”
“See, that’s right. In the meantime, one of their stipulations is for me to carry on as if nothing has changed. While I’m away, Officer Dale, Melissa, the cop who’ll be taking my previously planned trip, will be here to switch her things into my suitcases, etc. You’ll have company while I’m gone. Okay?”
“He said she’d be bringing a file with our new identities that we have to memorize.”
“Yes. Studying it will help pass the time. From now on you need to remember to call me Charli.”
“Why Charli?”
“It’s a nickname my Gramps gave me when I was younger. I’m used to it. Kiddo, I gotta go.”
“You’ll be safe?”
Ahh… her inner lightbulb ignited. The kid isn’t scared for herself, she’s worried for me. Carolina’s attitude melted, and she softened her tone. “Yes, honey. Give me an hour, two tops.”
Alicia swallowed, her eyes filling. She blinked rapidly and held out her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a baby. I don’t want to be a burden.”
If she was a hard-hearted woman, Carolina might have taken her hand briefly and made light of the situation. But as much as she’d buried her young-girl tendencies as a loving, huggy person, this was one time she couldn’t block herself.
She put her arms around Alicia and smoothed her long hair while the youngster clung tightly, a suspicious sob low but clear. “Hey baby, we’re gonna be glued at the hip from now on. And no need to be scared when you’re with me. I’m FBI and I don’t take any prisoners, right. That asshole comes anywhere near us, and I’ll plug that varmint right between his beady little black eyes. Deal?”
Laughing shakily, Alicia nodded and leaned back. “Deal. But just so you know, his eyes were anything but beady.”
“Yeah? Well, when we get to Florida, they’ll have a sketch artist working with you so you can bring him to life for all of us.”
“And photos from the criminal website too?”
“Yes.”
The doorbell rang to break up their embrace, but before Carolina could drop her arms, Alicia gave another tight squeeze and whispered, “No one’s ever hugged me like this before. Thank you.”
“Oh baby, you are so welcome.” Carolina caressed her cheek before heading to the hallway to let in her decoy. With the back of her hand, she swiped at her own cheek before opening the door.
Poor, kid…
***
In the same booth that Charli and her grandfather often frequented at his favorite diner, Charli finished her thick vanilla milkshake and ate the last bite of her heavenly scented Polish dog. When her food had arrived, the smells of her most passionate teenage junk food assaulted and her hunger had taken over.
She’d worried over this meeting, knew it had to happen and that the police escort would make arrangements so they couldn’t be followed. Surrounded by protection from others in her department, they’d driven her to this meeting. At the same time, her boss, Jake Crompton, a man who her grandfather would recognize, had fetched John Madison personally from his lodge, telling him that Charli would meet him at the diner.
When the two men had walked in, Charli had seen her boss’s expression, and it spoke volumes. You can’t tell the old man anything, Carolina. They’d discussed some of the details of the case earlier that morning, and he’d urged her to reconsider putting herself in another stress situation. He’d read the FBI psychologist’s report and knew that she’d suffered through more than they would ever ask of her. But when she explained about Alicia Shoal and her fears, he’d understood why she had even considered the assignment.
Jake asked to speak to her alone for a few minutes and after she’d hugged the old man and got him settled in his place, she walked with her boss to the back of the big room and into a hallway leading to the restrooms.
“Thanks so much for bringing Grandfather here for me. I couldn’t leave him without any explanations and saying a proper good-bye. He’d never forgive me.”
“You’re wrong, Carolina. That old guy adores you, thinks you walk on water. I’m just sorry about his vacation in Fort Lauderdale. He told me about
all your plans for when he was to join you. Let’s hope this assignment is over quickly, and you can still have him visit.”
Charli stared at the good-looker, her expression as serious as steel. “My vacation time will be banked for when this is over, that’s what they led me to believe.”
Jake lifted his hand to pat her arm, and she forced herself not to flinch. “We’ll take care of it, Carolina. You’ll get your time off. I stopped by your place for a few minutes just after you’d left and met the kid. I see why you feel there’s no choice. She’s dependent on you; refused to even consider another agent.”
“She’s terrified.”
“Don’t blame her. It couldn’t have been easy watching someone get killed.”
A quick vision of herself standing over the body of the drug runner she’d just shot appeared in her head, and she shoved it back into purgatory where she’d forced it weeks ago. “It isn’t.”
Jake’s sympathized searching of her features and his quick nod let her know he understood. “Madison, I don’t want to lose one of my best Drug Enforcement Agents over this. You be careful, and make use of the protection from the local guys wherever you end up.”
“You don’t know?”
“The SPD refused to leak any information about which city or even state they planned on sending you. Just take every reasonable precaution. And call me as soon as you’re free. In the meantime, the department will be pulling out all the stops to find Dylan Ross. We’ll get him sooner or later, don’t doubt it.”
“Let’s hope its sooner.”
He laughed and took her hand. “Take care.” He glanced up over her shoulder and grinned welcomingly. “Chief Prowler.”
“Good to see you, Jake.”
“I was just leaving. You take good care of this agent; she’s an asset to the Bureau in every way.”
“You have my word.”
Carolina watched Jake stride over to first shake hands with her grandfather, and then to the door where a black SUV and driver waited.