They did pause at the damaged bridge on North Street, where Cameron’s truck had nearly fallen into the river. Sara marveled at the close call her new friend had survived.
And they were becoming friends, Sara realized, for she and Cameron were much alike in their independent nature. They also both knew what it was like to lose someone you loved, and to burn with a desire for vengeance.
“They’re still here somewhere,” Cameron said, as she cruised around town. “They won’t even think of leaving until they get that money back.”
Sara pointed up the street where two of Cooper’s agents were talking to a store owner. The shop sold stationery and greeting cards, along with stuffed animals and other knickknacks.
Cameron parked nearby, and she and Sara reached the store just as the agents finished their interview.
“Any leads?” Sara asked.
The agents were a man and a woman, both young and with serious demeanors. The man was white, while the woman was black. The male agent presented Sara with a look of disgust before turning his back on her. His partner stared at Sara for a few moments, but then she spoke.
“The kids were here, maybe fifteen minutes ago. The shop owner says they bought out his supply of note pads, along with a stuffed bear, some Velcro, two candy bars, a greeting card, and a bag of chips, and oh yeah, the girl paid with her mother’s credit card.”
“That’s an odd assortment. Did he see which direction they went in?”
“No.”
“Thank you,” Sara said.
“Just keep an eye out for those kids and call it in if you see them.”
“We will.”
Once they were back in the pickup, Cameron pointed back at the agents. “What was with the attitude?”
“I left the Bureau under less than ideal conditions.”
“What’s that mean? That male agent looked like he wanted to shoot you.”
“I… used extremely bad judgement.”
Cameron gazed at Sara, expecting her to say more. When Sara kept quiet, Cameron started the truck’s engine.
“I see, and I won’t pry.”
They got moving again, and the only sound in the truck was the furious beating of the windshield wipers.
After three minutes of silence, Sara began telling her story, starting with Tanner’s murder for hire of her lover, and ending with their first face-to-face confrontation in Las Vegas, where Sara shot her partner, Jake Garner, as Garner tried to keep her from killing Tanner.
“I can’t say that you did the right thing, but I can understand getting carried away.”
“Thank you.”
“What happened to your partner?”
“He’s… actually, he’s a friend.”
“Even after you shot him? Honey, that boy wants more than friendship to forgive you that way.”
“He’s a good person overall, and better than I deserve, that’s for sure, but… never mind.”
“Back there at the farm, what did Cooper mean when he said that Tanner was half-myth?”
“Oh, Tanner has no first name, at least none that anyone knows. It’s also a fact that a hired killer going by that name has been involved in scores of murders going back decades.”
“Maybe he started young, some do.”
“And Tanner is one of them. I found a cold case file from the late nineties, where the perp fit his description in an incident that took place in Texas, and he was likely no more than twenty, maybe even younger.”
“He looked about thirty-five to me when I saw him sitting in that jail cell.”
“Yes, if I had to guess, I would say that Tanner is in his mid-thirties, possibly a little younger, but someone calling himself Tanner has been killing as far back as the 1920s.”
Cameron let out a boisterous laugh that surprised Sara.
“What’s funny?”
“You’re chasing a damn demon.”
“Sometimes it feels that way, but I think Tanner is just a name that’s been passed down. We—those in the Bureau, know of a case of grifters called The Sullivans who had been conning people since the 1840s. When the current gang was caught ten years ago, they admitted that the name had been passed down to them.”
“They were descendants of the originals?”
“No, it’s more like an honor given to the best of the best, by the best of the best, and it looks like the name Tanner is handed down among assassins. At least, that’s the theory.”
“So, Tanner is not just another punk with a gun?”
Sara answered, but did so grudgingly, and through clenched teeth.
“He’s the best, hands down.”
179
Not Just Another Pretty Face
Tyler and Sherry were parked across the street from a deli that appeared to cater to the teenage crowd, as nearly a dozen of them were congregated inside after having left school for the day.
Sherry pointed at a redheaded boy who had long hair tied in a ponytail.
“Is that him?”
“No, his hair wasn’t that bright or that long, and he was older, almost a man.”
They were sitting in a car they had stolen out of the parking lot of an office building. It was a brown 1995 Chevy Cavalier. The car blended in well and probably wouldn’t be missed for hours. Tyler had popped the ignition switch with a screwdriver while Sherry dumped Sara’s car.
“Once we find them, then what?” Sherry said.
“We follow them, and when the time looks right, we’ll take the money from them.”
“What if they left the money in one of their houses, or hid it somewhere?”
“Then we’ll have them take us to it.”
“Should we still kill them? I mean, there ain’t no way the cops haven’t figured out who we are by now.”
“I don’t care what happens to the girl, but I’m going to blast that boy for warning that guy, Tanner. If the kid had kept his damn mouth shut I would have killed Tanner and we’d be long gone.”
“All right, but I’ll let the girl live, unless she screams.”
“She’ll scream.”
“Yeah.”
“A beauty salon?” Tanner said.
“Yep, and we have the location all picked out,” Brittany said, as she and Amber spoke excitedly about their dream of opening their own salon.
“Are you going into business here?” Tanner asked.
“No, in Philly,” Amber said. “The store we want used to be a hobby shop, but it’s in a perfect location and it even has an apartment above it that we could live in. Somebody else will rent it before we can though, since it will be over a year before we have enough money saved.”
Tanner nodded at them, while impressed by the fact that they had goals and a plan to fulfill them. They were in the apartment’s tiny kitchen having coffee.
“It’s good to have plans.”
“We’ve both been working in shops since we were kids. Amber is taking accounting courses, while I’m studying business administration, and I bet you thought we were just two dumb bunnies.”
“I actually haven’t given much thought to your minds,” Tanner admitted, and both girls laughed.
Afterwards, Brittany pushed back her long blonde hair and studied Tanner.
“What about you, Romeo, any plans?”
“I did have some, but after running into an acquaintance this morning they’ve changed.”
“For better or worse?”
“That remains to be seen.”
A short time later, the three of them left the apartment together. The girls were going food shopping, while Romeo was saying goodbye again. He walked them to their car, where they both kissed him and wished him farewell.
“I wish you two luck with your shop. What are you going to name it?”
“We don’t know,” Brittany said. “We keep changing our minds.”
The women left him while waving goodbye, and a refreshed Tanner went looking for Sara Blake.
180
Ask Question
s Later
“That one!” Sherry said. “That’s got to be him, am I right?”
Tyler followed Sherry’s pointing finger and saw Dean walking toward the deli.
“That’s him, but I don’t see the girl.”
“Or the money,” Sherry said.
Dean entered the deli and waved to a group of kids sitting at a table. After placing his order at the counter, Dean took a seat with the other kids.
Sherry looked across at Tyler and saw that he was drumming his fingers on his knee; she knew that he only did that when he was unsure of his next move.
“Maybe we should grab him when he comes out,” she said.
“No, no we’ll follow him. I bet you he leads us back to the money and the girl.”
“He’s on foot and he knows this town. If he ducked into an alley or cut across a field to take a shortcut, we might lose him. Why don’t I follow him on foot while you follow me in the car?”
Tyler shook his head. “If he runs, he’ll lose you, he won’t lose me.”
“He won’t run. He doesn’t know me, and besides, the cops will spot you quicker because of how tall you are, and we still need to lay low.”
The fingers drummed again but stopped as Tyler came to a decision.
“Yeah, you follow him. Once we see where he’s gone, they’re ours.”
Dean’s order was ready. He paid for it and left the deli.
Tyler sneered. “I bet he used our money to pay for that food.”
Sherry smiled, and even so, the corners of her mouth stayed in a downward position.
“If we have the time, that’s how we’ll kill him; we’ll shove that food down his throat and make him suffocate on it, bag and all.”
Tyler grinned back at her. “You do have a mean streak.”
She pecked him on the lips and then opened her door. “That’s why you love me. Now let me go follow that punk before I lose him.”
Sherry stepped out into the rain and crossed the street, and on a day devoid of sunshine, Dean grew a shadow.
Several blocks away, Sara straightened in her seat suddenly, as an idea popped into her head.
Cameron watched her from the corner of her eye. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I know how to find Tanner. When we were in jail the chief fed us, and the woman who brought the food recognized Tanner. She said that he had gotten in a bar fight and that he left with two girls.”
“Did she mention the girls’ names?”
“Yes, well, one of them… let me think, Joyce? No, Joyce was the name of the girl’s mother, the girl was named Amber, and she said she was Joyce Rowlands’ daughter, or was it Joyce Rollins? Anyway, I think we’re looking for an Amber Rowlands or Amber Rollins.”
Cameron pulled her pickup truck over to the curb. She then reached behind her and took an iPad out of one of the side pockets on her duffel bag.
It took a few minutes, but she found Amber’s address.
“I have to make a U-turn; it’s back the other way, past the highway exit.”
Three minutes later, they pulled up across from the girls’ apartment house.
Amber and Brittany were outside; they had just returned from going food shopping.
“Tanner? No, who is he?”
Sara described him, and the girls exchanged nervous glances.
“You know him, don’t you?”
Brittany spoke softly, as she asked Sara a question. “Are you his wife?”
“No, thank God, but I need to find him. Is he going under a different name?”
Amber nodded. “He said his name was Romeo.”
“Romeo?” Sara said, and recalled that Johnny Rossetti told her that Romeo was the name of the man who had killed Frank Richards.
“Is Romeo in trouble?” Brittany said.
Sara forced a smile. “No, but his family is trying to get in touch. If you see him again, please contact me. I’ll give you my number.”
Sara was about to recite the number when she remembered that her phone had been lost at the jail.
They gave the girls Cameron’s number instead and asked if they had any idea where Tanner could have gone when he left them.
Amber smiled. “He didn’t say, but he did ask us where he could find a sporting goods store.”
“He did? Did he say why?”
“No, but there’s one over on Grant Street, there’s not much selection though, and they carry more fishing gear than anything else.”
Sara thanked the girls and she and Cameron headed for Grant Street.
“Do you know why Tanner might want to go to a sporting goods store?” Cameron said.
“If they carry guns, yes.”
“He wouldn’t be able to get one today without stealing it. Maybe we should call Cooper and let him know about this.”
“No. Cooper would arrest him, I want him dead, but speaking of guns, I’ll need one.”
“I keep an old Glock 17 there in the glove box. But wait. Here, use this.”
Cameron passed Sara her sidearm. It was a .45, an old Colt M1911 pistol.
“Nice weapon, and it’s older than the two of us combined.”
“It’s in mint condition though. My great-grandfather carried that during World War II.”
“I’ll take good care of it, but what are you going to use?”
“I’ll use the shotgun. Like you said, we want ‘em dead, not arrested.”
“If we run into Tanner, shoot first, you won’t get a second chance.”
Cameron laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“Sara, I always shoot first, it’s why I’m still alive.”
“Shoot first and ask questions later?”
“Uh-huh, of course, I don’t get many answers that way, seeing as how they’re usually dead.”
And now it was Sara’s turn to laugh.
181
A Smile Would Have Looked Weird
At Al’s Sporting Goods in Ridge Creek, Tanner was loading his purchases into the trunk of his stolen car, with the help of the stock boy.
He had driven past the farm, saw the state police vehicles and unmarked sedans, and knew that the Feds had arrived.
With two bank robbers on the loose, that meant that the town was locked down. Plus, his newest fake ID was burned, and the Feds had his truck.
Unfortunately, it also meant that he would have to avoid Sara Blake and deal with her another time. His biggest concern was getting away before he was captured again.
He had paid cash for his purchases since his wallet had been left back at the jail. Even if he had it, he knew that his credit cards would be flagged and lead the Feds right to him.
With everything loaded, he tipped the skinny kid helping him, and drove off to look for what he needed. Thanks to the sporting goods store, he had a way out, now he just needed to find the right place from which to leave.
He spotted a suitable location as he drove over the creek that gave the town its name. When he reached the other side of the narrow concrete bridge, he eased the car along a muddy graveled track and headed for the water.
When they were three blocks away from the sporting goods store, Sara jerked around in her seat, after Cameron completed making a right turn.
“That’s him!”
“Tanner?”
“No, Tyler. Cameron, that man back there getting out of the car was one of the people who shot your brother.”
Cameron checked her rearview mirror, then hung a sharp U-turn, which caused the man already in the lane to blow his horn at her sudden appearance in front of him.
Cameron ignored the man. She then sped back to the spot where Sara had seen Tyler and parked her truck behind the stolen Chevy. They were on a side street that faced a field. In front of the field was a produce stand and in front of that, a small parking lot that had a chain hanging across it, with a sign that told you the stand was closed.
Sara pointed at the green one-story building. “I think he went in there.”
Camer
on was already getting out of the truck with her shotgun when they heard Amy scream.
Sherry had followed Dean to the produce stand and verified that Amy was also inside.
The stand was a wooden structure with a concrete floor that was twenty by thirty feet. There was a counter along the back wall, and shelves and tables where the baskets of produce could be placed.
Each side had a window, but the ones in the front had been shuttered. The outside of the building was painted a deep green, and bore a mural of corn, tomatoes, and red peppers.
After watching Tyler parked the car, Sherry waved him over, then entered the stand with her gun drawn.
When Dean and Amy jumped at the sight of her weapon, Sherry laughed at the looks on their faces, even as she removed her hat and shook off the rain.
“Why look so surprised? You really thought you could just steal from us and walk away?”
“We’ll give you back the money. You don’t have to hurt us,” Dean said.
Sherry’s eyes brightened. “Yeah boy, actually, we do.”
Tyler entered the stand, strode past Sherry, and rammed a fist into Dean’s stomach that drove the boy down to his knees.
Amy screamed, grabbed the backpack they had transferred the money into, and tossed it over to Sherry, where the pack landed at her feet.
“There’s your money, now please just leave us alone.”
Sherry zipped open the backpack and saw stacks of cash. After closing the pack up again, she nodded at Tyler.
“It’s here. Let’s do it.”
She had just pointed her gun at Amy’s stomach when the window behind her blew apart and nine 00 buckshot pellets shredded her knees.
Sherry went down screaming as blood poured from her legs. Tyler spun around, and Sara, who was behind him in the opposite window, had him in her sights and was ready to fire.
The Tanner Series - Books 1-11: Tanner - The hit man with a heart Page 56