They chatted until Kate was out of the shower and nearly dressed, and Shane knew he was pressed for time, although he wasn’t really sure what time it was.
He said, “I have to go, my brother, but I’ll be in touch, and when I get done with this assignment, I want to spend some time with you. Can we plan on that?”
Heath said, “When do you think that will be?”
Shane hesitated, unable to give any reasonable answer. He said, “It could be weeks or a few more months. I’m not sure. But it should be good weather then. I’m thinking a Mexico trip, maybe Cozumel or Cabo. What do you think?”
Heath answered with a huff, “Hell, it’s going to be 100 degrees in Mexico in a few months. I’m thinking north, not south. You know I can’t take extreme heat!”
Shane smiled and said, “You got it buddy! I keep forgetting how delicate you are. Keep it straight and narrow until then, and we’ll have a good time…my treat.”
Heath assured Shane he was “doing the right thing,” as Shane had pleaded with him to do for years. Before he said his goodbye, Heath said, “I don’t know exactly what you’re working on, but knowing you, it will probably be dangerous. Just stay safe so we can make that trip together, okay? You’re all I have left.”
Shane promised Heath he would be safe, and ended the call. He turned to Kate, who had been listening intently to the end of the call. “You know, that’s the first time he ever asked me to be safe. He always just assumed everything would be alright. Maybe he’s finally getting it…god, I hope so.”
Then, with a frown, Shane mused, “Or maybe he knows something he shouldn’t...”
Kate smiled, and said, “You shower. I’ll get coffee. Any special requests?”
Shane moved toward the bathroom. “Surprise me, you know what I like.”
Kate waved behind her as she left the room, pleased to oversee even some of Shane’s little decisions.
Shane was thinking the same thing, as he turned on the shower. Kate had made some big decisions so far in the case. And they had all been the right decisions. The fact that Kate cared about the small decisions in his life, now warmed him on the inside as effectively as the hot shower did on the outside. He liked this feeling, caring about another human being to the point that you looked forward to pleasing them and being with them, doing anything or simply nothing. He thought how much he loved this woman…and he was going to remind her as soon as she returned!
In the kitchen, Kate found Jesse at the espresso machine. “Where’s Juanita?” she asked.
Jesse turned and said cheerfully, “No worries, I’m your barista man today. Juanita and Walter had breakfast this morning early. I don’t know what’s going on with those two, but Walter told me he and Juanita are riding in their own SUV with the convoy to the ranch. He said he wanted an extra rig on the road, and available in Oregon. They left to transfer her luggage for the trip to a fourth SUV. Looks like we will be taking an extra 250 pounds of gear in the King Air, which makes my unit happy. We’ll have all the equipment completely set up before the convoy arrives.”
Kate’s smile told Jesse something special was up with Walter and Juanita, but he elected not to press the issue. “What’s your pleasure this morning?” he asked.
Kate thought for a second and asked, “How’s your caffé latte today…maybe caramel?”
Jesse loved doing something different, but the traditional drinks were his favorites. He was a purist at heart. “Two, I assume?” He looked somewhat disappointed.
Kate nodded.
“Coming right up!” Jesse grinned.
Kate was back upstairs before Shane was out of the shower. He loved a long hot shower, and the bathroom filled with steam held the proof. She walked in and placed the drinks on the granite counter near the shower. She admired Shane’s form through the steamy glass shower door and sides. But, as good as the view was to her, she knew they would be pressed for time and she was hungry.
She urged, “Come on, water boy! We need to get a move on. It’s almost 0830. Your flight leaves in an hour and a half, with or without you!”
Shane turned the shower off, mimicking the whine of a scolded child, “OK, OK…I’m coming, mom.” He opened the shower door and was immediately hit in the face with a rolled bath sheet. He grinned at Kate, “Jeez, a guy can’t even take a shower anymore! Is it really almost 0830? If it is, I’m glad we packed last night. I need to eat…and I’m starved! Hard to believe after all the ribs I ate last night, but I am!”
Kate laughed, “It’s a good thing you have some money, buddy, or the food bill would kill us!”
Shane thought about having money, and said, “Yeah, having some money is something I’ll need to get used to…for the first time. Hopefully, you have someone in mind to help me manage it!” He dried off quickly, still thinking about having some real money. He knew it was a blessing, but also an additional responsibility.
Kate knew what he meant, but teased, “Oh, of course. You’ll want to spend a lot of time with our accountant, Spencer Pinetta.”
Shane wrapped the bath sheet around himself, and grabbed Kate quickly, in a bear hug. “You know exactly what I mean, young lady!”
He kissed her deeply, and when he pulled back and looked her in the eyes, he said tenderly, “I love you, Kate…I mean I really love you. I’m hoping we can make a lot of our decisions together.”
Kate melted into his arms, and kissed him back, softly at first, and then passionately. She pulled away slowly, and said, “I love you too, Shane Beckett.” She turned to lead Shane back to their room, and then broke away running, as she added, “But my financial advice comes at a price. I’m not that easy!”
She ran to the far side of their room, laughing, with Shane several steps behind her. He caught her, lifted her up and threw her on the bed gently, pretending to playfully attack her.
Shane tickled and kissed Kate and rolled her around the bed lovingly. Finally, the kisses became serious, and passion revealed the desire that quickly rose between them. They kissed and fondled each other, until the intensity built to a point of no return. They both knew there was no time for making love. They should already be downstairs, having breakfast, and hurrying to meet with the group scheduled to drive to the Minden airport and fly out.
One long, last passionate kiss between them delighted their imaginations as their tongues rolled and flicked a goodbye in each other’s mouth. Both were sufficiently primed for love making, and they had to allow the feelings to slip away, the stimulation and preparation wasted…for now.
Shane asked, “Will there be a room for us at the “outpost” ranch?”
Kate replied, using her best western accent, “Nope, you’ll be sleepin’ with the boys in the bunk house, pard. We’ll give y’all a bedroll, though, pilgrim!”
Seeing the look of disappointment, Kate quickly assured Shane they would have their own room, but added that there really was a bunk house, if he would rather sleep there with the boys.
Shane held up his hand in submission, “My single bunk days are over! Besides, I want a bed role with you.”
Kate smiled in agreement. They held each other for a moment, and sealed the bargain with one last passionate kiss. Shane jumped up and dressed in less than a minute. Their luggage was already downstairs. He finished his latte on the way to the kitchen, and found Jesse who made them both another.
“Where’s Juanita?” Shane asked, looking around, “She’s usually here this time in the morning.”
Kate said, “It seems she is riding with Walter in one of the SUVs. I’ll explain on the way to the airport,” she said, with a grin.
Jesse had made sure the breakfast was a good one, having thought about the long trip ahead. He had poached pears in orange juice, with brown sugar, cloves and cinnamon, and served them face-up, filled with the reduced sauce, on a bed of Greek vanilla yogurt.
The main dish was Jesse’s crispy hash brown potatoes, made with two different kinds of cheese blended in with the potatoes, topped wit
h a dollop of sour cream, crowned with a pair of fried eggs and flavored with a drizzle of Mexican mild Chile Verde sauce.
Kate’s favorite thick-sliced smoked bacon was available in abundance. The meal went down smoothly and quickly, and both Kate and Shane ate until they were slightly uncomfortable.
At the garage, Kate and Shane met Walter and Juanita, and Pete and Tasha. Both couples were holding hands. Walking toward them, Shane whispered to Kate, “What the hell happened here?”
Kate said only, “A good story for the ride to the airport.”
Shane probed further, saying, “I think you probably played some major role in all of this.”
Kate countered, “Like you didn’t with Pete?”
Everyone greeted each other with hugs all around. Kate assured both Walter and Juanita that she couldn’t be happier for them, while Shane did the same for Pete and Tasha.
Walter, blushed slightly as he teased Kate, “So your old butler has your approval, I see?” An answering blush from Juanita was met with hugs again for both of them.
Shane held one each of Tasha and Pete’s hands, saying, “Tasha, this guy is my most favorite and cherished man in the world, and I couldn’t be happier for both of you. But I have to warn you, this rapidly growing family is one crazy bunch!”
Tasha hugged Shane again and kissed him on the cheek, saying only, “Thank you. It means so much to hear that from you! Pete could never do anything to hurt you. He loves you as a son.”
Shane assured her, “I know that, now more than ever, and he means the world to me. He really always has... and now he always will be…my father.”
Tears had welled up in Pete’s eyes, as he leaned over and kissed Shane on the check, still holding his hand. “I love you my boy,” was all he could muster with a shaky voice.
“Well,” said Walter, giving everyone a moment to regroup, “We should all be off now, going in different directions to the same place. Everyone be safe.” With that, Walter and Juanita climbed into their SUV and drove out with the convoy, while Shane, Kate, Pete and Tasha got into an SUV with one of the support staff, who drove them, with another convoy, to the airport in Minden.
The ride seemed to be over quickly once they left the traffic in Carson City. As it was Saturday, the traffic was lighter, once you passed the turnoff for Costco. The airport was located in Douglas County, between Jacks Valley and the town of Minden, not far from Carson City. The airport was famous for its excellent soaring, due to thermals that rose from the high desert basin, located between the Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the west, and the Pine Nut range to the east. The airport was used by many soaring enthusiasts, and by competitive teams, as a training site. For years it had also been home to borate bombers, called to assist firefighters in the west.
The airport provided an asphalt runway more than 7,000 feet long, and sat at just under 5,000 feet in elevation. It was the perfect place for the Super King Air 350 to pick up this group. It was an easy facility to get in and out of quickly, and was conveniently located near the estate. Shane now recalled passing it, on the way to the clinic where the pretty young doctor worked.
On arrival, once they unloaded and got to the airplane, Shane was duly impressed with the twin engine Beechcraft. He had seen one or two of the Super King Air 350s during his flying years with DEA, but he had never flown one. This plane featured state-of-the-art technology sporting all the latest avionics. It had a range of more than 1,800 miles, and was powered by twin turboprop engines that could push it at more than 350 miles per hour. The max climb rate was over 2,700 feet per minute, and, the airplane had another advantage…it could take off and land on relatively short runways.
Stepping inside, Shane found the interior immaculate, appointed with heated leather passenger seats, drink ports, pull-out tables, power outlets, electric shade windows and WIFI, to name just a few of the amenities. The plane was fast, powerful and practical for someone needing to take off and land at altitude, or on shorter than typical runways, with as many as 11 passengers, baggage and cargo.
Pete had the bird off the ground and climbing at a rapid rate within a few minutes. Once he reached cruising altitude, the ride was smooth. There were no storms in the forecast and the day appeared to be perfect for flying.
Shane realized how much he missed flying airplanes, although everything he had piloted was much smaller than this ship. He wondered if he would get to fly this plane, at some point in the future. As if reading his mind, Tasha walked back to Shane’s seat and asked if they could switch for a while. She had been sitting in the copilot seat next to Pete. Pete wanted Shane to join him in the cockpit.
Shane jumped at the chance, and soon was sitting next to Pete, buckled in the seat, with the headset in place. The avionics were impressive, to say the least. Money had not been spared with this airplane. To start, there were three large touch screen displays. He had never even seen some of the features that were standard on this plane.
Pete began to explain things like synthetic vision, integrated charts and maps, and graphical flight planning. There was an automated flight guidance system, and terrain awareness warning system. Shane thought he could learn to fly this bird, but he knew it would take time and commitment. Shane didn’t have time right now, but the tour was great. He felt the juices flowing, like the days he had flown Cessna 210s and 310s.
After about 15 minutes, Pete said, “Okay, that’s enough of the tour for now. Take the stick. I have to go to the men’s room.”
Shane laughed and said, “Yeah, right Pete!” But Pete stood up and turned to go.
Pete said, “It’s no different, really, than the 310 you flew to places like Colombia and Panama. It’s a twin-engine airplane, for God’s sake. You’ve flown turboprops before.”
Shane began to object, but the stick felt good in his hand, and the rudders on his feet felt right. He felt at home.
Pete said, “Think of it like driving a car. You’ve handled a muscle car, and can race it around the track without crashing. Now you’re driving an Indy sports car that goes twice as fast and costs 50 times more than your old muscle car. If you get nervous, just slow down a little, and stick with the basics. It works the same. Don’t be a pussy!” Pete added as a tease.
A few seconds later, Pete was chatting with Kate and Tasha, as he worked his way back to the bathroom. Shane found himself flying an airplane that must have cost more than four million dollars, when it was purchased new in 2009. He was learning not to be surprised at the changes in his life, but, to say the least, he was amazed, sometimes multiple times daily. As he studied the avionics, with hundreds of lights and indicators, he felt a presence behind him and suddenly, Kate slid into the pilot’s seat to his left. He felt he shouldn’t let her get too comfortable, with Pete coming back soon.
Shane said, apologetically, “I do love to fly. Pete’s just letting me handle her a bit before he comes back. He should be here any minute.”
Kate thought how cute he looked, just like a little boy with his new impressive toy.
She said confidently, “Oh, Pete won’t be back for a while. He’s spending some needed time with Tasha, filling her in on what to expect at the ranch, and maybe, for the rest of her life. I’d give them an hour or so. They seem to be in love.” She smiled brightly, as Shane frowned.
He straightened in his seat, as Kate buckled herself into the primary pilot’s seat, and placed the headset on, as if she knew what she was doing.
Objecting, he said, “But Kate, I don’t know the route or…”
She interrupted with, “That’s all right, dear. I know it’s your first time with her, but I’m here to help. I’ll make sure she’s gentle with you.”
With that, Kate took the stick, and said, “Give me control, I want to show you something on the way.”
Shane reluctantly released the stick, and said, “You really do know how to fly? And you know how to fly this plane?! But, I just assumed…” His voice trailed off and stopped.
Kate gave Shane
a somewhat disappointed look, shaking her head, and said, “Shane Beckett, you really can be a slow learner, can’t you?” With that, Kate made a course correction to the right, and said, “Look out the window, down there to your right. Do you see all the flashing neon signs just this side of I-80?”
Shane checked the navigational chart, and looked down. He nodded, and said, “Okay, I have them.”
Kate asked, “Do you know what they are?” Shane shrugged and said, “No clue.” Kate replied smugly, “Good, let’s keep it that way.”
The lights and freeway passed quickly by, and were soon out of sight, without an explanation. Shane finally pressed Kate for an answer, saying, “Well, Kate, come on, tell me, what were they?”
Kate sighed and said, smugly, “Brothels, my dear…places you never will get to know!” With that she laughed a hearty “gotcha” laugh, until a call came through the headset.
It was Walter, asking for their location. Kate responded, telling him they were in the air, and already passed I-80. Walter advised her that the convoy was ahead of them, but would soon be hours behind.
Shane sulked, thinking how he always seemed to be the last to know anything in this family. He was becoming the butt of too many jokes, but he did love the change, having family to tease him.
Kate seemed to sense Shane’s mood, and said, “Okay, it’s yours again. I want to talk to you, anyway, while you fly her.”
Shane grabbed the stick and began to focus on the flight, as Kate explained more about the route, and showed him how it was programmed into the equipment. Kate was actually a very good instructor, Shane thought. He finally asked, “So, when did you learn to fly?”
Kate replied, “I soloed when I was eighteen, but Walter and Pete had already taught me to fly, long before then. I got my Aircraft Single Engine Land, followed by Multi Engine Land Certification, when I was nineteen. Once Walter bought this plane, they insisted I learn to fly it, in case one of them were involved in some type of emergency...I never asked about what they thought might happen, I wanted to learn anyway. They didn’t want to hire a pilot. They wanted us all to be trained. Once this is over, they’ll want you to be checked out on the ship also. Then you and I will be sharing stick time. And I do mean sharing, buddy! We’ll both have to fight Pete off as it is. There’s no hogging the stick here.” Kate teased.
The Case Page 27