Cuffed & Claimed

by Lori King

  “Where?” Hell, the police station was in shambles. Where could the old lady be working?

  “City Hall.” Suddenly David heard a man swear behind him. Turning, he saw three men grabbing a pillar that was too heavy for them.

  “Gotta go, kid.” He ran towards the men.

  2

  Almost two days without sleep and he was delirious. It was the only thing that made any sense.

  “I can’t be put in charge, Governor. I’m a member of the United States Army. I can’t be your chief of police.” David gave up trying to stand, and dropped into the chair in front of the lieutenant governor’s desk.

  “I’m commanding you.”

  The man had lost his ever-loving mind. The ‘I’m commanding you’ line cinched it.

  His island was literally a disaster area. The relief workers were due to land in two hours. Las Flores didn’t have an army, they barely had fire and rescue, one hospital, two clinics, and their corrupt police force. The cherry on top was that the prison had suffered major damage, and fifty-three prisoners had escaped.

  “Sir–”

  “Call me Bernardo,” the man interrupted.

  David looked at the older man. He was in his early sixties and was clearly exhausted.

  “Bernardo, I can’t be in charge of your police force.”

  “You can be in charge of capturing the escaped prisoners. I don’t trust that goddamned warden any farther than I can throw him. He probably gave each of the convicts a fucking parting gift.”

  David choked out a laugh. It felt good and bad. In the last two days, he had found more bodies than he could count. Thank God there had been people in the rubble that he had been able to save.

  “Governor,” David began.

  “Bernardo,” the governor corrected.

  David gave a weak wave of his hand. “Bernardo, I will help in whatever way I can, but why me?”

  “Ortiz is dead. I trusted him. I don’t want some military man from Panama coming in and running things. I want you. I’ve had at least fifteen people tell me about you, including Carmen. She hates everyone, and she thinks you are Superman. I need you.”

  “He’s wrong, I don’t think you’re superman. I think you’re Ironman,” the woman called from the reception area.

  “Quit eavesdropping, old woman,” Bernardo yelled out.

  “I wouldn’t have to eavesdrop if you would talk louder.”

  David laughed tiredly. “Look, I can’t officially report to you. I can’t take orders from you. But I can be here, and you can make a request to my superior for my assistance. I cannot be officially in charge of your men.”

  Bernardo was easy to read. “But there is nothing stopping me from telling my people to do anything you tell them to do, right?”

  “I can’t stop you from doing or saying anything, Sir.”

  And the clusterfuck continues.

  * * *

  So much for capturing prisoners. It looked like he was going to be everybody’s bitch. His commander wanted him to go and meet the Aid Workers before doing anything else. Personally, he thought getting started on the prison break seemed like a much higher priority. The doctors and nurses could surely figure out what needed to be done. Hell, there were more than enough bleeding bodies to go around.

  David took a deep breath as the plane began to taxi. His leg was killing him, and he’d only gotten three hours sleep in the last forty-two. Logically, he knew he needed to only meet these people, then he should find someplace to get some shut eye before going to the prison. The fact that he was so pissed off was a sure sign that he was getting close to the end of his rope.

  Carlos, one of the few good cops left, had accompanied him and was driving the bus. He was going to take everybody to the hotel where they would have a chance to dump their gear and probably rest before heading to either the hospital or one of the clinics. From what David had been told, a lot of the folks had come from Nigeria.

  The door to the airplane opened, and the stairs were pushed up so they could walk down. David took off the miracle sunglasses that had somehow survived the earthquake and watched as the doctors and nurses deplaned. His commander had told him there were going to be thirteen in all. Not nearly enough.

  Holy God. He squinted. The hair. The way she was shielding her eyes from the sun. He couldn’t get a good look at her because the guy in front of her was tall. David waited until she stepped on the tarmac. He’d recognize the way she walked until the day he died.

  Sarah Kyle.

  Sarah Marie Kyle.

  Captain Sarah Marie Kyle. Only she wasn’t in the Army anymore. She wasn’t a lot of things anymore. Cut it out, Sloane.

  “David?” The group was arranged in front of him in a semi-circle, and Sarah walked toward him. He couldn’t very well stand there with his figurative dick in his hand.

  “Hi, Sarah.” He gave a faint smile. “Hello, everyone. Welcome to Las Flores. Lieutenant Governor Bernardo Oliveras offers his sincere appreciation for your help. He’ll be meeting you at the hotel. In the meantime, he sent me. I’m Captain David Sloane, United States Army. I’m going to take you to the hotel where you will be staying. It is a five-star resort built last year on the beach, and it sustained little damage. It has its own sewer system and electrical generators. As a matter of fact, some injured were brought to the hotel because it was in better shape than the hospital.”

  “I’m Doctor Carys Adams.” A petite woman with strawberry blonde hair stepped forward. “Me and most of the others have just come from Nigeria. We got a little bit of sleep on the plane, but I think it would be best if everyone could get about four hours of rest before heading to the hospital. I don’t want mistakes made while we’re providing care.”

  “I got plenty of rest,” a man with a nasal voice said. His eyes were bloodshot, and if David had to guess, he had also been drinking on the plane. More than one set of eyes rolled.

  “Arnie, everyone will go to the hotel and rest. Then we will all go to the hospital as a unit and go over the information and protocols at the same time. Have I made myself clear?”

  “Carys, they need us. I don’t think people should needlessly suffer because some people need sleep.” Carys opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, Sarah stepped forward.

  “Doctor,” she said addressing the belligerent man. “I believe I saw you downing quite a few vodka tonics on the flight over. I think you, more than anyone, require extra rest,” Sarah said as she stepped into the doctor’s personal space. He flushed a deep red.

  “Now that everything is settled, if you will all get on the bus, we can head over to the hotel,” David said.

  They filed onto the bus, but Sarah held back so that she could get onto the bus last.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s a long story, Sarah.”

  “Are you staying at the same place we are?”

  Did she finally want to see him?

  “Yes. I’m staying at the same hotel that they’re putting all of you.”

  “Can I see you?” Solemn gray eyes. They still had the power to take his breath away.

  David nodded. She got on the bus, and he followed. He sat up front next to Carlos and watched as she sat on the seat next to Dr. Adams.

  * * *

  Bernardo was waiting for them at the hotel. He welcomed the men and women from Doctors Without Borders.

  “Let me explain the situation,” Bernardo began. “The hotel you are staying in has sustained the least amount of damage. It has its own generators and water supply because it was built last year. The city of San Marcos is a disaster. We never had a good land line system, so we depend on cellular phones. We already have our cell towers back up. The city doesn’t have electricity, and water is at a premium.”

  David looked around and saw the aid workers nod. This didn’t seem to come as a surprise. Bernardo continued. “On the bright side, our hospital and certain government buildings have generators. The rural areas are
in better shape because they never depended on electricity or sewer systems, but many houses have collapsed, and we have many people injured in our countryside. We are burying people as quickly as we’re able, but we have over five hundred bodies that still need to be buried.”

  David watched Sarah take in that last piece of information, even though her face remained impassive, her fists clenched, a sure sign she was upset.

  Carys stepped forward.

  “Governor, we’ve dealt with situations like this in the past. We should be able to help you with your crisis. If there are specific things you want us to focus on first, please let us know. Otherwise, we will focus on the injured in the hospital.”

  “There are two clinics as well. Those will need coverage.”

  “I will ensure that my personnel provides coverage there as well,” she assured him.

  Bernardo nodded his head to David, indicating they needed to leave. David took one last look at Sarah, wishing they had a chance to talk, but knowing he had to go.

  They went to the prison together for the first time. It was a mess. He’d bet his bottom dollar, his savings account, and his newly restored 1974 Cougar that the warden was corrupt. Only seven prisoners had been caught, and they had nothing to do with the drug trade. Since David was at the prison, he demanded to meet with Riggs and Harrison.

  “Why?” Warden Nunez asked. “We’re in the middle of an epic crisis. Are only American lives important to you?”

  “From what you’ve told me, Riggs was instrumental in saving four men in the infirmary after it collapsed. I would think you would be grateful to him. As for Harrison, he was in the same cellblock as most of the men who escaped, and he stayed. He chose not to escape. This tells me a lot about the men’s character. These are good men who have proven themselves. They are members of the United States Army, and I demand to talk to them. Have I made myself clear?” David was too tired to play any phony diplomatic games. Bernardo was standing beside him. He knew the governor would weigh in if necessary, but it wouldn’t be. The warden would cave.

  “Follow me,” the warden said woodenly.

  Bernardo started to follow.

  “Governor, I would like to speak to my men in private.”

  Bernardo looked startled, but then he smiled. “Of course.”

  The warden led him to a small sour smelling room with a table surrounded by four chairs. Riggs and Harrison were brought in by two guards, they were handcuffed but not shackled.

  “My name is Captain David Sloane. I’m a member of Military Police Investigations. I came to Las Flores two days ago because of you two. Things got a little off track.”

  “It sure as hell did.” Harrison put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. “Jesus, I thought when we were brought here it was as bad as it got, and then the earthquake hit. This shit just keeps getting more and more real.”

  Riggs let out a nervous laugh.

  “So you’re Robert Harrison, and you’re James Riggs?” David pointed to each man in turn.

  “I’m Bobby.” Harrison held out one hand as best he could in handcuffs. David shook it.

  “I’m Jim,” Riggs said, doing the same.

  “Okay, so Bobby, I know you were only giving name, rank, and serial number. I think I know a little bit of what was going on. The cop that you decked was corrupt. He was probably forcing underage kids to sell drugs for him, was knocking them around for money, and you got involved trying to protect them.”

  David watched as both of their mouths fell open.

  “I’ll take your looks of disbelief as confirmation. Look, I don’t have time for the little happy dance we would normally do. We have thousands of people dead. We have a worthless police force that is on the take, probably a corrupt warden, and forty-six prisoners still on the loose. Just tell me what the fuck I need to know to get you guys cleared of the charges.”

  “It’s complicated,” Harrison began.

  “I’m good at complicated.”

  “Some people could get hurt.”

  “I won’t let them,” David promised.

  “How do you know that? They’ve already been hurt.”

  “I’m not going to tell anyone what you tell me in confidence if I think it will get them into trouble. I promise you. I’m just trying to understand. Your keeping quiet only guarantees that you’re going to stay in prison. That helps no one. Trust me, the government has bigger fish to fry right now. So tell me.”

  “We’re staying at this little hotel, down near the beach. This is the second year I’ve been here.” Harrison said.

  “It’s my first. I came to sketch. Bobby’s here because of Lola.”

  “I want to marry Lola.”

  David nodded.

  “Lola’s little brother and her cousin are both thirteen. They’ve been selling drugs in the capital city, San Marcos. I promised Lola I would get them to stop. When I confronted them, they told me that their boss had been threatening them. He’s been saying that he would kill Lola if they didn’t do what he told them. I said they should introduce me to him. I didn’t realize he was a cop.”

  “What happened when you were introduced?”

  “At first, we weren’t. We hung around the bar having a beer. The kids were in the back playing pool. The age rules aren’t as strict.” Harrison let out a half laugh. “So we’re at the bar having a beer and the next thing I know Jim gets hit with a pool cue.”

  “Was it the cop?”

  “No, it was Lola’s brother. I turn around, and he’s standing there, beaten to shit, blood, tears and snot streaming down his face. I knew it was the drug dealer that had done it to him, and who had made him hit Jim.”

  “Jim, I assume you’re on the ground?”

  Jim nodded.

  “What did you do, Bobby?”

  “I took the cue from Eduardo and put him behind me. I asked who did this. He was crying too hard to tell me. But up pops Juan, and he points at the cop. He says it was Felix. When I turned to Lola’s brother, he nods and points to the cop. He says, ‘Yeah, it’s Felix.’”

  “I confront the asshole.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I ask him if he’s the motherfucker who uses children? He takes exception to the way I phrased the question. He pulls his gun, but doesn’t point it at me, he points it at Juan. That’s when I hit him with everything I had.”

  “Good for you. Where are the kids now?”

  “They’re with Lola, at their grandparent’s farm in the country. I pray to God they’re safe.”

  “Sounds like you did the right thing.”

  “Except for assaulting a cop in a foreign country,” Harrison said as he sank lower into his chair.

  “Well, it seems like you might have a friend in that government.”

  “Yeah, who?”

  “The acting chief of police.”

  3

  Sarah Kyle. The ash blonde hair with streaks of gold had been a kick in the guts. God just seeing her for five minutes at the airport, and almost five years had been stripped away.

  Four years, five months and sixteen days.

  What?

  Shit, he’d been counting?

  He hadn’t even realized he remembered the date of their last night together. April seventeenth.

  David shoved out of the shower stall and dried himself off. He braced himself on the sink as he examined his thigh. He grinned. This bruise was the winner. Even beat the one he’d had when he fell off his cousin’s motorcycle.

  He yawned, and went to the bed where he had upended his duffel bag, which contained all of his miracle gear. It still amazed him that it had been totally untouched by falling debris in the earthquake. He snagged his shaving kit and went back into the bathroom so he could brush his teeth and shave. Maybe he would feel human enough to get some sleep.

  Since there had been two significant aftershocks, David decided to sleep in sweats instead of naked, in case he needed to get out of bed quick. Same reason his gun b
elt was on the nightstand. He yawned. He set his phone four a.m. His stomach growled as he yawned again. Well, his stomach would just have to damn well wait, now wouldn’t it?

  He groaned with pleasure as his head hit the pillow. The sheets even smelled good. April seventeenth. It was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep. To dream.

  * * *

  Four years earlier…

  * * *

  Damn, he was supposed to have four months.

  “Face it, Sloane, you’re a hot commodity. They’re always going to move your ass once you have something slightly under control.” Rick loved being right, he’d called it yesterday, and his grin was huge.

  “But we don’t know if the case is actually going to be closed like I said it would be,” David protested to his friend and current partner as they walked down the hallway to the exit.

  Rick laughed.

  “Quit your damn laughing. How were you so sure yesterday? Why are you laughing anyway?” David demanded as he opened the door, and then grimaced at the rain. It was constant at Fort Lewis. At least it wasn’t the same as at Benning, where it came down in torrents, this was like being under an actual warm shower. Sarah said it was Mount Rainier giving you a hug.

  “I’m laughing because you still don’t see yourself clearly. You’re good, Sloane, and the brass knows it. When you say a case is coming together, they know it’s in the bag.”

  “Come on, Rick, it’s both of us. You’re my partner.”

  Rick snorted. “I’m just along for the ride. I know it. I’m learning a lot. I don’t mind. It’s David Sloane and his partner what’s his name.”

  “That’s not true,” David jumped in.

  Rick just looked at him.

  David sighed.

  “David, I was the one who asked to be partnered with you. This last year working with you has been like four normal years on the job. If I have to be in your shadow, it’s a small price to pay. So let me continue oh exalted one. You told them the case was almost cleared, so you’re on to another assignment.”