Backwater

by Carolina Mac

  “Where is the employee parking lot?” asked Luke.

  “Other side of the building.”

  “Show us a spot and we’ll move over there. He flipped his creds open and showed the guard. “Police, sir. We need a spot to park, so if you can’t give us one, go get your supervisor and bring him on out here.”

  The guard stared at Luke’s credentials. “What is Violent Crime doing at my building? We’ve got no violent crime. This is a high class and very secure building.”

  “That’s confidential, sir,” said Luke.

  “Are you guys feds?”

  The guy wouldn’t give up and go away.

  “Okay, enough,” said Fletcher. He turned off the equipment. “Let’s move, partner.”

  Fletcher drove two blocks away from the high rise and parked at the back of the Central Library parking lot under a big leafy oak. They climbed into the camper and started over. Fletch had barely flipped the switch when Royce began talking to somebody.

  “Nothing has gone right since Leggatt had his heart attack and now the DA has the tape of Stokes shooting off his mouth to the red-haired bitch. I’ll go out and celebrate when we take her down. The tape is nothing without her testimony, so if she’s not around the tape is worthless.”

  “We’ll take her out before the trial. Do you have a date yet?”

  “Not yet. I’ll call Phil and get him on it. He should do something to earn his money.”

  “What’s our next move, boss?”

  “You know what it is. We discussed it. I’m going home to my ranch, so I’ll be out of the city when you take out the goddam vigilante. He came here today and walked right in through that door. I couldn’t believe it.”

  “I’ll do it tonight or tomorrow. Give you time to get up north.”

  “Good. I’m leaving in an hour.”

  “Hear that?” said Fletcher. “We have to get back to the Agency and talk to the boss. Royce is gonna take him out.”

  ANNIE parked in front of Ross Harley in east Austin, jumped out and waited for Misty and Casey to get out.

  “I never rode in a Maserati before,” said Casey. “That was one sweet ride.”

  “Glad you liked it. When you get your license, I’ll let you drive it.”

  Casey laughed out loud. “You’re shitting me, right?”

  Annie smiled. “Come on. Let’s see what fits you.”

  “I might get a new leather jacket,” said Misty. “Blaine might like to see me in leather.”

  “We have new stock,” said Annie. “You would look gorgeous in one of the fringed jackets that just arrived.”

  “Ooh, I love fringe. I can’t wait to try one on.”

  “Come on, Casey, let’s see what I’ve got for you.”

  Annie held the door open for him.

  “I’m a bit nervous. I never tried on clothes before.”

  “It’s okay,” said Annie. “There’s nobody here except my boys. If customers come in, I’ll steer them away from y’all.”

  The shopping was done and the purchases on the front counter when Annie’s cell rang. “Hang on, I need to take this.”

  She stepped outside the front door. “What’s up, Luke?”

  “The senator assigned a man to take out the boss, Annie. We need to have some coverage on him.”

  “When?”

  “Royce said to wait until he got up north to his ranch, so tonight or tomorrow.”

  “I’ll pick up some things at the ranch and be there in an hour.”

  “I’m nervous, Annie.”

  “I’ll talk to Farrell.”

  Annie sped out of the parking lot of her Harley franchise store and headed for the ranch.

  “That phone call was about Blaine, wasn’t it?” asked Misty. “I can feel the anger in the air. Someone will try to hurt him.”

  Casey sat wide-eyed in the back seat and hung on to his bags. “Is something bad happening?”

  “Not if we can prevent it, sugar. I have to get a few things from the ranch, then I’ll drive y’all home and we’ll make a plan.”

  BLAINE AND FARRELL sat on the porch steps drinking beer with Fletch and Luke as Annie parked the Maserati.

  “They know,” said Annie to herself, but nothing was a secret from Misty. “Come on, Casey, show Blaine your new boots.”

  Casey smiled as he stopped at the bottom of the steps and put one boot up for inspection.

  Blaine gave him a fist bump and a big grin. “How did you like the store?”

  “So much good stuff there and it smelled like… leather.”

  “You get a jacket?”

  “I did and so did Misty,” said Casey.

  “Misty bought a leather jacket?” Blaine flashed a wide smile. “Can’t wait to see her in it.”

  Annie winked at Farrell and went inside. Farrell followed her to the laundry room and closed the door. “Luke and Fletcher played the conversation for y’all?”

  “Yeah, they did. Luke is a bit antsy.”

  “So is Misty and she knew nothing about it,” said Annie. “What do you want to do?”

  “Do you think you should discuss it with Jesse?”

  “I already called him,” said Farrell. “and he’s chewing it over with Calhoun.”

  “If they’ve got balls big enough to try for the Governor at the residence, they’ll have no trouble coming here,” said Annie.

  “I talked to Andy and Rick already.”

  “I have to think that they want Violent Crime out of the way, so they can take another crack at her highness,” said Annie. “Blaine might be only a diversion.”

  “It didn’t sound like that on the surveillance tape.”

  “What if Royce expected a tag after you and Blaine were there? He didn’t get to be senator by being stupid.”

  Farrell raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh.”

  “You have to be ready.”

  CARM made chicken fried steak and pasta salad for the army that had gathered around her table and Annie gave her a helping hand. After healthy helpings of bread pudding, the table was cleared, and coffee served.

  “I’m so full, I can hardly, move, Carmelita,” said Neil. “I may have to sleep over.”

  Annie added a splash of cream to her coffee and said, “I think I’ll sleep over too.”

  Blaine grinned and went to get the cards.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sunday, June 21st.

  Austin.

  THRILLED that most of his family had spent the night, Blaine wanted a big leisurely Sunday breakfast to celebrate.

  Annie was up early helping Carm in the kitchen. The boys loved Annie’s homemade biscuits straight from the oven and she was beating up a batch when Blaine strolled into the kitchen and gave her a hug.

  “Love having you here, Mom. Wish you were here all the time.”

  “Jacks will be back from Jean’s next week and I won’t have so much free time, but I’ll try to do better, sugar pop.”

  “You might want some time with Casey too.”

  “Definitely, I do. I promised him some work in the stables, and Jackson will want to show him around.”

  FARRELL was hung over from the card game the night before and all the beer drinking that went with it. His cell rang, and he wanted to ignore it, roll over and go back to sleep. He chanced a peek at the screen and it was the Chief.

  The Chief always calls Blacky. What the hell?

  “Chief, what’s up?”

  “Drive by at the State Hospital. Two patients strolling around the property were shot from a vehicle. Not much info, but I don’t want Blacky anywhere public today—not with the information we have.”

  “Okay, I’ll take the lead on it. Is the scene secure with our people?”

  “Rocky is there, and Mort is on his way.”

  “Okay, I’m up. I’ll grab a coffee and get over there. Do you think it’s a set-up?”

  “Has a creepy feel to it—State property—they know I have to take it—and they know a murder will go to Violent Crim
e.”

  “Yeah, it has a feel to it,” said Farrell. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Do that and keep me in the loop.”

  Farrell skipped his shower, dressed quickly, struggled into his apron and stuck an SW in the waistband of his jeans. He patted his boot to make sure his knife was there. In case. His rifle and sawed off were in the truck in his gun safe. He needed a coffee before he left and that meant going into the kitchen. Getting by his brother would be the hard part.

  At the bottom of the stairs he inhaled a breath, blew it out and made a lefty into the kitchen. “Morning all.” He strode straight to the coffee maker, filled a traveler and reached for the sugar.

  “Why are you dressed and making caffeine to go?” asked Blaine.

  “Got to go out for an hour.”

  Blaine crossed the kitchen and stood beside Farrell. “I know when you’re fuckin lying to me. What’s going on?”

  “It’s a set-up and you ain’t going,” said Farrell. “So… sit back down on your ass and eat breakfast with Mom.”

  “What set up? Where?”

  Farrell pointed. “I said you ain’t going, and I mean it.”

  “I’ll go,” said Annie. “This is mine.” She whipped off the apron she’d borrowed from Carm and went to fetch her purse.

  “I’ll wear a vest,” said Blaine, “but I’m coming with y’all, wherever it is y’all are going.”

  Annie shook her head. “Please don’t be stubborn, sugar. We don’t want to lose you.”

  Misty shook her blonde curls. “Please don’t go, Beb.”

  FARRELL drove past the yellow brick pillars at the entrance to the hospital grounds and parked his red Silverado behind the Medical Examiner’s van. All of the action was centered near the fence closest to the street.

  “Stay in the truck until we clear the area,” said Farrell. “Could you at least do that?”

  “Yeah, sure,” said Blaine. “He patted the bulk under his shirt. “Hate wearing this fucking vest.”

  Annie hopped down from the side step and stood beside Farrell’s truck peering through the scope on her rifle at the trees and high buildings in the area. “What’s that building across the street?”

  “No idea,” said Farrell. “Let me check in with Rocky, then we’ll go over there and take a look around.”

  Farrell approached the area near the front of the grounds where the two victims lay. Rocky stood talking to the ME’s assistant, Tim, and gave Farrell a grin when he saw him.

  “Anybody see the vehicle?” asked Farrell.

  “They might have, but the other two people who were out for a walk before breakfast ran like rabbits when they heard the shots. I don’t think they were taking down tag numbers.”

  “This is a senseless shooting,” mumbled Farrell.

  “Think it’s gang related?” asked Rocky. “Some blood-in thing?”

  “I guess it could be. I’ll have to work to find out. I had a different idea of what it was, but now I’m not sure.”

  “Why isn’t Blacky here?” asked Rocky. “Heard he was home from his vacay.”

  “He’s in the truck and I told him to stay there. He’s not supposed to be visible right now, as per the Chief.”

  “What’s going on? Something I don’t know about?”

  “All connected to Royce and his gunnies, Rock. Same shit but it’s confusing,” said Farrell, “and Blacky ain’t happy about any of it. He hated being sent out of the city on down time when shit was going on. He ain’t the best at taking orders, even from the Chief.”

  “I hear ya,” said Rocky. “Better to be safe, though.”

  Farrell moved closer to Doctor Simon as he and his assistant were bagging the bodies. “Anything, Doc?”

  “Automatic weapon. A heavy spray. Doesn’t have to be accurate.”

  “Damn it,” said Farrell. “That spells gang to me.”

  “Be my guess.”

  Farrell returned to his truck and Blaine was leaning against the far side smoking. “Looks like a gang shooting.”

  “Capping patients at the State hospital?” Blaine shook his head. “That’s too fuckin weird.”

  “Has to be a reason,” said Farrell. “Up to us to find out what the reason is.”

  “Where did Mom go?” asked Blaine.

  “Across the road, I think.”

  ANNIE TOOK a walk across the road from the hospital checking out possible places a sniper could conceal himself and didn’t find much.

  What’s going on? If this isn’t to get Blaine into position for the hit, why did they do it?

  She returned to the truck and shook her head. “Nothing about this makes any sense to me. If it’s not the set up for the hit could it be a diversion for something else?”

  “I thought of that,” said Blaine, “since there are no bullets flying at me since I got here, but I have no idea what’s going on. I’m so far out of the loop I can’t even guess.”

  “Let’s go home and have breakfast,” said Farrell. “We’ll talk it over on a full stomach and come up with a workable plan.”

  Giddings.

  JESSE sat in the dining room at Quantrall with his brothers enjoying Sunday morning breakfast.

  “I hear we’re having a guest for dinner,” said Brian. The oldest Quantrall brother had taken over his father’s seat at the head of the table and enjoyed lording it over his younger siblings. “I’m happy you’re seeing somebody, Jesse.”

  “Other than Annie you mean?” Jesse couldn’t keep the edge out of his voice.

  “Hey,” said Brian, “I was trying to be nice.”

  “Yeah, you were,” mumbled Jesse. “Sorry. I guess I’m used to you putting me down all the time.”

  “All the time?” Brian frowned. “You’re exaggerating.”

  “Probably.” Jesse helped himself to another piece of corn bread from the basket in the middle of the table.

  “Has Jamie met Charity?” asked Wendy. Paul’s wife sitting across from Jesse was a stunning red head who had worked hard taming down the youngest Quantrall after their wedding a few years earlier.

  “No, she hasn’t,” said Jesse. He placed a small piece of cornbread on Charity’s tray and she stuffed it into her mouth. Jesse watched her face. “You like that?”

  She nodded and held out her hand for more.

  “Jamie have a change of heart?” asked Bobby. “Remember you two broke up because she chose her career in the Rangers over being a stay-at-home rancher’s wife.”

  “I didn’t forget that, Bobby, and we’ve had so little time together we’ve had no time to discuss anything—past or future.”

  “She moved back to Austin,” said Ty. “That means something.”

  Paulie laughed. “What does it mean, Ty? You the expert on women at this table?”

  Ty grinned. “You could say that.”

  “Yeah, I could say it, but it would be an out and out lie. You’re always messed up by a woman and you always will be. There’s no help for it.”

  “Thanks, Paulie. Hope you fall in a pile of shit.”

  “Shit,” said Charity.

  “Oh, Tyler,” said Wendy. “We need to clean up your vocab around the young ladies.” She glanced at her daughter, Shannon, sitting in a booster seat next to her.

  “Sorry, I forgot about the little girls.”

  Red and Bluebelle raised a ruckus on the front porch and Jesse went out to see what was bothering them. He thought he heard the sound of a vehicle going down the lane, but he wasn’t sure.

  He bent down and picked up the envelope lying on the welcome mat. It was addressed to him, so he opened it. One sheet of white printer paper and the words were in caps.

  ‘THE REDHEAD IS DEAD.’

  His hand shook as he refolded the single sheet and placed it back into the envelope.

  Ty stuck his head out the door. “Who was it?”

  “Special delivery,” said Jesse, holding the envelope by the corner. “I have to go to headquarters.”

  “Bad n
ews?” asked Tyler.

  “Yep,” said Jesse. “Pretty bad.”

  La Grange.

  AFTER BLAINE was back home safely, Annie drove home to Coulter-Ross with Neil and Casey, the two boys chatting to each other non-stop. Neil telling Casey how excited he was about his baseball scholarship to the U of Texas.

  “I played a bit of ball in middle school,” said Casey. “That was when I went to school—before I had to run away.”

  Annie hadn’t heard any details on how Casey came to be homeless, but with the rest of her boys it sometimes took years for them to tell her their horror stories.

  “You can catch up on your education, honey. I can help with that. It’s always good to have a diploma when you go for your first job.”

  She applied the brakes and the Maserati stopped at the gate. Jose hollered a greeting, gave her a big smile and the gate swung open.

  “Big gate,” said Casey. “Must be safe on your ranch.”

  “I like to think it is,” said Annie. “Keeps all my boys safe.”

  Casey glanced around, first at the huge house and then his eyes landed on the barn. “Can’t wait to see the horses. I love horses.”

  “You ride?” asked Neil.

  “Never did, but I want to.”

  “I can teach you. Nothing to it. I learned from Jesse in no time. He’s a good teacher.”

  “I never told nobody this,” said Casey, “but I always wanted to be in the rodeo.”

  Annie smiled. “Okay, there’s a thought. I know someone who can help with roping and take down and my foreman is a retired bull rider, Bull Bronson. I’m sure he could tell you a few things.”

  “He has a lot of good rodeo stories,” said Neil. “A lot of them are more suitable for the bunkhouse than for the dinner table.”

  Annie giggled. “Coming from Bull, I bet they are.”

  Austin.

  JESSE took the letter straight to headquarters and on the way called Chief Calhoun, Gene Wyman and Blacky to meet him there. He had the farthest to drive and the others were all in the Chief’s office with Styrofoam cups in front of them when he arrived.