Bulletproof Badge

by Angi Morgan

  As much as he tried, he couldn’t fake it. He’d seen what that scar-faced monster had done to two women. Kenderly’s hands were still behind her. Garrison tried to reassure her. The terror in her dark brown eyes spread quickly across her face.

  The soulless bastard twisted his fist in her hair, butted the barrel against her temple.

  “You see my dilemma. I only need one person to get what I want. We threatened your...health shortly after your arrival. Miss Tyler cares for you and begged for your life. But I believed her when she told us she doesn’t possess the information I require.”

  “We didn’t find anything. The jewelry case was empty. Maybe whatever you’re looking for fell on to the lawn when we climbed over the balcony. Why not just let her go?”

  Tenoreno nodded. His hired thug tugged harder. Kenderly cried out. She was trying to be brave, but the tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “We don’t have it.” He needed time. Think.

  “That I already know. Where did you hide it?” Tenoreno nodded again.

  Garrison’s heart stopped as he watched the trigger being squeezed. Kenderly screamed on a long sigh. He shouted no or screamed it himself.

  The revolver clicked on an empty chamber.

  “Stop. All right.” He shook his head, unable to get the image of Kenderly lying dead in front of him out of his mind. “We hid it. But we go together. That’s the deal. You want it back? We go together.”

  When Tenoreno found the flash drive, they’d be dead anyway.

  “Tell me what you saw. Prove that I should invest additional time in this venture.”

  Garrison didn’t answer. It went against everything in him. Everything true and right that his father had instilled bounced around in his head, contradicting what his gut told him needed to be done. He heard his mother’s voice, too. Begging him to stay alive. Anything he could do to prolong their lives gave them a fighting chance to get away. To jump on a possible mistake.

  Staying alive longer...a fighting chance.

  Tenoreno looked bored. He flicked a finger, and Kenderly cried out in pain as her head was yanked backward. “Do I really need to have Thomas pull the trigger again? This time it might have a bullet in the chamber. Do you wish to see your friend’s brain all over my walls?”

  “Garrison?” His name whispered from Kenderly’s lips said more than he could express. She didn’t have the information that could be given to Tenoreno.

  Kenderly’s eyes locked with his, pleading for him to say something, to save her life. Her eyes were blacked from the tears ruining her makeup again. Her cheekbone was swollen from being hit. Her bottom lip had been split, and a dark stain of blood trailed across her chin. The revolver’s barrel pressed against her had scratched her temple.

  The bastard Thomas played with the trigger. His finger tapped it like Morse code. But it wasn’t Morse. It was itching to pull it for real.

  Garrison strained at his chains. They weren’t giving an inch more. He couldn’t break away and save her. “Files. Names. Dates. Payments.”

  “A good guess, but I’m waiting for my proof.” Tenoreno crossed his arms and didn’t appear patient.

  “The deputy first assistant AG of Texas,” Garrison blurted.

  “That wasn’t difficult.” He flicked his finger, and the gun disappeared into his man’s pocket.

  “Dammit, let go of her.”

  His words had no effect. She was jerked to her feet and then out of his sight.

  “Take her to the van,” Tenoreno directed, pulling his own weapon from inside his coat. “And send Leonard in here for Mr. Travis.”

  “Where are you taking her?” Garrison yanked on his cuffs, wishing he could break his thumb and get free.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll be with her. One wrong move while we’re retrieving the flash drive, you even blink wrong and she’s dead.”

  “You’re going to kill us anyway.”

  “You know, Travis, I’m not such a bad person. Not as gruesome as you might think. I’ve got a proposition and a way for your friend to disappear.”

  “And you think I’ll believe you? Why?”

  “All you have to do is cooperate. Just follow through on the headlines that are already out there.” He leaned against the wall, cocking his head to the side like a big shot, gun relaxed in his hand.

  If Garrison were free, he’d take care of this mafia wannabe with one punch.

  “Plain speak, if you can. Enough with the riddles. What do I have to do to get you to let Kenderly go?”

  “Take the fall, Mr. Travis.” He pulled a flash drive from his pocket identical to the one hidden. “I got a ton of these being dropped off at papers and the news programs. You admit that you murdered Isabella and Trinity, and we’re done. You go to jail, and she gets a fresh start in the state of her choice.”

  “It won’t work.”

  “Sure it will. If she opens her mouth, you die in prison. If you don’t get convicted, she dies in her new town. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She’ll do anything you tell her. Course, she stays as my...guest until we’re square. She can earn her keep with free haircuts for all the boys.”

  “It won’t work. Nobody will believe I’ve been working for you.”

  “People will believe anything.” He held his palm toward the door, stopping someone from coming inside. “Especially since you’re a lofty Texas Ranger. You’re going to take the Rosco family down with you. It’s brilliant.”

  The gun barrel bounced up and down like a presentation pointer.

  Was he for real?

  Tenoreno might just be crazy enough to believe himself. But Garrison wasn’t. If he agreed to this insanity, the Rosco family would have him killed as soon as his butt hit a jail bench.

  “What’s your answer, lawman?”

  There had to be an ulterior motive. Why did he want to involve the Texas Rangers?

  Garrison didn’t know, but there was only one way to find out.

  “I’ll do it.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  It had taken the entire two hour drive from Waco to Austin to clear the bureaucratic tape for permission to search the crime scene. When Jesse arrived there were police cars blocking the house and another argument about jurisdiction.

  Johnson was on the computer in the car while Jesse leaned on the hood. Three Austin cops stared at him. He wasn’t new to how agencies worked together. He’d been with the Texas Department of Public Safety long enough to have experienced his fair share of joint law enforcement.

  This was different.

  He hadn’t been allowed to search on his own. Hell, he hadn’t been allowed to stand in the background and look over someone’s shoulder while they searched. These officers were treating Johnson and him like suspects. There was nothing relaxed in the posture of the policemen watching him. They looked ready for a fight.

  Same as him.

  “Any luck, Johnson?”

  “No. It’s the middle of the night, and no one’s picking up, not for me, not for the major.” He stood, leaning his elbow on the top of the car. “Oaks pulled through. He’s still in ICU with his wife. Guards—from headquarters and the Austin PD—are outside his door. My buddy there didn’t know if they were protecting the captain or if they were there to arrest him.”

  “Something smells like rotting fish.” He lowered his voice, nodding to their own guards. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

  “Your turn to try the major.”

  Jesse didn’t get it. He’d just said the major hadn’t had any luck. So why would he... Once Johnson raised his eyebrow and darted his eyes toward the car, Jesse smartened up. Tensions were high, and Johnson wanted privacy. Got it.

  Once inside Johnson snapped his seat belt. “I think we’d be better off leaving for the mo
ment.” A police officer ran down the front steps of the battered house. “Now.”

  Jesse didn’t argue. The surrounding officers slowly approached the vehicle, hands on their weapons. He put the car in Reverse and gunned it, weaving backward through police cars and civilian cars parked on the street.

  He spun the wheel, threw the car in Drive, praying that his transmission wasn’t stripped, and gunned it again.

  “Mind telling me what that’s all about? And how the hell did you know it was about to happen?”

  “Don’t stop. We need to find a place to chill for a while.” Johnson grabbed his cell from his shirt pocket and began playing a video.

  “Is that the news?”

  “Yeah. Keep driving.”

  Jesse listened to the male newscaster. “While this isn’t the first time that a Texas Ranger will be indicted or brought to trial, it will be the first time in modern history. WGPN has an anonymous source that evidence has been found linking Lieutenant Garrison Travis to the Rosco family business interests. It’s long been suspected that the Rosco family has ties to the drug cartels in Mexico. Authorities are reporting that the rangers in Company F will be temporarily detained until more information is available. Company F is based in Waco where the...”

  “What evidence?” Jesse asked.

  “Another online source reported a second bank account with payments directly from the Roscos.”

  “You don’t believe that, do you?”

  “No. You two haven’t been in the company long, but that man bleeds Lone Star red, white and blue.”

  “You got that right.” Jesse hit the main thoroughfare and slowed to blend in with traffic.

  “I was at his house yesterday. Remember? If Travis had extra cash, he’s not the type who could hide it for long. He’d be living large.”

  “You think Major Parker is up now?”

  Johnson nodded. “You got a place in mind to lay low?”

  “We’re driving back to his aunt’s, taking charge and getting inside. Period. Kenderly Tyler told me to look in the water. I don’t think she’d have risked a call before dialing 911 in order to give me false information. We need to find the real evidence.”

  “Agreed. It probably looks like a normal flash drive. They don’t hold up in water so what do you think she meant?” Johnson asked.

  “No clue. If being accused of murder wasn’t enough, the press accusing him of being dirty will kill Garrison. Is anyone out there on his side?”

  “We are,” Johnson reminded him matter of factly.

  “If Garrison and the woman are still alive, we need to find them. How’s that going to happen if we’re all in jail?”

  “Maybe that’s the plan. The evidence that WGPN claimed is exclusive is showing up on multiple sources.” Johnson looked up from scanning his phone. “That’s not a coincidence. Someone sent out multiple copies.”

  “You know these families better than anyone in the state. What’s Tenoreno’s game plan? What’s he trying to do?”

  “It looks like he’s setting the Rosco family up to take the fall for killing his wife. We have to make that assumption, since they’re the ones implicated.”

  “And why involve Travis?” Jesse asked.

  “It sidelines the Rangers. Maybe Oaks was closer to something than we know. We need to find the real evidence.” Johnson continued staring at him. “Are you going to force me to ask where you think we should start?”

  “The garage. Just makes sense. The two of them found some kind of evidence. He’s out of money. Can’t risk a call to me. Travis came here for his bike. Transportation to Waco, to the men he trusted to turn himself over to. He knows he’s compromised, stashes the evidence nearby. Then heads out hoping to lose Tenoreno’s men, can’t and then we have an incident at the market that’s less than a mile away.”

  “So you’re thinking there’s some type of water in or close to the garage.”

  “Damn straight.”

  “Now we just have to get it out of the garage without being arrested.” Johnson shoved his glasses up his nose.

  And determine where to find his best friend and the eyewitness. Then clear their names of murder charges. Then save the day. No problem. Typical Texas Ranger stuff.

  “Aw hell no,” Johnson exclaimed, reading his phone. “They caught him. They just announced he’ll be turned over at the county courthouse within the hour.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “This is the wrong way. We’re heading south. My aunt’s house is north,” Garrison whispered. Kenderly had made the same assumption when the tall office buildings of downtown Austin came into view.

  They were in the back of a van again. This one had a little more room than the delivery truck of a couple of days ago. It had two small windows high in each back door. They could see each other from the headlights shining inside.

  Two armed men sat in the front. The checkered-shirt pervert was driving. The other one pointed his weapon straight at her.

  “I wish I could hold your hand or something. Or maybe have you tell me what’s going on.”

  The man in the passenger seat faced forward, and Kenderly twisted closer to Garrison. She didn’t know how she managed, but she did.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t push our luck trying to snuggle.”

  “Shush. I’ve been dying to tell you this,” she whispered. How did he keep his sense of humor in a situation like this? “I called your friend Jesse when I was in the market office and told him about the flash drive. You don’t think that checkered-shirt pervert found it, do you? Jesse will help us, right?”

  “If he can.”

  “What’s going on, Garrison? What did Isabella’s husband do to you?”

  “Damn, you’re wonderful.”

  Had she heard him right? She scooted as close as she could, resting her head awkwardly on his shoulder.

  “I mean it,” he said, kissing her forehead. “You’re just...terrific.”

  “Oh, golly gee, I like you, too.” She answered with old-fashioned sarcasm, then tilted her face to where she could see him. “What is this, seventh grade?”

  “Can’t a guy give his girl a compliment and tell her he likes her?”

  “Here? We’re going to share our feelings while handcuffed, in the back of a van taking us to who knows where, with guns pointed at us? And seriously, Garrison... I look a mess.”

  “Yeah. It’ll be a story to remember. Grandkid worthy, maybe.”

  What?

  Lieutenant Garrison Travis, named after two famous Texans, raised his eyebrows as if asking her a question, then winked at her. He kissed the tip of her nose and made her want to cry at the beauty of it. Even handcuffed and probably headed to a grave in the middle of nowhere. His confession was absolutely beautiful.

  Even if it did seem like their timing was always off. “I’m really glad it was you who came to rescue me.”

  “Sweetheart, this is definitely not my best work. Good thing I can’t reach more than your nose,” he whispered. “Your bottom lip looks like it hurts, and I wouldn’t be all that gentle.”

  She stretched and he stretched, and they met in the middle. He wasn’t gentle. The van bumping along made it worse. But since it might be her last kiss ever, she pushed through the little pain and shared it with him.

  “You sure do like showing me I’m wrong.” He kissed her again. Softly. Grazing her lip with a gentle touch. “Um...you were telling me about your call to Jesse. I assume you left him a message.”

  She nodded.

  “Hey, get away from each other,” the checkered-shirt criminal shouted from the front.

  “Stay where you are, Kenderly. Go ahead. Shoot us. Then the deal’s off. Tenoreno will forgive you. Won’t he?”

  They hit a bump and readjusted. Garrison ignored
the grumblings, focusing his stare back on her.

  “What are you talking about? What deal?” She was afraid to ask but had to know.

  “The one I made to be the fall guy for a crime boss.”

  “You did nothing of the sort.” She couldn’t believe that he’d agree to that. He’d spoken with so much pride about fulfilling his father’s hopes and dreams. “What about the spotless Texas Ranger reputation?” Her voice had grown louder, but she was suddenly furious. He had to be doing this for her. Then, in a softer whisper, “You’ve got a plan, right?”

  “To stay alive?” His smile split his face.

  It was the smile from when they’d first met. The one she’d been warned about. The one that convinced her he wasn’t telling the entire truth. He had a plan, all right. But what if that was what he was stretching the truth about?

  “Remember one thing for me, Kenderly. Tenoreno has no intention of letting either one of us live. There’s a lot at stake here. He murdered his wife to keep a lid on it. He murdered Rosco’s just because she was there.”

  “But if he’s turning you over to the police, can’t they help us? What if we tell the truth? Won’t your friend find the flash drive? That proves he’s guilty.”

  “He’s already sent a different one framing me to just about everyone in the media. I don’t think we can count on the police. Tenoreno’s got high-ranking officials on his payroll.”

  She was scared again. They’d gone from witnesses to murder suspects to confessed killers in less than four days. How could this happen? Bad luck? Would it end with Tenoreno winning? Would they really be dead?

  She couldn’t question him further. She had nothing to say. No ideas. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and couldn’t. She wanted to hold on to him and never let go.

  The van turned and slowed to a stop.

  “Remember. No one in uniform is going to tell you the truth. They either want you to believe a lie, or they’ve been fed the lie to repeat. But you can trust Jesse. Get out of here. Find him. Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  She hoped and prayed that he did have a plan and that they’d be running in a few minutes to find someone with a handcuff key.