by P. Thompson
“By the way, that green card was a fake. You can go back and let him know, maybe that will get you off the hot seat.”
I thanked Kenny for the info and headed back to the office.
At the office I headed back to the murder board and put Gloria’s picture up and her name. Filled in the murder book with her name also, and waited. For what I don’t rightly know, I just waited there at the table for some revelation or something. I hadn’t seen Roy in days and he came through the door smelling like wood smoke. Guess the fireplace was acting up again.
“What’s up, Roy?” I asked him.
“I just got back from Texas. I’ve been working on an angle on this case of Diego and Raymond. Found where the drugs are getting in at and I got with the Texas Rangers and they put a stop to it real quick. Raymond is going to be hurting right soon now. Maybe it’ll flush him out of hiding right into our arms.”
“Hey, way to go. They tried to pass off a girl by the name of Gloria Garcia as Tia Cortez. Gloria Garcia was found murdered in the woods off of Horseshoe Bend Road. Turkey hunter found her.”
“Well, I’m going to head on home and try and catch forty winks. See you later this afternoon.” And out the door he went leaving me alone again to sit and think. Okay, drugs are cut off from that supplier anyway. Where would the Martinez’ go to refill their stock? Then it hit me, Lonnie might know as they’ve been working the Martinez’ case for some time. I pulled out my cell and called her personal phone. It rang and rang so I figured she was tied up and she would get back to me. About an hour later my phone rang and sure enough it was Lonnie.
“Sorry I couldn’t talk then so it was best to let it go on ringing.”
“I figured as much.” I explained to her about what Roy had told me about the Texas Rangers cutting off the supply line for the Martinez’, then I asked, “Do you know of another supplier they might use?”
“There are a few suppliers out there, but the best one would be the cruise ship that dock in New Orleans. It’s due back in port on Wednesday. We’ll keep a close eye on that. If it comes in with drugs, we’ll snag them and he’ll really be hurting. I’ve got a good agent down there and he keeps watch for such things as contraband coming in on cruise ships. I’ll let you know what happens.” Then she hung up as I could hear someone in the background talking. It must be hell working under those conditions.
I wandered into the sheriff’s office as the door was wide open, “Hey, I’ve got some news for you. Have you talked with Roy since he got back?”
“No, didn’t know he was back. Nobody tells me anything anymore and that’s got to stop!”
“Well he’s back and he found the supplier of drugs that the Martinez’ use. Texas Rangers shut them down and now that’s one less supplier for them. I called Lonnie and she has a lead coming in on a cruise ship that will dock in St. Louis, MO on Wednesday. Said she would keep us informed about it.”
“If they can shut that one down the Martinez’ are going to be hurting big time. Good, good that’s a start and a good one too.”
“Hoping that brings them out of their rat hole.” I told him.
“Yes, we have rehearsal dinner tonight. You leave here no later than five so you have plenty of time to get dressed and go.” He said.
“Aye, aye captain.” I saluted him and left the room.
******
By six thirty Max was at the door to take me to the rehearsal dinner. He looked so handsome in his tweed sports jacket and black slacks. He cleans up real nice. I dressed warm as I wasn’t sure where this dinner was going to take place, inside or out. I wore heavy wool pants and a bulky knit sweater that I could remove if we were inside. Mick and Tony both keep the homes way too warm in the winter for me. I grabbed my heavy coat and we left for the party.
“You look really special tonight. You’ve got your hair down and everything.” He said.
“Thank you, it is a special night. Tomorrow is a special day for them and I hope no murders or even a sighting of the Martinez’ will interrupt their day.”
We arrived to music and lights all around the patio and deck. There was a band on the deck and I could see some of the wedding party already dancing. I grabbed my coat and thanked God I had brought it. As we came through door Tony handed us a glass of his famous tropical punch which included little umbrellas.
“Everyone’s out on the deck. We’ve hung heaters from all the rafters so it’s nice and warm, you won’t need that coat.”
I nodded and carried it anyway. He just laughed. I really didn’t need it as it was quite pleasant.
Mick had the evening catered with chicken wings of all kinds. Whatever your taste buds desired in the way of wings it was there. Some cowboy caviar in a bowl big enough to feed the whole town, tossed salad, baked beans, rolls and so much more covered the mile long table. The band played a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. Whatever anyone wanted, they played. The Presbyterian pastor, Pastor Rick, was a fun loving little guy who fit right in with all of us and carried a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other.
The rehearsal party went well into the night and by eleven thirty everyone pretty much had cleared out. Max and I sat inside and talked with Mick, Tony and Melonie. Melonie was telling me she was putting her place up for sale, as her and Tony had decided to stay on at the house on Possum Hollow Road. At around twelve, I had to say goodnight or I wasn’t going to be worth squat the next day.
At home, Max went to say goodnight, but I asked him in for a few minutes and he was more than happy to get a few extra minutes just the two of us.
I fed Ming a few snacks to let her know she was loved and then came to Max and snuggled into his waiting arms. His kisses were warm and undemanding. Sweet at first then an urgent need was there. Not just his needs, but mine also. It had been a long time since Jerry and I had made love, and my emotions were raw to say the least. Clothes came off in record time and we found ourselves under the covers in a somewhat cold bed. It didn’t take long for that bed to become a very hot bed. Max was a wonderful lover. He knew all the ways to make me feel loved, wanted and needed. We fell asleep in each other’s arms till the first light of morning came through the bedroom window and the rooster began his song of the morning. After a shower together we made breakfast; he’s an amazing cook. “Well, if Ralph ever leaves me I know where to get my next guy in the kitchen.” I laughed as we stuffed our faces with pancakes, bacon and eggs over easy. He helped me clean up then gave me a kiss and said he would be back around eleven thirty to pick me up. I had a salon appointment at nine so I busied myself around the house till almost time to leave.
Chapter Twelve
The morning turned cold, bitter cold. I just knew I would freeze to death in my wedding clothes. Heaters or no heaters that deck was going to be like an iceberg. I let Suzanne, my hair dresser; take care of my hair and make-up as we chatted about everything under the sun. Then she wanted to know about the girl in the woods. “I hear through the grape vine that you found a Hispanic girl way back in the woods, out near Horse Shoe Bend Road. Was she part of that Martinez bunch?” She wanted to know.
“After all these years of doing my hair, you know I can’t tell anything when it’s an open investigation. When it’s made public the paper will cover it from top to bottom and then some and you’ll get all the info. I just can’t talk about it yet. It’s still on going.” I told her.
By the time I was through and headed back home, my cell rang out Sweet Georgia Brown. The sheriff, I just knew there was going to be something to screw up this day. “Hey, it Jordan here, what’s up?”
“Just to let you know the wedding is not going to be on the deck, but now it’s a barn wedding. They are going nuts out there getting the barn cleaned and ready so they asked me to call everybody and let them know. I’ve got to go get a carpet for the main aisle so her dress doesn’t drag on the ground. Will you call everybody connected to the department while I do that?” He asked.
“Sure, not a problem. I have a grou
p listing on my phone and I’ll text them all.” I told him, then hung up and got busy. When everyone I could think of was contacted I went by Table Number Nine to see Ralph. They were really busy so I didn’t stay but a minute then returned home to find a message on my home phone.
“I told you to stay out of my business. If I find you alone, you die bitch!”
Well, that shook me a bit. I called Max, but there was no answer. I was betting he was at the barn helping out. I rang the sheriff’s cell and he answered straight away. “What do you need Jenny?”
“Hey, I just had a message on my home phone that was a threat on my life from I’m guessing Raymond or Diego. I just wanted to keep you in the loop.”
So I told him what it had said.
“Is Max picking you up?” He wanted to know.
“Yes, about eleven thirty he said.”
“Good, put that little Glock in your purse and keep it handy. Max is out at the barn, but I’ll let him know so he’ll be armed also. I’m on my way back out there now. Keep your doors locked I’ll see if Dean or Lyle is available to drive by.” Then he hung up. So I locked the front door and went to the back door. When all was secure I checked my Glock and found the clip was fully loaded then slipped it into my very small purse that matched my dress.
There came a knock on the door. I could imagine the killer knocking, but I checked before I opened the door anyway. It was Lyle and dean both. Not in uniform, but civvies. They were off duty on Saturday so they had come from home. My guys!!
“Hey, thank you for being here, but I don’t think he would be nuts enough to try something at my home in board day light.”
“Sheriff explained what was on your recorder so we’re here till Max comes for you. That’s the deal.” Lyle said. Dean held up a bag from Mickey D’s and said “Lunch.”
So we ate and talked about the case till it was time for me to get dressed.
As I came out of the bedroom I got a whistle and a “Wow!” from both of them.
“We don’t get to see you all dolled up in a dress and heels. You look marvelous!”
I blushed and said, “Thank you.”
I heard Max pull up out front and Lyle and Dean check to be sure it was him then gave me high five and left.
“Wow, you look beautiful!” Max said as he planted a kiss on my nose. “Don’t want to mess up your hair or make-up. What I would really like to do…”
“Don’t go there buster, we have a wedding to attend.” I told him. I grabbed my coat and purse then off we went.
Once at the barn I couldn’t believe the transformation. There was no horse smell, which I love. It was cleaned up, the carpet was down and chairs were in place for the guest. Mick looked up as we came in and said, “Melonie is in the house getting ready, she’s waiting for you.”
So I hiked up my dress and headed to Tony’s house. Melonie stood in the living room in her wedding dress and her cowboy boots. She saw me look at the boots and said, “It’s in the barn, so we’re going all out and doing a real barn wedding. What do you think?”
“I think I like it.” I told her. “Wish you had said something I would have put my boot on too!” I laughed.
The guests arrived and were seated according to bride or groom. Mick had put the big heaters in the barn and it was toasty as inside his house always was. The band was set up behind the pastor, who looked very sharp by the way. All was set and ready to go. The flower girl walked down the aisle dropping fresh rose peddles and the bride’s maids came next. I stood with Tony as his best man/woman and watched as the sheriff walked Melonie down the aisle in his tux and cowboy boots.
******
After the ceremony, the chairs were moved aside, the wooden dance floor came out, the bridal table was set up and the food brought in. The band played softly in the background and I was going over my best man/woman speech. I sat next to Tony and we chatted about what their future was and how they were in the process of moving all of Melonie’s stuff from her place to his, when I asked him how much she wanted for her place? He looked at me sort of funny and asked, “Why, are you planning on a move?”
“You know I won that money from the lottery and I’ve been wanting a country home, something out of town and I love her place, it’s so homey. I just don’t know how much she wants and if I can swing it. There’s the money I won and then when I can sell my place there will be that too.”
“Let me talk with her, I’m sure we can arrange something. Don’t you worry we’ll get this done. I can’t think of anyone I would rather see in her house.” Tony told me.
That left the rest of my day and into the night feeling light with excitement, and the wine helped too. Max was designated driver for the night and I celebrated the union of two of my best friends.
When the evening was over and almost everyone was gone we had one last glass of champagne before Max the sheriff and I said our goodnights. I wrapped myself in my coat and ran for Max’s truck. The cold had settled in and the temperature had dropped to well into the low thirty’s. The truck was cold and so was I. Max got the heater going, but it was going to take some time before the engine had warmed enough to let the heater do its thing. So we sat and waited a bit until feeling the heat and then we started out for home. I saw the lights go out at Mr. Clanton’s home as we passed and thought of how smart he and Mary had looked at the wedding. These are such good folks, salt of the earth. As we made the turn onto the paved road, leaving Possum Hollow Road, out of nowhere a truck slammed into the side of us. Backing up it slammed into us again, then again. All this before we could pull a weapon or realize how much danger we were really in. Then there was a round of gunfire from an automatic weapon that tore thought the side door where I was sitting. The angle was wrong so I caught one in the leg just as Max turn the truck and headed for town. I lifted my dress and saw the blood and felt weak. Max looked at me, “You’re hit!” He took his scarf off from around his neck and handed it to me.
“Make a tourniquet out of this.”
I tried, but was so shaky I couldn’t get it tight enough to do the job. Max was on his cell calling for help when the sheriff roared up beside us and told Max to go, he would handle this. When you call that officer has been shot, law enforcement comes out of the woodwork, and that was exactly what happened.
Max got me to the hospital and they were already waiting for me at the ER doors. I was inside and on the table before Max could get out of the truck.
The Doc said it was a through and through, but had nicked an artery so surgery was in order.
When I woke, Max was sitting in the chair by the bed holding my hand. I smiled at him then threw up! I didn’t do well with going under. After the mess was cleaned up, they kept a bucket under me as this went on like forever. All the good food from the wedding was a distant memory. When the dry heaves set in, they came with a shot to stop it all and I fell asleep till the next day sometime. When I finally came around, Cindy was there knitting something and she put it aside and came to me. “Hey girl, how do you feel?”
“What time is it?” I asked her.
“It’s a little after eleven. Can I get you something?” She asked.
“Some ice chips, my mouth feels like the desert.” She left for the ice chip and came in with a nurse in tow.
“So how are we feeling this morning?” The nurse asked.
“We are feeling like dog shit, if you really want to know.” She laughed and took my vitals while I chewed on ice chips. “You know those ice chips are going to play hell will me taking your temp, don’t you?” I just smiled and kept on munching away.
Cindy got a wash cloth and washed off what was left of my make-up from the day before and then Cindy forever being Cindy reached into her knitting bag and pulled out a brush, a comb and a pony tail holder. She set to work on me and got her lipstick out as a final touch.
“We can’t have you looking like death when you’re not dead and Max shouldn’t see you looking like it either.”
“Thanks,
but I need something for pain right now.”
Cindy hit the call button and asked for pain medication for me. Before the nurse got there, Miss Massey came through the door with her basket in hand. She removed her coat, hat and scarf and came to me. She looked me over and said, “Thank the good Lord you’re going to be okay. I brought you some chicken soup and biscuits. The food here isn’t fit for man nor dog.” With that she left with her basket in hand and was back in just a few minutes with a steaming bowl of soup and hot biscuits, with of course strawberry jam. Thank goodness my stomach had settled down by then and the homemade soup was just what the Doctor ordered. The pain meds came and helped some, but not much. By noon my room looked like the florist shop had sold out and every law enforcement officer in two counties had been through my hospital door.
The sheriff came around three o’clock with less than wonderful news. The kids who had rammed us were both dead and the truck was stolen from a farmer west of town. “We got into a shootout after Max took you to the hospital. Tony and Mick heard the gunfire and came with shot guns and law enforcement was there within minutes. They were blocked in and wouldn’t give up. These kids are part of Raymond’s army and I wonder how many more he has. How’s the Leg?” He asked at last.
“Hurts like hell, but I’ll live. I’m full of antibiotics.” I said pointing to the IV bag hanging by the bed.
“Roy is headed to New Orleans to be there when the cruise ship arrives. Lonnie called ahead to her agent there and they’re expecting him. So he’ll be in on whatever happens there. It surprised me that Lonnie was suddenly willing to help us on this case. But, I’ll take what I can get.” Sheriff Jeff told me before leaving.
I was going to be laid up for a while and there was nothing I could do about that, but I could prop my leg up at the office just as well as at home and that was what I intended to do.
******