by Dan Sears
Mesa turns his attention to Hennessey and Ranson. Ranson appears to be dead; he received a bullet to his chest. Hennessey has taken one in the shoulder.
Immediately, police cover the area. Captain Emmett runs to Mesa and sees what has happened. He orders the area sealed for one square mile.
“Sergeant Mesa, what happened?”
Mesa spins around gun poised with a look of animal anger. His eyes are black and sparkling. Captain Emmett realizes that the man he is facing is more dangerous than anyone he has met recently.
Mesa suddenly relaxes, lowering his weapon and explains. “Sir, as we walked out, a shot rang out, and Sergeant Hennessey went down. I grabbed his weapon and returned fire, stopping one of the assassins. I hit the other one in the arm. When I looked at Ranson, he appeared to be dead. How did anyone know we were taking him back to Arizona?”
“Sergeant, let the medical team take care of Hennessey. We’ll follow them to the hospital. I thank you for saving my sergeant’s life. We’ll talk to the assassin now, because it doesn’t look as if he is going to make it.”
Death is a sad sight, something that shouldn’t happen but does much too often. Dan Mesa has seen too much of it and has been involved in too much of it.
Captain Emmett kneels down to talk to the assassin.
“Look, fella, you don’t have long in this world, so tell us who sent you and for what reason.”
With tears in his eyes, he says, “I don’t want to die. Please help me.”
We will, just tell me who sent you and why.”
“We were sent by Vermenti Pellegrinni to kill Ranson and the ranger. He received his orders from someone in Arizona. Now help me . . .”
Mitchell’s breathing slows done. His body starts to shudder and suddenly he dies.
Captain Emmett checks Mitchell’s pulse and turns to Mesa shaking his head and says, “Someone wanted both of you bad. Pellegrinni is well known on the East Coast as a member of the mob. He has a stable of trained assassins. Someone is paying big money to have you killed.”
“But, captain, how did anyone know I was here? I have spent the last two weeks with my ex-wife and son in Baltimore. There must be a traitor in the rangers somewhere. I had better call my captain.”
When the phone rings in Captain Johnson’s office in Nogales, Sergeant Savalas answers the phone and calls for the captain.
“Captain Johnson, Sergeant Mesa is on the phone.”
Captain Johnson picks up the phone.
“Hello, Dan, what’s up?”
“Sir, Ranson was shot a few minutes ago as we were leaving the station. According to one of the assassins, the targets were Ranson and me. They were hired by some guy named Vermenti Pellegrinni out of DC, and his orders came from Arizona. Sir, how did anyone know I was here to pick up Ranson? We have a leak somewhere.”
“Dan, are you okay? Is Ranson dead?”
“Yes, sir. Ranson is dead. And they shot a police sergeant I knew from my military days. I shot and killed one of the assassins, but before he died, he gave up the information I’m passing on to you.”
“Okay, Dan. I will contact Colonel Grant and let him know. Get back here as soon as possible.”
In Tucson, Carlos Meana has received news of the botched assassination and is raging.
“What have you people done, Antonio? Can’t you carry out a simple mission? Those idiots in DC hired two amateurs to kill Ranson and Mesa. They got Ranson and shot a cop in Richmond. Mesa killed one of them, and the other was wounded. I don’t know if talked before he died, but you can be sure of one thing: if he did talk, Sergeant Dan Mesa will be after us. I am going to take a long vacation in Switzerland, and I suggest, Antonio, that you visit your family on the reservation for a while. Contact DC and tell them to disappear for a while.”
Lieutenant Colonel Garnett Williamson-Mesa, a doctor of pediatric surgery, is making rounds in the hospital at Johns Hopkins University when she hears the news of the shoot-out in Richmond.
“Dr. Mesa,” a nurse says to her, “do you know a Sergeant Dan Mesa of the Arizona rangers?”
“Yes, I know Daniel Mesa. He is an Arizona ranger and a retired air force captain. Why are you asking?”
“Doctor, there was an attempted assassination of a prisoner and an Arizona ranger in Richmond, Virginia. The prisoner was killed and a police sergeant wounded. Apparently, the ranger shot and killed one assassin and wounded the other. The second assassin got away. According to the news, this same ranger was involved in a shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he shot and killed a fugitive who had robbed a Wells Fargo armored car and killed four guards, a policeman, and a city marshal.”
Dr. Mesa turns pale and sits down, shaking. The nurse runs to her aid.
“Dr. Mesa, are you all right? Can I get you something?”
“No, Alma. I’m all right. I thought I’d left Dan Mesa and the rangers behind me. That man is so stubborn! He’d rather be a ranger and chasing criminals than be here. He could be a college professor or work for some big company, but he is still playing Cops and Robbers in Arizona and now in Virginia.”
The news flashes on again, and the news correspondent is saying, “This is June Parks of ABC News with a follow-up on the shooting at a Richmond police station. I have Captain Emmett of the Richmond Police Department. Captain Emmett, what can you tell us about the shooting?”
Captain Emmett dreads talking to reporters, but June Parks is one he respects, so he decides to answer.
“June, we are still investigating the shooting. It seems as though the target was Sergeant Daniel Mesa of the Arizona rangers and a prisoner he was taking back to Arizona. We suspect it was a professional hit. The prisoner was killed, and one of our policemen was seriously injured. Thanks to Ranger Mesa, we were able to identify some of the people behind the shooting.”
“Captain, this Ranger Mesa seems to always be in the line of fire. He was involved in a shooting in New Mexico a few weeks ago. How does this situation sit with you?”
“Sergeant Mesa is a good cop, and he did what any good cop would have done. He attempted to protect and serve.”
“Thank you, Captain Emmett. This is June Parks for ABC News.”
Nurse Alma Brown is very perceptive and can tell that there is more to this than meets the eye. She decides to ask another question.
“Dr. Mesa, is this ranger your brother?”
Dr. Mesa smiles and says, “No, Alma, he is not my brother. He is my ex-husband and Devlin’s father. He was visiting us and was supposed to leave today. He never mentioned that he was here to extradite a prisoner. He probably didn’t want to burden me with his problems. He is a good man, but he can be so stubborn.”
As Dr. Mesa walks away, she mutters to herself, “Dan Mesa, you really piss me off at times. Why can’t you just stay out of my life?”
At the police station, Ranger Mesa is facing the chief of police, a Colonel Matthew E. Lee. Colonel Lee is upset. His face is beet red and the veins in forehead is popping out. He stands toe to toe with Mesa.
“Ranger, I want you out of my city before this day is over,” he tells Mesa. “I have a wounded policeman, a dead citizen, and a dead assassin. Just who the hell are you?”
Captain Emmett intervenes quickly saying, “Sir, allow me to close the door and I will explain a few things. Chief, first off, none of this is Sergeant Mesa’s fault. Sergeant Hennessey’s wounds are serious, but he will recover fully, and as for Ranson, he was injured. We just said that to keep the media from printing it in the paper. Ranger Mesa believes there is a leak in his unit and doesn’t want the traitor to find out that Ranson is still alive, so we faked his death. He was shot, but the vest he was wearing protected him.”
The chief looks at Emmett and Mesa and sits down and relaxes a bit.
“Okay, captain, that is a good idea
. Maybe I did fly off the handle a little. So what is the next move?”
At this point, Ranger Mesa says, “Chief, we need to get Ranson back to Arizona without attracting any attention. I propose to take him out dressed as a policeman. Then I will have him change, and we’ll depart your city. I know a man who will fly us back to Arizona in his private plane—that is, if he is still talking to me. He is my ex-father-in-law, Major Jonathan Horatio Williamson, retired.
“Major Jonathan Horatio Horn Blower Williamson is a World War II and Korean War veteran. He is one of the Tuskegee Airmen and a member of the Ninety-Ninth Pursuit Squadron. He saw limited action in World War II. When the war ended, he went back to college using the GI Bill and joined the army ROTC. After graduation, he went active in time to be sent to Korea as an infantry soldier.
“He received the Silver Star for bravery under fire. The North Koreans surrounded his unit, and he held out for a week without relief and finally fought his way out, losing half of his unit. He called in an air strike on himself rather than surrender but manage to escape before the strike hit. In another incident, Major Williamson single-handedly held off the enemy, killing one hundred fifty North Koreans and allowing his unit to successfully pull back. He later escaped without injury.
“That is my ex-father-in-law. Today he is retired and lives in Baltimore and spends part of the year in Douglas, Arizona. I love him and Nadia dearly, but due to the divorce they aren’t exactly happy with me.”
Chapter Two
In Baltimore, Maryland, at the home of Garnett’s father, the doorbell rings, and Major Williamson answers the door.
Upon seeing Dan, he says, “Hello son, how are you? It has been a while since we’ve talked. I see you’ve changed a bit.”
“Yes sir. I guess this job makes one older and sadder. I visited Garnett and Devlin, and they are great. He is growing into a handsome, smart boy. I am so proud of him, and she has done a super job raising him.
“Dad, I need your help badly,” Mesa continues. “I guess you heard about the shoot-out in Richmond. As you are aware, I was involved in it. It was a hit carried out by the mob, and it was meant for Ranson and me. Apparently, someone in Arizona is trying to take me out, and I know who it is. It’s Carlos Meana and his mafia.”
Jonathan motions for Dan follow him in to the house. Major Williamson is of medium height and build but presents a picture of a man who is used to giving orders. The house is a Brown Stone, one that was built in the early nineteen twenties. He motions for Dan to sit down. “You do know that is why Garnett moved back here. She wanted you to leave the rangers and that entire killing business. Didn’t you get enough of it in Vietnam and the Gulf War? I still believe you should have moved here with her. You could have done well here. Okay, what can I do to help you?
“Sir, I can’t fly Ranson back on a commercial flight. There is a traitor in our organization, and they are passing information to the mob. I need to get him back to Tucson without anyone knowing. We have him listed as having been killed, but he is still alive. Can you fly me back to Tucson or at least to Albuquerque? Then I can rent a car and drive the remainder of the way.”
“Dan, it looks as if you have yourself a bit of a problem. Have you contacted your boss in Nogales?”
“Yes sir, but I am not sure where the leak is. It could be in Nogales or Tucson. I plan to call him at home tonight and tell him the whole story.”
Nadia, Jonathan’s wife and Dan’s ex-mother-in-law walks through the front door. When she sees Dan, she smiles. She is a tall slender lady could easily grace the pages of a fashion magazine. She is also a respected doctor.
“Dan, it is good to see you,” she says. “What brings the famous Dan Mesa to Baltimore and in uniform? I saw you on the news a few weeks ago. You were involved in that shoot-out in New Mexico. I am happy that you weren’t hurt. You lead a dangerous life.”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. But sometimes, it is just the way things are. I know you guys aren’t too keen on me, but I need your help. I was telling Dad about my situation.”
“Son, how about going back to Arizona traveling in a motor home?” Jonathan asks. “The way I see it, no one would expect you to be traveling in that manner.”
“You know that is not a bad idea,” Nadia says. “I have too much time on my hands. I’d like to go back to Arizona, and Jonathan, you owe me a vacation. I will need to call the hospital and let them know where I will be for the next couple of weeks. I am officially retired, but I still need to keep them informed of my location.”
Nadia is a thoracic surgeon assigned to Baltimore General and a very intelligent lady, who was once a high school biology teacher. Rumor has it she once saved the life of a student by cutting a hole in his throat to allow him to breathe. After that, she decided to go to medical school and become a doctor. That was about thirty years and several operations ago. Garnett, her daughter, decided that becoming a doctor was okay after that.
Dan Mesa is aware that the proposal has merit and, after due consideration, decides to go with it.
“Dad, these people can be dangerous; I don’t want the two of you exposed to danger. Also, Garnett would kill me if anything happened to you, and Devlin thinks the world of his granddad and grandmother.”
Nadia smiles and comments that she would never do anything to put Jonathan or herself in danger. Then they get busy planning their trip to Nogales.
“How serious are Ranson’s wounds?” Jonathan asks.
“Well, he was shot in the left shoulder and the bullet has been removed. He is conscious and talking. Mom, I know you are a doctor, but is this something you are qualified to handle?”
“Sure. A bullet wound of that nature is fairly simple medicine. You have to be alert to infection, as in any wound. But I’ll carry everything needed to treat him, and that way, we won’t have to stop and purchase anything, which will attract attention.”
They decide to take the less obvious route of I-64 through West Virginia into Saint Louis, then Highway 67 south through Arkansas, I-40 to Flagstaff, and then I-15 to Tucson. Jonathan figures I-15 will be less traveled to Tucson than I-10, which goes straight to Tucson.
Dan calls Captain Johnson at his home to explain the situation.
In Nogales, it is a hot day with no rain in sight—a typical August evening. It seems that, when the mercury rises, tempers also rise.
The city police and the rangers are investigating two murders involving illegal aliens and one kidnapping. The kidnapping involves two of the local tribes, which brings in the rangers and the federals. Captain Johnson is fed up with the FBI. It is his opinion that the FBI doesn’t know their butts from a hole in the ground.”
Captain Johnson’s phone rings, and Mesa is on the line.
“Sir, Sergeant Mesa here,” Mesa says. “I am still in Virginia, and we have a problem. Ranson is not dead. I said that to throw our mole off. He has a slight flesh wound. Sir, I can’t return Ranson by commercial plane or any other public transport; the risks are too great. My ex-father-in-law has agreed to drive us back in his motor home. It would be risky flying back to Tucson. I believe someone is watching me and knows everything I’m doing, and that is why I called you at home and not at work. I propose that I drive him back. What do you think about it?”
Captain Johnson is quiet for a while before saying, “I don’t like it. I don’t like having you on the road alone with a fugitive. If something happens out there, you don’t have anyone to back you up.”
“Sir, I believe I have a solution,” Mesa says. “I have a friend in the FBI in Washington, DC. He will be able to do something. I will call you back.”
Mesa turns to Jonathan and says, “Dad, how about going with me to the FBI building to see a friend? He is an old air force buddy.”
He agrees, so they leave for Washington. Dan Mesa is anxious about seeing his old friend. Scotty Ortiz is an e
x-air force chief master sergeant who left the air force and joined the FBI. He is a very secretive sort of fellow who knows where the bones are buried, and he and Dan have been friends for a lot of years.
The Hoover building is located at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue in close proximity to the Capitol Building. Jonathan and Dan arrive at the entrance and ask to speak to Agent Scott Ortiz. Mesa identifies himself as an Arizona ranger.
The phone rings in a spacious office where Ortiz is working.
“Special Agent Ortiz speaking. How can I help?”
“Scotty, Dan Mesa here. How the heck are you?”
Scotty jumps up from his chair, excited, and yells, “Dan Mesa, where the heck are you?”
“I am downstairs with the guard, and I need you to come down and get us. Can you do that or send someone down for us?”
Scotty is beaming.
“I will send someone down for you right now,” he says. He hangs up and turns to his assistant. “Annette, will you please go down to the guard station and escort Ranger Dan Mesa and his guest upstairs?” He is an old friend.
“Is he a Texas ranger?” Annette asks.
“No, wrong state. He is an Arizona ranger and darned proud of it. I haven’t seen him since I left the air force. He was a captain in the military police. When he retired, he became a ranger. I’ve kept up with him over the years, and he is something as a ranger. Do you remember that incident in Albuquerque last month? Well, that ranger was Dan Mesa, my dearest friend? Now, please hurry down and escort them up.”