by Dan Sears
Alana leans over kisses Mesa on the lips and says; “Here is a present just in case.” She place a gun in his hand. He says thanks and he smiles a sleepy smile and drifts off to sleep.
Mesa is having a nightmare and suddenly awakens, knowing someone is in his room. His hand closes around the handle of his pistol, and he rolls to the floor. The dark figure opens fire on the bed, and Dan Mesa returns fire, wounding the assassin in the chest. Security rushes to the room as Mesa struggles to get up from the floor. Sergeant Dan Mesa has a grazed head and a bullet burn on his arm.
The police arrive along with the rangers while Dr. Burke is treating Mesa’s head wound. Captain Johnson walks in with Sergeant Burke.
Johnson looks at Dan and says, “Sergeant Mesa, are you all right? It appears that someone still wants you dead. I think you should go into protective custody.’
“Captain, I have always fought my own battles, and I am not about to turn tail and run from these characters. I will meet them head-on. They started this, and I am going to end it. They killed Sonia and Savalas, and they have tried to kill me several times. Now it is my turn, and I plan to make everyone associated with this pay the ultimate price.”
“Sergeant, I will not have you or any of the rangers involved in personal vendettas while wearing that ranger badge. Do you understand me?”
For the first time in his life as a ranger, Dan Mesa pulls the star off his chest and hands it to Captain Johnson.
“Sir, I quit, because I will never give up hunting those who did this to Sonia and Savalas. I love being a ranger, but I will leave the rangers before I give up my quest.”
Captain Johnson realizes he is about to lose one of the best rangers he has. Suddenly, he realizes that the best way to keep track of Mesa is to keep him active as a ranger, because left to his own devices, Sergeant Daniel Mesa could be a force to reckon with.
“Sergeant Mesa, no one leaves the rangers. You are a ranger until you die. Just keep me posted on what you are doing. Now, tell me what happened.”
Mesa relates what happened to the captain. In the meantime, the suspect is being treated in the emergency room. He asks to speak to Dan Mesa.
“Doctor, please, I must speak to Ranger Mesa. Please I don’t have much time left.”
When Dan Mesa arrives in the emergency room, he says, “Yes, what do you want from me and who the hell are you?”
“Ranger, I was sent by Carlos to kill you. He has also put a contract on your family, your ex-wife and son. I am sorry.”
He gasps and dies on the operating table, never telling them who he is.
Mesa telephones Garnett. The phone rings in her office at Johns Hopkins.
“John Hopkins Hospital, how may I help you?” someone answers.
“I am Sergeant Daniel Mesa of the Arizona rangers, and this is an emergency. I need to speak with Doctor Garnett Williamson-Mesa.”
“One moment please.”
Mesa waits for what seems like and hour but is only a few minutes.
A voice answers saying; “Daniel, this is Garnett. What is wrong?”
“Garnett, pick up Devlin immediately and stay in the hospital until you hear from me. There is a contract out on you and Devlin. My captain is in the process of notifying the local police. But don’t you trust anyone until I get there. I will be there in a matter of hours, and Scotty will be there too. I am sorry I got you into this. It seems as if someone wants me dead and doesn’t care who has to die for that to happen. I will notify Scotty now, and he will escort you.”
“Daniel, what is all this about?”
“Well, I had a fainting spell and went back to the hospital for a day. It wasn’t anything serious and I am okay. While I was here, someone tried to kill me, but I got him. He told me about the contract before he died. Now, I promise all will be all right. You and Devlin will be okay.”
“Dan, I am holding you to your promise. I know this isn’t your doing, but I still get angry with you because of your job. Why can’t you just give it up and do something else?”
“Garnett, if I did give up my job as a ranger, would you come back to me?”
There is a silence on the other end and then a deep breath.
“No, Dan, I will not return to you. It isn’t that I don’t love you. It’s because too much time has elapsed, and we are different people now and can’t go back.”
“I see. I will make sure things are safe for you and Devlin. Give him a hug for me. Take care and don’t take anything for granted. Good-bye.”
At FBI headquarters, the phone rings in Agent Ortiz’s office.
“This is Agent Ortiz,” he answers. “How can I help you?”
“Scotty, this is Dan Mesa, and I need your help. Garnett and Devlin’s lives are at risk. In attempt to get to me, someone has put out a contract on them. I need you and your people to provide protection for them.”
“Dan, I will see to it personally. I understand they tried to kill you too. Take care of yourself, because I can’t afford to lose my best friend. I don’t do well at funerals.”
“Thanks, Scotty. I owe you one, and I will repay it. Garnett and Devlin mean a lot to me, and I don’t want anything to happen to them.”
“Dan, I will protect them with my life. The only way they will get them is through me, and that won’t happen. They are going to disappear until this is over. No one—not even you—will know where they are until this is over. So go and do what you do so well.”
Mesa hangs up the phone and rushes to the airport for a flight to Baltimore. When Mesa arrives, he is escorted to the air reserves headquarters.
“Hello, Captain Mesa. I am Colonel Williamson, Garnett’s first cousin, and I have been tasked to fly you to Baltimore the fastest way possible. Agent Ortiz will meet us at the airport. Take care of my cousin. She is one in a million, but you already know that.”
“Thanks, colonel, and I will do everything in my power to protect them. Scotty will take care of them while I put this whole situation to rest. It has gone on long enough, and too many people have suffered because of it. Now I am going to make some very bad people pay with their lives.”
“Captain Mesa or Ranger Mesa, I am glad you are one of the good guys, because you would make one hell of a bad guy. These fellows you are after, do they deserve what you are about to do to them?”
“Yes, sir, they deserve it and more besides. They killed a lady friend of mine and a fellow ranger, and they have tried killing me three times. The second time, they almost succeeded, but the third time I was ready for them, and the assassin paid with his life. Now I am going on the hunt. There will be a lot of dead people before this is over.”
When they arrive in Baltimore, they are met at the airport by the FBI. Mesa proceeds with Scotty to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Garnett has Devlin with her when Mesa arrives. The entire nursing staff has been alerted that the rangers have arrived. Mesa walks in with his traditional jeans, western shirt, badge, and white hat. Only today he is carrying a hidden gun, a 9 mm. Mesa’s features are drawn and tight, and he is wearing his death face.
As they step outside the hospital, two individuals open fire. Mesa pushes Garnett and Devlin to the ground and opens fire, emptying the revolver into the first assassin. With his left hand, he draws the 9 mm and opens fire. He puts four bullets into the second individual as she opens fire on him.
“Dan, stop. You will be killed,” Garnett yells, but Mesa keeps running toward the lady, firing. She switches from the revolver to an automatic and continues firing until she drops, mortally wounded.
As suddenly as it started, it is over. Dan Mesa has two bullet holes in his hat, a bullet hole in his sleeve, and a bullet burn on his arm. He calmly holsters his weapons and rushes to his ex-wife and son. Both are unharmed. Garnett is visibly shaken, and Devlin is crying. Mesa picks his son up and comforts him. He puts
his other arm around Garnett and holds her for a few minutes.
Agent Ortiz takes over searching the woman and man for ID, but he finds none. The ambulance arrives, and the bodies are taken away to the coroner’s office. Slowly, order is restored, and Mesa takes Garnett and Devlin to her father’s home. Scotty accompanies them.
Jonathan and Nadia are waiting when they arrive. Nadia sees a difference in Dan. She notices the drawn lines around his mouth and a smoldering fire in his eyes. She sees a man carrying more burdens than anyone man should carry.
“Mom, Dad, I am sorry all this happened. It seems that I am always apologizing these days. This attempt on Garnett and Devlin is related to the situation in Arizona, and I didn’t know it would go this far. I will terminate this entire situation when I get back.”
“Son, sometimes you just can’t control some situations. Jonathan and I know that you didn’t intentionally cause all this. Remember that we were there for some of the action. You just do what you have to do, and you will be in our prayers.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Dan says, “I needed to hear you say those things. I believe Garnett faults me for what has happened. I would never do anything to harm her or Devlin. They are most important to me. I guess it is time for me to move on before she really gets angry with me.”
Garnett walks into the room and looks at Daniel Mesa with eyes as cold as ice. She turns away and then says, “Dan Mesa, if you ever endanger our lives again, you will never see me or Devlin again. What happened today was your fault. Don’t ever bring your problems around us again.”
Devlin comes into the room, and Dan picks him up and hugs him.
“Son, I love you dearly, and I would never intentionally hurt you or Mom. What happened today was because bad people wanted to hurt me because I am going to arrest them. They hurt two of my friends, and now they have tried to hurt Mommy and you. Always remember and know that I love you more than anything in this world.”
Mesa turns slowly and walks out the door with stiff shoulders and a heavy heart. He gets into the rental car and drives away.
Inside her parents’ home, Garnett is as silent as a mouse. All eyes are on her.
“Garnett, I can’t believe you said that to him,” Scotty says. “I have known both of you for more than twenty years, and I love you both, but never have I seen you treat anyone like that, most of all someone like Daniel Mesa. He would gladly give his life for anyone in this room. They don’t come any better than him. You have just destroyed a very good man.”
With those words, Scott walks out the door.
Chapter Eight
On a flight back to Arizona, Mesa is deep in thought when he suddenly realizes someone is speaking to him.
“I must apologize for my behavior,” he says. “I didn’t realize you were speaking to me.”
The flight attendant smiles and says, “I was asking if you’d like a beverage of some type.”
“Yes, a cup of coffee would be great . . . with cream and sugar.”
She looks at him, deciding whether she likes him or not. She thinks, He looks so alone, as if he is carrying the world on his shoulders. She hands him the coffee and asks, “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m an Arizona ranger from Nogales, Arizona.”
“I didn’t know Arizona had rangers. I thought only Texas had rangers.” She smiles at him, and he smiles back. “So, ranger, by what name are you called? I am Monica Saint Jacque from New Orleans, Louisiana.”
He looks at her with eyes that never blink and says, “I’m Daniel Mesa, a sergeant in the rangers.”
“Sergeant Mesa, it is my pleasure to meet you and the Arizona rangers. Well, I must complete my work, but I hope I see you again very soon.”
She walks away smiling with a walk that tugs at his memory. She reminds him so much of Sonia, it’s as though Sonia has been reincarnated. Suddenly, he feels very lonely.
The pilot announces that they are approaching Tucson, so Mesa prepares to depart the plane. Suddenly, Monica is standing there.
“Ranger, this is my turn around point from New Orleans to here. Maybe someday when you aren’t busy chasing the bad guys, we could have dinner?”
Mesa is surprised and stammers, “Yes, I’d like that. Here is my card. It has my duty phone on it and my cellular phone.”
She hands him her number and smiles, saying, “Don’t forget to use it sometime.” She smiles again. “She must have been some lady.” Then she turns and walks away.
Dan Mesa is perplexed. He thinks, There is something wrong here. This is a replay of Sonia. How did she know I was thinking about Sonia?
Alana meets him in the airport, and she greets with a smile and a kiss.
“Cowboy, it is good to see you. I will be the first to say that I really missed you a lot. Have you eaten? You are very thin. I am worried about you. Captain Johnson told me about what happened in Baltimore, and I am sorry it happened again. One of these days, we will find peace and happiness.”
“Alana, I missed you too. What have you done to yourself? There is something different about you. What I mean is, you have always been beautiful, but today you are exceptionally so.”
“Dan, you haven’t seen me for a few days, and you just missed me. Now, are you hungry? Because I am. I found a Greek restaurant on Fifth and Main named Odysseus. The food is absolutely great, especially the stuffed grape leaves, olive salad, and the lamb chops.”
“Okay, Lieutenant Osborne, lead on. I am hungry.”
They arrive at the restaurant, and the meal is excellent by Mesa’s standards.
He looks at Alana and says, “Something strange happened on the plane. One of the flight attendants approached me and started a conversation, asking me what kind of work I did. I told her I was a ranger. She continued talking, and when she left, she said, ‘She must have been some lady.’ She smiled, handed me her address, and walked away. The strange part is how she knew I was thinking about Sonia, and the address she gave me is the same as Sonia’s. Am I crazy or is something strange about this? Her name is Monica Saint Jacque.”
“Dan, I know you are not crazy, and yes, there is something strange about what happened. Can you describe her?”
“Yes, she was about five feet six inches and weighed about one hundred twenty pounds. She has long, wavy brown hair and hazel eyes. She is possibly of African American descent and probably French—the same as I am. That isn’t much to go on, but that’s all I can tell you. We can call the airline and ask them about her.”
Once they get to ranger headquarters, Captain Johnson is briefed, and he puts through a telephone call to Delta airlines in Dallas.
“Captain, there was a flight attendant by that name who worked for us about ten years ago and she was killed in a crash ago. She was the best in every way. Why do you ask?”
“Ma’am, this is going to sound crazy,” Johnson says, “but one of my rangers was on Delta flight seven three two today from Baltimore to Tucson. He says he met someone by that name, and she was a flight attendant on that flight.” Johnson describes her to the lady on the phone. He hears her take a deep breath.
Then she says, “Captain, your ranger described her to the finest detail, and yes, that was Monica. I can’t explain it either.”
“Thanks, ma’am, for all of your help. I will keep you posted on what we turn up.”
The captain turns to Mesa and Osborne with a ghostly white face.
“Guys,” he says, “the lady you described was killed in a crash about ten years ago; she did work for the airline. This is crazy. I need a drink. Now we are dealing with ghost. Sergeant, do me a favor and close this case as soon as possible.”
Sergeant Dan Mesa turns around and walks out without saying a word. Mesa goes to the Ford dealership and buys a one-year-old Ford F150 4x4 with a V8 engine and off-road tires. The truck is midnight
blue with an extended cab, shiny mag wheels, a wench, and running lights. It has duel exhaust and a distinctive exhaust sound.
Mesa then goes to his ranch and assembles an arsenal consisting of one M16 with one hundred rounds, one twelve-gauge shotgun with buckshot and one hundred rounds, one 30-30 Winchester with two hundred rounds, a .357 magnum with three hundred rounds, and ten hand grenades. It is September, so he takes five pairs of jeans, shirts, underwear, and hiking boots as well as several MREs (meals ready to eat) and a sleeping bag with a first aid kit.
Finally Dan returns to ranger headquarters and reports to Captain Johnson.
“Sergeant,” the captain says, “the last we heard from Carlos and Antonio, they were in San Antonio. The Texas rangers have been keeping an eye on them for us. When you get to San Antonio, report to Major Boca Huerta, and he will bring you up to date. Oh, yes, you are now a temporary agent for the FBI. This will allow you to follow them anywhere they go. Sergeant, please be careful. These guys are playing for keeps. Now, go and do what you do so well, but stay alive and don’t kill anyone unless you have to.”
“Thanks, sir,” Mesa says. “I will be careful. Please tell the colonel thanks as well.”
Dan Mesa drives eastward on I-10 toward New Mexico and Texas. He covers nearly five hundred miles, and the Ford covers the miles effortlessly, but still it’s not the 4Runner.
“I miss that truck, and I miss Savalas. I will make someone pay for your death, old friend.”
In the meantime another plot unfolds in the home of Carlos’s brother in San Antonio. They are celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain, when Carlos speaks.
“I still have a problem in my life known as Ranger Daniel Mesa,” he says. “That hombre is driving me mad. I can feel his presence. He is either in San Antonio or he is headed in this direction. He knows I was involved in the señora’s death, and he knows I tried to kill him and his friend, Ranger Savalas. He also knows I put a contract on his ex-wife and his son. I will have to kill him, or he will kill Antonio and me. He will never give up, and so I must stop him. If someone did to me what I have done to him, I would kill not only him but his entire family. I don’t know what he will do, but I can tell you he is one angry, dangerous man. On a good day, he is one mean son-of-a-bitch, but when he is angry, he is ten times meaner.”