“I want you to keep this under your hat right now. I don’t want our men to go wandering through the neighborhood, itching to shoot any man they see carrying candy. We’re going to do this investigation the right way.”
“Yes sir.”
“I’m going to walk this boy home and tell his parents he was witness to a crime and might be in danger. I’ll get a description of the shooter and any other pertinent information I can get from him.”
“Yes sir. What can I do to help?”
“I want you to pass the word to all the others. Tell them we’ll meet at our regular muster tomorrow at high noon.
“Tell them I will fill them in on the latest and will assign a two man team to investigate the major’s murder. The rest of them will continue with their assigned duties. This case is big, I know. And I also know that every one of our Rangers will want to help solve it. But we have a duty to the citizens of Lubbock as well.”
“Yes sir. I’ll make sure everyone gets the word.”
As the Ranger walked away Davis returned to Tommy and went again to one knee.
“Tommy, where do you live?”
The boy made a very vague gesture to the northwest and said, “Two blocks that way and a block the other way.”
“Can you take me there? I need to talk to your parents.”
He hesitated a bit.
“Well, my Dad’s dead now on account of he killed himself. It’s just me and my mom. Are you sure you’re not taking me to jail? Cause if you are, she didn’t do anything. She didn’t know anything about it.”
“No, Tommy. I’m not taking you to jail. And I’m sorry about your dad. I just want to talk to your mom for a few minutes, okay?”
“Okay.”
He led the Ranger through the streets until they arrived at a ramshackle house in the center of a block.
It was smaller than every other house around it, and much older too. A two bedroom bungalow in a sea of four bedroom middle class homes, it was obviously the first house built on the block, before a big developer came in and built more stately homes.
A realtor would have struggled for an adequate description of the house, and would have settled on something like “cozy” or “fixer-upper.”
Truth was, it wasn’t much of a house to begin with.
It was easy to see it wasn’t well maintained even before the power went out.
Now it looked even worse, with broken tricycles and yard toys tossed every which way in the knee-high grass.
Davis suspected that this house was the blight of the neighborhood even before chaos came to call. Every neighborhood has one: that one family whose standard of living brings down the property values for everybody else.
He suddenly felt sympathy for the plight of the young boy walking at his side.
Davis knocked on the doorjamb and Tommy said, “Shoot, you don’t gotta knock. Just go on in. The lock’s been busted for years.”
But Davis wasn’t about to just barge in unannounced. Before the blackout it wasn’t courteous. Nowadays, with every homeowner armed and expecting trouble, it was downright dangerous.
“I’ll wait out here. Tell your mom I need to talk to her, okay?”
The woman who came to the door had seen better days. Davis could tell she was once quite beautiful, but had lost her luster. Her hair was unkempt; her face was dirty and haggard.
She’d probably aged several years in the two short months since the power went out.
Still, she managed a cordial smile.
Chapter 14
“Hello, officer. I’m sorry if Tommy got into mischief again. I’m afraid it’s my fault. I haven’t been doing a very good job of keeping up with him lately.”
“Oh no, ma’am. It’s nothing like that. In fact, he’s done a very good thing. He’s shared with us some information about the murder of our commanding officer.”
Her eyebrows went up in surprise.
He went on.
“I’m afraid that Tommy was witness to a murder. It happened right in front of his eyes. He was able to give us a good description of the killer, and gave us a place to start. He’s a good boy and a good citizen for doing that…
“But I’m worried about him and felt the need to come and call on you.”
“Worried why?”
“Well, for two reasons, really. First of all because if the killer realizes Tommy was a witness he could come after him. Tommy told me he never saw the man before, and doesn’t know where he lives. So it’s unlikely he knows where Tommy lives either. And it’s highly unlikely he’ll be going around the neighborhood looking for him, since he knows we’re hunting for him.
“So I don’t want to alarm you unnecessarily. But there is a slight chance he knows where Tommy lives and will be coming for him, probably in the dead of night.
“I wanted to give you and Tommy the opportunity to gather some of your things and to relocate to a new place. I can arrange to have you take over the residence of someone who has abandoned their home and moved elsewhere. I know of several families who have left their houses and gone to find relatives or friends in other cities. Their houses are still furnished and comfortable and…”
He wanted to say, “A big step up from the way you’re living here,” but he thought it better not to.
Instead he said, “I can arrange for you to live there peacefully, at least until the family came home again. And probably forever.”
She pondered the offer, then asked, “What was the other thing you were worried about?”
Before he answered, Davis looked at Tommy and said, “Son, would you mind letting me talk to your mom in private for just a minute?”
Tommy dejectedly disappeared into the shadows of the house.
“I’m worried about his emotional well-being, ma’am. He saw a man die before his very eyes. That’s hard for anybody to deal with, much less a little boy. If I knew where to find a child psychiatrist I’d drag him over here to help Tommy cope…”
She interrupted him.
“He’s been through it before.”
“Pardon me?”
“A week after the lights went out I had an argument with his father. We were running out of food, and I was begging him to get out and find us some. But he was afraid to. There were gunshots all over the neighborhood. Word was going around that gangs were taking over some of the supermarkets and were shooting anybody who went there for food.
“Instead of going out for food he got himself drunk. He drank half a liter bottle of gin. Then he put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
“Tommy… his only child, was sitting on the couch next to him.
“Tommy camped out in his tent in the back yard for three nights after that. He wouldn’t come into the house, not even to eat. I finally got all the mess cleaned up and dragged Danny’s body next door. The neighbor buried it for me in his back yard so Tommy wouldn’t have to see it.
“I finally got Tommy to come back in the house after the body was gone and the mess cleaned up. But he won’t talk about it. I can only imagine the damage it’ll do to him in the long term, but for now he’s trying his best to put on a brave face.
“He told me the other day he’s the man of the house now and he’ll do the things his father was too scared to do. He goes out every couple of days and brings back food. He won’t tell me where he gets it, but he tells me not to worry. He says he’s careful and won’t get shot. Because he says he doesn’t want to leave me alone like his father did.”
“Why don’t you pack a few things and come with me? I know where a house is available. A really nice house, in a neighborhood a few blocks from here. It belonged to a family I knew well before the blackout. They struck out for Dallas to be with the rest of their relatives, and I doubt they’re ever coming back.
“You’ll be comfortable there. And I’ll check in on you every few days to see how you and Tommy are doing. I’ll bring food when I come to check on you.”
The woman misinterpreted his kindnes
s.
She reached out and held his hand, then moved closer to him. Davis could feel the warmth of her body against his and realized he’d made a big mistake.
He backed away immediately.
“Ma’am, don’t get me wrong. I’m a happily married man. I’m just trying to help get you and your son into a better situation.”
Her face visibly brightened a bit; it lost some of its despair.
“I’m sorry, Ranger. It’s just that… well, lately every man who’s offered to help us in any way was trying to help himself as well.”
“Why don’t you and Tommy pack your things? Pack as lightly as you can. I’m going back to get my horse. He can carry several of your bags, and we’ll lead him over to the house I have in mind. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Davis wheeled about and started to walk away but she called out to stop him.
“Ranger?”
“Yes ma’am?”
“Thank you. For not… well, we’ve lost nearly everything we have since the blackout. I’ve got very few things I can offer someone to help us.
“Thank you for not demanding one of the few things I have left.”
Davis didn’t know what to say.
He merely tipped his hat and walked away, cursing under his breath for such a miserable world it had become.
Chapter 15
The mood was somber the next day, the sun high in the sky, as the Rangers gathered on the steps of the federal building.
It seemed as though someone had let all the air out of their balloon. All the joy of being a Texas Ranger was suddenly gone.
They’d lost their leader and good friend.
A piece of them was gone forever.
It was Tom Cohen all over again. Shot dead by a nameless, faceless coward. A senseless act if there ever was one.
Randy had been working the Tom Cohen case by himself, thinking a formal investigation would be too much for the detachment to handle.
Just a week before, though, he’d gone to Major Shultz to tell him what he knew. That at least one of Tom’s killers was a white man, slight in build. He knew that much because a witness has seen the man atop Tom’s horse.
He knew a general location where he thought the man to be.
But he’d been back to that area several times since the day he’d tracked the man through a city park. He was no closer to finding his suspect at all.
Major Shultz had put in a call to Ranger Headquarters in Austin. HQ dispatched a two man investigations team from nearby Amarillo.
Coincidentally, Rangers Bill Medley and Bill Wise arrived the morning the major was shot and killed himself.
They still hadn’t been briefed on the Cohen case.
They were waiting at the noon muster with everyone else.
Lt. Davis brought the meeting to order.
“All of you know this is the last place I want to be. John Shultz was more than the best Ranger I ever met. He was also my very best friend. I can’t fill his shoes, but I’m going to assume he’s up there looking down upon us. I’m going to do my best to make him proud by doing his job as best I can.
“I suggest you do the same. He would not want this to break us as a unit. Nor would he want any of you to go off half-cocked, mad at the world, and ready to take out revenge on his behalf.
“I do not want to hear any words about retaliation or revenge. If any of you try that crap, I swear to God I will personally remove your badge and throw you in the local jail pending your termination hearing.
“We’re going to get justice, not revenge. You all know damn well there’s a difference. Am I understood, gentlemen?”
As one, the men called out, “Yes sir.”
“Good. I know that every single one of you wants to work the Shultz case. Unfortunately, we’ve still got our commitment to the citizens of Lubbock and to the students of Texas Tech University. We will not let them down.
“I have assigned the Shultz case to Ranger Jack Castro and Ranger Tim Sondrini. They’ve got the most investigatory experience in our ranks. They will provide everyone an update at our fifth day musters so everyone is aware of where their investigation stands.
“I have formally asked Austin for a second team to investigate the Shultz case, and if they can find one to send they will work alongside Castro and Sondrini. In the meantime, the rest of you will stay off the case, and that’s an order.
“I briefed Castro and Sondrini an hour ago and told them what we have so far. The case is now in their hands.
“As for current status, we do have a witness. He’s a nine year old boy named Tommy and he spoke to our shooter just before the incident.
“He is scared. He and his single mother have been relocated to another neighborhood, and she has been provided a firearm and told not to leave the house for the time being.
“Here’s how you can help. And take note this is the only way you can help.
“The safe house is located at 8211 Milwaukee Avenue. I don’t have to remind you gentlemen to keep that address to yourselves.
“If you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by the house and knock on the door. Take something with you. A few bottles of drinking water. Some food from a nearby supermarket. Something.
“I want this boy and his mother to know they are not alone. I want them to believe there’s an army of men out there who are helping to watch over them.
“In the event our shooter goes looking for the boy, I want him to get the same impression. That the house is getting the highest visibility from law enforcement. I’ve already made the same request of the LPD and the LCSO. Both of them will ask their men to patrol that neighborhood vigorously.
“Unless you’re there dropping food or water and checking up on them, I don’t want any of you to interfere in the case. Ask around, and if you hear any rumors or tips about who the shooter might be, pass it on to Castro or Sondrini. Do not work the tip yourself, understood?”
Again, in unison, “Yes sir.”
“Now then. For those of you who haven’t met Rangers Medley and Wise, they’re here from Amarillo to take over the Cohen case. Same thing goes. Continue to ask around for leads. If you get any, pass them on immediately but don’t go lone wolf on us. It’s not what the major would have wanted and it will not be tolerated.
“Does everyone understand?”
“Yes sir.”
“Are any of you going to try me on this one?”
“No sir.”
“Very well. Consider yourselves back on your regular rotation. One day helping the Texas Tech Agriculture project, three days canvassing your neighborhoods and helping where you can. Every fifth day off.
“I expect you to take your days off resting and relaxing. If I find out you’re spending your day off trying to investigate either case, I’ll have your ass. I hope you all understand that.
“One last thing, gentlemen. We have no reason to believe these two shootings were related. But let’s use this as a reminder that there are a lot of cowardly skunks out there who have no qualms about shooting a man in the back.
“You be careful out there, understand?”
“Yes sir.”
Chapter 16
Randy stayed behind once everyone else broke up to brief Rangers Medley and Wise.
As expected, he listened to them lecture him about going solo on an important case.
“I know you were trying to do the right thing by not encouraging your fellow Rangers from deserting their posts to come help you. But what if you were out there alone and the bad guy turned the tables on you?
“You would have been in serious trouble with no help on the way. If you’d gotten yourself killed we’d have three dead Rangers now instead of two.”
Medley was Randy’s senior by ten years, and he was by the book all the way. Still, he understood Randy’s logic and didn’t want to be too hard on him.
“I’ll tell you what,” he told Randy. “We obviously don’t know the city as well as you do. Why don’t you rid
e over to the crime scene with us so we can get our bearings? Then you can take us to the general area you believe the suspect to be hiding.”
Randy was all too eager to do so, but not for the reason Medley believed.
Randy believed the only reason he hadn’t yet caught Tom’s killer was sheer bad luck. He thought every time he’d been out that way, the killer had simply been away, or sleeping in a house as Randy rode past.
Perhaps today would be the day they’d finally stumble across one another.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
Medley and Wise set up camp in an abandoned house on Raleigh Avenue just before sundown. Randy rode back to his own apartment for a good night’s sleep.
Sleep was something he’d missed a lot of since Tom died, and he didn’t expect it to change much now that there was another cop killer out there.
The following day he was scheduled to canvass 29th Street. It was the second sweep through his own neighborhood, and it was disheartening.
He’d noticed there were fewer people answering their doors this time around, and he was stumbling across more and more decaying bodies.
The human body does a wonderful job of ensuring we don’t miss too much sleep. As we near the point of exhaustion, it tunes out all the stressors which have been keeping us awake at night and puts us into a deep sleep. It never quite regains all the lost sleep. But it certainly helps.
And so it was that Randy placed his head upon his pillow that evening expecting another long and sleepless night.
Instead, he was out within minutes and slept like a baby.
Randy didn’t dream often, for he was a light sleeper and dreams typically woke him up before they really got started.
When his mind and body was totally exhausted, though, he slept more deeply. And that meant the REM sleep which invited his mind to open up as he slept. To dream in vivid color. While scientists had long maintained that people dream in black and white, Randy never bought into that.
“That’s malarkey, he used to say. I don’t dream often. But when I do it’s in Technicolor, like a huge movie screen laid out in front of me.”
Death Comes Calling (Ranger Book 3) Page 5