by Carolina Mac
“You didn’t have to be present, Mr. Marshall,” said Jesse. “One of your sharp-shooting members could have carried it off quite easily on his own.”
“We don’t have any volunteer snipers among our members, Ranger Quantrall. To even hint that we do is ludicrous.”
“Many aspects of a murder investigation turn out to be far from what you’d expect, Mr. Marshall. I’d like a list of all your members and I’m afraid we’ll have to alibi every last one of them.”
“Ridiculous.”
Jesse shrugged.
“It is what it is, Mr. Marshall,” said the Chief. “You may want to call someone to take you to your arraignment.”
U of Texas Area. Austin.
BLAINE arrived at the scene a few blocks away from the University of Texas with strobes flashing and dared the media vans crowding the curb to get in his way. The sidewalk in front of the large rooming house was crowded with clusters of pedestrians on both sides of the yellow tape.
“Take the back, Carlos and Fletch and look for footprints, anything you can dig up. If this is like the Millburn’s, there won’t be much of anything.”
“Farrell, talk to Sue. She won’t have much yet but see if there’s a hint of anything, and after that, call Mary. I want to talk to her. Maybe we’ll do dinner.”
“What are you doing, bro?” Blaine smiled at the question Farrell always asked him. “I’m talking to Lopez first and then Mort.”
“Good enough,” said Farrell. “I thought you were going to Starbucks to sit on your ass.”
“Fuck off.”
Upstairs, the dead student’s fourteen by sixteen room was crammed full of police personnel. Blaine could hardly push his way in the door. Doctor Mort Simon and his assistant, Tim, were beside the bed. Mort was directing, and Tim was taking the shots of the victim the pathologist wanted and jotting down notes when he had time.
Blaine glanced around the room and other than the single bed, there was a narrow bookshelf, a cheap table desk in front of the window holding a laptop and a printer, a swivel desk chair and one folding chair over in the corner. No door on the closet and not many clothes inside.
“Anything, Mort?”
“Shades of nothing,” said Mort. “Like Mrs. Millburn.”
“Fuck,” said Blacky.
Lopez took a step closer and chuckled. “Already you’re cursing?”
“Got one of these non-murders already,” said Blaine.
Lopez flashed a dazzling white smile. “Now y’all got two.”
CARLOS and Fletcher walked a careful grid at the back of the big house. The yard was generous like a lot of old city lots and back in the day there would have been well-kept flower beds all around the perimeter. A fence ran along the back boundary and right at the back were several trash cans next to a small garden shed that held little more than a lawnmower and a rake.
“Over here,” said Fletcher. He bent down and picked up a book out of the long grass close to the fence. He flipped through and said, “A library book.”
“Bag it,” said Carlos. “You wearing gloves?”
“Uh huh,” said Fletch. “Roger that.”
I took the bus to downtown Austin to the grad student’s house to get the book back and the police were already there. I circled the block to see if I could get it from the other side of the fence and watched as a cop without a uniform found it and put it into an evidence bag.
This is so bad. I can’t tell Aunt Laura. She will never forgive me, and she’ll lock me in my room for a month and take away my phone and my laptop like she did before. I can’t go back to the house. I’m glad I brought my backpack with me.
Santa Fe. New Mexico.
TYLER arrived at Santa Fe airport and rented a Jeep for his stay in town. He’d called Paulie from the departure’s lounge and asked him to cover for him for a couple of days. No mares were coming in and there was nothing pressing at the barn—that he knew of. He had to do this. He’d been waffling back and forth on Annie since they’d broken up years before—before she… he didn’t want to think about it, but most of what happened had been his fault. He’d been an asshole for breaking up with her and now he couldn’t love anybody else.
It doesn’t matter if Jesse understands or not. I’m finished worrying about what my brother’s think. I’ll move to Coulter-Ross and fuckin stay there like I did before.
Traffic in downtown Santa Fe was heavy as Tyler tried to remember how to get to Mill Antiques. It was near the river, he knew that much, but he couldn’t remember the exact address. After circling several wrong blocks and wondering where he was, he remembered the store was across the road from Tortilla Flats. He and Annie had eaten there dozens of times.
Tyler pulled over to the curb, programmed the restaurant into the GPS and smiled. Lola knew her way to Tortilla Flats.
What am I gonna do about Luke? I don’t think he and Annie are involved, and I don’t want to be rude to him, but I want some private time.
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
TRAVIS spent all morning in Lil’s office going through the threats that McLean Cornish had received, both by email and by letter. The ones that had arrived in the mail were carefully bagged in plastic and catalogued by date.
“He was careful with them,” said Travis, “but I wonder if they were taken to a lab for testing?”
“Doesn’t matter,” said Lil. “Take them to our lab and get it done. Something might turn up. All we need is one good print.”
At the bus terminal I checked the ticket prices and the farthest I could go was Laredo. I changed my plan and decided Mexico might be safer for me for a while. I could always go to LA later when I had more money. When I got a job and a place to live, I’d send money to Marta to come join me. My bus leaves in ten minutes.
U of Texas Area. Austin.
BLAINE texted Misty from the crime scene.
“I’m running late, sweetheart. I’ll meet you at Doctor Kaplan’s office.”
“Okay, Beb. Declan is taking me in about ten minutes.”
Farrell overheard Blaine’s conversation and said, “Go, meet Misty at the doc. I’ll finish up here and go brief the Chief.”
Santa Fe. New Mexico.
ANNIE was standing on a ladder at the back of the store putting up summer festival decorations and Luke was handing her the props as she needed them. She heard the bell jingle over the door and turned her head.
Tyler. What’s he doing here?
He strode across the polished plank floor, stood next to the ladder and smiled up at her. “I thought I’d surprise you.”
Annie giggled. “You sure did, Tyler. You are the last person I expected to see in Santa Fe after… never mind.” Annie climbed down the ladder and Luke excused himself from an awkward situation.
“I’ll go help Jean,” said Luke.
“Thanks, sugar.” To Tyler: “Do you want to talk upstairs?”
“Or across the road. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Sure. Let me get my purse.”
They walked across the road to Tortilla Flats and took a booth near the back. Tyler ordered a round of Lone Star and reached across the table for Annie’s hand. “The last time we talked, I was a jerk. Saying I wanted to back off because Jesse was pissed at me was stupid, because Jesse will always be pissed no matter what you do. Don’t matter if it’s me or who the person is.”
“That’s true,” said Annie. “He doesn’t want me, but he doesn’t want anybody in my life. That’s the way he operates.”
“We were good together more than once, Annie, and I’ve never stopped loving you. I’ve tried with other people and it always ends up going nowhere. I’m a shit at dating.”
Annie smiled. “You can’t be that bad. You’re a pretty decent guy, Tyler Quantrall.”
“I love you, Annie. Always have and always will.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
AT HEADQUARTERS, FARRELL was cautiously backing his big red beauty into a parking spot a little t
oo narrow when his cell rang on the passenger seat. It was his habit to drive with the screen visible, so he could see who was calling while he was in motion. Avery.
He scooped the phone up and hollered without meaning to, “Avery, do you know how many times I’ve called you?”
There was a pause on the other end, then she said in a small voice. “I wasn’t ready to talk to you without crying, Farrell, so I had to wait. I hope you’re not too mad at me.”
“Mad at you? You left me without a goddam word, girl.”
“And I’m sorry. But when I saw how upset Mary was, I knew I wasn’t right for you and I’m not comfortable in the city. I belong out here in Bluebonnet with my family. Luckily, Mr. Rayburn hadn’t filled my job and he was happy to have me back.”
“So, that’s it then?”
“I guess so. I never meant to hurt you, Farrell.”
“Okeydokey.” Farrell pressed end and banged his head on the steering wheel a couple of times.
I must have liked her more than she liked me. Fuck it.
He scrolled to Mary’s number and waited for her to answer. “Hey, babe, it’s me.”
“Hi, Farrell, what’s up?”
“The boss wants to talk to you. I think we’re doing dinner.”
“You too, Farrell?”
“Me too if you ain’t opposed to it.”
“How could I be opposed? I love you, Farrell.”
“I love you too, Mary. That ain’t the issue and never was.”
“Maybe we can talk about the issue later.”
“We can try.”
Medical Arts Building. Downtown Austin.
BLAINE checked the Cartier on his wrist for the third time as he raced to the medical building for Misty’s appointment. “Am I going to make it? She’ll think I don’t give a sweet goddam what’s going on with her and it ain’t true.”
He turned up the CD in the player to drown out his own negative thoughts. All his thoughts seemed to be negative lately. Maybe he needed a break.
He reached his destination, parked, ran into the building, across the lobby and into the elevator. Out of breath, he blasted into the doctor’s office and Misty and Declan were still in the waiting area. He blew out a breath and sank into the chair next to Misty.
She smiled at him and picked up his hand mouthing the words, “You’re not late.”
Not even five minutes later, Doctor Kaplan’s nurse, a tall blonde woman named Ona, called Misty’s name and showed the trio into his office.
Doctor Kaplan looked up from his laptop and smiled. “Here she is, my little phenom.”
Misty smiled back at him.
Thank baby Jesus, Misty likes him.
“I received all of your records from University Hospital in New Orleans and it took me a couple of nights to make sense of what Doctor Lee Chang believed was going on inside your brain, young lady. But I think I have a handle on it now.”
“Any insight into the walking problem?” asked Declan. “She’s doing much better now, but I’m constantly nervous about her falling—especially on the stairs.”
Blaine nodded his head in agreement.
“That’s an issue, and one that has no clear cut answer at the moment. Without surgery—looking inside Misty’s brain—to see exactly what areas have been affected, it’s guesswork. And the walking problem is a perfect example.” To Declan: “You will have to take it day by day, and if she seems off in the morning, don’t take any chances. Keep her in her chair. We don’t want her falling and breaking any bones.”
“True.” Blaine reached over and squeezed Misty’s hand.
“Moving on to her speech,” said the doctor, “that’s where we can make progress. “Misty wants to talk, and she knows how, but because of her injuries she needs retraining.” He pushed a referral slip across the desk. “I’ve set up her first appointment with Doctor Brenda Moore. She’s here in the building and she can meet Misty on Monday for a consultation.”
“Wonderful,” said Blaine. “I’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet, but I know Misty would like to say a few words now and then.” He turned and winked at her.
“How is Mrs. Powell?” asked the doctor as he showed them out.
“Doing well,” said Blaine. “Much better than she was when she first came out of the coma.”
Doctor Kaplan focused on Declan. “Monitor Mrs. Powell’s stress levels and any associated headaches, Mr. O’Connor. That’s where we’ll run into trouble if there’s going to be any in the future.”
“I’ll do that, Doctor.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
TRAVIS drove the Cornish file to the lab at headquarters and left the threatening letters in care of Sue, the head technician. “I hope you come up with at least one print that we can work with, Sue. We need a break on this case so bad.”
“Is Farrell working on it?”
“Partly, but he’s on something else today. I’m sure he’ll be talking to you soon.”
Sue flashed a pretty smile. “I hope so.”
Blacky’s right about the Sue thing. She’s hot for Farrell.
Tulley’s Seafood. Downtown Austin.
DINNER at Tulley’s was relaxing and something Blaine needed. He’d been stressed to the max over Misty’s condition as well as the cases they were getting nowhere on. He was happy to see Farrell and Mary talking again too. Farrell had filled him in on the conversation that he’d finally had with Avery. She was at home in Bluebonnet and she wasn’t coming back.
While they were waiting for Farrell’s dessert Mary asked, “Did you want to talk about something for the paper, Blaine?”
“I was trying to think of a way to flush out the sniper who killed Cornish, but I haven’t thought of a way to do it. At least not yet.”
Misty sat quietly and sipped her coffee.
“Our best bet is matching a print from the threatening letters. If we get nothing there, I think we’re stumped.”
Misty smiled at him and he could tell she was plotting something in her unique brain.
I’ll be so glad when she can talk.
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
AFTER MISTY was tucked into bed, Blaine grabbed a Corona and hunkered down in his office. He shaved several outer layers off squeaky clean Paul Leggatt, the quiet rancher and model citizen, and tried to get to the core of the man and find what was going on with his peaceful little pro-gun group. In different posts, various members were mentioned from time to time and Blaine made a list of the ones he came across, but he wanted a list of every member. No use seeing half the picture.
He’d have to run all the members through headquarters and see who had previous arrests and who was squeaky clean like Mr. Leggatt himself pretended to be. The man was too smooth and too… howdy boys to be for real.
Old West Austin.
LAURA MAY ate the wonderful baked salmon dinner she’d prepared for herself and Todd, made the boy a plate and covered it with foil. Where could he be? He’d been gone all day without a word. She’d called his cell phone several times and left messages. Did he get the book?
The book was her main concern. Without the book, little else mattered. She had to get all of the overdue books back for the library. It was her duty as head librarian, and she would carry out her duty no matter what.
She sat in the sitting room with the TV on and worked on her knitting for a couple of hours after dinner and still no Todd.
By nine o’clock, she had put her knitting aside and was staring out the window watching for him to come down the street. But he didn’t come.
“I don’t want to drive at night, but I’ll have to. I have to go back for the book.”
She put a sweater on, gathered up her purse and her keys and locked the house. The garage door was manual and difficult to raise. Todd usually did it for her. Laura May struggled with it and finally after several tries it rolled up high enough, that she was able to back her gray Prius out and into the street.
She’d given Todd the slip of pape
r with the address on it, so she’d gone back to the master list and written it down again. It was near the library downtown and not far from the University campus.
All the way there, Laura May thought about where Todd had told her he’d dropped the book. She should have been paying more attention. Was he running through the backyard when he dropped it? It was something to do with dogs. Why hadn’t she listened?
She turned down the street where the student lived looking for a place to park, but there were no empty spots. Crime scene tape was stretched all around the large house, there was a police car at the curb and parked behind it was the crime scene van. Policemen in uniforms were outside watching the tape and keeping people away. She’d never get anywhere near the backyard.
Her heart beat like a hammer as she drove home, depressed and disappointed. Todd had let her down and then he’d disappeared. Was he arrested when he went back for the book? Did the police catch him? Should she call?
No. She should wait to hear from Todd. Tomorrow was Sunday. She’d have a relaxing day, Todd would come home, and everything would work out.
Santa Fe. New Mexico.
TYLER held Annie in his arms as they slipped between the sheets. Luke had an appointment at Fayette Memorial the following afternoon, so he opted to take a flight home. Tyler thought he had done so just to give Annie some privacy. Such a nice guy.
“Can’t remember being this happy for a long time,” said Tyler. “I love you so much I might explode from it.”
Annie giggled as she rolled her naked body on top of him and explored his mouth with her tongue. “Remember the first time we had sex in the horse trailer behind the Bistro?”
“How could I forget? And it was so hot that day and the trailer smelled like horse shit.”
“But the sex was fantastic,” said Annie. “Even though I burned my bare ass on the metal wall of the trailer.” Annie could feel Tyler hard as iron against her. Her arms found their way around his neck and she pulled his mouth to hers and devoured the taste of him.