by Carolina Mac
The SUV pulled over on the shoulder ahead of her and the driver ran back. Her headlights illuminated a big guy in camo gear running towards her with a gun in his hand. She stuck her left hand out the window and fired her Beretta twice. The guy dropped to the pavement just in front of her truck.
Annie backed up, drove around the dead guy and headed for Boots.
Boots and Saddles Roadhouse. Giddings.
NEATLY PARKED HARLEY’S filled the first row in the parking lot at the roadhouse. Annie chose a spot in the second row, shut off the engine and before going inside she called Blaine. “Hey, baby, listen, there’s a dead guy on route 290 halfway between Elgin and Giddings. I don’t know if Leggatt put somebody on me or if this was one of his guys out for brownie points.”
“Shit, Mom, where was Travis?”
“He went home, I guess, after the dinner was over.”
“Fuck that. He’s gonna have to stick like glue from now on.”
“You might be right.”
“I am right. I’ll call Rafe and meet him there.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. I’m at Boots if you need me.”
Annie ran inside knowing she was late and found Tyler waiting in their favorite booth in the back corner of the old roadhouse. She’d texted him when she was leaving the Driskill and with the little delay on the way he’d had time to drink a whole pitcher.
Country music was blaring out of the speakers as she slid in beside Tyler on the bench seat and kissed him like she’d kissed him so many times in that exact spot. “I love you, baby.”
He kissed her back with a passion that only Tyler Quantrall possessed. The heat from his body never failed to arouse her and throughout their long and extremely rocky relationship, she’d never stopped loving him. “What took you so long?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess I was driving too slow.”
“You never drive slow.”
She messed up his hair. “Hey, I’m here. Let’s dance.”
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE hollered at Farrell after Annie phoned. “We’ve got to go out, bro.”
“That’s a negatory. I’m hurting and I’m tired and I ain’t going. I’m watching a game.”
“Mom killed a guy.”
“Fuck that,” hollered Farrell and came running from the front parlor into the kitchen. “Was it Leggatt?”
“She thinks it was one of his guys on her. We’ve got to go clean it up. I called Rafe Cumberland and he’s meeting us there.”
Farrell frowned. “Way out there in his county?”
“I’ll buy you a coffee.”
Route 290.
SHERIFF CUMBERLAND had the scene cordoned off by the time Blaine and Farrell arrived. Pylons narrowed the traffic into one usable lane and officers were in place directing traffic around the corpse. The big sheriff shook hands with Blaine and then with Farrell. “Haven’t seen you boys for a while. Y’all keeping busy?”
“Too busy most of the time,” said Blaine.
“Want to explain to me what’s going on with this guy?”
“Can’t do it yet,” said Blaine. “I think he’s part of something a lot bigger and a lot uglier.”
“Aw, shit,” said the sheriff. “Then you know who killed him?”
“I do and so do you. It was self defense pure and simple, but she can’t be here. She’s deep in something and it’s way above our pay grade.”
“I wish she wouldn’t,” said Rafe. “And not saying she ain’t the best at what she does. Way too dangerous and I’d hate to see...”
“Us too,” said Farrell. “We want her to stop.”
“Any ID?” asked Blaine.
“Uh huh. He’s got his DL in his wallet,” said Rafe. “Name is Lee Warren. Lives up in Oak Hills.”
“Send him to us,” said Blaine. “I need a reason to do the notification. Then I’ll toss his house and dig into his life.”
“Y’all can’t protect her if y’all don’t know what’s going on.”
“Correct,” said Blaine. “We need to be ready.”
“Yep,” said Cumberland. “I’ll send him your way.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Friday, June 5th.
Oak Hills. Austin.
BLAINE stood at the front door of number seventy-three Maple Terrace waiting for someone to answer the bell. The next of kin listed for Lee Warren was a wife named, Zel, but she wasn’t home. Blaine had done a bit of digging and found that Zel and Lee were separated, but there was no new address on record for Zel. They’d have to contact her some other way.
No matter, Lee was dead, and the crime scene unit had a warrant to search his house. Blaine waved them onward and forward.
“Nobody here. “Y’all go ahead and see what you can find. I’ll try to contact the wife.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
FARRELL was updating the Chief at headquarters when Jesse stuck his head in the door.
“Are you supposed to be here?” asked the Chief. “You just got home from the hospital yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but I have some unfinished business with Miss Skylar and I want to see her.”
The Chief shook his head. “I’ve got to call a bullshit no on that, Jesse. Absolutely a terrible idea.”
“I agree,” said Farrell. “You shouldn’t risk it, boss. No way.”
“Y’all can come with me, but I feel I have to say something to her.”
“You can see her at trial,” said the Chief. “That will be soon enough.”
“Only for a minute,” Jesse argued.
“Go get him a coffee, son. I need to talk to this guy.”
“I hear ya, Chief.”
BLAINE was on his way back to DPS when Professor Millburn called asking about progress on his wife’s murder. “We have made progress, sir, and we’re close to making an arrest.”
“What I’m interested in is the why of it. Why would anyone kill my wife? That’s the question I can’t get out of my head. It makes no sense at all.”
“A reasonable question, sir. And when we have the who in custody we will have the why.”
“I hope so. I sincerely do.”
Blaine ended the call shaking his head. I hate lying. We’ve never been so goddam far from making an arrest… ever.
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
ANNIE and Rosalie were baking pies for dinner when a florist van pulled up to the gate and Jose came running across the compound with a big bouquet of roses wrapped in cellophane.
He stood at the kitchen door grinning. “Somebody likes the boss.”
“Ooh, who is it?” Annie ran over and took the beautifully wrapped bundle and pulled the card out from under the elaborate white bow. “Uh huh.” She handed the flowers off to Rosalie and retreated to her bedroom to read the card and text a thank you.
“Thank you for the most wonderful evening in recent memory. Paul.”
Annie picked up her cell to text a reply and mumbled what she was thinking. “Did you send somebody to kill me after that wonderful dinner, Paul? Or was it one of your yahoos gone rogue protecting their esteemed leader on their own?”
She texted.
“Thank you for the gorgeous flowers, Paul. They just arrived. I enjoyed the time we spent together too.”
Seconds later he texted back.
“Were you waiting for me to thank you?” she asked out loud.
“I want to keep seeing you, Annie. You are the new fire in my life.”
“I’m working at the store today in La Grange. We can talk later.”
“Is there a place for lunch in La Grange? I’d like to see your store.”
“Jeeze, Paul, you’re pushing it a little, aren’t you?” She continued her conversation with herself.
“Sure, anytime is fine.”
She called Travis for the second time. She’d already updated him on the events of the night before and he was distraught that he hadn’t followed her home from the Driskill. He knew Blacky and Farrell
would be gunning for him.
“What’s up, girl? I’m so fuckin guilt-ridden I can barely function.”
“Get un-ridden and listen. Leggatt is pushing me hard. He’s coming to see the store today and taking me to lunch. Watch for him leaving his ranch and see what you can do. Might not be easy, he has a lot of hands.”
“Yeah, big operation like that, he’d have a lot of cowboys. I’ll scope it out and hope there’s an opportunity, but we might have to wait until you’re in the house again.”
“You always were better in the dark,” said Annie in a whisper.
“Jesus, girl, are you trying to make me hard?”
“How hard do I have to try?”
“Bye, girl. I’m heading west.”
My leg hurts so much I can’t walk on it, but the kids that helped me get food are nice. I’ll stick with them for now. They know the town and how to get by on the street. One of them has a phone charger and when I have a chance I’ll get my phone working. Now that I’m in Mexico and not going back to Aunt Laura, I might as well tell the police about her. It’s the right thing to do.
West of Austin.
TRAVIS drove through the city and farther west into ranch country until he reached the Leggatt spread. He parked down the road about a quarter mile away where he could see the end of the laneway and not much else. He was in position for about twenty minutes or less when Leggatt’s truck with the big ‘Lazy L’ logo on the door appeared and turned left. Travis reached for the key to start his own truck and noticed a black SUV following Leggatt.
“Oh oh. I can’t hang around here. I better follow the crowd.”
Once he reached the highway, he called Annie. “Hey, girl, the ranch was a wash. Leggatt’s got back up following him and I’m on my way to you.”
“Roger that. Do you think they know anything, or just suspicious because Leggatt doesn’t bother with women?”
“Door number two,” said Travis. “They can’t know anything for certain. That’s impossible.”
Mill Antiques. La Grange.
ANNIE stood behind the front counter helping a customer and she barely noticed Paul Leggatt entering the store. She smiled and gave him a little wave as he walked past and browsed through the displays. He was staring hard at the locked glass case that held her antique firearms when she left the front cash and caught up to him.
He pointed and asked, “Is that what I think it is?”
“It is. The same gun Billy the Kid used. A .41 caliber Colt Thunderer. I’ll never part with it.”
“It’s not for sale?”
“No. Lou Quantrall searched the whole country for it and bought it for me. He was a close friend who knew how much I wanted that gun.”
“You have a lot of close friends,” said Paul and he wasn’t smiling.
“Aren’t they the best kind to have?”
“I guess so,” said Paul. “I have a lot of acquaintances, but not too many close friends.”
Paul was mesmerized by the gun. Annie winked at him and tried to draw his attention away from it. “I have that gun tattooed on my back—actual size.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
“I’d give anything to see it.”
“Anything?” Annie smiled and reached for his hand. “Come with me.” She told Janie to watch the cash and led Paul to the office, closed the door and locked it behind them.”
“I’m nervous,” said Paul, “or maybe just excited.”
Annie whipped her Mill Antique’s shirt over her head, turned her back to Paul and undid her bra so he could get the full effect of the tat.
“I’ve never seen a tattoo I liked better,” he said. “I’d like that one myself.”
Annie did up the clasp on her bra and turned to face him. Pushing him up against the locked door, she put her mouth over his and pressed her crotch into his erection.
Paul pulled her close and deepened the kiss. He held her for a long moment before letting go.
Annie picked up her shirt, pulled it over her head and straightened her hair with her hand. “We better go get lunch.”
Paul blew out a long breath. “Give me a minute.”
TRAVIS PARKED on the other side of the La Grange town square and took up a position on a bench under one of the old live oaks. He lit up a smoke and settled in to monitor the pending lunch, keeping a keen eye on the bodyguard. He was hungry himself but opted to wait until Annie was clear of Leggatt. He was still beating himself up from the night before. He should have anticipated a move like that from a fanatic like Paul Leggatt and he didn’t. Annie could have been killed and it would have been his fault. Was he losing his edge?
The black SUV that had followed Leggatt all the way from his ranch was parked two vehicles away from the Lazy L truck across from the antique store. The driver hadn’t moved. He remained slouched behind the wheel smoking.
Travis called the Agency. “Lil, could you run a tag for me?”
“Sure thing, Travis. What have you got?”
“Paul Leggatt’s bodyguard. This is the number.”
“Give me five minutes.”
Annie and Paul came out of the store and she was laughing. That was a good sign. They crossed the street, cut across the common and entered Sterne’s Deli. A few minutes later they emerged, Annie carrying drinks and Paul carrying one of the large white deli bags. Travis ate at the deli almost every day and his mouth watered at the sight of the white bag.
Annie pointed to a bench and the two of them sat under a tree and ate their lunch. To Travis, looking on from a distance, everything appeared friendly and cozy. A little too cozy for Travis’ liking, but he had no say in the matter. He’d blown his chances with the lady a long time ago.
“Oh, shit,” said Travis when he spotted the blue Quantrall truck pulling up in front of the antique store. “That fucking Tyler is here.” Travis couldn’t show himself to intercept Tyler or that would add more fuel to the fire. He watched the scenario unfold expecting the worst, and he wasn’t disappointed.
Tyler jumped out of his truck, spotted Annie in the park and tore across the grass. “What the hell are you doing, Annie? And who the hell is this? The fake horse guy?” He turned and retreated just as fast, jumped into his truck and burned rubber.
ANNIE laughed as Tyler ran back to his truck. “He is so possessive,” she said. “It’s a little scary sometimes.”
Leggatt stared at her. “I was a fool not to think you’d have other men lined up at your door.”
“We’ve only just met, Paul, and I have no reason to give Tyler up. Why would I?”
“Do you love him?” asked Leggatt.
“Sure do. I’ll never stop loving that cowboy.”
“Even though he yells things at you?” Paul asked with the hint of a smile.
“Most times I deserve it,” said Annie. “I’m no ‘Snow White.”
Paul chuckled. “I’m surprised you admit it.” He took a drink of his Coke. “Why did he call me the fake horse guy?”
Annie giggled. “He knew I was going to dinner last night and I told him it was a business dinner with a horse breeder, but he didn’t believe the truth… well, half-truth. He said I made you up. He can get a little crazy jealous.”
“He was driving a Quantrall truck,” said Leggatt. “Is he one of the brothers?”
“Uh huh. Tyler.”
“I met Lou at a couple of shows back in the day,” said Paul. “He was quite a powerhouse.”
“I knew Lou well,” said Annie, “we were close.”
“I’m not put off by competition,” said Leggatt. “I’d like to see you again, Annie.”
“Come to Coulter-Ross for dinner on Sunday and you can see my ranch and my horses. We’ll go for a long ride by the river.”
“Uh huh. Sounds relaxing. I’ll look forward to it.”
After Leggatt left, Annie returned to the store and the first thing she did was unlock the gun case. She took out the precious Colt and held it lovingly in her hands. “I
saw the way you were looking at her, Paul. No way you’ll get your hands on my baby.”
Oak Hills. Austin.
BLAINE CHECKED BACK with the crew tossing Lee Warren’s house and they’d hit pay dirt.
“What have you got, Sue?” asked Blaine as he descended the basement steps with Farrell right behind him.
“Come and see, Blaine. You won’t believe it.” She studied Farrell’s damaged face and flashed him a smile. “Nice to see you, Donovan. Been in a dust-up?”
“Peaceful protest,” he growled.
Sue giggled. “I saw how peaceful it was on the news.” She pointed to an open door. “This guy might have been one of the gunnies on the bus.”
“He probably was,” said Farrell. He glanced around the room at the overflowing shelves of ordnance, most of it illegal. “He’s definitely on some alphabet’s watch list.”
“Has to be,” said Sue. She tapped a finger on a box of armor-piercing ammo.
Mill Antiques. La Grange.
TRAVIS CAME into the store after Leggatt left and Annie met him in the office.
“Did you get a look at the plate on the bodyguard’s truck?” she asked.
“Yep, Lil ran it for me. The SUV belongs to a guy named Corey Lebovic. No wants or warrants.”
“I wonder how big Leggatt’s army is?” asked Annie. “And what they’re training for?”
Travis eyed the old Colt lying on Annie’s desk. “Why is that out of the showcase? You’re not selling it, are you?”
“Leggatt was salivating over it, so I thought I’d take it home with me.”
“Do you think he’ll try for it?”
“Wouldn’t that be obvious? I get robbed the same night he finds out about the gun.”
“Yeah, I guess it would point to him.”
“You could keep an eye out for him anyway,” said Annie, “since you live upstairs.”
“Yep, I’m glad you told me. I’ll pay close attention.”
ANNIE closed the store, counted the float for the next day and got ready to leave but before she did, she texted Tyler.