Cold Dead Hands (A Mike Casper Thriller Book 1)

by Sebastian Blunt

  Chapter 34

  “I am dying for waffles.”

  Mike was packing clothes into his backpack. The further they traveled from the east coast, the more anxiety he felt. It should have been the opposite, but since Joplin and using Kim’s credit card, he’d been having visions of a hitter chasing them and waiting for an opportunity.

  “It’s safer to keep moving.”

  “Why? They can’t catch us on the highway?”

  “I don’t know. My gut tells me we have to get loster.”

  “Is that even a word?” she asked.

  “Loster seems to fit our circumstances. Lost isn’t enough; we need to be even more than that.”

  These little idiosyncrasies of his, like making up funny words, aroused her for some reason. “Come and put your hands on me. I’ll make you forget what planet you’re on. Is that lost enough?”

  “Kim! We have to stay on top of this.”

  His tone brought her thinking back down to earth. “Okay. So what do we do?”

  “I’ll check out over the phone. Then we go straight to the car. We’ll head towards Truth or Consequences—it’s about three hours from here. But first, we’ll drive south to Roswell. I looked it up, and you can get pancakes there. It’s like less than an hour to Vaughn, then another 80 minutes to Roswell. We can eat what we’ve got in the car until then. Is that alright?”

  “As you wish, sir.”

  “Are you angry?”

  “No. Just hungry.”

  Mike called the front desk. He told them the card keys would be in the room and said they were in a hurry. He added that they should keep the change on the cash payment and consider it a tip.

  Mike hefted the backpack onto his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

  They didn’t see anyone outside the room, so they walked down the hallway, which Kim noticed was carpeted with some downright tacky, checkered design. At the end of the hall was a glass door with a typical travel hotel aluminum frame. Mike pushed the handle and then exited very close to the Toyota.

  Two cars were to the left of theirs, both with complaining elementary school-aged children being loaded up. Something about whining kids made Casper feel a little safer, although that was probably the stupidest assumption he could make.

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  Bixby watched the Toyota pull out of the lot and onto Sumner Avenue. That would take them to West Sumner Avenue. He followed them in his utterly non-descript Chevy. They drove out to Route 60 and went west. The area was known to him like the back of his hand. The next stop would be Vaughn, a town just under 60 miles away.

  He considered his options. Something about getting into a demolition derby on the highway didn’t feel right. He decided to give them space. There was nowhere to go except for Vaughn—he had time. Bixby turned on the radio and heard his favorite song. It was about a farm boy and a girl in a red dress. He smiled and sang along. The image in his mind helped him stay cool on the job.

  “There’s like a plain green car about a mile back.”

  “Why is that a problem, Mike? You’ve been identifying cars on the same road as us for 700 miles. Vaughn’s our next stop, and there’s nothing else on this highway. Of course, the green car is behind us; where else can it go except down this road?.”

  He looked in the mirror. “How far to Vaughn?”

  “Maybe twenty minutes. But I gotta tell you, chips and water are not doing it for me.”

  “We’ll find something.”

  He checked his mirror again and saw a black car passing the car he’d focused on for the last 45 minutes. That made sense because out on these desert highways, people routinely sped along pretty damn fast. Maybe the black car got sick of trailing some old granny. That would go a long way to easing his anxiety if the green car was a little old lady and not someone assigned to kill them.

  “I don’t have much of a cellphone signal out here, but I want to see if we can find somewhere to eat up there. Maybe something out of the way, and if that car is still behind us, then it makes sense that if you make a few turns, you know, and he’s still there—.”

  “In that case, we have a problem, and the only weapon we have is this Toyota. If that is a bad guy, he will have a gun.”

  “Mike. Trying to ram his car sounds really dangerous.”

  “If it’s only one guy, then it will be impossible for him to shoot at us and drive at the same time. I’ll let you out and then drive into his car.”

  “What if he’s someone’s uncle who just happens to be going our way?”

  “I don’t have any other options to protect you.”

  His words hit her hard. Mike had just put her ahead of himself. Kim put her hand on his arm. “It’s not just me. I’ve got nothing if you aren’t still with me.”

  He thought about that. It was amazing how getting hunted could bring two people together and turn them into desperate lovers. “Let’s hope he goes left when we go right.”

  In the mirror, the green car was still a good way off. Mike could see it behind the black sedan, which was slowly gaining ground.

  Route 60 merged with 54 and ran into an intersection at Route 285. At U.S. 285, Casper turned right and headed northeast. The highway paralleled railroad tracks that ran north of the small town.

  “I found something. It’s called Dough A Deer Bakery.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No. It’s up at the north end of town, and we can make a few turns to see if we’re still being followed.”

  They continued until Kim shouted, “Make a right here on Walnut.”

  He made the turn and could see the black sedan continue on 285, but as they went up Walnut, the green car turned.

  Kim saw it. “Make a left here.” It was West 10th Street. “Now go right,” she called out. They were on a street going north again.

  “At the end, make a right. That will take us to the bakery.”

  Mike slowed. The green car was gone, so he stopped on a road called Hardie and waited. After a minute, nothing appeared on the street at all. “I guess that might have been my finely tuned and exaggerated sense of self-preservation after all.”

  Kimberly grunted. “Can we go eat? I want to stuff an entire loaf of bread down my gullet.”

  “Sure. Which way?”

  “Down to the end and then right.”

  It was a hundred yards, then they took the curve right and saw a cute blue house with a brick fence. Casper made the left into the gravel driveway and pulled up by the door with an “Open” sign in the window.

  “I bet you fifty bucks that whoever runs Dough A Deer is going to have some wickedly good cake in there.”

  Mike smirked. “I’m not taking that bet.”

  The hanging brass bell tinkled against the door as they entered. There was another bell on the counter, which Kim dinged without hesitation while surveying the cakes, pies, and pastries behind the glass case. Casper spun around to see if they were alone. They were until a pleasant dark-haired woman emerged from what must have been the kitchen. She was wearing a white apron and smiled endearingly.

  “What can I get for you folks?”

  “I’d like to eat everything you’ve got in this case.”

  The woman laughed. “If you would come in and do that every day I might be able to retire early! But y’all ain’t from New Mexico.”

  “We’re just taking a cross-country trip,” Kim volunteered.

  “Well, I hope it has been an adventure. So, what’ll it be?”

  “I love the look of those rolls in the basket behind you. Do you have anything to put on them?”

  The owner twisted her mouth in thought. “I’ve got some goat cheese and tomatoes. Will that work?”

  “Yes!” answered Kim. “And after that, I would like the lemon pie.”

  “And you?”

  “Same thing, but dessert for me must be a slice of chocolate cake.”

  “Fine. I’ve only got that one little table there. Get comfortable, and I’ll g
et this ready right quick.”

  The two of them sat down at the slightly rocky round table. Mike peered out of the two windows to the right of the door overlooking where they’d parked. Dusty white sheer drapes barely blocked his view. At the far end of the rectangular room was a large commercial fridge. Dough A Deer Bakery must be surviving on takeout, he thought.

  Kim reached out to take his hand. “I like the idea of traveling around with you.”

  “If we could do it without watching over our shoulders, it would be perfect.”

  The proprietor walked around from behind the counter with two delicious sandwiches. “Drinks?”

  “Gin and tonic?”

  She laughed hard. “I got some bourbon back there, but that’s for employees only!”

  “If we have to settle, then cola works.” Kim nodded her agreement.

  The goat cheese turned out to be spectacular. Topping that off with the pie—.

  “How much?”

  “Seven-fifty.”

  “All I have is a ten, but it was worth a lot more, so keep the change,” offered Mike.

  “Thank you!”

  Kim asked, “Do you happen to have a bathroom?”

  “Sure. Come with me.” The two women strode back into the kitchen. The bathroom was in the corner. When Kimberly went to wash her hands, she looked out of the little window facing the street and froze in panic. The green car was parked up around the curve. “Oh, shit!” she was overwrought with anxiety and hustled out of the kitchen.

  Casper was standing near the window, looking out at their Toyota. She practically pulled him to the floor and spun him around by grabbing his shirt.

  “That car is out there parked on the street.”

  “Where?”

  “Around the curve a little.”

  “Was anyone inside?”

  “I’m not sure. It looked like it.”

  From behind the counter, the baker immediately sensed the urgency coming off of the couple in waves.

  “Everything okay?”

  Mike didn’t hesitate. “What’s your name?”

  “Shappy.”

  “Do you have a weapon?”

  Elisa Shappy seemed taken aback. Vaughn was a quiet place.

  “Are you here to rob me?”

  “Hell, no. There is a car out there parked on the street. That same car was hassling us out on the highway. Now he’s just sitting out there.” Casper did his best to sound non-threatening.

  “I’d call our only town cop, but he’s on vacation. You’ll have to wait for the county sheriff.”

  “This guy looked pretty crazy,” Kim spat out. “I don’t think we can wait.”

  “Do you have any kind of weapon?” Mike repeated.

  Elisa bit her lip. “I’ve got a 12 gauge just in case.”

  “I’m assuming you know how to use it?”

  “This is a remote desert town.” The proprietor disappeared and returned with the black shotgun she kept behind the counter. “You do realize that this is probably your imagination. It could be someone waiting for his girlfriend to meet him to order a cake.”

  Outside, the New Mexico midday sun shone down onto the flat grassy countryside. From the window, Casper could see that no one approached from the driveway. It was empty except for their dark blue sedan. His mind was racing.

  “We gotta make a run for it.” He squeezed Kim’s waist as he pulled her close.

  “Just wait for the county deputy. I’m calling them.”

  “No! Don’t do that!” Mike raised his voice.

  Shappy’s suspicion was beyond peaked. “Who are you running from?”

  Kimberly turned to face her. “We’re not bad people. Trust me. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, but if a deputy shows up, it could end very badly.”

  “Who is that out there?” Elisa prodded them.

  “A dangerous man.”

  She thought about that. “Then what’s your plan to get out of here?”

  “Run,” said Mike simply. “Please. Don’t call the police no matter what happens.”

  He thought about sending Kim back to the bathroom to see if the car was still there. It was agony. He didn’t want her to be away from him. “Ms. Shappy. Can you look very carefully out that bathroom window to see if he’s still there?”

  Shappy decided to trust the couple. “I’m leaving the gun right here behind the counter.” She quickly ran to the bathroom and returned in seconds.

  “Still there?”

  She nodded. “I couldn’t see if someone is behind the wheel or not. There’s too much glare.”

  “We’re going to run for it,” Casper said. He turned back to Elisa. “Are you good with that shotgun? Really?”

  “Yes. Since I was a kid.”

  “If someone comes at us with a weapon, protect yourself. If you can save us, then shoot him.”

  She looked at both of them. “If he’s got a gun or a knife, I’ll shoot.”

  Kim followed Mike out the door. The car was ten feet away. They heard the sound of tires grinding on the driveway as they rushed to escape. A black sedan slammed on its brakes, followed by a sinister-looking guy jumping out of the car. The large pistol in his hand was evident.

  Casper grabbed Kim and pulled her to the ground behind their car. Above the purr of the other vehicle, they heard a bellowing laugh.

  “Let’s not make this problematic, Casper. Do you want to suffer or just say goodnight? What about you, Manshu? Choose. Painful or quick? There’s no way that you get out of here alive.”

  Kim’s breathing came in shallow gasps. They were prone on the gravel. The voice continued, but the two of them were focused on the dirty shoes they saw from under the belly of their Toyota.

  “Are you going to make me walk all the way around the car just to put a couple of bullets in you?” He emphasized “All-the-way” as if they were a burden.

  They watched in fear as the killer got down on one knee and bent over to glare at them under the car. His face matched his career.

  “Boo!” he shouted. “Time to die!”

  He began to swing his gun hand at them. In that instant, Mike wanted to snatch Kim from the ground and run, but suddenly there was a loud bang. The face of the man staring at them drained of life spontaneously. His mouth opened in disbelief, and he fell wide-eyed flat on the ground, bleeding from his head.

  The two of them stood up. There was a short, overweight man standing further back on the gravel. He wore a gray suit and a tie that didn’t match. On his head was a Phillies baseball cap. He had a small-caliber revolver in his hand. It was still pointed in the direction of the dead assassin.

  Elisa burst out of the bakery door. She leveled the shotgun at the man with the gun. “Put that damn pistol down! You bastard!”

  The middle-aged fellow complied immediately. “Okay, okay. Don’t shoot. I’m putting my gun on the trunk of the car.”

  “Slow, or I’ll blow your head off.” She did not sound in the least bit unsure of herself.

  “Okay. Okay. I’m not going to try anything funny.” He put his .38 on the black sedan.

  Mike turned to the baker. “Hand me the shotgun, please.” She complied without delay. He pointed the 12 gauge at the guy who’d just executed the other guy who was planning on killing them. The initial adrenaline rush and panic were fading a little, and Casper did his best to take charge of a situation that made no sense.

  Kim stepped back and stood close to Elisa.

  “Who are you?” Mike demanded.

  The guy who looked more like a comic actor than a hitman smiled and said, “I’m the guy on the white horse.”

  “Bullshit. Who sent you? Bruner? Why’d you just kill your partner?”

  “C’mon, Casper. If that guy was with me, then he wouldn’t be dead. Right?”

  “Why’d you shoot him?”

  “To save your ass.”

  Mike tried to process that. “Is that your green car?”

  “Yes. I’ve been tailing you for a w
hile.”

  “Who are you? What do you want? Did the drug lady send you?”

  “My name is Bixby. I’m your guardian angel, and if you want to live, come with me.”

  Casper waved the shotgun at him. “Why should we believe you?”

  Bixby grinned. “The clock is ticking, but besides the obvious—,” he pointed to the bloody dead guy on the stone driveway, “you shouldn’t trust me at all. On the other hand, the fact that I just put down that scumbag might count for something?”

  “Where do you want to take us?” Kim asked pointedly.

  “I can’t tell you until we leave. Can I show you my I.D.?” He held his hands up flat.

  “Slow,” Mike said loudly.

  The guy reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a thin plastic wallet. Flipping it open, they all saw a white printed card with “U.S. Gov 3333002229-X.” He glanced at the bakery woman. “How long before one of your neighbors comes over here to find out if that was a car backfire or a gunshot?”

  “Maybe 10 minutes or maybe never. Shooting in the desert is pretty common ‘round here.” Elisa seemed proud of it.

  “That paper I.D. looks like something you printed at home.”

  “Mike. I know, but you’ve got to come with me. If you don’t, how far do you think you will get? This little prick found you easily. Do you want to spend the next couple of weeks running with Kim just to get shot in your bed in some motel? That’s what will happen.”

  Elisa looked at Bixby and then back at Kim and Mike. “Well. I guess I know your names now.” She paused. “Mike. Take my shotgun. It hasn’t been fired in five years. You can follow him, and at least you’ll have a weapon. But if they ask me, I’ll have to say you stole it.”

  The “agent” waved his finger. “No need. Take my .38. You can keep it pointed at me from the backseat.”

  “We have our own car, thanks,” declared Kimberly.

  Casper reached over and grabbed the revolver.

  “You have to ditch that car. Whatever cover you thought you had is utterly blown now. Come with me, please,” said Bixby.

  “This is insane.” Kim worked to separate her emotions from the facts on the ground—particularly the assassin lying next to the Toyota. She processed the reality of their situation and then faced Mike. “Let’s go with him.”