by Carolina Mac
“He wants to hang out with me,” said Annie, “but he’s a few years younger. I don’t think he’s even thirty yet.”
“So what? Get them while they’re young and train them.”
Annie giggled. “I love you, Rosie.”
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE sat with his second cup of Panama blend in front of him and let Misty’s cell ring. “Why the hell isn’t she answering her phone?” He glared at Farrell. “It’s seven o’clock in the fuckin morning. Where could she be already?”
“She’s in bed sleeping,” said Farrell. “Ever think of that? She never gets up this early.”
“Course I thought of that. I’ve thought of a thousand things that could be going wrong in New Orleans. Misty isn’t… she’s not too… organized.”
“Organized? Is that the best you can do? Misty lives in another world,” said Farrell. “She’s a walking invitation to fuckin disaster, that’s what she is. Fantastic looker and all smiles, she walks right up and talks to complete strangers. I’ve seen her do it.”
“That made me feel a helluva lot better, bro. Thanks for that.”
“I thought she called last night,” said Farrell.
“Uh huh, she did, but I got to thinking about how vulnerable she is, and I got nervous.” Blaine left another message and put his phone down on the table. “She’s too trusting, that’s for sure and it makes me crazy.” He drained his mug and stood up. “Get anything interesting at the bar last night?”
“Not much. A couple of the buttheads that hang out there were talking about how quiet the city is… like the calm before the storm type of thing.”
“Like a shitstorm coming?” Blaine strode over to the coffee maker and refilled his cup. “I heard a real storm is coming with a lot of rain.”
“April showers,” said Farrell. “It’s almost April.”
“Tomorrow’s your day, bro—April fool’s day.”
Farrell gave Blaine a hand signal.
GOVERNOR CAMPBELL was scheduled to be released from the hospital at ten a.m. and she’d asked Blaine to stave off the media for her because he could do it better than most.
With Special Agent Gene Wyman still suffering from a bullet wound, a new head of security had been assigned by the state and Blaine was anxious to meet him. Gene Wyman’s shoes would be next to impossible to fill.
On the way to the truck, Farrell noticed Mary Polito’s car at the gate. He’d broken up with the crime reporter months before and still wasn’t over it. “What’s Mary doing here?”
“She’s covering Cat’s release from the hospital and I got her an interview with the new head of the Governor’s security team.”
Farrell nodded. “Good one. She’ll like that.” Farrell tossed his butt to the ground and stamped it out. “What’s the new guy’s name? You know he’ll be shit compared to Gene.”
Blaine smiled. “Same thing I was thinking. Let’s go see how truly shitty he is.”
Farrell gave Mary a wave and she parked her Mini Cooper in front of the carriage house and jumped in the back seat of Blaine’s truck. “Hey, guys, happy to see you both.”
“You too, Mary. We’ve been on a quiet spell for a few days,” said Blaine. “Doesn’t happen often.”
Farrell said nothing.
Saint David’s Hospital. Austin.
THE HOSPITAL parking lot was gridlocked with media vans and SUV’s. Not a single vehicle was moving. Austin PD traffic squad were trying their damndest to get a handle on the mess of it and failing miserably.
“Fuckwads,” said Farrell, peering through his reflector shades, “This is bullshit. They should all be ticketed.”
Blaine turned on the siren and pulled up to the front door with the strobes flashing. “Get Mary inside, then we’ll find the new security dude. Cat can’t come out this way.”
“How wise you are,” said Farrell. He opened the back door and helped Mary down from the side step.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” said Mary.
Once inside and still fuming, Blaine stomped in the lead to the elevators.
Upstairs, Cat was dressed and ready to go when they reached her room on the sixth floor. She smiled at Blaine. “Hey, you made it.”
“Yeah, I did, but you won’t make it through that mess out front. Where’s your new dude?”
“Special Agent Revello?”
Blaine shrugged. “That’s his name?”
Cat winked. “Unless he gave me a phony name. You are the suspicious one.”
“I’m paid to be suspicious.”
“Hi Mary, nice to see you,” said the Governor. “You too, Donovan.”
Farrell stared out the window. “Starting to rain, bro. Gonna be a mess in a few.”
“Let me find the new guy. I don’t want Cat leaving in the limo.”
The Governor raised an auburn brow and said nothing. She knew better than to interfere when Blaine was on a rant.
Blaine turned for the door and a nurse came in with a wheelchair, a tall black man in a navy suit walked beside her. “Agent Revello?” asked Blaine.
“Special Agent Revello, sir. And who might you be?” He focused on Blaine’s torn jeans and long hair.
“Blaine Blackmore. We need to talk about changing the way the Governor is leaving the hospital.”
Revello shook his head. “The plan is in place and will not be changed.”
“It fuckin well will be changed if I say so.” Blaine waved his arms and took a stance. “There’s no goddam way she can get out through the front. She’ll have to go down to the ambulance garage and leave in an ambulance. It’s the best way.”
Cat smiled. “What’s wrong out front, sweetie?”
“Parking lot is fucked by the media. Nobody’s moving.”
“Oh? Maybe it would be better to sneak out through the garage,” said Cat. “Can you arrange that Revello?”
Revello shot death rays at Blaine and said, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make the change right now.” He stomped into the hall in his tasseled loafers and left the nurse with the wheelchair standing and waiting.
“Good first impression on the new guy, boss,” said Farrell. “He hates you already.”
“Too fuckin bad.” Blaine gave his middle finger to the open doorway. “I’m not that fond of him either.”
Cat smiled and winked at Farrell.
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
JESSE sat on one of the stools in the barn office to cool out after a long session in the training arena. Breeding and training the finest Appaloosas in Texas was Quantrall’s bread and butter.
Charity, Jesse’s baby daughter, played with her toys in a spot Tyler had made for her at the far end of the office.
“How’d you do with that feisty one?” asked Ty.
“Not bad,” said Jesse, “I hope she remembers some of what I told her until tomorrow.”
Tyler grinned. “They always remember some.”
Jesse eyed Tyler’s Marlborough’s on the desk and blew out a breath. “Jan is insisting that I quit smoking.”
“Is that what’s on your mind?” asked Tyler. “I knew it was something heavy the way you been moping around since yesterday.”
“She gave me a book to read.”
“A book?”
“It worked for lots of people according to the doc.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Nope. But I said I’d read it and I will.”
Charity lost interest in her toys and stood up in her fenced in area. “Da, up.” She held her arms up.
“I’ll get her,” said Ty with a chuckle. “She’s a chunky one and she’s too heavy for you now.”
“I feel so goddam useless most of the time, Ty. The only time I feel close to normal is when I’m in the training ring.”
“Good,” said Tyler, walking back carrying Charity. “Stay in there. We’re miles behind on the training schedule.” He set Charity on Jesse’s knee.
“Want to go to Boots tonight?”
/> “Sure do. We haven’t been out for a while.”
“I’ll ask Paulie too.”
Saint Gillian Street. New Orleans.
AFTER HER SUCCESS the day before, Misty didn’t hesitate before entering the house. She left the cab at the curb, strutted up the walk like she owned the place—because she did—and shoved her key into the lock.
She walked right in, closing the heavy door behind her and noticed something different. What was that smell? It smelled like… She couldn’t place the smell, but it was not in the house the day before. What had changed? Was her father doing something?
“Daddy?” she called and there was a frightening silence that chilled her to the bone.
Feeling a little dizzy, she headed to the kitchen wondering if the water had been shut off? Of course, it had. No one had lived here for years. She turned on the tap and nothing came out. A tiny sound made her turn and she saw him coming towards her.
“Daddy, help me.”
Round Rock.
FARRELL left Blacky at Governor Campbell’s house and drove up to Round Rock to the rodeo. There’d been ugly rumors coming to the Chief’s attention about a bunch of vendors following the rodeo and putting on a gun and knife show at each of the rodeo stops across Texas. Nothing wrong with that except a lot of people attending the rodeo were being robbed or their vehicles ransacked while they were in the arena watching the show.
Farrell texted Pablo to see where he was and caught up with him near the food trucks. “Any good chili dogs?”
“Maybe. I didn’t eat anything yet.”
“See anything going down?”
Pablo shook his head. “Not yet, but I’ve been around this place about four times. Maybe the robbers made me.”
“Maybe you look too clean,” said Farrell giving Pablo the once over, “and you ain’t fitting in with the rodeo crowd. Your jeans look ironed, for crissakes.”
“Hey, my Mom is happy I’m home from the army and she fusses over me.” He grinned. “Should I dress more like the boss?”
“He don’t give a flying fuck what anybody thinks. He wears his regular clothes all the time. Usually he wears a jacket over his sidearm and it covers a lot of his tats.”
“I heard he was smart—like a genius,” said Pablo.
“Uh huh. He’s toting around a big load of brain power, that’s for sure. That’s what makes him so mad sometimes. He’s got a short fuse and when people do stupid stuff it ticks him off.”
“Hope I don’t do anything stupid and piss him off.”
“You won’t,” said Farrell. “You seem like a smart guy.”
“I consider myself smart, but I’m no genius.”
Farrell pointed a finger at himself and laughed. “Let’s have a chili dog and a Coke, then we’ll go get a read on these gun show gypsies.”
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
ANNIE smiled at Pablo as she let him into the foyer. “Hard day at work?”
“Nope. Easy day. Just watching people and trying to prevent a crime.”
“I’m happy to see you.” Annie hugged him and kissed his neck.
Pablo floundered for a second then wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “You smell good.”
“Thanks. Come in and have a beer. How hard is it raining now?”
“It’s coming down hard and steady in the last ten minutes. Maybe you don’t want to go out.”
Annie pointed at the harvest table. “Let’s have a beer and then look out the window.” She winked at him.
“You’re funny and I have to figure out when you’re messing with me.”
“That would be most of the time,” said Annie, “I’m not too serious.”
“I worked with Farrell today and I didn’t mention anything about… hanging out with you.”
“Might be best if Farrell and Blaine didn’t know for a while. They can be… protective.”
“I can be protective too,” said Pablo. “I won’t let anybody hurt you for any reason.”
“You’re a sweet guy, know that?”
“Nobody ever told me that.”
A flash of lightening lit up the kitchen and was followed seconds later by a vicious crash of thunder. Annie squealed and grabbed Pablo’s hand. “I hate that.”
Pablo grinned. “Move closer. There might be another one.”
“Let’s order Pizza from Reba’s and hunker down in front of the TV.”
“Suits me,” said Pablo. “I’m not much of a social guy.”
“I like pepperoni, bacon and onion,” said Annie as she pulled out her cell phone. “What are your three favorites?”
“Same. I like those.”
“We have something in common already.”
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE TRIED Misty’s cell off and on, all day long, and got the same result. Nothing. His calls went to message until the message center was full. Then they went nowhere.
Now, I’m getting worried.
He tried her favorite bed and breakfast, The Fairfax House, and she was registered there but hadn’t returned from wherever. She’d been there for breakfast that morning, said the lady that ran the place. Had she gone to a different hotel? Why would she change hotels? Maybe she was still working at her house. She’d get his messages later and call him. If she didn’t answer by tomorrow, he’d have to fly there on the weekend.
Downtown Austin.
AFTER DINNER, Farrell drove downtown and hit a different low end bar. Finnegan’s was worse than the one he’d been in the night before. This one reeked of spilled beer, smoke and grease that had been in the fryer since the sixties.
He sat on a stool at the end of the bar with a good view of all the tables and booths and ordered a beer. Only a couple of customers sat at a table hunched over their drinks and they looked drunk already. This might not be too productive. He’d drink his beer and go.
Farrell chugged the last of his Lone Star and was about to leave when one of his regular guys showed up. Kamps. Good.
Might not be a waste of time after all.
Farrell pointed to an empty table and ordered a pitcher.
“You looking for me?” asked Farrell.
“Nope, just hanging.”
The bartender brought the pitcher over with two glasses and plunked them down in the middle of the table.
Kamps filled his glass first and chugged half straight down. “Got any money for me?”
“Sure, I got money. I’ve always got money for good information. What have you got?”
“I heard something.”
“Yep, that’s what I pay you for. Keeping your ear to the ground.”
Kamps leaned in close and whispered, “There’s a place out in West Lake where rich people live like with a lot of grass and big fences and shit like that.”
“An estate?”
“Yeah, one of those.”
“And?”
“Friday nights, the guy who owns the place puts on a private game and the buy-in is huge. I heard the game starts on Friday but can go right through until Sunday. The players sleep over and he feeds them and shit like that.”
“Interesting,” said Farrell.
“Ain’t it?”
“So what are you telling me? Is somebody gonna rip off the game or the players, or what?”
“There’s a plan in the works, what I heard.”
“And who is the mastermind behind the plan?”
“That’s the part I don’t know yet.”
“Any idea when this plan is going down?”
“This weekend coming up is what I heard. Big bucks coming from Dallas and San Antone.”
“What’s the name of the guy who hosts the game?”
Kamps screwed up his face. “I didn’t catch the name of the guy who owns the big house, but I heard the address and wrote it down.”
Farrell grinned. “Now we’re talking.” He held out his hand for the address and Kamps held out his hand. “Pay me first.”
Farrell opene
d his wallet and pulled out a Benjamin and laid it on the table.
“More.”
“More?” Farrell’s lip curled. “How much more?”
“Double that if you want the address.”
“I’ll pay you double only if you try to find out the guy who’s making the plan.”
Kamps nodded. “Okay, I’ll try.”
Farrell fished out another hundred. “Try real hard. I’ve got a good memory.”
Kamps grabbed up the money and he was gone.
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
AFTER the movie was over, Annie walked Pablo to the door. “I had fun, sugar. Thanks for coming over.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Annie. I love spending time with you.”
“It was the most relaxing evening I’ve had in a long time, and I got to watch a chic flic with someone who watched the movie with me.”
Pablo smiled at her. “I admit, I watched you some of the time during the sad parts to see if you were crying.”
“Damn, I always cry in the sad parts.”
“You’re beautiful when your gray eyes are full of tears.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I better go.”
CHAPTER THREE
April Fool’s Day.
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE HEARD the phone ringing next to his head and grabbed for it thinking it was Misty. “Misty, are you okay? I’ve been worried.”
“It’s me, son. Calhoun.”
Blaine propped himself up on one elbow and tried to wake up. “Sorry, Chief, I was asleep, and I can’t find Mist.”
“Why not?”
“She went home to New Orleans and she’s not answering her cell.” His throat felt raw. Too many smokes.
“Shit,” said the Chief. “You better do something about that.”
“Yeah, I have to. You want me for something?”
“That rodeo thing?”
“Uh huh?”
“Just got messier. Body under the bleachers in Round Rock, where the boys were yesterday.”
“Okay, I’m up. Anybody got the scene?”
“Round Rock homicide is holding it for you.”