Mystere

by Carolina Mac

  Tyler chuckled. “Not what I thought you were gonna say.”

  Jesse couldn’t help but laugh. “Not what I thought she was gonna say either.”

  “Sure, get ready. We’re picking Annie up in half an hour.”

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  ANNIE hugged the boys at the door when they arrived and invited them in for a beer. She was ready to rock dressed in a black pant suit with a black lace cami under the jacket. The black made a stunning background for her turquoise jewelry and her high heeled boots made her almost as tall as Tyler.

  “You look good, Ace, and smell even better.”

  “Thanks. Two dates instead of one.” She winked at Tyler. “Double the fun.”

  “Is Travis meeting us there?” asked Jesse. “This is his case.”

  “Yep,” said Annie, “he called earlier and he’s going around eight thirty. He wants to meet the players as they arrive and make sure they’re all legitimate.”

  “Okay, good,” said Jesse. “According to the rumor, tonight is supposed to be the night.”

  “Are you armed?” asked Annie.

  “Affirmative,” said Jesse.

  “I’m not,” said Tyler. “Hope I don’t get fuckin shot.”

  “I’ll protect you,” said Annie. “If there’s trouble, get behind me.”

  Tyler snorted. “How will that look? Me jumping behind a woman and letting her protect me.”

  “Who cares how it looks?” said Annie, “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  Selecky Estate. West Lake Hills.

  TRAVIS arrived around eight twenty-five and checked in with the hired weekend security and with Mark Selecky.

  “Are you still convinced someone is going to try to rob the game?” asked Selecky. “I think you’re wasting your time, Major Bristol, although you’re welcome as a player.”

  “We were leaning hard on some of the suspects,” said Travis, “and with the added pressure, they might have changed their minds. I hope they have.”

  “If you know who the robbers are, why haven’t you arrested them?”

  “We have most of the gang in custody, but a couple of them were clean. We brought them in and questioned them, but we had nothing to hold them on.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “I thought you weren’t concerned?”

  “You sound so certain, I think you’re making me paranoid.”

  “All I want is for you to exercise a little caution. Make sure you know all of your guests.”

  Selecky nodded. “That makes sense. I’ll pay close attention when they arrive. I’ve talked to most of them on the phone already, and I know almost everyone who’s coming.”

  “Are you expecting a large group tonight?”

  “The three tables will be full, and a couple of players are bringing their wives to watch the game.”

  Travis made a rapid calculation. “So about thirty people?”

  “Uh huh. I’d say so.”

  “Jesse called and said he’d be coming with Annie and Tyler.”

  Selecky smiled. “Mr. Quantrall is playing again?”

  “He is.”

  “I’ll make sure I reserve a seat for him.”

  Fairfax Inn. New Orleans.

  BLAINE took Farrell and Luke out for dinner at Louisiana Bistro after visiting hours ended at the hospital. When they couldn’t eat another bite, they drove back to the Inn.

  “That food was so good,” said Luke, “I fear I ate too much.”

  Blaine smiled. Something he hadn’t done all day. “It was fantastic, and I’d like to try a lot more of the great restaurants they have here in the city.”

  “How long are you staying, boss?” asked Farrell.

  “I don’t know,” said Blaine. “If the coma is going to last a while I have to go back to work, but I won’t leave Misty until her mother comes.”

  “Want us to stay with you?” asked Farrell.

  “No point. I’ll put y’all on a flight tomorrow.”

  “What about the guy who did this to Misty?”

  “The New Orleans PD has all the information we have,” said Blaine. “Let’s see what they come up with.”

  “What if he finds out she has a house in Austin?” asked Farrell. “Think he’ll toss that one too?”

  “Jesus, he might,” said Blaine. “Didn’t think of it. I’ll send Rick and Andy over there.”

  Luke nodded. “She would take the book with her when she left New Orleans. No way she would leave it behind. She needs it.”

  Farrell rolled his eyes.

  Selecky Estate. West Lake Hills.

  A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT, Travis stood out by the pool smoking with one of the security guards. The dogs started barking but they sounded far away, maybe at the back of the property.

  “The dogs are barking,” said Travis. “Should you check the cameras?”

  The security dude with Wendell embroidered on his navy blue shirt listened for a minute. “They stopped. Probably just a rabbit.”

  “Maybe you should check the monitors anyway,” said Travis.

  “You nervous?”

  Trying not to show his annoyance, Travis said, “I’m being cautious. Please check.”

  “This will be a goddam waste of time,” mumbled Wendell as he lumbered off. Travis butted out and went back inside.

  What a waste of cash those assholes are.

  Travis ambled through the room to table three and waited until Jesse looked up and noticed him. Travis tilted his head towards the men’s room and headed that way.

  Jesse joined him a moment later. “Something?”

  “The dogs were barking at the back of the property and I asked one of the security dudes to check the monitors and he’s doing it now. Might be nothing.”

  “Where are the monitors?”

  “In a room behind this one—directly behind the cash cage.”

  “Let’s take a look.” Jesse and Travis emerged from the washroom and the lights went out. “They cut the power.”

  “Everybody relax.” It was Selecky’s voice. “The emergency generator will cut in in a minute or so.”

  “Will it?” asked Travis in a whisper. He pulled his Maglite out and shone it at the cash cage. The female cashier that had been standing at the barred window was gone.

  The generator didn’t come on. The whole place was steeped in total darkness.

  The patio doors opened, and a voice hollered out, “Don’t move. Everybody keep your seats and you won’t get hurt.”

  “McLaughlin,” whispered Jesse. “They’ll be coming to the cash cage, Trav. Get ready.”

  ANNIE was seated next to Tyler at table one. She reached for his hand when the power went out. “Stay here. Don’t move.” She reached under her chair and pulled her Beretta out of her purse, then quietly stood up and waited until her eyes became more accustomed to the blackness.

  Some players were holding up their phones for light, trying to see what was going on and making themselves visible. Others were getting to their feet and moving around, not knowing where they were going. Dangerous.

  “I’ve called the police,” hollered Selecky, holding up his cell phone and making himself a target. “Whoever y’all are, you’re five minutes from going to jail.”

  Bang.

  Selecky dropped to the carpet.

  Annie had edged closer to the door in the darkness and when the gunman fired at Selecky, she fired at the flash point and dropped him.

  Women screamed and ran from the room, and the men followed. After the shots were fired, the room emptied. Annie edged her way along the wall to the back of the room, trying to find Jesse and Travis. She figured they would stake out the cash cage.

  TRAVIS SHONE the light in a quick arc around the room trying to zero in on where the robbers were without giving them time to take him out.

  “Annie dropped one of them,” Travis whispered to Jesse, “That helps. Wish we knew how many were left.”

  “Where ar
e the security guards?” asked Jesse.

  “Ran home to their mamas,” said Travis. “Useless.”

  There was a noise behind them. Two men were arguing in whispers, but their voices were growing louder the angrier they got.

  “The bandits are in the cash cage,” said Jesse. “Get Annie over here.”

  His eyes working better now in the dark, a hint of moonlight coming through the patio doors, Travis crossed the room saying her name in a whisper, “Annie, where are you?”

  “Here.” She stood up close enough to touch him and he almost crapped himself.

  “I didn’t see you down there.”

  “I’m trying to stop the bleeding. Mark was shot in the chest.”

  “I’ll do it,” said Tyler, who was standing right beside her. “You go.”

  “We should hear sirens soon,” said Travis as he took her hand and led her around the empty tables to the end of the room. “Jesse has a plan.”

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “As soon as we get to the cash cage, you aim, and I’ll flick on the Maglite. You shoot through the bars and take another one out.”

  “Jeeze,” said Annie, “give me something hard.”

  Travis chuckled to himself. “Okay, ready? On three.”

  “Ready,” said Annie.

  Travis counted down. “One, two, three.”

  THE MAGLITE came on and it was so bright Annie couldn’t see dickshit for a second. She blinked, focused on the space between the bars and then she saw the two men hunched over the safe.

  Bang.

  She hit one of them and he crashed to the floor. The other one ran like a rabbit.

  JESSE FIGURED when Annie shot into the cash cage, the last guy would run, and he figured right. The door that was locked from the inside, flew open and McLaughlin came running out with a bag in one hand and a gun in the other.

  “Stop right there,” hollered Jesse. His Beretta was ready, but he couldn’t see the target. McLaughlin didn’t stop. He pushed Jesse aside and ran out the side door into the darkness. Jesse hurried out the door and fired twice in McLaughlin’s general direction, but he couldn’t see his target and McLaughlin was gone.

  “Travis,” hollered Jesse. He couldn’t run, and he’d never felt more useless.

  “Here, boss. I’ve got this.” Travis blew by Jesse and booked it after McLaughlin.

  TRAVIS ran down the sloping front yard to the road. He could see the car waiting and he saw someone in the driver’s seat as the interior light came on when McLaughlin jumped in. He was too far away to see who was driving.

  Sirens were fast approaching from the east and were only a minute away. Travis ran behind the car and got a quick glance at the plate as it pulled away. He punched the number into his phone and called it in.

  “That tag belongs to a dark blue Lexus owned by a Tanya Selecky,” said the dispatcher. “I’ll get the BOLO out for you right away, Deputy Bristol.”

  “Thanks.” Travis was winded as he trudged back up the hill to take control of the crime scene.

  “Get him?” asked Jesse. “I didn’t hear you fire.”

  “I was phoning in the tag when I could have been shooting at the tires.”

  “Shooting at tires with a hand gun is a wasted effort most times,” said Jesse, “unless your name is Annie. Whose vehicle was it?”

  “Tanya Selecky. The wife was in on the robbery.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Saturday, April 11th.

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  THE FRONT DOOR blasted open and Neil dropped his bag in the foyer and ran into the kitchen searching for his family. “Mom, I’m home.”

  Annie ran down the hall with tears in her eyes. “Oh, my baby’s here. I missed you so much.”

  “Where is everybody?” asked Neil. “It’s nine thirty.”

  Annie giggled. “It is nine thirty. What time did you leave Dallas?”

  “Early. I couldn’t wait to get here. Where’s Farrell? Is he at Blacky’s house?”

  “Umm… I think he’s in New Orleans, but I’ll see when he’s coming home.”

  Neil made a sad face. “New Orleans? I want him to be home. I need to see him right now.”

  “Me too. Let me call, sweetheart.” Annie pointed at the counter. “Pour us both a coffee.”

  Blaine answered on the first ring. “Hey, Mom, I miss you.”

  “I love you, baby. How’s Misty this morning?”

  “I’m at the hospital now waiting for the doctor to finish his rounds and talk to me. I’ll let you know what he says.”

  “Please do. Can you tell me when Farrell will be coming home? Neil came home from school this morning.”

  “He and Luke are coming today. Maybe you can pick them up at noon.”

  “Sure, I can.”

  “Did Luke mention that I asked him to stay here for a while?”

  “Nope. Not to me. Maybe he told Farrell. Why did you do that?”

  “Because he’s so lost and alone without his wife and baby. He shouldn’t be sitting alone in a rooming house.”

  “He does seem a little depressed.”

  “A little?”

  “Okay, a lot. I don’t care where he lives,” said Blaine, “as long as he shows up for work on time.”

  “Call me after you talk to the doctor. I want to know what’s going on.”

  “I will. I’m waiting for Misty’s mother to arrive too. I haven’t met her yet.”

  “Maybe she can help find the man who hurt Misty.”

  Blaine inhaled a big breath. “I never thought of that, but maybe she can.”

  Neil put the mugs of coffee on the table and waited for Annie to share. “We’re picking Luke and Farrell up at noon. They’re flying home.”

  University Hospital. New Orleans.

  BLAINE pressed end, happy that Neil was home for the summer. He checked his watch and was about to look for Doctor Lee Chang when Travis called and gave him a blow by blow on the robbery.

  “How much cash did McLaughlin get?” asked Blaine.

  “No clue. A lot of money was still in the safe when he ran.”

  “Do you have an update on Mark Selecky’s condition?”

  “He’s in ICU,” said Travis, “that’s all I could find out.”

  “I’m surprised that Mrs. Selecky was in on the robbery. Do you have wants out on her and McLaughlin?”

  “Jesse took care of it, and we have a BOLO on her car.”

  “Did Jesse alert border patrol for McLaughlin and for the car?”

  “Uh huh. He did.”

  “Good,” said Blaine. “Any ID on the two guys Annie shot?”

  “Not yet. They’re both in the morgue but they’ve probably been printed.”

  “They might be familiar faces from the gun vendor group.”

  “I couldn’t get a good look at them with the power out like it was,” said Travis.

  “Don’t matter,” said Blaine. “Two less to worry about. Good job, Travis.” He pressed end and Doctor Lee Chang was standing in front of him.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “I did, sir. I’m Blaine Blackmore-Powell and Misty LeJeune is my girlfriend. I was wondering about a transfer for her. I live in Austin.”

  “Not yet. Much too soon. Maybe in a week or two if she lives and if she stabilizes.”

  “If she lives?” Blaine repeated the words and almost choked on them.

  “The young lady is on the threshold of death, sir. She’s holding on by a thread and might let go at any time.”

  Jesus, are you trying to give me a heart attack?

  Austin-Bergstrom Airport.

  ANNIE, NEIL and Jackson waited in arrivals to greet Luke and Farrell. Annie showed Jackson how to look on the screen and see the incoming flights. He could read well for his age.

  “New Orleans landed, Mommy. Farrell is here.”

  “Watch that door over there,” said Annie.

  Jackson stared at the door without wavering.

/>   Farrell’s face lit up when he saw Neil. He grabbed him in a hug and held on tight.

  “Me and Mommy want to go for steaks and beer,” said Jackson.

  “I could so do that, buddy,” said Farrell. “How many beers can you drink?”

  Jackson made a face. “I had a sip of Mommy’s and I like Coke better.”

  Annie hugged Luke. “How are you doing, sugar?”

  “Definitely better, ma’am.”

  “You can call me, Annie, if you like. I bet y’all are hungry.”

  “I know I am,” said Neil. “I could eat a whole Angus.”

  Jackson laughed at his brother.

  University Hospital. New Orleans.

  BLAINE didn’t realize he had dozed off in the waiting room between his five-minute visits with Misty until he felt someone touch his arm.

  “Mr. Blackmore-Powell. Do I have the right person?”

  Blaine looked up into a beautiful face, so much like Misty’s he thought it was a dream. “Mrs. LeJeune?” He stood up to shake her hand. “Sorry, I’ve been sitting here for a long time.”

  “No need to apologize. I’m thrilled that you were here for my daughter. And I want to thank you for finding her and saving her from that dreadful Matthias Rush.”

  “You know him? You know his last name?”

  “I don’t know him personally, but my husband did and we’ve all heard stories about him.” She sat down and straightened her filmy skirt. Her clothes were much like Misty’s or vice versa.

  “Why would he want your husband’s spell book?”

  “Everyone does. It holds secrets known to only a few who practice the craft.”

  “Oh.” Blaine was none the wiser. “And Misty has it?”

  “It’s hers now. She is the last LeJeune. I’m only a LeJeune by marriage, but she is the last of the blood line, and…”

  “And?”

  “She has her father’s power, but it’s untrained.”

  “Oh.” Blaine said again.

  “Do you mind if I see her? Will they let me in?”

  “Ask at the desk. They have rigid rules.”

  Mrs. LeJeune returned from her short visit visibly shaken. “She’s so thin and pale. I had no idea.”