“So we don’t leave any,” Luan said.
“Right,” Zerbe said. “And that includes not making our move until we figure out where he’s got it hidden.”
Cummins wanted to make it clear that to these two mercs that he was not just wallpaper, but rather as in charge of things as Zerbe was. “He may have stashed it in a safety deposit box, for all we know.”
Luan snorted derisively. “So we grab him and make him take us there.”
Cummins shook his head. “Not the way things work in the U.S.”
“Right,” Zerbe said. “If he’s got it in a bank somewhere, we can’t go waltzing in there with guns making him go to his box. Besides, all this is speculation at this point.”
“As long as you’re paying us,” Luan said. “We don’t mind playing the big cats waiting for that herd of gazelles to get closer.”
Zerbe hissed and scrunched down in the seat. “Look out. They’re getting into the Escalade now. We’ll track them with the GPS and then use the drone.”
McNamara Ranch
Phoenix. Arizona
Wolf stood by the window watching for Mac and drinking some bottled water as Yolanda worked on her makeup at the mirror by his bathroom sink. His window air-conditioner was working overtime but the thin stream of cool air felt nice.
“So what do you do at night?” she asked. “You don’t even have a TV.”
“Usually, I read or study,” he said. “I’m taking some classes.”
“Neat. What subjects?”
“Right now I’m taking Intro to Law Enforcement, Mac’s idea, and I’ve got an English lit class, too.”
“So you studying to be a cop?” she asked.
He turned and watch her using what looked like a huge artist’s paint brush on her cheeks and jaw.
“No chance of that,” he said. “I told you I was in prison for four years, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, that’s right. You did. But I thought you—”
She stopped in mid-sentence.
“You thought what?” he asked.
She finished her dusting and slipped the brush into her makeup case.
“I thought you told me you didn’t do it, that you had somebody looking into it.”
Wolf chuckled and turned back to the window.
“One thing you learn in prison is that everybody says they didn’t do it.” He drank some more water as all of the bad memories came floating back to him. “And the person who’s looking into it is Kasey’s fiancé.”
“That dude we saw at Charlie’s?”
“One and the same.”
Yolanda laughed. “I think you better get yourself another lawyer.”
Wolf was about to reply when he saw Mac’s Escalade heading down the roadway toward the ranch.
“They’re here. You ready?”
“I’m always ready,” she said and smiled at him.
He was thinking she was fishing for a compliment about her appearance and she deserved one.
“Wow, you look great,” he said. “You ever think about being a model?”
“Models are usually flat-chested white girls with no booties.”
“Not for Playboy,” Wolf said as they moved to the stairs. “Maybe we can do a photo layout after we catch this lawyer on the lam, and I’ll become a professional photographer.”
“In your dreams,” she said.
He wondered if she was talking about the photo session or his possible new vocation.
The Escalade was pulling in as Wolf was locking up the garage. Mac jumped out and opened the rear door for Brenda, who was in the back seat on the driver’s side. He then rushed around to open the front passenger side for Ms. Dolly, who got out and stretched, looking around.
“You’re moving pretty good,” Wolf said. “Considering.”
“Considering what?” McNamara said, leaning close. “That I was using a cane earlier in the week or that I spent the night in heavenly bliss?”
“Both, actually,” Wolf said. “But after all, you are Special Forces.”
McNamara laughed and slapped him on the back. The blow felt hard and sure, and Wolf had to think that this liaison with the P-Patrol had been just what Mac had needed to get him back on track.
“My, my,” Ms. Dolly said. “So this is the famous McNamara Ranch, huh?”
“This is it,” Mac said, smiling broadly. “But it’s also our informal office. My daughter does all the computer stuff and keeps the books, and me and Steve do the heavy lifting. And wait till you see the special surprise that’s waiting for you when we get inside.”
“Can’t wait,” Ms. Dolly said, smiling.
Wolf knew Mac was talking about the flowers.
I guess I’ll have to tell him after all, Wolf thought.
“You should see the gym first,” he called out and tossed his keys to Yolanda. “Hey, sweetie, will you show them?”
Yolanda caught the keys and gave Wolf a sideways glance.
“Come on over here,” she said, and walked to the garage door.
McNamara started to follow but Wolf grabbed his arm. Mac regarded him strangely.
“You said you checked the Escalade for trackers?” Wolf asked.
“Sure did. Found one, too, right out in plain sight under the rear bumper. It’s now defunct. I was gonna put it on one of the cars in the hotel parking lot just to confuse those fuckers, but I was so mad I smashed it under my heel.”
“I hope you got a lot of pleasure doing that,” Wolf said. “Because there’s a slight problem with the flowers.”
McNamara’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Wolf debated what to tell him. He hated being a snitch, but the last thing he wanted to see was another argument flare up between Mac and Kasey, especially in front of the P-Patrol. He took a deep breath.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but this morning when I came out of my place with Yolanda, Kasey was tossing them.”
McNamara’s face reddened and he started for the house. Wolf tightened his grip on Mac’s arm, which felt like a bundle of iron.
“Hold on,” he said. “You don’t want to get into an argument with her right now and I managed to save a dozen or so, which I’ve got in my room.”
McNamara said nothing but Wolf could tell he was furious.
They stood there for perhaps a good ten seconds and then Mac took a deep breath.
“What color are they?” he asked.
“The flowers?” Wolf shrugged. “Some red, a few pink, and mostly yellow.”
McNamara considered this and then nodded. “Best leave then in your place till we get ready to go. They in water?”
Wolf nodded, thinking he still had to tell him the rest of it.
“Oh, I’ve got the bandito in my place, too,” he said, trying to sound as matter of fact as he could.
“The bandito?” McNamara’s eyes narrowed. “She throw that out, too?”
Wolf felt Mac’s biceps swell with growing rage.
“Well, uh,” he muttered, trying to figure out how to handle this part. He realized he’d put himself right in the middle of another family dispute.
But I was there anyway, he thought. Still, if he could mollify the situation as best he could.
“Yolanda wanted to see it,” he said. “So, I …”
“You can’t lie for shit,” McNamara said, pulling his arm away. “Wait till I see her.”
“Like I told you,” Wolf said. “Keep your cool in front of the ladies. Okay?”
McNamara closed his eyes, inhaled copiously, and then nodded.
“Hey, sugar,” Ms. Dolly called out, exiting the garage. “I sure hope your house has better air-conditioning than your garage.”
Brenda followed along with Yolanda, who locked the door and gave Wolf back his keys.
All three of them were dressed in running shoes, blue jeans, and tank tops. Working uniforms, Yolanda had told him.
McNamara made a sweeping gesture toward the house. “You’ll think you were in the Arctic.”
“Good,” Ms. Dolly said. “This heat here’s as bad as in Vegas, and it ain’t even afternoon yet.”
Once inside, McNamara made a lot of noise showing them around.
“Look at all them medals in that shadow box,” Ms. Dolly said.
“And I love that hat,” Brenda said.
“It’s a beret,” McNamara said. “A green beret.”
Wolf separated himself from the group and went to the office area. Kasey sat behind the computer, her fingers dancing over the keyboard.
“Hi,” Wolf said, taking pains not to address her by name.
She replied with a quick glance and nothing more.
“Your dad’s hoping you had a chance to run down some info on that lawyer case we’ve been working on,” Wolf said.
“I have to go to class soon,” she said. “And I have to drop Chad off at day care.”
Wolf nodded, hoping she’d continue voluntarily. She didn’t.
“Okay,” he said. “But did you find anything out yet? We’re gonna be working the case today.”
From the other room, he heard some commotion and Ms. Dolly saying, “Don’t tell me this adorable little cowboy’s your grandson?”
Kasey rolled her eyes and started to get up.
Wolf stepped closer. “Look, I know how you feel, but don’t embarrass your dad in front of his friends by arguing. Please,” he added as an afterthought.
Her eyes flashed. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do.”
“I’m not, but—”
“But nothing. You haven’t earned that right. You haven’t earned—”
McNamara walked in carrying Chad. “This little guy’s getting so big we’re gonna have to buy him a horse pretty soon.”
The P-Patrol entered beside him.
Kasey compressed her lips. “That’s the last thing he needs, dad.”
“Can I, mommy?” Chad said. “Please.”
“We’ll talk about that another time,” she said, stepping forward to lift Chad out of her father’s arms. “We have to go to day care now, honey.”
“Say,” McNamara said. “Did you get a chance to run that—”
“It’s over there,” she said, pointing to the out basket on the side of her desk and started to walk out of the room.
Wolf walked over to the basket and picked up a sheaf of papers. It was a listing of names and addresses under the heading of Willard Krenshaw. It looked like she’d come through on that stuff. Wolf wanted to ask about the info he’d requested regarding the names on his list but kept his mouth shut.
“Well,” McNamara said in loud voice, obviously trying to sound ameliorating. “We might as well get started then. You gals ready?”
“We were born ready,” Ms. Dolly said.
Kasey was standing next to the door now, plucking her car keys from the pegboard on the wall.
“Let’s get in the Escalade,” McNamara said. “I’ll fire up the air and spring for the drive-through at your choice of Dunkin’ Donuts or Mickey D’s.”
“I’m a Dunkin’ gal myself,” Ms. Dolly said.
Kasey opened the door and grabbed Chad’s hand. She turned and said, “Make sure you take the Escalade through the full-service car wash afterwards.”
She slammed the door and McNamara, looked both livid and embarrassed. He looked at Wolf and said, “Steve, will you show the gals here where the washroom is while I take care of something?”
“Sure,” Wolf said.
McNamara then strode out the door, slamming it behind him.
The four of them stood in awkward silence for a few seconds, and then Ms. Dolly said, “Ain’t she the sweetheart.”
It wasn’t a question.
Wolf said, “Ah, the washroom’s over here.”
He started walking through the house. Ms. Dolly caught up to him.
“If you ever want to get away from the Wicked Witch of the East, honey,” she said. “Just let me know. You got a job waitin’ for you in Vegas.”
Wolf chuckled. “I don’t know if I’d fit in with an outfit called the P-Patrol.”
Ms. Dolly laughed and grabbed his arm, leaning her red tresses against his shoulder. “From what I hear, you’d fit in real good.”
Wolf glanced back at Yolanda, who put her hand in front of her mouth and made a motion as if she were twisting a key in a lock.
“I might take you up on that once I pay Mac back what I owe him,” he said.
“You just let me know, sugar,” Ms. Dolly said.
“Tal vez si su novio se hizo el amor con ella, que la calmaría un poco,” Brenda said.
Ms. Dolly laughed.
Obviously, she was fluent in Spanish, as Wolf had figured. He smiled, too, and said, “That’s probably what she needs, all right.”
Brenda and Ms. Dolly looked at each other and laughed.
After each one of the women had used the facilities, they all waited inside for McNamara to return. Wolf was standing near the door perusing the stuff that Kasey had printed out when he heard the shot. He immediately dropped the papers on the floor and went to the grandfather clock. After pressing the sequence of buttons on the side, the tray slid out and he grabbed the Glock 43 that Mac stored in there. Ms. Dolly, Brenda, and Yolanda were suddenly next to him, each holding handguns at the ready. Ms. Dolly’s was a chrome Colt Python with a six-inch barrel.
Wolf glanced at it and she said, “I like my guns the same as how I like my men. Big and bad.”
Brenda’s pistol looked to be a much smaller stainless-steel Taurus Spectrum, trimmed in purple, and Yolanda’s was a Beretta Px4 Storm, with a satin colored slide over a black frame.
“Fashion statement,” she said as Wolf looked at hers.
“I guess it won’t do any good to tell you girls to stay inside, huh?” Wolf said as he cracked the door and peered out through the opening.
McNamara was walking in the driveway, fully exposed, his smoking Glock 19 in his right hand.
What the hell kind of use of cover was that?
Wolf moved through the door, the P-Patrol following, spreading out along the front of the house.
McNamara stopped near a long, flat object lying on the driveway, replaced his Glock in his holster, and bent over. When he straightened up, he had an elongated piece of plastic in his left hand. He turned back and waved to them.
Wolf relaxed slightly and saw that the elongated plastic had four propellers, a triangular body shape, and three landing wheels.
The drone.
He straightened up from his crouch and told the P-Patrol that everything was clear. They assumed non-combat ready stances as well. McNamara walked toward them grinning.
He held up the damaged drone.
“This son of a bitch didn’t know he was coming into a hot LZ,” he said as he turned it over.
“One shot, and with a pistol at that,” Wolf said. “Pretty fair shooting.”
“I wanted to try it after seeing Hondo do it on TV.” Mac rotated the drone. “Make a nice trophy to set next to the bandito, wouldn’t it?”
“Might be best to dispose of the evidence,” Wolf said. “If it belongs to the feds.”
McNamara shook his head. “No registration number. And the serial number’s been burned off. If it is theirs, they went to some pains to hide it, but that doesn’t surprise me.”
He turned and started to stick the drone in the trash.
“Let me hold onto it,” Wolf said. “Maybe Kasey can do some searching as to who in the area sells that model and we can get a lead. When she’s feeling better, that is.”
McNamara hesitated, then pulled the drone from the container and let the lid of the garbage can fall.
“I need to apologize to the girls about the way she acted.” McNamara handed him the drone. “Maybe you could go get the remainder of them flowers for me? I’ll get the bandito later and after I have a talk with her.”
Wolf took the shattered remnants and headed for the door to his dwelling, fishing in his pocket for his keys.
>
Strip Mall Parking Lot
Phoenix, Arizona
Cummins was getting more comfortable in his current position of being relegated to the back seat of the Lexus. Zerbe was in the front passenger seat and that Luan character, the leader of the Lion Team, was in the driver’s position. They both peered through binoculars at the bail bondsman’s office. It seemed to Cummins that they were wasting a lot of time but he knew better than to say that. The more time and resources they spent on watching Wolf and his buddy, the less time they had to be watching him. And he was already gathering information. Last night when Zerbe was in the bathroom, Cummins had snuck a look at his phones, both his personal one and the burner, and written down the numbers he’d called. The one with a New York area code had to be Fallotti’s. That might come in handy in case the shit hit the fan again the way it had down in Mexico.
“Drie mooi vrou,” Luan said.
“Ja,” Zerbe said. He looked back at Cummins. “They’re just coming out. You should see the three babes they got with them.”
Cummins thought about asking to see the binoculars so he could look but didn’t. He figured he’d have plenty of time to think about women later.
“We going to follow them again?” he asked.
Zerbe lowered his binoculars and sat pensively for a few seconds.
“No,” he finally said. “I think not. Hand me my bag, would you?”
Cummins blew out a heavy breath and shifted himself in the seat, straining to lift his bulk up high enough so that he could reach the black nylon bag in the rear that held Zerbe’s surveillance equipment. When he shifted back into a comfortable position he saw Zerbe ducking down and realized the Escalade was driving past them. It was still a good sixty feet away and Cummins felt secure behind the dark tint. When Zerbe straightened up he reached back and grabbed the bag.
“Pull up to the front of the place,” he said. “I want to plant a listening device in there so we can find out what they’re working on.”
“Is that smart?” Cummins said. “I mean, after that guy McNamara shooting down your drone.”
Zerbe gave him a disparaging look as Luan shifted into gear and the vehicle lurched forward. “Let me worry about what’s smart and what’s not.”
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