At the Crossroads

by B. J Daniels

  Shifting from feeling like everyone was moving in slow motion, suddenly everything was happening too fast. She could see Gene struggling as he stumbled backward into Bobby. He had his arm still locked around Tina’s throat and his gun in his hand, but his gaze was on the knife protruding from his stomach. She could tell he wanted to pull it out, but that would mean letting go of Tina or his gun.

  Had he done either, Alexis would have gone for her weapon—and she knew Culhane would have, too.

  “Eric!” Gene yelled, but the man didn’t move. He was staring at Alexis as he had been. She’d done her best to ignore him, not wanting to make eye contact. But all the time, she’d had her hand on the grip of her gun.

  If he took even one step toward her, she would pull the gun and shoot him.

  “Eric!” Gene yelled again, sounding angrier and in even more pain.

  Either Eric didn’t hear him or he ignored him, because he didn’t move nor did he take his eyes off her.

  * * *

  CULHANE WAS TRYING to watch everything that was going on. But he hadn’t forgotten Eric. Far from it. Like Alexis, he was waiting for the man to make his move. He’d already decided that he’d take out Eric and then Gene as quickly as he could.

  The problem would be the fact that Gene was using Tina like a shield. Then there was Bobby. Culhane needed him alive. When the shooting started, Bobby would drop the food under his arm and fire his weapon. Culhane had no doubt where Bobby would point it. The same place he had it pointed right now—right at Culhane’s heart.

  It was the kind of crapshoot that Culhane hated. If any of the men got a chance to fire before they died...

  Gene pushed through the front door, dragging Tina with him and forcing Bobby out on the sidewalk. Culhane saw that the man’s eyes were wild with pain and fury. Dried leaves whirled around them as the wind blew down the main drag. “I’ll kill her,” Gene was yelling. “Eric! Come on, damn it. Now!”

  Culhane saw Bobby rush to put the food onto the floorboard of the passenger side. “The knife!” Gene was screaming. “Get the knife.”

  Bobby seemed to grimace as he stepped to Gene and pulled the knife out of his gut, quickly dropping the blade on the ground, before running around to climb behind the wheel. It didn’t appear he planned to wait for Eric.

  Even from where he stood, Culhane could see that Gene was bleeding profusely from his wound as he wrestled a kicking-and-screaming Tina. He opened the van’s side door and shoved her into the back, only to have her lunge at him. He caught her with a right hook, and she disappeared from view. The van door closed. Staggering, Gene opened the passenger-side door as Bobby started the engine. Culhane could see him wincing in pain, his shirt soaked in blood as he tried to stop the flow with one hand.

  Eric still hadn’t moved, even though Gene was screaming obscenities for him to come out. Culhane had known it was only a matter of time before Eric moved—just not to leave. The man lunged for Alexis, wanting her more than he was afraid of Gene.

  “Over my dead body,” Culhane said under his breath. Next to him, he knew Alexis wasn’t having it, either. Her hand was under her jacket, making it appear that she was hugging herself. But he knew her grip was on the gun she was about to use.

  Culhane pulled his weapon and fired it into the side of Eric’s head as he reached for her. The man dropped like a gunnysack of rocks at Alexis’s feet. She had her weapon out as well.

  The two shared a look and, without a word, rushed to the front door. But the van was already roaring away, Gene in the passenger seat, Bobby behind the wheel. There was no sign of Tina in the back. On the ground next to where the van had been lay the bloody knife.

  Culhane turned back to the carnage in the café. Earl Ray was on the floor holding Bessie. “You’re going to be all right,” he was saying as he held his wadded up jacket to her wound. “Lars, get a cell phone!” Lars was sitting up looking dazed, but he struggled to his feet. “Call 9-1-1 for an ambulance.”

  “What about Tina?” Lars cried. “We have to go after her.”

  Vi had gathered her wits and rushed across the room to slap Shirley and take her granddaughter. She now wept in the corner of the booth as she rocked the baby.

  “I’m going after her,” Culhane said from the doorway as he took his phone from the basket Lars held out to him. He saw Alexis’s phone and handed it to her.

  Earl Ray turned to look at him and nodded. “Thank you, Culhane.”

  He was only a little surprised that Earl Ray knew who he was. Which meant that the man also knew that the law was already after him. He moved to where Earl Ray was holding Bessie. He saw the worry in the older man’s gaze. “How is she?” he asked.

  “The bullet appears to have gone all the way through,” Earl Ray said. “I don’t think it hit any internal organs. An ambulance is on the way. So is the sheriff.” With his last words, he met Culhane’s gaze. “You need to get out of here. I assume you’re going with him?” he said, turning to Alexis.

  “I’m Alexis Brand, a former detective, now a bounty hunter.”

  Earl Ray smiled. “Pleased to meet you. I heard on the scanner earlier, though, that you are also wanted for questioning. Don’t worry. I’ll deal with law enforcement when they arrive. I was afraid that Gene would go out to the van and find his brother... I thought it was Gene we had to worry about it. I should have known Eric would be the one.”

  “Culhane and I will find them,” Alexis said and gave him a look that brooked no argument. He didn’t have time to argue, anyway.

  “Let me give you my phone number.” Earl Ray reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “You realize, though, that we can’t keep you out of this. I’ll try to give you as much time as I can. But since they’re already looking for you... I doubt it will help what you did here today, but I’ll make sure the authorities know.”

  “Thank you,” he said as Earl Ray put his number into Culhane’s phone. He frowned as the man handed him the keys.

  “Take my truck. They’ll be looking for both of your rigs. It’s a dirty-brown color parked two blocks off the main drag up that way.” Earl Ray handed the cell back. “I can let you know what’s happening here. If you need other help, call me.”

  “Are you sure about this, Earl Ray? It will get you into a world of trouble.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Go. Gene has a good head start,” the older man said. “Good luck to you both.” Then he knelt closer to Bessie on the floor, telling her everything was going to be fine.

  Culhane looked at Alexis. She didn’t hesitate as they rushed to the door and out into the late morning. At her rig, she opened the door and reached inside for her overnight bag before taking off down the street with Culhane to find Earl Ray’s pickup.

  * * *

  EVERYTHING HAD HAPPENED SO fast that Shirley hadn’t seen Vi headed for her. She’d looked up in surprise to find her standing over her—and the woman’s palm headed for her face. She hadn’t had enough time to block the assault.

  Her cheek stung from the force of the slap. Vi stood over her, rage and anguish and pain in her pinched face. She opened her mouth, but only spittle came out as she tried to speak. Her words seemed to be caught in her throat, choking her.

  After a moment, Vi grabbed up the baby crying in her carrier and took her back across the room. Shirley realized with a start that she’d completely forgotten about the baby. When Tina had been taken, Lars had left the baby on the booth seat across from her and rushed to save the woman he’d sworn he no longer loved.

  Shirley hadn’t moved, hadn’t even rubbed her cheek, although it still stung. Everyone was sobbing and moving around the café. Earl Ray had told them they had to stay. That the sheriff’s department was on the way as well as an ambulance. Along with the coroner, she thought as she looked over at Fred and Tyrell, both dead on the floor.

  The third gunman lay dead by the
counter. In the kitchen, she could see the cook also sprawled on the floor, his blood having dried around him.

  By the door, Earl Ray was seeing to Bessie. Next to them, she saw that Lars was sitting across from Vi. He had the baby in his arms, and Shirley could tell by the movement of his shoulders that he was crying. Crying for Tina.

  She tried to remember waking up that morning to a normal day. There’d been only two guests at the motel the night before. They’d both checked out early. She’d had a whole day of nothing to do ahead of her and was glad of it.

  Then Lars had come in her back door. If only she’d turned down his breakfast invitation. She’d been anxious about the two of them going out in public—especially to the café where everyone would see them. But she’d never been able to say no to him, and this morning had been no different.

  She could hear the sound of sirens in the distance. Soon the café would be swarming with cops and EMTs. There would be hours of questioning.

  Lars lifted his head and looked across the room at her as if he’d completely forgotten her. He wiped his eyes and, getting to his feet, and still holding the baby, walked in her direction. She said nothing as he sat down on the edge of the booth seat across from her. She could see where he’d taken the blow from the gun for Tina. The site was swollen and bruising.

  After a moment, he met her gaze looking as if he didn’t know what to say so she decided to help him out.

  “You belong with Tina.” He blinked as if surprised but didn’t argue. “She loves you, and you love Chloe. I suspect you love Tina, too. Forgive her, and make the family you deserve. Even Vi will accept you in time.”

  “What about you?” he asked, his voice sounding hoarse with emotion.

  She smiled and looked toward the door. “I’ll be leaving Buckhorn. I’m not sure where I’ll go. But I’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.” She nodded as if realizing that was exactly where she was heading. She just hoped she got that far. She turned to meet his gaze, and for a moment, she weakened. Emotion crowded her voice. She cleared it. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  His smile was sad, a smile that told of lost hopes and dreams. But there was relief there, too. Lars would never get out of Buckhorn, and she thought he knew that now. But she could see that, unlike her, he’d never really wanted to. He believed he could fulfill his hopes and dreams here in Buckhorn with Tina and Chloe.

  The wail of sirens grew closer. This nightmare was finally over for her, one that had been going on a lot longer than just this morning here in this café.

  She couldn’t wait, anxious to get on with her life. She’d been stuck here too long. Later she would walk down to the motel, pack up her few belongings and let the owner know she’d quit. She realized as she waited that she’d never seen herself leaving this town with Lars. In her mind, she’d always been alone, driving out of Buckhorn, glancing back only briefly before looking ahead at the horizon.

  She felt lighter suddenly. In her mind she could already smell the salty air of the Pacific, hear the waves crashing on the beach, feel the sand between her toes—just like in the movies. She’d always thought everyone should see the ocean before they died. She smiled as in her mind’s eye she saw herself driving out of Montana. Only this time, she didn’t look back.

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE TRUCK WAS right where Earl Ray had said it would be. As Culhane slid behind the wheel, Alexis climbed in the passenger side and tossed her bag into the crew cab back.

  Culhane hadn’t said a word since they’d left the café. She’d seen the look he’d darted at her when she’d said she was going with him. He had to know that he couldn’t talk her out of it. But whether or not he had accepted it was yet to be discovered.

  That had been so close back there. She was still shaking inside. Not that she would have let Eric take her without a fight, but things could have been so much worse if Gene hadn’t been wounded and not in any kind of shape to come back into the café, gun blasting.

  Culhane started the engine, and she glanced around the truck, trying to assure herself that they were both fine. “Does this seem too easy to you?” she asked. It was almost too clean. She looked behind the seat and saw neatly stacked blankets and what appeared to be survival gear.

  He gunned the engine, backing out and onto the narrow strip of highway, headed east in the direction the van had gone.

  Opening the glove box, she blinked. “There’s a gun in there and a lot of ammunition. It’s as if this truck is equipped for Armageddon.” She looked over at Culhane. “Who is this man, anyway, and what is he doing in Buckhorn? As my mother would say, why is he hiding his bushel under a basket?”

  Culhane gave her a confused look, shook his head as if to clear it and said, “Ex-military is my guess.”

  “It doesn’t seem odd to you that he helped us like this?”

  “Not really. I suspect there is a whole lot more to his story.”

  “He knew who you were. He knew I was wanted by the cops too now.”

  Culhane rolled his eyes at her. “He probably has a scanner. After all, there isn’t even a deputy living in Buckhorn. He probably watches over the town.”

  She had seen how the locals had seemed to relax a little when Earl Ray had taken charge. She closed the glove box and looked to the two-lane highway ahead. It was empty all the way to the horizon.

  “They do have a pretty good head start. You should be able to catch up with that rattletrap van they’re driving.” She eyed him. “Unless you’re just going to run. After all, now there is even more reason for the law to be after you.”

  He looked shocked and clearly disappointed in her when he turned to look at her. “You know me better than that! I’m going after Tina. Just like I said.” He pressed down even harder on the gas. She saw the speedometer jump from eighty to ninety.

  “I thought I knew you,” she said looking away. “Until I woke up this morning to find you gone and wanted for murdering your wife.”

  “There’s more to the story.”

  “I’m sure there is,” she said. “I can’t wait to hear that story.”

  The speedometer needle vibrated as it topped one hundred. “Look, you’re the one who was determined to come along even if it gets us both killed.”

  “I’m determined to take you in before some trigger-happy cop shoots you,” she snapped. “The BOLO on you says you’re armed and dangerous.”

  He glanced at her. “I thought that’s what attracted you to me.”

  It was so Culhane to try to lighten the mood, especially immediately after being upset with her.

  “Being wanted for murder isn’t a laughing matter,” she said, hating how superior she sounded.

  “I don’t believe Jana is dead. I think someone put her up to this.”

  She shook her head. Was this wishful thinking on his part? “But I heard there was so much blood—”

  “According to the sheriff.”

  Alexis stared at him. “You think Garwood is behind this?”

  “He told me that if I didn’t drop my wrongful-firing lawsuit I would regret it. He doesn’t want what I know about the department and him to come out.”

  “Still, this is even beyond Garwood. Framing you for murder? Once Jana is found alive—”

  “That’s just it. I don’t think he’s going to let that happen.”

  She couldn’t help her shock. “I know Garwood is a lousy sheriff, but I don’t think he’s involved in murdering people.”

  “It could be out of his hands if he’s in as deep as I suspect he is. I don’t think he’s realized what he’s set in motion. I have a feeling this is bigger than Jana, that she’s only a pawn in a much larger game. If I’m right, she’s become a liability, one Garwood can’t afford.”

  What was all this? Culhane knew the sheriff was dirty. Since the two of them were fired, he’d been trying to g
et the goods on Garwood. She’d worried because the sheriff had rich, powerful friends. She had been worried about Culhane even before this happened.

  As she stared at the strip of black two-lane ahead of them, she felt tears burn her eyes. She had no idea what Culhane had gotten himself involved in, and like he said, she was now along for the ride. They’d somehow survived back at the café, but Culhane was still wanted for murder. Just the thought made her stomach knot inside. The two of them had been in some dangerous situations a few times with their jobs as deputies, but nothing like that circus back there.

  And now they were chasing two of them, trying to catch them. This wasn’t over, she thought, afraid of what Gene would do with Tina. What he’d already done. She wouldn’t let herself think the worst. Instead she concentrated on catching up with the van. After that... Yes, after that, then what?

  Her eyes hurt from staring at the road looking for the van. She tried to assure herself that the men inside it wouldn’t kill their hostage, but she wasn’t convinced. Alexis knew how close she’d come to being one of the hostages if Eric had had his way. She told herself it wouldn’t have happened. She and Culhane never would have let Eric take her.

  But she knew that had things gone badly, Culhane would be dead now, and she could have been unable to stop Eric. Right now she could be in the back of that van. She’d known he wasn’t going to leave without her. She’d seen it in his eyes. She shuddered now at the memory of the darkness she’d seen there, a mixture of hate and lust laced with violence.

  Culhane had the gas pedal to the floor, the truck eating up the pavement as it roared east. She could see his big hands gripping the wheel and recalled both the strength and tenderness of those hands. She shoved the memory away, waiting for the back of the van to appear and praying that the woman Gene had thrown in the back was still alive.