‘Oh yeah?" Sheriff Glover said. "What makes you say that?"
‘The tire tracks. His tracks cross over everyone else’s. He had to get there last."
"Yeah, ok. Thanks Phillip. The file says the kid had a record. B&E stuff mostly, nothing like murder though. I just can’t see the kid going off like this. The father and the pilot are clean and so’s Caswell, but we have him under arrest in the hospital until he can convince us otherwise. Send the wife my way when she shows up will you?"
"Sure thing Sheriff."
Chapter 21 The Reunion
Kyle jerked awake from a dream that clung to him so tightly he physically tried to shake it off. He was being chased again, this time off a high cliff overlooking the ocean. Even though his eyes were fully open now his heart still raced, and the feeling of falling consumed him. His mind repeatedly played scenes from different viewpoints of him clutching at the air around him in full freefall panic, fighting the inevitable as he fell, plummeting toward an indiscernible end.
Kyle lay there in his cell, trying to catch his breath and push the dream from his mind, sweating with exhaustion and forcing himself to think of something, anything, besides falling. He had tried everything he could think of to calm himself after having these dreams. He thought it strange that he was forced to experience it from both the victim's and an observer's perspective. His mind had a wicked sense of humor.
Sometimes he could see his pursuer’s form but never his face, and always he was given a choice. Each time he chose to end his life to prevent himself from a far worse fate as his tormentor closed in. Jumping off a cliff or in front of a train, off a bridge or from a high window, the dreams had but one result, and always, just seconds before the monster’s claws reached their target.
Kyle's cell was lit dimly by a light down the corridor, and was quiet except for his labored breathing. Soon enough Kyle realized it was too quiet. He held his breath but could hear no one snoring, no coughing, not even the usual toilet’s flushing from anywhere in the block. He checked his watch. Three forty-nine. The nightshift CO, Gabe Evers would soon pass his cell on his usual rounds. He’d shake Kyle’s cell door and say the same thing every night.
"Chaquetero? You got it too good, you know that amigo?" Then he’d walk off, real pleased with himself and whistling some old Elvis song softly through his teeth.
Kyle’s breathing gradually slowed and his thoughts drifted from the danger in his dreams to the real peril of his waking life. Rumors that he was a marked man swirled at Crimson Desert. They said that his days were numbered, and that whoever "delivered" on the contract would be handsomely rewarded. Kyle tried to shrug off the rumors and the increasing frequency of his dreams as coincidence. Besides, he knew living in fear was not really living, and to do so meant they had already beaten him.
Again his thoughts changed course, to the day ahead and another trip out to the scene of the crime, although there was not much chance of finding anything new. The military had scoured the area and left nothing of interest. Two previous trips had proven that, but staying close to Warden Cooley was proving good for Kyle’s health, and since Mark’s death, Bill Cooley was obsessed with finding some answers in the case of the missing inmates. It was too bad Tiny’s tip didn’t pan out. Before the Warden could get to the records, they had been purged, and the prospect of tying this to Hank Caswell faded.
Kyle had come to respect the warden even more now than when he had been married to his daughter. Lots of marriages don’t work out, particularly when the groom does stupid things that get him locked up. Even after his trial and sentencing, Bill stuck by him; even through the divorce. Giving him a job was what turned Kyle’s life from one of just another guy with a record, to that of a productive citizen.
Kyle sensed Bill saw something in him that eluded even Kyle after he got out… something worth redeeming, and Bill was there for him. He owed his former father-in-law for that; there was something stabilizing in being loyal to someone as honorable as Bill Cooley.
When Mark showed up, it was Bill that gave Kyle the plum assignment to drive him around. Then when he and the inmates died out in that lonely stretch of desert, Bill trusted him even though his story made no sense at all. That made them closer than an in-law marriage ever could have.
Kyle had calmed down from his nightmare and was even getting drowsy again, just drifting off to sleep when he heard the footsteps. At first he ascribed them to Gabe on his rounds, but these were different somehow. Gabe had deliberate steps; these seemed to be disguised, almost sneaky. Gabe’s footsteps were familiar and reassuring… these were not. On the verge of sleep, Kyle had to strain just to hear them but couldn’t tell how far away they were. There was no pattern to them; no familiar cadence, and they were accompanied with the sound of fast air movement; like the sound made by someone with quick or jerky movements trying to be quiet.
Kyle opened his eyes just as an arm with a knife plunged into the bed where he had been sleeping an instant before. Using reflexes he didn’t know he had, he levitated off the bed and across the room, circling now like a trainer sizing up a dangerous animal, avoiding the swipes and jabs of the shiny blade of his attacker. Slowly, Kyle circled back to his bed, his senses fully alert now and his heart pounding in his chest. He remembered the baseball bat the warden had given him for just such a situation. The bat he stored behind the desk in the corner. The bat now impossibly out of reach and useless.
The intruder wore a ski mask and was broad and tall, over 6"3", yet surprisingly quick on his feet. Kyle grabbed a blanket off his bed and wrapped one end of it around his arm to shield it from the constant jabs made by his shadowy intruder. He held the free end in his other hand, hoping to wrap up his attacker’s arm and disable his thrust in the same motion. Kyle’s actions caused the intruder to hesitate and assess the situation, trying to develop a counter strategy.
The pair faced each other and turned full circle, concentrating on each other’s movements, knocking over the chair and crashing into the desk that jutted into the small central space of the cell. In time, their movement brought Kyle within inches of the bat, but Kyle couldn’t divert his attention from his attacker long enough to locate it. Then Kyle remembered another gift from the warden, one that would take even more time to retrieve. He regretted storing it away out of easy reach in the desk drawer.
Kyle knew this game of cat and mouse would not go on much longer. Time for plan B, he thought. When Kyle’s attacker made his next jab, Kyle pushed the assailant onto the bed, away from his wrapped arm, giving him time to grasp the bat in the corner. It was just out of reach from where he stood, and as he strained, he lost his balance, falling hard into the wall just as his assailant charged again. Kyle grabbed the bat and held it up defensively in front of his body trying to block the attack.
The attacker lunged and the shiv tore through the blanket and found flesh. A burning sensation moved up his arm as he pulled away, regaining his balance and circling again. Once more the shadowy figure lunged, flailing the knife back and forth trying to find soft parts in the dim light. Kyle darted to the side just out of danger and let his intruder lunge past. Using both hands, Kyle brought the bat down for all he was worth, catching the attacker between the shoulder blades and landing his weapon with a loud thud. For an instant, the attacker’s knees bent and Kyle thought he might fall to the floor; but he only staggered a step or two before regaining his balance. The attacker was stunned but not down.
Moving more cautious now, the pair circled the small room again, looking for an opening, calculating their advantage. Kyle could feel the blood from his wound soaking the thin blanket, making it sticky, and knew he needed help. Then he saw the masked man glance at the open cell door behind him. Kyle realized he was blocking the only way out, forcing the intruder to fight when he might just decide now to flee. Kyle rushed toward the desk and away from the open door. The intruder seized the opportunity, darting out of the cell as Kyle pulled the wardens "equalizer" from his desk and fired.
Not even the most hardened inmate is a match for five million volts. The stun gun darts found their mark, slamming Big T hard onto the concrete floor. Kyle pushed the call button for the CO as Big T lay quivering outside his cell unable to move or speak, wondering what had hit him.
An hour later, Bill Cooley entered the holding room and placed his chair next to Kyle’s, just out of reach of the inmate manacled to the table in the middle of the room.
"Seems like what we have here is… failure to communicate" the warden drawled in a contrived southern accent.
Big T didn’t look up, his head hung down in defeat. He didn’t like the warden and was thinking of ways to make Hank punish him for the disrespect shown him tonight.
"Let me tell you the score, Thomas. In a day or two, you’re going to be the talk of the cellblock; did you know that? Everyone knows you’ve made more than your share of enemies these last few years, but you know, things change and, well let’s just say you won’t be holding court like you have been… when the news gets out. I’d say you have two days to put your affairs in order. You see we’re not going to be able to shield you 24-7. We just don’t have the manpower. You understand. I mean, look how easy it was for you to get to Kyle… even after lights out. Same thing could happen to you I’m afraid."
Big T mumbled under his breath. "And just what makes you think things have changed, Warden?"
"Well now, while I hardly think you’ll be the one to spread this around, you should know Hank Caswell is in the hospital, and under arrest in connection with a multiple murder investigation."
Big T looked up when he heard the news, his eyes searching the warden’s face for signs of a bluff. Then fear flashed across his face as the truth of the warden’s words sank in.
"Of course, you’re looking at an attempted murder charge yourself… that is, if you last the week. So you see Thomas, your prospects have soured considerably tonight. Now I know a big tough guy like you normally wouldn’t give a thought to another murder charge, I mean, what are we going to do, throw you in prison? But with Hank out of the way, you may want to help us figure this thing out before the news hits."
"And what do I get out of it?"
"A transfer… it's not much, and you’d lose your uh, lifestyle, …but not your life."
"And what would I have to do?"
"Well, for starters, why did you try to kill Kyle tonight?"
Kyle sat on the edge of his seat at the question, now paying close attention to the answer.
There was a long silence while Big T weighed the situation. Nobody spoke, waiting for Big T to make a decision.
"Okay, I’ll take it," said Big T, resigned to the certainty of his change of fortune.
"So, why did you try to kill Kyle?"
"For the money, you know."
"Who ordered the hit?"
"Caswell."
"Hank Caswell?"
"Yeah, but he’s just fronting for somebody else. I’ve heard him take a call from somebody that orders him around and gets him so mad he breaks stuff."
"Who is this somebody?"
"Don’t know, he never used a name, I’m just telling you Caswell’s not the big fish in this."
"Okay, why did he order the hit?"
"I don’t ask, he just says he wants two guys disappeared, there’s 50 large in it for you he says"
"Two guys?" asked Bill and Kyle simultaneously.
"Yeah," said Big T, "You" he said as he nodded toward Kyle, "and some guy in Chicago. Figured I’d do you first then get the details on the other one later."
"The guy in Chicago," Kyle asked, "Is he a scientist named Basra?"
"Sumthin" like that, yeah."
"Who else knows about this arrangement, Thomas?"
"Nobody Warden, …other than the somebody on the phone maybe. God’s honest you know, God’s honest I swear. I figured I’d do this one myself, I mean why waste profits on a local, you know? Then I’d go back and bump the deal with Caswell. You know, show him stuff gets done with me on the job. And he’d sweeten it enough for me to pay a dude on the outers for the other one with a little left over for my time and trouble."
Kyle stood, bent over the table and looked the large man right in the eye.
"You’re going down Thomas. Hank Caswell won’t protect you any more. You are on your own, and I hope you rot in hell!"
Kyle motioned for Bill to meet him out in the hall.
"Did you hear that Bill?" Kyle asked in a hushed voice. "This doesn’t end with Caswell, there’s somebody higher calling the shots! If he’s right about Hank being a go between, that means me and this Basra guy are still in danger, and Basra’s probably still in denial!"
"That may be Kyle, but all we have is the word of an inmate who’s trying to save his skin. I don’t think that’s enough to get the authorities in Chicago involved. But I’ll give you time off to check this out if you want. What with the attack on you in your cell, Chicago may be safer than you staying here anyway. You think you can get to Chicago?"
"Not driving that’s for sure, my car is barely hanging together as it is."
"Well, I could front you enough for airfare." Bill said.
"I may just take you up on that Bill, but let me make a call first to see if I’d even be welcome out there, okay?"
_____________________
Colleen rolled over to silence her cell phone and check the time– 7:30. Not as early as she had thought, but still unwelcome. She had been sleeping soundly, sleep that hadn’t come easily to her recently. She had planned to relax this morning and enjoy being in her own bed for the first time in four days. Besides, Jack and Tom weren’t picking her up until ten.
"Hello?" she said in an alert voice; immediately wondering why she felt the need to mask the fact she was asleep at such an early hour.
"Hi Colleen?" Did I wake you? It’s Kyle, Kyle Preston… in Vegas?"
"Oh, hi Kyle," Colleen said as she fell back into her pillow. "And yes, you did wake me. What’s up?"
"Sorry to call so early, but we’ve got another piece of the puzzle out here, I’m afraid. Hank Caswell just tried to have me killed."
Colleen sat up in bed. "What? Oh Kyle, are you all right?"
"I'm okay, insomnia and my catlike reflexes helped me survive," Kyle joked." But I took a shiv to the arm, nothing too bad though. A couple stitches. But there’s more.
"Hank got shot last night in a gun battle and is a suspect in a triple homicide. He’s recovering, but in custody at the hospital."
"Wow! Does that mean you're in the clear now?" asked Colleen.
"Not really, the hits may still be active…"
"What do you mean by the hits? .
"Remember Mark’s boss, Mr. Basra?"
"Yes, what a coincidence, Kyle! Jack was able to get an appointment with him. We’re meeting with him tomorrow.
"You are?" Kyle’s voice cracked with excitement. "Can I join you?"
"Well, Kyle, I don’t know…"
"Mr. Basra is the other target."
"Ramy Basra? A target?" Colleen replied at a volume that resonated off her bedroom walls.
"Colleen, I need to leave Vegas, and I need to convince Mr. Basra the threat is real. I owe him that much. And I’m convinced Basra has information that will help us figure out why Mark was killed. I can only do that in person. That’s why I need to be in on that meeting."
"But Kyle, even if I could swing it, I think we've got it handled here." Colleen said trying to sound concerned but offering no encouragement.
"A friend will spot me the airfare, I can be there tonight…" Kyle pressed, letting his offer hang in the air to let Colleen think it over.
Kyle sensed Colleen's reluctance, so he recounted Big T's story and Hank’s arrest in connection with the multiple murders.
Finally Colleen said " But I think I can convince Mr. Basra that his life may be in danger without you Kyle…."
"I’m sure you can Colleen, but it still leaves me here in Vegas, and that isn�
��t too safe for me at the moment. And don’t you think your case to Basra would be a lot stronger if you brought in an actual witness to Mark’s murder?
Colleen started to object but Kyle pressed harder.
"Look, I know we just met, and normally I’d let this go, but I was almost killed TWICE! I’m not stopping until I find the S.O.B. that wants me dead, and yes, avenge Mark’s death. Like it or not, the trail leads to Chicago."
‘Kyle, I don’t know…" said Colleen as she considered Kyle’s request.
I’m really only asking out of courtesy," pressed Kyle, "but you can’t prevent me from meeting with him, or following up on leads either. I was hoping we could work together on this, pool our resources so to speak, but if not, well, I guess I’ll just wish you the best."
The Premise Page 24
