by AJ Newman
Then on Sunday, we’d take my sailboat out on the Gulf for the day. My boat was an older Hunter 36 but was in excellent shape. I didn’t use it much since the kids had grown up. We just had to get the work out of the way before the fun could start.
We started early the next morning. It was the buttcrack of dawn, which I wasn’t familiar with lately. I walked out on the deck, and sure enough, my shiny black Suburban was parked beside Cindy’s Jeep. It would have to wait since we had work to do this morning.
Jane didn’t have a lot of furniture, and it all fit in my cargo trailer and old Ford pickup. I had Cindy rent some moving blankets, and I borrowed several of Ann’s cleaning ladies to pack up Jane’s possessions. Our small army had Jane’s stuff loaded into my garage and home by one o’clock.
I invited everyone to Long John’s for lunch and drinks when the last box was safely in my garage. Only one of the cleaning ladies had to run, so the rest of us had a great meal and a few drinks before heading home.
I’d added a cot to Jane’s bedroom for Jere, and the two moved in and made themselves at home. With Jane’s permission, I took Jere over to Mike’s beach house on the southwest side of the island. Mike had all of the beach toys a kid could possibly want. Jere went straight for the beach tricycle. We took off across the water on one of the water tricycles with the enormous tires. Jere couldn’t reach the pedals but had a great time as we went up and down the water about a hundred feet from the beach.
I checked my watch and said, “Jere, would you like a great steak for supper?”
“Nope. I like hotdogs and hamburgers.”
“I think we’ll go up to Joe’s and have a good meal tonight.”
“Don’t you own a restaurant?”
“Yes.” I could see where this is going.
“Don’t you like your restaurant?”
“I love my restaurant, but every now and then I like something different. Joe’s has the best crab cakes on the Gulf.”
“Yuck.”
Obviously, the kid didn’t have a taste for the finer things in life.
Jere and I had a great time on the beach, and I noticed he was a bit tired. Enough time had passed for the ladies to have put away Jane’s stuff, so I took the boy back to my home. The ladies were done and sipping drinks by the pool. It was a little after five.
Cindy saw us. “Dad, we’re not cooking tonight. You’re taking us out to eat. Jere likes Long John’s hot dogs.”
“Hon, I know a place where the hot dogs and crab cakes are great. We don’t have to dress up at Joe’s.”
I could see Jane might be a bit uncomfortable having someone buy her supper several nights in a row. “This is a business meeting, as well as an ‘I’m too tired to fire up the grill night.’ I can expense it. How does six work for y’all?”
Jane walked over to me and drew my head close to hers. I was excited for a second, and then she whispered in my ear. “I gave the microdrones to my friend at the college, and he was astounded. He told me he’d do his best to give me a guess at their capability.”
I felt that magnetism again—damn rules.
Chapter 20
Mobile, Alabama
Joe waded through the crowded lobby and welcomed us when he saw me lead my group up to the Maître d'. “John, I received your message. Follow me to your favorite table.”
Jane and Cindy saw the anger in the people who’d been waiting for an hour. Joe seated us, and my favorite waiter took our drink orders.
“Dad, Joe treated you like you’re famous or wealthy. Why the special treatment?”
“Joe is an old friend. He served with Mike and me in Iraq. We ate a lot of sand together and saved each other’s butts many times. Mike and I helped Joe start his business back in the day. Joe returned the favor by helping me get Long John’s started.”
“I knew you two knew each other, and Joe and his family came to dinner several times over the years. Mom never liked Joe.”
“Your mom didn’t like Joe’s sister, who had a crush on me.”
Jere massacred two jumbo hotdogs and two scoops of chocolate ice cream. The rest of us pigged out on crab cakes, hush puppies, and adult beverages. The conversation ranged from Jere’s ability to hold down the hotdogs to finishing our work at New Wave.
I checked the time and paid our bill. “It’s a bit late for Jere, and our chariot might turn into a pumpkin. It’s time to go home.”
We were back in the Suburban and leaving the parking lot when I saw a black SUV a few cars behind us. I knew I was a bit paranoid, so I turned south but made a U-turn at the first crossroad. We crossed Highway 10 and turned right on Government Boulevard. The same SUV was several cars back, so I pushed the gas pedal down and heard the engine’s throaty roar. I sped up a bit and barely made the light at Lansdown Drive. The Black SUV could barely be seen, and I couldn’t hear the screeching tires and crash of metal, but I saw the resulting wreck in the review mirror.
“John, I noticed we went the wrong way to get home, but is something wrong?”
“Yes, that damned black SUV is tailing us again. Find him behind us and keep an eye on him.”
I pushed the phone button on my iPhone. “Call Jack.”
“Detective Jack Belter. How may I help you.”
“Hey, Jack, do you have any patrol cars around Government and Highway 10.”
“I’ll check, but there should be plenty. What’s wrong?”
“Great. Tell them there is a black Suburban driving at a high rate of speed being chased by a black Dodge SUV. I’m in the Suburban and don’t know why this guy is trying to run us down.”
“Several units should be after the one chasing you in a few minutes. Be careful.”
I kept Jack on the phone and kept him apprised of our location. I looked in the mirror and then took the ramp to Highway 65 South. I was going over a hundred when I entered the sparse traffic and was now about a mile ahead of the vehicle chasing us.
“Jane, be ready to get Jere and yourself out of here when I come to a stop at the Lowe’s front door. Cindy, go with them. I can’t stay ahead of the SUV forever. The cops might not make it in time.”
Cindy argued. “I’m staying with you.”
Jane said, “Sorry, but I have to think of Jere. We’ll be ready.”
The Suburban had more power than any vehicle I’d ever driven before and sped up until I had to exit at Highway 193 North. Slowing down, we made the turn on two wheels onto Government heading north again. We’d lost the black SUV. The turn into Lowe’s parking lot was only a block, so I braked more and almost hit a motorcycle but made the turn into their parking lot. We stopped at the front door, and I saw Jane rush Jere into the store as we sped off. Just as we started to pull back on Government, I saw the SUV flash past with the brakes locked down while sliding sideways. I floored the Suburban and headed back south on Government, but the SUV was behind us in a few seconds. There was too much traffic to outrun the bastard. There was an explosion behind me, and I felt the sting of glass peppering my neck and back of my head.
I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the Russian from Joe’s with a wicked grin on his face as he squeezed off another shot at us. He didn’t have his seatbelt on and was left-handed. No wonder he was such a lousy shot. I believe I mentioned that I observe things that others miss.
“Cindy, shoot the bastard.”
“I can’t! There are too many cars behind us.”
More bullets struck the back of our vehicle. “Cindy, brace your back and head against the seat!”
I sped up to about fifty and weaved from side to side as the SOB shot at us. I waited until he was two car lengths behind us and braced myself against the seatback, and then I stood on the brakes. The black SUV slammed into us, and I saw the airbag explode into the man’s face. I kept braking as we slid to a stop. The stench of burning rubber mixed with the sickly sweet smell of antifreeze from the Russian’s busted radiator filled the night air as I tried to open my door.
I hadn’t starte
d to feel any pain from the battering I just took. Still, I noticed I didn’t have much strength in my arms. My door balked but opened as I drew my pistol. I ran toward the driver when a flash almost blinded me. The bullet hit the right side of my head. I didn’t feel anything as I pulled the trigger and advanced to the Russian who was crouched by the Dodge’s door. I saw another flash and could hear the wiz of the bullet speeding past me. I shot twice and knew I’d hit the bastard, but he slumped against the door and rose again.
Closer now, I pumped two rounds into the Russian's chest. He grimaced and started to raise his pistol, but I put two bullets in his friggen head and one in his leg. One shot hit his right eye in the center and blew brains and shards of his skull all over the SUV. I was glad the man was dead, but this was too gruesome even for me. Then I remembered the thug had done his best to kill Cindy and me. I didn’t feel so bad then.
Three more steps and I stood above him and saw the man had body armor. No wonder my first shots didn’t stop the bastard. The Russian took his last breath with his blood pooling around his legs.
There wasn’t anyone else in the totaled Dodge, so I placed my pistol on the roof. Then, I sat on the front fender breathing in the cordite fumes from the gunfire while Cindy checked my head wound. She tore a piece off her blouse and used it to hold pressure on my ear. The SOB had pierced my ear, and the bitch hurt a lot.
Cindy had tears flowing. “He could have killed you.”
“It wasn’t a good day for good people to die. Too bad that asshat picked today to try to ruin mine. Can you go over to Lowe’s and check on Jane and Jere. I’ll be okay.”
I hadn’t noticed the sirens until the area was covered with red and blue lights. Cops were thick as flies on a horse turd in July. Cindy and I held our hands in the air when the cops approached.
“Sir, are you John Logan?”
“Yes, and that’s my pistol on the roof. That Russian tried to kill us. I shot in defense.”
“How do you know he’s Russian?”
“I was at Joe’s when he had a run-in with Joe’s bouncer. Joe called you guys, and he was hauled away.”
My friend Jack walked through the flock of cops. “Damn, John, what a mess. We have a dozen cars and houses with bullet holes. Luckily no one was shot but you and the perp.”
“Jack, I didn’t shoot until after the crash, and we were stopped. All of my shots were into the SUV. Most, if not all, are in the bastard or his body armor. I don’t miss, up close.”
The EMT’s rushed over and examined my pierced ear. “Hey, dude, you have a slight scratch across your face. A half-inch to the left, and we’d be washing your brains off the pavement.”
“Thanks for that tidbit. Can you patch me up so we can leave?”
“You need to go to the hospital and have a surgeon sew that ear up, or your friends will be making fun of you for the rest of your life.”
“Okay, let’s ride.”
I started to climb into the back of the ambulance when I heard, “John, are you okay?”
I turned, and Jane embraced me. My heart raced as tears flowed down her cheeks. I could feel her pounding heart against my chest, and we stayed locked together. Jane kissed me on the lips. I surprised myself by returning the passionate kiss. Jane continued holding me close when I heard her say. “I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. Thanks for thinking of Jere’s safety.”
I froze and didn’t say anything. I’ve regretted that often since then.
Both of us were flushed, and we continued to embrace while looking into the other's eyes. I couldn’t catch my breath when the EMTs pulled me up into the ambulance as Jane, Jere, and Cindy watched. I couldn’t break my gaze away from Jane until Cindy yelled, “Dad, I love you.”
Cindy smirked and then mouthed the word, “Wow,” before following me into the ambulance. The door slammed shut, and I was confused. I was in the wow stage myself. What in hell just happened? I hadn’t felt that way for many years. The sex with Meagan was fantastic, but never did I have the emotional attraction with her as I’d just experienced. I don’t remember feeling that way with Sally. Sally and I were good for each other, but never ‘wow.’
The police took Jane and Jere home while Cindy stayed with me. She called her Uncle Mike to come and get us but then remembered Mike was out of town. She had my phone and called Doc to give us a ride back to the island. Doc was glad to help and said he’d be there right away.
I sat on the side of the bed across from my stunned daughter while the Doctor filled out the paperwork to release me. I looked Cindy in the eyes, and she scratched the back of her neck before looking at me. She mouthed the word, “Wow,” again.
I scratched my head and said aloud, “Wow!”
“Have you two been closer than you told me?”
“No! I’m kinda stunned. I like her a lot. She’s a great person, but I have a rule.”
She chuckled, “Does your code of conduct say anything about not swapping tongues with much younger women?”
“No, that’s okay. It’s the student part and the employee part.”
“Well crap, Dad. You just threw that old fashioned rule out the window.”
“Wait! She kissed me!”
“Dad, you were all over her. I started to shout, ‘get a room’.”
“I can’t describe what happened. It must have been in the heat of the situation. I was almost killed.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“What will I do when I see her again?”
“Dad, I think grandpa gave you the birds and bees talk. Well, I hope he did, anyway.”
Chapter 21
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Jack and one of his detectives caught us before the doctor released me. They had dozens of questions, most of which I couldn’t answer.
“I only met the guy once, and he tailed me twice with the last one resulting in an attack on us and his death.”
Jack caught me to the side, “Tough way to get your ear pierced. I’ll bet the girls love it.”
“Asshole.”
“John, this man was a bad dude. He is ex-Spetsnaz and wanted for genocide by the UN. How the hell did a chemistry professor kill one of the most wanted men in the world?”
“Must have been luck. I’m lucky the Russian had been disorientated by the wreck and couldn’t shoot straight.”
“Luck my ass. I’ve read your file. You were a sergeant in the infantry and saved most of your squad’s lives at one time or the other.”
“See. I’m lucky.”
“Dad, you created your own luck when you drew him closer and caused him to smash into us. You even had time to warn me to brace myself.”
“So, I’m lucky and know a bit of physics. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. My braked SUV became at rest quickly. His Dodge was a body in motion that tends to stay in motion. That is until a much larger SUV, mine, stops abruptly. My Suburban had a lot more mass to move than the Russian’s dinky Dodge. Thus, he suffered the crashed fenders, radiator, and airbag deployment. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, so the crash threw him against the steering wheel and windshield. The dumb ass.”
Cindy knew not to interrupt. “Okay, enough lecturing. You planned his death in about thirty seconds. You’re a genius.”
“Whoa, not his death. I prefer his neutralization.”
“Splitting straws comes to mind right now.”
It was after midnight when we got home, my head hurt, and as my dad used to say, I was slap smooth worn out. Cindy fixed me a drink, and my eyelids soon felt like lead. I fell asleep on the couch, in mid-sentence, while discussing something I don’t remember. I woke up dreaming about Jane when a kiss on my forehead interrupted my dream. Jane was on the other end of the kiss and sat on the couch beside me.
My eyes had flown open, so I couldn’t pretend to be asleep. She said, “How’s my hero doing this morning?”
“I’m not a hero, but my head hurts like hell.”
Jane left for the kitchen and returned a few minute
s later. She sat down, placed my head on her lap, and then made me swallow two pills and a swig of water. Next, she put a bag with some ice on my forehead. The pounding in my temples began to wane when she massaged the sides of my head carefully, avoiding my damaged ear. Man, I could get used to this.
“John, is this helping?”
“Yunh huh.”
“Huh?”
“Yunh huh is Lower Alabama speak for hell, yes! Thanks, the pain is slowly going away.”
“You and Cindy were battered and bruised in the wreck. You’ll be really sore in a couple of days.”
“Are you going to be available to massage my pain away?”
“John, we both know we lost our heads in the heat of the commotion last night. We can’t let that get between us and our work.”
Damn, I wanted to say almost the same thing, but it kinda hurt coming from her. “I know, and I’m glad you feel that way too.”
Jane’s apprehension turned to a frown. At the risk of putting my whole leg in my mouth, I spoke. “The kiss was amazing, but I never mix business with pleasure, and I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
A slight smile started across her pert lips. “The kiss was amazing for me also, but I have to think about Jere and my work. I don’t want people thinking I don’t deserve my job because I screwed the boss.”
I was tongue-tied, but my thoughts soon jelled. “You’re the best I’ve seen in all my years teaching some damned good people. Your work will speak for itself. Let’s just forget what happened and move on.”
Jane was still massaging my forehead. “That is after you finish massaging my forehead.”
“John, a friend, can massage another friend’s forehead.”
My head agreed with her, but the rest of me had doubts. Just as I began to speak, Cindy entered the room behind Jane and again mouthed the word, “Wow!”
“Good morning Cindy. How are you this morning?”
