Final Table

by Carolina Mac

  Varmint’s Camp. Apache Mountains.

  STILL HOLDING Santana’s hand Annie walked towards the door of the trailer. “Let’s go inside and have a beer. I’ll tell you why I’m here.”

  “Uh huh.” He turned and held the door open for her, unaware of the dozens of eyes on him. “Can’t wait to hear your story.”

  Santana took two cold ones out of the cooler on the floor by the table and handed one to Annie.

  “Thank you.” Looking at him, her eyes welled up. You look so much like George, I’d know you anywhere.”

  Santana sat down across from her and couldn’t stop himself from staring. “You are so beautiful.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  He drank half his beer down and set the can on the table. “How did you get past Roberto?”

  “I have certain skills,” she said and then giggled. “You might want to send someone to the gate to untie him.”

  A smile spread across Santana’s handsome face. He hadn’t had anything to smile about in a long, long time.

  Annie reached across the table and touched his hand.

  Santana leaned in closer. “Why have you come all this way?”

  “Are you able to read Spanish?”

  “Some. I could be better.”

  Annie fished in her purse and pulled out the folded letter from Bianca. “A couple of days ago I received this letter from your mother.”

  Santana’s black eyes widened in surprise. “You know where she is? I’ve been worried since I lost touch with her. The last address I had was in David City in Panama.”

  “When George died, there was a stipulation in his will that I find his mother—your mother—and give her the money he left to take care of her. I hired a detective to search and he found her in Panama. Once we had an address, I flew down with a friend and located her. At that time, she was near death, dehydrated and starving, but after several months in a hospital she was well enough to leave. That’s when I bought her a little blue house by the river in Boquete. She loves it there.”

  “Whose Andrea?” asked Santana, still staring at his mother’s handwriting.

  “She’s a local woman. A domestic I hired to help Bianca.”

  Santana stared across the table with gratitude in his watery eyes. “I thank you for all you’ve done.” He pointed at the page. “She calls you her daughter, and I can understand why.”

  “She wants to see you, Santana. We’ll go together.”

  He didn’t speak for more than a minute. “It’s not a good time for me to leave here. This project is barely under way and there’s so much to be done.”

  “This place will wait, but your mother may not be there when you find the time.” Annie stood up and reached for her purse.

  Santana got to his feet and Annie recognized the stance. He was digging in. “I’ll think about it.”

  SANTANA stood outside and watched Annie Ross ride away. He stared after her until the taillight on her Softail disappeared into the trees.

  It had been years since he’d felt anything so deeply, and now he was so full of emotion it hurt when he drew a breath.

  The universe had shifted, and he knew his life would never be the same.

  Five-Star Security Systems. Airport Road. Austin.

  FARRELL and Hammer sat in front of the building waiting for the two teams to come back to the office at the end of their work day.

  Kelly Koss told him the installers worked until five most days unless they were close to finishing an installation, and then they worked longer.

  A Range Rover pulled up and parked beside Farrell. “Hey, the boss is here.”

  “I thought Blaine was the boss,” said Hammer.

  “Jesse is his partner,” said Farrell. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  Farrell and Hammer jumped in Jesse’s truck and Farrell said, “Hey, boss, nice to see you. This is Hammer, one of our new guys. Used to be an MP.”

  Jesse offered his hand over the console. “Got some good experience behind you, I’m sure. We can use you.”

  A van marked with the Five-Star logo pulled up and parked. Two guys in navy blue uniforms hopped out and went inside.

  “Okay, let’s get started,” said Jesse. To Hammer: “I’m just getting over a coronary, so if anything physical happens, I’m gonna stand to one side like a fuckin useless prick and let y’all take it.”

  Hammer smiled. “Got it, sir. Happy to jump in.”

  Jesse took the lead inside. “Ranger Quantrall, Miss. I’d like to speak to the two gentlemen that just came in.”

  “They’re finished work for the day. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

  Jesse tilted his head and Farrell headed down the hallway with Hammer behind him. Farrell heard talking and pushed open a door. Locker room. “Evening boys, Deputy Donovan. I’d like to ask y’all a few questions.”

  “I’m done work and I’m tired,” said a short blond-haired guy. “I need to talk to a bartender and a hot chick, not a cop.”

  Hammer stepped closer to him and said in a military way, “State your name, sir.”

  “I ain’t stating nothing, buddy.”

  Farrell stepped behind short guy and snapped a cuff on his wrist. Hammer took over and finished the job. “Load him up,” said Farrell. To the other guy: “Do I have to cuff you, or are you going to be civilized?”

  He pulled a sweatshirt out of his locker and put it on. “I’m civilized. What’s this about?”

  “Just a few questions about some robberies we’re investigating. We could have wrapped it up here, but thanks to your pal, now we can’t.”

  “I don’t mind answering a few questions, but I’d rather not go to the police station.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Roy Feldman. I’ve only worked here for a couple of weeks, so I don’t know much about anything.”

  Jesse wandered into the locker room and overheard Farrell. “Why don’t Roy and I talk in the office next door while you chat with the team coming in now?”

  Farrell nodded and headed down the hall to intercept the second team. “Evening. We’re from the police and need to ask you a couple of questions.”

  Tall guy with a buzz cut smiled and said. “Make it fast. What do you want to know?”

  “First, I want to know your name,” said Farrell.

  “Doug Koss. My father owns this business.”

  “Uh huh. Do you know where your father is right now?”

  “Probably went home for supper.”

  “Wrong,” said Farrell. “He’s sitting in jail because he obstructed an investigation. Hear what I’m saying?”

  Hammer returned to the outer office and blocked the entrance with his substantial body.

  “Okay,” the other brother took a step closer. They looked a lot alike, but Doug might have been a couple years older. “We’ll answer your questions but not until we have a lawyer present.”

  “Fine,” said Farrell. “Call your lawyer and have him meet us at DPS. That’s where we’re all going right this minute.”

  New Moon Motel. Apache Springs.

  ANNIE was chilled to the bone when she reached the motel, but before going inside, she loaded her bike onto the trailer and locked it down, so she could leave first thing in the morning.

  She freshened up in her room, then headed to Angie’s café—the only choice in town for a hot meal.

  Angela’s Diner. Apache Springs.

  ANNIE labored over the meat loaf special. The green beans were undercooked, the mashed potatoes the consistency of cream of wheat, and the meatloaf devoid of flavor. Even with ketchup to help her out, she could only eat half. She pushed her plate away.

  Angie came to her table, stared at the half-eaten dinner and removed the plate. She returned moments later with the rice pudding that was included with the special.

  “Maybe you’ll like this better,” she snapped.

  Annie smiled. Tired and feeling like her trip had been for nothing she stared at her phone and
didn’t notice Santana come in until he slid into the booth across from her.

  “Hey, I was just thinking about you,” she said.

  “I bet it wasn’t half as much as I was thinking about you since you turned my life upside down.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  He shook the black hair. “No time.”

  Angie strolled over, her eyes drinking in the whole package. Santana’s handsome face, his long black hair under a rolled blue bandana, his olive skin windburned from the ride, the smell of the leathers and the scent of the man himself. He exuded a presence, no question.

  Angela’s change of attitude reflected in her smile. “I see you have a dinner date.”

  “He’d like to order,” said Annie, not bothering with introductions.

  Santana glanced at the menu and pointed at the chicken fried steak.

  “Good choice,” said Angie, and hurried off to the kitchen.

  He leaned in closer and said in a low voice, “I could tell you were disappointed when I didn’t agree to go to Panama right away.”

  “Only because I know how much it would mean to Bianca to see you. I love her.”

  “I could tell that when you talked about her, and I owe you for being her lifeline. That pulls big weight for me.”

  “How big?”

  He smiled, and her heart thumped in her chest. She’d been sad and lonely for such a long time.

  “Can you give me one more day?”

  “I was planning on leaving in the morning. I loaded my bike already.”

  “Uh huh. I noticed that when I parked beside your truck.”

  Angie arrived with Santana’s cutlery, a mug of coffee and a basket of biscuits. “Your order shouldn’t be much longer,” she said and flashed another toothy smile.

  He didn’t even look up. Reached into the basket and grabbed a biscuit. Annie took one too.

  “I didn’t eat much of the special,” she whispered, as she buttered the biscuit.

  Santana grinned. “I’ve eaten here before.”

  “What do you have to wrap up before you can leave?”

  “When we arrived at the camp, I started many projects—too many at once—I realize that now in hindsight. Things are half finished—in limbo waiting for materials or waiting for the right guy to show up and show us how things should go—that type of thing.”

  “This camp seems to mean a lot to you,” she said.

  “Not as much as it once did. For whatever reason, my brain told me that the guys in the club would love it—just the way they love hunting—but they don’t. They don’t want to live there permanently.”

  “But you do?”

  “I thought I did until you showed up.”

  Annie smiled and took his hand. “Sometimes our own brain screws us over.”

  “That’s it.”

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin.

  JESSE took the older Koss brother, Doug. He strode into interrogation room four, placed his yellow pad on the metal table and took his time turning on the tape recorder.

  Doug Koss watched him. “I’m not saying one fucking word until my lawyer is here.”

  “Okay,” said Jesse, “Your attorney is with your brother now, so we’ll wait until they’re finished and then we’ll start.”

  “Kelly said you guys arrested Daddy.”

  “I believe Ranger Blackmore brought him in for obstruction.”

  “Where is he? Is he here… in this building?”

  “I’m not sure. He could be downstairs in a holding cell.”

  “I want to see him.”

  Jesse shook his head. “Not possible. He’ll be arraigned in the morning. You can see him then.”

  “What if I can’t wait until then? Can my lawyer get me in to see my dad?”

  “No, he can’t,” said Jesse, ““Let’s chat until your lawyer gets here.”

  “Nope. I’m done talking to you and every cop in here.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back.” Jesse left Doug Koss waiting for his attorney and moved on to room two.

  “Good evening, Mr. Deacon. Did someone offer you a drink?”

  “Don’t want a drink. I wanna go home and watch the game.”

  Jesse eased into the chair on the other side of the table and glanced at his notes. “I see you have an arrest record, Mr. Deacon and you’re on parole.”

  “So what? I’m not in violation of my parole. I’m squeaky clean.”

  “How long have you been working for Mr. Koss?”

  “A couple of months.” He fidgeted with his hands. “Can’t remember exactly how long.”

  “And you know quite a bit about security?”

  “Not a lot when I started, but I’m getting the hang of it now.”

  “And you like working for Five-Star?”

  Deacon stared. “I don’t like working for anybody. I’m more of a loner. But you work to survive.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Have you installed a lot of systems in the Barton Hills area of the city?”

  “We install all over Austin. Check with Mr. Koss.”

  “Three of the homes where Five-Star installed systems were robbed recently.”

  Deacon stared until he figured it out. “So you assholes put two and two together and got what? Five? We installed the systems, so we would be the ones to go back and rob the customers blind? You gotta be out of your fuckin mind.”

  Varmint Camp. Apache Mountains.

  SANTANA banged the gavel down as he scanned the faces around the table. He took a second look at his followers, the way he was taking a second look at every facet of his useless life. After meeting Annie, his eyes were opened for the first time, making his past forty-four years a waste of time. His heart pounded in his chest when he thought of her, her gray eyes, her face, her hair, the smell of her.

  Yesterday he’d been convinced that life in the Varmint camp was his destiny—not much of a life, but all he could hope for. Today, confusion clouded his mind with doubts and unanswered questions.

  “Something has come up,” he started. His throat was parched. “And I’ll be away for a short while.”

  “Why, boss? Where are you going?” asked Gage.

  “There’s somebody I need to see, and it has to be right away.”

  “Does it have something to do with the bitch on the bike that showed up here yesterday?” asked Hondo.

  One of the members pointed. “The one who Tasered Roberto and hog-tied him?”

  After a round of raucous laughter that didn’t die down, Santana banged the gavel again. “I won’t be gone long, and Hondo will take care of any problems while I’m away. Things should run smoothly.” He pushed two sheets of paper towards the second in command. “I’ve written it all out. What’s scheduled to be done and what needs attention. Nothing should go for a shit in the next few days.”

  His men eyed him with suspicion. He couldn’t tell who was loyal anymore since a lot of his most trusted men had been arrested when the DEA busted the lab in Apache Springs. Ever since the bust, he’d had an uneasy feeling that he couldn’t shake.

  Did one of these guys rat us out to the Feds?

  CHAPTER SIX

  Friday, November 2nd.

  New Moon Motel. Apache Springs.

  ANNIE showered, dressed and packed up her things. She hadn’t brought much with her, so it didn’t take long.

  After a coffee and a muffin with Karen Rose, she paid her bill and checked out.

  “It was so nice having you here, Annie. I get lonesome for company sometimes. Especially, female company.”

  “I enjoyed our conversations, Karen. Maybe I’ll be back. I’m not sure when.”

  “In Apache Springs, there isn’t much to come back for.”

  “I’ll be out of my room by noon.” Annie gave her a wave and went back to number twelve to wait for Santana.

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE lingered over his second cup of Panama blend as he waited for his crew to arrive. Nothing much had come fro
m the interrogations of the installers. Both the Koss brothers had lawyered up and declined to answer questions, and this morning Mr. Koss would be arraigned, and he’d make bail easily on a lesser charge like obstruction.

  No use arguing the point and he didn’t have time for it. He and Farrell had more important things to do. They were scheduled to testify against Benson Lovell today at the courthouse.

  One good thing had come out of the rousting of the Koss gang. Jesse had taken advantage of the opportunity and tagged the head honcho’s office.

  Blaine’s cell had been ringing since the moment he opened his eyes. Media people calling about him endorsing Judge Campbell’s campaign for Governor. Her speech must have been on the tube, but he missed it. Shit, what did that fuckin speech writer say?

  Endorsing? Fuck that. Barely tolerating is more like it.

  “Hey, boss.” Farrell was up and dressed in a suit. The top button of his white shirt still undone, and a blue tie that Blaine recognized as one of his own, hung loosely around Farrell’s neck “Who’s going to listen in on Mr. Koss when he gets freed up this morning? He should be ranting and raving like a drunken billy goat when he gets back to his office.”

  “Fletcher is the best on the equipment—next to Travis—and Jesse can only sit, so I’ll send the two of them. You and I will be in court at least until noon.”

  “I fuckin hope we ain’t there all day.” Farrell made a face and took a coffee mug from the cupboard.

  Travis County Courthouse. Austin.

  “I DIDN’T think there could be any more media trucks than the last time we were here,” said Farrell, “but I was wrong. Look at the fuckers.” He smirked across the console at Blaine. “I think they came out in droves to hear you testify.”

  “Go to hell.”

  Farrell snorted. “They watch you, boss. You the man.”

  “Shut up Farrell.” Blaine parked in a handicap spot and flipped a wheelchair sticker into the window.

  “Where the hell did you get that?”

  “I got it for Travis. Ginny signed for it. Totally legit.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.” Farrell smirked. “Only Travis ain’t here.”

  They sneaked in the back door and almost made it through the maze of corridors to the witness room… almost. One of the talking heads from the six o’clock news spotted Blaine and almost wiped out chasing him down the hallway in four-inch heels.