by Carolina Mac
“Excuse me for a minute, Cat. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, sweetie. I’m enjoying this lovely glass of wine by the window. Your landscaping is to die for.”
Blaine followed Carm and she pointed to the small den near the back door across from Lily’s office. There was a bathroom next door and Blaine had deemed it a better spot for Travis than the second floor.
Raised voices were coming from inside the room and Farrell was the loudest. He was pissed about something. “He’s not leaving, Ginny. He’s staying right on that pull-out sofa.”
“I can make him much more comfortable at my place and give him medical care. I can’t say I like you people interfering with my plans.”
This is Travis’ plan.
Blaine stepped into the fray. Bravely. Somewhat bravely. “Farrell, get Travis a beer then he’s going to rest for a while. To Ginny: “We’ll sort this out in the kitchen.” He took her elbow and steered her down the hall.
Get these fuckin women out of my house.
Blaine escorted her to the front foyer and didn’t mean to take a stance, but he couldn’t help himself. “Look, Ginny, Travis was shot on the job. He’s my responsibility and that’s it in a nutshell. I’m keeping him here. Period. End of discussion.”
Ginny teared up when Blaine took a harsh tone with her. “I owe Travis my life, and I wanted to do this for him.” She reached into her pocket for a tissue.
Fuck, now I made her cry.
“What’s going on?” Judge Campbell wandered into the foyer with a half glass of wine in her hand.
Jesus, what did I do to deserve this?
“Nothing is going on,” Blaine snapped. “Doctor Rodriguez is leaving.”
Jack came in the front door with Greg as Ginny was making her exit. “Koss is sticking close to home, boss. He and his wife are having a barbeque in the yard. I changed off with Rick and Lily.”
Blaine felt his chest tighten. “Lil is on surveillance? Am I losing my fuckin grip?”
“She volunteered,” said Jack, “because we’re short with Andy out. I think she’s hot for Rick.”
“Jesus Christ,” Blaine hollered and set Lexi to barking. “I don’t want her there. Those Koss fuckers are oozing violence out every fuckin pore.”
“Something got you riled up, boss?”
Judge Campbell flashed her best smile at Jack. “Could be me. I have that affect on the male population.”
I hope to hell she doesn’t win the election.
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
ANNIE tapped the keyboard in her office looking for flights to Panama. “How about two o’clock tomorrow?”
Santana was sitting in front of her desk in one of the club chairs with Jackson sitting in the chair next to him. “Fine for me. Will that give us enough time to drop off my bike?”
“Sure. We’ll do that right after breakfast.”
“Can I come on the airplane, Mommy?” asked Jackson.
“What about school?”
“I want to see Abuela Bianca. I’ve never seen her.”
“She’s your Nana, just like Nana Jean. You should see her.” To: Santana, “What do you think, sugar?”
Santana nodded. “Seeing her grandson would make her just as happy as seeing me. I’m sure it would.”
“Okay.” Annie smiled. “Three tickets. I’m booking it.”
Blackmore Agency. Austin.
“SET up the dining room table, Farrell. We’re gonna have a game. Don’t know when I’ve had a fuckin worse day. Women all over me making my life hell and I couldn’t get rid of them.”
Carm giggled at the other side of the kitchen. She understood a lot more English than she let on.
“Not funny, Carm. The Judge had her eye on your fish.”
Carm twirled around with a butcher knife in her hand and made a threatening face.
“Yeah, my thoughts exactly.”
Farrell got the cards and the chips out. “Should I call the guys in from the carriage house?”
“Sure. Do that and I’ll get Travis out here.” To Carm: “Want to play poker?”
“Si.”
Blaine pointed at the table. “Pick your spot.”
CHAPTER NINE
Monday, November 5th.
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
SANTANA strolled out of the shower naked, toweling off his long black hair and humming. Annie marveled at his body. Nothing like his brother, George, who had been fighting off the pounds his whole life, and finally succumbed to a fatal infarction.
She looked up from the suitcase she was packing and smiled at him. “I’m enjoying our time alone together.”
“Enjoying is a little light for what I’m feeling, Annie, although I am savoring every moment with you. Who wouldn’t?”
“I don’t want to find out who wouldn’t. This is private.”
“Of course, it is. I’ve never been intimate with a woman before in the true sense of the word.”
“I understand. In biker land, sex is a necessity, but the woman is not. How well I understand that concept.”
The smile vanished from Santana’s face. “Sounds disgusting when you say it like that.”
“Because it is.”
“Let’s not talk about it. I sense it’s not one of your favorite subjects.”
“Help me get this done up properly.” She pushed down on the folded clothes to release the zipper.
“How long will it take us to get to Panama?”
“About five hours, more or less.”
“Don’t think I’ve been on a flight that long.”
“Then we better order beer as soon as we get in the air.” Annie giggled.
Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE woke with a roaring headache. Could have been something to do with all the Coronas he’d had the night before at poker. His cell rang, and he groaned. “Who in hell wants me at six o’clock in the fuckin morning?”
The screen said Chief Calhoun wanted him. He inhaled and tried to filter the hatred he harbored for the inventor of the cell phone out of his voice. “Morning, Chief. What’s up?”
“Thought you had eyes on Koss and his tribe?”
“I do.”
“New robbery overnight in the north west of the city.”
“Anybody toast?”
“Not this time. Check it out. This is the address.”
Blaine entered it into his phone. “That’s farther north. That’s on the other side of route one.”
“Okay,” said the Chief, “I believe you. I don’t get out much.”
“I’m almost out of bed.” Blaine put the phone back on the nightstand and let his head flop back on the pillow. “Almost.”
He hadn’t quite closed his eyes when Farrell stomped in barefoot in his boxers. “Phone ringing?”
“Robbery somewhere near Westlake while we got eyes on the Koss fuckheads.”
“Fuck that.”
Farrell left the room and Blaine hollered after him. “Phone Lil and confirm that none of the Koss assholes moved a vehicle.” Blaine struggled against his pounding head and sat on the side of the bed. Lexi was on her feet, black nose pointed at the door, tail wagging.
“Yep, we’re getting up, girl. Let’s go see if Travis made it through the night.”
Ross Harley-Davidson. East Austin.
ANNIE drove down the side of the building, pulled the trailer around the back and parked close to the double overhead doors.
“This is your dealership?” asked Santana.
“Uh huh. I’ve had it for a few years. George owned one in Scarborough, but I had to sell it. Hard to manage businesses properly when you live in a different country.”
“Yeah, it would be. I’ll get the bike.”
Annie opened the side door of the garage and greeted her boys. “I’m bringing a bike in for a tune-up.”
“One of ours?” asked Nevada. He and his twin, Lucky, were a bike mechanic and an air brush specialist respectively. Annie had rescued both boys
from a brutal gang in Dallas when they were juveniles.
“Nope, this one belongs to George’s brother. He’s at the door with it.”
Nevada pressed the button and raised the overhead door. “Here, let me help you with that baby.”
“Thanks. Had a bit of trouble with her stalling out coming from West Texas.”
Annie introduced the boys and stood back while they chatted about the bike. There were no strangers in a Harley garage.
Westlake area. North-west Austin.
THE PROPERTY was on a hillside, in a long row of one-acre lots, beautifully landscaped with a curved drive done in dark red paving stones. At the top of the rise, near the front entrance was a turning circle centered by a bed of wild grasses with plumed tops. The wind rippled through the tall grass giving it a soft, fluffy look. Blaine thought he’d remember to mention the grass to Carm and see if they had a spot for some in the yard. He enjoyed learning the names and the history of different species.
Two squads and the crime scene unit were parked ahead of him in the circle. He’d brought Hammer and Fletch. Farrell relieved the overnight crew on the Koss surveillance.
“Hammer take the outside. Fletch take the system. I’ll take the homeowner.”
They piled out and got busy.
Koss Residence. East Austin.
FARRELL sat in his red Silverado half a block away from the Koss house. Not knowing what time Five-Star employees started work, Farrell was in position at seven-thirty. With one eye on the house and the other on his lighter, he lit up a smoke and grabbed for his ringing cell on the passenger seat.
“Morning, boss. You’re up early.”
“Charity is an early riser.” Jesse chuckled, and Farrell could hear the baby hollering in the background.
“I tried Blacky, but his phone was off,” said Jesse.
“He’s at a crime scene. Another robbery up in the hills. Don’t know much about it yet.”
“I tried Ace’s cell too and couldn’t get her.”
“She’s leaving today for Panama. Bianca isn’t well and she’s taking George’s brother to see his mother.”
“George has a brother?”
“Yep, he does. A younger version but looks a lot like him.”
“How long will Annie be gone?” asked Jesse.
“Few days. She wasn’t sure about Bianca’s health. She’ll call when she knows.”
“Is this brother like a friend or… what?”
“Shit, Jesse, couldn’t tell you. He slept in the guestroom when I was at the ranch if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I guess I’m asking that, but I have no right. I’m the one who moved home and left her… again.”
“She was pretty broken up when you left, but she knows you did it for Charity and for your health.”
“I didn’t mean to upset her, although I knew in my gut she wouldn’t take it lightly.”
“Nope. Not lightly at all, but she doesn’t want you to have another heart attack, either. It’s a no-win.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I’m on surveillance, boss, and the Koss tribe are getting into their vehicle.”
“Okay, Farrell. Go ahead. Talk later.”
The three Koss men rode together in a green SUV and Farrell followed them to the Five-Star building. They all went inside. The two boys reappeared five minutes later wearing their uniforms and carrying boxes of components. They made several trips inside, fetching the systems they’d be installing that day. They loaded one of the vans with no help from Daddy Koss. He stayed inside.
No sign of the other team. Maybe the testy guy quit.
Westlake Area. North-west Austin.
BLAINE sat at the dining room table with the homeowners, Mr. and Mrs. Brennan, as they made a list of what was taken.
“I can’t believe they took my jewelry out of our closet while we were sleeping,” said Mrs. Brennan. “That’s creepy.”
“Not only creepy,” said Blaine, “life-threatening if you happened to wake up and surprise them.”
“Is that what happened to the lady in Barton Hills?” she asked, and Blaine nodded.
“I didn’t realize you handled robberies, Ranger Blackmore,” said Mr. Brennan.
“I don’t. The case was given to us by Chief Calhoun because of the murder during.”
“I see.”
“Could you tell me who installed your security system?” asked Blaine.
Brennan turned and glanced at his wife. “The installation was part of our purchase agreement, and was completed before we moved in. Can you remember who it was?”
“No, but I can find the bill.” She looked at Blaine. “I have all the invoices for this house filed. Should I be looking for it now?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Fletcher entered the kitchen, Blaine glanced up at him and he shook his head.
Different system. Fuck that.
“One of the techs got a print,” said Fletch.
“No way.” Blaine left the table and fairly flew into the foyer. “Sue, if you got a print I’ll love you forever.”
She giggled. “I’ll try for a match as soon as I get to the lab.”
Blaine returned to the kitchen smiling.
“You have a print?” asked Mr. Brennan.
“Should have a name by this afternoon if our man is in the system.”
“Fast work.” Brennan pushed a receipt across the table. “Dana found this.”
Blaine zeroed in on the name of the firm.
Austin Security Pros.
Blackmore Agency. Austin.
TRAVIS woke from a deep sleep and Ginny was standing over his bed staring down at him. “You startled me,” he mumbled.
She smiled. “Doing my morning rounds, and I included you because you’re the most important patient I have. How are you feeling today?”
“Ask me after I have a couple of coffees.”
“Do you need help to the bathroom?” She pushed back the comforter not realizing Travis was naked. She inhaled sharply, and with her dark eyes focused on his face instead of elsewhere, she offered her hand.
Travis pulled the cover over himself and shook his head. “I can manage.”
Ginny sat down on the side of the bed and let out a little sigh. “Tell me the real reason you changed your mind and didn’t come to my house like we talked about.”
“Okay, I’m going to be truthful, Gin. It wasn’t Blaine’s idea for me to come here, it was mine. I thought if I went to your place, I’d be letting myself in for a whole lot of personal contact that I couldn’t deal with. I’m a mess. My head is screwed up and I’m not ready for a relationship. But most importantly, I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“You should have been straight with me, Travis. I can handle most things life throws my way and my main aim was to help you because you helped me. You saved my life.”
“Let’s call it even.”
Ginny stood up and she wasn’t smiling. “Okay, we’re even.”
Ginny left, and Travis shuffled to the bathroom.
If we’re even, why do I feel like such a shit?
Five-Star Security. East Austin.
FARRELL’S cell rang as he followed the Koss boys through the city. Blacky. “Yeah, boss.”
“Are you on the Koss team?”
“Heading to their first job.”
“Let them be for now and go to this address.”
Farrell pulled over and scribbled on his pack of Marlborough Reds. “Who are these guys?”
“They installed the system where the robbery was last night. You might not get anything. Just get a feel for them.”
“Get anything usable from the scene?”
“Yep. Sue lifted a print from the panel.”
“Thank you, baby Jesus.”
“She’s knows we’re pressed, so after you go to Austin Pros, drop by the lab.”
“Where will you be?”
“Fogarty’s.”
Fogarty’s New and Used. East Austin.
EVERYBODY in Austin knew the big blue barn out by the airport. Signs and billboards saturated the east end of the city extolling the virtues of shopping at Fogarty’s. ‘Come to the big blue barn with the Texas flag painted on the roof.’ People couldn’t resist the invitation and flocked to the barn in droves.
“How many acres has he got here?” asked Hammer.
“Don’t know,” said Blaine. “But every inch of it is filled with… stuff.”
“Is a lot of this crap stolen?” asked Fletcher.
“Not according to Fogarty, but the guys in robbery told me this was a good place to start looking for things on our list from the Barton Hill houses.”
Inside the huge barn, Blaine gave the list to Hammer. “See what you guys can find while I roust Fogarty.”
Blaine climbed the stairs and tapped on the office door. “I need to speak to you Mr. Fogarty, it’s Blaine Blackmore from the police.”
Fogarty opened the door wearing a huge smile. He was about seventy-five, a little stooped at the waist but still a tall man and solidly built. Dressed in what he always wore, blue cotton duck pants with suspenders and a plaid shirt, he offered Blaine his hand. “Mr. Blackmore, what a pleasant surprise. I thought you’d be all tied up getting your red-headed Judge Judy elected.”
Blaine chuckled. The old guy had a sense of humor. He had to give him that. “No, I’m not with Judge Campbell today, sir. She’s on her own.”
Fogarty swung the door wide and motioned for Blaine to have a seat in front of the old oak roll top. “Hope the bitch don’t get elected,” he barked, as he sank into the matching oak desk chair. “Texas don’t need a hard-drinkin sex pot in the mansion, for God’s sake. Give us somebody in the Capitol who’s down to earth with a goddam brain in their head.” He pounded his fist on the desk. “Richardson was the one. One of a kind who cared about the people of Texas. Never get another one that good.” He scowled. “Never ever.”
“True, Richardson was the best,” Blaine said, “but Judge Campbell has a brain. After all she’s an attorney and she’s a judge. She’s been on the bench for several years.”
“Don’t mean she’ll be a good Governor. Look how that asshole DeVouge turned out.” His mouth turned up at the corner and his blue eyes sparkled. “Heard you had a hand in that.”
