by Susan Slater
“Officer, put down your weapon.”
The yell startled Tommy—jolted him. My God, what had he been about to do? He dropped the gun to the ground and stepped back. He was shaking and didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Take it easy, pal. You the one these guys held captive?” Tommy nodded.
The cop gave a low whistle. “You’re lucky. Can’t say I’d blame you if you knocked this one around a little. But he’ll get his. Don’t need no help from you.”
The other officer had scooped up Tommy’s gun, ejected the magazine and checked the chamber.
“Why don’t you just put this back in your pocket?”
Tommy took the gun and stepped aside. The colonel never looked at him, just stared at the ground. Tommy watched as the two cops pushed him into the back seat of the patrol car. Then the colonel turned to look at him through the rear window. No emotion, just a cold stare. He turned back to face forward only when the car bumped up a short incline to the highway.
Tommy couldn’t stop the shiver that started somewhere at the base of his spine. Hatred. Anger. It could eat him alive if he let it. Wasn’t this the very reason that anger management was part of the Police Academy’s curriculum? He’d come close. Too close to throwing his career away right then. Maybe he’d talk to Ben. That brought a smile, Tommy Spottedhorse seeing a shrink. But he thought it was a good idea. He stood for a moment then tucked the gun back into his belt and walked toward Leonard. Tommy was exhausted, and he knew he’d be questioned for hours. He might as well get started.
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Ben sat talking to Brenda. The morning sun pushed into the corners giving a false warmth to the otherwise starkness of the hospital room. The doctors had asked him to answer her questions—not volunteer anything, but not to leave anything out if he thought it was an appropriate time for her to know. He assumed Tommy had been detained in Albuquerque. The ten o’clock news had featured his story. Tommy the TV star. Ben smiled. His friend had been through a lot. But the colonel was behind bars and two of his supporters dead. Three more were wanted for questioning by the State Department.
He looked at the woman in front of him. She had pieced almost everything together. There would be no visible scars but killing Ronnie was something, even though forced, that they would have to work on. It wouldn’t be easy.
“Hey.” Tommy stood in the doorway.
“Should I ask for an autograph?” The hint of a smile dimpled the corners of her mouth.
“Not today.” He slumped into a chair by the foot of the bed. Ben thought he looked exhausted. He’d probably just gotten out of questioning—but he was out, not being held in jail because of the revolver. Hopefully, that meant Leonard had been lenient.
“Ben’s told me that you saved my life—never gave up, believed in me. Followed the colonel to the kiva—if it hadn’t been for you getting me to a hospital … thank you.”
Tommy shrugged. Clearly embarrassed, Ben thought. “You see, it’s about this cake-walk at a fall festival I was invited to. Sorta promised an angel food cake with orange icing—now that’ll get a man to do just about anything. You think that invitation still stands?”
“Maybe.”
“The last time you said that, a coyote put a crimp in my style.”
Brenda just laughed—that tinkling sound of bells.
Thank you for taking the time to read Thunderbird. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend
and is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Susan Slater
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Watch for Fire Dancer, coming up next!
Ben Pecos has the opportunity to work in Albuquerque on a research project for the Indian Health Service, and his fiancée Julie Conlin decides to join him when she snags an invitation for the couple to stay at the lavish home of an old family friend. Connie CdeBaca is the head of a family of successful land developers, but she harbors a deep secret she has never admitted to anyone—and when Connie dies suddenly, Ben and Julie are swept into the midst of another mystery. The twists and turns in this complex plot will keep readers guessing to the very end!
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