The Advocate's Felony

by Teresa Burrell

Sabre stopped what she was doing and walked toward him. He embraced her and as he leaned down to kiss her he raised his left hand, removed his Stetson, and tossed it on the bed. He kissed her hungrily and she reciprocated. Then he cupped her face in both hands, kissed her gently on the nose, and said, “I need a shower.”

  “Me too,” she said.

  JP smirked.

  “After you,” Sabre added. “Then we need to get some sleep.”

  “Right,” he said and went to the bathroom, removing his toothbrush, toothpaste, some underwear, and a clean pair of jeans from his bag on the way.

  Sabre checked the thermostat and turned the heat up just a little. She still felt cold. She hung her coat in the closet and then unzipped her suitcase and reached for her toiletries. Ron’s Dopp kit was on top of them. She debated whether to wait until he realized it was gone and came looking for it or if she should take it to him. She decided she may not want to be interrupted by the time he figured it out.

  She donned her jacket, picked up the kit, and stepped out to deliver it next door. She closed the door behind her and pulled up her collar, wishing she had brought her beanie even for the few steps she had to go. The wind was blowing so hard it was difficult to see or hear anything, but she noticed someone standing at Ron’s door.

  She reached her hand back to open her motel room door, but realized she had forgotten the key. If she knocked on the door, the person at Ron’s door would be more apt to hear it than JP would from inside the shower. So, she did the only thing she could think of to do. She took a quick step toward Ron’s room and saw the woman holding a gun. The door was slightly open. The woman kicked it and it flew open just as Sabre reached her and swung Ron’s bag as hard as she could across the side of the woman’s head.

  Chapter 48

  The blow landed on the side of Gina’s head, knocking her into the room and onto the floor. Her gun flew across the room. Sabre glanced around but didn’t see either Ron or Tuper. “Ron,” she yelled. “Tuper.” No response. She opened the bathroom door and found Tuper slumped on the floor with his face smashed against the side of the toilet. He lay there very still. Sabre knelt down to see if he was alive. He was breathing, but he didn’t move. She ran back out and checked Gina. She groaned.

  “Geez!” JP yelled.

  Sabre looked up to see JP standing in the doorway wearing nothing but his jeans. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

  “What happened?”

  “I knocked her out,” Sabre said. “Ron’s gone and Tuper’s on the floor in the bathroom.”

  JP checked for a pulse. “She’s alive and I don’t see any blood. Watch her.” JP picked up Gina’s pistol and stuck it in the back of his jeans, flung open the bathroom door, and saw Tuper on the floor. JP grabbed a washcloth, wet it, and wiped Tuper’s face. It seemed to rouse him a little. “Tuper, talk to me.”

  Tuper squirmed and then opened his eyes. He tried to get up, but he was stuck in an awkward position. He pushed his sore foot against the wall and let out a yelp. “Dang rabbits!”

  “Here, let me help you.” JP reached out his hand and pulled. When Tuper was halfway up, JP braced his other hand behind Tuper’s back and helped him up the rest of the way. JP started to hold him up and lead him out of the bathroom.

  “I can do it,” Tuper grumbled. “I ain’t helpless.”

  “Don’t be so dang stubborn, old man. Just lean on me. You have a sore foot that won’t take any weight and probably a concussion.”

  JP walked him to the bed and helped him sit down.

  “She’s waking up,” Sabre said. “Gina, can you hear me?” Gina moved her head and then opened her eyes with obvious effort.

  “What the…?” Gina said.

  JP stepped to where Gina was lying on the floor near the door. “Let’s switch. You take care of Grumpy.”

  “Gina, it’s JP. Are you okay?”

  She tried to sit up, but he insisted she lie down. “Just relax a minute. You’re going to be okay.” JP looked at Sabre and then at Tuper. “Tuper, did she knock you out?”

  “All I saw was some guy. I was in the bathroom and someone knocked on the motel room door. I thought it was someone bringing the blankets. I heard a scuffle so I came out. Someone was dragging Ron out the door and before I could get to my rifle I got a blow to the head.”

  Gina sat up and reached for the side of her head. “That hurt,” she said. JP helped her up and to the bed where she sat down.

  Sabre dug in Ron’s bag and took out some Tylenol. Then she got two glasses of water and handed the pills and the water to Gina and Tuper. “Tylenol. I think you’re going to need them.”

  “Thanks,” Tuper said.

  JP stood in front of Gina looking down at her. “Where’s Ron?”

  “How the hell should I know? I just got here. I saw the door wasn’t closed tightly and I was about to go in when someone whacked me.”

  “You had nothing to do with Ron’s disappearance?” JP asked.

  “If I did, why would I have been snooping in here?”

  “How did you find us then?”

  “I was following a tip on Vose, but he beat me here and took Ron.”

  Gina took the pills and handed the glass back to Sabre. “My head really hurts. Who hit me?”

  JP ignored the question. “I never should have let you go last night,” JP said. “Where did you go when you left the colony?”

  “I went back to my motel room.”

  “And you’re still claiming to be an FBI agent?”

  “I am an FBI agent. Well, I was. They took me off this case and when I wouldn’t leave it alone, they put me on suspension.”

  “What? They frown on your taking pot shots at your main suspect?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about your taking a shot at Ron last night after you left me.”

  “I didn’t know where Ron was and I would never shoot at him. I’m trying to save his life.” She stood up and went face to face with JP. “Did someone really take a shot at him last night?”

  “They fired a shot into the window where Sabre had been standing guard and Ron was about to take over.”

  “That makes more sense. Give me my gun. I need to go.”

  “No.” JP said, taking a step backward. “What do you mean ‘That makes more sense’?”

  “I don’t have time to explain. I have to go find Ron.”

  “And you’re not going to call your FBI buddies?” Sabre asked.

  “No. If they find him first, they’ll arrest him. Or he’ll get shot in the crossfire.”

  “Then we’re going with you,” Sabre said.

  Gina shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”

  JP pulled Gina’s gun from the back of his pants. Gina reached out for it, but he handed it to Sabre. “Keep an eye on her,” JP said. He shivered. “I’m colder than a cast-iron commode on the shady side of an iceberg. I’m getting dressed.”

  Sabre held the gun in her hand, but she didn’t point it at Gina. “Where is he?” Sabre asked when JP left.

  “I can take care of this,” Gina said.

  “You haven’t so far.” Sabre looked over at Tuper and saw that he was dozing off. “Tuper, stay awake. You’re not supposed to sleep if you have a concussion.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, and closed his eyes.

  Sabre stepped closer to him and shook his shoulder. “Wake up.”

  “Okay, I’m awake.”

  “Maybe you should get him to a doctor,” Gina said. “There’s a hospital just a few blocks from here.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  JP re-entered the room, this time fully clothed and with his boots on. “What is she right about?”

  “We need to get Tuper to the emergency room,” Sabre said.

  JP walked over to his bedside and found him struggling to keep his eyes open. “You need to stay awake, Tuper.”

  “I keep hearing that.”

  “I’ll t
ake him to the hospital,” Sabre said. “Gina says it’s only a few blocks away.”

  JP turned quickly to Sabre. “Yeah, I saw it when we came in, but I don’t want you going out there alone. We don’t know where Ron’s kidnappers are or what they might do.”

  “They don’t need you,” Gina said. “They don’t need any of you. They have who they want. All they need is Ron and they need him alive.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because I know their plan.”

  “And that is?” Sabre asked.

  “Ron testified against all the men who worked for Benny Barber. Jimmy Marco was Barber’s second in command and he took over when Barber died of a heart attack. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough to put Barber or Marco away back then, but it weakened the organization. Marco’s been struggling ever since to keep it alive, but he has cancer. He’s dying and as a last act he wants to take Ron out himself. Whoever takes Ron to him will take Marco’s place in hopes of bringing new fire to the syndicate.”

  “Do you know who the contenders are?” JP asked.

  “Marco’s son, Junior, is a top suspect. He’s really ticked off that he’s not just inheriting the business and stepping in automatically, but I think Junior’s part of the reason his old man set this plan up in the first place. Junior is a bumbling womanizer who drinks and gambles every chance he gets.”

  “That drinking can kill ya,” Tuper mumbled. Everyone looked at him, relieved that he was still awake.

  “Who else?” Sabre asked Gina.

  “He has a new advisor, Frank Belanger, whom he seems to trust. And then there were the six guys Ron put away with his testimony, except now they’re all dead and only Gilbert Vose remains. The thing about Gilbert is that we can’t find any connection between him and Marco since his release two years ago. Gilbert has worked frantically at getting reinstated to the Texas Bar. He has no past record and has done a lot of good since his release. It just might work for him. It also leaves him as the least likely candidate to fill Marco’s shoes.”

  “So where is Marco?”

  “He’s in a private hospice facility in Mesquite, Nevada.” Gina stood up and walked over to the empty bed, pulled the covers back, and crawled in.

  “What are you doing?” Sabre asked.

  “I’ve got a long drive tomorrow. This storm is supposed to let up by morning. I doubt if the kidnappers are on the road tonight and it would be foolish to fight this storm, so I’m going to get some sleep. I suggest you all do the same.” She paused, “Except you, Tuper.”

  Chapter 49

  “We better get Tuper to the emergency room,” Sabre said.

  “I agree,” JP replied. “What about her?” JP moved his head toward Gina, who appeared to be already asleep.

  “I don’t think we should hold her hostage. If she decides to leave, she can leave. Besides, I think she’s right. Other than going to the hospital, I don’t think any of us should be driving in this weather.” Sabre held her hand out in front of her, jingling a set of keys that hung from her thumb and forefinger. “Besides, I have her keys.”

  “How did you get those?”

  “They were sticking out of her pocket when she fell to the floor. I just helped them out the rest of the way.”

  “Well, aren’t you slicker than a greased hog.” JP walked over to Tuper. “Come on, cowboy. Let’s go round up some help for you.”

  “Don’t think that’s necessary.”

  “Then humor me. Let’s just get you checked out so you can get back to chasing women.”

  “My head does hurt a bit.” Tuper stood up and glanced from side to side. “Where’s Ringo?”

  “Was he here before you got knocked out?” JP asked.

  “I don’t think so. He likes to play in the snow and he had been cooped up in the car for quite a while. He should have returned by now.”

  “I’ll have a look around.”

  JP went outside and called for Ringo. The wind was still blowing so his voice didn’t carry very far. He shouted the dog’s name as he walked to the end of the building but he didn’t see him. After a few minutes of what seemed like an hour in the cold, he returned to the hotel room.

  “Sorry, Tuper. I couldn’t find him, but we need to get you to the hospital. I’ll have another look when we return.”

  JP put Tuper’s rifle in the hotel room he and Sabre were sharing and walked back to Tuper’s room. When he opened the door, Ringo dashed in covered with snow. The dog shook and snow flew everywhere.

  Tuper rubbed his ears and patted his back. “Good dog, Ringo.”

  After loading Tuper in the car, they began the two-block drive to the hospital. Because it was dark and the snow severely hampered visibility, JP slowly inched the car along at about fifteen miles an hour.

  “We could just as well be sitting in LA traffic for as long as it’s taking to get there,” JP mumbled.

  They arrived at the emergency room to find it exceptionally quiet with only four people waiting to be treated. Perhaps the storm was keeping people off the streets.

  Sabre and JP sat in the waiting room while the hospital staff wheeled Tuper into an examination room. They had both offered to go with him, but he chose to go alone. JP wrapped his arm around Sabre and she leaned her head against his shoulder.

  “Do you think Gina’s telling the truth?” Sabre asked.

  “I don’t know. I believe she really cares about Ron, but that could just mean she’s a stalker, not an FBI agent.”

  “She’s our only chance at finding him, isn’t she?”

  “She’s our best chance. I just hope she knows what she’s talking about.”

  It took about two hours for Tuper to be examined, have a CT scan, be x-rayed, and have a cast put on his broken foot. The waiting room had filled up by the time they left the hospital; most of those waiting appeared to be accident victims. The doctor sent Tuper home with a prescription for pain, which was not to be taken for the first twenty-four hours, and a warning to wake him every couple of hours to make sure he was okay.

  JP retrieved the car and drove up to the door to pick up Tuper and Sabre. Once inside, Sabre said, “You must’ve been in a lot of pain with that broken foot.”

  “Little bit,” Tuper said. “Have had worse.”

  ***

  After Tuper’s prescription was filled at the hospital pharmacy, they returned to the motel room to find Gina still fast asleep. Sabre dropped Tuper’s boot from his broken foot onto the floor near his bag. JP removed Tuper’s other boot and Tuper rolled into his bed fully clothed. Ringo snuggled up next to Tuper’s good foot.

  Sabre and JP returned to their room and JP set his phone alarm for two hours later. “I’ll get up first to check on Tuper.”

  Sabre didn’t argue with him. There was no point. She set the alarm on the clock that was sitting on the nightstand between their beds for four hours later, and then went into the bathroom and changed into her cotton pajamas. When she returned JP was already in bed. As Sabre pulled the covers back on her bed, she heard JP say, “It’s warmer over here.” He reached out to her.

  “I’m tempted,” she said, and took his hand in hers. He pulled her gently toward him onto the bed next to him. Before he could kiss her she said, “Wouldn’t you like our first time to be somewhere besides a seedy motel?”

  “No.” He smiled and pulled her closer, kissing her passionately. Then he stopped and said, “but you would.” He paused. “Right?”

  “Yes, but mostly I’m too worried about my brother and everything that’s going on. How about a weekend somewhere warm when we get through all of this? Like Palm Springs, maybe?”

  “It’s a date.”

  ***

  When the alarm went off the second time, Sabre reached out for the clock to shut if off. In the darkened room, she had to feel for the clock. A hand came gently down on hers. The beeping stopped and she heard JP’s soft, sweet voice. “I’m awake. I’ll check on him. Go back to sleep.”

  It was ne
arly five o’clock; JP would be on his second cup of coffee by now if he were at home. It had stopped snowing and there was only a light breeze as JP stepped next door. He opened the motel room door to find Tuper’s bed was empty, except for Ringo who sat on the edge of the bed with his head resting on the paper bag that Tuper used for a suitcase. The bathroom light was on and Gina was still asleep.

  JP petted Ringo on the head while he waited. It was only a minute before Tuper came out.

  “Let’s get some coffee,” JP whispered. “You up to it?”

  “Sure,” he said, his crutches assisting him as he moved across the floor. Before he reached the door he muttered, “Real men drink tea.”

  The motel didn’t have a restaurant, but two pots were set up on a table in the corner of the lobby. One contained coffee, the other hot water. To the side of the pots were a stack of Styrofoam cups and some baskets that held instant hot chocolate, assortments of teas, creamers and sugars, and wooden stir sticks.

  “Black tea,” Tuper said and sat down, propping his leg up on an empty chair. JP brought their drinks to the table, along with a cup of herbal tea for Sabre.

  JP sat down in a chair next to him. “Sabre and I have decided to go with Gina to find Ron, if she’ll take us. If not, we’ll follow her, but either way we’re going this morning.”

  “Figured as much.”

  “You’re welcome to go along, but you’ve done so much already. If you want to stay here we understand.”

  “Sure hate to miss the fun, and if it wasn’t for this chunk of chalk I’m carrying around on my foot, I’d go with ya. Think I’m going to have to miss this roundup.”

  JP sipped his coffee. “Do you trust Gina?”

  “Don’t trust any woman,” Tuper said.

  “I’m still not sure it wasn’t her who shot at the barn last night.”

  “You think she wants to kill Ron?”

  “What if she wasn’t shooting at Ron?”

  Tuper turned his deadpan face toward JP. “You think she was trying to hit Sabre?”

  “I considered that she might be so obsessed that she couldn’t bear Ron paying attention to his own sister, but I dismissed that idea. I think she’s more cunning than crazy.”