Fatal Exposure

by Jamie Jeffries

  Alex’s mouth fell open.

  “I know,” he said, seeing her shock and confusion. “You went to school on Tuesday. But you didn’t come home. Dylan looked for you all night, and a search party went out on Wednesday night, after he convinced Lt. Wells to start the search early.”

  She opened her mouth, but Dad plowed on. “On Thursday around noon, Dylan and another member of the search party found Joe Hendricks’ body. He’d been shot.” There Dad paused because Alex cried out.

  “No! Dad! What…?”

  He took her hand again. “We don’t know who did it, or why you were taken. Hang on, it’s almost done. Dylan found you in an RV a mile or so away from where Joe was found. You were severely dehydrated and suffering from heat stroke. A helicopter brought you here, unconscious. That’s all anyone knows, except for minor details. Kevin Thurston wants to know how you got to that RV, who was there and who shot Joe. Since you were locked in the RV, you aren’t a suspect, but Rick is here to make sure you aren’t railroaded as an accessory or something.”

  It was a lot to process. Slow tears were rolling down her cheeks. She pulled her hand from Dad’s to wipe them away. “Joe?” she whispered.

  “I know he was a friend, at least he was before he questioned you about Rufio Mendez…” Dad started. He stopped as her jaw dropped with the returning memory of what happened on Tuesday night.

  “Joe! He pulled me over Tuesday night! He…”

  “Wait, Baby Girl. I think Rick needs to hear this, and maybe Kevin Thurston, too. Doc, is she okay to answer questions?”

  “I think she’s okay to answer and to ask,” Dr. Sam replied. “In fact, you’d better answer any she has, or she’s going to blow a gasket.” Smiling at her, he said, “That’s a medical term for lose your temper.” Alex gave him a weak smile in return and he winked. “I’ll stick around here for half an hour or so. Send for me if you need me,” he said, walking out. “I’ll send Rick in.”

  ~~~

  Before Rick would allow Thurston to come in, Alex told him and her dad what she remembered of that night. When she was finished, Rick allowed Deputy Thurston to enter the room. Before Thurston could begin to question her, Rick informed him she wouldn’t be answering his questions.

  “What happened that night involves malfeasance if not criminal activity by a member of your department, Kevin. I’m sorry, but I’m going to ask the state police to step in.” Rick’s voice was soft, conciliatory, but Thurston reacted like the jerk he’d always been.

  “That’s bullshit! Whatever she told you is most likely a pack of lies to cover her ass. Whatever this was, is personal between her and Joe, and my gut says she killed him!” Alex’s blood froze as she heard herself accused of the murder of the man who kidnapped her and, from what she’d been told, put her life in grave danger. She wanted to answer, but Rick had instructed her not to say anything to Thurston.

  “Your gut is dead wrong, Thurston. If you say that again, we’ll sue you for slander. If you arrest her, we’ll sue your department for false arrest. Someone else needs to investigate this, as you’ve so ably demonstrated by your biased attitude.” Rick stood with his chest out, almost nose to nose with Kevin Thurston. It amazed her when Thurston backed down first.

  “Do it,” he sneered. “Call in the staties. But if you’re doing this to cover for her, I’ll have you disbarred.”

  Rick smiled at him. “I’d like to see you try. Please leave my client’s hospital room immediately.”

  Thurston slunk away, and Dad clapped Rick on the back. “Thanks, Rick. You don’t know what this means to me.”

  Hours later, Alex was telling her story, with Rick and Dad standing on either side of her, to a detective from the state police, Lt. Palmer.

  “The last thing I remember clearly is Joe forcing me into his squad car. He stopped me on my way home from Casa Grande, a couple of miles north of the airport I guess. At first, he said he just wanted to say hi. I was tired and not in the mood, so I wasn’t very nice. He went all cop on me and said to watch my mouth, and I popped off at him. That’s when he made me get out of my car, cuffed me and put me into his cruiser. There was someone else in the car already. I didn’t see his face. He got out, and Joe drove off the road, west I think, until we cut a trail. I’m not sure how far we drove, or what happened after that.

  I’ve got bits of memory. I think he hit me, and I lost consciousness. Then we were in a camper. He put duct tape around my ankles and wrists, and threatened to put it on my mouth, too, if I made any noise.

  “A while later, someone knocked on the door, and Joe stepped outside. I could hear them because he left the door open at first. The guy was yelling at Joe in Spanish, and Joe was yelling back. I didn’t understand anything but ‘Mendez’. I figured they were talking about Rufio. Then Joe shut the door, and that’s all I remember until I woke up here.”

  Detective Palmer closed his notebook and thanked her, told her dad and Rick he’d be in touch and left without saying anything else. The three of them were left to speculate on what her story meant.

  “Obviously the Mexican guy killed Joe,” Dad said.

  Alex winced, knowing Dad’s characterization of all Latinos was both politically incorrect and impossible to change.

  “Probably,” Rick said, ignoring the obvious just as Alex did. “But they’ll need proof. Do you know if Alex’s car is still out there?”

  “Last I knew, Dylan volunteered to drive it back as soon as they release it. Why?” Dad asked.

  “I had a talk with Dylan this morning. He said there were quad tracks both by Joe’s body and on the trail leading to where the RV was parked. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go have a talk with Palmer before he gets away. He’d better make sure those are documented.” Rick left, waving casually rather than saying goodbye.

  For the first time, Alex was alone with Dad. She asked him about how she was found.

  “It was Dylan,” he said. “Some guy who brought his cadaver dog out for the search waited with Joe’s body, while Dylan followed the dog after persuading the guy to send him out again. Dylan broke into the RV and found you on the floor, surrounded by canned goods but no water. He used some of his to get a sheet wet to start cooling you down, and managed to get you to swallow some from his Camelbak. When the other guy showed up, Dylan sent him out to call in a helicopter, and you were brought in more dead than alive. God, Baby Girl, we almost lost you!” He broke down, sobbing.

  “But you didn’t, Dad. Where’s Dylan now? I’d like to thank him. Oh, and does Nana know?” Dad looked up, stricken.

  “Dylan was here most of the night. He had to go to work this morning, but I sent him a message when you woke up. I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can. I haven’t called Nana. I didn’t want to worry her, unless…”

  “I get it, Dad. You’d better call her before this makes the Phoenix news broadcasts, though. With the state police involved, you know it will. Hey! What about the paper? Did you get it out without me?” Alex grinned, knowing if his answer was yes, she’d have evidence her plan to leave Dodge wouldn’t put him in the bind he’s always claimed it would.

  “Um, yeah. Jen helped. I wasn’t in any shape Wednesday to do anything, so she went down and organized the staff. I haven’t seen the result yet, I’m afraid to look at it.”

  Alex laughed, long enough and loud enough to bring Ms. Whitney back to her room to see what was going on.

  ~~~

  Paul sent a text that Alex was conscious and asking for food and water, which Dylan took as a good sign. Some of the other rangers had been involved in the search, so it was all over the park he’d been the one to find her and keep her alive until the medical chopper got there. When a couple of his fellow rangers asked him to tell the story, he should have known better. After he did, they started calling him Bloodhound and suggesting to their supervisor he be used strictly to hunt down border-crossers. Dylan guessed it meant he was now an insider instead of the new, unproved guy. He didn’t know if he’d be abl
e to stomach the nickname for long, though.

  As soon as Dylan’s shift was over, he hightailed it back to Dodge’s little hospital to see Alex. She was talking to her dad when he came in, and he caught something about the state police. But, he was so happy to see her sitting up and looking like herself he ignored it and went straight for an awkward hug, dodging the tubes and wires attached to her.

  “When are they going to spring you, Lexi?” Her eyes flickered when he backed away after hugging her.

  “Tomorrow morning,” she answered. “But I’m ready to leave now. Want to sneak me out of here?” Her smile was heart-stopping.

  “Better stay ‘til your doctor says you can go. But, it’s tempting. God, you look great! Much better.” Paul looked from Dylan to his daughter and excused himself. Dylan hardly noticed, though Lexi said goodbye to him. He looked over at the shelf that held her flowers. His red rosebud was now in full bloom. Did she know what it meant?

  “Dylan, I heard. What you did for me. Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know how to say it enough. They’re saying you saved my life.” She was gazing at him softly. He couldn’t help but remember the last time they were together. Lexi going missing, the worry while everyone searched for her, and the fact she was so close to dying when he found her put things in the proper perspective. It was true he still needed to pursue adopting his brothers, and to see his mom through her final months. But he didn’t want to do it without Lexi by his side anymore.

  “Lexi, I don’t know what I would have done if we hadn’t found you in time.” The words had to force themselves out through the lump in his throat. Without knowing how he got there, he was at her bedside, leaning over her for another hug. He wanted to kiss her, but her poor lips looked sore. He settled for kissing her forehead.

  “How are you feeling? No ill-effects?” Dylan retreating again from the subject of them, as a couple. Didn’t last Monday night mean there was no question they were? Did she even remember, after her ordeal? Now, despite her wan appearance, the cracked, sore lips and the lank hair, Dylan wanted to tell her that to him, she was the most beautiful girl in the world and he’d never let her go.

  “Um, no, everything works,” she answered, a curious tilt to her head. “Dr. Sam told me I could have had kidney damage or brain damage, even heart damage. I guess I have to have follow-ups for a while, but nothing showed up yet. Once I remembered what happened, they cleared the part about brain damage.”

  “You remembered! Want to tell me about it?” Belatedly, Dylan wondered if he shouldn’t have asked her, but she told him with no hesitation. He couldn’t believe how angry he could be at a dead man. If Joe had been alive and in front of him right now, he’d have taken him out, broken arm or no broken arm. Then it dawned on him. Two pivotal parts of her story had something to do with Rufio. Now he wanted more than ever to get to the bottom of it.

  “I heard you say something to your dad about state police. What’s that all about?”

  “Rick, my lawyer, didn’t want Kevin Thurston investigating, because Joe was involved. He forced the issue and wouldn’t let me talk to Thurston,” she said.

  “What about Lt. Wells? Is he shut out, too?” Dylan didn’t want that to happen. Wells was one of the good guys. But, it was all Pima County, so he would have understood. Lexi wrinkled her forehead.

  “I don’t know. I’ll talk to Rick about it. Do you think it’s all related?” His girl had a good, analytical head on her shoulders. He definitely thought it was related, and whatever Rufio Mendez had been involved in was the key.

  “Yeah. I think it has to be. I’d like to get Wells and the state guy, what’s his name? Get them together, anyway.” Dylan might not be able to talk to her lawyer about it, and he certainly didn’t want to put her in jeopardy with the law, but he intended to talk it out with Paul tonight.

  Just then, Alex’s dinner was delivered, and Dylan excused himself, telling her if he didn’t get some of his own he might have to steal hers. Another light kiss on the forehead, and he was out of there, with Lexi’s parting shot floating behind him. “I’d trade you this for a burger any time!” As he left, feeling he was leaving a part of himself behind, he was looking forward to the time when he could be alone with her, and make her forget all the bad stuff. Everything but him and his love for her. He stopped, stunned. He hadn’t said it! Was this a good time, though? No, he’d rather it happened when they were alone, wrapped in each other’s arms.

  ~~~

  Dylan was in luck. When he called Paul to find out if he could see him that night, Paul told him to come on over and join the party. Rick was going to be there, along with a pizza and a six-pack. He was welcome to join them. Perfect.

  “Did you see Alex?” Paul asked, pulling Dylan into the house. “She looks good, doesn’t she?” Yeah, considering what she’d been through, she looked damn good. Dylan said so.

  Paul led him through the kitchen to the covered patio out back and offered a beer. He took it out of politeness. It would take him most of the evening to drink it, though, because he wanted a clear head. Rick Englebright nodded at him as he sat down.

  “Rick, do you know Dylan Chaves?” Paul asked.

  Dylan answered for him. “Rick’s representing me in my adoption case.” Rick grinned at him, and then addressed Paul, who looked thunderstruck.

  “Small town, Paul. You’ve got two choices, me, or Hardpan Shafer. Smart money’s on me,” he said, laughing.

  “It’s not that. What’s this about an adoption?” Paul asked.

  “Not for publication, Paul,” Dylan warned him. “I’m trying to adopt my little brothers. It started out to keep them out of the system and away from Rufio, both. Now, I guess just to keep them out of the system.”

  “Yeah, it got a little easier once Rufio was gone,” said Rick. Dylan was sure he didn’t mean to imply he’d killed Rufio to make it easier. He bristled anyway. Just one wrong person hearing that could do irreparable harm to his case.

  “Oh, sure, that makes sense. How’s your mom?” Paul asked, forgetting he’s asked just yesterday.

  “About the same. But, she isn’t going to get well. No hope of that. When she’s gone, the boys are at risk. I hope to have them with me before that happens.” Dylan didn’t blame Paul for making the connection, or for asking so bluntly. He’d been through a terrible ordeal himself, so he could be excused for a little awkwardness.

  “Man, that’s a hard thing to do, raise a child alone,” Paul said. “I can’t imagine having two, and you’re so young. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry you seem to be in the center of a controversy.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Paul. I’m glad Rick’s here, because I don’t want to put Alex in the spotlight, but doesn’t it seem a little too coincidental Rufio’s name came up in her story? Seems to me if the relationship between Joe, this mysterious Latino and Rufio could be explained, we’d have a better idea of why Rufio and Joe both ended up dead.”

  “What are you getting at?” Paul asked, bristling.

  “Look, according to Alex, Joe was just trying to get her attention when he stopped her that night. He got a little macho when she didn’t react the way he wanted her to, but it was when she lost her temper with him things went south. Then this Latino guy gets into the act, out at the RV, there’s a shouting match and Joe disappears after locking Alex in. What are the odds the Latino didn’t kill Joe? I’d say not high. So my question is, what business did Rufio have with Joe or vice versa?”

  Paul gave Rick a look heavy with innuendo. It was Rick who responded. “What do you want to do about all this?”

  “Lt. Wells from Pima County Sheriff headquarters has been investigating what happened to Rufio. I think he and the state police guy should get together and trade information. Don’t you?”

  Rick looked skeptical, while Paul seemed to be considering it. Dylan brought out his last bombshell. “My partner and I picked up a coyote last week,” he said, then stopped to try to recreate when that had been exactly
. He couldn’t recall. “Anyway, I heard him cussing out Rufio under his breath and questioned him as well as I could. His English wasn’t much better than my Spanish. What I got was Hendricks was looking for Rufio. I asked BP to keep him on the States side of the fence until Wells could question him, but by the time Wells got to the right person with his request, the coyote was gone. I’ve wondered ever since if Joe had something going with the cartel.” Dylan hadn’t connected it well enough, since he hadn’t yet told them about the old man in the casino. Their puzzled looks told him they couldn’t make the leap with that gap still there. He went on.

  “There’s more. I learned from an old man on the reservation Rufio had been seen with a known cartel member, not too long before he was found dead. This is what I’m thinking. Coyote equals cartel business. Cartel plus Rufio equals Rufio was working for them. Coyote plus knowing Hendricks was looking for Rufio plus Hendricks kidnapping Alex when she mouthed off about Rufio equals Hendricks maybe also working for the cartel, and becoming a liability. Is my math wrong?”

  Paul and Rick were staring at him with open mouths. Rick came to his senses first. “Wait, what do you mean Alex mouthed off?”

  “Didn’t she tell you? Joe didn’t get threatening until she asked him if he was going to grill her about Rufio again.” It was his turn to stare. How had they missed this?

  “No, she just said she popped off. She didn’t tell us about what.” Turning to Paul, Rick spoke slowly. “He’s got a point. That one thing could be the key to getting to the bottom of this. If the two agencies get together on this, maybe they can figure out who the Latino is.”

  Dylan responded to that. “Bet you my bottom dollar he’s the cartel guy the old man saw Rufio with. Either he or Joe killed Rufio. And then he killed Joe.”

  “That’s a lot of assumptions,” Rick cautioned. “But it wouldn’t hurt to have someone question him. Do you know his name?”

  “No. But I know who might. The old man. He wouldn’t tell me before, but I’ll track him down tomorrow.”