Dead Peasants (Zoo Crew series Book 2)

by Dustin Stevens

  Alice looked from Drake to Ava. Nodded in appreciation. Started to collect her things. Paused and left them where they lay.

  Took up only the box of Kleenex and her list instead.

  "So we're done here?"

  "For right now," Drake said. "Can you leave your contact information? I'm sure we'll need more as we get further into it."

  Alice nodded. Jotted down her phone number and home address.

  Nodded once more and disappeared from the office.

  Drake leaned against the door frame and watched her go. Ava rose from behind the desk. Hobbled over to join him.

  "What do you make of that?" Drake asked.

  Ava sighed. "Something sure as hell doesn't sound right."

  "Nope," Drake agreed. "That mean you're in?"

  Ava looked up at him. Offered a look of exasperation. Shook her head softly. "Of course I'm in. I just better not get a matching boot this time."

  Chapter Twenty

  Eight minutes.

  No counteroffer. No haggling.

  Not even the blink of an eyelash.

  Eight minutes after Raquel and Hector sent in their demands, the money was received.

  Once it was received, the two went to work immediately. Of the targets they were given, one stood out as the clear place to start.

  Not because any of them were particularly difficult. Simply because their surveillance had taken place over a truncated timeframe.

  Mr. Bronson Irwin had the easiest schedule to follow. As such, he went first.

  According to the file, Irwin was a sixty-four divorcee. Never remarried. Two kids, both living out of state.

  Retired two years before. Nobody to know if he was there or not except his dog, an aging boxer that had a bladder like clockwork.

  As in, every hour on the hour clockwork.

  It was so easy it almost seemed unfair.

  By seven-thirty, the world of Missoula was completely dark. The sun was over an hour below the horizon. The air temperature was already south of freezing. Threatened to drop another ten degrees or more before morning.

  Raquel was the first to leave the room. Dressed in black running shoes. Stretch pants. The same fleece pullover she'd worn the day before.

  A ski cap was stuffed in her pocket to cover her auburn hair.

  The scent of Hector still lingered on her skin. She'd considered showering it off before leaving, but decided against it.

  The carnal mixture of sweat and pheromones combined to enhance her senses.

  With fluid movements she bounded down the rear stairwell. Was out and into the parking lot in just seconds.

  Hector waited until he saw her climb into the rental before departing himself. Like Raquel, he was adorned entirely in black.

  Nylon pants. Zip-up hooded fleece. Tactical boots.

  He skipped the elevator and used the main stairwell. Passed through the lobby without looking in either direction.

  Stepped to the curb just as Raquel pulled up.

  Slid in and was gone before the car even stopped moving.

  Neither one said anything as they drove south on Reserve Street. Serving as the major north-south thoroughfare on the west side of town, it was alive with gas stations and fast food restaurants.

  The neon signs slid by without attracting their attention.

  Instead, they focused their gaze straight ahead. Watched the streets tick by slowly.

  They had already gone over in detail how they were going to approach the situation. It was a ruse they had used more than once before.

  There was nothing for them to say.

  Unlike some of their counterparts, there was no joy in the act of killing for Raquel and Hector.

  Some people thrived on the adrenaline surge they got from watching the life slowly fade from a victim. Others craved the ego boost of knowing they had gotten away with something as heinous as murder.

  To Raquel and Hector, it was a paycheck. Nothing more.

  Both had been blessed with an extraordinary set of skills. Those skills had brought them each other. Had made them unbelievably wealthy.

  That was fulfillment enough.

  Raquel turned the rental west just north of the Bitterroot Valley. Followed a side road out towards Blue Mountain, through two small clusters of residences.

  At the third one, she slowed just enough to allow Hector to hop out into the night.

  Was gone before the darkness had a chance to swallow him up.

  Raquel drove past Irwin's house to the end of the block and made a left. She killed the lights and followed the street until it dead-ended.

  There were no other houses around for at least two hundred yards.

  Using the overhead switch, she turned off the dome light. Checked her watch to make sure it was just a few minutes before eight.

  Stepped out into the night air. Pulled the ski cap down over her head and took off at a brisk jog.

  She made it back to the corner in less than two minutes. Hooked her way back onto the main road. Followed the way she'd just driven through.

  Her pace remained long, her breathing light and even. To anybody that happened to glance out, she was just another runner out for an evening jog.

  Ahead in the distance, she picked Irwin's house out of the lineup.

  All of the houses in the cluster looked alike. Single story affairs. Aluminum siding in white or gray. Two car garages. Line of shrubs out front.

  The only thing that set Irwin's apart was the oversized pickup truck parked in the driveway.

  Raquel and Hector had watched the old guy shuffle outside with his dog three different times that afternoon. At his peak, he stood at maybe five and a half feet tall.

  Now, old age and gravity had knocked at least a few inches from that.

  To say he was compensating was putting it mildly.

  Raquel picked up her pace just slightly. Ahead of her, she could see Irwin's front door open.

  It was eight o'clock. The dog needed to go.

  Raquel didn't bother to look for Hector as she approached the yard. She knew he was hidden away somewhere in the shadows. He would be there when the time came.

  He always was.

  Instead, she continued to the edge of the yard. Made a show of stopping as she saw the old man and his puppy out on the lawn.

  Threw on the plastic smile she'd used just hours before.

  "Oh my gosh, what a cute puppy!" she exclaimed. Put her hands on her hips. Walked a few steps up the driveway.

  She forced herself to sound like she was breathing harder than she was.

  For a moment, Irwin and his dog stood rooted in place. Both looked utterly shocked to see a woman dressed in black emerge from the night.

  The delay lasted only a moment.

  The dog bounded toward Raquel in long lopes. Its entire body quivered with excitement as it approached.

  Behind it, Irwin raised a friendly hand.

  "Yeah, that's old Buddy. He's been with me going on fifteen years now."

  Raquel bent at the waist. Dropped her eyes to the dog. Scratched behind its ears and tail.

  She didn't hear Hector approach. Didn't hear him grab Irwin from behind or plunge the syringe into the base of his hairline.

  She kept her eyes down and continued scratching until she heard the old man get lowered to the concrete. Pushed herself back up to a standing position.

  Threw a hand into the air.

  "Thanks a lot! Have a good night!"

  Raquel pivoted and jogged back the way she'd came. Her pace was exactly the same as it had been before.

  She made it to the corner in three minutes, back to the car at five flat.

  After years of working with Hector, the simplicity of things didn't surprise her anymore. The man had abilities that bordered on mythical.

  She was just glad he was on her side.

  The car started on the first crank. She kept the lights off and made a K-turn. Drove back the way she’d came and picked up Hector.

 
Instead of going back into town, they turned south. Looped out into the countryside, taking the long way back.

  The entire time, not a single passerby even looked their direction.

  Within an hour, the dog would alert a neighbor that something was wrong. If not, somebody would see the body as they drove by in the morning.

  Even the most thorough autopsy would never identify the death as a murder. Certainly, Irwin would have elevated levels of potassium in his blood.

  Nothing to definitively point out the use of potassium chloride though.

  After nearly an hour of driving, Raquel angled the car back onto Reserve Street. Took them south towards the Hilton.

  In that entire time, neither one said a word.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Lolo.

  Not the smoking hot Olympic track star.

  The tiny dot on a map south of Missoula, famous for its hot springs.

  Nearly forty minutes south of town, it was a bit outside the usual Zoo Crew comfort zone. Normally there was plenty to do right in the greater Missoula area.

  No point wasting the time or gas going elsewhere.

  It being Friday, the group decided to branch out a little. A decision aided considerably by the fact that Lolo Peak was rumored to already have a foot of fresh powder.

  Not enough to ski. More than enough to snowshoe.

  Drake and Ajax led the way down through the Bitterroot Valley. Hooked a right in the town of Lolo. Headed through the Lolo National Forest towards Idaho.

  Kade and Sage followed behind them, an even row of orange lights omnipresent in Drake's rearview mirror.

  The drive was spent in silence. There was no radio reception in the Valley. Ajax was freezing and half asleep.

  The only sound was the heavy snoring of Suzy Q on the front seat.

  Snowshoeing was not exactly a bulldog's favorite pastime, but for whatever reason she refused to be left behind.

  She rode on the bench seat between them as they drove. Butt pointed towards Ajax. Chin resting on Drake's thigh.

  As he drove, Drake kept his left hand on the wheel. His right on the base of her neck.

  Every so often a slight puff of gas could be heard coming from her. It was always soon followed by a sour smell.

  A look of pure venom from Ajax.

  Forty minutes after leaving their house, Drake pulled to a stop in a deserted parking lot. They were deep in the Lolo Forest. Exactly halfway between the famed hot springs and the state line.

  The early rumors had been true. Fresh powder blanketed everything. Even in the pale morning light, it was so bright it almost hurt the eyes.

  Fluffy clumps sat perched atop every available ledge.

  Drake scratched behind Q's ears and swung himself free from the cab of his truck. Was met by a blast of cold air.

  Behind him he could hear Ajax grumbling as he stepped out into the cold. Kade's truck as it pulled in beside them.

  Drake paused for a moment to let Q bound down from the cab. Watched as she stuck her flattened nose into the snow. Did her best to toss it into the air.

  A smile grew on Drake's face. Watching Q play in the snow was one of the reasons he'd been willing to bring her along.

  It was like watching a child unwrap gifts on Christmas morning.

  "Aw, I almost forgot how much she loves the snow," Sage said. Laughed as she stepped up beside Drake. Pulled a wool cap down over her long dark hair.

  "Damn dog's lucky she made it," Ajax grumbled from the other side of the truck. "She farted on me one more time I was going to make her road kill."

  Drake turned to glance over his shoulder, did his best to stifle laughter. Turned back to Sage without commenting.

  "Yeah, I figured I could use a little of that joy this morning," he said. Motioned to Q, who was now flipping her body around in a drift.

  Sage wrapped her arms across her torso. "Can't we all."

  "Rough night?" Drake asked. Cocked an eyebrow to his friend.

  Heavy sigh. "Right before my shift ended, they brought in some older guy. No wife. Kids live far away. Nothing but a dog to even know he was gone."

  "Were you able to save him?"

  "No. He was gone before he got to us. Heart attack. Still, it was sad."

  Drake nodded. "Been a rough week."

  Alice watched as Q picked up the scent on a set of bird tracks in the snow. Followed it several feet. Doused it in urine.

  Behind them, they could hear Kade and Ajax banging around in the bed of Kade's truck. The sound of snowshoes falling to the ground.

  "Did Alice come see you?" Sage asked.

  "She did," Drake said. "Really odd case too."

  "How so?"

  Drake opened his mouth to respond. Paused before the words came out. He was only just getting used to the rules of being an attorney.

  "I'm sorry, but I'm really not allowed to say. Lawyer-client confidentiality and all that."

  Sage gave him a look. Said nothing.

  "I know," Drake said. Kept his gaze locked ahead. Could feel her eyes locked on him. "We don't keep secrets. It feels as odd to me as I'm sure it does to you."

  Sage grunted. Remained silent.

  "You can ask Alice though, or even Sandra. It's not a big deal, I'm just not allowed to say anything."

  "I understand," Sage said. "Are you going to be able to help her?"

  Drake again started to answer, but stopped himself. Gave an open-ended twist of his head. "I'm definitely going to look into it for her. Whether or not it will actually be helping her, I don't know yet."

  Sage broke into a smile. Shook her head.

  "That's the best I'm going to get this morning, isn't it?"

  Drake matched the smile. "It's the best I've got this morning."

  A shrill whistle went up behind them. Q stopped what she was doing. Turned with ears piqued.

  Drake and Sage both turned to see Kade standing in the bed of his truck. The chrome lid of his oversized toolbox pointed straight at the sky beside him.

  "You two done having a church social over there? Maybe you'd like to grab your shoes?"

  Ajax already had his shoes strapped on. Stood beside the truck bouncing on the balls of his feet.

  "In case you haven't noticed, it doesn't get any warmer standing in one place."

  Drake rapped Sage on the arm. Motioned towards the truck with the top of his head.

  "Come on, before these two have a hissy fit."

  "Hissy fit?" Kade said. Voice brimming with indignation. "I'm already bitter I don't get to hit anybody this morning. Don't make me come after you two."

  "Come on down," Drake said. Motioned with one arm. Smile firmly in place.

  "Yeah, I'd love telling all the ladies at Blue's how your sister put you down," Sage added.

  Kade waved a hand in exasperation at them. Slammed the toolbox lid shut.

  "Let's just get going, or I'm never going to make it to Blue's tonight."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Six miles on snow shoes.

  Twenty miles in the truck.

  Half an hour to shower and change.

  Drake rolled into the clinic office just shy of eleven o'clock. Box of caramel rolls in one hand. Bottle of sweet tea in the other.

  Dressed in jeans and a Griz football sweatshirt, he had no appointments for the day. He was planning to be in for three or four hours tops.

  Spend the afternoon offering feedback to Ajax on his newest video game design.

  The scent of baked goods encircled him as he pushed through the front door. Drew the gaze of Wyatt and Greg both as he unloaded the box onto the corner of his desk.

  "Am I mistaken..." Greg began.

  "Or do we detect the smell of Bernice's in the air?" Wyatt finished.

  "What can I say? I'm a giver," Drake said. Pulled the bag from his shoulder.

  The two descended on the box like flies on dung. They both took rolls into either hand. Alternated shoving one and then the other into their mouths.

>   Drake watched them go with a bemused expression on his face. Considered unloading his bag. Thought better of it as crumbs and caramel flew across his desk.

  "You guys have eaten in the last few days, right?"

  "Hey, it's Bernice's!" Greg said. Voice garbled through a mouthful of roll.

  "And it's healthy!" Wyatt added.

  Drake shook his head. It was true that Bernice's offered the best pastries on the planet, and they were kosher, though not exactly healthy.

  Still, the behavior spoke more to the proclivities of his friends than to the food in question.

  In the three years he'd known them, not once had he ever seen them turn down a free anything.

  Watching the hyenas fall on their fallen prey, Drake took up his bag. Escaped through the tangle of desks that filled the small space. Headed for the meeting room along the back.

  "You're welcome," he called. Kept walking backwards.

  Greg raised a hand in thanks. Wyatt nodded.

  "And save two of those for Ava!" Drake said. Backed his way into the meeting room.

  He closed the door behind him and unloaded the stack of papers Alice had brought him from his bag. He had made a cursory pass through them the night before.

  Nothing stood out.

  He piled it all up in front of him. Decided to start with the Mountain Life statements.

  From what he could tell, everything was exactly as Alice had said.

  Once a month, she and Craig paid a basic life insurance premium. Nominal fee. Direct bill pay from their account at Bank of the Rockies.

  Each quarter Mountain Life mailed them a statement. Outlined every payment that went in. Stated in clear terms exactly what the vested amount was on the policy.

  Big bold numbers. This what you've paid. This is what you owe. This is how much it is worth.

  Drake identified the same agent name on the bulk of the statements. Pulled the desk phone over close and dialed the number listed.

  A young female voice answered after two rings. Sounded to be on her third cup of coffee of the morning, if not more.

  "Good morning, thank you for calling Mountain Life Insurance."

  "Good morning, could I please speak to Walt Traynor please."

  "I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Traynor no longer works for us."