Clint Wolf Mystery Trilogy: Boxed Set

by BJ Bourg

  The light suddenly appeared on the floor again and I realized it was my phone. I stood to my feet—a little too quickly—and swayed a bit, reaching for the bed to steady myself. I could hear my phone vibrating now. Still holding onto the bed, I leaned and picked it up to look at the screen. It was a call from Melvin. At this hour, it couldn’t be good. I grunted and stretched my eyes open, trying to force myself awake. “This is Clint,” I said, hoping I wasn’t slurring my speech.

  “Chief, thank God you answered!” Melvin sounded out of breath and his voice was laced with excitement. “We have a problem.”

  I fought through the fog in my brain and asked him what was going on. He explained that Amy had been involved in a high speed chase with one car when a second car intentionally crashed into her. She had been assaulted and shots had been fired. She fought back and was able to escape, but ended up in the bayou.

  “Is she okay?” I asked. “Was she hurt?”

  “Her wrist is banged up a little, but, other than that, she’s fine.”

  “What about the people who did this?” I was pacing the floor in my motel, wanting to leave for Mechant Loup immediately. I cursed myself for drinking, knowing I’d have to wait to sober up before getting on the road. Even if I could leave now, it’d be a ten hour drive. “Did y’all get them?”

  “It took me a while to find Amy, because she wasn’t able to update her location on the radio,” Melvin explained. “I had some deputies from the sheriff’s office helping me look for her in town, when someone south of town called to say they heard shots fired across the bayou.” Melvin paused to take a breath, and then continued. “We were hauling ass south when Amy flagged us down in the middle of the road. She was drenched from swimming the bayou, but she was okay, and she saved our lives, Chief. We were about to drive up on an ambush, but she risked her life to save ours.”

  “An ambush?” I stopped pacing.

  “The men who attacked her heard the sirens and took up positions on both shoulders of the road. They wanted to kill us, Chief.”

  “Did y’all get them?” I asked again. “Are they in custody?”

  “No, they got away.” Melvin explained how Sheriff Turner had activated his SWAT team. “The deputies helped Amy and me block off the road until the SWAT team could get there. When they arrived with the armored SWAT vehicle, they approached the suspects’ location and exchanged gunfire.”

  “Was anyone hurt?” I asked, wanting him to hurry and tell the story. The suspense was killing me. “How’d they get away?”

  Melvin told me no one had been hit by the exchange of gunfire, and the suspects had fled south in a Crown Victoria that looked like an old police package vehicle. The SWAT team had pursued them and lost them when they ditched the car near a boat landing. “We heard an engine revving up in the distance, so we think they stole a boat and escaped into the swamps.”

  “Damn it!” My mind raced. I needed to get back to town so I could spearhead a search for the suspects. “Do we have any idea who they are? Was Amy able to identify them?”

  There was a long pause from the other end of the line. All I could hear was Melvin’s heavy breathing.

  When he didn’t answer right away, I asked my question again, knowing something was up. “Tell it like it’s a Band-Aid, Melvin,” I suggested. “Just rip the damn thing off.”

  “It was the Parker brothers,” Melvin said quickly.

  I caught my breath. Damn, they didn’t waste time coming after me. My blood boiled and I slowly sank to the bed as I thought about those thugs putting their hands on Amy. Their beef was with me, not with the people who worked for me. What if there had been a mistake? What if Amy had misidentified them? “Is she sure it was the Parker brothers? I mean, in all the excitement, maybe she thought—”

  “She’s positive. Their leader was missing his front left tooth.” Melvin took a breath and then said, “Chief, there’s more.”

  When he didn’t continue speaking, I said, “What is it, Melvin? Come on, man, spit it out.”

  He hesitated, and then said, “They want you dead. They were going to use Amy as bait to get to you. They were hoping it was you driving up to their ambush tonight.”

  “I wish it had been me,” I mumbled. I knew they wanted me dead—that was to be expected. Hell, I wanted them dead. I started to say something, but then stopped. “Wait a minute, Melvin. There’s more, isn’t there? We all know they want me dead, so that’s not news. What’s going on? What more do you know?”

  “Amy said they were asking about your blonde girlfriend. They…they want to kill her and everyone who’s close to you.”

  “What the hell?” My heart was pounding against my chest like a kick pedal against a bass drum. I suddenly remembered Chloe was staying at my house. “Melvin, get someone out to my place as soon as you can! You need to get Chloe out of there! She’s not safe at my house.”

  “She’s at your house?” I heard Melvin yell some orders in the background. “Okay, Chief, I’m on it!”

  As soon as we disconnected, I called Chloe. My hand trembled as the phone rang. What if I was too late? What if—

  “What time is it, Clint?” Chloe sounded groggy. “Is something wrong?”

  “You need to get out of my house right now!” I paced back and forth in my motel room as I explained how the Parker brothers were in town and they wanted to harm me and everyone close to me. “Take Achilles and go to your dad’s house. Stay there until I get back. I don’t want you going to work and—”

  “Excuse me?” Chloe laughed. “Sorry, Clint, but I’m not going to shut my life down for a bunch of lowlifes. I’ve got a major story breaking tomorrow and I’m not going to let them interfere with it.”

  “These guys mean business. They attacked Amy and”—I didn’t want to alarm her, but I didn’t think I had a choice—“they were asking how they could find you. They want you dead, Chloe, so they can hurt me.”

  That seemed to get her attention and I thought I heard her gulp on the other end of the phone. “Do…did they know my name?”

  “No, but they know I have a blonde girlfriend.”

  Silence from the other end. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, “Okay, so they know you have a blonde girlfriend, but they don’t know it’s me?”

  “Right.”

  She was thoughtful and then told me she’d take Achilles and go to her dad’s until I returned from Tennessee. “But I’m going to work tomorrow,” she said. “This story could be the one. I’ve got to meet a source who—”

  “Look, just pack your stuff and get Achilles ready to travel. Melvin should get there soon to escort you to your dad’s.”

  “What about you? Are you coming home tonight?”

  I was tempted to get on the road, but it was too dangerous. I didn’t mind risking my own life, but I wouldn’t risk the lives of other travelers. “It’s not safe for me to get on the road.”

  “Oh…you’ve been drinking.”

  I stared down into the darkness where my feet should be. “Yeah. I was sleeping when they called.”

  “I wish you would try the pills again.”

  I ignored her comment and said, “Maybe it’s best this way. If I’d be sober, I’d probably jump in my Tahoe and drive straight home without finishing the job here.” I nodded to myself. “I need to finish this before I come home. Susan’s counting on me.”

  CHAPTER 13

  After being awakened by Melvin, I hadn’t gotten another wink of sleep. Chloe had called an hour after we hung up to say she’d made it to her dad’s house. I could hear Achilles barking in the background and had asked about him. She said he was enjoying her parents’ back yard and peeing on everything. Right before we ended our conversation, I’d asked her to reconsider going to work.

  “Clint, if we alter our lives because of the Parker brothers, they win,” she had said. “Would you stay home if they threatened you? No, you wouldn’t. Besides, this story will give my career a giant boost. It’ll definitely make na
tional news.”

  I couldn’t argue too much, because she was right—I wouldn’t alter my plans for some two-bit thugs. “It’s just that I…you know what I’ve been through. I don’t want to go through that again.”

  She’d finally promised she would meet with her contact and then go straight to her dad’s house.

  “Just be careful…please.”

  I’d spent the next two hours staring at the ceiling, watching the dark shadows slowly fade to light and worrying about Chloe.

  When the alarm finally went off at six o’clock, I hurried through a shower, put on jeans and a pullover shirt, chugged two cups of coffee at the motel diner, and then headed for Conner’s Boxing Academy.

  The place was easy enough to find, as it was off the main highway and had a giant blue sign that read Boxing. I’d noticed a number of similar signs on some of the buildings in town, such as Restaurant, Ice Cream, and Food. My guess was they didn’t want there to be any confusion.

  I pulled into the paved parking lot and parked next to a red Jeep that was backed into the spot closest to the door. It was the only other vehicle in the lot. I called Melvin before stepping out of my Tahoe. He was still at the office.

  “Did you even go home last night?” I asked.

  “No. I stayed here all night, keeping the place secure.”

  “Any sign of the Parker brothers?”

  “No, and we’ve been searching all night and morning. The sheriff offered to have some of his SWAT officers conduct roving patrols around town, and I accepted his invitation. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “It’s what I would’ve done. I’m proud of you, Melvin, and I appreciate you stepping up. I’ll be there as soon as I interview Susan’s uncle.”

  I could almost feel him beaming through the phone. “Thanks, Chief.” He paused, and then said, “Oh, and I hope you don’t mind, but Susan’s here.”

  “Susan? Why is she there?”

  I heard her voice in the background telling him to give her the phone. After some rustling sounds, she came on the line. “I couldn’t stay home. I heard what happened over my scanner and came right over. I know I’m technically on suspension with the arrest and all, but I won’t sit idly by while my town is being attacked by a group of outlaws—worse yet, the same assholes who killed Michele and Abigail. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing you can do to stop me from standing shoulder to shoulder with my family and protecting my home.”

  I frowned. Although she was being wrongfully accused by the same justice system she served, here she was, willing to risk her life for her community while expecting nothing in return. Most people would be bitter, but not her. “Thank you, Susan. I feel better knowing you’re there. Keep the place safe.”

  “I will.” She paused for a moment and then asked if I’d spoken to her uncle yet.

  “I’m walking in the gym right now.”

  “Look, if you uncover some information that has the potential to change my feelings about my dad or hurt his reputation, please don’t tell me. And don’t use it.”

  I scrunched my brow. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.”

  “The whole purpose of me coming here is to find out why Bill hated your dad. Good, bad, or ugly, we need that information to get you out from under these bogus charges.”

  “I’m serious, Clint. If the information will do anything to tarnish my dad’s name, don’t use it.”

  When Susan made up her mind about something, I knew better than to argue. First, I needed to find out what Damian knew. I’d figure out the rest later. “Thanks again for helping out,” I said. “I owe you.”

  With that, I ended the call and approached the wooden walkway to the large building. It was two stories tall and there were two or three outbuildings scattered around the property. While it had a fresh coat of gray paint and a shiny green roof, there was a weathered look about it that told me it was much older than the paved parking lot. Back in the day, it had probably been an old grocery store or saloon with a hitching rail along the front.

  The sign on the front glass read, Come in, so I turned the antique knob and opened the door. It dragged a bit and I had to pull it closed behind me. The lighting inside was dim and the air was musky and smelled of stale sweat and mold. An old boxing ring was nestled against the far right corner. A dozen or more heavy bags hung from the ceiling—most of them held together by yards of duct tape—and worn boxing gloves hung from pegs all around the gym. I smiled, feeling as though I’d stepped into a Rocky movie—the first one.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” a voice boomed from behind me.

  Startled, I spun around and found myself facing a man wearing gray sweat pants that had been cut off at the knees and a blue T-shirt that had stains across the front. There was a scar on the left side of his face and his left eyelid drooped to the point that it was almost closed. He didn’t look like much, but one thing I’d learned in my profession is that you didn’t judge fighters by their covers.

  I stepped forward and stuck out my hand. “Mr. Conner?” I began. “I’m Clint Wolf from Mechant—”

  “I know who the hell you are,” the man said. He must’ve recognized the look of confusion on my face. “We spoke on the phone yesterday and today a stranger ends up in my gym. You figure it out.” Without shaking my hand, he brushed by me and began tidying up the place. “It seems you drove a long way for nothing,” he said. “I don’t talk about my friends—living or passed.”

  I nodded. “I certainly understand where you’re coming from, sir. I’m the same way. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

  “Of course it’s important.” Damian chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry, son, but your problems aren’t my problems.” He picked up a pair of boxing gloves and turned to face me. Pointing to the door, he said, “I’ve got work to do, so if that’ll be all…”

  I took a step closer to him. “This is your problem.”

  The gloves fell from his hands and he met my step with two of his own. In my peripheral vision, I could see his fists ball up, and there was fire in his eyes. “Is that so?” he asked, his voice so calm it was scary.

  I met his gaze without wavering and nodded. “This is Isaiah’s problem, so that makes it your problem.”

  His brow furrowed just a little, but he didn’t say a word.

  “It’s Susan, his daughter. She’s my dear friend and she’s in trouble. She needs your help.”

  Damian’s face softened and his hands relaxed. I thought I detected a cloud of mist in his eyes at the mention of his best friend’s daughter. After studying my face for a long moment, he turned and headed toward the back of the gym. “Let’s talk in my office.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Damian’s office was more cluttered than mine. He tilted a chair to dump its contents on the floor, and then shoved it in my direction. He then picked his way around the desk and sat in his chair. “Okay, son,” he said, “you’ve got my attention. Now spill it.”

  I told him everything that had happened, leaving nothing out. I even told him about my conversation with Mrs. Wilson and how Susan would rather go to prison than bring her dad’s good name into question. As I talked, his head never moved and his eyes never left mine. When I was done, he took a deep breath and spun in his swivel chair to face the wall behind him. He pointed to a picture hanging on the wall. “You see that?” he asked.

  I looked up and studied the faded photograph. A boxer was casually leaning against one corner of a boxing ring with his arms draped over the top ropes. His black boxing shoes were crossed at the ankles and he was staring calmly across the ring. “Is that him? Is that Susan’s dad?”

  Damian nodded. “It is. Look at him—he hasn’t even broken a sweat.”

  I looked closer. The man’s face was lean and his muscles were chiseled, but not bulky. Had it not been for the red boxing gloves on his hands and his matching boxing shorts, I wouldn’t have been able to tell he was in a fight. “Is he about to fight?” I as
ked.

  “When that picture was taken, he’d just gotten through knocking out a number four contender with a single blow to the front of the face.” Damian chuckled. “We all thought he’d killed the kid. Poor bastard dropped like he’d been shot in the brain stem. He recovered okay—took a while, but he lived through it.” He shook his head. “He never did fight again, though, and that upset Isaiah a bit. He didn’t mind knocking people out, but he hated it when they quit fighting. He didn’t want to be a career killer, you know?”

  I nodded, staring in awe at the similarities in Isaiah and Susan’s facial features. “She looks so much like him,” I said.

  “That she does.” He turned back toward me. “Lil’ Suzy was his pride and joy. He’d do anything for her.”

  “I wish I could’ve met him.”

  “He’s the kind of man that comes around once in your lifetime.” Damian’s eyes pierced through me. “Understand this…I would never say anything bad about my friend. Never tell his secrets, never betray him. If he killed someone, I’d go to jail before ratting on him. I’d take it to the grave, and you can take that to the bank.”

  My shoulders slumped. I knew he was telling the truth—could see it in his eyes. He had been my only hope, my one chance at saving Susan. If he wouldn’t help me, who would? Who could? I sighed and sank deeper into my chair. I was tired and out of ideas. After a few moments, I started to stand, knowing I had to get back to town. There was no telling how far the Parker brothers would go to get to me, so the sooner I made myself available, the sooner this could end—and no one else would have to get hurt.

  Before I made it to my feet, Damian placed his beefy arms on the desk and frowned. That softness returned to his eyes. I slowly returned to my chair and held my breath.