“What does that have to do with me?” Smoke asked.
“You’ll probably be going back in the hole. Sorry for the expression.”
“My time better be shortened.”
“I’ll find out. I’ll find out.” Ted took out a handkerchief and mopped the sweat off his head. “I swear, I’m having the worst time figuring out where the orders are coming from. I’m told to do one thing and Cyrus and that little witch do another.”
“Get rid of her, Ted,” Sid insisted. “You know what effect people like that have on the team. She’s a cancer. It might be hard, but you have to get rid of her.”
“I know. I know.” He shook his head. His hands clutched in and out.
The waitress walked up and asked if he wanted something.
He said, “No thank you.” He gazed at Sid. “I don’t think there is anything I can do to her, Sid. I don’t even know how she got hired. Her personnel file’s nonexistent, but she’s on the payroll somehow.”
The little bell on the café door rang.
Smoke rose to his feet.
Sid looked around the booth.
A tall blonde woman in leather pants and a black jacket stood with her back to them. She locked the door and turned the Open sign around. Then she started closing the blinds. That’s when Sid realized they were the only ones left inside the café except for the waitress and the man behind the grill.
“Hey,” the waitress said to the woman. “What are you doing?”
The woman turned around and stuck a gun barrel in the woman’s face. “I’m here for a reunion.”
CHAPTER 27
“Deanne!” Ted said in astonishment.
Deanne Drukker. The imposing blonde was striking, her voice full of authority. “Have a seat, princess,” she said to the waitress. The woman scurried into a booth, hands up. Deanne said to the man behind the kitchen counter, “Don’t make me say it, dough boy.”
The man scurried into the booth alongside the waitress. “The money’s in the regist—”
Deanne stuck the gun barrel on his nose. “I’m not here to rob you, stupid. Didn’t you hear? It’s a reunion. And listen, boy, don’t think I haven’t killed people for being stupid.” She kept the gun on him and turned her attention to Ted and Smoke. “And the rest of you sit tight. I talk. You listen.”
“It’s good to see you, Deanne,” Ted said, gathering his composure. “What’s on your mind?”
“You look older, Ted. Older and fatter. What did I tell you about all the snacks?”
“You said ‘They’ll make you old and fat.’”
“And I was right,” she said. She rapped the butt of her gun on the table. “Wasn’t I?”
“Yes! Yes!” said the waitress and grill cook, nodding their heads feverishly.
“Boy, it sure is a nasty day out there. I hate coming out on nasty days. Now I’m all wet and sticky.” She took off her jacket, revealing nothing but a tank top. She was built, with well-defined muscles. “It pisses me off. I don’t like coming out into the city. Especially to do shit like this.”
“Maybe you should have brought an umbrella,” Smoke said.
“Shut up, John. Pain in my ass number one. Well, actually, in today’s case, it’s number two.” Deanne looked at Sidney. “You know, you had a good thing going, girl, but you had to stick your big nose back in it. You even got your sister’s little girl all involved. Stupid. Plain old stupid. And I was beginning to think you were smarter than that.” She waved the gun around. “But I have to hand it to Allison. She was right. You had a way out, and you jumped right back in it.”
“So my sister’s doing well?” Sid said.
“She’s doing great.” Deanne moved through the room and lined up on a view of Megan. The little girl was fast asleep. “She’s longing for her baby, though. It’s tough.”
“You aren’t taking her, Deanne.”
“Oh, if I want to, I will, but be at ease. That’s not why I’m here.” She moved over to the counter and hopped up onto it. “You see, our boys, Warren and Oliver. Well, they won’t talk. In less than twenty-four hours, they’ll be out. And soon after that, someone is going to die. And you all need to let them do their job or else there will be more casualties. Take those two nitwits that work here.”
The waitress let out a sob.
“Oh, don’t cry. You aren’t worth the bullet,” Deanne said.
“What happened to you, Deanne?” Ted said. “You were one of us. One of the good guys. Now you’re a megalomaniac.”
“I enjoy megalomania. Living life without a conscience is so…” She cast her eyes up for a moment. “…liberating.”
“So you’re liberated,” Ted said, “because you help people die.”
“Oh, Ted, you wouldn’t understand.” She walked over and squeezed his shoulders. “Your heart’s too big. Just too big. Like your belly.”
Sid held Megan a little tighter. Deanne had an air about her. Like the Buffalo Brothers. Fierce. Fearless. She noticed a bead of sweat running down from Ted’s hairline. There’s something else going on between them. He’s scared.
“So here’s what’s going to happen, boys and girls,” Deanne continued. “Because I’m not a complete devil, I’m going to make you an offer. Forget about the Black Slate. Move on. Do something else and live. Keep at it and die.”
“I didn’t ask for the assignment,” Ted said, pushing her hands away. “I don’t think any of us did. And you know how it works. They choose you. And you don’t have much of a choice in the matter.”
“They are a problem, but I don’t have any sympathy for your dilemma. Just think about it. Your family. Your friends. Their lives are on the line.” Deanne shrugged. “Look, I’m here as a courtesy. You’d be wise to consider it a favor.”
“I’d say you’re here because we’re getting too close to something,” Smoke said. He pulled his shoulders back. “You’re cocky. Why don’t you just come out and tell us what that is?”
“Well, that’s super-top-secret information, John.” She gave him a little smile. “If you really want me to share it, I’ll play your game, but I’ll have to clear the room.”
“Fine by me,” Smoke said.
Sid’s nerves fired. Deanne turned her gun on the waitress and fry cook. Sid tensed to spring. Ted plowed into Deanne and tackled her to the floor. The waitress and fry cook rushed for the door. Gunshots rang out. Bullets burst through glass.
“Get off me, Ted. I’m warning you,” Deanne growled, fighting against the big man who had her pinned to the floor.
“Those are innocent people,” he said, half spitting. “Are you mad?”
“Yeah,” Deanne sneered, “I’m mad!” Blam! Blam! Blam!
Ted’s large form sagged. His blood leaked onto the floor.
Megan screamed.
CHAPTER 28
Deanne sprang back to her feet. Smoke crashed into her. He wrenched the gun from Deanne’s hand and locked her up in an arm bar.
Lip bleeding, she started a nasty laugh. “You better save your friend Ted. Poor old guy. I used to like him.”
Sid was on her knees. She rolled Ted over. His hands were clamped over his bleeding gut. Blood seeped through his fingers. His face was in torment. “Are they safe?” he said, spitting blood.
The waitress and fry cook were gone.
“Yes,” Sid said, half choking.
Ted’s eyes were glassing over.
“Hang on Ted, please, hang on.”
“Fight the good fight, Sid,” Ted said, spitting more blood. “Don’t let those devils win.”
Sid squeezed his hand.
“Such a sad thing to see. A decent man dying over a couple of nobodies,” Deanne said. “Never understood it much myself. It’s time you released me, Johnny Boy, if you know what’s good for you.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Smoke growled. “You’re a murderer.”
“Attempted murder on those sock puppets maybe. But I think in this case, it was self-defense. Oh well.” Sh
e spoke something that sounded like German. The metal bands on her wrists lit up. A spark came out of her body.
Smoke jerked and spasmed. His grip on Deanne loosened.
The formidable woman slipped free of his grasp and drove the heel of her boot into his calf several times.
Smoke lay on the floor twitching.
As Sidney applied pressure to Ted’s belly, Deanne retrieved her gun.
Walking casually over to Sidney, Deanne held the barrel on her head. “You need to let it soak in, what happened here this evening. Next time it could be you, your family, your friends.” She cast a glance down at Ted’s dying face. A glimmer of sadness was in Deanne’s eyes. “I always liked him, but he was always kinda stupid.”
“You’re sick,” Sid said. Her eyes swelled with water. “There’s a special place for people like you.”
“I know,” Deanne said, backing away. “It’s called the top.” Police sirens squalled from outside in the streets. “Time to go. Sorry it ended this way, but maybe this was the plan all along.” She backed toward the rear door of the building.
Sid felt Ted’s hand find hers. Somehow, he stuffed his gun into her hand. His voice was barely a whisper. “Take her down. That’s an order.”
“Good-bye, Sid,” Deanne said, still pointing her gun at Sid’s chest. “Remember, stay away from this.” Deanne turned and started to vanish into the back corridor.
Sid ripped out Ted’s gun and unloaded several shots. Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam! She sprang to her feet and gave chase: down the hall, through the back door, and into the alley. Deanne was gone. Disappeared. Looking down, she noticed blood in the alley. Damn! I shouldn’t have missed. I shouldn’t have missed.
***
“You’re lucky, Sid! Lucky!” Cyrus said, tapping his finger on the table. “But thanks to you, Ted is gone. How do you feel about that?”
Sitting inside an interrogation room painted with army-green walls, Sidney finished writing down the details of the incident at the café. She wiped a tear off the form and rubbed her eyes. She was hollow inside. Ted C. Howard, FBI section chief, friend, and mentor was gone. Another FBI agent was down, and to another ghost no less.
Cyrus had his sleeves rolled up over his flabby arms. He took his Coke-bottle glasses off his face. He continued his ranting. “Two witnesses saved your bacon. If it weren’t for the both of them, I’d have you in jail again. You just can’t play by the rules, Sid, can you? You’re selfish. Dangerous.”
“Shut up, Cyrus,” she said in a stone-cold tone. “Everyone is hurting from all of this aside from you, it seems. I just lost one of the few men I trusted. It hurts. Hurts bad. And now you want to rub it in?” She shoved the paper across the desk and glowered at him. “I thought you’d be happy. You’ll probably get a promotion.”
“Huh,” Cyrus said, picking up her statement. “You need to initial here.” He set it back down. “Look, I’m mad that Ted is gone.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m mad that you refuse to work with me on the Slate. I’m mad. I’m mad. I’m mad.” He took out a handkerchief and cleaned his glasses. “We’re supposed to be on the same side, you know? Deanna Drukker. Boy, a psychotic rogue agent.” He leaned forward. “You see, Sid? That’s what bothers me. What happened to her could happen to you. I’m looking out for you. You need to trust me.”
She wanted to believe him. He was an agent, and she wanted to trust agents more than anything. But there were too many unanswered questions, and there was way too much weirdness with Rebecca’s ear-whispering. Let’s wait and see how all of this is reported. What the papers say. Deanne Drukker burned in Sid’s mind. The older woman had half enjoyed Ted’s death. Why? “Cyrus, I know you’ve always meant well.” She paused. “So now what?”
“Well, we have two agents that were assaulted during your little incursion. Again, lucky for you, Mr. Smoke is going to take the fall for all of that. I’d say it’s going to add a few more years to his sentence. But you are free to go. And so is Megan.”
Her heart stung inside her chest. This is my fault. All my fault. She wanted to help. Be involved in the fight. But now Big Jake was dead. Ted was dead. Smoke was gone again. “So I’m not a liaison anymore?”
“It’s early, Sid. Nothing is official yet. And you know there will be a ton of paperwork to follow.” He leaned back. “I’d assume it’s done, though.”
“What about the Buffalo Brothers?” she said. “Deanne said they’d be out in a day. That they’d get their target one way or the other.”
“Don’t you worry about that.”
“But I’m still official, aren’t I?”
Cyrus’s eyes narrowed on her. “You need to take Megan and back away from this thing.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I can have Child Protective Services over here right away.”
CHAPTER 29
FBI Agent Slain in Attempted Robbery. That’s what was all over the news the day after the incident. The story was nice and neat. It made Ted Howard out to be a hero. There were crystal-clear statements from the waitress and fry cook. It all added up. No one would suspect a thing.
Sidney set the remote down on the coffee table. It was about 6:30 a.m. Megan was still asleep in her bed. The little girl had cried until she soaked her pillow. Sidney had finally gotten her to sleep just before midnight by gently caressing her hair. Sid had been up ever since.
Why me?
All night long, she had rehashed everything. Doubted everything she’d done since high school. She was smart. She could have been anything. Why a cop? It was hard on families. Death and danger lurked at every traffic stop, routine building check, and simple apprehension. People were desperate. It made them deadly. Sidney was drawn to it.
I’m a foolish little girl.
She got up and poured another cup of coffee. She couldn’t help but think of Ted’s wife. His children. The funeral would be miserable. The tears would flow in streams. Her throat tightened. Her eyes swelled. She couldn’t bear it. She made her way into the second bedroom. Megan lay on her back with her teddy bear tucked under her arm. Her chest gently rose and fell.
We should move south. To the beaches.
Back inside her living room, Sid turned on the television again. It was all bad news. Muggings. Murder. Scandal. Mayhem. “Fight the good fight.” Those were some of Ted’s last words. There had been power in them. An intense look in his fatherly eyes. He believed in what they did. What she did. She felt that in her gut. Ted used to say, “You know you’re doing something right when you start pissing rotten people off.”
But I don’t want all this blood on my hands.
While she stared at the television, a familiar face came up. Her stomach soured. It was Congressman Wilhelm. Finely dressed and well manicured, he was a little pudgier than the last time she had seen him. His eyes had dark circles under them, and he sweated under the camera’s light. He was accompanied by his son and two Secret Service agents.
“Agent Ted C. Howard,” Wilhelm said, “was a dear friend of mine. A banner of law enforcement. Everything right with fine government agencies like the FBI. Let’s pray that his colleagues and their associates bring the fugitive murderer to justice. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.” He straightened his jacket. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to session. We’ve got an important bill to push through.” He gave a thumbs up and walked away with his entourage in tow.
Snake.
Her sister Allison had come home battered from her last job with Congressmen Wilhelm. Defiant. Angry. It was people like Wilhelm that put people like her sister in bad places. They made promises to them then preyed on them. It was disgusting.
Now, for some odd reason, Sidney took comfort from knowing that her sister was safe with the Drake. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say Allison was just where she wanted to be: among the powerful. Standing alongside the ones calling the shots. Maybe they gave her the protection she needed. The attention that Allison always craved.
She curled up on her couch and started to reassess things.
Put it together, Sid. You have to make sense of this. Did everyone die because of me? If I’m the problem, then why don’t they just take me out? I’m just one person.
There was something Cyrus always said that irked her. Well, just about everything he said irked her, but there was one thing in particular. He said she led a charmed life. That she was lucky.
She never felt any more special than anyone else. Sure, she moved ahead of some people and excelled at many things, but she never thought of herself as special. It wasn’t as if she used her looks to get away with things like Allison, although Sid knew being pretty did help her from time to time.
But when Cyrus said “charmed,” it always felt like he meant Sid had an advantage that went beyond just being pretty.
Megan entered the room. She wore pink pajamas with cartoon characters on them. She yawned and stretched out her arms. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Whatever you want.”
“Pancakes and chocolate milk,” Megan said. She shuffled over and snuggled up to Sidney on the couch. “I had a lot of bad dreams last night.”
Sidney pulled her little niece closer. “I’m sorry. Is it anything you want to tell me?”
“Not until after I eat.” Megan looked up into Sid’s eyes. “I’m sorry your friend died.”
“Me too.” Sid kissed Megan’s head. “Me too. I’m sorry you had to see that. Do you feel like going to school today?”
“You mean I have an option?”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series Page 51
