Blazing Rattles (A Harley and Davidson Mystery Book 10)
Page 8
“You’re wrong,” Hank said, trying to get to his feet. “You’re a killer, and nothing you say or do will ever erase the blood on your hands. You’re a monster.”
McIrish drove his foot deep into Hank’s gut, and Hank curled into a knot on the floor. Every click and clack of the train jarred his aching body, and he sucked in a deep breath, trying to control the pain.
“You didn’t care about those innocent men,” Hank said. “You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself. They had families. They weren’t even armed.”
“You get paid to put on a uniform, then you better be ready to fight for whatever it is that matters to you,” McIrish said. “They knew the risk.”
Something in what he’d said snapped Hank back into reality. He loved Agatha, and if he was going to keep his promise to protect her, he’d needed to fight for her.
McIrish slammed the 2x4 into Hank’s shin, and something cracked. It was now or never. He wasn’t going to lay down and die for a man like McIrish.
“I’m going to stop you,” Hank said, preparing to launch himself.
“Really?” McIrish said, his laugh pure evil. “Like you were going to stop me back east? The only thing that stopped you then was a crooked politician. I could’ve done anything I wanted and gotten away with it. How does it feel to be a puppet? Senator Coglin told you to stop the investigation after that last robbery. That we’d gone underground and it was a waste of time, money, and manpower. How do you think he knew when went underground?”
Hank tried to compute. Coglin wasn’t from the past. Coglin was the one who’d screwed up his investigation in the future. But it made sense. Hank hadn’t thought about there being someone on the inside.
“I had no choice,” Hank said, knowing he hadn’t. “You can say what you want, but I had no authority to pursue you. I don’t operate outside of the law. And maybe you got away then, but men like you always get what’s coming to them.”
McIrish laughed. “You’re a fool Hank Davidson. Men like me always get exactly what they want in life. Where are you now? You lost your wife and gave up everything,” he taunted. “And then you get a second chance at love and you’re going to screw this up too. It doesn’t seem to matter what time period you’re in. You’re a coward.”
Hank shook his head, hoping to unscramble his brains. Did McIrish know he was from the future? What was happening? Maybe it was the brain damage, but nothing was making sense.
“This is crazy,” Hank said.
“Is it?” McIrish taunted. “Agatha has been wanting to marry you for almost a hundred and fifty years, and you still haven’t got it right. It doesn’t matter though. I’ll kill her before I kill you. Just so you can watch. You like watching your women die, don’t you? You hid her behind that crate there, but she’s hurt pretty bad. That takes some of the fun out of it. I want to be the one to cause the hurt. I’m going to haunt you in every life you live.”
Anger fueled Hank like nothing ever had. It coursed through his body, and acted like a pain killer.
McIrish moved to hit him with the 2x4 again, and Hank rolled toward the middle of the boxcar so it missed him by inches. He swept out his leg into the back of McIrish’s knees, using a little modern day Jiu Jitsu, and brought him to his knees so they were on a level playing field.
From that point on it was street fighting at its finest. Fists and feet connected with flesh, and blood flew and ribs and noses crunched beneath the force of well placed punches.
They were evenly matched and at a draw, and McIrish must have come to the same conclusion because he rolled out of the way and reached for the board again. Hank made a split second decision and launched himself at McIrish’s middle, pushing the man to the other side of the car and out the open door. Hank let go at the last second and grabbed hold of a metal rung before sending them both to their deaths.
But McIrish didn’t fall how he’d planned. He clung to Hank’s leg and dangled over the ravine they were crossing. Hank looked down and saw true fear in the man’s eyes, and then he saw him reach for the Bowie knife hidden in his boot.
“Die!” screamed McIrish.
Hank acted on instinct and swung his free leg so it connected with McIrish’s face. Blood and sweat dripped into Hank’s eyes, and he couldn’t see. Blood rushed in his ears. But he kept kicking, survival mode taking over.
“Hank,” McIrish said.
The calmness of his voice made Hank freeze. There was something odd about it. Something out of place. He tried to clear his head and his eyes and look down at McIrish.
“You’re getting a second chance,” McIrish said. “Don’t screw this one up.”
“I don’t understand,” Hank said.
“You will.” And then McIrish let go and fell into the blackness of the ravine. All Hank could do was watch until he disappeared for good.
His hands slipped on the metal rung he held onto, and he used every ounce of strength he had left to pull himself back into the boxcar. He crawled around the crates until he saw Agatha, safe and unconscious. He curled up next to her not knowing where they were going, but he didn’t care because they were together and alive. And the bad guys had lost.
“Hank.”
Something trickled across his forehead and he thought it might be blood.
“Hank.”
This time he felt a light pat against his cheek, and he groaned in pain. He couldn’t be dead. There wasn’t supposed to be pain in death.
“Hank, wake up,” Agatha said.
His eyes cracked open, and he was surprised they weren’t swollen shut. That fight with McIrish had been a doozy.
“Hank,” Agatha said again.
He smiled and tried to bring her into focus. She was so beautiful.
“We won,” he said, bringing his hand up to push her hair back from her face.
“What did we win?”
“The fight. We beat the Copper Cove Boys once and for all.”
She raised her brows, looking concerned. “Okay, baby. Are you hurt? One minute we were eating and the next you were passed out cold on the floor. The champagne cork conked you right in the head.”
“Bessie kicked me in the head,” he said, drowsily. But his brains were starting to put things to rights. Not Bessie. It had been a cork.
He looked around slowly and recognized the restaurant. He was back. He was alive. And so was Agatha. It had all been a dream.
“I’ve waited a hundred and fifty years to ask you this,” he said, not caring that they’d drawn a crowd after his episode. “Agatha Harley, will you marry me?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure that’s not the cork talking?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said. “I love you. Without fear and without reservation. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek and she leaned down to kiss him. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she whispered.
“I’ve got a ring box in my pocket,” he said.
“You can give it to me over dessert,” she said. “They’ve comped our meal. They feel real bad about what happened to you. Besides, I want to hear all about the Copper Cove Boys. That sounds like a story I might want to write someday.”
Hank laughed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Next Up: A Salt and Battery
June 2020
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Also by Liliana Hart
The MacKenzies of Montana
Dane’s Return
Thomas’s Vow
Riley’s Sanctuary
Cooper’s Promise
Grant’s Christmas Wish
The MacKenzies Boxset
MacKenzie Security Series
Seduction and Sapphires
Shadows and Silk
Secrets and Satin
Sins and Scarlet Lace
Sizzle
Crave
Trouble Maker
Scorch
MacKenzie Security Omnibus 1
MacKenzie Security Omnibus 2
JJ Graves Mystery Series
Dirty Little Secrets
A Dirty Shame
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
Down and Dirty
Dirty Deeds
Dirty Laundry
Dirty Money
A Dirty Job
Addison Holmes Mystery Series
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey For Breakfast
Whiskey, You’re The Devil
Whiskey on the Rocks
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Whiskey and Gunpowder
Books by Liliana Hart and Scott Silverii
The Harley and Davidson Mystery Series
The Farmer’s Slaughter
A Tisket a Casket
I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus
Get Your Murder Running
Deceased and Desist
Malice In Wonderland
Tequila Mockingbird
Gone With the Sin
The Gravediggers
The Darkest Corner
Gone to Dust
Say No More
Lawmen of Surrender (MacKenzies-1001 Dark Nights)
1001 Dark Nights: Captured in Surrender
1001 Dark Nights: The Promise of Surrender
Sweet Surrender
Dawn of Surrender
The MacKenzie World (read in any order)
Trouble Maker
Bullet Proof
Deep Trouble
Delta Rescue
Desire and Ice
Rush
Spies and Stilettos
Wicked Hot
Hot Witness
Avenged
Never Surrender
Stand Alone Titles
Breath of Fire
Kill Shot
Catch Me If You Can
All About Eve
Paradise Disguised
Island Home
The Witching Hour
Also by Louis Scott
Books by Liliana Hart and Scott Silverii
The Harley and Davidson Mystery Series
The Farmer’s Slaughter
A Tisket a Casket
I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus
Get Your Murder Running
Deceased and Desist
Malice in Wonderland
Tequila Mockingbird
Gone With the Sin
About Liliana Hart
Liliana Hart is a New York Times, USAToday, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of more than sixty titles. After starting her first novel her freshman year of college, she immediately became addicted to writing and knew she’d found what she was meant to do with her life. She has no idea why she majored in music.
Since publishing in June 2011, Liliana has sold more than six-million books. All three of her series have made multiple appearances on the New York Times list.
Liliana can almost always be found at her computer writing, hauling five kids to various activities, or spending time with her husband. She calls Texas home.
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Connect with me online:
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lilianahartauthor@gmail.com
About Louis Scott
Liliana’s writing partner and husband, Scott blends over 25 years of heart-stopping policing Special Operations experience.
From deep in the heart of south Louisiana’s Cajun Country, his action-packed writing style is seasoned by the Mardi Gras, hurricanes and crawfish étouffée.
Don’t let the easy Creole smile fool you. The author served most of a highly decorated career in SOG buying dope, banging down doors, and busting bad guys.
Bringing characters to life based on those amazing experiences, Scott writes it like he lived it.
Lock and Load – Let’s Roll.