Griffin stared at his phone and punched in a number. “I’ll have you in jail before—”
The shot entered Griffin’s chest near the heart. He would be dead in a few seconds.
Fabrizio noted little reaction from Carlos or his man. “I see you are men accustomed to violence. That is good.”
The big man next to Carlos made a sudden move forward. Fabrizio shot him once in the stomach and then again in the groin. “Don’t be too concerned about the pain, signore. I will end it soon.”
Carlos looked at Roberto and then focused on Fabrizio. “From your accent, I assume Señor Mangini sent you.”
Fabrizio didn’t smile. He didn’t say anything.
Carlos gazed at him. “I can make you a rich man. Very rich.”
No response.
“You would never have to work again. You could live in a mansion anywhere in the world.”
Still no response.
Carlos shook his head. “How can you refuse an offer like that?”
“Because I gave my word.”
“Your word?” Carlos said, and cracked a thin smile. “Please, señor. How much is your word worth?”
“In this instance, signore, it is worth your life.”
“I see,” Carlos said. “Now I understand why Señor Mangini has such power. But no matter, I will have the last laugh, even if it is from the grave.”
Fabrizio looked puzzled, but then the answer hit him. He searched for a number on his phone and typed out a text.
She’s not done killing. Be alert.
“I am curious,” Carlos said. “Why are you waiting to kill me? Why not just pull the trigger?”
“I have orders,” Fabrizio said. “I am waiting for a doctor to arrive.”
First the smile disappeared from Carlos’ face. Then the color.
Fabrizio smiled. “Fear is in your eyes, signore. I see you are familiar with the doctor.”
When Carlos said nothing, Fabrizio leaned toward him and whispered.
“I have seen him work. You are right to be afraid.”
Chapter 55
A Guardian Angel
We rode to the center separately—Tip drove his car, and I rode with Delgado. I didn’t want to be in a car with Tip in the mood he was in. When we got there, an officer already had the scene secured, and we had already called a team to process it for prints and DNA evidence. The most interesting discovery we found was in the trunk of the car—a gym bag that looked to have all the signs of the one used at the safe house. It still reeked of gasoline.
Delgado closed his eyes and whispered a prayer. I wondered if it was for Cruz. Or a plea to let Delgado catch El Terrible.
I know what my prayer would have been: five minutes with her. That’s all I’d need.
Tip had been tied in knots since the incident with Herb. I guess we all were. It really shook me.
“We’re not doing any good here,” Tip said. “I’m going to get drunk.”
“Like hell you are,” I said. “You’re dangerous enough when you’re sober.”
“All right, I won’t get drunk, but we need to have at least a few beers to celebrate finding the leak.”
“If you can call that a reason for celebration,” Ribs said. “I feel sick about it.”
“Me too,” I said, “but I’m up for a beer or two.”
“Follow me,” Tip said.
We drove for about fifteen minutes, ending up at a joint off Westheimer that Tip swore had great food. We sat at a table by the window. Delgado ordered nachos and cheese, and we all ordered beer.
“I can’t believe Cruz is gone,” Delgado said. “He was a good man.”
I lifted my mug and said, “Here’s to Cruz.”
For the next hour, we talked about the case, and we tried to figure out how to track down El Terrible.
“Roberts is going to put her picture on every station from here to Mexico,” Tip said. “Somebody should spot her.”
“Maybe not,” I said. “Remember how good she is at changing her appearance?”
Tip’s phone rang. He took a swig of beer to wash down some nachos before answering. “Denton.” He talked for a few seconds and then said, “Thanks, Bobby. I appreciate it.”
“Stenson?” I asked.
A smile came to Tip’s face. The first one I’d seen since we busted Herb. “He got Tico and the drugs. At least those two will be going away for a long time.”
“No chance they’ll give up Carlos,” I said. “And that means he’s going free.”
“We should have been there when they let him go,” Ribs said. “If nothing else, we could have told him about Tico.”
I shook my head. “I couldn’t stand to watch him go free. I think I’d have lost it if I saw that smirk on his face, or heard his taunting voice.”
“I might have had to do something,” Tip said.
“Nothing to do,” Delgado said. “He’s gone.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Tip said. “It’s a long way from here to Mexico.”
I looked at him, puzzled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I said. That it’s a long way to Mexico.”
Delgado said, “On that note, I need another beer.”
I laughed. “Me, too.” I signaled the waitress.
Delgado downed the last of his mug as she placed new ones on the table. “I hate that Carlos is getting away,” he said, “but I think it bothers me more that she’s getting away.”
“If I had been there, I would have done something,” Delgado said, and then he raised his glass in a toast. “For Cruz.”
“For Cruz,” Tip and I said.
A beep sounded from my phone. “Hang on,” I said and checked my messages.
She’s not done killing. Be alert.
I stared at it. What the hell?
“What?” Tip asked.
I showed him the message.
“Who’s it from?” Delgado asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen this number.”
“It’s about El Terrible,” Tip said.
“What?”
“It’s her,” Tip said. “Somebody is warning you that she’s coming after you.”
Delgado stood and looked around the bar. Tip unsnapped his gun and walked around. I did the same. We cleared the bar and moved toward the exit. “She may be close,” Tip said. “I don’t doubt she’d try, even in a public place. Anyone else, I’d say no, but not her.”
After fifteen or twenty minutes, we’d lost the sense of dread, and decided to head out. We stood outside the bar, talking.
“It could have been a prank,” Tip said.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “It’s too specific. And besides, not many people down here have my number.” As soon as I said down here, it struck me. I remembered seeing someone I thought was Fabrizio.
Holy shit! It was him. He sent the message.
“Tip, I think we need to take this seriously.”
“Don’t worry,” Tip assured us. “If Carlos wants anybody dead, it’s me.”
“Why’s that?” Ribs asked.
“Because I kicked his ass in the bathroom when we locked him up.”
Things were coming together. “And he knows where you live.”
“That’s it then,” Delgado said. “She’ll be waiting for you at the house.”
Tip ran for the car. “Flash and Sacco!” he said, and took off.
“Shit,” I said and got in Delgado’s car. “Drive, Ribs.”
“What the hell is going on?” Ribs said.
“Last year Carlos killed Tip’s dogs.”
“Dios mîo. Let’s go.”
I knew we’d never catch Tip. He’d be going a hundred at least. “I’m calling it in,” I said.
I had them send two cars to Tip’s house. I didn’t want him running into a trap. I warned the officers of what they might encounter. “Don’t send any goddamn rookies. This woman’s armed and very dangerous.”
When we a
rrived, two patrol cars were in the drive. Tip’s car was parked half on the grass and half on the sidewalk. The officers were standing outside. No sign of Tip.
I got out and approached them. “Anything?”
“He’s inside. He almost ran me over when he came in.”
I explained the situation, and that I was going in. “Come on, Ribs.”
Tip was walking out the back door as we approached the house.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“They’re fine,” he said. “I guess I panicked.”
“With good reason,” Ribs said.
Tip brushed it off. “Go on home. I’m fine.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “She may still show up.”
“Bullshit,” Tip said.
After arguing for what seemed like an eternity, I told the officers we were shutting it down. They called it in, and then I got in Ribs’ car and followed them down the driveway.
***
El Terrible watched from her spot in the woods as the cop cars drove away. She had been across the drive from the detective’s house for more than an hour, waiting. It would have been so easy if those other cops hadn’t shown up. But now they were gone, and soon, he would be too. She hadn’t decided if she would take the partner too. Her orders had been for this one, but they did not forbid additional targets.
She waited another half hour, giving the cop time to settle down and feel safe. If she waited much longer, he might start to grow nervous again. No, she thought, half an hour is just right.
The woods were full of sticks and leaves, and things that made noise. She evaluated the surroundings and decided to take a roundabout way. She backed out of the woods, going the opposite direction of his house, and then she circled around until she exited onto a spot far up his drive, perhaps 150 meters or more. The drive was dark, with no lights, and the night sky was dim with a crescent moon. Gripping her gun with her right hand, she moved slowly down the drive, keeping as close to the trees as she could. She moved one step at a time, careful not to make noise.
It was another fifteen minutes before she reached the walk leading to the house. Lights were on in the kitchen and in the room beside it. A television played from that one. She could barely make out the form of his head peeking above the sofa.
Perfect.
Dressed in black, with nothing to reflect light, she moved like a panther up the walk, each step a planned move. It took her a minute to move six meters. El Terrible allowed herself a smile. Skills such as hers deserved a smile. The next six meters took just as long.
It is almost time, Detective.
***
Delgado lay on the ground behind a water fountain in Tip’s garden. He breathed slowly to control his nerves. He had seen this woman’s work, and he couldn’t afford to leave Rosalee to take care of six kids by herself. Both hands gripped his gun. He moved it an inch at a time, following her movements. He had never seen a human move so silently. A twinge of fear coursed his veins. He fought the urge to shiver.
At first, he hadn’t even seen her, but as she moved closer to the house, the light from inside exposed her. He ran the checklist through his mind. His phone was off. He had nothing on him that could make noise. Nothing to reflect light. He cleared his head. Had to focus on her.
She moved slowly, perfectly, like a cat.
Damn, this woman is good.
She was only fifteen feet away now. Delgado’s body tensed. He feared his muscles might cramp or that his body would freeze up. He thought about shooting her with no warning. That’s what he should do. If he didn’t there was a good chance Rosalee might end up a widow. She didn’t deserve that. Fear crept into his bones. He shook. His finger rested on the trigger.
At the last moment, he found his moral compass. “Police. Drop the gun!”
She spun and dropped to the ground, firing at the same time. Two shots hit the fountain. Delgado fired twice. One shot hit her shoulder. She rolled to the ground, flat on her stomach, and fired three more shots. One hit Delgado’s arm. He popped up to fire again, but bullets sprayed the fountain. He ducked. She was moving toward him, firing continually.
Tip came out from behind the house. He moved quickly, his gun aimed at her. When she advanced on Delgado, he fired.
***
El Terrible had the cop behind the fountain trapped. She fired a few more rounds then reached for her other gun. A shadow moving to her right alerted her. She jumped left as three bullets barely missed her. She rolled, scrambled for the darkest part of the garden, and came up behind a tree. She popped in a fresh clip, then fired from the left side of the tree in the direction of the shadow.
The cop who had almost shot her advanced, firing two rounds at a time. El Terrible crawled across the mulch, using shrubs for cover. Both cops were moving toward her, slowly splitting, approaching from both sides of the tree where they thought she was. Using her elbows, she inched a few more feet to a spot where she had a better line of vision to the one called Tip.
With her elbows planted on the ground, she gripped the gun with both hands. Took aim.
And fired.
***
I saw Tip go down with the first shot. Two more were close misses.
I wanted to get closer before firing, but now I couldn’t risk it. I squeezed the trigger three times.
A loud moan and a curse from the garden. “Dios mîo.”
El Terrible twisted on the ground, raised her gun.
I squeezed the trigger three more times. And then El Terrible dropped her head to the ground. I advanced slowly, kicked the gun away from El Terrible’s hand. Then I knelt to check her pulse.
“She dead?” Tip asked.
“Are you?”
“Not yet,” he said, “But I caught one in the leg; you better call an ambulance.”
“Got one waiting down the road,” I said, and called to let them know to come in.
“Ribs, you okay?” I asked.
“Arm shot,” Delgado said, and came out from behind a tree. “And you?”
“I’m okay.”
I stood and went to Tip. He was on the ground. Delgado’s arm was bleeding badly, and so was Tip’s leg.
The sirens from the ambulance and the other patrol cars blared as they came down the drive.
Tip propped himself on one elbow and looked over at El Terrible. “That was one tough son of a bitch.”
“Rosalee thanks you,” Delgado said, and kissed my cheek. And then he blessed himself.
I stared at El Terrible lying on the ground. “Thank God,” I said.
Chapter 56
Closure
Cruz was buried four days later, the day after we closed the case on El Terrible. He had no family, so the funeral consisted mostly of cops and a few friends. Tip, Delgado, and I went to a local bar afterward. I was the only one not bandaged up. We sat at a table near the back; the dark corner seemed appropriate for the occasion.
I laughed at seeing Delgado struggling with the sling on his arm, but Tip on crutches was funnier. “How are you holding up, Ribs?”
He took a long swig of beer and said, “Considering who shot me, I’m glad it’s only my arm. That was one nasty woman we put down.”
“We?” Tip said. “I believe that was me who put her down, Mr. Delgado.”
“I wounded her,” Ribs said. “If she hadn’t already been bleeding, she’d have gutted you.”
“A lot of macho shit going on at this table,” I said. “But to set the record straight, I was the one who put her down…as she was about to rid the world of two detectives.”
Ribs shook his head as he nibbled on nachos. “I can live with that, but I don’t think your partner can.”
“I still can’t believe the body count on this one,” Tip said. “Worst I’ve ever seen.”
“What was it—eleven?” Delgado asked.
“If you count the two on her team, thirteen,” I said.
“That’s a lot of people who didn’t have to die
,” Tip said.
I downed the rest of my beer and signaled for another. “And the worst part of it is that that son of a bitch Carlos got away. Again.”
Tip shrugged. “Like I said before, it’s a long way to Mexico.”
I looked at Delgado. “There he goes again with that nonsense. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Ribs, do you know?”
“The longer you’re here, the sooner you’ll realize that Tip’s sayings usually don’t make sense. And if you find yourself thinking they do, it’s time to go home.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I said, and we all took a swig.
“I wonder how the girl’s doing,” Tip said.
“She’s okay,” Delgado said. “About as good as you can expect.”
I stared at Ribs. “How do you know? Did you check on her?”
“I was waiting to mention it, but Rosalee and I may try to adopt her.”
A warm rush went through me. I got up and hugged him. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He blushed. “We’ve talked about it. We figure, what’s one more kid when you already have six?”
“You can always skim more drug money,” Tip said.
“Or pimp out a few more girls,” Ribs added.
I held my glass up. “To the Delgados. Damn good people.”
We shot the shit for another half hour or so before Ribs said he had to go. He reached for his wallet, but Tip stopped him. “You’re gonna need every penny if you plan on taking in Marissa.” He called the waiter over and asked for the check.
“It’s been taken care of, sir.”
Tip scrunched up his brow and looked over at me.
“Don’t look at me,” I said. “I was counting on you to pay.”
Delgado held up his hands. “Not me.”
“Who paid?” Tip asked the waiter.
“Some guy at the bar,” the waiter said. “A big guy in a suit.”
“Do you know him?” Tip asked.
“I’ve never seen him in here, but he said to give you this.” The waiter handed Tip a note.
“What’s it say?” I asked.
“‘Your problem has disappeared,’” Tip said, and then his face sank, as if he’d gotten bad news.
“Tip, what’s wrong?” I asked. “What does it mean?”
Bullet From Dominic Page 29
