High-Caliber Concealer

by Bethany Maines

  “The goal is to get Donny, and us, out of here alive. Honestly, if he wants to make the exchange and drive off, then we let that happen. But let’s be realistic, the odds are not good that he’s going to do that. It’s 4:30 now. I expect his ringers to arrive here in the next hour or so. We will let them get into position and then we will need to take them out prior to the exchange. Ellen, have you selected a location to watch their arrival?”

  Ellen nodded.

  “The red Buick. It’s taller than most of the vehicles and it’s got an unimpaired sightline from the top into the junkyard.”

  “Good. We’ll be looking to you to direct us once the sheriff’s men arrive. But while we’re waiting for them, I want to plant a few surprises. Jenny, what are your recommendations?”

  “I want to run a line of det cord across the driveway,” said Jenny.

  “Sure,” said Z’ev. “If we had some det cord.”

  Jane pulled out the container of Super Silk Shaving Foam and popped open the bottom. “Here you go,” she said, shaking the det cord out into Jenny’s hand.

  “Do we have remotes?” asked Nikki, peering over Jane’s shoulder into the kit.

  “I think so.” Jane began rummaging in the kit.

  “Good idea,” said Jenny nodding. “Meanwhile, I think they’ll be placing their shooters over in the crushed car section. I think Z’ev and I should be waiting in there, see if we can’t flush them toward ya’ll.”

  “It depends on how many people they bring with them,” said Nikki. “And what kind of shape Donny is in. Even if you flush them toward me, I may not be much help if I’m dealing with too much fire power.”

  Jenny nodded. “I thought of that. Jane, do we have any of those Viper-12’s?”

  “We have three. And I also have three bottles of Rose Mist.”

  “I can work with that. We’ll set up some pinch points, and hit them with the Rose Mist.”

  Z’ev cleared his throat. “Not to ask a foolish question, but we’re going to hit them with a light, refreshing body spray?”

  “That’s 90% chloroform? Yes, we are,” Jenny said.

  “Works for me,” said Z’ev.

  “Where do you want me?” asked Jackson.

  “You’re going to be in charge of getting Donny out of harm’s way. The sheriff will drive in. They’ll be in one, maybe two cars. He’ll pull Donny out, and there’s going to be some smack talk. I’ll hold up the thumb drive. He’ll say throw me the thumb drive and I will. Hopefully, he’ll let Donny go at that point. Once I extra, extra confirm that there are no other copies, he’ll say something smart-ass, which will be a signal for his guys to show themselves. When they don’t, there’s going to be an awkward pause. That will be your moment, take Donny and head for the freezers.”

  “I would prefer it if there were some sort of signal,” said Jackson.

  “OK, I’ll say ‘eight seconds’ and then you go.”

  “OK,” said Jackson, nodding.

  “After that, head for the Buick. Ellen can cover you from there.”

  “Sounds good,” said Jackson.

  “And what are you going to be doing while he’s heading for the Buick?” asked Z’ev.

  “I’ll be hoping like hell that you and Jenny will be covering me as I run for the cars.”

  “I’m not sure I like this plan,” he said.

  “Do you have a better one?”

  “Well, for one thing I can be the one to make the exchange.”

  “The sheriff doesn’t know you. He’s going to be suspicious and on his guard if I’m not there. This will work.”

  “You could get shot,” said Z’ev.

  “Meh,” said Nikki with a shrug.

  “Meh? What the hell is meh? Getting shot is not meh!”

  “Well, no it’s not. I just don’t think I’ll actually get shot. I mean, if Milt and Pedro are his right hand guys I feel fairly confident that we’re not facing anyone who spends a lot of time figuring out how to shoot straight. You know what I’m saying?”

  Z’ev opened his mouth to speak and then shut it again. “I cannot believe I’m even having this conversation right now. When this is over, you and I are going to have a long conversation about,” he waved his hands in an all encompassing arc, “everything. Come on, Jenny, let’s go sprinkle some fucking Rose Mist around.”

  Jenny hid a laugh behind a cough, took an armful of equipment from Jane and hurried after him, shooting a Nikki a sympathetic look as she went.

  “What about me?” asked Jane.

  “You get the Glock,” said Nikki. “Ellen’s going to be our eye in the sky on this one, which means that we don’t need you monitoring any computers or radios. You’re going to be in the field.”

  Jane’s eyes lit up. “OK, what do I do?”

  “I want you to find a location out by the road. You’re going to alert us to any cars that come, and once the sheriff arrives, I want you to pull back and help cover Jackson and Donny when they make a break for it.”

  “All right,” said Jane, puffing up proudly. “You can count on me.” She slid the make-up case closed with a resounding snap and grabbed up the Glock. “Should I go now?”

  “Yeah, go now. Jackson and I are going to wait for your signal at the Fernandez house. Once you alert us that the sheriff’s first team has arrived, we’ll pull in and pretend like we don’t know they’re there.”

  “What if they don’t send a first team?” asked Jane, and Nikki laughed.

  “They’ll send a first team. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m off to the Buick,” said Ellen. “Good luck, everyone.”

  Nikki nodded and gestured to Jackson to get in the car. Taking a last look around the junkyard, she felt the deep twist of fear in her gut. Their strategy was sound, they had taken as many precautions as they could and she had every faith in her team. Why was she so nervous? She watched as Z’ev and Jenny disappeared into the crushed car section and realized that her fear had nothing to do with the mission. Z’ev was an uncontrollable factor in her life—always had been from the moment she met him. Was she really ready to trust him?

  August XXIX

  Showdown

  Nikki and Jackson parked behind the shed and watched the Fernandez clan pull away. The Impala didn’t receive a second glance and Nikki couldn’t tell if it was because they were so used to extra cars on their property or if they really hadn’t noticed it. The sky across the river was dark with smoke and Jackson watched it nervously. She figured it was probably better to have him worry about that than it was to worry about Donny.

  “So,” said Jackson. “This really is what you do, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” said Nikki.

  “Huh. I always figured you’d get some sort of office job and marry a lawyer.”

  “Some sort of office job? I got a degree in linguistics, I speak four languages and you thought I’d turn out to be some sort of secretary? Wow. Thanks for believing in me.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” said Jackson. “And you hadn’t even picked a major when I left. I just thought you were more of an office person than an out-in-the-field person.”

  “Guess you were wrong,” said Nikki.

  “What I mean is that I always thought I was holding you back,” said Jackson. “My interests were more blue-collar and I wanted a job where I could be outside. I always thought that if we had stayed together, eventually you would have been embarrassed by me.”

  “I would never be embarrassed by you,” said Nikki, shocked. “Did you really think I was that shallow?”

  “Not you, but the crowd you ran around with, yeah. And your mom always pushing you up the social ladder didn’t help any.”

  “That is not fair. Judging me by Mom is a total low blow.”

  “Yeah, I know,” said Jackson. “But it sort of creeps into your head.”

  Nikki’s earpiece chirped. “Go ahead for Nikki,” she said toggling the earpiece on.

  “Sheriff’s first team has arrived,”
said Jane, sounding breathless. “They’re heading for the crushed car section, just like you said.”

  “Good. Jenny, are you and Z’ev good to go?”

  “Five by five,” said Jenny, her voice hushed.

  “Ellen?”

  “All set,” said Ellen. “You are cleared to move.”

  “We’ll give them a few minutes to get situated and then we’ll go in.” Nikki checked her watch. It was 6:15.

  “How did you know that’s what the sheriff was going to do?”

  Nikki shrugged. “It’s not my first dance.”

  “So you really think we can get us and Donny out of this alive?”

  “Barring any unforeseen elements, yeah, I really do. What, did you think I was stringing all of you along and hoping it was going to work out?”

  “Kind of.”

  “What the hell? Are you crazy? Why would you even go along with my plan if that’s what you thought?”

  “I couldn’t think of a better plan,” said Jackson with a shrug. “And your friends didn’t seem worried. Besides, I figured I’d rather go down with you and Donny than a lot of other people.”

  “You’re crazy,” said Nikki.

  It was Jackson’s turn to shrug. “We all gotta die sometime.”

  “Well, it’s not going to be today,” said Nikki starting the car.

  They pulled into Crazy Cooter’s and Nikki pulled a u-turn, facing the car back up the drive. the rear end pointing toward the RV / shed / office.

  “Sometimes, I can’t believe that our parents let us play here,” said Jackson. “It is like one giant tetanus shot waiting to happen.”

  “I don’t think they knew we played here as much as we did,” said Nikki. “OK, remember, talk loud and look confused and helpless. We’re playing to the cheap seats.”

  “I don’t know that confused and helpless is in my repertoire,” said Jackson.

  “Shoot for sad and stoic then. I’m pretty sure that’s in your repertoire.”

  “What are you trying to say?” asked Jackson as they got out of the car.

  “I don’t know, how about the fact that you were Mopey Emo Cowboy our entire freshman year.”

  “I was not… There is no such thing as Emo Cowboy!”

  “That is what you say now.”

  “Cowboy’s cannot be Emo. Their very essence negates each other.”

  “Mopey Emo Cowboy,” repeated Nikki.

  “That’s not cool.”

  “I call them like I see them,” said Nikki laughing.

  “I’m glad you came back,” said Jackson, looking at her affectionately. “I didn’t realize how much I’d missed you guys.”

  “I’m just glad we get to be friends again. Sometimes it feels like being an adult is all about losing people.”

  “Jeez, talk about Emo Cowboy. That’s super depressing.”

  Nikki shrugged and sat on the trunk of the car. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think Val was right. Maybe going it alone and looking out for number one really is the sensible way to live. Can’t lose people if you don’t have people.”

  “I don’t know who Val is, but that’s some depressing bullshit. Stop listening to her.”

  Nikki’s earpiece beeped again, and she toggled it on. “Go for Nikki.”

  “Second team is in the driveway. I didn’t see Donny in the car. I’m pulling back to my second location.”

  “Thanks, Jane.” She kept her eyes on the driveway as she spoke to Jackson. “We’re on.”

  “OK,” said Jackson. He shifted nervously away from the car.

  “You go when I say eight seconds.”

  “Got it.”

  “Stay calm. You’ll be fine.”

  Jackson looked at her and she watched him breathe out, watched the nerves leave him.

  “Yeah,” she said, grinning. “You’re going to be fine.”

  She watched as the Sheriff’s car bumped down the drive in his county vehicle, followed by a black four-door, and pass under the archway of horns and bumpers. She paced out to the middle of the parking space and waited with her arms folded across her chest.

  “Miss Lanier,” Sheriff Smalls said, exiting the car. Milt got out of the passenger side, his eye still black from his fight with Nikki. The second car pulled to a stop and Pedro got out of the driver’s seat.

  “So nice to see you again,” Merv said. “Mr. Tyrell, I see you’ve decided to involve yourself in these high jinks. I can’t say I think that was a smart decision.”

  “Where’s Donny?” Nikki demanded.

  “Mr. Fernandez was uncooperative. He got to ride in the back.” He glanced at Milt, who sniggered. Milt snapped his fingers at Pedro. Pedro glared at one of the rent-a-henchmen he’d been riding with. Finally, one of them went to the trunk of the four-door and opened it. Donny was dragged out. His hands had been duct-taped together and he was sporting a black eye. He also looked pissed.

  Nikki’s earpiece beeped and she surreptitiously rubbed her ear to turn it on. “First team has been taken care of,” said Jenny. “You are clear to move.”

  “You know, Miss Lanier,” said the sheriff, “I don’t know why I’m surprised at the way you turned out. You are Phillipe’s daughter after all. But I am surprised. You’re a lot, well, harder than most women are. Are you sure you and I couldn’t work together?”

  Nikki’s earpiece beeped.

  “I’m not here for a job interview,” said Nikki. “I just want to make the exchange and get the hell out of this town.”

  “Yes, but you see, what concerns me is that once you do leave this town, your friend is going to tell his other little cop friends and then I’ll have problems. I don’t like problems.”

  The earpiece beeped again.

  “Donny is a narcotics cop,” said Nikki, raising an eyebrow. So much could be said with facial expressions. “Do you really think this is the first… sticky situation he’s been in? Or the first one that required a little discretion? Why do you think we’re still friends after all these years? Don’t worry about your little pot smuggling scheme. We’ve got our own plans to get back to.” The wind was picking up. She could really hear it in the trees down by the river.

  “Little? I smuggle tonnage, sweetheart. I am the direct Canadian pipeline from here to the heartland.”

  Beep.

  “Yeah, and if Congress ever passes immigration reform your pipeline implodes.”

  “Well, fortunately, we all vote Republican out here, so that’s not going to happen now, is it?”

  “Can we make the trade?” said Jackson. “I hate talking politics.”

  “The man has a point,” said Pedro.

  Beep.

  “Fine. You have the files?”

  Nikki reached in her pocket and managed to hit her earpiece with the other hand. “Yeah,” she said. “I’ve got it right here.”

  “Nikki! Get the hell out of there!” yelled Ellen. “The fire has jumped the river!”

  Nikki held out the drive and watched a burning ember, drifting on the breeze, land on the ground at the foot of a radiator being used to hold up a potted plant. A small fire immediately started, licking up the sides of the radiator consuming old chemicals greedily.

  “Jackson,” she said, still holding out the thumb drive in one hand. “Eight seconds.”

  In the blink of an eye he had covered the distance between himself and Pedro. Events were moving in slow motion now. She saw the surprised expression on Pedro’s face as Jackson upended him. She was dropping the thumb drive and pulling out her gun as Milt turned around to look at Pedro. Jackson and Donny were running. Milt was turning more, holding out his gun, and the sheriff was running at her. Worry about the far target. Worry about the far target. She squeezed the trigger and Milt went down, but the sheriff was already too close. She shifted her weight, preparing for the tackle, since she wasn’t going to get her gun around in time. Embers were raining from the sky now. The RV was on fire.

  She hit the ground and time sped up again. Everythi
ng was a mad scramble. Smalls had one hand out, trying to control the gun, blocking her arms, the other arm reaching for her throat. He was a large man, heavy, and quicker than he looked. But he’d landed off-center on her chest, so her legs were loose. She yanked one hand free and elbowed him in the ear. He pulled back slightly, easing the weight on her, which allowed her to get her hips out from under him. More elbows, repeat as necessary, until the sheriff changed tactics. He pushed back onto his knees, rearing back for a punch, and Nikki kicked downward into his knee, shoving him flat. His punch went wild, landing in the dirt. He grunted in anger and pain, then pulled back again, grinding all his weight onto the grounded gun with her hand pinned underneath it, once again reaching for her throat. She gave a sharp palm strike to his chin, and heard his teeth click together.

  She aimed a punch at his throat.

  He blocked it, but each movement was a backwards retreat that eased pressure on her gun hand, creating more space. Just a little farther and she’d have enough space to kick upward.

  A little farther never happened.

  The sheriff was lifted up into the air with the suddenness of a tsunami. He smashed back down again like a wave on rocks.

  Nikki looked up at Z’ev. “Hey, babe.” She looked at the sheriff, woozily attempting to sit up, gasping for air. “I was handling that.”

  “Well, I handled it for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  He reached out a hand to help her up as a bullet winged by her head and landed in the dirt. There was the chunka-chunka sound of the AK as Jenny responded. The sheriff scuttled backwards, wheezing, trying to get out of firing range.

  “You gave Jenny the AK? You did remind her that Bill Bartlby is going to want it back, right?”

  “We really ought to go now,” he said ignoring her commentary. As if to emphasize his point, something exploded in the car section. A hubcap whizzed through the window of the office. “The car section is on fire.”

  “I gathered that,” said Nikki, standing up. “What about them?” She gestured to the sheriff and his crew, all hiding from Jenny behind their cars.

  “Let them burn,” said Z’ev. “We’ve got the evidence. We’ve got Donny. What are they going to do?”

  “I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” yelled the sheriff, getting to his feet. His face was red, either from the heat or rage, Nikki couldn’t tell. “I’m going to call my friends. the ones who smuggle my drugs for me, and I’m going to have them go up and pay your grandma a little visit. How fast do you think that peach orchard of hers will burn?”