"I don't remember that."
"It was after you blacked out in jail and they transported you to the hospital. It was one of the afternoon monsoons. Any tracks before that would have been obliterated." Josh brought the car to a stop, slightly angled to the house so that when they opened the car doors they still had some protection, yet would not have to backup to make a fast exit.
"I'll approach the door," Josh said. "You hang back and keep an eye on the windows."
They got out and stood at the car doors for a half minute, studying the front. Nothing moved anywhere. Leaving the doors open they approached. CJ stopped after only ten feet and remained rooted, letting Josh pass by him. They both had a hand on their weapon, though had not yet drawn. Josh took the two steps onto the covered porch and then moved to the door.
He knocked on the screen door, setting off an irritating rattle. When there came no response, he knocked again. "Mister Dorne!" he called. "John Dorne! We're with the FBI. We just need to ask you a few questions."
CJ watched and listened, then shook his head at Josh when he glanced back over his shoulder.
Suddenly there was a crack, like a pistol shot, and Josh went down to his knees. Without even thinking CJ had the Glock in his hand, first trained on the front door, then scanning back and forth. There was nothing. He ran up the two steps and dropped down next to Josh, out of the line of fire should it be coming through the door.
"Josh!" he said without looking at him, first studying the door and realizing that the shot had not come from inside. He swung his head back and forth from one end of the house to the other, and then out into the yard expecting a second shot any moment. "Where you hit?"
"I'm fine," Josh said.
"What?" CJ looked at his son. One leg was knee-deep in the porch floor.
"I broke through the floor, damn it. Help me up before I get snake bit."
After taking a deep breath of relief, CJ offered a hand and Josh pulled himself out. The two of them then backed off the porch, each careful of additional weak spots in the boards. CJ didn't holster his gun until he was getting back in the car.
"That got my adrenaline running a bit," CJ said.
"No kidding."
What CJ didn't want to mention was that his adrenaline rush was primarily his fear that he would lose his son after only days of getting him back, that he'd wished he'd approached the door himself, had taken the bullet he thought he'd heard.
"I'm going to pull around so that I can back between the house and the barn until we can see inside."
"Sounds like a plan." CJ didn't understand how Josh could be so calm and then realized it was only he, CJ, who'd thought he heard a shot. Josh knew all along he'd only broken through the porch floor. CJ wiped at the sweat beading on his forehead and then dried his hands on his pants. Sweaty fingers made for mishandling one's gun.
After bringing the car around and then getting it lined up, Josh put it in reverse and said, "You keep an eye on the barn. I'll watch the house."
"Hold on," CJ said. "I just realized what's been bothering me."
"What's that?"
"The deer. What spooked it? It didn't just wander away. A noise aroused it from where it'd been laid down, then all of a sudden it took off like a bullet."
"Someone stepped out of the house?"
"Maybe."
"He or they watched us go by and then turn around and park down the way. We wouldn't have been able to see them if they'd gone from the house to the barn."
"Exactly," CJ said. "They could be sitting in their van right now, ready to make their escape if we should wander in to investigate."
"Then the plan still holds. We need to get a look in the barn and I'd rather do it from the car and not on foot."
CJ nodded. "Let's go."
Josh took his foot off the brake and started the car rolling back, watching the house over his left shoulder, CJ watching the barn over his right.
As they started coming abreast of the open, yawning barn door, CJ was able to make out the shape of the backend of a light-colored car, not enough for a license number or any other detail. He reached up to cover his eyes, to block out the bright of day when suddenly the backup lights came on. It took less than a second for CJ to understand what he was seeing, but another second, as the car started coming toward them, before he fully realized what it meant.
"GUN IT!" he yelled, but by the time Josh whipped his head around to take in the approaching threat, it was too late.
Josh slammed his foot down on the gas pedal in time to save a direct hit against the passenger door. Instead, the car slammed into the area from the door hinge, forward. Josh's car spun on its axis better than 90 degrees, coming to rest perpendicular to the car that struck them. In the time it took CJ to release his seatbelt, Josh was already out of the car. CJ tried to open his door but nothing happened. He twisted in his seat in time to see a black van exiting the barn, Josh in a shooting stance, his gun trained on the windshield of the van. CJ turned to make another try at the door in time to see the driver of the car coming around the front of his vehicle, gun in his hand, aiming.
"Josh!" CJ screamed. "On your left!"
CJ dove across the console and rolled out the driver's door. When he came up on one knee he had the Glock in hand. The van had turned right, ready to make a run for it, but had stopped. Josh was no longer trained on the van, but had turned to face the driver of the car. There came two shots, a split second apart, and Josh spun and fell. CJ jumped to his feet in time to see the guy run around the front of the van. He fired once, too late, then leveled the Glock on the driver's side window. He fired just as the wheels started grabbing dirt. The bullet struck the frame just back of the driver's left shoulder. He ran toward Josh, knelt, then emptied the Glock on the retreating van, his only intent by this time to strike a tire.
The van sideswiped the gate, fishtailed onto the road and kept on going.
The gun holstered, CJ put his hand on Josh, looking for where he'd been shot, finding only a dent in the armor, dead center of the chest. Josh stirred and opened his eyes.
"You alright?" Josh asked.
"Am I alright? I'm not the one who took a bullet. I heard two shots. You hit anyplace else?"
Josh struggled to sit up. "No. The other shot was mine. Missed him altogether." He felt the indentation in the armor. "Damn, that hurt. Like being punched with a hammer, a big hammer. Knocked the damn air out of me. The guy could have just walked up and put one in my head."
Josh pulled out his cell phone. When he stared at it one second too long, CJ snatched it from him and dialed 911. When the 911 operator answered, CJ said, "Clinton Washburn here with FBI Special Agent Josh Washburn. Shots have been exchanged with perps in the serial murder case." Josh rattled off the address and CJ repeated it. "Black van, same New York plate as in the all points, last seen fleeing in the direction of the interstate." CJ looked at Josh, noted the pain he was still experiencing. "Agent needs medical attention."
"No!" Josh said, but CJ had rung off.
"What's Stratton's number?"
"Hold eight."
CJ did and Josh snatched it from him. As Josh gave his report, CJ stood and walked around the two cars, not so much to inspect the damage, but to allow his tensed muscles to relax, his fears to subside. Twice in less than ten minutes he'd thought he'd lost his son. He didn't know if he could survive a third.
Chapter 59
Detective Payne walked out of the barn, squinted at the bright light and put his sunglasses on. He spoke to a uniformed officer and then walked over to where CJ and Josh were leaning against the back of the EMS vehicle.
"No doubt who we're dealing with now," Dan said. "You say you didn't actually see Tommy Clark?"
Josh shook his head. "Could see a silhouette through the windshield, but couldn't make out features. The driver of the car and the one who shot me was Kevin for sure. And that is Tommy's car."
Dan pointed to the Glock holstered on CJ's hip. "You emptied an entire clip
, you say. Did you hit anything besides maybe some neighbors?"
CJ looked out across the desert, seeing nothing but cactus and desert shrubs in the line of fire. "I'm sure the van's carrying a few more ounces of lead." When Dan didn't make further comment, CJ said, "Any sightings of them yet?"
"They could have gone anywhere, could have hit the interstate and be halfway to New Mexico by now."
"Or all the way into Mexico, for that matter," CJ said.
"Border patrol has been alerted. Doubt very much they could make it across or be stupid enough to go where there might be border patrol checkpoints. I think Alexandria Rothbower was their departing shot. The first report I got from Tommy's apartment is that it appeared he had been packing, preparing to travel."
"Have you been through the house here yet?" Josh said.
"No. Heading in there now. Want to join me?"
The two Washburns pushed away from the EMS vehicle together and fell in next to Detective Payne as he headed up the front steps. The screen and front door were open, uniformed officers having already walked through to ensure it was clear.
"I'd say they had an escape plan and they're now carrying it out," CJ said as he passed into the darkened interior.
Dan made no response as he slowly walked through the small living room consisting of a broken down sofa and a recliner chair stuck in the recline position. There was no TV, only a bookshelf stuffed with yellowed and tattered paperback books. A coffee table looked like something cowboys had used for a footrest, with their spurs on. An unmatched pair of lamps stood on end tables, one without a lampshade.
Dan continued into the kitchen while CJ remained where he was, staring down at a notepad on the coffee table, the top sheet blank. It wasn't completely blank, however. There was an indent were someone had written on the previous sheet and had pressed so hard they'd scored a crease in the next sheet. Although he couldn't read it all, a set of numbers seemed to rise to the surface, maybe a trick of light and shadow. The numbers were 6892.
He picked it up and studied it, a tingle at the back of his neck telling him it was important, but he couldn't put his finger on why. He tried to make out what was after it, but the indentation was too slight. He looked around then joined Josh and Dan in the kitchen. He started opening drawers.
"What are you doing, CJ?" Dan said. "You know better than to touch anything."
"I'm looking for a pencil. Here!" From the silverware drawer where most of the utensils were anything but silver, he found a pencil, the lead broken away. He looked in the drawer again and found a paring knife with which he started sharpening the pencil. Josh and Dan just stared at him, baffled by what he was doing.
When he had enough lead exposed, he dropped the knife back into the drawer and started applying the soft lead to the notepad until the indentations began appearing. When he was done, he turned it so that Dan could see it. It read 6892 W Cactus Wren Rd.
"What's that?" CJ said, already knowing the answer.
"Holy crap! That's the safe house."
"Yeah, and every damn cop or agent on this case is either here or on the way here. No one's with Stella and Trish except Lisa Bowers?"
"They wouldn't," Dan said, but was already out the door, heading for his car, Josh and CJ right with him.
"They're crazy; they certainly would," CJ said. "One officer against these two guys, and she doesn't even know they're coming. Damn it to fuck! They could park out in the desert and walk in from the back. They're probably there right now."
As they pulled out onto the road, dash lights flashing, blue grill lights strobing, Dan handed CJ his cell phone and said, "Call them."
"I' m already on it," Josh said from the backseat. I'm not getting an answer from Trish.
Dan said into his mike, "Dispatch, David 218. This is a Code 2, this is a Code 2. Require emergency dispatch of units to the vicinity of 6892 West Cactus Wren Road, possible location of the Clark brothers. I repeat, emergency dispatch of units to the vicinity of West Cactus Wren Road and all points surrounding."
"Roger David 218."
"What about Officer Bowers?" CJ asked, staring at the phone, hardly able to breathe. "Do you have her number?"
"In the directory under Bowers."
"Where?" CJ poked at a couple of buttons. "I don't see...."
Josh snapped the phone out of his hand from the back seat, punched something, then something else and then held the phone to his ear.
"No answer," he said after nearly a half minute. By this time Dan was entering the interstate, cars moving to the side out of his way, some slower than others. He ignited his siren when one didn't appear to be paying attention at all, then left it on as his car roared on past.
Josh handed the phone back to his dad, who tried calling Stella. When he got no answer, he said, "Anyone know Joe's number?"
No one did.
Josh called Stratton, explained what they'd found. Stratton had been with the chief when Dan's call to Dispatch came through the chief's scanner, and had every special agent available in route.
"Can't you go any faster than this?" CJ demanded.
"I'm already punching through 80. Public safety, remember? And if we get tied up in an accident we won't get there at all."
They came upon a truck that said, "Fine Home Furniture" in large script on the back door. Dan looked right, saw no opportunity, then hit the left shoulder and blew on past. When they came off the Ina Road exit, they had two city police patrol cars with them. A quarter mile yet to the light at Ina, another west-bound patrol car came to a stop in the middle of the intersection, stopping traffic in all directions.
CJ held on as Dan turned hard onto Ina. Traffic was scrambling to get out of the way as they roared west, three patrol units behind them.
Josh's cell phone went off. "Washburn," he said. He listened, then said, "Roger that. We're a minute out." He closed the phone. "Police chopper is getting ready to lift off; Stratton on board. We'll have eyes in the sky in fifteen minutes."
"Officer down!" suddenly came across the radio. "We have an officer down at 6892 Cactus Wren Road!"
Dan picked up his mike. "This is David 218. Is that Officer Bowers? Is there anyone else present."
"David 218. Confirmation on Bowers. One civilian 10-20, a Joe Foronda. Standby 218." There was a long pause and then the officer returned. "David 218."
"Go ahead," Dan said as he slowed to take a turn.
The officer said, "Foronda states that the two women, Stella and Patricia were abducted."
CJ slammed his hand against the dash. "Shit!"
"Roger," Dan said and dropped the mike. "Damn!" He slowed again for the left turn onto Cactus Wren. Twenty seconds later he turned onto the property and came to a sliding stop next to a patrol unit. As they poured out of the car Dan started yelling orders to the units who came in behind them. "Lock down this entire area in a three mile radius; all the way out Picture Rocks Road and Twin Peaks Road and all spokes in all directions." His phone rang. "Payne," he snapped into it.
CJ and Josh didn't wait around to hear anything else. They ran through the door to find one uniformed officer on his knees next to Lisa Bowers. He was applying direct pressure to a shoulder wound.
"How bad?" CJ said.
"Lost a lot of blood. We need the wagon here now!"
"On the way," CJ said. "Stay with her." He followed after Josh who was already sitting next to Joe Foronda. Joe's head was in his hands.
"How long ago?" Josh demanded.
Joe shook his head. "It seems like it just happened, minutes ago, but I don't think... I don't know." He considered it for a few seconds. "Five minutes maybe, or maybe fifteen."
"How did they come in? Front door or back?"
"I... I don't know. They were... they were just there."
Josh seemed to lose patience with him. "You're a nurse!" He pointed at the officer attempting to arrest Lisa's bleeding. "You should be over there helping save her life. Free up the cop so he can help get these bastards and mayb
e save yours."
With that Josh stood, disgusted.
"Josh."
CJ and Josh both turned to Lisa's voice, weak, slow. Her eyes were open, very tired looking.
"They came in the back... I heard them... Not fast enough... Tommy... Kevin... Sorry."
"It's okay, officer. We shouldn't have left you alone."
"Two shots," she said. "Got off two."
"Did you hit either of them?" Josh asked.
"Don't know. Maybe. Tommy shooter." She closed her eyes.
Suddenly Joe was by her side next to the officer. "Yes," he said. "She hit the one with the gun." To the officer applying pressure he said, "I've got this. There's a first-aid kit in my car, blue Toyota, backseat. Please get it for me." When the officer rushed out, he said. "I'm sorry. I... I don't know what came over me."
When neither CJ nor Josh said anything, he added, "They went out the back. I know she hit one because he was the one who grabbed me and threw me against the wall. His right arm was useless, bleeding a lot. He hit me with his left."
"Hit you?"
"Threw me against the wall and then gut punched me, twice, knocked me to the floor. Strong as hell. From where I was I could see them leave through the kitchen. The ladies, Stella and Trish, were in handcuffs."
CJ and Josh rushed into the kitchen, noted a bloody mess around the sink, the sliding glass door out the back, open and streaked with blood. Josh went out first followed by CJ, guns raised, pointing. Across the patio they ran and out into the yard, noting a uniformed officer coming around from one side and then another from the other. Josh waved them over.
Keeping his voice low, he said, "Tommy Clark and his brother Kevin. At least one of them is armed, maybe both. They have two hostages, women, one of whom is in an ankle cast. Officer Bowers was able to shoot one of them, right arm. We believe it was Tommy. Bleeding badly." He pointed down and out toward the fence that separated the property from the desert. There were drag marks in the decorative white stone pebbles that took the place of grass. Several splashes of blood stood out against the white stones.
"They're going to be moving slow," CJ said. "No idea how far away they had to park. There are road accesses all over the surrounding desert."
Deserving of Death (CJ Washburn, PI Book 1) Page 28
