by Carolina Mac
“She had a coffee and left. Said she had stuff to do in town.”
“The bitch better not be leaking my info to the cops, or she can kiss her large ass goodbye.”
Grace giggled. “She’s a little annoying, but I do like her. She has a good heart.”
“Her heart might be the best part of her, but there’s a lot more I don’t like about her. She’s as stubborn as a fuckin mule, bull-headed as I don’t know what,” Rob shook his long hair, “and you can’t tell her a damn thing. She knows it all or thinks she does. Her worst fuckin fault is the super-cop image she has of herself. Thinking she’s bulletproof is gonna get that girl killed.”
“Hope that doesn’t happen. Maybe she’s more careful than you think she is.”
“She ain’t. Hope I’m not the one standing next to her when she takes the bullet. I’m telling you, Gracie. She ain’t careful.”
DARLENE STRUTTED INTO the Dry Spring’s Sheriff’s office with two large coffees. The duty officer at the front desk recognized her from previous visits and nodded.
“Deputy Kuchma around?” she asked.
The duty officer grinned. “If I said he wasn’t here, could I have his coffee?”
“I’ll bring you one next time, Sam. I swear it.”
“Okay,” he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “He’s in the squad room. Roll call should be over in a minute.”
“Thanks, I’ll wait at his desk.”
Darlene’s coffee was half gone when the deputies poured out of the meeting to start their day. Kuchma eyed the container on his desk and smiled—more at the coffee than at her. She picked up on it. That’s what she was good at. Noticing details and reading people.
“Thanks, for that, Red. Didn’t expect to see you here so early in the morning.”
“Have information for you that couldn’t wait.”
He smiled, and he was a looker all right. The smell of his cologne swirled around her head. Something was different about him today. She could see a coldness in his eyes that put her on edge. “I heard you been staying with Ms. Chandler in the park.”
“For a couple of days. Rob’s a friend of mine.”
“You’re friends with an ex-con?”
“You meet all kinds in this profession, don’t’ you?”
He took the lid off his coffee and swished it around. “Yeah, I guess you do.” He sipped his coffee and stared at her until she shifted in her chair. “What’s this hot info you have for me? You gonna tell me you collared Sid and you have him in the back of your Jeep?”
“Almost that good.”
“Nothing would be that good. We can’t seem to find the fucker. Disappeared into thin air.”
“His bike is still chained to the tree at his trailer,” said Darlene. “Somebody must be helping him. Have you questioned all the gang members?”
Kuchma frowned and set his coffee down. “Course we have. Think we’re some hick town that don’t know how to run a murder investigation?”
Darlene shook her head. “No, I don’t think that. Just making conversation. I have no jurisdiction here and no right to any details on your case.”
“Damn right you don’t. I checked with your superior in Mineral Wells and you’re on suspension until next week.”
Darlene felt the heat rise in her neck. “You had no call to do that. Why would you check up on me?”
Kuchma tilted his head up. “I like to know who’s nosing around my turf.”
This guy was a prick. Maybe she didn’t want to impress him after all.
Darlene stood up, picked up her coffee and turned to go.
“What’s the information you had for me? Or did you just make some shit up so you could come here to hit on me? I can tell when a woman’s hot for me. Happens all the time.”
“Fuck yourself, Kuchma.”
“Don’t need to. Got more than I need. All the women in Dry Springs are waiting in line for me.”
Jesus. Let me out of here.
ROB STRUGGLED WITH his damp, soggy boots. He had to wear them to the city. He had nothing else.
Grace watched him and said, “We’ll get boots and also a pair of runners. Be better for walking around the park or in the woods.”
“Uh huh. I was wishing I had something lighter last night.”
Joey sat on the floor patting Ted’s ears. “Can Ted come, Mommy?”
“Not this time, honey. Ted has to watch the trailer while we’re gone.”
Rob picked Joey up and carried him to the truck. He buckled him into his car seat and brushed his hair back from his face. “You need a haircut, buddy.”
“No, I don’t, Daddy. My hair isn’t long as yours.”
“True enough.”
The first stop in San Antonio was the bank. Rob tried his debit card and it worked fine. He took out cash and stashed it in his damp wallet. Next, they hit the Harley store and he walked out with new boots, two pairs of jeans and three t-shirts. He bought Joey a Harley t-shirt and a cap to match his own.
“These boots feel a helluva lot better,” he said as he slid behind the wheel. “I’ll try not to get them wet.”
“Mommy said you went swimming in the river, Daddy. Was the water cold?”
Rob chuckled. “Freezing. I don’t want you going near the river, buddy, unless we’re with you.”
“I won’t, Daddy.”
Rob eyed him in the rear view. He looked so cute in his Harley ball cap. He winked at him and Joey grinned.
They finished up their shopping and stopped at the golden arches on the way home for lunch. Rob lingered over a large coffee after his meal so Joey could play with other kids in the play area for a while.
TED BARKED WHEN Darlene opened the door of the trailer. Grace had given her the extra key in case she needed it. She stroked Ted’s ears and he licked her hand. “Where is everybody?”
Ted knew but he didn’t answer.
“Oh, yeah, that dumbass Rob had to get new boots.” She giggled. “Wish I’d seen him fall in the river.”
She checked the coffee carafe on the warmer and it was half-full and cold. They’d been gone for a while. She filled a mug and nuked it. As she took the coffee out of the microwave, she made a face. “That’s gonna be strong.”
She sat at the kitchen table, checked her phone for messages and then deleted Kuchma from her contact list. “Don’t need that arrogant fucker on my phone. Never gonna talk to that sleezehole again.”
Ted growled and padded over to the door.
“What?” Darlene got to her feet, went to the window and pulled the curtain back. A pickup was pulling away from in front of Sid’s trailer.
Did somebody drop Sid off? Why would a truck be stopping there?
Ted kept up his growling and scratching on the door.
“Yeah, you don’t like that fucker, do you, Ted? He tried to hurt Grace.”
Darlene set her mug down, pulled the Glock out of her holster and checked it. Ready to go, as always. Should she check out Sid’s trailer? Probably nothing there. Why couldn’t the sheriff get a warrant to search his trailer if he was a murder suspect and he had a sheet half a mile long? Should be the first thing they did.
I don’t get it. Doesn’t add up.
She paced back and forth in the living room, glancing out the window from time to time and seeing nothing. No vehicles, no residents, no pickups on the road.
What the fuck? I’m going over there to look. If I bring Sid in myself, Kuchma will look like an asshole.
Darlene smiled and felt inspired. Nothing would make her happier after this morning’s little encounter, than to make Kuchma look like a useless fuck to his fellow officers.
“Come on, Ted. Let’s investigate.” She holstered her gun, walked out the front door of the trailer and jogged across the twenty feet of grass between the two trailers. Nothing was stirring. No breeze. The park was quiet as a tomb, baking in the hundred-degree Texas sun. You could almost hear the moisture being sucked out of the grass—turning it from green and lus
h to brown and brittle.
Gravel crunched under her boots as she crossed the narrow drive and mounted the steps to Sid’s front door.
Should she knock?
What would it matter if there was nobody inside? She tried the knob and the door wasn’t locked.
Why would it be unlocked? Unless?
She didn’t have time to figure it out. The door opened, a large hand grasped her arm and she was jerked inside before she knew what was happening.
“Get her gun,” said a big blond good-looking stud that matched Sid’s description—the one Grace had given to Kuchma. He twisted Darlene’s arm up behind her back and made her wince. She grunted and kicked at his leg with the heel of her boot. Sid laughed. “We’ll have fun with this one.” He had both her arms locked behind her now. She struggled against him, but he was strong.
The other guy, husky, with a beard and a sagging beer belly, grabbed her gun out of her holster and tossed it onto the ratty sofa. “Know what we do to red-headed girls that don’t mind their own fuckin business?” His breath smelled of smokes and booze as he leaned closer.
Darlene turned her head and before she could spit out a smart-ass answer, he punched her in the gut. His biker rings tore the flesh right through her shirt. Darlene could feel warm blood oozing and trickling down her skin.
Sid laughed as he gave her right arm a vicious twist. She screamed as the bone cracked. Sid laughed again. “Having fun yet, cop?”
How does Sid know I’m a cop?
The pain in her arm brought tears to her eyes, but she bit down on her bottom lip and said nothing.
“Knock her out and tie her up,” said Sid. “We might need to use her later.”
ROB AND GRACE arrived home from their trip to San Antonio and Darlene’s Jeep was parked in the driveway. “Hope she didn’t go blabbing everything I found out to that sack of shit, Kuchma.”
“I didn’t think he was too bad,” said Grace. “You don’t like him?”
“Don’t trust him,” said Rob. “The way his eyes dart around—he can’t look at you. I’ve seen lots of guys do that in prison and they always have something to hide. Always.”
“I guess you would recognize it better than me.” She inserted the key and turned it, but the door wasn’t locked. “Where’s Ted?”
Rob carried Joey into the house and set him down on the floor with his Harley bag. “No Ted and no Darlene. Don’t tell me that b…” He glanced at Joey, “banana brain’ is out snooping around on her own.”
Barking outside made Rob spin around. He jerked the door open and a soaking wet Ted ran into the trailer and shook. “Jeeze, Ted, did you have to do that right beside me?”
Joey laughed. “Ted went swimming, Daddy. Did he go to the river by himself?”
“Nope, I think he went with Darlene. Stay here, Grace. I better find her.”
“Do you want me to call the police?”
“Not yet. Let me have a look first.”
Rob bolted outside with Ted behind him and Ted shot across the lawn to Sid’s trailer. He scratched on the door and barked.
“Oh, fuck. Tell me Darlene didn’t break into Sid’s trailer.” Rob looked in the front window and couldn’t see a thing. The drapes were drawn. He ran around the back and there were no windows low enough for him to see in. He tried the back door—locked.
Ted ran past Rob and headed for the break in the trees where the path started. “Oh, shit. Wait until I get my trainers. I’m not wrecking another pair of boots.” He called Ted back. He whistled and waited and finally Ted returned.
Rob knocked, and Grace let him in. “Find anything?”
“Ted went to Sid’s trailer, then he went to the path. I need to change into my trainers.”
“I’ll get them,” Grace whipped the shoe box out of the bag and put the laces in as fast as she could.
“Can I come, Daddy?” asked Joey.
“I’ll take you later, okay? After your nap.”
“Do you think Sid came back and Darlene saw him?”
“I fuckin hope not,” said Rob. “Be just like her to charge over there and try to take him by herself.”
Grace blew out a breath. “I hope she didn’t do that.”
Rob rolled his eyes as he tightened the second shoe. “Yeah, me too, but I wouldn’t count on it.”
TED LED THE WAY down the path to the bridge. The dog seemed familiar with the territory. Rob’s hand went to the gun in his waistband. When they arrived at the bridge, Ted didn’t hesitate. He ran straight across the bridge, and on the other bank he turned left and disappeared into the woods.
“Holy hell, Ted, wait for me.” Rob picked up the pace and broke into a jog. “Shit, I’m out of shape.”
He heard the shot and seconds later, Ted ran towards him at top speed. “What? They shot at you?”
Okay, I need help.
Rob turned and ran all the way back to the trailer. He was out of breath and it took him a few minutes before he could tell Grace what happened. “Somebody shot at Ted.”
“No.” Grace dropped to her knees and examined the dog. “There’s blood on his left ear. I think the bullet grazed him.”
“They ain’t fooling around, Grace. They’ve got Darlene and we have to help her.”
“I’m calling the sheriff.”
“I’ll call the sheriff, you fix Ted’s ear.”
“Did Ted get a sliver, Mommy?”
“Uh huh. Come into the bathroom with me, and we’ll fix Ted up.”
“He can have one of my Superman Band-Aids.”
“That’s nice of you to share, honey.”
Rob called 911 and talked to the dispatcher.
“What is the nature of your emergency, sir?”
“My friend is missing, and a gang of bikers have her.”
“How long has she been missing, sir?”
“Since this morning.”
“That’s not a long absence, sir. Are you sure she’s been kidnapped by a gang or is that just a guess?”
“I’m sure.”
“Give me the address and I’ll send a squad car.”
“Thanks.” Rob gave the address and shook his head. “If they send Kuchma, Darlene’s as good as dead.”
TWENTY MINUTES LATER when Kuchma arrived alone, Rob knew they were fucked. He pulled the curtain back and watched out the front window as the big cop got out of the cruiser and swagger towards the trailer. “He’s alone, Grace. That means he’s on the take.”
“You can’t be sure of that. Maybe the sheriff is shorthanded.”
“Fuck shorthanded. This guy knows where Sid is and he’s being paid with meth money.”
“That’s kind of a leap, sweetheart.”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense and it makes our problem ten times worse. Grace, we need help to get Darlene back from the bikers and I don’t know one single person in this whole fuckin sweltering country who can help me.”
Kuchma knocked on the door and Rob whispered, “Don’t tell him anything.”
“Okay.” Grace disappeared into the bedroom.
Rob held a snarling Ted by the collar as he opened the door. “Morning, Deputy, we have a situation here.”
Kuchma grinned, “And what kind of a situation would that be, sir?”
“My friend Darlene is missing. As you probably noticed, her Jeep is parked in the driveway, but when Grace and I came back from San Antonio, Darlene wasn’t here.”
He ain’t taking notes, because he knows where she is.
Kuchma made himself comfortable in the velvet wing chair. Grace’s favorite. “I bet she went for a nice long nature hike, and that’s all it is. She’s be back soon with a big bouquet of daisies for y’all.”
Rob paced. “And you don’t think she might have got herself in trouble somehow?”
Kuchma stood up and took two steps towards the door. “Know what I think? I think Deputy Steele can take care of herself and this is another one of her little efforts to get my attention.”
&n
bsp; Every fiber in Rob’s body wanted to punch Kuchma in the face, but he bit it back. He inhaled once, then twice. Then choked out the four words he never thought he’d say to a cop, “Thanks for your time.”
Kuchma said, “No problem. I’m here to serve.” He sauntered back to the squad grinning.
Ted stood at the door growling after Kuchma left.
“You’re right, Ted. I hate that fucker too.” Rob fumed and paced the small living room without letup. He couldn’t see any way to get her back alone. The best odds would be about six to one. If the whole gang had her, it would be worse.
“Sit down and have a coffee, Robbie,” said Grace, “I have someone we can call. I just have to find his name and number in the notes from my last book.”
Rob stopped and watched her rummaging through a file folder of paper. “A book guy ain’t gonna help us, Gracie. We need… we need... like real cops. Not these hick-town jerks.”
Grace held up a hand. “I know who we need and I’m going to call him now.” She waved a scrap of paper and pulled out her cell phone.”
Rob sat down at the table and tried to draw a decent breath.
“Special Agent Anson Prescott, please.”
Rob screwed up his face but kept quiet and listened as Grace explained the situation to somebody—who the hell does Grace know with enough clout to help us?
She ended the call and said, “He’s coming—Anson and his partner will be here in half an hour.”
“Who is this guy?”
“An agent with the DEA who consulted on my last book. One meth lab isn’t what he usually deals with, but he’s willing to help us.”
“Fuck, Grace, you called a Fed.” He broke into an instant sweat and jumped to his feet.
One look at me and they’ll check my goddam passport.
“Can’t help it, Robbie. I don’t know anyone else.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to shout at you, Gracie. We have to have help or Darlene will be dead, if she isn’t already. We needed help… like two hours ago. Thanks for calling him.”
“Uh huh.” Grace started a fresh pot of coffee and she wasn’t smiling.
Shit, now I’ve pissed my wife off.
