The Men I Sent Forward (Baer Creighton Book 6)

by Clayton Lindemuth

  “I wish I could have known him.”

  Have to explore that later, once we get through with the quantum… enlightenment.

  “The other thing about the eternal self is that sometimes it breaks through into our conscious self to inform us, or console us, or even help us see the bigger picture. You see, the physical you is an animal. Your consciousness resides in the body of an animal.”

  “That’s the truth.”

  “I remember a time when I was very young, barely conscious as I think of it now. I remember listening to a majestic song and being overwhelmed by feelings and ideas that I’d never had before, with words in English but so foreign to my way of thinking they might as well have been in another language.”

  “What song?”

  “Fanfare for the Common Man. I remember thinking about my father. I was twenty something at the time. I remember thinking about how hard my father worked so I could have a safe place to sleep at night. How he worked overtime at a job he hated because his obligation to his wife — my mother — and me and my sisters was so much more to him than satisfying his own wants. The world is full of men like that. And women. And here’s this song with soaring brass and booming drums celebrating all those people. I was overwhelmed and I sobbed.”

  “Uh.”

  “You don’t see the whole picture, but it is this: all of that emotion and understanding came from a different me. An eternal me that lives in the nonlocal, that is steeped in love. She was introducing herself that day, and she has returned to teach me different lessons over and over throughout my life.”

  Mags study my face. I got to say somethin’ intelligent.

  “Uh… What she teach?”

  “That all of life is not suffering and all of it is not useless. Sometimes the eternal self wants us to be aware that there is value and worth and reason somewhere, even if we don't see it. Reality is bigger and better than we can see or understand. Magnificent things are real and our true reality on the other side is what we can only think of on this side as magical.”

  “Like good sex. What? Don’t look like that. I mean it.”

  Mags close her mouth while it fill up with air. Release it through a flat frown. “I wonder about you. I don’t know what I’m thinking sometimes.”

  “Ain’t a good poke just like you talk about?”

  “You’re serious. Not being funny?”

  “I come fifteen hours to say hello.”

  “Okay, well then, yes.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Hands is cuffed at the back and Cinder put a cut on my brow next the bat circle where Frank Lloyd punch-drilled for oil. Caught a good study in the window reflection and I ain’t been so cut and bruised since Larry and me was sixes and sevens. Got my jacket buttoned wrong and shirt pulled out. Cinder try to put mud on my elbow — on my new suit — and I said you know next Tuesday? I’ll kick your ass to the next in after and Cinder relent, put the mud on my brow instead.

  In the elevator I say, “You think you’re gonna sweet talk this hardened lawman into giving up the biggest prize since Ted Bundy escaped the Glenwood Springs prison?”

  “That true?”

  “I’m sayin’ it.”

  “No, about Bundy. He was here?”

  “Well that nugget come from a gas station lady and most of them’s about as no-bullshit as I ever see.”

  “Interesting.”

  “That’s it? Nothin’ on what I said on your plan bein’ dumb as — you know I was gonna say dumb as a rock but I better ask Mags if rocks is dumb as they seem.”

  “Thought you said she was dead.”

  “She’s dead as Elvis. Dead as Jim, Jimi and Janis. And you still ain’t answered how you intend to run this, since my plan ain’t good enough. Oh, and Mama Cass, too.”

  “Baer, you’re in cuffs. That’s the plan.”

  Elevator dings. Doors close.

  Cinder say, “Listen. Confidence comes from your ability to project the image you want your enemy to see. When you go into a tactical situation, no one has complete information. Every man’s trying to accomplish his mission without missteps, but he never has enough trustworthy information. Today I lack information. So does my adversary. So I’ll provide some noises that’ll sound like facts. I’ll add some intimidation to hurry a bad decision, and if the shit hits the fan, I’ll try to keep in mind that God favors the bold.”

  Door dings and opens.

  “Or we could just shoot some people,” says I.

  Cinder hold my arm and stop my exit. Put his boot in the door.

  “It doesn’t need to come to that.”

  “Well they got a suspicious copper up there when I come by the other day. Be ready for that.”

  “You talked to him? He saw you?”

  “Yeah. That spoil your plan?”

  “No, it means I caught you prowling around the hospital planning Tat and Corazon’s escape. Which is why the Department of Justice decided to move them immediately. This works nicely.”

  “We’re ten steps from Go! and you just figured out the plan. Remarkable.”

  Cinder pull back his boot from the door and lead me out the elevator. Next stop is the police, and Tat.

  I bump Cinder as he walk too slow. He got the shoulders back and chest out. Brief case in one hand and on the other wrist, a chain from his to mine. Cinder wear the glasses that go dark outside and since we was just outside they’s still dark.

  Me in handcuffs led right to the law…

  This is stupid.

  Cold sweat roll from behint the right ear. Handcuffs chafin’. If I was ever cuffed like this for real I’d be in a fight to keep my innner freeman from mountin’ a last ditch burn-the-camp effort to loose myself quick. And if they got me inside a jail with cuffs like this behind the back, and each step lead me deeper to a cement room I’d never leave for good and me livin’ accordin’ to other people’s rules, state rules, prison rules, so I got no say over where I sleep or shit, nor what I eat or drink, and no say in comin’ or goin’ ’cause they ain’t no comin’ or goin’, just sittin’ and rottin’, I might lay on the tile and die.

  We come ’round the corner at Tat’s hospital room and Cinder shove me agin the wall.

  Tat’s guard jerk himself upright in the chair.

  Cinder say, “I’m Deputy US Marshall Tinson George and you’ll address me as Deputy or Deputy George. Nurse, how long do you need to finish your task?”

  She don’t look up while she fiddles with a needle in Tat’s arm.

  “I’m done.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Nurse Priscilla.”

  “Your last name.”

  “Bond.”

  “Nurse Priscilla Bond, please wait outside the room. I’ll need you in three minutes.”

  She turn her head and throw a dirty look at Cinder but when she see his full form — tall and got that look the women dig, wide shoulders, shiny shoes and badge, looks like he could lift a house with one hand and rescue a broke-wing bird with the other — she wilts a smidgen and says, “Yes, sir.”

  Past her I watch Tat.

  I only seen Tat make her private intimate face once in the daylight and she make the same face now, seein’ me and Nat come to save her. Face says she wanna yell and buck but got to keep the voice low so we don’t knock the Mustang off its jack stands and wake Corazon at the other side the garage. Seein’ Nat and me dressed like law and disorder get her charged up. Her eyes sparkle like she saw magic but she keep the joy tamped under the same scowl she wore when Nat and me first come around the corner and into the room.

  Cinder look at the cop in the chair and I think if I was that cop, if I had a problem or anticipate I was gonna do somethin’ in response to the evolving situation, I wouldn’t keep my ass glued in the seat. I’d get light on the heels.

  Cop look at Cinder. “Uh. Was I supposed to do something?”

  “Your command group received the order from Justice but if you’re just learning of the transfer now
, your superiors didn’t alert you. When the process works like it’s supposed to, your side has its CYA documents ready to go.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Officer — ?”

  “Dugan.”

  “This happens often enough it’s not a concern. I brought Department of Justice paperwork… we’re the ones relieving you of custody… hence our forms. Any paper your side needs after the fact, we can fill those gaps by email or fax. Your people have upgraded equipment right?”

  “Uh, no. Our computers are from 2003.”

  “Newer than most. We’ll use email. For now, I’ve orders to remand the prisoner to federal custody.”

  “Uh, I don’t know… I’m not uh, exactly….”

  “You give’m hell, Dugan,” says I. Cinder got the cuffs too tight — which grows clear as I gesticulate behind my back. “This lawman come in guns blazin’, stompin’ on the little man. He stomp on me and now he stomp on you. Tell him to go fuck hisself. I did. You’re the law, these parts.”

  Dugan look from me to Cinder.

  Cinder look from Dugan to me and his eyes got a glint, I don’t know if its powerful actin’ skills or a bonafide shut your piehole sign.

  “His name’s Baer Creighton,” Cinder say. “You ever heard of it?”

  “No.”

  “You sure?”

  Eyeballs roll at the ceiling like the slow boy in math class. “Wait, did you say Creighton? Is he the cop killer from North Carolina?”

  “The one.”

  Cinder pulls the chain and I come closer the cop. Cinder unfixes the lock from his wrist and tethers me to the cop’s chair.

  “Don’t get up,” Nat says, and I wonder if the silliness’ll anchor the cop in place. “Your Jane Doe in the bed there is a co-conspirator wanted in seven states for everything from armed robbery to murder…. And I guarantee the whole time she’s been in that bed it’s been because she preferred it.”

  Dugan raise his brow but don’t ask.

  Cinder say, “She always keeps a hair pin next to her scalp. She could have dumped those cuffs within two minutes of deciding she wanted free. You’re lucky she didn’t cut your throat while you napped, Officer Dugan.”

  Dugan swallows. “Shouldn’t the forms come from you guys anyhow? I mean, you have the forms. You’re in charge, aren’t you? Right?”

  “Son, I see rapid promotion in your future.”

  “I mean you do this all the time, right?”

  “Often enough, unfortunately.” Cinder narrows his eyes and nods at Dugan like to welcome him to the inner circle of fraternal … whatever. Virgin-sacrificers. “How long you been in the game, son?”

  “Fourteen months.”

  “Ah now that’s sweet,” says I. “You count the months.”

  “Creighton — ” Cinder say. He look back at Dugan. “Well you’re doing fine work. Only thing I would draw your attention to is you are now interacting with the US Department of Justice. If you stay on the right side of only one institution in the world, you want that institution to be the United States Department of Justice.”

  “I understand.”

  “Good. What items did the prisoner have in her possession when she was brought here?”

  “Uh, whatever’s in the cabinet there. They didn’t really tell me anything — ”

  “Do you mind?”

  “Mind what?”

  “Officer Dugan, get the prisoner’s belongings out of the cabinet and place them on the edge of the bed. Prisoner Tathiana Domingo-Lopez, you will have three minutes in the bathroom to dress. I will search your person in the presence of a female nurse before and after you enter the bathroom. Do you understand?”

  Tat scowl. I believe her. I could kiss her, she’s alive and looks barely scratched up. I think of Mags and she ain’t jealous. Love is always good.

  Cinder shift around me to the door. “Nurse Bond, you are needed.”

  Cop Dugan slide off the chair and on his knees in front the cabinet. Suspect he’s on the broke dick program at work, maybe got the back strain and can’t write tickets.

  “Nurse Bond,” Cinder says, “I’m taking custody of prisoner Tathiana Domingo-Lopez. Looks like she’s in your system as Jane Doe 1. From my chain of command I understand she is capable of travel, and because facts on the ground often get ahead of facts in the office in Washington, the Attorney General asked me to make specific inquiry on this case and ascertain if the prisoner is capable of travel.”

  “Um, what?”

  “Can the prisoner travel?”

  “Shouldn’t we get her doctor for that?”

  Cinder don’t miss a beat with that grin. He lowers the voice like his next words is the ones she’s been waitin’ a man to say. “Why would we get a doctor when the nurses know more?”

  Big smile. Cinder waits.

  “Nothing’s changed with this one. It’s the other that has the problems.”

  “The other being Jane Doe 2?”

  Tat lift her head off the pillow.

  Nurse nods.

  “What is Jane Doe 2’s situation?” Cinder say.

  “Critical. Multiple skull fractures and a broken neck. Brain swelling. Collapsed lungs. I don’t know what else. There was talk of flying her to Denver early on but they decided not to. It’s… um… a miracle she’s still alive.”

  “I see. Well, I guess that’s why we only have orders to move this one.”

  Tat’s eyes is blank while tears run down her cheeks. I got to blink away the wet myself. Corazon… Ah, shit…. Corazon. I got the tightness in the chest agin.

  Cinder move to Tat’s bed and use a universal key to take the cuff off her wrist.

  “Miss Domingo-Lopez, I am about to search your person. Please exit the bed and stand facing the window.”

  Tat move like a zombie. Cinder’s got to keep the situation in hand, got to let on like he don’t give a shit. Got to stay mean. But it wasn’t five six month ago he and Tat drove to Salt Lake City to save Corazon.

  Tat swings her feet out the bed and drops ’em.

  I stand with my fingers agin the wall behind my back, rubbin’ the tips to make sure I still got the blood flow. And alla sudden I want to scratch my head somethin’ fierce. Want to find the last mechanic worked on that Mustang the girls stole. Or find the cops was there at the accident and didn’t get the girls out the damn car. Or find the doctor treated Corazon and give him some fuckin’ motivation.

  Shit, Corazon.

  “Miss Domingo-Lopez,” Cinder say, “you are being transferred to the most secure federal prison in the United States, the Supermax in Florence — ”

  “Isn’t that men only?” says the copper.

  “They’ll make an exception for this one.”

  Tat climb out the bed and her gown ain’t fastened. Seem to be a problem ’round here.

  Cinder and Dugan get a long study of Tat’s naked backside, brown like country maple and lean, but meaty at the ass and legs like to run down a antelope.

  “Hey, hey!” Says I. “Cover the lady! C’mon now!”

  Nurse Bond jumps and ties the white strings.

  “Y’all oughta be ashamed,” says I.

  Cinder steps behind Tat and runs a hand over her hips and thighs. Puts the hands up front where I can’t see.

  Tat don’t move.

  “All right. Miss Domingo-Lopez, officer Dugan has placed the clothing you wore at your arrest on the corner of the bed. Please take them to the bathroom and change. Remember, I will search you again when you come out.”

  Tat go inside and I ruminate on Corazon. Broke head, broke neck. If she wake up she maybe won’t be Corazon and she sure won’t be a pedophile slayer. I don’t know what life she’ll have, if any’s left for her. As if we get one task and if we don’t do it, they’s no back up reason to be here.

  Tat opens the bathroom door and steps out. Her face is set, like she use the bathroom time to put Corazon out her mind. No good thinkin’ on her right now anyway.

  “Please f
ace the window, like before.”

  Tat moves.

  Cinder take the handcuffs still attached to the bed frame and put ’em on Tat’s wrists instead, behind the back like me. Nat Cinder’s a lawman by the book. He search her body agin, and I shift closer the cop for a better angle. Nat’s hands ain’t but hardly touchin’ her as he pats the hips and whatnot.

  “Stay,” Cinder says to Tat. He grabs his brief case off the floor. I never seen him set it there. He take out the Department of Justice transfer form with the pink and yellow copies. Press the paper agin the wall and with a pen from the lid of his briefcase scribbles and passes the pen to Dugan.

  “I can’t see what I’m signin’,” Dugan say, jockeyin’ between Cinder’s arms and reachin’ in for his scribble.

  “Hit the line next to where I signed. The next block to the right.”

  “I see it, but this paperwork ain’t Department of Justice. What is this? An auto lease?”

  Just like Cinder put the brief case on the floor and I didn’t see it, he fetched a gun and I miss that too.

  Cinder swings the gun arm ’round like a lady softball pitcher so the pistol butt’s goin’ close to two hundred fifty mile an hour when it lands on Dugan’s crown — and Dugan drops.

  “Shit, Nat.”

  “Well he didn’t leave much of a choice, did he?”

  “Your auto lease? That was the plan?”

  “I knocked him out. That was the plan.”

  “Well what was all the jawin’ for? And me in cuffs. Take off the cuffs!”

  “Can’t do it. Now you both play it cool for two minutes, all right?”

  Cinder drags Dugan to the bathroom. Don’t close the door. He removes Dugan’s right shoe. Sock goes in his mouth. Left shoe comes off and the sock next. Cinder try to tie it around Dugan’s face to hold the other in his mouth, but it ain’t long enough on account Dugan got short legs and junior feet.

  “Hey.”

  I nod at the counter to an elastic arm jig used by nurses drawin’ blood.

  “Good.” Cinder steps out and grabs it. In the bathroom he wraps and ties Dugan’s head so he can’t make noise and next ties his legs with his belt. Nat touches his ass pocket, pauses, looks, and comes out the bathroom to Tat and removes her cuffs.