I felt like a shmuck. On the Canadian project, Anna had endured her share of pain at the hands of mobsters, and I hadn’t given her ordeal a second thought. I shook my head, “Maybe you need these more than I do.”
“Nonsense. I have a strained back muscle. I get by fine without the pills.”
“I’ll bet you strained it carving a fat turkey.”
To that sarcasm, Anna smiled. Maybe it brought back fond memories of Joey Naccarella. To escape his clutches, she’d stuck a steak knife in his back and throat, ending his career with the Abbandanza crime family.
Anna helped me to the bed. She fluffed up the bed pillows and covered me with a blanket as she helped me recline comfortably. “That should take care of you.”
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
Anna gently picked up my swollen right hand and held it. She nodded and smiled.
“What are my chances?”
“I think you’ll live through the night.”
“I wasn’t talking about my injuries.” I looked into her eyes to read her response. “I was asking about my chances with you.” I saw a tear form.
Anna’s lips, soft and pink, parted slightly into a smile. “Better than fifty-fifty I would say.” Her tone was warm and fuzzy.
“I’ll take the odds.” Anna dimmed the light over my bed and tucked me in. I was convinced then that I’d made the right decision by calling her. After having taken care of myself over the past couple days, I could see I wasn’t the best help I could get.
By early morning, Anna had called my lost personal cell phone and the resort where I’d been a resident. According to Anna, when a man answered, she asked for me by name. “I ain’t seen Mister Goe fer while now. I dunno where ‘bouts he is. I can take your name and number to give it to him if I see him.” Anna agreed and provided her name and number.
“Why all the calls?”
“I’m covering the bases. For now, you need to get your rest and trust me on this.”
Constant jockeying in and out of bed and chairs provided little relief from the pain and made a long, challenging day. I continued my routine of fluids and nourishment and let time work its magic. At mid-morning Anna made a run to the store for supplies. When she returned, she kept herself busy putting together ideas for the project.
The following morning, Anna fixed coffee. I love the beverage anytime day or night, but jaw pain and my raw throat continued to rob me of this life’s simple pleasure. Between noisy sips, I eavesdropped on Anna’s phone calls. The first item of business was to fill Max in on as many details as she could. Max insisted on speaking to me directly after hearing Anna’s version of the story. I was reluctant because I’d alienated him with my attitude.
“Hello, Max.”
“I’ve spoken with Anna, and I want to say I am sorry to hear of your status. I wish you a speedy recovery.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
“Scythian, Anna tells me you’ve come across a scenario that needs our attention.”
“Yeah. There’s a mess in Dixie that needs to be cleaned up.”
“You have my full support with this mission.”
“Thanks, Max. It might be a few days before I can get back in the saddle.”
“Saddle? Yes, splendid, take whatever time you need. Anna has agreed to stay on to assist with the operation. Scythian, with your permission, I’d like to make an additional call for support.”
I asked Anna, “Do you think we need help?”
Anna didn’t have to answer. The look on her face gave her thoughts away. The operation would go smoother if she were able to concentrate on the bad guys without playing nursemaid to me at the same time.
“Make the call, Max.”
“Too Cool is available.”
“Excellent,” I said and handed the phone back to Anna.
Max used my Knighted name, Scythian. That was a significant recognition. I was still in his good graces as a Palatini. Further, he pledged to support the operation. Every mission had a lead, and evidently Max wanted me in the lead slot. But, the icing on the cake was Too Cool. Thomas Orlando Kuhl, aka Too Cool, the Palatini crusader with a black ops background. For a team member on a project, I couldn’t have asked for anyone more qualified. I’d garnered a great deal of respect for Kuhl on our last mission in New York and Ontario. We killed a lot of thugs and put a sizable dent in the Mafia’s human trafficking ring.
My recollection of Kuhl had unintentional consequences. It brought to mind how harshly I’d judged Max and Anna during the final phase of the project and afterward when I turned my back on them. I was uncompromising, or so I was told, but I didn’t see that necessarily as a bad thing. However, I’d decided to temper my attitude and actions, especially with those I respected. I’d told myself, whenever I disagreed with a call, I would make a conscious effort to agree to disagree, state my thoughts, drop it and move on. Ha, who was I trying to fool; this would be hard to pull off.
“Walter?” Anna had finished her conversation with Max. She looked eager to crank up the action. “We should designate this room as our safe house for the project.”
“Okay.”
Anna jotted something on her notepad. “I’m going to work on details. It’s time for a hot shower.” Anna guided me to the bathroom and assisted with undressing. Hot steamy showers had worked miracles to clean the blood and fluids from my sinuses. But each time I reclined the discharge seeped in and clogged my airway, and I’d repeat the process to clear the passages again.
I’d been in the shower maybe twenty minutes when Anna returned. “Thomas called; he’s in Sheridan, Wyoming.”
“Does he have anything going on?”
Anna swung back the shower curtain, “Says he will be here within forty-eight hours.”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll make the arrangements for a room here.”
“You’re wasting your time honey. Kuhl won’t stay here.”
“Why not?”
“Because of the situation in New York, you didn’t have the opportunity, like Bludd and I did, to watch his behavior. Kuhl asked for a separate location from us. I thought it was because of his bomb making, but that wasn’t the reason, nor was it personal. His actions represent his training, a strategy geared to operational safety and security.”
“I’ll let him make his arrangements then.”
I continued mending with repetitive hot showers, ice packs, nourishment, and fluids, which paid dividends in my recuperation. Although it didn’t seem like much at first, I’d regained mobility in my joints and muscle groups. This progress allowed for the addition of stretching exercises to my routine for further gains. Most concerning was the development of an irritating high pitched ringing in my ears. It fluctuated but never went away.
I suspected one or more fractured lower ribs, but there wasn’t any reason to confirm it with X-rays. Broken or not, it had to heal on its own. Unless additional complications developed, there wasn’t anything a doctor could do to help.
The consequences of visiting a medical facility in my condition would’ve triggered a slew of questions about my injuries. Regardless of how well I lied, trained professionals would know differently. After the lawmen arrived, the real fun would start. I had to stay incognito. I had plans to take the lives of those responsible for the murdered girl. No matter what part they played from spectator or killer, I was intent on bringing a sense of justice.
Our two-day wait passed tediously. Anna busied herself with computer research and road trips to Shell Knob and Cassville to get the lay of the land. With each subsequent journey, Anna returned with new questions. The project was coming together, and we were almost ready to enter into the action phase, but I wasn’t physically ready. Not even close.
“When Thomas arrives, he will expect a briefing on what we have covered and a discussion of the next step.”
Had Anna read my mind or had she read my behavior? “What do you see as the next step?”
“Logically,
the agenda is action. By the way, did you know you’re listed as a missing person?”
“By who?”
Anna leaned close to my side and wrapped her hand around behind my neck. She leaned in and her lips brushed lightly against my ear as she whispered, “The other woman.”
I drew a smile back past my eye teeth. “Jealous?”
“No.”
Anna wanted to play. I could play too. “That’s good, because you’re the other woman.”
“Oh, are you saying that Joyce is your main squeeze now?”
“No, I was merely responding to your comment. You were referring to Joyce were you not?”
“Yes, her. She hung flyers in Shell Knob, Cassville, and God knows where else.” Anna stood and lightly patted the top of my head like I was a puppy dog.
“Publicity. I don’t like it. If those Arkansas boys see a flyer, they’re likely to tell someone. I need to stay a missing person until we get this job done.”
Anna looked at me slack-jawed and uttered, “Augh—they are the least of our concerns.”
My radar wasn’t tracking. What could be worse for the project than me being identified alive?
Anna spelled it out. “What turned the heat on in Shell Knob in the first place?”
“The discovery of the murdered girl.”
“Yes—and now a missing person. Think about it. It’s Shell Knob, not the city. The Feds are going to tear this place apart. I’m concerned with the killers taking flight because of law enforcement putting pressure on the community. If they get nervous, they will either run or hide.”
“Run or hide, they’re not going to get away.”
“All I am saying, Walter, if they run, it will present a difficult target. Where is home?”
“Are you talking about the Alaskans?”
“That’s right. That’s their home turf. We don’t want to make that trip. It’s best to settle this here. The sooner we get into action, the better.” Anna’s cell phone rang, interrupting the discussion. I sat back and thought. She was right. I needed to swallow any pride I had left and work with the Palatini operators to complete the project in Shell Knob. If I sat this round out and let the others take care of business, it wouldn’t bring about the outcome I wanted—a piece of the action. I put my thoughts behind me and decided I would do whatever was necessary to finish this project.
I overheard Anna say, “Yes,” and repeat it twice more before she disconnected the call. “Thomas is in Springfield. He will be over in the morning.”
“Great, we can implement the plan right away.”
“I will take Thomas on a tour tomorrow to orient him. We can discuss plans when we get back.”
Thomas’ arrival had a placating effect on my mood. Maybe I was capable of rising to the occasion and taking on a little action. I had frequent nosebleeds, and the discharge was problematic. The ringing in my ears continued to be bothersome but the worst pain came from the coughing which had increased in frequency. I still had a long way to go if I was going to run my AR 15 bolt. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wouldn’t take someone in my condition on a mission. Neither would they.
I woke up early anticipating Kuhl’s arrival. I hurried into the shower and was well into my routine when Kuhl arrived. He called Anna, as he’d said he would, from the motel parking lot. A moment later he was at the door. My vertigo had improved significantly, and I was on my feet when Anna let him in. As true comrades in arms, we exchanged hugs before we started. Kuhl pulled one of the tub chairs up to the coffee table and settled in. Anna had placed the small coffee pot on the dresser top for convenience. When I reached for the pot, Anna said, “I’ll get that for you.”
“Glad you called when you did,” Kuhl said. “I was packing to leave my campsite in the Bighorn. I would have been on my way to Florida for a family visit with folks I hadn’t seen in years.”
“In the Bighorn on a mission?” I asked.
“No, I was living the dream. Nature, camping and fishing, all that.”
Anna served the coffee, and then took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Thomas, are you free to accompany me today on a drive to the operational area? I’ll brief you on the players and project status.” Kuhl nodded, and the conversation turned to casual chat. I’d gotten the picture loud and clear; I wasn’t invited along for the ride.
When it had become painfully apparent that Anna and Kuhl were ready to leave, Anna whispered in my ear, “Anything I can do for you?”
There was a lot that crossed my mind, but nothing I could say out loud. Besides, the time wasn’t right. “Not right now honey, maybe sometime later.” She leaned over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. The kiss was sweet, better yet, it came with a view.
Kuhl casually saluted as he walked out the door then stepped back in as if he’d forgotten something. “We need you on the mission so get yourself together.”
I saluted him in return for the sentiment. “I’m hurrying buddy.”
A few minutes after six Anna called from the parking lot. I was excited to hear what had transpired. She came in and perched on the edge of her bed directly across from where I was on mine.
“Thomas and I went to Dixon Holler. Afterward, we drove to the resort where you resided. We ate an early lunch in Shell Knob before finishing the day with a trip to Cassville. We checked out the bar where you ran into Duke. What a dive. However, I found something of interest on the entryway bulletin board—a Vigilance Committee flyer. There were a couple of them tacked up, so I removed one.”
Anna handed me the flyer as she said, “It’s a meeting announcement to nominate a new chairperson.” Duke’s name was absent from the notification.
I had scanned the flyer before I asked, “Did you see Duke’s pickup anywhere?”
“No. It wasn’t anywhere around, or we would have spotted the paint job.”
“He’s probably holed up like a rat at his compound. Maybe that’s why the committee needs a new chairman.”
“Why would he be hiding? You said there was no known connection between him and the dead girl, and no one was aware you had gone with him in his pickup when you disappeared. He should feel he’s in the clear.”
“Three things Anna: there is a local witness who knows what happened to the murdered girl and can finger the actors. If Duke hadn’t known this before I revealed it to the Alaska crew when I implicated Duke as the snitch—he knows it now. Secondly, their crime has Fed’s written all over it. Kidnapping of a child was enough to get the FBI involved, but with murder across state lines guarantees they are already engaged. Lastly, Joyce won’t take my disappearance quietly. She’ll suspect foul play. She’ll hound the Sheriff for an answer. I’d bet she’s corralled Jay Landers with her suspicions too. In the end, Duke will have a lot of fingers pointed in his direction.”
Anna took a long moment to digest what I’d said. I surmised she was analyzing and evaluating the points I’d made. However, Anna caught me off guard with what she asked next.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye to Joyce? You could have easily called her instead of me.”
Why had I called Anna instead of Joyce? A tough question for sure, but I already knew the answer to why. Now all I had to do was figure out how to say it without sounding like a real cornball. “She didn’t have a clue about me. How could we have had a relationship? I’m going to leave it that way and use the situation as a way out.”
Anna cocked her head to one side and smirked. I hadn’t answered her question, not yet.
“But that’s not why I called you. The other night, when the fight was at its worst. My last conscious thought—was of you.” I sat up tall for a minute and gave her a confident smile, “That’s why I called you, honey. I realized how wrong I’d been and how much you meant to me.”
“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”
“Because that’s not me. I’m not a guy who can level with my feelings.”
Anna rose from her bed and slipped next to
me. She quietly reached her arms around me and squeezed tightly. Suddenly, she released her embrace and reeled back away from me. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry.”
“Not at all.” But I’d lied. It was only a little white lie, but it bothered me.
“By the way, you mentioned Jay Landers. I have a meeting with him tomorrow.”
Jokingly, I said, “Tell him hi for me,” knowing that wasn’t going to happen. I was a missing person. I intended to remain in that status. I concluded, my life in Shell Knob was over, outside of a few loose ends I wanted to bury. Soon, I’d return to my home in Oregon, settle back in, and kill some lowlife child molesters, just for kicks.
“What’s Kuhls’ agenda?”
“He plans an observation on Dixon’s house and compound.”
“Has Kuhl given any thought as to how he’s going to hide a big four-wheel drive van with four antenna’s protruding from the top? I don’t think the van will go unnoticed in Shell Knob. There are too many people watching out for their neighbors.”
“He’s comfortable with the van.”
“Okay.” I was satisfied the project was in the hands of competent operators and progressing as it should without my input. I took my last shower for the night and was in bed by ten. Anna dillydallied for over an hour while she tended to her nightly details. Finally, she said good night and turned off the lights. Peace at last, I thought. But I hadn’t counted on the effects of my earlier confession. There she was beside me. Not in her bed, but snuggled up next to me in mine. For comfort, I had laid on my back. Anna snuggled closer, careful not to press against my rib cage as she put her hand on my lower abdomen. Regardless of pain, her touch caused a rush of male appreciation and swamped my senses. A torch had been lit, turning into an inferno. I wanted her. Only a thin layer of night clothing separated our bodies. Still, she was close enough for me to feel heat radiating from her body. I moved my arm around her and touched the bare skin of her back. It was going to be a long, hard night.
In the morning, Anna prepared for her trip to Cassville. First stop on her agenda, the Sheriff’s office. But before Anna made it out the door her phone rang. A second later she disconnected the call and alerted me to Kuhl’s arrival, “He’s five minutes out.”
Blood Appeal Page 14
