Romeo released his own laugh as he opened his arms to receive Emma. She leapt upon him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and they embraced in a passionate kiss. The people passing by them smiled, sighed, and one older woman even clapped.
They all recognized what they were seeing, the reunion of two lovers separated by fate.
As the kiss ended, Emma stared into Romeo’s eyes. “I love you. I never stopped loving you.”
“I’m the same man I was in Indonesia, Emma. Can you live with that?”
“Romeo, if you weren’t who you are, I would be dead right now. You might be the same, my love, but I’m not. I’m so sorry that I ever rejected you.”
They kissed once more. Minutes later, they were behind closed doors in Emma’s suite, their past forgotten, their future in front of them.
107
Pistols At Dawn
THE BOUDREAUX FARM, LOUISIANA, JANUARY 2019
Tanner watched Flash arrive at the dormant soybean field when dawn was still minutes away. Tanner had gotten there early, while having risen even earlier. He had completed several chores that would be needed, to deal with the aftermath of the dual.
He had informed Kendra the night before that he would be going out early but had not disclosed the reason. She had suspected it would involve danger and told him to be careful.
It was a Saturday morning. Traffic on the road leading to the farm was sparse on a weekday, before dawn on the weekend, it was virtually non-existent.
Flash had arrived on a motorcycle and was dressed like a biker once more. As he strode to meet Tanner in the middle of the field, there was a cockiness to his stride.
When they were separated by twenty feet, Flash stopped walking and smiled at Tanner.
“I was half-expecting to fall into a hole on the way over here.”
“I said there would be no tricks and I meant it.”
Flash checked his watch, then removed it from his wrist. He walked closer to Tanner, then pressed a button on the timepiece; a loud tone came from the watch.
“Can you hear that, Tanner?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Good, because that will be our signal to draw our weapons. Dawn is just a few minutes away. I’ll set the alarm on my watch to go off then. When it does, that’s when you’ll die.”
“You’ll be lucky if you get a shot off, Flash, and even then, you’d probably only wound me.”
Flash shook his head. “I’m not only fast, but I’m a deadeye. My first round will splatter your brains.” Flash placed the timepiece on the ground and walked back to a spot which positioned the watch halfway between himself and Tanner.
“While we’ve still got a few minutes, tell me something, Tanner, what happened to that blond guy you used to hang with?”
“He’s alive and well. When I see him, I’ll tell him you sent your regards.”
“You won’t be seeing anyone ever again, mon ami.”
Tanner said nothing to that and waited to hear the watch chime. While Flash moved from foot to foot and blinked often, Tanner stood still with his hands hanging loosely at his side. When he sensed the time was growing near, he readied himself by rehearsing his movements in his mind.
The watch made its chiming noise at the same instant the rising sun sent shafts of light through the nearby trees.
Flash was every bit as quick as he claimed, and indeed, he was faster than Tanner. While Flash aimed and fired, Tanner was still bringing his gun up.
A round moved in supersonic speed toward Tanner, but the slug sailed over his head, missing him by inches. As he drew his weapon, Tanner had also dived for the ground. Flash had stated his intention to shoot him in the head. Tanner had used that piece of vital information against him.
Tanner’s first shot went flying before he impacted with the ground. The bullet hit Flash in the center of his chest and staggered him. After rolling to his right to avoid a second shot finding him, Tanner released another round, which also hit Flash in the chest.
The bayou biker went down onto his back as his gun fell from his grasp. One of the bullets had punctured a lung, causing blood to seep from Flash’s mouth. As his breath grew short, Flash struggled to speak.
“I… was faster.”
“Congratulations,” Tanner said.
Flash’s condition deteriorated further, and the internal bleeding caused him to lose consciousness. Tanner claimed Flash’s gun then left him where he lay and went to get the car.
* * *
By the time he returned, Flash was moments from death. Tanner lifted him up and placed him inside the trunk of Randolph Grey’s BMW. He had stolen the car an hour before arriving at the field. While Tanner had to break into the trunk without leaving a trace, he possessed a key that allowed him to start the vehicle’s engine.
On the night Tanner had visited the construction trailer, he had also paid a visit to Grey’s car. While the transponder hadn’t been in the vehicle, it had been left unlocked. Like many newer cars, Grey’s BMW had a spare key included with its owner’s manual. A valet key it was called, and it could be used to unlock the doors and drive the car. Tanner had taken the key, on the off chance he might need it. That opportunity had presented itself.
Returning to Grey’s home in the light of a new day, Tanner coasted the car through the home’s iron gates. A device on the car’s sun visor had caused the gates to part. With the car back inside the detached four car garage, Tanner climbed over the gate and walked to where he had left his own car earlier.
He made a stop at a bakery on his way back to the farm and bought an assortment of pastries along with a fresh loaf of bread.
Before entering the farmhouse, Tanner sank Flash’s motorcycle into the nearby bayou. Later that morning an anonymous call was made that alerted the police to a homicide. The victim, one Ryan “Flash” Vox was found stuffed into the trunk of the car of his employer, a man named Randolph Grey.
Grey would deny knowing how Flash died or how he had gotten inside his trunk. When asked about the damage done to his face. Grey would call his lawyer and stop talking to the police. Tanner had agreed not to kill Grey but still wanted to bring the man some grief.
Thanks to the beating Grey had received at Flash’s hands, that grief would be great.
In the days that followed, skin particles taken from the double-D ring Flash wore would match Grey’s DNA. The New Orleans District Attorney would seek to prosecute Grey on a murder charge, citing his motive as revenge for the beating. After the murder weapon was recovered inside the trailer at Grey’s jobsite, a guilty verdict appeared a certainty.
In the end, Grey would take a plea bargain deal that would see him serve a sentence of eight years. Not once did he mention the name Tanner to anyone, although he suspected that it was Tanner who had framed him.
Grey was not a fool, prison was preferable to death.
108
A Cautionary Tale
OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, OCTOBER 2003
Despite the six decades of living she had behind her, Cody thought Mrs. Cromwell looked like a little girl at Christmastime.
She had gotten every gift she had asked for, including her most desired, the death of Garth Livingston.
They were seated inside Mrs. Cromwell’s estate again with Kay in attendance. The boys also received gifts, in the form of cash, as Mrs. Cromwell paid them. Among the many ways this contract had differed from previous ones, the boys had taken no payment up front. Mrs. Cromwell had made the offer, but Cody told her he guessed she was good for it, and that they would settle up when the contract had been fulfilled.
Looking down at the money, Cody made an observation.
“I think you’ve overpaid us.”
“Not at all, young man. You and Mr. Slade did a phenomenal job, and in far less time than I’d have imagined possible. Such excellence should be rewarded.”
Cody thanked her, then spoke to Kay. “What’s the status of Green Wrath?”
“Some of its more fervent me
mbers are holding on, but without Livingston at the helm the remaining constituents will likely move on to other organizations. Unfortunately, Green Wrath isn’t the only group of extremists out there.”
“If you ever want to do anything about the others, give us a call,” Cody said. “But no time soon, Romeo and I are returning to our vacation.”
“I’d forgotten you were here on holiday,” Kay said. “If you need someone to show you the sights, give me a call.”
“Maybe I’ll do that,” Cody said, while hoping to never make that call. He had yet to hear from May Ling and wondered if she was done with him. Before May Ling came along, he had been interested in Kay. However, the thought of entering a rebound romance with her saddened him. And Kay needed to find love again, and not be used as a way for him to sooth the loss of May Ling.
I haven’t lost her yet, Cody told himself, but that wasn’t how it felt.
* * *
In London, May Ling opened the door of her hotel room to find a familiar face looking back at her. She had never met the woman before, but she had seen her often on TV in recent days.
“You’re Emma Hart.”
Emma smiled. “Yes, and you’re May Ling?”
“I am.”
“Romeo said you were beautiful; I see he was right.”
“Thank you, but why are you here, Miss Hart?”
“Please call me Emma, and may I come in?”
“Certainly,” May Ling said. She opened the door wider and Emma entered.
After the door was shut again, the two women stared at each other.
“I’ve come here to talk with you, May Ling, because I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made.”
“And what mistake would that be?”
“I rejected Romeo after finding out who and what he really is, and because of that I wasted two years of my life. Those are two years that I could have spent with Romeo, and I regret them so much.”
“Did Xavier or Romeo send you here?”
“No, and they might both be mad at me when they find out that I’m interfering like this. However, I don’t care. I just couldn’t bear to see someone repeat my mistake. Do you love Xavier?”
May Ling nodded as she said, “I’ve never loved anyone more.”
“He’s a good man. He’s a trained assassin and a murderer, yes, but a good man nonetheless. I know I had trouble wrapping my mind around that concept, but it’s the God’s honest truth. Consider that when you decide whether you want to stay with Xavier or not.”
“You and Romeo are together again?”
Emma’s grin lit up her face. “Yes, we are, and I feel like I’ve been reborn.”
May Ling smiled too as she said, “Xavier fills me with joy every time I see him.” Her smile was replaced by a sigh. “Oh, I don’t know what to do.”
Emma reached out and took her hand. “Listen to your heart and not your head. If I had done that, I never would have broken up with Romeo.”
* * *
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
Cody had driven home from Oxfordshire after dropping Romeo off at Emma’s hotel. Romeo looked happier than Cody could ever remember seeing him since he reunited with Emma. He hated that it made his separation from May Ling seem more poignant in comparison.
All thoughts of loss left Cody’s mind as he stepped off the elevator and found May Ling waiting for him. She was seated on the love seat that was in the hallway. The late day sun streaming in through the window behind her made her look like an angel.
Cody rushed toward her with the intention of sweeping her up in his arms. He stopped halfway there and asked a question.
“What have you decided?”
May Ling reached to the side of the love seat and revealed a plastic bag full of foam containers, the type that restaurants use. She held the bag up as she smiled.
“I’ve decided we’re eating in tonight, but I’ll let you pick the movie.”
Cody broke out in laughter and closed the distance between them. Never before had it felt so good to hold someone.
109
That Family Feeling
THE BOUDREAUX FARM, LOUISIANA, JANUARY 2019
With the threat to the farm ended, Tanner prepared to take his leave of Benjamin Boudreaux’s family. Tanner had surprised Kendra the previous evening by handing her a check that would enable her to repair the barn and replace the water tower. When she tried to refuse him, Tanner wouldn’t hear of it.
“I’m not leaving you worse off than I found you.”
Tanner received a surprise as well, when Kendra told him that she was giving him Benjamin Boudreaux’s old motorcycle, nicknamed Lucille. Tanner accepted the gift only after Kendra threatened to not cash his check.
He arranged to have the Harley shipped to a restoration expert in Arizona, who would later send it on to the Parker ranch when it was restored to its full glory.
“Granddaddy would want you to have it, Tanner, and I know it holds a special meaning for you.”
As he was about to get in his car to ride to the airport, young Jake shook his hand.
“Come back someday, you’re like family now.”
“I just might do that,” Tanner said.
“No might about it,” Kendra said. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Kendra kissed him on the cheek and followed it with a hug.
“I’ll make a point of coming back someday,” Tanner said. “And maybe I’ll bring Sara along.”
Kendra grinned. “We’d love to meet her.”
Tanner stepped into his car and was soon on the road and headed for the airport, and yeah, it felt like he was leaving family behind.
110
The Element Of Surprise
LONDON, ENGLAND, OCTOBER 2003
The boys had spent the day inside their condo with Emma and May Ling but had made plans to go out on the town while double-dating.
Emma had forever endeared herself to Cody by going to bat for him with May Ling. They had been inseparable again since May Ling reconciled herself to Cody’s profession. She told him the fact that he had risked himself to save Emma’s life said a lot about what kind of man he was. Assassin or not, she would always love him.
The four of them exited the condo to find their neighbor Eddie Quinton doing the same across the hall. Eddie had his newest girlfriend with him, and Cody and Romeo couldn’t help but admire her. The woman was tall, full of curves, and had long honey-colored hair and blue eyes.
When Emma spotted her, she grinned and rushed toward her.
“Vivian, how are you? Romeo, this is my friend Vivian that I was telling you about. She saved me from that carjacker.”
Introductions were made, and Romeo thanked Vivian for helping out Emma. Eddie had yet to meet Emma, while Emma said she knew Eddie from his television appearances and had watched his interview during the recent telethon he was on.
The double-date became a triple-date and the three couples spent the night out on the town.
* * *
The next morning, Cody and May Ling lay in bed together facing each other, after having made love. As Cody was about to drift back to sleep, May Ling asked him what he thought of Vivian.
“She seemed nice enough, and she saved Emma.”
“Yes, but… I don’t know. There’s something about her that bothered me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She asked a lot of questions.”
“What sort of questions?”
“She wondered about where you and Romeo were from, what part of America. When Vivian found out Romeo was from Texas, she didn’t believe it.”
Cody laughed. “Neither did I. I thought he grew up in Malibu or the valley.”
May Ling smiled. “I guess that’s normal with the way he talks, but when I asked Vivian about herself, she changed the conversation.”
“Given her accent, she’s Australian, and from the way she talks, I’d guess she’s traveled around.”
“I still think she asked too many
questions about you, and she watched you all night. She’d better not be planning to try to steal you away from me.”
Cody moved onto his back while pulling May Ling on top of him. May Ling’s long luxuriant hair hung down and framed Cody’s face.
“Vivian is a beauty, but there’s not a woman alive who could pry me away from you. I love you, May Ling, and I always will.”
May Ling kissed him. “I love you too, more than I ever thought possible.”
The two lovers kissed again as passion arose once more.
* * *
In the London borough of Hackney, Vivian entered a coffee shop and looked around for the person she was there to meet. He was a rough-looking sort in his thirties. When Vivian saw his bruised bottom lip, it made her smile.
After sliding into a booth to sit opposite the man, Vivian ordered coffee. As the waitress went off to fetch it, Vivian passed an envelope across the table. The man snatched it up, then counted the contents as he spoke.
“You took your sweet time paying me, and will you look at my lip. Why did you have to kick me so hard?”
“I got carried away, but I have to say that you made for a good carjacker.”
“That woman with the Benz was a strange bird she was, she smiled at me like I was her favorite uncle.”
“She thought you might be her boyfriend.”
“Really? Well now, they must play some kinky games.”
* * *
After the phony carjacker left, Vivian took out her phone. It was time to report her progress.
Young Guns Box Set Page 49
