Blue Steele Box Set

by Remington Kane

  “Yes.”

  I smiled. “Then you’re all set.”

  “Right… wish me luck.”

  “Good luck.”

  Blondie got out of the car. It was her car and I was in the passenger seat, as I truly wanted to be along for the ride as just an observer. She needed to make a capture on her own.

  The bail skip watched her as she approached but didn’t seem concerned. One good thing about being a woman in this business, it makes it easier to sneak up on your targets. He probably thought that Blondie was a college kid.

  She walked right up to the man, stated who she was, and then asked him who he was. He admitted to his identity and she told him that she was placing him under arrest. When she brought the handcuffs out, he ran.

  She had left the keys in the car. I scooted over into the driver’s seat and took off after them. The guy was fast, but he had no stamina, after two blocks he was done. Blondie caught up to him as he leaned against a building, trying to catch his breath.

  I pulled up alongside the curb and called out the window.

  “Great job, Blondie.”

  She was grinning like it was Christmas morning.

  “Don’t forget to check him for weapons,” I said.

  She gave him a quick pat-down, then placed him in the back seat. I moved over into the passenger seat and off we went.

  “I got him!”

  “You sure did.”

  After she handed him over to the cops, we went back to the AAAAAAAAAA Bail Bonds Company. I spoke with Ron Tenney in his office, while Blondie filled out her paperwork.

  “The kid did good, Blue, and thanks for taking her under your wing.”

  “No problem, I like Blondie, and she’s eager to learn.”

  “I gave her a chance because of her dad, but it looks like I made the right move.”

  “Who’s her father?”

  “Oh, she’s Matt Holden’s kid, Matt was before your time. He was a great bounty hunter, but he was a mean cuss too. I actually banned him from working here, but he’s dead now, been dead for years.”

  “Why did you ban him?”

  “For one thing, he brought back a female skip on his own. The woman was a looker and she claimed that Matt raped her. There were ultimately no charges, because she later dropped it, but you know my rules. If any of my guys arrest a woman, they call for female back-up. How many times have you ridden along as an escort?”

  “Dozens, and it’s a good rule; it protects us and the skips.”

  “That’s right, plus, it’s an easy ten percent for you when you ride along.”

  “So, Blondie is a second-generation bounty hunter?”

  “You know; I think Matt’s father was also a bounty hunter in his day. That makes her third-generation.”

  I smiled. “Well then, the kid’s a natural.”

  I took Blondie out to dinner to celebrate.

  She was so excited. I wanted her to keep her momentum going and so I asked her to team up with me.

  “Who’s the skip?”

  “An arsonist, when we catch him we’ll make three grand each.”

  “Is he dangerous?”

  “He can be, he assaulted one of his cellmates in lockup but wasn’t charged.”

  “Do you have any leads?”

  “Yeah, an ex-wife who remarried and moved to Denton. I was planning on going out there early to talk to her, but then I learned that she’s away and won’t be back in the state until Sunday night. We’ll wait and go see her first thing Monday morning.”

  “Thanks, Blue, I know you don’t need me along to catch this guy, and I appreciate the offer. I still have a lot to learn.”

  “You’ll get there, and Ron told me about your daddy, it sounds like bounty hunting is in your blood.”

  Blondie stared at me in silence for a moment, as the smile left her face.

  “I don’t like to talk about my father, okay?”

  “Sure, Blondie, and hey, how about dessert?”

  After dinner, Blondie and I made plans to meet early Monday morning at the office, and then I went home. My apartment has a parking lot behind the building. I drove to the back, at the last parking place, then quickly got out of the truck.

  Someone had been following me. I had seen the same green pickup truck ever since I drove away from the restaurant; it had followed me home. I wondered if it was the serial killer. He hadn’t struck in two days, but I and every other bounty hunter were on edge. I was paying extra attention these days to my surroundings, it was how I spotted the truck.

  As I was walking toward the door, the pickup came into the driveway fast. The driver’s side window was down, and I saw a gun barrel sticking out.

  As I raised my weapon, I saw another truck whip in behind the first one, it was big and black and that was all I could register about it before I locked my gaze back on the first truck. I filed the second truck away and took aim at truck number one. We fired an instant apart and both of our shots missed. My round did activate his airbag; he lost control of the truck and ran head-on into a tree near the back fence.

  When I looked for the other truck, I saw that it had U-turned and was heading out of the parking lot.

  I ran to the first truck, ripped open the door, and saw a familiar face. It was a man named Reich. He was a Neo-Nazi. I had captured a friend of his just a short time ago. Reich had tried to stop me and got shot for his trouble. He was still wearing a knee brace for the injury. I wasn’t the one who shot him, though, that pleasure went to a friend of mine named White, who was along for the ride.

  “Why were you trying to kill me, Reich?”

  “I ain’t saying shit. All I want is a lawyer.”

  I secured Reich, then called the cops. When they showed, Diego was with them.

  “Blue, are you all right? I was with the uniforms when they got the call.”

  “I’m good, Diego. Reich there tried to hinder an arrest a short time ago and got that messed up knee for his trouble. Tonight, he was looking for revenge.”

  “Maybe, or maybe you just caught the serial killer.”

  “Reich?”

  “I don’t know, the serial killer is using a 9.mm and he had one on him, but we’ll interview him and see what ballistics has to say. In the meantime, stay aware.”

  “When you talk to him, ask him about a partner. There was a second truck here, but it might have been nothing, they bugged out as soon as they saw what happened.”

  “All right, and again, you’re sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m good, and thanks for checking up on me.”

  “Hell, Blue, you’re like my little sister. You know I’ll always look out for you, now take care.”

  “You too, Diego.”

  The next day was a Saturday. After sleeping late, I went down to the station to see if anything new had developed concerning Reich. It had, the ballistics had come back, and his gun wasn’t a match for the serial killer’s.

  Reich also said that he didn’t know anything about another truck. It was beginning to look as if his attack on me was just one of opportunity. The cops believed that he had spotted me at the restaurant and decided to get some payback for the knee. Bad move, he was now facing some serious prison time.

  I met Gary for lunch, and afterward, we were going to a movie.

  “Janelle stopped by my apartment last night.”

  “And?”

  “And nothing, she just wanted to know when the garbage days were. I told her, she thanked me, and then left.”

  “Oh please, she just wanted to see you. She was probably hoping that you’d invite her inside. What was she wearing?”

  “What?”

  “I said what was she wearing?”

  He shrugged. “A nightgown, but she had a robe over it.”

  “A nightgown, she just happened to be wearing a nightgown?”

  “Well, it was late.”

  “Gary, I know you’re not dumb; you must see what she’s doing.”

  “I do, and d
on’t worry. She and I are over. It’s why I told you about it, so you would see that I’m not trying to hide anything from you.”

  “I like that, keep me informed. If she tries something like that again, I think I’ll set her straight.”

  “Speaking of not hiding anything, when were you going to tell me that someone tried to kill you last night?”

  “I wasn’t keeping it a secret, exactly, but I knew how it would upset you, and so… I wasn’t going to say anything.”

  “I went to see a client at the jail this morning and heard about it that way. I should have heard about it from you. Blue, honey, please find something else to do. Bounty hunting is too dangerous.”

  “It’s what I like to do, Gary, and I’m good at it. I can also take care of myself, so can we please drop the subject?”

  “For now, but I’m not through. Someday I’ll get you to see the light.”

  We went to the movies, but I couldn’t enjoy the film. If I wasn’t thinking about how much Gary hated my job, then I was thinking of Janelle. Why now? Why chase Gary again after so many years? And Gary had to be flattered by the attention, but was he tempted? He said no, but the woman was good looking, I’ll give her that. Also, he wasn’t the one who ended the relationship, and second chances can be tempting.

  I finally managed to put Janelle out of my mind and spent the rest of the night having a good time with Gary.

  In the morning, I was getting dressed to go jogging with Becca when the story came on the news. Marcus Webb was dead, the victim of a hit and run. That made him the second person to die that had been with me at the refinery.

  I don’t always carry a weapon while I’m jogging, but usually just keep it in the truck. I grabbed my ankle holster, stuffed my gun inside and strapped it on. If the killer came, I would be ready.

  As I was walking past the window, I spotted it. It was the second pickup from the other night. The black one, it was back.

  Chapter 3

  I left my apartment building by a rear exit, then slipped down the alley on the left side of the building. I could see the truck well now, but not the driver, because the windows were tinted.

  The truck was a Chevy Silverado with a crew cab. I looked for a rear license plate and found none, then I held my gun at my side and walked toward the truck.

  I was spotted when I was twenty feet away, and the truck sped off and was gone.

  I thought about giving chase, but by the time I got back to my own truck, he would be long gone.

  When I returned upstairs, I called Diego to see if it had been the serial killer who killed Marcus Webb.

  “No, Blue, it seems to be just a tragic hit and run. The reporter who’s been getting the notes from the serial killer didn’t receive one this time, also it was a car that killed Webb, not a gun.”

  “It’s still tragic. Marcus was a friend; he also left behind a wife and two little girls.”

  “I know, but listen, about that serial killer, we now know that the notes were written by a woman. Handwriting analysis says it’s most likely a young female.”

  “A woman, hmm, there aren’t too many female serial killers, are there?”

  “Their numbers have been growing, but just keep it in mind.”

  “I will, and take care.”

  “Why are you wearing your gun? Are you nervous about that serial killer?” Becca said.

  “The truth, yes, and so I’m taking an extra precaution.”

  “Good, you know I worry about you.”

  “I do know that, and I appreciate it.”

  We were back in the coffee shop after a hard run. We didn’t run far, only four miles, but neither one of us had felt like doing it at all and that always makes for a crappy run. It also didn’t help that the humidity was going crazy. We were both drenched in sweat and smelly, but we had coffee and cinnamon raisin bagels, so we were happy.

  “Has Gary’s ex tried anything else?”

  “No, at least nothing he’s told me about.”

  “If she moved back here just to see him again, well, she must be pretty serious.”

  I said nothing, and Becca took my hand.

  “Hey, are you worried?”

  I nodded. I hadn’t admitted it to myself until right then, but yeah, I was worried. Gary was a good guy, but anyone could be weak when consistently tempted.

  “If Gary is ever foolish enough to cheat on you, well then, good riddance.”

  “That’s easy to say, but I really love him, Becca.”

  “I know honey, but don’t worry; Gary seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders, as my mama says.”

  I smiled. “Yes he does, and you’re right, I shouldn’t worry. Now, why don’t we get a cheesecake to go?”

  I spent the rest of the day at Becca’s. We were so close that her kids were basically my nieces and nephews, and I always had fun hanging out with them.

  The next morning, I showed up at the office ten minutes early and found that Blondie had still beaten me there. She was eager to go. That was good, that enthusiasm might carry her through the day. I didn’t want to dampen her spirits, but this arsonist we were hunting might prove to be an elusive target.

  The man had no close family, no wife, and no children. He had been making his living selling at online auction sites the last few years, and so he didn’t even have co-workers that might offer a lead.

  However, he did have an ex-wife, and the divorce had been bitter. I was going to talk to her in the hope that she might be able to tell me where he would run to. I knew he was originally from Upstate New York, but if he ran there, the chase was over. He was only worth six grand and traveling to New York would eat up a chunk of that.

  I needed to find him, and find him fast, before he left the state.

  We arrived in Denton early, a little too early to go calling on someone you wanted help from, and so I suggested that we stop at a diner and eat.

  “I heard about what happened to Marcus, Blue. Have they caught the driver of the hit and run car yet?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “I thought it was the serial killer, but they’re saying that there was no note.”

  “You picked some time to become a bounty hunter. I hope you’re watching your back these days.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m like paranoid. I check over my shoulder all the time now.”

  I looked at her and smiled. I had recently turned twenty-nine, not exactly granny material, but at twenty-one, Blondie seemed so much younger than me, and she was so cute that I knew she must get hit on constantly.

  “So, Blondie, what’s your boyfriend like?”

  “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes really, but I do have my eye on someone.”

  “Well, that’s good, it sucks to be alone.”

  “Your boyfriend’s name is Gary, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is it serious?”

  “Yes, but now his ex looks like she wants him back, so I’ll be setting her straight soon.”

  “She’s trying to break you two up?”

  “I think so, but I trust him, and like I said, I’ll be setting her straight.”

  “Straight?”

  “Yes.”

  “Funny word, isn’t it?”

  I stared at her for a moment, not getting her meaning, but then the waitress dropped the check off and I forgot all about it.

  The name of the arsonist’s ex-wife was Teresa Breton.

  I had fed her address into my GPS before we left, and after we ate at the diner we drove to her house. I smelled the smoke before I saw the flames.

  Teresa Breton’s house was on fire.

  It was the third house on the left of a wide street and standing across from it and watching the flames was the arsonist, her ex-husband, Rob Kiley. Kiley was looking at the flames the way most men looked at Blondie. His attraction to fire was somehow sexual. His interest in the flames was so total that he never saw me until I hollered at
him to get on the ground.

  Kiley took his gaze away from the fire and stared at my gun.

  “What the hell, lady?”

  I tossed Blondie my handcuffs.

  “Cuff him.”

  Once she had his wrists bound behind his back, I headed toward the house. Someone inside was screaming and it sounded like a child.

  “If he moves, shoot him. And call the fire department!”

  “Be careful, Blue!”

  The fire had been set on the side of the house, where the garbage cans were kept. I was able to climb onto the porch, but when I tried the front door, it was locked. I was just about to blast the lock apart when the door opened and a woman with a baby in her arms came running out. Meanwhile, I could still hear someone screaming for help inside.

  The woman looked at me with relief. She was the one we’d come to talk to, Teresa Breton.

  “Oh, thank God, here, please take care of my baby; I have to go back for my step-kids.”

  She thrust the baby in my arms and rushed back inside. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Blondie.

  “Give me the baby,” she said.

  I looked past her and didn’t see Kiley.

  “Where’s Kiley?”

  “I used my cuffs and secured his wrists to the rings in your truck. He’s not going anywhere, and the fire department is coming.”

  “Good girl,” I said, as I handed her the baby, who was crying. He had begun wailing the moment his mother let him go.

  I ran into the house to find Teresa Breton and the kids. It was like running inside an oven. I immediately felt my breathing get ragged, while trying to see anything above waist level was useless because of the smoke.

  I found them. They were on the stairs and they were all in distress. Along with Teresa Breton were two children, a girl of five and a boy of seven. I took the girl from Teresa’s arms, gripped the little boy’s hand, then yelled for her to stay low and follow me.

  We made it outside, after what seemed like forever, and all four of us collapsed on the grass. By now, half the neighborhood had been awakened, and people crowded around us.