by Carolina Mac
“Thanks, I might have asked that.”
“The Chief sent copies all over the state,” said Lil, “and with Mary’s story, we should have something by tomorrow.”
Grady’s Irish Pub. Austin.
FARRELL picked Quinn up at midnight when she finished her shift at Wylie Coyote.
“You don’t have to pick me up every night and drive me home, Farrell. “You have to get up in the morning and work.”
“I don’t like the idea of you walking home in the dark, and besides, I wanted to see you for a few minutes at least. The way I work, I’m not a good date guy.”
“I never dated a cop before, but I’m into it now. Especially since you shot someone in my place of employment.” She giggled. “I don’t think my heart ever beat so fast. The girls are still talking about it. They can’t believe I’m dating Dead-Eye Donovan.”
“I’m an ordinary guy. People talk and people are crazy.”
They were approaching Quinn’s corner when she said, “Can you come in for a while tonight?”
“I’m meeting somebody downtown and he’s waiting to give me some information.”
“Can I come with you? I’m not tired.”
“Umm… most of my… people… operate in a lesser area of the city.”
“You pay people for information? I saw that on TV.”
“Uh huh. Not a good idea for you to be there, Quinn.”
“Please, Farrell. I’ll buy the beer.”
He snorted. “You don’t have to bribe me with beer, and it’s not like I don’t want you with me. That ain’t the case. Okay, just this one time, but no talking. Roy is shy around girls.”
Grady’s Pub was dirty, dingy and smelled like vomit, spilled beer and yesterday’s grease. Roy sat in a booth halfway back from the door, his long silvery hair down around his shoulders, his eyes on his phone.
Farrell tugged Quinn past some iffy-looking patrons making rude sexual remarks. He pointed to the seat across from Roy. “This is Quinn, Roy. I’m giving her a ride home from work.”
Roy looked across the table and flashed Quinn his angelic smile. He said in his little girly voice, “So lovely to meet a friend of Ranger Dead-Eye. He’s my bff.”
Quinn’s face broke into a wide grin when she heard Roy speak. “I like him too.”
“He should have a wonderful woman because he’s such a good and caring person,” said Roy.
Farrell shook his head. “Come on, Roy. Enough. Do you want a drink or a burger?”
“I believe I’ll have the breakfast special. It wasn’t too bad when we had it here before.” He glanced around longingly. “I wish Chet was here to eat with us.”
Farrell waved Mike over. “A pitcher of Shiners, Mike.”
He pointed at Quinn and she said, “Coffee, please.”
“Coffee for the lady and the breakfast special for Roy. You want coffee with that, Roy?”
Roy nodded. “Thank you.”
“Where’s Kamps tonight?”
“Working,” said Roy. “I was going to wait until he was free so we could double date, but I think I heard something important and I wanted you to hear it ASAP.”
“Thanks, Roy. How much?”
“Why don’t I tell you and you can decide. We owe you so much already in US currency, not to mention we owe you our pitiful lives.”
“Give it a shot, Roy. Anything on the sniper will help me out. People are dying every day.”
Roy leaned in closer and whispered. Quinn leaned in to hear him. “My friend who owns a gun emporium told me he’s been watching who’s coming in to buy rifle ammunition—especially the people requesting 3-0-8.”
“What the hell, Roy?” Farrell threw his hands in the air and hollered. “Nobody knows the fuckin caliber. It was never released. How does he know that? Tell me right now.”
Roy backed away and looked for a second like he might cry. “You’re scaring me, and I’m telling you the truth.”
“Sorry.” Farrell lowered his voice. “How does your friend know what caliber to watch for?”
“He has an important friend who told him.”
“We’ve got a fuckin leak in forensics?”
“That ball would be in your court, Ranger Dead-Eye.”
“Damn right it would.”
Mike brought the beer and the coffees and Farrell poured himself a glass. He drank half down as he tried to be calm. “So, go ahead and tell me what your friend noticed about the people buying .308 ammo.”
“He said since it’s not hunting season nobody was buying .308 except one person. That’s what he said.”
“And who is this one person?”
“He doesn’t know his name, but he’s been in the store a few times and he can describe him if you’re interested.”
Farrell was mulling it over when Mike brought Roy’s ham and eggs and a stack of toast.
“Interesting, Roy, especially the part about the leak in our lab. That information in itself is worth a Benji. You good with that?”
“Of course,” said Roy. “You’ve always been good to me and Chet.”
Farrell wrote down the address of the gun shop and the contact name, paid the bill and escorted Quinn to the truck.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had,” she said. “Talking to your snitch. And he is so adorable.”
“Roy the Toy is a male prostitute and he doesn’t take care of himself. He doesn’t eat enough, and I worry about him.”
Quinn giggled. “Do they call him Roy the Toy?”
“Yep. Everybody on the street does.”
Farrell was driving Quinn home when Blaine called. “Where are you?”
“Downtown, why?”
DPS says there’s gangs of bikers on every fuckin bridge, just sitting there waiting.
“Oh, fuck that.”
“Bad news?” asked Quinn as Farrell pulled into her driveway. He shut off the engine and blew out a long breath before he spoke.
“Yeah, it’s bad, but there’s nothing I can do about it at this moment.”
“You turned off the truck. Does that mean you’re coming in?”
“Yep. That’s what it means.”
CHAPTER NINE
Tuesday, October 2nd.
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE REFILLED his coffee and sat down at the head of the table. Several eight by ten sketches of the sniper were scattered around, and all the boys were looking at the kid’s picture and commenting.
“How did we get his picture?” asked Luke.
“Misty,” said Blaine. “Mary ran the picture in the paper, and we should get hundreds of calls today. Uniforms are going to help us out checking the calls, but Farrell has another lead that he’s following up on with Carlos.”
“Besides getting the lead from one of my people,” said Farrell, “I found out that there’s a leak at headquarters. This guy I’m going to see this morning knew the caliber of ammo the guy is using, and that information was never made public.”
“I have to talk to the Chief about the problem,” said Blaine. “He has to be made aware immediately.”
“Are we still on the Carpenter brothers?” asked Fletcher.
“Yep,” said Blaine. “Jack and Rick were on them overnight and they’re waiting for y’all to relieve them. As soon as the brothers leave the house, I want their residence tagged. You’ve got their ride tagged already?”
“Sure do, boss.”
“They are connected to Mrs. Kryssa absolutely for certain,” said Blaine. “Tyler heard her talking on the phone yesterday and she said the word monitor. She got the call right after the boys left the courthouse.”
“Fantastic,” said Luke. “Our network is paying off.”
“Lil is close to finding the records we need in DMV for the hit and run on the witness, and as soon as we have that link, we can take it to Leighton and arrest those boys again.”
“How’s the boss feeling after getting cattle stomped?” asked Carlos.
“He’s
a lot better than Marnie, and he’s ready to do interrogations if we bring suspects in today,” said Blaine. “Let’s go get ‘em.”
After the crew left, Casey came into the kitchen with a textbook in his hand. “I was hoping you could help me study for a test I have this afternoon.”
“Wish I could, buddy, but Misty will have to take over for me. I have an appointment with the Chief.”
Misty floated across the kitchen and hugged Casey. “I’ll do it, darlin. I can see you getting ninety or better.”
“Is that like an ‘A’?”
“Just the same,” said Blaine. “Maybe A-plus.”
Arlin Range and Repair. North Austin.
FARRELL and Carlos arrived at nine and the owner was opening up the shop. The store was large—a big white frame building sitting on a big chunk of property with room for a fenced range at the back. One camo Jeep in the parking area probably belonged to Mr. Arlin.
Farrell walked through racks of outdoor gear to the front counter and laid his creds down. “Mr. Arlin, I was told you might have some insight into the sniper we’re searching for.”
“Are you the friend Roy told me about?”
“Yes, I talked to Roy last night and I’m interested in who told you about the caliber we’re looking for.”
“A friend told me. It just came up in conversation and it slipped out. No harm was meant.”
“Would you like to give me a name?”
“No sir. I cannot do that, but I can give you a description of the last person to buy a box of the ammo y’all are looking for.”
“Describe him to Deputy Rios, sir. He’s much better on details than I am.”
Back in the truck, Farrell said, “I didn’t want to show him the picture in case he just said, yeah that’s him.”
“His description was nothing like Misty’s picture. A dark-haired guy in his early forties, dark scruff on his face and an eagle tat on his arm.”
“Okay, that got us nowhere,” said Farrell, “but we know about the leak.”
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
MARNIE SAT beside Jesse in the dining room for breakfast for the first time since she’d been injured. Bob was the only one on hand for breakfast since Brian had taken Jesse’s advice and moved into a house in Smithville to be closer to his practice.
“So peaceful without Brian,” said Jesse. “It’s better for him to start his own life. It’s not like he can’t afford his own place.”
Bob chuckled. “Basically, lazy like me. Too much trouble to leave the nest.”
“Now that Ty’s gone to Coulter-Ross,” said Jesse, “I couldn’t bear it if you moved out too, Bobby. The house is too big.”
“Y’all will be stuck with me for a while. I have no plans to go any place.”
“I’m feeling better,” said Marnie. “Do you think we should pick Charity up soon?”
“I miss her too,” said Jesse, “but she loves it at Coulter-Ross with the kids. She has nobody to play with here.”
Every time I take her from Annie I cause her more pain.
“She has me,” said Marnie.”
Jesse smiled. “Let’s invite Ty and Annie for Sunday dinner and they can bring her home then.”
“Okay,” said Marnie. “I’ll be as good as new by then.”
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
TYLER was in his truck ready to leave for Quantrall when a florist truck stopped at the gate and blocked him in. He hopped out of his truck, tipped the driver and ran back to the house with the big bouquet for Annie.
He stormed into the kitchen and plopped the flowers on the granite island. “If that asshole sends you any more flowers, I’m gonna kill him myself,” he hollered. “See you later.”
Annie peeked out the window and watched Tyler run to his truck. “We need another vase, Rosalie.” She pulled out the card and read it.
Thanks for all you’ve done for me. I owe you my life. Brad.
She was unwrapping the bouquet when her cell rang. “Damn it, it’s her.”
Rosie picked up the flowers and took them to the sink.
“Leigh, good morning,” said Annie.
“Mrs. Quantrall, I was wondering if you and your husband had decided to offer on the house we saw yesterday?”
“No, but we’re considering it. Would it be an imposition for me to see it a second time? Tyler’s not available today, and with such a large investment, I want to be sure.”
“Of course. Almost all serious buyers request a second viewing of the property. I have two o’clock open.”
“Two will work well for me. I have things to do this morning.”
Annie pressed end and called Blaine. “Hey, baby. Leigh Kryssa called, and I set up a second viewing of the house for two o’clock.”
“Great, Mom. I have people on the Carpenter brothers, and we’ll have ears on their house by end of day.”
“Ty’s mad at me again because Brad sent more flowers.”
“Hell, Mom. You saved his sorry ass two times. That should be worth two goddam huge bouquets.”
Annie giggled. “Okay.”
“Come to my place for a beer when you’re done with Mrs. Kryssa.”
“I will, sweetheart. I love you.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
BLAINE set a Starbuck’s container in front of Chief Calhoun and opened up a white bag of crullers.
“Jesus, son, walnut crullers. How bad is it?”
“Farrell sent me because he didn’t want to tell you himself.”
“Jesus in a handcart, it must be horrible.” The Chief pulled open the tab on his coffee to let it cool. “What’s he afraid to tell me?”
“One of his informants knew the caliber the sniper was using.”
“Fuck that. Impossible.” The Chief shook his head. “No. No. No. We kept that to ourselves. Everybody here knew we weren’t releasing that information.”
Blaine shrugged.
“What else did the snitch know?”
Blaine told him about the gunsmith.
“Did his description match the one Misty came up with?”
Blaine shook his head. “Nope. Dark haired older guy.”
“Shit. This is a mess. We’ll have a thousand descriptions an hour from now.”
“All we need is the right one. I’m going downstairs to see if Lil got anything on the Carpenters.”
“Sure.” The Chief picked up another cruller and took a bite. “Let me know.”
Lil sat at a table looking through boxes of microfiche. One of the DPS clerks was helping her wade through them. “We found one and we’re double checking it,” said Lil. “Milo Carpenter sold a dark blue Sahara to a used car dealer in Round Rock and bought a Ford Bronco.”
“Does the time frame fit?” asked Blaine. “Was it after the hit and run?”
“I have to check the dates on the police report, but I think the dates will work.”
“I thought the hit and run vehicle was an army green color,” said Blaine.
“It could have been repainted if there was damage after hitting the witness,” said Lily. “We’ve been looking for the green color all along and not finding it.”
“Got the VIN number?”
“I’ve got everything written down,” said Lil.
“We should be able to find out the factory paint color from the VIN,” said Blaine.
“I’ll check it as soon as I get back to the Agency.”
“Good job, Lil. Not a fun job, but we need the evidence. With Carrillo pressing him, Leighton isn’t giving us much leeway on these guys.”
BLAINE made it to the parking lot and was about to start his truck when his cell rang. He didn’t recognize the name on the screen. “Blackmore.”
“Hey, Blackmore, this is Vinny Cortez and I want to know if you jerks have caught the fuckin sniper yet? What the hell is taking y’all so long?”
“We’re working on it, Vinny. Believe me. And just to let you know, hanging out on all the overpasses isn’t going t
o catch him. I’m warning y’all. Don’t interfere.”
“Yeah, like you can stop us?” He laughed and was gone.
“Shit, that’s going to be trouble.”
He reached for the key and got another call. “Yeah, Luke?”
“Carpenters are going out and we’re on them. Can you do the house, boss?”
“Yep, doing it now. What’s the address?” Blaine scribbled it down and peeled out of the parking lot.
RealtyTex. Austin.
ANNIE ARRIVED early for her two o’clock appointment with Leigh Kryssa. She sat in the Maserati in the parking lot and called Brad’s cell.
“Annie, nice of you to call.”
“Thank you for the flowers, Brad. You don’t need to send me flowers. A thank you is enough.”
“It can never be enough. You know that. And the ride through your ranch was heaven. You were so right about getting rid of a lot of the stress. You’re a very smart woman, Annie Powell.”
“Thanks, Brad. Travis is there with you?”
“He’s my bodyguard.” Brad chuckled. “Sticks to me like glue. Nice guy though. I like him.”
She pressed ‘end’ and said, “Me too.”
Wylie Coyote. Austin.
FARRELL pulled into the parking lot and turned the truck off. “This okay for lunch? Quinn works here and she’s listening to the bikers for me.”
Carlos grinned. “Am I going to meet the new woman in your life?”
“Yep. She’s dynamite,” said Farrell, “and I’m nuts over her.”
“I need to be nuts over somebody,” said Carlos. “My life is fucking boredom when I’m not at work. I should try harder.”
“I was just hanging here one day and wham, there she was,” said Farrell. “Just happened and then Mary… never mind.”
“It’s tough when that happens.”
Inside, Farrell picked a booth where they might overhear interesting conversations from other patrons. Daytime the bar wasn’t too busy, but there were a few bikers eating burgers and having a brew.
Quinn came over with two menus and a big smile. “Hey, two of my favorite customers.”
