by Carolina Mac
Doc Simonsen beckoned to her and she ran to the door. “They’re bringing him in now. You can see him in the hallway for a second.”
“Thanks, I want him to know I’m waiting for him.”
The back doors of the ambulance opened, and the paramedics wheeled Brad out. “I’m ready for him in the operating room,” said Doctor Simonsen. “We can go straight there.”
Brad Madill lay on the stretcher with his eyes closed as they wheeled along the corridor.
“Brad, open your eyes. It’s me, Annie. I’m here.”
His eyelids fluttered and his face portrayed pain and confusion. “Annie? Will you stay with me?”
“I’ll wait for you. You’re going into surgery. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Thanks.”
She went to the cafeteria for coffee and texted Travis.
“He’s in surgery. Cafeteria.”
“Roger that. On my way.”
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
MARNIE hadn’t been outside much since her accident, but she needed to find Jesse. She’d upset him talking about a baby, and after him losing his girlfriend and unborn baby not long before, she should have known better. He wasn’t ready.
She tugged on the barn door and barely had the strength to open it. Paul met her in the aisle before she got to the office.
“Seen Jesse?” asked Paul. “I need him for a couple of things.”
“He’s upset about things I said, Paul. Would you go see if he’s in the trailer? I can’t get out there.”
“Yeah, sure. I hope he ain’t tying one on. Give me a minute and I’ll drive out and check on him.”
Tyler had walked up behind Paul and overheard the conversation. “I’ll go with you, bro. Let’s check it out. We don’t want him passed out in the field like last time.”
“Thanks,” said Marnie. “Ranger Blackmore called, and it sounded important. He wants Jesse for something.”
“Okay, I’ll tell him.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
BLAINE opened the door to the interrogation room and Leigh Kryssa was asleep, her blonde head resting on her folded arms on the table. “Here’s your coffee.”
She opened her eyes and straightened up, her blue eyes cold as ice. “You bastard. You left me here on purpose hoping I’d piss myself. Well screw you, super cop. I’m saying nothing until my attorney gets here. I want my phone call.”
“Let’s go get you booked,” said Blaine, “then we’ll talk about your phone call.”
“You can’t book me. I haven’t done anything.”
“Suspicion of attempted murder. I can hold you for twenty-four hours. Longer if more charges crop up in the meantime.”
“Like what could crop up if I’m in jail?” Her pink shiny lips curled in a snarl.
“Like the AG dies and I’ve got you for murder one.”
She almost smiled at that thought.
“Fake charges just like you. You’re a fake cop. Nothing but a ganger with a badge.”
Blaine chuckled. “That’s right. Let’s go to booking.”
Leigh Kryssa’s Residence. Austin.
FARRELL parked in the driveway next to Leigh’s silver Lexus. “Let’s go in from the back” said Farrell as he took the lock wizard out of his tool kit.
The back door was outfitted with a low grade lock from a big box store and nothing beeped as they went inside. Just to be sure, Carlos ran to the front door to see if the house had a security system.
“She’s got a system, but the alarm isn’t on.”
“Had her mind on other things,” said Farrell. “Let’s go room by room and look for anything connecting her to Ginette Romley or the Carpenters or the anonymous hit men she’s been using. Wish we had her phone.”
“She might be using a burner for her special calls,” said Carlos. “Look for one.”
“Roger that,” hollered Farrell from down the hall.
Carlos started in the living room to the left of the front foyer. Leather furniture in an orangey brown color that he didn’t like. Glass coffee table on a plain beige rug. Small fireplace made from manufactured stone, and above the fireplace, a wooden mantle loaded with pictures.
Most of the pictures were of one guy—possibly Edward Kryssa—with Leigh, with friends, with Leigh in Vegas, hugging her on the front lawn of the house they were in. Carlos stopped at the end of the row and hollered for Farrell. “Hey, come and look at this.”
Farrell came charging from the back of the house and looked where Carlos was pointing. “Army. The Carpenters were in the same squad with the husband.”
Carlos took pictures while Farrell called Blaine. “Hey, we got a picture on the mantle of the Carpenter brothers and maybe Ed Kryssa in army uniforms. Can you roll with that?”
“Fantastic. That might be enough. Don’t make a mess, I don’t want her to know you were there.”
“Roger that,” said Farrell. “Molly maids.”
Fayette Memorial Hospital. La Grange.
ANNIE sat next to Brad Madill in the surgical recovery area waiting for him to wake up. She’d texted Tyler a few times and he hadn’t answered. Tired and frustrated, she closed her eyes and drifted off.
“Annie.”
She heard her name and opened her eyes wondering where she was, then saw him looking up at her. “Brad, you’re awake.”
“Thanks for waiting.” He sounded weak.
“That’s okay. Travis is sleeping, then he’ll be here to stay with you until tomorrow when I take you back to the ranch. It’s the safest place for you until the threat has been dealt with.”
“I have to work.”
“No work until Monday. Doctor’s orders.”
He tried to smile and closed his eyes.
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
TYLER AND PAUL barged into the trailer thinking the worst and they weren’t far off. Jesse was stretched out on his leather sofa, six empty Lone Star cans on the table next to him and he was snoring.
“He’s been worse,” said Paul. “Six beer won’t hurt him. Let’s leave him for now and we’ll check on him before we sack out.”
“I’ll make sure there’s no more booze,” said Tyler. He hollered from the kitchen. “We’re good. Fridge is empty.”
Jesse didn’t wake up.
Wylie Coyote. Austin.
FARRELL was asleep behind the wheel of his truck when Quinn finished her shift and climbed into the shotgun seat. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “Hey.”
“You can’t stay up this late to drive me home and work in the morning, Farrell.”
“Who says?”
“I say. You’re going to burn out.”
“I’m okay.” He started the truck, left the parking lot and as he cruised up to the first set of lights he heard them coming. The rumble was loud, and he estimated at least half a dozen. “Get down on the floor.”
“What?”
“Get down, Quinn.” He pushed her into the passenger foot well, stepped on the gas and turned on the siren. The light turned red as he barreled through and the bikers didn’t stop. Horns honked and brakes squealed, and they kept coming. He picked up the radio and called for backup.
“I’m scared,” said Quinn.
“Uh huh. Keep your head down.” Farrell reached over the seat for his shotgun, lowered the window and rested the gun across his left arm. Two thirty in the morning and traffic was light. He watched in the rear view as the Harleys divided and tried to come up both sides at once. “Cover your ears.”
The first rider was almost even with him, juggling a Blackout as he tried to steer. Farrell fired and blew him off his bike. The noise inside the cab was deafening.
The Harley crashed in the street and took the second and third guys out of action on that side of the truck. Sirens approached from both ways and the rest of the gang took off.
Farrell pulled over to the side of the road and parked.
“What have we got here, Ranger Donovan?” asked the uniform
from Austin PD.
“Blade Devils are pissed at me,” said Farrell. “Six of them tried for me and I couldn’t take them alone.”
The uniformed officer looked down at the biker lying on the street with half his head missing. “We better call for the Medical Examiner. This guy don’t look too good.”
Quinn sat in the shotgun seat crying silently. Farrell came around to her side of the truck and held her in his arms. “It’s okay, baby. Don’t cry.”
“They were trying to kill you,” she whispered.
Lots more than them want me dead.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Friday, October 5th.
Austin Courthouse.
AFTER A HALF hour arguing against bail, the judge on the bench ruled against ADA Rory Lumley and granted Leigh Kryssa bail in the amount of a hundred thousand dollars. She smiled at her attorney, Anthony Carrillo, as the bailiff escorted them to arrange the bond.
“That didn’t go the way I wanted it to,” said Blaine. “Damn it. I need more time.”
“We’ve got the army connection now,” said Farrell. “Maybe the Carpenters owed Edward Kryssa a lot. He could have save their asses or something and they owe him.”
“They owe him enough to kill people?” asked Blaine. “That’s a big debt.”
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
AFTER BREAKFAST, Annie tried to explain to Tyler as gently as she could that Brad Madill would be staying in the guest room for the weekend.
“You mean he’s coming here to our house?”
“Only until he’s well enough to go home. Travis can’t give him the medical care he needs. Declan can do that best here and it’s much safer.”
“Nope, I ain’t buying into it.”
“You said you’d give me a few days to finish up. You’re not being fair, Ty.”
“Fair? I’m not being fair?” Tyler hustled down the hall, took a sleeping Charity out of her crib, plunked his hat on his head and picked up his truck keys. “I’m gone and I won’t be back.”
Annie’s eyes overflowed with tears, as she watched her husband and her baby leave her. Again.
Quinn’s Apartment. Austin.
“THANKS FOR STAYING with me, Farrell. I don’t know when I’ve ever been so scared.”
“We’re not going to see each other for a few days until this biker thing blows over. I don’t want you anywhere near me.” He tossed a hundred dollars on the kitchen table. “Promise you’ll take a cab home from work every night and call me when you get here. Okay?”
“Okay, I will.”
Farrell held her close in a hug and kissed her. “I’m late for an autopsy.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
FARRELL found Blaine in the morgue and the pathologist had already made the cut on Ginette Romley. “The tox screen is back,” said the doctor. “Heroin injection. Huge overdose that would have ended her life in short order.”
“Any signs of a struggle?” asked Farrell.
“Considerable bruising on her upper arms. One or more people holding her down. Only a guess.”
“Definitely not suicide?” asked Blaine.
“Definitely not.”
“The Chief questioned the warden,” said Blaine as they made their way upstairs. “He’s looking into it.”
“Nobody sees anything,” said Farrell. “That’s the rule.”
Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.
JESSE sat silently beside Marnie at the breakfast table, both of them drinking coffee. They’d talked things out the night before when he’d returned from the trailer and he was okay.
“You look a little pale,” said Bobby from the other side of the table, but I’m not Brian and I’m not judging you.”
“A little setback,” said Jesse, “but I’m not letting it get to me. And Marnie is my rock.” Jesse leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Without her I’d be in the trailer drunk out of my head and maybe back in the hospital.”
Marnie smiled and took a sip of her orange juice.
The front door opened, and Jesse heard his baby calling him. “Daddy, Daddy.”
“Daddy’s here, baby.”
Charity ran through the dining room door with a dolly in her hand and Jesse scooped her up and held her tight. “I missed you so much.”
“I play at Mama’s house.”
“You did. And did you have fun with the kids?” asked Jesse.
Charity nodded and her dark curls bounced.
Tyler sat down in his regular spot at the end of the table and reached for a biscuit.
“Let me get you some cutlery, Tyler,” said Molly. “I didn’t realize you were coming for breakfast.”
“Surprise, Molly. I didn’t know it either.”
Jesse took stock of his brother and could read the troubled look on Ty’s face. “Problems?”
“Nope, my problems are over.”
Molly set a plate and cutlery in front of Tyler and he dug in.
Leigh Kryssa’s Residence. Austin.
LUKE AND FLETCHER were back on surveillance watching Leigh Kryssa. They followed her attorney from the courthouse and Anthony Carrillo dropped his client off at home. She’d gone inside and hadn’t made a move yet.
“Maybe she ain’t gonna work today,” said Fletch. “She just got out of the slammer and needs some down time.”
“The boss is trying to make the army connection work with the Carpenters, then we might get her.”
“Farrell said the house was clean except for the picture. He and Carlos didn’t find anything useful.”
“Think she was behind getting the wedding planner dead in the lockup?” asked Fletch.
“Sure do. Jesse thought Ginette was the weak link. Now they eliminated her. This woman is an organized killer and we have to get her somehow.”
“We’re close. Real close. I can feel it.”
The Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE arrived back at the Agency after the autopsy at the same time Casey’s tutor arrived. He held the door open for her and marveled at how good she smelled. Marisol Ibanez was a gorgeous girl. “I’ve got a few minutes before I dive into my work,” said Blaine, “maybe we can catch up and you can fill me in on Casey’s progress.”
She flashed him a smile and he felt the attraction. Something he didn’t want to feel. “Let’s talk in your office before I begin today’s lesson.”
“Would you like coffee?” asked Blaine. “I’m getting myself a cup.”
“That would be nice. I didn’t have time for a second cup this morning.”
“Hi, Miss Ibanez,” said Casey. “I’m ready to start.”
She flashed him a smile. “I’ll just be a minute and I’ll be right with you, Casey.”
Blaine showed her into the office and closed the door behind her but not before giving Casey a thumbs up. The kid was always worried. “Have a seat, Marisol, and bring me up to date. I’m sorry I haven’t had a lot of time lately because I promised I’d help him.”
“I believe Misty has been helping him study, and there are no problems. Casey is bright and eager to graduate. He’s keen to assist you with your work in any way he can. Perhaps you could give him something he could do daily? Possibly an hour a day doing a task related to your work? I know that’s what he wants.”
“Sure. Okay, I’ll work that out with Lil. She always needs help in the office.”
“I gave him a couple of quizzes this week and he had no problems. I plan to pick up the pace and increase his workload starting on Monday, because I know he can handle it.”
“I’m happy he’s doing so well. If you encounter any trouble areas will you let me know right away?”
“I will.”
As soon as Marisol left the office, Blaine typed a few keystrokes and dug into the military records of the Carpenter brothers and Edward Kryssa. “I’ve got to find out what made these guys so tight.”
Fayette Memorial Hospital. La Grange.
ANNIE drove Declan to the hospital in La Grange to supervise br
inging his new patient home. Brad Madill was to be transported in an ambulance more for safety reasons than medical ones and Declan would ride with the AG. Travis and Annie would drive ahead and behind the ambulance.
According to Doc Simonsen, Mr. Madill had lost a fair amount of blood, but he’d been transfused on the table and the bullet had been removed without complications. Madill was weak and needed rest, but in general good health for a forty-five year old male and should fully recover.
Leigh Kryssa’s Residence. Austin.
LUKE AND FLETCHER relieved two of the Junkers, Jack and Rick, at eight in the morning. The white cube van bearing the Junker logo left the street and the dark green truck and camper took it’s place. Jack and Rick had nothing to report. No conversation. No visitors. Nothing. A boring night drinking coffee and waiting.
“Hope we don’t have to sit here all day doing nothing,” said Fletch.
“Got to work on your patience,” drawled Luke. “It’s a skill.”
“Born without it,” said Fletch. “I’ve got other skills.”
“I don’t want to hear about them this early in the morning.”
They climbed into the back of the unit and fired up the equipment.
“She’s already on the phone,” said Fletch as he picked up the headset. “Shit, I hope we didn’t miss anything.” He put the sound on speaker.
“You got away clean?”
“Did you find out what hospital he’s in?”
“Okay, watch and see where they take him when he’s released. We’ll try for him there.”
“Did you hear that?” Fletch was wired. “They’re gonna watch the hospital and try again.”
“Annie’s taking him to the ranch today,” said Luke. “I’ll warn her.”
“Better tell the boss, too,” said Fletch. “And hurry up. She’s going to work.”
Luke made a quick call. “Hey, boss, Mrs. Kryssa just talked to the shooter from the parking ramp.”
“No kidding?” asked Blaine. “What’s happening?”
