Shotgun Justice (16 page)

What was that supposed to be? A statement of comfort between them or a statement that Garrison didn't have any say over her but Jesse did?
Unreal.

“Both of you need to shut up and listen.”

Surprisingly, they both relaxed against the cushions, waiting. It took a couple of seconds for her to decide where to start. It was with her twin and his tendency to sweep in and come to her rescue.

“I outgrew you bossing me around about ten years ago. You missed it. I let you because I enjoyed hanging around the two of you. I followed after you like a bad habit I refused to kick.”

“You don't have to do this tonight, Avery.” Jesse had a cautious look that she understood, but ignored.

“Garrison, you haven't explained why you stuck your nose in here during the middle of the night. You probably blew our sting.” She popped out of the armchair, adrenaline pumping hard through her veins. “I'm sure you convinced yourself that leaving your protective detail was necessary in order to protect me, but you're wrong.”

Exploding like this felt a little freeing. She was ready to bang some heads together, but kept her cool.

“You're overreacting, Avery.”

Her brother didn't get it. Until that very minute she hadn't completely understood what living apart from the important people in her life had taught her. Somewhere between the boring, mundane speeding tickets and flat tires she had become an adult. She was capable of making decisions and living on her own.

“I don't need your help, Garrison. Do. Not. Need. Your. Help. Brand it across your forehead or simply repeat after me... ‘Avery does
not
need my help.' Can you hear me this time? You've made a very big mistake coming here.”

“You might be right about that,” her brother mumbled.

“Oh, I know I am. Why would you put this operation at risk? Not to mention that one of your ranger friends could have mistakenly killed you.”

“I thought you could use some help, but I needed to eliminate any threat against Kenderly, too.” Garrison folded his hands together in his lap, tilting his eyes to the floor.

“Aw...the fiancée we've heard nothing about. If Snake Eyes is watching, he saw you. The whole thing's a bust. Your entire hero routine is for nothing.”

Garrison popped his head up to stare at her. She shoved his shoulders back to the couch when he tried to stand. He could stay put; she was the one who needed to move around.

“You know there's more to why I'm here.” Garrison's knuckles turned white gripping a throw pillow. “I got you into this mess. It's my responsibility. I'm not going to let you face it alone.”

“I'm not. Jesse's here. An entire team of Texas Rangers is across the street. Someday you're going to have to have faith that I'm capable of doing my job.”

“Faith has nothing to do with it. I know you're capable, but this wasn't—or shouldn't be—your fight. I didn't jeopardize the operation. Nobody saw me come in here. Nobody. Which in itself is a problem.”

“It's part of the trap. Oh, I give up.” She turned away, staring out the window.

“Man, you haven't faced this son of a bitch. He's a ghost with connections. We didn't make it a secret we were here waiting on him.” Jesse acted relaxed, but his jaw muscles flexed continuously. “That was the plan.”

“I guess I sort of messed things up,” Garrison admitted.

“I bet that hurt to admit.” Jesse snickered behind her. “You knew I was here taking care of things. You could have at least trusted me.”

Had he forgotten his role in this debacle? Or that he'd lied to her all those months? She'd barely been angry with him, but suddenly the whole situation seemed to irritate her again.

“You aren't innocent in all this, Jesse Thomas Ryder. Your decisions changed my life last year. Just because we've slept together, that doesn't give you the right to make decisions for me. Or try to talk me out of doing my duty as a cop. This is who I am as much as you. Especially after the week we spent together.” She blurted the words, then cringed, realizing that Garrison was still in the room. Well, it didn't matter. She turned to address both of the men in her life. “I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. You two need to...to just...grow up.”

Before her brother or Jesse could react, she bolted from the room. She couldn't referee their arguments or face what they might say about her love life. And she couldn't hang around any longer just waiting for something to happen.

Leave the investigation and manhunt to the competent Texas Rangers. She'd left her own department shorthanded long enough. It was time to go home. She returned to the bedroom, locked the door and dialed Major Parker.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jesse watched Avery retreat to the bedroom. He wanted to go after her, but she was already upset with him sticking his opinion into her life. He didn't know he'd stood until Garrison's blow knocked him to the couch.

“You slept with my sister!”

Jesse rubbed his jaw. “I probably deserved that from her brother. And because I did, I'm not getting up to pound your face.”

“You swore to me,” the man who was like his brother whispered. “When? Last year? Is that what she meant about changing her life? Have you been lying to me for a year?”

“You have to calm down, Garrison. We have bigger catfish to fry.”

“Dammit, Jesse. I came as soon as I heard what was going on. They should have told me sooner.” He crashed back to the couch looking very defeated and speaking softly. “How could you do this to her? Now she'll never come home from the Panhandle.”

“Don't let her hear you say that. You haven't spoken to her about her job or her life since she left. So don't blame me for what's going on between you guys.” He'd accept the blame. He just wouldn't admit that to anyone but Avery. That was between him and her.

“You slept with her, man.”

“It's not what you think.”

Jesse's lifelong friend jumped up and paced the inside wall, obviously shaken by Avery's revelation. “I don't see how it could be much different unless you tell me it didn't happen.”

“I can't do that. It happened, and if I have my way, it'll happen again.” Jesse slumped in his chair, matching Garrison's dismayed attitude look for look. “I know I broke my promise to you. But like I said. It's not what you think. I'm trying to keep a promise to myself. And if she'll have me, one to Avery. I told her I loved her.”

“You mean that? So you two are getting married.” His best friend looked surprised.

Why? Was it so hard to believe that someone would fall in love with his sister? Or was it that Jesse Ryder had fallen for her?

“She accused me of kidding around.” Resulting in the longest three days of his life.

“But you meant it? You weren't joking? You're really in love with Avery?” He glared down from above his chair. “So why didn't you just set her straight?”

“You seriously don't know your sister.” Jesse shook his head, wondering how long he had to put up with the Garrison grilling. And when the roller coaster of up-and-down emotions would end. “She never gave me a chance to say it was for real. We haven't had much of a chance to talk since then. Well, we've been a little busy.”

“I see.”

Jesse looked at his friend, who shouldn't have a clue. The charmer who could talk his way out of every situation had nothing more to say? Maybe he did understand. They hadn't spoken more than a couple of sentences in the time that he claimed to have fallen in love.

Jesse looked around the dark room, wondering not only what to say but what would go wrong next. “Dammit, the phone. The team is still listening to this.”

He leaped to where he'd left the cell a few feet away. The conversation was one way, but he knew they were there. The guys who would use his confession to razz him for the rest of his career. They'd never let him live this down.

As soon as he disconnected, it vibrated.

“I stuck my neck out for you,” Parker said. “Can you explain why one Travis is there instead of at a safe house under protective custody? And the other Travis just notified me she's returning to Dalhart?”

“The first Travis can answer for himself. I'll find out what's up with Avery.” He handed the phone over to Garrison and in two shakes was knocking on the bedroom door.

“Avery, we need to talk.” He couldn't hear anything on the other side of the door. Had she already slipped by him to leave through the back? She was too smart to leave on her own and had already requested an escort from Parker. “Avery? Open the door.”

Training kicked in. He didn't think, just trusted his instincts that something was wrong. Gun in hand, his boot was on the door handle busting through. He felt Garrison behind him, hand on his shoulder, tapping him forward.

They'd practiced the entry hundreds of times over the years. This time meant everything. And there was nothing there.

No Avery. No weapon. No bag on top of the dresser.

And no cell.

“Call Parker. Snake Eyes is out there.”

“You don't know that, man.” Garrison argued, but holstered his SIG and swiped numbers on the phone.

“She's gone and the bastard has her because Parker doesn't.”

“The patrol may not have— No, you're right. He has to have her.”

Jesse had to think fast. Snake Eyes would. He'd leave the talking and explanations to Garrison. Forensics would be too late and they wouldn't find anything. So he left through the yard.

The guards were out cold, drugged but alive. It was doubtful they'd seen anything. And if they had, it would be too late by the time they woke up.

“Why take her? Why not just kill her here? He doesn't need her. He should have known that Garrison was in the next room.” Jesse weighed one side then the other. He and Avery had made more progress when they approached from the view of Snake Eyes, but he couldn't find a logical reason for the man's actions.

Their adversary had taken an unpredictable road. That was the rub. They thought Snake Eyes was obsessed with completing this job. So why was Garrison still alive?

It was no longer about the Tenoreno contract. Now it was about the woman he loved.

“Avery!” he shouted, his voice carrying into the dark. “Avery!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Avery had walked straight into his arms, seeking a protective escort. Straight from the men she loved most in life to the animal who scared the life from her.

“Avery!” Jesse's voice called in the distance. “Avery!”

“Keep walking, Deputy Travis.”

It was one of the oldest tricks in the book. “You took out one of the guards and dressed in his shirt. I practically tripped over you coming out of the house.”

As the ranger posted on the west side of the house, he'd grunted, had a hand on her weapon and turned to stare at her with those reptile contacts. Then he'd dropped her phone. Never appearing in a hurry or as if he was worried about a thing. Especially a bunch of Texas Rangers following his trail.

Hooded, he pointed for her to lead the way between houses with no fences. Old neighborhoods that didn't fear the people who lived next door. Three streets behind her, she'd left the new edition of unfinished rooms where they'd set their trap.

But it was the middle of the night and everyone was asleep. She'd been warned first thing that if she cried out for help, whoever answered that plea would be shot with her gun.

“You're fascinating, Avery. And smart. Probably smart enough to know that you don't have long to live.” Snake Eyes found an entrance gate from the utility-access path between the homes. “Your problem isn't that you aren't good enough to bring me down. It's that all the people surrounding you aren't as good. The best defense is usually the best offense. Don't you agree?”

“If we'd known where to take the fight, you're right—we would have taken it to you.”

“I'm very glad to learn you've suffered no ill effects from the shocking experience in Thompson Grove.”

“I turn on lightbulbs when I hold them now, but everybody thinks it's a good party trick.”

“Aw, a sense of humor about your misadventure. As charming as your brother.”

Avery felt sick to her stomach. The question of why he hadn't just burst into the house and killed them all as they were arguing still loomed as bright as that bulb she nervously joked about. Then he used the words
fascinating
and
glad
and
charming
. Yeah, she was getting sick at the thought he liked her.

For a man who'd never left behind a trace of himself, it bothered her that he was pushing through gates and lifting latches as if no one would be following them.

It bothered her a lot. Even after hearing Jesse shout her name into the night, Snake Eyes hadn't run or even walked faster.
He doesn't think anyone can catch him.

The road they were on had no street lamps. The houses were farther apart. He shoved her into the side of a luxury car.
I can't get inside that car.

The thought that it was all over if she did was all she could focus on. The thought repeated over and over in her mind. He had a gun and the knife he'd placed to her throat before. But she turned from the car, hands in a single fist, and hit him in the side where Jesse had stabbed the rake. He hissed in pain.

She prepared for his backhanded slap, rolling with the sting but losing a lot of the force behind it. She spun away from Snake Eyes, dropping to the ground, searching for a stick or rock. Hoping for a piece of glass. Nothing but dirt.

The reptile contacts glowed brighter with him surrounded by the dark.

Dirt.
She dug her nails into the earth, coming up with a fistful when he lifted her to her feet.

“I would expect nothing less from you, Avery. If you didn't give me your best, I wouldn't be compelled to try my worst. But I've brought you an incentive to behave.”

“There's nothing that's going to make me get in that car easily. I'm surprised you haven't used your knockout drug.”

He opened the door to where a young woman sat. Her eyes were wide with fright, makeup smeared from crying a long time. She was gagged and both her hands and feet were bound.

“You see, Avery? Incentive.”

“This doesn't involve her.”

The woman tried to scream as he shut the door and clicked a lock. She was hysterical, thinking that Snake Eyes intended to kill her. Avery knew, too. It was a one-way ticket if she got in that car.

“Well, she has kept her part of the bargain. She did give me the address where you were staying. I could let her go if you promised to cooperate.” Snake Eyes gestured for her to get into the car.

Avery shook her head. “Not...not until you let her out. Leave her on the street just like she is...but she's left here. Then I'll go with you.”

“Deal, Deputy.” He pointed her weapon at her again. “Now give me your word.”

“Why do you need me to promise?”

“I trust you, Avery.” He cocked his head to the side, waiting for her answer.

Avery shoved her hand with the dirt into her pocket. If she gave him a face full of dirt now, the car was locked and she wouldn't get the keys before he reacted. She could wait until the door was open, but the woman was so hysterical she might think they were taking her into the trees to kill her.

Unfortunately, the best scenario was to get the woman out and wait for a chance to get away.

“I promise, on my father's grave...”
...that I will take you down tonight or die trying.

“Good. Good.” He opened the door again, grabbed the woman's ropes and yanked her from the car. He pulled her across the grass, gun pointed first at the woman, then at Avery.

To her credit, the woman didn't make it easy. She tried to be difficult, bucking with muffled screaming. Avery got halfway into the car, waiting to see if the gun fell away from her direction so she could run.

Snake Eyes didn't drop her from his aim. He moved the girl behind some bushes and left her there, then came back to Avery. He took plastic cuffs from his pocket and tightened them around her wrists. She sat and he placed another pair around her ankles after removing her boots.

Then he laughed, throwing back his head. As he did, she finagled a boot to slip to the ground. The door shut and she prayed that her father was keeping an eye on her tonight.

Jesse would find it. He'd find her. They'd get out of this mess. There had to be a way out.

* * *

I
T
HAD
BEEN
almost ten minutes when Jesse pulled onto the third street. The surveillance team agreed that Snake Eyes had to be on foot. Garrison had taken the north streets and Jesse headed south. Back and forth along the streets, one extra block either direction. The team was out beyond the first three blocks.

One more turn and he'd have to admit defeat. How had Snake Eyes got her cooperation? It didn't make—

A boot was next to the curb. He cut the engine of the motorcycle to pick it up, taking a close look at the darkened homes along the unlit sidewalk.

“Help!”

It was a muffled “help,” but still a cry for help. He came off the bike so fast it toppled to its side. He hurdled a shrub, nearly landing on a woman. He knelt, removing the gag.

“Please help me. He's crazy. I think...I think he's going to kill her.”

Jesse didn't have to ask who. Avery's boot on the side of the road told him she had got inside the car. He dialed Parker, giving him the address. Then Garrison.

“He's got her, buddy. Meet me three blocks my direction. Can't miss me.”

“I'm Texas Ranger Jesse Ryder, ma'am. What's your name?”

“Um... Cindy Crouch. He had pictures of my little boy and said if I didn't find the address for him that he'd... He said horrible things. I brought it to him and then he drugged me.”

“You're very lucky to be alive.” Those were the wrong words. She'd been coherent before. Now she was just hysterically crying. “It'll be okay. Help's on its way.”

“You. You might...catch them,” she managed to say between gulps of air. “I'm okay. Go.”

“Can you describe the vehicle?” He propped her up against a tree.

“Black Lexus, tinted windows, Texas tags KWX198.”

“You're sure about that?”

“I took a good look when he moved me over here. I... She only got in that car to save me.” Cindy began crying again.

“Give them the car's description first. You can save her.” Jesse started the bike as cars rushed up behind him. He didn't stay for a plan to be developed.

His only hope was that Snake Eyes would be driving the speed limit so as not to draw attention to himself. There was one way out of the subdivision. Two directions from there.

“Garrison, I'm hitting the main road and taking it west. You've got east. Black Lexus, dark windows, KWX189. We have to find her.”

“Taking it east and we will, man. We will.”

He put the phone away and sped up. He had a fifty-fifty chance Snake Eyes was heading west. The open fields seemed to fit what they knew about him when he killed. He took the hill, searching for taillights.

Nothing.

Remember that this bastard is smart.
He might have turned off the lights. If he did...he'd be going slower. There wasn't a moon, no way to naturally light up the two-lane road.

Jesse would find him. There was no way Snake Eyes would be terrorizing anyone else.

* * *

T
HEY
WERE
OUT
of the subdivision. Snake Eyes was humming under his hood. It wasn't a song that Avery recognized. Why did it matter? It didn't. Another distraction. Good for her because he was less likely to hear her popping the plastic cuffs against the seat next to her.

For the past eight months, nights off meant cable television or studying on the internet. She'd decided to test the plastic handcuffs normally used with riots. If you hit them hard enough, they'd break. Just like the instruction video had suggested.

The humming wouldn't cover the noise. She had to wait or he'd have the gun back in her face.

“Why me? I thought Tenoreno hired you to take care of the witnesses to his wife's murder.” Avery wanted to see his face, wanted to rip the contacts out of his eyes and make him normal.

“I have special plans for you, Avery. I think you and Snake Eyes are going to have hours of fun together.”

That was
not
normal. Her imagination didn't need a lot of help figuring out what this awful man meant. “Wait. Aren't
you
Snake Eyes?”

“There is a little bit of him in all of us, I suppose.”

“All of you? If you aren't him, then who are you?” This was freakier than anything she'd had to deal with throughout her career. This was the same man she and Jesse had faced in Dalhart. He had the wounds proving it.

“I wouldn't be a good associate if I gave my name to you so easily.”

“Then maybe you can explain why Snake Eyes wants me? Why is he fascinated with me?” She could see around the front headrest and noticed that the lights were off. There was no one around for miles.

“I see you inching toward the middle of the car. Please move toward the door.”

Avery replayed the man's voice in her head. It had the slightest British accent. A different cadence in the phrasing. If she didn't know that the same man who put her in the car was still driving it, she might have thought a second had been waiting to drive them away.

There was just one man. Snake Eyes, the murderer.

“We never got to finish phase two of my project with you and Jesse. I'm afraid you took me by surprise by escaping the collar. And I'm afraid that Scott was just too useless. The other two young men, well... They were fine with setting the fires for the right amount of money. But when it came to abducting a deputy sheriff and a Texas Ranger... Let's just say I won the argument.”

That sounded just like the man behind the hood.

“Phase two?”

“That's right. I never got to explain it.” He slapped his thigh and hummed his tune. He wasn't going to give her any extra time to think her way out of his plan by giving her a warning.

Avery heard the motorcycle. Seconds later, Snake Eyes turned off the road. She wasn't certain he knew where he was, but she could tell it was unplanned by the way he looked around the field. It was easy enough to decipher that even if it wasn't Jesse, he didn't want the car he was driving spotted.

It was her last chance at getting help.

She twisted her body and grabbed the dirt in her pockets, then hit the cuffs against the seat. Then hit them again.

Snake Eyes swerved enough that the tires fell off the smoother ruts of the dirt road. She hit the seat and pulled, breaking the cuffs from her wrists. Her captor stepped on the gas, throwing her to the side. Her feet were behind him, so she kicked while he swerved.

When he turned to see what she was doing, she threw the dirt in his face.

He stomped on the brakes and threw the car in Park. The gun must have slid away from him, because he began searching around his legs. While his body was bent, she climbed on top of him and honked the horn.

Short. Short. Short. Long. Long. Long. Short. Short. Short.

Short. Short.

Snake Eyes stuck the gun against her jawbone. “Valiant effort, Avery. Too bad no one can hear you.”

She raised her hands and sat on the smooth leather seat.

“Out of the car. Do it. Now.” He popped the trunk.

Her first thought was that he was going to put her inside. She could break a taillight, get someone's attention. Then she saw the wire, the duct tape, the vials of drugs. And just as a chef unrolled his knives before he began cooking, Snake Eyes displayed his instruments of death.