The Law and Dan Mesa (16 page)

Mesa turns slowly and walks out the door with stiff shoulders and a heavy heart. He gets into the rental car and drives away.

Inside her parents’ home, Garnett is as silent as a mouse. All eyes are on her.

“Garnett, I can’t believe you said that to him,” Scotty says. “I have known both of you for more than twenty years, and I love you both, but never have I seen you treat anyone like that, most of all someone like Daniel Mesa. He would gladly give his life for anyone in this room. They don’t come any better than him. You have just destroyed a very good man.”

With those words, Scott walks out the door.

Chapter Eight
 

On a flight back to Arizona, Mesa is deep in thought when he suddenly realizes someone is speaking to him.

“I must apologize for my behavior,” he says. “I didn’t realize you were speaking to me.”

The flight attendant smiles and says, “I was asking if you’d like a beverage of some type.”

“Yes, a cup of coffee would be great . . . with cream and sugar.”

She looks at him, deciding whether she likes him or not. She thinks,
He
looks
so
alone,
as
if
he
is
carrying
the
world
on
his
shoulders.
She hands him the coffee and asks, “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an Arizona ranger from Nogales, Arizona.”

“I didn’t know Arizona had rangers. I thought only Texas had rangers.” She smiles at him, and he smiles back. “So, ranger, by what name are you called? I am Monica Saint Jacque from New Orleans, Louisiana.”

He looks at her with eyes that never blink and says, “I’m Daniel Mesa, a sergeant in the rangers.”

“Sergeant Mesa, it is my pleasure to meet you and the Arizona rangers. Well, I must complete my work, but I hope I see you again very soon.”

She walks away smiling with a walk that tugs at his memory. She reminds him so much of Sonia, it’s as though Sonia has been reincarnated. Suddenly, he feels very lonely.

The pilot announces that they are approaching Tucson, so Mesa prepares to depart the plane. Suddenly, Monica is standing there.

“Ranger, this is my turn around point from New Orleans to here. Maybe someday when you aren’t busy chasing the bad guys, we could have dinner?”

Mesa is surprised and stammers, “Yes, I’d like that. Here is my card. It has my duty phone on it and my cellular phone.”

She hands him her number and smiles, saying, “Don’t forget to use it sometime.” She smiles again. “She must have been some lady.” Then she turns and walks away.

Dan Mesa is perplexed. He thinks,
There
is
something
wrong
here.
This
is
a
replay
of
Sonia.
How
did
she
know
I
was
thinking
about
Sonia?

Alana meets him in the airport, and she greets with a smile and a kiss.

“Cowboy, it is good to see you. I will be the first to say that I really missed you a lot. Have you eaten? You are very thin. I am worried about you. Captain Johnson told me about what happened in Baltimore, and I am sorry it happened again. One of these days, we will find peace and happiness.”

“Alana, I missed you too. What have you done to yourself? There is something different about you. What I mean is, you have always been beautiful, but today you are exceptionally so.”

“Dan, you haven’t seen me for a few days, and you just missed me. Now, are you hungry? Because I am. I found a Greek restaurant on Fifth and Main named Odysseus. The food is absolutely great, especially the stuffed grape leaves, olive salad, and the lamb chops.”

“Okay, Lieutenant Osborne, lead on. I am hungry.”

They arrive at the restaurant, and the meal is excellent by Mesa’s standards.

He looks at Alana and says, “Something strange happened on the plane. One of the flight attendants approached me and started a conversation, asking me what kind of work I did. I told her I was a ranger. She continued talking, and when she left, she said, ‘She must have been some lady.’ She smiled, handed me her address, and walked away. The strange part is how she knew I was thinking about Sonia, and the address she gave me is the same as Sonia’s. Am I crazy or is something strange about this? Her name is Monica Saint Jacque.”

“Dan, I know you are not crazy, and yes, there is something strange about what happened. Can you describe her?”

“Yes, she was about five feet six inches and weighed about one hundred twenty pounds. She has long, wavy brown hair and hazel eyes. She is possibly of African American descent and probably French—the same as I am. That isn’t much to go on, but that’s all I can tell you. We can call the airline and ask them about her.”

Once they get to ranger headquarters, Captain Johnson is briefed, and he puts through a telephone call to Delta airlines in Dallas.

“Captain, there was a flight attendant by that name who worked for us about ten years ago and she was killed in a crash ago. She was the best in every way. Why do you ask?”

“Ma’am, this is going to sound crazy,” Johnson says, “but one of my rangers was on Delta flight seven three two today from Baltimore to Tucson. He says he met someone by that name, and she was a flight attendant on that flight.” Johnson describes her to the lady on the phone. He hears her take a deep breath.

Then she says, “Captain, your ranger described her to the finest detail, and yes, that was Monica. I can’t explain it either.”

“Thanks, ma’am, for all of your help. I will keep you posted on what we turn up.”

The captain turns to Mesa and Osborne with a ghostly white face.

“Guys,” he says, “the lady you described was killed in a crash about ten years ago; she did work for the airline. This is crazy. I need a drink. Now we are dealing with ghost. Sergeant, do me a favor and close this case as soon as possible.”

Sergeant Dan Mesa turns around and walks out without saying a word. Mesa goes to the Ford dealership and buys a one-year-old Ford F150 4x4 with a V8 engine and off-road tires. The truck is midnight blue with an extended cab, shiny mag wheels, a wench, and running lights. It has duel exhaust and a distinctive exhaust sound.

Mesa then goes to his ranch and assembles an arsenal consisting of one M16 with one hundred rounds, one twelve-gauge shotgun with buckshot and one hundred rounds, one 30-30 Winchester with two hundred rounds, a .357 magnum with three hundred rounds, and ten hand grenades. It is September, so he takes five pairs of jeans, shirts, underwear, and hiking boots as well as several MREs (meals ready to eat) and a sleeping bag with a first aid kit.

Finally Dan returns to ranger headquarters and reports to Captain Johnson.

“Sergeant,” the captain says, “the last we heard from Carlos and Antonio, they were in San Antonio. The Texas rangers have been keeping an eye on them for us. When you get to San Antonio, report to Major Boca Huerta, and he will bring you up to date. Oh, yes, you are now a temporary agent for the FBI. This will allow you to follow them anywhere they go. Sergeant, please be careful. These guys are playing for keeps. Now, go and do what you do so well, but stay alive and don’t kill anyone unless you have to.”

“Thanks, sir,” Mesa says. “I will be careful. Please tell the colonel thanks as well.”

Dan Mesa drives eastward on I-10 toward New Mexico and Texas. He covers nearly five hundred miles, and the Ford covers the miles effortlessly, but still it’s not the 4Runner.

“I miss that truck, and I miss Savalas. I will make someone pay for your death, old friend.”

In the meantime another plot unfolds in the home of Carlos’s brother in San Antonio. They are celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain, when Carlos speaks.

“I still have a problem in my life known as Ranger Daniel Mesa,” he says. “That hombre is driving me mad. I can feel his presence. He is either in San Antonio or he is headed in this direction. He knows I was involved in the señora’s death, and he knows I tried to kill him and his friend, Ranger Savalas. He also knows I put a contract on his ex-wife and his son. I will have to kill him, or he will kill Antonio and me. He will never give up, and so I must stop him. If someone did to me what I have done to him, I would kill not only him but his entire family. I don’t know what he will do, but I can tell you he is one angry, dangerous man. On a good day, he is one mean son-of-a-bitch, but when he is angry, he is ten times meaner.”

Francisco Meana, Carlos’s brother, is somewhat different in that he is trying to become respectable. He is a petty criminal with convictions for theft and trafficking in women after dark.

“Carlos,” he says, “you are my brother, but I will not have you bringing your troubles to my home. If I were you, I’d try contacting Jackson’s family and asking them to help you get rid of Mesa. I hear they’d love a chance to get even with the good ranger. I just happen to have a number where you can reach that female cousin of theirs, Mandy. She is a looker but tough as any guy who ever drew a gun. She hates Mesa with a passion. It seems he scorned her advances some time ago, and she hasn’t forgotten that. Plus, Mesa killed Jackson.”

“Francisco, you know you just saved the day. I owe you one for this,” Carlos says. “Brother, do you see that police car cruising by? I am getting the feeling he is looking for me. I am going to slip away. Take care, and maybe I will see you when this is over.”

With those words Carlos and Antonio leave south San Antonio, and using back roads, they start making their way back toward Arizona, hoping to make it to Yuma before the police realize what they are doing.

Dan Mesa arrives in San Antonio and reports to Major Huerta. As he enters the building for the Department of Public Safety, he notices a familiar face, or he thinks he does, and Dan Mesa never allows a warning to go unchallenged. He makes a note in his ranger daybook. Then he walks in and speaks to the receptionist.

“Good afternoon,” he says. “I’m Sergeant Daniel Mesa of the Arizona rangers, and I’d like to speak to Major Huerta. Here are my credentials.”

“I am Morgana Blake, Ranger Mesa,” she says. “The major is expecting you. Your Captain Johnson called and told us you were coming. Carlotta will take you to the major. Welcome to San Antonio.”

Carlotta is young and somewhat provocative. Mesa is familiar with the type and keeps a very business-like demeanor.

“Ranger Mesa, have you been to San Antonio before?” she asks. “Oh, here we are. The major’s office is here. If you need someone to show you around, I am available.”

Mesa opens the door and steps in. In the room is Major Boca Huerta, a military veteran and a veteran of many Ranger fight. In the room are several rangers who are looking at various reports. As Mesa walks in all talking stops.

Mesa speaks, “Sir, Sergeant Mesa of the Arizona rangers, reporting.”

“Welcome to San Antonio and to our headquarters. Captain Johnson told me why you are here. Now how can we help you?”

“Sir, I need your help in locating a Carlos Meana and Antonio Blackbear. These are the latest photos we have of them. However, rumor has it that Carlos has grown a beard and Antonio is sporting a mustache and longer hair. I believe I saw Carlos and Antonio as I was entering the building. He was driving a Dodge truck, maroon in color, a four by four with a camper on back and Arizona tags.”

“Ranger Mesa, if you were Meana, what would you do? Where would you go?”

“Sir, I would go to a place where I could see anyone coming after me. He came here to get help from his family. He has a brother named Francisco Meana, a petty criminal. Are you familiar with him? If I couldn’t get help from my brother, I would try to find someone who had a grudge against the rangers and talk them into helping me. There is one family he would go to, and that would be the family of Jose Guittierrez-Jackson, the family of the man I killed a while back. They’d help him. I would probably hide out someplace in the southwest, close to the border. The Big Bend country or the Davis Mountains would be appropriate. Sir, I recommend an all-points bulletin along I-10 west and Highway 90 west. If possible, have your sketch artist put together pictures of Meana with a beard and Antonio with a mustache and pass it along to all state police and rangers along that route. I will notify the Arizona rangers in Yuma and Tucson to watch for the Guittierrez family leaving and heading east. May I use a phone to call my captain?”

Major Huerta buzzes Carlotta saying; “Carlotta, will you come in please? Carlotta opens the door and walk in saying, “Yes Sir?

Yes, Carlotta will you show Ranger Mesa to a phone.”

“Ranger, please follow me.”

Mesa follows Carlotta, who once again makes it known she is available. Mesa say “Thank you but I never mix business and pleasure.” He smiles politely and continues with his business. The telephone rings at Santa Cruz Headquarters.

“Santa Cruz headquarters, Ranger Hernandez speaking.”

“Bonnie, this is Dan Mesa. Is the captain in?”

“Yeah, Dan, hold on a minute.”

“Mesa, how are things in San Antonio?” The captain asks when he picks up.

“Sir, things are good here,” Dan says. “Captain, while talking with Major Huerta, we came to the conclusion that Carlos and Antonio are probably heading toward the Big Bend country and into the Davis Mountains. Once they get deep into those mountains, we will never catch them. Also, I believe Carlos has contacted Jose’s family, in particular Mandy. They’ll probably join forces to fight us. Captain, I believe we should contact Major McMasters and ask him to put a watch on the family members to determine if they are heading in this direction.”

“That’s a good idea, Dan,” the captain says. “I will put Alana on it immediately. Have you spotted Carlos?”

“Yes, sir. I saw him as I was entering the building this morning. He has a beard, and Antonio has a mustache. They were traveling in a maroon Dodge truck with an extended cab and a camper on back. It is the same one they purchased in Douglas. They don’t know I’m here. Maybe we will finally have a break.”