Michael McGarity - Serpent Gate

The wheels thudded over the runway, and for the first time during the flight Carlos looked out the window.

The bright lights of the small control tower were a welcome sight. He let go of the armrests and grunted in relief only when the plane touched down and the pilot applied the brakes. nita lassiter stood at the railing on the second floor of the state police headquarters and watched Kerney walk slowly up the stairs. With his head lowered, he didn't see her. She had noticed Kerney's limp previously, but now it seemed much more pronounced; he was almost dragging his right leg up each step. He saw her, masked a small smile, and picked up his pace.

"I see you made bail," Kerney said as he reached the top of the landing.

"Yesterday," Nita replied. Dressed in blue jeans, a blue cotton shirt, and work boots, Nita held a brown leather bomber jacket in her hand.

Her arm was no longer in a sling.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Lassiter?" Kerney asked, concentrating on her worried expression. Even in casual attire Nita looked feminine and elegant.

"I'm here about Robert," Nita replied.

"He's been severely beaten. He wants you to visit him at the hospital."

"What happened?"

"He won't talk about it. He has a fractured arm, a broken rib, and he lost some front teeth."

"Who found him?"

"A deputy sheriff."

"Where?"

"Near the Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair. He was lying in the courtyard of the old motor lodge."

"What hospital is he in?"

"The university hospital in Albuquerque."

"How did you find out about it?"

"Robert carries my business card in his wallet. The hospital called to see if I was his next of kin."

"No wonder Robert thinks of you as his sister."

"He really has no one else," Nita answered with a slight shrug and small smile.

"Will you go and see him?"

"Of course I will. As soon as I finish up here."

"Thank you." Nita dropped her gaze as Kerney's blue eyes studied her.

"I wish you wouldn't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"If you have another question, just ask it."

"You don't seem to like my questions," Kerney replied.

"I'm not going to apologize for being upset when you came to take me to jail."

"Why should you? I've watched hard cases break down and cry when the jail door slammed shut behind them. You held up very well."

"Is that a compliment?"

"You bet it is."

"Why do I get the feeling you don't think of me as a criminal?" Nita asked.

"Extenuating circumstances make some people less guilty than others."

"Your compassion surprises me."

Kerney grimaced at the sarcasm.

"I sound like I'm spoiling for a fight, don't I?" Nita said.

"You're angry."

"Mostly with myself. That doesn't mean I have to take it out on you."

Kerney extended his hand.

"I hope things work out for you."

"So do I." Nita slipped her hand into Kerney's and didn't let go.

"You're a rare breed, Mr. Kerney. Under different circumstances, I think I would enjoy knowing you."

"I share the feeling," Kerney replied.

"Take care of yourself."

Nita smiled and let go of Kerney's hand.

"I plan to.

Addie is about to have her baby. She went into labor an hour ago. I'm on my way to Socorro."

"Will you tell her the truth about Paul Gillespie?"

Nita shook her head.

"There's no need. She's agreed to put the baby up for adoption."

She walked down the stairs with her back straight and her head up, and Kerney fought off the unpleasant image of Nita dressed in prison garb, locked in a cell. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help her. *** "How did it go?" Andy asked from behind his desk as Kerney entered his office.

"Nobody seems to know where De Leon is, but I did learn that he now has a diplomatic passport and he's buying into legitimate businesses along the border."

Kerney sat, gave Andy the details, and finished up.

"I've got an informant injuarez trying to scour up some more facts."

"By the name of Juan Diaz," Andy noted.

"He called looking for you."

"Did he leave a message?"

"It's not one you're going to like to hear. Carlos Ruiz laid some heavy muscle on him after your visit. Ruiz roughed Diaz up and forced him to snitch you off."

"How the hell did Carlos get on to me?"

"You were probably tailed as soon as you crossed the border," Andy ventured.

"I never should have let you go down there."

"If De Leon knows I'm looking for him, it might force him out into the open."

"What an optimist you are. De Leon has any number of resources he can use to kill you, without exposing himself."

"Should I go into hiding?" Kerney asked sharply.

"Don't get testy on me," Andy answered gruffly.

"But until the dust settles I've put Fletcher's house under a close patrol, and Sergeant Martinez will be your partner. Where you go, he goes."

Kerney opened his mouth to protest and Andy cut him off.

"No arguments, Kerney."

Kerney clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

"Has Gilbert made any progress while I was gone?"

"He's got his team working hard on the Amanda Talley connection, and he's searching records on the companies that own Rancho Caballo property to see what might be lurking behind the corporate veil."

"No breakthroughs," Kerney summarized.

"We're running with one foot nailed to the floor," Andy groused in agreement. He pointed to the open door to the conference room.

"But if it will make you feel any better, there are a shitload of inconclusive field reports you need to read through."

Kerney pulled himself out of his chair with a rueful look on his face.

"In the morning," Andy ordered, holding up a hand.

Kerney nodded.

"Yeah. In my current state, I'd just have to read them all over again anyway."

"Go home. Better yet, get a home."

"Hetcher would be heartbroken to know that you don't approve of my living arrangements."

"Hetcher may not want you staying in his guest quarters for the next couple of years."

"I doubt the investigation will last that long."

"I didn't make you my chief deputy to work one case. As soon as we get through this mess, I'm going to fill your plate. There's a hell of a lot of work we need to do in this department."

"Don't try to shanghai me for the long haul, Andy."

"You're in for the duration."

"We'll just have to see about that," Kerney noted as he left the office. carlos found De Leon in the living room, sitting in his favorite chair, reading some papers. The patron was dressed to go out. He wore a lightweight camel hair jacket, a silk shirt buttoned easily at the collar, and a pair of charcoal trousers.

Carlos hesitated before entering. The preserved head of a fighting bull, famous for its performance in the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, looked over the room from above the fireplace. It glared at Carlos forebodingly with its glass eyes. He composed himself and walked toward De Leon Enrique waited for Carlos to draw near.

"A sus ordenes, Don Enrique," Carlos said.

"Ingles," Enrique snapped.

"Speak English."

"I am sorry, patron," Carlos said, lowering his head slightly. "I am at your service."

"That's much better. Are the men in the guest quarters?"

"They are. With orders to stay out of sight until instructed otherwise."

"Very good."

"Do you have orders for them?" Carlos asked.

"Not yet. Why do you look so troubled, Carlos?"

"Because I failed to completely destroy the van, Don Enrique."

De Leon flashed a reassuring smile.

"No blame attaches to you. Palazzi's stupidity created the circumstance.

You did all that I asked to correct the situation."

"But now you are exposed to Kerney," Carlos replied.

"It is Kerney who is at risk. You must complete the dossier on him. I want to know where he is the most vulnerable."