Robert Browne - Kill Her Again

“Uuhhhh,” Pope said, arms flailing, hammering against the offending chunk of ham as everything around him started to grow hazy. He couldn’t believe how quickly the tables had turned. Jonah was right; he wasn’t any Rambo, he was the goddamn comedy relief-only what was happening to him wasn’t the least bit funny.

His blows were about as lethal as gnat bites and there was nothing he could do to stop the vice from tightening. The interior of the car grew dimmer and all he wanted to do was breathe, but that wasn’t possible right now and might never be again.

He twisted and turned anyway, trying desperately to shake himself loose, his heart pounding violently as darkness closed in on him.

Then suddenly, just as he thought he was going to pass out, the arm went slack and Pope felt Joshua’s entire body go stiff.

“That’s right,” a sharp voice said. “Let him go.”

It was McBride. Anna McBride-the most beautiful goddamn federal agent in the world. And Pope knew by the way that Joshua had stopped moving that she had a weapon pointed at him.

“I won’t ask again. Let him go. And keep your hands where I can see them.”

Joshua hesitated, then did as he was told, and Pope collapsed to the floor between the seats, sucking in precious air, his throat on fire, his neck feeling like a deflated inner tube.

“You, over there,” McBride said. “Put yours on the wheel, where I can see them.”

Pope heard movement up front and could only assume that Jonah had complied. Then a door opened.

“Okay now. Step outside, one at a time, then turn and face the car. You boys just bought yourselves a ticket to the Ludlow County jail.”

Thank God for small miracles, Pope thought.

And stubborn women.

Deputy Chavez did the honors.

Anna watched as he guided the two handcuffed hulks into the backseat of his cruiser. They were barely able to squeeze in.

He and Worthington had showed up shortly after she’d ordered the two out of their car-a call from Ronnie, no doubt-and she had welcomed the backup.

Ronnie, who had taken Evan down to a neighbor’s house, was back now, trying her best to tend to Pope, who sat on a nearby curb, holding a bag of ice to his neck.

He looked shaken, but thankful to be alive.

He caught Anna watching him, and gave her a small nod. His eyes seemed darker and more intense than ever, and she thought she saw a hint of embarrassment there. But he wasn’t trying to hide it, like most men would. Macho pride did not seem to be part of Daniel Pope’s lexicon.

Which, of course, endeared him to her. Attracted her.

Jesus, she thought. Get a grip, Anna.

Everything that’s happened in the last few hours and you’re thinking about how appealing this guy is?

The human mind’s ability to compartmentalize was nothing short of amazing. Nothing short of a miracle, in her case.

As Chavez’s squad car drove the two perps away, Worthington approached her. “Looks like my sorry sack of a cousin owes you his life.”

“I guess that makes us even. If he hadn’t called you this morning, I probably wouldn’t be standing here.”

“Yeah, I’m still trying to figure that one out. I’m sure as hell not buying this whole psychic-kid thing.”

“That’s not the half of it,” Anna said.

“Oh? What else is he trying to sell you?”

“I’ll let you know when I’ve finished processing it.”

“Fair enough,” Worthington said. “He tell you what this new ruckus was all about?”

Anna shook her head. “Some vague story about cops and crooks and gambling debts. It’s all connected to the Oasis.”

Worthington rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised? Knowing Danny, it’ll probably take a loaded bong and crowbar to get the full story out of him.” He looked over at Pope and sighed. “I just wish he’d quit pretending to be a fuckup and get back into the real world.”

“I’m the last person to be judging anyone. But speaking of fuckups, is Royer still around?”

Worthington grinned, returning his gaze to her. “I told him the request for his help was rescinded. He seemed a little out of sorts when he left.”

“Does this mean you want me out of your hair, too?”

“The request was rescinded for his help, not yours.”

“Thanks,” Anna said. “But just so you’re up to speed, I’m about to be suspended.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to deputize you.”

Anna smiled. There was certainly something special about the Pope/Worthington DNA. “Any progress on our perp?”

Worthington shook his head. “He’s a phantom as far as I can tell. The head carny says he’s not one of theirs, and I don’t think they’re covering for the guy. I had them take that goddamn house of mirrors apart, piece by piece, and there’s just no way he could’ve gotten out of there.”

“What about the shoe?”

“I’ve got a forensics guy looking at it, and those cigarette butts you told us about. They look like they could be a foreign brand. At some point I’d like to sit you down with a sketch artist, but I’m not feeling too hopeful right now.”

“Any luck with the tattoo?”

“That’s the good news,” Worthington said.

“Oh? What did you find?”

He gestured to Pope, who was on his feet now. “Let’s get our wannabe fuckup back inside, grab some lunch, then head into my office. I’m gonna need a computer for this.”

Anna nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

It was the best tuna-salad sandwich she’d ever tasted. Whipped up by Worthington and Pope, no less. A throwback to their stoner days.

“The secret is the capers and the red onion,” Worthington said. “They give it bite.”

The two men worked together with an effortless rhythm that spoke of their affection for each other.

For the first time since she’d met the man, Anna saw a Pope from another era. And despite a lingering reticence, he seemed a bit more at ease now. At home. He was still fighting it, but it was a fight Anna didn’t think he’d win.

She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she took that first bite. She quickly devoured one sandwich and asked for another and Worthington gladly obliged.

They allowed themselves only small talk as they ate, Worthington telling stories of their childhood in Ludlow. Pope’s broken collarbone, caused by a skateboarding accident. The dime-store shoplifting incident that landed them both in jail until Worthington’s father, the Ludlow county sheriff, bailed them out. The secret field trip to Vegas when they were seventeen, complete with homemade IDs.

Somewhere in the middle of this, Ronnie, who had gone back to the neighbor’s to fetch Evan, returned with the boy in tow.

Pope rose at the sight of him, his voice slightly hoarse. “Hey, kiddo, I’ve got something for you in my backpack. Almost forgot about it.”

He disappeared for a moment, then came back carrying the little black box with the miniature disco ball. He flipped the switch on top and the ball began to spin as he held the box out to Evan.

“I promised to give it to you, remember?”

Evan stared, but didn’t reach for it. His eyes didn’t light up. No hint of a smile. And Anna knew that a part of him had shut down and wouldn’t start back up again for a long time. A very long time.

Apparently reaching the same conclusion, Pope hit the switch, bringing the ball to a stop, then set the box on the kitchen counter and tousled Evan’s hair.

“It’s here when you’re ready for it, okay?”

“Okay,” Evan said.

A few minutes later, Anna, Pope, and Worthington were gathered in the back office, Anna and Pope watching as Worthington returned his Glock to the safe, then flicked a switch on his computer monitor.