C Box: Below Zero

And Joe realized what really made Portenson so happy. Thanks to Joe’s initial theory, the FBI had focused on Robert and the environmental angle. Things had fallen into place. The analysts were not only connecting the crimes, they were anticipating what the Stensons would do next. Coal-fired power plants with massive carbon dioxide emissions were a natural target. It all played out and fit the pattern. And Portenson was in the catbird seat. He’d be able to avert the plot before anything bad happened. He’d get the credit. Even if the Stensons were in Rangeland to buy gas.

The fly in the ointment, Joe thought, was if Stenko or Robert started talking after they were arrested and threw too much doubt on the FBI’s theories. If they denied ever targeting the power plant. Then Joe realized what else worked in Portenson’s favor. He was pretty sure that the Stensons wouldn’t be alive to talk. Not with Robert’s new propensity to try and shoot his way out of every situation and Stenko’s fatal cancer.

Which meant that Joe would need to get to Stenko before Portenson did.

AS THE PILOT negotiated with the Rangeland sheriff on where to land and Coon arranged for vehicles with the police department, Portenson turned in his seat and said to Joe, “You’ve got a call on channel C.”

His stomach knotted as he turned the dial two clicks. Joe thought: Marybeth. Janie Doe has taken a turn for the worse.

Governor Rulon said, “Finding you was not so easy. How is it going?”

“Not great.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I got a briefing from DCI and between these bad guys you’re chasing and the FBI, there are bodies all over my state from Rawlins to Devils Tower.” He didn’t sound like he was in a good mood.

“It’s been rough,” Joe said. “But we may finally be closing in on them.”

Rulon acted like he didn’t hear Joe. He continued, “Tell Agent Portenson that Wyoming has the smallest population of all the states. He and his minions are doing serious damage on our census count. Those are citizens and voters. I mean they were citizens and voters. At this rate we’ll lose a seat in Congress and our federal funding if he keeps up with all the bodies.”

By the set of Portenson’s jaw, Joe could tell he was once again listening in.

“He just heard you,” Joe said.

“Good! I figured he might be eavesdropping on a private conversation without a warrant.”

This time, Portenson ripped his own headphones off.

“He’s gone,” Joe said.

“So tell me, did you find the girl you were looking for?”

Joe briefed him on the situation.

Rulon said, “Unbelievable. So you think these bad guys might know where the girl you’re looking for is located?”

“Maybe,” Joe said.

“So where are you now?”

“We just got cleared to land in Rangeland. The FBI thinks the Stensons may be going after the power plant.”

“Jesus Christ! They had better not be!”

“I don’t see it,” Joe said, making sure Coon wasn’t listening in, either. He wasn’t. “I just can’t imagine they can waltz their way in there and disrupt the electricity. These Stensons are not geniuses, and one of them may be terminally sick. But that doesn’t mean somebody might not get hurt.”

“But the feds are coordinating with local law enforcement?”

“They appear to be.”

“Will miracles never cease.”

Joe shot glances at Coon, who was obviously engaged in another conversation, and Portenson, who took a cue from Coon and was adjusting his headset back on. Joe saw Portenson switch channels to Coon’s frequency. They were getting information from someone that was making them both sit up straight.

“Something’s going on,” Joe said. “Coon and Portenson are getting new information.”

“What?”

“I think I know, but I can’t say.”

Rulon said, “My lights are still on. So the Stensons haven’t done anything to the power plant.”

The ground rose up and Joe felt one of the skids touch the field. They were landing on the north side of town in an empty cornfield. He could see several police department vehicles parked on a service road beyond a barbed-wire fence.

“Sir,” Joe said, “we’ve landed. I’ll call you back as soon as I have something to report.”

“Keep the lights on, Joe. When the power goes out, bad things happen. Streetlights go out; computers go down; home oxygen units fail. Innocent people die, Joe.”

“Got it.”

“Plus, I’m watching a football game.”

“I’ll do my best,” Joe said, rolling his eyes.

Rulon said, “I hope you find your girl.”

“Me too, sir. Thank you again for letting me pursue this.”

“Don’t mention it. Besides, it sounds like it’s turning into something much bigger than anticipated, something you seem to have a penchant for. I bet being a normal game warden sounds pretty good to you right now.”

“It does. But I nailed the Mad Archer yesterday.”

Rulon said, “Again? Good work!”

WHEN BOTH SKIDS were firmly on the ground, Portenson turned in his seat and gestured for Joe to get out first. He was happy to comply. He almost didn’t notice that Coon hadn’t unbuckled his safety belt or that the pilot wasn’t turning off the rotors.

His boots thumped the ground, and he clamped his hat on his head with his hand to save it from the rotor wash. He felt more than heard the hatch close behind him.

He turned as the motor roared and the helicopter lifted off. Behind the Plexiglas, Portenson waggled his eyebrows and waved good-bye with a sardonic smile on his face. Coon looked away, embarrassed.

Behind him on the edge of the field, the Rangeland police officers scrambled back into their cars and pulled out one by one and U-turned onto a gravel road that headed south. Joe sank to his haunches with one hand on his hat. He watched the taillights of the cars get smaller down the county road and the chopper move across the sky. He didn’t stand until it became quiet, as the thump-thump-thump of the rotors faded out.

Joe rubbed dust from his eyes and sighed a heavy sigh. Then he heard a dirt bike motor cough and come to life. A single headlight blinked through a hedgerow and turned toward him once the rider found an opening in the brush. Joe started walking toward the headlight.

Nate was wearing a ridiculous helmet that looked like a German army helmet. His face shield was pushed up on top but spattered with starbursts of insects. He looped around Joe and stopped the bike just ahead of him. The motor popped and spat as Nate gestured to Joe to get on behind him.

Joe threw a leg over the saddle and tried to balance himself without having to hold on to Nate.

Joe said, “I was hoping you’d have a car or a truck.”

“Nope. I’m actually starting to like this thing.”

“Are Stenko and Robert still here?”

Nate nodded. “They were when I left them.”

“And my phone?”

Nate turned and grinned. “I found a bread truck at the truck stop gassing up. I opened the back and tossed it inside amongst the buns. The last I saw of it, the truck was headed south on I-Twenty-five toward Cheyenne.”

Joe nodded. He figured he and Nate would have no more than fifteen minutes before Portenson realized what had happened and turned back around.

Rangeland

STENKO WATCHED THROUGH PAIN-SLITTED EYES AS HIS SON emerged from the bar with a grin on his face. Robert twirled something on a string or chain. He’d been gone a long time, it seemed. Stenko had taken the rest of the morphine, and the spent plastic pill bottles lay open on the floor of the car near his feet.

Robert threw the door open and jumped in. He was ebullient. He said, “So are you ready for one great and glorious last act?” His smile was maniacal.