Chapter Eighteen #3
“Yeah, that’s a whole other conversation,” Raven said, smiling.
I nodded and glanced over at Candy. “I’d guess Raven’s callin’ it lucky because it’ll make the perfect sniper perch for Mars.”
Candy nodded. “That’s exactly right, Monroe. The plan is to wait until nine and hit the door to the office once Napoleon and Patsy have rappelled down to the third floor where they’ll make entry.”
I nodded. “By bustin’ through the window just like the last time we had one of these skyscrapers?”
Candy nodded. “Right, but we honestly hesitated when adding it to the plan because the office building is in a much busier area than the apartment building was. When I presented my plans with the LAPD captain who had to approve it, he suggested the LAPD should cordon off the entire street and divert both pedestrian and street traffic until we conclude the Op. They’ll say we’re part of a crew of actors shooting a movie.
I had to get the FBI to approve us hiring a whole movie crew to make it look real because you just know beyond the barricades, a crowd will form to watch the shooting of a movie. ”
“That’s a good idea if you have to have guys come in from the roof. Still, it will cause a hell of a mess with glass crashin’ to the street below.”
“It will, much like the one where Nash and Mickey came in through the window from up above, only this time, it’s just us…there’s no DEA on scene to fuck up their entry.”
“Well, that Op turned out okay once we figured out Turley was the snake who’d turned double agent,” I said.
Candy grinned. “And I think if you were to ask Nash how he feels about meeting the man he’s in love with on that job, he might just agree it was all worth it. We’re not going to have that problem this time, though, Rex.”
I cleared my throat and looked back down at the picture. “Where’s everyone else gonna be? In the hallway?”
“That’s what I’d planned,” Candy said. He lifted an eyebrow. “Thoughts on that?”
“Well, the way I remember it, our target nearly got away before Patsy put an end to him. You plannin’ on havin’ someone other than Mars outside the buildin’ just to make sure their egress is covered?”
Candy nodded. “We’ll have Tac Team Two guarding the exterior egresses of the building.
There are three ways to exit. One is right through the lobby, there’s one out the back, and the final one is in the basement where a subterranean parking lot is located.
And we have a second sniper from Snow’s team.
All in all, we should have everything covered but I’m hopeful that we can round everyone up in one fell swoop. ”
I nodded and passed the picture back to him. “This looks good, boss.” I sighed. “Now will you elaborate on the players you mentioned? Should I assume we’re to catch this new leader of the Lima distribution network. What’s his name again?”
“Oscar Aguilar,” Alain replied. “He’s the one we’ve been waiting for. Actually, he arrived last night. He’s staying at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.”
I smirked. “You’ve had him under surveillance?”
Candy nodded. “Us and Lincoln Snow’s team.
They’ll be the ones making the arrests after we’ve secured the scene.
Aguilar somehow slipped past the Policia Nacional del Peru yesterday morning and hopped a private plane headed to LAX.
They weren’t able to catch up to him there, because the Peruvian police didn’t contact us until he’d already been on the ground in Los Angeles for twelve hours. ”
I shook my head. “And that ain’t fishy at all. I have a feelin’ losin’ him made one of them policias a lotta dough.”
“Entirely possible,” Candy replied.
“But, actually, it’s not such a bad thing,” Raven said. “At least this way, we can round up all these scumbags at once.”
“I really hope you’re successful and again, thanks for includin’ me.”
“Rex, you’re an integral member of my team,” Candy replied, waving at the wheelchair. “You always will be…chair or not.”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t have spoken around the lump in my throat if I’d tried.
“Candy’s right. It doesn’t work without you,” Raven added. “And I have selfish reasons for wanting you up and walking as soon as possible.”
I stared at him. “What are those?”
He frowned, shaking his head. “I’m sick to death of Miguel telling me how dangerous field work is. I’m pretty sure he’d wrap me up in bubble plastic if he could.”
I chuckled. “Well, you are a new husband and all. Of course, he’d rather have you behind computer screens where things are safer than field work.”
“I miss Raven too,” Judy said, looking fondly at the man in question. “Working without him at my side just isn’t the same.”
It was so nice to be sitting here feeling like a small part of the team again and I really hoped Candy was right. If he and the team could actually put this case to bed, at least being hurt the way I had would somehow feel just a bit like all the pain and paralysis really was worth it.
Nothing could be worth losing Cachi, but for the moment, I forced myself to put him out of my mind.
Thinking about him was way too painful. I really hoped Tennyson was right when he said, “tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” because right now, losing the love of my life was all I could think of.
“Hopefully, you’ll be coming back to work really soon, Rex,” Candy said, pushing away from the table and standing. The others also got to their feet.
I wheeled around the table and stopped in front of him, holding out a hand. “Thanks so much for all of this, boss.”
He smiled. “Of course, it’s no problem. I wanted you to know we’re all thinking of you just like we have been every day since it happened.” He shook my hand.
“I put you on the prayer sheet at work, Rex,” Judy said, bending to hug me. “Everyone at Our Lady of the Valley is praying for you.”
I hugged her hard, patting her on the back as she straightened. “Thanks, Judy. I really appreciate that.”
Raven stepped up and held out a hand which I took. “We’re all ready to have you back at the office, so keep up with your physical therapy exercises.”
I hooked a thumb at Alain who stood there looking smug. “Trust me when I say, this guy ain’t gonna let me rest on my laurels.”
“And you’ll no doubt continue to behave in an utterly beastly fashion, old boy.” Alain blew on his manicure.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Anyway, please tell the others I really want to thank them for all their hard work.” I waved at the front door. “You know, buildin’ the ramps and whatnot.”
Raven chuckled. “Whatnot. Did Candy tell you Miguel and I changed your sheets?”
I laughed. “Yeah, buddy, he did. Thanks. That must have been horrifyin’.”
“Not for me. I’m the clean freak, but I can barely get Miguel to change a lightbulb, much less a set of sheets, so it was good practice.” He patted me on the shoulder and as he did, Lola ran into the room in her little wheelchair.
“Oh, my goodness!” Judy exclaimed. “Aren’t you too cute?”
Lola’s whole body wiggled like crazy as Judy leaned down to pet her. She looked up at me. “We had so much fun taking care of her while you were away.”
I felt my face heat. “Another thing I’ll never be able to thank y’all for.”
Lola started barking then ran over to the sliding glass door to the backyard.
“Oh, you need to go out,” I said.
“We’ll let you do that, Rex,” Candy said. “Shall I lock up?”
“I’ll do it.” Alain walked over to the door as the others stepped out onto the porch.
I wheeled over and watched them walk to their cars. “Thanks, guys.”
“No problem. Bye until tomorrow,” Candy replied as they all looked back.
“Good night, guys.” I watched them drive away, and Alain locked the front door. “Gonna take her out.”
Alain appeared slightly awkward as he deliberately shuffled his feet. He let out a long sigh before glancing at me.
“Would it be terribly presumptuous to assume you’d need my help with Lola?”
I shook my head. “I’ve got it, Joy, but thanks.”
He looked relieved. “Right-O, then. I’ll head off to bed, Rex…unless you need my assistance with anything.”
I snorted. “Naw, get yourself some sleep, Alain. You’ve got an important job to do tomorrow. I gotta learn to do stuff on my own.”
“Capital,” he said, looking relieved. “Good night then.”
“Night, buddy, and thanks for bein’ here.”
He smiled and left me in the front room, heading down the hallway and shutting the bedroom door behind him.
I grabbed Lola’s belly protector before heading over to the back door.
I picked her up, and pulled her out of the wheelchair, wrapped her belly, and set her on the ground next to the doggy door.
She pulled herself through it and scooted down the ramp.
It had gotten dark, so when she got to the grass, she disappeared into the shadows while I sat at the door.
I watched for about five minutes, and when she hadn’t reappeared or barked, I started to get worried.
I slid the door open and called to her. “Lola! Lola!”
I heard distant barking from the back of the yard and then a snuffling sound followed by more barking.
She had to be after a gopher. My yard was full of them and getting rid of the pesky rodents who dug holes all over the grass was a constant struggle I never seemed to win.
Lola was always chasing them back to their holes and digging for them, compounding the problem.
I glanced back in the direction of the hallway, momentarily unsure whether I should bother Alain to go look for her.
My mind was made up for me the minute I heard the muffled sounds of music as it started to play behind the closed bedroom door.
Alain was putting my old console stereo to use.
I kept it, along with a shelf filled with vintage vinyl in the room he was staying in.
My pride won out. I had to learn to do things on my own. I drove the wheelchair out onto the back porch, calling her name the whole time. “Lola! Lola! Come here, girl!”
I rolled down the ramp and came to an abrupt stop, pitching sideways as one front wheel suddenly hit the edge of the patio sinking into the grass.
The entire wheelchair tipped to the side and before I could do anything to stop it, my weight, combined with the momentum of the chair, toppled the whole thing.
Unable to stop myself, I fell hard, crashing half on the patio’s edge and half on the grass a second later.
Worst of all, as I fell, I somehow managed to bang my cheek on a terra-cotta pot filled with geraniums. The blinding stab of pain in my face as the skin over my cheekbone felt like it split, took my breath away.
I lifted my hand to my face without thinking and it came away wet with what I could only assume was blood I couldn’t see in the darkness.
“Dammit!” I hissed. I rolled to my back and looked upward, feeling angry and helpless with my predicament.
I craned my neck to look toward the back.
“Lola!” I was relieved when she came fast, scooting across the grass, and over to where I lay, feeling slightly panicked and sorry for myself.
I reached out and pulled her to me, kissing the top of her head as she began whining.
“It’s okay, Lola girl.” I glanced at the wheelchair which lay on its side. “Fuuuck me.”
I gave my precious girl another kiss and then put her down, pushing myself up to a sitting position, pondering how I was going to right the chair and crawl back into it, much less, get it onto the patio.
I glanced back at the house and listened, barely able to hear the distant sound of music playing behind Alain’s closed door.
Even if I yelled for him, there was no way he’d hear me, not with the stereo going.
I contemplated my situation for only a minute or so, before making up my mind.
I glanced at Lola. “Okay, girl, let’s do this.” I patted her little head and then began the arduous task of dragging myself across the ground, using my upper body strength to get the chair set to rights. No easy task, it took more time than I’d hoped, but at least, I was halfway there.
Lola barked. Her entire body was still as she blinked up at me.
I couldn’t help but smile as she whimpered again.
“I’m gonna be fine, sweetheart.” I petted her head then went back to my task, somehow managing to get all four wheels of the chair onto solid concrete and then literally drag my ass back into it.
The upper body strength I’d gained from the manual wheelchair wasn’t lost on me.
By the time I was finally seated, I was soaked with sweat, my arm muscles were screaming, and I stunk like wet grass.
I called for Lola and she dragged herself close enough for me to pick her up. Setting her in my lap, I wheeled us both back to the house, cursing my predicament the entire time.