Chapter 24
Cowboy met them at the rendezvous coordinates just past the Falfurrias checkpoint, well into the United States. Jackie climbed into the backseat of the SUV and leaned forward to talk to Cowboy. “Is that it? Are we safe?”
“As a choirboy in a priest’s office.”
Razorback climbed into the front seat and shook his head. “You really know how to instill confidence in a person.”
“You hungry, sweet thing?” Cowboy asked Jackie. “There’s a Waffle House up here, someplace I could take you.”
“Starving,” said Razorback.
Jackie laughed.
“He’s been sorta into me for years.” Cowboy turned to Razorback. “How many times I gotta tell you, I’m a taken man?” As promised, the Waffle House was only a short drive away, and they quickly got a table. “You two are dirtier than the underbelly of a pig,” Cowboy observed.
Jackie looked down. “You’re right. I’m going to wash up. Get me coffee if the waitress comes by.” Razorback went, too.
Cowboy pulled out his phone. No message from Charlotte. Not that he thought there would be. She liked to let the anger build up awhile to give the explosion more oomph. He played a game on his phone, wondering what had transpired on Jackie and Razorback’s hike and if he should intervene.
He got an email from Mac O’Brady with the subject line FYI, Jackass, and frowned.
Dear Cowboy,
I’m taking a couple of weeks off to handle a personal matter that’s none of your goddamn business.
While I’m away, my men will have complete control over all HERO Force New York resources, as well as a virtually endless supply of firearms and ammunition.
As always, I appreciate your unwavering support for the mission of the HERO Force New York office—to stand by your brothers in arms through all things.
P.S. Go fuck yourself.
Mac
“Nice. That’s beautiful.”
“What’s the matter?” asked Razorback, sliding into the booth.
“Freaking Clash of Clans booted me off during my attack.” Cowboy turned off his phone and threw it on the table.
“And here I thought you were doing something important.”
“Fuck no. How are the lungs?”
“Fine.”
Cowboy narrowed his eyes. “And how are you?”
“Why do you sound like my mother?”
“Just want some details about the mission. How was the hike through hell’s backyard?”
“Hot.”
“I can have one of my guys stay with Jackie through the convention.”
“No, I’ll do it.”
“You’re tired.” He shrugged. “Nobody would blame you. Maybe some space would be a good thing.”
Razorback stared at him for a long beat. “Did she say something?”
“She didn’t have to. I could tell the first time I saw you two together. Jackie’s about to become a very famous person with a very complicated life. You might want to take a step back from that.”
“I’ve got it under control.”
“Kind of like a wildfire. It’s under control until it ain’t no more.”
“I said I’ve got it, Leo.”
The waitress arrived. “You guys ready to order?”
Cowboy raised an eyebrow. “You have a hammer back there so I can pound some sense into this guy?”
She cracked a smile. “Afraid we’re fresh out.”
“Then coffee and waters all around.” Cowboy leaned back, assessing his old friend. Razorback was stronger, tougher, and more stubborn than ever. “Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“You mean like let an ocean liner explode while you’re hitting on Logan’s sister?”
Cowboy glared at him. “You know about that?”
“Sloan likes to gossip.”
“I hate that little fucker.” He shook his head and sighed heavily. “What’s Mac up to? He says he’s taking some time off.”
“He’s looking for his wife. She left him years ago and he wants her back. He was able to follow her trail for a while, then everything just stopped in Mobile, Alabama. Like she disappeared for real, not just left-her-husband kind of disappeared. That was back in 2013,” he said pointedly.
Cowboy raised his eyebrows. “Two thousand thirteen in Mobile, Alabama? Is she black?”
“Yep.”
“Shit. You know what I’m thinking, right?”
Razorback shrugged. “Same thing Mac’s thinking. She may have been a victim of that serial killer.”
“Arnold Godak.” Cowboy shook his head. Now he understood. “Let me guess, Godak’s at Rikers.”
Razorback nodded. “Awaiting trial on a B and E.”
Why didn’t he just fucking tell me?
If Cowboy had known the reason Mac was dropping the HERO Force name, he would have been the first to tell him it was okay.
He scratched the stubble where his beard had been, wondering when he’d put perfection before brotherhood.
His priorities were messed up. If Mac and his men were damaged goods, it was because they’d put themselves on the line to defend and fight for their country.
They deserved better from him, and he resolved they would receive it from now on. “So, what’s the time off for?”
“He thinks he knows where the bodies are buried. Told the FBI, but Godak won’t repeat anything incriminating, and they say the information he gave to Mac is too vague to act on. Last I talked to Mac, he was talking about looking into it himself.”
“What, with a shovel?”
Jackie returned and sat down.
“I guess,” said Razorback. “You should ask him yourself.”
He would have to do that. Jackie was looking at the menu, her shoulder nearly touching Razorback’s. There was something between them, all right, and he could only hope that was a good thing for his old friend. He’d met Ian’s first wife. Jackie was a considerable improvement.
The waitress took their orders. Cowboy’s cell phone rang and he hoped it was Charlotte, but Logan’s ugly mug stared back at him from the screen. “What’s up, Doc?”
“Flight plan’s been filed. I’ve got the bird fueled up and ready to go.”
“Be there within the hour.”
“Did you hear? Simmons officially dropped out of the race. McGrath is definitely getting the nomination tomorrow.”
Cowboy’s eyes went to the woman across the table, who was talking quietly to Razorback with a smile. He hoped Ian was ready for this, because the stage was set for one hell of an explosion—with Jackie Desjardins at the center of it all.