When we were out of earshot, Hawk began to speak. “You know, I thought you were dead. Everybody from the old crew thought for sure those Cubans had got you in Sweothi City.”
“It was better that way,” I answered. “Some of us didn’t part on the best of terms. I figured it would be easier for everybody if Decker assumed I was dead.”
Hawk nodded sagely. “That was probably smart. Adrian wasn’t the kind of man that I’d want holding a grudge against me, so I suppose it was for the best. Well, I was glad to hear from you. I always hated losing men. I just wished you would have called sooner, because that’s one less thing I would have had gnawing at me, Ozzie.”
It had been a long time since I had gone by that name, just one of many in a long line of aliases. “I go by Lorenzo now.”
“That’s what Jill told me. That girl wouldn’t shut up about you. She’s got quite the fondness for you. She talked a lot, but I’ll admit, it was nice having a young lady around. You’ve changed more than your name, Lorenzo. You’re a different man than you were back in Africa.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked slowly.
“The man I knew back then was a stone-cold killer who only thought about himself and back-stabbed anybody who got in his way, unless you just happened to somehow become one of his friends, and he didn’t have hardly any of those. A man so twisted up inside and scary driven that it even got to worrying somebody like Decker. Why do I think you changed? Because for a woman that good to take a liking to you, you’re either a better man than I remember, or you’re a whole lot better con.” The old mercenary gave me the smallest bit of a grin. “And Val might not think so yet, but you did the right thing helping him. That boy’s like a son to me. Don’t you tell him I said that.”
“You don’t have to come with us, Hawk.”
He was solemn. “True. I don’t. I’m retired. I’ve got a nice place, just how I like it. Comfortable, I suppose. But you know, I think I took a liking to that girl too. Hell, Val and that little lady damn near killed each other in my kitchen when he first got here. Had to separate ’em like a couple of squawkin’ kids.” Hawk let out a raspy laugh. “He’s sure got a soft spot for the females. And they’re about the same age. They got along after a while. Gave her someone else to blab about you to. I was getting tired of it.”
I laughed along with him. We’d overthrown a country together once. Hawk was the last of the gunslingers, and there was nobody alive I’d rather have at our side.
Valentine appeared in the doorway. “It’s time.” He was dropping rounds into his revolver and snapped the cylinder closed. Well, maybe Hawk wasn’t the last of the gunslingers.
VALENTINE
It was a long drive out of Quagmire to the rest stop, following a lonely two-lane highway with sparse traffic. We were far away from the nearest interstate, and there wasn’t much going on out here. The rest stop itself was closed, but you could still pull off into the parking lot. Sitting in that parking lot was a nondescript black Suburban. I watched Lorenzo get out of his car, and I could tell he was surprised.
Anxious, I got out myself, my hand hovering over my pistol. All four of us had on body armor and other assorted battle rattle. I hoped like hell it wasn’t a cop. At best, he’d think we were a bunch of militia nuts or mall ninjas. Or maybe we could pass ourselves off as airsofters. Anyway, I doubted most militia nuts were nearly as armed and dangerous as we were.
From out of the Suburban stepped a big guy, tall, barrel-chested, and muscular. He and Lorenzo were exchanging words as I approached, and the bald man seemed none too concerned that Lorenzo was dressed in full tac gear. I could tell they knew each other. Was this the “Bob” guy Lorenzo had been talking to on the phone? Why would he be here?
That’s when I noticed the government plates on the Suburban. “Well, fuck me,” I said to myself. There were Feds here. Lorenzo had called a Federal Agent. Was this a setup? Had this entire thing been some overcomplicated scheme to turn me over to the government? It didn’t make any sense. My mind raced. Adrenaline surged.
“Lorenzo, you need to tell me what the hell is going on here,” I said calmly. My right hand had reflexively found its way to my chest, resting on my plate carrier. My left hand was on the butt of my .44. “Why is there a Fed here?”
“No! It’s cool! It’s cool!” he said excitedly. “This is my brother, Bob. He’s—”
I unsnapped the retention device on my thigh holster.
“Listen to me!” Lorenzo insisted. “It’s not like that. He’s my brother. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He’s supposed to be getting his family to safety!” Lorenzo glared at the other man.
“So,” I said, Calm wavering as I grew angry, “you called a Fed. Your brother the Fed. You idiot! Why in the hell didn’t you just have me call the cops if you wanted the Feds involved? Jesus, why don’t we just the ATF and the Secret fucking Service while you’re we’re it! Hell, we can get the DEA and the Coast Guard in on it, too, and have a giant fucking federal law-enforcement jamboree!”
“Look, kid,” the big man said, “I don’t know who you are and I don’t care. I’m here to help my brother get his girlfriend back.”
“She’s not my girlfriend!” Lorenzo sputtered. The big man grinned. I relaxed slightly. Though they didn’t look anything alike, they sure acted like brothers.
“This is Bob,” Lorenzo sighed “Bob, this is—”
“Don’t you dare tell him my name!” I yelled, wheeling around.
Lorenzo laughed. “I’m just kidding, relax.”
It was going to be a long night.
LORENZO
Valentine stomped away, muttering and swearing. I turned back to Bob and whispered, “What’re you doing here?”
“I’ve got a contact in Vegas I was going to see. Let’s just say he’s outside my chain of command, but he’s really good at hiding people. Don’t worry. I’ve got things moving to protect everyone from your boss.” My giant of a brother nodded after Valentine. “Your friend seems a little tense.”
“He’s wound kind of tight. But back to the question, what are you doing here? What about the family?”
“The family will be fine. I’ve put some things into motion. You should have come to me sooner.” Bob shaded his eyes and scanned the horizon. “Look, Hector, this Gordon Willis you asked me about, he’s not just a low-level chump. He’s more important than that. I don’t think you realize just who he works for, but it’s bigger than you can imagine. If he has your friend, she’s in big trouble.”
“You can’t do this, you’re the law. You’re a cop!”
“I won’t be for long if anybody ever finds out about this,” he answered. “Maybe we can share a cell.”
“But these are your people.”
He raised his voice. “These are not my people. My people take an oath to defend the Constitution, and I’m sick of watching men like Willis shred it. People like him work in a different kind of government than the one I signed on to. Black, secret, unaccountable. We’re not even supposed to ask questions about his operation. He’s had suspects taken in, no evidence, no investigation, no trial, and they just disappear into thin air, forever. These aren’t even bad guys they’re rolling up. They’re regular folks who’ve asked too many questions about the wrong powerful people.”