CHAPTER 13

Walker got into Houston's truck as Trivette followed behind in the older Ranger's Dodge. "Hope he doesn't kill it." The Ranger worriedly looked in the mirror as the PI smiled and nodded. The plan was for CJ to monitor the critters on Broward's and Dixon's vehicles and keep the group posted on their progress. Walker and Houston would launch the boat and after their two suspects had arrived at Broward's property, Trivette would be nearby so that he could intercept anyone trying to leave by land.

After launching the boat, Walker and Matt moved closer to the northern end of the lake just past a point that was close Ernest Broward's home; they would be nearby but out of sight. Matt dropped the anchor and called to check in with CJ as he baited up a fishing rod and cast out. Walker soon followed suit.

"So have you caught anything yet?" CJ smiled. She knew without a doubt that her husband wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of trying to reel in a fish.

"Not yet." Matt laughed. "Just let us know when they leave."

"I will…and hon – please be extra careful."

"You know I will. Love you, Babe."

"Love you, Cowboy. 'Bye."

Matt put the phone back into his pocket and settled into a seat and watched the bobber on his line. Neither man spoke for a few minutes. "So…" The PI broke the silence. "I notice you and Alex haven't set a date yet." He cut his eyes over at the Ranger.

"Not you, too?" Walker rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Speaking as someone who put it off too long – don't: you'll regret it. That's all I'm gonna say about it."

"Yeah, I know. It would be nice to have a couple of kids."

An hour and several channel catfish later, Matt got the call from CJ that both men were on the move. Walker called and alerted Trivette. Broward had just parked his car when CJ called them again forty five minutes later. "Guess it's time to reel in." Houston brought in his line, put the rod away, and slipped on his vest and holster, making sure that his badge was hooked on his belt. It was now completely dark and the PI flipped off the boat's lights in order to draw as little attention as possible as he idled up to the point and Walker dropped the anchor quietly overboard and brought out his night vision binoculars.

Very quietly the Ranger spoke. "Looks like Broward wasn't kidding about the beer. He's carrying a case down to the boat." Matt nodded and the two remained quiet as the PI set up the dish and turned it on.

"I'm picking up the bottles hitting the ice." His phone buzzed and he read the text from CJ. "Dixon just pulled in."

Nodding, Walker called Trivette and the younger Ranger moved into position. "All set." There was a moment of silence and then Cordell spoke again. "I've got eyes on Dixon. He's walking down to the dock."

Matt nodded and waved the Ranger over, handing him one of the earbuds so he could hear the conversation as well as see the two men.

Dixon spoke first. "So when did you get it?"

"Couple of weeks ago. I've had it out twice now." They chatted about the boat for a few minutes and then cast off. Broward took it out of the small bay where his dock was and anchored down about three quarters of the way toward Cranes Mill Park where Houston and Walker had launched. Although they were still in sight of the two detectives it was decided that Matt should slowly move southeast at an idle to remain close enough for them to interfere with any murderous intentions that Broward might have in mind.

The sound of two beer bottles opening could be heard. "So..." Broward spoke. "What's got you so tense lately?"

"Business. Things are getting tough. There's not much easy oil left to get at – we're either going to have to shut down more of the wells or start fracking."

"That's easy enough, isn't it?"

"Not with all the rules and regulations in place these days…" Dixon took a long swig of beer. "Not to mention all the environmental nuts out there protesting."

"It's not that bad."

"The hell it isn't!" Dixon shook his head. "I'm thinking about just shutting down and retiring. I'm tired of worrying so much."

"Nah, you don't want to do that."

"Yes I do. You'll just have to find another way to get your land. I'm going to start shutting down tomorrow."

"No you aren't."

"It's my company, Ernie – not yours."

"You're right." Broward got up and went toward the console. He turned back toward Dixon a minute later, a pistol in his hand. "But why wait until tomorrow? I'll help you out and put you out of business right now." He pulled the trigger and the engine on Matt's boat roared to life as he pushed the throttle forward while Cordell contacted Trivette.

There were a total of two shots before Broward grabbed his cousin by the front of his shirt and moved over to the starboard rail of the pontoon. Dixon's top half was hanging over the rail as the property developer grabbed two concrete blocks and began tying them to the oil man's legs.

"Are you crazy?" Dixon was wheezing. "No!"

"Texas Ranger! Freeze, Broward!" Walker was on the nose of the small boat and ducked as the enraged developer fired two shots at him. Matt fired a shot hitting the man in the upper right chest area. Broward fell to the deck.

Walker jumped the rail of the pontoon boat and kicked the pistol out of reach and checked for a pulse on the developer. "Call Trivette and tell him to get two ambulances."

Matt punched the number on his phone and passed the message along, telling the Ranger to have them sent to the Cranes Mill Park boat launch. After hanging up he helped Walker to ease Dixon down onto the deck and then tied a rope from the bow of the pontoon boat to his boat and began towing it to the dock.

Trivette came to a stop and put the truck into park as the boats neared the dock. The three detectives then moved the two injured men up onto the dock and began to assess the wounds. Broward was alive but unconscious while Dixon was very much alert.

"The dumb bastard never could shoot worth a damn." The oil man had been shot in the lower right abdomen and the right calf. As Matt applied pressure on his abdominal wound and Trivette his calf, he looked at the PI. "What were you guys doing out there anyway?"

"Trying to keep him from killing you…" Walker looked over at the man as he held pressure on Broward's chest wound. "We know about Richards."

The look of shock on Dixon's face spoke volumes and he shook his head. "I didn't do it."

"But you knew that it was going to happen."

"Not to mention all the other deaths that you've been involved in…" Matt couldn't keep the anger out of his voice.

"Of course if you were to help us with all of the investigations it would go a long way in your favor." Trivette spoke up.

Dixon had a look on his face that reflected both shock and fear as Walker spoke again. "That man right there is married to the daughter of one of your victims. I wouldn't blame him if he let you bleed to death."

Trivette accompanied Dixon to the hospital while one of the Comal County deputies rode with Broward. Matt and Walker stayed behind to deal with the investigation and field questions from the local sheriff, but the PI wouldn't answer anything until he called to talk to CJ first and let her know that they were okay.

It was nearly midnight when he made it back to the hotel to find CJ curled up asleep on the couch and Marty snoring in one of the chairs. After putting a blanket over the cowboy, Matt carefully picked up his wife and carried her into the bedroom of the suite. She awoke as he put her on the bed. "Hi. Did you finally decide to come back?"

Smiling down at her he took off her shoes. "Well you know how cops are – got ten million questions. But then again so do lawyers." He gently leaned over and kissed her.

"You're forgetting you're a cop."

"Right now I'm a husband who's missed his wife."

"I missed you, too…but you smell like catfish."

"So? You smell like pickles."