CH 95

Bob's accident killed the swimming for the moment. Carol also made sure she stayed close to Bob and kept a hold of Duncan's arm. Joan and Allison also gravitated nearby, not letting Bob out of their sight.

Joan told about the log cabin they found not that far out of the cove. Now that Bob was all right, he was teased about 'kissing a speedboat.'.

"He was jealous Jackie had been kissing trees," Joan said with a grin.

Jackie giggled, "Boatface Bob."

"At least he didn't bring any back with him," Delilah said with a smirk.

"Maybe Bob needs to learn fencing, that's safe," Allison said. "Right, Jackie?"

"It's fun too!" Jackie beamed.

"Jackie is really good at it! She beat the Olympic silver medalist in the tournament we had. She won first place," Daniel told them.

"Yeah, Jackie did good," Joan agreed. She smiled at Bob, "And you're joining us!"

Allison looked at Duncan, "We need a place to fence, New Sheriff, you'll help us, won't you?"

"I'll be glad to."

The Driftwood Fencing club was born.

.

The grills were still smoldering as the the fresh fish and steaks were consumed. The adults found Jackie's dinning room was great for a relaxing meal. The First Mate acted as a waiter. The mechanic cleaned the dishes. Of course Carol made sure she had her seat by Duncan. On the back deck, Joan, Bob, Allison, Jackie, Daniel Cindy and Louise sat and ate. The crew watched over their guests and three boats. Although Joan and Allison knew Bob's secret, they had sworn to tell no one else.

Jackie frowned and asked, "Why didn't JJ and Peggy come?"

"They had something else planned with the Littletons. There's a whole pack of them that moved in up at their farm," Louise explained. "Peggy's brother married into a group of like seven or eight. They had some sort of holiday thing going on today."

"Eight, all married together?" Daniel asked. "I take it they got orgies or something going on?"

Louise grinned. "They want JJ and Peggy to join them, but JJ won't have it."

"Good for him, that's just a few too many," Bob said with a wince.

Jackie eyed him and chided, "So says two timing Mr. Boatface."

"And loving it, Miss Treekisser," Bob replied and stuck his tongue out at her.

Joan petted Allison's stubby hair. "At least Allie's hair is growing back."

"Yeah, no more chrome dome," Bob agreed.

Allison frowned. "I wish I was able to chop that guy's head off. He was a real twisted individual."

"I hope someone finds his head soon, I want to start playing ball again," Joan said. "I mean, just look in the right direction, it's plainly visible."

"You really stuck it on a pole?" Daniel asked.

Joan bobbed her head. "I did. Mom said it was the proper thing to do. If no one finds it before the team meeting Tuesday, I'll tell Coach Baker where to look for it."

"Ah, Joan, that might not be a good idea," Allison told her.

Joan shrugged. "Why? I'll say we were passing by and saw it."

"Police or someone should have seen it by now." Bob said.

"Yeah, it's not like it's hidden." Joan agreed.

"Ah guys?" Daniel asked. "Can we talk about something other than heads stuck on poles?"

"That is kinda gross," Louise agreed.

"How about, who is going to join our Fencing club?" Jackie asked.

"Me, Bob and Allie," Joan replied.

"I'll join," Daniel said, "I know Jackie's in."

"I'll give it a try, "Louise offered.

Cindy sat quietly, listening. At first it was fun, but with talking about chopping a guy's head off and putting it up on a pole, she was getting a different image of Joan than she liked. They were talking like it was just another thing to do. It didn't seem to bother anyone that Joan had killed a man brutally. All the fun things Joan did. She seemed so bright and cheerful, yet she was able to just lop a man's head off like it was nothing. The thought that Joan did that made her skin crawl.

Cindy was bumped by Louise. "Cindy want to join our fencing club?"

Cindy shrunk back. "I have to ask my mom, first."

"So, ask," Louise told her. "Oh! guys, since you aren't playing football, want to join our band? We're playing for the pig roast festival. There wasn't many, but we did get enough wild pigs for the festival.

"What are you going to play?" Jackie asked.

"Sonya put up a request list at her store and there's another at the grocery store. Mostly what's coming in is some modern music, but mostly older rock and Country songs. Both our Moms are playing in it, Sonya and Ike from the bar. The whole music club is going to be playing too! We want to make it like that last concert we did in Palmdale."

"Yeah!" Joan cried happily. "Boatface Bob can sing too!"

Bob frowned at Joan. Allison giggled at them.

"We meet in the music room, come join us tomorrow," Louise coaxed.

"It sounds like fun," Jackie said. She turned to Daniel. "Join us?" she asked.

"OK," he said, not sure what he was getting into.

"I know you can sing," Jackie said in a coo.

"For you," he agreed.

"You will be!" Jackie beamed at him.

.

In the dinning room, John finished and said, "I'm going to go clean off the grill."

Cameron was talking with Claire about the upcoming concert for the festival. Seeing this, Delilah said, "I'll help you."

John thanked the crewman for collecting their dishes and went up on deck with Delilah over to their boat.

Seeing they were alone, John asked, "Delilah, did you notice something when Bob came around?"

"If you are talking about the CPR you and Mark were doing, wasn't doing any good, then suddenly he had a heartbeat, was breathing normal and fully awake. Yes I noticed that." She agreed. "It was like a switch turned on, and he went from dead to suddenly being fine."

"He's been getting nanites then?" John asked as he scraped the grill surface.

Delilah shook her head. "No. Nanites cannot move themselves long distances through the body. They depend on blood flow to get them where they are needed. No heartbeat means no blood flow. I am sure Joan has been feeding Bob nanites, but nanites cannot fix dead, John. Bob was dead."

John looked over at the kids talking on the back of Jackie's boat. "I'm glad he's all right, but how?"

"I don't know. I'll ask Bob later."

John tipped his head slightly. "You know, it could be Bob doesn't know either."

Joan came running over with a leap from Jackie's boat onto theirs. "Dad, Mom, we're going to join the music concert at the festival! Jackie even got Daniel to come."

"No football?" John asked.

"Our team isn't going to play until Horton's head is found," Joan explained.

Delilah said, "Cameron contacted John Henry with the information of where his head was. Someone should have found it by now."

.

In the evidence room of the Nevada State Police, there were photos on the wall of the destruction of some cult, they guessed, compound. What made this case unusual, was one man's head was found on a steel rod that had been driven into the ground, his head was stuck on top of it. The body nearby was his.

Inside the compound, plenty of burned corpses, guns and by the remains of a blast, explosives had been present also. Digging through the site, a bomb shelter was also found, and so was a tunnel leading away. At the other end, more bodies were found.

The oddest thing of all was even though there had to have been a major firefight here, no one anywhere they could find, saw or heard anything. Or at least, would admit to knowing anything.

The lead Investigator, Malcom Castle, walked through the room, searching for a hint of whoever caused this disaster. He was allowing no information about this case out. He strongly felt that if it wasn't organized crime who caused this, it was a government operation. An illegal government operation.

The head, forensics found, belonged to a James Horton. Putting his head on display like that was a message. Whoever did this wanted everyone to know he was dead.

So far, information on Horton was sketchy. He had been thought to be killed in Dallas, but it turned out to be a body double. There was no solid evidence, but it was strongly suspected Horton was working with Chinese operatives. Was his head on display a message to the Chinese that their contact had been found and disposed of? Or was this a revenge killing for shooting that football player. That seemed thin, but until he knew, he had to cover all possibilities.

Once again, he went over everything he knew about this case. At a hill a couple miles away, a large group of someones had arrived by tractor-trailer. The tracks and footprints there showed they some had spent time up atop the hill. He'd gone there himself. From here, the compound could be seen. they waited until the time was right, most likely late at night and went to surround the compound. Then, most likely with flamethrowers, they burned it to the ground. Inside, some had shot back, his investigators found the spent shell casings. They hadn't hit anything. No bodies or blood was found outside the compound except for Horton and his head. A few had tried to escape down a tunnel, and were beaten to death.

All the tracks around the hill and tunnel exit where the attackers had been, showed they were wearing combat boots. This reinforced to his government operation theory. Every boot print had the same pattern. Organized crime did not invest in uniform dress. The biggest oddity was Horton. His ID claimed his was James Hatten, a man who officially existed nowhere. There was no doubt Horton was dirty. The question was, who killed him.

Sticking a head on a pole was not a practice by any organization known. The only other time he'd heard of this was when Fred Noonan's head was found atop a lamp post in Dallas. He had been a double of Horton's. In the old days, centuries ago, sticking someone's head on a pike was a message that that person had failed and a warning to anyone who followed him.

That act connected that case to this one. So did the fact that had happened right outside the Chinese embassy. A look into Horton, or rather 'Hatten's' finances showed he'd received a large amount of money, millions, from a Chinese account. Again that pointed a finger at the US Government as being the perpetrator of this crime. To do anything about it, meant he had to have solid proof. More than just boot prints on the ground. There was also the possibility of whoever burned that place down wanted people to think the government was behind it.

Searching the data bank, Castle did come across another connection. Horton had been suspected of an attempted assassination of a football player, a Joan Connor. He was also the prime suspect in the death of Carla Santos, and abduction of a Betty Tyler and Allison Young. Every one of those women, Joan, Allison, Carla and Betty, played for the Austin Acoustic football team.

For some reason, Horton had been after these team members, killing and abducting them. It made no logical sense, he was playing international bad guy with China. Why bother a football team? At the very least, this was a lead he could follow up on.

Malcolm Castle packed his bags and got on a plane to Austin Texas.

.

Mark and Jimmy agreed that the dock Jackie had was better than putting up with the crowds at the public dock. All Jackie had was the dock, and a half acre of undeveloped land right by the dock. Widening the overgrown path to the road, they would be able to get a vehicle down here to get their boat up and out if they needed to.

.

Monday afternoon in the high school music room, the Connors, Sonya Allison, Bob and Daniel arrived to join the festival band. Daniel was surprised to see Barnabas here.

"Barnabas!" Daniel said and went over to him. "You're joining the band too?"

Barnabas chuckled. "No, just helping to make arrangements. Vicky is the band leader."

"Hey Miss winters," Daniel beamed.

"Hello Daniel. I've heard you are doing much better."

"I am." he said, then looked over at Jackie, who was talking with Louise and another girl by the piano. "I've had help. Jackie has been really great."

Victoria smiled, "She's a Connor. I think there isn't anything they can't do."

"So what are we playing?"

Victoria waved at two pages of requests. "We're still determining that. There's plenty of requests, but the most we want to go is two hours. I'm narrowing it down, but it will take a while. There are some songs that everyone want's to hear, and a couple we're been thinking to modify. Over there, on the piano, Christi and Louise have been working on one. It looks like Jackie is interested in what they're doing too."

Daniel looked at them. Jackie met his gaze and motioned him over. "It's good to see you, Miss Winters," he said and went over to see what they were doing.

"He's growing up," Vicky noted.

"He is, and that is a good thing. Ever since he's been with Jackie, he's changed dramatically for the better," Barnabas agreed.

Victoria clasped his hand. "Since meeting the Connors, I think we all have."

"Yes, indeed, we have," he agreed.

Delilah got her guitar set up and just for a bit of practice and fun, played the opening riff from 'Sweet Child of Mine'. All the conversations quieted down, all the younger kids watched and listened. She shifted to the guitar solo of 'November rain'. Cameron picked up a violin. Seeing this, Louise began playing on the piano, Bert the drummer got in the act. Pretty soon, everyone was joining in on the end of the first part of November rain. Then Louise stared the end piece on the piano, others picked up. Delilah was wailing on the guitar, drums were rolling, everyone was joining in. The ones who didn't have an instrument began singing.

Don't you know that you need somebody

Don't you know that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody

You're not the only one

You're not the only one!

Don't you know that you need somebody

Don't you know that you need someone

Everybody needs somebody

You're not the only one

You're not the only one!

The room thundered with music and singing voices. Victoria sat in awe that they could play such a complex piece. They got to the end and the music wound down. Everyone cheered. Yes, this was going to be one of the songs they played.

Playing a famous and energetic song like that got everyone pumped up to do more. They got to work picking the songs they were going to do so they could get started practicing them. It was a fun meeting.

.

Tuesday, Joan, Allison and boatface Bob (he wasn't going to live that down any time soon) went to Austin for the team meeting.

Also coming to the team meeting was detective Malcolm Castle. He found the Acoustics offices. There were many women here in groups talking. They pointed out the Coach's office. The door was open, the coach was at his desk. He knocked on the door frame.

"Coach Baker?" he asked.

"Yes?" Coach Baker replied looking up.

Malcolm showed his badge as he went in. "I'm detective Castle, Nevada State Police. Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Coach Baker asked, "Aren't you a little out of your jurisdiction?"

"Just a little," he agreed. "I found that a James Horton, also known as James Hatten, attacked some of your players. Do you have any idea why he did that?"

Coach Backer frowned deeply. "You mean, did he shoot Joan Connor out on the field during a game she played with Dallas, shoot and kill Carla Santos, Kidnap Betty and Allison, then SCALPED Allison before she managed to get away with Betty? Yeah, he did. Why he did it, I have no clue. What I can tell you is he did his best to take out four of my best players. The only thing I can come up with is someone didn't like our winning streak and wanted to stop it. Well, they did, we stopped playing because myself and others were afraid to put the girls back out on the field. We were afraid they'd get shot or kidnapped."

"I can understand that," Malcolm agreed. "Was there any prior threats to your team before this began happening?"

"Nothing," Coach Baker said with a shrug. "Even though we were winning, other teams got along well with our players. Hell, everyone loves Joan, we got all kinds of calls after she was shot, wishing her the best from women's teams we played and from NFL people. It was a total shock to find out someone tried to assassinate her."

Malcolm frowned. "Can you put me in contact with any of those women? I would really like to talk to them."

"We're having a meeting today. The whole team will be here. You can talk to them before or after the meeting if you like."

"That would be fine," Malcolm assured him. "When is this meeting?"

Coach Baker glance at the clock. "One, it's a little before noon now, I know most of the girls are here. The cafeteria is down on the first floor, to the right as you go down the stairs. The auditorium it to the left. I saw Betty, I don't know if Allison or Joan have arrived yet."

"Can you describe them to me?"

Coach Baker said, "How about if we head down together. I can point them out to you."

"That would be great, thank you."

They left the office, Malcolm walked side by side with Coach Baker. As they walked, Coach Baker said, "Joan got lucky. She cocked back for a long pass just before the bullet struck. A second sooner it would have penetrate her chest, not just skimmed across her ribs. Still for while, we thought we were going to lose her."

"Someone saw Horton make the shot?" Malcolm asked.

"No, he did it by remote. They found a rifle in a box rigged up to look like a lighting control box for the overhead stadium lights. They found out who put it in. Some criminals posing as maintenance workers, Horton was their supervisor. The cops got the men, but Horton slipped away," Coach Baker explained.

"So Horton took time and effort to get that shot at Joan," Malcolm said thoughtfully.

"He did. much time and effort. Anyone catch that bastard yet?"

"The case is still ongoing. I can't give you any details. Sorry," Malcolm said apologetically.

They went down the stairs to find a gaggle hugging and greeting each other. In the gaggle, Coach Baker saw Joan and Allison who had what looked like a crew cut. "Joan, Allison!" he called.

Malcolm reached for his badge to show it. One woman saw them and pointed at the coach. "Coach! We don't have to worry any more. Horton. Is. Dead!" she stated.

Malcolm stared at the brown haired busty woman. No one knew that except for his team back in Nevada. He finished pulling his badge as he said, "I am detective Castle. I have to ask how you know that."

Joan eyed him and said, "His head is on a pole in the Nevada desert ..."

Joan was quieted as Allison quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. Just as quickly, Allison said, "If you want to know, call General Watson, Homeland Security. He can give you all the details. We can't."

Joan and Allison eyed each other. "He said not to tell," Allison told Joan firmly.

Coach Baker and the whole team were staring at them now, as was Detective Castle.

"Allison's right," Bob offered.

Eyeing them, Malcolm noted while Alison and Bob looked a little scared, Joan still had a firm look on her face.

Joan Connor had killed Horton. She was there, she killed him, cut his head off and put it on that pole. He knew it in his bones. With the mention of Homeland Security, his theory of the government being involved was correct. "You wouldn't happen to have his phone number, would you?" Malcolm asked.

"Hang on," Allison said and pulled her phone out. She walked a few steps away and talked to someone quietly. She then came back and handed him the phone.

He took it. "Detective Castle, Nevada State Police."

"Hold please." a male voice said. After a moment, the voice came back on. "Lt. Malcolm Castle, 43 East Running bird road, Fifth precinct?"

"That's right." They knew where he worked and his home address?

"The matter with James Horton and his gang has been settled. Close your investigation."

"Who is this?" Malcolm asked.

"Who I am is not important. What is important is closing your investigation on the Horton matter. It is over. The Eleventh Commandment has been implemented."

"Eleventh Commandment?" Malcolm asked.

"Thou shall not get away with it. Police have been hunting Horton for years. The matter is now closed. Understand?"

Malcolm looked at Joan, then Allison. "I still have a report to file," he said.

"Not any more. Have a good day, Lt. Castle." The phone then disconnected.

Joan Connor, a young woman ... was an assassin for the government? Impossible pieces were falling into place. Horton must have had an idea she was onto him with his connections to China. He tried to kill her and failed, so he kidnapped her friend Allison to torture and draw her out. Allison got away and got enough information to bring back and let Joan know where Horton was. He drew her out all right. Joan assembled an army and wiped Horton and all his cronies out. For a football player, Joan Connor was one powerful young woman. He couldn't help but ask, "Who are you, really?"

"No one of consequence." Joan said flatly.

"I need to know."

"Get used to disappointment," she replied.

By the look in her eye, Malcolm knew this talk was over. He wanted to push her for more information, but knew that was probably a bad idea. He was far from his own district and this young woman has to have many important ties. Deadly ties. He handed Allison her phone back and said, "Thank you for speaking with me." He left, he'd solved the mystery of that burned down compound. He also felt a little nervous knowing the truth.

After the detective left, Betty meekly asked, "Joan? Did you really kill that guy and put his head on a pole?"

Joan glance at Allison then said, "We can't talk about that."

Betty hugged Joan and said, "Thank you!"

"Good job, Joan," Tina added and patted her shoulder.

Patty cast Joan a smirk. "You should have scalped him first."

Coach Baker was also glad that Horton guy was dead, and he felt it was justice that Joan was the one to end him. Still then had other business today. He cleared his throat ad announced, "People! you should grab some lunch. Remember we have a meeting at One in the auditorium."

"Yes, Coach," came a chorus of replies. Joan, Allison and Bob were guided into the cafeteria by the whole gaggle.

.

Malcolm got back to his office to add what he learned to his file on Horton. Only the file was gone. He checked twice, there was nothing on his computer about Horton at all. He went to the evidence room and found it was clean. Pictures, notes, evidence bags, everything was gone.

"Ah, Detective Castle, the Captain wants to see you," a patrolman said on his way past.

Malcolm went to his office. He met Trent, his partner, coming out. Trent only cast him a weak smile and said, "Your turn."

"What happened to our evidence on the compound and Horton case?" Malcolm asked.

"There is no case, no evidence," Trent said. He walked on.

Malcolm went in. "Captain, I was just at the evidence room, it's empty, and all my files on that compound and Horton are gone."

"Sit," the Captain said. As if reciting a line, he added, "By order of the Governor and Homeland Security, nothing happened. If you go back to that site, all you'll find is desert. This is much bigger than a raid on a cult. We're talking intentional intrigue here. We know nothing, we say nothing."

"Sir I met the woman who killed Horton," Malcolm said firmly. "She all but admitted it."

"No," Captain stated. "You met no one. You talked to no one. That case doesn't exist. Trust me on this, Malcolm, we do not even want to mention it any longer. We have enough to deal with and have a contact to call if we have something we can't deal with."

"A contact named Connor?" Malcolm asked.

"We don't speak of the Connors either. They are protected from on high by God Himself. They also carry his wrath. You don't want to feel their wrath. From what I know, they have taken out threats to the world no one else could touch, around the world for many years, and their kids are following in their footsteps. They are on our side, but do not always operate within legal boundaries."

Malcolm nodded "They are the Eleventh Commandment," he said knowingly. Seeing his captain eye him, he added, "Thou shall not get away with it."

"To put it mildly, yes."

.

The first thing Coach Baker did was walk to center stage where there was a large picture of Carla on an easel with flowers under it. Once everyone was seated, Coach Baker motioned to it.

"We lost a great player, and a great friend to many of us. Carla Santos didn't deserve what happened to her. Thankfully, the other that madman attacked, Joan, Allison, Betty, they survived. Also, thankfully, that son-of-a-botch was put down, and got what he deserved. Carla had no will, but the team sent her pay and benefits to her family, as well as cover the funeral expenses for them. A short while ago, I called her mother to let her know the man who was responsible for killing Carla is dead. She told me to thank whoever it was who beheaded that man and stuck his head on a pole." He gave Joan a nod. "Carla was a great team mate and cared about the game, so I thought it was only right that she be here in some form for this meeting."

Eyes teared up and heads nodded at his words.

Coach Baker went on. "I got everyone here today to give you the latest news. As far as the season went, we have missed too many games to be in the standings. I am arraigning for a couple exhibition games to line up to keep us busy, but there is no chance for us going to any playoffs this year. Everyone is getting their standard base pay, and during their exhibition games, everyone gets their game bonuses. During these games I am going to cycle as many players as possible onto the field. I'm looking at two weeks to get back in shape before these games began. Because these will be exhibition games, the scores will not count for either team in their standings. So go get your practice clothes on. We're playing football."

Applause and happy yells came from the team. Happy to at least be able to play again, everyone went to get their workout clothes on and get out on the field. Even Bob got to get his drone going to catch some good 'workout' shots to let everyone know Austin was going to be back in play. Joan remembered to call home and let Cameron know their team was active again before she went out to throw some footballs. Cameron also reminded her of the concert. Yes, that was something her team would enjoy. She brought it up to the Coach. He noted the date and put up a signup sheet outside his office for those who wanted to go.

Everyone did.

.

Duncan went to Sonya's furniture store and bought a good solid piece of oak to make Bob a boken. He made it 40 inches long, then from the handle end, he drilled a hole down the center to add a steel rod down the center to give it more weight. It was heavier that a normal sword, and would build his muscles a little faster.

Duncan went to Bob's house to give him the boken and show him some basic moves to practice. Carol answered the door.

Seeing him her face broke into a big smile, "Duncan! please, come in," he said happily.

"Is Bob home?" he asked as he came in.

"No, he went with Joan and Allison to a team meeting up in Austin. He called earlier, they are going to be playing again, so they will be staying a few days before they come home," she explained. Seeing the boken, she asked, "What's that?"

Duncan held it up and said, "A sword shape. It's called a boken. It's for practice. I made it for Bob, he's going to be in the fencing club with his girlfriends."

"That was very thoughtful of you," she cooed. "Can I get you something?"

"No, I just wanted to give this to Bob. You say he'll be back Thursday?" he asked.

"Thursday or Friday. He didn't say specifically."

"I see." he said. He also saw this was a lonely woman by the way she acted. "Is Mr. Tanner on a trip of something?'

Carol's face dimmed looking away, she said in a hard tone. "He hasn't been around since not long after we moved here. I think he missed his girlfriend in California."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Duncan offered. "If it helps, I think he was a fool to leave you."

She let out a snort. "You know, all his get rich schemes he talked about. For a long time, I tried to ignore the fact he never got anywhere, only came home drunk. Then he used Bob's attraction to Joan as an excuse to move. Right after we do move and get settled, he leaves. Again, supposedly it was because of Joan and her family. Thinking about it, I think this was a good way to get rid of us so he could cuddle up with Miss Bitch," she said, spitting her last words.

"Like I said, that man was a fool, and didn't deserve you," Duncan told her. "You don't happen to have a cup of coffee, do you?" he asked.

The light returned to her face. "Yes, please, come have a seat. "

Carol was a nice lady, pleasant to be around and she looked pretty good. Duncan didn't mind spending some time with her.

.