Tuscan Skies

Part 12

Don was driving his rental car southwest, on Interstate 81. He would exit to the Interstate 40 in Kentucky, and stay on the Interstate, until he arrived in Oklahoma. He would take the I-30 all the way into Dallas. He reached into the glove box of the rental car, and pulled out a 9-mm handgun. He studied the gun, as he continued driving. He had very little appreciation for America, but he had to admit one thing, the ease by which a person could obtain a handgun was incredible. His "friend" in the Mafia gave it to him, no questions asked. He placed the gun on the passenger seat, as he contemplated his next move. He had no intention of hurting John Ross, but if he were able to kidnap the boy, Sue Ellen would have no choice but to contact him. She owed him that much, after putting up with her, and her sniveling son, not to mention her constant demands on his time. He could still hear her voice, "I want to go here, Don." "No, you can't be going back to work already?" Enough! Miranda had been right about one thing. Sue Ellen was a no account tramp. She and J.R. were well suited for each other. "Sod the both of them," he cursed aloud, as he changed lanes, to take the exit for Interstate 40.

J.R. called Southfork to see how many men Bobby had provided for security for the rest of the family. Sheriff Fenton Washburn had eight men scattered around pivotal entrances6, and access areas to the ranch. Bobby, Clayton, and thirteen of the hands were strategically guarding the inner, and outer ranch perimeters. Two more ranch hands guarded the front, and rear entrances to the house, accompanied by three agents from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area FBI offices. The ranch was an impenetrable fortress, but it didn't appear that way from the road. All of the men were ready, and waiting for Don to make his next move. Bobby and Clayton had provided all of the men with the most recent photograph of Don Lockwood from the London Interpol office. They were fully prepared to shoot first, and ask questions later.

Sue Ellen asked, "Is there any news about Don, J.R.?"

J.R. said, "The FBI agent is still tailing him, but all indications have him driving in a rental car on his way to Southfork."

Sue Ellen looked worried. She desperately wished that John Ross was with them in Tuscany, or that they were at Southfork with their son. J.R. reached for her hand, and tried to reassure her that no harm would come to anybody, except Don, if he were to try anything.

J.R. walked up to her, and stood behind her back. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed the side of her neck. She tilted her head back, and leaned into his kiss. J.R. had a talent for kissing her in such a way that she forgot whatever she had been thinking about, or concerned about, and became completely caught up in the way his lips felt against her skin. She pulled his arms around her waist, as she lost herself in how the heat from his lips seared her skin, and made her want him to make love to her once more.

The sign on the Interstate listed the distance to Dallas, Texas as 230 miles. Don was deep in thought, but his eyes saw the sign. He was mulling over his plan to kidnap John Ross. He knew that John Ross had recently turned sixteen, but he wondered if the boy had his driver's license, yet. If that was the case, it might prove more difficult to accomplish his plan, because he wouldn't know where to find him. He would deal with that when he arrived in Dallas. His mind wandered to the threat he had made when he called the Ewing ranch, and talked with John Ross. He didn't realize that he was going much faster than the posted speed limit, when the red and blue flashing lights of the State Trooper's vehicle alerted him to his speed. He slowed down, and pulled the rental car over to the side of the Interstate.

J.R. turned Sue Ellen around in his arms, facing him. The look of need reflected in her eyes, was devastating to him. He pulled her to him, and breathed her name in her ear. She moved her hands underneath the collar of his shirt. She glanced at the hair on his chest, and leaned over and kissed the valley in between his collar bones. J.R. tilted his head back, as she continued to kiss the skin that was visible underneath his shirt. She lifted her hands, and deftly unbuttoned his shirt, one by one, her eyes following her fingers in a hypnotic trance. She moved his shirt over his shoulders in such a way, that his gaze was transfixed on her movements. She kissed his lower lip, and he opened his mouth to her. She accepted his invitation, as her lips met his. She ran her tongue over his teeth, and inside his mouth. His hands tightened their grip on her upper arms, as he sank onto the bed, pulling her on top of him. He rolled her over, and tore at the buttons on her blouse, revealing a lacy white bra underneath. He ran his hands over her bra, inhaling sharply, as his actions were going beyond the point of stopping.

Sue Ellen pulled his head down to her chest. She breathlessly said, "I want you, J.R."

J.R. honored her request, as her fingers ran through his hair, pulling his head back as she arched her back for him. The feeling of their bodies entwined in an age-old dance of passion was like a thunder clap in the stillness of the afternoon.

The Oklahoma State Trooper stepped out of his vehicle, and walked toward the car he had pulled over for speeding. He called in to dispatch to have them run a check on the license plate, as he neared Don's rental car. He walked up to the driver's side, as Don arrogantly held out his driver's license. The Trooper grabbed the license out of Don's hand, and was going to run an I.D. check on the driver, when he noticed the 9-mm handgun sitting on the passenger seat. The trooper quickly removed his sidearm from its holster, and drew the gun on Don, ordering him to put his hands above his head, and step out of the vehicle. Don started to open the door, but decided against it, and sped off on the shoulder, in an attempt at getting away. The Trooper fired his pistol at Don's tire's, but missed, he raced back to his vehicle, as he called back to dispatch and told them that the plate they just ran was driving away from the scene, and the suspect was armed, and should be considered dangerous. Dispatch called the Trooper back, and told him that the suspect was indeed wanted by Interpol, and the FBI. The Trooper started his engine, and raced off down the road after the suspect. Dispatch called out an all points' bulletin on the vehicle.

Rattigan called J.R.'s mobile phone, and waited for J.R. to answer. J.R. rolled over in bed, and picked up the phone. He said, "Hello, this is J.R."

Rattigan said, "You're not going to believe this, J.R. Lockwood was pulled over for speeding by an Oklahoma State Trooper, but I guess Lockwood had a handgun on the passenger seat, and when the Trooper ordered him out of the vehicle, Lockwood drove away. There's an APB out on his car, and he is now being considered 'armed, and dangerous'."

J.R. said, "Well, it's about damn time. Keep me posted."

Sue Ellen sat up in bed, and asked, "Who was that, Darlin'?"

J.R. said, "That was my detective. He said that Don was pulled over for speedin' in Oklahoma, and when the State Trooper saw a handgun on the seat of Don's car, the Trooper ordered Don out of the car, but Don fled from the scene. Looks like Don has got himself involved in a high speed chase from Oklahoma to Texas."

Sue Ellen looked worried, and asked "So, what happens now?"

"Nothin', until they can catch up to him, or intercept him. I'll bet the phone will be ringing off the hook, now," J.R. said.

Sue Ellen asked, "How can you be so nonchalant about all of this?"

J.R. glared at her, and said, "I'm not bein' nonchalant. I'm just tellin' you the truth. There isn't a damn thing that can be done to Don, until they catch him."

Sue Ellen got up, out of bed, and put on her robe. She said, "If you're not gonna call Southfork, I will."

J.R. said, "Now, Sugar, Don't get so upset. I'll call and let Bobby know what Rattigan told me, but I'll bet that he already knows, considerin' how many Federal agents are at the ranch right now."

They were both startled, when the telephone rang. They raced toward it, and J.R. reached it first, He picked it up, and said, "Yeah?"

Bobby said, "I'm not sure if you've heard the news, J.R., but there is a high speed chase after Don, heading this way."

J.R. replied, "Yeah, I know. My detective called and told me about it a few minutes ago. Bobby, how is John Ross handlin' all of this?"

Bobby said, "Clayton and I decided that it'd be best if John Ross, and Christopher weren't here at the ranch. They're staying over at Tyson's a house."

J.R. suddenly felt relieved. It probably was better for all concerned if John Ross and Christopher weren't exposed to any of this. He said, "Thanks for callin', Bobby. Keep me posted?"

Bobby said, "I will. I'll talk to you soon, J.R."

Sue Ellen said, "So, we're back to waitin' for somethin' to happen, aren't we?"

J.R. reached for her hand, and said, "I'm afraid so. Don't worry, Honey. They'll catch Don, and put him away where he belongs."

Sue Ellen smiled a forced smile, and said, "I know you're right, J.R., but I'd feel a whole lot better knowin' that all of this was done, and over with."

J.R. pulled her into his arms, and held he against him. He said, "Me too, Sugar."

Don's speedometer had bottomed out, and was buried between 110 and 120 miles per hour. If he could maintain this speed until he got to Dallas, he would only be fifteen minutes away from the Southfork ranch. Don didn't see the barricade of police vehicles in the road ahead, until it was too late. He slammed on the brakes, causing his rental car to spin out of control, and flip over twice, before colliding head on with one of the police cars in the road block. The impact from the collision started a fire in the engine of Don's rental car, The fire in the engine became a huge fire ball, as the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Thick clouds of black smoke encircled the flames, as the fire blazed from the wreckage of the vehicle. The Braddock county fire department arrived on the scene, as the flames from the vehicle charred the burning, twisted mass of hot metal. Emergency crews extinguished the fire, and started their search for the victim's remains. The body was unidentifiable, and the best that they could hope for was the possibility of identification using either dental records, or DNA.

Rattigan called J.R.'s mobile phone. He said, "J.R., Lockwood's dead. He drove his car into a blockade that the police highway patrol had set up for him on Interstate 30."

J.R. somberly said, "Thank you for lettin' me know."

He hung up the phone, and wondered how he would break the news of Don's demise to Sue Ellen. He hoped that she would take it better than she had when she found out about Don's 'attempted' suicide.

He looked at Sue Ellen, and said, "That was my detective, Sugar. I've got some news about Don."

Sue Ellen eagerly looked at J.R., hoping for the best, but anticipating the worst. She said, "Whatever it is, I can take it, J.R."

J.R. touched her held her by her shoulders, and said, "Don's car collided with a roadblock that had been set up to stop him. His car exploded on impact. Don didn't survive, Sugar."

Sue Ellen blinked her eyes, and said, "It's over. It's finally over. I never wanted him dead, but after he called the ranch, and made that threat, I could have killed him, myself."

J.R. was surprised by her reaction. He tried not to smile, under the circumstances, but he was nonetheless thrilled to learn that the only obstacle standing between his future happiness with Sue Ellen had been put out of his misery . . .