Day 19-4

Gees, what a mess! I grab Jimmy's Bowie off the floor, and stick the Llama back behind my belt. Harless steps over toward the agents, and I walk out the door, taking three cans of beer and the MPK with me. Sure hope Cut got Jimmy back to his senses by now. Man, that was close! That boy definitely got one hell of a temper. But I guess I wouldn't put up with no shit either, from a guy who killed my brother. Wonder what Micheals said to set him off like that? Maybe Cut's found out by now.

The two of them are sitting on one of the rough-hewn benches outside the cabin. Apparently Cut was at least able to talk Chief into cleaning the blood off his face and put a couple of Butterfly Band-Aids across that tear. But he still looks up at me with only one eye open, and that left cheek shines in all kinds of purple and blue colors.

"You alright, Jimmy?" I inquire, unable to think of anything better to say as I hand Chief his Bowie and each of them a beer. "Jimmy, are you okay?" I repeat since there is no response the first time.

"No!" he finally answers curtly.

"What'd you do, man? Just go off and leave them guys in there by themselves?" Cut asks.

"Yeah, Harless wants to talk to his boys. He had a little go-around with Micheals. Them two got really into it."

"Heard that," Cut nods, signing to Jimmy. "So what come out of it?"

"Nothing. Micheals denies everything, and Harless kinda gave up on it."

"Gave up on it?" Cut sounds alarmed. "If he thinks his buddy George didn't do anything...damn, Chase, he'll turn 'em loose and we'll..."

"Don't think we gotta worry about that, Cut," I interrupt him. "Look, Micheals blew it. He started running his mouth, and let it slip that he got away from the authorities once before. Harless put two and two together, and..."

"Wait a minute. What, Jimmy?" Cut breaks in, watching what Chief signs to him.

Guess we's going kinda fast this time. Gotta be tough to read lips, if you'n see out of just one eye.

"Hey, Chase, Jimmy wants to know what's gonna happen to Micheals."

"That depends, " I answer honestly, and Cut puts it into signs.

"On what?" Chief squints at me.

"On whether you tell me what's going on or not." The remark earns me a flinch from Cut, and a hard squint from Chief. "Look, Jimmy," I draw a deep breath, "Harless wants me to tell you, that he'll make sure Micheals gets what he deserves. But you gotta stay out of it and let the law handle this."

Jimmy drops a corner of his mouth in contempt. "They did. That's why he is here now."

"Okay, I understand that. But how did he manage to get out of it?" I try to speak slow and clear to make sure he gets all of what I am saying.

It seems to work because he answers right away, "Government cover-up!"

"You gotta be kidding me!"

"No!"

"So what happened?"

This time he doesn't answer directly, but gives a couple of quick signs to Cut instead, apparently telling him to fill me in on what he already knows.

"It's like this, Chase," Cut scratches his head, "the thing you said was wrong, is the fact that Micheals got away with murder. Literally! Seems somehow that bullet, forensics dug out of Steve's back, disappeared from the evidence room along with part of that security tape. The only thing left was the other half of the copy Jimmy had, and that was barely enough to get Micheals linked to it at all."

"Damn!"

"Jimmy says, he knows exactly who's in on it, but there ain't no way he'n prove it."

"You mean, he knows who let the evidence disappear?"

"Yeah! Shit, Chase, this gotta stay between the three of us. If they find out he knows, they'd let him disappear. These guys got the longer ends of the string."

"So Harless was right about what was on the tape?"

"Mostly. But like I said, the important part of it disappeared."

"Jimmy, you know what was on that part, too?"

He gives me a serious nod, and Cut adds the details.

"Seems like this thing was about a whole lot more than just illegal dumping on Reservation land, Chase. Apparently they had it all worked out with them chemicals already at that time."

"They were gonna take 'em there?"

"Accordin' to that tape, yes. There was all kinds of mention about it."

"Wait a minute. Let's put this thing together here." I rub my forehead. "Micheals is involved in this whole thing from the very beginning. First he plans to dump the chemical agents on the Reservation, and when Steve catches on to it, Micheals shoots 'im. Then the evidence disappears, he gets out of it, and makes new plans, bringing the stuff up here instead. And it would've all worked out too, except for Jimmy showing up."

"Yup, I'd say that just about narrows it down," Cut agrees.

"So, now what?"

"He still gets away with it," Chief answers dryly.

"Not if I have something to say about it, Jimmy," I assure him.

"You have no proof."

"Not yet, but I'll figure out somethin'. Trust me."

Chief doesn't look all too convinced, and neither does Cut. "Damn, Chase," he mutters, "you better watch your back real close, or someone's gonna put a bullet in it too."

"No shit, Cut! But that's what I brought you along for."

"For puttin' a bullet in your back?" he snickers.

"No asshole, for watchin' my back. I owe you one already anyways."

"Nah, I'm just tryin' to even the score a little. Figure you still got about three or four up on me."

"Hell, I didn't know we's keepin' score. But if you put it that way, go get me another beer and see if you'n find somethin' to eat too," I grin.

"Now don't push it, man..."

He gets interrupted, because there is a whole lot of excited barking and yipping coming up the path. And then Buck is in my lap, all one-hundred-sixty pounds of him, his tongue slapping my face, he carries on like a pup.

"Jesus dog! Get off, you're killin' me..." I struggle unsuccessfully against the flow of affection. "Buck, get down, damn it!...Alright, alright, I love you, too! Now quit..."

Cut is laughing on top of his lungs, and Chief seems to consider the scene hilarious, judging by the crooked grin on his face.

"Yo, Chase! Where the hell are you?"

The familiar voice brings me to my feet, Buck hanging on to my neck with his front paws, still licking. I have to use a little persuasive force to finally convince him to let go.

"Right here!" I holler back, short of breath and wiping at the muddy paw-prints on my front. " 'Bout time you got here, LT. How was the trip?"

"Wonderful!" Lieutenant Hughes has a wide grin on his face when we shake hands. "Cut, long time no see. Hi, Jimmy, what the hell happened to your face?"

Straight to the point as always, huh, LT?

"So, what's going on up here? No wait, let's get the introductions over with first. Chase, this is General Lancaster, Colonel Wise, and Brian Roberts, he is from the Environmental Protection Agency."

"Gentlemen!" I shake their hands in the order they are introduced, and Cut is signing to Jimmy, apparently spelling out the names.

"Guys," Lieutenant Hughes continues, "this is Sergeant Chase Riggin, Ex-Sergeant Reece Cutler, and the one looking like he just come off the warpath is Jimmy Whitehorse."

Some more handshakes and I am thinking, Gees, LT, you sure got a lot of nerve!

Chief doesn't seem to resent the remark at all.

"So," Lieutenant Hughes smirks, "you gonna invite us in, or do we just keep the party out here?"

"Well, LT..." I hesitate embarrassed, and Cut comes to my rescue.

"Actually, the camp is a little crowded at the time."

"Huh?"

"Uh, you see, we had a bunch of uninvited guests drop in."

"Excuse me?" General Lancaster gives him a look of non-understanding.

"Oh, boy! Chase, I think maybe you better explain that one."

"Thanks a lot, Cut!" I roll my eyes—So much for the rescue! "Well, Gentlemen, it seems we ran into a little trouble up here. I don't know how far you have been informed what this is all about, but there are nine Government Agents inside this cabin right now. Seven of them nicely tied, and..."

"Wait a second, Sergeant," the General interrupts hard, "did you say tied? What the hell are you men doing up here?"

"Sir, I was getting to this part. There is a good explanation..."

"There damn well better be!" General Lancaster snaps and I think, Oh, Shit!

"Look, Chase," Lieutenant Hughes mutters seriously, "just make it quick and stick to the facts, okay?"

"Right!" I get tense, but then fill them in as short and as accurate as possible, on what I think they need to know about the last few days. Boy, this shit sure sounds wild. Going by their faces, they're thinkin' the same thing.

"This is all real interesting, Sergeant," Colonel Wise breaks in, "but what I really want to know is, have you been able to find any of the missing men you were sent up here after?"

Oh, shit! That's a part of the story I tried to avoid. How the hell am I gonna explain that one? "Yes, Sir," I answer nevertheless, "we found every one of them. They have been brought to a safe place. I did not want them involved in the danger, when our encounter with the agents started." Damn, Chase, that sure sounded good. Hope they buy all that bull. Just don't start grinning, Cut.

To my relief, he seems to read my mind, keeping a perfectly straight face, and the Colonel gives me an appreciative nod.

"Good thinking, Sergeant," General Lancaster agrees. "Now if you don't mind, I would like a chance to speak to these Government Agents."

I am thinking, have fun, but say, "Yes, Sir!", instead, then grit my teeth, and we follow behind Lancaster, Wise and Roberts.

Cut squints furtively over at me, and I answer, rolling my eyes.

"Chase," Lieutenant Hughes grabs my arm, holding me back a little, "what the hell kinda crap did you just feed 'em there?" he grins.

"Look, I'll explain it to you later. Please just go along with it for right now, LT. We got so much shit going on up here, it's unreal. And if the slightest little thing goes wrong, we'll all end up down the drain."

He gives me a doubtful, but very serious sideways glance, and leaves it at that. "What happened to Jimmy?" he still inquires, however.

"It's a long story, LT. All of it has to do with them chemical agents we found up here. But let me tell you one thing...this guy, Micheals...if anything goes wrong here, I'll personally blow his brains out for 'im."

"Gees, man..." Hughes shakes his head, and our hasty conversation is over as we walk into the cabin.

The General and Colonel Wise are already involved in a conversation with Harless. Good! Let him try to explain this shit.

Jimmy leans against the wall besides Micheals, staring down at him.

"Keep an eye on 'im Cut," I advise low. "I'm going to talk to that EPA guy for a minute."

He gives me an acknowledging nod, and I step over to Roberts.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Sergeant, I appreciate you coming over. I would like to ask you a few questions."

"Go ahead."

"Thank you. Now, let me get one thing straight first, for what I have heard so far from Lieutenant Hughes, you sent a message to him, saying you found large quantities of chemical agents in this area?" Roberts sounds full of doubt.

"Yes, Sir. Dangerously large quantities," I answer, dead serious.

"Sergeant, are you sure they are what you think?"

"Mister Roberts," I start to get irritated, "I've been in the military for over ten years now. I have served with the Rangers and the Special Forces, and definitely seen enough of that shit to know what it is."

"I'm sorry, Sergeant, I didn't mean to offend you," he mutters, somewhat embarrassed.

"Ah, it's alright. I probably wouldn't believe it either if someone told me, but we have been there to check it out."

"One question though, if I may?"

"What's that?" I inquire, kind of suspecting what he is going to ask.

"You did not just stumble across this purely by accident, did you?"

Pretty smart! But you don't need to know all the details. "Well," I rub my forehead, "to be honest, no we didn't."

"Thought so."

"But, Sir, if I may say so, it shouldn't matter how we actually found the chemicals. It's more important that something gets done about this. They pose a major threat..."

"I am aware of it, Sergeant," he breaks in. "This is what I am here for. Lieutenant Hughes informed me. We have known each other for quite a while. Evidently he figured I am someone he could trust, even though I work for the Government," Roberts muses with a rueful smile. "Look, Sergeant," he then continues, "I need for you to show me exactly where these chemicals are, so I can see for myself. It is the only way I can get something done about it."

"I understand that, Sir," I reply somber. "Besides, if LT trusts you, it's fine with me."

"Thank you. I appreciate that," he grins. "So when can we go?"

"Well..."

"Sergeant!" Lancaster interrupts before I can answer Roberts.

"General?"

"I overheard the last part of your conversation. If you don't mind, I would like to see these chemicals for myself."

Once again I think, Oh shit, but answer ,"Yes, Sir!", instead.

"Look, Sergeant," Lancaster continues, apparently noticing my discomfort, "let me just say this, after speaking with Agent Harless, I can assure you this matter will be handled with the utmost amount of caution. Believe me," he pauses with a squint over at Micheals, "I am not one to take kindly to Government Agents double-crossing a military mission..."

"Excuse me, Sir," I break in, "so you've been informed completely of what all went on up here?"

"Yes I have. And I definitely don't like what I heard," he answers hard.

Thank God! This is going better than expected. Sure glad, LT picked the right guys.

"Uh, Chase," Cut interrupts, then turns to the General. "Sir, Agent Micheals wants to tell you his side of the story," he mutters with a squint at me.

O-oh! Celebrated too soon!

"I have heard and seen all I need to," Lancaster gives back cold, and I suppress a sigh of relief. "Tell Agent Micheals to save his story for the court hearing."

"I'll do that," Cut smirks. "Thanks, General!"

"Sergeant," now Colonel Wise comes over, "you said earlier, all the men you were looking for are safe?"

"Yes, Sir," I answer scarcely.

"Good! I am glad to hear this. So where are they?"

"Like I said, Colonel..."

"Yes, yes," he cuts me off quickly, "in a safe place, I know. If you tell me where it is, I would like to go speak with these men."

"Sir," I hesitate, rubbing my chin, "even if I drew you a map, there is no way you could ever find this place."

"Pardon me?" Wise frowns, and I get a couple of rather curious looks from the General and the EPA guy as well.

"May I make a suggestion?"

"Go ahead."

"Well, if it's alright with you, my two friends could go get these guys and bring them back here. In the meantime I could show you, General, and you, Mister Roberts, where those chemicals are." I pause, waiting for a reply.

"Sounds good to me," Roberts agrees immediately. "Hobert?" he casually addresses the General.

"I have no objections," Lancaster gives back. "Just one question though, Sergeant?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Why are you so hell-bent on keeping this, as you call it, safe place, a secret?"

"Well, General," I think quickly, "to be honest, that place really saved our hides with the situation up here."

"I see!" Lancaster grins slyly. "And I respect your wish then, Sergeant. Send your two friends to get those men. How far is it?"

"Oh, about seven or eight miles," I reply, with another unnoticeable sigh of relief.

"How far to the place where the chemicals are?" Roberts wants to know.

"Maybe a little more than five miles," I inform him. "We should make it back before them."

"Good! When can we leave?" he inquires.

"Whenever it is to you Gentlemen's convenience."

"Right now sounds good to me...Thomas," Lancaster turns to the Colonel, "if you don't mind, I would like for you to keep things here under control."

"No problem!" Wise gives him a casual salute.

Boy, them guys sure are laid back about it. Must know each other pretty well, to just drop military standards like that in front of others.

"Sergeant," the General turns back to me, "as soon as you inform your friends..."

"I'm gonna do that right now, Sir, if that's alright with you?" I unwittingly slip back into my 'hillbilly'-accent—something I try to avoid, dealing with higher-ranked officers.

"Fine with me. Have at it," Lancaster answers with a smirk.

"Thank you, General!" This time I salute sharply, then walk over toward Cut and Chief.

"So what's going on, Chase?" I get the greeting from Lieutenant Hughes who is standing beside them.

"Well, LT," I grin, "you sure picked a couple of good ones. Thanks, man."

"Welcome! Thought you might appreciate that. I've known Lancaster and Roberts for years, and Wise seems to be a pretty reasonable guy, too. The General drug him along. So what's the deal?"

"Well," I repeat, with a glance down at Micheals that earns me a spiteful stare, "I'm gonna take Lancaster and the EPA guy up to see the chemicals…Cut," I smirk at him, "I volunteered you and Jimmy to go get the other guys and bring 'em back here."

"Oh, thanks," Cut drawls, but Chief seems to welcome the idea, judging by his smile.

"So what'm I gonna do in the meantime, Chase? Watch your dog?" LT inquires, a little frustrated.

"Nah," I snicker. "Wise is staying here to keep the situation under control. Hell, not like they'n do anything." I grin over at the tied-up agents. "Harless and Sawyer can help him. So if you wanna come along..."

"Chase?" Jimmy breaks in, sounding thoughtful, then signs to Cut.

"He says, Billy could come with us," Cut relates.

"Hmmm..." I scratch my head, thinking that I would like to avoid anyone else finding out about our hairy allies up here.

Chief taps my shoulder. "It's okay!"

"You sure?"

I get an affirmative nod for an answer.

"What you all so secretive about?" LT inquires with a roguish grin.

"Maybe you better find that out for yourself, Bill," Cut grumbles. "You wouldn't believe it if we told you anyways."

That's for sure. Nobody would.

"Sergeant," General Lancaster interrupts our conversation, "when you are ready..."

"I am, Sir."

"Excellent! Shall we?" He motions with an inviting gesture for Roberts and me.

"After you, General," I reply courteously, showing him out the door. "Oh, and LT," I turn back for an instant, "try to keep an open mind."

He doesn't answer, just gives me a curious look.

You'll find out soon enough.