Title: Last Stand
By: greygoose70
Summary: Sheriff Richard Castle stepped down from his office, Main Street was a beehive of activity as the towns people prepared to follow their basketball team to Phoenix for the. state playoffs.
0900, Day One
Sheriff Richard Castle stepped down from his office located in the courthouse building of Tuxedo Junction Arizona. Main street was a beehive of activity as the towns people prepared to follow their basketball team to Phoenix for the. state playoffs. It appears that most of the towns three hundred residents will be traveling with the team to cheer them to victory. Even Mayor Tony Menchara, who is walking toward him, is going.
"Hey Sheriff," he said as he got nearer, "think you can handle things while I'm gone."
This was an ongoing back and forth banter with the two of them, always trying to get one-up-man-ship on the other.
"Well, I could start by arresting you, since your new car is parked in a 'No Parking, Fire Zone, area."
Mayor Menchara just chuckled and tossed him the keys saying, "Well if there is a fire you have my permission to move it." He then turned to take his place on one of the buses.
Castle began making his way to Beckett's Diner for one of Roz's fabulous breakfasts. It didn't mean that Kate, Jim's daughter, and his current girlfriend, would be waiting tables. Nope, not at all. As he approached the diner he saw a black tractor-trailer parked across the street, the sign painted on the trailer advertising 'Quality Auto Parts, Los Angeles, California.' He made note of the license number and entered the diner.
Immediately upon his entry he was met by the three musketeers, his unspoken moniker for Patterson, Connelly and Lehane. The three of them did just about everything together. "Morning Sheriff," they said in perfect unison (see what I mean).
"Morning guys," Castle returned. He then cast his eyes on the two men sitting in a booth, walked over addressing them saying, "morning gentlemen, don't get many rigs through here; what you hauling today?"
"Refurbished brake pads from our plant in Mexicali," the one in the black leather jacket responded. "On our way to Phoenix for a pickup there then off to Denver," the other one added.
"That's a hell of days travel, hope you make it safely," Castle iterated turning to take a seat at the counter. "Thanks Sheriff," he heard them say as he left.
The two men exited the booth, threw some money on the table and walked out the door keeping their eyes on the sheriff the entire time, who from what they could see wasn't paying them any attention.
He was though. The wall on the opposite side of the counter was mirrored and his eyes followed them as they got in their rig and moved West on Main Street.
"Your usually, Rick," Kate said setting a fresh cup of coffee down in front of him. "Yeah beautiful," he replied causing her to blush.
Kate slapped his hand when he went to pick up his cup spouting "not here," even though knowing it was a useless gesture. Everyone in town knows about their relationship, kind of hard not to when they are seen together whenever they're not working.
Having finished breakfast and a round of bathroom sex Castle headed back to his office. "Tori, run this plate number, please" he politely asked his lone female deputy. Tori was the only person he hired when he became sheriff, she was former Army Special Forces, born and raised here in Tuxedo Junction, was an excellent shot even prior to enlisting. He kept the two deputies from the previous administration, Javier Esposito and a young recruit Jerome Bailey. He then retreats to his office, begins reading through his deputies reports of the past few days, two rescues (cats stuck in trees), one arrest for 'drunk and disorderly' who is still sleeping it off in one of their cells and one speeding citation by an underage driver whose parents promised their own type of non-violent punishment.
Suddenly there was a knock on his door. Looking up he saw Tori standing there. "I've got the report on that license plate, Sheriff," she said holding it out for him. "What does it say," he asked?
"The plate is registered to a grocery chain in LA, it was discovered missing a week ago."
"What type of a vehicle was it registered to," Castle then asked?
"It was off a twenty-foot trailer," she answered.
"Okay, call highway patrol, give it to them, tell them it is on the rear of a 40-foot black trailer, signage reads 'Quality Auto Parts, Los Angeles, California."
"Got it," she said turning to return to her desk. "And Tori be sure Kevin gets something to eat when he wakes up."
"Yes sir," she says back speaking over her left shoulder then mumbles "I hope he likes bread and water."
8:45PM, The Castle Cabin
Rick and Kate were huddled together on the cushioned love seat on his front porch when he saw a car headed up the long drive to his cabin. As it got closer he recognized it as one of his squad cars. It pulled to a stop and Deputy Bailey got out, made his way up the steps and immediately became apologetic when he saw Kate sitting there.
"Oh, sorry sir I didn't realize you had company. Good evening, Miss Beckett."
"Good evening to you as well Deputy Bailey," she responded. "What is it you need Jerry," Castle was quick to ask.
"It's nothing sir it can wait till tomorrow."
"I'm going to make us some hot chocolate," Kate said getting up, "It's getting a little chilly out here. Would you care for some Deputy?"
"No thank you maam, I'm fine."
"Okay Jerry, talk to me," Rick politely ordered his young deputy. "It's the job sir," Baily blurted out.
"Are you not happy with being a deputy."
"It's not that sir. I like being a deputy, I just wish there were more to it than rescuing cats from trees."
"You would like an action filled environment."
"Well yes sir."
"Jerry, as a New York City cop I was involved in the type of action you're thinking about, believe me it's not all that glamorous. I paid the ultimate price for it, that's why I'm here instead of there."
"What happened sir if you don't mind me asking."
"I was working vice, we had an operation go bad, my partner ended up being crippled for life, my team decimated. As for me it I was wracked with failure and defeat, spent 12 months in therapy before giving up and moving here."
"Sir…"
"Jerry, think about what I just told you for a few days, if you still think the same, I'll make some calls, okay."
"Thank you, sir," Jerry said then returned to his car and left.
Rick stood up off the loveseat and went inside where he found Kate standing, her face damp, where tears had been. "You heard," he whispered softly to her tugging her into him.
"How come you never told me," she said with her head buried in his chest. "All you ever told me was you decided to retire."
"That part is true, Kate. It was because of that last failed op, the nightmares I was having, the therapy which I didn't believe was helping. I knew I wouldn't be allowed to return to work without an approval from the psychologist, so I submitted retirement papers, found this place listed on the internet and bought it. It was a little run down, so I spent the first year fixing it up."
By now they had migrated to the couch with Kate laying down, her head in his lap, Rick running his fingers through her hair. "So, when did you know you were in love with me," she asked.
"I can honestly say it wasn't the first time I met you although I knew I wanted to know more about you that's why I started coming to the diner a little more often…"
"Yeah, like every day," she said laughing.
Rick had to let out a little chuckle himself because he knew what she said was true. "Touché," he responded. "It was probably the fourth time that I realized I was smitten with you…"
"But only because I said yes when you asked me out."
"You did and we went to see that Schwarzenegger movie 'True Lies,' went for coffee afterwards, but then you let me kiss you when I took you home and I knew. Maybe it wasn't love yet however I definitely knew my heartstrings was playing our tune."
"But then it took you six months before you said it, Rick."
"I had to make sure you felt the same, I had been burnt before, I would have been heartbroken if you turned me away, but you didn't…"
"No, I didn't, I said it right back."
"Yeah, and many times since."
"So, why don't we take this to the bedroom where you can show me how much you love me," she said rolling off his lap sprinting for the bedroom, Rick in hot pursuit behind her.
4:00AM, The Federal Bldg., Las Vegas, Nevada
Supervisor Special Agent Roy Montgomery and a squad of sixteen hand selected agents loaded the powerful Mexican drug lord Gabriel Cortez into a prisoner transport vehicle where he will be taken to the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, California for execution.
Cortez, however, had other ideas, a daring escape plan that was laid out by one of his chief henchmen and relayed to him by his attorney, which included the use of a super large industrial magnet and multiple men disguised as escapees and a super-fast automobile.
4:22AM, Las Vegas, Liftoff
The convoy stopped for a traffic light at Las Vegas Blvd. South and Wilber Clark Drive. Little did anyone know (except Cortez) that a round four-foot industrial magnet was being lowered directly over the prisoner transport. When it got within two feet it was activated and the transport vehicle was snatched off the pavement and was being lifted up.
The agents in the trailing vehicles seeing what was happening instantly exited their vehicles, they were immediately met with automatic gunfire from someone standing on the magnet, two agents were hit and killed. The agents in the forward vehicles got out and began firing also. The man on the magnet turned his weapon firing another burst killing another agent.
Inside the transport Cortez using a stick pin that his lawyer had smuggled in has picked the lock on the ankle shackles that secured him to the bench on which he was seated. The instant the vehicle jerked and began to sway when the magnet attached itself he leapt forward and with a quick blow to the throat incapacitated one of the interior guards. Turning to face the other guard he grabs him in a choke hold then snaps his neck. When the transport has settled atop the building Cortez grabs the dead guard, places himself behind him, he hears the beating on the door signifying it is about to be blown off. After the explosion occurs and the door is blown off Cortez pushes the guard aside and gets out where a henchman awaits and unlocks the remainder of his shackles. Cortez straps himself into a trolley cable seat, attaches it to the cable rollers, leaps off and traverses across Las Vegas Blvd. to the Encore Building.
By now LVPD has been alerted and has arrived at the building where the transport had been placed. A squad has been placed at the bank of elevators in case the fugitive was using one to aid in his escape, the remainder scurrying up the stairs, however, when they burst through the door to the roof all they found was a mangled vehicle and the cable that had been strung. The police team leader then radioed Montgomery and relayed his findings. Montgomery instantly sent units to cover the Encore building.
Cortez in the meantime has changed clothes, has taken the elevator to the underground parking area and into a waiting car. But not just any car but a Corvette C6 ZR. He got in, fired up the 670HP, 6.2L engine, dropped it in gear, floored the accelerator hearing the Michelin 301/30ZR20 squeal till they got traction and propelled him toward the exit ramp.
Cortez turned into the alley that would take him out to the street that would lead him to Interstate 215 but just as he turned he saw two FBI agents, a man and a woman, in his way, the man went for his weapon. Cortez again floored the accelerator, the Corvette lurching forward catching the agent head-on before he could fire sending him flying. Cortez instantly hit the brakes coming to a stop at the agents' feet. The female was slow in going for her gun so Cortez fire a shot at her feet, "throw it away," he said" Agent Genesis Richardes did as he ordered throwing her gun away. "Get over here," Cortez then ordered getting out of the car.
Again, Richards did as he ordered. When she got within an arm's length he grabbed her at the wrist, pulled her around to the passenger side and shoved her in, relieved her of her handcuffs and shackled her wrist to a grab-bar located above the door then returned to the driver side, but not before stopping and shooting the agent on the ground insuring he was dead, he then got in the car, put it in gear and drove off.
Montgomery was able to watch the entire sequence of events from cameras a tech was able to access. When he saw Cortez shoot his agent he spouted," I won't have to deliver you for execution Cortez, I'll do it myself! And where's my chopper, I need eyes on this bastard!"
"Right here sir," came a female voice over his radio, "I've got eyes on him, and he just turned onto the 215 toward Henderson."
"Good work Smitty, stay with him."
"That could be difficult sir, that's one fast car he's driving, and he definitely knows how to handle it."
"That's because among his other talents, he also raced on the formula one circuit."
Inside the car Cortez was commenting Agent Richards on here performance back in the alley. Her only response was asking, "can we remove the handcuffs now."
"Not yet," he replied as he continued weaving through the traffic on the 215, "but soon."
"He just headed south on US95," the chopper pilot announced.
"Hayes!" Montgomery shouted. "Contact Bullhead City PD, have them set up a roadblock on US95.
4:32AM, Rick's Bedroom
Rick heard his phone ringing, so he extracted himself from Kate's naked body and rolled over to answer it finally snatching it on the fourth ring. "Hello," he said in his still sleep laden voice. After the caller introduced themselves he responded with "what's the matter, Roz?"
Kate, hearing it was Roz, quickly sat up asking if something was wrong at the diner. Rick whispered "no" then placed the receiver between them so Kate could hear as well. "It's farmer Parsons sheriff, he hasn't shown up yet with his egg and milk delivery and it's well past four o'clock."
"And this concerns you."
"Yes," Kate said. "Parsons delivers fresh eggs and milk to the diner every morning at exactly 4:00AM, you could set your watch on it.
"I'm afraid somethings happened to him," Roz interrupted, "like maybe he had a heart attack."
"Okay you two I'll send someone to check it out," he then called his office and dispatched Tori and Jerry out to investigate.
"I'm gonna take a shower," Rick stated getting out of bed. "I'll start coffee," Kate replied rolling out of bed, slipping on his t-shirt, "will join you shortly."
5:15AM, The Parsons Farm
Tori pulled up to the Parsons farmhouse, turned off the ignition and got out. Jerry was already out and calling out for Parsons. Tori stepped up to the front door tried the door handle but found it locked. "Go check the back Jerry," she said, then knocked a few times but got no response so she went to join Jerry.
When she arrived she saw Jerry jiggling a window so just like she did out front she tried the door handle, it was unlocked so she pushed it open, called Jerry over and they proceeded inside. "I'll check upstairs," he stated as he began up the steps.
It wasn't long till they found Parsons in a hall coat closet, dead. Not just dead but murdered if the hole in his chest was any indication. Tori pulled out her phone, "You calling the sheriff," Jerry inquired.
"No," she answered, "Esposito, he was a LAPD detective before Raddison (the previous sheriff) hired him to join him here. Evidently they served in the army together."
When Deputy Esposito arrived he analyzed the situation, asked the other two "if they have touched anything," and getting a "no" response sent them back outside to cordon off the area with crime scene tape; he then placed a call to Castle.
"Hey Castle," was the first thing Rick heard when he picked up the phone. "Hey Espo, what's up," he replied?
"You need to get out here to Parsons place, he's been murdered."
"Okay, see you in a few," he answered, then telling Kate to fix to-go cups while he finished getting geared up.
Ten minutes later he parked his official GMC Yukon Denali (Mayor Menchara spared no expense when it came to vehicles for the Sheriff's department) next to M.E. Lanie Parrish's vehicle. Getting out him and Kate were met by Tori and Jerry who had just finish taping off the area. After returning their greeting Rick ordered them to begin checking the rest of the area for anything suspicious.
Upon entering the house they found Lanie kneeling down next to the dead body of George Parsons. "What can you tell me Lanie," Rick asked kneeling down next to her. "I can tell you he was killed sometime yesterday. I'm estimating it was sometime before noon, I'll have a more accurate time after I complete a full autopsy."
"Anything else," Rick inquired. "Only that he was shot by a large caliper weapon, probably a .44 or .45."
Just then Tori came in saying she found something. Everybody, with the exception of Lanie, went out to see what they found. They headed over to where Jerry as squatted with his flashlight surveying the ground. "What is it," Rick asked upon arrival. "This Sheriff. There was a truck parked here, it has dual rear wheels and from the depth of these impressions it had something heavy in it."
"Good work, do you know which way it was headed when it left?"
"I tracked it for about a hundred feet, it was headed west," Tori explained.
"Tori, you and Jerry follow the tracks see if you can find out where it is going but be careful. Come on Espo let's go check out the barn."
"Look here," Espo said pointing to a blood smear on a tractor fender.
"Yeah, and there's more here," Rick replied, "I think Parsons was sitting on the tractor when he was shot."
"He must just have come back from plowing one of his fields when he was accosted," Espo stated.
"But by who and for what purpose. Something about this stinks, Espo. First it is the truckers who said they were on their way to Phoenix but when they left the diner they headed West not East, then there was the stolen plate, and now this."
"I'm going to go in and help Lanie, she'll need help getting Parsons in her vehicle," Espo declared.
"Okay, I'll see you back at the station."
The Gorge, (The border between Arizona & Mexico)
Tori saw lights up ahead, so she shut the cruisers lights and slowed down. "What the hell is going on here, Jerry," she stated inching closer then stopping when seeing a man walking toward them.
Jerry got out and confronted him, heard the man say, "we got company guys," then saw the man produce a weapon taking a shot at him.
Jerry turned to find cover pulling out his own gun in the process but suddenly there was a rash of gunfire, one round hitting him in the leg causing him to fall. He saw a berm to his right and crawled to it.
Tori, who had taken cover behind the cruiser cowered in trepidation as the side of the cruiser was riddled with bullets from automatic weapons. "Kill the lights," she heard a man yell and suddenly the lights went out.
"Come on Jerry," Tori shouted, "they won't be able to see you."
Jerry rose from his position, instantly taking a shot in the side then dropping down again behind the berm.
"Shit," Tori clamoured bastardizing herself, "they must have night vision gear." They were going to need re-enforcements if they hoped to get out of this alive. She reached in the cruiser, found her radio located in the center console, retrieved it and began sending out her message. "Mayday! Mayday! Anybody on this frequency this is Deputy Ellis, taking heavy gunfire, have an officer down…"
Castle had no sooner got in his vehicle when he caught Tori's Mayday. He yanked the mike from its clip, shouted into it. "Tori, it's Castle what is your location?" He fired up the GMCs 5.3L, V8, dropped the selector in Drive and took off in the direction Tori headed when she left kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt.
Arriving at Tori's location he saw her huddled on the passenger side of her cruiser, the driver side looking like a piece of Swiss cheese. He spotted Jerry laying behind a mound of dirt but what frightened him most was the rocket launcher one of the henchmen was holding…and it was aimed at Tori's cruiser, so he headed directly towards the man yelling in his mike, "Tori, get away from the car RPG." Rick was able to reach and crash into him but not before he was able to get his shot off.
All Tori heard was RPG so she dove back and away from her cruiser as far as she could…and just in time for as she landed face down in the dirt her car exploded sending parts flying which fortunately none landed on her.
Rick spun his vehicle around ran over another of the henchmen on his way back to provide cover and rescue Tori. When he reached to where she was still prone face down, he placed the large SUV at an angle to protect her from the gunfire. Tori crawled over, raised up opening the rear door and got in the back. Rick hurried over to where Jerry lay, repeated his maneuver at Jerry's position allowing Tori to help get him in the back seat as well then made a hasty retreat.
"We need to get him to the hospital," Tori stated as she held Jerry close, all the while telling him to hang on, they would be there soon.
"Reach in the back, you should find something to cover the wound and apply pressure," Rick instructed. Moments later he heard Jerry yelp as Tori followed his instructions.
It took Rick almost ten minutes to arrive at Tuxedo General Hospital. He jumped out, threw open the passenger door, peered inside and froze at what he saw, Tori has Jerry wrapped in her arms, she is crying. Jerry's eyes are dark…he didn't make it. Rick pulled Jerry from Tori's hold, cradled him in his arms, began carrying him toward the hospital Emergency Room. Tori got out to join them just as Esposito pulled up who quickly exited his vehicle and went along.
The FBI Tactical Room
Montgomery stood staring at the huge wall map trying to determine where Cortez was heading. "Roadblock is all set up, sir, Hays," said.
"Excellent," Montgomery responded.
Somewhere on US95, South
"Think it's time to lose the chopper, Genie or should I say it lost us." He then activated the Corvettes front camera giving him a view of the road ahead on the cars five-inch screen. He killed the cars lights and slammed on the breaks, the helicopter zooming by overhead. Cortez then pulled the car under the overpass at SR164 stopped and shut off the engine.
"I just lost him," Smitty announced over the radio. "You what!" Montgomery shouted.
"He just disappeared sir, one second he was there the next, he wasn't."
"Where do you think he went," Montgomery asked.
"I'm thinking he may have killed his lights then turned onto SR164."
"Anything along that route?"
"Little town of Searchlight about fifteen miles east."
"Go check it out. Damn it," Montgomery clamoured.
"What are we waiting for," Genesis asked just as two black SUVs went racing by followed by an eight-wheel dump truck. "That," Cortez answering her, he then dropped the Vette into gear, took off following it.
Up ahead at the roadblock members of the Bullhead City PD waited patiently for the speeding Corvette. Their vehicles are extended not only across the highway but also fifteen feet either side of it. If Cortez attempted to skirt the block he would end up in the deep ravine at each end. Each member was armed with an M4 carbine rifle. Should Cortez try to just crash through the blockade he will be met with an onslaught of gunfire.
"Here he comes," one of the officers yelled pointing to the headlights in the distance. Everybody took up their position waiting to see what Cortez was going to do but as the vehicle got closer two headlights turned into four and suddenly there was gunfire and bullets came flying in striking the police cars, several officers were also hit, some fatally. As they got closer the SUVs parted and the dump truck came barreling through with its large vee shaped plow heading straight for the center of the roadblock. When it reached the line of cars it plowed through the center gap sending the two vehicles there flying off to the side creating a wide gap for the Corvette. It then moved to one side and moments later Cortez brought the Vette speeding through.
Chopper pilot Jacklyn Smith, Smitty to her co-workers and friends, banked the helicopter back toward US95, she had not seen hide nor hair of Cortez and his supercharged Corvette. She figures he hid somewhere then continued on US95, that he must be getting close the roadblock by now…and she was right.
When she came upon the roadblock she spouted off to her co-pilot, "my god Harry, it looks like a warzone down there. She immediately brought her chopper to a hover, got on the radio to Montgomery giving him a description of what she was seeing. Harry relating to her the info he was getting from below.
"How the hell did Cortez know about the roadblock," Montgomery inquired looking directly at the people in the room with him. "Oh shit," he then muttered, "he has Richards radio, he must have heard me tell Hayes to set it up. Listen up, if you have a radio shut it off make all communications by phone or verbally in person."
Going back to study the map Montgomery called Agent Hayes over. "What do need sir," Hayes asked when getting to where Montgomery was staring intently at the map. "Here," Montgomery began, "if he stays on 95 he has to pass through here, Tuxedo Junction. Get me the phone number for the sheriff there then I want you to run financials on everybody here there's still something strange about Cortez' escape.
"Sheriff' office," Tori said answering the phone. "Just a moment sir," she told the caller putting him on hold then paged the sheriff letting him know he had SSA Montgomery on line one.
"Sheriff Castle," he said picking up the phones receiver then asking the FBI agent what he wanted. When he was told there was an escaped fugitive headed his way and that there was an FBI SWAT team in pursuit of him then being asked to do what he could to stop him Castle got irritated angrily telling him he had his own problems, he had a dead farmer and a dead deputy before hanging up on him. He then called Deputy Ellis into his office.
"Tori, can you tell me what you saw when first approaching the site," Rick inquired as she took a seat in front of his desk.
Tori closed her eyes began searching her memory from when she first saw the lights. "They weren't just vehicle lights; they were more like the lights you would find at a construction site and there was a noise like from a generator. There was a crane lifting something off the bed of a truck, I couldn't tell what it was…that's when the shooting started."
"Did it look something like this, "Rick asked while spinning his monitor around showing her what was on the screen. "I believe so," she answered, "what is it?"
"It a modular section for a temporary bridge. They are erecting a bridge across the gorge into Mexico. This escapee must be important. Can you get that agent back?"
"Yes sir," she responded pushing herself from her chair, rushing to her desk. A few moments later she yelled back to him, "Line one sir"
Castle didn't waste words immediately asking SSA Montgomery, "Who is this fugitive?" When hearing back it was Gabriel Cortez he shouted, "why didn't you tell me that before! This changes everything! His men are erecting a bridge across the gorge west of here into Mexico. Where is this SWAT team, how far out is Cortez?" After a few minutes he said, "Well guess I better get ready then." He then hung up the phone.
Back on US95
"Here, you can uncuff yourself now.," Cortez said handing Richards the key. "Finally," she replied removing the one from her wrist then from the grab bar.
Approximately fifty miles back were two black SUVs carrying the FBI SWAT team.
"Cortez' cell phone rang, he answered it, listened to whoever it was then said, "take care of it," and disconnected.
"A silver Ford F-150 Raptor pulled out from its hiding place onto US95, the driver shifting the 7-speed dual clutch automatic tranny through its range, the final gear being a overdrive giving the vehicle a speed greater than 150mph.
It took the driver ten minutes to catch up to the FBI vehicles. He backed off slightly maintaining a fifty-yard spread between him and the rear vehicle. He signaled his passenger in the back seat to get ready while pressing the power button to lower the rear window.
The passenger crawled out the window reached in and retrieved the M136 Rocket launcher lying on the seat, readied it then placed it on his shoulder, aimed it and fired. The rocket exited the tube on its way to its target, broke through the rear window of the SUV and exploded. The SUV flipped forward, was propelled into the rear of the SUV in front of it sending it into a spin before rolling over several times eventually ending up laying on its roof.
Back in Tuxedo Junction
Rick is explaining to Espo and Tori what was going on. Kevin, who has finally awakened was listening in as well. "How does the FBI expect us to stop or even slow down this Cortez guy," Espo asked. "And what about the men out at the gorge, what if they show up," Tori inquired immediately afterwards.
Rick moved over to where the jail cells were located, "Kevin, you still as good a shot as you were in school?"
"Better," he replied. "Let him out Tori," Rick ordered.
Once he was free Rick handed him a badge and deputized him. "I won't let you down Rick; Jerry was my friend."
Okay, let's see what we have for weapons," Rick stated. "Two shotguns and four Glock 17s," Espo was quick to respond.
"Oh, I think we can do a little better than that," Rick declared going into his office where he unlocked a metal cabinet, swung the doors open to display what he had in the way of armory.
Reaching in he pulled out a M40A3 sniper rifle handed it to Tori. She took it and cradled it as if holding a baby. "It's almost the same as my M24," she said reverently. "A couple more modifications more than the original," Rick told her.
Rick then pulled out two M4 carbines gave one to Espo the other to Kevin. "What about you Rick," Espo asked. "I prefer one of these," he responded reaching up on the top shelf pulling down a .44 Automag pistol just like the one Clint Eastwood used in the Dirty Harry movie Sudden Impact, it even had the 8½-inch barrel. "I don't have a lot of ammo but I'm pretty sure I know who…"
"Dinky!" the three deputies shouted out simultaneously. "Let's go," Rick said, "then we'll need to get the town ready."
Lewis Dinkum is the towns collector of all things weaponry which he stores in a barn just on the outskirts of town. Many of the townsfolk think his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor, hence the nickname 'Dinky'.
When Rick and his deputies arrived at 'The Dinky's Weapons Emporium' (the name of his establishment) Rick explained the situation to him. Dinky told the sheriff he was willing to help under one condition. When asked what that condition is, he told the sheriff he wanted to be deputized the same as Kevin Ryan. "Tori," was all Rick said.
Tori pulled a badge from her pocket handing it to him. Rick placed the badge in Dinky's hand, covered it with his own and deputized him. Dinkum then led them to the back of the room where he introduced them to what he calls 'the Nazi Killer'. He flipped back the tarp and everyone gawked when seeing a Vickers .303 machine gun. "According to the serial number this one was built in 1915," Dinky told them.
"Does it work," Rick asked. "All the parts are there," Dinky replied
"Do you have ammo for it?"
"Yep," was all Dinky answered. "Bring all you have," Rick said. Everyone instantly began loading ammo for not only the Vickers but also for their own weapons putting it all in dinky's four-by-four truck, they then high-tailed it back to town.
"Okay, we'll put the primary blockade on Main Street just ahead of Tuxedo Avenue," Rick began explaining. "But we will also want to block of Musgrove and Columbia Avenues, both sides. Let's put one on States Avenue as well just in case our friends at the gorge decide to show up. Let's get on it."
Rick saw Kate and Roz coming out from the diner, Roz shouting, "what's going on sheriff."
"You girls need to get back inside," Rick said, "things are about to get dangerous out here."
"How dangerous," Kate asked when she saw everyone toting a weapon. "Very," Rick replied .
"Sheriff, if there's going to be shooting I can help. I may not have been special forces like Tori but I was regular army and know how to shoot. You have any more of them M4s?"
"See Dinky," he told her. "Count me in," Kate stated heading after her.
"Kate, no," Rick declared emphatically.
"I know how to shoot too, you taught me, remember," she responded not stopping.
7:10 AM: Rick and his, now six deputies, have Main Street and the two intersections of Musgrove and Columbia barricaded when suddenly they hear Espo shout "here they come" from his spot at States Avenue.
Demming and his men stopped their vehicles in front of Monte's Multiple Services garage, got out and formed a skirmish line across Main Street. "Well, what do we have here," Demming proclaimed with a smirk. "Let's have some fun boys. Egan, Eduardo, go right. Bucho, Faceburn, left.
Ponytail and Franco began firing, their M16a2's set on full auto while Demming unholstered his 1876, .45 caliber Colt revolver and began shooting, their primary target being Esposito who took cover the instant they began shooting behind one of the cars used to barricade the street.
Kate and Roz who had taken positions on the roof of the Main Street Inn instantly began returning fire with their M4s that were set at three round bursts. Tori who was on the roof of the diner was taking aim at one of the men on the opposite side of the street, when she had him in her sights she fired and he went down, the other one immediately seeking cover. Tori then honed in on one of men shooting at Esposito fired again and another one bit the dust.
Demming seeing two of his men down focused on Tori's position firing his .45 caliber six-shooter till it was empty, he then found cover so he could reload.
"Where in the hell is Kevin and the Sheriff," Tori yelled on her radio (she, Espo, Roz and Rick were the only ones to have one). "On the way," she heard back, "Just keep them busy."
Espo stood from his position to shoot but was instantly met with automatic fire one of the rounds grazing his left shoulder. He realized he couldn't return fire from there, so he moved to the rear of the vehicle he was behind got into a knelling position and peered around. He could see where Demming was hiding and began popping of rounds in that direction keeping him tied down.
"Roz, concentrate your fire on the two men on my side of the street. I'm not in position to…"
"Gottum," Roz replied immediately firing a three-round burst their way. Kate following suit and doing the same.
"Franco get out the 79," Demming yelled! Frank O'Donnell, Franco to those that know him, and Demmings best man had taken cover behind one of their vehicles opened the rear hatch reached in and grabbed the M79 grenade launcher, loaded a HE (high explosive) round aimed it at the silver Toyota (Espo's cover) and pulled the trigger.
Espo from his spot saw the man step from behind his cover location carrying the launcher and pointing it in his direction. He quickly spun around started crawling on his hands and knees away from the car that had been providing him protection. He had made it five feet when the grenade hit the car and exploded breaking the car into pieces sending them flying in all directions.
Just then there was a loud blare from a vehicles air horn. Everybody, both good and bad, turned to see where it came from. They watched in amazement when they saw a school bus heading straight for the barricade they had established at Main Street. A closer look revealed Kevin Ryan at the wheel, they watched in awe as he began taking the big vehicle into a controlled left spin the rear coming around and stopping exactly at the small gap between the cars.
There at the open rear door were the sheriff and Dinky, the sheriff perched behind the Vickers machine gun. He immediately began firing Dinky feeding the ammo properly keeping the gun from jamming. The first to go down was the man still holding the grenade launcher, Rick swung the barrel to where Demming was, but he has moved to a safer location. Rick turned his attention to their vehicles pounding them until one exploded.
After bringing the bus to a stop and killing the engine Kevin exited the bus and sprinted to where Espo was laying. "You okay," he shouted.
"Yeah," he shouted back, "just got my bell rung from the explosion."
"Come on let's get you to safety," then helped him up and they scurried back to the bus.
Demming was having his own problems, whoever was on the roof of the diner was keeping him pinned down, he couldn't go left or right, and he definitely couldn't go forward so he sent one of the two men he had left to go take care of the problem.
Espo saw the man take off for the diner, he instantly notified Kevin. Kevin looked up toward the roof spouted, "Tori is up there," and took off running. The man entered through a side door that led to the stairwell to the upper floors and the roof.
Kevin cautiously opens the side door, entered when nothing happened he rounded the corner to start up the stairs a figure appeared and began firing Kevin retreating back around the corner just in time to keep from getting hit. Kevin switched his gun to his left and slowly peeked around the corner, saw nothing but he could here footsteps, so he swiftly began an ascent his rubber soled shoes allowing him the stealth to be much quieter. He reached the landing where the door to the roof was located at the same moment the man was about to enter the roof. Kevin called out to him, "Hey." The man spun around where he was met with a barrage of 9mm bullets.
Kevin stepped over the dead man's body, rushed over taking Tori in his arms, whispered in here ear, "I'm sorry for everything," then kissed her passionately.
Rick took off running when he saw the last henchman heading for the Main Street Inn. Kate and Roz were up there. Rick a former college football line-backer with speed caught up with him on the third floor lowered his head and in a true line-backer fashion went to tackle him.
Terrance "Bucho" Bucholtz heard the heavy clopping of steps behind him, quickly turned to kill whoever it was pursuing him. He was, however, a nanosecond to late as the sheriff had him clasped at the hips, lifted off the floor and drove through the door of apartment 3B then completely across to the opposite end of the room and out a window.
The two men began falling toward the sidewalk. They were slowed down when encountering a canvass awning which broke away then fell the remainder of the way with Bucho landing first, the sheriff on top of him.
Rick started to get up but then a gun was fired the bullet just missing his head. He looked around searching for cover saw a gray Nissan parked at the curb and quickly scampered over to it as another shot whizzed by. He reached for his side arm, but it must have fallen out during the fall, fortunately his .44 mag was still in its shoulder holster. Pulling it out he raised up, went to fire a shot but didn't see his attacker. Another shot went flying by, this on to close for comfort. He heard the man shout, "what's the matter sheriff!"
Castle turned his head in the direction the voice came from, saw the man from the diner, the one with the black leather jacket, setting in the bus's driver seat trying to start it but the bus being stubborn. Castle calculated his option, if he moved to the rear of the Nissen the man wouldn't have a good view of him so doing so he got into a linesman stance and took off keeping low then dove under the bus.
"Where'd you go sheriff," the man asked? "I'm down here," Castle responded then fired his .44. He heard a scream figured he hit the man somewhere. "Nice one sheriff,"
Castle recognized the sound when the man cocked his weapon, he quickly rolled to the side as two shots came through the floorboard. He rolled back to his previous position and fired twice, this time he heard nothing, so he rolled out from underneath the bus moved cautiously to the open door, peeked inside and saw the man with his head slumped forward trying to speak while raising his gun hand. Castle just said, "that's what you get for invading my town," he then put a bullet through the man's temple.
Meanwhile fifteen miles out on US95 Cortez was barreling towards Tuxedo Junction. He had already spoken with Demming confirming everything was ready, but it still had one more thing to take care of. Reaching over he unsnapped Richard's seatbelt, placed his hand around her neck pulled her over and kissed the whispered in her ear, "thank you but it's time for you to go," then opened her door and shoved he out.
As Cortez sped into Tuxedo Junction he saw the blockade that was waiting for him, he knew exactly what he needed to do. At just the right moment he put the Corvette into a 180-degree spin, threw the shift lever in reverse, mashed down on the accelerator, rammed into the rear of one of the cars blocking his way moving it aside spun back forward while shifting gears and sped off.
Everyone in town stood wide-eyed at what they just witnessed. "That son-of-a bitch is not getting away," Rick clamoured as he sprinted over to where the mayor's Camaro ZL1 was parked. Getting in he fired up the 427 cubic inch, 650 HP motor shifted into first gear and took off after him.
Cortez has studied a map of this area (another thing his lawyer was able to smuggle into him) so instead of taking the curve where the highway went south, he kept heading west through Harrison's corn field.
Castle seeing Cortez' maneuver did the same. Finally catching up to Cortez as they race through the yet to be harvested corn Castle rams into the Vette twice, Cortez retaliates by doing the same then shifts into a higher gear and speeds ahead. Castle does the same, catches up and rams him again, twice, Cortez repaying him by doing the same. They both are concentrating so hard on the other they don't see the green John Deere harvesting machine in their path. Cortez ends up driving head on into it tearing up the front end of the Vette. Castle tries to avert it ends up going under the transfer arm ripping off the Camaros roof.
Dazed, Cortez crawls out of the Vette and proceeds on foot, fighting his way through the corn stalks till he come to the where the field has been cleared…and then he sees it, the bridge to his freedom. He picks up hiis pace as best as he can but when he gets there who does he see waiting for him, none other than Tuxedo Junction Sheriff Richard Castle standing in the middle of the bridge dangling a pair of handcuffs then tossed them in Cortez' direction where they landed at his feet
You're not crossing this bridge Cortez," he says.
"Oh, come on sheriff, thousands of people from Mexico enter the US illegally every day, what's the harm in letting one go back."
"Nothing if it's done legally."
"What's it going to take to let me cross, money? How about five million?" Cortez reached inside his jacket, took out his phone, pressed a button, spoke briefly to whomever he called then said, "I have my banker on the phone ready to transfer the funds. Castle didn't say a word. "Five mil not enough, let's make it ten." Still Castle remained quiet. "All right then 20 million," Cortez shouted.
"I can't be bought," Castle finally stated. He then took off his gun belt, shoulder holster and dropped them at his feet.
"I'm getting to the other side even if it means going through you," Cortez shouted then took off charging at Castle.
Castle braced himself so that when Cortez got close, he got into a tackle position and met him head on wrapping him up the hips, picked him up then slammed him to the metal grading. Cortez got up immediately started throwing punches several which connected. Castle returned punches of his own finally connecting with a right hook that sent Cortez down.
Cortez whipped out a pen knife, scrambled to his feet slashing at Castle catching him once on the arm. Castle blocked another attempt and again caught Cortez with a punch to the jaw sending him down. Cortez got to his knees, stabbed Castle in the calf, Castle retaliated by kicking Cortez in the gut. Castle then reached down pulled the knife from his leg then flipped Cortez on to his back placed his knee to the middle of his midsection, retrieved his handcuffs, cuffed Cortez' wrists then grabbing him by the arm dragged him off the bridge to where the Camaro sat.
Back in Tuxedo Junction Esposito, Tori, Kevin, Kate, Roz and Dinky were sitting on the curb in front of the diner where Lanie was busy attending to Espo's and Dinky's wounds. They turned their heads to the noise coming from the west end of Main Street seeing the red Camaro limping down the street sans its roof, Rick at the wheel, Cortez secured at the rear staggering behind it.
Rick pulled the car to a stop in front of them, got out and sat down between Kevin and Kate telling Kevin to take Cortez and lock him in one of the cells. Lanie came over saw the blood on his leg and arm instantly began cleaning and dressing the wounds.
All of them were still sitting there when Montgomery and his agents arrived, with them was a prisoner transport vehicle with prisoner already inside, Genesis Richards. They had found her walking on the side of the highway Montgomery immediately placing her under arrest. He had seen the financials Agent Hayes ran discovered Richards had received a payoff from a Mexico bank for five million dollars.
Montgomery sent four agents to retrieve Cortez, had him put in full body shackles and secured to links welded to the transports body. He then loaded fully armed FBI SWAT agents to keep guard over him.
Montgomery stepped over to where Castle was still seated on the curb, stuck out his hand which Castle accepted. Montgomery helped him stand thanking him for everything. Castle's only reply was, "this is my town, nobody messes with my town." Montgomery just giggled and turned heading for his vehicle.
Kevin got up from where he was sitting, stepped up to Rick with the badge he had been given offering it back. "Keep it," Rick said, "You earned it,"
Rick turned back facing his worn and weary crew saying, "I'm hungry, I messed breakfast, who wants to join me, I'm buying." He then reached down, took hold of Kate's hand lifting her up and headed inside the diner, the others following.
Sunday
The buses pulled to a stop the passengers getting off collecting their luggage and heading for their residents. The team was the last to exit from the lead bus they were upbeat Yes, they had lost in the championship game but to a much larger school with a larger student body and only by four points.
Mayor Menchara congratulated the team one more time on their excellent effort then headed for his car which was parked in the same spot as when he left. But when he saw it, he screamed "WTF," and went running to the sheriff's office. Upon entering he found Castle setting at his desk playing poker with his deputies.
"What the hell happened to my car Castle." He shouted. Without looking up Castle replied, "I told you not to park it in a Fire Zone."
THE END