Authors' Note: For a while now, 'AndItsOuttaHere' and I have been posting two chapters each weekend. Now that school is back in session, beginning this weekend, we are finding it necessary to cut back to posting one chapter a week. To do more would not leave us with enough time to maintain the quality of the story. We hope you understand and continue to enjoy.
Chapter 37
Inside Man
"What the fuck was that?" Arndt glared at Raylan. "And what's he doin' in here? Where's Cannon?"
"Cannon's dead," Raylan said before Jase could answer. "And this here's a warrant for us to search these premises." Raylan hobbled closer to him on his crutches and handed him the official piece of paper.
Arndt barked a laugh. "Yeah, right." He wadded up the warrant in his hand and tossed it on the floor.
"We got this place surrounded. And your local flunky, the Police Chief? He's handcuffed in the back of his car for interferin' in the service of a search warrant. Not to mention, we've got Eyes and Ears in here, right now."
"Bullshit," Frank challenged him.
Raylan looked up randomly and said to no one, just as cool as a cucumber, "Show 'em, Sniper." Just as Raylan finished, three shots rang out. Still jittery from seeing Cannon's brains blown out in front of him, Jase jumped, and Frank and two other men hustled to the windows.
Raylan cautioned, "I'd stay away from the windows, if I was you. My friends out there? Their trigger fingers can get a little itchy."
The men did as he said, except for one.
"I don't see no one," Frank said. "Why don't you just let me shoot him." He wagged a thumb at Raylan. "Betcha that'll bring 'em out of hiding."
"You want full-on Waco?" Jase scoffed. "You're even more of an idiot than I thought you were. We got plans . . ."
Frank planted a palm in the taller man's chest. "Don'tchoo ever call me an idiot."
Jase didn't budge. "If the shoe fits."
"Shut up! Both of you!" Arndt snapped. He stepped closer to Limehouse and Raylan. "Hello, Ellstin."
"Leon." Ellstin sneered. "It's hard ta' hire good help nowadays, ain't it?"
Arndt took a step forward. "I gotta give you credit, Ellstin. I didn't think you'd come."
"The Marshal here was pretty convincin'," Elstin offered.
"Speaking of the Marshal . . . Jase? Pat these two down for weapons," Arndt ordered.
"Yes, sir," Jase answered and started with Limehouse. He asked him to raise his arms. The one in the sling went up slowly. Jase patted him down his torso and then down each leg. He looked inside the sling, too. There was nothing.
Then, he walked over to Raylan. Raylan held up his hands. Facing him, Jase frisked him all the way down and down each leg. Then, he stood up and opened up the jacket and took look inside. Again, he found nothing. He walked around, behind the lawman, and frisked him down the back. It was at that moment when Raylan felt Jase place something inside his belt, underneath his jacket. He tried hard to keep his facial expression, unchanged.
"Nothin' on him," Jase reported, holding his hands up in the air, as if he was surprised. "Not even a cell phone."
Raylan tried to keep a poker face. He damn well did have a phone.
"You expect me to believe a lawman would come in here with no gun? No phone?" Arndt glared at the Marshal.
Raylan answered his question with one of his own. "I don't need a phone with eyes and ears. And you don't think I'm dumb enough to come in here, armed, only to have ya' shoot me with my own weapon. Do ya'?" Not waiting for an answer, he added, "Look. Ya' asked me to bring Limehouse to ya', and I did. You musta wanted to talk to him real bad. But I'm not gonna allow ya' to shoot the man when you're done with the conversation."
Arndt bristled. "I could shoot both of you, right now."
"But ya' won't," Raylan challenged him. "As long as you play it cool, you'll be fine. Because the Feds want ya' alive. If you don't play it cool, the Feds will come bustin' in here and take all of us out." He cooly pointed out, "Ya' see, I'm expendable. Agent Rulé was expendable. And Limehouse here? The U.S. Government doesn't give a shit about him."
"I always 'spected as much," Ellstin said under his breath.
"So, it seems to me," Raylan continued, "you're the only one they do give a shit about. Unless, that is, ya' kill a U.S. Marshal or an FBI informant. Then, all bets are off."
Limehouse's eyes became huge. He never signed up to be an informant. But he was in no position to argue.
Raylan shifted the weight off his foot with the cast. "So, I suggest that you two have this burnin' conversation you need to have. And then, let us go about our business of searchin' the compound. You can lawyer up, or do whatever it is ya' need to do."
"Just let me shoot 'em, boss," Frank whined.
"I said shut up, Frank." Arndt shot his underling a deadly glare. Hands on his hips, he paced in front of Raylan and Limehouse. "I'll get right to it then," he said, finally stopping in front of Ellstin. "Where is the son-of-a-bitch?"
Ellstin cocked his head. "Which son-of-a-bitch is you talkin' about? I knows a few."
"You know damn well who I'm talkin' about."
Limehouse raised an eyebrow. "I does. But I ain't seen him in years." He shrugged. "Might be dead for all's I know."
"I don't believe you."
"Believes me or not. It's yo' choice. I's just tellin' ya' . . ."
Arndt swung and his fist connected with Ellstin's jaw.
"Eyes and ears," Raylan reminded him. "You don't want my friends to hear ya' beatin' this man up and come in here."
"Take the Marshal in the other room, Jase."
"You got it," Jase said. He put a hand between Raylan's shoulder blades, and Raylan understood he was covering his back should anyone notice the bulge of the gun.
Once out of the room, Jase stopped in the hallway, pushing Raylan's back against the wall, almost causing the injured marshal to fall. "Stay here," he ordered. Raylan watched as the man slipped into a room halfway down the hall, then he leaned against the wall and listened.
"Nelson," Arndt said. "Where is he?"
Rubbing the sting of the punch off his jaw, Ellstin answered, "I done told ya. I ain't seen or heard from my brother in a coon's age."
"You know where he is."
"I don't."
"Goddamn it!" Arndt yelled, and there was the sound of fist connecting with flesh and a thud.
After a moment Ellstin's voice came again. "Why you so keen on findin' Nelson? My daddy's the one put yo' old man away, and he's in the grave twenty years."
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
"Anna's alright. She's alright." Adam said the words to himself, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was weak-kneed and dizzy with relief. Running the cold water, he splashed his face. "Anna's alright," he repeated. "Ohmigosh, I gotta tell Winona."
Winona had headed upstairs with Willa about an hour before. He knew she was tired, but being anxious about her father's surgery and worried about Anna, he doubted if she was asleep.
Adam took the stairs two at a time, knocking lightly on Winona's door so he didn't wake the baby. "Anna's okay," he said in a low voice when she opened the door. He held out his phone so she could read the text.
"That's wonderful news!" she said, hugging him. "I told you Raylan would get her out." Her brow furrowed. "I wonder why I haven't heard from him?"
"He's probably just busy," Adam said. "Anna's text was pretty short. Whatever's happened, I'm sure there's paperwork to be filled out in triplicate."
"Still, he could've texted to let me know." Pulling out her phone she checked, then typed a brief text to Raylan. Great news about Anna. R U coming home? Then, sighing, she deleted it and instead typed. So happy! C U soon. She laid the phone down on the dresser.
Adam paced, glancing at his phone every few seconds, unable to relax. "I'm sorry," he said. "You need to get some sleep. Your dad's surgery is pretty early, isn't it?"
She nodded. "Nine. But we need to be there before they prep him, so Gayle wants to head over about seven or so."
"I'll let you get some sleep," he said, his hand on the doorknob. "I just wanted to let you know."
"Thanks," Winona said. Impulsively, she gave him another hug. "I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to see her."
"Me, too." Adam grinned. "G'night."
"Good night," she said, shutting the door behind him. She glanced down at Willa, sleeping in the port-a-crib beside the bed. Taking her phone from the dresser she checked the volume and looked at her texts again. Nothing.
She needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. She turned the light out and lay down, pulling up the covers and closing her eyes. She tried to squelch the worry that popped up with logic. Raylan was busy. He was concerned with Anna. She was probably dehydrated, maybe injured, certainly traumatized. He would want to be there for her – for his sister. On top of that, Winona knew all too well that Raylan had a one track mind when he was on a case.
Still . . . worry nudged her.
"Dammitt," she hissed, punching at the pillow and rolling over. She was going to be hard pressed to get any sleep tonight.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
"You FBI?" Raylan asked Jase in a barely audible voice when Jase returned and led him into an adjacent room. The marshal assured the man, "I won't blow your cover."
Jase immediately looked up at the camera in the corner of the ceiling, looking for the red light. It wasn't on. "Yeah," he finally said with his jaw set firm, clearly irritated.
"Did Anna know ya'?" he asked.
"No. Not at all." Jase suddenly lost all traces of his 'Southern' accent. "That's all you're getting out of me, okay?"
"I understand," Raylan nodded. "I just wanna know what this thing between Arndt and Limehouse is all about?"
"I have no idea."
"Would ya' tell me if ya' did?" Raylan asked. "I know you were out there listenin' to 'em."
Jase abruptly changed the subject. "Listen. What you need to know is that Arndt plans to blow this place to kingdom come. He's not going to allow himself to be arrested. When the power was shut off here, he booby trapped this whole compound with explosives."
"Do ya' know where the explosives were planted?"
"I know where some of them are . . . because I helped set up some of the charges. Of course, I didn't connect the ones I set."
"Did ya' copy that?" Raylan spoke a little louder. "This compound is booby trapped with explosives." Then, he looked at Jase . . . or whatever the man's name was. "I wasn't kiddin' about the eyes and ears." Raylan swallowed down a big lump that formed in his throat at this latest development. "Sounds like you and me need to take care of this situation sooner, rather than later."
"You got a plan?"
"Naw," Raylan answered. "But gimme a minute. I'll think of somethin'.'"
Raylan looked in pocket and found the phone he was lucky to still have. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen and saw he had a text and scrolled down. It was from Winona. Good, he thought to himself. She and Adam knew Anna was safe. He figured she was wondering where he was and texted: Can't talk now. Wait 4 me. Might be awhile. I'm ok. L U. R-
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
Winona reached for her cell-phone after the first ping. She sighed in relief reading Raylan's text. Of course he was busy. She was worrying for nothing. By the time she woke up in the morning, Raylan would probably be here.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
Anna woke up and pushed to a sitting position, turning her head to look out the window. Art and Tim were huddled with the Deputy Director, Weston, and another guy who's face Anna couldn't see, wearing a jacket with FBI on the back. The man was agitated and talking with his hands. She pushed the button and the window lowered silently.
"I don't care!" the man was saying. "Our man has been undercover for over a year. Do you know how hard it is to run that kind of operation? You do not." He answered his own question. "You can't expect me to okay blowing this whole thing to get your man out. He shouldn't have gone in in the first place!"
"Interesting choice of words considering what we just heard," Art chuckled.
FBI man whirled around. "What're you talking about?"
"Our eyes and ears heard your man say Arndt has the whole place wired to blow sky high," Tim said.
That statement got Goodall's attention. "What exactly was said, Marshal Gutterson?"
"That as soon as the power to the compound was cut, Arndt had this place wired to blow up," Tim repeated the irony of the situation.
"It appears that your man, Jase, was one of the men setting the charges and was the one doing the talking. I'd say he's credible," Art elaborated to the local FBI Agent. "And now, like it or not, it's up to our man to get the both of them out of there in one piece."
Oh, God, Anna thought to herself. Raylan, Raylan, Raylan. She hung her heavy head and held it in her hands. He walked back into danger to save her. It was her fault Raylan was in there.
Art looked over in the backseat of Weston's car and noticed Anna. "You know what you could do that would be really helpful to this investigation?" He pointed to the local Feeb. "You could get Agent Rulé to the hospital to be checked out. This looks like it could take a while here."
"Fine," Agent Storley said, seeing that he was out numbered and clearly had no authority. "There's a hospital in Elizabethtown."
"No." Art was adamant. "She needs to go to University Hospital in Louisville. She has family there who has been waiting for her release."
"No. Please. Let me stay," Anna finally spoke up from inside the car.
"You're going to the hospital, Agent," Weston said to her. He agreed with the Chief Deputy that this could take a while. "That's an order."
Weston walked over and opened the car door for her. Stiff from sitting, she slowly emerged from the vehicle.
"There's nothing you can do here, anyway," Art offered and placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder. "I promise either Tim or I will give you a call the minute we know something. Okay?"
Tim looked at her and gave her a nod of acknowledgment that everything his Chief said was true.
"Okay," she finally acquiesced.
Anna reluctantly followed Agent Storlie to his car, parked behind the others, and stepped into the passenger seat. Knowing full well the brutal cast of characters inside that compound and what they did to her, she closed her eyes tight and tried to take some deep, controlled breaths to keep from breaking down, as Agent Storlie backed up the car and drove away. As happy as she would be to see Adam again, she didn't have a good feeling about leaving Raylan.
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
Raylan reached behind him and grabbed the gun that was tucked inside the waistband of his jeans. He made a face at the sight of the 38-caliber revolver. "You expect me to use this?"
"What? It's what I have," Jase unapologetically answered.
"Well, what're you carryin'?" Raylan wanted to know.
"A Glock."
"Hand it over." Raylan made a motion with his fingertips for Jase to hand him his service Glock.
"No," Jase said, the reply to Raylan's request was both sharp and firm.
"I'm the better shot," Raylan stated as a matter of fact. "Now, gimme your gun."
Jase argued, "You're not a better shot than me."
"The hell I'm not," Raylan countered.
"I scored a 92 percent at the FBI Pistol Qualification last month at Quantico." He smirked.
"And I scored 100 percent on my last five tests," Raylan countered, his eyes becoming steely. "I was a firearms instructor at Glynco."
Jase raised an eyebrow.
"Trade me weapons. Now!" Raylan then insisted, "Our lives are gonna depend on it."
-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-
Winona and Gayle watched as the gurney carrying Davis Sr. disappeared into the elevator. Margery emerged from her ex-husband's room, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
"You okay, Mom?" Gayle asked, putting an arm around their mother.
"I'm fine." Margery shook her oldest daughter off. "I think I'll go get some coffee. Would you girls like some?"
"I could use a cup," Winona said. "Thanks."
"Me, too," Gayle echoed.
"Where's Adam? Would he like one?"
"He got a call and went off the floor for better reception. Go ahead and get him one. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
Margery left, and the sisters turned to one another. "What's up with Mama and Daddy?" Gayle voiced what they both were thinking.
Winona shook her head. "I'm not sure."
"Oh, come on. You're the expert on reuniting with ex-husbands," Gayle teased.
"Do you really think that's what's happening?" Winona shifted Willa to her other hip. "I mean, they were married for a long time. Maybe they're just good friends."
Gayle flushed. "I caught Mom coming out of his room at the house the night you all got back from the lake."
"What do you mean? 'Caught'?"
Her sister's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she lowered her voice. "She wasn't wearing anything under her robe!"
Winona giggled. "You're kidding!"
"Nope." Gayle shook her head for emphasis and joined in her sister's nervous laughter.
"What's so funny?" Adam asked, walking up to them. Willa grinned and cooed at the sight of her friend. "Hey there, Miss Willa," he said, grabbing a chubby fist.
"They're bringing Anna in now," he said. "I'm going to go down to emergency and wait."
Winona thought she kept her face impassive, but Gayle raised an eyebrow. "If Anna's on her way, where's Raylan?" she asked. "You're worried, aren't you?"
"No. No, I'm not," Winona lied. "Raylan texted me last night and warned me not to worry. He said he might be awhile."
"Do you want to come with me?" Adam asked the sisters.
"Yeah," Winona said. "But Mama just left to get us all some coffee. We'll wait for her and then be down. You go on ahead."
Gail suggested to her sister, "You can go with him if you want. I can bring the coffees."
Winona felt torn. Her sister was waiting for their father. Adam was waiting for Anna. And she was waiting for Raylan. There was nothing for any of them to do but wait. "I'll come down with Gayle," she finally decided. "Mama won't be long."
"Of course," Adam said, understanding the gravity of their own situation. "You two have your father to worry about today. I'll see you downstairs."
Both Winona and Gayle gave him a hug before he left. Winona said, "We'll be down in just a bit. Promise. I'm thrilled Anna's safe."
"Me, too," Gayle echoed.
"And when we all have a moment . . . when things aren't so . . . tense?" Winona added, "Remind me to tell you what Gayle and I were just talking about."
Adam arched a curious eyebrow.
Gayle said with a grin, "Let's just say it involves an old man, an old woman, and rekindled lust."
He glanced at Winona who was also trying to stifle a grin. Then, he guessed, "You mean . . . Davis and Margery?"
The two sisters giggled and nodded in unison. "I'm sorry," Winona snickered. "I shouldn't be laughing at a time like this. Maybe it's the stress of being here at the hospital. This should not be this funny. In fact, it's TMI." She continued to giggle, echoed by Gayle.
Adam smiled. Not as amused at Gayle and Winona, but he got it that they were probably just blowing off some steam.
"Now, when you see Mama, we never had this conversation. Okay?" Winona tried to cover their tracks.
Adam shook his head and assured them, "I know nothing."
His cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He grabbed it and read the text. "She's here. I gotta go," he said and raced down the hall to the elevators.
(To be continued . . .)