The Competition

59

When I came out of the bedroom, Shane was complaining loudly that he had to use the bathroom. He’d been stuck in that chair for more than an hour. It was possible he was telling the truth. I looked at Bailey. “Do we let him?”

Bailey shrugged. “Your call. Just keep in mind, we’re taking him to this meeting with Jax, and it’s a very long ride. And I don’t intend to make any rest stops.”

Todd spoke up. “Since we’re going to have to use my car”-Todd looked at Bailey-“we can’t use your cop car. I vote we let him answer nature’s call before we leave.”

“It’s unanimous, Shane,” I said. I opened my purse and pulled out my gun. “But no one’s going to mind shooting you if you try to run.”

“I can count. I know I’m outnumbered.”

Bailey untied him, cuffed his hands in front of his body, and let Todd escort him. When the bathroom door closed, she whispered to me, “So what’d you work out for backup?” I told her about Luis. She reared back and stared at me. “Are you out of your mind? Bangers? Who’s going to protect us from them?”

I was saved from having to answer that rather excellent question by the emergence of Todd and Shane from the little boys’ room. Todd got him reseated and cuffed in the kitchen chair.

Shane gave Bailey a pleading look. “Can we do without the cord? I’m obviously not going anywhere. Besides, I’m kinda working for you guys now.”

We had to trust him eventually. Bailey gave him the evil eye, but she left the electrical cord on the kitchen counter. “Here’s the plan, Shane. You’re going to set up a meeting with Jax. Tell him you’ve got a big buyer on the line who needs guns yesterday-”

“Won’t work. He doesn’t give a shit about the guns. He only cares about a buyer for the drugs. Jax won’t move off his couch unless I promise him a name.”

“And where is Jax’s couch?” Bailey asked.

“Ensenada.”

“Where do you two meet when you do business with him?” I asked.

“Usually Joshua Tree Park. He’s got family near there, I think.”

That was within reasonable driving distance. “Tell Jax you’ve got a big drug buyer on the line for him, but he needs to move now. The guy wants his product by tomorrow. Then you tell him you need to get a couple of AKs for someone, and you need them by tonight-”

“Tonight? There’s no way-”

“Trust me, there is. But make it late. Around midnight. And set the meeting for Riverside. Got it?”

Shane swallowed hard, but reluctantly nodded. I pressed the number for Jax and held the phone to his ear. The conversation was short and sweet. Jax gave him a little grief about the short notice, but he eventually capitulated. The meeting was set for one a.m. at their usual meeting place in Joshua Tree National Park.

Todd squinted at Shane. “Where in Joshua Tree? That place is a ginormous desert.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Shane said. “I’ll get us there.”

But I knew that’s not what Todd was worried about. Joshua Tree was flat and wide-open. Finding a way to hide our backup was going to be a problem. I nodded at Todd. “We’ll see what it looks like, and if we don’t like it, we’ll suggest a change of plan. We’ve got his cell.”

Shane took a deep breath and exhaled as he closed his eyes. “Jax might bail on you if you change the meeting place at the last minute.”

I had a feeling about Jax and his business with Shane. “I don’t think he will. Let’s get going.”

We raided the kitchen for water, soda, and snacks, left some money for Max to pay for it all, then packed up Shane’s belongings and piled into Todd’s car, a black Camry. Todd volunteered to ride in back with Shane. It wasn’t until we were heading south on the Pacific Coast Highway that I remembered to ask what had happened to Max.

“I called my partner and told him to keep a close watch on Max,” Todd said. “I’m betting he didn’t know Shane was on the run-”

“He didn’t,” Shane said.

“-but we’ll hang on to him until we know for sure.”

The sun hung low on the horizon, and the burnt-orange rays spread across the ocean, giving the water a warm glow. We were all tired and for a while we rode in silence.

Shane cleared his throat. “Uh, Ms…what did you say your name was again?”

“Rachel Knight.”

“Right. Mind if I ask you a question?” I shook my head. “You seemed pretty sure Jax wouldn’t get pissed off about a change of plan. How come?”

“Did you ever wonder where Jax was getting all those guns, and all that dope?”

“Not really.”

“So you didn’t think it was strange that this guy leans on you to get him connects to sell drugs?” Shane shrugged. “Look, no offense, but you don’t exactly seem the drug kingpin type. I mean, you guys only hooked up because you knew how to fix guns, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“It’s just a guess, but I think your buddy works for a cartel and he’s skimming. It’s probably a big enough operation that whatever he’s taking-drugs, guns-hasn’t been missed. At least, not yet. But he can’t let that stuff hang around. He’s got to move it fast. So he needs you every bit as much as you need him. Maybe more.”

Shane was silent for a few moments. “Man, if you’re right, he’s out of his friggin’ mind.”

No argument there. I got on the phone and coordinated with Luis. We’d stop in Sylmar so he and his crew could follow us. I told him the meeting place was in Joshua Tree and that it might be hard to find cover.

“We know what we’re doin’,” Luis said. “You jes’ worry ’bout you.”

His certainty was comforting. Sort of.

I had just ended the call when Bailey’s cell rang. “Want me to get it for you?” I asked.

“Check who it is first.”

It was Harrellson.

“Take it.”

“Hey, Skipper.”

“I told you never to call me that,” he said.

“I forgot.”

His parents named him Skipper Don Harrellson. He tried to keep it a secret, but cops are always on the lookout for needling material, and this one was low-hanging fruit.

“They just found a body out in Box Canyon,” he said. Box Canyon was west of Chatsworth in a remote corner of the San Fernando Valley. Charles Manson once freeloaded off a religious cult there. “Young white male, approximately sixteen years of age.”

A lead weight dropped to the pit of my stomach. “Evan?”

“That’s what they thought, but…I’ll get back to you when I know more. I’m on my way out there. You’ll let Bailey know.”

“Yeah.”

“Sorry, Knight. I’ll be in touch as soon as I know more.”