The Last Family

39

The DEA jet, which had been confiscated from a captured drug lord, had been outfitted for the trip with sandwiches and drinks. The interior was done in what Paul referred to as “Splendor de Latinos,” which to Rainey explained the red leather, crushed velvet, and gold-plated chromium strips on everything. The bathroom had been marble with gold fixtures, but the agency had taken it all out so the plane would be able to take off with full fuel on board. They had left the crushed velvet and wall coverings and the chrome-plated trimmings. “Only a Latin drug lord who had grown up in a hut with hard dirt floors and tin walls would consider marble and gold trimmings worth cutting the airplane’s range in half for,” Paul said. The two agents had the entire cabin to themselves, but they sat together in overstuffed leather seats. The plane took off and turned south.

Paul looked at Rainey, who was staring out the window at the carpet of cloud that stretched unbroken for as far as he could see. He had debated whether he should allow Rainey to accompany him, or send him on to the Barn immediately, but decided it was better to keep him close at hand for now.

“Miami. It’s been a long time,” Rainey said. “Doris loved Miami Beach. It’ll be great being back there.”

“We’re not going to Miami,” Paul said. “Not yet.”

“Where are we going?” Rainey turned to face Paul.

“New Orleans.”

“Why? Martin’s heading for Miami!”

“I want to see Thorne and take a look at the operation. Review the troops. We’ll leave there when Eve makes her move.”

“Tonight?” Rainey asked nervously.

“First you and I have to talk.”

“What about?”

“You and this operation.”

“What about me?”

“What happened at the Buchanan house?”

Rainey turned his head. “I know it was extreme, but I was afraid the operation was in jeopardy.”

“You could have put it in jeopardy.”

“I did what I thought needed to be done. I was swept up by my… zeal.”

“Fortunately Ed Buchanan is going to forget it happened. At least for the time being.”

“But you disarmed me.”

“I had a talk with T.C. this morning. No change for you. Never was, officially. You’re still on administrative leave.”

“Until when?”

“Until there has been a psychiatric evaluation and you’ve got some much needed rest. You need help and you need time. I was wrong to let you come into this. I made a bad call.”

“Oh, you made a bad call?” Rainey looked at Paul incredulously.

Paul turned his head.

“Your bad calls cost a lot of people, including me. You know that? They cost me…” Rainey started crying, slammed his hand on the arm of the seat, and leaned forward almost in Paul’s face. “My family! You cost me my family.”

“I didn’t have any idea what would happen.”

“Oh, you didn’t have any idea. Well, then it’s okay, Paul,” Rainey said sarcastically. “Paul didn’t mean to do any harm. He built a fire in a tank farm and it got to the stored gasoline. My, my. He got in a pissing contest with a polecat. Well, then all’s well with the world. My daughter burned up in front of my eyes!” Rainey stood, hitting his head against the ceiling. He didn’t seem to notice. “Burned up and died in agony. I watched that!” He slammed his chest and leaned down, placing his hands on Paul’s wrists and putting his face inches away from Paul’s. Paul didn’t know how to respond.

“I was there while you were fly-fishing in the mountains. My son was thrown off a cliff onto a floor of sharp rocks. He exploded like a bag of oysters tossed out of a helicopter. He was spread over the…” He dropped his head. Tears were flowing freely. “And Doris-”

“I don’t…” Paul felt numb. “Rainey, you have to believe me. I didn’t…”

Rainey’s eyes were like those of an enraged animal. “Fuck what I have to believe! And fuck you! You owe me. You have to answer for what you’ve done. And you will, by God, you will answer.”

There was silence in the cabin except for the whine of the jet engines. Rainey let go, straightened his hair, and sat back down. He composed himself with two or three deep breaths, took a handkerchief from his coat pocket, wiped his eyes, and blew his nose.

“You going to cuff me, strait-jacket?”

“No. I’ve worked something out with T.C. When we go to Miami, you’re going to continue on to the facility in Ashborne, accompanied by a Justice agent.”

“To the Barn. You mean I’ll weave baskets and vegetate with the other cows at pasture. Paul, I’ll go. But, listen, I have to be there when it goes down. I have to be there, or I will never be able to live with myself.”

“We’ll take care of Martin.”

“No. I knew that Thorne’s family died. I knew that Joe’s family died. I should have known what was happening. I should have taken the precautions to protect my own, no matter what Doris or anyone else thought or said.” Rainey slammed his thumb against his breast for emphasis. “ I was in denial and I failed them. I failed them and they’re gone. Maybe you or Martin set things in motion, but I was in a position to see it happening. See, it’s on my head more than yours. You were out of the loop.”

Paul sat back wearily. His left hand was throbbing, so he put the cane aside and took the worn tennis ball from his pocket and began squeezing it vigorously.

“I can’t live with it. You have my gun.”

“I put it in the safe at your office,” Paul replied. “Relax.”

“Handcuff me, but let me be there when he’s taken. That’s all I ask. I beg you! No matter what either of us has done… just give me that. Let me see his body. Please? I’m begging you? That can be your atonement.” Rainey got out of the seat and got onto his knees and looked as if he were praying to Paul. “I’m begging for my life. After, I’ll go anywhere. I’ll take retirement. I’ll check into the Barn, anything.”

Paul was collapsing inside with a thousand pains, aches, and confusing thoughts. He honestly didn’t know what was right. Could he trust Rainey to stay back and let the A team handle Martin?

“All right,” Paul said in a whisper. “You’ll go to the Barn after this is over? And you won’t get in my way or try to get in the middle of anything?”

“Word of honor,” Rainey said.

Paul looked at his watch and then out the window.

“I just thought of something,” Rainey said. “The date on my watch reminded me.”

“What’s that?”

“You know what tonight is?”

Rainey was facing Paul, but his eyes were looking out the window over Paul’s shoulder. “Six years ago yesterday Thorne, Joe and I were standing in a hospital waiting room in Miami, covered with your blood.”

Paul looked at Rainey. “Really?”

“Well, I remember because I missed Doris’s birthday-we were in the middle of planning and executing the raid on the dock. Remember?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Funny what you remember and why.”

“That’s one anniversary I haven’t been celebrating on a yearly basis,” Paul said, frowning.