Lone Star Standoff

“Inside the vehicle. I stick it on top if I need to.”

At the bottom of the steps, Sammy’s forehead winkled. “But no one will know you’re a policeman.”

Sean chuckled and proceeded up the steps to the porch. “Sometimes I don’t want them to know.”

Aubrey held the front door open. “Hurry up, Sammy, or the mosquitoes will invade the house. You know how much they love biting me.”

“Me, too,” Camy said and hurried into the house and down the hall toward the kitchen.

When everyone was inside, Aubrey shut the door and locked it. Her son remained next to Sean. “Sammy, I need to talk to him. Grandma is fixing breakfast.”

He stuck out his bottom lip. “I already had cereal.”

“That was to tide you over until Grandma got up to fix our big breakfast we have on Saturday as a family.” Her mother also did it Sunday before church. She drew in a deep breath. “It smells like pancakes, probably chocolate chip.”

Sammy took off for the kitchen.

“He has two speeds, fast or slow. Usually with no in between.” Aubrey gestured toward her office. “We can talk in here.”

Inside the room, she closed the door. “I appreciate your quick response on this. Anything I can do to help, I will. Let’s look at the traffic cam footage. Maybe it’ll jog my memory.”

“I hope so.” He made his way to the couch and sat. After he took out his laptop, she joined him on the love seat. Sitting next to him, only inches away, caused her heart to beat faster. A faint musky scent wafted to her as she tried to focus on the video.

“I’m starting when you left the courthouse, and we’ll follow your trip as best as we can, since Port Bliss only has traffic cams in the downtown area and a few roads in and out of town.”

The sight of a white sedan a couple of cars behind her while she drove from the clothing store to Sweet Haven nagged at her mind. When she drove into the parking lot on the side of the ice-cream parlor, the white car passed on by, not even slowing down. For the next twenty minutes, she kept expecting to see it, but she didn’t.

“I thought for a moment the person in the white sedan might be following me, but it kept going.”

“Why did you think that?”

“Because...” Her voice faded as she searched her mind, trying to remember why it had bothered her. Other cars had been behind her. Why that one?

Because the white car had been in the parking lot at the clothing store and pulled out into traffic when she left the shop—it was the only vehicle that started following her from there.

THREE

Sean rewound the video footage, paused it and zoomed in on the white vehicle, trying to make out the license plate. The last three numbers were 249, but he couldn’t make out the first part of it. “Is there something that makes you suspicious of that car?”

Aubrey sat back on the couch. “When I saw it on the screen, it provoked a memory. I don’t remember seeing it when it was behind me. It was at least six cars back and hidden from my view in the rearview mirror. But when I left the parking lot at the clothing store, that white car pulled into it. The person must have turned around fast to be behind me when I went to Sweet Haven.”

“Did you see the driver?”

“I glanced for maybe a second or two in that direction. The glass was tinted too dark to make out the driver.”

“White is the most common color for a vehicle. What makes you think the one in the parking lot is the same car on this footage?”

“The driver’s-side back fender has a dent in it.” Aubrey leaned forward and tapped the computer screen. “There.”

Sean focused onto the area she indicated. “It’s a Chevy Malibu. So the driver must have turned around in the clothing store parking lot as you said and quickly pulled back out into the traffic. I’ll follow up on this and see who owns the car.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you could tell what make it was, because all I saw was a white car.”

He chuckled. “It’s a man thing.” He punched the key to forward the video. “He didn’t park near the Sweet Haven Parlor.”

“But he could have driven around to the street behind Sweet Haven and parked there, then made his way to where my car was. The lot was almost full. I parked at the back in the last space.”

“There are a lot of ice-cream lovers in Port Bliss.” Sean closed his laptop and turned slightly toward her—only inches separated them. A blush tinted her cheeks pink. The dark brown—almost black—in her eyes transfixed him for a long moment.

Finally she slid her gaze away. “Sweet Haven also has sandwiches for the lunchtime crowd.”

Until that moment, he hadn’t realized he was holding his breath. He inhaled deeply and rose. “I’ll keep you updated on what I find.”

“What about the police officer outside? How long is he staying?”

“If you go somewhere, an officer will follow you while another one will remain at your house.”

“What do I say to Sammy, who’ll ask me a ton of questions about the officer being around?”

“That you’re an important part of a case.”

“What case?”

“A secret one? Kids love secrets.”

“Do you have children?”

“No. I’m not married.” He had been once, but that ended the day he walked in on his wife with another man. He’d wanted to try to work it out, but she didn’t. They had gotten married too young, not even a full year after high school, where they had dated for their junior and senior years. She changed a lot, but so did he. He hadn’t realized how much until that moment of finding her with a man in their house.

“Once I tell Sammy it’s a secret, I’ll never have any peace. He’ll want to know every detail.”

He towered over Aubrey, still sitting on the couch. “Then simply tell him...” Sean couldn’t think of anything to say. “I have two nephews and one niece but haven’t seen them as much as I used to when I lived in Amarillo. You’ll figure something out.”

“I’m glad you have so much confidence in me.” Her gaze latched onto his.

And he couldn’t look away. There was something about her that had kept him up a good part of last night viewing the courthouse surveillance tapes and the traffic cams all around the places she went yesterday. Then early this morning, he got up and called the owner of Sweet Haven Parlor about their video footage. The man agreed to meet Sean at his store. He was there before the owner arrived. It gave him an opportunity to look around the building and parking lot next to it.

Breaking eye contact, he stepped back, and in response to her last comment, he said, “Your reputation as a judge is excellent. Tough but fair.”

“Some think those two words are opposites.” She stood and smiled. “But thank you. Coming from a law enforcement officer, your words mean a lot to me.”

The temperature in the room seemed to rise. He moved back another couple of feet and bumped into the chair across from the couch, then tipped his hat. “I’ll keep you informed. ’Bye.” He started for the office door.

“You forgot something.”

His laptop. Heat burned his cheeks from embarrassment. He slowly rotated toward her and grabbed his computer. “Thanks.”

When he left the house, he headed to the police officer sitting in his car in the driveway. “Officer Carter, call me if there’s anything odd going on.” He handed the younger man his business card. “And have the officer who replaces you do the same.”

“Yes, sir. It’s been quiet. The only things that have happened are Judge Madison’s kids coming out here and you arriving.”

“Let’s hope it stays that way.” Sean strode to his SUV and climbed into the driver’s seat.

He drove to the police station, not far from the courthouse, to see the police chief, who usually worked Saturday mornings. Sean found him in his office and shook hands with him.

“Officer Carter says everything is quiet at the judge’s house. What can I do for you?” Chief Juan Perez asked.

“I’d like your officers to be on the lookout for a white Chevy Malibu, most likely a recent model with a dent in its driver’s-side back fender near the bumper. I have a partial Texas license plate number. The last three digits are two four nine. I’m heading to my office to run the information through the DMV, and I’ll let you know what I find. I believe the driver was responsible for putting the dead rat and the judge’s deceased husband’s lost wedding ring in her car trunk yesterday.”

“Sure, I’ll let my police force know. Anything to help Judge Madison. I want the trial of Villa to go smoothly. Has anyone approached her about it?”

“No. I’m not sure this has anything to do with Bento Villa. A judge can sway a verdict in some cases, but there are other ways to change the outcome of a trial that are more effective. How are the people testifying against Villa doing?”

“Okay. The US Marshals are protecting the main person in an undisclosed place. In Villa’s case, there’s a lot of forensic evidence, as well as a video taken by a bystander.” The police chief leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. “Could this have anything to do with her husband’s murder?”

“Maybe, especially with returning the wedding ring. But why now, after two years have passed? I’ve been working on the case off and on since I came here, and not much new information has turned up.”

“The crime didn’t happen in my jurisdiction. I’m glad you’re working it. Samuel was a good man.”

“And the family should have closure.” He of all people realized that, since there was no resolution to what had happened to his brother. Sean pushed to his feet. “Thanks again for the officer sitting outside the judge’s house. I need to get to the courthouse before it shuts down for the weekend.”

“Leave the information about the white car with my sergeant. He can run down the information you need and call you.”

“Thanks.” Sean left the police chief’s office and stopped to give Sergeant Vic Daniels what he would need to run down the vehicle. Then Sean decided to walk to the courthouse across the street.

The day was perfect, with temperatures in the low seventies and a light breeze from the Gulf with smells he relished—fresh with a hint of brine. He circled the building before going inside, assessing its security before he went to the employee parking lot behind the courthouse. There were a handful of vehicles in that lot. He noted where Aubrey’s car was yesterday and the locations of all the security cams. She obviously hadn’t parked with the thought of making sure her car was in full view of the surveillance cameras. On Monday, that would need to change. As well, he would have a chat with the person who monitored the video feed. As he studied the best places where a deputy sheriff could be stationed near the rear exit, the sense of being watched rippled down his spine. He whirled and scanned the back of the building.

Someone had been at a window on the second floor looking outside but jumped back when he turned. It happened so fast, he couldn’t even identify the person as a male or female. Aubrey’s office was on that floor. He hurried into the courthouse and raced up the nearby stairs.

When he arrived in front of the entrance to Judge Madison’s office, the door was ajar. Sean removed his gun and kicked the door wide-open, scanning the room as he moved forward. He turned slightly to the left and swept his gaze over a sitting area and a bookcase with every shelf filled, then onto the large desk with two chairs in front of it.

As he twisted toward the right, a large figure clad in black lunged for him. The assailant raised his arm. In a split second, a hard object crashed into Sean’s skull.

* * *

Aubrey slid the cookie sheet into the preheated oven, then straightened, her glance bouncing from the flour all over the counter to the vanilla spilled next to the sugar. Then she swung her attention to Sammy and Camy. The ingredients that went into making the cookies covered them from head to toe.

“Camy, you need to take off your shoes. You have an egg all over one of them. When did that happen?” Probably when she’d gone to answer her cell phone. She shouldn’t have turned her back to answer it, though she’d hoped it was Sean with good news about the car. And it had been him, but with no updates concerning the white vehicle.

Her daughter glanced down and giggled. “Oops. Sorry. I wanted to crack one since Sammy did.”

Her son puffed out his chest. “Mine didn’t end up on the floor.” He shook his head, sending more flour flying. “Who called earlier?”

“Texas Ranger McNair. As soon as Grandma gets back from church, I’m going down to the courthouse. A police officer is coming to pick me up.” What had happened at the courthouse that Sean needed her there?

Sammy’s eyes widened. “Can we go and use the siren?”

“No. This is business.”

Camy’s face scrunched up. “Business?”

The sound of the garage door going up indicated her mother was home. Aubrey hurried to clean up the mess while she said, “Go change and bring me your dirty clothes and, Camy, your tennis shoe with egg on it.”

As she swiped a wet dishcloth over the floor where the egg had fallen, Aubrey realized this extra-messy kitchen was her fault in part because she hadn’t kept her attention on her children as she usually did when they cooked together. She’d known better, but she’d promised to do something fun with them. She hadn’t counted on Sean distracting her from afar. Then he called and said a police officer would be over to pick her up, and her full attention on her children vanished. He didn’t say anything else, but the urgency in his voice indicated he hadn’t told her everything. Something was wrong.

Her mother’s chuckles coming from the entrance to the utility room pulled her focus from scooping up the last of the eggshells scattered everywhere. “Did a hurricane hit this kitchen while I was gone?”

“Yep. Hurricane Camy merged with Hurricane Sammy.”

“I met Officer Adams as he pulled up to the house. He’s here to pick you up. You might want to change your clothes while I finish taking care of this mess.” Her mother’s nose twitched. “What’s burning?”

“Oh!” Aubrey shot to a standing position, grabbed the mitts and hurriedly took out of the oven the sheet full of slightly burned sugar cookies. “You know me and cooking.”

“Go. I’ll take care of this. Where are the kids?”

“Changing,” Aubrey said as she headed out of the kitchen.

As the bell rang, her son barreled down the stairs, beating her to the front door and pulling it open. She knew Officer Cal Adams, her escort to the courthouse. After asking the police officer to wait while she changed, Aubrey hastened to her bedroom and quickly threw on a pair of clean jeans and a T-shirt from the University of Texas. She made it back to the foyer within five minutes.

“Sammy, go in the kitchen and help your grandmother. Where’s Camy? She wasn’t in her room.”

Sammy frowned and pointed toward the kitchen, then trudged down the hall.

Officer Adams grinned for a second before his expression became somber. “I think he’s a bit disappointed I wouldn’t let him go with us and turn on the siren. Tell Sammy we will another time. Texas Ranger McNair wanted you at the courthouse as soon as possible.”

She walked beside Cal. “What’s going on?”

“Someone was in your office.”

“Who?”

“Don’t know, but the person hit Texas Ranger McNair over the head.”

“You should have told me right away. Was it bad? Did Sean get it looked at?”

Cal shook his head. “He isn’t leaving your office, but he did clean it up. He says he’s all right.”

“Is he?”

“I predict he’ll have a goose-egg knot on the side of his head, but I think he’ll be okay. He didn’t pass out totally.”

“Totally?” Her heart began to race as she thought of one question after another: Who was in her office? Why? What were they after? But above all, was Sean really all right?

“Yeah, he was a little dizzy.”

Her mother came into the entry hall. “What are your plans?”

“I’m going to my office for a while.” Aubrey glanced past her mama to make sure Sammy and Camy weren’t behind her listening. “Someone broke into it. I’m meeting Sean there.”

“Does the break-in have to do with the trial?”

“Possibly.”

“Please be careful, honey. I’ll lock the door behind you and set the alarm. Then I need to get back to the kitchen. Sammy is holding the dustpan while Camy is sweeping the floor, which means she’s rearranging where the flour is on the tile.”

On the drive to the courthouse, Aubrey went over the events of the past twenty-four hours. When she arrived home yesterday, she’d been tired and concerned about the Villa trial. Now it was more than concern that pestered her. Was Samuel’s murder tied to what was happening now? His wedding ring must mean it was—which raised the stakes of this trial even more.

Cal escorted her to her office on the second floor. A deputy sheriff who worked at the courthouse stood outside the door. When she entered, both of them stayed in the corridor while she looked at Sean sitting in a chair in front of her desk.

He glanced over his shoulder and attempted a smile that fell short. “Thanks for coming.”

She walked to the other chair beside him and took a seat. “I heard you were hit, and from what I see it must be hurting. Can I get you a bag of ice or something else?”

“I took a couple of aspirin. Really, I’m fine. I’ve had worse. I’m just mad I couldn’t catch him.”

“You ran after him?”

“I tried, but by the time I stood and got my bearings, he was gone. I decided to stay. I didn’t want to leave your office unprotected.”

She surveyed the area. “It doesn’t look like he took anything obvious. I’ll need to go through my desk and files to make sure, though.”

“If something was taken, it might help us determine what’s going on here. I’ll check the video feed later to see if I can tell how he got inside and possibly who he is, but that’s a long shot. The brief glimpse I got was of a man with a ski mask on.”

“I’ll start with my desk. The computer is here, but I’ll check to see if he got on it. I’ll ask maintenance to change my lock immediately.”

“I already have. One that will be harder to pick. The lock you have is an old one, and I think that’s how he got in here. Who has a key to your office right now?”

“An assistant I share with Judge Rodriquez and Maintenance. You think it was one of them?”

“No, there were fresh scratch marks on the lock. But until I find out what’s going on, you should have the only key. I did look at your file cabinets, and I didn’t see any evidence he picked those locks, but you should still check everything in them. He risked breaking into your office for some reason. What was it?”

Aubrey made her way around to the other side of her desk and sat in her black stuffed chair. Sean started to rise, and she quickly said, “You stay there. I can do this. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” She opened the top left drawer and went through the personal items she kept in it. “After I’ve gone through my office, I’ll drive your car and take you to the ER to make sure you’re okay.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but she held up her palm. “No arguments on that. If something is wrong and you didn’t get help, it would be my fault.” She shut the top drawer and reached for the bottom one.

Their gazes clashed. A war of emotions played across his face while Aubrey pulled the second compartment out.

A rattling sound sent shivers down her body as she stared at the coiled rattlesnake, poised to strike.

FOUR

The sound of a rattlesnake shaking his tail reverberated through the office. Sean shoved to his feet while drawing his gun. Eyes wide, Aubrey leaped to her feet, thrusting her chair back at the same time the snake launched itself at her. Sean raised his weapon and shot the reptile. It fell to the floor as he rushed around the desk to Aubrey. The sudden movements sent the room tilting. He clutched the ledge of the desk and steadied himself.

The office door slammed open, and both guards aimed their guns into the room. Sean pivoted toward them. “I need a first-aid kit and something to take a dead rattlesnake to the hospital. I’m calling 911.”

One deputy sheriff turned and left while the other stood inside the entrance. “Where was it?”

“In a desk drawer. This office will need to be thoroughly searched in case there’s something else dangerous in here.” Aubrey held her arm against her chest, the color washing from her face. Blood oozed from the bite wound on her forearm.

As he peered at the snake to make sure it was dead, Sean clasped her shoulders, guiding her back and sitting her down in her chair. “Hold your arm still and let it bleed.” After calling 911 and requesting an ambulance, he said, “I want you to limit your movements. Help is on the way. I need to find a bag or container to take the snake to the hospital. That way they’ll know exactly what bit you.”

Aubrey stared at the rattlesnake. “First a rat and now a snake. Was this the purpose of the break-in?”

“Probably, but the crime might have been done for other reasons, too. Stay seated.” Sean removed his tie and made a sling for Aubrey. “This will help keep your arm still.” When he obtained a first-aid kit, he would place a sterile bandage over the wound. “I need to take off your rings on your left hand in case it swells.”

She started to lift her arm toward him, but he stopped her. “The less movement you make, the less the venom will circulate through your body. I’ll do it and keep them safe for you.” Gently he removed her wedding and engagement rings and stuffed them in his pants pocket.

She looked up at him, sweat beading on her face. “Thanks.”

“Let me know if your vision blurs or you become dizzy.”

Aubrey attempted a smile, but it didn’t last a second. “That’s what I should be saying to you.”

“The paramedics will be here soon.”

“If I’m going to the hospital, you need to go, too.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Sorry, I am.”

The deputy sheriff who left to get the first-aid kit and paper bag hurried into the office and gave them to Sean. “I’m going downstairs to wait for the ambulance.”

“I appreciate it.”

As he left, Sean found a clean bandage and placed it over her wound, then he took the sack and placed the dead snake in it.

“After we’re looked at, we need to come back here and see if the intruder took anything, especially concerning Villa’s trial.”

Sean plopped the bag onto the desk. “We?”

“I’m the only one who can tell you if something is missing or added. You can’t do it without me.”

“You’ll have to stay in the hospital,” he said as a bead of sweat rolled down her face.

“Maybe not. I hope I don’t.”

“My best friend was bit by a rattlesnake once. He was in the hospital for a few days.”

“But my family needs—”

The door opening stopped her words. She glanced at the paramedics rolling a gurney into the office.

Sean leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I’ll take care of your family. Don’t worry about them. Focus on your recovery.”

“Promise me you’ll get your head wound checked out.”

Her look of appeal made it impossible to say no. As the paramedics moved the desk to give them more room, Sean smiled and cupped her shoulder. “I will.”

While the EMTs readied her to be transported to the hospital, Sean called the police officer on duty at her house, Officer Carter. After explaining what had happened, he said, “I want you to bring them to the hospital when she’s admitted.”

“The kids, too?”

Sean turned his back to Aubrey. “Leave that up to Camilla Roberts. If the kids stay at the house, have the other officer stay and guard them. Let your police chief know, and have another officer at the house with her children. There’s no doubt Judge Madison is being targeted. Someone wants to harm her.”

* * *