Hole in the Heart Read online

  With a positive attitude he entered Doctor Lee Chang’s office and sat down. “Good morning, Doctor. Have you had a chance to examine Misty this morning?”

  “I have, and I find her case fascinating. I’d like to keep her here for a few more weeks to conduct some in depth testing. Miss LeJeune is a unique patient and I’d love to write a paper on her progress.”

  Blaine shook his head without giving the request a second thought. “No. I have to get back to work. I’m going back to Austin and taking Misty with me. I’ve already arranged for private nursing care.”

  Doctor Lee Chang raised a dark eyebrow and didn’t seem pleased. His voice took on a defensive tone. “Perhaps we should let Miss LeJeune decide for herself. After all, she is an adult.”

  “Okay then,” said Blaine. He tried to keep the frost out of his voice but failed miserably. “That’s what we’ll do.”

  The doctor accompanied Blaine to Misty’s room. The bed was propped up and she was watching the little TV above her bed. Blaine sat down in the guest chair and she turned her head to focus on him. “I want to book a flight for later today, Mist, to take you home, but the doctor wants you to stay longer for more testing. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do.”

  Misty picked up the pad and pen she’d been using to communicate with the nursing staff and wrote quickly.

  Je rentre a la maison.

  Blaine passed the note to the doctor and he stared at it, his eyes wide. “This is in French. Did Miss LeJeune speak French before her injury?”

  “I don’t know. She speaks Cajun and Spanish, but I never heard her speaking French. That doesn’t mean she isn’t fluent in the language. Misty is a smart girl.”

  “All the more intriguing. I wish she’d reconsider staying longer.”

  “Perhaps you could visit her from time to time in Austin,” said Blaine, “and catch up on her progress.”

  “Thank you, Ranger Blackmore. I’m happy to have that option open to me.”

  Fairfax Inn. New Orleans.

  BLAINE checked out of the Fairfax Inn and said goodbye to Miss Thibodeux, the lovely senior lady who owned it.

  “Give my best to Misty, dear, and wish her a speedy recovery.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll do that.”

  He carried his bag outside the bed and breakfast and waited for the van he’d hired to take Misty to the plane. She hadn’t walked yet, and Doctor Lee Chang wasn’t sure she ever would. Blaine was confident Misty would walk when she was ready to walk. It was her nature to let things take their natural course. He’d learned things from her about nature and energy, but he wished a bit more of her patience would rub off.

  The driver parked in front of the hospital and Blaine hopped out. “Wait here until I get her,” said Blaine.

  “No, I’ll help with the patient. It’s what I’m paid for.” The van driver was young, possibly the same age as Blaine, maybe twenty-three or so. Tall, blond and muscular. He probably did a lot of lifting in a day. Pushing the wheelchair, he followed Blaine to the elevator and up to Misty’s room.

  Misty was dressed and sitting in the easy chair when they arrived. She smiled at Blaine and he leaned down and kissed her. She reached her arm up behind his head and held him close for a long passionate kiss.

  Blaine smiled when she let him go. “You’re feeling better today.” Blaine pointed to the attendant standing with the wheelchair. “This is Jake and he’s going to get you to the plane.”

  Blaine stepped out of the way and Jake effortlessly transferred Misty out of the chair she was in into the wheelchair.

  “I’ll grab her bag,” said Blaine.

  Getting Misty into the charter was almost as easy except for the steps. Jake insisted on carrying her while Blaine took care of the luggage. When Misty was safely buckled into her seat, Blaine walked Jake to the door of the plane and tipped him large. “Thanks, so much. You made that easy for me.”

  “Take care of your pretty lady.”

  Sonora. Texas.

  TWIN AUTO was closed on Sundays, so Travis and Farrell checked out the home address Lily had found for the Golden boys. A couple of wrong turns on the way out of town and they found county road four.

  “I can’t believe they came up squeaky clean,” said Farrell, “I coulda sworn there was something when I was near the one called Jeff.”

  “Maybe there is, partner, and they didn’t get caught yet.”

  “Only thing in their name is the garage. No residence. The only other Golden in Sonora is where we’re headed. A hundred acre farm in the name of a Gareth Golden.”

  “Could be their old man,” said Travis.

  Farrell cruised county road four until they found the mailbox at the end of the lane. “Gareth Golden. That’s it back in there.”

  “Lot of trees out front,” said Travis. “A long way from the road if I’m running.”

  “Hey, your legs are better than mine,” said Farrell. His hand found its way to the snake bite scar on his calf.

  “I’ll give it a try tonight.”

  Austin. Texas.

  THE CHARTER touched down at Austin-Bergstrom and Blaine felt relief flood through him. He’d been away too long. Way too long, but it was necessary. He couldn’t leave Misty by herself in a New Orleans hospital. It wasn’t right.

  He’d called Annie before leaving New Orleans, asking her to pick them up and he could see her truck next to the terminal from the little plane window. She had a wheelchair at the ranch she was loaning him until Misty was up and around.

  Misty slept the whole way and Blaine tried to rouse her. “We’re home, Mist. Wake up.”

  Misty opened her eyes, looked around and appeared to be terrified. She made the little growling noise and her seat belt snapped undone.

  “Good one, sweetheart. Wish I could do that.” He picked her up and carried her to the stairs.

  By the time Blaine reached Annie at the bottom of the short flight of stairs, he was winded.

  I need to work out every day if I’m going to be lifting her.

  “Hey, Mom, I’ll hug you in a minute.” Blaine set Misty in the chair and Annie leaned down and hugged her.

  “How was your flight?” Annie asked Misty.

  Misty smiled.

  Once they were rolling through Austin, Blaine asked, “Were you able to find a private nurse who could start today?”

  Annie shook her head. “No. Nobody could start without being booked in advance, but I sent Declan to your place this morning. He doesn’t have a patient at the moment and he’s eager to work.”

  “Sure, Mom. That’s fine. I’d rather have somebody Misty knows anyway. She’s had a hard enough time of it.”

  Annie turned her head and spoke to Misty across the console. “If I can be of any help to you, honey. I know what its like to cope with a head injury—the confusion and the headaches. I do it every day.”

  Sometimes I forget that Mom is a brain injury person, she functions so well. Well… except for some of the choices she’s made in the past.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  DECLAN O’CONNOR, the medic from Annie’s ranch, sat on the front porch steps waiting for their arrival. He was a handsome Irishman in his early forties who’d come to work for Annie at Coulter-Ross several years before and never left. He strode down to meet them as Annie parked the truck.

  Declan skillfully whipped the wheelchair out of the load bed and waited beside the passenger door to help Misty down. “I’ve got her. How are you, darlin? Haven’t seen your beautiful face for a while.”

  Misty smiled and winked at him.

  “There we go. We’re home free now.”

  Blaine eyed the wide front steps and wondered if Misty wasn’t walking just for the short term or if he’d need a ramp. He helped Dec lift Misty, chair and all onto the porch. Carm held the front door open as she wiped tears away with her white apron. Once Misty was in the foyer, Blaine stopped and gave Carm a long hug. “I missed you so much, mi Corazon.”

/>   After a round of hugs, Declan settled Misty in the front parlor with her favorite Tarot deck and a cold drink.

  “You okay there, sweetheart?” asked Blaine. “I’ve got to catch up with the boys.”

  She nodded and tried to say something, and Blaine ran for his legal pad and a pen.

  Hoo

  Blaine grinned. “I’ll get the dogs. They must be in the yard.” He opened the back door and Hoodoo instantly knew Misty was home. He bounced and yelped and ran straight through the house to the front parlor.

  Misty had tears in her blue eyes as she held tight to the neck of the big Bernese. She buried her face in his fur.

  WITH Declan and Carm fussing over Misty, Blaine kissed Annie goodbye and took a mug of coffee into the office. The first call he made was to Farrell. “What’s happening, bro. I’m home at last.”

  “So glad you’re back, bro. How’s Misty?”

  “Okay, she’s okay.”

  “Uh huh. I can tell there’s more, but I’ll wait on that until I see her. I had to go to Walmart and get a change of clothes, a toothbrush and some shaving stuff. I didn’t realize I wasn’t coming back for a couple of days.”

  “So… there is something?”

  “Yeah, I can feel it. Met the one twin mechanic and he was a creeper. Only talked to the clone on the phone. I had Travis drive out here and we’re working tonight. Nothing solid yet, but Avery came up with a decent picture of her sister and I sent it to Lil.”

  “Let me know if you guys need anything and I’ll send Luke tomorrow.”

  “Umm… can you dig deeper for me? Lil did it and said they were squeaky.”

  “Sure thing. Give it to me again.”

  “Jeff and Joey Golden. Twin Auto in Sonora.”

  “Yep, I’m on it.”

  “There’s more,” said Farrell. “I’d bet my left nut on it.”

  If Farrell thinks there’s more, then there is.

  Sonora. Texas.

  AFTER MIDNIGHT, Farrell and Travis drove out to the farm on county road four. Farrell doused the truck lights as they got closer and drove slowly by the property.

  “There’s cows in that front field,” said Travis, “and that spells cowshit for me to step in.”

  “Could happen,” said Farrell. “You can’t risk a light.”

  “Keep going. I’ll come in from the next field over and hit the house from behind. Pick me up down the road a piece.”

  “Yep. I’ve got you covered.”

  Travis jumped out, ran through a grassy ditch and climbed the fence into the field next to the one filled with the herd of cattle. This was the longer way around but might be better in the end.

  He was winded as he slowed down to a jog and approached the farmhouse from the back. A light was on in a room facing the back—could be the kitchen—but there were no vehicles in the driveway that he could see. He hoped nobody was home.

  Dogs began barking. An outside light flicked on, the back door flew open and three hounds blasted out. That wasn’t all that blasted—the old guy running down the porch steps fired a couple of rounds from a shotgun in Travis’ direction. He had to run. There was nothing else for it.

  Hope he can’t see me.

  Halfway back to the truck the dogs were on him, snapping and snarling. It was so fucking dark he couldn’t see dickshit. Then the dogs yelped and turned tail.

  “Head for the truck, partner,” hollered Farrell. “We’re out of here.”

  Winded, Travis slumped into the passenger seat and took a few minutes to catch his breath. “What did you do to the dogs?”

  “Tried out a spray I bought a while back. Doesn’t hurt them, but they hate the smell of it.”

  “Thanks,” said Travis. “They had me. One had hold of my jeans and ripped the leg.” He felt for blood. “I think I’ve got a couple of nips.”

  “We’ll check it out at the hotel. We’ve had enough fun for tonight.”

  Austin. Texas.

  BLAINE spent time on his desk top after Misty and Carm were in bed and nothing obvious turned up on the Golden twins. On the surface they appeared to be model citizens. Their taxes were paid, the mortgage on the garage in Sonora was up to date. The farm in Gareth Golden’s name was paid for.

  “I’ll approach it from another angle,” Blaine mumbled to himself. He ambled to the kitchen, got a Corona from the Sub-Zero and went back to work.

  “Let’s see how many unsolved cases around that area involve missing girls.” He started by finding the surrounding sheriff’s offices within a twenty-mile grid. “I might have to go wider if I don’t find anything.”

  It was three a.m. by the time he’d checked through the files of the first four sheriff’s offices. “Okay, that’s three girls already. I’ve got to get some sleep. Goddam that Farrell. He’s always right.”

  Blaine stood up and yawned. “I’ll send Jesse out there in the morning.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Monday, May 4th.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  THE MONDAY MORNING meeting was standard at the Agency. Catching up and keeping everybody in the loop. Carm was always on top of it with coffee and muffins or breakfast tacos. She loved being a necessary part of the team, and the boys showered her with praise. They loved to eat.

  This morning, Blaine realized he needed the updates more than anybody, he’d been away for so long and missed so much. Luckily, they hadn’t been handed a new case while he was so involved with Misty, but the break in the action wouldn’t last. It never did.

  Luke was first to arrive. A new addition to the Violent Crime Squad, Luke Hyslop, had come to them from Baton Rouge PD after a tragic accident had taken his wife and infant daughter. He needed a fresh start and Blaine offered him a position. Wiry and strong, Luke was a quiet guy, average height with long auburn hair and green eyes.

  The dogs settled after Luke’s arrival, but not for long. Carlos Rios was next though the door. Always smiling and telling jokes in Spanish to Carm, Carlos had come from the gang squad in Laredo and was a great addition to the team. With a Latino complexion similar to Blaine’s, Carlos wore his hair much shorter. He was muscled up from long hours spent at the gym and he loved to work. Blaine like him a lot.

  Jesse was last to arrive. He patted the dogs, said good morning to everyone and headed straight for the coffee pot.

  “Hard night, boss?” asked Carlos.

  “Might have had one Lone Star too many,” said Jesse. “Me, Ty and Paulie were watching a game.”

  “Make any cash on the game?” asked Blaine.

  “Shit, do I ever?”

  “Paulie calls them,” said Blaine. “don’t know how he does it.”

  “Fuck,” said Jesse as he sat down at the head of the table, “and once you fuckin lose, he never lets you forget it.”

  Blaine snorted. The youngest Quantrall was pretty amusing. “I’ll get Mist to give me a winner and you can screw Paulie over.”

  “Jesus, that’s a great idea,” said Jesse, “How’s she doing?”

  “Better, and Dec’s here to help us out.”

  “What’s the news from Farrell?”

  “He’s deep into it, but he can’t get a toehold,” said Blaine. “I spent hours on the Golden twins and they are so fuckin clean it ain’t real.”

  “How we gonna get them?” asked Jesse.

  “Another way. I searched the surrounding sheriff’s offices for unsolved and came up with these three to start.” He handed out a printout of the cases.

  Beth Farnsworth from Carterville near Ozona.

  Emma McGrath from Big Creek on route 29.

  Savana Young from Forest south on 277.

  “These are cold?” asked Luke.

  Blaine nodded. “Yep. Stone cold. The investigations turned up nothing.”

  “Okay,” said Jesse. “I can see how this might work. What’s the next step?”

  “You and Luke go talk to each of the sheriffs, pick up the murder books and tell them we’re reopening the investigati
ons. I’ll talk to the Chief this morning and have him clear it.”

  “Do you think there’s more unsolved out there?” asked Carlos.

  “I do,” said Blaine. “I can feel it in my gut.”

  “What if it ain’t the Golden boys?” asked Luke.

  “Then we’ve got fresh eyes on the cases,” said Jesse, “and we’ll find whoever is responsible. These girls deserve justice.”

  “Amen,” said Luke.

  Sonora. Texas.

  FARRELL and Travis were filling their plates in the breakfast room at the Hampton Inn when Avery called.

  “Morning, Miss Avery,” said Farrell. Travis winked at him and hurried to secure a table.

  “Good morning, Farrell. I just called to thank you for dinner and to see if you found out anything else.”

  “Umm… not as productive as we hoped, but more is being done. I can’t discuss it with you yet, but I can tell you the investigation is ramping up.”

  “That sounds like more people are getting involved,” said Avery. “That might be a good thing. The more people looking for her make Sylvie’s chances better.”

  I think she’s already dead. It’s been too long.

  Farrell sat down with Travis and ate waffles swimming in a lake of syrup.

  “You’re liking Avery a lot, ain’t you partner?”

  “Yeah, probably too much. I should back away from it.”

  Travis shrugged. “Not if it feels right. Why should you?”

  Farrell had no time to think of an answer before his cell rang again. “Jesse, what’s up?”

  “Heading out there this morning. Where can we meet?”

  “We’re staying at the Hampton Inn. Text me when you get close and we’ll meet for lunch and get organized.”