The Surge - 03 (12 page)

It was a fair question. “No,” Zach replied. “While I know some good officers on the local force, what I don’t know is how influential or connected our mystery guest might be. I wouldn’t want any loose lips sinking Cheyenne’s ship.”

“Besides,” Sam added, “We’re not even sure our unknown person is even a worthy suspect.”

Gus twirled his pen in thought, finally offering, “Look, I know you rangers deal with some high-profile cases and all, but speaking from my experience as a local cop, there have been times when I would have appreciated a head’s up on activity in my jurisdiction. I know a guy on the local force … a captain. I trust this man completely. How about I give him a courtesy call and let him know we’re partying on his turf?”

Zach and Sam exchanged troubled glances. “Might be a good insurance policy if things go really badly,” she offered.

The senior ranger finally nodded his agreement. “No details,” he said to Gus. “No location specifics, timelines or anything else. Just give our general operating area, team size, and act like it’s no big deal.”

“Agreed,” Gus nodded.

The initial briefing took another 20 minutes, and then the foursome left Zach’s hotel room in order to walk the perimeter.

It was BB who had the next recommendation. Pointing only with the brim of his hat, the old ranger remarked, “I think I need so go shopping.”

Zach followed the old-timer’s gaze to a second-story window, a large sign advertising Long Trails Western Wear and Tack Accessories. “You
are
looking a little seedy, BB. Maybe some new duds will spruce you up a bit ... help your chances with the señoritas.”

Turning to smile warmly at Sam, the team’s oldest member said, “Might help my luck with the local gals as well.”

The four lawmen returned to the hotel to find a nervous Cheyenne pacing in the lobby.

Zach’s stomach knotted when he saw her, the reaction a mixture of jealousy and nerves. The fact that his girl was decked out and gussied up to meet another man bothered the ranger more than he had anticipated.

She wore a royal blue dress that exposed her shoulders and left little to the male imagination as to the assets beneath. A sparkling necklace was draped around her neck, accented with hoop earrings and absolutely perfect makeup.

Although the dress hung to just above her knees, Zach couldn’t help but notice the significant slits sewn into both sides of the garment. Chey’s long, tan legs attracted the male eye like iron to a magnet.  

Gus’s reaction to the beauty was to be expected, the El Paso detective leaning close to Zach and whispering, “No wonder the suspect is interested in her. Hell, if I was a few years younger, I’d have to think about kidnapping that young lady myself.”

Zach started to let his fellow officer in on the unmentioned detail that the leggy blonde was his girlfriend, but before the words came out, Cheyenne had rushed over and was kissing him on the mouth. “How’s my favorite ranger?” she greeted with a flirtatious tone.

“I’m good. You ready?” Zach asked, trying to keep things business-like and professional.

A now red-faced Gus retreated for the elevator, closely followed by a grinning BB. “Do you feel as old as I do?” the retired ranger whispered to the embarrassed detective.

A few minutes later, all five were in Zach’s hotel room. The lead ranger started again from the top, taking extra time to let Chey know where everyone was going to be stationed, and what she should do in case things went wrong.

Just 60 minutes before her designated rendezvous time, Sam took Cheyenne back to the lady ranger’s room in order to hook up the electronics.

After a short time, the two women returned, the only noticeable difference in Chey’s outfit being a different set of earrings. The model twirled with a giggle saying, “Do I look like a police snitch?”

Sam passed out the radios, each of the small transmitters looking like a Bluetooth headset commonly used with civilian cell phones. The team did a quick equipment check by moving down the hall and testing the device’s signal.

After giving everyone a final chance to ask last minute questions, they gathered at the door. The team was eager to be in place early in order to study all of the guests arriving at the steakhouse.

Chey gave Zach a quick peck on the cheek right as the other cops strolled out of the room. “See you in a bit,” he said, returning the embrace.

“Wish me luck,” she said, clearly still on edge.

“Good luck, and remember – if it gets to be too much … if you feel like things are getting out of control, then just get the hell out of there. Just kick off those heels and sprint for the door like those foot races we had as kids.”

“I used to outrun your skinny ass all the time,” she teased, a hint of the old tomboy coming back into her tone. “At least until you were about 13.”

Zach grinned, the short flash of memories helping both of them relax. “Trust your instincts, Chey. Run like hell if that’s what feels right. This operation isn’t worth a single hair on your beautiful head.”

“Thanks, Zach. I’ll try not to let you down. Remember, I want to hurt these jerks just as much as you do. See you at five.”

With their arms hooked together, Zach and Sam strolled beside the river just like dozens of other couples enjoying a late afternoon walk.

Sam was the better actor, pointing at the sights and pretending to stop and window shop along the route. Zach had little trouble fulfilling his role as the boyfriend who didn’t care about the dress on the mannequin.

The lady ranger made a big deal out of wanting to stop at the small café that provided a direct line of sight to Titus’s front door. Appearing reluctant, Zach finally agreed to sit at one of the tables. Both rangers ordered a glass of iced tea from the attentive waiter.

“I’m in place,” Gus’s voice sounded in Zach’s earpiece.

A few moments later, BB transmitted, “I can’t believe the prices in this place. $600 for a damn hat?” The two riverside rangers grinned, both feeling a little better that everyone had managed their posts.

Zach spied the four men approaching along the river well before they arrived at the gate and stairs leading to the steakhouse. Something about their manner and dress raised the hair on his arms. “I bet that’s them,” he whispered to Sam, pointing only with his eyes.

Pretending to adjust her chair for more shade, Sam managed to get a clear view of the foursome. With a quick adjustment of her sunglasses, the ranger began videotaping the new arrivals.

After surveilling criminals for over a decade, Sam wanted to give whoever invented sunglasses with a built-in camera a huge hug. Practically unnoticeable, the tiny lenses appeared to be just another screw holding the frame together. The memory card was behind her ear. The microphone nearly invisible.

She didn’t have to focus, adjust, or figure out some clever way to hide the camera while undercover. She simply looked at whatever she wanted to record.

The four men were dressed in very expensive-looking clothing, all of the gentlemen flashing freshly shined dress shoes and top of the line sport coats. The guy who seemed to be in charge was wearing a tie. Two of his “friends” were carrying Italian designer briefcases.

To the average onlooker, they appeared to be a small squadron of businessmen out for an after work cocktail. Zach, however, wasn’t the average observer.

He immediately spotted several details that he referred to as “gangsterisms.” The flash of bling. A bulge under a jacket that might disguise a pistol or sub-machine gun. Just a bit too much bravado in their steps. But what really set them apart were their eyes.

As the foursome drew closer, Zach followed their eyes more than anything. No two of the men looked in the same direction, each taking a quadrant and scanning intensely for threats. The ranger noted they focused high and low, left then right. They were professionals. They were coiled for violence, looking for work.

When the obvious fifth member of their party came into view, Zach was almost certain he was surveilling the security team for a cartel boss of some very high rank. The trailer was 20 feet behind the main group, an extra precaution that only the most experienced units employed.

Sam spotted the sixth member of the detail, sitting only two tables away from the rangers. He had come early, scouting the route. After she made eye contact with Zach, the senior ranger studied number six and nodded to his partner. “We’re in over our heads here,” he whispered.

Sam pretended to receive a cell phone call, holding up her smartphone as she notified the rest of the team. “We have five serious security types and one primary,” she stated into the microphone. “Stand by.”

“Does the primary have a short limp from his left leg?” BB’s voice responded. “Remember the tracks by the Rio Grande.”

Zach focused like a laser, and sure enough, there was an odd hitch in the jefe’s gait. “I’ll be damned,” he whispered.

The man next to the rangers stood suddenly. For a moment, Zach thought their surveillance had been detected. Reaching for his .45, the Texan was tensing for combat when Chey’s blue dress entered the corner of his vision. The bodyguard moved to greet her, a warm smile on his face.

“Are you Cheyenne?” the man asked with only a slight accent.

“Yes,” the model replied suspiciously. “And you would be?”

“I’m sorry for startling you, Ma’am. I am here to escort you to the steakhouse. My apologies, but my employer is extremely conscientious regarding security matters, and there are a few basic preventative steps that are required before you dine with him.”

In one way, Zach was impressed. On the other hand, the high and mighty protection detail was having a conversation not six feet away from two Texas lawmen. Their bad.

Luck would appear to be on their side, and the ranger knew that sometimes good fortune was enough to carry the day.

Chey was politely escorted to the stairwell leading to Titus. At the top, outside the ornate door, another of the goon squad appeared, this time with some sort of electronic wand. As one man searched the model’s purse, the other imitated an airport screener and ran the detector up and down the blue dress.

Then, without further issue, they opened the door, and Chey was allowed entry.

“I’m turning on the cameras now,” Sam announced, reaching into her oversized bag for a laptop.

“No,” Zach snapped. “These guys are very sophisticated. Wait just a bit longer.”

“I’ve got one of the no-necks outside in the alley keeping watch,” BB’s voice informed them over the radio. “He’s a big sum-bitch, too. Do I get extra pay if I have to work up a sweat kicking his ass?”

Sam’s fingers were flying over the keyboard. “I'm sending the video we recorded to Austin. Let’s hope we can get an ID on these guys.”

Zach was worried. “We’re out of our league here. I think we should call for help. I didn’t expect a detail that large and that skilled.”

“Want me to call Major Putnam?”

The Texan considered his partner’s suggestion for a few moments and then shook his head. “We still can’t be positive this guy is a criminal. He might just be ultra-wealthy and ultra-paranoid. Remember, innocent until proven guilty.”

Sam didn’t agree, her frown signaling the disapproval.

After a few seconds, Zach keyed his microphone. “Gus, can you call your captain friend and ask him to send over three or four of his better guys to our neck of the woods?”

“Sure,” replied the detective. “On it right now.”

The senior ranger’s gaze switched to the ornate door and then to Sam. “Okay, turn on the hardware, and let’s see what’s going on.”