get to the bottom of it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t know, Rita.”
“I’ll be fine, sir. I’ll keep Dixie or Cathy close by.”
“Post a guard around your house tonight. I’ll call Robinson and tell him to step up this damned investigation. Eight dead men in one day? Hell of a vacation destination.”
“Yes sir. I should go now. Looks like people are gathering out front.”
“You stay safe, Rita. I didn’t post you there to get shot.”
“I will, General.”
Chapter Two (Saturday June 19, 2021)
Major Royale had talked to Sergeant Lewis until just after midnight. She gave her statement about the shootings outside her house. The sergeant had already questioned Stella previously and Stella then retired to her bed for the night. One blast of the shotgun was quite enough excitement for one night, she had laughed, though she doubted she’d be able to sleep for a while.
After the sergeant left, Rita stayed up until two in the morning sipping on a drink, wondering what the hell was going on. She guessed the attack had to be linked to the thing at the pier. What else could it be? She was pretty sure that the guys at her house were amateurs, or at least not professionally trained. They were too clumsy. Maybe she’d know more after the bodies were identified.
It was just past one in the afternoon when Rita rode her now windowless motorcycle into Sidney and parked in the Kats Klub parking lot. The major walked around to the front, spotted the three teenagers scrubbing off the words they’d written on the front and sides of the small tavern. She smiled at Alex as he scrubbed with a brush. He didn’t return the smile. She walked inside, sat at the bar. Only herself and the bartender at the bar, two women sitting at a table talking.
The big boned bartender with a wide and easy smile asked, “What’ll it be, Rita? On the house.”
“Just soda and lime, Nicki. I’m on the bike.”
She looked at the handsome face, crew cut hair. “Soda and lime it is, Major.”
“I see the kids are cleaning up outside.”
Nicki nodded. “I wouldn’t mind if they’d draw pictures instead of those words. Flowers maybe.” She smiled and poured the soda into a tall glass. “Yeah, flowers might be nice.”
“They’re teenage boys. They don’t draw flowers. They draw naked women.”
Nicki looked at her, placed the glass on the bar. “Naked women are good too.”
Rita shook her head. “I can’t ask teenaged boys to draw naked women.”
“Maybe I’ll ask them.” She looked at Rita closely, leaned over the bar a little. “Word travels fast in this town. I heard a story about an Army woman killing some crazies single handedly.”
“Not single handedly, but something sure is going on. Heard anything?”
Nicki shook her head. “I’ll keep my ears open. What am I listening for?”
“Anything to do with a large amount of drugs. Probably cocaine.”
She nodded. Lifted her face questioningly. “How many of them came to your house last night?”
“Four. My neighbor shot one.”
“I knew you were a warrior the first time you came in here. A sad warrior.”
“Well, I’ve been too busy to be sad lately.” Rita stood to her feet, picked up the glass and drank half of it, placed it lightly on the bar. “I gotta go. Call me if you hear anything interesting.”
“I will, Major. Watch yourself.”
Rita nodded, walked out the door. Alex Racine sat on her parked motorcycle, pretending to ride. He dismounted quickly when she walked around the corner of the bar.
“I was just watching your motorcycle for you.”
She squinted, looked at his young face. Not a bad looking kid actually. “Where are your buddies?”
“Went home.”
“Why aren’t you home?”
Alex just shrugged.
Rita studied his body movements, face. She asked, “You don’t want to go home?”
“My dad kicked me out.”
“When?”
“Two days ago. I’ve been staying with my friend, but I can’t stay there anymore.”
“Maybe your dad changed his mind. Have you called him?”
He shook his head. “He means it. I don’t care. Him and his girlfriend are drunk all the time. She says I stole money from her. I didn’t. My dad took her side and told me to go be a man somewhere. Just not there.”
Rita blew out her breath, studied his face. “You hungry?”
“I could eat something.”
Rita didn’t know if she should do this. “You can stay the night at my place, and tomorrow I’ll talk to your dad. Where’s your mom?”
“Vancouver maybe. I don’t know. She’s been gone a while.”
“Alright, put this on.” She handed him the helmet.
He looked at her. “Isn’t the man supposed to drive?”
Rita grinned. “Funny kid. Talk to me when you’re a man.”
“I’m sixteen and a half.”
“Yeah.”
The barbecue was on the front porch, Rita tending the thawing steaks, Alex sitting on a wicker chair looking at the wall behind him.
“Are those bullet holes?”
Rita nodded.
He looked at her. “Someone was shooting at your house?”
“Yeah.” She looked at his clothes.” After we eat you need to shower. I have some clothes you can wear.”
“Girl clothes?”
She smiled. “I have some black fatigues that will fit you. I’ll wash your clothes.”
He looked at her closer. For an older woman she was really nice looking. “Is that car on the street watching us?”
“An Army guy. He’s watching the house.”
“I’m joining the Army when I turn seventeen.”
“When’s
