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Holding Daphne’s hand, Brody stepped onto the front porch. In his free hand, he held the pistol.
A newer Ford pick-up screamed around the corner. Red and blue emergency lights were blinking in its grill. A siren wailed from somewhere under the hood.
“Here,” Brody said, handing the gun to Daphne.
“I don’t want that.”
“You need to take it,” he said. “I’m not allowed to have these anymore.”
With a distasteful look on her face, she took the gun from him. “We are definitely not done with this conversation.”
When the truck skidded to a stop, FBI Agent Max Ekleberry hopped out and put his cowboy hat on. While he trotted over, his head swiveled back and forth. “You okay, Beau?”
“I’m fine.”
“Who’s this?” Daphne asked.
“He’s nobody.”
“Nobody?” Ekleberry said. “Really?”
“Suicide Mike is inside the house.”
“Eslick is here?”
“He’s going to need a doctor. He’s got a rhino horn stuck in his head.”
Ekleberry looked to Daphne.
“It’s true,” she said. “A rhino horn.”
“Anybody else in there?” the G-man asked.
“No, but there are a couple of prospects in the basement of the bookstore.”
“What are they doing there?”
“Sleeping off a beating. I’m not sure how strong the latch is on the basement door. You might want someone to get over there and check on them.”
Ekleberry glanced at Daphne, then returned his attention to Brody. “Your cover here is blown.”
“That’s an understatement,” Brody said as he stepped off the porch with Daphne by his side.
Constable Emery Farnsworth walked up the street. His shoulders were slumped, and he shook his head.
“What’s wrong, Constable?” Brody asked.
“He got away.”
“But I heard gunshots. Didn’t you shoot him?”
“He shot at me, but I didn’t want to shoot him in the back as he was running.”
Cops and their rules, Brody thought. But Farnsworth was taking it hard that he’d let The Fixer escape.
“It’s okay,” Brody said. “Everything will be fine.”
“If I had my bike, I would have caught him.”
Brody put his free hand on the officer’s shoulder and gave him a small shake. “Emery, you did a great job. We saved Daphne.”
He lifted his head and smiled. “We did, didn’t we?”
Daphne smiled. “You’re a hero, Emery.”
The constable pulled his shoulders back. “We are, aren’t we?”
“There’s another FBI agent in the house arresting one of the guys. Why don’t you go help him?”
Emery nodded several times. “Sounds good.” He hurried up the sidewalk.
Daphne studied Brody. “Another FBI agent?”
“I told Emery that I was an FBI agent.”
She frowned. “Do you ever tell the truth?”
Brody kissed her. “That’s the truth,” he said and kissed her once more.
When they finally broke, she didn’t say anything. She just eyed him with suspicion but didn’t let go of his hand.
A minivan turned the corner and raced up to them. Alice sat behind the wheel, and Carrie Fenton was in the passenger seat. When the driver’s window rolled down, Brody could see the old waiter in the rear of the van.
“Alice!” Daphne said.
“Hey, kid. I see you met my friend.”
Brody asked, “Find what you were looking for?”
“It took some time, but we did.”
Daphne looked to Brody. Confusion played across her face.
Carrie Fenton sat in the passenger seat and stared straight ahead.
“She okay?” Brody asked.
“She’s in shock. She’ll be fine soon enough. She finally got to see what she writes about. It surprised her.”
The big man eyed the waiter. “What about him?”
Alice smiled. “Him? We’re going on a trip together. Someplace exotic.”
“What about your cat?” Brody asked.
“Marlowe? What about him?”
“You should stop by the store and get him.”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. That cat’s a hazard. Besides, —”
“I know,” Brody said. “Every bookstore needs a cat. Want me to tell Onderdonk you’re okay?”
“Let him worry about me for a bit. When I come home from my trip, maybe I’ll call him. I don’t want to be found. After forty years, I need an opportunity to stretch my legs. You’ll understand soon enough.”
He did. Even though it had been less than a week, he already felt the weight of watchful eyes and governmental expectations.
Brody tapped the door. “You better get going then. I’m sure Ted’s on his way.”
Alice nodded. “Stay out of trouble. Be good, Daphne.”
The minivan’s tires chirped as it sped away.