Treasure of the Anasazi Page 20

  * * *

  I caught up with Sam at the park office and brought her up to speed. I didn’t mention that Smith and Jones might be coming back to the park. While there, Joe called. The operator from the Sheriff’s office had patched him through from his car radio to the Mesa Verde Park office.

  “Sam? Is Jack there?” asked Joe.

  “Did you find those two yet?” she asked.

  “Maybe I should talk to Jack.”

  “You’d better tell me what’s going on and I don’t need you to treat me like a child. I’m a park ranger. Now, tell me.”

  “The search party just got back. They followed their tracks to a deserted farm house just up the road from Mr. Dugan’s place. It appears they stole a vehicle of some sort. I guess Jack told you Sawyer suspected as much.”

  “Yeah, he told me. It appears Sawyer does know what he’s doing.”

  “Perhaps. There is something else you need to know. I asked Jack not to say anything, but on second thought you should know that Smith and Jones might be coming back there.”

  “I don’t know why they’d risk coming back here. They probably just high-tailed it out of here,” said Baker.

  “I don’t think so. They haven’t gone through any of the roadblocks, so they’re still around here somewhere. After what they did to Mr. Dugan, we know what they are capable of. And there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re responsible for the attempted murder of Emitt. Right now, they are our top priority.”

  Even though the idea of Smith and Jones coming back to the park made her uneasy, she wasn’t about to let on to Joe or to Jack, who was standing nearby listening to the one-sided conversation.

  “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll tell Jack.”

  “What are you going to do now?” asked Joe.

  “My job.” She hung up the phone.

  “They didn’t find them, did they?” I asked.

  “No. You weren’t going to tell me Smith and Jones might be coming here?”

  “Joe didn’t think it was a good idea, getting you all worked up.”

  “I don’t need either one of you to protect me. Get it?”

  “Got it, but for the record, it wasn’t my idea.”

  She remained silent after that, either fuming or deep in thought.

  “I wonder where they could be?” I asked aloud to myself.

  “Joe said they didn’t get through the roadblocks, but maybe they slipped through somewhere else,” she answered, putting the previous matter to rest.

  “I doubt it. You know as well as I do that the roads around here can be pretty tricky to someone who’s not familiar with them. Too many lead to a dead end. My gut is telling me that they’ve gone back to Durango. It’s not that big, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find them. It’s just a matter of looking in the right place.”

  “No kidding,” said Sam sarcastically. “By the way, would you happen to know where Mr. Sawyer is right now?”

  “I sent him to see Marlene. After that, I’d guess he was going into town.”

  “Shouldn’t you be helping him out?” asked Sam.

  “I got the impression he doesn’t want any help. And if you don’t want me around either, I can go, but I can stay if you’d like.”

  Sam paused. “Thanks, Jack, but I’d rather you just got out of here!” She smiled.

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “I’m going to make my final rounds, just like I always do, lock up and go home.”

  “What about Smith and Jones?”

  “They’re Joe and Sawyer’s problem now. I’m tired of the whole thing.”

  “Why don’t you give me a call later? Let me know you got home alright. And try to get some rest.”

  “Don’t you worry about me,” said Sam.

  “See? You’re already getting grumpy.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was getting late. Smith and Jones convinced Benny to fix them something to eat. He could barely see, one eye swollen completely shut and the other eye just a slit. While they began to eat at the small kitchen table, Benny hobbled back to the corner of the room and slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor. With a dishtowel he wiped the drying blood from his face. Smith and Jones whispered as they ate, both glancing toward Benny every few moments, finding the situation entertaining. Even though he couldn’t make out what they were saying, he was sure they were taking about him, probably deciding on what to do with him. He had never been this scared before in his life. He prayed that they would just leave so this nightmare would be over, but he didn’t think that was part of their plan.

  Smith and Jones decided that perhaps being stuck in town was an opportunity. There were three individuals that had been sticking their noses in their business ever since they had arrived in town, the lady Ranger and her two friends, Jack and Rudy. Because of them, their plans had been ruined. It was time for payback. The easiest time would probably be while they were at home, asleep in their beds, caught unaware.

  “What do you have in mind?” asked Smith.

  “Dynamite,” said Jones flatly. “It doesn’t have much finesse, but it’s very thorough.”

  Smith nodded agreement. “What about the journal?”

  “Now that we know the Ranger’s friend has it, we’ll take it if we can find it. If not, we’ll blow it to kingdom come along with him. That way no one else will ever see it.”

  “We’re going to blow up all three houses? How?”

  “One at a time. I’ll work out the details. Now we just need the supplies.”

  Jones got up from the table.

  “Benny, we’ve got to go out for a little while, but we’ll be back. So while we’re gone we’ll need you to behave yourself and stay put.”

  Hope flashed through Benny’s mind. This would probably be his only chance to get away from these goons.

  “Of course, so you don’t get any ideas, we’ll need to tie you up and gag you so you won’t run off or yell for help.”

  “I won’t run off,” pleaded Benny, lying through his teeth, but who would blame him, he was dealing with people with no honor.

  “I’d like to believe you, but…”

  Jones nodded to Smith, who yanked the phone cord from the phone and wall plug, then crossed the room to Benny. He took the dishtowel from Benny and tied it across his mouth and tightened the phone line around his hands and feet. Benny moaned with pain as Smith tightened the cord much tighter than it needed to be. Smith smiled with pleasure.

  Smith and Jones headed for the door.

  “Now don’t go anywhere,” said Smith with a smirk as he shut the door.

  Over the last few weeks the two had been to the hardware store on Main Street a few times already. They would make another visit this evening for a little after-hours shopping. It was only a few blocks from Benny’s place, so they walked, keeping to the shadows and alleys whenever possible. They were sure that the local police had an APB out on them by now. The rear entrance to the hardware store was a steel door. Smith tried to force it with his shoulder and tried kicking it open. It didn’t budge. There was a window facing the alley on the second floor, but it was barred, and there didn’t appear to be any way to get up to it. They would have to enter from Main Street. Before they came out of the alley, they checked for traffic. Smith noticed that there was a random car that passed by every few minutes or so. Not much time, but it would be enough. There were several cars parked in the next block in front of the movie theater. According to the marquee, Road to Bali was playing with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

  “I love those guys,” commented Smith.

  “Keep your mind on business,” said Jones.

  They slipped around the corner, into the shadows of the inset at the front door.

  * * *

  The Hightower brothers sat in their pickup along Main Street. After hours of driving around town, searching, and using up their gas, they had decided to park in the downtown area where they could watch any vehicles coming
through town. They had ignored the time as it came and went when they were to meet back up with Jack and Rudy. They’d get over it.

  “Billy, I’m getting tired. Can’t we go home now?” asked Donny.

  “It’s not safe at home, Donny. Not as long as those two idiots are still running around here somewhere.”

  “Look!” shouted Daryl, pointing.

  “What?” asked Billy.

  “I think I just saw Smith and Jones come out of the alley,” said Daryl.

  “Are you sure? I don’t see ‘em.”

  “I tell you, it was them. They came out of the alley and ducked into the doorway at the hardware store.”

  “Suppose they’re up to no good?” asked Billy, already knowing the answer.

  “I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet. What should we do?” asked Daryl.

  “Stay here. I’m going to make a phone call,” said Billy.

  “Who you going to call?” asked Donny.

  “The cavalry.”

  “You mean cops?” asked Donny.

  “I thought we didn’t like cops,” said Daryl.

  “We don’t, but this time I’ll make an exception.”

  * * *

  The door was made of a grid of small plate glass panels. Smith took off his jacket, placed it against the glass of the panel next to the door knob. With his revolver he tapped through the jacket until he heard the glass crack. Jones stood between Smith and the street, just in case a car should happen by. Smith repeated the process twice more. Enough glass was broken out that he reached through and unlocked the dead bolt. They slipped inside. In the back room they found a box inside a metal cabinet labeled ‘DYNAMITE.’ The hardware store always kept some on hand for stump removal. It wouldn’t be practical to try to take the entire case, so they stuffed their pockets with enough sticks and fuses to do all three jobs.

  * * *

  Within a couple of minutes Billy was back. He had just slid back behind the steering wheel when they heard the sound of a siren approaching and then watched as a squad car slid to a stop in front of the hardware store.

  “After the show I’ll take you home, Donny.” Billy smiled, very pleased with himself.

  * * *

  Just as Smith and Jones were finishing up, they heard voices at the front of the store. Jones peered out to see the light beams from two flashlights at the front door. It had to be the cops.

  “We need to go out the back way. The cops are here,” Jones whispered to Smith.

  “How’d they get here so fast?” asked Smith.

  “There must have been a silent alarm” whispered Jones, waving for Smith to follow, as he went to the back door.

  There was an iron bar across the metal door.

  “No wonder I couldn’t budge it,” said Smith as he quickly removed it, leaning it against the wall.

  “Hurry up. Let’s get out of here,” whispered Jones.

  Quickly turning, Smith’s foot caught the bottom of the bar, knocking it onto the concrete floor, clanging as it bounced.

  “Who’s back there?” a loud voice came from the front.

  “Go!” shouted Jones, pushing Smith out the door, running as hard and fast as they could down the dark alley. Soon sirens could be heard all around them. One of the cops came out of the front door, while the other one came out at the alley. Another squad car pulled up and two officers jumped out. The Hightowers watched as all four stood in front of the store, talking and motioning with their hands for a few minutes, then got back in their cars and drove off, sirens screaming.

  * * *

  “Where are they?” asked Billy. “How could those idiots have let the other idiots get away?”

  “Can we go home now?” asked Donny.

  “No! Not now!” yelled Billy, as he slammed his fist on the dashboard.

  Donny jumped and began to sob. Billy drew in a deep breath.

  “Sorry, Donny. We can’t go home yet, it still isn’t safe.”

  * * *

  Smith and Jones stayed in the shadows as they made their way back to Benny’s. Once inside they began to breathe easier. Benny still sat in the corner, just as they had left him. Smith looked out the blinds to make sure no one had followed them. Smith shook his head ‘no’ and the two exchanged smiles.

  Their next step was to find out where Jack, Rudy and the lady Ranger lived. With a little persuasion they received Benny’s hesitant help, learning the full names of all three. Knowing their names, it was an easy task to look up their addresses in the local phone book and determine where they lived. They had used this same procedure before to take care of past problems. They may not get the treasure they were after, but they would get some satisfaction before leaving this hell hole.

  Jones looked at Smith, “I don’t think we’re going to need him anymore.” Smith nodded.

  Benny overheard, his eyes becoming wide with terror, kicking frantically at the floor to get away.

  Smith took the dishtowel and wrapped it tightly around Benny’s throat.

  “It’ll all be over in a second,” he told Benny.

  Benny tried to scream for help, but nothing came out. His eyes bulged, helpless against Smith’s strength and weak from the earlier interrogation. In a matter of seconds, he stopped thrashing and his body went limp.

  Smith removed the car keys from Benny’s pocket, then went outside and started the old rusty car. Jones came out.

  “What do you think?”

  “It’s better than that old truck and it’s got half a tank of gas.”

  “Good. Shut it off and come back inside. We’ll go back out late when they’re sure to be at home.”

  When the time came, they loaded the explosives in the car and left, Benny lying lifeless in the bathtub, covered by the shower curtain. Since Jack lived outside of town, he would be the first on their hit list.

  * * *

  I woke to the sound of the floor creaking in the hallway outside my bedroom. I knew that sound. I made it myself every time I walked from the living room to my bedroom. It wasn’t uncommon for a wooden floor in an older cabin. I laid still, waiting, listening to make sure I had heard it. Another creak. Slowly, I reached for the bedside table and slid the drawer open. I pulled out my Colt .45 1911, loading the chamber. I heard rapid footsteps and the sound of my front door slamming shut. I jumped up and ran to the living room. At a quick glance, I noticed the journal was gone from the table behind the couch where I had left it. The front window suddenly shattered as a stick of dynamite landed in the center of the living room, the fuse sizzling and nearly gone. I ran in the opposite direction, back into my bedroom, slamming the door and jumping to the other side of my bed. At the instant I hit the floor, there was an ear-splitting and earth-shattering explosion. For the next few moments, the only sound I could hear was the unrelenting ringing in my ears. My head had a numbing sensation feeling as though it had swollen to twice its normal size. I gradually regained my senses, enough that I forced myself up and unsteadily felt my way through the smoke-filled room and hallway to the front of the cabin, now with a huge smoldering hole across the front. I peered out to the end of the drive, just in time to see a rust blotched sedan speeding away with the black silhouettes of its two occupants. The first people to cross my mind were Smith and Jones. It was too dark to recognize the occupants, and I wouldn’t have been able to identify them in a lineup, but who else could it have been? The car looked familiar, but I was having trouble remembering from where. My mind was still a bit foggy. Perhaps the car had been what they had taken from the old farmhouse. Then it dawned on me, the car was Benny’s. We had seen it parked under his carport. They had found him after all.

  Immediately I thought of Sam. They could be on their way to pay her a visit right now, if they hadn’t already been there. I ran to the phone, or where the phone used to be. Only fragments of Bakelite were scattered across the floor. I then ran to my bedroom, snatched my keys off the dresser, found my .45 on the floor next to the bed, and hurried to the jeep. I knew the
roads better than they did and I was sure I could catch up to them. If they did anything to Sam… I would kill them both.

  * * *

  “That didn’t go so well,” commented Smith as they sped away. “I saw him standing in the gap in the cabin. It didn’t work.”

  “I’ve got eyes!”

  “Well, what are we going to do now?”

  “Pull over on this side road. I need to think,” said Jones.

  Smith pulled over. The two sat in silence, Smith glancing at Jones every few moments.

  “Well? They’re going to be coming after us, you know?” commented Smith.

  Jones didn’t reply.

  Smith swung his door open.

  “Where are you going?” asked Jones.

  “I’m going to take a leak, if that’s all right with you?”

  He stepped out and let the door swing back. He proceeded to take care of business. It was quiet along the county road except for the occasional bark from someone’s dog. As he was finishing up, the sound of a speeding vehicle came down the mountain road, tires squealing at every curve. They were close enough to the main road to see the vehicle as it sped by. Smith recognized the jeep.

  “It’s him!” yelled Smith.

  “Who?”

  “Who do you think? Trader. He just went by.”

  “What are you waiting for? Let’s go! I think opportunity just knocked,” said Jones, smiling.

  “Are you sure about this?” asked Smith.

  “Go!”

  Smith threw the shifter into reverse and tromped the gas pedal, throwing gravel and dust everywhere. Back on the blacktop road, he slammed the shifter down into drive, accelerating down the mountain road after Jack, hoping to put an end to one of their problems once and for all.