“Just know, the Tuttles … they’re as ruthless as you are,” Matt warned. “They may look backward and simple, but it’s all an act with the old man. He’s like a copperhead in tall grass. A rattler … well, he’ll give you a warning and even try to get out of your way. A copperhead will just lay there and wait on you. Tuttle lives by the old ways, the old code of the hills. I know you assholes don’t care about that, but to people like him, a slight or an insult … it’s never forgiven or forgotten. If y’all were the ones who shot his boy’s dick off and scarred him up … he ain’t gonna stop ‘til he kills you or you kill him. It’s that simple.”
“We’ll deal with Mister Tuttle in our own way,” Cee Tee replied gruffly, more impatient than ever for the man to go, for there was definitely something going on with Frost. He was blinking his eyes in … in … what was the word he was looking for? Rhythmic? No. It was a staccato sort of motion. Short, rapid blinks followed by longer closings of the eyelids. It was more like … like … a pattern. Yes, that was it! A pattern that he was repeating over and over!
Fuck! It came to the Comtech like a sledgehammer to the skull. The average person would never have picked up on it, as ancient as the code was, but someone trained in all forms of communication, both advanced and primitive, would be familiar with what Frost was attempting.
He was blinking Morse code! But what? Cee Tee was trying to figure it out but was having a hard time concentrating with the ZiP behind him blabbering.
“Personally, I don’t care if you all kill each other,” Matt smirked. “If y’all wanna go outside of town to some empty field and shoot each other full of holes, I’ll sell tickets.” The smirk disappeared, and the lawman’s face turned stoic. “But if y’all do any more damage to my city … so help me, I’ll find a way to burn you.”
“Thank you, Special Inspector. If there’s nothing else …” Granny’s Jesus! Get the hell outta here so I can concentrate! I … S …O …N … I … what he hell is he trying to spell?
For his part, Matt didn’t take too well to being dismissed so flippantly, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Despite all his posturing, Frost was still an “Alpha” class ARA. By law, he was virtually untouchable while carrying out his duties. For Matt to legally do anything to the man would take an executive warrant by a federal judge, and they just didn’t hand those out. He could strut around all he wanted like a fighting rooster, but he really had no spurs.
“You just heed my words!” Matt was going to get the last word in. He was already pissed at Stella about the mix-up earlier. He wasn’t about to let these cocksuckers get off easy. He pointed a finger at the paralyzed Frost, “And I know you hear me, too!” At that, he turned and stormed out.
But Cee Tee had quit paying him any mind long before. He was still trying to decipher what Frost was trying to tell him with his eyes. “V… P … O … I … damn, not making any sense, boss!” He now spoke his frustration out loud.
Just keep watching, you imbecile! Just the blinking of the eyes was exhausting Frost, but the drug was right there, ready to enter his vein! Shit, stupid! Think! Use that head of yours for something besides keeping your ears separated!
Distraught, Cee Tee ran his hands through his hair. “S … O … N … vee poison? Vee poison? What kind of poison is that? Don’t make sense, Boss.” Then he noticed Frost was continuing. “Wait … another “I!” Now a “V” again. A “P” again?” It began to dawn on him, and the light of realization lit up his eyes. “Are you repeating yourself? You are, aren’t you?”
‘Bout time, dumbass!
“Ok,” Cee Tee rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Poison … I got that. What kind? Vee poison? Vee poison eye? Still not making sense!”
Frost watched as the drug began to ooze into his arm. He sighed mentally in resignation, as he watched his Comtech.
I’m a dead man …
“Eye poison … did they put poison in your eye? No, I don’t think so, cuz you were signaling me with them, but, vee poison? Eye poison. Vee poison. Eye vee poison.” He froze. “Eye vee poison? Is that it? IV poison! They poisoned your IV?” His eyes grew wide as he looked down to see the red cloud of fluid in the clear tube, starting to work its way into Frost.
“Granny’s Jesus!” Panicked, he grabbed at the tube, clawing at the tape that covered the needle. Frost felt a searing pain as his man tore the needle from his flesh and blood poured from the wound.
“I got it, Boss!” The younger man cried out in relief, reassuringly patting his superior’s head. “I got it! You’re ok!”
Frost could never remember searing pain ever feeling so good.
***
Tiger was dying for a cigarette, but he knew Lulah would have none of that as they recovered from their passionate round of early-morning lovemaking. Drained, both physically and emotionally, they lay quietly in the darkened garage apartment. Tiger was on his back with Lulah’s head resting in the crook of his arm, their torsos covered by the soft comforter. Her hand rested palm down on his chest, right over his heart. Her bare leg protruded from the quilt, thrown across both of his, bent slightly at the knee. Hardly a word had passed between them in the last thirty minutes or so, but then there had been no need for conversation. In the
