“That Ben Chapman is like a burr in my ass. His guys think they’re God’s gift to law enforcement, always intrudin’ on our territory.”
Hawk smiled and shook his head. “I don’t care about your little spat, but if the patrolmen can be a burr in the terrorists’ ass today, that’ll be just fine by me.”
"Fair enough," Danger said. "Now, hop in."
They exited the airstrip and drove a few blocks to Junction’s main I-10 exit. A handful of vehicles were lined up while deputies stood outside chatting.
Danger rolled down his window. “It’s time, fellas.”
The deputies strode to their cars and followed Danger onto I-10 West. They drove three miles past the city limits before cutting across the median into the eastbound lane. Once they parked, the deputies started setting up a checkpoint in workmanlike fashion.
“When is that semi supposed to arrive?” Danger asked.
Alex glanced at her phone. “The last update I received two minutes ago said it was on pace to arrive within a half-hour from now.”
Two deputies stood in the road and waved drivers through without checking them.
“We’ll wait until it’s closer to time then before we start harassing these innocent people.”
The state troopers rolled up to the scene a couple minutes later and asked Danger what he needed them to do. Once he gave them instructions, they spread out and prepared to spring into action.
“We might need to transform this from a checkpoint into a roadblock if we see him barrelin’ toward us,” Danger said. “Just wanted to give y’all a heads up about that.”
“Where do you recommend we be for all this?” Alex asked.
“Honestly?” he asked without waiting for her to respond. “In the car. We can handle this. Just stay out of the way, and we’ll have this threat reined in before two shakes of puppy’s tail.”
Alex glanced at her watch, keeping an eye on her cell phone for messages from her contact in Washington.
“How far out are they now?” Danger asked a while later.
“Two minutes,” Alex said.
Danger put his thumb and forefinger in his mouth before whistling loudly. Then he gestured for everyone to join him for a little pep talk.
“All right, everybody. It’s time to turn this into a real checkpoint. Take your places and act cool. This shouldn’t last long, and we can all get back to catchin’ speeders and cow tippers.”
The men hustled off to their positions.
“Come on, Sheriff,” Hawk said. “We can help. You know we’re capable agents.”
“I’m sure you are,” Danger said. “But this is my operation, and I don’t want any feds muddling it up, even if you are J.D.’s best people. Now, go get in my car.”
Hawk and Alex climbed into the back of Danger’s patrol car. He waited until they were inside before he waved and winked at them. Then he locked the doors with his key fob.
Alex tried the handle, but it wouldn’t open.
“Dammit,” she said. “This is ridiculous.”
"Welcome to small-town Texas," Hawk said as he shook his head.
Alex didn’t respond, only pointing down the road. Hawk turned and watched as the blue Nicolo semi crested the horizon and cruised straight for them.
* * *
SHERIFF DANGER FLICKED his piece of straw aside and hoisted his holster up. “Get ready, gentlemen. It’s showtime.”
He’d checked a thousand trucks before, never with much of a fight. The drivers were usually willfully ignorant about their freight, only going along with the request so they could pocket some money under the table. But this was a company truck driven by a company man. And Danger wasn’t so sure this stop would be like the others.
He meandered out in front of the checkpoint and held up his palm. The truck’s brakes hissed as it slowed to a stop just short of the sheriff.
“I need to see your license and registration, please,” Danger said.
The driver readily complied, handing the sheriff both requested items. Upon returning the documents, Danger motioned for the man to get out.
“I need you to come have a look with me,” Danger said.
“What are you talking about?” the driver asked, his brow furrowed.
“We need to take a peek at the contents of this truck.”
“Do you have a warrant?” the man asked.
“Son, this is Texas. I don’t need a warrant. I just need you to comply.”
“Whatever, man,” the driver said as he rolled his eyes. He yanked down on the lock, releasing the doors.
By the time they swung open, Danger was firing his weapon as he backpedaled. A trio of assailants caught the sheriff and his deputies off guard with a hail of bullets. Quick bursts from the men’s machine guns wrought utter devastation. Danger slid across the hood of one of the deputy’s cars parked nearby in search of cover. The state patrolmen hustled over to help with their weapons drawn but found themselves outgunned.
Danger watched beneath the tires as his men dropped one by one. Then they started shooting the tires out of every car.
“Did we get them all?” one of the men asked.
“Let me do a quick sweep to make sure,” another man replied.
Danger lay prone and tried to steady his breathing. For the first time since the incident began, he felt a burning sensation in his lower leg. He glanced down to see blood streaming out. Thinking quickly, he dabbed his finger in the blood and wiped it on his face.
He closed his eyes as he saw one of the men drawing nearer. He walked around the vehicle, gravel crunching beneath his heavy footsteps. After a moment, he stopped so close to Danger that he could smell the denim from the man’s jeans.
He knelt and picked up Danger’s badge that had fallen off in his scramble to get away.
“Hey, Nigel. I shot the sheriff, but you shot the deputy.”
“Did you think that one up all on your own?”
“Shut up, man. Let’s get out of here.”
Danger listened as the man started to walk away. Then he stopped and turned back.
That
