Retribution Road, Jon Coon [top business books of all time .txt] 📗

“What about the Benson girls? Anything on them?”

“The guy on the phone said they are alive and being well treated. If they want our cooperation, I suspect that’s true.”

“And Paul?”

“He said he’s okay. They are not abusing him.”

“That will be a big load off Carol’s mind. She puts on that stoic, I’ve-got-everything-under-control nurse face, but I know she’s been worried to death. Have you told her yet?”

“As soon as we get things squared away here.”

The demolished Beechcraft was sitting on the front of the barge, and EMS had removed the bodies. DEA had the drugs, and CSI would go through the plane for prints and DNA. The biggest discovery was made by the aeronautical engineer: a timer with a servo that cut off the fuel supply. The plane had been sabotaged. Bobby Benson had not accidently run out of fuel.

“We’ve got a witness in Puerto Aventura who says she saw the girls. We’re going to fly down and see if someone would like to steal our plane and murder or maim us. You in?” Tom asked Gabe.

“When can we leave?”

“It will take a day to set things up. You can spend tomorrow with the girls. I’ll get this cleared with your department. We may be gone for a while.”

The Ranger who had picked them up drove them back to Scholes International, and after grabbing a sandwich to go and a preflight and then tower clearance, they were in the air for the hour flight back to the ranch.

“Ever flown?” Tom asked when they were at altitude.

“Never in the front of the plane.”

“It’s fun, you’ll like it. Take the controls and feel the maneuvers with me.”

Tom pointed out the engine gauges, altimeter, and artificial horizon, then did some slow banks and turns and gradual altitude changes. By the time they were on approach to the grass strip at the ranch, Gabe was getting the feel of it. Tom brought them down in a smooth, soft landing and taxied to the hangar. They loaded Gabe’s dive gear in the truck and headed back to the house.

“What did you think?” Tom asked as they pulled up to the outbuilding for trucks and four wheelers.

“About the flying? I really liked it. I’m surprised. It’s always kind of scared me, but flying the plane has a better feel than simply being a passenger. Kind of like riding on the back of a motorcycle versus driving it.”

“Kind of like life then. Leading is always better than being led.”

“Never thought about it that way, but I suppose you’re right.”

“Well, I’ll give you a little warning: Carol is a lot like her mother was. If you start feeling like you’re the boss hoss, it’s only because she let you. Don’t let those big green eyes fool you. She will always want to be the lead mare.”

“So how did that work with you and your wife?”

“I learned to say, ‘yes, dear,’ in several languages and just tried them all until I found one that worked.” He slapped Gabe on the back, and they went up the porch steps into the house.

They settled in the den. Carol in a recliner by the fireplace and Emily ensconced on the big leather couch by her grandfather. Tom pulled his boots off and put his feet up on the coffee table.

“Tell me about Paul,” Carol said and then added, “Mom would fuss at you for doing that.” Carol pointed to his feet on the table and scowled.

“Don’t tell her,” he retorted with a grin. “Paul sounded all right. I only got to talk to him for a minute, but he sounded all right.”

“So what happens now? What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet. We have a team there looking. People I trust. We’re going to go and look and wait and pray, and when something happens, hope for the best. I don’t know what else to do.”

“You’re not going to do anything that would put Paul or those girls in danger? No Texas Ranger Indian fighter stuff?”

“No, not until those kids are safe. After that, we’ll see.”

“You promise?”

“I do.”

“Okay, then you can keep your feet on the table and I won’t tell Mom.” She smiled a half-smile and went out to the kitchen.

The tension in the room subsided when Carol left.

It was a welcoming room. Rich woodwork, warm colors, stone fireplace with crossed Winchesters beneath a tintype of early Rangers, paintings of cutting horses at work. Gabe soaked it in. So this was what it felt like to grow up on the right side of the tracks. With parents who didn’t shout and hit and keep you scared to close your eyes at night. Must have been nice.

He was tired from his dives and it felt good to sink into the overstuffed leather chair and enjoy the warmth and love that lingered from generations of Carol’s family, like the smell of great cooking could linger in a room and be enjoyed hours after the meal was over. Tom had said he suspected life was a little different on Gabe’s planet. He couldn’t have nailed it more on center with one of the hunting rifles in his gun safe.

“Okay, here’s the plan,” Tom said quietly to Gabe. “We know the general area where Paul’s being held, and we’ve got a team looking for the girls. The cartel will call us to fly down to Puerto Aventura and play tourist. We’re going to fish and do the town. Then we’re going to bring back a load of their coke. What they don’t know is I’m inserting a large team that will be looking for Paul and those girls, and we will find them.”

Carol heard him talking as she was coming back from the kitchen and sat on the couch beside Gabe. Emily put down her phone and tuned in to the conversation.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they have eyes on us here at the ranch,” Tom continued. “So it’s important