Donny and the Raiders

ey, Don, you taking Abeo back to the Ridge?" Donny whirled, dropping her flashlight with a clatter in the

gutter. "Shit!"

"Hush up, Jeep!" said Abeo in a loud whisper.

"Don't wake Chick!" said Donny.

Jeep, skateboard under her arm, joined them at Donny's pickup. "What's happening?"

"What're you doing here? It's midnight," Donny asked, damning small towns. "You can't keep a secret from one side of the street to the other around here."

"I go for an interview at the music therapy school tomorrow. I'm too hyped to sleep so I came to hang out in your garden with the other gayfeathers."

"You have some very weird friends, Don," said Abeo.

"What can I say? I don't have a garden of my own. When I was a kid that's where I used to hang out to get away from everybody."

"Only one thing we can do," Donny said. "We better take you along. Abeo?"

"Better another guilty party than a witness."

"Wha-" Jeep yelped as they hustled her into Donny's little pickup, one on each side of her, skateboard between her legs.

"Here's what's going down, little buddy," Donny said as she turned toward Mule Butte Road. "I'm getting my girl back tonight."

"Dude? Clue me in? I thought I saw Chick at the store today?"

"I told you I was worried about her. She hasn't been my laughing lady for such a long time."

"You said she had a blue outlook. I thought that was temporary."

"For months, Jeep, months. I thought it was her time of life, you know?" Jeep nodded. "Your ex, Katie, found out this fucker she knew in her hippie days is messing with Chick."

Abeo explained, "Pulling shit like shadowing her, making rude remarks, starting scenes at the store."

"Why didn't she tell you? Or the sheriff?"

Donny shook her head.

"Because she knew Donny would try to kick the stuffing out of the guy," Abeo said. "And she was right. The sheriff wouldn't have kept it from you."

"I could kill his ass. He calls himself M.C. He thinks he can mess with my girl? I am tired of white boys acting like they own the world. I am tired of asking politely for them to stop. I am ready to take one of them out."

"Chill, Donalds. You're going to crash the truck before we take care of him if you don't calm down." Abeo turned up the volume on the Temptations tape Donny had been playing. Donny switched it off.

"Is that where we're going? To kick the stuffing out of him?" Jeep asked, sinking back into the seat. "I don't think I want to know about this."

"Don't worry," Donny said with a sour glance toward Abeo. Nobody was going to shut her up, especially not this little two-faced retired dealer. "We don't have to get violent. His setup, from what Katie found out, makes him easy to get at. We're going to permanently remove him from decent society, right, Abe?" They slapped hands across Jeep.

"Katie always was a primo investigator." Jeep sighed. "So he's, like, stalking her?"

Abeo said, "Exactly like."

"And we're going to blast him into space junk?"

"I like your style, Jeep," said Donny, with a laugh. She felt tight as a fishing line pulling in a catch, as much for sneaking out on Chick as for this operation itself. "I was all for dynamiting him, but girlfriend here persuaded me otherwise."

Abeo smoothed down an eyebrow. Donny thanked god that Spirit Ridge had a no-fragrance policy or Abeo would give them away with the first breeze, the way she usually piled on the perfume. "I am so brilliant," Abeo said. "M.C. is Lord of the Drugs in this valley and covers himself by being in that vigilante group. We're going to feed him live to his own vigilantes."

"And rescue Chick too? That's beaucoup de cool!" Jeep said with her little bray of a laugh.

Donny waited for Jeep to ask the question.

"Can we get in trouble for this?"

"Joan and me set it up. Nothing to worry about."

"Child," Abeo said, "it's bad enough we have to be all smashed together on this ratty old seat without you bouncing up and down on it."

Donny took the truck as far as she dared up M.C.'s dirt road. Every time she pressed on the accelerator she revved up her own fury. Rocket fuel, that's what had been flowing through her veins since she found out. It explained everything-why Chick had seemed to be hiding something, why she'd return from her talks with R looking like she'd been crying. Donny had tried to take R's head off every time the woman got near her, but it wasn't R; it was this asshole M.C. Why hadn't Chick said anything?

She still didn't know the whole story. Katie had been interviewing

M.C. for that documentary she wanted to do, and M.C. had talked about this dyke chick he wanted to put in her place. She'd been the only woman he'd wanted back in the late sixties who wouldn't trade him sex for drugs. She'd be normal by now, he'd told Katie, if she'd given him a chance. Now he had kids growing up in this town, and he wanted them to know their dad took a stand against queers. The town council was one thing, but this chick was his personal mission. Katie had finally realized that he'd meant this Chick-with a capital "C."

Donny hadn't said a word to Chick. It would only be worse for her if she had to worry that Donny would get herself in trouble over it. She'd lain awake nights thinking about what she'd like to do to him. Tonight she'd ruin the man legally.

Two days ago she'd followed M.C. from town and driven brazenly up his road. She'd come this far and found the narrow clearing she backed into now. She'd crept into the woods enough to see that Katie was right;

M.C. wasn't exactly growing cobra lilies back here. It had been easier in daylight, but a clump of fire pokers grew at the edge of the clearing to mark the spot. Tonight her anger had a nervous edginess to it.

She whispered, "Don't slam the doors." She didn't want the dogs she'd heard the other day to sound an alarm. Maybe she should have told Chick where she was going.

As they crunched and crackled their way into the brush, grabbed by blackberry brambles each tried to hold back for the next, Jeep whispered, "I've heard some of these growers booby-trap their land?"

"Then be careful and don't blow up your cute white butt," Abeo suggested.

"Cute?" Jeep echoed, craning her head back toward her bottom, acting like this was fun.

"Quiet." Donny stepped carefully, but without any light on this overcast night she cracked every twig in her path. She didn't know if she was shivering from the night chill or from nerves. Her biggest worry was that M.C. would catch them before they could do any good. She sensed the next clearing before she saw it. "Yo, ladies, look at that."

"Reefer in the raw," Abeo pronounced. "What's this wire?" Donny followed it with the beam of her flashlight along the trees they'd be passing through. "Shit. This could be very bad news."

"Maybe he knew we were coming," suggested Jeep. She sounded terrified now. "Maybe he's got a plant at the cop shop."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Donny joked. "It looks like he's got plants everywhere else."

Jeep poked her in the side. Donny smiled-she was really as excited as Jeep. This would fix things for Chick. If, she thought, this really was all that was bothering her.

"Shine that thing along here," Abeo ordered in a rough, grim whisper. Deftly, she made her way to a tree. A shotgun barrel poked out. Abeo disarmed it, then slipped it out of the crook of branches and held it up like a trophy. "You're right, Jeep-booby trap number one. I hope this is the only one."

Donny said, "That wasn't here when I was up here before. I'm starting to get the willies." She definitely should have told Chick where she was going.

Jeep was staring at Abeo. "How'd you learn stuff like disarming a trap? I didn't even hear you move."

"'Nam," Abeo replied as she swiftly, noiselessly emptied the gun. "Special Forces. Two tours. When I was a man-child, I had a lot to prove."

"Stop gawking, Jeep," Donny told her, although she didn't blame the kid.

Abe had come out in Nam, of all places. He'd returned to Chicago when he was only twenty-four and launched himself into the gay life like a man granted a reprieve. He'd told Donny that a Vietnamese lover had taught him he didn't belong over there and he'd soured on the military, blaming macho egos for the killing. He'd found and encouraged what he called his feminine side. Jeep saw only the contrasts, while Donny had watched the transition. And the drug addiction he came home with. And the dealing even after he-she'd kicked. Damn, Abe had been through rough times. Who was she to be judge and jury over his particular sins? Abe may have dealt, but she'd worked for him off and on even before the trip west, not to mention stealing from him. And now it was Abe's know-how and guts that made her feel like she could handle this. Sometimes she wondered what Abe could have been without the war, without drugs.

"Let's boogie," she told them.

"Haven't we seen enough to get him?" Jeep whispered, slipping back behind the two of them as they crept toward the outbuildings.

"The cops need probable cause to come on M.C.'s land. After I checked this place out the first time, Sheriff Sweet called our friendly State Trooper Bruce, told him what's going down. Joan's well-connected, for all her quiet ways. Knows how to bullshit with the guys. We arranged for Abeo and me to stumble on everything we could tonight while we got lost looking for a place to camp. Bruce will bring up the rear with his gang as soon as I give Joan the high sign." She pulled a cell phone from a pocket in her overalls and held it up. "I won't get much of a signal out here, but the call will work. I tested it."

"You hope," Abeo whispered as they crept ahead.

Donny thought she would pass out from fear when she heard a loud squawk in a bush to their right. Her breath came like she'd swum across Sweet Creek at flood stage. Why hadn't she told Chick? What would Chick think when they told her about finding Donny's body out here?

She managed to form her mouth around the word "Wha," when great flapping sounds came from the same bush. She knew she would laugh later at the image of the three of them frozen in midstep, but that was only if there was a later.

"Turkeys," Abeo said in a weak voice.

"Turkeys?" Donny repeated. She noticed that Jeep wasn't saying a word.

"Wild turkeys," Abeo explained, straightening as the flock fled behind some manzanita bushes deeper in the woods.

"They must have been out foraging when I came before." Donny giggled. "Oh, lord, don't get me laughing now!"

But it was too late. Jeep said, "We got spooked by a bunch of turkeys?" and then she was laughing too and holding both hands over her mouth. Abeo was both shushing them and trying to quiet her own escaping giggles.

"Look." Near the clearing Donny pointed out the barn-like structure, shed, and rusted campers she'd scoped out before. The sight of the place sobered them immediately.

"It wasn't good enough to call this in when you were here the other day?" Jeep asked.

"What was I doing here, spying for the sheriff? It's easier to say we're lost at night. And now we have three witnesses, not only one."

"Wait. Do I want to be a witness?"

"Do you want to help rescue Chick?"

"Count me in!"

Ahead of them, Abeo stopped. She was sniffing the night air like a hound. "Meth," she said, all business.

"Where?"

"This closest trailer must be a meth lab. Or the shed. I know that smell." Abeo had let her voice get gruff. She glanced at Donny. "An evil friend of mine was in the business."

Donny said, "Uh-huh."

"There's nothing worse than a reformed speed freak," Abeo confessed. "And here I am depriving hundreds of their source. I'd better be well rewarded in heaven."

"You must have friends in high places if you think you're going to get into that club."

"High is the word, bro. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to look in the window of that shed."

They were whispering and keeping low, but Donny felt so righteous at that moment that she was certain she could stride right onto the property, invincible. She was glad she hadn't given Chick something to worry about.

Abeo scuttled back. Small and nimble, she must have been a gem in the Vietnamese tunnels. Donny already knew Abeo was tough enough to survive anything, even R. She'd probably charmed at least the socks off the women up at Spirit Ridge.

Abeo showed them an empty iodine bottle and foil packets.

"Meth?" asked Donny. Abeo nodded.

"This is a major big deal then," Jeep said. She took one of the iodine bottles and stared at it, open-mouthed, as if it could tell her something.

"Looks like they process and package the dried weed in that first shed," said Abeo. "The meth lab is in the second trailer."

"You saw the weed?"

"Enough to keep your whole county stoned for a month."

Donny was satisfied. She pulled out the phone. "Wait. Where's Jeep at? I forgot we shanghaied her."

They looked uphill through the trees in time to see Jeep jogging toward them. Without warning, she went down. Donny saw the flash through the trees behind Jeep before she heard the blast. The dogs went into a frenzy of barking.

"Sweet Jesus," cried Abeo. "That's another one!" They ran toward her, then saw that Jeep, bent, clutching her side, was coming back downhill. She fell against Donny. Abeo pulled Jeep's hand away. "No blood, Don."

Jeep's face was the color of someone in shock. "It hurts to breathe," she gasped. "I was-looking for the dope."

Abeo took off, running crouched low, up the hill to the site where Jeep had fallen. A light came on at the complex. The dogs filled the night with howling.

"Oh god, oh god," Donny heard herself whine. "We've got to get out of here! Where's Abe?" She remembered then to hit the buttons on the phone, fumbling, disconnecting, dialing again. Was it connected? "Help," she whispered into it. "We set off a trap!" Was that a voice at the other end or static?

Jeep was still bent over, breathing in shallow gulps. "I don't think my ribs are-broken. But you go ahead. This is all my fault."

There was too much happening. She'd lost control over it all. Chick would kill her if she got Jeep shot. Was Jeep shot? Was M.C. coming for them? Had someone warned him to set traps? Did her call get through to the sheriff? Did she have to tell Chick about this? Where the hell was-

Abeo appeared out of the trees with the shotgun. She grabbed one of Jeep's arms and Donny grabbed the other. They took off, forcing a whimpering Jeep to run between them.

Donny said, "The fastest way out is straight down the driveway."

"No cover!" objected Abeo, but they plunged on.

Donny's knees felt spongy. Chick would be mad as hell if she got not just Jeep, but them all killed. She lifted the phone and tried to find the numbers as she ran. The dial tone sounded like a rock concert. M.C. must be after them by now anyway.

Jeep gave a hoarse protest. "Can't run any more!" but by then they were at the truck.

Abeo laid the trophy shotgun in the truck bed and shoved Jeep inside the cab, diving in after her. "I hope to god you didn't puncture a lung, child. We should have taken you to stay with the sheriff."

"Stop!" shouted a male voice. Far back in the woods another shot rang out.

She was almost in the truck. The key was almost in the ignition. This felt like one of her slow-motion dreams where her legs are too weak to go fast.

Another shot, another voice, closer, shouting. "You're dead meat!"

She raced the truck backwards and overshot the edge of the clearing because her foot punched the accelerator instead of the brake. Abeo held onto Jeep, anchoring them both. She straightened the steering wheel and shot out of the ditch downhill. She could see headlights jouncing up and down ahead of them.

"There's your cavalry!" Abeo announced.

"We've got him!" Donny hooted.

Trooper Bruce's car stopped. Donny braked and leapt out, rushing to it. She heard herself babbling about the meth trailer, the grass crop, the trip wires. The trooper talked into his radio. Within thirty seconds police vehicles streamed around them and up M.C.'s road. The woods looked like an airport, thick with searchlights. She even saw Johnny Johnson-the sheriff must have deputized a bunch of people for this operation. Wouldn't Johnson about have a coronary when he saw they were arresting a brother vigilante.

Jeep was in the car holding onto her side, eyes wide and fixed. "I'm sorry I blew it," she said.

Donny looked at the pathetic mess in front of her, surprised she didn't feel angry. "You're a kid. Kids are supposed to do dumb things."

"This poor baby," said Abeo, "got her ankle caught by a trip wire and fell onto a rock."

"A sharp rock," Jeep added.

"We'll wake up Doc Wu. Make sure nothing's broken."

There were shouts up near the buildings. Donny felt a little light-headed from the running and the letdown after all the fear, but she was most aware of the need to pee. "I'll be right back," she told them. This time she took a flashlight from the truck. She didn't want to squat on poison oak.

She was tucking her shirt in, flashlight off, practicing what she would tell Chick, when she heard movement up behind her. "Abe? Jeep?"

"Yo!" called Abeo from the truck. She swung around, switching the flashlight on, and there he was,

M.C. himself, crouched, weaponless, as startled as her. They both froze for seconds and then he turned and ran, stumbling, through the brush.

"Here!" she screamed to Abeo as she took off after him, knowing it was a lost cause, wondering how he'd eluded all those cops. This was like the old days of bar fights, but now she wished the cops would show up. Where was her anger when she needed it?

She could hear Abeo entering the tree line behind her and M.C. breaking branches off the grove of little manzanita bushes he'd run into. They grew thicker here and slowed him down. She knew she had only one chance. This was the motherfucker who'd been making Chick's life miserable. When she got close enough she launched herself at his back. He fell into a bush with her on top, then heaved up and crushed her against a trunk with her arm at an odd angle. She cried out, hanging on with the other arm, and then Abeo was over them, one shotgun trained on M.C., the other under her arm. M.C. went still.

Abeo raised one gun and discharged it into the sky. Pretty convincing. M.C. didn't know there wouldn't be anything in either gun now. Donny crawled away from M.C., leaning on her good arm. By the time she straightened up next to Abeo she was laughing despite the pain. "Do you believe this shit?" she asked.

"Yeah," answered Abeo. "Now I know why you think country living is so peaceful."

Дата добавления: 2015-10-21