Dance of the Bones

He had arrived at the house and pulled into the garage. When he opened the door, Bozo was waiting right outside. Brandon gave the dog a pat on the head. “Hey, boy,” he said aloud. “It’s way past your dinnertime. Let’s find you something to eat.”


With Bozo happily downing his kibble, Brandon took a beer from the fridge and joined the dog on the patio. The sun was down. Evening chill was leaching the warmth out of the dry desert air, so Brandon turned on the outdoor heater before he sat down. Yes, he was tired. It had been a long day, but in the twenty or so hours since he last sat in that same chair, he’d accomplished a lot. Back then he’d been wrestling with the question of John Lassiter’s guilt or innocence. Tonight he was squarely on the innocence side of the equation. Last night he’d learned for the first time that Big Bad John had a daughter. Today he’d met the woman and liked her, too.

Brandon glanced at his watch. The fact that Lassiter’s surgery had gone on this long was worrisome. Would he make it? And if he did, would he and Amanda manage to eke out some kind of relationship? Brandon understood that outcome was up to him. Would he be able to establish John Lassiter’s innocence in a way that would finally make it possible for the man to come face--to--face with his own child?

Brandon’s phone rang, and Dan Pardee’s name appeared in the window. “Hey, Dan,” Brandon said. “How’s it going?”

Dan didn’t return his father--in--law’s greeting. “Have you heard anything from Lani?”

The anxiety in Dan’s voice was enough to make Brandon sit bolt upright in his chair and slam his open beer bottle onto the table. Brandon’s abrupt mood swing caused Bozo to abandon his kibble and come over to stand close to his master’s knee.

“I tried calling her, but it went to voice mail,” Brandon said. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“She’s gone, Brandon.” Dan’s words came out in something just short of a sob. “We were searching the airport at Sells for Tim and Gabe. She told -people at the hospital that she was coming to join us, but she never showed up.”

“Sells has an airport?” Brandon asked. “Why were you searching there?”

“The FBI obtained a warrant for Tim José’s cell phone. The last ping on that came from somewhere on or near the airport grounds. Hulk and I were late to the game and were sent to the far end of the airport. As soon as we made it back to the main group of searchers, Hulk alerted at the entrance to one of the buildings, a Quonset hut that was locked down tight. Leo Ortiz used a blowtorch to get inside, and that’s where we found the boys.”

Brandon felt a rush of relief. “Are they all right?”

“They’re both at the hospital, being treated for dehydration. Tim is in far worse shape than Gabe is. I think they’ll keep both of them overnight at least, but it was when we got to the hospital that I learned Lani wasn’t here. Lucy Rojas said she was going to join the search, but she never showed up. She isn’t at home, either.”

Dan’s words had poured out in such a rush that Brandon had to struggle to keep up. “You’re saying the boys were locked up in a garage?”

“They were actually imprisoned in a concealed compartment in a pickup that was locked inside a garage. It’s a Toyota Tundra with a false bottom on the bed and a camper shell over the top.”

“Whose truck?”

“A guy from here on the T.O.—-Henry Rojas, who, I’m sorry to say, happens to be one of the Shadow Wolves. His wife’s car was found near the airport. We assumed that Rojas was somewhere near where he’d left her vehicle. Hulk and I helped with that search, too. Hulk picked up a scent all right, but he lost it on the shoulder of the road a dozen car lengths or so from the gate to the airport.”

“You think he abducted Lani?” Brandon asked.

“I don’t think: I know. I pulled some strings and got the officers at the Three Points checkpoint to review their video feed. Lani’s Fusion passed through there half an hour ago with Henry Rojas at the wheel and Lani—-or someone who looks like Lani—-asleep on the passenger side.”