Chapter 16 - Hello Boots

We got back on the Interstate and drove to Bob’s Boot Store. I parked far away from the store not to be spotted but close enough to see the store. Somewhere in the middle of the row of cars.

“Let’s not go inside just yet, Kate. I have a feeling something isn’t as it seems about this place,” I declared. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was exactly. Maybe it was Jesters’ insistence? Maybe we were walking into a trap set by our suspects? My suspicions raised, I got my binoculars out of my spy bag and looked at the front entrance. “I see you, Mac Jester.”

Jester walked to the store and went inside.

I waited five minutes before putting my impromptu plan in action. “Change of plans, Kate. I’m sure glad I got that burner phone. We’re about to catch a big break in the game.”

“Why? What’s going on, Sam?” She closed her door quickly.

“I’m snuffing out a rat.” I looked at Kate. “Forgive me, things are about to get loud.”

I grabbed the burner phone I bought a few days ago and dialed 911.

“911, what’s your emergency?” said the dispatcher.

“I’m calling to report a fire at Bob’s Boot Store in the South Pine Shopping Center, off of I-40. Please send the Amarillo Fire Department right now!” I requested. I told dispatch I saw smoke and flames engulfing the store. “The building is on fire and people are running out. This thing is going to spread to other stores real quick. Get down here before it all goes up in flames.”

“Okay sir, stay on the line. Help is on the way.”

“I’m going to try to help some of these people get out,” I said.

“Sir, no! Please stay away from the building and don’t go inside.”

“THEY NEED MY HELP—” I shouted.

The line went dead as I hung up the phone and turned the phone off. “And now we wait for the fire trucks to show up,” I said as I put the phone in the middle console.

Kate watched the front entrance. Seven minutes later, the Amarillo Fire Department (West Station) showed up with two fire trucks and did a sweep of the building.

I focused my binoculars back on the entrance and saw Jester come out before our suspects. I grabbed my regular phone and waited for Jester’s call.

“Well, well, what do I spy with my eyes but a lowly killer and her accomplice.” I pointed with my left hand in their direction, while holding the binoculars with my right hand.

Dockson and Rhone calmly walked back to their car. Dockson wore dark blue jeans and a white, buttoned-down western shirt. Fake mustache. Riddle wore a black sweater, jeans and her signature black haired wig. I remembered that wig from the Tidwell video at Percy’s.

“What? You saw them coming out of the store just now?” Kate asked, as she sat up higher to see over the cars in the rows in front of us.

“Yes, I did. Just as I suspected, how the fuck did they know we were coming here?” I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.

Kate looked at me with suspicion. “Has to be Jester. There’s no other way.” she asked. “Is there?

That was my suspicion as well but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure. We had to be careful and not burn a bridge we’d regret later on. One might think we should be glad Jester led us to our suspects but should we really, if he did it on purpose? Jester could always lie his way out of it to cover his own ass. “These bastards thought they would try to stop us with whatever they were planning but they overplayed their hand with the postcard. Could have worked if they didn’t put the postcard on my windshield.”

“How do you know they were planning something?”

“All three coming out of the store at the same time tells me everything I needed to know. We can’t trust Mac Jester and they were planning something. Things didn’t add up so I pulled the ace card out of my sleeve when no one was looking.”

“Smooth move, Sam.”

“Yeap!” I nodded.

Kate and I watched Dockson and Riddle drive away in their Ford Focus. “Aren’t you going to go after them, Sam?”

“No, Kate. We’re going to let them go. They’re not going to disappear. We’ll meet up with them again down the road. They want to play the game. Let’s play their fucking game.”

“Okay. Let’s play the game, Sam!”

“But first, we need new boots after all that excitement.”

“What about Jester?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “He’ll be fine on his own. Let him explain it to the Amarillo Fire Department.” I quietly and inconspicuously drove out of the shopping center’s parking lot and over to The Boot Barn, some five miles away in the opposite direction. I waited for Jester’s call and three minutes later, his phone rang. I knew it was best to pretend like nothing happened. “Hello, Mac. What’s up?”

“You’ll never believe what happened, Riley?”

“What happened?”

“Someone called the fire department and said there was a fire at Bill’s Boot Store.”

“Really? So that’s where the fire trucks were going. They passed us on the Interstate.”

“Yeah, they came and searched the building. They asked me a million questions”

“Did they put the fire out?”

“No! That’s just it, Mr. Riley. I didn’t see any fire or smell any smoke. I got out of there as soon as I could. I’m headed back to the Interstate. I had to call you and let you know what happened in case you showed up and saw the fire trucks here.”

“Yeah, good thinking. You’re safe now. Listen Mac, let’s just skip the boots for now and head on to Albuquerque. We’ve spent too much time messing around. Call me when you get there and I’ll let you know where we’re staying tonight.”

“Okay. I can do that. Drive safe, Mr. Riley.”

“Same to you, Mac,” I said, as the call ended. I put my phone down in the drink holder. “Fucking lying prick. Of course he didn’t mention the killers he’s in cahoots with. Fucking sellout!!”

“We have to be careful with him from now on.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll let him think he’s getting away with it. We’ll talk to him tonight in our hotel room. I have a request from your new best friend, Kate.”

Kate smiled and eagerly stated, “Oh, I bet she’d love to help out for a good laugh and to make him piss his pants.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll talk her into it.” Kate said.

“Celeste?” Kate looked back after a few seconds but didn’t see her. “She’ll be back.”

“I hope so. I want to see her and talk to her.”

I pulled into the Boot Barn parking lot. “Before we get out, given what just happened, let’s stay in each other’s sight until we get to Albuquerque.”

“You don’t think it’s over, do you?” Kate asked.

I looked at her. “No! It won’t be over until they’re in jail or in the morgue. However it has to be.”

“Okay!” Kate sighed.

We went inside and got two pairs of boots each, two pairs for the Chief and a pair for my dad. Kate also got herself a nice, black cowgirl hat. One of the Boot Barn employees, Randy, carried the boxes out to the truck. I thanked Randy with a handshake and a $20 tip.

“You’re welcome, sir. Have a wonderful day,” Randy said before slipping back inside the store.

Kate climbed in and shut her door, followed by me, as I buckled my seatbelt.

“Wow, that was a quick shopping trip. You picked the first pair of women’s boots you saw, Kate. Miracles do happen.”

“Very funny, Sam! What can I say, they just spoke to me. Buy me, Kate! I’m made for walking so step inside and walk this way!”

I laughed heartily. “Shit, that’s funny. Funniest thing I’ve ever heard you say yet.”

She laughed also.

“Alright Kate! New Mexico, here we come.”

“Let’s go!” You get to know your partner for long enough, you start to understand them. The more you understand them, you start knowing what they’re thinking. Kate was no exception and it didn’t take my psychic powers to see what she was thinking. She couldn’t help but play out different scenarios, in her head, of what our suspects had planned for us. Hostage situation? Kidnapping or even murder? She didn’t verbalize her thoughts, so as not to distract or worry me. I appreciate the sentiment but I wished she would talk to me. It’s a long way to Alburquerque and we had plenty of time to waste.

1:23 p.m.

Al pulled into the merge lane and onto I-40. He drove in silence until he threw out his frustration. “Hell, that was close, Lilybean.” Al looked at her with confusion. “We underestimated these damn cops. Clever sons-a-bitches! The Master isn’t going to like this one damn bit. I’ve gotta be the one to tell her.”

“They’re supposed to be clever and outsmart us.”

“Doesn’t mean they should, Lilybean. Wicked cops!” Al said.

“Maybe that postcard was a bad move?” Lily stated.

“No, I don’t think so. That’s where they’re headed and so are we. We’ll get them eventually. They have it coming. We got lucky this round. We’ll have to rethink our approach.”

“The Master will take it out on us for sure. Not knowing when and how is so scary. I’ve never met The Master and I’m scared,” Lily replied.

“I know you are, Lilybean. That’s understandable. First time we’ve done anything together in years.” Al nodded and focused on the road. “Time to double down and step up our game. Let me talk to the Master when the phone rings,” Lily demanded. “I’m fucking furious we didn’t get him today.”

“Easy Lilybean. Don’t get all worked up. We’ll get him soon enough. They earned an extra day.”

“Don’t Al!” Lily rolled her eyes. “The Master’s plan isn’t so faithful to us, now is it?”

“How can you say such silly things? One smart move by them and you question the Master’ plan? That’s not like you, Lilybean. Maybe it’s the fierce competitor in me but I welcome such moves. May the best man win and I plan to win.”

Lily looked at Al. “Oh, how the hell would you know what I’m like? Stuck in that hell hole for three, goddamn, miserable years. Every fucking day! The rudeness and arrogance of those damn people.”

Al shook his head and agreed with her. “You’re right. I guess I don’t know you like I thought I did. My apologies for thinking you were the same Lily Rhone when we were Believers. The same Lily Rhone I fell in love with. The only woman I’ve ever loved in my whole life. Don’t make me regret that!”

“I’m still a believer until they put me in the ground,” Lily said as she looked out the window as we drove to Albuquerque. “But I’m not the same woman I was before. You should know that clearly by now. And don’t ever question my love for you, Mr. Dockson.”

“Then stop acting like you have a death wish, Lilybean. See what a lack of faith in the Master brings you. Conflict. Confusion. Corruption of the mind and soul. Revenge is all you’ve ordered off the menu here lately. Time to find a new diet, Lilybean!”

“The Master can’t keep risking our capture and arrest like we’re pieces on a damn chessboard.” Lily glanced at Al in frustration. “I’ll talk to the Master when the phone rings. I’m tempted to call right now and say the fucking plan didn’t work, if there even was a plan.”

Al objected swiftly. He knew any confrontational showdown with The Master would end badly for them. “Now that’s enough Lily Rhone.

I won’t hear such talk. I can’t believe you’re questioning the Master like you are.”

Lily shook her head and sat in silence. “Just drive, Al. At least stop somewhere so we can get something to eat.”

“What do we say now, Lilybean?”

Lily looked at Dockson and shook her head. “Don’t make me say it.”

Al looked at Lily.

“DON’T MAKE ME SAY IT, AL!”

Silence between them for a few more miles. The silence was what made Lily say what she was brainwashed to say. She thought she was strong enough to deny that part of her. “Faith in the Master,” she said with contempt. Faith in that asshole almost got us arrested or killed today. Game over! And I’m supposed to be okay with that? The silence was deafening. Al pulled into a local, fast food seafood joint called Captain’s Wharf, and parked the car.

“I’m in the mood for seafood,” Al said.

“How ironic. I’m happy for you, Al,” Lily declared.

“You can join me inside or sit out here in silence, Lilybean. It’s up to you,” Al said, shutting his door.

Lily grabbed her phone, opened her door and slammed it shut.

“Easy, Lilybean. Only car we got. We’ll have to steal another one if we want to get anywhere else.”

“Why doesn’t the Master just give us a new car?”

“Enough, Lilybean! Let’s just enjoy some fish.”

“Fine. I’m not letting you out of my sight, Al Dockson.”

“Well, follow me inside for some sea chow, Lilybean.”

They walked inside and ordered two fish plate specials, with fries, coleslaw, sides of potato salad and pinto beans.

After lunch, Al got gas before heading back to the Interstate. His phone rang after about twenty minutes of being back on the Interstate.

Lily grabbed the phone as Al kept his hands on the wheel. “My turn to speak,” Lily stated.

Al looked at Lily. “Go ahead, Lilybean. Speak what’s on your mind.”

“Hello, Master!”

“Faith in the Master.”

Lily refused to say her usual line as required by the Master.

“What troubles you, Sister Lily?”

“I have to speak my truth here. I can’t continue to go along blindly with anything you demand or suggest we do. I’m losing faith in the Master.”

“Why the change in faith, my child?”

Lily didn’t want to tell the Master knowing her anxiety and impatience were getting the best of her. Her desire to inflict torture on acquaintances grew wildly with every passing second. Her demons were stirring again. She vowed not to let them win this time, although it’s not always up to her.

“Don’t give up so easily in these trying times. Tell me Sister Lily, what angers you?”

“We had a great plan ready today at a good location. We worked on it for two days and we’re fucking outplayed at our own game at the last fucking second. I’m angry that things didn’t happen as we hoped.”

“The Master understands your anger. I am angry too. But grateful to continue on, for our quest is strong and righteous. Faith in the Master over faith in our dark desires and mental constraints, Sister Lily.”

“You’re right! I opened the wrong door in my past and forgot to shut it. Faith In the Master,” Lily said.

“Faith In The Master.”

“I’ll speak to Brother Pete now.” Lily handed the phone back to Al.

“Hello!”

“Brother Pete, Sister Lily has less faith than yesterday. Bring her back to believing again.”

“Yes. Anything particular about how to do that? She’s been mighty feisty here lately,” Al said as he looked at Lily.

“Go to Albuquerque and go silent. Wait for my whispers.”

“Consider it done,” Al declared.

“Faith in the Master.”

“Faith in the Master,” Al said confidently.

“Faith in the Master,” they both repeated.