Chapter Nine

Once again, the hospital kicked us out. I couldn't really blame them. The shootout with the heavily armed mercenaries had been a doozie and the news media got the entire incident on tape. Can we say clusterfuck? Even the governor had shown up to survey the scene.

Mom flew us back to the ranch while Dad, my brothers, and Sheriff Maxwell dealt with the aftermath.

As we came in for a landing, I noticed all the news trucks lining the roadway. One of those idiots would try to sneak onto the ranch. "Is Bodacious in the barn or the pasture?"

"Pasture." Mom shut down the Huey's engines and sagged against the seat. "I really need some chocolate."

"Me too," Julie sighed.

I unfastened my harness. "Chocolate chip pancakes sound really good."

"Yes, they do," Mom agreed.

Frank slid open the door. "I've been assigned to guard you." He held up his hand to help me down.

I grabbed ahold and let him ease me to the ground. "Thanks, Frank."

"Gotta say, you two look like you tangled with an angry bear." He helped Julie off the helicopter.

Julie grimaced. "Feels like it too."

"The shootout made the national news, and we've chased off a bunch of reporters trying to gain access to the ranch house," Frank said.

Moving like a ninety-year-old woman, I limped toward the house. "All I want to do is eat something and take a nap."

"A very long nap," Julie added.

"Shit! Did anyone call Dante and let him know we're all okay?"

Mom squeezed my hand. "Nate had a long talk with Dante and Sergeant Bergman."

"God," I groaned. "I thought Ichabod was out of my life for good."

"If that little bastard is still breathing, he won't be for long," Julie snarled.

Mom opened the back door. "I doubt Ichabod is still alive. Lucas did a deep dive on Chet Nargi. It's an alias. His real name is Soleimani al-Haq. He was a warlord with a Sunni militia, and he was big into beheading people."

"That annoying little weasel could piss off the Pope, but Nargi won't kill him until he gets his slimy hands on Gilgamesh's Tablet." I collapsed on a recliner. "I'm just gonna rest for a minute."

Julie lay down on the couch. "Me too."

Someone touched my shoulder. I bolted upright and drew my fist back.

"Easy. It's just me," Frank said. "The pancakes are ready."

My stomach rumbled loudly. "Oh, good." I struggled to my feet and headed into the kitchen.

"Something smells good." Julie limped after me.

Mom's concerned gaze roved over us, and she placed several pills by our plates. "Don't forget to take your meds. Doctor Halliday was concerned your wounds could get infected from the blast debris."

"We don't want anything to rot off, do we Julie?" I took my pills.

Julie grimaced and swallowed hers. "How is Doc doing? He took a pretty hard hit."

"He has a concussion and needed four stitches for the cut on his head," Mom answered.

"Was Dad able to get anything out of the men who tried to kidnap us?"

"No, the one is in surgery for all his gunshot wounds and the other perp has a broken noise and a concussion."

Frank laughed. "It's a concussion epidemic."

"Bet they'll think twice before taking us on again," Julie said.

I shook my head. "No, Nargi will just send a larger attack force. He won't stop until he has the tablet."

"We're ready for them," Mom said, patting my hand.

"Nargi thinks he's invincible, but he's gonna be in for a big surprise." Eight pancakes later, I laid my fork down. "Those were the best pancakes I have ever eaten, Mom."

"With just the right amount of chocolate chips," Julie agreed.

Frank finished off his pancakes. "You're a great cook, ma'am."

"Thank you, Frank." Mom pulled back the kitchen curtains. The sun seeped over the White Tank mountains turning the morning sky from lavender to pink. "It's going to be another scorcher."

I stood up carefully. "Can you help us wash the blood out of our hair, Mom?"

"Head on into my bathroom and I'll be right there. I need to load the dishwasher."

Frank picked up our plates. "I'll do it. They'll feel a lot better once they're clean."

"Does your wife know how lucky she is?" Mom asked.

Frank blushed. "I'm the lucky one, ma'am."

Julie and I exchanged grins. Frank had a great marriage, but his wife ran things at home.

"Doctor Halliday said you can't get your stitches wet for two days, but I think if we're really careful, we can get the blood out of your hair."

Charlie-30's sex kitten voice sounded from Frank's radio. "Charlie-26 we have a problem at the gate."

"It's probably those damn reporters again," Mom snapped.

Frank keyed his mic, "What kind of problem?"

"The ATF, FBI and Homeland Security are demanding to talk to Charlie-23 and Charlie-24."

I frowned. "What the hell?"

"Charlie-30 do they understand that Charie-23 and Charlie-24 were injured in a bomb blast and they're not in any shape to be interviewed right now. Can they come back tomorrow?"

Mom grabbed her cell phone. "I'm calling your dad."

"No. They said if they are healthy enough to fight off kidnappers, they are healthy enough to answer some questions. I was told they have a search warrant for the property and if necessary, they can get arrest warrants too," Charlie-30 answered.

"God," Julie cried. "Do they actually think we have that stupid tablet?"

I rubbed my aching forehead. "Who knows, and what the heck is up with Homeland Security wanting to talk to us?"

"With our luck, they probably think we're terrorists," Julie sighed.

"Verify the search warrant and let them in," I said and collapsed on the recliner.

Julie lay down on the couch. "My meds are kicking in."

"Mine too." I closed my eyes.

Someone banged on the door and a harsh male voice called, "Open up or we'll kick the door in."

I tried to move but it felt like my body was weighed down and I was so sleepy. I listened to Mom giving our visitors hell.

"I want to see your official identifications and the warrant. Now!" Mom demanded.

"Where are they?" The harsh voice asked.

Mom countered, "Why is Homeland Security interested in Soleimani al-Haq?"

"Where are they?" the harsh voice insisted again.

Mom responded tersely, "Sleeping."

"Sleeping? Is that them?"

A hand clamped painfully around my arm, and I whimpered.

"Enough!" A man commanded and a body crashed into the wall. "It's obvious they were hurt in the explosion and should still be in the hospital. Now back the hell off, Bowman."

I knew that voice. It was Tex Peterson with ATF. Nice guy and a bull rider too.

"They are aiding a known terrorist," Bowman snapped.

Mom shot back, "That known terrorist tried to have them kidnapped and shot up a hospital to get to them."

"Ma'am, I'm Hawke Grimes with the FBI's Criminal Investigations unit. We've tracked Gilgamesh's Tablet to Arizona. We have proof the Zetos brothers were involved in the original theft. We know the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department and the Alpha Dogs were instrumental in shutting the gang down and recovering millions of dollars in stolen antiquities."

The annoyance in Mom's voice should have been their first warning. "Now you think we kept back some of the gold?"

"Your daughter was sleeping with Ichabod Shufflebottom, and she used her feminine wiles to get him to ship the stolen goods out of the country." Bowman's tone reeked of belligerence.

"Feminine wiles?" Mom laughed like that was the funniest thing she had ever heard. "Seriously? When did Ichabod tell you that? He has been in solitary confinement for the last eight months." Mom's voice became deadly, "And no one has come to visit him the entire time. Not even his lawyer."

"I have my sources."

Mom snorted. "Do you?"

"Are you calling me a liar," Bowman huffed indignantly.

"Yes, I am."

"I can get an arrest warrant for both of them within the hour."

Dad interjected, "No, you can't, and your search warrant has been quashed."

"What? You can't do that."

"Yes, I can," Dad was using his scary voice.

Strong arms closed around my body and lifted me effortlessly.

I groaned in protest.

"Sssh, querida, I'm here now," Dante said.

The familiar scent of sandalwood immediately calmed me.

"Where the hell are you taking them?" Bowman demanded.

Lucas snapped, "None of your fucking business."

"Put them down, now! I'm placing them under arrest," Bowman bellowed.

"No, you're not," Dad snarled. "Now get out of my house."

"I'll be back," Bowman threatened.

Sergeant Bergman drawled, "If I were you, I'd rethink that decision."

A shotgun was racked. "You heard my husband," Mom's voice was cold as ice. "Git or I'll fill your backside with buckshot."

"This isn't over." Bowman slammed the door behind him.

Dante placed a gentle kiss on my cheek as he carried me down the hallway. "You're safe now." He laid me on the bed and removed my shoes. "Sleep, querida."

"Julie," I mumbled.

Lucas placed her hand in mine. "She's right here. Now go to sleep, brat."

And I did.