Page 1 of Saving Bonnie

CHAPTER ONE

Tino

Lightning streaks across the night sky, illuminating a nervous face at the café across the street. As the storm continues to turn night into quick flashes of day, his gaze repeatedly darts around, searching for what he can feel but can’t see. He leans over to whisper to his partner before checking again. Fool doesn’t realize the danger isn’t on the street. I’m on the second floor of the church directly in front of him.

“What’ve you got?” Marshal Cord Marson’s voice comes across the radio.

“Burglary in progress,” his partner, Frank, replies from a car parked a block away. “Two males, mid-twenties.”

Burglars. Fumbling around in the dark, giving away their presence with every move. The skinny one moves like he’s got some experience. The heavy guy still has his cherry.

“Hold position.” Law enforcement, always dealing with nonessentials.

“What the hell, Tino?” Frank barks over the radio. “These guys are about to break into the café.”

“Aww, shit,” Cord cuts in. “What’s the status, Frank?”

“Suspects checked the door and windows. Now they’re in front of the gate, trying to look inconspicuous. Gonna wait for one to go over the fence so I can move in,” Frank reports.

“I’m on my way.” Cord’s voice comes across, a slight huff breaking his words. He’s already on the move.

“Hold. Your. Position,” I order.

“Criminal or fugitive apprehension is one of the most dangerous parts of law enforcement,” Cord starts.

Spoken like a true marshal.

“One man can’t—” Cord continues.

In the years I hunted men, tracking those who carried out atrocities, I always hunted alone. Partners get in the way, chatter creates distraction, and there’s always a clash for position. Cord thinks I’ll get involved in apprehension—this is exactly why he’s sitting on the south side of town. He’s better off watching the apartment where Conrado Villa’s buddy lives while we look out for his mother atBomberosCafé.

I’m not used to working with law, at least not honest law. With their nonstop chatter, to “keep things lively,” I’m ready to cut them both loose.

“Hold on, man,” Frank interrupts while the skinny guy goes over the three-foot fence, nearly losing his pants as he lands. The heavier one uses the chain-link as footholds and gets his shoe stuck. Hanging on the fence creates enough pressure to lift the latch, letting the gate open. Just then, Skinny realizes the gate isn’t locked.

Damn stupid criminals. Still, I can’t complain. If they weren’t so common, high-end services like the one I work for wouldn’t exist.

Frank scoffs into the radio. “I think we’re good.”

“Suuure.” Cord’s got that note in his voice that makes me want to punch him. “What’s a little B&E among friends, right?”

This stakeout is a test of my patience. If it weren’t for Dante, I’d do the world a favor and get rid of this asshole. Three days of his shit. I should put in for sainthood! If God existed, I’d believe he was fucking with me, I muse while lying in the balcony of the Catholic church across the street from the café. Thanks to a “generous donation,” the area has been blocked off, so I can stay hidden while waiting. Intel has Olga Villa coming by at least once or twice a week, but so far, she’s a no-show.

“Building’s empty,” I remind them. Bonnie Bustos, or Bunny, as Iris and Dante call her, is out. She’s not due back for at least a couple of hours. “They’re gonna head toward Frank. He can stop ’em then.” Though Frank’s got a badge, he understands what goes on at the border and why we do the things we do. “Just don’t fuck with my stakeout.”

“Yes, sir, sir,” Cord replies with condescension.

Great. Now I’ll have to deal with Cord being an asshole for hours.

“You call if you need a hand, bud.” The last part is obviously not for me.

“Nah, they’re punks,” Frank adds, dismissing the offer. “Shouldn’t need more than a Taser.”

“Great. Don’t want Ms. Bonnie Boo-hooin’ if they take anything.”

The first inklings of exasperation hit me. I’ve spent three days listening to his bullshit about Bonnie. He’s been playing up her name way past the joke dying. It started with Busty then Busty’s got back. Frank had to tell him her name’s pronounced boo-stows. So he started on Bonnie Boo, needing a boo, and now he graduated to Busty’s got boo-ty. Not that the guy’s wrong—on any account. Just the sight of the woman will remind any man he’s alive.

Though if he figures out she goes by Bunny and starts on that, I’m going to kill him.

---