The Greatest of These by Greg Wendleton (booksvooks txt) 📕

Back outside in the sunshine and heat, he lowered his gaiter and strolled to his Blazer. He set the money pouch on the driver’s seat and then climbed into the truck, sitting on the money pouch. He figured that was as safe a place for the twenty-grand as any. They rode in silence, again, leaving the limits of the town and arriving at a ranch style, brick house set about a quarter of a mile off the blacktop road. It had a grass yard that was well tended and a small copse of oak trees on the far side of the house. This was an amazing contrast to The Farm.

Conrad parked the old Chevy on a paved parking pad beside the two-car garage. The men entered the house through the heavy wooden, double front door and walked into a foyer that opened into a spacious, comfortably furnished living room. A large, Austin stone fireplace dominated the back wall, but it was flanked by two floor-to-ceiling windows that afforded a view into the back of the property. More green grass, oak trees, and a pond in the distance.

Unable to contain his surprise any longer, Jackie released a low whistle, “I’m sorry Conrad, but I’m surprised by this home. I didn’t expect this after seeing The Farm.”

“My late wife fell in love with this place, so we bought it, in her maiden name. She’s been gone for more than twenty years and I guess it’s grown on me. I will miss the tranquility of this place.”

They wandered about the house with Conrad finally showing Jackie a bedroom with an attached bathroom. “You can stay here for the day or two that we’ll be here.”

Without saying anything, Jackie nodded and set his suitcase down in the bedroom. Conrad left the man alone in the room and walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a cold Lone Star beer and twisted open the cap. He took three long pulls from the bottle and then set the empty bottle on the kitchen counter. He plopped down into a leather recliner in the living room and stared out the oversized window, admiring the serenity and thinking about the turmoil that was to come. Talk about the ying and the yang of life. He was going on the run because of a deal made with an Asian man and his bosses. How’s that for irony and karma?

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

I landed at San Antonio International Airport on Tuesday, March 2, just before noon. I had been traveling for the past twelve hours, flying overnight and on a red-eye flight. Even though I was exhausted, I was energized. Within an hour I would be holding Fonda in my arms and telling her how much I had missed her and loved her. I retrieved my iPhone, that the FBI had returned to me along with my laptop, and gave Fonda a call.

“Hello? Garret, is that really you?”

“It’s me. I just got off the plane in San Antonio and I’m waiting for my suitcase to come up. I’ll be home by one. I love you so much, Fonda.”

“I love you too, you jerk. Be careful and I’ll see you very soon.”

I laughed, then noticed my suitcase, “Here comes my bag, set the timer, forty-five minutes and I’ll be there.”

“Okay, we’ll be waiting.”

“We?”

“Me and Chief.”

“Oh yeah. I’m supposed to give him a hug from Chad and Jamie, but I think that might have to wait. Okay, got my bag, I’m headed for my car. Love you!” I hung up the phone and stashed it in my pocket and hustled to the long-term parking spot, where I had left my car one week ago.

Without overtly speeding, I arrived at my house, right on time. I pulled into the driveway and placed my car in park. I was immediately approached by a man and a woman. Both had on Ray Ban Wayfarers, which struck me as funny, and sidearms secured in clip on holsters attached at the waist. They identified themselves as FBI Special Agents, not surprisingly, and asked for my identification. I introduced myself, showed my drivers license, and thanked them for guarding my wife. They allowed me to pass and I hurried to the front door, where Fonda, and Chief, were waiting.

“Welcome home sailor”, Fonda whispered and I grabbed her in a bear hug and planted a full-on, open mouth kiss. I didn’t care who saw us, I was just so glad to be home. When we came up for air, Chief decided he needed some attention too, so I bent down and rubbed him under his chin and gave him a kiss on top of his head.

“That’s from your mom and dad, who miss you. They will be home soon.” I then returned my attention to the gorgeous, forgiving woman standing in front of me. “I love you and I’m so sorry. I promise, I’ll never keep secrets from you again.”

Grabbing me by my arm, she tugged at me and said, “Get in here. I don’t want the neighbors or the FBI to see what’s going to happen next.”

Not wanting to disobey my wife or miss anything that she might have in mind, I pushed the door closed and latched the deadbolt. That was a very good start to my new commitment to her and I was rewarded, many times over, for my obedience.

When we did come up for air, it was Thursday morning, March 4, just over two days until the scheduled meeting at The Farm. I had not been invited to join the FBI Hostage Rescue/SWAT Team that would be conducting the raid, and I was okay with that decision. I had more important things to do right here at home.

During our meals and recovery time the past two days, I had given Fonda a full explanation of what Conrad had schemed and the trap that he had laid for me. We talked about the search and discovery of Chad and Jamie,