Retribution Road by Jon Coon (e reader comics .TXT) 📕

Tom was on the phone when Gabe found him in his office. Tom waved Gabe in and pointed to a chair. Gabe entered and sat.

A half-full bottle of bourbon and a single glass sat dead center on Tom’s desk. Tom had the phone tucked under his ear. He refilled his glass and spoke angrily into the phone. “I want every round of ammunition those planes can carry and every gallon of napalm you can find, Bob. When I’m done with them, Sherman’s march through Georgia’s going to look like a Macy’s parade.”

Gabe couldn’t hear the Senator’s response.

“Don’t worry, Bob. There won’t be anything on the planes to identify them as ours. We’ll repaint them once we’re in the hangars down there. I know I’m upset and a little drunk now, but before we do this, I’ll be stone-cold sober.”

While Tom listened, he pointed to the bottle, offering Gabe a drink. He politely refused.

“I’ll let you know what we decide about a service for Maria. You and I are as close to family as anyone she had. I’d like her buried in our family plot here at the ranch, if you agree … Good, I’ll make arrangements.” Tom let go of some of his anger as he focused on Maria. “That’s fine. I’ll wait to hear from you. Sorry to be the messenger.”

Tom put down the phone and took a long drink before returning the glass to his desktop. He looked up at Gabe. “Will you do something for me please?”

“Of course.”

“Go open that damn box and see if she’s wearing her earrings. I didn’t see them, but I want to make sure.”

“Okay.”

Gabe got up and returned to the freezer. Maria’s frozen face looked more like a death mask made of ice than anything human. Except for her eyes.

Gabe was no stranger to death, but this was bad. However, Tom had been right. No earrings. He returned to Tom’s office.

“How long could those earrings send a signal strong enough for us to track?” Gabe asked when he returned to Tom’s office.

“I’m checking on that now, but I think it was at least a month. If that’s right, we might have time.”

“Have you gotten anything back on our sub base?”

“Yes, Jimmy just gave me the satellite report. They’ve spotted two subs coming and going.”

“I’ll call the master chief.” He paused before asking, “Tom, how are you? This business with Maria … I know how you felt about her, and I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Tom pushed back in his chair, twisted his neck uncomfortably, and polished off the drink with one swallow. He started to reach for the bottle but then hesitated. “I don’t think Maria and I … well, we had different ideas about life. I think she always knew I loved her, but that wasn’t enough. She was independent, and she always had to do things her way.” He started for the bottle again, then shook his head and pushed it away. “That’s not going to help. But, God help me, I don’t know what will. I’m going to miss her. That’s the bottom line. I’m going to miss her and I’m going to kill the guy who did this. I’m going to kill him real slow.”

“We’ll find them, and you’ll have retribution. But I’m beginning to wonder if there’s ever an end once we start down retribution road?”

“Are you saying you don’t—”

“No, I’m with you. But it would feel a lot better if we could know there’s an end, and it feels like anything that stops this killing would be better than this.”

“I agree. I just don’t see an exit off this highway.”

“Me neither. We have to stop them. But let’s try to avoid tunnel vision. Just in case there’s another way.”

And pray to God he shows us one.

Chapter 38

“YOUR OP’S A GO, AGENT Mulder,” Kurczewski said. “The boys in Norfolk have a new toy. A SEAL Delivery Vehicle called the Shallow Water Combat Submersible. That’s SWCS in navspeak. It’s the replacement for the old Mark 8 SDV. That was the SEAL Delivery Vehicle as opposed to the even older Swimmer Delivery Vehicles used in Vietnam and earlier. Anyway, this is going to be a training and evaluation mission. They’ve only got two of the new vehicles, so I had to promise we’d bring it back in one piece. Have you got us a target?”

“We do.”

“Outstanding. We’ll meet the sub in Key West and deploy from there. Pack your kit, Gabe. This is going to be fun.”

Gabe found Carol and Emily in the paddock with Diamond Jack and Emily’s Zonta. He parked the truck and climbed the fence into the field while Carol led Emily through the tight turns. She yelled encouragement as Zonta gained confidence following Diamond Jack’s lead. When they were done, Emily came charging up near where he stood and reined Zonta to a squatting, foot-planted sliding stop.

“Impressive,” Gabe said, choking on the dust. “Looks like the two of you are getting along just fine.”

“She doesn’t like airplanes. She shies every time one goes over. Horses remember everything.”

Carol rode up on Diamond Jack with less exuberance. His wounds were now only dark lines on his gleaming coat. Jack nuzzled Gabe’s shirt, and Gabe stroked the champion’s neck as Carol dismounted.

“What’s up?”

“I’m leaving for a few days. Doing a training op with the Navy. I didn’t want you to worry.”

“That’s lame, Gabe. Why does the Navy need your help with a training op?”

He laughed. “You got me. I’m going because I know where the narco-sub base is in Mexico.”

“And what are you going to do when you find it?”

“Put trackers on the subs and also on any product they have there. We’re going to follow the shipments back into the States and try to shut down their distribution networks.”

“And if they catch you and—”

Gabe glanced toward Emily, but she’d heard enough.

“So what if they catch you, Gabe? What then?”

“That’s why I’ve got the