Mercy

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Theo certainly wasn't jealous. Teenage boys got jealous, and he was way beyond that stage in his life. He was getting irritated, though. Michelle was laughing and having a good old time dancing with Noah. Theo sat at the bar making notes while a man explained his problem. The guy had purchased a used car that had a thirty-day guarantee. The man paid cash, drove the car

off the lot, but two blocks later the muffler fell off and the radiator exploded. Since he hadn't owned the vehicle for thirty minutes, he had it towed back to the lot and demanded his money back. The owner of the lot explained that the guarantee of satisfaction only covered the tires and the engine. He also suggested that, next time he purchased a car, he read the fine print before signing.

Michelle laughed again, drawing Theo's attention. He loved the sound of her voice, and from the way Noah was smiling at her, Theo figured he was enchanted too.

Once again turning back to the man sitting next to him, he tried to concentrate. When he glanced over at the couple for about

the hundredth time, Noah had pulled up his T-shirt and was showing Michelle the ugly scar on his chest.

He muttered, "Enough," dropped his pen on the counter, and went over to put an end to the dance.

"You trying to impress Michelle with all your bullet holes?"

"I already impressed her with my wit and charm," Noah said.

She shook her head. "You were very lucky. That bullet should have killed you,"

"I was lucky," he agreed. "God was looking out for me, I guess," he said. Then he laughed. "I was in church when I got hit."

She was sure he was joking. "Did you fall asleep during the sermon and make the minister mad?"

"Something like that."

"Daddy will want to hear that story," she said. "Where is he?"

"He's in the kitchen making sandwiches," Theo answered.

"You can't still be hungry after the catfish."

"He offered, said he was making one for himself. He's making one for Noah too."

Thinking to help her father, she went around the bar and headed to the kitchen. She heard Noah say, "By the way, Theo, you might want to look at the signup sheet for the fishing deal Saturday. The sheet's tacked to the wall over there."

"Why do I need to look at it?"

"You've been bumped."

"No way." Theo refused to believe him… until he looked. His name had been crossed off, and Noah's was written above it.

Michelle hurried into the kitchen. Her father handed her a paper plate filled with a double-decker turkey sandwich swimming

in mayo and a huge mound of greasy french fries. He carried an identical plate out and set it on the counter.

"If Theo stays another couple of weeks, he'll have to have a bypass," she said. "You're killing the man with kindness."

"Turkey's not bad for you. You said so yourself."

"A jar of mayonnaise on it makes it bad," she said. "And there's a gallon of oil in those fries."

"That's what makes them good." Turning his back on her, he called, "All right, boys, here's your snack. I made the sandwiches without any of my hot barbecue sauce, Theo, just in case you were worried."

Noah and Theo were looking over the list. She nudged her father and whispered, "Did you trade Theo for Noah as your partner

in the tournament?"

He looked guilty as sin. "Honey, I had to."

Incredulous, she asked, "Why?" She didn't give him time to answer. "How friendly was that, making a promise and then

breaking it?"

"I was being practical."

"What does that mean?"

She followed him back into the kitchen. "Wrap up my sandwich for me, Mike, so I can take it home with

me."

She got the foil out and did as he asked. "You still haven't answered me," she reminded him.

Jake leaned against the island and folded his arms. "The way I see it, we stand a better chance of winning if there's four of

us trying for the prize instead of just two, and Noah was going to sweet-talk you into partnering with him. I didn't figure Theo would appreciate hearing that, so I told Noah I'd be his partner. Now you and Theo can spend the whole day together. You

should be happy to be included."

He was exasperating. "In other words, that means you think Noah might be a better fisherman?"

"He did mention he's done a whole heck of a lot more fishing in the past four years, but that isn't the reason why I switched," he hastened to add when he saw that stubborn glint come into his daughter's eyes. "There isn't any reason to get in a snit about this. You should be thanking me for paying your fee."

"I don't want to fish Saturday. I have a hundred other things to do."

"You could win the prize. Everyone knows you're a better fisherman than I am."

She wasn't buying it. "That's not true, and you know it. Are you trying to play matchmaker? Is that why you want me to

partner with Theo?"

"After the way I heard you talking to him? I don't need to do any matchmaking. You're holding your own just fine."

"Daddy, I was teasing…"

He acted as though he hadn't heard her. "Noah might be doing a little matchmaking. He told me he's never seen Theo acting

like he does around you."

That remark got her full attention. Her father nodded, then went to the refrigerator to get some milk. He poured himself a full glass and took a long swallow.

"How does Theo act?" she asked.

"Noah says he's smiling a lot. I got the feeling that's a rarity."

"The man's on vacation. That's why he's smiling. Is your stomach bothering you? You only drink milk when you have indigestion."

"My stomach's just fine," he said impatiently, and then went right back to the subject at hand. "And when it comes to Theo,

you've got a reason for everything. So explain this: How come he can't take his eyes off you? Noah noticed, and after he pointed

it out to me, I took notice too." Before she could argue, he said, "Did you know that Noah works for the FBI? He wears a gun,

just like Theo's. I saw it clipped to his waistband. I'm telling you, Theo has some real influential friends."

"And you know a lot of people who need help from influential friends."

Jake finished his milk and set the glass in the sink. When he turned around, she noticed in the harsh overhead light how tired he looked.

"Why don't you go home now and let Theo and me close up."

"I can see to it."

"I know you can, but the next couple of days are going to be busy. People are going to be stopping in to sign up and eat, and you know how crowded it gets in here on Thursday and Friday. Go home, Daddy. Get off your feet and rest."

"You need your rest too. You've got to start working on those papers at the clinic."

"I'll have help."

"All right, then," he said. "I am tired, so I'll go on home. You shut down at one instead of two."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He opened the back door, then closed it. "Oh, I forgot to tell you that Ben Nelson called looking for you. He still doesn't have

any news or any suspects, but he's going to keep an eye out just in case something else bad happens. Now, I ask you, is that something you want to say to a father? He had me worried sick about you, but then I remembered Theo is staying with you.

You turn your deadbolts tonight." He reopened the door and stepped out into the moonlight. "It's a comfort," he said.

"What's a comfort?"

"Knowing Theo's going to be there with you."

Michelle nodded. It was a comfort. She locked the door, flipped off the light, and went back into the bar. Theo and Noah had carried their plates over to one of the round tables and were eating their sandwiches.

One of the regulars wanted a refill. She noticed how bleary-eyed he was and asked, "Are you driving home tonight, Paulie?"

"Connie's coming by to pick me up after her shift's over at the plant. She's my designated driver tonight."

"Okay, then," she said, smiling. She poured another glass of beer, noticed how stuffy it was inside, and turned up the speed on

the overhead fan. There were only five customers in The Swan. She made sure everyone was happy, then filled two tall

glasses with ice water and carried them over to Noah and Theo.

Theo pulled a chair out. "Sit with us."

She handed Noah his water, then sat down between him and Theo and put Theo's glass next to his plate.

"I hope you don't mind, but I sent Daddy home, which means I have to close up the bar tonight," she said.

"It's so damned cute that you call your dad 'Daddy.' Is that a southern thing?" Noah asked.

"It's a Renard thing," she said.

Noah had just popped the last of his french fries into his mouth and was washing it down with a big gulp of water when she

asked him if he wanted her to accompany him to her clinic to survey the damage.

"I've already been there. I think Theo's right. Kids didn't do it. It was a one-man operation. And whoever it was got real

frustrated looking for something. Did you notice the desk? The lock was destroyed. Somebody took a long time working at

that lock."

"Michelle thinks maybe it's one of Robinson's patients trying to steal his file."

"Couldn't a patient simply ask for his records?" Noah asked.

"He could get a copy of his records, but I would keep the original," Michelle answered.

"I doubt it was a patient. Patient charts are confidential. Everyone knows that. Whatever is in the charts stays private. And

why would a patient go to such extremes tearing the place up? If he wanted his records so badly, all he had to do was break in and lift it out from those boxes. No, I don't think it was a patient, but what does Robinson say? Did he have any pain-in-the… difficult patients?"

"He hasn't returned my call yet," Michelle told him. "I'll try again in the morning. He recently moved to Phoenix, and he's

probably busy getting settled."

"Why don't you give Noah his phone number and let him talk to him," Theo suggested. "People tend to sit up and take notice

when the FBI calls. And on my worst day I couldn't be as abrasive as he can be. He's better at coercion."

"Yeah, right." Noah scoffed at the notion. Turning to Michelle, he said, "I've seen Theo make grown men cry. It was kind of

funny actually… watching a cold-hearted killer, who happens to be the head of a crime organization, blubber like a baby."

"He's exaggerating," Theo said.

"No, I'm not," Noah argued. "However, it is true that the average person doesn't know what the attorneys over in Justice do. Come to think about it, I'm not so sure I know. Besides making criminals cry, what exactly do you do, Theo?"

"Not much," he answered dryly. "We drink a lot…"

"That's a given."

"And try to think of things for you guys to do."

"I'll bet you do." Turning to Michelle, Noah added, "Those lazy Justice attorneys make the dedicated FBI agents do all the hard work."

Theo smiled. "It's called delegating. We do it so the little people won't feel left out."

The insults began to fly, and some of the outrageous things they said were hilarious. Vastly amused, she sat back and relaxed. When the subject eventually returned to her clinic, she said, "I'm not going to worry about this any longer. I've been blowing

this out of proportion."

"How's that?" Noah asked.

"I was so spooked after I saw the mess, I thought I was being followed. You know that feeling you get? It's hard to explain."

"I'd pay attention to that feeling if I were you," Noah said.

"But no one was following me," she insisted. "I would have spotted him… wouldn't I?"

"Not if he's good," Noah said.

"This is a very small community. Strangers would stick out."

"Yeah? What about a man driving a van with maybe a cable company logo on the side? Would he stick out? And what

about all the men and women who come here to fish? If they were dressed in fishing gear and carrying a pole, would you

think they didn't belong?"

Michelle stood. "I see your point, and I appreciate your taking the time to look at the clinic, but I really believe this was just an isolated incident."

"And that belief is based on what?" Theo asked. "Wishful thinking?"

She ignored his sarcasm. "This is Bowen," she said. "If anyone had a problem with me, he'd tell me so. Now that I've had time

to think about it, I didn't start jumping at shadows until after I saw the clinic. I overreacted. I will remind you," she hastened to

add when he looked as though he was going to interrupt, "that nothing else has happened. You want to find a conspiracy, and

there just isn't one." Turning to Noah, she said, "I do thank you for coming to Bowen."

"You don't need to thank me," Noah said. "To be honest, I only did the favor to get a favor. Theo's agreed to drive back to

Biloxi with me. He's going to give a lecture for me, and I would have driven cross country to get out of that. I still have to go

finish the training session, but at least I don't have to write a speech."

"When do you have to be back?"

"Monday."

"Oh." She turned away before either of them could see her disappointment.

Noah watched her walk away. "Damn, Theo, she's something else. If we were going to stay around for a while, I'd give you a

run for your money. I've always been a sucker for redheads."

"You're a sucker for anything that wears a skirt."

"That's not true. Remember the Donovan case? Patty Donovan always wore skirts, and that didn't do anything for me."

Theo rolled his eyes. "Patty was a transvestite. He didn't turn anyone on."

"He had good legs. I'll give him that," Noah drawled. "So tell me something. What's happening with you and Michelle?"

"Nothing's happening."

"That's a shame."

"You never told me the topic of the lecture I'm giving," Theo said in hopes of getting Noah to change the subject. "What is it?"

Noah grinned. "Anger management."

Theo laughed. "Was this your boss's idea of a joke?"

"Sure it was," he said. "You know Morganstern. He's got a twisted sense of humor. He's making me run the training program

to punish me."

"What'dyoudo?"

"You don't want to know." Noah paused and then said, "Morganstern could use a man like you."

"Ah, the hidden agenda comes out at last. Did Pete ask you to talk to me?"

Noah shrugged. "He might have mentioned…"

"Tell him I'm not interested."

"He likes the way your mind works."

"I'm not interested," Theo reiterated.

"You're happy where you are?"

Theo shook his head. "I'm done. All used up," he said. "I'm going back to the office, tie up loose ends, and hand in my resignation."

Noah was stunned. "You aren't kidding, are you?"

"No, I'm not kidding. It's time… past time," he corrected.

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I've got a couple of ideas."

"Does one of those ideas have red hair?"

Theo didn't answer. Before Noah could press, a man came over to the table and asked Theo if he could talk to him about a legal matter.

"Sure," Theo said. "Let's sit at the bar."

He got up, rolled his shoulders to work the kinks out, and then went behind the bar to pour himself a beer. "What can I do for you?" he asked the young man.

Five minutes later, Theo wanted to punch the man. Noah saw Theo's expression and went behind the bar to find out what was wrong. He heard Theo say, "Jake didn't suggest that you talk to me, did he?"

"No, but I heard you were helping people who had legal troubles."

"What's the problem?" Noah asked. He opened a long-neck bottle of beer, tossed the cap in the trash, and walked over to stand next to Theo.

"This is Cory," Theo said. "He's got two kids. A boy and a girl."

Noah squinted at the unpleasant-looking man. He looked more like a grungy teenager than a father of two children. Cory had

long dirty blond hair that hung down in his eyes, and yellow stained teeth.

"How old are you?" Noah asked.

"I'll be twenty-two next month."

"And you've already got two kids?"

"That's right. I got divorced from Emily over six months ago because I met another woman I wanted to be with. Her name's

Nora, and she and me want to get married. I've moved on, but Emily thinks I ought to keep paying child support, and that don't seem fair to me."

"So you want me to help you figure out a way you can get out of paying child support?"

"Yeah, that's right. That's what I want. I mean, they're her kids now. They're living with her, and like I said, I'm ready to move on."

The muscle in Theo's jaw flexed. Michelle was standing in the kitchen doorway, holding an empty pitcher in her hand. She'd

heard the conversation and knew from the way Theo's back had stiffened that he was angry.

His voice continued to be quite mild and pleasant as he remarked to Noah, "Cory's ready to move on."

"Are you ready for him to move on?" Noah asked as he set his beer bottle on the counter.

"Sure am," Theo said.

Then Noah smiled. "Let me."

"You can get the door."

Michelle started forward, then stopped. Theo moved so quickly she was astonished. One second he was smiling at Noah and

the next he was around the bar, had Cory by the nape of his neck and the back of his jeans, and was dragging him across the floor. Noah raced ahead and opened the door, then got out of the way so Theo could toss the man outside.

"Now, that's what I call moving on," Noah drawled as he shut the door behind him. "The little prick."

"He is that."

"You know what I wonder? How could such a butt-ugly man get two women to sleep with him?"

Theo laughed. "No accounting for taste, I guess."

The two men were walking toward the bar when the door behind them opened again and three men rushed inside. The last of

the three looked like a bouncer who'd taken one too many hits in the face. The man was huge, at least six foot four, and his nose obviously had been broken several times in the past. He was frighteningly mean looking and carried a baseball bat.

"Which one of you assholes is Theo Buchanan?"

Ndah had already turned. He had his eye on the baseball bat. Michelle saw him reach behind his back and unsnap the holster housing his gun.

The bar emptied. Even Paulie, who had never been known to do anything in a hurry, made it out the front door in less than five seconds.

"Michelle, go into the kitchen and shut the door," Theo said before he turned around. "I'm Theo Buchanan. Now, which one of

you is Jim Carson?"

"That'd be me," the shortest of the three announced.

Theo nodded. "I've been hoping you'd stop by."

"Just who do you think you are?" Jim railed.

"I just told you who I am. Weren't you paying attention?"

"A real smartass, huh? You think you can lock up my money and fix it at my bank so I can't even get a nickel out? You think

you can do that?"

"I did do that," Theo calmly pointed out.

Jim Carson looked like his brother. He was short, squat, with eyes that were a little too closely set in his moon-shaped face. He didn't smile like his brother, though. While Gary oozed false sincerity, Jim was the master of vulgarity. He took another

threatening step toward Theo and let loose with a string of grossly obscene blasphemies.

Then he said, "You're going to be sorry you interfered in my business. Gary and I are going to shut down the mill, and then

this town will lynch you."

"I'd worry about my neck if I were you. How long have you been telling your employees you're on the verge of bankruptcy? Imagine how… disappointed people will be when they find out what your annual take is and what you have squirreled away."

"Our assets are confidential information," Jim yelled. "You might know about our money, but you're an outsider trying to cause trouble, and if you tell anyone, they won't believe you. No one will."

"People tend to believe what's written in the paper, don't they?"

"What are you saying?"

"I wrote a nice little editorial that's going to be in Sunday's paper. Of course, I want it to be as accurate as possible," he added. "So, why don't I fax you over a copy of it tomorrow, and you can check it. Personally, I think it's some of my best work. I listed every cent in every account that you've made over the past five years."

"You can't do that. It's confidential." Jim was shouting now.

Theo glanced at Noah. "You know, I should have added their tax returns for the past five years too. I guess I still could."

"You're finished, Buchanan. I'm not going to let you cause any more trouble."

Jim was so angry, his brow was dripping with sweat. The man had worked himself into a lather, and it was obviously infuriating

to him that Theo was unimpressed with his tantrum.

"I've only just started making trouble, Jim. When I'm finished with you and your brother, the employees are going to own the

mill. It's going to happen fast too," he added. "And you will be living on the streets. That's a promise."

"You want to put that baseball bat down now?" Noah asked the giant with the nose splattered all over his homely face.

"Shit, no. I'm not putting this bat down before I use it. Isn't that right, Mr. Carson?"

"That's right, Happy."

Theo laughed. "Happy?"

"We live in a strange world," Noah replied.

"I'm supposed to break Buchanan's legs with this bat, and that's what I'm gorina do. I'm gonna hurt you too,'' he told Noah.

"So you better stop laughing at me, because you're gonna be sorry."

Noah was now keeping a wary eye on the third man. He was almost as tall as the giant, but had a thin, wiry frame and large cauliflower ears. Both backup men looked like street fighters, but in Noah's opinion, Cauliflower was the real threat. He

probably was carrying a concealed weapon. Oh, yes, he was the one who could give him real trouble, and he was apparently

the surprise element Jimmy Boy had brought along in the event Happy didn't get the job done.

The bruiser was slapping the butt of the baseball bat in the palm of his hand. The smacking noise irritated Noah.

"Put the bat down," he ordered once again.

"Not before I break a couple of bones."

Noah suddenly smiled. He looked as if he'd just won the lottery. "Hey, Theo, you know what?"

"What?"

"I'd call Happy's remarks threats. Wouldn't you say they were threats? I mean, you'd know, since you're a lawyer in Justice,

and I'm just a lowly little FBI agent. Those were threats. Right?"

Theo knew exactly what Noah's game was. He was letting the three men know who they were so they couldn't say they

hadn't been informed when they were locked up.

"Yeah, I'd have to say they are."

"Listen, smartass," Jim said, addressing Noah, "you get in my way, and I'm going to enjoy hurting you too." He stabbed the air

in front of Noah's face with his stubby finger.

Noah wasn't paying him any attention. "Maybe we ought to let one of them hit us," he suggested to Theo. "It would probably

look better in court."

"I can make the case without getting hit. Unless you want to get hit."

"No, I don't want to get hit. I'm just saying…"

"You think this is a game, sonny?" Jim was bellowing now. He took yet another step forward, poked Noah in the shoulder, and said, "I'll wipe that smug smile off your face, you son of a-"

He didn't get a chance to finish the threat. Noah moved so fast, Jim didn't even have time to blink. But then again, blinking was definitely out of the question. He cried out, then froze and stared with one wide eye at Noah. The barrel of Noah's Glock was pressed snugly against his other eyelid.

"What were you going to say about my mother?" Noah asked softly.

"Nothing… nothing at all," Jim stammered.

Happy swung the bat in a wide arc while Cauliflower pivoted on his heel and reached inside his jacket.

The loud click of the shotgun as it was being pumped reverberated throughout The Swan. The noise gained everyone's full attention.

Noah kept his gun pressed against Carson's face as he glanced behind him. Michelle was leaning against the counter with a shotgun aimed at Cauliflower. Theo moved in and grabbed the weapon from the thug's waistband. Then he looked at Michelle.

"I asked you to go to the kitchen."

"Yes, I heard you ask."

Cauliflower tried to grab his gun. "I've got a permit for that. Give it back to me."

"That's such a stupid thing to say," Theo muttered. Cauliflower lunged. Theo pivoted and using two knuckles chopped

Cauliflower just below his Adam's apple. The man reeled back, and as he turned, Theo struck him on the back of his neck. Cauliflower collapsed, out cold on the floor. "I can't abide stupid people."

"I hear you," Noah said. "Jim, I'm gonna have to shoot you if Happy doesn't put that bat down real soon."

"Do it, Happy."

"But, Mr. Carson, you told me-"

"Forget what I told you. Drop the bat." He tried to back away from the gun, but Noah simply followed.

"Please put that away. I don't want you to accidentally shoot my brains out."

"That's assuming you have a brain," Noah said. "I'm not so sure about that. What were you thinking, coming in here with

your hired hands? Are you so cocky you didn't worry about witnesses? Or are you too stupid to care?"

"I was mad… I wasn't thinking… I just wanted…"

He stopped stammering as soon as Noah removed the Glock. Then Jim, making up for lost time, began to blink furiously.

"Is Harry dead?" Jim asked. "If you killed Harry…"

"He's still breathing," Noah said. "Don't make me ask again, Happy. Get rid of the bat."

Happy looked decidedly unhappy as he threw the bat hard at the table next to him. Since he couldn't break any legs, he decided

he wanted to break some property. Then maybe Jim Carson would still pay him. The baseball bat struck the edge of the table, bounced back, and struck Happy's foot. He let out a yelp and started hopping around as though he were playing a game of hopscotch.

Theo handed Harry's weapon to Noah and rubbed the sting out of his knuckles. "Put Jim in the chair," he added before striding

to the bar. He looked at Michelle now. "Michelle, what the hell are you doing with a sawed-off shotgun? Put that down before

you hurt someone." Then he got closer to her and noticed how modified the weapon was. "Where did you get this?"

"It's Daddy's."

"Okay," he said, holding his patience. "Where did Daddy get it?"

He was suddenly acting like a Justice attorney and making her feel as if she were the criminal.

"Daddy's never fired the thing. He will occasionally wave it around when he thinks there might be a bar fight."

"Answer my question."

"John Paul gave it to Daddy for protection. He taught both of us how to use it."

"You can't have this. It's illegal."

"I'll put it away."

"No, you'll give it to Noah and let him get rid of it for you." He took the weapon from her. "This sucker could take down a

rhino at a hundred yards."

"Or an alligator," she remarked.

"Oh? Have there been many alligators fighting in the bar lately?"

"No, of course not, but-"

"You know how many years your dad could get for this?'?

She folded her arms across her waist. "We do things different in Bowen."

"Last I heard, Bowen was part of the United States, and that means you follow the same rules. Where did your brother get

hold of something like this?"

"Don't you dare think about giving my brother trouble, Theo. He's a kind, gentle, sensitive man, and I won't let you-"

He wasn't in the mood to hear a glowing testament. "Answer my question."

"I don't know where he got it. For all I know, he made the thing, and if you take this one away, John Paul will only give Daddy another one just like it."

Theo's eyelid twitched. She knew she was upsetting him, but at the moment she didn't particularly care. What was Daddy supposed to do when things got out of hand in The Swan? Wring his hands while they tore his bar apart? Besides, her father would never shoot anyone, but the sound of the shotgun being pumped was always enough to discourage hotheads.

"That's just the way things are around here."

"Your father and your brother are breaking the law."

"The shotgun's mine," she announced then. "I made it, and I put it under the counter. Daddy doesn't even know it's there. So

go ahead. Turn me in."

"It's not nice to lie to an employee of the Justice Department, sweetheart."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And just where would your brother learn about weapons like this?"

"He doesn't like to talk about it, but he once told Daddy he was part of a specialized team in the marines."

"Specialized? No kidding."

"Now isn't the time to discuss my family, and it's really none of your business anyway."

"Oh, yes, it is."

"Why?"

He moved closer, pinning her against the counter. He leaned down until he was just an inch above her and whispered,

"Don't push me."

It took him all of five seconds to realize he wasn't going to win. She couldn't be intimidated, at least by him. She stood her

ground and looked him right in the eyes. As galling as it was to admit, he knew he was going to have to be the one to back

down. It was a first for him, and it wasn't pleasant.

"Do you want me to call the police?" she asked.

"I'm not going to have you arrested."

Exasperated, she said, "I wasn't talking about me. I thought you might want the police to come and get the Three Stooges

over there."

"What? Oh… yeah, call them, but wait a couple of minutes. I want to do some negotiating first."

Noah had put his gun away and was standing over Jim. Theo grabbed a chair, turned it to face him, and sat down.

"Have you got your phone with you?"

"What if I do?" Jim asked, antagonistic once again.

"Call your brother and tell him to get over here."

"You can't tell me what to do."

"Yes, I can," Theo said. "You're in a hell of a lot of trouble. You threatened an FBI agent and that means jail time."

"Tell it to my lawyers," Jim blustered, though his face had lost some of its color. "They'll fix it so I don't do a day behind bars."

"I don't know too many attorneys who will work pro bono. I doubt they'll do anything to help you once they hear you don't have any money to pay them."

Jim pulled out his cell phone and punched in his brother's number. "He won't come," he told Theo. "Gary doesn't like anything unpleasant."

"Tough. You tell Gary he has ten minutes to get here, or I'll have the police pick him up at home and take him with you to jail.

You boys are either going to negotiate now or sit in a cell and think about it for a couple of months. And trust me, Jim. I've got

the clout to keep you there."

Gary apparently answered his phone. Jim's voice shook when he said, "You've got to get over to The Swan right away. Don't argue. Just do it. I'll explain when you get here."

He listened for a few seconds, then said, "Hell, no, it didn't go as planned. Buchanan and another fella are FBI, and they're threatening to lock both of us up." He listened for another minute, then shouted, "A bit of bad luck? You call the FBI a bit of

bad luck? Stop yapping and get on over here." He slapped the phone closed and glared at Theo. "He's on his way."

Noah spotted the police car pulling into the parking lot. "Cops are here," he told Theo.

Michelle grabbed the shotgun and put it back under the counter on the bracket. "I didn't call Ben yet," she said.

Harry was still unconscious, but he was breathing. Happy was hunched over one of the tables in the corner, his head in his hands.

Noah went outside. He came in a couple of minutes later with Ben Nelson. He had obviously filled the policeman in on the particulars, because Ben barely spared Harry a glance. His gaze and his smile were on Michelle.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his concern apparent.

"I'm fine, Ben. Who called you?" she asked. "Was it Paulie?"

"No one called me. I just came by to see you."

Theo didn't like hearing that. Ben was on his way to the bar, but Theo stood, effectively blocking his path. Michelle made the introductions, though it wasn't necessary. Theo already knew who Ben was. He was the man who wanted Michelle.

Theo had never paid much attention to another man's appearance, and he really didn't know if women would consider Ben handsome or not. He had an easy smile and all of his teeth, and that was about as far as Theo went sizing him up. Ben seemed like a nice guy too. That didn't matter, though. Theo noticed the way he smiled at Michelle and took an instant dislike to him. He had to force himself not to be hostile as he shook his hand and let him know who was in charge.

Noah watched the two men with a good deal of amusement. They were posturing like roosters getting ready for a fight. It

didn't take Noah any time at all to figure out why.

"I understand you're staying at Michelle's house." Ben wasn't smiling now.

"That's right. I am."

"How long do you plan to be in town, Mr. Buchanan?"

"I'm not sure how long. Why do you want to know, ChiefNelson?"

"We've got several nice motels over in St. Claire."

"Is that right?"

"Theo's leaving Monday," Michelle announced. "Aren't you?" she added, a challenging note in her voice.

"Maybe."

The noncommittal response irritated her. "He's giving a speech in Biloxi." She didn't know why she felt compelled to share that information. "So he will be leaving Monday morning."

"Maybe," Theo repeated.

The word had the same effect as the sound of a dentist's drill. She wanted to cringe. Worried she would say something she

would regret if Theo uttered that word one more time, she made a hasty retreat. Grabbing the empty iced tea pitcher, she

excused herself and went into the kitchen.

While Theo explained to Ben who Harry and Happy were, Noah read the thugs their rights and then used Ben's handcuffs to secure them.

"What about Jim Carson?" Ben asked. "Are you going to be pressing charges against him?"

Theo knew Jim was listening. "I sure am," he said. "But I want him to stay here until his brother arrives. I want to talk to both of them. If they don't cooperate…" He deliberately left the sentence hanging.

"I'm going to cooperate," Jim cried out.

Ben was a better man than Theo. He shook his hand before he left. Theo decided then that he'd acted like a jealous lover and needed to shape up.

"Thanks for your help," he called out as Ben followed Happy out the door. Noah had already shaken Harry awake and had half dragged him to the police car.

Theo glanced toward the kitchen, saw Michelle working at the sink, and then pulled out a chair and straddled it while he waited

for the other Carson brother to arrive.

Michelle had decided she needed to get busy so she could take her mind off of Theo. She filled the stainless steel sink with hot water and soap, put on rubber gloves, and started scrubbing. Her father had already cleaned the kitchen, but she went over every surface again.

When she was removing her gloves, she noticed a spot of grease up on the copper overhead exhaust. She spent the next half

hour taking the unit apart and cleaning every nook and cranny. Getting it back together took twice as long because she had to

keep stopping to check the bar in case a customer wanted something.

On one of her trips, she saw Gary Carson come in, flanked by his attorneys.

She returned to the kitchen and scrubbed some more. Then she washed her rubber gloves-how compulsive was that? she wondered, and realized she was more revved up now than weary. What she needed, she decided, was a good, long surgery.

When she was cutting, nothing got in her way. She could block the conversation swirling around her, the lame jokes, the laughter-everything but Willie Nelson because he soothed her-and she and Willie stayed in that isolated cocoon until she'd

put in the last stitch. Only then did she let the world intrude.

"Get a grip," she muttered.

"Did you say something?"

Noah was standing in the doorway. He went to the sink and put three glasses on the counter.

"No, nothing," she said. "What time is it?"

"A little after one. You look tired."

She blew a strand of hair out of her eye as she dried her hands on a towel. "I'm not tired. How much longer do you think Theo

will be?"

"Not long," he said. "You want me to take you home? Theo can close up."

She shook her head. "I'll wait."

Noah started to leave, then turned. "Michelle?"

"Yes?"

"Monday's a lifetime away."