Today’s excerpt is from Too
Many Women, Book #1 of the Becker Trilogy. A Missouri State Police Captain seeks Bob’s
help tracking down a man who has threatened to kill the Governor. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
m.j.
Bob shook his
head, sighed, and looked at Wilbur.
“Okay, fill me in. Everything
you’ve got. I’ll listen, but make no
promises at this juncture.”
“Fair
enough. This guy, Salazar Webster…and
don’t ask about the name…don’t have an answer.
Do know ‘Salazar’ and ‘Webster’ don’t seem to fit together, but that’s
his real name—as far as we can tell.
Anyhow, he’s got a bone to pick with the Governor for some unknown
reason. Sent a letter saying he was
gonna blow…and I quote…‘your stupid head off’…unquote. We did a bit of investigation and discovered
he’s made his feelings about killing the Governor known in a few places. I’ve got some more material in my car. Let me run out and get it. Wasn’t sure you wouldn’t toss me out on my
ass before we got to this point, and didn’t want to be carrying my briefcase in
my teeth while holding my hands up.”
Bob laughed as
Wilbur got up. He went to his car to
retrieve his briefcase, and opened it on returning. He took out a large map of Missouri, then
spread it out on the table and pointed to a red circle. Bob asked, before Wilbur could speak, “Why
did you think I’d throw you out without listening? Is this someone else’s idea? Asking me to help, that is?”
Wilbur cleared
his throat, thought a second, then answered, “In part, someone else. One of the Governor’s staffers made the
original suggestion you be contacted. I
knew from speaking to Gus about you previously, as it related to the help you
gave him, and the man attacking his house you managed to take out, so figured
it might not be a bad idea to check you out further. Talked to Gus…he told me if you didn’t throw
me out on my ass, you’d be perfect for the job.”
Bob laughed,
“Nice of Gus to advertise I’d throw someone out on his butt just for asking me
to help out protecting someone—even a jackass like our Governor. Go ahead with what you were gonna say before
I cut you off.”
Wilbur pointed
to the red circle on the map again.
“Webster lives here. We’ve
over-flown the property using infrared and found nothing. Since we saw the fire-fighting equipment on
his list of known possessions, one of my bright young troopers suggested it
might block the infrared. I’m not sure
it would, but don’t know. If it would,
any approach to his property would have to be made with great care…like
something a SEAL would be able to do, without getting killed.”
“Okay, you get
good marks for buttering me up…and yes, the equipment he has would block
infrared.”
As he spoke, Bob
looked very closely at the map.
Satisfied he had seen enough, he added, “Can see why you want someone
with my type of experience to check it out.
That all you want outta me?”
“Well, no. The Governor has three outdoor events coming
up in the near future…which he refuses to cancel.” While he spoke, Wilbur tossed three pictures
on the table, then added, “These are the three locations.”
Bob picked them
up. All three were aerial photos showing
the towns where the Governor would be speaking.
On each, Wilbur had marked where the Governor would be standing while delivering
his address. Bob shook his head. “Why in the hell outside addresses? Can’t he just have indoor meetings, until you
catch this guy?”
“Sure he could,
but won’t. Says he wants to have as many
people as possible attend. These are all
small towns…as you can see from the photos.
None of them has anything larger than a gymnasium. Hate to say anything bad about our wonderful
Governor, but he’s a pigheaded ass.”
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