#7
Benny's headlights illuminated the group standing on the porch, he snorted to himself, thinking that the urgency he felt to come out to the ranch must have been misplaced.
Benny wasn't surprised to see Ev there, the man was insatiably curious and normally turned up anywhere there was a mystery. Clora waved and beckoned him in, now she looked a mess, with a substance that looked like blood all over a improvised apron covering her skirt.
Benny's interest piqued, Grandma looked like she had been butchering. OK, so something had happened. Now he felt as curious as Ev.
"Benny, thanks for coming," Clora's voice trembled now that her backup was here. "We have a problem. You need to come inside so we can talk about it." she turned and held the door for Evie to enter.
Ev reached over and opened the door further, scratching his itching beard with the other. "You see the light's?" he questioned Benny. "Really somthin ain't they?"
"Stupid dogs all over town are barking their head's off," Benny indicated that Ev should precede him in the house. "Now, what's happening?" Benny dropped in a chair, shaking his head no, to Grandma's offer of coffee.
"Did you see anyone around on the road when you came in?" Evie questioned carefully, looking out the darkened window wishing she had x-ray eyes.
"No, there as a light on over at the house where the McCann's are staying, but other than that, it's still and quiet. You ladies care to explain why you're covered in blood?" Benny was firm and in control. It was an order, not a request.
"Davis McCann is here and he's been shot," Evie looked at Clora and the young woman got up and went to the bedroom to look in on Davis. "The problem, Davis claims Tammy shot him," Evie continued. "He's almost hysterical about secrecy and he needs a doctor. He has a wound that's beyond simple doctoring."
Benny rubbed his chin, scratching his own stubble in perplexity. "I want to look in on him, he doesn't have a gun, does he?" he joked quietly.
"I don't think so," Evie returned. "We..., well I guess we don't know for sure if he has a weapon. We didn't go through his pockets. He has a vest on." she finished sheepishly.
Benny's head came up and he gave his Grandmother a sharp look. "A vest, huh," he repeated. "That's strange, why would he be needing that?" Benny hesitated as he thought of the briefing that Agent Wright had impressed upon him. Some of the strange shaped puzzle pieces were starting to mesh together.
Benny stood up and loosened the hold strap on his weapon, no wonder Jennings had been in such a tear to get ahold of Davis, sending the man a flurry of messages in code. Benny walked softly to the door of the bedroom, they had an explosive situation here. This was the assassin Wright expected to be after Pete. So, Benny was thinking furiously, if Tammy was involved they had a turncoat or another assassin. That was pretty cold, to shoot you're own father in law because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Benny eased around the corner, staring at the man sent to kill his father. Davis looked like a pitiful wreck with the gunshot tear on his hip bubbling a small stream of blood. His face was white, and he was obviously passed out.
"Not much left of him, is there?" Benny said to Clora in a soft tone.
"No," Clora looked sad and tired. "He was supposed to be the one to kill Pete, wasn't he?"
Benny just said "yeah."
"So that makes Tammy another assassin, doesn't it?" Clora was quick, Benny had to give her that. Ev and Evie were standing behind them and Evie put her hand on Clora's arm.
"Oh, I need to sit down. Surely the Lord will forgive me if I offer no more aid to the enemy," she sniffed hard as she shuffled back to the kitchen table. "Pete may have been many terrible things, but he was my son." she said, plainly hurting.
Benny watched as Davis's hand moved imperceptibly closer to his pocket. Ten to one there was a gun in there. The old boy was faking his coma, and as Benny got to watching his eyes, he detected the rapid eye movement that indicated Davis was trying to think his way out of a jam.
"Keep your hand out of your pocket Davis," Benny said harshly. "Move it any closer and I will drill you."
The hand stilled, Davis sighed the barest of breath's. Keeping his eyes closed, he said nothing.
Benny silently motioned Ev to move around the other side of the bed and pin Davis's right hand. At the same time, Benny clamped the older man's left hand and patted the pocket he had been reaching for. Sure enough, there was a gun shape he could feel. Benny reached in the pocket and drew out a 22 pistol.
Davis was gritting his teeth, Benny wasn't sure if it was because he was mad or hurting.
Thank you Pac.