Page 33 of Flash and Bang
Their room was nice. Jarrett had driven them to an oceanfront hotel and checked them into a suite on his own dime after buying a clean change of clothes in the gift shop downstairs. It was more than the ATF would reimburse them for, but all he could think was that—fuck all, as long as someone was trying to kill them, they were going to go out in style. At least, they’d be clean and well rested.
Shortly after Jarrett’s shower, there was a knock on the door to the suite and belatedly, he realized he didn’t even have a gun. Thayne was in the shower, unable to even be there to back him up if someone had come to kill them. They were completely unarmed and vulnerable and if he had to be honest with himself, he was too tired to die anyway. He stepped up to the door and looked through the peephole. Ada Carrillo stood outside, smiling, and Jarrett breathed a sigh of relief as he removed the chain and unlocked the door, pulling it open.
“I come bearing gifts,” she said, holding up a thick yellow envelope as she walked into the room.
“Come right in,” Jarrett said. He realized all he was wearing was a towel and wasn’t that just a little bit awkward.
“Nice digs. Where’s Thayne?” she said, giving Jarrett a not-so-covert up and down glance.
“In the shower. Have a seat. I think there’s probably a coke or some water or something in the minifridge if you want,” he said.
“No, that’s okay, I won’t stay. I just came to give you this.”
She handed him the envelope and Jarrett was surprised at how heavy it was. When he opened it, and dumped the contents on the table, he had to grin with relief. Two Glocks in shoulder holsters and a fresh set of credentials in wallets for each of them slid out of the envelope. He peered up at her as he hefted the weapon, checking the clip to note it was loaded.
“A gift from SAC Stanger,” she said. “Jesus, Evans what the hell happened out there?”
“Do you have about three hours to hear it all or you want the quick and dirty?” Jarrett asked, grabbing his gift shop clothes.
“I think I’ll take the quick and dirty,” she said with a laugh.
Thayne walked out of the bathroom in his new clothes just as she said it. He grinned. “I can’t leave you alone for a minute before you’re giving beautiful women the quick and dirty, can I, Jarrett?”
Jarrett laughed and disappeared into the bathroom to put on his clothes. When he returned, Thayne was sitting on the bed, holding his replacement gun and telling her what had happened out at the farm. Ada was staring at him and shaking her head.
“I can’t believe it,” she said when Thayne told her about the Jeep. “Who do you think did that?”
“Honestly, I have no idea but I ain’t happy about it. I just got that Wrangler a year ago,” Jarrett replied with a deep frown. “Whoever it was, wasn’t foolin’ around with it though. They planned that explosion to kill and maim.”
“Chief Willis and his department are investigating it,” Thayne added. “We’ll have to wait and see. My guess is one of the militia got pissed that we spoiled their receipt of the fireworks. The FBI really messed with their plans to hurt a hell of a lot of people so they must be livid.”
“So they just happened to have a car bomb with them?” Ada asked, frowning. “That sounds improbable, Thayne. How would they know the Jeep belonged to an ATF guy?” She sighed, looking between them. “I suppose we’ll be called in to look at it.”
Jarrett nodded. He was even more suspicious than she was. There were too many things going on out there all at once to even try to piece it all together, especially when they were hurt and exhausted. “If we were the actual targets. They might have just picked a vehicle and assumed it was FBI, but I agree it’s unlikely. Maybe when you have the lab piece the bomb together, you’ll be able to figure it out.”
Ada eyeballed Jarrett critically. She obviously worried they’d not get much off the bomb fragments. Putting together a bomb wasn’t an exact science but if a bomb builder had an ego, he often left a signature. By putting the bomb fragments together, hopefully the ATF would be able to figure out if it was built by this terrorist Mossad was chasing. If not, maybe someone in their database. Whatever the case, they weren’t gonna find out today. Jarrett sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes.
“Well, I’ll go. I know you’re tired,” Ada said.
“You’re right, Ada. Jeez, I really must be tired. By the way, did you get the final autopsy results on Mason’s body?” Thayne asked.
“No. I should have them later today or tomorrow. I’ll email them to you. Right now, you guys need to get some sleep. You both look like you’ve been run through the ringer. Stanger wanted me to let you know that you’re not expected in LA until tomorrow. You’ve both been through a hell of a ride down here. I’m seriously sorry your visit to our neck of the woods ended the way it did,” she said.
“Thanks, Ada,” Jarrett said. “Maybe next time we come down, we can go for drinks and have some fun.”
She smiled, reaching out to shake his hand. “That’s a great idea.” She shook Thayne’s hand before moving toward the door. “Have a safe drive back home.”
Thayne showed her to the door and then closed it, locking and chaining it after putting out the do not disturb sign. He smiled weakly at Jarrett. “I’m so beat, I don’t know if I can even undress to crawl into that bed.”
Jarrett walked over and pulled him into his arms. “Come on, darlin’. I need ya naked and in my arms. We’ll worry about everything else after a fewhours’ sleep. I wish like hell I had the energy for other things.” He leaned down and kissed Thayne softly. They lingered over each other’s lips for several seconds and then Jarrett pulled back, reluctantly breaking their kiss. “I know you saw Adael kiss me,” he said suddenly. “I wanted you to know it wasn’t my idea, Thayne.”
Thayne looked slightly pissed that he’d brought it up but Jarrett figured it was better to get it out now than to let the wound fester.
“I know, Jarrett. There may be a lot of things you can’t tell me, Jarrett, but I know you and the Israeli have history.”
“And that’s jes what it is, darlin’—history.” He nuzzled Thayne’s neck with his nose. “I just wanted you to know, he ain’t nothin’ to me and he weren’t never as important as you.”
“We can talk about this when I’m not so tired, Jarrett?”