The Law and Dan Mesa (25 page)

“No, sir, I haven’t. You are the first one I have called. I will call him now.”

“Dan, I will call him. You just hold tight where you are and keep an eye on them.”

The phone rings at Ranger Headquarters in Nogales and Bonefacio Hernandez answers saying, “Ranger Station.”

“Yes, I’m Major McMasters from Yuma. May I speak to Captain Johnson please.”

“Yes, sir, I will get him for you.”

“Captain, Major McMasters in on the phone, and he is a little upset.”

“Okay, Bonnie, I will take it. Captain Johnson picks up the phone and says, “Yes, major, what can I do for you?”

“Sam, Alana and her mother have been shot. They are in the hospital in Tucson, and Sergeant Mesa is there. Sam, he doesn’t believe they will make it through the night. Sandoval did the shooting, and Mesa killed him. I don’t know if he was injured or not. He never said. I am flying down by helicopter, and I will see you there.”

Sam Johnson feels gut-wrenching anger. Bonnie sees him, and what he sees scares the daylights out of him. Captain Johnson’s face is like beige stone, and his eyes are as dark as the pits of Hell. The captain takes down his .44 Magnum and straps it on.

“Bonnie, Lieutenant Osborne and her mother have been shot, and they are in the hospital in Tucson. Sergeant Mesa is there also. I don’t know if he has been shot or injured. Please call the colonel and tell him. I am on my way to Tucson. Call my wife and tell her.”

“Yes, sir. What should I tell the guys?”

“Just tell them what I told you and that, as soon as I get more information, I will call.”

With those last words, Sam Johnson leaves for Tucson.

Meanwhile back in Tucson, the police are everywhere asking questions. Sergeant Dan Mesa has written a statement explaining what happened, and he isn’t any too pleased. He is trying to control his anger and finding it extremely hard to do.

Sergeant Sheila Burke arrives and takes over. She walks over to Mesa.

“Dan, how is the lieutenant and her mother?”

“Hello, Sheila. They are still in the emergency room. The doctor on call said he would tell me something as soon as he could.”

Sergeant Burke notices that Mesa is covered in blood and suggests he go wash some of it off.

Mesa becomes aware of his situation and complies. He returns with the blood removed from his face and hand, but he could not do much with his shirt. There is a bullet burn on his neck and another on his arm, but he isn’t really aware of them.

Sheila returns with a nurse and says, “Dan, you have been wounded. Let the nurse take a look you.”

Mesa turns around, and what Sergeant Burke sees scares her; there isn’t anything human about the man she is facing. His face and entire demeanor are those of a dangerous animal.

“Dan, you have been wounded. Let the nurse have a look,” she says again.

Mesa relaxes and never says a word. It has been two hours since the shooting, and he hasn’t sat down yet. As the nurse is working on him, Major McMasters walks in.

Mesa attempts to stand, but the major says, “No, Dan, you stay seated. Are you badly injured?”

The nurse answers, “No, his injures are not life-threatening, but they are of concern, because the bullet burn on his neck barely missed an artery. The one on his arm came close to an artery too. I have disinfected the wound, and these bandages will protect them and allow them to heal. Ranger, you are a lucky man.”

Major McMasters has the look of a worried man.

“Nurse, could you please check on the condition of Lieutenant Osborne and her mother?”

The nurse leaves and goes to the emergency room.

“Doctor, how are those two patients who were shot? The younger one is an Arizona ranger, and the older lady is her mother.”

Doctor Burke is the on-scene doctor. He looks at the nurse and shakes his head.

“The ranger’s mother didn’t make it, and it is doubtful if the ranger will make it, although she is fighting for her life.”

“What should I tell the rangers?”

“Nurse, that is my job. I will have to bear the sad news.”

Dr. Burke arrives in the waiting room to find it filled with rangers, the police, the FBI, and news reporters. He calls the major and Captain Johnson to one side.

“Gentlemen, Lieutenant Osborne is in critical condition, and her mother died on the operating table. If we can stop the bleeding, there is a possibility we can save Lieutenant Osborne. She was shot once in the back and once in the chest. Her mother took two shots in the back and both would have been fatal. She said, ‘Tell Dan good-bye and that it is just my time.’ Captain, I assume that Dan is Sergeant Mesa? I think you should come with me when I tell him. I saw how he was when they brought them in, and I would not want to get on his bad side.”

Major McMasters’s face is like a mask. He hasn’t said much. They walk over to Sergeant Mesa, who is still seated. He stands as they approach.

“Hello, major. Hello, captain. I am sorry this happened. They were shot because of me. How are Matilda and Alana?”

“Dan, this is Doctor Burke, whom you already know. Listen to what he has to say.”

“Ranger Mesa, Matilda died on the operating table. I couldn’t save her. She told me to tell you it wasn’t your fault. It was just her time. Alana is in critical condition, and I won’t lie to you. I honestly don’t know if I can save her, but we are trying like crazy. A few prayers wouldn’t hurt.”

Mesa’s whole world is spinning out of control, and all he can do is watch it fall apart. All eyes seem to be on him. Then suddenly the doors burst open, and a nurse rushes in.

“Doctor! Doctor! That lady is still alive. She is talking.”

“Nurse, what are you talking about?”

“Doctor, Mrs. Osborne is still alive and talking.”

It takes a few second for what has been said to register with those listening. Suddenly, it dawns on them what has taken place.

Sergeant Dan Mesa of the Arizona rangers does something few people have ever seen him do. He smiles. He really smiles, with teeth showing and everything.

Dr. Burke is so shocked he can barely talk.

“Nurse, let’s get back in there and save a women’s life.”

He rushes into the emergency room.

Major McMasters and Captain Johnson sit down and show signs of relief. Now the waiting begins as the police and the FBI continue to ask questions of everyone.

“Sergeant, I know this is a bad time to be asking questions, but could you give us a quick and dirty idea of what happened?”

Mesa explains again what happened in a straight-to-the-point way.

Sergeant Burke looks at Mesa and smiles, saying, “Ranger, there must be an angel looking after you. You have escaped death so many times. Those news reporters who constantly belittle the rangers and the police should have been here to see how a servant of the people saves the lives of our citizens. They seem to only see the brutal side of us.”

Everyone is nodding his or her head in agreement. One person standing to the side taking notes asks, “Sergeant Burke, can I quote what you said in my article? I am Jim Landry of the
Phoenix
Herald
. I agree with what you said, and I promise to write an article that is fair and honest. I won’t lie for you or against you.”

“Yes, Mr. Landry, you can quote me. But if you do misrepresent the truth of what I said, I will sue you and your paper, and I promise all of us standing here: I will win.”

“Sergeant, you have my word of honor on what I have said.”

The smile on Mesa’s face fades, and he returns to being Daniel Mesa. They wait some more. The FBI takes Mesa’s statement and the statements of some of the bystanders. Sandoval’s body has been removed, and the hazardous materials crew is cleaning up the blood and debris. There is still much work to be done.

The local TV stations are broadcasting the shooting at the Tucson Medical Center. The TV echoes, “This is Laura Denton of
Channel
14
News
. There has been a shooting at the Tucson Medical Center involving the Arizona rangers. Chuck Garrison is on the scene. Chuck, can you tell us what happened?”

“Laura, apparently two women—mother and daughter—were shot as they arrived at the medical center. The younger lady is a lieutenant in the rangers, and the older lady is her mother. Someone opened fire on them, hitting the mother in the back and the daughter in the chest and back as she tried to shield her mother. Ranger Dan Mesa was at the hospital, and he opened fire, killing the shooter. The shooter has been identified as Armanti Sandoval, the notorious assassin wanted in several countries, including the United States, for murder. He is—or I should say
was
—a paid assassin. The names of the two ladies are being withheld, pending further investigation. The ranger who shot Sandoval is Sergeant Dan Mesa, who has been in the news several times over the past year as you and our viewers are aware. We do not know if Ranger Mesa was injured or not, but he was covered in blood, possibly from rendering assistance to the two ladies. That is all we know at this point.”

“Thanks, Chuck,” Laura says, “and please keep us inform of anything happening there. This has been a breaking news story from the scene at the Tucson Medical Center. I am Laura Denton of
Channel
14
News
.”

The regular program resumes. Mesa looks at the TV and leaves for coffee. Sergeant Burke follows him. Mesa goes to the coffee machine and gets a cup of coffee

“Dan, are you okay?” she asks.

Mesa turns around and says, “No, I am not okay. They were shot because of me. Somehow, he knew they were my friends. He shot them to get at me. But the people responsible are Carlos Meana and Antonio Blackbear. I will catch up with them very soon, and I will end this whole affair. Matilda and Alana had a great life until I walked in. Now, I don’t know what to do.”

“Sergeant, it wasn’t your fault,” Sergeant Burke says. “We can only do so much to protect the ones we love, and that is all we can do. Someone greater than you and I has control, so let him do his job. Dan, I am a good listener if you need someone to talk to. Call anytime.”

Sergeant Burke walks away, leaving Mesa alone to drink his coffee and think. He makes his way back to the emergency room. Everyone is still waiting. It has been six hours since the shooting, and the doctors are still in the operating room.

Everyone is in deep thought when the doors burst open and Dr. Burke enters with a smile on his face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have stopped the internal bleed in Lieutenant Osborne, and I believe we can save her life. Matilda is getting better every hour. I can’t explain any of this! It is beyond anything I have ever come across. By all accounts, they should be dead, but thanks to God, they are still alive. It has to be a miracle.”

Everyone is smiling but Daniel Mesa. He walks down the hall to the hospital chapel. He walks inside and kneels to give thanks, but he knows that, come tomorrow, he will enter the day with hatred in his heart. He plans to kill at least two men and maybe more. He walks away from the chapel and leaves the hospital without saying a word. He climbs into his vehicle and heads toward Nogales.

In Phoenix, the local TV station is broadcasting the news about the shooting in Tucson. Carlos and Antonio are listening to the news.

Carlos bangs the table, saying, “Can’t anyone kill that man? Now he will be coming after us. There isn’t any place for us to hide, so let’s go after him.”

Unknown to them, they are being watched by an undercover FBI agent using night vision binoculars. The officer observes what appears to be the beginning of preparation for a road trip. The suspects are packing bags and using a checklist, something quite original for such people. He observes them packing several weapons, including some type of explosive.

At a bank in Phoenix, two women are making deposits into their accounts. Jane deposits a thousand dollars, and Marilyn deposits eight hundred fifty dollars. The teller remembers them and smiles as always, and they make small talk as usual about their jobs.

Christmas is just around the corner, only about ten days away. Jane looks at Marilyn and notices that her face is contorted with pain.

“Honey, are you okay?”

“Jane, get me home as quickly as possible.”

Jane presses the accelerator and the Chevy Corvette moves on down the interstate at a fast pace. An Arizona highway patrolman notices the yellow Corvette and goes after it. Jane sees the car and slows down and pulls over to the side.

“Marilyn, are you okay?”

“No, I hurt badly.”

The patrolman walks to the car, and as he looks into the car, he sees the lady in pain.

“Good afternoon, ladies. I noticed you speeding down the highway, and your friend appears to be in pain. What can I do to help?”

Jane cries.

“Officer,” she says, “my friend is extremely ill. She has cancer, and we live in Tucson. I need to get her to the hospital quickly. Will you please escort us to the Tucson Medical Center?”

“Ma’am, pull in behind me and stay on my bumper, and I will get you there pronto. He walks back to his car and says, “Patrol fifteen to headquarters, this is Trooper Crawford, and I have an emergency situation. I will be escorting two citizens to the Tucson Medical Center. I will stay in touch as I go.”

“Headquarters to Patrol fifteen, should we notify the hospital and have them waiting?”

“Yes, we will be arriving at the emergency entrance.”

When they arrive, a team of doctors and nurses are waiting. Dr. Burke is the doctor on duty when they arrive. He is also Marilyn’s personal doctor and is familiar with her illness. Marilyn is wheeled into the emergency room, and Jane waits. They have disguised their appearances so that people would not be completely surprised when they are seen.

Jane waits in the emergency room and calls the girls and Marilyn’s parents. The girls decide it would be safer not to show up. Dr. Burke walks into the waiting room with a grim face.

“Jane, her condition is getting worse. It is progressing faster than I thought. At this rate, the best I can give her is six months, and that is really stretching it. I have known you two for a couple of years, and I know how close you are. If you can, make the next few months the best for her. It is my guess that she will start showing signs of fatigue around the fourth month. She won’t suffer. It will happen all of a sudden, and then it will be over.”