Sedona Law 6 by Dave Daren (best non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📗

in question, so unlike Jagger, he should go to jail. The immunity deal currently trumped that, but it required him to testify first. But, running, incidentally trumped the immunity deal, making him a fugitive. My only hope was to buy some time on Winslow’s good graces, but we’d have to act fast.

“Mr. Sanchez is missing. We’ve got our team out looking for him now.”

“Missing?” Agent Winslow asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “The bosses he’s about to name are dangerous men and he’s scared. So, he’s running. He couldn’t have gotten far, it’s been less than an hour, and we’re confident we can get him back.”

“We got a runner, huh?” Agent Johnson sighed.

“Let me see where they are,” I pulled out my phone and called Vicki.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Where are we on Tony?” I asked

“AJ and I are both driving around, looking for him,” she said. “Nothing.”

“Any ideas?” I asked.

“We think he might be at Roy’s garage,” she said.

“Roy had said something about him sitting on a big shipment,” I said. “Apparently Roy couldn’t move it, and Tony was getting antsy.”

“Do you know where the shipment is?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “But I’m going to try Universal. See if he’s there.”

“Great,” she said. “We’ll keep looking.”

“Alright,” I said. “See ya.”

“See ya.”

I ended the call and turned to the agents.

“He’s scared and running,” I said, “which means he knows enough to be in danger. He’s just a low-paid hourly worker at a shipping company. He’s not masterminding anything. But in a town this size, all you need is one small fish like that, to catch all the big fish. How long can you hold out on that immunity deal?”

“I’ll give you twenty four hours,” Agent Winslow said. “After that, we’re going to town on him.”

“Thanks,” I said. “We’ll get him. We’ve never lost a case.”

“I’m aware of your reputation around here,” Agent Winslow said in the only bit of warmth I’d seen from her. “And we’ve run across Tony in our investigation, and I think you’re dead on about him. That’s why I’m giving you some time to find him. Very little time.”

“Thanks again,” I said .

The agents packed up their things and left the office.

“You need us to look for him?” Leila asked me.

“No,” I said. “This isn’t your problem. Thanks, Jagger. You did great in there today.”

“Thanks, Henry, for everything.”

Leila looked up at him like he had hung the moon. I smirked. She had found herself a rich Australian rock star. I thought about the first time I met her, and realized I wouldn’t have expected anything less out of her.  Not to mention, she was now running a film studio.

Yeah, she was going to be alright. More than alright, and she was going to be in my life for a long time.

The starry eyed couple left the office, hand in hand, and I locked up.

I had to find Tony Sanchez.

Chapter 18

For the second time this month, I drove out to Universal Shipping. In the waning light of the early evening, the shipyard seemed creepier than the last time I had been here. I didn’t know what it was about this place, but it just seemed like the kind of place where gangsters tied someone to a chair and cut off their fingers one by one. Eh, maybe I’d just seen too many movies.

I parked and wandered around the dusty, barren industrial wasteland, and realized I didn’t have a clear idea of what I was looking for. Did I expect Tony to be here?

The place was empty now, it must have been after closing time. I was surprised that I could get in.

I poked around at the wooden crates and metal containers. In the distance, there was a dusty hill, and an old, rusting pickup truck sat near it. It hadn’t been there last time I came out here, and I decided to check it out. I wasn’t getting anywhere nosing around the building areas, so I walked out to the hill.

The Arizona dust hiked up my pant leg with every step, and I was now glad that I had worn something slightly more utilitarian than dress slacks.

I neared the truck, and could see movement now. There was someone over there. I heard quick, anxious voices as I got closer. I was just a few yards away now, and I could make out an above ground well built into the side of the hill. I could hear their voices, but couldn’t tell what they were saying. That’s when I heard a gun cock.

Shit.

I stopped and raised my palms.

“Who fuck are you?” the assailant stepped out of the shadows, holding a pistol.

He was a burly Hispanic man, with tattoos on his sunburned arms.

“I mean no harm,” I said slowly.

Oddly, I had been in this situation before. I wasn’t as alarmed as I was the first time. The first time I had been held at gunpoint, I played it cool, while adrenaline coursed through my veins like heroin. This time I felt as calm, cool and collected as I came off. I had to remind myself that I was in real danger.

“I’m just looking for a friend,” I said.

“Who’s your friend?” he demanded.

Two other men came from the other side joined him and they all stood like a wall blocking the well. I knew that Tony was here.

“Look,” I said. “I don’t know what you’re up to, and I don’t care. I’m sure you have your reasons.”

“Man, you better step the fuck off,” the tattooed man warned.

“Okay,” I said and took two steps backwards, while keeping my palms in the air.

“What the fuck you think is?” the man said. “An action movie? There’s no script here that’s going to be resolved at