Generations in Agony...Texas: Chapter Twenty-six

26) Bad news all around…
Carla was a little apprehensive when she walked into Thurmond’s office. She had taken Solo Riviera in there only a few moments ago. Then, Thurmond had called for her to come in as well shortly after.

“Have a seat, Carla,” Thurmond indicated the chair beside Solo.

Solo stood halfway up as she came in, and now settled back into his seat once Carla had taken hers.
Both men looked uncomfortable. She was not ready to deal with anything serious, at the moment; she had spent the whole night worried sick about Charlie, who had taken off again, god knows where this time.

“Charlie is with your father-n-law, Carla,” Thurmond said. He nodded to Solo. “Mr. Riviera stopped in to tell me. Carl Speck Sr. rode up and told Solo here and Caleb Morgansen this morning when they went out on the north range retrieve Solo’s car.”

“His grandfather? When did he meet the man? I had no idea.” Her heart was fluttering; at least she now knew where Charlie was, or at least whom he was with. The fact that the only information she had about Carl Sr. was the few times Carl Jr. had spoken about him. None of that was very flattering towards the father. Of course, Mildred at the diner had just told her that he was a known killer, which did not help to think about.

“Probably at Caleb’s,” Solo said in answer to her question. “I think the old man had his truck in for some work earlier this week.

“He didn’t say a word to me about it,” Carla said, the fingers of her left hand were touching her lips, a movement she executed when nervous. “That’s not like Charlie…”

“Carla, sweetie,” Thurmond leaned forward and held his palms open. “The boy ran off with Jesus a few weeks ago. He didn’t say anything to you then either, right? He’s a kid, he’s off getting used to a new town.”

“And a grandfather he’s never known,” Solo added, sympathetically.

Carla sighed, “I hope you’re right. I want to be angry, but I know he’s going through a tough time.”

“Well…” Thurmond looked apologetically at her, then glanced at Solo. “I’m afraid we’ve got some more bad news.”

“About Charlie?”

“No, not directly,” Thurmond said.

“It may be,” Solo said. “That his going off with his grandfather is a good thing, for the moment.”

“Why?” Carla looked from one man to the other.

“We have something to tell you about, Carla. It’s important,” Thurmond sat back and let go a troubled breath. “I have people after me, Carla. They want to kill me.”

“What?” She looked stricken.

“Easy…” Thurmond started.

“What do you mean, they’re trying to kill you?”

“Ma’am,” Solo broke in. “I came down here to kill the Doc. That was before I met your son, and my son, for that matter. I had a major change of heart. Now, I can’t allow the Doc to be killed, or, by association, anyone else who is close to him.”

“That would be you, Carla…and Charlie,” Thurmond’s eyes were soft and worried.

Carla had a sudden bolt of realization. “So, those two men…”

Solo nodded. “There’ve been two more, yesterday, up on the north range.”

“Oh my god!” Carla covered her mouth with her hand.

“The man who wants Doc killed is from Chicago, a Mr. Doyle,” Solo said.

Carla turned and looked at him. “I’ve heard of him. We used to live there.”

“All of us have lived there, Carla,” Thurmond said. “But, it’s me he’s after.”

“Why?”

“Years ago, he was responsible for the death of my wife. I was the primary witness and I did my part. Of course, the FBI put me in witness protection and I ended up down here. It’s been over twenty years.”

“And, he still wants revenge against you?”

“Evidently,” Thurmond said.

“Men like Doyle do not forget or forgive,” Solo added.

“Carla, I’m so sorry. I never meant for—”

“No, Thurmond…you don’t have to apologize. This is not anything you could have prevented, is it?”

“She’s right, Doctor,” Solo said. “Doyle is the one responsible for all of this. He is the one who will have to pay. I’m only sorry that this will affect you all. If I could, I would go up there and have it finished. But, I can’t guaranty that unless I finish it here.”

“What do you mean, finish it?” Carla asked.

“Ma’am, I am the only one here equipped to handle a situation like this.”

“But, the FBI, can’t we call them and…” Carla paused when she saw both men shaking their heads.

“We think the FBI might be the ones that gave Doyle the tip on where to find Dr. Petak.”

Carla looked at Thurmond. “Petak?”

“My real name, or it was twenty four years ago. It was another life, Carla, another time altogether.”

“My god, what should I call you then?”

“I’m still Thurmond, Carla. I haven’t changed at all.”

“Sorry, Thurmond,” Solo said. “I didn’t mean to bring that back up.”

“What do we need to do now?” Thurmond looked at Solo.

Solo leaned in close. “We know they’re coming. Two by two, or maybe more, since the last guys didn’t work out for him. Doyle will eventually come down himself to see it done. I’ll be ready for that. I need the two of you to take some time off. Close the office for a few days, can you do that?”

“I’ve never closed that long before,” Thurmond said. “I hate to leave anyone out in the cold if they’re hurt or sick.”

Solo nodded. “It would be much easier to protect you both if you’re at your house. Better terrain, better defense against approach. We’re wide open here in town. I don’t think they know anything about Carla, or Charlie. But we can’t afford to take that chance.”

“Are we going to be in some sort of battle?” Carla looked stricken.

“No, ma’am,” Solo spoke with calm certainty. “I will take care of this. But, I need for both of you to understand: this man will stop at nothing, short of me stopping him. Can you understand that?”

“I grew up in Chicago, Solo,” Carla reminded him. “These sorts of men were in the news all the time.”

“That’s true,” Solo came back. “But, I doubt that you’ve ever really been exposed to anything like this, have you?”

“Well…no.”

“It would be best for the two of you to just take off, go someplace out of town until I can clean all of this up.”

“I have a practice to keep up here, Solo,” the Doc said.

“Exactly why you need a vacation, Doc.”

“Can we do that?” Carla looked at him. “What about Charlie?”

“Mr. Speck said he was going to keep him out there for a few days, if it was okay with you,” Solo said. “He knows about this situation. In fact, he helped me out last night. I only found out about Charlie when I saw him today. I think the boy will be fine with him.”

“What on earth will he do out there with his grandfather?” Carla said.

“I believe he is going to get his chance at being a cowboy, for a few days, at least,” Solo and the Doc both grinned at her.

Carla sat a moment, then nodded and smiled. “He has always wanted to do just that. I just hope he’ll be okay…”
“Carla, honey, the boy will be fine. He did fine a few weeks ago, and he’s not nearly as much of a tenderfoot now.”

“You need to worry about the two of you. Charlie will be kept out of the way,” Solo told them both. Then he leaned closer. “I think you two should take the Doc’s car and go west. Carlsbad, maybe even ride up to Santa Fe and knock around a few days. Call the house to check in with me. When I answer the phone, it’s okay to come back.”

“You really think we need to do this?” Thurmond said.

Solo nodded. “It’s going to get dicey around here, Doc,” his eyes looked Carla’s way; it was a movement for the Doc to notice alone; it meant that Solo was concerned about protecting her while he protected the Doc.

“You’re right. Besides, this is something we’ve needed to do anyway, right Carla?”

“Go on vacation?” She looked confused.

“Spend some time together, is what I was thinking of,” he smiled.

Carla turned red.

“You two work it out,” Solo stood. “I’ll get back out there. Just let me know what you decide.”

“How do I get in touch with you?” Thurmond said.

“I’m watching, Doc,” Solo said. He looked at Carla. “Leave a note on the front door. It should simply say that the office is closed for a few days. Write it small, so people will have to walk up to see it. Can you do that for me?”

“Sure, Solo,” Carla said, not sure why he made the request.
~