The quiet was freaking her out. That’s when she heard the other car. She didn’t recognize the dark sedan, but it was raising a major dust trail flying down the road.
She ran for the Trans Am. The other car skidded to a stop. A man jumped out and sprinted toward her. Anna dove in the car and locked the doors. She stuck her key in the ignition.
“Anna, stop!” The man slapped an open wallet against her window. She saw a gold badge against the glass.
“Open the door, Anna. DEA, Agent Wilson.”
The badge looked real. It looked fake. She didn’t know what to think anymore or why she opened the door.
The man grabbed her arm. “We have to get you out of here!”
Anna pulled away. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“Your life’s in danger.”
“Now I recognize you! You’re that asshole from the pub, what’s-his-name….”
“Gaskin Fussels.”
“You’re supposed to be in jail, but…” She pointed at the badge in his hand. “What’s going on?”
“Explain later. We can’t stay here.” He stepped forward to take her arm again. “I know about Scarface… Fernandez’s murder.”
She jumped out of reach and started walking backward. “You’re lying.”
“We don’t have any time,” said the agent. “He’ll be here any second.”
Anna just kept backing up. She reached the water’s edge.
Wilson could see she was on the brink. She’d bolt, even if it meant swimming. He decided to talk fast.
“I’ve been watching Fernandez for a long time. I also know about the safety deposit box. I followed you from the bank.”
Anna stopped backpedaling.
“Listen to me. You were used. I can help with the judge, even if you pulled the trigger—”
“I didn’t!”
“We just want the head of the organization. I’ll need you to testify.”
Anna gave him the weirdest look. “What do you mean? Fernandez is dead.”
“Right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What are
“Fernandez was the head of the organization. And now he’s dead. So why do you need me to testify?”
“Oh, my God!” said the agent. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“The head guy is the one you’ve been having all those meetings with at the No Name. You spent the morning with him at your brother’s vacation place. I saw him go in. I was parked up the street.”
“Jerry?”
Agent Wilson nodded. “The bartender.”
“But if he’s the top guy, what’s he doing bartending?”
“That how he stays off-radar. It’s a historic stratagem. Since ancient times, generals have been known to dress as common foot soldiers to avoid assassination…. It’s also a great way to gather intelligence. If you want to know what’s going on in these parts, there’s no better place than behind the counter of the No Name.”
Anna felt faint. Flashbacks streamed through her head. Jerry talking about how Scarface liked to move anonymously through his own organization, pretending to be other people, really talking about himself.
“Then who was Fernandez?”
“His first lieutenant. He was hiding money with your brother. Jerry wanted it. That’s why he let Fernandez continue living, even though he was on the indictment with the others.”
“I’m so stupid!” said Anna.
“Unfortunately, Jerry knew your name was also on that bank box. Then you phoned from the turnpike… we had his phone tapped, and just like that” — he snapped his fingers — “Fernandez’s death warrant was signed.”
“But why involve me? Why didn’t he just shoot Fernandez himself?”
“Leverage. He needed you to go to the bank. He’s going to kill you right after you give him the contents.”
Anna’s world started to swirl. Wilson ran down to the water and grabbed her by the arm. “We have to go!”
They ran for the agent’s sedan.
Anna felt his hand come off her arm. She looked back.
Wilson was down, a fatal head wound.
Jerry stepped out of the woods with pistol and silencer.
Anna took off for the water. Jerry tackled her in the muck and began punching her in the face. Birds took flight. Nobody to hear her screams.
“Why!” Struggling under his weight.
He hit her again and began going through her pockets. He found the Polaroid. He started laughing. “I don’t believe it. Right in front of us the whole time!”
He slugged Anna again, then pulled a pint of cheap vodka from his pants. He took the first swig before jamming the bottle into Anna’s mouth. Jerry was just too strong and heavy. Her gums bled from struggling against the glass lip of the bottle. A lot of the booze was going down her cheeks, but enough was getting in. When the bottle was empty, he whipped it aside into the bushes.
“On your feet!”
Anna stayed curled on the ground. Jerry stuck his gun in his pants and grabbed her around the waist. He took a few big steps and threw her out into the water. Anna stood back up, coughing and clearing hair from her eyes.
Jerry pulled the gun again and sloshed out into the shallows. He shoved Anna. “Move!”
She stumbled forward. He shoved her again. It went like that until she was a hundred yards from shore. But being the flats, the water was still only to her knees.
“That’s far enough!”
