The Serpent and the Crow

Book 3: Chapter Four

Douglas stood as a sentinel would outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; guarding. Waiting. Watching. The night was falling, and it peppered the night skies with the thunderous crack as if the Gods themselves had sent judgement upon them, and the judgement was certain death.

The flash of lightning was hypnotising. It drew out the shadows that lurked amidst the pines. Rain fell like a hammer on an anvil. But instead of metallic sparks crowning an anvil, the splash of heavy droplets fell upon Douglas.

Douglas had not moved an inch, and his gaze pierced the thin veil of blackness. Hoping Wade and Hank brought their fury down upon the killer with such disregard as the Gods had, reigning thunderbolts from the sky, splitting timber into embers. He was a silent watcher and a frightened and helpless witness to whatever would culminate within those caves.

"Douglas?"

His eyes tracked backwards first, followed by his head, to see Detective Jador, and County Sheriff Martinez lowering their M-14 automatic rifles. The Sheriff was exhaling frigid breath from the mountain climbing exertion he had performed. Jador looked as if she could climb another ten hours; primed and ready to fight if need be.

Jador shot a look at Martinez. The Sheriff moved into the cave in a cautious but ready position to fire upon whatever was in the tunnels. The darkness enveloped him as if the lightning could not penetrate the evil that lived within.

Jador put a hand on Douglas' shoulder. And, Doug acknowledged with a half-hearted smile that signalled his lack of hope.

"I'm glad you're alive, Doug. After seeing Cortez..."

"First time I'm glad to see Armadillo PD here.... Thanks, Detective."

"Did an old geriatric and a handsome Texan sonofabitch come through here?"

Douglas nodded. He said, "Hank is in there with the Geriatric."

"Why aren't you in there?"

"I can't."

"Your Daughter," She said, "I'm doing this for my Girl. How about you?"

"You think I'm a coward, don't you?"

"I didn't say that."

"Well, I am. My daughter could be... and I should be... But, I just cannot. I am a fucking coward, right?"

"I'm not qualified to be judge and jury, Doug. We all got a job to do. So, maybe you need to be where you're at."

She passed him a walkie.

"You take care of our six, there's enough of us here. We'll get your daughter back."

"I'm fucking useless."

Detective Jador slapped him across the face with a backhand, and she clutched his collar at least as far as she could reach, as she was tiny and he was anything but.

"Listen up. You drop this sob story bullshit and you cowboy up. We are likely going to be coming back up here in a real hurry and I need to know you are going to be alert and ready for whatever is down there, or whatever might hide in these pines. You read my frequency?"

"Yeah."

"Now, you take a breather because I do not have enough time to for your shit Doug if you're going to be out here; fine. But I need you ready to put that war paint on and get fucking furious and murderous when we come back up here with bad guys in tow."

"Got it."

"You bet your ass you got it because if you ain't got it then there's going to be a lot of dead Detectives up in these fucking hills and that will be on you."

Jador released her grip.

"One more thing. We all here to help you but if we are sticking our noses in a hornet's nest then we need to know you are going, do the right thing and come down and swat these fuckers to the wall. Clear?"

"Thanks, Jador."

"Understand?"

"Clear, Detective."

"If we're not back in an hour, you're on your own. And, so is your daughter."

Jador saw it was sinking in. She chambered a round into her M-14. Douglas stood there as the Sentinel once more. Guarding. Watching. Waiting.