The Pilot's Redemption

The Pilot's Redemption Part 10

Chapter 10

   There stood Anthony with his usual two lackeys. Charles and Carol gave each other a look that said "here we go." Aura placed her hands on the chairs they Charles and Carol were sitting in and it startled them. "It's go time. That is how you Americans say it? Go time? Time to go? You get the picture. Land it in that Hanger at the end there." Aura pointed as they carefully took the aircraft into the empty hanger. Aura stepped out first. Charles went to stand up when Carol put her hand on his shoulder. "Charles…." She paused for a moment then finished her thought, "Let's hope this goes better than the last time you did this." Charles smiled and replied "last time I didn't have a Captain with me." Charles then got out of the plane followed by Carol.

   Anthony stood wearing an all white suit with a white fedora and sunglasses. "Ahí está. My ticket to the big leagues. There are some very important people waiting for this. But don't worry yourselves with it. Once the Cargo is confirmed to be in there you are free to go Mr. Martin." His eyes landed on Carol and he pulled his sunglasses down. "Oh you are far more gorgeous than your pictures. In another life, we would be King and Queen of the entire West Coast." He blew a kiss at Carol as she scrunched up her face at the notion. "In another life I'd kick your teeth out for threatening my loved ones." Anthony laughed "Ella tiene algo de pelea en ella, and I like that. Carol stepped forward and looked at Anthony directly in his eyes "Vete a la mierda." She stepped back next to Charles.

   Anthony backed up and adjusted his tie. "Enough of the foreplay, I think I might just keep you for myself. But first, business. Aura. Check the cargo. Make sure it's intact. If it isn't, well Mr. Martin won't be leaving the way he wants to." Aura made her way to the side of the plane and saw a handle. It was to another part of the plane. She looked inside and gave Anthony a nod as she closed it and took her place next to him. "Well, well Mr. Martin. You did good. Guess all that's left is to set you free. Pay you for your services and be on your way home….or and hear me out, or I could just tie up the loose end that is you two."

   Anthony reached into his inside suit pocket but was interrupted by the sound of sirens as several police cars arrived at the hanger. They got out of their cars and pointed their guns at everyone. Charles and Carol put their hands in the air as well. Anthony continued to go for his pocket but he could not as he felt  his arms being forced behind his back. "Epifanio Davi, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you can afford one, an attorney will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights?" Anthony turned around to see Aura was the one who arrested him. "Aura? You're un policia?" Aura's accent was gone as she leaned Anthony against the plane. "Officer Laura Ingall thank you. You have no idea how hard it was to build a case on you. But it was worth the trouble. You're going down for a long long time."

   Laura picked him off the plane and brought him over to one of the squad cars. "Not those two" she shouted as the officers lowered their weapons. "Aura, you're a cop?" Charles asked. She spoke without her  accent. "Yeah. I wanted to tell you on the plane during the last job but it wasn't time. We needed more dirt on Epi-Anthony. That last job going wrong pushed him to desperation." Charles shook his head. "Whoa wait, but what about the bodies? And you having to go and get his shipment back? And the way you two met." She laughed and took her badge out of her pocket. "Ok, you are owed some answers. First we get that shipment straight. If you two would follow me."

   Laura led them to the area of the plane where the shipment was. She opened it and showed them what was inside. There were about a hundred people cramped up in the Cargo space. Charles placed his hand over his mouth as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Th…that son of a bitch!" Carol let her rage carry her over to Anthony as he was being put into a police car. "Come to say Adios?" Carol lifted her right leg and forced it into Anthony's head knocking him unconscious as his head hit the side of the car. She heard something hit the ground. She looked and saw three teeth lying there. She looked up at Anthony to see his mouth bleeding. "Guess I'll see you next lifetime."

   Laura helped the people out and made sure everyone was ok. Carol made her way back as the last person out of the plane hugged Charles and ran back to her family. "Right answers for you two. The last job didn't go bad. Well, bad for Anthony. See we were close to having a full case on him but we didn't know what he was transporting. So I took a risk and had the place raided and arrested his men. Staged it like someone else took it. It was a risk because he could've gone after me but, for some reason, he went directly after you. All his attention went to you. He became sloppy and it allowed me to get enough information to build this case." Charles stood confused for a moment. Slowly piecing everything together.

   "So, the story of you two meeting was just you getting on good terms with him? I guess I have to ask, are we under arrest?" Laura put her hands on her hips by her handcuffs. "For what exactly? Epifanio's own rule about but telling you what the cargo is backfired. Since you two didn't know, far as we're concerned you two just flew a plane and happened to be here at the right time." With that she winked and walked away.

   Charles stood next to Carol. "Guess no one is in danger anymore. Carol….Thank you for doing this. And for the talk on the ride over here. I'm…." He put his hand behind his head trying to speak the words he wanted to say out loud. "I'm just wondering….are we….good?" Charles nervously awaited Carol's response. She stood with her arms folded looking at Charles. She let her arms down and  sighed. "You put me through some shit….but I don't hate you." She put her fist out waiting for a bump. Charles' smile took up his face as he fist bumped her. "Yeah! I'll take that. Does this mean C&C Music Factory is back? We can sing that NSYNC song. You know you want to." Carol chuckled as she walked away. "I immediately regret my decision." She walked towards the airport but stopped just before going in. "We aren't where we were….but we are getting there. See you around Charles in Charge." Carol walked into the airport happy to be going home.

   Laura approached Charles smiling. "Charles Martin. You have helped me with the biggest case of my career. As a thank you, I want to give you this." She walked Charles over to a black Lamborghini Gallardo. "Holy shit!! You're just giving me this?" Laura tossed him the keys. "No. We searched it and found nothing. Anthony bought it while I was out looking for his missing product. Which by the way, was just several cases of copper wire. The other one in case you're wondering, was blank passports. But back to the topic he purchased this and seeing as how he won't need it and you need a ride home, we figured you could use it." Charles hugged her and got in. He buckled his seatbelt and placed his hands on the wheel. "This is going to be fun."

   As Charles was enjoying the car, a tall older man approached Laura. "Nice work Special Agent Ingall. You have done well." Laura stood at attention and gave a salute. "Thank you sir." "At ease, I'm not your commanding officer." She put her hand down and into her pockets. "You did so well in fact that you've got the attention of someone important." The man pulled out a folder and handed it to her. "Apparently there is a special team dedicated to ridding a city of crime. Some city in the Bay where the Sun Set. Supposedly they have already taken down some of them and are looking to finish the rest. They will need help and they are recruiting. I recommend you for the job." Laura smiled as she looked at the folder going over all the details. "When do I start?"

   Charles made his way back to the city of Eureka Springs. A small town that had become his home. Wasting no time he drove to his apartment building and rushed to Robyn's door. He stopped and pressed the button for the alarm. He then continued on. He knocked on the door taking a second to think of something cool to say and a cool pose. Robyn opened the door and saw Charles leaning against the doorframe. "You must be a thief because you…are Robyn my heart." There was a long silence as Robyn just stared at him. "Ignoring that awful line, since you're back it must have gone well." Charles straightened up and dusted himself off. "Yeah it did actually. Anthony got arrested, me and Carol actually spoke and we are getting back to where we were. I truly feel like I came a long way from the man who was running away from everything." Robyn put her arms around Charles and pulled him in close. "Well good, because that is the man I want to get to know." She pressed her lips against his for what seemed like eternity but it felt perfect to Charles. He could hold his head up high knowing in his heart and mind that even though the events weren't ideal, it helped him find his redemption.
  

THE END