The Oaths We Keep

Chapter 18

Fernando took his mask off a few minutes after he left the church. "Hey, we good back there, Hermano?" he called to Manuel. The drop went as well as expected this time. Maybe a little too well, he thought to himself. His survival instincts told him he should be even more suspicious when things went exactly as planned. He looked in the rearview mirror, taking note of the cars behind him, then quickly turned onto a two-lane road.

"Hey, what are you doing?' Manuel asked him.

"Just checking something." He said as he slowed down and looked again in his rearview mirror. As he suspected, a maroon car made the exact turn. He thought it was hanging back, trying not to get too close. "Hang on; I'm going to turn again." Watching from the rearview mirror, he saw the maroon car turn behind him, confirming what he suspected. "We're being followed," he told Manuel.

"Cops?"

"I don't know, but probably. Hang on; I'm going to try and lose him." Fernando sped up and made a sharp left to return to the highway. Up ahead, he spotted a marked patrol car driving toward them. "It's cops. Hang on," he said as he put the accelerator to the floor.

"What do we do, Fernando?"

"Open the door and ditch the gringo," Fernando said as the van raced past the patrol car before its driver had time to act.

Manuel grabbed the bound and blindfolded hostage and opened the door. Fernando released the accelerator and slowed down just enough to keep his brother from falling out of the van. "Adios muchacho," Manuel said as he shoved Conner Harper out of the sliding door. The man hit the ground, rolling over several times as Manuel shut the door and the van sped away.

McClendon watched in horror as the van slowed down, and a man flew out of it, hitting the ground and rolling. "Oh my god," he said, stopping the car. The patrol car behind him also stopped. The officer radioed for an ambulance to come to their location. "Taylor," McClendon called over his radio, "they made me. They threw Dr. Harper out of the van and drove off. I lost sight of them, repeat lost sight."

"How is Dr. Harper?" Taylor radioed back.

McClendon rushed to the prone man looking for signs of life. "He's alive but badly injured. We have an ambulance en route."

"Alright, stay there. I'm not far behind you. Is Dr. Harper conscious?"

"Negative."

"Alright, stay with him." Speaking into his radio, Taylor announced, "All units on standby. If you get eyes on the van, don't force a chase. These guys are running scared, and I don't want to endanger anyone unnecessarily." A few minutes later, he arrived on the scene. The ambulance arrived almost simultaneously, and paramedics began to work on Dr. Harper.

"Conner!" yelled Erin as she ran by the two detectives. McClendon stopped her before she could get to where the paramedics were putting him on a scoop stretcher. "Conner, can you hear me?" she said as she continued trying to get past McClendon.

"Erin," came Barnes' voice from behind her. She took hold of Erin's arms, "Erin, listen to me. The paramedics have him. They'll take good care of him, okay? Listen, you have to calm down now."

"Detective Barnes, I have to see my husband. Please, I need to be with him."

"I'm sorry, Erin, I can't let you do that."

"Please, Detective, he needs me. Please, you can come with me if you need to, but I have to see him."

"Erin, I'm sorry. You're under arrest for multiple counts of bank fraud, theft of financial documents, and carrying a firearm without a license." Erin looked back at her in disbelief.

"Detective I..."

"Erin, turn around and put your hands behind your back," Barnes said as she took her cuffs from their holder. Erin looked back at her, eyes pleading for Barnes to allow her to see Conner. Erin relented and did as she was told, and Barnes applied the cuff to her wrists. She took Erin by her left arm and led her to the patrol car on the side of the road. Barnes opened the door, and Erin sat in the backseat as Barnes affixed the seatbelt. "Officer, will you please transport Mrs. Harper back to the station?"

As the patrol car drove away, Barnes stood and watched it go. Taylor walked up beside her, letting a few moments pass before speaking. "You did what you had to do, Barnes."

"This feels wrong, Roger. I feel..."

"I know, Barnes, but it's out of our hands. Besides, we still have the kidnappers to deal with."