I pulled back into the parking lot where Teddy and Lucas were waiting. Lucas was standing next to a red Porsche 993. The two men approached as I got out of the car. There was no sign of Alicia.

“What happened?” Teddy said, “I got back 10 minutes ago.”

“You’ll never guess who was in my backseat.”

Agent Ruthersford stared at me, “No? The Farfalla? Twice in one day?”

I checked my watch. “Well technically, it’s been two days.”

Agent Faulkner cut in, “Wait, you saw the Farfalla? Today? What does she look like?”

I thought for a moment. “Blond Italian Catwoman, but also a supermodel.”

Lucas looked impressed. “Huh, I guess that checks out.”

I filled them in on what the Farfalla had told me and showed them the case she had left in my car.

Teddy looked skeptical. “So she thinks that Northcutt is stealing out of evidence and selling it to Palmerson? I doubt it. He might be able to get away with it for a little while, but that would catch up with him eventually. What could he hope to gain, long term?”

“Well, that’s what she suspects.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It should be easy to verify.”

Teddy bit his lip. “I’m not so sure. He may have done something to cover his tracks. I doubt he just signed them out and drove them over to the Reliable Reliquary.” He sighed. “Still, they were kept in a secure area, there has to be some kind of record of access.”

Lucas interjected, “Don’t we have a bigger problem? This Sleeper fellow sounds like a real son of a bitch. I assume we are going to try to prevent the transfer of the migrants?”

Teddy frowned, “That’s going to be easier said than done. We are in Texas after all. It’s literally a needle in a haystack situation. Short of staking out the warehouse, I don’t see a way through. And that would be akin to suicide, I think. We’d be begging to take on the Sleeper, the Black Mesa pack, and whatever other defenses he might have. A pack of those Runic Tattoo mages at the least.”

“I had a thought about that, let me make a few calls and see what I can track down,” I said. “In the meantime, what are we going to do with these?” I held up the plastic case.

“Hold on to it for now. We can miraculously ‘find’ the relics whenever we need them. Until we know what Northcutt’s game is, it’s better to just keep it quiet.” Teddy put a hand on my shoulder. “Nice work in the park Cash, you saved me back there.”

I smiled at my partner, “Well, Alicia saved us both. Where is she anyway?” I looked at Lucas.

He was leaning against his Porsche smoking a cigarette. He waved a hand in the air. “You know, around. Full moon and all.” He appeared deep in thought.

“She run all the way from the gas station?” I imagined her pounding down the pavement in wolf form, tearing through the night.

Lucas took a long drag. “I drove her to the park and she ran the rest of the way. Soon as Agent Ruthersford texted me. She crossed the river in a single leap. She’s really sweet on you. I’ve rarely seen her so motivated." He dropped his cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. “Well, gentlemen, it’s been a joy, but it’s way past my bedtime. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He got into his 993 and glided out of the parking lot.

I put my coach gun and the plastic case in my trunk. “Teddy, I feel like we got more questions than answers.” I heard Teddy’s car door close and the engine of the Audi fire up. He pulled up next to me and rolled down the window.

“That’s normal in this line of work. Go home and try to get some sleep. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.” He started to pull off and then stopped again with a smile. “And Cash, make sure you check your backseat.” I watched his taillights as he left the parking lot. Smartass.

I got in my car, took my cell phone out of my pocket, and pulled up John’s contact info. I looked at his picture on my screen for a moment before pressing the dial button.

“Rennie?” his sleepy voice answered after three rings.

“Hey John, sorry to bother you so late.” I thought about how much I could tell him.

“No worries bro-ham, what’s up?”

“I’ve got a lead, on some border activity. I heard a gang called Black Mesa is moving some cargo across. The migrant kind. Headed to San Paso by Thursday afternoon. I need to know when and where they are crossing.”

“And you want me to use my Task Force connections to try and find out?”

“Yeah, I mean, you’ve been there what, two weeks? I figured you got some credit saved up.”

“Jesus, Cash, this isn’t much to go on.” But, I could hear him scribbling in his notebook. “I’ll see what I can find out and call you tomorrow.” He paused, I imagined he was checking the time. “Feds got you working overtime your first week?”

I wanted to tell him so many things, starting with “Sarah was murdered” and ending with “I just blew a Werecoyote’s arm off with my magic shotgun.” I settled on “You know Uncle Sam, work, work, work, busy bee.” I faked a chuckle I didn’t feel.

The line was silent for a moment and John yawned, listening to what I didn’t say. “OK, well, take care of yourself partner, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Cool man, thanks. G’night.”

I double-checked the back seat then drove home with the windows down, enjoying the night air. I took the long way and didn’t test the speed limits. The wind was cold on my face and smelled fresh and clean. Blowing out the last heat and dust of the summer. I looked up at the moon, fat and heavy in the sky. The stars could barely support their weight.

I almost died tonight. Again.

Was this my life now, my new normal? A series of near misses until my luck finally ran out?

I’d never been much of a gambler. On our frequent trips to Vegas, I’d spent my time at the low-stakes blackjack table watching my stack be slowly whittled away by the inevitability of house odds, nursing watered-down drinks. Sarah would give me gentle grief for losing between shopping trips and then we’d go watch some dipshit do pretend magic. It all seemed so banal now.

But I‘d never stopped trying and I’d never gone home in the black. There was a weird sort of comfort in it. The house always won, that’s just the way it was. Don’t make waves, drink your free drinks and be happy you got at least that. Maybe a free breakfast.

But then something occurred to me. Maybe I had always lost because I never envisioned myself a winner. Was it as simple as that? It was a seductive thought. I hoped there was some kind of truth to it because I wasn’t playing with chips now. Lives were the stake in this game and I was down to the felt. There was nothing left for me to lose.

*****

I walked into the saloon again. The pine boards creaked underfoot as I made my way up to the short rough-hewn bar. The bartender looked me in the eye as he produced the shot glass and mechanically filled it. It didn’t taste quite as foul this time. Was the hooch improving or was I just getting used to it? My father turned to me and instead of his winning smile, he now wore a look of concern.

“It’s all gone then?” he asked. He didn’t wait for an answer. “He’s returned. Did he ever go away? I wonder now. I used the scissors.” He spoke quickly, manic, rapid-fire.

“Who dad? Who’s returned?”

He looked frustrated. “I never meant to leave you this legacy. You always think you have time.” Calmer now, wistful.

I stopped trying to converse with him directly. It was a waste of time. Instead, I waved the bartender over for another pour. “They died in the fire, dad. Sarah and Emma. I lost you and mom then my wife and daughter.”

My father’s eyes were tear-lined with rage. “I should have killed him. There’s no room for mercy in the world. Not anymore.”

I held my breath and drained the glass again. “You don’t believe that. ‘An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.’ That’s what you told me.” I remembered him kneeling down, holding me by the shoulders.

The man sitting next to me seized my arm and spun me to face him. His teeth clenched and there was madness in his eyes. Hatred. I was looking into my own face.

“I was wrong.”

I woke up heaving for breath. My arms were shaking, my face wet from tears and sweat. I tried to cry, but it wouldn’t come. I clutched the pillow from the unused side of the bed and squeezed it. I squeezed and squeezed until the muscles of my arms, back and chest began to cramp and spasm. Then, I squeezed some more. The pain became tangible. A living thing. I grunted and groaned as I wrestled it into submission. Finally, I flung the pillow back to the bed and took huge shuddering breaths. They echoed through the empty house.