16-10-2026, 02:23 PM
“Bill, what is happening?”
“Okay, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just - the kids are out - and believe it or not I’m not doing anything but watching some TV and eating ice cream. It’s been a long week so I took a long, hot, restful bath.”
“Bill....what. tell me what’s going on?”
“Just listen, it would take too long. If you think it’s okay and no one’s in the house, go straight to the safe and get the Glock. Go back in the bathroom but take a home phone and cell with you. If you see anyone other than a uniformed cop, or me, in the house, shoot to kill. Don’t hesitate. Even if it’s a cop, make them show ID.”
“You’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“Good, baby, good. I want to scare the shit out of you. Being scared could keep you alive. Now, where is BJ?”
“BJ? Bill?”
“Where is he?”
“He was going to go over to that Tommy Wilson’s house. They were going to hang out, maybe see a movie.”
There was a momentary twinge of....something. I didn’t recognize the name. It was a friend he’d made since I’d moved out of his life - just another reminder.
“Call the Wilsons. If he’s still there make sure he stays there and call me back. Tell him a security officer cruiser will be coming by to pick him up. Get the Glock, then call the Wilsons. If he’s there, call me back. Move as quick as you can.”
“They should be at your ex’s house within a minute. Give me the in-law’s address and I’ll try to have somebody there in 15 minutes.”
I’d nearly been wiped out in accidents a half dozen times in the last several minutes, but the flashing lights and the sirens saved my ass several times as I approached San Jose and pulled off on the way to my – Debbie’s – house.
My cell rang and Debbie said, “I’ve got the Glock and a patrolman named Suggs is here. I’ve seen him in the courthouse and in the PD office. I let him and his partner in.”
“Let them do their thing but stay away from windows and you hold onto the Glock anyway. Have you had a chance to call the Wilsons?”
“No, I was just going...”
“Hang up and call them, Deb. The first second you get confirmation BJ’s there, call me back.”
The cell rang and Martin was saying, “Slow the hell down, Maitland. Rutledge says you’re hitting 90 and have nearly killed a dozen motorists. You’re getting ready to get onto residential streets. Our guys are there and no one is going to get at your ex. Don’t kill yourself getting there.”
I made myself take my foot off the gas and slowed to 60 and then 50 as I headed toward what had been my home. I even stopped for red lights.
The cell rang as I was approaching my former residence.
Cathy Bascomb said, “Roy is on his way to pick up Kelly. A security officer officer just called here and I told him where Roy was headed, described his car and they said they would meet Roy there and escort them back here.”
“Thank you Cathy and thank Roy. I’ll call you guys in a few minutes and tell you what’s happening. In the meantime, stay close to the cops that are headed your way.”
“Bill...this is scary. Is this for real?”
“I don’t know, Cathy. I hope this is all a false alarm but, be careful.”
There were already three security officer cars parked on the street in front of the house, with two sets of officers checking out the front and back. Neighbors were coming out of their houses as cops waved them back inside. I pulled into the drive and was out of the door before the motor had stopped turning.
Two cops made a human shield in front of me and had their guns drawn as I held out my State Attorney ID, which is a photo ID. I stopped long enough for them to glance at it and then pushed past them as they gave me a nod. They were reacting the way I wanted them to.
I was inside the door before it hit me and I slowed in mid-stride. I’d only been here twice in more than six months and each time had been painful. It felt too damned good to be in here, but I made myself trot forward toward the den.
She came out dressed in shorts and a light blue blouse that as usual she was bulging out of. Her hair was wet and hanging straight down behind her. I instantly got hard, remembering the last time I’d had that fantastic body in the shower, but this time I didn’t care about letting her know the effect she had on me and I didn’t bother to hide it.
Finally, and it was only a little less difficult than cutting my arm off with a rusty spoon, I pushed her away and held her at arm’s length.
“Why?” There were tears in her eyes.
“I was just glad to see you alive, Debbie.”
“I...I just got off the phone with the Wilsons. I told them to keep BJ there with their son until the security officer get there. Now you tell me, Bill, what is going on here?”
I told her. She stumbled a little and I held her elbows to keep her upright. “Oh my God. You’re sure, they were watching BJ?”
“JSO identified you and BJ and the college has to be Mandarin High. They were stalking him, and maybe both of you.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “No, No. not BJ. Is this-“
“I can’t think of any other reason, Debbie. Someone who knows told me the head of the Mexican Cartel Menendez worked for is…concerned… about the possibility that it might come here. This might just be a warning to me, to scare me, or maybe they were planning to make me worry that they could come after you and Kelly after BJ. I don’t know.”
“The Mexican Cartel? Bill, what are you talking about?”
I realized that not everybody in the courthouse would be hooked into the gossip hotline and so I told her.
“I don’t believe this, Bill. Why didn’t you tell me? Let me at least get prepared for-“
“I can’t explain Roy, not now. Just do it. Call the cops.”
I tried Debbie’s cell again, then the house phone. Images of the carnage in Texas invaded my mind and I couldn’t get the pictures out.
On the eighth ring I heard, “Hi. Bill, is that you?”
I felt like an iron collar had been released from around my throat and I could breathe again.
“Debbie, why haven’t you been answering your phone?” “Um....uh... I was in the tub.”
“For thirty five minutes or more?”
“Is that a crime now? Honestly, Bill-“
“I’m sorry, Deb. I didn’t – It’s just that I’ve been trying – we’ve been trying – to reach you for awhile.”“Okay, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just - the kids are out - and believe it or not I’m not doing anything but watching some TV and eating ice cream. It’s been a long week so I took a long, hot, restful bath.”
“Debbie, listen to me carefully. Are the doors locked?” “Uh, yeah. Yes. Why?”
“Don’t ask questions. Is the Glock in the safe? Is it loaded?” “Yes.”
“Go straight to the safe but look around when you leave the bathroom. If you see or hear anything, if you even have a bad feeling, get back in the bathroom and lock the door. Put that chair in front of the mirror jammed up against the door and stay away from the door.”“Bill....what. tell me what’s going on?”
“Just listen, it would take too long. If you think it’s okay and no one’s in the house, go straight to the safe and get the Glock. Go back in the bathroom but take a home phone and cell with you. If you see anyone other than a uniformed cop, or me, in the house, shoot to kill. Don’t hesitate. Even if it’s a cop, make them show ID.”
“You’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“Good, baby, good. I want to scare the shit out of you. Being scared could keep you alive. Now, where is BJ?”
“BJ? Bill?”
“Where is he?”
“He was going to go over to that Tommy Wilson’s house. They were going to hang out, maybe see a movie.”
There was a momentary twinge of....something. I didn’t recognize the name. It was a friend he’d made since I’d moved out of his life - just another reminder.
“Call the Wilsons. If he’s still there make sure he stays there and call me back. Tell him a security officer cruiser will be coming by to pick him up. Get the Glock, then call the Wilsons. If he’s there, call me back. Move as quick as you can.”
“Bill...”
“Don’t talk - MOVE.”
I hung up on her, then called Martin back.
“Send in uniforms at my place and my in-laws. I told them to shoot anybody but a uniform, and tell your guys to be ready to show their ID.”“They should be at your ex’s house within a minute. Give me the in-law’s address and I’ll try to have somebody there in 15 minutes.”
I’d nearly been wiped out in accidents a half dozen times in the last several minutes, but the flashing lights and the sirens saved my ass several times as I approached San Jose and pulled off on the way to my – Debbie’s – house.
My cell rang and Debbie said, “I’ve got the Glock and a patrolman named Suggs is here. I’ve seen him in the courthouse and in the PD office. I let him and his partner in.”
“Let them do their thing but stay away from windows and you hold onto the Glock anyway. Have you had a chance to call the Wilsons?”
“No, I was just going...”
“Hang up and call them, Deb. The first second you get confirmation BJ’s there, call me back.”
The cell rang and Martin was saying, “Slow the hell down, Maitland. Rutledge says you’re hitting 90 and have nearly killed a dozen motorists. You’re getting ready to get onto residential streets. Our guys are there and no one is going to get at your ex. Don’t kill yourself getting there.”
I made myself take my foot off the gas and slowed to 60 and then 50 as I headed toward what had been my home. I even stopped for red lights.
The cell rang as I was approaching my former residence.
Cathy Bascomb said, “Roy is on his way to pick up Kelly. A security officer officer just called here and I told him where Roy was headed, described his car and they said they would meet Roy there and escort them back here.”
“Thank you Cathy and thank Roy. I’ll call you guys in a few minutes and tell you what’s happening. In the meantime, stay close to the cops that are headed your way.”
“Bill...this is scary. Is this for real?”
“I don’t know, Cathy. I hope this is all a false alarm but, be careful.”
There were already three security officer cars parked on the street in front of the house, with two sets of officers checking out the front and back. Neighbors were coming out of their houses as cops waved them back inside. I pulled into the drive and was out of the door before the motor had stopped turning.
Two cops made a human shield in front of me and had their guns drawn as I held out my State Attorney ID, which is a photo ID. I stopped long enough for them to glance at it and then pushed past them as they gave me a nod. They were reacting the way I wanted them to.
I was inside the door before it hit me and I slowed in mid-stride. I’d only been here twice in more than six months and each time had been painful. It felt too damned good to be in here, but I made myself trot forward toward the den.
She came out dressed in shorts and a light blue blouse that as usual she was bulging out of. Her hair was wet and hanging straight down behind her. I instantly got hard, remembering the last time I’d had that fantastic body in the shower, but this time I didn’t care about letting her know the effect she had on me and I didn’t bother to hide it.
“Bill.”
She was in my arms and I was pressing her hard against me, feeling her soft tits flatten against me, burying my face in her still moist, fragrant hair. After a fraction of a second of resistance she molded herself against me. I could feel her heart beating against me.Finally, and it was only a little less difficult than cutting my arm off with a rusty spoon, I pushed her away and held her at arm’s length.
“Why?” There were tears in her eyes.
“I was just glad to see you alive, Debbie.”
“I...I just got off the phone with the Wilsons. I told them to keep BJ there with their son until the security officer get there. Now you tell me, Bill, what is going on here?”
I told her. She stumbled a little and I held her elbows to keep her upright. “Oh my God. You’re sure, they were watching BJ?”
“JSO identified you and BJ and the college has to be Mandarin High. They were stalking him, and maybe both of you.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “No, No. not BJ. Is this-“
“I can’t think of any other reason, Debbie. Someone who knows told me the head of the Mexican Cartel Menendez worked for is…concerned… about the possibility that it might come here. This might just be a warning to me, to scare me, or maybe they were planning to make me worry that they could come after you and Kelly after BJ. I don’t know.”
“The Mexican Cartel? Bill, what are you talking about?”
I realized that not everybody in the courthouse would be hooked into the gossip hotline and so I told her.
“I don’t believe this, Bill. Why didn’t you tell me? Let me at least get prepared for-“
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