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    Az
    Az
    Az
    Ebook157 pages2 hours

    Az

    By Stephen Brandon

    ()

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    About this ebook

    What does a man do when his wife dies? Of course he goes to visit friends for comfort. However, one of his friends starts him on a path that leads him to an Indian reservation in Arizona. Death, mayhem, and magic swirl around him.
    Circumstances then get him involved with an organization that uses him to divert attention from what they are doing. Unfortunately the top man's daughters find him attractive and decide to keep him.
    "I see several problems, Sir. First, I think that some of our unsavory friends may overlap. Second, you're right, I'm not in control of the girls. Third, I didn't ask for this situation and must try to make the best of it. Fourth, ...? Fifth, do I want to or will I survive this situation?"
    Soon another situation with further reaching consequences taps him on the shoulder.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStephen Brandon
    Release dateJun 21, 2012
    ISBN9781476493671
    Az
    Author

    Stephen Brandon

    I've loved westerns and science fiction since I picked up my first book at the public library. I've been writing on my computer for years. I never planned on any of my stories being published, just to be read by myself, family, and friends. The base journal is on forty spreadsheets with links to about a thousand files of short one day paragraphs plus other stories. {My claim to fame, written by someone else. Thanks.} "As an earthbound retiree, Stephen writes mostly science fiction and short stories. He is a voracious reader and has written for a few years, publishing his stories on Smashwords."

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      Book preview

      Az - Stephen Brandon

      AZ

      By Stephen Brandon

      Copyright 2012 Stephen Brandon

      Smashwords Edition

      * * * * *

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      * * * * *

      Author's Note

      This book is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, incidents, and dialogue are from the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      * * * * *

      Chapter 1 The Funeral

      The spring day was as beautiful as the flowers on the casket. Then the lift moved it up and into the crypt located on the outside southern wall of the funeral chapel After the service the old man nodded and thanked everyone as they walked by and gave their condolences.

      After everyone left his son walked over and said, Dad, I wish you would move down to Largo Vista. You know there is plenty of room on my property to build your own little house. You'll be able to see the grandchildren more often.

      Son, you left as soon as you graduated and never came home or called unless it was to talk to your mother, so don't try running a guilt trip on me now.

      Dad, I don't want anything from you, I just thought you might want to be closer to the children. I've got to get back and I promise I'll call. Then he walked over to the rental car and drove off leaving his Dad staring at the crypt.

      The next morning after eating breakfast at McDonald's, Mike went across the street and looked at the directory for the lawyers in the building. There were three. After a minute he turned and walked up the stairs and across to the office of last on the list. The receptionist reminded him of his wife and after a minute she escorted him in to the office. As Mike looked over the solid wood walls of the office he noticed that Bill had passed his bar exam just the year before.

      Bill assured him that he could handle selling his house and keeping him updated on anything he requested.

      After signing all the paperwork Mike commented, I probably won't see you more than a few times a year, but you can reach me anytime my cell phone is on.

      Chapter 2 A new truck

      Perusing an old address book Mike finally called a few of his old Army buddies. After he mentioned that his wife had died and he just couldn't stand to stay in the house, because of the memories. They all said they would enjoy a visit.

      The car salesman touted the benefits of a new crew-cab pickup and looked a little disappointed when Mike pointed to a trade-in sitting on the lot. After a few minutes of bickering Mike got him to have the truck completely serviced and set of new tires all around including two spares. No sooner had the order been finalized on the computer than his supervisor popped into his cubicle and demanded an explanation for the high priority put on the job.

      After listening to the young man being chewed out, Mike stood up and said, Cancel the sale, give me back my $22250 and I'll go elsewhere. Evidently your supervisor doesn't want the sale or he thinks you're not smart enough to make a good sale.

      As the young salesman picked up the cash and extended his hand, his supervisor started apologizing to Mike.

      All Mike said then was, Call the owner of this lot, I want to see him now. and sat back down.

      They all heard a phone ring twice and then the young salesman stated, A customer wishes to see you in my office, it was a cash sale.

      When the elderly man walked in, Mike explained what had happened. Then he said, What do you suggest I do?

      The owner turned to the supervisor and said, You got 15 minutes to get off my car lot before I have you thrown off, and you're fired. Son, you now have his job and office, don't screw it up. Mike, I hope you'll let the sale stand, I suggest you let me buy you an early dinner while your truck is prepared. I just need ten minutes to get everything rolling.

      I think I will accept your offer. said Mike.

      That evening Mike filled up both tanks of the truck. Almost 60 gallons.

      In the morning just as Mike put the water in the coffee maker the door bell rang. The crew boss standing there said, I understand you want everything packed out.

      Smiling Mike said, Just leave me my coffee maker and one cup. You have the address in Largo Vista, right.

      The crew boss then said, The inventory manager and her crew will be here in fifteen minutes. I'd like to look through the house now.

      That night Mike spent at a friends, and left after a good breakfast.

      Chapter 3 Something to do

      Two days later just north of El Paso, Mike turned onto a dirt road that was only on the county agents map.

      A week later just south of Muleshoe, Mike had a flat and the local sheriff helped him change it. Then he led him to a little used dirt road and told him the house he was looking for was two miles on the right. If he got to the wood bridge over the dry gulch, he missed it.

      Ten days later in the suburbs of Las Cruces, Mike rang the doorbell of a sprawling ranch house and watched the nosy neighbor try to hide behind her curtain.

      The next day the sales clerk at the downtown mall wanted extra identification when Mike paid with a check for the camping gear. He mentioned later to his friend that the foxy redhead with the old man couldn't be related, she sounded Mexican or Indian.

      While Mike loaded his purchases in the truck he was hailed by a friend. He as his wife were surprised to see him in New Mexico, but it was a small world.

      Stuart's private detective lost track of Mike's movements after that until he was stopped in Arizona on I-17 northbound and given a ticket for a burned out tail light on a trailer he was hauling. Then he lost him again. It wasn't until Bill handled the ticket that the lawyer was discovered.

      Bill contacted Mike and informed him that his son was attempting to track him down and had indicated that he would get a lawyer of his own to force him back to Texas.

      Mike simply said, Record the following, I'll get a lawyer in Las Vegas to send you the paperwork authorizing all further instructions be verbal and only the paperwork required by law be kept. You are also instructed by me to have a poor memory as far as my location is concerned. You will not inform my son or any relative of my location. You may play this recording for my son, his lawyer, and the court if he goes that far. My instructions to you after that is to send me an E-mail, and then you are authorized to charge my checking account one thousand dollars as a final fee and take your beautiful secretary out for an extravagant dinner. Then your services are no longer needed. Thanks for the service and help you've given me in my time of need.

      A week later Bill signed for a registered envelope from a small law firm in Las Vegas. He called in one of the other lawyers in the building and notary. In front of the camera he opened the envelope and scanned each document into the computer including the picture of Mike holding up a Las Vegas newspaper in one hand and his other arm around a short redhead. The notary stamped each document and the inventory list and then all was sealed and placed in Bill's safe along with the disk from the computer. Once the instructions to Bill were printed and notarized he gave copies to everyone.

      Two days later Stuart's lawyer visited Bill along with a sheriff and paperwork from the court to disclose all information about Mike. After giving each a copy of his instructions he pointed out, This court order was illegal because it requires me to break my oath of confidence with Mike. It will also be my pleasure to fight in court a big reputation lawyer from Austin. Win or loose in court, I will become known and then have more clients and you will loose either way because you will loose trust with your clients. Think it over while I file for an injunction to stop this. Now get out of my office! Then Bill sat down at his computer and drafted the E-mail and attached the digital recording of the visit. Then his secretary brought in the paperwork for the injunction and he left file it.

      Mike read the E-mail and then replied, your services are still required, keep me informed. Sorry no extravagant dinner yet. Then he paid for his coffee, told the clerk to remember him, and left Beryl, Utah.

      On the way out of town Mike made a decision because he remembered something he was told once, You're still alive because there is something you're supposed to do. Find your mission and then do it!

      He stopped at the library in St. George and sent an E-mail to Bill asking for a complete listing of what his son had learned and keep updating it.

      Chapter 4 First Hunt

      At the five & dime in Colorado City he bought a journal book, turning to the tenth page he wrote, I'm only still alive because there is something I must do to fulfill my destiny. This is the first of my entry. Stopped in Marble Canyon this afternoon and called the number. Was told to go to Tuba City and park at the drug store. They'd meet me there. Spent the night in a Tepee.

      Drove to Aragon, NM and bought cattle trailer and two mules. Only problem was finding a receiver ball to fit the trailer. Picked up a young buck in Tuba and we drove nonstop to Pisin Mo'o. There he traded the two mules for a dog and several boxes that we loaded in the truck bed. When we got to Cowlic a reservation cop stopped us and ordered us to follow him.

      Damn good thing this truck has 4 wheel drive. We had to abandon the trailer an hour off the road. Six grueling hours later he said that was as far as he could go, but we were to drive up this wash for another mile and we'd be there.

      The four Indians that met us had us back into a cave where we unpacked the boxes. Motion detectors, igniters, fuses, dynamite, a box of clay, and the last box contained ball bearings.

      We spent two days making home made claymores. Then they were mated with radio receivers and motion detectors.

      The scout arrived the next morning and we packed up. We hiked southwesterly for two days when he called a halt and we set up a base camp in another cave high in a valley.

      I watched the computer monitor for less than an hour before an armed group hauling bundles of dope walked past the first hidden cameras labeled route 1. My young companion motioned me to look at his monitor labeled route 2 and there was a different group there. The scout looked at both groups and calmly said, Tomorrow we start setting the mines.

      By ten we were loaded up and hiked down the valley. All together we set out about fifty charges. Twice we had to hide from border patrol and once from a Mexican army patrol. I'll bet some of the mines were set south of the border.

      When I asked the scout if we were in Mexico, he simply said, We are on our land, it was ours long before your people came from the east. Then he led us to another cave and we rested and ate.

      The next morning we trekked west into another valley and set up an observation post. I've never seen solar cells that didn't reflect. At eleven we dropped to the valley floor and started north setting our remaining mines. The smugglers path was easy to follow because of the trash they dropped. About two we were hailed by another group. They had nine mines so we continued up the trail and placed them and some more cameras. We went up the west side of the valley to their camp and had a good dinner.

      That night only illegals came across.

      The next afternoon an armed group of drug runners started up trail 5. I asked when they would be dealt with and the scout simply said, We'll wait until they get to the northern end of the trap.

      Camera 63 recorded them approaching and then we watched as a border patrol team sprang their ambush. Watching the firefight was interesting until one of the smugglers hiked a rocket launcher. After he started firing the border patrol retreated. Their scout picked up his radio and simply said, location 64, be ready. As the smugglers approached camera 64 we armed the mines labeled 64. As the smugglers entered the kill zone I was handed a joystick and told push the button. With anticipation I pressed the button and nothing happened. The lead

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