The Devil’s Punchbowl. Greg Iles

      He’s in Afghanistan.

       Where do the girls go? Houston?

      I’m not sure. But wherever it is, you should go with them.

      His contemptuous expression tells me his answer to this, but he types:

       Kelly’s people will take better care of them than I could, and I have three patients dying right now. One in hospice and two in the hospital. I’m not going anywhere. You haven’t called Kelly’s people yet?

      I have to leave the house for that. Was waiting for you.

       Where are you going?

      Not far. I should be back within 15 minutes, but don’t panic unless I’m gone an hour.

      He digests this, then types:

       What if somebody tries to break in while you’re gone? Is that what the guns are for?

      I pick up the big revolver and slip it into his arthritic hands.

       Can you still fire a pistol?

      He eyes his crooked fingers doubtfully.

       If they bust in here, I guess we’ll see. It can’t be any harder than giving a goddamn prostate exam. You don’t have a shotgun, do you?

      Sorry. Wish I did.

      He shrugs philosophically.

      If someone does come, shoot before you talk. I’ll come running, and I should get here fast enough to be of help.

      Dad sucks his teeth for a few seconds, and I know he’s thinking of options. With a grunt he bends and types: There are a couple of guys I could call to help out. Old patients. Ex-cops.

      Not this time. The bad guys might believe I panicked and called you for some Ativan, but if anybody else shows up, we’re asking for trouble. We have to do this the old-fashioned way.

      Dad shakes his head and types: Like Matt Dillon and Festus spending the night at the Dodge City jail, by God.

      That’s about the size of it. I figure you’re more Doc Adams than Festus.

      I’m older than Milburn Stone ever got on that show, I’m afraid.

      I smile, then type: I still trust you with Annie’s life.

      Something hard and implacable comes into my father’s eyes as he reads the words, and I know that the first person who tries to break into my house will take a lethal bullet from a man who knows exactly where to aim.

      I’m going now, I type. Hope for 10 minutes, but give me an hour.

      ‘You’re heartbeat’s slowing a little,’ Dad says. ‘How do you feel?’

      ‘Better. I think I just want to sit here in the tub awhile.’

      He nods understanding. ‘I’ll just go watch some TV in the den. If the nausea doesn’t ease up, give a yell, and I’ll give you a shot of Vistaril.’

      ‘Thanks, Dad. Jesus, this really scared me.’

      ‘Don’t thank me. You’re not out of the woods yet.’

      I start to walk past him, but he grips my arm with startling force, pulls me back to the MacBook, and types: What if you don’t come back?

      He’s right to ask. If I leave this house, no matter how stealthy I try to be, I might be signing my death warrant.

      If I don’t come back, I’m dead or taken. Call 911 and start screaming there’s a home invasion in progress. Then call every cop you ever treated and put a ring of steel around this house. I start to leave, but then I add, And raise Annie like you know I would. Like you raised me.

      He stares at the screen for a long time, and I see his jaw muscles flexing. Then he shakes his head and types: Go fetch the cavalry, Matthew. I’ll hold the fort.

      I use the rear basement window to leave my house. The lower halves of those windows sit in a narrow concrete moat that surrounds the house, and I am thankful for it tonight. I see no one as I sneak out of my backyard, but as I prepare to slip across Washington Street two blocks from my house, a cigarette flares at the corner of my block, illuminating the pale moon of a beardless face. Knowing the watcher will be night-blind for a few moments, I dart across the road and into the foliage of a neighbor’s yard.

      My destination is Caitlin’s guesthouse, a renovated servants’ quarters that can be opened with the same key that opens her front door. I move carefully between my neighbors’ homes, using my knowledge of pets and gardens to steer clear of problems. When I reach Caitlin’s backyard, I experience a moment of panic, thinking she returned while I was making my way here, but what I thought was her car is simply three garbage cans lined up for collection.

      A rush of mildewed air hits me when I open the guesthouse door. Leaving the lights off, I move carefully across the dark den, toward the glowing red light in the kitchenette. With all hope suspended, I lift the cordless phone and press the ON button. A steady dial tone comes to me like a lifeline thrown into a black ocean.

      Taking my cell phone from my pocket, I check its memory for the number of Kelly’s employer in Houston, then enter it into the cordless landline. The phone rings twice, then a cool female voice answers, ‘Blackhawk Risk Management.’ She’s wide-awake at two thirty in the morning, and this gives me some confidence.

      ‘This is Penn Cage calling. I was given this number by Daniel Kelly. He’s a personal friend.’

      ‘Yes, thank you. Did Mr Kelly give you a code word?’

      I close my eyes in silent thanks to Kelly. ‘It’s been some time, but he once told me to say Spartacus if I had an emergency and couldn’t reach him.’

      ‘Thank you, transferring you now. Please remain on the line.’

      There’s no hold music, only a hiss cut short by a squawk. A male voice says, ‘Call me Bill, Mr Cage. Dan Kelly is on assignment at this time. What is the nature of your emergency?’

      ‘It’s life or death. I wouldn’t call otherwise.’

      Bill seems unfazed by this; he continues speaking with the practiced calm of a fighter pilot. ‘Are you in danger now?’

      ‘Yes, but I can talk.’

      ‘How can we help?’

      ‘I’m in Natchez, Mississippi. Five fifty Washington Street, a residence. My family has been threatened by men who committed murder tonight. I’m not sure I can trust the police. I need someone to take my mother and daughter to a safe location. Can you do that?’

      The pause is brief. ‘We can do that. We have some operators arriving for Stateside rotation, and we can send a team. What’s the time frame?’

      ‘How soon can they be here?’

      ‘Seven hours by road. Our company planes are committed at this time. If danger is imminent, I can charter a jet, but cost may become a factor to you at that point.’

      I think quickly. If Jonathan Sands has somehow overheard this call, he can retaliate even before a jet gets here. Annie’s safety lies in my getting back to my house unseen and playing out my bluff. ‘Cost is no object, but seven hours will work fine.’

      ‘You’ll have a team at your front door in seven hours or less. Have the packages ready.’

      ‘I will.’

      ‘Should we expect opposition?’

      ‘I think the opposition will be too surprised to act quickly. But your men should be ready just in case.’

      ‘Understood. Mr Cage, while we were talking, I messaged Dan Kelly via secure digital link. His reply