The Traffickers (Badge of Honor 9)

His mind wandered to the Texas Ranger. He checked his wristwatch. It showed three thirty. The airplane had been due in at three twenty-two.

Flight’s late. Nothing new there.

Payne had taken fifteen or so minutes at the Roundhouse to do a fast Internet search on the Rangers. And what little he’d found had been fascinating.

Real Wild Wild West stuff, he’d thought.

He’d copied the information into an e-mail and sent it to himself. Then he’d taken his cellular telephone and used it to check his e-mail, downloading a copy of the file to his phone.

He pulled out his phone now and opened the e-mail:

From: SGT M.M. Payne ‹› Date: 09SEPT 1201 To: MMP (Mobile Email) ‹› Subject: Tx Rangers Notes Texas Rangers Sergeant Jim Byrth, Continental flight from IAH arriving PHL at 1522 hours, terminal D.

Snippets on Texas Rangers… ››› Began in its first form in 1823. Stephen F. Austin, developing settlements in the Mexican province of Tejas, called for men to “Range” the frontier to protect its people. Officially became Texas Rangers in 1835. ››› Austin recruited settlers from Europe and U.S. with the promise of land. Settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens, join the Catholic faith, speak Spanish. ››› Mexican law authorized Austin to form militia to protect settlements. The Rangers were formed to ward off raids by Tonkawa and Comanche Indians and others, to capture criminals, and to “range” against intruders. ››› “A Ranger is an officer able to handle any given situation without definite instructions from his commanding officer, or higher authority. This ability must be proven before a man becomes a Ranger.” ››› “One Riot, One Ranger”-In 1896, Texas Ranger Captain Bill McDonald sent to Dallas to stop an illegal prize-fight. The Dallas mayor met McDonald at Union Station, and said, “Where?re the other Rangers?”

McDonald replied, “There?s only one fight. Hell, ain?t I enough?” ››› Early Texas Ranger badges hammered out of silver Mexican five-peso coins. Badge is a five-point star within a ring engraved with oak leaves and an olive branch borrowed from the Texas Great Seal to represent strength (oak leaves) and peace (olive branch). ››› Senior Ranger Captain Frank H. Hamer-commissioned as a Texas Highway Patrolman-went after Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Tracked Bonnie and Clyde for more than th

ree months before finding them in Louisiana. The outlaws fired-and were killed in the ensuing shoot-out on 23 May 1934. ››› Present Day: Rangers are a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The 134 Texas Rangers (as authorized by Texas Legislature) are posted in seven companies: Waco (headquarters), Garland (Dallas/Fort Worth), Houston, Lubbock, Midland, San Antonio, and McAllen. Administrative office in Austin. ››› Has been called one of the most effective investigative law-enforcement agencies in the world. ›››

Texas Rangers wear, as living symbols of a unique heritage, boots, white hats, and pistol belts of their predecessors.

Payne noticed movement and looked up from his phone.

There was another group coming out of Concourse D. But all Payne really noticed was a white Stetson cowboy hat seemingly floating down the concourse. It looked to be made of finely woven straw. Its crown was huge. The portion of the round brim over his ears spread out to resemble wide wings.

The Hat, Payne labeled it.

There were, of course, other passengers exiting ahead of and behind The Hat, but all Matt Payne could see of the Texas Ranger was The Hat.

And, boy, does it stand out.

Especially here in the Philly airport.

Should be interesting to see it in Center City…

Payne was standing with five others who were watching the passengers coming out of Concourse D and going their different directions. He saw The Hat make a slow sweep of the terminal as Byrth scanned the area, no doubt looking for him. Then Byrth made eye contact with him and walked purposefully toward him.

With the exception of The Hat and his pointy-toed western boots, James O. Byrth did not look unlike Matthew M. Payne.

Byrth, who appeared to be about thirty years old, stood right at six feet tall and weighed 170 pounds. He was lithely muscled. He had dark, intelligent eyes and kept his dark, thick hair trimmed conservatively short. He wore gray slacks that actually had cuffs and a sharp crease, a stiffly starched white button-down collared shirt, and a single-breasted navy blue blazer with gold buttons.

The Hat stepped up to Matt Payne.

“Marshal Earp, I presume,” Jim Byrth said with utter confidence. His distinct Texas drawl made it only more so.

“That’s interesting,” Payne replied dryly. “I was about to say the same to you. You forget your horse in the plane’s overhead bin?”

Byrth grinned. “No. I checked it. Should be waiting at the baggage claim.”

Wait, Payne thought. How the hell did he pick me out so quickly?

And confidently?

Liz Justice probably gave him a basic description.

But he knew without question that it was me.

“Okay, how’d you make me?” Payne said, holding out his right hand.