The Traffickers (Badge of Honor 9)
Page 108
She’s been hurt!
And deeply!
What sonofabitch would do that to such a goddess?
He nodded slowly… numbly.
She could tell he was disappointed, and said, “I am flattered that you asked.”
Not knowing what to say, he just looked at her. Then he mumbled, “‘Be sides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?’ ”
He saw her grin at that. And he saw it was genuine.
She said, “Good night, Matt.”
And she was out the door.
He just stared at it.
“Think about it”?
That ache I just felt in my chest?
And that deafening crack?
That was the unmistakable sound of a heart breaking…
Shit!
THREE
Love Field, Dallas Wednesday, September 9, 7:34 P.M. Texas Standard Time
Juan Paulo Delgado had collected his large black duffle bag at baggage claim and was waiting impatiently on the curb for El Cheque to show up. The Southwest Airlines flight had landed ten minutes early, and Delgado had sent him a text message telling him to step on it. El Gato hated waiting for anything.
There were two cast bronze plaques mounted on the exterior of a nearby wall, each plaque illuminated by a pair of bright halogen floodlights.
Bored, Delgado stepped over to read them.
On the first was:
TEXAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY “The Lone Star State Presents…” LOVE FIELD This airport was named in honor of First Lieutenant Moss Lee Love (1879–1913), Eleventh Cavalry, by the United States Army on October 19, 1917.
Love was killed on September 4, 1913, when his Type C Wright pusher biplane crashed at North Island, San Diego, California.
He had been flying for his Military Aviator Test.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Love was appointed to the U.S. Army in 1910. In April 1913, he was ordered to Texas City, Texas, and there detailed for aviation duty with the Signal Corps and the 1st Aero Squadron. He was with the Signal Corps Aviation School at the time of his death.
Love Field opened for civilian use in 1927, and remained the major aviation hub for Dallas and its citizens until being joined by the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional (now International) Airport in 1974.
Delgado shook his head disgustedly.
Who gives a shit?
Just another dead gringo.
Damn land-grabbers.