"All set?" Walker asked, poking his head out of the pickup truck's cab.
"Clink, clink."
Jack patted his pants pocket, where brass casings made a crisp sound. After throwing all the bodies into the pickup, he had gone back to collect every shell casing he and Hannah had fired and used a branch to sweep away some of the more obvious tire tracks.
Walker started the pickup filled with corpses and drugs and drove into the depths of the desert. Jack followed closely in his F150. Ten minutes later, both vehicles pulled into a small depression in the hills.
Shortly after, Jack reappeared in the F150, with Walker sitting in the passenger seat, staring blankly at the raging fire in the rearview mirror.
"Aren't we polluting the environment? The animals nearby are going to have quite a night," Jack joked when he saw Walker remaining silent.
Walker forced a smile. "I just don't understand why Stan would do such a thing. How many more people like him are hidden within our ranks?"
"I thought no one in Texas cared about the 'why.' You find one, you take one down," Jack teased with a laugh.
"Liam often says I overthink things. Maybe it's because I served in the Navy and was away from home for too long? God knows. That kid is the most unconventional one in our family, working his way up to become a lawyer and now an assistant district attorney."
"Even after he came out about his sexuality, Mom and Dad didn't say much. God, they're devout enough to go to church every week."
Despite complaining about his younger brother, Walker's tone was full of pride.
Jack, having no siblings in either of his lives, listened to Walker's humblebragging and couldn't help but wonder if he should visit his family in this world, perhaps take a trip to Hawaii.
This thought quickly passed as they returned to the scene of the incident. Hannah was standing outside the car, anxiously waiting.
"How's Emily?" Walker jumped out of the car and asked urgently.
"She's okay, just passed out. But that through-and-through wound needs further treatment," Hannah said, opening the car door to reveal the two kids guarding their mother, their faces full of worry.
"We can't go to the hospital. A gunshot wound is too obvious. We'll go straight home and see if we can find a doctor to stitch her up," Walker said, heartbroken but aware of why Jack had told Hannah to wait here.
"Leave it to me. Just have Molly and Bonham prepare the medical supplies and sterilized needles and thread at home."
At critical moments, Jack's many talents came in handy. He checked Emily's wound and found that Jerry had done a good job of stopping the bleeding with gauze from the first aid kit. Plus, Jack's earlier healing spell had kept the blood loss under control.
"Where's Jerry?" Jack asked, looking around but not seeing the bar owner.
Hannah replied, "I sent her back in her own car. Four cars would be too conspicuous."
Walker assured confidently, "Jerry is our best friend. She can be trusted."
Jack wasn't worried about Jerry, knowing that she was the heroine in the original story. He just reminded, "Make sure she burns any blood-stained clothes."
Jack then drove the Firebird ahead, knowing that while Texas roads didn't have many cameras, a random highway patrolman might come looking for trouble.
If they ran into someone, better Jack get a ticket than have Walker's presence exposed. The news of Stan's disappearance would cause a huge stir, given that the head of the Department of Public Safety was no ordinary cop.
Even though Jack was confident that the gasoline-drenched, thoroughly burned pickup and the bodies inside would leave no traceable evidence, he knew that the 'Northern Country' gang would cause endless trouble if they discovered Walker's family had been in the area.
On the way back to the ranch, Jack considered any potential oversights. The only concern was Emily's supply points, but the tire tracks had been mostly cleared. After a rain, there should be no trace left.
If things got that bad, Jack would have to send the 'Northern Country' gang members to meet their maker.
They arrived at Walker's ranch near 2 AM. Molly and Bonham were waiting at the villa's door with lanterns.
Emily, awake but in severe pain, was carried by Walker into the house. Molly had prepared a large table with clean sheets and plastic, turning it into a makeshift operating table.
"What do you like to drink?" Jack asked, smiling as he held a needle and thread.
Emily looked puzzled at her husband.
"Whiskey, I'll get it," Walker responded quickly, fetching a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet.
With the effects of alcohol and acupuncture, Emily passed out again.
The so-called surgery was just a simple wound suturing. Forensic doctors not only dissect but also stitch people up. Fortunately, no one knew that Jack's skill came from forensic medicine.
"Don't worry, remove the stitches in three days, and she'll be fine in two weeks at most."
With Jack's assurance, the Walker family finally relaxed.
——
A certain someone's disappearance, as expected, caused a storm. However, it took an unexpected turn.
The furious 'Northern Country' gang leader, Bill, issued a kill order on Stan, believing he had disappeared into the desert with their woman and millions of dollars' worth of drugs.
Walker, now extremely busy, couldn't even attend to his injured wife. All 200 Texas Rangers were mobilized, tasked with finding their superior and dealing with the 'Northern Country' gang that had dared challenge Texas law enforcement.
The united Texas police even rejected FBI involvement, determined to restore their dignity.
Upon hearing this 'good news,' Jack and Hannah set off again, driving the Firebird loaded with equipment provided by Walker, heading into Louisiana.
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