The Law and Dan Mesa Read Free Page A

guards, a policeman, and a city marshal.”
    Dr. Mesa turns pale and sits down, shaking. The nurse runs to her aid.
    “Dr. Mesa, are you all right? Can I get you something?”
    “No, Alma. I’m all right. I thought I’d left Dan Mesa and the rangers behind me. That man is so stubborn! He’d rather be a ranger and chasing criminals than be here. He could be a college professor or work for some big company, but he is still playing Cops and Robbers in Arizona and now in Virginia.”
     
    The news flashes on again, and the news correspondent is saying, “This is June Parks of ABC News with a follow-up on the shooting at a Richmond police station. I have Captain Emmett of the Richmond Police Department. Captain Emmett, what can you tell us about the shooting?”
    Captain Emmett dreads talking to reporters, but June Parks is one he respects, so he decides to answer.
    “June, we are still investigating the shooting. It seems as though the target was Sergeant Daniel Mesa of the Arizona rangers and a prisoner he was taking back to Arizona. We suspect it was a professional hit. The prisoner was killed, and one of our policemen was seriously injured. Thanks to Ranger Mesa, we were able to identify some of the people behind the shooting.”
    “Captain, this Ranger Mesa seems to always be in the line of fire. He was involved in a shooting in New Mexico a few weeks ago. How does this situation sit with you?”
    “Sergeant Mesa is a good cop, and he did what any good cop would have done. He attempted to protect and serve.”
    “Thank you, Captain Emmett. This is June Parks for ABC News.”
     
    Nurse Alma Brown is very perceptive and can tell that there is more to this than meets the eye. She decides to ask another question.
    “Dr. Mesa, is this ranger your brother?”
    Dr. Mesa smiles and says, “No, Alma, he is not my brother. He is my ex-husband and Devlin’s father. He was visiting us and was supposed to leave today. He never mentioned that he was here to extradite a prisoner. He probably didn’t want to burden me with his problems. He is a good man, but he can be so stubborn.”
    As Dr. Mesa walks away, she mutters to herself, “Dan Mesa, you really piss me off at times. Why can’t you just stay out of my life?”
     
    At the police station, Ranger Mesa is facing the chief of police, a Colonel Matthew E. Lee. Colonel Lee is upset. His face is beet red and the veins in forehead is popping out. He stands toe to toe with Mesa.
    “Ranger, I want you out of my city before this day is over,” he tells Mesa. “I have a wounded policeman, a dead citizen, and a dead assassin. Just who the hell are you?”
    Captain Emmett intervenes quickly saying, “Sir, allow me to close the door and I will explain a few things. Chief, first off, none of this is Sergeant Mesa’s fault. Sergeant Hennessey’s wounds are serious, but he will recover fully, and as for Ranson, he was injured. We just said that to keep the media from printing it in the paper. Ranger Mesa believes there is a leak in his unit and doesn’t want the traitor to find out that Ranson is still alive, so we faked his death. He was shot, but the vest he was wearing protected him.”
    The chief looks at Emmett and Mesa and sits down and relaxes a bit.
    “Okay, captain, that is a good idea. Maybe I did fly off the handle a little. So what is the next move?”
    At this point, Ranger Mesa says, “Chief, we need to get Ranson back to Arizona without attracting any attention. I propose to take him out dressed as a policeman. Then I will have him change, and we’ll depart your city. I know a man who will fly us back to Arizona in his private plane—that is, if he is still talking to me. He is my ex-father-in-law, Major Jonathan Horatio Williamson, retired.
    “Major Jonathan Horatio Horn Blower Williamson is a World War II and Korean War veteran. He is one of the Tuskegee Airmen and a member of the Ninety-Ninth Pursuit Squadron. He saw limited action in World War II. When