Wild Crows - 2. Revelation : english version

by Blandine P. Martin

  CHAPTER 24

  Jerry

  Damned! I was too old to chase fugitives. I was already out of breath. Ash and Hanger had run straight to the wood, followed by Thompson’s men. A few minutes later, I was still looking for them, and my sight was not as good as it used to be. This damned wood was the perfect place to hide. Luck was not on our side. As I was trying to figure out where to go next, a scream helped me.

  — "Don’t move! " Shouted a voice that I recognized instantly.

  I caught up with them, and when I reached the scene, I realized the situation was explosive. We would be lucky if no blood was shed and I doubted it… The bastard was on his knees, in the mud, and Gale had his gun pointed to his head.

  — "Don’t move or I blow your brain! " He said angrily.

  Larsen didn’t move, but I could see no fear in his eyes. It was weird. My friend was a good man, but when he was mad, he was strong enough to destroy everything around him. Thompson walked to him carefully.

  — "Edward Larsen, you are under arrest. Everything…"

  — "No!"

  We all turned to watch the man who had shouted desperately.

  — "Evan… put the gun down, " she whispered to him.

  It didn’t seem to work. His gun was aimed at the bastard, who had kidnapped and probably raped his son. Just thinking about it, enraged me. I had seen him leave with his kid, and I thought he was on his way home. He had probably changed his mind.

  — "No! " He repeated.

  Evan continued to walk, while Larsen clenched his jaw. His eyes shone in the shadow cast by the tall trees. The deputy wanted to get revenge.

  — "Evan, don’t do anything stupid," said the sheriff.

  Suddenly, he pointed his gun at her.

  — "Get back! Now! "

  She obeyed with her hands in the air. I could see the turn of events destabilized her.

  — "Tom is alive, and he will get better with time… don’t throw away your career and your life! You won’t be there for your son, if you are locked up! "

  It was a hard blow… Connor’s lip quivered.

  — "What about him? He’ll get five years and then what? He’ll be released for good conduct again? Do you think it’s fair? "

  I tried to intervene.

  — "She’s right. You’ve got no blood on your hands. We do. "

  — "Jerry! " She shouted angrily.

  She wasn’t expecting this one, but if she thought that I would agree with her, she was wrong. Yes, that kid needed his father, but he could plead self-defense. It was the right solution, if she had any respect for her colleague. Still, I could see in this man’s eyes that he wasn’t cut out for this. Wearing a uniform and a gun was fine, but killing a man in cold blood, even with a good reason, was another thing. He wouldn’t do it, but I would.

  — "What? He’s right. We can’t allow the court to play with the lives of our children. Fuck! You know perfectly well what will happen next! "

  She surprised me, when she didn’t answer. It was the first time since I had met her.

  — "Let’s make a deal, " I added.

  My words put on hold Larsen’s execution. It was not a bad thing, after all.

  — "I can’t play this game each time one of your men helps us with a sensitive case! "

  — "But it concerns of one of yours! " I reminded her.

  — "I am no bad cop! "

  — "You know perfectly well that we need to cooperate, if we want to make things work. "

  — "Exceptionally! I can turn a blind eye now and again, but a murder, seriously, Jerry? "

  Her voice was sharper, but I kept my cool. I wanted to reassure her, and get her on my side. I didn’t want this bastard to get away with what he had done. So, I gave my all.

  — "Send your guys on another lead, now! "

  — "What do I get from it? "

  — "…Being sure that there will be no more murdered children in our community. "

  — "His guilt doesn’t mean he deserves to be murdered himself! "

  — "But a pedophile, who kills his victims, has no rights, if you want my opinion. You know perfectly well that we can make up a scenario that will justify self-defense. "

  — "He’s not armed. "

  — "Not yet, " corrected Gale.

  The sheriff pondered my words, while she was looking in the distance. Then, she looked at me, as if she was trying to find a trace of humanity in me. She didn’t want to follow my rules. I could feel it, but what other choice did she have? Send this guy back to jail and wait for him at the gate, on the day of his release? No. She also had a kid, and I was sure she had thought of him on several occasions throughout the day. What parent could accept that a man like Larsen could still breathe, after what he had done?

  We were all suspended to her lips. During a few seconds, she was given the power of life and death. She was God. Suddenly, she grabbed a radio in her pocket and put it next to her mouth.

  — "He’s heading south. I can see him! "

  She was out of breath, but the show was over. Her face was bland. She glanced at him, before looking at me gravely.

  — "It will probably be the last time we make a deal, Jerry. Don’t disappoint me. "

  — "I won’t. I know what I must do. "

  Her eyes were full of doubts. She clenched her jaw and started to head south. She wasn’t with us anymore, but I could hear her on the radio. I looked at Evan, who was standing still, with his gun pointed at Larsen. His hand and body were shaking. I walk to him and put my hand on my Glock. He tightened his grip on the gun, but he didn’t pull the trigger. That was a good start.

  — "Evan… "

  He wasn’t looking at me, so I put my finger on his gun and pushed it down gently.

  — "We don’t have much time. You must make up your mind. You shoot, or you let us do it, old pal. This man had hurt your son badly. I want him dead as much as you do. But we need to hurry. When the sheriff comes backs, he must be dead. "

  We heard a laugh. I turned to Larsen, who was laughing out loud.

  — "What’s the matter, dickhead? You’re about to die, and you find it funny? " I said. It was hard to watch him and not put a bullet through his brain.

  — "Look at you! " Larsen told Evan. "After all these years, you’re still useless! You’re a coward!"

  — "Shut up ! " screamed Evan, putting the gun closer to his face.

  He wouldn’t look that bad with a hole between the eyes… If some perverts looked normal, he was different. He had a ridiculous mustache, and he was wearing thick glasses that made him look like a serial rapist.

  — "I remember you well! You were acting so proud with your FBI badge, right under my nose. You were just a kid wearing daddy’s shoes. You had such a big ego! But look at you now! Because of you, a kid is dead and I raped another one, your son! " He said before spitting on the ground. "I wasted all this time in jail because of you! It wasn’t difficult to find you… you and your lovely family… Big Brother is watching you! "

  He laughed like a madman. I was about to make him go quiet, but the deputy was faster. He pulled the trigger. The pervert had no time to say another word. Still, Evan didn’t stop, and shot him several times. His rage helped him feel better. I grabbed his fist and almost got punched in the face.

  — "Stop! If you fire too many shots, it will be difficult to justify self-defense. Now, go. We take over."

  Evan watched Larsen. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. The face of the rapist was covered in blood. His jaw seemed broken. The deputy gave me his gun and nodded with his eyes still full of tears. Lost, he walked away slowly, and didn’t turn back.

  I sighed. It was time to finish the job. I put away Evan’s gun in my belt and pointed mine toward Larsen. The deputy’s bullets had done some damages. I was so close to my target that I couldn’t miss it.

  — "Let me do it. "

  I recognized the voice and froze. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Damn, no!

  —
"Joe? What are you doing? "

  Her face was so white. She looked like a ghost. She was holding her gun in front of her, like a pro. She seemed determined, and I was sure of one thing: She was about to make a huge mistake! She had no idea what it meant to shoot someone deliberately, and live with it afterward. Even when the victim was a monster like Larsen! Me alive, Joe wouldn’t experience this! It was out of the question. She only had been in my life for a few weeks, and my choices had already darkened her existence. Remorse and bitterness overwhelmed me.

  — "He must die, Daddy. We can’t take the risk," she whispered.

  — "But you’re not the person, who should take care of it. That’s my job. "

  She was frowning. The expression on her face was still determined. She didn’t seem to hear me.

  — "Please, sweetheart, " I said in a soft voice that my guys had never heard.

  Then, we heard a gunshot and the smell of sulfur hanged out in the air. I froze, broken-hearted.

  CHAPTER 25

  Joe

  My heart skipped a beat. The deafening noise had surprised me. My fingers hadn’t moved… With my mouth wide open, I watched the lifeless body fall to the ground.

  — "It wasn’t…" I tried to articulate.

  I couldn’t finish my sentence, which ended with a sigh. My father turned around, and then we heard another gunshot. The bullet hit Larsen’s head. I looked in the direction from which the noise came, and I understood what happened. It shocked me, but finally, things made sense. When a third shot echoed in the air, I walked hesitantly to the body. Ash was standing in front of the man he had killed. His long hair masked part of his face, but I could see tears rolling down his cheeks. My chest hurt, when I thought of the pain he was going through. Without a word, he turned around and gave his gun to my father, before walking away toward the road.

  Puzzled, I stared at my gun.

  — "I need to drive Ash home, " I said mechanically.

  Affected by the whole situation, I swallowed hard. My father nodded and kissed me on the forehead, holding me tight in his arms.

  — "I am sorry for all this, Joe. "

  — "You are not responsible. He is, " I said, pointing to the corpse on the ground.

  It wasn’t the first cadaver I had seen. They were common at the hospital, but it was the first time I witnessed a homicide. I would have lied if I’d said that it didn’t affect me and I couldn’t imagine feeling better anytime soon.

  — "There won’t be any problem, right…?"

  — "For Ash? " My father asked. "No. We know what to do. Don’t worry. "

  I could read in his eyes that he was telling the truth. I sighed.

  — "Keep me posted…"

  I nodded and left this horrible place. I could have retraced my steps, but I didn’t want to see that dreadful house. Walking on the ground, where a dead girl had been lying, at night was out of the question. So, I decided to take the same path as Ash. It would lead me to the spot where we had parked the cars.

  I stumbled a few times, but I finally reached a paved alley. Thinking about everything that had happened on that day made me sick to my stomach. I knew that I would go through a nervous breakdown, when I would be home alone, later. I wasn’t as tough as I tried to appear in front of my father. I wasn’t prepared for the worst. My life in Oregon had been boring and dull, but sometimes, I found some relief thinking about it, and it was the case now. When I reached the road, red and blue lights were dancing in the night, and I saw an ambulance. Several men were gathered around it, and I walked to them. Tommy, who was still sleeping, was in it. His crying father was sitting beside the stretcher. A man, dressed in white, closed the doors right when I stopped in front of them.

  — "He’s going to be okay. That bastard had drugged him, " … a voice told me.

  I knew this hoarse voice. A shiver went down my spine, as I discovered Ash, leaning against the sheriff’s Jeep. His arms were crossed on his chest, and he was looking away. All dressed in black, I could have missed him.

  — "And…Bowman? "

  — "He’s gone with the coroner… One of Thompson’s men called him. "

  There was a heavy silence. Seeing him like that was unbearable. His pain was so intense that you could almost feel it.

  — "Come on. Let’s go home. The hospital staff won’t let you see him tonight. "

  He let out a deep sigh. Then, without a word, he walked to my car. I followed, feeling devastated.

  We drove away without sharing a word. We were beaten by our sorrow and helplessness. Twenty minutes went by, and all we could hear was the sound of my Comet’s tires on the asphalt. What could have I said? What could I have done? The boat had sailed, and we couldn’t undo the actions of a monster, who should have never been released. I was resentful because someone had let it happen. Why had God allowed such a dreadful thing? I was bitter that men had created creatures as vile as the devil himself.

  The headlights of the oncoming cars didn’t stop me from drifting away. The darkness of my soul was endless, and I was drawn to it irremediably.

  I parked right in front of Ash’s place. First, he didn’t react, but then he looked at me. I was upset to see how badly he was affected. His reddened cheeks were sunken, and he looked like a ghost. I almost cried, but I didn’t, as it wouldn’t have helped anyway.

  — "I can stay… if you want…"

  He seemed hesitant, but turned down my offer.

  — "No… I’d rather be alone. "

  I would have to drive and stay by myself like a big girl. I already knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. How could I? But Ash needed some space, and I had to give it to him. I respected his choice.

  — "Alright. "

  The door creaked when he opened it, and I watched him walk away with knots in my stomach. Just before he left, he leaned over, and I saw tears in his eyes.

  — "Thanks, Joe. "

  Two words full of gratefulness. I was so touched that I couldn’t answer. Either I talked and cried, or I kept silent. I chose the second option. I nodded, trying to hold back my tears. I watched him get inside and disappear. I could feel I wouldn’t be able to control my sorrow much longer. What happened was too serious and my pain too strong. When I saw him close the door, I burst into tears. How could I do otherwise, after a day like that? It was more than I could bear. I continued crying. I didn’t want to pretend any longer.

  Then, I heard broken glass, followed by a roar so violent it shook me. I didn’t think twice and left my Comet hastily, after grabbing my purse. My first aid kit was in it, since I had nursed Marcus. Maybe it would be useful. I ran to the front door and entered without knocking. What I saw hurt me so much that it felt like I had cut myself with a knife. Ash was standing, holding on to the kitchen countertop. There was broken glass everywhere on the floor. His shoulders were shaking under his leather jacket. I walked to him.

  — "Ash…" I whispered.

  I kept my voice low, so he would notice me. I was afraid he would have an uncontrolled reaction, discovering someone had entered his den without warning.

  I was standing next to him, but he kept looking away. I saw the blood on his hands and understood what had happened. The day had been terrible for him too. Scared, I took one more step. I was facing a lion. A wounded lion.

  — "Ash, " I repeated.

  His whole body was trembling, and I heard him sniff. I chose to keep silent and preserve his pride. I just went on my tiptoe and hugged him. I put my head against his neck and held him tight. It was like a tsunami of despair was washing over him. My embrace had cracked his shield.

  He put his arms around my waist and tightened his grip, as he sobbed uncontrollably. He was having a nervous breakdown.

  We stayed like that, for a few long minutes. I ignored the pain in my back, as he held me tight. It didn’t matter.

  — "Ash, " I said in a soft voice. "You haven’t slept for two days. It’s not healthy. You need some rest…"

  He rubbed his cheek
against mine. I wasn’t expecting it. The caress of his beard on my skin felt good. I didn’t tell him. He was so weak that his feelings were overflowing.

  — "Let time do its work. And you need rest. "