by Mark Lashway
“That is why I’m mad, Cam, because you were involved after all of the promises that you made to me about staying out of the trouble this year!”
“And I told you before that it was good intentions gone awry. I was just tryin’ to support a couple of our friends who were down, friends who’ve been damned good to us, Shauna. At the weddin’ they not only gave us money, but also a keg of Gerhard’s märzenbier and Johann’s dunkel. You don’t think that I was supposed to lend them aid when they needed it?”
“I’ve already heard that Kenny Brooch of Jan’s gang has such serious injuries that he’ll be slow in the head from now on….”
“You can’t lay that on me! My intentions were purely honorable!”
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Cam, or haven’t you heard that one? No matter how good your intentions, disaster always follows you. It’s like some black cloud comes in right behind you whenever you do something. That’s why I didn’t want you doing anything.”
“Christ, honey, what do you expect me to do? Sit in the goddamned tent all day and stare at the walls? What was the point in comin’ here, anyway?”
“I think that maybe we should go home….right now.”
“I didn’t drive hundreds of miles just to turn around because of some stuff that I really had no control over. No.”
“I think that you need to sleep somewhere else tonight. I want time alone to think.”
“Fine. I’ll grab some stuff and go bum a cot off someone while you think,” he sneered.
“But I want you to be at the competitions tonight, sitting where I can see you, and you’re to sit through the entire lineup.”
“Are you kiddin’ me?”
“I also don’t want you sitting with Bobby Bobb, Reuben, any of the Stardust Boys….”
“I’d laugh right now except I know that you’re serious.”
“Perfectly serious. Also, I don’t want to see you drinking….”
“Ah, a woman’s logic at its finest,” Cam laughed harshly. “You don’t want to share a tent with me, but you want me right in front of you.”
“Our marriage is in trouble, Cam.”
“Yeah, and apparently it’s all comin’ from your side,” he countered. “I have no problems except for your obsessive need to control me like your dog as part of some weird belief in your mind that it’s gonna save our marriage.”
“Don’t you care about our marriage?” she asked softly, eyes misting over. There it is, he thought, in a savage mood now. When they can’t get what they want, they tear up and do that emotional blackmail bullshit. No dice here, honey.
“I care a lot about our marriage,” he replied, trying to control his anger, “but I’m through livin’ in fear of your next frown of disapproval, your next negative comment. I’m done with tip-toein’ around this whole goddamned site, afraid to relax at anythin’ because somethin’ might happen and I’ll have to prove myself innocent of havin’ been involved in it. Done, Shauna! Go find yourself another dog to neuter, because Spot is claimin’ his balls back!”
“Get out!” she screeched. “I’ll be doing some serious….”
“Spare me the details!” he shot back. “Just let me know what you decide. Right now I have to go find someplace to stay!” Grabbing a change of clothes and some other essentials, he stormed out of the tent, hearing her begin to sob behind him.
He had made it only a few steps when he saw Stevie just down the street, smiling happily. Stevie held up both hands with fingers extended, then replaced that with a single finger held up. The odds were now 10-1. Cam held up a single finger in response, the middle one.
Dusk had now fallen. The action would heat up soon, he realized, so he had to hurry to find a place to stay. He felt troubled, but also liberated.
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“Get the hell out of my way!” Duke Lando bellowed as he tried to drive off the GWIBE site as fast as he could. The fact that it was now dark and he was relying on his headlights to see things in front of him only complicated matters. Time was so critical now.
I should’ve been out of here an hour ago, he thought with much bitterness. Those fucking nerds flattened my tires, I know it was them! When this is all over, I’m going to settle accounts with them, too! Maybe I can get it to work out after all. I told Joey to wait for me in case I was late, and he’s usually pretty good at following directions.
“Alright!” he happily cried when he got to the outer fringes of GWIBE and was able to speed up. He went well over the speed limit, guessing that out in this remote area at night the chances of a cop with radar would be minimal.
“OK,” he said to himself as he thought about the operation. He found it easier to think things through when he talked out loud like this. “Cherie and Sonia are gone, but they didn’t know anything anyway. They won’t be back, that’s great. The others do know just enough to hurt me, though, so they have to be dealt with. No choice there.”
Lando paused a minute to evaluate the accuracy of what he’d just told himself, then continued. “A lot of problems have popped up, and I still don’t know who at GWIBE could have killed Manuel. But this thing is still on track. I just have to meet Joey, get the items from him and then take him to that place.”
He mentally rehearsed the plan again.. After bringing Joey to that spot, Lando would leave on “business”, which now would really be to call Deville and Sharper and summon them to the same spot. The only thing would be that Lando wouldn’t be returning to that place. Instead, Frank and Lyle would show up and take care of all the loose ends. The bodies probably wouldn’t be found until so much time had passed that making any kind of case would be nearly impossible. Lando smiled at the thought of ending this expensive and aggravating operation.
Very soon I’ll call Lyle and Frank to put them on standby, so they can get going and leave for the rendezvous. I can’t spare the time right now, though. I’ve got to get to Joey, get the stuff and everything in place within the next few hours. I have to be able to slip back into GWIBE during the middle of the night while everybody is out drinking. Goddamnit, I wouldn’t have to be rushing now if it wasn’t for those four nerds! They’re fucking dead too!
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Joey Creed never heard the swishing of his feet through the grass due to his labored breathing as he gasped for air. Running as fast as he could, he was glad that at least the grass was short after being hayed several weeks ago. That was his only consolation for now, however. He had to get away, but still had some distance to go, and his strength was beginning to wane. The only hope that he had was that his pursuer would, hopefully, be in the same condition.
Despite the darkness, Joey knew where he had to go. Uncle Duke had provided him with a hand-drawn, but very detailed, map that provided an exact escape route to the pickup site. It was a bit of a jaunt, but nothing extraordinary for a young man, and Joey had made it a point to keep himself in at least average shape, which he considered to be good practice for a thief.
Although he hadn’t caught sight of his pursuer yet, Joey knew that he was there as he had heard the occasional sound of rustling brush behind him. Being caught would be a disaster for the whole operation, as he would be exposed to all of the monks at the abbey, some of whom he had actually begun to like. Uncle Duke had told him that the worst that would happen would be for the abbot to have some minor charges brought against him. However, Joey didn’t want that. Even though his debt would be paid in full whether he was successful or not, at least in his mind, Uncle Duke would think differently.
Whoever it is following me is really hanging with me, Joey thought as he grimaced. Who would think some monk would be in such great shape? But I shouldn’t be surprised. These guys work the fields, don’t eat any more than they have to, and live clean. I never thought about that coming in. I hope I didn’t bite off more than I can chew….
Joey wanted to take out his cellphone and try to dial Uncle Duke as he ran, but as he looked behind
him again he saw the vague shape that he knew to be a monk’s robe pop out from behind a tractor Joey had just passed. His pursuer had closed the gap somewhat, and Joey didn’t have the breath to both run and talk. This was bad, really bad. Even a bullshit larceny rap would probably be enough to send him to jail, considering his record. That was unacceptable, and so was the idea of still being indebted to Uncle Duke. He just had to make it.
He suddenly thought of something. Looking behind himself again, he saw the robed figure about 200 feet behind him, thanks to a partial moon that was providing some illumination tonight. Joey made it a point to slow down enough for the chaser to see him, then noticed the pursuer slowing down as if to maintain a certain distance. He’s not trying to catch me, at least not yet. Maybe he’s just driving me, and there are more of them somewhere up ahead. No, that can’t be it. They couldn’t have known right when I was going to make my move. The only other answer is that he’s waiting to see who I’m going to meet, but how could he think that either?
Joey was in a pickle, and he knew it. He had to gain enough distance to hide, but there was hardly any cover around, a typical situation on the plains. The abbey itself was surrounded by large fields, and where those ended there was only minor brush that couldn’t be even considered woods. He thought back to the map and an idea came to him. Up ahead, probably 150 yards away, was a gentle slope with a swale in it before level ground appeared again. If he could manage to lose his tail there, then the pickup spot was only a quarter-mile or so beyond that. It was now or never. Taking a few deep breaths and expelling them, Joey put on a burst and ran for all he was worth. The distance seemed agonizingly long, tired as he was, but at last he reached the edge of the slope and leaped as far as he could down the swale.
He managed to land on his feet and caught a bit of luck as he was very close to a bush that was perfect in that it wasn’t so large as to be an obvious hiding place. As he ducked down on the far side of it he caught another break when he found a small but heavy chunk of wood there. Joey grabbed it, then waited until he saw the tip of the monk’s hood appear over the edge of the slope. Then he hurled the chunk as far as he could off to one side. It had the desired effect as the projectile landed with a noticeable crash through the branches of whatever growth there was in that direction. Joey’s heart leaped with joy as he saw his pursuer alter course about 40 yards away and head in the direction of the racket.
It was only a temporary respite, that he knew, and so he must move quickly to take advantage of the break. Staying low and close to the ground, Joey began moving on his hands and knees, knowing that the low profile and his dark clothes would almost ensure that the chaser couldn’t see his movement. Moving in a direction opposite that in which he had sent the chaser, he set on a meandering course that would still lead to the pickup point in his reckoning, taking great care not to make any noise. Using any bush available, he would use them for cover, stopping every minute or so to look back. He probably would have made better time if it wasn’t for the little bag that was slung across his chest.
After a few more minutes of this, he knew that he was close to the rendezvous. Now that he had a little time and space, Joey sat down to watch the surrounding area. Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out his cellphone. Clutching it close to him to suppress its light, he got it turned on and when it was ready rapidly typed a cryptic message: Nd pckp now!
The next minute or so seemed agonizingly long as he awaited a response. Smartly taking the precaution of holding his fingers so as to muffle the sound, he was still able to hear a very faint jingle telling him that he had a message. He sighed with relief when he saw that it was from Uncle Duke: On way. Not far. 10. Stay.
Ten minutes. He wished that it was less, but it could have been a lot worse. He should be able to avoid the pursuer for that long. He needed to be by the sunken road that he knew was just past the thin little line of bushes about 30 yards ahead. Moving once again, he stealthily made his way toward the pickup point, which would take a few minutes at least. Joey decided that he would hide as best he could beside the road, wait for Uncle Duke’s truck to appear, then run for it and make his getaway.
When he found his hiding spot at the pickup point, Joey knew that the several minutes of waiting that he still had would seem forever compared to waiting for the text. He curled up into a ball to try to make himself even more difficult to detect in the darkness.
Joey, remaining completely motionless, couldn’t see the shadowy figure who had silently come up from behind and now hovered over him. Reaching so slowly and so quietly into his monk’s robe, the chaser withdrew with one hand a .40 automatic pistol. He had already taken the precaution of locking the slide back to avoid that metallic click. With the other hand he took out a sound suppressor from a pocket and just as silently screwed it onto the threaded barrel. The general public, of course, knew the device as a “silencer”, which the pursuer knew to be an inaccurate term. There was always some sound when a gun was fired. What the suppressor did was to muffle enough of the sound so as to avoid that sharp crack of the typical discharge. To anyone close enough by, even the muted report would be readily identifiable as a gunshot. However, someone even 300 yards away would have a hard time picking up the sound, and the chaser was very confident that there was nobody within a half-mile of here. The only other factor to worry about was the flash of the gunshot, but on this sunken road, which was actually only an old dirt track used for various farm vehicles, nobody at the abbey, the closest place with any human presence, would see anything.
The robed figure stood over his unsuspecting quarry for another minute or so, pondering the situation. This kid isn’t half-bad. He has savvy, that’s for sure, and some self-control, too. Just look at him there, not so much as drawing a hard breath! Too bad he never used those qualities toward something worthy. Duke could’ve done a lot worse….
There wouldn’t be enough time to catch Duke in the trap also, the chaser calculated. Slipping back into the abbey in time would be enough for tonight, in case anybody detected Joey’s absence. Two people gone would give everything away. There was more than a little regret at the realization that this would be all that he would be doing for tonight.
Might as well get on with it. There’s no point in dragging this out any longer. Duke can’t be too far away. The chaser pushed down on the slide release. There was a clack sound that was very noticeable in the still nighttime air.
“Aaagh!” Joey cried as he jerked out of his position. Turning, he immediately saw the robed figure looming over him. His eyes bulged with terror and he laid back on his elbows before holding one hand up at his pursuer. “P-pl-please….” he whimpered.
The robed figure leaned slightly toward the young man, holding the gun in one hand but not pointing it yet. Holding out the free hand, the pursuer motioned with a few fingers.
“Oh….you want this?” Joey asked, indicating the small cooler bag. His pursuer silently nodded and Joey quickly complied. The chaser carefully went through the bag and nodded with satisfaction at the discovery that everything expected was in there. Then the robed figure made the same motion again.
“Huh?” Joey sputtered, confused. “That’s all of it, really, swear to God! All I have left is my cellphone….” He noticed the figure nodding slowly. “But…. hey, alright, it’s yours!” He hurriedly surrendered that item too.
“You know, I always knew you were there somewhere,” Joey chattered. The robed figure hadn’t uttered a single word the entire time. “I could always feel you, you know? But I never saw you at any time. How did you….”
Joey froze when he heard the pursuer sigh, the only sign so far that there was actually a human being somewhere within that robe. The young man’s terror, which had been barely controlled so far, came out full force when he saw the pursuer point the gun in his direction.
“No!” Joey cried. “Please, mister, I gave you what you wanted, you’ve got it all! I know I did wrong, but I don’t deserve this! Please don’t kill
me. I only did it ‘cause I owed Uncle Duke and he never….”
Kapew! Kapew! Joey’s plea for mercy was cut off as the chaser aimed at him and squeezed off two shots that entered the young man’s chest, slamming him down against the earth as the hollow-point rounds expanded inside his flesh and transferred the full energy of the bullets into his body. The robed figure didn’t bother to examine where exactly the shots hit Joey Creed, knowing for sure that they were killing shots in the torso. At this close range it was virtually impossible to do otherwise. Joey didn’t move. Just for insurance, though, the chaser stood directly over the young man and took aim. Kapew! The third and final shot was to Joey’s forehead from about three feet away. The body jerked at the impact and then was still.
The robed stranger calmly removed the clip from the pistol and carefully pulled the slide back to gently eject the live round that was in the chamber, putting it back into the clip. Then the suppressor was removed and all items placed back into the pocket from which they came. The casings from the spent rounds were somewhere on the ground, but they would be left there. There would be no fingerprints on the brass, and no way for ballistics testing to trace the barrel markings on the bullets in Joey’s body or the firing pin of this gun, as the latter two items were clean and would soon be disposed of forever.
I have to be gone, the robed killer thought. They might be able to pick up two sets of footprints leading from the abbey to here, so I have to take my alternative route back and leave them no trail on that. This was too close a call, this one. I don’t want to kill anymore, even if it did save the abbey and served God. But what if Duke has yet another plan? I can answer that question, though: Duke has got to go….
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
The headlights of the pickup truck barely illuminated the narrow dirt road as Duke Lando drove cautiously toward the rendezvous. As he gingerly proceeded, taking care to avoid the worst of the potholes, he decided that he was going in with high beams all the way. There wouldn’t be anybody out here anyway, except Joey. Having some light in this remote spot would help him greatly in doing the picking up and getting away in minimal time.