Susie was driving her Cutlass on Orange County Road toward Tom’s cabin. She’d spent the afternoon thinking about his invitation.
Susie had not had sex in almost a year and tonight she would be satisfied. Susie felt the exhilaration of deciding so boldly.
Susie was nearing Otters Nook when she saw her dad walking into the woods followed by a tall man she didn’t recognize. He was dressed all in black and was carrying something at his side. From where she looked, it seemed like some kind of weapon. The fact that he was dressed all in black set off bells in her head.
Susie stopped the Cutlass on the shoulder and killed the lights. She reached behind her to get the 12 Gauge Remington that always sat in the rear seat.
Susie stepped out of her car and ran into the woods in a low crouch.
****
All his years of fishing had taught Russell a sensitivity that carried over to the rest of his life. Just as he could tell what was happening under the surface of the water, Russell could feel something dark stirring underneath the surface of this man’s exterior.
“Don’t worry son. It’s just a little ways ahead, beyond these trees.” Russell looked back. The young man kept silent.
Russell’s sixth sense went on high alert when he didn’t get the slightest reaction from the man when he called him son. Russell looked in front of him.
Karma followed the man thinking he should have found a way to drive around him. He should’ve stayed on track.
He hoped whatever it was the old man needed help with, wouldn’t take a long time. He needed to get back on the road.
****
Russell couldn’t help feeling relief when the outline of his boat and what he had found in the water came into view. He felt good that he had saved a life.
“We’re almost there.” Russell said in-between deep breathes. “Boy, I’m out of shape. Then again I’m not exactly a young man.” Russell let out a laugh as he glanced back at the young man. Again there was no show of emotion.
Karma followed Russell passed the line of trees.
“I don’t see anything.” Karma said.
“It’s right there.” Russell pointed in front of him. “I found it in the water. Worse part is that there’s somebody inside the damned thing.”
Karma couldn’t believe what he was looking at even though he didn’t show it. He could clearly see the shiny lock with the light from the Moon.
“Oh, I see it now.” Karma said.
“I’m glad I was able to hold onto it long enough to get it to shore.” Russell said.
“How did you do that?” Karma asked as they got nearer to the shore.
“Using my skiff here, I dragged it to shore with my fishing gaff.”
Russell let out a hearty laugh. “Who would’ve thought it would be good for such a thing as saving somebody’s life.”
Russell turned to look at Karma. He froze at the sight of the bolt cutters coming toward his face.
The sound of metal meeting flesh and bone was cringing to Russell’s ears as the blow caught him on the face with a resounding thud. Russell stumbled back. He tried to get his footing, but, it was difficult since he was back pedaling. Russell fell on his ass. Blood ran down his face from his cheek underneath his left eye. Had he been younger he would’ve gotten up to fight or maybe not, with the look the man had in his eyes, Russell might’ve opted to stay down.
“Get on your stomach old man.” Karma held the bolt cutters like a baseball bat ready to strike again.
Russell did as he was told.
“Turn your face sideways away from me then put your hands behind your head and interlace your fingers.”
Russell followed the young man’s orders.
“Now bend your legs toward your rear end and cross your feet at the ankles.”
Russell followed suit. He knew the young man wouldn’t think twice about assaulting him again.
“Stay that way and I guarantee you’ll walk away from here alive. Try something and you’ll become food for the worms.”
Russell listened to the crunch of nature’s debris as the man walked toward the box.
Karma stood over to the box he created and looked down on it thinking life was so unpredictable. He had drawn up the plans for the metal death box and built it himself. There was no escaping it. Of course, he didn’t count on a resourceful old fisherman being on the lake at this time of night.
Karma stopped his wondering and popped the lock with the bolt cutters. He went into the small of his back and got the Redhawk before he undid the broken lock so he could lift the door.
****
Tom’s cry of joy was muffled behind the duct tape as he heard the lock on the box being snapped open before the door to the box was lifted. The cool night touched his face. Tom took in a deep breath; his face a mask of happiness. The little things taken for granted were monumental to him right now; the breeze, the smell of the woods, the night sky, the Moon, the stars and the sounds of the critters that inhabit the woods. All of this came to Tom with the incredible speed of the mind. All of it was beautiful to behold once again and it was all bold and bigger than life, until Karma’s face crossed the rim of the box and looked down at him.
Tom shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe he was looking at the man that put him in the God forsaken box. Tom forgot that he was tied to Sheila as he thrashed around in anger. His face turned red, the veins on his neck bulging as he let out a muffled scream of fury.
****
Karma looked down on Tom with a smile on his face. “Are you mad at me Tom?” Karma’s voice was filled with mocking. He knew Tom was feeling the frustration of being utterly helpless. He knew because he’d felt the same way, when he found out his baby had been obliterated by the thoughtlessness of two people who had fucked for the pure joy of the act, with no thought of the consequences.
“This time there will be no unforeseen mishaps.” Karma pointed the Redhawk down at Tom.
Tom continued his muffled shriek of anger behind the duct tape as he looked up at Karma with eyes filled with rage.
A blast like dynamite disrupted the peaceful night at Sparrow Lake. If it hadn’t been for the echoing boom, Karma would’ve thought the shower of buckshot that sprayed the box was a swarm of killer insects.
Karma held his ground as Susie cocked the shotgun for another shot. The countless hours of training with the very gun he was holding took over.
Karma bent his knees in a shoulder width stance and took two shots. Understanding the recoil of the Redhawk he aimed for her neck. Karma had developed such a fast trigger finger that the two shots almost sounded like one. The first bullet hit Susie on the face just below the cheek; the second bullet penetrated her cranium. She dropped where she stood.
“No!” Russel screamed as he tried to scramble to his feet.
Karma ran forward and pinned him to the ground with his foot. Russell let out a grunt before Karma shot him in the back of the head.
****
Tom jumped with every shot from Karma’s gun.
Karma turned from Russell’s body. He walked back over to where Tom was and stood over the rim of the box. He pointed the Redhawk at Tom.
Tom thrashed around as he stared Karma in the eyes. His muffled cry of fury was silenced by fire, gunpowder and lead.
****
Sheila was calm during the chaos that ensued in a matter of seconds. Unlike Tom she didn’t flinch. She had found peace a long time ago. Her ordeal had started months earlier.
When Karma turned the massive gun at Sheila she was ready with closed eyes to be done with this nightmare. She smiled before the boom turned her off to the world.
****
Karma’s victory was short lived. He had four dead bodies rather than his original two. To make matters worse, they were all above ground and not at the bottom of the lake.
Karma put his gun away. He looked at the metal box with Tom and Sheila’s body. He looked over at Russell and Susie; taking a calculated measure
with his eyes, he looked from the bodies to the metal box several times. He decided all four of them would fit in the box.
Karma got his cellphone from his pant pocket. He switched on the flashlight to see the inside of the small fishing boat. He looked at the swivel chair. Karma was glad to see it was equipped with a quick release mechanism. He wasted no time in removing the seat from the boat; putting it behind him. Karma dragged the box until it was parallel to the skiff. He put a hand into his boot to get his hunting knife. He cut the ropes that held Tom and Sheila together; he needed to make the box lighter. One at a time he pulled them out of the box. Blood and brain matter made moving the bodies messy. He gathered the ropes from inside the box and tied them together to make one length of rope. Afterward he put the rope by the side of the boat.
Karma squatted in front of the box. He dug his fingers underneath it and used his legs to lift the end of the box. He side stepped until the box hung over the middle of the boat in a ninety degree angle then set it down. He pulled on it until it sat balanced across the middle of the boat.
One by one he put all four bodies into the box. Karma walked over to where Susie had dropped the Remington shotgun; he picked it up and put it in the box along with the swivel chair he had removed earlier from the skiff. He closed the lid and closed the Hasp Latch. He secured it with the padlock. Even though, it was broken it would hold in place.
Looping the rope around the metal box he secured it to the foot pedestal of the swivel chair. Karma got in the water and pulled on the boat until it was in three feet of water. Afterward, he carefully climbed into the boat by the outboard motor. It was already overloaded making it sway more than normal as he wiggled his way in front of the tiller.
Karma turned on the motor. The bow pointed upward with most of the weight towards the stern. Karma gunned the motor steering the boat toward the middle of Sparrow Lake where the water is deep.
When he was a good distance away from the shore he let go of the throttle pulling the tiller all the way to one side so the boat would go in circles helping it to slow down faster.
Karma took out his gun and put the final round into the bottom of the boat. The water gurgled as it made its way into the boat. He held the tiller in place. The boat went in circles slowing down with each circuit until it came to a complete stop helped along by the water filling the inside of the boat.
The boat began to sink with the added weight. Karma took a look around, the cluster of trees all around the wide expanse of the lake visible as black silhouettes. The water was still, giving it the texture of glass. The Moon was reflected on the surface of the water. Karma felt the peace of the lake and its surroundings. He gave in to the calm that nature provided, even though, he wasn’t a fan of the natural environment. He felt himself completely in the present despite the fact that he had just killed four people and had another two in a medically induced sleep in the back of his cargo van.
The thought that he still had things to do slowly took ahold of his mind. He took one last look around before he slipped into the water. Karma began to swim to shore.
****
Karma looked back when he got to the line of trees. The skiff was no longer visible, although, half of the box was still above water. He was happy that his idea was working knowing it wouldn’t be long before the boat and the metal box with the bodies was completely under the water.
Karma stepped into the grouping of trees. He walked forward at a medium pace. His wet boots squished with each step he took. Karma made an about face. He’d forgotten his bolt cutters.
****
Karma expected to find red, white and blue strobe lights somewhere in the vicinity of his van when he got back to the road. To his relief that wasn’t the case. The van was just as solitary as he had left it. Karma took a look around before he walked over to where his van sat. He noticed a white car parked on the opposite shoulder about fifty feet away on his right.
Karma maintained his composure as he walked to the back of the van holding the bolt cutters against his left leg.
Opening the back doors, he put the bolt cutters inside the van taking a glance at the tarp; the bodies underneath the plastic at rest. Looking at his watch he sees that he still has plenty of time before they come to their senses.
Karma closes the door to the van and walks around to the driver’s side. He glances at the white car up ahead. Karma acts as normal as possible. If anyone needs to know he stopped to take a piss in the woods.
Karma climbs into the van and turns on the ignition. The radio comes to life; it’s the same station he was listening to before Russell stopped him. Karma cranks up the radio. This time it’s Jolene by Dolly Parton. He doesn’t know the catchy song, although, he’s well aware of the buxom star. Karma starts to tap on the steering as he pulls away from the grassy shoulder. He drives at a speed that will allow him to study the white car and its interior.
He reaches the parked car and takes a look at the impeccable Cutlass Supreme. It’s empty and now that he can see it up close he knows who the owner is. It belongs to the woman who shot at him with the Remington. Karma knows she’s not related to Tom nor Sheila. He figures she’s related to the old man who found the box.
Karma brings the van to a complete stop. He keeps his senses on high for any cops while he thinks about what he should do about the car. The local authorities will know the car and proceed from there according to their protocols. Thinking they won’t know to look for her at the bottom of Sparrow Lake, he drives off.
****
After driving for five miles, Karma can finally get off of Orange County Road.
He feels a sort of glee as he makes a slight right onto Old Town Road, named so because it used to be the only access to and from Sparrow Lake from the city center of Orange County.
Karma relaxes as he drives on the dirt road, the lights from the van illuminating his way. All there is to see is the dirt road and the trees on both sides of the van. It looks ominous; like something out of a horror movie, yet, it’s comforting to Karma. He feels hidden from the world. He feels safe; like nothing can touch him.
Karma comes out on the other side of Old Town Road in a matter of ten minutes. He comes to the yield sign, the only thing that can be considered modern about this road. Looking both ways for oncoming traffic Karma turns right when he doesn’t see any cars.
The area is mostly commercial; a gas station, a fast food restaurant and a mini market stand just a few yards from the entrance to Interstate 87 going south. Karma looks at the fuel gauge. He has enough gas to last him for the duration of his trip. Karma enters 87 going south.
He raises the volume on the radio. Karma finally feels like he can breathe easy.
****
Clarence Baker is the Chief of Police in the small fishing town of Sparrow Lake. He couldn’t help becoming concerned when an outsider came to the precinct to ask about Kats Bait & Tackle.
The middle aged man with thinning dark hair stated he’d been to Kats at different times during the last three days, but, never found the place open. He said he needed to pick up a few things so he could go fishing. The man explained he only had a few days left before he had to go back to work.
Clarence gave the man directions to the nearest mall where he could buy what he needed to go fishing.
For as long as Clarence knew the Russell family they’d been hard working. If the bait shop was closed then something serious had to be going on. Clarence thought he’d pay them a visit.
****
Clarence stood in front of Kats Bait & Tackle. Despite being a few months shy of turning 65, Clarence’s hair is as red as the day he was born. He couldn’t wait until retirement. He was going to let his beard grow wild and unkempt until the day he died. Clarence hated the department’s everyday clean shaven policy. His frame was portly from head to toe, yet, Clarence wasn’t a man to be fooled with. He could move as swiftly as a cat. He exercised daily and played sports all throughout his school years. Clarence didn’t look the p
art of a man chock full of athletic coordination because he loved barbecue and beer. There was no way he could outwork his legendary appetite for good food and drink. However that didn’t mean he couldn’t tussle with the best of them.
Clarence stood in front of the entrance door to Kats looking through the glass. He covered his brow with one hand to block out any light that could distort his vision. In his other hand he held his cellphone. He’d made three phone calls hoping that somehow Russell or his daughter Susie had not heard the phone because they were too busy working in the store somehow hidden from view, perhaps somewhere in the back room.
Clarence hung up his phone wanting so bad to believe they were okay. He’d already been to their house with the same empty results for his efforts.
Clarence turned from the door. Walking toward his cruiser he hoped the bad feeling he had about his childhood friend was somehow an error of his sixth sense.
Clarence was about to get in his police cruiser when he got a call from Billy, one of his deputies.
“What’s up Billy?” Clarence answered.
“Hey boss, the Fire Chief just called to let you know that Tom Devlin's cabin burned to the ground.”
“When did this happen?”
“Chief says it seems like it happened three or four nights ago.”
“How come we’re learning about this now?”
“According to Chief Fitzpatrick they got a call from a group of fisherman that happened on what’s left of Tom’s cabin as they made their way to Sparrow Lake. They reported it to the firehouse when they got into town today.”
“Is Tom okay?” Clarence knew Tom would already be around these parts.
“That’s the other thing boss. He’s not to be found.”
“What do you mean; he’s not to be found?”
“His car is there, but, there’s no sign of him.” Billy answered.
“I see.” Clarence said.
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