The Final Shortcut

by G. Bernard Ray

  Back inside Tree had paid little mind to Wheezer. He was more interested in trying to rouse one of the girls called Crazy Mary, but with little success. He tried again but she only mumbled and limply fell back to the table. None of his compatriots seemed to be moving. The clock behind the bar said 8:43 a.m... At noon they had to make a call and set up a meet. With any luck the deal would happen today. If it didn’t, they would wait some more.

  Ten miles away at a scenic overlook sat a brand-new Lincoln. Two men stood leaning on the hood, taking in the view. One had a pair of binoculars and seemed to be concentrating on one particular area. “What are you looking for so hard?”

  “Kitty City, it’s said that on a clear day you can see the titties from ten miles away.” The smaller of the two men dropped the binoculars and laughed out loud.

  “Oh man, you mean you worked those glasses all that time for that stupid joke. You are hopeless.” At 6’ 4’’, and a stacked 280 pounds, Taipei was hard to miss even on a mountainside. He always wore tank tops, regardless of the weather, to show off some of his tattoos.

  “What do you mean stupid? That was good!”

  “Fudd, you are not firing on all your pistons. Can we go now?” Taipei rubbed his bald head and rolled his shoulders back and forth.

  “Yeh, in a minute, I need to stretch a little first. We have to deliver this first package before we call the Blunderers.” Fudd began to stretch and flex just like his partner, in many ways they were like two heads on the same neck. But their appearance was vastly different. Fudd was 5’ 9’’ tall and a powerful 180 pounds. Silky blond hair, sky blue eyes and a perfect smile that could have landed him in Hollywood. But his looks only covered the surface, what lie beneath was evil and cold hearted. Both men had worked together for many years and they both had the same unquenchable thirsts.

  A cell phone rang in the car and Fudd sprang to answer it.

  “Yeh,…yes I do….how about forty-five minutes… ok.” He slid in behind the driver’s seat and started dialing another number. “Ti…are you hungry? We’ve got time to eat if you like?” Taipei was just getting in the car and he nodded his head and pointed to his stomach. “Ok, we’ll do that….Hello..? Yes it’s me. How are things down there, quiet and calm? …no not for a while, yeh...we’ll meet later. Bye.”

  He reached into the back seat and pulled a sheet off of a beautiful young woman, no more than sixteen. The fact that she had been drugged many times was evident by the punctures on her arms. What wasn’t obvious was the endless hours of sexual abuse and torment inflicted on her in order to break her down. Three days ago she had been shopping with friends at her local mall two hundred miles away. Today she was an empty shell. All her sensibilities had been drained by two of the best, and now she was just a product to be vended.

  Fudd stroked the girl’s cheek tenderly and she replied by staring off in space. “You know. I almost want to keep this one. She’s so pretty… And we didn’t leave a mark on her anywhere.”

  “And where would you keep it, you say that about the girls. C’mon let’s go eat.”

  “Ok, right after we meet, we’ll eat. Any preferences?” Fudd had already started the big car moving while he talked. Taipei didn’t answer but Fudd knew what he liked, they knew each other inside out. “After we drop these two loads, why don’t we take a break, maybe go to the islands for a couple weeks?” The response was the same. Fudd talked, Taipei listened and nodded his head.

  The drive down went quickly and they found the midmorning traffic to be very sparse. The only time that Randy Street wasn’t buzzing with trucks and campers. The main drag of Kitty City was only two lanes and less than a mile long. One end tied in with The Confederate Highway and the other dead-ended into a stand of trees. Each of the six side roads only provided access for the legitimate delivery trucks. It was a neon island in the blackness of the impassable forest.

  “A few minutes after ten, oops! We’re a bit late, you think he’ll wait?” Fudd looked at his watch and drove easily knowing his customer would wait a week if he asked him to. Taipei sat up straight and pointed out the window.

  “Hey, isn’t that some of your old gang over there?” Fudd looked over the top of his sunglasses and studied the parking lot of the Sandbox as they passed.

  “Yes I believe it is. Yep, there’s Tree pissing in the bushes, class man.” He gave it a little more gas and pushed his glasses back up, “At least we won’t have to go far to hook up with them.” Taipei just nodded and sat back, he glanced over his shoulder to check the girl.

  “Where do you think Faruk really sends these kids? You know all of them aren’t bound for the Middle East.”

  “Who knows, but at fifty-thousand each he can do what he likes. I think he‘s a slasher, I’ve noticed some of his girls that have been beaten up, he leaves marks, amateur.” Fudd grinned and turned into the parking lot of the XXXperience. An adult video theater and strip club with live sex shows. In a second story window stood their client, the owner. As soon as he saw them, he disappeared from view.

  “I bet you it’s been a week since fat Faruk has taken a bath.”

  “You could have gone all day and not said that….there he is. It’s amazing he could get such bulk to move so fast, he should work out.” Fudd opened the door and walked over to an obscenely fat Indian named Benji Faruk. Taipei stepped out and scanned the lot and when he felt secure he pulled the petite blond girl from the backseat. She could stand, with help, so he walked her over and presented her to Faruk. He looked her over hungrily and handed Fudd an envelope, then he grabbed her away from Taipei. It was all over in less than thirty seconds, and they were each on their way.

  Fudd rolled the long black Lincoln down Randy Street for two blocks then turned in behind the classiest private club on the strip. Known for its four star services and only the most beautiful girls. It was the highest priced cathouse in the state. It didn’t need a name, just a number. And since it was the favorite watering hole for the county seat, it had been able to flourish. Everyone just called it Mom’s because of the grand-motherly type lady that ran the house, and the fact that no one knew her real name. She had mostly gray hair that was streaked with her natural jet black. Dark Italian features and a portly shape that made her look like Jonathan Winters in a dress. When she heard the car door slam she knew her boys were there and she skipped to the door with a big grin on her face. She was always glad to see her only son and she had known Taipei since he had only eighteen tattoos, now they covered most of his body. Before they could knock, she flung open the door.

  “Hey you two!” She grabbed Fudd around the neck and gave him a long tight hug. “It’s so good to see you. Why did you stay away so long?”

  “Just working Momma.”

  “Ha, you haven’t called me Momma since you believed in Santa Clause.” She turned loose of him with one arm and grabbed Taipei under the arm and led them inside. “You boys hungry, right after you called, I told Fernando the put on lunch for six.”

  “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.” Taipei clapped his hands together in excitement, and then he put his arm around Mom. “I knew there was another reason I liked to come here, you of course being the first.”

  “Well listen to you. You’re starting to sound like Elmer.” She turned them loose and crossed the room to the bar, “You ready for a drink, it’ll be a few minutes.”

  “Oh-oh, she said the E word.” Taipei teased Fudd gently knowing how much he disliked his real first name.

  “Why did you give me that name?” Fudd sat in a plush leather love seat next to the bar and held out his hand, which she quickly filled with a glass.

  “I told you a hundred times. It was my grandfather’s name. And if you hate it so much why did you pick the nickname Fudd.” She walked around the bar and sat next to him. “But forget that tired old stuff, we need to talk. There have been some ugly rumors about Feds nosing around Brayton.”

  “Feds? What are they looking for?” Fudd’s expression never ch
anged but she could tell he had taken the news gravely.

  “I don’t know for sure, but my sources tell me it has to do with the FBI. They’ve been nosing around the markets looking for stolen items, checking serial numbers, asking for bills of sales.” Mom took a healthy pull of her drink and continued, “I haven’t been able to figure why the FBI.”

  “What kind of guys have been nosing around, suits or moles?” Fudd finished his drink in two gulps and leaned back in the seat.

  “Suits, so far no one has found any undercover, but you can bet your ass there are some, somewhere.” She took the glass from his hand and stood up to fix another. “How long are you here for?”

  “We haven’t decided yet, maybe we’ll stay a little while. That is if we don’t smell any heat. Looking for stolen goods eh? Have any been seen of them around here?”

  “No just in Brayton so far.”

  “Maybe we need to chill for a few days. You still got that house on the side of the hill?” Fudd opened his eyes and waited for her answer.

  “You know I do and you’re welcome to use it for as long as you like. I keep it for a peaceful retreat once in a while.” She grinned broadly at the thought of her son staying on an extended visit, regardless of the reasons why.

  An ex-hooker and ex-cocaine addict, she couldn’t pass any judgment on her son’s choice of a career. She was at her parental worst during his childhood years. He learned his trade from the dope dealers and her friends. She didn’t ask many questions because she didn’t want to know everything. It was enough that he would visit occasionally and that they genuinely liked each other. “I think I heard Fernando setting the table, shall we eat.”

  “Yes, please.” Taipei beat them both to the dining room.

  “We’ve got a little more business to take care of, but then we’ll take it easy for a while. Can’t work all the time. What do you say Ti, how about a couple weeks in the mountains instead of the hot nasty old islands?” Taipei barely nodded his head to answer. “Besides we’re just in time to watch the seasons change.” Fudd pulled out a chair and sat down, “I think I might look into this Federal thing a bit.”

  “Now don’t get cocky and get caught, you’re smart but these are the feds.” Mom put her hand on Fudd’s arm in concern. “We can pull out of here anytime and never look back; nobody has to take any chances.”

  “I may just look into it. I can find out a lot from my laptop. And I know people. You would be surprised what I can find out.” Fudd started filling his plate from a platter full of roast beef. “I won’t have to leave the lodge.”

  They talked and ate for another two hours, sometimes laughing, but mostly talking about the federal investigation. Fudd was fairly certain they didn’t know about him but he wasn’t too sure about Faruk. He couldn’t afford to leave any loose ends dangling, and he wasn’t going to leave until all was safe. His cell phone began to ring and he got up from the table to answer it.

  “Hello… and only fifteen minutes late… I sure do. I want you and Reverend to meet me at the scenic overlook at twelve fifty, and nobody else. Don’t be late.” He laughed as he put his phone away. “I wonder if any of those guys have a watch?” Fudd looked at Taipei who was shaking his head at him. “What?”

  “You love to tease them don’t you?”

  Fudd just grinned a little wider and sat back down. The overlook was only ten minutes away. He hoped his former gang members would be late so he could have a little more fun. “I brought you something too Mom.” Before he could finish, Taipei was already on the move to the car to fetch her gift, he served Fudd like a butler but he was in no way ruled by him. He was bright and literate but Fudd had an intuitive sense that was uncanny. His ability to feel trouble had saved them many times.

  Chapter 12

  “All right, we’re on.” Drago flipped his phone closed and slapped the table hard. “The man is in town and we’re off to get the goodies.” He stood up and moved to the end where the Reverend sat. “And the man sayeth that we two go alone into the lion’s den.”

  “Thus sayeth the man!” Reverend got his name honestly, a former Episcopal Minister, he stood tall and lean with a trusting face. When he drank, he began to quote scripture, whether he remembered them verbatim or not. Drago was a founding member of the gang and the current leader. He and Fudd had started the crack, crystal meth manufacturing business eleven years ago. And as a front, a small working farm with four houses surrounded their laboratory.

  “Somebody wake up Wolfman; get him and the rest of you back to the farm, time to get back to work. Rev and I are going to do the do.” Drago didn’t wait for them to move. He just headed for the door and Reverend fell in beside him. The supplies Fudd brought could be turned into many kilos of crack cocaine, which would then get delivered by Fudd to another customer. The wanderers could turn twelve thousand dollars into two hundred thousand without leaving the farm. Sweet.

  “Why do you think Fudd asked for us two alone?” Reverend posed the question as he sat in the passenger side of the black Ford pickup.

  “I don’t know, but he had to have a reason. He usually wants to see the whole gang. Maybe he’s in a hurry.” Drago started the truck and pulled off. There was plenty of time but he wanted to make sure he wasn’t late.

  A long-legged scruff called Snake was the first to hit the parking lot. He and Wolfman were the only two that still rode a bike everywhere. The other eight piled into a long custom van and a second black pickup just like the other. Wheezer was disappointed at not getting to meet the man, and so was Crazy Mary.

  “Well I like that!” she planted her hand on her hip protesting. Her stringy red hair clung to her neck and you could still see the imprint of the table in her face. Wheezer helped her in the van and sat down beside her.

  “You like what?”

  “He always comes by to see me when he’s in town. We been friens’ a long time.” Her eyes were red, swollen and obviously painful, having just woken up a few minutes ago. And she was obviously still drunk. Wheezer seized the opportunity and tried to find out more about the ones no one would talk about.

  “A big time operator like that, why do you think he would let you down?” He moved in close, talking softly, the rest of the passengers were too absorbed in their own hangovers to listen.

  “I don’t know, he always comes to see me, unless he gets spooked.” She closed her eyes and kept talking, for the moment. He could tell it wouldn’t be long before she fell back asleep. “Unless who gets spooked.” Wheezer chose his words carefully, taking full advantage of her cooperative state.

  “Fudd, he’s the man, he can smell a cop a mile away.”

  “Fudd?”

  “Yeh. And sometimes he’ll change plans jes ‘cause he got a funny feelin‘. He always like to party with me tho‘.”

  “They call him Fudd?”

  “Yeh, but don’t ever call him Elmer…whew…it’s hot in here.” Wheezer aimed her head at the open window next to her and not a second too soon. She vomited on the glass, the curtains and herself. Some actually went out the window. The van whipped in at the next corner and everyone piled out gagging and coughing. Dolly had been driving and was the only one not retching. She was married to Drago and assumed a dominant role when he wasn’t around.

  “Listen, if you guys can get her out of there, I’ll get the van cleaned up.” Tree tied a bandana over his mouth and reached in for Mary. She wasn’t very tall but her Sara Lee thighs made him grunt a little as he hefted her over his shoulder.

  Dolly spoke up. “You might not want to throw her over your shoulder like that. She’s just gonna…” Before she could say it. Mary had done it, again, all over Tree’s back.

  “Well?” Tree stared back at her. “What do I do with her now?”

  “Well…dumb ass, take her across the street to Mom’s. She’ll let you give her a shower, and you can take one too.” Wheezer stepped away from the van to catch his breath.

  “I was lucky enough to see it coming, and I’m
still clean.”

  Dolly clamped a strong hand on his arm and laughed. “Good, then you get to help me clean the van.” It was twenty-three miles to the farm and Dolly was not driving another foot like this. A coin-operated car wash provided enough hot water and vacuum power to do the job well. It was more or less clean but very wet; once it dried out for a while they would head home. Dolly knew there was no big rush so she decided to check on Crazy Mary and maybe get a shower herself. Wheezer eased away from the bunch for a walk, and a quick call to the boss. It hadn’t been very long since they talked, but it was a good idea to make contact whenever it is safe.

  Half a block away was a gas station/truck stop with everything a traveler could want. Fortunately for him that included a bank of payphones. He tucked into a corner stall and dialed quickly, keeping watch over his shoulder.

  “Jenkins.”

  “Hi’ it’s me again.”

  “What are you doing calling again so soon? Are you ok?” The surprise in his voice came through loud and clear. But in the intelligence world, surprise is not a good thing.

  “Yeh I’m fine. I just had a chance to call. I didn’t get to go on the meet, so I’m back to square one. I did get a name on one of the traffickers though, Fudd, one of the girls has warm fuzzy relations with him.” He looked around carefully, trying not to attract attention.

  “Fudd? Like Elmer Fudd?” Jenkins would have thought anyone else was joking. But Ray never joked while on assignment.