The Final Shortcut

by G. Bernard Ray

  His mouth watered in anticipation of his cargo, electronics were his utmost favorite for two reasons. He dearly loved wiling away the hours playing pc games and toying with cutting edge technology. He was able to turn fast, high profits with them too. A big swap-flea market 138 miles away in Elberton was having one of its semi-annual blowouts in a few days. A big event that drew vendors and buyers from all over the state, a perfect place to make some cash. Along with some of his older stock from the mine he would have a big load this trip. His mind was already racing as to what he would buy next. Even though his dad had left them financially secure. He loved making his own money, particularly if it was a lot of money.

  Less than fifty feet in was the main chamber, formerly filled with coal cars and large coal trucks, now it was crammed with semi trailers and Juniors second home. Much of the mine interior was outfitted with stolen inventory, and what he couldn’t acquire he bought. The rooms he had built harbored a vast collection of games, cds, videos, DVDs and a host of gadgets. His security system was superior to those of the downtown banks and he could tell at a glance if anyone was near. And among the spoils was a widely varied cache of weapons. So sizable it was rivaled only by the best of retailers. His favorites were the silent ones, knives, bows and arrows, even a dart gun.

  Deeper in, the tunnels were littered with more trucks, and a load of industrial generators. Any one of which was designed to last for years and he had eight. A half-buried tanker truck nearby still held half its load of gas, the first half had lasted over twelve years. Junior was able to easily wire his hideaway and create a perfect home away from home. In many ways it was more comfortable to him than his family home, and most certainly more high-tech.

  As the outside door was closing behind him he fished the remote out of his pocket and turned on a long string of lights. He was so anxious to see what was in the back that he decided to wait to deal with the driver’s body. As soon as he parked he jumped out and slammed the door hurrying to the back. Once inside he quickly pulled items out, scanning each one, becoming more excited the more he dug. “Oh man, laptops, joysticks…..” He didn't give a second thought before digging for more. “Ooo what’s this? Digital art palettes? Architectural design template….mmm…here we go. Digital surround sound for a pc, YES! And a new computer, YE HAA!” Junior giggled like a kid a Christmas, he couldn’t wait to hook up his new system. Without looking any further he grabbed two boxes and made for his digs, plunging into the task at hand. Before very long he was playing his games, staying well into the night. And as night turned into morning it found him asleep in the floor, his new computer game was still on waiting for the next play. He slept the sleep of a King, safe and secure in his hidden kingdom.

  The morning sun rose quickly chasing away the chill of the night, lighting the roadways for the awakening town nearby. The quiet hills became flooded with the sound of brakes squealing, gears turning and gas pumps ringing, the sounds of commerce. All through the long valley from Bontonville to Brayton, lights were flickering on. The shadows between the rolling hills looked like a star filled sky that was slowly shrinking away from the sun’s brilliant colors. Dawn presented a beautifully serene landscape, one that Sheriff Stokes rarely missed. From the front porch of the Police department he could see straight down First Street and directly east. As a part of his regular routine he would watch the daybreak before patrolling his way to Ellen’s for breakfast. Then back to the office before anyone else showed up. He did his best work early in the morning.

  But this morning he sat on the stairs a while longer than usual, his mind already busy with a mystery. The night before just before going home, he got another e-mail from the FBI updating him with another missing truck bulletin. It was one that was particularly hard to accept because he knew the man well. He’d had breakfast with Eddie McNabb just last week. His night had been very restless and the day was probably going to be just as unsettling. He pulled a fresh cigar out and leaned back letting the sun warm his legs, thinking. Everything looked different to him this morning, people were doing the same things they always did and in the same ways. But Clyde couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere in the population; among a few counties, among his own town’s citizens, maybe even among his friends, there was a killer hiding.

  He would look at everyone with suspicion trying to remain professional in his probing, but in this small town he could only come up with four possible suspects. Neither of which could have ever masterminded a string of crimes like this. Disposing of a body was one thing but seventeen trucks were entirely different. Then it occurred to him that the FBI would be all over him if they had any evidence pointing his way. If only there was a way to find out what they’ve found so far. The local Police are always kept in the dark when it comes to Federal investigations, unless they’re in the middle of the trouble. Maybe it was a good thing that he didn’t see any Feds. Maybe that was his sign not to worry too much. He decided to keep his eyes open and wait to hear from the Feds. It would probably stir up the town if word got out. Probably best to keep any thoughts about a gang of hijackers, or worse yet a serial killer, from the minds of the general public.

  A little relief began to creep into his mind and he stood up to stretch, it was time to go see Ellen and have breakfast. As he headed for the patrol car he dashed out his cigar in the street. Suddenly a sharp noise off to the left grabbed his attention. He spun on his heels drawing his service revolver in a smooth motion, drawing bead on the source of the noise.

  “Woah! Woah! Sheriff ….. Don’t shoot me!” Mike dropped the trashcan and raised his hands straight above his head. “I didn’t mean to bang the cans so loud. I promise I won’t do it again.” Sweat rolled from under his ball cap. Mike had been the custodian for fifteen years but he’d never seen Sheriff Stokes pull his pistol. He began to drop his hands as Clyde dropped his as well.

  “I’m so sorry Mike, you startled me. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you alright?”

  “I’ll let you know when my heart starts beating again.”

  “I’ve never done that before, to anyone.” Clyde noticed his hands shaking a bit, “Let me buy you breakfast.”

  “Oh, no thanks.” Mike wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “I’m afraid I couldn’t eat a bite right now.”

  “Well I need a drink, but since it’s too early for alcohol I think I’ll have coffee, I really am very sorry.” Clyde stuck his hand out for Mike to shake and he took it with a smile.

  “I guess that means I can talk about you for a while now, I mean I can tell everybody how you nearly killed me an’ all.” They both chuckled.

  “I guess I’ll just have to eat the dirt on that one, just don’t embellish too much, I might want to get re-elected.” Clyde grinned half-heartedly and turned back to his car, his grin disappeared.

  There was a rush of anxiety that made him feel lightheaded for a second, his hands were still shaking. For the first time in his life he felt lost and afraid. He tried to assure himself that if the Feds knew anything they would call him in, that if there were something going on in his town he would know it. But somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that this was just the beginning of his nightmare. There was a sliver of doom creeping into his thinking. His instincts told him that things would get bloody before it was all over.

  As he made his way across town, the main drag leading to the interstate was bustling with traffic. Most of the locals took the side roads because during the daylight hours the area was thick with travelers of all kinds. All the activity made Clyde think about how many people passed through town, hundreds upon hundreds passed safely through with out a hiccup. The more he thought, the better he felt. It had to be somewhere else. He knew most of the townspeople by there first name, had known most of the families all his life. After a bit more soul searching he had convinced himself that if anyone in his jurisdiction were involved in this, he would know it. And to keep things on a low heat he would not mention it to anyone, not even Rosa. He hadn’t told h
er about the first E-mail because she couldn’t resist the urge to dig, and he knew she wouldn’t be able to keep it to herself. In every way it was going to be just another Wednesday morning in his peaceful mountain home.

  When he pulled into Ellen’s the parking lot was filling up fast. It dawned on him that his episode with Mike would be all over town before sundown so he had better come up with a good cover story. Making his way to his regular spot at the counter wasn’t easy without making eye contact with Ellen, and she knew at a glance that all was not well with her friend and lover. He gave her a brief smile and reached back to rub his back. A backache, a really bad one that kept him awake all night, that was a good start. And the medication had upset his stomach, no, it made him jittery. One good part of aging is that you can have inexplicable aches at any time. By the time she got to him he would be ready with his tale, he would tell her the truth later.

  “What’s wrong with you?” She didn’t waste time with civilities this morning; her mood was not the best either.

  “Just a back ache and a restless night, what about you?”

  “Same here, I didn’t sleep at all.” She couldn’t tell him that she had had another nightmare, the worst one yet. “Coffee?”

  “Don’t I always? Sorry you feel bad this morning.” Clyde took the cup and nodded to the cook who was looking at him; his usual breakfast was on its way. “Why don’t you take the day off?”

  “I might, after breakfast. Once I was up I had to get busy.” Two of her daily regulars came in and she stepped away to say hello, quickly returning to the counter after pointing a waitress in their direction. “You know how I am, and you?”

  He had hoped she wouldn’t ask, “Well, I dropped my keys at the front door last night and tweaked my back, then the medicine made me jumpy all night. Mike startled me so bad this morning I pulled my revolver.” Something he had learned about women in his life was the best place to hide something is right out in the open. “Have you seen Junior this morning?” His attempt at changing the subject fell on deaf ears.

  “Pulled your gun? You? The only time you ever do that is at target practice. You must be very edgy. And no, I haven’t seen him yet today.” More customers streamed in so she excused herself to act as hostess. His plate arrived and he dug in, anxious to get on with the day, he would finish quickly and skip the regular coffee refills. When he got up to leave Ellen saw him and motioned for him to wait. She met him at the door and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, “I’ll talk to you later ok? I’ll be at the house.”

  “Ok, I need to get caught up on some paperwork, I’ll talk to you later.” he was a terrible liar so he was grateful that she wasn’t at her peak today. Any other time she would have held him down until he gave up the truth. Today he needed time alone to think, time to reason out whether he had anything to worry about.

  ***

  Halfway across the valley the Wanderers were groaning about a lack of sleep as well. Once they had the materials to manufacture crack cocaine, no time was wasted in cooking it up. The sooner they processed it the sooner they could sell it and return to partying. And this time they were particularly anxious to finish because Fudd had passed the word that Feds were sniffing around. Each member kept to their specialty and the process was flowing smoothly. Wheezer had filled the shoes of the group’s mechanic when their usual man, Jojo wound up in the hospital after a bike wreck. He had only worked with Jojo’s shop a few weeks before the wreck, but he was able to quickly befriend the big enforcer Tree. With the news of Feds in the area he knew his cover was getting weak and he wished he had taken another assignment. Everyone associated with the gang had to stay at the farm for security, a condition he wished would change. Their suspicion of him was growing by the hour and he was beginning to think it was time to disappear.

  The entire shipment would be complete later that day, netting them ten kilos of pure junk, more than they had anticipated. All that was left was to dry and package the last batch. Around the camp most of them were sleeping. Wheezer hadn’t been involved in the manufacturing so he passed the time detailing his bike. Tree walked out of the main house and straight across the yard to the barn where Wheezer was. “Hey man, let’s you and me take a ride.” Tree walked toward his own bike without waiting for a response. “That ok with you?”

  “What’s the occasion? Business or pleasure?” Wheezer got the impression by the look on Tree’s face that he was expected to go.

  “I need to check on a charge account in Bontonville, Mary wants to visit her cousin and we thought you might just want to go along.”

  “Well….ok. There’s not much to do here anyway.” He couldn’t help but think how fortunate he was to be headed for Bontonville, just in time for a rendezvous with another agent. There was a hint of something that made him feel a little uneasy, but until he had more than a feeling he couldn’t make a move. He could see Crazy Mary trotting their way with her bag in one hand and a thermo cup full of Crown and Coke in the other. He was certain that he would be able to get away from the two of them long enough to make his appointment. Mary never went very far without taking a break to party, and somewhere along the road they would want to be alone for a while. So what ever else was going on he would be able to pass a message to his boss and he would get updated on the investigation. As they pulled out of the compound, three of them on two bikes, Wheezer saw Drago standing at a window watching them leave.

  “Yeh, everything’s cool here. I just sent Tree out to take the new guy on a bogus errand.” His cell phone was barely noticeable in his thick hands. “Do you think he’s a Narc?”

  “I don’t know…yet! But I don’t like new faces, especially when there are Feds about. I’ve already heard about one in Seminole County, he pulled a Houdini and five people got popped. There’s got to be more around, Kitty City is probably crawling with them.” Fudd's voice was excited but not rushed, he was an intense person but he rarely lost control. “I’ll come by a little later to make the pick up; you’ll have to take your best guess with the new guy. I only want to see you or the Reverend. Savvy?”

  “What ever you want man, I’ve always trusted your instincts. See you in a couple hours.” Drago decided that he would have to put some distance between his friends and Wheezer or whoever he was. He didn’t want to do anything rash; in case he was a Fed he didn’t want to incur their wrath. But he could certainly get rid of the evidence and send Wheezer back to his bike shop empty-handed. He turned to Dolly and started relaying his conversation with Fudd to her, adding his own thoughts about hiding all the lab gear, just in case. She immediately agreed.

  “He hasn’t really seen anything, he just heard us talking about it, and so without proof he’s got no bust. What are you going to do about him?”

  “Nothing, we close up shop and take some time off. Tree and his slut puppy can watch the farm for a while.” She gave him a quick kiss and took off toward the lab to start packing. They had several hiding places around the farm that they had used many times, this wouldn’t be the first time they had dodged the bullet.

  From their perch on the hillside in Mom’s retreat, Fudd and Taipei had spent the last couple days on the laptop and the phone. Trying every contact they could conger up, to find any news about the Federal investigation. There had been enough info to justify their caution, but no one knew anything concrete except that they were looking for hijacked trucks. Which made them feel a bit safer. They should be able to conduct business without attracting any undo attention. He would make the delivery, bring his bros their money in less than twenty-four hours and then they could relax. “I don’t know Tai, my spider senses are tingling. I think we should hang here and watch our interests.”

  “Do you think there’s a problem?”

  “I got that odd feeling that something’s going to happen, something bad.” Fudd was standing at a large plate glass window overlooking a steep hillside, his hands clasped behind his back. “It’s the kind of feeling you get when some one close dumps on you.�
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  For the first time in several hours Taipei looked up from his laptop, pushed his glasses up and stared at his companion. “I would say that you look scared but I’ve never seen you scared before, so I don’t know if this is that look.”

  “Very funny, I just mean it’s an odd feeling that I can’t explain.” Fudd turned and looked out the window. “I’m not scared; I just think we should look after our contacts.”

  “As in, take care of, if need be?” Taipei leaned back in his chair and removed his glasses. “Anybody in particular?”

  “Faruk comes to mind, he’d sell out his grandmother to stay out of jail.”

  “Could be the Feds will take most of Kitty City’s residents as a bonus prize when the hammer comes down.” Tai rubbed his eyes feeling the burn of his time on the computer. “Anybody else?”

  Fudd turned and faced Taipei, “What do mean? Who were you thinking of?”

  “You said it felt like some one close, you might’ve had a Freudian moment.”

  He walked away from the window and stopped next to Taipei’s chair, “Maybe we should take a closer look at our friends at the ranch as well. Some times old bros get greedy and do stupid things.” Taipei looked up and nodded slightly.

  “My sentiments exactly. One of the bad things about using stupid thugs is they wear out so fast.”

  “You know, what ever is wrong with you goes very deep.” Fudd grinned and walked toward the bar and Taipei returned to his computer.

  ***

  By the time Wheezer and Tree reached Bontonville it was nearly twelve o’clock. With a lazy hand signal Tree motioned for them to pull to the side and promptly pulled up to a liquor store. Crazy Mary jumped off before he could put out the kickstand and trotted in after a bottle of liquor. Wheezer pulled along side and cut off his bike, waiting for Tree to say something. “Mary and I are going over to her cousin’s for a couple hours, and you get to go find the Express Overnight Delivery office. Drago’s waiting for a package that’s supposed to be here by three. You don’t mind going to wait for it do you?” Tree smiled the kind of smile he had when he was ready for a fight.