by C. G. Cooper
“I’m not an idiot.”
“I didn’t say that, I…never mind.”
Johnny watched the man go. Maybe his grandfather would let him tear the pig apart soon. He had to get his pent up aggression out somehow.
+++
Watts pulled up next to Laney’s SUV fifteen minutes later. He hurried through the downpour and hopped in the passenger side door. “Where are the cops?”
“Looking for the chief.”
“What happened?”
Laney told him what he knew.
“You think they’re telling the truth?” asked Watts.
“Of course. What I can’t figure out is what happened to Knox.”
“Could he be shacked up with a girlfriend? I’ve heard he’s got a couple.”
“It’s possible. I want you to find him.”
“What about Herndon?”
“Johnny can take care of him until you get back.”
Watts wanted to protest, hoping to stay close to the action and the likelihood of making more money. He held his tongue. “Any ideas on where I should start?”
Laney frowned. “Isn’t that your job?”
Watts sighed with a nod. “I’ll get right on it.”
“And be quick about it! Something’s not right here.”
Watts couldn’t disagree.
Chapter 30
The police found Chief Knox’s squad car in a ditch now overflowing with water. Knox wasn’t in the car and there weren’t any signs of where he’d gone.
Just as they’d done the night before for Henry Ellison, the officers donned their rain gear and went searching for their boss.
+++
“In a ditch?” Max Laney stared out the window incredulously. What else could the storm throw at him?
“Yes, sir. They’re looking for him now. I just thought you’d like to know,” said the dispatcher.
“Okay. Thank you.”
Laney was late for his meeting. Johnny called to say the new attorney was waiting. He’d instructed his grandson to make sure Hollie looked presentable and not to lay a hand on him.
“I’ll take care of it, granddad.”
At least Johnny was one less thing he had to worry about. Maybe he would get his shit together. He hadn’t told Johnny, but he’d recently taken steps to have the entire family business pass on to a cousin in Ft. Walton Beach, a man ten-years Laney’s junior, but a savvy financial advisor. Only time would tell whether Johnny could regain his full favor.
Just as he went to pickup his phone, a shadow passed across his peripheral vision. Laney’s head snapped left. Nothing, but then again, he could barely see a thing through the driving rain. He slid his revolver out of his pocket, just in case. Probably a bird.
Wary, Laney shifted the SUV into reverse, making sure his four wheel drive was still engaged. As the vehicle rolled back, a clod of mud hit the windshield, making Laney jump. He pressed the brake, engaging the wipers, trying to see out, holding the revolver tight.
It was impossible to see more than a ten feet into the murk. What the… Another pile of mud hit the back window. Laney didn’t wait. Trusting the off road capabilities of the SUV, he stomped on the gas. Tires spun, trying to get a hold in the slick ground. BOOM! BOOM! Laney felt the front of the cross-over drop, followed by the low tire pressure warning lights pinging on.
He didn’t dare get out of the vehicle despite his growing concern. Whoever was out there was either trying to get him to come out or…
A figure, dark, more hulking than human, moved closer, patiently. Laney pointed his weapon shakily at the shadow gauging the distance. Suddenly, the figure dropped out of sight.
Frantic, Laney tried to get a better view, pressing the gas pedal, the SUV refusing to move.
BOOM! BOOM! The back end dropped again preceding the flicker of warning light from the tire at the rear of the vehicle.
Laney cursed, dialing 911 as he scanned through the rain blasted windows.
BOOM! BOOM! Laney ducked. “Who are you?!” he screamed.
Nothing but the sound of the storm answered. Another dinging and a red flashing lights on the dash. Whoever had taken the shots hit the engine, causing a drop in multiple fluid pressures.
“Hello?” It was the voice of the 911 operator.
“Uh…yes, this is Max…”
BOOM! BOOM! Cowering, Laney whispered into the phone. “Someone just shot out all my tires and my engine. I’m stuck and there’s a maniac…”
“Where are you, sir?”
Laney told her.
“I’ve dispatched the local police, sir. Are you safely inside your vehicle?”
“I’m in my vehicle, but I’m not fucking safe!”
“Can you describe the person outside the vehicle?”
“No godammit! It looks like a swamp monster!”
Laney couldn’t stop his hands from trembling. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so helpless. His bladder threatened to expel its contents.
“Sir, the police are two minutes away. I suggest you stay in the vehicle until they arrive.”
Max Laney almost laughed. There wasn’t a way in hell he was going to get out.
+++
“He says he saw the swamp thing?” the police officer asked the 911 operator.
“Something like that.”
“First the chief disappears and now the swamp thing is on the loose.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve had more phone calls today than I’ve had in six months. Let me tell Mr. Laney you’re almost there.”
+++
“Sir, can you see the police cruiser?”
“Yes, I can see there lights now.”
“I’ll stay on the line until they make contact with you.”
The flashing lights approached causing Laney to breath a small sigh of relief. He observed two officers getting out of their vehicle, one with a pistol, the other with a shotgun extended. They moved cautiously, creeping closer.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, one of the officers tapped the driver’s side window. Laney rolled it down.
“Are you okay, sir?”
“There’s a lunatic out there. Be careful.”
“We’re checking it out now, sir. If you would, please stay in the vehicle until we clear the area.”
Laney nodded and closed the window, watching as the two men looked all around, even under the SUV. Head shakes.
Minutes later, their inspection complete, the same officer tapped on the window. “Did you see which way your attacker went, sir?”
“No. I saw him for a second…”
“So it was a man?”
“I…I’m not sure. Like I told the lady on the phone, it looked like some kind of swamp beast. It was too far for me to get a good look, then it started shooting.”
The officer looked at him like he was drunk. “And you’re sure it was gunfire you heard?”
Laney almost lost his cool, turning crimson. “Yes. I know what gunshots sound like.”
Again the unsure look from the cop. “Okay, but we haven’t seen any visible damage other than your flat tires.”
“And how do you think they got that way, and for that matter, how did my engine die?”
The policeman shrugged, spilling rainwater into the window and landing on Max Laney’s lap. “If you’d like, you can move over to the cruiser.”
“No, thank you. I’ll stay here until you’ve cleared the area.”
“Suit yourself. We’ve got another squad car coming with a tow truck. We’ll have you out of here thirty minutes tops.” The officer turned to join his partner, but glanced back. “Is there anyone you could think of who would want to do this to you, Mr. Laney?”
There was a laundry list of enemies from the past. It was hard to choose one. “Not that I can think of.”
As the officer left to write his report, Laney sat thinking, and shaking.
Chapter 31
Max Laney slammed the front door shut and stomped into his house. Betwee
n searching the area and taking his statement, it had taken over two hours for the police to get him home. There had been no sign of his attacker, though they had found two bullet holes under the engine compartment when the towing company finally got the SUV on the lift.
“Granddad?” Johnny came around the corner, his eyes going wide at his grandfather’s appearance. In stark contrast to his usual slick put-togetherness, Max Laney looked like he’d been dragged through the mud, literally.
“Is the lawyer still here?”
“He said he had another appointment and that he’d be back this afternoon if it worked for you.”
Laney glowered at his grandson. “I told you to keep him here.”
“He was here for almost three hours. When I couldn’t get you on your phone I figured this afternoon might work better.”
Rather than continue the conversation, Laney kicked off his loafers and walked into the kitchen. He needed a stiff drink badly.
+++
Renley Watts had spent the morning calling on anyone who might’ve known where Chief Knox was, using the same story in each case. He’d avoided the chief’s home, assuming correctly that the police had already been there.
There hadn’t been another call from Laney, and he didn’t want to phone his employer unless he knew more. Hopefully that would be soon. Watts was getting tired of knocking on doors like a beat cop.
“Thank you, ma’am. Would you please call if you hear from Chief Knox?” Watts handed the woman his card.
The slightly overweight redhead, who Watts judged to be in her late forties, batted her disproportioned eyes. “I sure will.”
Watts forced a smile and went to leave.
“Hey, you didn’t say what you wanted to talk to Darryl for.”
Watts turned back, flashing a grin. “Oh nothing serious, and don’t say anything, but it seems that a distant cousin won some money in the lottery and he wants to gift a portion of it to Mr. Knox.”
Girlfriend #3 licked her lips. “Mmm. Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.”
Watts doubted it, but didn’t say so. He’d come across all sorts over the years. It didn’t take him long to figure people out. This one was most definitely a divorcee, money hungry, and begging for sex. Knox’s other girlfriends had been the same. Watts figured it was the only way a moron like Knox could get laid. Flash a badge and some cash.
He thanked the woman again and left the apartment complex. Max Laney would be pissed if he didn’t call, but Watts was over caring. He had his money and would take his time. Maybe another raise was due.
+++
Max Laney examined the paperwork the attorney had left. He couldn’t sign it until the man returned, and served as a witness, but Laney was nothing if not a thorough man. The morning’s excursion had shaken his resolve. He needed to focus on business to clear his mind of the uncomfortable fear that had ruffled his nerves earlier.
Johnny walked into the kitchen wearing a collared shirt with khaki pants that were a little too tight. At least he was trying. “Have you heard from Watts?”
“Not yet.”
“What about the cops? Have they found anything?”
Laney slammed his fist on the table. “Can’t you see I’m busy?!”
Johnny’s frowned, and he put his head down like a wounded puppy. “Sorry. Just trying to help.”
Laney exhaled. “It’s okay. I appreciate you trying. It’s just that…well, this isn’t quite how I planned things.”
“I know. I haven’t helped things either. I swear, I promise to be better. I know I’ve said that before, but this time it’s for real. You can count on me, granddad.”
Laney looked up at his grandson and nodded. “Okay. If you want to help, sit down and I’ll explain what I’m reading. You’ll be in charge soon.”
The comment brightened Johnny’s mood. He took a seat and listened to the ins and outs of the real estate transaction.
+++
Hollie had lost all track of time. The grief was his only companion, teasing him, pointing a finger. He was sore all over. The pain was the only thing that kept him conscious. Part of him just wanted to pass out, or die. But Hollister Herndon was made of tougher stuff than most men. He’d survived a war. He’d survived the loss of his only son. He’s survived the death of his wife.
Suddenly, for some inexplicable reason, he raised his head. A warmth he couldn’t understand spread from his head down his body, tingling. His mind cleared. He had survived. He wouldn’t go quietly.
Saying a prayer of thanks, Hollie refocused his thoughts. Somehow he would make Max Laney’s life miserable, even if it killed him in the process. Hollie smiled.
Chapter 32
The power had gone out twice as Laney quizzed his grandson, the storm showing no sign of slowing. Trees swayed ominously, some bending like a bowed fishing pole, threatening to snap.
Laney’s phone rang. It was Watts. “Laney.”
“Mr. Laney, it’s Renley Watts. I’ve pretty much exhausted everything I could think of. There’s still no sign of Chief Knox. Have you heard anything from the police?”
“No. They’ve called every hour with an update. The storm is making it impossible to bring in more help. The governor’s already declared a state of emergency for the entire panhandle.”
“Yeah, I just heard about that. The roads are pretty bad. Not many people out.”
Unable to think of an alternative, Laney said, “Come back to my place. I’ll need you here when the lawyer arrives.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll head that way now.”
Laney put the phone down. “Now, where were we?”
+++
Watts pulled a U-turn, crossing over the deserted intersection, sending rushing water in waves. He’d purchased a police scanner at a local pawn shop after visiting Knox’s last girlfriend. He listened to the chatter intently, hoping to glean something, anything, that could help.
Instead of progress in the search for their chief or Henry Ellison, the cops reported accident after accident. Cars in ditches. Trucks sliding into creeks that were now rivers. Too many idiots were still trying to drive in the crappy weather.
Watts laughed, glad that he’d left the police force years ago. He’d never liked being a peon. Going private had been exciting, if not challenging. There had been good and bad years. Watts wasn’t a businessman, but he was good at what he did, namely finding and using information for gain.
He schemed as he drove, calculating how far he could go with the scoop he had on the Laneys. Watts wanted to latch himself to a steady train, giving him more income stability . Max Laney could be the answer.
As Watts daydreamed, he kept his eyes on the road, maintaining a safe driving speed as he turned onto one of the country roads leading to Laney’s house. The last thing he needed was to run off the road like Knox and Ellison. Just as he had the thought, he spotted a fallen tree laying across the road, not fifteen feet in front of him. Watts pressed the brakes, skidding to a halt.
“Shit.”
There wasn’t a way around. Watts huffed, putting his car in park. After a moment to think, he got out of the car, instantly drenched by the deluge. The tree was too big to move. Someone would have to take a chainsaw to the twelve-inch thick trunk.
Watts turned to get back in the car, cursing his luck. Just as he opened the door, he felt a presence behind him, a shadow out of the corner of his eyes. Before he could pivot around, a blinding pain spiked the back of his head, followed by darkness.
+++
Johnny balanced a plate in one hand as he closed the basement door. He’d been surprised at Hollie’s attitude. The crying had finally stopped, and for some reason he looked…hopeful.
The doorbell rang as Johnny made it to the top of the stairs. “I’ll get it.”
Not taking any chances, he pulled out the pistol from his waistband and peeked through the window by the front door. He couldn’t see anything for a moment, then he noticed Watts’s car parked next to his truck.
/> Johnny looked through the peephole of the new reinforced door. There wasn’t anyone there. His face crinkled in confusion. Where is Watts? He opened the door, his opposite hand still gripping the pistol, and looked out. His eyes fell to the ground. He took a hesitant step back, inhaling sharply, shutting the door. “Granddad!”
+++
“Do you want me to call the police?” asked Johnny.
Laney stared down at Renley Watts’s body, his dead eye’s bulging, the jagged tree branch the size of a man’s wrist buried deep in the man’s throat. It hadn’t been a pleasant death. Laney wondered if Watts died from asphyxiation or internal bleeding first.
Whoever had dropped the body on the front porch hadn’t stuck around to say hello. The warning bells in Laney’s head raged.
“Don’t call the police. They might think we did it. Get on your phone and get as many of your friends here as you can. We’ll need the help.”
Johnny kept looking out of windows already having gone around the house to make sure no one had busted in. No breach so far. “What about the body? We can’t just leave it here.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Call your friends. Tell them to come armed.”
As Johnny went to make his phone calls, Laney’s scoured his mind for a solution. He had to find out who was toying with him. His thoughts drifted back to the night in the Gulf when he’d concluded his business with Daniel Briggs. Could it be? Laney shook the ridiculous feeling away. Even if the Marine had somehow survived the capsizing boat, there was no way he could’ve made the swim to shore, over two miles, and then found his way back to Defuniak Springs. Surely it wasn’t possible. Still, the feeling nagged at Laney.
+++
A dark form moved along the tree line, more beast than human. Its movements were fluid like a panther stalking prey. It slithered around the perimeter of the Laney compound stopping here and there. The only thing visible in the tangle of grime and debris covering the figure’s form were two eyes, almost snake-like.