by Robert Boren
“Why?”
“Don’t need it out there to hide behind, and we could use it for parts,” he said. “The engine is pretty much intact. It’s a Cummins. Some of the pushers are Cummins.”
“Gotta pull the bodies out,” Jackson said. “They probably didn’t get burned up in the Willie Pete.”
“Oh, yeah,” Gabe said. “Forgot about that.”
“I’ll give you a hand.” They both rode the backhoe out into the field again.
***
Charlie walked into the Clubhouse and sat next to Hilda on the bench facing the TV. She had the news on.
“All done, honey?” she asked.
“Yeah, we got all five routes covered with the motion sensors,” Charlie said. “Not completely air-tight, but it’ll be hard for them not to trip at least one.”
“We’ll go nuts when a deer walks around out there,” Hilda said, smiling.
“Yeah, I know. What’s on the news?”
“Denver’s safe now. So is I-70. The problems are in southern Arizona and New Mexico now.”
“Good,” Charlie said. “Wonder if there’s anything left of my park?”
“Good question,” Hilda said. “Mine was pretty horrible.”
“Hey, look. Is that Howard?”
Hilda turned to the screen and saw the video, showing a class C rig trying to maneuver out onto a city street. Howard was clearly visible behind the windshield.
“My word, that’s him alright,” Hilda said. “Good. Now they’ve got bigger fish to fry than us.”
They listened silently as the newscaster talked.
“Students in Columbus, Ohio stopped a kidnapping tonight on a street near the University. This white motor home was involved. A man and a young women tried to grab a coed who was walking on the sidewalk. She foiled the attempt with pepper spray. Her screaming brought students over with their smart phones. We have video from sixteen different cameras so far. Police are searching for the motor home now, throughout the Columbus area. It was seen getting onto I-71, but police have not found it yet.”
“I don’t think we need to worry about those creeps anymore,” Charlie said.
“Here is video of the two people who tried to kidnap the girl,” the announcer said.
“Can’t see their faces very well,” Hilda said.
Charlie laughed. “Pepper spray isn’t very enjoyable. Look at them. They can’t even see the door.”
“Is that Howard pulling them in?”
“Yeah,” Charlie said. “There’s the girl’s face. Pretty gal. What’s she doing with these old creeps?”
“Good question. Wonder if George and Malcolm have seen this yet?”
“I saw Malcolm out in the barn on his laptop,” Charlie said. “He’s probably watching the video now.”
***
Howard cruised slowly down the dark alley, stopping near the gate.
“Get out and guide me in,” he said gruffly. Scott nodded and left the vehicle.
“Nobody followed us,” Bailey said, coming in from the bedroom. “My eyes were peeled through the back window the whole time.”
“Can’t believe how lucky we are,” Howard said as he waited for Scott to open the gate. “I wish Scotty would listen. That was a bad choice.”
“I know,” Bailey said. “Why don’t you pull all the way up towards the house? I’ll bet those two big trees will cover this thing enough.”
“Good idea,” Howard said. “I’ll have to go straight in.” He pulled forward. Scott gave him a quizzical look, expecting him to back in. Howard kept coming when Scott put his hands up to stop. He rushed over to the driver’s side window. Howard rolled it down.
“What are you doing, trying to run me over?”
“No,” Howard said. “Look up. We can fit under those trees by the porch.”
“Oh, I see. Good idea,” he said. “It’ll be hard to back this thing out later.”
“Don’t care,” Howard said. “I’d rather not be jockeying this thing back and forth in plain sight right now anyway.” He pulled in tight to the back porch, shut the engine off, and got out, looking up at the green canopy above him.
“This is perfect,” Bailey said.
“Well, it’ll hold until we can dump the rig somewhere and report it stolen,” Scott said.
“We need to see the video before we decide what to do,” Howard said. “If there’s a good shot of me through the windshield, you can forget that idea.”
“You worry too much,” Scott said.
“Excuse me?” Howard said. “You don’t get how royally screwed we are. Use your head.”
“Watch it, Howie.”
“Watch it my ass,” Howard said. “Thanks to you, I’ve lost my business and my motor home. Probably my freedom or my life too. Stuff it.”
Bailey watched, looking more and more nervous. “Let’s not fight. Let’s think.”
The two men calmed down.
“Close the gate, Scotty, and check the alley. If somebody saw us come in, we’re in trouble.”
“Okay, okay,” Scott said, walking away.
“He’s pissed,” Bailey said.
“You ought to be the one that’s pissed,” Howard said. “There’s probably video of your face on the internet now. You’re in this with both feet.”
“I don’t care,” Bailey said.
“You don’t care now,” Howard said. “At least this will keep Scotty from putting you down.”
“You think he’d kill me?” she asked, looking nervous again.
“I won’t let him,” Howard said.
Scott walked back up. “Sorry, Howie.”
“Okay, don’t worry about it. Let’s go check the video.”
They went into the kitchen. Scott’s laptop was still on the table. He turned it as Howard and Bailey sat.
“Wow, look at all those videos,” Bailey said as she watched Scott scroll through the YouTube screen. He clicked on the first one, and the video started.
“Son of a bitch,” Howard said. “There’s my kisser, clear as day.”
“This is a problem,” Scotty said.
The three watched silently as Scott played each of them.
“I don’t believe it,” Howard said. “The only one of us that didn’t get a good face shot was you, Scotty.”
“Maybe that means I’m still dead,” he said. “Good idea on pulling that motor home under the trees. It’s not visible from above or from the alley. It buys us some time.”
“That was Bailey’s idea,” Howard said.
“We could still drive it somewhere and dump it, couldn’t we?” Bailey asked. “After the heat dies down?”
“Yeah, but what’s the point?” Howard asked. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It matters to me,” Scott said
They sat silently for a minute. Kerry came down from his room.
“What’s the matter, Scotty?” he asked.
“We had problems when we were in the motor home,” Scott said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“It was on TV,” he said. “How come everybody was filming you?”
“Because of some dumb bitch,” he said. Kerry looked at him, worried. “You aren’t stabbed again, are you?”
“No, Kerry, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Bailey got up. “C’mon, Kerry, let’s go find some cartoons.”
“Okay,” he said, smiling. They went in the living room and turned on the TV.
“We screwed her over good,” Howard said softly to Scott. “Clear face shot of her.”
“I know,” Scott said. “Think we can afford to keep her around?”
“I don’t think we can afford to lose her, so don’t get any ideas,” Howard said.
“Why?”
“I like her, Scotty. So does Kerry. Don’t you hurt her. I mean it.”
“Okay, forget I said anything,” Scott said.
“The only person who came through this smelling like a rose was you.”
“Maybe,�
� Scott said. “There wasn’t good video of me, but that coed got a look at my face. She’ll be able to identify me.”
“So what now?” Howard asked.
“We need to get her name,” Scott said.
“You’re thinking about snuffing her?” Howard asked.
“Of course, but I’ll go do it myself,” Scott said. “It’s not going to be pleasant for her, either.”
“Somebody else might have gotten a look at your face, you know.”
“Possibly,” Scott said. “But I know she did. She ain’t gonna live through it.”
***
Malcolm watched as Gabe pulled the semi cab behind the barn with his back hoe, Jackson trotting along behind. After a few minutes, they drove the backhoe into the barn.
“Clearing the front area of structure, eh,” Malcolm asked.
“Yeah,” Gabe said. “The trailer is pulled across the entrance.”
“Not a bad idea, as long as we can move it easily,” George said.
“There’s a back way out,” Jackson said. “Behind the barn and down a ways. It’s big enough to drive motor homes through.”
“Really,” Malcolm said. “What are you gonna do with the cab?”
“Oh, just let it sit for now,” Gabe said. “The engine compartment is intact. Might be worth having for parts.”
“What kind?” Malcolm asked.
“Cummins.”
“Well, that’s what my rig has in it,” Malcolm said. “Probably worthwhile keeping it.”
“You took the bodies out, I hope,” George said.
“Yeah. What are you guys up to?”
“Seen the news in the last couple of hours?” Malcolm asked.
“Nope, been busy. Why?”
“Howard and Scott screwed up in Columbus, Ohio,” Malcolm said. “We know where they are now.”
“What happened?” Jackson asked.
“They tried to kidnap a coed. She had pepper spray. That ruined their whole day.”
“Ouch,” Gabe said, laughing.
“The real ouch is the video that the students shot when they heard the girl screaming. There’s over twenty YouTube videos out there now.”
“So what now?” Jackson asked. “You find the address, and go get them?”
“We already have the address,” Malcolm said. “We’ve notified the FBI, and I have an old friend on his way out here. We’ll be going to Ohio in the next day or two.”
“Really?” Jackson said. “Gonna need any help?”
“You don’t want to get involved in this one,” George said. “Trust me.”
“Good advice,” Gabe said. “C’mon, Jackson, let’s go get a drink.”
“Okay,” he said. They went down the trap door stairs towards the lounge.
Malcolm’s phone dinged. “Text message from Ted,” he said.
“What’s up?” George asked.
“He’s flying into Amarillo later today,” Malcolm said, reading the message. “He’ll rent a car there. I sent him coordinates for this place earlier.”
“Good,” George said. “We’d better flag down Charlie and let him know somebody’s coming, so our folks don’t blast him.”
Malcolm chuckled. “Yeah, good idea.”
“Want to talk to him now? I saw him go into the clubhouse. I could use a cup of coffee.”
“Yeah, let’s go,” Malcolm said. They walked to the clubhouse and found Charlie sitting with Hilda in front of the TV.
“I assume you guys saw this,” Charlie asked.
“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Spectacular.”
“I’ll say,” Hilda said. “I’m glad these creeps are in trouble.”
“Seriously,” George said. Heidi saw him when she came out of the kitchen.
“What’s up, honey?” she asked.
“Any coffee left in there?”
“Yeah, want a cup?” she asked.
“Sure, but I’ll come over,” he said. He left the table.
“You want to talk about something, I take it,” Charlie said.
“Yeah, we’ve got a guy coming in from Amarillo tonight.”
“Really? Related to this?”
“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “He’s LAPD, on assignment with the Serial Killer Task Force.”
“That’s still active?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah,” Malcolm said, “but not like before the war.”
“What’s your friend’s name?” Hilda asked.
“Ted Crowley,” Malcolm said. “We’ve worked together on most of my hunts. We go back to my days on the force.”
“I’ve read about him,” Hilda said. “Anxious to meet him.”
“I suspect you guys will be going to Columbus,” Charlie said.
“Yeah, in a couple of days,” Malcolm said. “Can you get the word out to everybody about Ted? He’s going to rent a car and drive in.”
“I’ve got a suggestion, since it’ll be dark when he arrives,” Charlie said.
“Go on,” Malcolm said.
“Have him call us from the truck stop, and we’ll go get him,” Charlie said.
Malcolm thought about it for a minute. “You know, that’s a damn good idea, and maybe we can introduce him to Sherry while we’re there.”
“She still around?” Charlie asked. “If she’s seen this, she’s liable to high tail it.”
“Good point,” Malcolm said. “I’d better call her right now. Thanks.”
George and Heidi walked up with coffee. Heidi handed a cup to Malcolm.
“Oh, great, thanks, sweet pea,” Malcolm said, taking it from her.
“Figured you were ready,” she said. “George tells me that Ted is getting in tonight.”
“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “I was just about to call Sherry. We’ll meet Ted at the truck stop and escort him in.”
“Good idea,” George said. “Sherry might be gone already though.”
“That’s what Charlie said. I’ll call her now.” He took his phone out and hit her contact, then put it to his ear.
“Sherry?”
“What do you want, Malcolm?”
“You see the news?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I closed the truck stop. People in town were rushing in there, asking questions. That’s a clear picture of Howard through the windshield. He’s screwed.”
“We know. There’s an associate of mine coming in tonight who I’d like you to meet.”
“Why?”
“Maybe he’ll think of some questions that I didn’t.”
“You aren’t setting me up, are you, Malcolm?”
“No, not at all. Our deal stands.”
“What about the VHS?”
“What about it?” Malcolm asked.
“You gonna lose control of that evidence if other people show up?”
“We don’t have to worry about Ted. He already knows everything. You’re cooperating. Don’t worry.”
“Do I get the tapes?”
“What years were you on them?” Malcolm asked.
“Late 1986 through 1992,” she said. “Why?”
“The tapes are marked with the year.”
“You haven’t even seen them yet? Shit.”
“No, but I knew you’d be on them.”
She sighed. “Okay, I get it. What do you want me to do?”
“How quick can you get to the truck stop from home?”
“In this two-bit town? About two minutes.”
“Good, then I’ll call you when he gets here. Bring the keys.”
“Alright, Malcolm. Don’t screw me over.”
“I won’t.”
Malcolm put his phone back in his pocket.
“You really going to let her walk?” Charlie asked.
“Haven’t decided yet,” Malcolm said. “Kurt around?”
“He was in here earlier, but he and Mary went back to their rig. Why?”
“He said he had a VCR,” Malcolm said.
“I’ll call him,” Charlie said.
***
&
nbsp; Kurt walked from his coach towards the clubhouse, a VCR in his arms. Mary was beside him. Trish and Terry joined them on the way.
“You gonna take that to the dungeon?” Trish asked, wide eyed.
“Probably the lounge,” Kurt said. “Malcolm needs to review those VHS tapes.”
“Wonder if I can join them?” Trish asked
“You sure you want to, honey?” Terry asked. “That stuff sticks with you.”
“It’s okay,” Trish said. “If it bothers me too much, I’ll leave.”
They entered the clubhouse.
“Here you go, Malcolm,” Kurt said, putting the unit on the table. “It worked last time I tried it, but that was a few years ago.”
“Thanks, Kurt,” Malcolm said. “Where should we set this up? I don’t think we want to show them in here.”
“The TV in the lounge,” Kurt said. “Jake put that other flat screen in there during the siege, remember?”
“Oh yeah,” Malcolm said. “Anybody interested, come on down.”
“I’ll pass,” Charlie said. Hilda nodded in agreement.
“Doesn’t sound very entertaining,” Mary said, a grim expression on her face.
“I want to see them,” Heidi said.
“Me too,” Trish said.
“You sure?” George asked.
“Yeah,” Heidi said.
“Alright, let’s go,” Malcolm said. He picked up the VCR, and they took the kitchen stairs.
“Hey, what’s up?” asked Gabe, as Malcolm and the others entered. He was sitting at the bar with Jackson, Earl, The Sheriff, and Jake.
“We need to review those VHS tapes,” Malcolm said.
“Why?”
“I made a deal with Sherry, remember?” he replied.
“You’re going to hide the ones with her on them?” the Sheriff asked. “Sure that’s a good idea?”
“For now, yeah,” Malcolm said. “You guys saw what happened in Columbus today, right?”
“I told them,” Gabe said. “You planning something?”
“Our associate from the LAPD is joining us tonight,” Malcolm said. “Ted Crowley.”
“You’re trying to hide these from him?” the Sheriff asked.
“No, he already knows about them,” Malcolm said. “I’m just upholding the deal we made with Sherry.”