“Wake up, fat man. It’s time you understood exactly who you’re in business with—and why you’re lucky enough to still be sucking air.”
Caesar clamped his fingers around Nick’s jaw. He forced Nick’s face to look at the table in front of him, where a multitude of photographs were spread out. Nick tried to jerk his head in the other direction, but Caesar grabbed the back of his neck and forced him to look at each black and white photo which then progressed to colored still shots of a man’s tortured and bloodied corpse.
“Nicky Boy, this here is a bunch of photographs I took when a former business partner decided to get cute and threaten to go to the cops. As you can see from this first photo, his throat is cut from ear to ear. The next one shows him hanging by his feet in a meat packing warehouse. Very similar to this place where you are now. We do that to bleed the body out because it’s easier to cut up into pieces without all the splashy mess of the liquid flying around. It usually takes about forty-five minutes for the blood to completely leave the body, in case you’re curious.”
Nick jerked, leaned his head over and vomited all over his bare feet. Caesar and Carmine moved out of the way, as years of experience let them know it would happen.
“This next photo shows him on the concrete slab table which makes hosing off any remaining blood go down the drain with ease. Interesting, isn’t it? A human body can be dismembered by cutting at all the joints, just like a chicken or a side of beef.”
“Oh, God, please no. Whatever you want—I promise,” Nick gurgled, then puked again.
“Awww, we aren’t done looking at the pretty pictures yet, Nicky Boy. Don’t faint on me now, we’re just getting to the good part. This next picture shows how easy arms, legs, and the head pop right off the torso when butchered properly.” Nick let out a feeble squeak and fainted. Caesar slapped him again and brought him back to reality. “You back with me now, buddy?”
Nick nodded. “Good, now pay attention to what I’m showing you. This photo shows how we sever the hands from the arms and dip the fingers and head into an acid bath. Throws off the cops and the medical examiner because they can’t identify the body. Then we bust the teeth out of the skull with a hammer, and we’re ready to bag up each group of body parts in heavy duty plastic bags. Then we can scatter body parts wherever we want.”
“Oh, Jesus. Okay, okay. Please, just stop,” Nick whined, snot and spittle running down his face. “Anything you say. Just don’t hurt my family, okay?”
“Well, I’m not sure you got the full picture yet, Nicky Boy,” Caesar purred into the damp, sweaty ear of Nick.
“No, no, I get it,” Nick moaned.
“Just in case you’re still a bit confused, let me spell it out. Under no circumstances, ever, do you want to piss me off. If you think you can cross me, as the expression goes, fugeddaboutit! I can guarantee you that this exact procedure will happen to you and every member of your family, no question. Am I right Carmine?”
“Yeah Boss, we’re the best in the business of making people disappear,” Carmine answered in his deep baritone voice.
Caesar and Carmine watched Nick’s face contort in agony. Carmine retrieved a trashcan and stuck it between Nick’s legs just as he vomited for a third time.
With a weak and quivering voice Nick finally said “Sir, I swear to you I will never cross you. Just tell me what you want me to do and I will find a way to do so.”
“Well, Nicky Boy, I knew you were a smart guy and could see that we can make a huge pile of money together. Now that you understand how our partnership will work, I’m going to outline my ideas to line both our pockets with continual cash flow.”
“Okay, okay. You got it. What…what do you want me to do?”
Caesar pulled himself out of the memories from days long since passed. He snubbed out the remainder of his cigar in the crystal ashtray and slung back the last sip of brandy. His bones creaked as he rose from the chair and exited the den. He felt every bit of his seventy-plus years. Making his way up the stairs to the bedroom, he felt a twinge of sadness in his heart at the knowledge Romella wouldn’t be there by his side. Even though she’d been gone for over fifteen years, he still felt the pangs of loneliness, though they only seemed to appear when it was time for bed.
Once undressed and under the warm duvet, he looked over at the empty spot where Romella’s head full of ebony curls used to rest. God, how he missed her. The one and only good thing he’d ever done in his life was marry the exotic beauty. But, as with all treasure, it came with a high price. Romella was unable to bear children. They tried for years to bring a child into their family, only to be heartbroken with each miscarriage. Six babies lost over the course of their seventeen year marriage, and the loss of the sixth one took Romella with it. Her weakened body and broken spirit never came back from the blood loss and shock of losing another child during her second trimester.
Caesar closed his eyes and waited to slip off into dreams. He hoped tonight he would see Romella in them again, perhaps relive their courtship days. His chest tightened, and he wondered if living with the painful memories was punishment from God for the life he’d led. An earthly version of Hell that grew more painful with each passing day he spent alone. The only comfort was the cold, hard cash he’d acquired over the years.
And as he aged, the money started to lose its appeal. Unfortunately for Caesar, it was all he knew. The only life he understood. So, he kept on, hoping the happiness it had provided him in his youth would magically reappear and warm his stone cold heart again. But, as sleep descended on him, he knew his hands were too stained with blood to ever be clean again.
4
The Trip
Karina jumped when her mom asked, “Where are we?”
“Hey, you woke up. About time! We’re about fifteen miles from Albuquerque. Why? Do I need to stop sooner?”
LiAnn shifted in her seat, stretching her arms and back from her long nap curled up in the leather seat. Karina winced when she heard the popping of knuckles and neck. The last few hours had been nothing but sweet tranquility. Ranger had sprawled his hulking frame across the entire backseat and went to sleep right before her mom had. For the next several hundred miles, the silence was blissful.
“No, no. I can wait. Did you call ahead and make sure our reservations are still good? It’s way past check-in time.”
“Yes, Mom. Don’t worry. This isn’t my first road trip.”
“Sorry, can’t help it. It’s a mother’s job to worry. It’s one of the side effects of the hormones that rage through your body when pregnant. The baby leaves the womb but the worry is forever embedded. Like some weird, alien life force takes control of your mind. Good grief, it’s almost dark. How long have I been out?”
“About five hours. And you said riding in a car for a long time makes you antsy,” Karina teased, enjoying the look of irritation on her mom’s face.
“No, I said riding in a car for hours makes my bladder turn into the size of a dime. I become antsy when I need to pee and the only place to relieve myself happens to be in some disgusting roadside bathroom—or worse—like out there.”
Hot, moist breath draped across Karina’s neck, followed by a slick, wet tongue swiped across her cheek. “Ranger seems to be on your schedule, too. He is just much more expressive about his need to urinate.” Karina exited the freeway at the rest area sign. “But I can’t ask him if he can hold it until we get to the hotel, so let’s make a quick stop here.”
LiAnn fumbled to find Ranger’s leash while Karina pulled into a parking spot by the bathrooms. Before cutting the engine, Karina scanned the facility. Only three other vehicles were there, all semi-trucks. The bathroom area was well lit and there was no trash strewn across the grassy area set aside for pets. The place looked fairly new and meticulously maintained. Still, since they were two women traveling alone, Karina eased her Glock out from under the seat and slid it into the holster behind her back.
LiAnn noticed and commented. “And I thought I wa
s the paranoid one out of the two of us.”
“I’m sorry. Aren’t you the one who instilled safety first—no matter what in my head since I was a kid, or am I talking to my mother’s doppelganger?”
“Oh, don’t think for a minute I’m not prepared,” LiAnn replied, then pulled up her pant leg to reveal the ankle holster with the twenty-two nestled snuggly inside. “I just prefer not to use a hand cannon unless absolutely necessary. You know, my motto is wound them, then cuff them, because interrogating a dead man doesn’t get you much information. That little tidbit was one of the first things I learned at the academy.”
Karina smirked. “Mine is blast a hole big enough to kill them, then make up your own story. That works much better.”
Laughing, they exited the car, Karina struggled to keep Ranger from bounding across the hot pavement before she could shut the door. The late afternoon sun bathed the area in a vibrant orange, tinged with pink and yellow slivers on the edges of the thin clouds. The dry heat radiated off the blacktop and shimmered across the road.
Ranger’s nose led him to the only green spot around and he sniffed out all the previous visitors before he found the perfect place to mark as his own. Karina let her mom hit the restroom first and stood outside the entrance with her enormous black dog that looked more like a small bear, and waited for her turn.
Karina looked back west and watched the sun begin its descent. The sky looked like it was on fire and she felt a twinge of sadness knowing she wouldn’t get to see it set over the dark blue waters of the Pacific anytime soon.
She rubbed her tired eyes and cleared her throat before her mom walked out and saw her acting like some pathetic, whiny child. She was pushing forty for goodness sake.
“Your turn,” LiAnn called, grabbing Ranger’s leash. “And believe it or not, it was better than an outhouse.”
“Thanks.” Karina smiled and slipped off to the restroom. She was surprised at the cleanliness of the place but antsy herself to get to the hotel. She wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a soft bed.
Within ten minutes they were back on the freeway as the sun set behind them and the call of the hotel room beckoned them closer.
Twenty minutes later, they were finally off the road and at the hotel. While Karina unloaded their bags, LiAnn was busy gabbing on the phone.
“Grampa said hey. He’s so excited, he went out and bought a whole side of beef today!”
Karina rolled her eyes as she yanked the zipper on her bag, then lifted it off the bed and on to the floor. She liked to think of herself as a vegetarian who, on occasion, strayed. The thought of eating cow every night made her feel sick. “Oh great. Charred flesh every night. My hips will enjoy it as much as my heart.”
“With all the work Grampa will have us doing, you’ll burn it all off. Oh, and the sweltering heat will do the rest.” LiAnn paused and took a look at her disheveled hair in the mirror, then quickly pulled it back into a tight ponytail.
Karina let out a small groan. “Gee, can’t wait. I can see it now: my hair will be in a bun all the time and I’ll sweat like a whore in…” Her words trail off and she cringed at the bitterness in them. Karina felt like a heel. Her mom didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of her anger.
“Karina, stop it. It’s not like beef is the only available food. You know how much they both like to cook. They are southern through and through. Eating, a lot, is part of their culture. There will be plenty of other items on the dinner table to pick from. You know that. Grampa’s garden is huge, my little part-time vegan. Sheesh!”
Karina’s shoulders sagged as she let out a huff of air. “Oh, ignore me. I’m just grumpy from the drive. Glad I didn’t pick long distance trucker as a career.”
“Hmmm. You sure that’s all?” LiAnn’s voice was soft yet inquisitive.
Looking away from her mother’s probing eyes, Karina grabbed the room key off the dresser and headed to the door. “I need a cold beer, some hot food and a walk with Ranger. Then I’ll be back to my cheery self. Promise.” Holding the hotel room door open for her mom, Karina gave one last glance at Ranger. His black body was stretched out on her side of the bed, just like at home. The dog pillow she brought along was on the floor, unused as usual.
“I think what you need is a long talk with your Momma. I planned on that in the car but fell asleep. I’m all ears now though.”
Karina kept her groan inside this time. There was no escaping the conversation.
An hour later with a full stomach and the three beers relaxing Karina’s nerves, they walked Ranger around the block. It was time to unload her mental baggage under the star-filled New Mexico sky. Taking in a heavy gulp of the night air, Karina squared her shoulders. “Remember Misty?”
“Of course. She’s been your shadow ever since high school. And, if I recall correctly, worked at We’ve Got Ya! for a while, right?”
“Yeah, until I fired her ass after I caught her with Cal.” Karina gauged her mother’s reaction. If she saw any pity or even the slightest hint of sadness, she’d turn into a blubbering mess.
“Oh damn. I was afraid that’s what you would say. I wondered if there was more behind your willingness to move besides job burnout.”
“It doesn’t make sense to me. It’s nearly two years and I still hurt…” Karina’s voice trailed off.
“Honey, betrayal has always been a bitter pill to swallow. And, if you’ve held this inside you all this time, why are you surprised it still hurts?”
“I don’t know. I’m not, I guess. I’m just sick of the rock in my gut. But, what I’m really tired of…” Karina’s words died as a lump of tears pressed against her throat.
“Is still having feelings for Cal?”
Shocked, Karina almost tripped and fell over Ranger. “How did you know?”
“Baby, it’s all over your face and in your voice. I just mistook the look. Thought it was making the decision to sell your portion of the business, move to Arkansas, and be so far away from Cal. I mean, I knew you two weren’t seeing each other any longer, but, oh, I guess I hoped the split came about while you were undercover. You know, because you were gone so much. Drifted apart. Not because he cheated on you.”
Karina huffed and motioned toward the wooden bench up ahead. Once seated, she summoned the courage to continue the conversation. “Well, in the beginning, that is exactly what happened. I mean, I was bouncing from one job to the next all over the state, and Cal had to stay behind and keep the business running. We really couldn’t communicate much other than electronically and weren’t too sure how long my assignment would last. We agreed to cool things off.”
“Whose idea was that?” LiAnn probed.
“Mine, Mom. The more information I found out, and the pain of seeing what those owners were doing to the poor seniors, ate at my insides. I couldn’t sleep at night. My stomach was in a constant knot, and I had trouble eating. It was all I could do to concentrate on the job without putting my Glock in the temple of some of the nastier owners. It drained me, physically and emotionally. At the end of the day, I didn’t have anything left over to give to Cal. When we did talk, all we seemed to do was argue, especially about his troubles running the business. I mean, I couldn’t help. I was too far away and already had my plate full, and that wasn’t fair to him. So, I suggested we take a break and told him he should hire some help. That’s when he brought in Misty.”
“Let me guess: you thought she was a safe choice, right? Because of your friendship?”
Karina let a cynical laugh escape. “Yeah, silly me, huh? I mean, Misty filled in for us a few times before, so she knew how to handle all the day-to-day stuff that made Cal’s head spin. You know, he isn’t the type to sit behind a desk in a suit and tie and crunch numbers or shuffle paper. He prefers to crunch people.”
LiAnn chuckled softly. “That he does. I’ve never seen a man who enjoyed cuffing people as much as Calvin Benson.”
“Yeah, but only after he manhandled them first. Cal was a beast on the job
. The dormant biker in him emerged and he never stopped until his quarry was in custody. That was just one of the things I loved about him. He never backed down from a challenge. He was always on the front lines, raring to go. He feared no one and nothing.”
“Except you,” LiAnn whispered.
“Excuse me? What do you mean? The only time Calvin Benson was ever scared of me was the day I yanked Misty out of the office by her dirty blonde hair. When he tried to intervene, I threatened to castrate him. Oh man, did Cal tell you about that or something?”
LiAnn wrapped her arms around Karina’s shoulders. “No, honey. I’m not talking about physically afraid of you. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like you aren’t an imposing sight when all fired up, but I meant emotionally. Cal feared how being with you made him feel.”
“Mom, I love you, but seriously, that’s a load of psycho-babble bullshit. Cal had blue-balls and pointed his dick toward the first dirty skank who offered to spread her…”
“Karina Ruby Summers! I didn’t raise you to talk like that, and I certainly don’t want you letting that mouth of yours spew out that sort of thing around Gram and Grampa! I know you are used to being around foul-mouthed buffoons all day, but I’m not one of them. And Gram and Grampa would keel over if they heard their precious granddaughter sounding like a dock worker.”
Karina refused to be tamped down. “Wait just a minute, Mom. You wanted me to tell you what was going on, and now that I am, you’re going to admonish me for sharing what I’m feeling, or how I felt at the time things happened? That’s not fair. Oh, and I seem to recall your mouth can be just as dirty, if not worse. I remember overhearing some of your more colorful conversations with Crigger over the years.”
LiAnn softened her tone. “I do want you to share, sweetheart. And I’m listening. Of course, so is everyone else around here within fifty feet. Your voice does tend to carry when you are on a rampage. I just want you to think about what you’re saying before it explodes from your mouth. You know, practice reformatting your thoughts to make them more, um, P.C. And my potty-mouth has waned over the years. A funny little thing called maturity happened.”
Blood Ties - A Magnolia Novel Page 4