by S G Read
‘Are we anywhere near Wilmington yet?’ Cally asked.
‘We were, now we’re heading away from it!’
‘Can I get out and start walking then?’
Ronald thought about it for a moment, then stopped the lorry.
‘I suppose it’s better this way. If my boss knew you were in here with me he’d want you silenced.’
‘What forever?’
‘Yes.’
‘That would be the last straw.’ Cally said as she dropped down to the floor. ‘I’ve got enough people after me already!’
She slammed the door and the lorry trundled away, leaving Cally to walk. A hundred yards down the track the lorry stopped and Ronald leant out of the cab.
‘It’s that way!’ He shouted and pointed.
Cally pointed in the same direction for confirmation.
‘Yes that’s the way to Wilmington. Good luck.’ Ronald shouted.
‘Thanks.’ Cally shouted back and started walking in the right direction.
Marco made the trees, just before the car exploded and started work his way back to the road. He needed another car. He did not care whose it was as long as it worked. When he was in sight of the road he started to travel though the trees to put some distance between him and the police. He stayed in the trees as he walked so that he was out of sight. When he was sure he had gone far enough he climbed the bank and checked his pistol, all he needed now was someone to drive by. He walked along the road for ten minutes and that was ten minutes longer than he wanted to walk. Then at last a car turned the corner behind him. He stepped in the road like a highway man with his gun raised at eye level and the car stopped.
‘Down to petty crimes now are we Marco?’ Luigi Clo said when he wound the window down. ‘Did Arnold make it?’
Marco shook his head. ‘He was still in it when it blew up!’
‘Get in, you can tell me what you know on the way to Wilmington.’ Clo ordered.
Marco sat next to Clo in the back.
‘We saw the girl get on the bus at the bus station but she timed it so that the bus went, as she got on. I tried to stop the bus but the driver was deaf, so he couldn’t here me telling him to stop, even though I had my pistol pointed at him. So we followed it and I got on when they stopped long enough for me to get onto the bus but she was gone!’
‘How far did the bus go while you weren’t watching it?’ Clo asked.
‘We were with it all the way! She couldn’t have got of or we’d have seen her. The dress she was wearing was on the bus wrapped in an old towel. I reckon she changed clothes but only boys got off so she must have changed into boy’s clothes.’
‘She is a regular quick change artist.’ Clo replied. ‘When we get to Wilmington we snatch anyone who is the right size, even if it’s a midget! Where did she go from the bus?’
‘I don’t know boss, she just disappeared.’
‘Nobody just disappears,’ Larry said from the front, ‘unless Harry had a hand in it!’
‘She either hid or got a lift. Either way, she’s stupid enough to still go to her ma’s place and when she does we’ll be waiting there for her,’ Clo exclaimed, ‘me I’d be off to spend the money.’
‘You reckon she’s got it boss?’ Larry asked.
‘Got it or knows where it is. Either way she’ll give it back and then Barney can have her. It’s what she deserves for playing hard to get.’ Clo lit a cigarette. ‘In fact I might even watch.’ He added through a cloud of smoke. ‘Did you here about the house Barney chose?’
‘Yes boss. Not a little one to be seen.’ Marco answered and laughed.
He was happy he was still alive.
Larry parked round the back of the house and walked in followed by Clo with Marco bringing up the rear.
‘Has Barney had the old woman yet?’ Larry asked when Luke met him.
‘No some kid called to collect the washing for the woman she works for and he tried to get her to come in but she wouldn’t, said she wasn’t allowed to stop and gossip with the old crow. He grabbed her and she was going to scream so I iced her with me blade. He’s making the best of a bad job!’
‘What with a body?’ Larry asked.
‘Yeah, sick aint it?’ Luke complained.
‘What’s the smell?’ Clo asked.
‘The old uns. They didn’t smell too good before I done them. Now in this sort of heat, they’re getting pretty high.’ Luke answered.
‘Larry you and Marco take them out and get rid of them but make it good, I don’t want them found!’ Clo ordered.
Larry picked up one of the bodies and headed for the door.
‘Not like that!’ Clo cried. ‘We don’t want the neighbours to think anything’s going on in here, do we. What are they going to think, if you walk down to the car with a body draped over your shoulder? Wrap them in something.’
They used a carpet to wrap up the first body and Larry carried it out to the car. Marco used blankets to disguise the second one. Luke and Marco carried it out, then Marco and Larry drove off to find a good home for them.
‘I suppose you were going to leave them here until we left?’ Clo said as Luke walked back from helping Marco carry the second body out.
‘I didn’t think we’d be here that long boss!’ Luke replied.
‘Is the washing dry?’
Luke looked blankly at Clo.
‘How do you mean boss?’
‘Well if the washing is dry it should be brought in, in case it rains or something! Things have to look normal.’
‘Then what?’ Luke asked.
‘We put some wet stuff out!’ Clo retorted.
‘Trust Barney, to choose this house!’
Luke went out to fetch the washing and dumped it in the laundry room.
‘Hey Barney there’s work for you to do in here.’ He called.
Barney appeared at the top of the stairs.
‘Like what; I’m watching the home!’
‘I bet! Clo wants some wet washing on the line and as you chose this place you can do it!’
‘I aint doing any washing!’ Barney retorted.
‘Yes you are,’ Clo called from the front room, ‘get down here and do it, she’ll still be there when you’ve done.’
Cally walked for an hour before she came to the road. There was no line of cars but the police were still there. She called them police but they were federal agents, looking for the lorry Cally had been in. She gave them a wide berth, making sure they did not see her and worked her way round them, before continuing her journey. After a mile she heard voices ahead of her and hid, the voices stayed in the same place and Cally worked her way round them as well. She realized by what she could see and hear that this was a farm and they were working there. She came to a stream and the water looked very inviting but as she went to drink, she heard water falling on water, a sort of mini waterfall. She looked toward the noise and looked away again. One of the farm hands stood on a bridge over the stream urinating. She stepped back from the water and waited until he finished. When he walked away, she returned to the stream but the idea of drinking any of the water on her side of the bridge reviled her. She crossed the stream but the water drew her back. She worked her way up stream, until she was far enough above the bridge and had a drink. It would have been nice to soak her feet in the water but she wanted to get to Wilmington. Before she moved on, she splashed water on her face and it felt good. A mile later she met a road. Not a road she had to cross but she joined it at an angle. The road she was joining was on her right and she assumed it would take her towards Wilmington. She decided to follow it but to hide in the trees when any cars came. It was easier walking on the road and there were few cars using the road. When she heard a car coming, she hid and watched to see if she recognized who was in it. When darkness began to fall, she realized she would not make it to her mother’s house that night and started looking for a place to sleep. She headed into the trees to find a safe place and found a barn. It was badly in need of repair a
nd she assumed that it was another derelict farm. Like the one they had used before, on a farm where the bank had enforced foreclosure. After a quick look round to make sure she was alone she risked climbing the ladder to the raised part. There was straw there, at least she would be comfortable during the night but, in reality, anything was a better than what she slept on the previous night.
CHAPTER 18
Morning came and a noise woke Cally, there was someone below her; she heard them close the door. She could tell it was morning, because of the light, that filtered through the dirty window at the end of the barn. Whoever was below was not alone and they were making funny noises. She rolled over very slowly to minimise the rustling she caused. Once she was where she wanted to be, she moved the hay that was still in front of her. Once she could see she peered through it, to see what was going on. Below a boy and girl were kissing but this was kissing in a different way and they were close together holding each other making the odd noises. Cally propped her head up with both her hands, her elbows stuck in the straw and watched, it brought Drummond to mind and once her mother had sorted her problems for her, she vowed to go and visit him in hospital. Suddenly the door crashed open and a man stormed in with a shotgun in his hands.
‘I told you to stay away from my daughter,’ he roared, ‘now you’re going to pay!’
‘We’re in love pa,’ the girl cried, ‘just because you’re too dried up, to know about love and such!’
The man hit the girl with the back of his hand and sent her flying into the straw, making Cally wince.
‘That’s for sassing your pa. Love can be quite short-lived.’ The man replied and pointed the shotgun at the boy.
Before he could fire, the girl jumped on him and pulled the gun to one side. He fired and Cally buried her head in the straw as pellets flew past her and a hole appeared in the roof above her. The man threw his daughter off and raised the shotgun again. The girl landed heavily but jumped up again for another go.
‘I’m going to give you such a leathering girl, when I get you indoors.’ He warned his daughter.
‘You aint gonna to hurt him pa! You only want me here to do the chores while you drink.’ The girl shouted in desperation. ‘It’s time you stopped drinking and did some work!’
‘Get in the house! I’m going to be busy cleaning up out here, when I’ve done him in!’
The girl picked up the nearest thing, a pitchfork and held it pointed at her father.
'You aint going to hurt him, I love him!’ She repeated.
‘What are you going to do stick your own pa with that thing?’ Her father declared not believing that she would, for one moment.
‘If you don’t put down the shotgun, maybe I will.’ She replied passionately.
The girl’s father ignored her and aimed at the boy but before he could fire, the girl thrust the pitchfork into him. The man looked down at the points of the pitchfork they had gone right through him and appeared out of his chest.
‘I don’t believe it! You stuck your own pa.’ He dropped the shotgun to pull the pitchfork out but it would not move. ‘Give me a hand girl.’
‘What so’s you can shoot Tommy?’ The girl cried.
She walked past her father.
‘You must think I’m daft!’ she exclaimed as she did so.
‘But I’ll die girl!’ The man cried.
‘We can’t leave him like that!’ Tommy protested from the side of the barn he had retreated to.
‘We can and we will!’ The girl replied. ‘I’ve seen him stuck worse than that and he didn’t die! Let’s get away while we can, believe me, he’ll soon be coming after us.’
Tommy took no second telling. Cally lay up there wondering what was going to happen but nothing did. The man was struggling to get the pitchfork out without any success but he didn’t seem to be in any pain. Cally could have waited but she did not know just how long it would take the man to get the pitchfork out or die, she had no idea what was going to happen if he did get free. She climbed down quietly and slowly. She reached the floor without being seen and tried to pass him to get outside. When she got close to him she could smell why the man could not feel any pain, he reeked of whisky.
‘Who are you,’ the man roared, still trying to pull out the pitchfork, using the handle that was behind him, ‘and what the hell are you doing in my barn?’
‘I needed somewhere to sleep. Thanks for the shelter.’ She turned to go.
‘You’re not going to leave me like this boy?’ The man asked in a less aggressive tone. ‘You could pull this fork out of me!’
‘And let you go after the other two and kill that Tommy? I don’t think so mister.' Cally retorted. 'Try pushing the point against something hard that might help.’
Cally ran out of the barn and kept running, until she couldn’t run anymore, then she hid in the trees but no one came after her. She wondered if the man would actually get himself free from the pitchfork but his daughter seemed to know him well, so Cally put it out of her mind, she had enough to worry about already without adding him to the list.
Clo was annoyed. He was here with none of the comforts of the hotel and he was stuck there until the girl showed up. It annoyed him even more to think that someone else might be enjoying themselves when he was unable to do so.
‘Where’s Barney?’ He asked.
‘Gone back up stairs boss, with you know who.’ Luke replied.
‘Get rid of her!’
‘Yes boss!’ Luke started for the stairs but Marco stepped in his way.
‘I’ll do it, Luke,’ He said forcefully, not asking but ordering him, ‘you might not be so welcome!’
Luke looked at Marco fiercely but replied.
‘Sure thing Marco anything you say.’ He sat down again.
Marco walked up the stairs to the room where Barney was supposed to be keeping watch from.
‘Barney?’ He called through the door.
‘What?’ Barney replied testily.
‘Clo says she’s got to go.’
Barney opened the door.
‘About time too she’s starting to attract flies.’
Marco looked about the room.
‘Where is she?’
‘Under the bed; where do you think? She’s been there since Luke iced her.’
‘You didn’t-’
‘What her? I’d have turned her down if she was still alive! I do have some standards you know! She’s all skin and bone. I tell you if we pass by the witch she works for, who has kept her half starved, I’m going to send Luke in after her!’
‘Wrap her in that blanket.’ Marco said quietly, as Barney pulled her from under the bed.
They carried her down and put her in the car.
‘Same place as before you reckon Larry?’ Marco asked.
‘Yeah, there’s still plenty of room there.’
They drove off to get rid of the girl’s body and Larry took over Barney’s lookout post.
Cally started walking again and soon found the road. In front of her on the other side of the road she could see a sign. She saw a car coming and ducked down to hide but kept watching it. Her heart missed a beat when she recognized the man who had been in the room with her at the Dolphin, the man who was too friendly. The man who had been outside the door was in the passenger seat. She watched them until they drove out of sight, then after a quick look to see if any more cars were coming she ran across the road to the sign. It read
‘Wilmington’
Cally wanted to cheer but just smiled then crossed the road back to the safety of the trees. She walked until there were no more trees then started down the main road into Wilmington. The first thing she saw was a shop and the thought of an ice cool glass of orange forced her inside. The bell on the door tinkled and a man appeared from the back room after a few seconds.
‘What can I do for you young man?’ The shopkeeper asked.
‘Can I have a cold drink of orange please?’ She replied.
If she thought t
hings would be the same as in Chicago, She was sadly mistaken.
‘I can do you a glass of orange but we’re out of ice until the weekend.’ The shopkeeper replied.
Cally thought back to the warm orange on Dan’s boat and shivered but she was thirsty.
‘Thank you that will be very nice.’ She heard herself say.
She stood looking out of the window while the shopkeeper struggled to find her change, from the five dollars she had begged from the man at the bus station. She saw the car with Barney and Marco return and moved away from the window to make sure they did not see her.
-Fine! - She thought -They’re here and probably watching ma’s place. Still I’ll fool them like I have done before.-
She did know how yet but she was sure she would.
‘Do you know where the 99th Precinct is?’ She asked the shopkeeper after he had given her the change.
Her mother had named the rest home The Ninety ninth Precinct, as all the inmates were ex police officers.
‘Sure do, they are one of my best customers. Walk up the street, turn right at the junction and it’s on the corner at the end.’
Cally thanked him and gave him the glass back; it seemed odd to drink out of a glass in a shop. She walked along following his directions and approached the 99th precinct but saw the car the men who had passed the shop in. It was parked behind a house across the road. She changed direction to take her away from them.
Bertram Dill was lying in the bath in his hotel room when the door opened, he felt a lot better now.
‘I’ve been looking for you Dill!’ Michael announced.
He stood in the doorway with a pistol in his hand.
‘Is Toby here?’
‘Toby is out feeding the fish in the lake Michael!’ Bertram replied with a smile.
‘You got nothing to smile at Bertram, Emil wants words with you and he wants them now!’
Michael holstered his pistol, he felt safe. Dill was a book keeper, he never used a gun and he was in the bath.
Bertram slid his hand under the towel next to him and picked up Harry’s pistol.