by BL Burke
“Dammit Marshall!” how could he give up on Perry. So what if it was girlfriend's brother, what about his own brother? Eddie’s a piece of shit … but he’s family.
The radio chirped in. “Attention all units APB on blue Chevy, license MAR-083. Vehicle reported stolen, all officers use extreme caution.”
“Fuck…fuck… fucking Marshall.” James is the killer, he’s the bastard who’s got his brother locked up and fighting for his life. James made him kill Darnell.
Sunshine blasted off every piece of glass from the buildings to a business guy’s watch as if in a coordinated effort to blind him. He gripped the leather steering wheel twisting his hands around so tight he felt a slight burn in his palm.
Then stop lights went to red. He pushed on the accelerator and felt the car speed. He blasted through the intersection honking his horn, not looking, just praying.
He was pounding through downtown when he saw the sirens behind him. A patrol car appeared out of nowhere.
He heard the loud speaker on top yell. “Pull over.”
“Nope,” the windows were tinted but Perry flipped the bird to two officers as they ran under the I-94 overpass.
He hit the gas and twisted the wheel a hard left. Three pedestrians jumped out of the way as he turned east at the next street. He turned right again down. His rear fishtailed, narrowly missing a line of parked cars. He hit the gas and cranked the wheel. He glanced at his speedometer, eighty. He turned again, up a street then back under the bridge. He glanced back, the cops were gone.
He followed Clyborn then crossed back under the freeway, Eddie was close. He slammed the wheel hard right and onto St. Paul. He sped to the rescue and turned down the one way street just past it. He was coming up to the dock door, how Marshall got in. The only vehicle on the street was the cherry picker. He looked behind and threw the car in reverse. Perry hit the gas, his car bouncing on small pot holes.
Behind him cars dotted the sides of the street. An explosion and he felt the wheel shake. The car bounced to the right. The wheel tried to jerk away from him yanking as hard as he could he tried to correct it. His hand slipped and he watched the world spin.
Perry’s head whipped into the steering wheel and back against the head. The spinning motion slowed and he grabbed the passenger head rest.
He put his hand to his forehead and felt a lump. Perry looked out his windshield. He was in the middle of the road. Perry moved his feet, his arms… as far as he could tell, he was okay.
He opened to door, his phone fell to the ground. Perry pulled himself out and saw a tan sedan stopped, the driver staring at him with wide eyes. A semi driver blew his horn then slammed on his breaks.
“Policcc… nothing… here.” He said stumbling to get his words out, his equilibrium was off. He raised his gun in the air and heard a buzzing. He looked down, ‘Captain’ was on the screen. He’d gone too far, suspended at least and probably fired. Perry stomped it into the pavement.
“Later Chrissy,” Perry trudged out of the field, his leg wasn’t responding well. He felt tightness and a surge on his thigh.
Ahead of him on the sidewalk he saw her, a little girl with the same skin as his sister Sadie, same pigtails in her hair. “Eddie’s an animal,” she said. He shook it off. Perry looked up and saw a thin black lady.
“Grandma?” No, couldn’t be, she died when he was in the service. Perry walked like a hunchback toward the brick wall of the rescue. He saw them through his young eyes.
Eddie, his sister and himself sitting in their ma’s living room. Little Sadie stood up from their game of Monopoly.
“Could you get me a water?” Perry asked. She nodded. Eddie held a six-five-hundred dollar bills, half the one-hundreds and a bunch more colors in front of his face like he was playing poker with money. His little fingers counted the squares from his silver car to Broadway. He rolled the dice, seven.
“Heck yes!” Eddie yelled, he never swore then. Their sister came out of the kitchen with two glasses of water.
“Damn,” Perry said. Eddie gave a disapproving glance, their grandma was somewhere around, she always was. Sadie sat down next to Perry and handed him the water. Her smile dropped to a pout with her green eyes, the only child from a different father.
“Could you get me some water Sads?” Eddie asked.
“No!” she said quickly watching Eddie grab the Broadway card.
“Pretty please?” Eddie asked counting out the money.
“Fine.” She growled and pushed herself to her feet.
It was barely audible, at first the sound of a glass break… then more, gunshots. Perry looked up as the front window exploded and bullets charged into the room. A whistle flew passed Perry’s head. Then more, the shots got louder. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sadie fall backwards like a tree falling in the wind.
Perry didn’t move, couldn’t move, his heartbeat quickened to a pace he hadn’t felt before or since. His body felt like it had gone numb. Eddie flung himself on top of Perry knocking him to his back.
“Stay down!” Eddie yelled, more shots came through. Then a terrible sound, a tortured howl exploded in Perry’s ear, it came from his brother.
Perry opened his eyes and saw his sister, her leg was crumpled beneath her with a knee pointing at a forty-five-degree angle up. Her little hand was reaching out toward him, her tiny soft fingers just inches from his arm. He reached up and grabbed her hand, holding it as the pops of gunfire ran through the house.
“Ahhh!” Perry heard his grandmother yell.
“Grandma hide!” Eddie screamed as the bullets died and the car sped off.
Perry reached the front door of Brew City. Remembering the night his sister died and the last night Eddie was a good kid. The last time he had a family… until Charlene.
“Where the hell is he!” Perry shouted at the young blond girl behind the counter. He pulled out his gun and tapped it menacingly on the white counter.
Her mouth trembled just like his sisters.
“Where!”
“I don’t know who…”
“James he’s here… I know it!” she shook her head. A door opened to his left. Out came a middle aged Hispanic guy. Perry raised his gun to him, “James Webb!” The man threw his arms up and wobbled. Perry shook it off.
“I don’t know,” the man said as the door to the kennels closed behind him with a thud.
“Where?”
“Haven’t seen him.” Perry started toward the door. “You can’t go back there.”
Perry put the gun to his temple, “say’s who?” The man swallowed. Through the door he heard yaps. He pushed in and saw the kennels below large industrial windows two stories up. Slowly he saw clouds move over cutting the light.
“Quiet,” he screamed, pointing the gun in the air. He pulled the trigger. A crash of thunder exploded in unison with his bullet. Dogs started howling. They surrounded him, young pups, old ones, he saw yellow and black and grey dogs all around. He started to feel dizzy. On the wall saw a mural, his eyes locked with the golden retriever, the dog he killed. Perry shook his head.
Save Eddie, Perry thought… was this now or that night? He stumbled forward. Something was going wrong, he tried to crack his knuckles. His hand was losing grip. Perry shook again, ‘snap out of it.’
“I’m a solider,” Perry said. He stepped forward, his gun pointed to the ground… but ready. He kept his head dancing in every direction. “Where are you?” He looked down the rows and columns of kennels heading toward the back, toward the dock area. A dog leapt at its cage.
Perry spun quickly and fired off two rounds. They were high, but the dog quieted with a look of sadness.
The barking continued. Perry he felt his face grow hot, damn noise… everywhere noise. He tried stepping down another aisle of kennels, he felt himself tilt.
Stumbling head first into a kennel cage Perry’s forehead was caught by the fencing. He dropped to his knees and swayed.
A wet sandpaper washcloth ran over hi
s face. His eyes burst awake. Perry pulled back and was facing a big grey and white wolf. The hair on his neck stood up, he shook his head. The dog's mouth was open, almost smiling. He swallowed and glanced at the sign on the cage. ‘Akela’ with ‘Husky’ below. He sighed. Then his eyes went to the door at the end of the kennel. Another marked ‘Private.’ Pushing himself up, he stared at it… Eddie was through there, somewhere. Other cops would be surrounding them now. He couldn’t get away. It was going to be over.
The door jamb cracked when he struck his boot to it. The top hinge flew off. He stepped into a smaller warehouse with the dock door ahead of him but no James, no Eddie.
Perry switched his gun to his left hand and cracked his knuckles and rubbed his palm down his face. To his left was a stairwell, right an elevator. The photo was in the basement, had to be.
He tried the doorknob, locked. Tapping his gun on the door he heard the clang of metal. This had to be it… the place where he’d be.
He grabbed the warm handle, pushing down he slammed his shoulder into it. A crack sounded his arm. He felt a surge of pain through his left arm. He stepped back and took aim at the handle. He fired four shots. Bullets ricocheted around the room, thudding and disappearing.
The handle fell off and he felt a sting in his left leg. Perry looked down at the small burn to the side of his knee.
Just a flesh wound, it was his only chance. Perry opened the door, grabbing the railing he pulled himself down to the first landing. At the bottom he saw the door and read ‘Hell’ on it.
Perry pushed inside, he was already in Hell. He reached the elevator then heard a clang to his right. He moved slowly, his body against the wall. He heard the footsteps coming from a room. Perry turned in quickly and aimed his gun. He fired three times. He watched the body drop. As he moved forward he saw the Spanish tattoo…
Chapter 52
Random voices chattered around her, none of it made sense. Kate’s eyes showed colors that didn’t seem normal. A hot pink face on people, green hair and black cloaks.
“Kate… honey… are you okay?”
“Of course, I’m fine,” Kate said. Why was she on the ground? She felt something hard propping her head up.
“She looks lost?” a voice said. Who was that? What did it mean?
“Kate, don’t move,” Cindy said. Kate lifted her arm, it dropped to on the briny concrete.
“Cindy?” Kate said.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Kate tasted metal in her mouth, blood. Her chest thumped. She blinked, people were jumping up and down. Her stomach felt upset. She started to sit up.
“No,” a few people yelled around her. “Oh God,” a woman said. She felt hands slowly pushing her back down to the ground.
“Don’t know what ya’ll are worried about, I’m fine.” Ya’ll?
“Lay down sweetie,” Cindy said easing her.
“Mama, she’s bleeding from the back,” a young person said.
“Shhh,” Cindy said.
“I’m fine,” Suddenly Cindy’s upturned nose came into focus, her face followed.
“Don’t worry about it,” Cindy said.
“I can’t be here,” Kate said starting to sit up again, her body twitched. Cindy and someone else put their arms on her shoulder.
“Paramedic coming through, out of the way,” a husky voice said. A burly looking woman in a navy-blue uniform appeared next to Cindy. Kate smiled.
“You have a mustache,” she said.
“Sorry,” Cindy said, “she’s bleeding from the back of the head, and confused.”
“I’m not,” Kate said.
“Can she move?” Kate felt fingers on the sides of her neck pressing, they pulled away with a snap.
“She tried to sit up,” Cindy said, she sounded calm… a little like their fight from a few days ago when she was upset.
“Smith,” Burly said. “We have a wound on the back of the head, get the board.”
“What board?” Kate asked.
“She seems to have function in her extremities.” Kate felt herself chuckle and Cindy’s smile faded. The worry of a scrunched nose through her perfect skin.
“I’m fine,” Kate said trying to lift herself. The grizzly woman put her hand behind Kate's head. Suddenly a sharp pain burst in the back of her head. The pain started more.
“Ow, ow…” she couldn’t contain it she screamed while feeling tears dribble down her cheeks.
“You’re hurting her!” Cindy yelled. Kate felt a cool cloth pressed to her forehead. It started to circle counterclockwise.
“Got the board,” said a larger man in a matching uniform standing next to Burly. She could barely make out the quizzical eyes.
“Can you move your legs?” Smith said.
“What kind of question is that?” Kate said trying to move her legs, they responded perfectly.
“Are you doing it?”
“Yes,”
“Do you feel this?” Smith said.
“Kate?” Cindy said, “Do you feel that.” Kate concentrated.
“It’s dull,” she said, “but yes,” Kate swallowed.
“We may have some nerve damage, let’s get her on the board.” She felt her body lift and slide over a foot. Her eyes scanned the crowd, it was hard to tell the difference between people
She shut her eyes. A woman’s voice came through, “they jumped out… hit her and threw some guy in a car… like something in the movies.”
“What guy?” Kate said
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Who?” Kate said, why me?
“My brother,”
“Right… what happened to him… weren’t we supposed to have brunch?” Kate said. Cindy squeezed Kate’s hand. Kate heard metal wheels squeaking and saw Smith pushing a stretcher.
“Where’s the police?” Cindy asked.
“Don’t know,” Smith said. Kate watched Cindy’s face as they put her on the stretcher. She was pushing out smiles but she could see she was barely keeping it together.
“They should’ve been here by now.”
“We’re moving her… they’ll need statements.”
“I’m an assistant DA, I’ll take them,” Cindy said. Kate felt herself start to move slowly. A grey-haired man with a bowtie made the sign of the cross. Cindy’s smile and hand dropped and her hand reached to her purse. She pulled out her phone.
“Z. Walter?” Cindy said turning away. “What do you mean he was attacked?” she said quickly. “The hospital? Yeah, Kate’s on her way there too.” More pauses as they pushed the cart into the back of the ambulance. The legs clanging against the bumper. “He’s after James… I have to go.”
“What happened?” Kate said as Cindy shoved the phone in her purse.
“I’ll visit you later,” Cindy said. The shut the door and she disappeared out of sight.
“Don’t worry, kid, we’ll take care of you… need us to call anyone?”
“My mom.” Kate said.
Chapter 53
James took a large guzzle of his beer. His body grimaced watching the battle. Pain he’d known, physical and otherwise, a gift from the gods putting man on this rock. He glanced occasionally at the monitor that displayed the feed. Just above three thousand people were tuning in with a few more every minute.
He put the can back on his eye. Eddie took a strong kick to the stomach, he deserved the pain.
“Damn, E be getting it good,” Oscar said next to him. James nodded but he knew Eddie was one tough bastard, two more punches to the jaw but he didn’t drop. Officer Calloway, didn’t have the same wounds, the same weaknesses… the same experience. Eddie transformed from a fighter into a gladiator.
Eddie took a few steps to his left and threw an arching hook. Calloway spun out of the way and slammed a back fist to E’s unguarded jaw. It took him down.
Calloway bent over, putting his lips close to E’s ears. He whispered something then stood up and kicked him until Eddie dropped and curled up on the ground. He dropped a knee to hi
s head. James zoomed in on Eddie’s face, he was done, this was the end of his run.
Calloway punched twice to Eddie’s face then stopped. He stood up, blood dripped from his hands. His silhouette reminded James of a murderous thief. He slowly turned toward the mirror, toward James. Calloway’s eyes pierced it as if he could see right through into the control booth. James adjusted the camera getting a close up of his face.
Calloway raised his hands up in the air, the blood sped like rivers down his forearms. Sweat dripped from his head onto his shoulders. “I’m a police officer not a killer, I keep the peace. I will fight to save lives, not to take them.”
“Oh we got us a hero,” Oscar said quietly. Eddie rolled over to his knees. Calloway seemed to wake him up.
“This man may be a thug, a piece of shit, but he needs to be tried in the court of law.” His chest was breathing hard.
James heard a soft buzzing next to him, he saw Oscar reaching into his pocket and grab his phone. “Uncle Mario, be back.” Oscar said.
“Yes… I may have lost my cool… but it was the heat of the moment. I’m sorry I killed the dogs… sorry that…” Calloway stopped. His mind was warping from the acrid air. He stumbled slightly back. Eddie pushed himself to one knee, James pulled the camera back. “I’m sorry that, it turned out this way… but I will not kill a man.”
Eddie stood on his feet. Calloway’s jaw dropped, he could see in the mirror. He tried to turn and as if in slow motion the bony fist collided like a baseball into Calloway’s jaw. He spun almost a full circle and went face first into the ground, completely out. Eddie’s momentum dropped him on top of Calloway. A loud crack echoed through from outside. James looked toward the door, his heart thudded in his brain.
Eddie pushed himself back up. “I kill him,” Eddie said, “And we fight.”
“It’s over,” James said to himself. He grabbed the microphone, “Yes.” Eddie sat back on his knees and his fists started to fire, raining down like an epic storm. James could almost see them from Calloway’s unconscious perspective, his mind flashed to the basement with Harlan’s fist. He flinched.