by BL Burke
Eddie stood up, his hands dripping with blood, his chest rapidly jumping up and down. James grabbed more pain pills and took them down with another drink of the Pabst.
“I’ll miss you,” he said to the can and slowly moved toward the door, he followed the corridor past the skyline of Milwaukee, Brew City, his fingers running over the word ‘Sinner.’ James body ached, every step he was getting worse. He could only hope that Eddie was barely able to move.
James persisted down the hall, following the rusted tracks from an old coal cart and stopped at the entrance to the Gate to Hell. James took a few deep breaths, he put his fingers to his neck. Pulse was rapid. His mind went to Cindy, to Leroy, to the Chief. He was leaving them with a terrible burden. Even if he lived… he couldn’t. At least not as James Webb. He typed in the passcode and the door opened.
“Bout time,” Eddie said.
“I’m a man of my word.” James said, “door’s open… let’s go.”
“Gladly.” Eddie ran towards him with a sadistic smile. James braced himself. Eddie swung a large fist toward his head. James blocked it with his forearm and slammed his forehead into Eddie’s face. He felt woozy.
When he looked up he saw Eddie coming toward him again. James whipped in a leg kick to Eddie’s thigh. He took it and tried his own kick. It was slow. James lifted his leg and Eddie’s shin hit James knee. More pain erupted, James tried to put his foot down dropped. It couldn’t hold him. Eddie howled like a wounded dog.
James looked at him, holding his leg… writhing on the floor. James picked himself back up… his adrenaline not letting him stop. He had to finish this… had to show the world… had to die. James reached Eddie and lifted his fist.
Eddie swung, it was weak and James caught it with his arm. James lifted his right fist… he couldn’t beat a man to death… his heart said no. He heard a gun rack behind him. James turned and saw Perry leveling it at James.
“Stop.” Perry said. He was going to shoot, instinctively, James tried to cover himself. He threw his arm in front of his face as the shot echoed in his Gate to Hell.
Chapter 54
Perry watched as James fell backwards away from his brother. He won. Eddie’s life, whatever it was worth was saved. His arm didn’t move, his legs wouldn’t move. Eddie pulled himself to his side. He looked like he’d been through hell… maybe that’s what the sign meant. Perry lowered the gun slowly, his finger stayed on the trigger. His mind was spinning… he’d killed three people in the pursuit of his brother… yet somehow, seeing him… he felt worse.
“What the hell you doing here,” Eddie said pushing himself to his feet. “This is my world, you don’t belong.” Perry barely heard him, his eyes went to the other body, it’s face was bashed in… how many more deaths came because of him… because of Eddie and Skitter. A large chain of cause and affect pushed James to this life.
“I was gonna win, gonna get outta here on my own, I’d be the most respected…” Eddie stopped. “Are you even listening to me… I didn’t need no pig to save me.”
“You’re alive,” Perry said. It’s all he could. He didn’t take offense to the pig comment, he wasn’t anymore. Knight or Marshall would see to that.
“You know bro… I don’t like you.” Eddie said. “You and your family, your daughter… your wife… you all is just a bunch of Uncle Toms. I don’t play like that homes, I’m a killer.”
“You were forced too…”
“I liked it… and ya know what else, I ain’t done yet.”
“What are you talking about.” Perry said.
“Talkin about my life… and yours.” Perry saw the look on his brothers face, there was something in his eye, something that said fratricide. Eddie started toward him. Perry raised the gun and fired twice. He took a breath and saw the red light in the corner of the room. Perry took aim and fired another two shots. He looked at James’ body…
“I’m sorry.” He said, Then he saw James chest rise…
-----
Perry walked slowly back through the tunnel. The air was warm and stale. He turned toward the elevator and pressed up. He found the roof access and walked toward the street. Perry hung his legs over the side and waited. Police cruisers were blocking the road to the east and west. He took a deep breath and pressed the button watching the building across the street, the ‘Gate to Hell’ implode.
The interrogation room felt peaceful. He closed his eyes and began breathing. A little mindful meditation calmed him. The numerous times he’d been on the other side were never as serene.
“Now what the hell!” Captain Knight yelled. “This is the most screwed up thing I’d ever seen.” Perry’s eyes slowly opened.
“Captain?” Perry said glancing out the dwindling crack in the door. But it was only Knight coming in. No one else to back him up, no feds, no internal affairs, no lawyer. Knight took the other chair against the wall and pushed it as close to the table as he could possibly sit.
“The hell’s going on Jefferson?” Captain Knight said looking at him with those dull unknowing eyes. “I get the call you’re pulling your weapon, then all of a sudden you’ve got bodies surrounding you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“We have the video.” Perry knew it made no difference. “We saw you shoot and kill James Webb as well as your brother.” Perry shrugged, “We have the gunpowder residue test on your hand, it was positive.”
“Eddie was about to attack me, James… well I was stopping him.” Perry leaned back in his chair throwing his arms up over his head, his deodorant couldn’t cover the sweat from the fight. Perry tried not to smile at Chrissy the Sissy. “I have the Feds, IA, the mayor, the Governor.” Ahh there they are. He waived at the camera knowing Kyle and the rest would be there watching this.
“What about the firefighter… my guess is your bullets match the ones that killed him.”
“I didn’t know he was there, reckless maybe, but not murder.”
“This is serious… what the hell happened?”
“I have PTSD,” he felt the sly grin cross his face. “I’m not sure.”
“You’re going to prison… this isn’t something we can sweep under the rug.” Perry nodded, he believed in himself more than anything now. He looked up at the camera, “I am not a murderer.” He said point blank. “I am guilty of killing the dog… and I deserve to pay for it.”
“What dog? I’m talking about the bodies,” a little bubble of saliva formed between his snarling lips. “The humans that we’re trying to unbury from that rubble.
“They’re Eddie Jefferson, Officer Calloway, and James Webb.” He waived his hand, “You saw the feed, it was self-defense.”
“We saw the fight… saw Eddie kill Calloway.” A small bubble of saliva formed on his lips. Perry shrugged.
“Didn’t see that,”
“The feed ended…” Perry nodded slowly.
Captain Knight wiped his mouth peering at Perry like a poker player. He could imagine what was going on in that head. ‘What do we do with this? Did he do it? Why the crap is he so calm?’
“How’d you get the explosives to take the place down…”
“I didn’t,” Perry said then he smiled, they couldn’t identify the bodies. “I’m sorry Captain, I can’t be of any more help. Like I helped you before.” The captain looked up at the monitor almost afraid. “You didn’t know he was underage.”
“A Grand Jury will indict you.” Captain Knight whispered.
Perry shrugged. “Can I get my phone call?”
Captain Knight sat back, his confused face turned to a scowl. “Calling your lawyer.”
“Calling my wife.” Captain Knight stood, he crossed his and nodded stepping outside. A few seconds later the door opened and a uniform walked in, he slammed an old-school dial phone in front of him.
“Thank you officer,” Perry said. The man gave him nothing back. Perry dialed in her number and listed to the ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey babe, it’s me.�
��
“Hey there, why you calling from the station?” Perry shifted the phone to his other hand.
“How was your time away?”
“Good! Sadie caught her first fish with dad, gutted it too.”
“That’s my girl.” Perry smiled,
“She went hiking, learned to make a fire, thinking about enrolling her in the girl scouts.”
“I love you both very much,”
“I know babe, we just needed some time away from the city.”
“Wish I would’ve joined you,”
“Hope everything worked out.” She continued her speed talk, “You would’ve loved it, the days were perfect and the water… perfect.” Perry cracked the fingers in his hand and took a deep breath.
“Honey… I have something to tell you,” he interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Don’t freak out please… and whatever you do don’t swear.”
“I don’t freak out,” She said with her shrill accusing voice.
“What about the time we were driving in Chicago and the jerk cut me off.”
“That was different, and those flatlanders drive like nuts.”
“Eddie’s dead…” Perry said, he wanted to look like he was sad, he couldn’t.
“I’m sorry hun,”
“Me too, I have to go… they’re about to book me, I’ll need a lawyer and some bail money.”
“What?”
“Just know I love you.”
“But…” she said. Perry put the phone down before she could finish. The phone rested on the table in front of him. The bland room had no windows, no outside light. If he was going to prison… it had to be worth it.
Captain Knight stepped in the door. “Better?” Knight said.
“Much, can I get my own cell please?”
Chapter 55
He switched the channels, Fox, NBC, CBS even the local ones had some reporter at the cemetery. They all told the same story, each with a different twist, a different narrative.
“Was James Webb a psychopath or a hero?” was the question they kept asking. They brought up a picture of him in an EMT shirt standing next to the fire engine, his arm around Leroy’s pixelated face.
A helicopter shot showed two lines divided by police. Not based on race, sex, religion but on belief in life, what was more important? A man's or a beast’s? Breaking news ran on the ticker below the talking heads. “Cindy Webb sister of accused killer to be stepping down from her DA job to take over the newly renamed Renee’s Rescue.”
“The funeral of the Brew City killer, James Webb, is today.” A middle-aged man with balding hair and angry eyes said. “Really? Brew City everything….” He shook his head. “The body of the Animal Shelter owner, Renee Stevens. Whose body was found in a basement of the rescue, will be laid to rest tomorrow.”
A new angle of the gravesite. Next to the open grave he saw the medical examiner and Mario standing off to one side whispering like two old spies. Leroy was slumped in a chair. Chief Davis and Conroy were looking down at the hole shaking their heads.
Behind them, fellow firefighters, EMTs and a few volunteers from the rescue were trying to keep themselves together, every one of them in black.
He changed the channel, “The man’s funeral is today, we will bring you the footage shortly,” said the attractive blond anchor. “Numerous other victims’ bodies are still missing.”
He flipped the station. “There is an estimate of at least seven other victims however, there is the question, did they deserve it. He believed dogs to literally be man’s best friend… and that they should be saved. What do you think, we go to our panel.”
“Listen Janine, he’s a crazy… anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to put people in a cage to fight to the death…”
“He did exactly what they did to the dogs!” a female panelist said, “He was a man that loved animals, and I love him for it!”
“A traitor to humankind then, it’s great he’s dead!”
“He’s a hero!”
“Murderer,”
“Shaun?” the moderator said to the quiet one in his little corner box. Shaun took off his think glasses and rubbed his forehead.
“Listen, I love my dog… sometimes more than my own kids, and if someone tried to hurt her… like what happened to James… I might just go a little Webb on them.
“So you agree with what he was doing?”
“Parts,”
“Could you be more specific?”
“No Janine… I can’t.” Shaun said. “I’m a journalist… I tell the story. We are supposed to tell the story and it’s for the viewers to decide.” The other two panelists started screaming and he was cut from the frame.
He clicked off the TV. He picked up his blue and white track jacket, slowly he put his left arm in, then his right. He hung the sling over his shoulder and carefully lowered his arm in. He didn’t need to see the new scar in his elbow.
He threw on his hat and sunglasses and left the hotel room.
Driving to the park he could hear the birds chirping, the sun beat down but not too hard. Life moved everywhere. He could smell the fresh cut grass, flowers and a barbecue with kids running around playing football. He followed the trail around the pond and up towards the statue. At the top he laid down the single gardenia and turned to leave.
“Thought you were heading out of town.” A voice said. Perry appeared from behind the general.
“Thought you were in jail?”
“Not a flight risk… besides, case is shaky.” Perry said looking at the arm. “Molly’s friend did good work?”
He nodded. “Won’t be using it for a while though.”
“You take care of yourself,” he said.
“I’m not on your list anymore?”
“I’m retired.” He said turning back toward the pond.
“I very much doubt that.” Perry said.
At the car he stuck his key in the trunk and lifted. “Hey there Case,” he said to the man in ropes and duct tape, “ready for a trip?”
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Biblioagraphy
ALSO BY BL BURKE
KEEP READING THE BREW CITY THRILLERS
Check out my other books at HERE.
The Jones Island Playhouse A Brew City Thriller Novella.
After bailing on the Rangers, Officer Perry Jefferson is back home. He’s first in the door with the Milwaukee SWAT and stumbles into something that baffles the mind, an underage prostitution ring set up by the child’s father.
Detective Clarke comes to the scene, it was a suspicious call that led SWAT to the house and he doesn’t trust it. He’s been investigating these crimes for far too long and needs someone to help him see what he’s missed and Perry is just the guy, a warrior with a brain.
As they search they don’t realize what a large conspiracy that they’ve got themselves into and how high it goes.
Can the unlikely partners stop the evil criminals preying on the weak?
The Jones Island Playhouse will get you racing through the pages as Perry and Clarke race through the streets.
Pick up The Jones Island Playhouse TODAY for your next thrilling adventure.
Request for Review
Thank you so much for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed it!
On top of that I hope you enjoyed it enough to write a review. This can make a big difference for me as an independent author! Your great review is the best weapon I have to compete with the huge New York and London publishers. I’m not going to be able to send out press releases with a huge publisist, I couldn’t put an
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But I do have you my friend. Please if you enjoyed this book, take a couple of minutes to review this and I would be in your debt. Truthful reviews would help this book and others be brought to the attention of more readers.
You can click here to get to St. James Gate Amazon’s book page for a review.
Cheers and Thank you
BL
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my editor Courtney Clyde who did a fantastic job on helping me get this book right. I’d also like to thank my cover designer Andrea Fritz for the great cover on this novel.
Dedicated to Shadow
We Miss You Everyday!
Copyright
© 2017 BL Burke
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact: [email protected]
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Cover by Andrea Fritz