A Lifetime of Vengeance

by Pete PJ Grondin

  “If you keep doing that, we’re never going to get out of bed.”

  “Then my plan’s working. Do we want breakfast this morning, or do we want a steady diet of you and me pancakes with sweet, maple syrup?”

  “Umm, that sounds so good.”

  They stayed in bed for another hour and made love again. Then they got up and showered together. They finally got dressed just before noon. Brian made some wisecrack about skipping breakfast and going right for lunch. “At this rate, we’re going to starve to death by next week.”

  “But we’ll die happy,” Ginny replied. Then Ginny asked a question out of the blue. “Who are the McKinney brothers?”

  “How do you know about the McKinney brothers?”

  “I just heard their names from a couple different places, you for one. When you were talking with that guy, Al, at the Rock the other night, I heard you mention Pat McKinney and his brothers. I was just interested.” She paused then said, “I also heard Danny talk about them one time. They seem pretty popular, liked and hated kind of guys. Danny hated them, it was clear, but he acted like he hated everybody except women.”

  “Let me tell you a little story about the brothers McKinney. Once upon a time, in a land called Apopka, Florida, there were three brothers; Pat, the oldest, Joe, the middle one, and Mike, the youngster. They had an orange grove business. Then they started a nursery business. Then they started another kind of plant business.”

  Brian went on with his story about the McKinneys, how they were well liked and respected and how they were also very popular. They were just fun to be around and very friendly. They weren’t arrogant at all, and they shared lots of things. Well they got a little greedy, some of their friends got a little jealous, and they got a little careless. They trusted people an awful lot. And in the business they were in, trust is not something to count on. So they had a few problems with others stealing their stuff. They were also finding out that some of the shady stuff that they were doing wasn’t right. So they stopped. But it was too little too late for their former friends. That’s when big shit hit the fan.”

  “One day when all three were at the nursery working, some guys, four to be exact, broke into Mike McKinney’s house. Supposedly they were looking for dope and cash.”

  “How do you know what they were looking for?”

  “Well, because I know most of them. Or I knew most of them. I haven’t seen these guys for almost three years now, at least, maybe four. Anyway, the story doesn’t stop here. This is pretty nasty. Are you sure you want to hear the rest?” Ginny nodded. “Well, Mike’s wife came home from the grocery store and kind of surprised the guys. She tried to run, but couldn’t get away. They beat her and raped her, then beat her more. She died in the hospital the next day but she was in a coma when they took her in. Some say she woke up long enough to name names, but that was never brought out in court.”

  “How did they find out who did it? Aren’t they in jail?”

  “Well, this is where it gets even worse. One of the assholes taped parts of the rape and beating. They think he stopped because he knew it was getting out of hand. I don’t think that he expected it to get that brutal. He also figured out that the tape could send them to the chair. The police found the tape somehow and it was clear as day who two of the guys were. And voices on the tape implicated the other two. They were all former friends and business associates of the brothers. They were arrested and arraigned. But when it came time for a trial, the tape had disappeared. There was no other physical evidence that was recovered because, with the tape, a conviction seemed pretty much a slam dunk. They walked free the day after the arraignment. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department tried for years to get the bastards on other charges but no luck.”

  “God! That makes me sick. How can some pricks get away with that? Others get hammered for such minor stuff. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

  “It isn’t, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that it is. But what goes around comes around. One of the pricks was killed the other night. Rumor has it he was trying to rape his date. Someone took exception to it and crammed a bottle neck down his throat. Killed him. There are only three of those pricks alive now. Who knows, maybe Julie’s ghost is coming back to get them.”

  Brian went to the door and picked up the complimentary morning paper and brought it back to the table. He and Ginny leafed through different sections, when Brian set his coffee cup down and stared at a news story in the local law enforcement section.

  “Remember when I said that there were three alive? Well, we’re down to two.”

  Brian showed Ginny the story about Donnie Lee Lester, how he was gunned down in his home.

  “This is getting real bad, Ginny. I hope that Pat doesn’t have anything to do with this. I talked with him just a few days ago.”

  “You talked with Pat? When?”

  “I’d gotten a letter from Pat a few months back. He said he was moving to Dunnellon. He wanted to be close to Crystal River Power Plant. He doesn’t work there, but he runs a consulting business that specializes in something related to the nuclear business. I don’t really know what it is. Anyway, he told me about his wife and kids. Hell, I didn’t even know he was married, much less had kids. He invited me up to visit. So I did. When I got there he wasn’t home, but his wife, Diane was. She actually let me in and we talked for a couple of hours. I want to tell you that was one weird conversation.”

  “How do you mean? Is she some kind of fruit cake?”

  “I don’t mean that Diane is weird, just the opposite. She’s a great woman, not as great as you, Babe, but she didn’t know much of anything of Pat’s past.” Brian went on to tell Ginny about how Diane had no idea about the orange grove or nursery business. She had no idea about Pat’s friends. She wasn’t even sure where Pat was at the time. Brian then told Ginny about the vault in the grove and how the brothers used to conduct business from the vault. He told her how he found Pat there mentally torturing himself.

  “How did you know he would be there?”

  “I didn’t. I just had a feeling. Hell, I didn’t even think that they still owned the grove where the vault is located. That’s a whole other story, about the vault, I mean. But anyway, Pat’s there, going over ancient history in his head. I talked to him for hours. I told him to get the hell out of that place. Go home to his wife and make things right. He pulled out behind me, but he went back for some reason. He was only there for about five more minutes, then he left again. I don’t know what he went back for, but he must have gotten something that he didn’t want me to know about.”

  “What is it about ‘the vault’?” Ginny made a gesture that was exaggerated; kind of making fun of the vault. “I mean, what’s the big deal?”

  “That’s where things really started to fall apart for Pat and his brothers. They really let things get lax. And they shouldn’t have. That vault is like a mini-fortress. If they needed security, they had it in the vault.” Brian again went on to describe the vault and how much steel it was made from, how many cameras surrounded the grove and the area around the vault. He talked about the ventilation system. He even talked about why it was built in the first place. It had nothing to do with the drug trade. “The thing could probably withstand a nuclear blast,” Brian said. “But that’s all history. If I were them, I’d tear the damn thing down. It’s just a reminder of some pretty shitty times. At the very least, they should sell the grove and get rid of the whole package.”

  “Wow. This is a bummer of a story. No wonder these guys left town. Whatever happened to Mike? You never said much about him.”

  “He left for Nevada. He lives somewhere near Vegas. I don’t know exactly , convince too many people of that. He just dropped out of sight and mind.”

  “How awful that would be to lose your wife like that. Even worse, to people, no animals, who were supposed to be your friends? It wouldn’t surprise me if they were involved these killings.”

  “Well there’s one other thing I n
eed to tell you about. And I’m afraid this one is going to hit a little close to home.” Ginny looked at Brain with an odd expression, like ‘what do you mean?’ “Danny Vallero crossed the McKinneys in a big way, too. It was nothing vicious like the rape and murder but he ripped them off for about fifty grand. He took cash right out from under their noses. He swore to their faces that he didn’t do it then he bragged about it to a few of their mutual friends. He wanted to make sure that it got back to them. He joined the ‘beat on the McKinney boys’ parade.”

  “Oh my God, you mean there are three murders in the last week and all of them are people who have crossed the McKinneys? When did all this happen? It had to be years ago.”

  “I’d guess about six and a half to seven years ago. That’s a long time to hold a grudge, don’t you think?”

  “They had some incentive though. If they are involved, I hope I never cross them,” Ginny said.

  “Remember, these guys are my friends. Pat is my very best friend, ever in my life. I can’t believe that he’d have anything to do with any of the killings, though I don’t think that I could blame him if he did. I asked him about Danny by the way. He said, ‘good riddance but I didn’t do it.’ I don’t know what to think.” Brian thought for a few minutes. He was trying to piece some things together that weren’t connecting right. Ginny reached a soft hand over and rubbed his cheek.

  “You’ve got a lot on your mind, don’t you sweetheart. I hope you’re not too deep in thought to forget about me?” With that, Ginny walked around the breakfast table and dropped her robe off of her shoulders to the floor. Brian’s thoughts changed immediately from a complex human puzzle to basic human instincts. Finishing breakfast was way down on the list of things to do.

  * * *

  Buddy stood outside Jason Robert’s office talking with Jamie and Bill. Jamie was his usual loud mouthed self, even after the tongue lashing he’d taken the night before. Bill was quiet. He looked like a whipped puppy dog. He tried talking with Karen to try to get her to move back in with him. He started to tell her about the cash and the deal and how he was a big dog now. He was about ready to add more bullshit to the description when the phone disconnected. She’d hung up on him. He realized that it might be for the last time. He tried telling himself that he didn’t need her, but the fact was he did. He felt like nothing without her and since he felt that way, he was nothing. After the let down of her hanging up on him, he had his hard-earned cash ripped off. That was really demoralizing. Here he was in the big game and his first payoff was gone, stolen by some petty crook. On the way to Jason Robert’s place, Jamie asked him why the long face. When he told Jamie about Karen and the stolen cash, he laughed so loud and long that Bill almost went left of center into the path of a semi. Jamie stopped laughing in time to grab the wheel and pull their car back into the right lane. Jamie made Bill pullover and he took over the driving duties. They made it to Jason Roberts’ house without further incident.

  “Buddy, some lunatic is trying to lure us to the McKinney grove to that damn vault. They smashed the fuck out of my windshield last night and ripped off Bill’s cash. He left all of us notes to be there today at 11:00. We gotta do something about this before we go settin’ targets on our foreheads. I think we need to go out there before 11:00 and scope things out, see what gives. Mr. Roberts’ got anyone that can help us with this little problem? This guy was a strange bird, too. He had shifty eyes. I wonder where in the hell he’s come from. You think he’s a hired gun? Maybe ol’ Pat McKinney hired someone to do his dirty work. He’s too much of a pussy to do it himself.”

  “Let me ask Mr. Roberts, Jamie. Maybe he knows someone who can help with this. He knows lots of folks, has lots of resources.” He used his fingers to put air quotes around resources.

  “When can we talk with him about this?”

  “Right now, Jamie.” Jason Roberts was standing behind them in the outer office. He looked at Bill and said, “You look like you lost your puppy.” His tone was filled with sarcasm. “If you want to remain working for me, you pull your sorry head out of your ass. Forget Karen! She’s gone. Forget the stolen money. It’s gone. If we recover it, great but for now, pretend that you never had it. After we take care of this little problem this morning, go out and get yourself a whore. Work out your problems on her, but when you come back tomorrow, you had better have your head on straight. Do you understand me?”

  Bill looked down at the carpet, and mumbled, “Yes sir.”

  “Hey!” Jason yelled. “You look into my eyes when I’m talking to you and when you answer me! Stop acting like a little girl. If I wanted a pussy in this organization, I’d have started a cheerleading squad. We’ve got business to take care of and we don’t have time to change your diaper. You got that?”

  Bill looked mad now. He looked Jason straight in the eyes as directed and yelled, “Yes sir!”

  “That’s better. Now, let’s talk about our little problem.”

  Chapter 34

  Johnny Poleirmo heard Pat’s voice on the receiver and could hardly believe his ears. He hadn’t heard from Pat for almost seven years. After all the pleasantries were done, he listened intently as Pat explained his dilemma. As usual, Pat was very calm and direct as he told Detective Poleirmo about what he suspected was happening.

  Johnny and Pat had met a number of years ago when Pat had just graduated from high school and Johnny was a young Orange County Deputy Sheriff. They’d come across a car that had flipped in the middle of Interstate 4 near Altamonte Springs. It was a time when traffic on the interstate was outpacing Congress’ ability to fund widening projects across the country, particularly in this rapidly growing section of the Sunshine State. It was a dark, cloudy afternoon. It had been raining for an extended period of time and I-4 was slick with puddles. Hydroplaning was a serious risk. A young mother was riding down the interstate heading towards Orlando, when she was cut off by another driver and lost control of her car. Her young infant girl was in a car seat in the back. Pat happened to be a few cars behind the woman and was able to stop his car just before he went off the road himself. He noticed that her car was beginning to burn from the engine compartment.

  He raced to the young woman’s car and helped her out of her seat. Others came to her aid while Pat went back into the car for her baby girl. He was able to get her out of the car just as the flames were entering the passenger compartment. They spread quickly and engulfed the entire car in less than a minute. As Pat was taking the baby to her mother, Johnny Poleirmo came upon the scene in his Sheriff’s car. He started asking questions of bystanders. It became apparent that most thought that Pat had saved the baby’s life. Johnny came over and talked to him about what had happened. They hit it off pretty well for a couple of strangers and became friends of sorts.

  After that chance meeting, they would meet on occasion for lunch or dinner. It turned out that Johnny’s dad was in the nursery business just outside of Apopka. Johnny helped out some evenings and on weekends. They’d had a pretty good surplus of Golden and Marble Queen Pothos stock. Pat was in the market for Pothos because he and his brothers wanted to expand their line of plants. So they started a business relationship that lasted for a few years. Things went pretty well between them until Johnny discovered that the brothers’ real business was dope. Johnny was shocked at first and he confronted Pat about it. Pat didn’t deny it and came right out and told him that he was in the marijuana trade only. No pills, no chemicals, nothing else but pot. He promised Johnny that he’d never engage in anything but pot. He explained that within a few years it would be legal anyway and it really wasn’t hurting anyone. He gave Johnny all the usual arguments to try to convince him that it wasn’t wrong.

  And Johnny gave Pat all the usual arguments that it was. “Pat, it’s illegal, for starters. It’s like smoking an unfiltered cigarette at best. At worst the stuff is sprayed with God knows what kind of chemicals, insecticides, herbicides, and any other ‘cides you can imagine. You know that little kids are ge
tting this stuff and even if the pot isn’t killing them, it’s exposing them to a host of bad characters. The same crowd that smokes dope also pops pills and some of them even hit the hard stuff. You can’t justify your way out of that.” Johnny’s final argument hit Pat harder than most. “I can’t stay in business with you, knowing what I know. And I really can’t hang around with you. I work for the Sheriff’s office Pat. It would jeopardize my job. I’m sorry. I love my work and I can’t risk it.” Pat didn’t have much of an argument after that.

  When the troubles were coming to a head for the McKinneys, not too long after Pat and Johnny’s encounter, Pat called Johnny and told him he’d been right. He let Johnny know who the bad guys were. He hoped Johnny could set up some kind of bust, but that had never materialized. Finally, after Julie’s murder and Pat and his brothers were leaving town, Pat called and apologized for being such a loser and for placing Johnny in such an awkward position. He also said that he and his brother Joe were joining the military to pay back there debt to their country. He hoped it meant something. Johnny said he wished things had been different, they could have been friends for life, but the cards were dealt and there was no taking them back to reshuffle. With that, they’d said their goodbyes.

  Now Pat was on the phone explaining that he and Joe were as surprised as he was at the murders. He also let Johnny know that Mike was in Vegas and had nothing to do with them either.

  “Pat, can I just ask you a few questions?”

  “Sure Johnny, shoot.”

  “Where were you last night at the time Donnie Lee was shot?”

  “I was at home with my wife. I’d been at Joe’s earlier in the evening but was home by about 11:00 PM. We didn’t go out at all. We’d had a disagreement a few nights ago. I’d been away from home for a few days and came home to make up with her.”