by Joy Redmond
After the soak and long tokes on the joint, he dressed and drove back to the Evergreen Apartment Complex. He took his lookout spot behind the trees in the thicket. Lacy didn’t bother to pull the drapes and his spot afforded him a good look inside. He watched her and RoJo trim a Christmas tree, hang wreaths and place candles here and there, and then Lacy lit them.
He wanted to smash RoJo in the face as he watched him hang tinsel around a deer head that was mounted over the fireplace. Are you proud of your kill? I’m sure gonna be proud of my kill. I might hang your head over a fireplace. I’ll even decorate you.
As he drove back to the motel, more snow was falling. A white Christmas. Just what the jackasses of the world want. He stopped at a Piggly Wiggly and bought several cans of dog food, paper plates and a can opener.
He pulled up in front of the door of his room, stepped from his car and hurried inside, making sure the door was locked and the dead bolt turned. Beagle ran to him and he picked her up. “I’ve got the good stuff for you tonight. Let me get out of my jacket and I’ll fix you a plate. And I know you’ve got to pee. I’ll sneak you outside after you eat.”
When Beagle had been taken care of for the night, Lance pulled open the bedside table drawer and withdrew a bag. His hands trembled as he poured and cut two lines of cocaine. He snorted one line. “This is my kind of white Christmas.” He quickly snorted the other line. “Aah yeah. All I want for Christmas is my snow and Lacy. I’ll have her soon, Beagle.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Lacy’s breath caught in her throat when she looked up from her appointment book and saw Reggie coming through the front door. Ah, shit! How did you find me, you little drug-head? I’ve got to get rid of him fast. I don’t want the girls to know he’s my brother. He probably wants a handout. Shit. Will my past ever be behind me?
Reggie walked up to the front desk and whispered, “I don’t wanna embarrass ya, I just need to tell ya something. Is there a place where we can talk?”
“Yeah. Follow me to the back room. But make it fast and get outta here.” She walked around the desk and felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise from Reggie’s nearness. She went into the room where there was a girl eating her lunch. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need a minute alone.”
When the girl had gathered her lunch and left the room, Lacy said, “Say what you’ve got on your mind, then go on your way. And I’m not giving you any money, nor am I shelling out for our parents. They can rot in hell.”
“I reckon that’s what they’re doin’. They’s both dead. Mama finally drank herself to death and Daddy didn’t have enough oxygen. I found ’em. It was a sorry sight. They both died the same day. They wasn’t even cold when I found ’em. Jesus Christ! I sure wasn’t prepared for that. I sobered up for sure. But I’ve been drunk ever since. That was enough to drive anybody to drink.”
Lacy felt weak in the knees. “They’re both dead? I can’t believe it. I mean, I hated them, I never planned on seeing them again, but I didn’t want them to die. Jeez. They were only sixty-two.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry you found them, Reggie. That had to be awful. Does Micky know?”
“I called the prison and told the person who answered the phone to tell him. I would’ve gone in person to tell him, but that’s a long way, I don’t have no car, and I really didn’t feel like walkin’ all that far. I hoof it enough as it is. I reckon the warden told him. I don’t know.”
“I didn’t know Micky was in prison. What’s he in for?”
“Grand theft auto. He gonna be there a long spell.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Look, Reggie. I don’t mean to sound cold, but I’m not having anything to do with arrangements and I’m not coming to their funeral. You do what you want to. They’ve been dead to me for years. Thanks for coming by to tell me, but please don’t come back.”
“Well, Miss high and mighty. Some things never change. I done took care of things. They’s gonna have a pauper’s burial and they ain’t gonna be a funeral. You can bet your sweet ass I won’t ever bother ya again. I’m sorry I come today.” Reggie almost ran from the room. Just as he reached the front door he called out, “Merry Christmas!” Then he gave a sinister laugh.
Lacy went back to the front desk, not sure what she was feeling. She assigned all her appointments to the other girls and went home. She was in a daze as she drove the familiar streets. When she got home, she waved at Mrs. Phillips across the street. “Always looking and snooping.”
She unlocked the front door and stepped inside and hung her coat and purse on the coat rack. Darlin came running. She picked him up, walked over to the couch, sat down and whispered, “I’m an orphan. It feels strange but then I guess I’ve always been an orphan since I raised myself. Well, I reckon it’s just you, RoJo and me.” Darlin licked her face and whined. “Yeah, I forgot Fred. He’s family too.”
Darlin jumped out of her lap and headed for the kitchen. Lacy followed him. “I’ll find you a treat, but you have to wait a while before I give you dinner. I think I’ll have an apple and peanut butter for my lunch.”
Lacy carried the apple, a paring knife and a jar of peanut butter into the living room, sat on the couch and turned on the TV. “Darlin, run on to the back bedroom and take a nap.” She smiled as Darlin did as he was told.
She had the apple half peeled when a hard knock sounded on the door. Her nerves were on edge and she was startled, dropping the knife, which went behind the cushion of the sofa. “Shit. Apple juice all over the new couch.” Just as she went to lift the cushion and retrieve the knife, another hard knock sounded. She headed across the floor. “I’m comin’. Hold your horses.”
She opened the front door. “Well hello, Mrs. Phillips. I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t really feel like having company just now.”
“Oh, I didn’t come over to bother ya. I just thought you might like some cookies and candy I just made. I’ll come back later for my dish.”
Lacy took the dish. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll enjoy them. I’ll bring your dish back. You don’t have to make another trip across the busy street. See ya later.” Lacy shut the door before Mrs. Phillips could start a conversation. “Poor old soul. I know she’s lonesome, but she’s worse than Gladys Kravitz. She doesn’t miss a thing.”
Lacy set the dish on the coffee table. Darlin came running from the back bedroom. “I think I’ll have some cookies for lunch.” She picked up a sugar cookie and bit into it. “Damn good. I always wanted to make sugar cookies at Christmastime, but there was never enough money, after the whiskey was bought. Well, I don’t guess they’ll be needing any whiskey now. Rest in peace, Bessie and Harlan. I’ve finally found peace, no thanks to you two.” She looked down at Darlin. “No, you can’t have sweets. Go back to your room.”
After she ate the cookies, she decided to take a nap. She went into the spare bedroom and picked up Darlin and they lay side by side.
She awoke when RoJo came home and slammed the front door. She got out of bed and staggered into the living room. “What did ya slam the door for? I was asleep.”
“Sorry. My hands are full and I kicked the door shut. I didn’t mean for it to slam. You’re sure in a testy mood. Here, take the presents on top, will ya?
Lacy took three wrapped packages from RoJo’s arms, and placed them under the tree. RoJo placed the others beside them, then picked up one and said, “You can have this one early.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“I didn’t mean to get snippy. Come on over here and I’ll tell ya about my day.”
Holding the present, Lacy headed for the couch and RoJo sat beside her. “What’s got you all out of sorts, honey?”
Lacy told him the story. RoJo put his arms around her. “I’m sorry, honey. I know you were estranged from them, but they were your parents. Do you want me to find out where their bodies are?”
“No. I’ve got no reason to pay them my respects. I have no respect. It’s over and behind me. The end.”
“Open your pr
esent. Maybe that’ll cheer you up.”
Lacy was like a child as she ripped open her present. She reached into the box and pulled out the long flannel gown she had been hinting for. “Just what I wanted. Thanks, honey. This should keep me nice and warm.”
“I’m glad you like it. This is just a teaser. You’ll get the big one on Christmas Day.”
Lacy chuckled. “Well, your present won’t be a surprise since I let you pick it out. I wasn’t sure I’d get the right ones.”
“I don’t need a surprise. You know, I got my first deer,” he said, nodding his head to the mantel, “with a bow and arrow. I’ll get me a bigger one with the new ones I picked out. As a matter of fact, I’ve got them in the car. I’ll go get them so you can see what you got me. Be right back.”
Lacy admired the bow and arrows. “I done good, huh?”
“You done splendid, honey.” RoJo set the bow next to the fireplace and lay the arrows on the mantel.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Lance swallowed a couple of ludes. “Come on, dolls. I need a few hours of sleep. I hate pacing and waiting. Beagle, you need a nap too. This might be a long night.”
Lance woke up at 4 o’clock. Beagle was standing at the door. “Okay, I’ll take you out. Then you need to eat. You’re gonna need your strength, ole girl.”
While Beagle ate, Lance snorted two long lines of cocaine, then picked up Beagle and headed for the car.
He parked the car on the side of the road on State Route 42. His right hand had been having slight tremors for the past few hours, but it seemed to have calmed down. He blamed it on too much excitement. He pulled the keys from the ignition, slipped on his black sock cap, picked up Beagle, tucked her under his arm, and rubbed her ears when she started kicking. “Calm down, girl. You’re a typical bitch in heat.”
***
Lacy and RoJo ate leftovers for dinner, then went into the living room. RoJo turned on Christmas music, and they sat side by side on the couch. Lacy was quiet and RoJo just held her.
Darlin came running into the living room and started barking. “I know. It’s time to go outside. Well, Daddy is gonna to take you.”
“Are you upset about your parents or is something else bothering you?”
“No. It’s about that time of the month. I’ve already got cramps, so I’ll either start tonight or tomorrow. You know how moody I get at this time.”
“Oh, do I ever!” RoJo kissed her on the forehead. “Come on, Darlin. Let’s give Mommy a break. I hope you pee on everything fast. It’s cold out there.”
***
Lance walked halfway through the thicket and stood behind a tree. He eyed his watch, counting down the minutes. At six o’clock sharp, he lowered Beagle to the ground.
RoJo opened the back door and Darlin ran outside. He didn’t lift his leg to pee on anything. His nose and tail went straight in the air and he took off running through the thicket. RoJo hurried behind him, clapping his hands, yelling, “Come back here, Darlin! What’s gotten into you? Come on, boy, don’t make me chase you.”
RoJo ran after their beloved pet, yelling, dodging low branches, feeling the undergrowth snag his ankles. His shoes sank into the deep snow. RoJo stopped short and stared. “Holy jumping-jacks!” he said, as he watched Darlin humping Beagle. He stood with his hands on his hips, a glower in his eyes.
“Hello, RoJo,” Lance said in a singsong voice.
RoJo swiveled his head and his glower metamorphosed into a stare of astonishment and horror as the tire tool came down on his head.
Lance smiled as he eyed the blood pool around RoJo’s head, soaking the white snow, turning it crimson. He threw the tire tool on the ground, and euphoria flowed through him. “Did you really think you could interfere with my life and get by with it, you sonofabitch?” He took off running and the snapping of dry twigs sounded like thunder to him. The crushing of snow under his feet sounded like a plow coming through the thicket. His head pounded, his hand twitched, his sight was a bit blurred. Sweat broke out across his brow and sweat ran in rivulets down his face. He felt himself reel for a second or two, then he regained his equilibrium.
***
Lacy stepped out of the shower, towel dried, then slipped her gown over her head. She ran her hands up and down her gown, enjoying the soft feel of the material. She smiled and headed into the living room.
Lance opened the back door, took off his jacket, sock cap, gloves and boots. He quietly set them on the floor. He walked into the living room.
Lacy entered, looking down, still running her hands over her new gown.
“Hello, sugar dumpling!”
Lacy felt her heart skip a beat as she recognized the voice. She gasped as she looked into the face of Lance Jackson and froze.
“It’s me, sugar dumpling. I’ve come to reclaim my woman. I forgive ya for trying to kill me. I was a bad boy. Trust me, I’ve been punished. Now, come with me and we’ll have the happy life we once had.”
Lacy managed to say, “Get out of here, you low life, worthless, sonofabitch! RoJo will rip you in half.”
Lance lunged for her, grabbed her arm and said, “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about RoJo. He won’t be ripping anybody in half.” His eyes looked like hot coals, burning into her soul.
Lacy screamed, “RoJo! RoJo!”
Lance picked her up and body-slammed her onto the couch.
Déjà vu.
He pushed her gown up and over her head and stuffed the hem into her mouth. “Scream all you want. Nobody is going to hear you.” He pinned her arms behind her head and unzipped his jeans.
She felt her legs being pried apart, then she felt the horrible pain of him ramming into her.
Déjà vu.
Lance was brutal as he continued to rape her. She cautioned herself not to buck and not to make a sound. That was what had turned him on the last time. She lay as still as a corpse. When he stopped, she knew what was coming next. She sucked in a deep breath and held it.
Lance wrapped his hands around her throat and applied pressure with his thumbs.
Holding her breath, she pulled her arms from around her head. She slid her hand behind the couch cushion and felt the blade of the paring knife. Slide it up and grab the handle, then rip his guts out!
Lance pushed harder on her Adam’s Apple. The world was going dark. One last thought ran through her mind. RoJo I’m so sorry. Her world went black.
The weight of Lance’s body was lifted off her. She was floating in peaceful darkness. I’m between earth and Beyond, going through the tunnel. She heard a door open. God is opening the door to Heaven.
She faintly heard a male voice. “Up against the wall and don’t say a word.”
I have to get up against the wall of the tunnel? I can’t say a word? No sound will come out of my mouth.
She heard another male voice. “We’ve got you now. It’s all over.”
There are two Gods? I’m glad You have got me. I accept that it’s over. I want out of this tunnel. Please shine the light. I need to see the light! Don’t reject me!
Through a thick haze she saw a man’s face close to hers. He sure didn’t look anything like the pictures she had seen of Jesus.
“It’s okay, ma’am. Don’t be scared. I’m here to save you.” The man waved his arm over his head and commanded, “Get him out of here!”
Save me? Am I on my way to hell? Oh, God, please forgive me for all my sins.
Lacy told herself to move. She raised her arms over her head. I’ve got to get my gown down. I can’t let the angels see me—She realized her gown was already down. Her body was covered.
“Can you sit up?”
Lacy felt a strong hand slide under her head. She fluttered her eyes again. Holy shit! I’m alive. She managed to sit up. She glanced to her left just in time to see Lance being led across the floor in handcuffs.
Just as Lance rounded the corner in the living room, headed for the front door, he looked over his shoulder and sneered. “It’s not over
, Lacy. It’ll never be over!”
“What the hell?” Lacy managed to say, as she saw a shiny badge on the man’s blue uniform.
“I’m Officer Dukes. I’m glad you’re okay. I thought we were too late for a minute. You weren’t responding.”
Again, Lacy grabbed at her gown. “Did you—”
“Yes, ma’am. I covered you. But you need to let me get you to a hospital.”
“No! I’m not going to a hospital. RoJo must never know what he did to me. RoJo!” she yelled, as she leaped from the couch. “RoJo!”
Chapter Sixty
Fred was running through the thicket, yelling, “RoJo. Where are you, man? Damn, I should have brought a flashlight. RoJo!” He heard rustling. He looked down. Darlin and Beagle were running toward him. “Darlin, where did you get a friend? Where is RoJo?” Darlin took off and Beagle chased him. Fred was right behind them. “Take me to RoJo, Darlin. Where is he?”
Fred heard a low moan. Moving in the direction of the sound, he saw Darlin licking RoJo’s face. He knelt to the ground and lifted RoJo’s head. Blood was pouring down RoJo’s face. “Dear God. What happened?”
RoJo mumbled. “Some sonofabitch whacked me over the head. It feels like he damn near knocked my brains out. What took you so long?”
“I’m sorry. I saw you take off when Darlin ran into the thicket and just as I was about to come and help with the chase, the phone rang. Can you stand?”
RoJo put his arm around Fred’s neck. “I think so. Hold on tight.”
***
Officer Dukes quickly grabbed Lacy. “Ma’am, please stay put. Who is RoJo and where do you think he is?”
“He’s my husband and he took our dog out to pee. He hasn’t come back. He went out the back door.” Lacy pointed toward the kitchen.
“Don’t move. I’ll check it out.”
Lacy sat back down on the couch, buried her head in her hands and wailed like a banshee. “I wish I had died. I have no reason for living. Lance killed RoJo.”