Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  When the wall of cartons reached waist high Cooper stopped and dug in his back pocket. The phone. He pulled it out and held it for Lunk to see.

  “You have two phones?”

  “I’ll call for help.” He turned on the power button and waited for the phone to come to life. C’mon, c’mon.

  “You call.” Lunk reached for another box and hefted it onto their growing shield. “I’ll stack.”

  Cooper pushed the SEND button, redialing the last number he’d called. He held it to his ear with a shaking hand. Please, God. Please, God.

  On the third ring someone picked up.

  “Hammer.”

  “It’s me—! I need help!”

  “Golden boy?”

  “Yeah—Cooper MacKinnon—I messed up.”

  “Where are you?” His voice was tough. All business.

  “Locked in the freezer at Frank ‘n Stein’s. They’re going to kill us.”

  “Hold on, buddy. I’m on my way.”

  Lunk slid a box in place. The wall stood nearly to his chest.

  Cooper pocketed the phone, grabbed a box, and started another row along the bottom to make the wall double thick.

  Someone tried to pull the door open, then pounded on it.

  Both boys stopped.

  “Open the door. Now!” The voice was muffled, but not enough to miss the rage in it.

  Someone yanked on the door again. The belts held.

  “Last chance, boys. We just want to talk.”

  Cooper eyed the belts. “God please don’t let them get in here.”

  “Get down,” Lunk hissed. He dropped flat on the ground.

  Cooper pressed himself against the icy floor next to him.

  And the men opened fire.

  CHAPTER 60

  Gunshots thundered from outside the insulated room. Bullets ripped through the door and slammed into the boxes. Others thudded high into the wall on the opposite side of the freezer. It sounded more like Fourth of July than Halloween.

  Cooper felt the makeshift wall of boxes shudder every time a bullet lodged in it. He hugged the ground, wishing he could burrow through it to safety. He heard himself screaming.

  Lunk tucked himself in a ball next to him, screaming as loud as the gunfire itself.

  The gunfire stopped. And so did Cooper.

  Lunk’s screams morphed into sobs and moans.

  Cooper kept his head low but spoke directly into Lunk’s ear. “Follow my lead.” Lunk looked at him with wild eyes. He blinked once, then nodded.

  Blam! Blam! Blam! Bullets slammed into the wall of boxes.

  Cooper kept his eyes locked on Lunk’s. “Scream.”

  Cooper shrieked and hollered while Lunk did the same.

  Gunshots came faster now like two guns were blazing.

  Cooper drew one finger across his throat and put his hand over Lunk’s mouth.

  Lunk seemed to understand. He clenched his teeth like he was determined not to let out a sound.

  “No!” Cooper howled, rolling onto his back. “You killed him. I won’t talk. Please, stop!”

  Three more shots.

  Cooper stopped abruptly. Lunk watched him wide-eyed.

  Two more bullets hammered the back wall. Cooper kept his mouth shut.

  Pieces of insulation, scraps of cardboard and smoke filled the air. Cooper’s body tensed, bracing for another round, but nothing came. Were they reloading? Did they leave?

  Somebody pulled on the door again. The belts did their job.

  Cooper put one finger to his lips. Lunk nodded.

  “One more clip.”

  It sounded like Elvis, but Cooper couldn’t be sure.

  The room exploded in gunfire. The second shot took out the light bulb, covering them with darkness and shards of glass. The blackness brought its own terror, and a strange sense of protection at the same time. Bullets slammed into the boxes or the back wall.

  Eight shots. Maybe nine. Cooper lost count, but his ears rang with the echos of them. Then silence. The kind of silence when you just know something is about to jump out at you.

  Icy fingers reached up from the floor and gripped his gut. So this is what it feels like to be in the county morgue.

  Light from the holes in the door cast eerie beams against the back wall. Frosty, smoke-like swirls twisted and turned in the beams like they were squirming in the agony of death.

  Are they gone? The question looped in his brain. Or are they waiting outside the door—listening just like me.

  Cooper started shivering. He felt Lunk’s hand on his shoulder, pressing hard. Trying to let him know he was alive or trying to keep him still—he couldn’t tell. Don’t worry, Lunk, I’m not going anywhere. Try leaving now and they’d probably get shot. Wait for help, and they may freeze to death. Maybe he’d been shot and was dead already.

  He thought he heard more gunfire. Distant though. Definitely not inside. And maybe they weren’t even gunshots at all.

  Cooper didn’t close his eyes, but he prayed. Thanked God they’d made it this far. Prayed the men were gone. Promised God for the umpteenth time that he’d never lie again.

  “Th-think they’re g-gone?” Lunk whispered.

  “I h-hope s-so.” Cooper’s teeth chattered.

  “You p-prayin’?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Don’t stop.”

  The beams shining through the bullet holes broke for a moment. Somebody passed by the door.

  Lunk gripped his shoulder tighter. He’d obviously seen it too.

  Somebody pulled on the door again. Like the sickos wanted to see the bodies.

  Suddenly his phone rang. Both boys jumped like someone had given them a jolt from a pair of defibrillator paddles—but they kept their mouths shut.

  It had to be Hammer. He was the only one who had the number. Where was he? If Cooper answered the phone, Elvis and Mr. Clown would know he was still alive and they’d try to finish the job. Clenching his jaw tight, Cooper laid absolutely still and let the phone ring.

  CHAPTER 61

  Gordy rode hard and didn’t let up. Even with the wind roaring in his ears he heard faint pops in the distance. Like fireworks. Or gunfire. His stomach twisted and he swallowed back an urge to heave.

  By the time he entered Kimball Hill Park, the Halloween night sky glowed with flashing red lights from the direction of Frank ‘n Stein’s. It looked like the world was on fire. His world was.

  He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Hiro was still behind him. He’d put real distance between them, but she was flying, too. No way could he slow down to let her catch up, though.

  Gordy’s legs burned, and a cramp tortured his side. But he didn’t let up. He was getting what he deserved. He shouldn’t have left Cooper. Should’ve followed his gut and stuck with him. If anything happened to him he’d never forgive himself. Never.

  He sailed over the arched footbridge and nearly got air as he reached the top, then cut a hard left to pick up the bike path heading toward Kirchoff Road. Standing on the pedals to get maximum speed, he got a better view of Frank’s. Police cars were angled all over the lot. Not neatly parked in parking slots, but like they pulled in, slammed on the brakes, and left the car wherever it stopped.

  Coop got in over his head this time. He went swimming in the deep end of the pool. And I wasn’t there to help.

  An ambulance roared down Kirchoff road and squealed into the lot, siren blaring. A fire truck rumbled behind it. Gordy sliced down the path under the road along Salt Creek. Something shiny stuck above the surface, reflecting red lights from the police cars. Handlebars.

  Coop’s bike. Dumped in the creek. The water stood deathly still like the bike had been there for some time.

  God, please don’t let Coop be in there! Don’t let it be too late. He scanned the surface for a floating body or a telltale sign of a struggle on the bank. Nothing. He gave the creek one more look, just to be sure. The water looked black.

  Forcing himself to look away, he wheeled up
to Frank ‘n Stein’s and skidded to a halt. He dropped his bike on the grass and pushed his way through the gathering crowd. Only when he pressed against the yellow crime scene tape did he stop.

  Most of the lot was taped off in a zigzag pattern from post to car or tree. Police patrolled the perimeter, making sure nobody tried to press closer. A half-dozen officers stood around one of the squad cars off to the side. Spectators gathered on balconies of the nearby apartments.

  Gordy drove a fist in his cramped side and motioned to the closest officer. “My cousin is in there.”

  The man held up both hands warning him to stay back. “We’re still securing the area.” He parked himself in a position where he’d instantly see if Gordy ducked under the tape and tried to make a run for it.

  “Securing the area?” Gordy choked out the words. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing good.”

  Hiro’s voice. He’d forgotten about her for a minute, but somehow she found him. Sweat trickled down from her forehead. Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

  “Why are so many cops here in the lot, then?” Gordy felt helpless. “Why don’t they go in and help?”

  “A small team went in a few minutes ago.” A stranger next to Gordy pointed toward Frank’s. “The others probably have to wait until it’s safe to go in.”

  Safe? Coop, what did you get yourself into? He looked at Hiro. Normally any kind of police activity would have her mesmerized. But now she looked small. Weak. Biting her lower lip and rubbing the police star necklace.

  The policeman’s radio squawked out a message. Gordy couldn’t catch what was said.

  Hiro obviously got it. “It’s secure. They need paramedics.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Not Coop, God.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.” Please, Father, not Coop, too.”

  Two paramedics hustled toward the building carrying some sort of medical bags. Two others rushed behind guiding a wheeled gurney.

  Gordy wanted to follow them. Help somehow. Do something. He lifted the tape, but the cop eyed him until he lowered it again. He had no idea how Hiro’s intuition thing worked. All he knew was that he had a really strong sense of dread that Coop’s plan had gone terribly wrong … and he hoped he wasn’t right.

  But he wasn’t the one with the spooky ability. That was Hiro’s department.

  “What are you thinking,” he asked.

  She didn’t answer, but shook her head and buried her face in her hands.

  Gordy’s stomach sunk. She didn’t need to say a word. Her face said it all.

  CHAPTER 62

  Cooper heard someone swear. “Get me something to pry open this door.”

  He tried to think. If they got the door open, it was all over. Staying low, he reached into his pocket and dug out the phone, now silent.

  Where is Hammer?

  Someone tugged at the door again. “Together now. Heave!”

  A sliver of light came through.

  No! God, please, save us! Cooper flipped open the phone.

  “Slip that pipe in there.”

  The sound of metal on metal—they have their pry bar in place.

  “We’re g-going to d-die!” Lunk’s voice came in a choked whisper.

  Cooper missed the button. Cleared it out. Tried again. Pushed SEND.

  “On three, two, one—HEAVE!”

  The wedge of light widened, then with a loud snapping noise, the room flooded with light.

  Lunk clutched onto him. Cooper dropped the phone and held him right back. Too late for phone calls now.

  He heard a phone ring—in the doorway.

  “You rang?” Hammer’s voice. “Cooper—you okay?”

  Cooper looked at Lunk and smiled. “We’re o-okay. Frozen, but okay.”

  He stood and squinted into the light. Detective Hammer never looked so good. And other policemen in deep blue uniforms. Here to protect and serve. And save.

  “Let’s get you out of there.” Hammer pulled a box off the makeshift barrier wall, handed it to a cop behind him and pulled off another to make a narrow pass-through.

  Lunk squeezed through first, with Cooper following on shaky legs. The insulated door looked like a screen door now. The bullet holes riddled the door from top to bottom. The robbers obviously weren’t taking any chances.

  Hammer inspected the wall of frozen hotdogs. “Did you two build that wall of wieners?”

  Lunk threw an arm around Cooper’s shoulders. “That was my buddy’s idea. Tying the door shut too.”

  “Brilliant.” Hammer squinted and cocked his head to one side. “Saved your lives.”

  “And I’ll never forget it,” Lunk said.

  “Detective Hammer,” Cooper said. “Frank Mustacci needs protection. He guessed who was behind the robbery. That’s why they tried to kill him.”

  “I got a call from a couple of your friends right after you called me. Two of my boys are already with Frank.”

  Relief swept through him, but he instantly tensed. “Hiro and Gordy—they’re the ones who called—they need protection too.”

  “Not anymore.” Hammer pointed out the front window. “The two dirtbags who shot up this place are sitting in one of the squad cars out front. Nasty characters, both of them.”

  “You sure you got the right guys?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Hammer smiled. “One of them had a latex Elvis mask in his pocket.”

  Lunk strained to look past them. “What about Mr. Stein?”

  “We’ll get him. He won’t get far.”

  “He had this beautiful place.” Lunk looked around the kitchen.

  Hammer put a hand on Lunk’s shoulder. “Seems Joseph Stein liked the casinos better.”

  Lunk still seemed to be in a state of disbelief. “So he robbed his own store.”

  Hammer shrugged. “For him, it was the perfect solution. He just didn’t figure on witnesses.” He clapped Cooper on the back.

  Several officers moved aside so a team of paramedics carrying medical cases could get through. Cooper recognized one of them instantly. The guy from the Rolling Meadows fire station who always waved when Cooper rode by.

  “Hi,” the man smiled. “I’m Dave Rill. I need to check you out here.”

  “And as soon as he’s done, I’ve got more questions for you two.” Hammer said.

  “I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” Cooper said.

  Hammer gave him that sideways look and nodded.

  “And you won’t need that baloney detector either.”

  Officer Hammer took off his mirrored sunglasses and smiled. “Looks like you finally got yourself a chest.”

  CHAPTER 63

  The parking lot looked like some kind of emergency vehicle light show. At least eight police cars, two fire trucks, and two paramedic trucks—all with lights flashing. Cooper stepped out the front doors of Frank ‘n Stein’s alongside of Lunk and Officer Hammer.

  “Coop!” Hiro called from the other side of the yellow POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS tape barrier. Gordy stood next to her waving.

  Cooper pointed. “They’re the ones who called you.”

  “They were with you the night of the robbery?”

  “Yeah.”

  Hammer motioned for Hiro and Gordy to join them.

  Gordy ducked under the tape and raced over. Hiro hesitated for just a moment to wipe her cheeks, then ran to catch up.

  She slammed into Cooper and hugged him tight. “I saw all the police cars and the paramedics.” Hiro looked up at him. “I thought you were dead.”

  “God answered my prayers.”

  She squeezed him tighter. “Mine too.”

  “We came back to the boat early,” Gordy said. “Hiro had that spooky feeling. Found your note.” He stared at Cooper’s face.

  “Looks like you’ve moved from arcade games to the real thing. Can you see out of that eye?”

  “Clearer than I have in a week.”

  Hiro clenched her fist and shook it at him. “If your face wasn’t already so messed u
p I’d let you have it.”

  Hammer laughed. “Oh I can see this is going to be a fun night.”

  Lunk stared at his shoes and suddenly looked awkward. Out of place.

  Cooper pointed at him with his thumb. “And God sent Lunk along like a guardian angel.”

  Lunk raised his eyes and stared at Cooper through strands of dark hair. “An angel?”

  “It took two belts to keep that door closed. And both of us working on that wall.”

  The faintest smile crossed Lunk’s lips.

  “Well, next time, NEXT TIME, we all stick together,” Hiro said, poking Cooper in the chest. “That’s what we always do. Right?” She hooked one arm through Gordy’s arm, and the other through Cooper’s. “And that goes for you, too, Lunk. Seems to me we all need to stick together.”

  “Yes Ma’am.” Lunk held up his hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say, Hiro.”

  She nodded her head toward Cooper and Gordy. “With friends like these I could use a guardian angel too.”

  Lunk grinned and jammed his hands in his camouflaged pants.

  Gordy reached up and swept an arm around Lunk’s shoulder.

  “Alright gang,” Hammer said. “I hate to interrupt this little reunion, but it’s time we all stick together and get down to the station. We’ll get your parents to join us. Then comes the really hard part. I’m going to need statements from all of you—and nothing but the truth.”

  Cooper started toward Hammer’s police car. “The truth? That’ll be easy.” He smiled at Gordy, Lunk, and Hiro. “It’s the lies that are really hard.”

  CHAPTER 64

  EPILOGUE One Week Later

  The night before Frank ‘n Stein’s Grand Reopening Celebration Week began, Frank threw a private party. Cooper stood at the back of the dining area, taking it all in. The diner didn’t seem to have a “creep factor” anymore—and not just because all the Halloween decorations were down. Likely it was because the room was filled with so many of the people Cooper cared for most in the world.

  His mom sat at a table with three other ladies. Hiro’s mom. Gordy’s mom. And the big surprise was Lunk’s mom. Cooper had seen her before, but never looking as happy as she did right now. They chatted away, laughing and talking over each other.