Living the American Dream

by Frank Cereo

  “Boy I must have been tired.” I say as I take some water out of my water bottle and pour it in my hands and then I splash my face.

  I calmly start my car and pull out without my lights on. I drive towards the road the feds and Jeb drove down. I make a right hand turn and drive with caution. There are trees and a thick dense forest on both sides of the road. Then I come up on a mailbox off the side of the road. There is no name on the mailbox just an address. So I write down the address of 2943 Forestview Drive. I look to the side of the mailbox and I see a dirt driveway. The driveway looks like it twists and turns because there is no house visible from the road. I don’t dare drive up the driveway because I don’t know what to expect when I get there. So I drive off and park at a campsite about a half mile down the road. I get out of my car and walk towards the road. When I get there I make sure no one is coming and then I crossed to the other side. I walk along the side of the road using the trees for cover. Then I see a set of headlights coming towards me. I make haste and hide behind a large evergreen tree. The vehicle flies by me and kicks up dirt from the road. When I reach the driveway I move into the thick trees and walk towards the house. It takes me twenty minutes for I have to move with caution because of all the low lying branches on the trees. Then I see the house and I am in awe. I stand there with my mouth open at a large log cabin that could pass for a lodge. The house is brand new.

  “Bastard must have paid the devil a great deal to live in a mansion this big. All those poor souls that lost their jobs in Elmira so this guy could sell them out and live like all the big shots in the world.” I say to myself as I observe the house.

  I look at the house and see Jeb’s car, a Mercedes, and the black SUV. He has even been given federal protection. I guess he is that frightened or maybe they are just plain scared of my potential. I don’t stay long because I have to figure they have roaming guards. As fast as I snuck into the area is as fast as I departed the area. Again I walk back to my car using the trees for cover. I get into my car and drive back to the motel. I pull out a map and I use push pins to identify the houses.

  The next night I drove to the rich and famous mansion of Steven Waynewright. The house is located in a gated community with its own security. So I park my car over a mile away and I walk on the opposite side of the road to get close. I spend an hour watching the guard shack at the front entrance. There is one guard located inside the shack and she is using a walkie-talkie every 15 minutes. This tells me there are more than one security guard on duty during the night. At 11 pm I get my answer as a white Ford 150 pulls in and a security guard gets out. He walks into the shack followed by another security guard that walks a beat inside the gated community. Just as I anticipated the shift change occurs. Three for three as one goes into the shack, one walks the beat and the third drives around the outside perimeter.

  “This one is going to be a little tougher than I thought. When there is a will there is a way.” I say as I walk across the street.

  I want to walk around the gated community to get a visual. I use the brush and trees for cover as I walk around the gated community. The fence is eight feet tall and from the humming sound I hear it must be electrified. Inside the eight foot fence is another six foot fence with razor wire located at the top. When I get to the back side of the gated community I notice Steven Waynewright’s house. It’s a dead giveaway because there is another black SUV parked in front.

  “The only way to get into this complex is through the front door.” I say as I head back towards the front.

  I find my way back to the motel. I use a pen and pad and list all the pros and cons with my projected attack. I will take the weakest member first and move towards the most difficult target. I know I have to move with stealth and make the kills quick and precise. I know in order to pull this off it will have to happen in one night. This will confuse the feds because they will not expect me to move with such speed and accuracy.

  After I finish writing the pro and cons down, I look at the map. I plug in the location of Steven Waynewright’s house. I look at the clock and see it’s nearing four in the morning. I am so exhausted, I call it a night.

  The next morning I use the entire day plotting out my attack. I use the map to use side roads to get from point A to point B, C and D. My biggest concern is to make the kills without anyone hearing or seeing me. This way everyone remain at ease and unsuspecting while I plug away throughout the night. These kills will be performed with stealth and speed. I want to make sure I am on the road home before any other law enforcement agency knows what happened. I want to make sure I am out of the state before sunrise. That is my goal and I know it’s going to be hard to keep to the time table. Kill number one will occur at nine pm. Kill number two will occur at ten pm. Kill number three at eleven pm. The final and most guarded kill will come at midnight. This gives me more than seven hours to make my escape before the sun rises.

  Chapter 16 – James Rufess

  The next evening I checked out of my motel. I drove to a diner and grabbed a bite to eat. I was in the mood for the special which was meatloaf with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and a mixed medley of vegetables. The meal was delicious and I followed it up with apple pie ala-mode. I figure this might be my last meal and with limited funds, this would have to suffice. Upon completion of my meal I drove over to the James Rufess’s apartment. When I arrive, I make sure I do a drive around to see if his car is there. When I see his car I go into my alter ego and revenge mode. I drive to a locale pizzeria and pick up a large cheese pizza. I drive back to James’ apartment. I park my car in the back corner position with limited lighting. I get out of my car and act like a pizza delivery man. I walk by two pedestrians that don’t even notice me. I look up at the darkening skies as the sun has already set, I can see clouds moving in from the south. It looks like I might be in for a stormy night. This can be used to my advantage and it could disable my plans. I walk into James’ building and I walk up the stairs to apartment 403. I take a deep breath and ring his doorbell.

  “Who is it?” James yells from inside the apartment.

  “Juno’s Pizza,” I reply.

  “I didn’t order a pizza.” James replies.

  “It has your address.” I say as I can hear James walking towards the door.

  “I told you I didn’t order anything.” James says as he unlocks the door and opens it up.

  James opens the door up and before he can say another word I push him back inside the apartment. He falls backwards and lands on his back with the pizza on his chest.

  “What do you want? Hey wait a minute I know you.” James says with a look of surprise on his face.

  “That’s right you do know me and mark my words when I am done with you everyone in the country will know who you are.” I say with vengeance.

  “Please I didn’t have anything to do with the move out of Elmira. Really I didn’t!” James pleads.

  “I went to work that Monday morning when you fucks moved the operation. I was the only management representative on site when over 100 irate employees kicked the living shit out of me.” I say in anger.

  “I’m sorry that the employees took it out on you. It wasn’t my idea and I was against it.” James says as he tries to back up on the floor using his arms and legs.

  “What tells me you were part of this? You’re here living in Houston with the same job you had up there. You are nothing but a lying sack of shit.” I say.

  James rolls over and tries to get up but I push him back down with my foot on his back.

  “You’re not going anywhere yet.” I say as I kick James in the ribs.

  “Ugh, ugh.” James mumbles because the kick knocks the wind out of him.

  I grab James by the hair and drag him into the kitchen. I know I am on a time table with a time limit. That’s when I pull James up to his feet and begin to work him over. I punch him numerous times in the ribs and abdomen. I make sure every hit hurts and does damage. One time I hit James so hard on his left sid
e I can hear his rib break. James tries to fight back but I put the kibosh on that every time he lifts his arm by pounding his ribs under that arm. Then he reaches for a knife out of the knife holder on the counter. He grabs a large carving knife with a twelve inch blade. Before James can turn around I use the counter top as a wedge and pound downward with both my hands together. I hit James right at the elbow joint. The force from the hit dislocates his arm at the elbow joint. James falls to the ground in severe pain and the knife lands on the countertop. I can see the arm hanging below the elbow joint. James tries to hold it up to help alleviate the pain.

  “What are you going to do? Kill me.” James says while he grimaces in pain.

  “Yes sir that is my intent.” I reply with a snobby attitude.

  “If you try and go after the others they all have federal agents protecting them. They will kill you before you even get close.” James says as he spits blood on the floor.

  “I guess you don’t even rank in society. They didn’t even worry about your wellbeing. Too bad Jimmy because not only am I going to kill you. I am going to make you suffer.” I reply.

  James tries to trip me by swinging his right leg at my legs. He is too weak to even wobble my knees. I grab the knife off the countertop and slice his arm. James yells out in pain and I punch him square in the mouth to shut him up. I hit James with such force blood spatters on the kitchen cabinets. James looks up at me and spits out two of his front teeth. Blood is spewing out of his mouth and down the front of his shirt.

  “I hope they fuck you up beyond recognition that even your mother won’t recognize you.” James says in a low tone.

  “We shall see how good these feds are. My plan is already predetermined and I hope they are thinking outside the box. If they aren’t thinking outside the box then I’m putting them in a box, just like you.” I say.

  “Fuck you,” James says with blood dribbling down his chin.

  “Sorry James, you’re not my type.” I say in a laughing voice.

  James rolls over on his belly as he tries to crawl away. I walk around to the front of James and look at the pathetic liar as he makes one last ditch effort to survive. I go down on one knee in front of James. I swing the carving knife towards his left hand. I watch as three of his fingers go flying in the air.

  “Wow, this is really sharp. Let’s see one swipe took off your index, middle and ring finger. I am going to have to get me a set of these knives.” I say.

  James is too weak to yell as he pulls his left hand in and covers it with his right hand. At this point the kitchen is taking on the color of red. James is dying very slow in front of my eyes. He sits up and puts his left hand into the material of his shirt. He looks up at me and I can see his life fluid spilling out on the floor. Then we make eye contact.

  “I know Jeb is a body builder and he is going to crush you. Sure as I am going to die tonight so will you.” James says as he starts to choke on his own blood.

  “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Mark my words if I die tonight it will be after I accomplish the task at hand.” I say.

  James rests his head back on the kitchen cabinet. He is starting to suffocate in his own blood. The rib I broke in his chest must have torn open one of his arteries. The gurgling and bubbling sound is very eerie. James is struggling to breathe.

  “It’s not going to be that easy for you to die.” I say.

  James laughs thinking he is going to die before I get my satisfaction of making him suffer. I take the carving knife and jab it between two of his ribs. Blood squirts out from the pressure building inside his lungs. Then it slows down to a stream that runs down his side and onto the floor. I can see James’ breathing is getting a little better.

  “Why couldn’t you just let me die?” James says with his head on his shoulder.

  “You’re not going to get that lucky.” I say as I pull a kitchen chair up to sit across from the dying man on the floor.

  “Please just get this over with.” James pleads with me.

  “No, I am going to sit here and watch you die slowly and painfully. I still have about twenty minutes to go to stay on schedule.” I say.

  I walk into the living room and salvage a slice of pizza. I walk back into the kitchen and grab a Pepsi out of the refrigerator. I sit back down and start to eat the pizza without any concern for the man dying in front of me.

  “Boy this pizza is pretty good. You want a slice Jimmy boy.” I say followed by a loud and obnoxious laugh.

  James looks up at me and grins. He tries to say something but he is too weak. I can see from the blood puddle forming on the floor that he is dying. His breathing is becoming labored as he is starting to gasp for air.

  “Boy a live show and dinner. Can’t buy this type of anticipation anywhere.” I say as I can feel the adrenaline rush powering through my veins.

  I continue to watch like the madman I have become. This is becoming a game that I strive to make better each time I kill. Then James takes his last breathe and I watch his pupils’ dilate.

  “Look at this I’m on schedule. James you have a pleasant night and I will see you in hell someday.” I say as I look at my watch.

  I walk towards his front door. I set the lock behind me as I close the door. As I walk away from the apartment I can hear James’ phone start to ring. I walk down the stairs and walk to my car without concern. I get into my car and drive out onto the main drag. Then my phone rings again and it’s that unknown number.

  “Whoever you are please leave me alone. I don’t know who you are and what you want from me.” I say as I answer the phone.

  “Freddy what’s wrong? Why won’t you come home?” The woman says.

  “I don’t understand why you are bothering me.” I say as I feel something warm on my hand.

  “You need to be here and not where you are now.” The woman says.

  “Mind your own fucking business.” I say as I hang up my phone.

  I put the phone in my coat as I drive to the new housing complex. When I turn in I notice that Robbie Colbalt is not home. This could really fuck up my schedule but there is nothing I can do about it. So I park the car down the road and turn it off. I turn the radio on and listen to a country western station. I look at the clock and see its 9:52 pm. So I close my eyes and before I know it I have fallen fast asleep.

  Chapter 17 – Robbie Colbalt

  I was awakened suddenly by the sound of a car door shutting. I look up and see Robbie and the same girl he had dinner with the other night. I watch as they walk towards the front door of his house. Again she is well dressed and he has on khakis and a polo shirt. They are both flirting with each other as Robbie opens the door and they both go inside. I look at the clock on my dash and the time reads 10:08pm. I realized I took a 16 minute nap and I feel refreshed and ready to go. So I get out of my car and walk up to Robbie’s house. I look towards the second floor and see the lights are on in his bedroom.

  “Just for shits and giggles let me try the front door.” I say as I creep up on the front porch.

  I try the handle and just like I thought the stupid son of bitch left the door unlocked. Slowly I open the door just in case it squeals. I only open it enough to squeeze myself through the opening. After I’m inside, I close the door very quietly and lock it behind me. I can hear the two of them upstairs talking.

  “Okay Robbie how do you want it with me on top or you on top.” The woman says.

  “With you on top of course.” Robbie answers.

  Just like I thought the woman is a high society call girl. Even when I worked with him I knew there was something wrong with him. He was always flirting with the woman in the office and in the shop. I walk towards the stairs and start to climb one step at a time. The stairway is a straight shot up with no landings. Fourteen stairs from the first floor to the second floor. When I get to the sixth stair, I can hear them having sex.

  “Oh yes Robbie, give it to Karen.” The call girl yells into the darkness.

  “Oh
god Karen I love you.” Robbie says in a loud voice.

  I shake my head to the unbridled remarks during the heat of sex. I can hear the springs on the bed squeaking while they go at it. By listening to Robbie, I know he is going to be blow his load quick. The pace on the bed starts to pick up speed, so I use the noise to my advantage to climb the stairs.

  “Oh yes, oh yes.” The call girl yells.

  “Ahh, ahh. I’m going to cum.” Robbie yells

  “Yes fill Karen with your warm seamen.” The call girls screams into the darkness.

  I reach the top of the stairs and walk towards the front master bedroom. Karen the call girl is dressed in red lacey bra with both breasts exposed. She is also wearing black thigh high stocking with black pumps. She was still in position riding old Robbie Colbalt. The big dumb blonde man loves paying for sex. The call girl on the other hand wasn’t bad looking. So I turn on the light in the bedroom just as they finish. The room smells like sex.

  “Don’t move just stay where you are!” I tell both of them.

  The call girls remains impaled on Robbie’s member. They both are looking at me totally surprised and aware of the situation. I point my gun at both of them as they listen to my instructions.