The Butcher (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 5)

by Emilie J. Howard

  Tears streamed down her face, and she wiped them away again as headlights shone behind them. Delilah screamed, “I knew it!” Leaping from the tavern vehicle, she ran to her father and spat at Corrine, “Why? Why did you have to harm him!”

  She made claws of her hands but stopped as Maurice’s soft voice sounded out, “Remain calm. Corrine loves me as I have fallen in love with her. It was Samuel. Look after Liam and Big Lou inside and make the appropriate calls. I count on you, darling.” She stood and motioned to Timmy to comb the streets in search of Samuel as she pulled out her dagger and tore to the entrance of the house.

  Timmy pulled away and searched, but he didn’t find Samuel. He did find Hercules in the middle of a side road, injured and unconscious. He wrapped the wound, hefted the dog into the back seat of their vehicle, and returned to Big Lou’s.

  Delilah heard the end credits rolling to a film and made her way to Big Lou’s cinema room. She crept about, considering each dark corner and recess of every room. When she found Big Lou, she clapped her free hand over her mouth, and a thick whine wound its way up her throat. The front of Big Lou’s pajamas was covered in blood. His eyes were still open wide, and there was a content smile on his face. Liam was asleep in his arms. Her eyes welled, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she approached them. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream as she tried to swallow down the painful lump developing in her throat. Dropping her dagger onto the carpet, she reached out for Liam with trembling hands. She spoke in a soft shaky voice, “I’m here now, Big Lou. You can let Liam go.” His grip on the boy loosened, and she gently picked him up, gasped, and cradled him against her chest while turning from the room.

  Timmy entered through the back door and went to go into the cinema room to check on Big Lou. Delilah stopped him and motioned for the phone. He handed it to her and watched her sit in a recliner in the opposite viewing room with Liam. Glancing at Timmy she spoke softly, “Go secure the upstairs and downstairs. Be careful!”

  He stood there with a confused expression. “What about Big Lou?”

  She croaked, “I can’t talk about it.” She looked up at him in distress, her face a contorted mess. “Please, Timmy.” He gestured to the upper level of the home, drew his handgun, and quietly made his way out of the room and up the stairs.

  Delilah knew Myrna and Tom’s number by heart and called them first. A sleepy Tom answered, and Delilah began softly weeping as she tried to speak. “Tommy, get two ambulances to Big Lou’s, and hurry. You should get to the hospital right away.”

  She heard, “Delilah, you haven’t called me Tommy in a long time. What’s going on?”

  She fought to control her anger and sadness and ground her teeth. She was able to softly whine, “Daddy is hurt. I think Big Lou is gone or going fast.” She began weeping in earnest and wiped her face on the upper arm of her coat.

  She heard panic in Tom’s voice as he said, “What about Liam!”

  “I have him in my arms. He’s sleeping. Please get Myrna and have her come and get him. Also, tell her to get the chief and tell him to seal the town. It was Samuel who did it; Father told me.”

  “She’s already hailed him on the police radio, and he’s left the station. He’s sending the ambulances. Myrna will be there as soon as possible, and I’m on my way to the hospital.” They both disconnected.

  Delilah sat there sobbing, not daring to move and wake Liam. Her anger at the night’s events was building, and she didn’t like being restrained, but when she looked at Liam’s sleeping face, she put his needs first.

  Timmy came down the stairs and signaled the upstairs was clean. He then went down to the basement and returned to her side in a flash, just as the police and two ambulances arrived. Her lower lip trembled, and tears continued to stream down her face as she looked up at Timmy and extended the phone out to him. “You should call Adam and Fran.”

  ***

  As sleepy as Adam was, he woke up fast when Timmy called. His only response to the news was, “You gotta be kiddin’ me!”

  After slamming the phone back in its cradle, he leapt from the bed and into the clean clothes Frannie had laid out for him. She roused and asked, “Honey? What’s wrong?”

  She flipped on the lamp on her nightstand and watched as Adam tried to dress himself and wipe his eyes at the same time. He choked and shook his head. “My uncle Lou is fading fast, and boss is at the hospital in bad shape. We gotta go, Frannie, now!”

  She got out of bed and slipped into some jeans, a thick flannel shirt, socks, and boots. After running a brush through her hair, she was ready. She watched as Adam struggled to button his shirt and stopped his movements. She buttoned the shirt for him as he lamented, “I never should have left boss or Uncle Lou alone tonight. I saw the bastard at the restaurant and knew he was going to flip, Frannie! Why didn’t I insist we stay with them? Why?”

  When she finished buttoning his shirt, she held his hands in hers and looked up at him. “You can’t predict these kinds of things, Adam. Our priority right now is to get to the hospital. The entire family will need us.”

  She wiped his eyes and watched as he dipped his head in agreement. After bundling up, he holstered his side arm, grabbed the keys to the Gillettes’ SUV, and headed out the door with her by his side. He started the engine and grumbled, “Some ugly shit is gonna go down soon, Frannie. I want you to stay safe. Don’t take a single chance or make a move without me knowing about it.”

  She looked at him. “I won’t.”

  ***

  Chief Hanover rushed from the police station with Ted Cutler right behind him. They ran to their respective squad cars and tore out of the parking area toward the bed and breakfast annex with sirens screaming. Upon arrival, the chief saw Samuel’s Hummer pulling out of its parking spot and maneuvered his car to cut him off, as Ted did the same behind Samuel’s vehicle, boxing him in.

  Samuel considered his predicament, turned the engine off, and glanced at the urn. “I’ll be back, Patty. Then we’ll go home.”

  When the chief stood by his door with his gun pointed at Samuel’s face, he decided to play along. He raised his hands in the air and watched as the chief opened his door with his free hand. What happened afterward was by the book. The moment Samuel stepped from the vehicle, the chief turned him around and pressed his front against the Hummer. Ted frisked him and cuffed him. After the chief read him his rights, Ted all but dragged him to the squad car and took off toward the station to lock him up.

  The chief donned his gloves and entered Samuel’s room at the annex to see Ivan sitting on the floor by his duffle bag and suitcase. The chief stood in the doorway and asked, “Ivan, have you been here all night?”

  Ivan stood tall and smiled. “Da. Ivan read book from Red Lady. Did you take Boss Sam away?”

  “We sure did, Ivan.” He began searching the room as Ivan stood still and watched. He pointed to the trash can and watched as the chief dug through it and pulled out a bloodstained shirt and bagged it as evidence. After he searched every inch of the room, he stood before Ivan and asked, “Did you see him stow a weapon? A knife perhaps?”

  Ivan shook his head. “He no come in here with one. You can check.” He pointed at his suitcase and duffle.

  As the chief did a cursory search of Ivan’s belongings, he came across stacks of wrapped cash. His hands stilled, and he looked up at Ivan. “Where the hell did this come from?”

  Ivan puffed his chest and announced, “Ivan good with numbers. Ivan save pay all his life.”

  As the chief stood up, he asked, “Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?”

  Ivan glanced around the room and said, “This place?”

  The chief contemplated the notion and realized it wasn’t the scene of the crime and held no evidence other than the stained shirt. He stared at Ivan. “You defied him tonight, didn’t you?”

  Ivan displayed a million-dollar smile. “Ivan did, and it feel good. I no go with him. Did he hurt people?”

  The chief nodded.
“He hurt Maurice and Big Lou tonight. Both men might die from their injuries.”

  Ivan’s expression turned to anger as his face turned red and his eyes filled. “Those men were good! It not right!”

  “A lot of things in this world aren’t right, Ivan. I should ask, what made you finally stand up for yourself?”

  “Ivan like this place. Ivan make friends. Red Lady, Adam, and Donnie. Ivan hate hurting people.” The chief noticed his hands were clenched into massive fists; he raised one and rubbed his eyes with it. It seemed the man was a teddy bear at heart.

  The chief looked around the room and said, “Good. I guess you can stay here tonight. I’ll talk to Myrna about your future in this town.”

  Ivan revealed a sad smile and said, “Da. It’s good.”

  The chief bobbed his head. “Yes, Ivan. It’s good. Now eat your grinder before I do. It smells delicious.” He left the room to hear Ivan sniffling while softly singing the alphabet song behind the closed door. He had to admit, the man had a fine singing voice.

  ***

  Tom Gillette secured a private double-occupancy room for Big Lou and his father at the hospital. Big Lou had lost a phenomenal amount of blood but was not dead, though he wasn’t responsive either. The massive knife wound around his neck had nicked the jugular. It had been repaired and closed, but Tom held out little hope he would survive long. His brain had been deprived of sufficient blood flow for far too long.

  Tom was not allowed to work on his father for obvious reasons, and he sat in the room waiting for his father’s return from recovery as he monitored Big Lou.

  Delilah slipped into the room and tiptoed over to Big Lou’s side. She held his hand in hers, leaned down, and whispered into his ear, “If you think this stunt gets you out of fixing the marquee, think again.” Her throat became painful again, and her eyes filled as she swallowed and continued whispering, “When I threaten you, it does mean I love you. And I promise you, we will have our revenge.” She kissed his cheek more than once before leaving the room as silently as she had entered.

  Myrna, Delilah, Corrine, and Liam waited in the hallway. Tom heard his sister’s grumbling of displeasure and was more than surprised to hear Corrine joining in. It appeared that while his father’s relationship with her had been fast and furious, they had forged an odd but loving relationship. Tom had to admit the woman reminded him of his mother, despite the lack of blond hair. If it hadn’t been for her arrival at the scene, his father would not have had a fighting chance. As it stood, his chances of survival were slim.

  Lost in thought and wracked with grief, Tom startled as a stretcher was pushed into the room and his father was wheeled in. He was transferred to the bed, and Tom was by his side in an instant. His stethoscope was out and he was monitoring his father’s heart rate when Maurice cracked open an eye and whispered, “Thomas, it’s been quite an evening, hasn’t it?”

  Tom shook his head as he leaned over his father, listening to his lung sounds. “I could do with less evenings such as this one, Father.”

  Maurice displayed a weak smile. “You must watch over Delilah. Medicate her tonight so she doesn’t do anything impulsive.”

  “I will. She’s already talking about what she’ll do to Samuel. I do believe mutilation and impalement were mentioned.”

  Maurice laughed and winced as his bandaged hand went to his abdomen. “She is so like your mother.”

  Tom leaned closer to his father and replied, “So is Corrine. She’s furious and agreeing with Delilah’s plans.”

  Maurice smiled again. “She is a phenomenon. I wish her to stay close to the family. She will be of great benefit to Delilah in the future.”

  “I’ll tell her, Father. For now, rest for a while. When you’re ready, I’ll let the others in to see you.”

  “Do you remember what I told you when I arrived in the ambulance?”

  “Yes, Father. I remember all of it, and I’ll hold true to my promises to you. I love you.”

  “Thomas, could I have a small pad and pen?”

  Tom stopped and took a small notepad from his breast pocket along with a pen. “You need to rest, so don’t try to write an epic, Father.”

  Maurice agreed and dozed off, but not before his eyes drifted over to where Big Lou lay. He said, “Allow them to come in and see Big Lou. Adam and Timmy will be devastated.”

  Tom slipped out of the room and into the hallway where Timmy, Adam, and Frannie had joined the group. Everyone was dabbing at their eyes, including Liam. He didn’t understand what had happened and wanted nothing more than to see his grandfather. Tom knelt before him and held his little hands in his. “Grandpa is resting right now, but he wants to see you when he wakes up. You must be gentle with him and speak softly.”

  Liam reached out and hugged Tom. “I will, Papa.”

  As they embraced, Tom looked at Fran, Adam, and Timmy. “You can go in and see Big Lou. Just be quiet.”

  As they stood and entered the room, Tom sat on a chair with Liam and looked at Corrine. “Father wants you to stay close to our family.”

  Corrine noticed Delilah’s right hand was opening and closing, time and again. She reached out and held Delilah’s hand firmly in her own.

  Tom then looked at Delilah. “You have to medicate tonight. He doesn’t want you doing anything impulsive for revenge. If anything, we are all going to follow Myrna’s plan. You two shouldn’t have interfered to begin with.”

  Delilah frowned and glanced at Corrine. “All right.” Her eyes then brightened and she asked, “Tommy, how much time do we have?”

  “For what?”

  “A quick errand.”

  He eyed her suspiciously and said, “As long as it only takes you ten minutes, then go, but nothing dangerous.”

  She leaned into Corrine and said something, to which Corrine smiled and nodded.

  Myrna was getting twitchy and moaned, “Where is the chief, and why aren’t Big Lou’s men in town yet?”

  Tom asked, “Was he supposed to send for them?”

  “Yes.” She stopped talking as a group of five men came walking down the hallway. They were all dressed alike in long black wool overcoats. Their faces were like stone. She watched as Delilah stopped two of them and redirected them about the hospital floor, giving them orders.

  The remaining men approached Tom, and one asked, “Are you the doc?”

  Tom replied, “I am. Are you here to see Big Lou?”

  The man appeared both upset and sad. “We broke down on the way up here ’cause this stunad”—he gestured to one of his comrades—“didn’t check the antifreeze.” After an awkward moment, he continued, “We pulled up at the boss’s house, and the cops told us to come here.”

  Tom motioned to the door to his room. “You can go in, but be quiet. Adam and Timmy are in there.”

  He replied, “Thanks, buddy.” The group made their way inside.

  Corrine shifted in her seat and asked, “Are those men who I think they are?”

  Myrna nodded. “They’re a good group of guys.” With their arrival, every muscle in her body relaxed.

  Corrine’s eyes went wide as she stared at Tom, and he couldn’t help but smirk at her expression.

  Chief Hanover came down the hall, ruffled the hair atop Liam’s head, and sat beside Myrna. “We got Samuel corralled and locked up. I just need Corrine’s statement and Maurice’s.”

  Myrna asked, “What about Ivan?”

  The chief said, “It was the weirdest thing. He seemed happy Samuel was arrested but sad about Big Lou and Maurice. After I searched the room and gathered evidence, I told him to stay in town and that he could have the room for as long as he needed it. I knew it’s what you would have done.”

  Myrna sat back, content. “Good.”

  Tom said, “My father will be coming around in about a half hour.”

  The chief turned to Corrine. “You ready to give your statement to me while we wait?”

  She agreed, and the two of them went off to get some
coffee so she could tell him what had happened.

  Adam peeked out of the room and curled a finger at Liam. “The boss wants to see you, buddy.” Liam leapt from Tom’s lap and made his way inside the room.

  Myrna moved and sat beside Tom. Fresh tears sprang from her eyes as she turned to him. He noticed her hands were trembling and held them in his. “This is all my fault, Tom.” She bowed her head and spoke to her lap. “I took too long in meting out justice to Samuel. They trusted me, and I failed them both!” She lifted her gaze to Tom. “I know who killed Patricia, and I kept the knowledge to myself. I didn’t want Maurice or Big Lou to get into trouble with the chief. I also didn’t want Samuel killing the person responsible.”

  He looked into her teary eyes and replied, “Your duty as mayor is to the residents of this town, first and foremost. You did your job and protected them. Don’t preoccupy your thoughts with self-doubt. Instead, focus on the game. Father trusted you, and so do I.”

  He watched his wife grit her teeth and swear an oath as more tears rained down her face. “I swear, Tom, from this day forward I will carve the Gillette name into this town like a scar! Neither you, I, nor any of our lineage will be forgotten. Samuel will pay!”

  Tom pulled her into his side and wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight. He had no doubt his wife meant every word and would see it to fruition.

  Once inside the room, Adam helped Liam get on the bed, lie down, and nestle against Maurice. Adam said, “Just be careful where you touch him, okay?” Liam nodded and laid his head on the pillow beside Maurice’s as he ran his fingers through his grandfather’s long silky silver hair. Adam returned to Big Lou’s bedside.

  Maurice glanced down at Liam and said, “It seems I’ve gotten myself into a predicament, Liam. However, this is what I want you to do in my absence.” He went on speaking softly and told Liam everything he needed to, leaving the child reassured and confident about his future.

  Liam gazed into Maurice’s eyes as his filled. “I don’t want you to leave us. I’m so tired of losing people I love, Grandpa.” He remained silent for a while and said, “I don’t understand why Uncle Lou isn’t talking to me. Is he going with you too?”