He stopped to pick up Jeffrey Hunter, who is going to help him, then drove to the poker game and waited down the street, near Timothy’s car.
It was 4:30 AM before they saw him walking down the dark deserted street toward his car. He was whistling a perky little tune and jingling his car keys in his hand, a sure sign that he was a winner this night. But from then on, it went rapidly downhill.
Michael stepped out from behind a large oak tree as Timothy passed by and clubbed him across the back of the baseball bat. Timothy went to the ground like a bag of rocks, like a tire that suddenly goes flat. While Michael tied to make these hands behind his back, Jeffrey pulled the car up. Then he and Michael dumps Timothy unceremoniously into the trunk of Michael’s car. Michael jumped in and pulled away with a squeal of burned rubber left behind.
Jeffrey quickly grabbed up to the police car keys from the ground where he dropped them. He got in Timothy’s car and drove away, catching up with Michael at the end of the street.
Dawn was just breaking in the early morning sky by the time they reached the mountains of the high Sierras as in Northern California. It was 9:30 AM when they pulled up in front of the little secluded cabin. As I got out of their cars they could hear Timothy hollering and cussing as he kicked at the trunk from within. The two men walked to the back of the car and stared down at the trunk.
“We should’ve tied his feet,” Jeffrey said.
“We didn’t have time. Any minute someone could’ve come by from that damn poker game. You ready?”
“Yeah,” Jeffrey said and braced himself.
Michael bent over and popped the trunk open. All he saw was to size 12’s flying up at him. Timothy’s kick caught Michael in the chest and chin and he staggered back for a moment.
That was ultimately needed. He was up and out of the trunk and on his feet in width Jeffrey wrapped around him in a bear hug. That didn’t seem to do much to slow him down. Timothy took off running with Jeffrey holding on for dear life. Michael jumped up and grabbed Timothy in a headlock and all three fell hard to the ground. They rolled in the dust, kicking inviting, cussing and bucking, until they had Timothy beaten bloody. But still the big man refused to stop, until Jeffrey picked up a big rock and bastion in the head, not once, but twice. Timothy finally succumbed to the blows.
The three-way almost beside each other, Jeffrey and Michael for winded and breathing heavily. Timothy was out cold.
“You didn’t kill him, did you?” Michael asked.
“Not, just dented him a little,” Jeffrey replied.
Michael spit blood from his split lip and tried to stand up, but his legs went out from under him. He sat back down hard with the surprised look on his face.
“Guess I’ll rest here a little longer,” he said, and looked over Jeffrey. Both men simultaneously burst out in laughter, until tears ran down their cheeks.
“Just think what that big bastard could have done if he had both hands free,” Jeffrey howled.
“We better find a rope and hogtie him before he comes to again, but I sure as hell don’t want to go through that again. You got some rope on you sport?”
“Nope. Might be some in the trunk of one of these cars though.”
“You know, I think… Yet, he broke one of my teeth. The prick!” Michael complained, still spitting blood.
“Yeah, life gets hard at times, eh?”
Michael started to laugh again, but the split lip caused him too much pain. “Damn, don’t make me laugh, will you? It hurts like hell.”
When Timothy tried to open his eyes to see where he was he couldn’t. They were both black and blue from the beating yet taken and were stuck tight from blood and matter. His whole face was a bloody pulp with split lips, broken teeth, a broken nose, and a long gash on the side of his face. The blood was caked with grime and dirt. He was a real mess. His whole body was racked with pain when he tried to move and his ribs felt like they were broken. There was a terrible burning in his kidneys and a sharp pain in his spine between his shoulder blades.
“So you finally awake Tim? You don’t mind if I call you can, do you? No? That’s good. I know you can’t see me because I really think you’re blind, you know. Your left eye’s completely out of its socket and laying on your ruined face. But, not to despair Tim, you’ll die soon and your blind eyes and broken body won’t matter that much. I’m going to kill you Tim, a little at a time, piece by piece, and then I’m going to rape and torture your darling daughter Kathleen. Catherine, who lives in Fresno, on Cloverdale Court. 3781 Cloverdale, California. Oh, and let’s not forget her little boy. Let’s see, he should be around 11 or 12 now, shouldn’t he? Now that, I’m looking forward to, because I like them young. But of course you already knew that, didn’t you? The young ones are so innocent and pure of heart… Trusting little souls.”
“You bastard!” Timothy managed, through swollen lips and a bloody tongue, where his teeth bit into them when he was kicked in the face.
“Not Tim, let’s not get into name-calling. You see the truth is you just never know when you’re trying to blackmail these days, do you? Like me for instance, you never guessed I was us down as killer did you Tim?”
Timothy tried to grab at Michael but discovered he was securely tied with his hands and arms held over his head. His legs and feet stretched out, shackled to something he couldn’t see.
“It won’t do you any good to struggle, you’ll just injure yourself further. Now let us cut to the chase, to the heart of the matter, so to speak. You have in your possession certain pictures of me, taken without my consent and I need them back, you see? Here’s how it works, you tell me where those pictures are and in return, I will promise to make your death is quick and painless as possible. However, if you choose to lie to me, or refuse to cooperate, I will kidnap your daughter and her kid when she drives him to school and bring her here. I will rape and torture her right in front of you and then I’ll screw that little boy to death. And all the time it will be your fault, not mine, but yours. Oh, and then for the closing act I will turn my attention on you. You just can’t imagine how much pain the human body can take, but you’ll find out.”
“Please don’t – don’t hurt – Catherine or – the boy.” Timothy managed through the incredible pain of a fractured jaw. “Pictures – in – pictures – in safe.”
“That’s good Tim, that’s very good. Now where’s the safe?”
“At home – safe – at home – bedroom.”
“Combination Tim. I need the combination.”
“30 – 37,” Tim continued with tears of agony using from his swollen eyes. “43 – 21,” and he seemed to collapse and go limp with quiet sobs.
“Why Tim, are you crying? You know, all this is your own fault. You shouldn’t have messed with me. You know, of course, that if there is any alarm or anything like that, well you can forget about our deal. I’m trusting you, in good faith, that everything is going to be all right. No alarms, no hidden cameras, no tricks or surprises of any kind. Not your head if you understand. Yes, that’s good Tim, that’s very good, thank you. You must know how much I regret this misunderstanding between us Tim. And all this time I thought we were the best of friends.
“Now here’s how it’s going to work. I’m leaving my associate here to keep you company while I retrieve the pictures with all the negatives. The negatives are with the pictures, right? Yes, not your head, that’s good Tim, thank you. Now if everything is fine, I’ll return and we can complete our business. But if it isn’t as you say, I’m afraid I’ll just have to go after your dear sweet Catherine and her kid, right? I’ll bring them back here and we can all party hearty, right? What a grand old time we will all have. Just think of what a party that would be, you, me, Catherine, and the boy. Hot damn! I’m getting excited already.”
Chapter 27
Back in Maryland Clayton received a copy of the contract for Wilson electronics by email. He spent the morning looking it over and decided it looked pretty good, and his company l
awyer, Michael Lansing advised him through email it was a good solid contract, as far as he was concerned. Clayton okayed the deal through his reply and not settled the matter. Rachel sent him an email of the. And date of this their meeting with Evelyn Rhodes, to take place in her office. Then he noticed Buck pacing the floor and scratching at the door.
“What’s wrong big guy? You want some romp and stomp time, do you? Well, we haven’t been to the dog park for a couple of days, so what say we shoot over there for an hour or so.”
So, it was down the elevator, across the lobby and out the door to grab a cab. It was a nice kind of day for the dog park, clear blue skies, a slight breeze now and then, and the promise from the weatherman of fair weather for the rest of the week. Clayton let the dog run and caper with the other mutts, as he relaxed on a nearby bench, soaking up the beautiful day. Then something caught his eye and he turned his head. He spotted Barbara wells on the other side of the park. She saw him, returned and walked away.
He was sure that was her. Well, maybe she had a dog, who knows. Anyway, it was a public park and one might see anyone there. But then, Clayton started thinking. The other day at the supermarket, he thought he might have seen her at the cooler, for just an instant. And before that, you’re the bank, and before that, in front of his hotel. Not, he must be mistaken. Still, he would have to keep an eye out for her from now on, just to make sure.
Then he happened to notice Buck slowly coming toward him. Bucks stumbled and fell on his side. Struggling to get up again, he took one or two steps, and collapsed again. By this time Clayton was on his feet running to the dog.
“What’s wrong boy, what’s wrong?”
Buck started to foam at the mouth and convulse. Clayton picked him up, all 90 pounds of him, and ran as fast as he could to the park gate. There was a man there with his dog climbing into a pickup truck when Clayton ran up.
“Please Mister, there’s something wrong with my dog and I don’t have a car here. Could you run us over to the vet’s office?”
“Sure thing,” came the reply, “jump in.”
“It’s over on Fairlane, I’ll direct you, and pay all your tickets.”
At the vet’s office, Clayton paced back and forth while the vet examined Buck carefully.
“All talk, what is it? Will he be all right?”
“I’m not sure Clayton, but it looks like poison.”
“Poison!” Clayton shouted, “that can’t be, must be some mistake. Poison, no, no way doc.”
“You got in here just in time, we will flush them out, pub his stomach, and I have an excellent anecdote that’s been proven to work time and again.”
Clayton carried Buck into another room where he could be treated properly, then was told to wait in the waiting room, as it would be a while.
An hour later the vet came in out and told Clayton to leave a dog overnight and he could pick him up the next day. Buck would be as good as new a day or two. He would be a little listless at first but a poll full recovery was expected.
“Now, the big question is… We’re your dog could have gotten into rat poison. And make no mistake about it, that was rat poison.”
Clayton sat down one of the chairs in the waiting room, numb with the thought of someone poisoning his dog. Why? For what ungodly reason would someone try to kill Buck. Could that bitch, Barbara wells have done this? He saw her at the park, he was certain it was her. But why, why would she? He opened his cell phone and punched her number in, but she didn’t answer.
He left a short cryptic message – “this is Clayton. Call me.” Then he dialed Henry.
“What’s up, dude?”
“I need your services this morning, and for the rest of the day.”
“I got to run a client out to Dulles this morning,” Henry replied, “but I’m free after that.”
“Why don’t I just put you on a retainer? Then we can avoid all this coming and going confusion.”
You mean you want me to drive for you exclusively? That’s great dude, as long as I don’t have to wear one of those funny uniforms you see those guys always wearing.”
“You drive a hard bargain Henry, now get your Ford Explorer over to my vet’s office.”
“It’s a Ford expedition dude, not in a little Explorer, after all. Now, what you doing at the vets? Something happened to Buck?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when you get here. I have an appointment with Rachel and 45 minutes. I’m supposed to meet Mama Rhodes there.”
“You have to make an appointment to see Rachel these days. You must be slipping dude”
“This is strictly business this time, which takes place in her office, I might add. We tried to confer at her place a couple of times, but somehow, nothing ever gets accomplished.”
“I wonder why,” Henry said with a snicker. “Okay, I’ll give the Dulles fair to another cabbie and pick you up in 10 minutes. Hey, do I get paid vacations?”
“Don’t push it,” Clayton joked and disconnected.
They arrived with five minutes to spare. Rachel’s office was located in the business district in downtown Baltimore. High-rise buildings, all similar in appearance, were clustered together in a mass of glass and steel. Her office was on the seventh floor of one of these towers, and as always, Henry waited in a nearby coffee shop while Clayton conducted his business.
The building itself was large and spacious, immaculately clean and had a cold officious formality about it. But Rachel’s office was entirely different. Beautiful seascapes in soft pastels hung from the cool gray walls and fresh cut flowers adorned each end table. Soft cushioned furniture filled the room. To one end of the room was the reception area with a little counter and desk set, seating a not-too-bad-looking secretary, who was presently on the phone.
“May I help you?” She inquired, and she ended her conversation on the phone.
“Yes, I’m Clayton Crawford and I’m here to see Ms... Rachel Downing. I have a 5 o’clock with her.”
“Certainly, Mister Crawford,” she said as she punched an intercom button. “Rachel, and Mister Crawford is here.”
When Clayton entered the publisher office he found that Evelyn Rhodes was already there. She rose to greet him. “I didn’t expect all this attention,” she said with a smile. “My goodness, you would almost think I was someone important!”
“You are important to us, and that’s what counts,” Rachel said. “Can offer anyone anything? There’s coffee and tea, or soda if you like.”
Both Evelyn and Clayton declined.
“No, good then, it’s down to business. This is just a preliminary meeting to touch base of everyone and see what we have and what we can expect. Now Mrs. Rhodes, have you brought the papers we discussed earlier?”
“Yes, I was sure to bring them, although I don’t know just what good it will do. People keep telling me you can’t fight City Hall.”
“Let me worry about that. But before we go any further, I have to know right up front… Are you sure you want to go through with this? You have to be willing to go all the way, because by this suit your life could change dramatically. I can see you in the papers, yes even on the news shows, because one of my intentions is to bring this case to the public. We’ll let them see for themselves a little woman is not afraid to stand up to the powers that be and say, ‘No! You can’t have my little restaurant.’ There can be no question of you turning back after this meeting. I can’t make myself any clearer than that. No matter what they offer you, you must not waver one iota.”
“I will not change my mind, as you so aptly put it. I will not waver in my stand. I will never willingly sell, never.”
“Good then, I have some papers for you to sign, appointing me as your sole legal advisor an attorney. If at any time, I think we may need outside legal help in some matter, I will call it in. I have some papers to file first thing in the morning. The thing as, don’t get anxious, these things take time. The courts are overcrowded with jammed up dockets and I wouldn’t be surprised
if we don’t hear anything for a month or more, six or seven weeks, more likely.”
“They only gave me 30 days, and then they will close me down,” Mrs. Rhodes looked anxious.
“Don’t worry about that either, I’ll file for an extension on that and I’m sure we will get it. Now the papers you brought. One is from the first inspection stating that everything was in order, and I see it was signed by the inspector, and Mister Robert Crowe. It was dated two weeks ago. Now the second one states that your establishment is substandard and does not meet the city health codes, and threatens closure and a $5000 fine. Is all that correct?”
The Crawford Chronicles - Book 1 Page 18