Judas

by Caleb Meeks

  Cadman looked like a mix between honest confusion and fearful curiosity. “I’m not going to lie, that sounds absolutely insane.”

  Newman’s face dropped. “I know Leo, I know. It makes absolutely no sense. And I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it was nothing. But it didn’t seem like it was nothing.”

  “Oh, Matt, I’m not saying nothing happened. If it felt like something happened, then something probably happened. I’m just saying that whatever it was doesn’t seem normal. I’m glad you’re ok though.”

  Newman smiled. “I’m glad he’s a bad shot.”

  Cadman laughed. “Me too.”

  “But look, I do want to apologize for freezing up on you. If I hadn’t frozen on the spot, you might not have ended up with a chunk missing from your arm. I don’t know what happened, but something happened in me when I saw him. It was like all that time I spent looking through case files, building hatred for him, was just gone.”

  Cadman stopped him. “Matthew, you cannot blame yourself for what happened. Everyone freezes up at some point. You have to give yourself some slack considering your first case is this high-profile. You were just in the same room with one of the most dangerous criminals alive. I’ve never told you this, but the last time an officer was in the same room with Judas, he put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He just couldn’t handle the pressure of being around him. It may not have gone the way you had imagined it in your head, but it could have gone far worse. I’m okay, you’re okay, and all the other officers will be fine. Next time, we’ll be better. This time, give yourself some slack.”

  Newman nodded his head. It was that older brother attitude Cadman had that Newman appreciated so much. ‘Thanks for that.” Newman said, smiling.

  “Anytime.” Cadman said.

  Just then, the nurse came back into the room. “Sorry to bother you guys, but I think I’m going to have to cut off your time. It would be best if you got some rest. It’s pretty late.” Both of the men nodded their heads in agreeance. “Mr. Newman, you’ve technically been discharged, so you’re free to go if you would like.”

  “If it’s alright, I’ll stay and rest in one of the chairs.” He said, motioning towards the two lounge chairs in the room.

  She smiled. “That’s just fine. Let a nurse know if you need anything. We’ll be in periodically to check on your arm Detective Cadman.” He nodded. Matthew reclined into one of the chairs. Most would have found it uncomfortable, but it was the most comfortable place he could think of being. The thought of going back to his own apartment, alone, terrified him.

  Chapter Eleven.

  Dominic and I sat in my car, practically in silence for the duration of the ride. It wasn’t a particularly long drive, but it felt like an eternity. I knew we’d end up talking about it, but fortunately Dominic knew to respect my silence when it was given. I’m glad he chose to restrain himself. Not that I wanted to lash out at him, but I might have snapped had he asked.

  The midnight air was cool, accompanying the dark around us. Darkness is often synonymous with dark emotions, evil, and fear. I’d never taken it quite that way. It always felt very comfortable, homey even. Who knows, maybe that was part of my problem.

  We eventually got back to Dominic’s house. It was around one o’clock in the morning. He and I both got out of the vehicle as quietly as we could. His neighborhood was known for being inquisitive, and it was not a situation they needed to be sticking their noses in. The questions they could ask about a strange man in a dark trench coat hanging around, well, I didn’t want to think about it.

  He walked through the house and flipped on a few of the lights, leaving most of the property still dimly lit. He stopped in front of me after turning the lights on, pressing his hand into my chest. I stopped dead in my tracks. “Alright, what happened in there? I let you have the drive in silence, but it’s about time you start talking.”

  “I don’t know what happened. I don’t have any idea why the police were there, but I have a feeling that our good friend, Mr. Jonathan Bay, probably isn’t on our side.”

  “You think he tipped off the police?”

  “Well, I’m not saying it couldn’t have been someone else, but right now, it’s our best bet.”

  “Great, so now you have people not only trying to kill you, but also get you arrested.” Dominic hopelessly said.

  “Dom, I don’t think they were hoping I’d get arrested.”

  He paused for a moment, letting what I had said settle in. “Still, Judas, it’s not safe for you out there.”

  “It’s not safe for me? Dominic, I just took down eight Police officers without getting a scratch. I think I can handle myself. And, when has it ever been safe for me out there?”

  Dominic stopped to breathe for a moment. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just don’t know how I’d take it if I were to find out that Abaddon skinned you and hung you from the empire state building.” He was never that frank with me, which got my attention.

  “I know it’s hard to understand why I do the things I do, but you also have to realize that I can handle myself. You know that. Now, before we keep this up, you should get some sleep. It’s late.”

  “And what are you going to do?” The shiver in his voice conveyed anger, but I knew he was just worried.

  “I’m going home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Dominic nodded and turned around to head up the stairs to his bedroom. He knew he couldn’t convince me to do otherwise, so it was easier to just comply. I turned around to head back out his front door. Only a few minutes had gone by, so the car was still warm.

  The drive back to my house was long, but seclusion often requires distance. I knew that when I bought the place. It was often a welcome amount of time for me to enjoy some silence and think, but something about what happened tonight kept me from wanting to think. Looking into that officer’s eyes was such an abnormal experience. I’ve looked into the eyes of many people before. I’ve looked into the eyes of dying people. People who are watching their lives flash before their eyes, as they say. Not even in the moments where people are re-living their lives have I seen anything like that.

  I don’t claim to be a psychic. I don’t claim to be a mind-reader. I’ve never been one to believe in those things, or any supernatural phenomenon of any kind. This was something that was beyond any of that. It was almost like I was looking in a mirror. I’ve seen a lot of pain. I’ve dealt a lot of pain. But never in my life have I witnessed the kind of familiarity with pain as I did when looking into the eyes of that officer. It wasn’t that he was in pain, it was like he had made a home for himself in it. The thought sent chills down my spine again.

  I did my best to keep my gaze focused on the road. Trying to tamp down the emotions from everything I was feeling was hard, but it was beginning to cloud my judgement in a way that could detract from my ability to drive. I tried to focus on the area around me.

  The hills that led up to my house were breathtaking. Like I said, the shroud of darkness that this hour of the night brought is often experienced negatively. However, tonight it was one of the only things that made me feel the slightest bit safe.

  Eventually, I made it back to my house. As per usual, there had been no one even on the roads in the past hour and a half. Once I walked in the door, I was greeted by the familiar layout. Spending the few days with Dominic reminded me just how different we are. He put time and effort into creating his house whereas I really hadn’t. I guess that’s what happens when you view everything as temporary.

  Once inside the house with the door shut, I walked straight into the bathroom and took a shower. The wound on my side ached, but after I ignored it for long enough, the pain seemed to pass. It felt good to feel the water run over me. The past few days had been particularly agonizing, and there’s just something about it that helped relieve the tension.

  After a while, I stepped out of the water and grabbed a towel. I put on a pair of slim black sweatpants, and a black long sleeve shirt. The chi
ll from the outside had seeped it’s way in. Most people would have just turned the heat on, but I’d never had it installed. Never seemed like there was much point to it.

  I walked back down to my kitchen, holding the knife I had stabbed Brutus Ivanov with in one hand. Blood had dried all around the blade and handle, and I wanted to get it off. The water rolled down the sides, taking little flecks of the dried substance with it. It took a long time to get it clean again, but it did eventually come off. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the shining blade. The distorted reflection didn’t sit well with me.

  The phone next to me started buzzing. I looked at it skeptically. It was a night that I wanted to just turn off the device, but eventually I reached towards it.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Hello, is this Judas speaking?” The voice sounded jubilant, like it was coming from a carnival usher.

  “It is.” I said with as monotone of a voice as I could muster.

  “Pleasure to be speaking with you. My name is Hank Barnaby.” The name immediately sent my mind off. This is the kind of man who I would expect to be able to get my phone number. He is one of the wealthiest businessmen on the planet, CEO of Barnaby Enterprises, and most importantly, convicted of over two dozen sexual assault trials, which he managed to pay off before any kind of media attention. Corrupt, but someone whose figured out how to play the game.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Well, Judas, I’ve got a business offer for you that I’d love to discuss. Considering the power we both possess, I’d say a joint venture between our parties might be valuable, especially with everything that’s been going on.” It shocked me to get as many phone calls as I did about joint ventures. I’d never really joined forces with anyone, but they never seem to get the point.

  “Alright. I will admit that right now is not the greatest time, but I guess I can meet you at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.” It was the last thing I wanted to do, truly, and with how everything was going, didn’t sound like the wisest decision. However, with his history, who knows what I could get out of it.

  “Wonderful! I’ll see you then.” I hung up before he could say anything else. Quite frankly, I could have made my way to him whenever I wanted, but I just didn’t want to before I had a chance to decompress.

  After doing some other busy work, I walked back into my bedroom and took a seat on the foot of the bed. I stared off towards the water line, which was just visible out the door beside my bed. The thought of sleep was both exciting, and slightly terrifying. Most nights, where sleep was, the past haunted too. Eventually, though, I gave in.

  ▪

  I made the decision to shut my phone off before going to bed, which I hardly ever do. However, it let the four hours of sleep I managed to get be uninterrupted. While it isn’t a lot of sleep, it’s more than I can usually get. I stood up out of the bed, feeling surprisingly refreshed from the days before. While the dark clouds still loomed over my head, I was able to take pleasure in the feeling, however short it was.

  I quickly took another shower, and dressed for the meeting I had in a while. Under normal circumstances, I would opt for my traditional trench coat and black attire, but this situation was different. Since I was meeting Barnaby in his place of business and not some old abandoned warehouse, I had to look the part. It’s amazing what a vest, tailored suit, and side part do in the world of business. It was a refreshing change of pace.

  I quickly made a phone call to get a jet set up, and to arrange a car once I got into the city. I could have driven, but it was easier to fly in. I quickly grabbed my sunglasses before I walked out. While I left most of the familiar Judas in the room, the sunglasses were a trademark that couldn’t be left behind. That, and the gun, of course.

  I left the house and got into my car to drive to the airstrip. It wasn’t a long drive, and with the sleep I had just gotten, it wasn’t as hard to keep my mind grounded. A quick drive later, I arrived at the airstrip. Thankfully, since I was traveling via private jet, I didn’t have to deal with the airport itself. It wasn’t often that I used the power and money I possessed, but it made last minute occasions like this much easier.

  The plane was already waiting for me, along with about four guards on the outside. I didn’t request those, but they came as a package deal. They make arrivals more dramatic, which is something I’ve learned to appreciate. The pilot had already been informed of the location, so I just boarded the plane and took a seat. The stewardess brought me a small glass of wine. I don’t drink often, but it was a moment I chose to blur the lines. The wonderful part is that the crews very rarely know who I am, so they treat me like a standard businessman. Being treated like a human was different. To be looked in the eyes without a bit of fear, it was nice. Even though it was acting, it was almost more relaxing than being myself. Perhaps another revealing piece of my life.

  The flight was very fast, maybe an hour from take-off to landing. I just sat there and thought about everything that was going on. The pilot alerting me to the decline jolted me back to reality. We’d be on the ground in a few minutes.

  We landed just as the pilot said we would, and just as requested, there was a car waiting for me. Nothing too flashy, but fun. I walked off the plane and down the aisles the guards had formed along each side of me. Once I reached the car, the guard at the very end walked up to me. He was tall, stocky, military style. Typical guard material.

  “Would you like a driver, sir?” He asked, still holding the keys.

  “No, that’s quite alright. Thank you.” I replied. The bad guy attitude had to take a back seat for this one…at least for right now.

  “Yes, sir.” The man nodded in agreement. He then looked back up at me, wondering why I hadn’t gotten in the car yet. “Is there something else I can help you with?”

  “Can I have the keys?” I asked, jokingly.

  His face flushed in embarrassment. He quickly handed the keys to me. “My apologies, sir.”

  “Not to worry. We all make mistakes.” He bowed his head and walked back to the line of guards. I stepped into the car, and turned it on. The engine kicked on, making a loud roaring sound. Much different from my car, but the point of this meeting was not to be familiar.

  I took off from the airstrip and made my way to the city streets. I had plenty of time to make it to Barnaby’s building, which was good, considering the city traffic. One of the many reasons I live in practical solitary confinement.

  I decided to call Dominic. The phone rang a few times, but then he picked up. “Hello?” He said.

  “Hey, it’s me.”

  “Hey, where are you?”

  “The city.”

  “What are you doing in the city?” He asked with a hint of worry.

  “Meeting with Hank Barnaby. He called me last night around two A.M.” Hank Barnaby was a name practically everyone in the crime world knew, so I didn’t have to explain anything else. Dominic knew what I was talking about.

  “Wow, what did he want?”

  “Business venture. Power coupling. The usual things they all say.”

  “What I figured. What are you going to do?”

  “No idea. We’ll see how the meeting goes. I’m just testing the waters. Seeing what he knows.” I playfully said.

  Dominic chuckled. “Don’t get too messy, and be careful. I know you can handle yourself, but we both know how your business ventures often go now.”

  I smiled. “I’ll be fine, but I’ll let you know if anything happens. I’m wearing a full suit, bloodshed is the last thing on my mind.”

  “You? In a full suit? I would pay good money to see that.”

  I genuinely laughed. It wasn’t something I did often…it felt good. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Have fun.” He said, hanging up the phone.

  Traffic was still inching along, but after waiting in the grueling lines for an indeterminable amount of time, I caught sight of the towering building Barnaby had taken up r
esidence in. It would take me another thirty minutes to get there, but that still left plenty of time.

  After working my way through the hordes of traffic, I managed to park on a street opposite the building. It towered above the others around it, and Barnaby likely was at the very top. I crossed the street and approached the building. People flooded the lobby, yelling at people on their phones, cursing profusely. One man had grabbed another by the collar of his shirt, screaming about a crooked stock exchange. Chaotic beauty, if you ask me.

  I spotted an open front desk agent and walked up to her. “What can I do for you, sir?” She politely asked, wearing the fakest smile I’d seen in a while.

  “I have an appointment with Mr. Barnaby.”

  She looked at me confusedly. “Mr. Barnaby doesn’t usually take appointments.”

  I smiled at her. “He called me last night to set this up. I think he’s expecting me.”

  She held up her finger and picked up the phone. After asking a quick question and nodding her head, she hung up the phone. “My apologies, sir, he is waiting for you. Top floor.”

  “That’s what I thought. Thank you.” I paused for a moment and leaned in closer to her. She noticed and curiously leaned in too. “Between the two of us, I can tell you aren’t happy here. I’d recommend you start looking for something else. Something about this place tells me stocks are going to drop pretty quick.” I winked at her. She nodded with confusion, though I could see honest happiness at the thought of leaving.

  I turned and walked away from the desk towards the elevator. It was large and intricately designed, maybe even gold plated. With Barnaby at the helm, it wouldn’t surprise me. I walked into the elevator and clicked the top floor button. At least three people were running towards the elevator, cursing at me to hold the door. I didn’t feel inclined to oblige.