Suffer II (21 page)

Chief came unglued. He bolted for Brad while pulling his gun out of the holster. Grey turned in time to grab him before he took aim.

“She was still alive, Grey,” said Chief, gritting his teeth. “She was eaten alive, and those fucking animals watched it.”

“I know, Chief,” said Grey. “But he’s no good to us dead right now. His time is coming, buddy. You know that.”

“The sooner the better,” said Chief, holstering his weapon. “I can’t listen to any more of this. I’ll be in the boat.”

“I could use some air as well,” said Grey. “Kate, will you be okay?”

She looked up at Grey and nodded. He could see that her eyes were glassed over. He gave her a forced smile and walked outside with Chief. Part of the reason was to calm down his friend. Most of the reason was to keep himself from finishing what Chief wanted to start.

“I am sorry,” said Brad, waiting for the men to leave. “I know that sounded bad, but she was all messed up on some heroin Bullet gave her. She probably didn’t feel nothing.”

Kate narrowed her eyes and cocked her head. He told them he fed a human being to alligators as if he were telling a story about buying milk. Emily wasn’t a person to them. She was a toy for them to play with until they got bored.

“No, Brad,” said Kate. “She felt every tooth rip into her flesh and every bite break her bones. She felt herself being eaten until she drowned or bled to death.”

“I don’t like thinking about that,” said Brad, lowering his head. “All that was Bullet’s idea. He gets off on shit like that; I don’t.”

“I don’t like it either,” said Kate, reaching into her jacket pocket. “I thought maybe you’d like to see these.”

“What are they?”

“They’re photos of Emily,” said Kate, scooting her chair next to him. “I made copies of her mother’s favorites so I wouldn’t forget why I’m here. This is one of her and her father when she was five. That man adored her. Do you know what he called her?”

“No.”

“His little bug,” said Kate, smiling at the picture. “Here’s another with both of her parents on her tenth birthday. She was so cute, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah,” said Brad, cutting his eyes up at Kate. “She was.”

He didn’t see her pull the knife, but he felt the four-inch blade pierce through his ribcage and puncture his lung. He jerked away from her, but his shackles wouldn’t allow him to go far. Brad kicked at her chair, but she was already on her feet and stepped behind him.

She wrapped her arm around his throat and pinned him against the post. Kate drove the blade into the side of his abdomen with two quick jabs. Grey and Chief rushed in as his guttural screams rushed out into the swamp. Neither of them attempted to stop her.

After she put the fourth hole in him, she released her grip. Brad slid down the pole and curled up into a ball on the ground around it. He started moaning when he didn’t have enough air to scream.

“Don’t die fast,” said Kate, standing behind him. “I want you to feel your death coming like she did.”

“Oh God, please,” said Brad, coughing up blood. “I’m sorry. Please don’t kill me. I’m begging you.”

“I bet Emily said the same things to you,” said Chief, stepping closer to him. “You’re getting off lucky. You won’t feel the gators eating you.”

“She was young, smart, beautiful, and would never hurt anyone,” said Kate, kneeling down beside Brad. “She loved her parents very much and they loved her. She was going to do wonderful and amazing things with her life. Now you’re begging me to save yours.”

“I’ll tell the police what we did,” said Brad, fading. “I swear to God, I will. Please don’t let me die.”

“You took an innocent life,” said Kate. “You raped and tortured her for three days while she was tied to this post begging for her life. You dragged her out into the swamp and you fed her to alligators while she was still alive. You keep begging and pleading for God to help you. Do you believe in God?”

“I do,” said Brad, struggling to breathe.

“So do I,” said Kate. “I also believe in the devil. Do you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then it stands to reason that you believe in heaven and hell, right?”

“Yes.”

“Which way do you think you’re going?”

He didn’t speak, but Kate saw the answer in his terrified eyes. He lowered his head to the floor and started to cry. All three suspected he was trying to make his peace and plead his case with the few moments he had left in this world. They held little hope that he’d be successful in changing the verdict.

Silence fell over the cabin when his moaning and sobbing stopped. Brad would never hurt anyone’s child again. He took away all of Emily’s opportunities to experience happiness and love. He took away all of her tomorrows. They had no problem taking all of his.

“I guess his time was up sooner than I thought,” said Chief, looking at Brad’s lifeless body. “I suspect that wasn’t part of your plan.”

“No, it wasn’t, Chief.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Kate. I’m on board with you sending that sick soul to the netherworld. I just wish we could’ve made it hurt more.”

“That looked like it hurt a lot, Chief,” said Grey. “I don’t think we could’ve killed him slow enough.”

“She meant nothing to them,” said Kate. “They have no problem feeding someone’s daughter to alligators. The faster we reunite Bullet and Eddie with their brother, the better.”

“Brittany handed her over to them,” said Grey. “We may want to rethink our position with her.”

“I don’t think she had any idea that they were going to do that to her,” said Kate. “But I’ll make sure her and her parents do know. They need to get her some help, but she’s not back on our list.”

“What about Mark and the judge?” asked Chief.

“I already have plans for Mark,” said Kate. “I’m still on the fence with Cassandra. She’s going to pay for what she did. I’m not clear yet on the price.”

“What about this sack of shit?” asked Chief, pointing at Brad. “Do we sink him?”

“No,” said Kate. “We leave him just the way he is. I want Bullet and Eddie to find him. I want them both angry and scared.”

“Eddie, I’m not worried about,” said Grey. “I am with Bullet. He’s smarter and more dangerous than the others. We just executed his brother. It won’t take him long to figure out it was us. When he does, he’ll want his revenge.”

“I’m sure of it,” said Kate.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Chief. “This place stinks.”

Not much was said on the boat ride back to the rental house. Killing Brad apart from his brothers was unexpected. The timeline for the other two had become much shorter.

Kate agreed with Grey that Bullet was dangerous, but he wasn’t more dangerous than Judge Cassandra Hall. Kate understood the lengths a mother would go to protect her son – even if that son was a serial rapist.

They secured the boat and headed up to the house. Evan and Abby were waiting for them on the back deck. It didn’t escape either of them that they were a man short.

“Kate, are you okay?” asked Abby, as her sister walked into the light.

“It’s not my blood,” said Kate, following Abby’s eyes to a stain on her pants.

“What happened?”

“I need to get cleaned up,” said Kate, smiling and then walking past her.

“I need a drink,” said Chief, giving Abby a hug and then heading for the kitchen.

“I’ll take one too, Chief,” said Grey.

“Gotcha covered, boss. Anyone else?”

“Just bring the bottle,” said Abby.

“Brad told us what they did to her,” said Grey, taking a seat. “They raped and tortured her for three days in a shack straight out of a horror movie. They starved and dehydrated her before taking her out into the swamp.”

“And?”

“I think he’s waiting for this,” said Chief, handing Grey a glass of whiskey.

“Thanks, buddy,” said Grey, taking a long sip. “They threw her overboard like a sack of garbage. They went to Mud Lake. It’s infested with alligators.”

“Oh dear Lord,” said Abby. “Please tell me that she was already dead.”

“I wish I could.”

“What the fuck is wrong with these people?” said Evan, standing. “She didn’t do shit to them, and they fucked with her for a year and a half. All of them, Grey. I don’t give a shit anymore about anyone in this godforsaken town. They can all burn in hell for all I care. I’m being dead serious. Tyler, Brittany, Mark, Judge Hall, those psycho brothers, all of them.”

“I hear you,” said Chief. “Kate sent one of them tonight.”

“Kate killed Brad?” asked Abby, putting down her glass.

“We didn’t throw his blood on her,” said Chief.

“That’s not funny,” said Abby, glaring at Chief. “You two are supposed to be doing that, not her.”

“Glad you think that highly of us,” said Chief. “It’s not like she gave us much of a choice, little lady. Grey and I were on the boat when she gutted him.”

“Gutted him?” said Abby. “Those are the words you choose to describe what my sister did?”

“Would shanked or carved up like a Christmas turkey work better for you?”

“Easy, Chief,” said Grey. “We’re all a little amped up right now.”

“No, easy needs to be over for her,” said Chief. “Easy was over for us a long time ago. If she wants to be a part of this, then she’s the one who needs to ease up.”

“I’m sitting right here, Chief,” said Abby.

“I know exactly where you’re sitting,” said Chief. “You’re sitting smack-dab in the middle of this shit storm, and you have no idea what goes on out there. You sit behind a screen and watch us do the dirty work because you think that’s what we’re supposed to be doing. The last thing I need when I get back from doing it, is you telling me what I should say and how I should say it.”

“I didn’t mean –”

“Must be nice watching us from that high horse,” said Chief, standing. “Aw, screw it.”

He snatched the bottle off the table and walked down the back stairs towards the dock. With tears in her eyes, Abby stood as well. She looked at Grey and then went inside.

“Where did that come from?” asked Evan.

“I have a pretty good idea,” said Grey, grabbing his empty glass and standing.

“I guess the party’s over,” said Evan.

“I’ll see you in the morning, buddy,” said Grey, walking down the stairs. “Go get some sleep. You’re going to have a busy day tomorrow.”

Grey took his time walking down the stairs and through the backyard. He was gathering his thoughts and letting Chief do the same. It was rare for either of them to fly off the handle without a good reason.

“Permission to come on board, skipper” said Grey, standing on the dock.

“Granted,” said Chief. “I’m guessing you want me to fill that glass.”

“I do.”

“I hope you didn’t come down here to defend your girlfriend,” said Chief, pouring.

“Nope,” said Grey. “I’m here to defend myself. You’re not angry with her; you’re pissed at me.”

“You are a good detective,” said Chief. “I owe Abby an apology and she’ll get it. You on the other hand…”

“Don’t hold back, old man,” said Grey. “Get it all out.”

“Hell, that may be part of it,” said Chief. “I’m getting older. I’ve lost a couple steps and my aim isn’t as steady. That’s why I can’t do this without you.”

“You may have lost a couple steps, your hair, and your battle against cake, but your aim is rock steady. I couldn’t do this without you either, Chief.”

“Then start acting like it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Abby shouldn’t be here,” said Chief, shaking his head. “We never should’ve used her as bait to lure Greg to the house. She shouldn’t be a part of any of this.”

“Wasn’t my call, Chief. Kate signed off on it.”

“Bullshit,” said Chief. “That’s one argument you would’ve won. You want her here and I don’t blame you. Abby is a soft place to land after a day like today. She’s intelligent, sassy, and drop-dead gorgeous. Any guy would be lucky to have her, but here’s the rub. We’re out here kicking the hornet’s nest and dropping bodies in the swamp. We’re pissing off very, very dangerous people who are about to come after us, all of us. Shit just got more real, partner.”

“I know that, Chief.”

“Shut up, kid,” said Chief, filling his glass. “You two are acting like a couple of teenagers on a field trip. We all know you sneak into each other’s rooms at night and hold hands when you believe nobody’s looking. Kate thinks that’s cute and feels better knowing her personal jackhammer is looking out for her sister. Kate wants her around as much as you do, and you’re both wrong. Very wrong. I’m not telling you to end the relationship, but I am saying she doesn’t need to be here in shithole, USA, for you two to be together. She needs to be back in Miami where she’s safe. Then you become the only thing you need to worry about out here. Capiche?”

“I hear you, Chief,” said Grey. “Every word.”

“Good.”

“What I don’t get were the theatrics up there,” said Grey. “You could’ve gotten this off your chest a week ago. Hell, a month ago. Why tonight?”