The Final Shortcut (12 page)

“Yeh, it looks pretty cut and dry, she’s been a user for a while according to Mandy.”

From inside the house Junior could see the men talking, reading some of their words. And it reassured him that his scheme had worked. He knew Clyde well enough that he could read him well. Knew that he was sure it was all an accident, she just took too much. It all was going just the way he had planned. Everything was under control, his control. By this time it was early afternoon and the grim circumstances had taken its toll. Mandy’s father was on his way. She could stay with her friends until after the funeral. Ellen was beside herself with grief, mortified by the whole scene. Aware of the fact it could have just as easily been she. Junior ushered the ladies outside to head home and end their torment. Time to get on with the day, the day Junior took control. His mother would be much better off now, much better without that cow feeding her drugs. As he loaded her in the car he looked over the scene of the crime, his adrenaline pumping so fast he could hardly stand still. He couldn’t believe the sensations he was having. His mind spinning and it was all so easy. Deep inside his mind things were changing, permanently altering his perceptions. From this day forward there was a new Junior, forever changed, forever dangerous. This new power he felt was intoxicating to him, and he liked it, it all seemed so right.

Once they were back home, things began to lighten up. There were many phone calls and many tear filled tissues. But Ellen was holding up well. Junior could hear her talking to her friends. Telling them all she was quitting as of now. Her tone was firm and full of conviction. The scene she found had a profound effect on her. The kind of effect Junior had hoped for. As he listened, his absolution was complete. He had done the right thing. Dad would be proud. Junior was proud, feeling triumphant at his accomplishments. It wouldn’t be long and they would be a happy family again. Or else.

The next few days dragged on unmercifully slow, making things much harder to deal with. Ellen was struggling with her need for a buzz but she didn’t give in. She took her prescription sleeping pills and waited. Her reservation at the clinic was set for Monday, the day after the funeral. The sooner the better she thought. Junior had taken to stealing away from the house at night, walking far into the woods to a secret spot. A spot where he could see most of the hillsides from the new interstate to the next county. A panoramic view from the lower side where the neighborhoods were, to the high side just outside of town. This secluded hilltop gave him a perch where he could watch most of the roadways leaving Bontonville. A perfect place to keep track of Wesley Groomes. He had twice noticed him leaving his house after eleven o’clock at night. Noticed him as he stopped at a parking spot popular with the teenagers. A spot Junior knew was used for partying away from prying eyes. A spot that was also on Baumann property. It was a perfect hiding place too, less then a mile from a neighborhood in an overgrown glen out of sight from the road. It had seen years of use before Marty ever bought it. Junior pondered what things would be like once Wesley went away to college. He knew Celeste was still in school and would certainly stay behind. Then it would only be a matter of time before she got bored. Got tired of waiting for her lover boy to call. Ready to come to her senses and fall in love with Junior. All he had to do was wait, perfect. He stayed at his perch until after one thirty a.m. Waiting until Wesley went home, watched him as he cut the lights off and crept quietly back inside.

“Sneaking away at night, hmm, I’ll have to remember that, I guess Mommy and Daddy are asleep.” He mocked his rival’s mannerisms as he started his way back home.” Well it won’t be too long now and I’ll have her all to myself.” There wasn’t a sound other than crickets chirping, until he howled like a wolf at the top of his lungs. Every dog in the valley started barking, stirring the sleepy hamlet out of its innocent slumber. He howled again, just for fun. “There is a new wolf tracking the flock tonight and he’s got sharp teeth.”

The Sunday morning services at the Antioch Baptist Church drifted over to the cemetery for a grave side service. A small emotional crowd stood reverently by as the proceedings took place. Mostly people Junior didn’t recognize but he was there for his Mother. She was falling apart today, feeling the withdrawal pains deeply. Clyde had wanted to talk to Ellen privately so she asked Junior to run to the store for cigarettes. Gladly accepting he walked the two blocks to the “Quik Shop” taking his time at it. After checking out he turned to leave when his dream girl came walking in.

“Hi Celeste.” He beamed as he approached her, holding the door open.

“Hey, sorry ‘bout your cousin.” She smiled slightly as she spoke, a distant look in her eyes.

“Thanks, you still hanging around with that loser? You know I’ll still be here when Wesley’s gone off to the big city, and he’ll forget all about this little town.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well don’t say I didn’t tell you so, you’ll get tired of waiting and you’ll see that I’m right. Then you can call me and I’ll be your boyfriend. How about that?” She chuckled a bit but tried to sound sincere when she spoke.

“Well if something happens to Wesley, I’ll keep you in mind. See ya later.” Junior walked out holding his head high. It would all work out for him very soon. Across the parking lot he spied a very familiar red Mustang at the gas pumps. Wesley was washing his windshield, ignoring Junior. When he walked around the edge of the lot, he could hear Wesley laughing. A couple in the back seat was laughing as well. He just knew they were laughing at him. Wesley wasn’t looking in his direction but he knew he must have said something to make them laugh. Junior hurried away trying to suppress his anger. Walking helped, and the further he got the calmer he became. Then from behind him he heard the Mustang coming. He couldn’t stop himself from turning to look. As they passed, he could see that Wesley was still laughing. They made eye contact for long second. And he nodded at him as he drove by, unaware of the effect his slight civility had on Junior. He drove on without giving Junior another thought. His new comedy tape they were listening to had been entertaining them all morning.

But from his perspective, the nod was obviously confirmation. That, yes we are laughing at you. And he knew it was Wesley’s fault that they were laughing, it had to be! An odd sensation began to swirl around inside him fueling a rush of emotions. Beads of sweat formed on his upper lip and forehead. His temples began to throb steadily harder with increasing severity. It was clear to him now what needed to be done, what had to be done. It was time to deal with Wesley. Time to make sure he doesn’t keep Celeste away from him anymore.

***

Just a minute past eleven p.m. Wesley pulled the emergency brake off and let his Mustang coast downhill out of his driveway. He wanted to get well away from the house before starting the engine, a little trick he had used several times before successfully. Once away, he cruised nonchalantly around the twisted roadway trying not to attract any attention. Tonight he wanted to slink away into the night. To runaway and keep on running, and he wasn’t coming back. But first he had to stop at the parking spot. Some called it “Lovers Lane.” Some called it “Lookout Point.” Mostly it was a teen party spot. He killed his lights before turning onto the dirt road making sure not to stir up much dust. Being Sunday night, the lot was deserted. He pulled into his favorite spot and shut it down, no lights or radio. He just sat in the dark waiting.

Junior was waiting too. He had waited for many nights. And tonight his prey was being delivered on a red steel platter. His perch was so close he could smell the exhaust. Misty rain started to fall and it felt cool to his bare skin. He had come out tonight wearing only jeans and shoes. Strapped to his side was a World War II German bayonet with a twelve-inch long blade. It had a double edge four inches to the tip. Kept sharp as a razor, it was a perfect skinning tool for deer. And it was always Marty’s favorite. With deft his hunter’s skill, he crept silently behind the car. Put his cheek up to the bumper. To feel the cold of the metal, and to listen to Wesley fidget. He only listened for a brief minute before standing up, holding the bayonet with the blade hidden in the shadow of his forearm. He took the end of the handle and raked it across the trunk of Wesley’s car producing a loud screech. It instantly got his attention. He vaulted out of the car and rounded the bumper ready to fight.

“What the hell’s going on?” He stopped cold when he saw Junior standing there. Something in his eyes gave Wesley a start, rattling his nerve. “Wh...What do you want Junior?”

“I just wanted to get a close look at your new car.” Junior looked down at the deep scratch he had just dug. When Wesley saw it, he regained his nerve and stepped toward Junior. But before he could plant his foot firmly on the ground Junior brought the knife up slashing upward across his chest. Split his chin to the bone and slit his nose. Wesley reeled slightly, trying to defend. But before another heartbeat pulsed Junior brought the blade back down. Straight into his chest. The blade drove deep through the collar bone, slicing into the jugular vein as it forced its way deep into his lung. It came back out just as easily. So he plunged it back into Wesley’s chest again. Blood splashed onto Junior’s face and ran down into his mouth. The taste only made him want more. He stabbed again and again feverishly before finally allowing the mangled corpse to fall to the ground. Blood and gore poured out the eviscerated chest. Junior crouched over him, high on the thrill of the kill.

“Who’s the ugly freak boy now?” His voice barely above a whisper, the scene completely quiet as even the animals knew to stay away tonight. Then he leaned over and bit a chunk out of Wesley’s cheek. “You’re really ugly now, freak boy.” The blood gushed down his chin as he enjoyed his treat. The intoxicating effect temporarily caused him to drop his guard.

He didn’t hear the bicycle pull up and stop. Didn’t hear the small footsteps approach. He didn’t snap out of his trance until a girl screamed. She had already turned to run when Junior uncoiled his legs and leapt onto her. He grabbed her curly hair with his left hand and pulled her back off her feet. He then brought the knife around in an arc, stabbing her between the breasts piercing her heart. The force of the blow was so intense that it broke the breastbone, burying an inch of the hilt in the bone. The other end of the blade stuck into the ground beneath her, pinning her down. It was just a few seconds before Junior’s high gave way to reality. And to his horror he recognized that the curly blond hair belonged to Celeste.

She looked up at him in shock, her face twisted with agony. Then in an instant, she was gone. Her pale green eyes still locked on Junior in a haunting stare. The rain began to fall heavier and the drops looked like tears rolling off her cheeks.

“This was not supposed to happen like this! What are you doing here?” His voice was low and guttural. Junior threw himself into the dirt and started pitching a fit. Flailing his arms and grinding his teeth. He was ready to scream out loud. But a familiar voice in his head told him to stop, to look around at what he’d done. He immediately gained composure. It was as if he had simply flipped a switch from panic to calm. Crouched on all fours in the muddy road, his black hair hung down in his eyes like a rabid feral dog. His mind raced over what just happened. The answers came easy after the fact. Of course Wesley and Celeste would meet here. It was a great place to make out; only a fool would have missed that. And Celeste only lived half a mile away, an easy trip on a bicycle. How could he have been so careless, how could he have let things get out of control. Now there was a big mess to clean up. Something else Junior hadn’t thought about until now. He was in a trance of indecision. The little part of him that still hung onto reality was screaming for him to act. With the remaining fragments of his mind lost in delirium.

A pair of headlights turned down the hill toward Junior, casting long shadows as it came in his direction. Moving with the speed of a gazelle, he dragged Celeste into the bushes next to the car. Then pulled Wesley on the blind side of it just as the other car passed. It continued on for a dozen yards before pulling to the side and turning off the engine. Only a few minutes passed before the windows began to fog up. The radio played softly, blacking out the rest of the world. Junior watched until he was satisfied they were too occupied to notice him, long enough to think of a plan.

The back seat was just big enough for Wesley’s long body. And he easily moved Celeste to the passenger seat. Strapping her in place and tying her hair back to the headrest to hold her head up. He popped the trunk before going for the bicycle and found a couple suitcases. The bike had one with it as well. They were set to run away together. Junior felt betrayed when he realized the purpose for their meeting. He felt a little less mad at himself for killing her. After all, she was going to run away from him anyway. The bike fit better in the trunk but the bags had to go in the backseat with Wesley. All his activity took less than two minutes. The only thing the couple in the next car saw was the Mustang’s tail lights heading away, with a bicycle hanging out of the trunk. He put on Wesley’s high school jacket to make it look natural. Everything had to be right. The mud on his shoes made the pedals slippery so when he pulled on the paved road he almost choked it down. But in the panic of the moment he over compensated and burned a rubber streak thirty feet long. Turning out every dog for two miles. A river of sweat ran down his neck. His senses were finely tuned to every sound, light or landmark. His mind raced like a computer. Celeste’s hand had already gone cold when Junior reached for it. He wanted to pretend for a moment that they were on a date. A set of headlights popped out of the rain headed his way. As they approached, The driver tooted the horn and waved. So Junior held up Celeste’s hand and waved in reply.

“So much for not being seen. I gotta get off the road somewhere, gotta think.” He squeezed her hand and moved closer to her face as he spoke. “What do you think Babe? Know any really good hiding places close by?” He nudged her with his shoulder. “C’mon, you and Wesley probably had a hundred places to make out!” His own words made him angry. He nudged her again only harder. But this time she slumped down in the seat. Her hair pulled her neck tight, turning her face toward Junior. Her open-eyed stare froze him in mid chuckle. His beautiful girlfriend now pale and cold, staring at him, blaming him. The first tinge of guilt sliced into his conscience and he started to cry. “It’s not my fault! You shouldn’t have been there.” For a second he let go off the wheel, reaching out to embrace her. The car ran onto the shoulder shaking Junior out of his mania. Big bushes scraped the passenger side door, knocking the rear view mirror crooked before he regained control. His mood more somber now. He had made enough bad moves tonight and it was time to get a grip. Another car passed them before he reached his turn. He cut his lights and slowed to a crawl, making sure no saw him turn onto the gravel road.