Without (24 page)

Everything she told Parker and the boys that was going to
happen, did. Trying not to disturb her peaceful sleep, I slid out of bed. It
wasn’t easy finding all my clothes and gear in the dark. They had come off so
fast – being thrown in every direction – that it took me several minutes to
follow the trail to the front door. As I closed the door behind me, I didn’t
feel comfortable leaving her alone and vulnerable, but everyone in town knew
I’d be with her. Nobody expected me to leave before dawn to go hunting.

I entered my house as quietly as possible to retrieve the
assault rifle and shotgun. Familiar with the layout, it wasn’t necessary for me
to use a lantern. I came out of my skin when I heard the whisper.

“You looking for these?” said Perry, lighting a candle.

“Christ, you scared the shit out of me.”

“Keep your voice down,” said Perry, illuminating my AR and
shotgun, resting against his chair. “Don’t wake the girls. Come out to the
deck. The others are out there.”

“Good morning,” greeted Doc.

“How was your night?” asked Joey, smiling.

“Gang’s all here,” I said. “I guess you guys figured it
out.”

“We all know Kelly’s story,” said Perry. “We know about how
she ripped up his neck. This isn’t your battle to fight alone. Or did you
forget about my granddaughter being burned to death and my daughter being
raped?”

“No, Uncle Perry, I haven’t forgotten. But I wasn’t about to
put either of you in harm’s way. You’ve done too much for me already. I was
going to do this for you – for everyone.”

“Not your place to decide, son,” said Doc. “Damn near
everybody in this town has been affected by them.”

“Doc’s gonna go home in a bit and wake up Kelly,” said
Perry. “Then they’re coming here to wait for us to get back. They deserve to
know what’s going on, but I understand why you didn’t tell them. We know they’d
try to stop us.”

“Kelly already has trust issues with me, Doc. She’s going to
be pissed that I wasn’t the one to tell her.”

“No, she won’t,” replied Doc. “I’ll make sure of that. I’ll
make sure they all know why it had to happen this way. All you boys have to do is
come home in one piece, okay?”

“That’s the plan,” I said.

“We need to get moving,” said Perry. “Those aren’t the type
of men that stay in the same place for long.”

After I was handed my weapons and pack, we headed for the
hills. Having Perry and Joey with me made finding Tucker’s property easier. As
the sun was rising we walked up his drive to find him sitting on the porch.

“Figured you’d come early,” said Tucker. “Figured you’d have
company, too. Momma’s got some breakfast waiting for us. We need to eat fast
and catch up with J.D. He’s a three-hour hike from here.”

Jasmine Cromartie, their mother, greeted all of us with
smiles and some of the best biscuits I’ve ever had. She was a large woman with
a large personality. She treated us like we were her family.

“It’s so good to see all you boys together again,” said
Jasmine, piling more on our plates. “I’m so glad all that nonsense is behind
us.”

“Me, too, Miss Jasmine,” said Perry. “We’ve both been
blessed with good children. A little hardheaded sometimes, but who isn’t?”

“Perry,” said Miss Jasmine, reaching out for his hand. “I’m
sorry I couldn’t come down from these hills when you lost your grandbaby. My
old, tired legs barely get me out of bed these days. But when my boys told me
what happened, I just cried and cried.”

“Momma was a mess, Perry,” said Tucker. “It was like she
lost one of us.”

“I thank you kindly, Miss Jasmine,” said Perry, patting her
hand. “That means the world to me. It’s been tough on River, but she’s doing
fine now. Got this one here to thank for some of that.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you, child,” said Miss Jasmine.
“J.D. speaks highly of you. Says you’re quite the woodsman with a sneaky side.
I’m glad you’ll be with them.”

“I don’t normally ask folks to make me a promise, Miss
Jasmine, but I’d like to ask you for one if you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all.”

“Promise me I can come back anytime for more of these biscuits,”
I said, holding one in front of my face. “Good Lord, I can’t stop eating them.”

“Promise made, baby,” said Miss Jasmine, laughing from her
belly. “You’re all welcome anytime. Anytime at all. That goes for your
families, too.”

“When this business is over, I’ll be back,” said Perry.
“Donna and River would love to see you again.”

Loosening my belt, I gathered with everyone in front of the
house. Miss Jasmine walked us out, telling us to grab ahold of each other’s
hands. As we bowed our heads, she prayed.

“Lord, bless these men and the job they need to do in your
name. Give them the strength, wisdom, and steady hands to bring your wrath upon
the demons on our land. Demons that have brought violence, pain, and death to
the peaceful followers of your words. Lord, watch over all my sons as they send
those motherless dogs to you for their final judgment. I’d be mighty grateful
if you’d see fit to send them to hell to burn in agony for all eternity. Amen.”

Amen
.

I was surprised to see Uncle Perry take the lead. It
would’ve been a mistake for me to speak my mind, asking him to stay behind
because I thought he’d slow us down. There were moments on the path I had to
trot to catch up with him. He was a man possessed.

As we approached the last place Tucker had seen J.D., I damn
near had my second heart attack of the day when he popped up a few feet away
from me. It was like he stepped through an invisible doorway. (These men were
very capable hunters.) He motioned for all of us to gather close.

“Nine of them,” whispered J.D. “They’re in an old cabin
Tucker and I used as a fort when we were kids. It’s one big open room inside.
There’s an outhouse thirty yards behind the cabin that they’ve been using. Last
night at dusk, all but two gathered around the fire after dinner and got
hammered. I expect more of the same tonight. That’s when we need to hit ‘em.”

“They won’t have good night vision because of the fire,”
said Tucker. “And they’ll be lit up all nice and pretty through our scopes.
Five of them should go down quick. The other four may find a way to start
shooting back.”

“The cabin is down in the valley on the other side of this
ridge,” said J.D. “There’s a creek that runs behind it. If any of us need to go
down there, that’s how we do it.”

“Scar survives,” I said. “He dies slow.”

“Scott,” said J.D. “His name is Scott.”

“Berryman?” asked Joey. “Fucking Scott Berryman?”

“Yep.”

“You know all of them, don’t you?” I asked.

“We do,” said J.D. “We know ‘em all.”

“Damn it,” said Perry. “I can’t believe Scott would do those
things to Kelly and River.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“He was friends with both of them,” said Joey. “Real close
to Kelly. Don’t get me wrong, I always thought he was an asshole, but I don’t
see how he could do that to them. They liked him.”

“He sat at my table, ate my food, and drank my whiskey,”
said Perry, “on more than one occasion. I don’t know why he’d want to hurt
them?”

“Well, you can ask him shortly,” I said. “Remember, he
survives. We need to have a chat with him.”

“I certainly will,” said Perry. “Anybody have a plan of
attack?”

“I do,” I said.

“Kinda funny, ain’t it,” said Tucker, looking at Joey.

“What’s funny?”

“Two days ago, you and I would’ve been rolling around in a
tussle trying to kill each other,” said Tucker, grinning. “Now, we’re gonna be
killing
for
each other.”

It took me a few hours to move into position. I spent the
rest of the day in the creek bed behind the cabin, waiting for dusk. I was
close enough to hear them talking. When their voices got louder, mixing with
laughter, I knew the booze was starting to flow around the campfire.

We were all glad to see the clouds moving in before the sun
set. It would eliminate any light from the moon or the millions of bright
stars. When darkness settled over us, I rose out of the creek, crawling to the
back of the outhouse. The order was set when he came around the corner of the
cabin. I verified that it wasn’t Scott.

Hearing the door shut on the outhouse, I pulled my knife.
When it opened a few minutes later, I slammed it into the side of his neck while
he finished buttoning his pants. With my hand over his mouth, I pulled him back
into the darkness. Nine became eight.

The first kill was the signal to the shooters up on the
ridge who could see everything happening around me. When I took out number nine,
they’d each choose a target around the fire. After I pulled the dead coward out
of sight, I moved up to a window on the back side of the cabin. Peering
through, I saw number eight sleeping. The unlocked door beside the window
sealed his fate. Eight became seven as I wiped the blood off my knife with his
sheet.

There was only one lantern burning inside the cabin. When I
put it out, the countdown started. I had five seconds to get into position and
draw my guns.

Seven, six, and five never heard their death coming, but I’m
sure the remaining four saw it arrive. They became witnesses as the heads
exploded from the high velocity rounds coming down from the ridge. Perry, Joey,
and Tucker hit their marks.

J.D.’s primary task was to put a bullet in Scott’s leg, eliminating
the possibility of him running into the woods to escape his destiny. At dusk he
was to move down off the ridge, crawling as close to the campfire as possible.
I was confident he would complete the task. When he did, he was to open fire
and kill anything else that moved.

As we expected, four, three, and two bolted for the cover of
the cabin. I had removed that as an option, kneeling in the dark, waiting for
the door to fly open. Even if Scott managed to get to his feet with a bullet in
his leg, there was a mistake he never knew he made. He was the only coward not
wearing a hat.

When four’s hat was silhouetted against the firelight behind
him as he came through the door, I put two rounds into his face. He dropped,
revealing number three behind him. Two rounds from each of my pistols drilled
into his chest, changing his speed and direction dramatically. Three became
two.

Waiting for two, I heard moaning coming from the direction
of the campfire. I had a strong feeling J.D. was successful. He was also successful
in turning two into one when I heard him yell it was all clear. As I stepped
over number two’s body at the bottom of the porch stairs, I held a steady aim
on Scott. He was writhing in agony, holding his knee.

“You were that close?” I asked, turning to see J.D. standing
thirty feet from the fire.

“Yep,” replied J.D. “Nearly got pissed on twice waitin’ for
you. I used my pistol to put him down. My rifle would’ve taken that leg clean
off. Wouldn’t want him bleeding out too quick.”

“Did you hear that, Scott?” I said, standing over him,
kicking away a shotgun. “He saved your life. You’re not going to be happy about
that when Perry and Joey get down here.”

 “Who the fuck are you?” asked Scott, rocking in pain on the
ground.

“I’m the guy delivering a message,” I said, grabbing his
hands and tying them behind his back. “You’ll know who it’s from when I give it
to you.”

Rolling him over on his side, I put my knee across his neck.
I made sure he saw the knife before I pushed his head into the ground to keep him
from jerking. When I pierced the skin on the side of his face, I made sure to
hit bone before I dragged it down to his chin.

His screams echoed off the valley walls as he tried to kick
away from the pain. It took a fair amount of restrain not to continue carving
down across his neck. I had plans for Scott. They didn’t include a quick death.
It didn’t matter how much he begged us.

J.D. was collecting weapons and ammunition, throwing them
into a pile near the fire. They had very little food but plenty of decent
whiskey. Taking over two chairs, he handed me a bottle as we waited for the
others. Scott was staring at us, crying.

“He doesn’t look like much of a demon,” said J.D., hoisting
the bottle.

“I prefer to call them cowards,” I said. “Demon makes them
sound powerful. Does this guy look powerful to you?”

“He does not,” replied J.D.

“They all end up like this,” I said. “At least ones I’ve
come across. When they’re attacking defenseless women or stealing from the
weak, they usually jump around beating their chests, thinking they’re
invincible. Do you feel invincible right now, Scott?”

Silence.

“Well, from where I’m sitting, you don’t. You just look like
a scared piece of shit who’s about to die a horrible death. Come on, buddy. Say
something to us. Tell us what a badass you are. Tell us the details about how
you brutalized and raped the women we care about. Tell us how strong and
powerful you are for killing a little girl by burning her to death.”

“This will get him talking,” said J.D., standing and pouring
whiskey into the large open wound on his face.

“Stings, doesn’t it?” I said after he stopped screaming.

“Get him to his feet,” said Perry, coming out of the woods
with Joey and Tucker. “Cut those ropes off of him.”

The two men grabbed Scott under his arms, pulling him up.
Tucker sliced through the rope, freeing his hands. He didn’t try and fight,
balancing himself on one leg. They stepped away from him. Perry stepped toward
him.

“Look me in the eyes, boy,” said Perry.

Scott raised his head, wiping away the blood and tears. His
lips were pressed together as he breathed heavy through his nose. It was time
for the show to begin.

“Why?” asked Perry. “River was your friend. How could you
hurt her? How could you beat her like that after all the kindness our family
showed you? Kindness I showed you. How could you do that to her?”

“You need to answer to him,” said J.D. “You’re gonna die
here, son. Ain’t no gettin’ around that, but you need to help that man
understand why you did those things to his people.”

“Answers don’t matter now,” said Scott. “All that matters is
that I get what I deserve.”

Perry landed a punch, sending Scott into a backflip. We
could hear the bones snapping in his face. I thought he killed him.

“Get him up!” said Perry, rubbing his knuckles.

Tucker and Joey lifted him up again, but he couldn’t stand
on his own. In the low light of the fire and shadows, I could see his nose
pinned to the side of his face. He wasn’t breathing through that thing anymore.

“You wanna play games with me, kid?” asked Perry, lining him
up for another blast.

“I’m sorry,” said Scott, trying to open his eyes.

“You’re sorry? For which part? The part where you raped my
daughter or the part where you murdered my grandbaby!”

Another crushing blow followed his question. Tucker and Joey
held on to him, not allowing him a break between blows. I was glad to see he
was still conscious when Perry stopped.

“He was going to kill them if we didn’t,” said Scott,
recovering enough to speak.

“What the hell are you talking about?” asked Perry.

“I want to die by your hands,” said Scott, spitting out
teeth and blood. “Not his.”

“Whose hands?”

“Pastor Jenkins,” whispered Scott, fading.

“Don’t worry about that,” said Perry. “It’ll be my hands
that kill you. If he were here, he’d be beating you to death, too. I can’t
forgive you for what you did and neither would he.”

“Forgive me?” said Scott, managing a laugh. “You have no
idea, do you?”

“Let me shoot this asshole,” said Joey.

“I’m ready to pay for my sins,” said Scott. “I just hope you
make him pay for his. He’s your demon. He’s the one who raped them first. I
swear to you Mr. Perry, I never would’ve touched her if he didn’t make me.”

“Now I am going to shoot him,” said Joey, pulling a pistol
and holding it to his head.

“Hold on, Joey,” I said, standing and pushing the gun away.
“You’re telling us Pastor Jenkins was there when you and your boys raped Kelly
and River?”

“I know I’m gonna die here,” said Scott. “I got no reason to
lie. I welcome the end of this.”

“Answer my fucking question.”

“He wasn’t just there; I’m telling you, he was the first to
rape them after we beat them down. When he finished his business, he made me go
next on River. Then he gave everyone else there a turn while he watched. He
ordered us to do it or they’d kill our families.”

“Who’s they?” I asked.

“He’s got twenty or so men at his church that’ll do it,”
answered Scott. “They’d do anything he told them to do. They think he’s God’s
messenger. He’s got my momma, daddy, and little brother with him at that compound.
If I didn’t do what he says, he’d kill them. He’d kill all of them.”

“He raped Kelly?”

“Yes, sir,” said Scott, turning to look at me. “She was the
first woman he wanted. River was next. There are two other women in town he
took, but they kept quiet.”

“He attacked four women?” asked J.D.

“It’s more than four,” replied Scott. “He’s got a graveyard
near the church we use to bury the bodies. They were all strangers passing
through or looking for help. We’d take them from the road and bring them to
him. He’d kill the men outright and use up the women. He’d kill them after.
There’s got to be a dozen bodies in those graves.”

“You’re not seriously believing this crap, are you?” said
Perry, looking at me. “He’d say anything to save his own ass.”

“I’m telling you the truth, Mr. Perry,” said Scott. “I can’t
do this no more. I never hurt anybody before he took my folks and made me. I
know I’m going to hell, but it would be a better place than staying here. I
don’t want to save my ass. I need you to kill me, Mr. Perry. It’s gotta be
you.”

“It will be.”

“I’m so sorry about your granddaughter,” said Scott. “I
didn’t set that fire, but I didn’t try to stop it either. I didn’t go get them
out. I just stood there scared, like a coward. Just like that man says. I’m a
coward.”

“Do you know why he didn’t kill Kelly or River?” I asked,
hoping for an answer that would help me believe.

“Yes,” said Scott. “He told me that night. He said it was
sweeter, them not knowing it was him that did it. He said every time he got
near them, it was like living the moment over and over again in his head. Every
time he hugged or touched them, he thought about, you know, his stuff being
inside them. He was laughing when he said he hoped they weren’t on the pill.
He’s waiting to find out. I’m telling you the truth, he’s a goddamned monster.”

“Don’t believe him,” said Joey. “How do we know he isn’t the
one who buried those bodies? How do we know he isn’t the one that went first,
making up all this shit about the preacher? He could’ve done it all.”

Joey had a point, but it was weak. Looking into Scott’s
eyes, I knew he was telling the truth. I needed to find a way to convince
Perry.

“Do you believe him?” I asked, looking over at J.D., trying
to find that way.

“I don’t know,” answered J.D. “I’m not a fan of the pastor,
but I don’t know if he’s capable of the things this asshole is saying.”

“I believe him,” said Tucker. “I believe every word. I think
a man will tell the truth knowing he’s gonna die anyway. You know, clear the
guilt before he meets his maker.”

Thank you, Tucker. You just gave me what I needed.

I walked in front of Scott, standing between him and Perry.
Pulling one of my pistols, I cleared it except for one round. I told Joey to
step away.

“Where are those bodies?” I asked.

“Pastor has a house next to the church,” said Scott.
“There’s a path at the edge of the woods in his backyard. At the end of the
path there’s an open field. Most of the bodies are buried in the northeast
corner. The freshest are buried in the northwest.”

“Perry, do you believe him?” I asked, turning around.

“No, I don’t,” said Perry. “It ain’t possible. It just
ain’t. Rick is a good man. He’s got a few quirks, but who doesn’t? No, it ain’t
possible. No way he hurt River or Kelly.”

I handed him the gun with only one round in the chamber.
After whispering to him out of earshot from the others, I walked away.
Regardless of the outcome, Scott was Perry’s to kill.

“Look me in the eyes,” said Perry, lifting up Scott’s head.
“Can you stand on your own?”

“I think so.”

“Tucker, let him go and stand over there with your brother,”
said Perry. “Go on now.”

Tucker complied as Perry handed Scott the gun. As soon as he
did, Joey raised his. I pushed it back down. It was the only way for Perry to
know the truth.

“If these are lies to save your ass, then it worked,” said
Perry. “I ain’t gonna kill you.”

“Dad!” said Joey, taking a step forward.

“He’ll be okay,” I said, stopping him. “He knows what he’s
doing.”

“I’ll carry you on my back to Doc so he can patch you up,”
said Perry. “That leg shot and cut on your face won’t be the end of you. You’ll
survive. After that, I’ll make sure nobody hurts you, and you’ll stay in my
home until you heal. Then you’ll be free to go. You have my word. And you know
I always keep my word. Do you understand what I’m saying to you, son? I ain’t
gonna kill you if you’re lying about Pastor Jenkins.”

“I understand,” said Scott.

“If you’re telling me the truth about him,” said Perry, “and
if you’re telling me the truth you want this to end, then you gotta do it
yourself. I’ll believe you then, Scott. I’ll believe you’re truly sorry for
what you did to River and her baby, and I’ll forgive you. Right here, right
now, I’ll forgive you and pray to God to take your soul to heaven. Do you
understand all of this?”

“I do, Mr. Perry,” said Scott, smiling. “If you believe me,
will you get to him before he hurts my little brother? He’s too young to know
what’s going on around him. Please, Mr. Perry, help my brother.”

“You have my word.”

“Your forgiveness means everything,” said Scott.

Without hesitation he raised the pistol to his ear and
pulled the trigger. Perry dropped to his knees as Scott’s body fell to the
ground. I got what I needed, but it hurt seeing my uncle in so much pain.

“Go to your father,” I said, releasing Joey.

He ran to him, falling by his side as his father cried. I
didn’t know if the tears were from the betrayal, the loss, or for River. I
imagine they were for all of those things. I didn’t shed any. Rage was the only
thing I felt.

“What if he didn’t do it?” asked Tucker. “I mean, what if he
just walked away a free man after everything he did? Perry would’ve kept his
word, you know. He would’ve let that man live in his home with his family even
after what he did.”

“Would you have shot him if he tried to walk away?” asked
J.D., looking at me.

“Yep,” I said. “Listen, those other men you were with at the
dance, are they as sneaky as you?”

“Two are kin,” said J.D., “and the other two are old family
friends. Pretty sneaky, but I’d whip all of them. Why?”

“Gather them up and anyone else you think might help us,” I
said. “We’ll meet up at Doc’s tomorrow evening. You know Perry will walk right
up to Rick and get himself killed.”

“We won’t let that happen,” said Tucker.

“Do you have a plan?” asked J.D.

“Not yet, but it’s a long walk home.”