Wild Crows - 2. Revelation : english version

by Blandine P. Martin

— "Maybe, but two kids have disappeared, Welda… and I would like to be sure that your partner has nothing to do with it. "

  There was nothing else to say.

  — "He… he went to his parents' house. "

  — "Where? "

  — "It's close to the bay. "

  — "Perfect! Come with us".

  — "What? No! " Screamed Welda.

  — "It's not negotiable… Jerry! "

  The woman started cursing, screaming words like « hands off me, fat bastard! Let me go! »

  — "Danny, Harper and I are going to check the house before we leave, " Thompson added. "The rest of you go back to the vehicles and get ready to drive to the bay. I'll take the lead. "

  The next minute, I saw my father waking down the alley, holding a screaming woman, who was fighting him. Billy rushed to help him. She was about forty years old with oily hair and large glasses. She was fighting the two strong-built men, who were holding her, threatening to hit them. It could have been funny, if the lives of two children weren't at risk. Then, I saw Hanger and Foxy come back, looking grim with their hands on their gun. Behind them, Ash and Gale seemed to be in the same mood.

  — "I told you to lock yourself in your car, " grumbled my father.

  Logan came to take Welda, who had finally calmed down.

  — "I can't, " I said dryly.

  Thompson came back with her team.

  — "Let's go! " She said without wasting any time.

  I went back to my Comet, and Ash followed me without a word. The sheriff's car drove away first with Evan and Bowman inside. I let the van precede me, and I followed it. Gale and Foxy were the last ones to leave on their Harleys. It wasn't very discreet, but it didn't matter anymore. I drove without thinking about the itinerary. Everyone had kept their earbud. Thompson used them to give us instructions along the way. We would follow the same protocol. Larsen's girlfriend would remain cuffed in the sheriff's car.

  We heard her ask Welda about the house we were driving to. It was in a cul-de-sac and facing the water. As Larsen's parents were deceased, it was usually unoccupied. She thought « Eddy » was alone, but she couldn’t be sure. We were hoping he would be. We also learned he possessed a gun. In the garden, there was a shed where the tools and some logs were kept. The neighbors were usually vacationers, who only came during summertime. I didn't like what I was hearing, but I managed to concentrate on my driving and keep my calm. Ash didn't say a word and seemed lost in his dark thoughts. I would have liked to tell him that things would be alright, but I doubted it. We drove for many miles, before the lead car slowed down. My heart started to beat faster. When the sheriff's car stopped, I parked along the road and turned off the engine. I was so scared. I swallowed hard, as Ash opened the door to join the other men. I grabbed his wrist. He looked at me and frowned. No word came out of my mouth. I couldn't give him hope. If something happened to Tommy, it would be even more painful. I couldn't do it.

  — "Be careful. " I whispered, fighting the fear I felt rising through my body.

  This damned fear was invasive. It tied my stomach in knots, asphyxiated my heart, and burnt my eyes. I clenched my fist to fight the feeling. Ash looked at me for a second and nodded, before leaving the Comet.

  I took a deep breath to give me strength, and I got out to join the men, who were gathering around the two cars. My father gave me a dark look.

  — "No," I said sharply.

  He clenched his jaw and grunted to let me know he disapproved. He would have to deal with it. I couldn't wait in the car and not know what was happening, when they risked their lives. When they all walked toward the house, I ran after him and soon caught up with him. I gave him a big hug in front of the other men. Then, I smiled at him, hoping it would keep him safe. Finally, I let go, and he walked like a warrior, ready to go to war.

  CHAPTER 23

  Joe

  It started all over again. Billy, Bowman, Logan and I were waiting. The oldest member of the Wild Crows would probably have preferred to go with the others, but someone needed to stay near the van in case things went south.

  So, Larsen was supposed to be there. This monster was living a few hundred feet from where we were standing. I had never felt my heart beat so fast. Just one time maybe, but I wanted to forget this dreadful memory.

  They positioned themselves exactly the same way as before. My father and the sheriff went to knock on the front door. Ash and Gale hid on the left side of the property. Hanger, and Foxy on the right. Evan went to the waterfront, and two additional men were watching Thompson’s back, while she talked with the suspect. There was no time left: We needed to know if the children were there. I put on my earbud. I heard three knocks on a wooden door and then a creaking sound.

  — "Yes? "

  A man with a deep voice answered the door. I froze.

  — "Edward Larsen? Hello, I’m sheriff Thompson. I’d like to ask you some questions. Can we come in? "

  Her voice was calm, but you could hear her determination.

  — "Ask what? Are you sure I’m the man you’re looking for? " Replied the man in a surprised tone.

  — "Indeed. If we could come in, we would be more at ease to talk. "

  — "Who is this guy? " He grumbled.

  — "Jerry is one of my men. "

  — "Mmmh. OK. Listen, this is a bad time. I must go now. Could we do that another time? "

  — "Not really, no, " replied Thompson dryly.

  Larsen seemed surprised. He kept silent for a minute.

  — "How did you find me, anyway? It’s my…"

  — "…Parents’ house, " she interrupted.

  She was very good at destabilizing him.

  — "Correct…"

  There was another silence. The tension was rising. I could feel it, even from a distance.

  — "Nothing on the left, " whispered Gale. "We are going to the shed. Keep him busy at the front door. "

  — "And on the right? " Asked Logan.

  — "I’m trying to see, but it’s dark inside. Get on my shoulders! " Hanger told Foxy.

  Then, the sheriff continued her negotiation. I was amazed by her skills. She couldn’t be more than forty years old, but I could feel she had a lot of experience on the field.

  — "If you want me to question you, on your front porch, so be it. I want to get some information. If we could avoid putting you in handcuffs and drive you to the station, you and I would save time. And you said you were in a hurry. "

  — "Ask you damned questions, so I can go back to my business, " said the man.

  — "There’s someone in the bedroom. I think I saw someone moving! " Declared Foxy.

  Billy and I looked at each other, while Bowman stared at Logan expectedly. We were all suspended to his words, ready to get into action.

  — "What do you see exactly? " Asked Logan.

  — "It’s too dark… I need to get in…"

  — "Sheriff Thompson? " said Logan into his microphone.

  — "Edward, could I use your bathroom before we start. I’m sorry, " she said in a high-pitched voice. "It’s a real problem for pregnant women, you know. "

  — "Are you kidding me? "

  — "If only…"

  — "OK, follow me. "

  — "I’m coming! " My father said.

  There was silence.

  — "She faints regularly these days. It’s better, if I can keep an eye on her. "

  — "And you watch her piss? "

  — "No, but I stay close, " he said dryly.

  One of the men grunted, but I wouldn’t have been able to tell who. Logan checked on the other men.

  — "And this shed? What the fuck are you doing? "

  — "The door is blocked! "

  I recognized Ash’s voice, and he wasn’t happy.

  — "Don’t let him go to the balcony or we’re busted, " Gale added.

  We heard them, as they were trying to force the door open.

  — "It’s locked. We can’t go in, unless w
e break it. "

  Logan sighed, before leaning forward and give himself some time to think.

  — "Sheriff, you need to step up your game. We’re not going anywhere with this shed. "

  We heard the flush of the toilet, and a few seconds later, Thompson followed her colleague’s advice.

  — "Thanks, M. Larsen. Sorry for the trouble. Now that we’re inside, maybe we could proceed with the interview, so we don’t take up too much of your time. "

  He sighed.

  — "Why not! "

  — "Perfect. Could you tell me where you were the day before yesterday, in the evening? "

  — "I was here. I was fishing. "

  — "Alone? "

  — "I come here when I need some peace, so yes, I was alone. "

  I listened to the conversation carefully and realized how naïve I could be. I was incapable of saying if he was lying or not. Maybe he was not involved in the kidnapping… it wouldn’t be good news. If we were after the wrong man, the children were still at risk, and we were wasting time.

  We heard a banging noise. Was it Ash and Gale? The shed? It went on and on.

  — "What’s going on? What’s this noise? "

  Damned! Larsen had heard them too.

  — "Stop with the shed! He’s going to notice! Too much ruckus! "

  — "We’re almost there, " complained Ash who was working on the door.

  — "I said, stop! We can’t get in, without a court order. Evan, say something for god’s sake! If he’s innocent, we’ll be in trouble. "

  — "We are already up to our necks, " Ash replied dryly.

  — "He’s right, " added the deputy.

  Thompson’s voice came through the earbud, but I found it hard to make out what she was saying, as everyone was talking at the same time.

  — "There is some roadwork going on, further down the road, " the sheriff said tentatively.

  — "I see, " the suspect said.

  — "M. Larsen, do you live alone here? "

  — "Yes. "

  — "No girlfriend? "

  — "Yeah, but this house is my private retreat. I always come alone. If I want to be with her, I stay home. "

  — "And you wanted to be left alone? "

  — "I told you. I wanted to be on my own and relax. It’s not a crime! "

  We heard more noise.

  — "There’s something going on in my garden…"

  — "Wait, I have some more questions for you, Mr. Larsen! " said Thompson too hurriedly.

  She was losing control of the situation.

  — "I gave you answers. That’s enough. Do you have something against me, yes or no? I’ve just been released from Karson, Lady, so I want to be left alone. Go away! "

  — "Not so fast! "

  I recognized my father’s voice.

  — "Hey, let go of me! "

  — "If you answer our questions…"

  — "What else do you want to know? "

  — "You said you fish around here. I’d like to see your gear! "

  It was a smart move.

  — "What? "

  — "Show me your poles and stuff, please. "

  He didn’t say a word. Then, I understood my father had a point.

  — "Why? I don’t see why it’s relevant…"

  — "It will help establish your alibi. "

  We heard a nervous laugh.

  — "Here we are! " Screamed Evan, giving the door a last kick.

  — "That’s it! There’s something fishy going on here! " Larsen said impatiently.

  The bastard was trying to avoid answering the question. Still, no one fell for it.

  — "He’s coming toward the shed. Get out of there, now! Harper, Danny, as soon as the house is empty, you get in and search it, starting on the right. Hurry! "

  I felt my heart beat faster. Instinctively, I grabbed Billy’s arm, so I wouldn’t fall onto the ground. Bowman was rubbing his forehead nervously. His eyes were filled with terror. Logan was concentrated on his work.

  — "We’re out! " Gale whispered.

  Soon, we heard heavy breathing.

  — "Fuck, my shed! " Larsen screamed.

  — "Guys, Get into the house now! " Logan ordered.

  — "Is that where you keep your fishing gear? " My father asked tentatively.

  — "What? Well… no! But… It was locked. Someone broke in! "

  — "Yeah, it looks like the lock is gone. "

  — "While I was talking with the sheriff? Unbelievable! "

  He was getting angry. Things were about to get complicated.

  — "Larsen, what is this smell? "

  — "That? It’s the compost bin. "

  — "Let me see. "

  I didn’t like. In my heart and soul, I could feel we would face a dreadful situation, in a few moments. It seemed my father shared my feeling, as he was determined to leave no stone unturned.

  — "Men on the left, be ready, if things turn nasty, " Logan said. "Danny, Harper, have you found anything? "

  — "We’re looking, " replied one of them in one breath.

  — "OK, let me see your compost bin. There must be something wrong with it. "

  — "It’s just a bin with rotten organics. It smells. "

  — "I want to have a look…"

  — "It’s fine. Drop it. "

  — "Don’t close the door! " The sheriff ordered.

  — "You have no search warrant! Come back with one and we’ll see. "

  His voice had become weirdly childish. I could smell a rat.

  — "The boy is here! " One of the men screamed. "In the bedroom! "

  My heart skipped a beat.

  — "He’s alive! "

  — "What about my daughter? " Bowman screamed.

  — "She’s not in the room…"

  — "We’re coming! " Hanger said.

  We heard a loud noise, followed by a scream.

  — "Are you insane? " Larsen shouted.

  — "Don’t move! " My father grunted. "Hands up, you, bastard!! We’ve found the kid! "

  — "We can’t find the girl…," said Foxy in a desperate voice.

  I saw Logan put down the radio, and remove his earbud.

  — "The area is secure. I need to go there, " he told us, before rushing to the house.

  I looked at Billy, who decided to follow him. Bowman went with him. Scared to death, I couldn’t stand being left alone, so I started to walk toward the house. My fear was so intense that I almost couldn’t breathe. I had lost sensitivity in my feet, when I faced the charming old house, which had been the scene of such a horrendous crime.

  I was still walking, when I saw Evan get out with tears in his eyes. He was holding his sweet angel in his arms. Sobbing, I walked to him.

  — "He’s alive… he has been drugged… But he’s alive. "

  It didn’t stop me from crying. My body was trying to get rid of all this tension, and this sight was just too much to bear. I let him go away with his little boy, and I slowly walked up the lane. Then, I heard a gunshot, and I froze. The sound came from the right, where there was a wood. Time stopped. I couldn’t make out who was speaking or not. Then, I saw the shed, which was near the waterfront. Some men were gathered there. I heard some footsteps, followed by others. A cry rose through the air, and my aching heart almost stopped. There were colorful lights, but a large shadow caught my attention. I couldn’t keep my eyes from it. The body of a blond little girl was lying on the ground. Her grieving father lifted her gently and put her head against his shoulder. It was an unbearable scene, and I fell on my knees. I barely heard Jerry’s voice, who was rushing to my side. He took me in his arms, and the contact of his skin prevented me from fainting. Maybe it would have been better, not to witness this scene and realize that men could be absolute monsters. Then, we heard another gunshot, and my father let go of me. Suddenly, I felt cold and shivered.

  — "Don’t move, sweetheart! "

  He rushed toward the wood, pointing his Glock in front
of him. I was on my own again, and there was no one around to keep me safe. I was thankful for the gun he had given me. It was carefully hidden in my jeans. I stood still for a moment, but remaining idle while everyone was chasing a fugitive, was hard. I decided to follow my father’s steps, which would enable me to escape the horrible scene of a devastated father, holding his dead child. I was more inclined to face a monster than his victims. Maybe I could be helpful.