Oblivion - Debt Collector 13 (A Jack Winchester Thriller)

by Jon Mills

  Zach swung the SUV to a stop nearby and Kelly and Dalton hopped out.

  “Mr. Sanders,” she said.

  He looked frantic, turned and rushed back towards his house only to emerge holding a handgun. “Get back in your vehicle and leave now. I’m warning you!” he yelled.

  “Whoa!” Kelly lifted her hands and backed up. Dalton was closer to the man’s car so instead of putting himself in the line of sight he took cover behind it.

  “Look, we’re just here to talk about Winchester.”

  “I know who you are. I have nothing to say.”

  “Going on a trip, Douglas?” Dalton asked.

  Sanders swung the gun towards him. All the while Zach was still in the vehicle, the dark tinted windows blocking the view of him.

  “None of your business. Now get out of here before I call the cops!”

  “I’m sure the cops would like to know you aimed a gun at us,” Kelly said.

  “This is private property. I have every right to…”

  Unbeknownst to Sanders, Zach had slipped out and circled around. He darted out from the corner of the house and plowed into him. The gun went off shattering one of the windows in his expensive car. A quick scuffle on the gravel driveway and Zach soon had the better of him.

  “Please. Get off. I can’t breathe.”

  Zach had him pinned down, his full weight riding high on his chest like a grappler. As Dalton made his way out, a woman, middle-aged, red hair pinned up, appeared in the doorway. She let out a cry. “Douglas!” She took a few steps out but was urged to stop.

  Sanders stuck out a hand. “It’s all right, Mary. Just stay inside.”

  In a short span, Dalton got a taste of what Jack must have experienced frequently — opposition, threats and resistance. And he had no help. How the hell did he manage to deal with this on a weekly basis?

  Kelly made her way over. “Zach, let him up. Mr. Sanders. I’m sorry but today hasn’t exactly gone as smoothly as I hoped.”

  “Who the hell are you?” he asked. He wiped off pieces of gravel embedded in his palms as he sat up.

  “I thought you said you knew?” Zach asked.

  “I figured you were…”

  “Whoever paid you to make sure Winchester went to Holbrook?” Kelly asked.

  “Look, I don’t have a lot of time. I was about to leave for a vacation.”

  Zach dropped down to his level in a crouch, arms folded over his knees. “Oh yeah? For how long? Cause your work said you left because you were ill. Now how about you stop jerking us around and tell us what you know about Winchester? About those that paid you to screw him over. Huh? The same people who killed Dr. Grossman. But let me guess, you already knew that. That’s why you’re trying to flee, right?”

  “Murdered? They didn’t murder him. He hung himself. But they would have. And who knows, maybe they were behind it but I’m not sticking around to find out.”

  Kelly glanced at Dalton.

  “You gonna use the money they paid you?” Zach asked.

  He gritted his teeth. “They didn’t pay me shit. Nor Grossman. They don’t need to.”

  “No?” Kelly asked. “Why’s that?”

  He stared at her with an expression of disbelief. “You’ve not met them, have you?”

  “Actually we have,” Dalton said. “They intimidate you? Did they say they would kill you?”

  He looked hesitant to speak. Right then two little kids no older than five appeared behind Mary’s legs. She ushered them back inside and closed the door. He didn’t need to explain. It was obvious. He wasn’t just protecting himself, it was his family.

  Kelly placed a hand on her hip, a light wind blew her hair back.

  “Look, Mr. Sanders. I know you’re scared but there’s an innocent man locked up in a psychiatric hospital. And a woman that’s believed to be dead. So what can you tell us?”

  Still on the ground, he picked up a few pieces of gravel and tossed them. “If I say anything, I’m dead.” He shook his head, trying to hold back tears. “My career is over.”

  Zach got in his face. “Look, asshole. Who gives a fuck about your career? We were nearly run off the road last night. Now start speaking before I…”

  “All right, Zach. That’s enough,” Kelly said. “Go walk it off.”

  “Walk it off. Yeah, right.”

  She sighed and looked back at Sanders. “How about you start with Dana Grant. You know what happened to her? Or the vehicle from the crash?”

  He scoffed. “You think they would tell me? I was just a pawn in their game. For God’s sake, they threatened my kids’ lives!” He paused. “Tell me. What choice did I have? They told me he had done a lot of bad things in his life. Okay? That he deserved to be there. That I would be doing society a favor. One more asshole off the street.”

  The wind howled. Dalton looked up into the sky, dark brooding clouds smothered out what little blue remained. Tree branches rustled around them as a strong breeze picked up and the sky threatened to soak them again.

  “And you believed them?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I believe. If it came down to my family or some stranger, I would do it again, without hesitation.”

  “Oh that’s real admirable, Sanders,” Zach said from his car where he was leaning up against it. “I’m sure the Lewis family would approve. How about you just get to the point where you tell us what you know?”

  “I just told you. They didn’t tell me much. It’s not like they’re going to announce what they do, who they are, and so on.”

  Dalton walked over. “Then why you? Did they just look you up in the Yellow Pages? Pick your name out randomly from a hat? Why you and Grossman?” He looked reluctant to say but then Dalton clued in. “This isn’t the first time you’ve done this for them, is it? You know them, don’t you?”

  “I…”

  “You lie one more time and I swear I’m gonna go off on you like a bull in a china shop,” Zach said charging over. Kelly was quick to get between them.

  “Come on, Sanders. Give us a name,” Dalton said, urging him.

  He shook his head.

  “Oh enough of this shit,” Zach added. “He’s not going to say anything because he’s a coward. Plain and simple. All he cares about is his career. Well, your career is over so you might as well do the right thing before whoever is behind this shows up and puts a bullet in your head. In fact, saying something now might actually keep you alive.”

  He frowned, his eyes bouncing between them. “You’re media.”

  Zach chuckled. “Give this man an award!” He started clapping near his face.

  Kelly crouched near him. “Look. You want to take your family and get out of here — we’re not here to stop you but if you want to keep your career, keep your family safe and stay above ground, we’re probably the best chance you’ve got. Give us names. Tell us what happened. What you know. Where she’s buried and who killed the Lewis family and I promise you, I will make sure your name remains off the table.”

  Dalton could tell Sanders was thinking about it. He glanced over at the house where his wife was looking out the window with one of his kids at her side.

  “You run. They’ll find you. But give us something to work with here and you might avoid what happened to Grossman,” Dalton said.

  Douglas sighed. “His name is Angelo Gafino. A mobster from Jersey. Said he went way back with Jack. They knew each other since they were teens. He set him up, drew him out using Ms. Grant. I don’t know if he intended to kill her but he had every intention of putting Jack in Holbrook.”

  Dalton shook his head. “Angelo? But he’s dead. Newspapers covered it at the time of Roy Gafino’s death.”

  “No, he’s very much alive.”

  Kelly chimed in. “And the Lewis family?”

  “Do I even need to say?” He paused. “No, Winchester wasn’t guilty of that. After pulling him out of the wreckage they took him to the home, put the knife in his hand and called the cops. The rest, well, tha
t’s litigation and digging up Winchester’s past.”

  “And Grossman?”

  “Grossman and I were friends for years. Angelo paid us.”

  Zach roared with laughter. “Fuck. I knew it. You lawyers don’t do shit for free. Intimidation. Please! When have you ever seen a lawyer intimidated?” Zach snorted as he walked away.

  Dalton nodded. “Do you have a contact for Gafino?”

  He nodded and reached into his pocket.

  “Hey!” Zach said. “Careful.”

  “It’s just my phone.” He took It out and brought up his contacts. Kelly took down the number.

  “And the vehicle?” Dalton asked.

  “I can’t be sure about that. Though I heard them mention a lake.”

  “The woman. Dana?”

  He got this pained expression and his chin dropped. “Inside the vehicle. From what I heard, she was still conscious and alive after the crash. Barely, but alive. One of them mentioned she was muttering Jack’s name.”

  “And?”

  Sanders closed his eyes. “They let her bleed out.” He shook his head and swallowed hard. “I imagine if she’s in a lake, it would have to be nearby. Somewhere they could dump the wreck fast.” He shrugged. “Sorry, that’s all I know.”

  “You piece of shit,” Zach said looking over. “And you talk about wanting to keep your family safe. What about that woman? Huh? What about her?”

  “Zach,” Kelly said. “Drop it.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll be in the vehicle.” He kicked some of the gravel and left them in silence.

  Dalton looked towards the house. “That your wife?”

  He nodded.

  “Does she know?”

  He shook his head. “No. Look, I can’t testify to this. They would put me away for life. My kids need me. My wife needs me.”

  Kelly took a breath and looked around. “Take your family. Get out of town. Don’t come back until you see this information hit the news.”

  “You’re going to release this? Do you know what they will do?”

  “I’m not going to sit on it,” she said.

  Sanders got up and brushed himself off. “It doesn’t matter. Even if you find the vehicle, drag it out and have a body. You still have Winchester at the murder scene holding the weapon. No court in this land will give this the time of day. The evidence is circumstantial at best. This lady, her son died, right? In San Francisco.”

  “You know about that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “They will just say she was depressed, suicidal or that Winchester put her in the vehicle. My advice… get out of town as well. Get far away from this situation. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. These people can’t be stopped. And Winchester, well, I’m sorry but he’s on his own.” With that said he walked into the house and called out to his family. Dalton stood there for a moment thinking about Karen. Was she safe? Would they have to leave behind the mission? Would he always have to look over his shoulder now?

  They strolled back to the vehicle and got in.

  “Please tell me you got all of that?” Zach said as he fired up the engine and pulled away.

  13

  He was treated like a young boy ushered into the principal’s office to receive a stern warning for bad behavior. Jenkins and Porter forced Jack to sit, a task he didn’t make easy while Chapman prepared a fresh brew. The subtle nuance of nut and chocolate was invigorating. Coffee was considered a luxury in a place like this. They served a weak batch in the mornings, as that was the only time patients were allowed a cup — of course it tasted bitter and metallic.

  “That will be all, gentlemen,” Chapman said, waving them out before pouring coffee into two Styrofoam cups. “Cream? Sugar?”

  “Just black,” Jack replied.

  “How are you finding your time here?”

  “Oh, just dandy. Between the electrotherapy and shanking, you might say it’s quite the country club. But you probably knew that, right?” Jack snorted as he took the cup and sniffed it.

  “You’ll find it’s only the finest.”

  He took a swig. It wasn’t bad at all.

  The doctor sat back in his seat and observed him. “I’ve been working here for almost eighteen years, Mr. Winchester. I’ve seen all types walk through the door. We run a tight ship and troublemakers don’t last. Now things can go well, or they can go another way.”

  “How about you cut the shit, doc, and tell me how much he paid you?”

  He looked puzzled. “Who?”

  Jack ran a hand over his face. “I think you know.”

  “Delusions, Mr. Winchester, are very common,” he said flipping open a folder in front of him. “And it appears you were suffering from many when you entered this facility. In fact that’s why you ended up here. Now it’s our job to evaluate, study and come up with the necessary treatment.”

  “Um, that’s interesting. So when did Angelo Gafino switch from being a mobster to one of your therapists?”

  “Who?”

  “Oh don’t bullshit me, doc. Are you really gonna play that card? You know as well as I do who flipped that switch and left me in that room. Hell, it was your two techs who strapped me down.”

  He gave a wry smile. “You’re right. It was them. However, there was no Gafino who flipped a switch. This again is one of your delusions.”

  Jack chuckled. “Ah, I see. I see how you’re playing this.”

  “How are we… playing?”

  “You want me to think I’m crazy.”

  “Are you?”

  Jack tossed the cup of coffee across the room and slammed his hand down on the table. Jenkins and Porter burst through the door but were stopped by Chapman. “It’s okay. Mr. Winchester is not a threat. Are you?”

  Jack stared back at him, seething.

  “Take a seat, Mr. Winchester.”

  He sat down and the techs left the room.

  “Do you still believe that…” he looked down at his paperwork. “That Dana Grant was really here? That she was in an accident with you? That you didn’t kill the Lewis family?”

  “Fuck you, doc.”

  Chapman nodded, took another sip of his coffee. “We usually don’t put patients on work detail until they’ve proved themselves but I think it would do you good. Keep your mind occupied. I’m going to recommend you start work today. We will then meet with each other next week and discuss your progress. Does this sound fair?”

  Jack raised a middle finger.

  “Well I’m glad we had this talk.” He got up and came around the table and for a brief moment, Jack thought of getting up and snapping his neck. But where would that get him? He’d endured all forms of torture in his life but nothing came close to being restrained and injected with Haldol. It sent him into a nightmare he couldn’t escape. His mind would play on repeat some of the worst memories of his life, over and over again. The faces of those he killed, Angelo Gafino, and worse — Dana’s bloody face.

  The door opened. “Jenkins, take him to Charlie. We have a new addition to his crew.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Mr. Winchester. Good choices. Okay. Make good choices.”

  Jack brushed past him without even a glance. He was prodded and poked as he was taken to the far end of the unit. They went through a series of locked doors and crossed the yard to a large wooden outbuilding. After going through another sally port and being wanded down, he was told to wait behind a thick yellow line. Jenkins crossed the room to a heavy guy who must have topped the scales at almost three hundred pounds. But it wasn’t fat, just pure muscle. His arms were as thick as a man’s thighs. His entire body was tattooed. Dark swirling patterns could be seen above his collar. “Charlie.”

  He was working on a bicycle. Nearby was a stack of similar bikes, and some of the patients looked as if they were repairing tires.

  “Yeah?”

  “We got a new guy for you. Chapman wants him to stay busy. Where do you want him?”

  He looked over
at Jack, and ran a hand over his thick black beard.

  “He gonna be a problem?”

  “If he is, you know what to do.”

  He gave a nod. “Send him over.”

  Jenkins whistled to Jack. As they passed one another, Jenkins stopped him with a hand on the chest and whispered in his ear. “If you think this is a reward, you are very much mistaken.” He shoved him and exited the building. There were very few people who towered over Jack but Charlie did.

  “Put your hands out,” Charlie said. He examined them, looking at the calluses. “This is pretty straightforward. Over there we have planter boxes, to the other side electrical boards, then there are wheelchairs, and then here we work on bicycles. You ever had any experience working on any of these?”

  “Not really.”

  “Shit.” He sighed. “Well it’s pretty easy. You can work here on the bicycles. We repair tires, fix chains, repaint, you name it. It’s an all-in-one repair store. Any tools you use are to go back in the lock box over there before you leave. You even think of taking one out, don’t bother. Not only are you physically checked but that sally port has a metal detector that will pick up anything you swallow, hide or shove up your ass. And believe me, Jenkins and Porter don’t want to make a trip to the ER. There are no rights here. This is a privilege and it can be taken away as quickly as it’s given. And, you do something wrong, I get an earful and I don’t like to look bad. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal,” Jack said.

  Over the next few hours he worked on bikes. All the while his mind was thinking of a way out and now with tools available, it was just a case of figuring out how to get a pair of wire cutters past the guard and sally port.

  “How did you end up in here, Charlie?”

  “The same way you did. Let’s leave it at that.”

  He was abrupt and didn’t seem very keen to chat unlike some of the others.

  An hour later, Edgar and Cowboy showed up along with another group who replaced those from the morning.