Evil in Hockley

by William Buckel

  “You have to understand Harry, that owning a garage nowadays won’t pay the bills. Oil changes and tire rotation doesn’t amount to much. So Dave started selling out of the garage. He keeps his stash in the barn and I took a little everyday.

  “Well, he found out and put the stuff in a safe. He said he didn’t want a mother raising a kid high on the shit. I was clawing at the walls and it felt as though worms were crawling under my skin.

  “I drove to Jarrod’s place, I mean your place and caught him at home. I told him the mess I was in and he said he’d help. He got me a fix for the next day. I asked him why he was helping me and he told me he’d always loved me but Dave was a friend so he never followed up on it.

  “He cut the dose a little everyday and substituted with a sedative. I got off the stuff a week before he was killed. So you see I could never have killed him. Turns out he was the only friend I had.”

  “Did Dave know about Jarrod and you?”

  “I don’t think so. Brenda started grade school and I only went when she wasn’t home. Mostly Friday afternoon. One or two days during the week as well.”

  Which fit with what Barbara had told him that Jarrod could hardly wait to get out of the office on Fridays. Was Dave the man Shelley saw? Was Dave driving Joe’s business west? There are many small towns west of Shelburne and Dave’s a country boy and knows them all.

  “You know Shelley?”

  “Yah, Jarrod told me he was buying off her.”

  “Shelley told me Joe had it in for Jarrod. Do you know why?”

  “I know Jarrod had no love for Dave after we got together. He didn’t confront him that I know of but maybe… Oh, I don’t know, Harry. I hardly ever leave the farm.”

  “So what kind of relationship do you and Dave have now?”

  “I wished you hadn’t asked. He’s not very respectful of me since he caught me using cocaine. He’s nervous all the time probably because of the stress he’s under. He could get caught and do serious prison time for dealing. Personally, if I had the money I’d leave him but I have a daughter to consider. When he wants me sexually he takes me whether I want it or not. If I left him he’d beat the shit out of me and drag me back. Or he’d have me killed. He told me so.”

  “Turn him in for selling.”

  “I thought of that but then Joe would get involved. His western route would be compromised. I don’t want to wind up on Joe’s hit list.”

  It all boiled down to Joe Sharky every time.

  “When will Dave be home?”

  “He’ll be at the shop this afternoon.”

  “You won’t tell him I’ve been here?”

  “Hell no. He’d want to know what I told you. He’d beat the shit out of me for letting you in the front door while he wasn’t home.”

  “You know Iris that one of these nights Dave might not come home, don’t you?”

  “Yah, it’s been like that since he started selling cocaine.”

  “With me around knowing what I do the chances just doubled. If he had anything to do with Jarrod’s death it’s a sure thing.”

  “I know Harry. If he killed Jarrod then put in a slug for me.”

  Harry hugged Iris and said good bye.

  In two hours Dave would be at his shop.

  Chapter 38

  There wasn’t much sense in hanging around Shelburne so Harry decided to race home and make sure the women were all right. When he got there they were sipping rum and colas, sorting through Shelley’s possessions.

  “We’re going to turn them over to the Help and Humanity people,” said Sandy.

  Harry gave them a short rundown of his visit with Iris and the reason to meet with Dave this afternoon. Harry told them he had no idea how he could pressure Dave without implicating Iris. If Dave knew she’d talked then possibly she’d be next to have an accident.

  Karma said,

  “It’s a tough call. Just tell him you found out about the drugs he’s dealing. See where that leads.”

  Sandy said,

  “I wished we could just give the whole shit pile to the law and be done with it.”

  Harry laughed.

  “Mostly we’d get nailed for withholding evidence, murder, kidnapping, and a host of other charges. They might give us time off for turning ourselves in. We’d be doing at least ten in Kingston Pen. The only one who’d get off is Joe Sharky. He’s got the lawyers plus he didn’t do anything himself. Hell if they charged him and I was on the jury I’d have to let him off for lack of evidence.”

  “Maybe we should take Lenea up on her offer,” said Sandy.

  “It will probably come down to that.”

  Harry fired up the Cuda and ripped up pavement on the way to Shelburne. He arrived at Dave’s shop well after noon and saw his best buddy’s car in the lot. He parked around the rear and retrieved his Beretta. He walked into the shop: Dave had a rusty old truck on the hoist and was doing an oil change.

  “Hello Harry, how’s tricks?”

  “Hello Dave.”

  “What’s up Harry?”

  “You never told me you changed your line of business. You’re dealing cocaine for Sharky.”

  “You dreaming old bro?”

  “Don’t bother to deny it pal. I got the lowdown from two different sources. Not all of Joe’s employees have a dying devotion to the man. Somebody always pisses themselves when they’re looking at the hole in the wrong end of a gun.”

  Dave didn’t stop working and said,

  “You ever try running a business in today’s world? You need a hundred thou in equipment just to do a tune up. And they change the software every year. It’s all computers and sensors in cars nowadays. This truck I’m doing now: shit. I might never get paid for the work I’m doing.

  “Don’t look down your nose at me. You work for the government and get a guaranteed income at my expense. Yah, I pay taxes on the bit I make.”

  “So you sell cocaine to kids?”

  “I sell a product to a buyer, buddy, to stay alive and feed my family. You going to turn me in?”

  “Probably not. After all you’re my best friend.”

  “Okay, Harry. Rub it in.”

  “Who killed Jarrod?”

  Dave dropped his wrench. He stood frozen halfway between picking it up, staring at the floor.

  “I don’t know?”

  “You’re in mighty tight with Joe and this thing seems to be all about drugs.”

  “Like I said, I don’t know.”

  Harry wanted to tell him he knew about Iris and Jarrod but that might get her killed. If Dave didn’t know then he might snap and if he did he’d never admit he was aware. This was going nowhere in a hurry. He’d confronted Dave with the drug issue and got zip in return. This whole affair was turning into a one step forward, three steps backward scenario. It was pure chance that he found Iris and to her credit, high morals and ethics, that she admitted to the affair. Best to leave everything the way it was and think about it for a while.

  One thing he’d gained was Lenea’s friendship… If one could ever consider her a friend. Partnership might be a better way to view it. She was a resourceful and valuable ally as long as there was something in it for her. He couldn’t fault her for that.

  Silence hung between Harry and Dave as his best buddy in the whole world waited to see what he was going to do next. Dave would know he was armed. Harry ended the tension.

  “See you later old buddy.”

  He left, one eye on the back door, in case Dave had a gun inside and tried to collect the bounty on his head. He’d have to do a lot of oil changes and sell a mountain full of cocaine to make four hundred thousand. Hell, Harry thought about turning himself in for the cash.

  That was it.

  He had an idea.

  Lenea was dead on the first time.

  Harry raced home and told Sandy and Karma what had transpired between himself and Dave. Nothing of any value.

  He answered more questions about his visit with Iris. Women need m
ore detail: How she looked, acted, whether she cried, fussed with her dress, and an explanation of her general demeanour. They both came to the conclusion she was telling the truth, the same conclusion Harry came to as soon as she admitted having an affair with his brother.

  Then they started on Dave: same as Iris. They came to the conclusion he was a lying bastard. Same conclusion as Harry. To Harry it wasn’t that Dave lied as much as he never extended the conversation. Friends usually add something but Dave stayed on track never leaving the issue of selling drugs. He must have known Harry was on Joe’s hit list, but it never came up. He must have known about Shelley, everyone else did, but it never came up. It was what Dave didn’t say, not what he said that told Harry he was lying and holding back.

  Harry explained that to Sandy and Karma but he could feel they didn’t really get it. It was a guy thing. Amongst themselves guys talk about everything: getting an erection over the neighbours wife, a Doberman screwing a poodle in the park, anything private or otherwise that might get a laugh or add flavour to a conversation. Women on the other hand have more selective conversations avoiding issues that might be considered lewd or vulgar. Every woman wants to appear a to be a lady. It seemed to Harry that was part of their competitive nature: trying to outclass each other.

  Harry dialled Lenea’s number and asked her to drop over for a while.

  Sandy heard that and said,

  “Let’s go Karma, we have some shopping to do.”

  Harry objected.

  “You’d better stay here. You’ll want to here this. Do you really want to leave me and Lenea alone in an empty house?”

  “Good point,” said Sandy.

  Chapter 39

  Lenea arrived alone without her mechanical friend. She was jovial as ever as though life was her personal playground. Sandy and Karma both wore frowns the minute she stepped into the house.

  “What’s up Harry. You didn’t invite me here for dinner.”

  “No, I invited you here to give myself up.”

  “Uh Huh, and the cow jumped over the moon,” said Lenea.

  “It’s actually a variation of your first plan but when you turn me over I’m alive. I act as though I’m under a spell and you take me to Joe. We get in under the radar then disarm his guards and deal with Joe. You get your cash and I get Joe.”

  “What if he shoots you on sight?”

  “That’s the only flaw the way I see it. But I think Joe is too sadistic a bastard to end it without a little foreplay.”

  “It’s your idea Harry, your nuts in the vice if anything goes wrong,” said Lenea.

  “What could possibly go wrong with all of you helping?”

  “All of us?”

  That was Sandy.

  “What’s my part.” asked Karma.

  “You and Sandy are going to be backup in case we need to make a quick retreat. Plus I’ll need a little reconnaissance before we begin so bring your feather.”

  Karma said,

  “I don’t know Harry. Remember the last time you got sucked into the vortex.”

  “I’ll hold back. If I start to lose it then abort.”

  Karma said,

  “I’ll try tonight with an owl. Let’s see where that goes. No sense going there tomorrow and blowing the deal before we even start.”

  “Good idea. Sandy you’ll take your sedan and Karma will drive my Cuda. Can you drive a stick.”

  “No Harry, I can’t drive a stick but I can drive a car with a four speed.”

  Sandy laughed but nobody else did. It wasn’t often Karma had a sense of humour these days.

  Lenea said,

  “I don’t want to shit in your spaghetti but one of Joe’s men has an Uzi and another a pump shotgun. Joe and his guard have pistols. That’s four guns to none.”

  “I’ll be armed.”

  “The first thing Joe will do is to have you searched.”

  “You’ll bring my Beretta, Lenea.”

  “Okay so that’s four to one.”

  “As soon as you toss me the gun I’ll drop two of them. That leaves the other two for you. You have to earn the dough in Joe’s safe.”

  That night an owl flew over Joe Sharky’s Bar and Grill well past closing time. Through the owl Karma saw the usual crew plus a couple of new girls that were there to replace her and Shelley. Harry wasn’t at all affected by her spell as he was the last time. She reasoned he would only be sucked in if she used a hawk. She had an idea why that would occur yet said nothing.

  The following morning Sandy’s car was parked in a farm lane overlooking the southern end of Sharky’s place. Karma was further down the road in the opposite direction.

  Lenea was in her own sedan with Harry and the mechanical hit man, in the back seat stiff as a board.

  Lenea said to Harry,

  “We’ve got them surrounded.”

  Karma called Harry on his cell.

  “It all looks normal from a birds eye view. I used a sparrow and got in close.”

  Lenea waved to her sister then said,

  “Let’s rock and roll.”

  Lenea drove into the lane then got out and opened the passenger door for Harry. He stood while the world’s best hit man moved to his side and grabbed Harry by the arm as instructed by Lenea. All three entered the Bar and Grill. There were no customers here at this time of day but Joe and his crew were actively readying for the night.

  The guns came out as the three approached.

  Joe had a smirk on his face and asked,

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  Lenea answered,

  “Your hit man brought Harry to me and I spelled him. He’s yours Joe.”

  Harry saw it coming but couldn’t do anything about it. Two of Joe’s men grabbed Lenea and removed the Beretta from her waist. At first Harry thought she turned and he scolded himself for believing her. He noticed however that she was caught off guard. Who turned them in?

  Out of the back marched Marie Bastille and Pierre. What the hell thought Harry?

  Marie must have seen apprehension on his face and said,

  “Relax Harry. I knew sooner or later it would come to this. A blood bath between you and Joe. Soon as I saw you coming in I figured your plan and told him. I’ve lost a son, albeit not one I was proud of, yet a son to this affair already. I was not about to lose a daughter or possibly both.”

  Lenea said,

  “So you turned Harry in to save us. I don’t accept your scenario, mom.”

  “Now child, don’t fret. As you can see I’ve frozen Joe’s men in time. Joe’s the only one still with us.”

  Joe had his gun aimed at Harry and looked as though he was trying to pull the trigger.

  “It won’t work Joe. Relax.”

  Marie turned to Harry.

  “You and Joe are going to come to some kind of agreement. The killing can’t go on. Even if you killed Joe, Guy Reso would send someone else to even the score. Sandy and Karma would be next then somewhere down the line they’d eventually catch up with Lenea. I won’t let that happen.”

  Harry said,

  “Joe had Jarrod killed…”

  Joe yelled,

  “I never had anything to do with Jarrod. He was a paying customer for fuck’s sake.”

  “Then why come after me?”

  “No tin soldier comes into my turf and pushes his weight around. It’s my operation and nobody stirs my pot.”

  Harry shook his head.

  “So all this killing is because you were offended?”

  Joe countered,

  “And you wouldn’t back off.”

  Lenea said,

  “I can’t fucking believe this. The body count’s over ten because you two had a pissing contest.”

  Marie held up a hand and spoke,

  “Now listen all of you. While people buy drugs and there’s a market the Joes of the world will exist. Kill him Harry and he’ll be replaced. You won’t stop the drug flow. The next mob boss will be just as bad or maybe worse
. So I suggest you both back off and let each other be.”

  Joe laughed,

  “There’s one other scenario. Me or my replacement kills them and it stops. I win even if I’m dead.”

  Marie smiled then said,

  “That won’t happen Joe. I can’t tell you why but don’t even let your thoughts wander along those lines. Make your peace and live by it.”

  Marie turned to Harry and said,

  “I don’t believe Joe had anything to do with Jarrod’s death.”

  Harry said,

  “I think he knows who did. I think he’s protecting someone.”

  Joe nodded.

  “Okay Harry. I’ll tell you what I think. I believe your brother died for one of the oldest reasons in the book. Jealousy. I think Dave killed him because he was having an affair with Iris. I asked Dave if he did it but he said no. I didn’t believe him but he’s one of my dealers. If you don’t protect your people in my business you’re dead meat.”

  Harry asked,

  “What about Shelley? You ordered her blinded.”

  Joe nodded.

  “I’m no angel. She saw my boss and he told me to have her taken care of. She was one of my favourites and I couldn’t kill her so I blinded her. My boss let it slide because she’d never be able to identify him. I didn’t hire anyone to kill her. Why would I? She saw my employees like everyone else. She saw Dave one night and he freaked. If you ask me I think he had her killed. Dave’s the nervous type and he’s going to get me in shit. If I find out he killed Shelley then he’ll disappear.”

  Harry knew Marie was right. He already regretted the havoc he’d created and the death toll over his need for revenge. He certainly didn’t want Sandy or Karma killed and Marie was probably right: They’d be next.

  Harry said,

  “All right Joe. I’m out of here but if anyone gets else gets killed I’ll be back.”

  “And so will I,” said Marie.

  Harry, Marie, Pierre, and Lenea walked toward the door.

  Joe yelled,

  “Take this guy with you.”

  He was talking about the world’s top hit man.

  Lenea said,

  “He’s yours. Get him to chop wood or something.”