Ray noticed that Mr. Collin’s head jerked to attention when he mentioned Kathy Cole as though he knew her.
“Sir that’s all I have for today’s update. Do I need to do anything now about Richards or Cole?”
“Watch both closely until I get back to you.”
✼ ✼ ✼
✼
Chapter 25
“Kathy, I found something that looks weird to me this morning and need to research it further. I had to stop searching because Mrs. White said that I was off task. Okay so first, Jack Collins, Sr. was in a dead end job barely getting by in the early 60’s and then suddenly he has a pile of cash. He bought some cheap houses and apartment building and became a slumlord. Next, he bought several bars and gentleman’s clubs and became wealthy. A short time later he owns several small manufacturing companies and a few years later he is a multi-millionaire with companies around the world.”
“So where did the money come from to start his empire? It has to be something against the law or we would see a trail on the internet.”
I’m going to ask Jeff to help us. He’d probably know how to dig deeper.”
“Fine, God, just don’t try hooking us up.”
“No promises.”
***
Mary’s sister called to see how everything was going with Sam and to check on Mary and Bill’s recovery. Mary loved talking with her sister, but was busy and could only talk for a short while.
“Sam is behaving very well and has changed her outlook on school. She actually says that she likes it now.”
They were chatting away, when the intruder alarm went off. Mary looked at the monitor and said, “Sorry sis, I have to get off the phone, we have a visitor.”
Mary watched a small van drive up to the house. The van had a sign on it for a florist shop. The driver got out with a bouquet of roses and walked up to the door. Mary pulled her .380 out of her pocket and opened the door with her other hand. She made sure not to open the door more than a foot and to block the door with her foot just as she was taught.
“Mam, this is for Alice Crabtree at 2641, but I can’t find the house.”
“Mary said, “We are on the south end of the street and the Crabtrees live on the north end. Both ends have the same numbers except for the north and south.”
The driver thanked her and left. Mary saw him looking around the house as he left and this gave her a bad feeling.
***
“Ray, I just turned you in to finance for a $30,000 a year raise and here is $50,000 in cash for you. You are becoming a very important part of my organization and I depend on you to take care of things that I can’t. This is a reward for the great job. Now down to business. You will find another $150,000 in the second envelope. Use it to resolve any outstanding threats to me or my company. Deal with all three threats as you see fit as long as nothing blows back on Collins Industries or me. Keep any left over.”
“Thanks for the confidence in me and thanks for the reward. I will never fail you or the company.”
***
Ray asked George to meet him on the river walk to discuss a new assignment. George showed up promptly on time and shook Ray’s hand.
“George, I want you to take out all three threats ASAP. Make all three look like accidents. I know that it will look bad, but you are a pro and nothing is to come back on me period. What will it take to get the job done?”
“This will take three to four weeks to plan and execute so that nothing can be traced back. Do you have any issue with one of the threats just happening to run afoul of a biker gang and getting shot on the freeway?”
“I like that. Make it happen. How much money for you and how much more to pay your crew for the work?”
“Sorry George, but this will be expensive to pull off all three and isolate it from the Jack Collins investigation.”
“How much?”
“About $60,000 should do it. I might need another $10,000 later to tie up loose ends.”
“Here is $30,000 and there will be another $40,000 when the job is finished.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“How much more cash to eliminate any witnesses to our recent transactions? Your two people might talk later. I don’t want them popping up later on a plea deal to save their asses."
“Whoa, I’ve been working with those two for several years. How does another $40,000 sound?”
“Works for me. Here is $20,000 now and another twenty when you show me proof. I don’t want these two found. Make them disappear.”
“There is a mine shaft in eastern Kentucky with their names on it.
***
“George, we have probed the security system at the Jones house and it appears to be the standard alarm system. We can break in and be out without issue. The Cole guy continues to research Collins and Collins Industries and we can’t find any ties to Richards. Richards has stopped actively investigating Collins, but we have a feeling that he knows that he is being watched. I think we need to act now or others might catch wind of their work.”
“I appreciate the work that you two have done and have one last job for you concerning this assignment. I want all three taken out. Cole and Richards are to disappear in a mineshaft and I have a special plan for the Jones family. This time I will be more involved since I need proof of death. I will be taking pictures. You will handle Cole and she will handle Richards. I will personally deal with the Jones family.”
They met several times over the next several days to develop a foolproof plan for the first two targets. George met with an old friend of his who had contacts in the “Death’s Devils” motorcycle club. This gang was out of Texas, but had recently started a chapter in Louisville. They were into drugs, guns and murder for hire.
“Jesus, this must look like these people pissed someone off and were run off the road in a fit of road rage. They all have to die. None of your gang can be caught and the police will think the targets just pissed off the wrong bad guys.”
“George, I can make that happen for $10,000 per body. I’ll even burn the car so there won’t be any evidence.”
“Good deal. I know that I can count on you. Now, here is another $5,000. Get me two 38 revolvers that can’t be traced.”
“Will do.”
***
Nathan Cole had worked late as usual. The new sewage treatment project was behind schedule and over budget. His boss had asked him to take it over, get it back on schedule and reduce cost. He was known as Mr. Fix It around the office. He hated being away from Kathy, but didn’t miss his wife at all. She was an arrogant self-centered woman who only cared about her career and thought that Kathy was a roadblock to her success. The lights were out in the parking lot so he asked the guard to walk him to his car. He was running late, but should still be on time to pick up Gail and take her to a late supper. He planned to tell her about the divorce after supper.
***
He had cut the power to the lights and planned to stab Cole and throw him in the back of the Tahoe. Then he would meet George at the mine and dispose of the body. He finally saw Cole walk out the front door and started cussing when he saw the guard walking with Cole. He thought, “What kind of man asks a guard to escort him because it’s a little dark? Cole pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the university to pick up his wife. He followed at a distance looking for an opportunity to force him off the road, but nothing looked good. Cole finally pulled into a parking lot and started to get out of the car when he was grabbed from behind. The knife sliced through his back and up into his kidney. He was dying as he was dragged to the Tahoe.
He was moving the body when he heard, “What are you doing to my husband?”
He turned in time to see a woman hit him with an umbrella. He dropped the body, slashed out at her with his knife and cut her throat. Blood went everywhere. He stuffed both bodies in the back of the Tahoe and sped off into the darkness.
He drove the 80 miles to the mineshaft wondering what George would sa
y. He knew that leaving blood splattered all over the parking lot would not go well with George, much less an extra body to deal with. An hour and a half later, he turned off on an old dirt road and saw where the cable blocking entrance to the road had been cut. He also saw a set of tire tracks going towards the mine that appeared to be fresh. It was over a mile back to the mineshaft and he saw old junk cars and mining equipment strewn about the side of the road. He drove around a curve and his headlights glared off a SUV parked beside a shack and the mine’s entrance. George waved at him and motioned for him to back the Tahoe up to the mineshaft.
***
Grumpy and Mary had picked Sam up at school to go shopping and then out to dinner. They drove to the mall and the girls went clothes shopping while Grumpy went to a sporting goods store. He wanted to get Mary a more powerful pistol for concealed carry. He looked at several and decided to purchase the Ruger LC9s, which was a 9mm auto that had a seven round magazine. It would do the job and not punish her with massive recoil like his .45. He signed all of the papers and kept shopping while the approval process continued. He also bought her three more magazines and 500 rounds of ammo.
He started to leave the store and went back in to get a present for Sam’s birthday. Of course, she could only shoot it with him present, but he wanted her to have a real gun to practice with besides the .22. He went straight to the clerk and asked for a Ruger SR 45, three spare magazines and 500 rounds of ammo. He was loaded down when he left the store.
He walked down to the benches outside the last store that he saw them at and waited.
Mary and Sam approached Bill from the back and Mary saw the bags.
She said, “Bill, what have you bought now? I see they came from that sporting goods store.”
“Well Mary and Sam, I see that you two have a bunch of bags in your hands and I’m not complaining. Now where do we want to eat?”
Sam spoke up, “I want to eat at the Dairy Bell.”
“I was thinking about a real restaurant.”
Mary spoke up and said, “Bill, she wants to drop by and pick up Sammy. He loves the burgers and fries.”
Grumpy knew that he was outnumbered and gave in.
“Okay, let’s pick up the fur ball and dine on burgers and fries.”
The police car pulled behind them just as Bill pulled out of the mall and its blue lights were flashing. Grumpy pulled over with the cop right on his tail. Before they could stop, a group of motorcycles roared by them heading south.
“I know that I didn’t speed. I wonder what is going on.”
The officer walked slowly up to the front of Mary’s car and motioned for Bill to lower the window.
Grumpy saw who it was and said, “Walt, how are you doing today and why did you pull me over?”
“Hey Bill sorry to scare you, but I saw you leaving the mall and wanted to let you know that we have a new sheriff. She starts next Monday and is from Texas. They decided that none of us ignorant Kentuckians were qualified for the job.”
“Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully she won’t be a pain in the butt for you and do a good job.”
They talked for a minute and the cop drove off.
“Bill, what did he want?”
“I think he wants to lose his job. He stunk of beer and he wonders why he didn’t get promoted.”
They drove on to pick up Sammy.
“We’re not getting out of the car. Sam, go in and get Sammy and we will wait on you.”
Bill reached into the bag, removed a box and showed it to Mary. He opened the box and gave her a pistol.
“I think that you need more firepower. I hope that you never need it, but I think we need to prepare for the worse. Here I’ll show you how to load it while we wait on Sam. It’s a Ruger LC9s.”
He loaded a magazine put it into the gun, jacked a round into the chamber and then added another bullet to the magazine.
He loaded another and said, “You can practice loading the others. This is a lightweight 9mm and it packs more punch than that .380.”
Mary replied, “You romantic devil. I know most women wouldn’t appreciate a pistol as a gift, but I know that you want us protected. Thanks.”
Mary was kissing Grumpy when Sam and Sammy came out to the car.
Sam yelled, “Get a room, weirdoes. You are warping my fragile mind.”
Grumpy said, “Get your butt in the car; I’m hungry."
Sammy jumped in and lay down beside Sam in the back seat. Grumpy pulled out of the driveway and started down the road. As soon as Grumpy got up to speed, several motorcycles pulled in behind him. One ran almost up to his bumper several times and backed off. Then a rider drove up beside him and kicked the car door and yelled pull over. Grumpy sped up and left them behind.
George had a smile on his face and said, “Thanks for completing the job. Were there any issues?”
“Sorry George, but his wife surprised me and I had to kill her also.”
George said several curse words and then said, “That’s not good. Did you bring her body?
“Yes, she’s in the back with Cole.”
“Well it is what it is. Don’t expect a reward for a good job this time. Let’s drag them to the vertical shaft. It’s about 50 feet inside the main shaft; it’s about four feet wide and several hundred feet deep. I have a couple of lanterns along the path giving us a little bit of light.”
They dragged both bodies to the old airshaft and pushed Cole over the edge. There was no sound for several seconds and then they heard a thud.
“Grab her shoulders and I’ll grab her feet. Okay we’re close enough. Drop her!”
As soon as she fell free from their grasp, George reached over and pushed him towards the hole in the floor, but he saw George move and was able to catch his balance and jump across the shaft. He tried to draw his gun, but George already had his drawn. George calmly pulled the trigger, shot his friend twice in the chest and saw him fall down the shaft. George failed to see the blood and the gun on the floor of the mine.
George knew that he only had a couple of hours before she would arrive with Richard’s body. He had always thought that he would end up in bed with Jane, but business is business he thought. He walked out of the mine, got into the Tahoe and couldn’t find the keys.
George said to himself, “That bastard has the keys on him. I should have been prepared for that.”
He went to his car and got a pair of pliers and a screwdriver to use to hotwire the SUV. He pried the bottom of the dash apart and cut the wires leading to the ignition switch. There were about twenty wires and he tried several combinations to no avail. He was able to make a bunch of sparks; however, the starter never tried to turn the engine over. He was on the floor of the SUV with his head under the dash when he heard a car coming up the road. He quickly got out of the car and brushed himself off. He ran over to his car, sat in the driver’s seat and waited on Jane to arrive.
***
As planned, she watched Richards get into his personal car and head down Highway 65 towards Shepherdsville for his weekly boys night out poker game. He wouldn’t arrive at the poker game if everything went according to plan. She knew that he would stop at the package liquor store and get a case of beer and two bottles of scotch for the all night porker game. He pulled off 65 and drove into the parking lot beside the dumpster. She would be in the backseat when he drove off to head to the game.
Richards was talking to the lady clerk and finally walked out the front door and got in the car. He put his seatbelt on and drove off down the street whistling a tune and patting the steering wheel. He came to a stop sign and coasted to a stop. The bayonet pierced his back and ended his life while she pulled his head back. He grabbed for his pistol and got a shot off into the seat beside him before his last breath.
As she slid him over in the seat she said, “I’ll bet you would have liked to kill me with that last shot, but lady luck crapped on you tonight.”
She drove east on Highway 64 and got off on a side road
where she had hidden the Tahoe. She transferred his body to the Tahoe and lit the slow burning fuse to ignite the gas can in the back seat. There would be no evidence left that could be traced back to her.
It was only an hour drive to the mine from where Richard’s car was now burning out of control. She never felt any remorse for killing her targets because it was just her job. She did think that normally she killed bad guys causing someone harm. These were good people, but the money was good. She turned off the road onto the dirt road to the mine, stopped and got out of the car. There were two fresh sets of tire tracks going in to the mine and none coming out. He was supposed to be gone and only George and she were supposed to dump Richard’s body. While she hated men, they had their uses and George was telegraphing his desire for her.
She got back in the car, drove slowly to the mine and parked a few feet from the two-parked vehicles.
She looked at George and said, “George, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is going per plan.”
George’s clothes were dirty and wrinkled and his face had dirt on it in several places. Her skin crawled and the hair on the back of her neck tingled.
Her mind was busy thinking about what was going down in front of her.
Her mind warned her, “Danger, danger and more danger.”
“I see his car; is he still here?”
George knew that she was sensing something was wrong, but knew that she would do what he said.
“We had a problem dumping the Coles into the shaft and we both almost fell in. I came out to see if he has a first aid kit when you drove up. There wasn’t one. He has a pretty bad cut and I need to patch him up.”
Grumpy, Sam and Sammy: A Murder Mystery and Thriller Page 16
