by Jeff Carson
“Ex-wife,” Ash said. He stared Wolf in the eye. “She was my ex-wife. That was something I kept telling her but she wouldn’t listen.”
Wolf blinked.
“I’m confused, Sheriff.” Ash tilted his head. “Am I supposed to thank you at this point? For what? For saving me from my psychotic son? Is that why you’re here? For a thank you?”
Wolf said nothing.
“Well, if you say he was out to kill me, then yes, thank you. But you know what I would love to know? What I would really love to understand? How you could even begin to substantiate any of the things you’ve been spouting off about for the last thirty seconds. My son goes off on a crazy killing spree and you want to blame me for it? Is that what’s going on here, Sheriff?”
Wolf said nothing.
“A sex tape? Here’s a question for you: What sex tape?” Ash smiled. “Do you have a camera with my fingerprints on it? Or a…I don’t know, some sort of USB drive with my prints on it? Or maybe a note or something that would have my fingerprints on it that would link me to something like this?”
“I never said anything about a USB drive or a note,” Wolf said.
Ash flipped a hand. “I heard all about this alleged sex tape from Mayor Wakefield. He’s been going bat shit crazy the last few days. He makes a sex tape of himself and some girl from the restaurant and leaves it out for his wife to find, and well…shit happens, I guess.”
Wolf took a breath through his nose.
The heater clicked off and the house went dead quiet.
“Matt Cooper?” Ash asked quietly, though it was more a statement. “You say Matt Cooper was killed, too? And you say he set up the camera? Why? Why would he do that?”
Wolf didn’t take the bait.
Ash clicked his mouth. “I guess we’ll never know, seeing as my son killed him. And what are you suggesting? That I somehow hired Stephanie Lang to have sex with the mayor, and then paid Matt Cooper to set up the camera? Is there a stack of money or something? At either person’s house…stacks you could check for fingerprints?”
Wolf let his lips curl just a bit. The man was brazen, and he was also dead right in his calculations that Wolf had absolutely nothing on him for anything.
“I’ll be getting to the bottom of what you’ve been doing, Mr. Ash,” Wolf said icily.
“About what?” Ash asked.
“About the bribes, the corruption, the blackmailing, the—”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sheriff. And if you even think about throwing allegations around, I’ll sue you for defamation of character so fast your badge will spin on the empty desk in what you used to call an office. Now that my son is dead, my position in the government of this small town is all I have. If you don’t think I’ll do everything in my considerable power to throw you out in the cold, out on a gas pump at the edge of town, then you’re sadly mistaken.”
Wolf stretched his neck.
“Well, I guess that was a little lie,” Ash said. “I guess I’ve actually got quite a lot going on besides the government thing. You know, I’ve always been into real estate? Yeah. So I get to know everyone in town or in neighboring counties that have their finger on the pulse. That way I keep ahead of the curve, ahead of the next deal that will make me my next million, or two.
“Anyway, I got to know Mark Wilson.” He paused and smiled briefly. “You know the man well. I actually have something, a little tidbit I heard while talking to him. And since you saved me from being killed by my psychotic son tonight, the least I can do is return the favor, as a friend, and let you know this juicy tidbit,” he raised his eyebrows.
Wolf blinked, hearing a tiny shriek coming from his teeth mashing together.
“I was out at breakfast with Mark the day before he left town, and he was crying on my shoulder, so to speak. I’ve kind of established a relationship with him as a friend the last couple of years. I like to do that with certain contacts, keep them close. Anyway, he said Sarah broke up with him because she was still in love with you.”—he tilted his head and nodded—“See that? She’s still in love with you, and there was no way anyone could compete with that, he said. She’s all tied up around your little finger, he said. And there was one other thing, what did he say? I don’t know if she told you this or not, but she was screwing some other guy when you were in the Army? That’s what Mark said, and Sarah—”
Wolf slapped him on the face as hard as he could, the blow whiplashing Ash’s head to the side with a force just under knocking him out. The impact echoed between the walls in the confined space of the entryway, sounding like a ricocheted bullet.
Charlie Ash bent over and howled in pain, cradling his face in both hands.
Wolf loomed over him, clenching and unclenching his hand, feeling the sharp sting dissipate to tingling heat in his palm.
Ash stood up and straightened his glasses, eyes boring holes into Wolf’s. His comb-over hair was flapping to the wrong side and his tongue pushed the inside of his cheek while his hand cradled the outside of it.
Wolf turned around, opened the door, and left.
As Wolf reached the SUV, he saw the interior of the house light up with two brilliant flashes, accompanied by two muffled pops.
Chapter 30
Ash felt dizzy as he watched the door close. The slap had jarred him, and he would find a way to return the favor in due time, in a way that would be the end of Wolf’s career, but now he just needed food and water.
He felt his face. It was numb to the touch. He needed some ice, too.
He walked to the front door and twisted the lock. As he looked out the entrance window, his left eye dripped down his cheek, a new quirk from the thumping impact of Wolf’s hand he hoped wouldn’t last.
Wolf was sauntering away down the path outside. His walk was unhurried, like a smug bastard who’d just won a small, meaningless victory.
Ash reached up and flicked some light switches, sending the front porch and pathway into pitch black. You’re going down, he thought with the strongest resolve he’d ever felt in his life.
He ripped off his flannel shirt and hung it on a hook, then walked into the great room and toward the kitchen for a proper meal and drink. And three Advil.
As he rounded the corner he almost ran straight into someone. He stumbled to a stop and looked up.
Kevin. Ash’s heart thumped so hard he gripped his chest. Before Ash could react, a pistol was pressed against his forehead, pushing so hard he felt a trickle of warm blood race down in between his eyes and down his nose, and then in between his lips and onto his tongue.
“What the…” The words tasted like blood. His throat was constricted and his heart was hammering in his ears.
Kevin smiled easily and began laughing.
Ash fell down on his butt and then rolled backwards, crying out in pain as his tucked snubnosed dug into the small of his back.
“Stand up,” Kevin said. Warning him. “Stand up.”
Ash got back up and shuffled in reverse, keeping his hands high. “Son—”
“Shut up,” Kevin said. “Stand still. You’re going to do what I say, or else I’m going to stick my gun in your ear and pull the trigger. Got that?”
Ash looked at the muzzle of the pistol and shook his head, thinking about how Wolf had just lied to him, and wondered just what the hell was going on.
“Got that!” Kevin screamed, and then he walked forward and fired two shots, one next to Charlie’s right ear and one next to his left.
Charlie cowered and twisted his face, pressing his palms on his ears. A metallic note screamed in his head, and his skull felt like it might just crack down the middle.
Kevin was moving his lips, but Charlie heard white noise, like he was in a wind tunnel.
Kevin’s lips kept moving, and his head tilted back and he laughed.
Slowly, Ash began hearing again, murmurs and muffled sounds like he was underwater. Then it was like he was breaking through the surface in ultra-slow motion – the tr
ebles widening, sounding like rushing water in a stream.
“Sit down,” Kevin yelled. He thrust the pistol at Ash.
Ash shuffled over to the couch and sat down with his hands in the air. He shook his head, unable to lose the twinkling high-pitched sounds.
Though the sound damage was still strong, the initial shock of his son’s assault was beginning to wear off. He was still his snot-nosed son, Ash reminded himself.
“What are you doing here?” Ash frowned, looking up at him. “Wolf just told me…”
“What?” Kevin asked, looking genuinely curious. “What did he tell you?”
Ash didn’t say. He didn’t say that Wolf had just told him that his son was dead. Had killed himself right in front of him. What the hell? Wolf was lying the whole time? What about that blood on his face?
Kevin was eyeing his father with amusement. Other than digging the pistol into his forehead and shooting two shots near his ears, Kevin was keeping his distance, as if he didn’t want to get sucked into any physical confrontation. As if Ash was going to jump out and grab him.
Ash kept quiet and looked out the window to the left of Kevin. He saw the bright snow of the back yard and the dark forest beyond.
“See this?” Kevin asked, holding up his pistol proudly. “A Sluice County Sheriff’s Department issue”—he read the side of the barrel—“Glock 17…from Austria. Nice gun. Never fired one of these. I’ve been using one of your revolvers. Did you notice it was gone?”
Ash stared at him, feeling the burning in his shoulders from holding his hands up. “Where did you get that?” he asked.
“Ah, good question. I killed two cops.” Kevin pointed it back at him and stared indifferently.
Ash caught movement in the window and looked again, this time seeing the taillights of a vehicle in the distance. They looked to be a Sheriff’s Department SUV, and they were going full speed as they flickered into the forest and went out of sight.
Kevin followed his eyes and smiled. “Nobody saving you. Just you and me. And my Glock.”—his face went serious—“and in a few seconds, the fires of hell for both of us.”
“You don’t have to do this, son.”
“No. I do have to do this. There’s no choice now. You don’t just kill two cops and live through the next twenty-four hours. In fact, I figure I have about five minutes before Sheriff-boy finds out about everything and comes screaming back here looking for me.”
Ash narrowed his eyes. “How did you get here?”
“Took the SUV from Deputy…Rachette, I believe his name was?” He raised his eyebrows. “Parked it in the woods. Sheriff just drove by it.”
Ash felt a wisp of cold air and he looked over toward the hallway to the kitchen.
“You snuck in the back,” Ash said. “Used your key. I knew you would if you showed up.” He looked down and saw Kevin’s wet shoes, and the snow marks all the way up to his knees.
“You did it again, dad,” Kevin said, sounding like he was about to cry. “You ruined my life, and then you made Chris’s mom kill herself and ruined his life.”
Ash snorted. “Your mother killed herself, son. Mrs. Wakefield killed herself. I didn’t kill anyone.”
Kevin snarled and shook the gun. “You killed them! You broke both of their hearts, and they had no other way out.”
“Oh, shut up with your sniveling!” Ash stood up.
“Sit down!” Kevin yelled.
“Shoot me!” Ash reached up his arms and stretched lazily. “Oh, man. You had me holed up here all night. And I’m so hungry that I don’t care any more. You’re going to kill me? Great. Let’s get on with this. I’m ready.”
Kevin looked unsure, glancing around the room.
Ash narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on? After killing three people now you’re worried about killing your dada? Is that it?” He puckered his lips and sidestepped the footrest in front of him. “Don’t want to kill dada?”
“Four people,” Kevin said. “I killed four people.”
Ash stopped. He watched Kevin’s face twist into intense confusion for just an instant, and then melt into a cool look of confidence.
The look on Kevin’s face made Ash blow snot out his nose, and as it flipped across his lip it made him burst out laughing; then when he wiped it with the sleeve if his shirt, mopping up blood that had trickled down his nose, that sent him into uncontrolled hysterics. He knew his son was going to kill him; Kevin had proven himself capable of that in the last few days, but the irony of the situation was just too much to handle. His stomach hurt as it convulsed, and if it weren’t for the pain jabbing at his side he figured he would have laughed until Kevin shot him.
But he stopped instead and glared at his son with dripping eyes, chest heaving as he caught his breath. “Here’s a little secret that is just going to kill you.”
Kevin’s cool expression wavered.
Ash stared at him, thinking about the significance of what he was about to say, knowing it might be the last thing he said on this earth. Finally, he spoke.
“I killed Mary Richardson,” he said.
Kevin’s creased his forehead and his aim wavered, and Ash realized the truth might actually set him free.
Ash nodded. “I killed her. I drugged you, and killed her, and then put you next to her.” He visualized pulling the revolver out of his beltline and firing. It was riding low; he’d have to rake it up his back with his thumb, and duck too, in case Kevin got a shot off.
“It feels good to finally tell you,” he continued. “I was surprised when you started…” Ash stopped talking.
Kevin’s cool expression had returned and he was lowering his gun.
Ash fixed his gaze on Kevin. Then panic exploded inside of him when Kevin smiled.
“What the hell is going on?” Ash flicked his eyes around the room. Confusion pressed in, and then when Kevin continued to smile, Ash knew he’d just walked into a trap, and he’d been an even more gullible fool than his son.
“You pieces of shit!” He yelled, and reached behind him and pulled the snub-nosed revolver out of the back of his pants. Before he could aim it a blast of fire came from the hallway and he was punched in his shoulder with the power of a horse kick. Ripples of tearing pain traveled across his chest, down his stomach and across his genitals, up his neck and into his head. The hardwood floor swung up and hit him in the face, and then he lay still, blinking to calm the angry dots swirling in his vision.
Chapter 31
When Wolf walked out of Charlie Ash’s front door, he did so with a normal gait, trying to look neither in a hurry or too relaxed. As soon as the lights went dark on the front of the house, Wolf swiveled and looked back.
Ash was framed in the entrance window, peering outside, looking like he was muttering something under his breath. Then he twisted and disappeared.
Wolf wasted no time; he sprinted to the SUV and opened up the back door. The cab light was off, so all he saw was movement.
“Get up,” he said.
The whites of Deputy Wilson’s eyes appeared as he reared his head up from the backseat floorboards. He leaned and peered past Wolf toward the house.
“It’s clear,” Wolf said impatiently. “Get going.”
Wilson opened the rear door and then got in the driver’s seat and fired up the engine. At almost the same instant there were two flashes inside the house and two pops of a gun, barely audible to Wolf over the roar of the Explorer’s engine starting up, but unmistakable nonetheless.
He froze and put his wrist to his mouth. “What happened?”
“He’s…I don’t know,” Rachette’s voice was faint and raspy, more like a burst of static than a sentence.
Wolf plugged both ears and tried to understand as Wilson drove away.
“…him,” Rachette said.
“What? Repeat.”
“He’s…I think he was just trying to intimidate him.”
Wolf took off in a high-knee run through the snow of the front yard toward the kitchen
wing. His feet thumped with bad timing at first, then he got his rhythm and his quads and glutes began to burn as he kicked through the deep powder.
“I don’t know,” Rachette hissed. “He’s already stuck the gun against his forehead, then he shot twice right next to his ears. What should I do?”
“Speak up, that’s what you should do,” Wolf said in between breaths. “That means Ash can’t hear anything.”
“Oh, yeah. Where are you?”
Wolf rounded the edge of the house and stopped just in time to avoid colliding with Patterson.
She looked up at Wolf with wide eyes and wiped a fresh dusting of snow off her face. Wearing large headphones, she was kneeling on the ground in a small dug out clearing and had two glowing laptop computers in front of her, propped on piles of snow at eye level. She’d built herself a small audio-visual command center like a kid would have built a snow fort.
“Sorry,” Wolf said.
She nodded without speaking and then pressed some buttons.
New sounds erupted in Wolf’s ear, and he nodded and gave the thumbs up.
Patterson looked back to the video feed and wavy lines on the screens.
Rachette stood a few feet away with a hand on the doorknob of a side door. He swiveled out of the way, keeping his hand firm on the knob.
Wolf walked up to the edge of the house next to the door and untied his boots as fast as he could, slipped his feet out and stood on the laces, then gave a nod.
Rachette pulled open the door and Wolf slipped into a dark room, and the door sucked closed behind him with a gentle thud.
The calm warmth inside enveloped him. Wolf stood completely still, peering into the darkness to get his bearings. A bench was to his right, running the length of a long wall, and a row of coats hung along the opposite wall.
