Road to Darkness

by Miller, Tim

  “What?”

  “He might be getting stopped by some cops who may have gotten a tip on what he was carrying.”

  “You fucking piece of shit!” Slade punched Jose in the face, knocking him to the floor. He opened the door, yelling to some other men.

  “Hey, come in here! Take him out, tie him to the back of a rig. We’re gonna prove him up.”

  Jose’s eyes grew wide as the men grabbed him.

  “Slade! No! Please don’t do this! I didn’t give them nothing! Honest! Please man!” Jose screamed as they dragged him out the door.

  Slade took both his cell phones and removed both batteries and smashed the phones against the table. He walked outside where the men were tying Jose’s arms and legs to two separate trucks. His arms were tied to the bumper of one box truck, while his ankles tied to another. The truck his legs were tied to pulled up a few feet so he was suspended off the ground. Slade and the other employees from the plant were all standing around looking on.

  “So all of you know, Jose here was working for the Feds! He is the reason for the raid today. He has put all of our jobs and lives in jeopardy. There is only one punishment in this organization for a snitch!” Slade announced.

  “Slade! Come on man! Don’t do this, please?” Jose pleaded. Tears streamed from his eyes. “I’ll go away. I’ll leave the country! You’ll never see me again!”

  Slade looked up at the truck to his left and pointed with his left arm. The truck slowly began to pull forward. Jose screamed as the truck rolled forward, stretching his legs further and tighter. The truck driver accelerated as the truck lurched forward, ripping Jose’s legs from his body. The sound of flesh and bone ripping away from his body sounded like a gunshot. He screamed as blood sprayed from the two holes where his legs used to be. Jose twitched and writhed about before he went still.

  “Clean it up.” Slade ordered as he walked back into the building. That was one problem dealt with. Now he just had to stop this shipment on the road from being stopped. He had no idea how to do that, other than to try and call Tony and get him off the road. He sat down in what had previously been Jose’s office when a phone began to ring. Slade opened one of the drawers and found a satellite phone ringing. Grabbing the phone, he pressed it to his ear while hitting the talk button.

  “Hello?”

  “Jose?”

  “No. Who is this?” Slade said.

  “Who the fuck is this?”

  “This is Slade. Jose’s boss. Now who the fuck is calling me.”

  “This is Tony. What the fuck is going on?”

  Chapter 11

  Tony lifted the tailgate to the truck. The two officers stood by looking on. He wanted to throw up. This was it. People do this sort of thing for years and never get caught. This organization had an entire process in place they had probably used for ages without any problems. That is until he goes on his second run with them, and here he is about to be hauled off to prison for infinity.

  “That’s good. Jump on down.” The tall officer called out.

  Tony looked down at the two of them standing side by side. Think! He had to do something. If he just let this happen, he’d never see little Taylor again. Kim would never so much as speak to him again. No, that was unacceptable. It was time to take a calculated risk. There was nothing to lose at this point.

  He leaped directly at the two officers, throwing his body sideways, catching them both off guard as they all tumbled to the asphalt. The quiet one had reached for his gun as they fell and had it part way out of the holster. Tony heard it clatter to the ground and reached for it as the two officers attempted to throw him off. He slammed his knee into the tall officer’s side as he scrambled for the gun.

  As he crawled toward it, he had to move off of the officers, thus taking his weight off them. He decided to go for it and scurried to the gun. Just as his fingers wrapped around the butt he spun around sitting upright. The tall cop had gotten to his knees and had his gun drawn. Tony leveled the gun and fired twice. At least one shot hit the cop in the chest knocking him to his back. Tony scrambled to his feet and ran over to the officer. He was gasping for air, but his vest had stopped the bullet.

  Tony stood over him and fired one shot into his face, turning his head as the gun went off. He tried not to look at the body, but caught a glimpse of the bloody mess at his feet. The other officer was to his right whimpering as he tried to crawl away. Tony walked toward him as the cop looked up at him.

  “Look man. Look, this is all a misunderstanding ok? You can just go on your way. I won’t say anything.”

  Tony didn’t say a word as he pulled the trigger again, hitting him in the neck. The cop grabbed his neck as blood sprayed out from between his fingers. He twitched and jerked around for a minute before going still. Tony dropped the gun and fell to his knees as the realization of his actions sank in. He just killed two men, both police officers.

  Until now, the worst crime he’d gotten away with was smoking some weed in college. Now he was a murderer. That would never change, no matter what. As he tried to stand, his stomach lurched as he threw up. It felt like everything he’d ate in the last month was coming up. He couldn’t stop heaving. When he finally stopped, he wiped his mouth and stood.

  After a minute he realized he was still along a roadside next to two dead cops he’d just killed. Shit! He grabbed the tall one’s body by the legs and dragged him to the truck. He picked the cop’s body up under the arms and lifted him into the truck. He had to roll him over one of the crates close to the tailgate and flip his legs up and over, but he got him in. The second officer was shorter and heavier. It took him a few heaves, but he got him into the truck. Once they were both in, he pulled the tailgate closed.

  Once it was closed up, he ran over to their car and turned off the lights. It was starting to get dark, so he pulled the car as far off the shoulder as he could and turned the car off. The dashcam was running, it would have captured everything. He used the butt of the gun to smash the fasteners loose and ripped it off the dash and pulled as many wires as he could with it. He wiped down the inside of the car and the door handle and got back into the truck and tossed the police dash cam inside. He started the engine and drove off.

  The rest of the trip, he didn’t think too hard about what had just happened, only about putting as much distance between himself and the city. Still, something had been wrong. That wasn’t a normal traffic stop. From the time they had pulled him over, they knew exactly what they were looking for. Meaning someone had set him up. He reached for the glove box and pulled out the satellite phone. After several rings a voice answered, but he didn’t recognize it. After a short exchange, he learned it was Jose’s boss.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Tony asked. “You have any idea what I just went through?”

  “There was a problem with Jose. It’s been dealt with. What’s going on?”

  “Two cops pulled me over and started to search the truck.” Tony explained.

  “Shit. I was afraid of that. Jose had tipped them off, he set you up. I took care of him though. What happened? Why didn’t they arrest you?”

  “I killed them.” Tony answered. There was a long silence from the other end before Slade replied.

  “You what?”

  “I killed them. I had no choice. They were about to search the truck. They’d have found the girls.”

  “Jesus fucking Christ, man.”

  “I put their bodies in the truck and left their car shut off on the shoulder, I may have bought myself a few hours.”

  “Goddamn. You’re fucking insane.”

  “I don’t want to go to prison. Jose had promised me forty grand for this run. Is that still the same offer or was he bullshitting?”

  “Dude, make it back from this run in one piece and I’ll make it a hundred grand.”

  “I’ll make it back. Just have my money ready,” Tony said.

  Chapter 12

  The men with rifles were waiting for him when Tony pulled
into the lot. It was late, but they had some flood lights around the lot lighting the grounds. He stopped the truck and climbed out, only to be struck in the stomach with the butt of one of the rifles.

  “We heard you had some problems,” one of the men said. The same one who did all the talking last time.

  “I took care of it.” Tony grunted from his knees. “Jesus. You guys gonna beat on me every time I come down here?”

  “There may not be a next time. Slade called us. He thinks you brought cops with you.”

  “What the fuck? No! Look in the back.”

  “Tell me what happened,” the man said, as one of the men with rifles stuck the barrel of the rifle to his forehead. “Or I paint the truck with your blood.”

  “Can you put the fucking guns down?” Tony said as he went to one knee. “Open the truck and it will explain everything. I promise no one is going to jump out and arrest you.”

  “Keep the gun on him,” the man said as he gestured to the other man. “Open the back of the truck.”

  The other man climbed up and pulled the tailgate open. He climbed in back and looked between the crates.

  “Holy shit! Man there’s two dead cops up here. They stink!” He said.

  The man in charge walked toward the back of the truck and looked at it as well. The third man still had the rifle trained on Tony’s head. As their boss looked around, the man with the rifle turned his head toward the back of the truck.

  “So everything cool?” The man called. Tony noticed he was relaxed and not looking at him, so decided to act. He grabbed the barrel of the rifle, and pulled it toward himself while shifting his body to the left. The man’s eyes widened as he turned back to Tony who with both hands, thrust the butt of the rifle into the man’s stomach which doubled him over. Tony stood with the gun and slammed the butt into the back of the man’s head, sending him face down into the ground.

  He shouldered the rifle and spun toward the back of the truck where. as he suspected, the other gunman was just raising his gun at Tony. Without hesitation, Tony fired a volley of shots into the man’s chest sending him to the ground. He then trained the gun onto the boss.

  “Whoa, whoa, easy amigo,” the man said.

  “In both my trips down here, you guys have hit me and pointed guns at me. This is the last time that will happen. Do you understand?” Tony said.

  “Sure man. It’s nothing personal. Just how we break in new people to make sure you don’t crack up. You killed one of my men. Slade’s not gonna like that.”

  “Slade isn’t gonna like a lot of things. For now let’s worry about what I don’t like. I don’t like being ordered to do a run in the middle of the night. I don’t like be ratted out to the cops. I don’t like assholes putting their hands on me and shoving guns in my face. So give me one reason why I shouldn’t fucking waste you right now?”

  “Slade will kill you. Plus you’d be starting a cross-border gang war.”

  “So, you’d still be dead. Slade kills me, what do I give a fuck if they all want to kill each other. Do you want to be dead?” Tony asked.

  “It’s gonna happen sooner or later. Part of this job, man.”

  “Unload the truck.”

  Tony stepped back while the two men unloaded the bodies from the truck, and then the crates. They got extra crates and stuffed the police officers’ bodies into them.

  “Is that my return truck?” Tony asked pointing at an empty box truck.

  “That’s it. So you gonna shoot us or what? You know if you don’t, I’m calling Slade as soon as you leave here.”

  Tony lowered the rifle and fired a shot into the man’s ankle. He toppled to the ground screaming.

  “Fuck! You motherfucker! You fucking shot me!”

  “I sure did. So go call Slade.” Tony turned and walked to the truck, started it up and pulled out. He purposely raced toward both men, forcing them to dive out of the way before he hit them. He raced through the gates and toward the border. As he drove, he pounded the steering wheel and screamed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually screamed or showed any kind of emotion to that extent. The scream became more of a primal howl the longer it went. For the first time in decades, Tony felt alive.

  Chapter 13

  The sun was coming up by the time Tony pulled into Ramos Medical Supplies. He should have been exhausted, but he was so wired he didn’t think he could sleep again. When he shut off the truck, a large man came walking out carrying a duffel bag. Tony climbed out of the truck as the man glared at him. Tony was only five foot seven inches tall and this guy towered over him. In addition to his height, the guy looked like he was solid muscle.

  “I’m Slade,” the man said. “I’m your boss.”

  “Well hi, I guess. I’m not sure if it’s nice to meet you just yet.”

  “Benito called me.”

  “Who is Benito?”

  “He’s the guy you shot in the leg last night. You really did kill those cops.”

  “Yeah. Apparently you all didn’t believe me. Maybe from now on you will,” Tony said.

  “Maybe you’re right. You killed one of Benito’s men.”

  “They were pointing guns at me. I don’t like guns pointed at me.”

  “Those are our business associates. They want me to kill you. Blood for blood.”

  “Look,” Tony said. “I’m not gonna sit here and bullshit you and act all badass. You know I’m new to all of this. I drive a Volkswagen. Up until last week, my life was incredibly boring and uneventful. The most dangerous thing I did all day was eating the churros from the snack bar at work. So I’m not totally familiar with whatever street rule or whatever the hell it is you guys live buy. It wasn’t exactly covered in my new employee orientation. I’ve done everything you guys have wanted me to do. My reward for that has been money yes, but also being beaten, having guns shoved in my face and having cops called on me. So based on what little I know of this way of life; now mind you my knowledge of this sort of thing comes from shit like ‘Scarface’ and ‘Goodfellas’. Based on that little knowledge you people seem to be all about respect. Respect is based on strength in this world. So, when that asshole with the gun in my face thought I was too scared and weak to pay attention to, I took the gun away and shot his partner. They may be angry, but I’m betting I earned their respect.”

  Slade looked at him and began laughing.

  “Holy shit. Dude, you are fucking insane!”

  Tony watched him laugh, not sure if he was about to kill him or what.

  “Ok,” Slade said. “Here is your money. I’ll tell Benito tough shit. He likes to fuck with new drivers. I guess he pushed you too far. I like that. We’ve had too many spineless pussies come through here. Domingo said he had a good feeling about you.”

  “So we’re good then?”

  “Yeah. We’re good,” Slade said as he handed Tony the bag. “One hundred thousand cash is in the bag, just like I promised. Come back tomorrow morning. I might have more work for you. Something besides just driving.”

  “Really? Like what?”

  “I’ve got some things to work out. Just get back here.”

  Tony took the bag and walked back to his car. When he arrived home, Kim’s car was still in the driveway. She was sitting in the living room drinking a cup of coffee glaring at him when he came inside.

  “Why aren’t you at work?” He asked.

  “What? Are you fucking kidding me?” She stood and walked toward him. “Where have you been? I tried calling you all night but your phone was off.”

  “I had something come up at work. I got called in. Some wildfire in California. They were short one people taking claims calls so they asked me to come in. You know I keep my phone off at work.”

  “Wildfire in California huh?” She was wearing a bath robe, standing with her arms crossed.

  “Yes! They get them every year and we get thousands of claims.”

  “So what is in the bag?”

  “Nothing.”

&
nbsp; “Nothing? Let me see.”

  “It’s just stuff I had in the car, it’s nothing important.”

  He tried to walk past her, but she grabbed at the bag.

  “I said let me see. I want to see what is in there. You seeing someone? Did you take a change of clothes with you?”

  “No! I told you, it’s nothing. You’re being ridiculous.”

  He had expected her to be at work when he got home, or still asleep at least. The last thing he’d expected was this crazy confrontation. He tried to pull away as she grabbed the bag.

  “Let me see it! What are you hiding?” She screamed as she tugged on it. He pulled back, but not with any real force. Finally he just let go.

  “Fine. Take it,” he said.

  She sat it on the ground and unzipped it, stepping back as she looked at the contents.

  “Jesus Christ Tony.” She looked up at him, her mouth hanging wide open. “How much is this? Is it real?”

  “Yes, it’s very real.”

  “Are you sure? How much is it?”

  “This is a hundred thousand. And I earned it.”

  “Earned it? How? Not as an insurance adjuster!”

  “Look, it’s complicated. Ok?”

  “You didn’t really get a promotion did you?”

  “Can you just trust me?”

  “Do you even still work at United? Did they fire you? What is going on?”

  “It’s hard to explain. I have it all worked out.”

  “Are you doing something illegal?”

  “No! Look. I make deliveries. A few times a week, I drop these trucks off in Mexico and drive back. That’s it.”

  “Deliveries? What is in the trucks?” She asked.

  This was getting frustrating. She was not going to let this go.

  “I don’t know. They don’t tell me and I don’t ask.”

  “So it could be what? Drugs? Weapons? What if you get stopped and searched? You’ll go to prison. Will they take care of you then?”

  “No one is getting arrested. God! Just let me take care of us. There’s enough money there to pay for all our bills and then some. Just try to enjoy it,” he said as he walked toward the bedroom. The past night’s events almost seemed a distant haze at this point. The fact that he’d killed two police officers in cold blood and Benito’s man, it felt like some weird dream. As distressing as it was at the time, it was barely an afterthought by now.