“Have a warrant out for your arrest?”
“No, of course not.”
There was a slight pitch to his tone. Kyle was onto something, getting warmer. He stepped up to the door, leaned down. “Don’t lie to me, boy. When I run your name I’ll find out all I need to know.”
Aaron sighed, looking defeated. “Okay, okay. I’m on parole.”
Ding! Ding! Kyle hit the jackpot. Found a man ripe for the taking. His pulse quickened at the news. He stood, rubbed his chin, then looked at the license again. The guy’s name was Aaron Dupree. His home address was…He knew that address, it was that cunt-bitch’s, Kelly. His heart fluttered. He nearly stumbled at the incredible fortune. He looked at Aaron, smiled. They lived at the same address. The guy was her son.
Kyle wanted to howl at the sky and beat his chest like a gorilla, but held himself in check.
“Is this your current address, Aaron?” Kyle asked, holding up the license.
“Yes.”
“Live alone?”
“No, with my mom.”
“Father?”
Aaron shook his head. “He’s no longer with us.”
Kyle felt his manhood stiffen. This was indeed a great morning. He’d never fully believed in fate, good or bad fortune, but might have to reconsider.
“What did you do?” he asked, salivating for an answer.
“Sorry?” Aaron said, looking confused.
“What did you do to wind up in prison?”
“Officer, I’m really sorry for speeding. I promise I’ll slow down. Really. I give you my word. I don’t mean to be ungrateful for your kindness, but my boss is going to fire me if I’m late. I served six years in Sing Sing Correctional Facility before I was released early on account of my good behavior. I never killed anyone. I was young. Stupid. I’ve learned my lesson and only want to give back to society. Is there some kind of after school program or youth group that I can attend, you know talk to troubled teens or something?”
“That was quite a mouthful,” Kyle said. “Can you give me your word that you’ll do something for me?”
“Yes.”
Kyle chuckled, nodding, then turned on the mean. “Your word don’t mean shit to me. Got it? Now tell me what you did or I’ll run your name and find out anyway.”
“I robbed a gas station,” Aaron said, rolling his eyes, looking defeated. “I had a few priors, disorderly conduct, drug possession, so the damn judge threw the book at me. Gave me 15 years.”
“Harsh,” Kyle said, pretending to feel bad for the guy.
Aaron’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah. I was only eighteen. High on speed when I did it, and I was just the driver. But I’m clean now, turned my life around.”
“Where’s your partner in crime?”
Still inside. He got twenty-five to life.”
“Wow. Guess he had priors too, besides getting the wrong judge on the wrong day.”
“Tell me about it, but I learned my lesson. Totally turned my life around. My past is all behind me. I’m trying to start over. Got a job, nothing special, but it’s honest work.”
Kyle shifted his weight. “You sound like a decent fellow, Aaron. A normal dude. And normal people speed once in a while, am I right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“But you’re not quite normal, not yet. You’re an ex-con, on parole. You’re in a mobile prison cell. You’ve got to be extra careful, extra law-abiding.”
“I know,” Aaron said, closing his eyes for a second, shaking his head. “I should’ve just called and told my boss I was going to be late. Again, I’m truly sorry.”
Kyle stood erect, crossed his arms over his chest. He pursed his lips, pretending to be contemplating something. “You might say that I hold your future in my hands. A speeding ticket, let alone if I bring you in for disorderly conduct, would be a violation of your parole. Am I correct?”
“Disorderly conduct?” Aaron said, stiffening.
“Just saying…Am I right?”
“Yes, sir,” Aaron said, coldly.
“Tell you what I’m going to do, Aaron. You seem like a good guy, and I believe you when you say you’ve changed.” He uncrossed his arms, smiled. “So how about we forget about this whole thing and I let you get to work?”
“That would be terrific, officer. I’d be in your debt.”
Kyle grinned and proffered the license. When Aaron went to take it, he yanked it back.
“I do this for people, on occasion, you know. Help people out. People I feel are worthy. I like you, Aaron. So how about you agree to do a favor for me in exchange for letting you off with a warning?”
“Anything.”
“Give me your cell phone number so I can get in touch with you when I have something for you to do,” Kyle said, and pulled out his own cell phone.
“Okay, sure,” Aaron said, and rattled off the digits.
Kyle punched them into his phone and tried the number. He heard a phone ring from somewhere inside the Camaro. “Just making sure,” he said, winking, then put his phone away and handed back the license.
“Thank you, officer. I really appreciate this.”
“Before you leave,” Kyle said, “I want you to know how lucky you are, and when I call, I expect you to pick up. Do whatever it is I ask, understand?”
Kyle saw a hint of nervousness befall the young man—his Adam’s apple moving up and down as he swallowed. “Um, yeah, of course.”
“And if you ignore me, tell me you’re too busy, the next time I pull you over, I’ll find one of these on you.” Kyle held up a small baggie filled with white powder. It was only flour, but that was his secret.
Aaron’s eyes widened as the color drained from his face.
“Do we have an understanding?”
Aaron nodded his head, his eyes not seeming to be focused on anything.
Kyle shoved the baggie back into his pocket. He smiled, patted Aaron on his shoulder. “Relax, son. It won’t come to that, unless you disappoint me.” He took a step back. “You get going now, wouldn’t want you to be late for work.”
Aaron looked at him, like a dog afraid of its abusive owner, then started the car and pulled away.
eBooks are not transferable.
They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Goblins
Copyright © 2015 by David Bernstein
ISBN: 978-1-61923-086-6
Edited by Don D’Auria
Cover by Scott Carpenter
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: August 2015
www.samhainpublishing.com
Goblins Page 21
