Eyes of the Predator: The Pickham County Murders (The Hunters)

by Glenn Trust

  “This is Lyn…I’ll be at the truck stop,” the voice said.

  Cy looked up and saw the look on his brother’s face.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Lyn. She left a message, said she would be waiting at the truck stop.”

  “Well that’s great,” Cy said smiling at his younger brother.

  “Yeah,” Clay replied, “but she sounded scared. Like something happened.”

  “Well, we can go pick her up when we get off. She said she’d be waiting, right? We can run her back down to home, drop her off with Mama and head back up here,” Cy said and then added, “Won’t get much sleep tonight you know. You can be a pain in the ass for a little brother.”

  Clay nodded back “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. She just didn’t sound right though.”

  “Well, call her back. She probably called from the pay phone. She might still be around it waiting.”

  “Yea, good idea, but the number doesn’t look like a Georgia number.”

  Clay used his thumb to redial the number Lyn had called from.

  Even through the rumble of the big rig’s tires, big Leon felt the vibration of the phone in his shirt pocket. He plunged two large fingers, all that would fit, into the pocket and retrieved the phone.

  Glancing away from the road, Leon studied the number on the screen. Not his wife or anyone else he knew. Probably someone with business, and they called him by mistake. They should have called Bob, who was a half mile ahead in his rig. As always, Leon would just as soon let Bob do the talking and arranging. He put it back in his pocket. Whoever it was would get his voice mail and would call Bob’s number.

  “This is Leon. Leave a message.”

  The deep, gruff voice on the phone startled Clay, who was expecting Lyn’s soft, timid voice. Who the hell was Leon, he thought. Damn. This wasn’t good.

  Clay dialed the number again.

  Leon was annoyed as the vibration started in his pocket again. Dammit, he was beginning to get pissed off. He didn’t like talking much, and didn’t like talking on the phone even more. Still it might be something about one of his kids or his wife from a number he didn’t know.

  “Leon!”

  Clay recognized the voice from the voicemail announcement. The voice sounded annoyed. Too bad.

  “Hi Leon, this is Clay Purcell. I’m looking for a girl, Lyn. She called me from your number.”

  Oh, Leon thought. Forgot about that. Clay couldn’t see it, but the big man’s face softened.

  “Yeah. She did. Are you the friend she called?”

  Clay detected the softer tone in Leon’s voice.

  “Yes, I am. I mean I guess I am. Is she with you?”

  “No, she was at the truck stop last I saw her. Waiting for you. Are you the friend that was gonna pick her up?”

  Clay answered with more confidence now. “Yes. Yes I am. I told her to call, and I would come get her.”

  “Well, that’s good son,” Leon’s deep voice resonated in Clay’s phone. “She needs someone to get her away from there.”

  “Why?” Clay felt the anxiety rise in his chest. “Is something wrong?”

  Big Leon remembered the little girl standing beside the pay phones at the truck stop when they left. She may have been eighteen and full grown in the eyes of the law, but that little girl didn’t need to be alone there. Leon felt an ache inside. They should have done more. Something. But there wasn’t anything they could do. She had called her friend, and they had to drop a load in Birmingham. Leon could never have put words to all of this. He said what he could.

  “She had some trouble with a trucker. Another fella helped her out, and then we took her in to the truck stop. Bob wanted…”

  “We? Bob? Who’s Bob” Clay asked, his anxiety growing.

  “Bob? Bob’s my partner,” Leon paused to get the story back on track. “Bob’s my partner. We saw the trouble with the trucker, but this other fella stepped in first, then he left, so we took the little girl back in the truck stop. Bob called the police, but they said she was grown so she could do what she wanted. I let her use my phone to call a friend to come get her. She must have called you,” Leon concluded. He was relieved to get it all out. He added, “Then you called me.”

  Clay was overwhelmed. There were too many questions.

  “So you left her?” Clay asked.

  Big Leon didn’t sound or feel so intimidating now. His voice sounded contrite. “Yeah, we did. Sorry. I hope that’s all right. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. She seems like a nice girl. Someone should go get her and take her home. Is that you?”

  “Yes,” Clay said firmly. “Yes it is. Is she okay?”

  “Last we saw she was standing by the pay phones outside the store waiting. For you, I reckon.” Leon’s conscience and concern made him add, “There wasn’t anything else we could do. Least it seemed that way.”

  Clay took a breath. It was lucky for Lyn that Leon and his partner Bob had come along. Not their fault. They hadn’t done anything different than he and Cy had done, leaving her at the truck stop. His conscience twinged painfully.

  “Well, Leon thanks for helping her out. I’ll get her at the truck stop. Thanks.”

  All Leon could say was, “Okay then. Thanks.” The conversation ended. There wasn’t anything else to say.

  Clay looked at Cy and said, “I gotta go.”

  Cy looked up, nail gun in his hand, surprised. “What, now?”

  “I gotta go,” was all Clay said.

  Cy wasn’t happy. “Why do you have to go now? We got to get these walls framed. We have responsibilities, Clay.”

  Clay dialed his voice mail back and handed the phone to Cy. He listened intently. The look of annoyance on his face became one of resignation.

  “Okay, okay. Take the truck,” Cy said.

  “Thanks.” Clay hesitated, “You know I’ll have to…”

  Cy cut him off, “I know. You’re gonna take her to mama. No reason to come back here for me. I’ll catch a ride to the motel with one of the guys. Grab dinner and a couple of beers and go to bed.” Resignation plastered across his face. Cy reached in the pocket of his blue jeans, and tossed the truck keys to Clay. “Go on. Do what you gotta do.”

  Catching them in midair, Clay turned and walked away.

  Opening the door, he called out to his brother, “I’ll call you later.”

  Cy didn’t hear. The circular saw was screeching through another piece of pine.

  54. Delicious

  “Sure you’re not hungry?” Lylee asked between large bites of a cheeseburger.

  “No, I’m fine,” Lyn said, making wet circles on the counter with the ice filled glass of Coke. She looked up and smiled appreciatively. “Thanks for the drink.” The Coke was the least of things he had done for her. “And for, what happened earlier,” she added.

  Lylee reached for some fries and shoved them in his mouth, then took a sip of his own Coke. His attitude was that of a hungry man focused on his food. Mouth full, he looked sideways at Lyn, smiled, and then swallowed. Shaking his head modestly he said, “No need to thank me. I told you why. Just sorry I got so carried away. I know that must have scared you some.” He lifted the cheeseburger to his mouth and then stopped and added, “You really do remind me of my little sister.”

  Lylee’s words received the desired effect. Lyn smiled broadly at him. Good, he thought. Soon, very soon.

  He turned back to his food. He really was hungry. And with what was to come, no telling when he would get a chance to eat next. Another big bite of the cheeseburger disappeared in his open mouth.

  Lyn leaned forward over her drink, elbows on the counter. There was an empty seat still between them. After a moment, she looked at Lylee and said, “You know I do have a brother.”

  Lylee showed mild interest and said, “Really?” Inwardly, he was on fire. He tingled with anticipation. Outwardly, he was the stalking cat, moving ever so closer to the catch. A brother. He sensed, he knew, that he could use th
is. He awaited the opportunity.

  “Yeah,” Lyn said. “My brother Sam. My big brother.”

  “That’s great,” Lylee said, cleaning up some ketchup with a french fry. “Well, what does he think about you being here. I mean he must not like it, huh?”

  “He doesn’t know.”

  “No? How come?,” Lylee asked, playing the interested friend, the protector.

  “Sam was in Afghanistan, in the Army. He was killed. He’s buried back at the church at home.”

  “So, why are you here? Because your brother was killed?” Lylee asked with the greatest sympathy and interest, and then added politely, “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry into your business.” In reality, he couldn’t have cared less why she was there. He was only interested that she was there. Her story provided information that would bring her closer; closer to the ripping claws and tearing fangs. That was his interest, his only interest. Listening intently, he sought that one piece of information, the key that would open the door to what was to come next.

  “I had some trouble at home.” Lyn looked down again. She really didn’t want to go into all that had happened last night.

  And again, Lylee couldn’t have cared less about her trouble at home, but he saw her withdraw on this topic. He had to keep her talking, bringing her closer.

  He smiled broadly at Lyn, “Well let’s not talk about the trouble. My name’s Bruce, Bruce Starns.” Lylee made the name up on the spot. Initials BS, he thought seemed perfect for the occasion. He found the irony humorous. It was even more humorous that she was unaware of the bullshit he threw her way with every bit of information he provided and every answer to her questions. He stuck his hand out to shake her hand in the way new acquaintances do.

  Lyn shook the ends of his fingers the way a young girl who never shook hands would and said, “I’m Lyn.”

  “So how come you are here in the big city in this delightful place?” he said letting go of her hand and waving his arm around at the truck stop, laughing. As he did so, he saw it happen. He saw the barrier come down. She got too close, and the best part was she didn’t even know it, and when she did realize it, it would be too late.

  Why not just tell him, she thought. “Me and Sam always had a dream of going to Canada.” She shrugged and then added, “So I thought I would go to Canada.” She paused self-consciously and then continued, “I know it sounds crazy.”

  The broad, charming smile was back. “Are you kidding? Canada’s great. Beautiful place. I think that’s a perfect place to dream of going.”

  “Really?” Lyn asked. “You been there?”

  “Sure. I was there just last year. I took a little runaround there on vacation.” Lylee laughed inwardly again at the use of his special word for these trips. If she only knew; she would know, soon enough.

  “Really?” Lyn knew she was repeating herself. “I mean what’s it like? In my dreams, our dreams, me and Sam thought it would be…beautiful.”

  “It is beautiful. Big and full of trees and mountains. And lakes, lot’s of lakes.” Lylee’s only real knowledge of Canada was what you might gather watching television or looking at travel magazines, but Lyn didn’t know that. Lylee knew that she didn’t know, and her innocence only increased his desire and whetted his appetite for what would come. Soon now, very soon.

  Lylee watched Lyn look at the wall behind the counter as if she were staring at some far away lake. She was imagining what Canada was like. Trees and mountains and fresh air. Oh yes, he thought, and by the way, don’t forget the grizzly bears and the mountain lions. Claws that would tear into her soft flesh. Teeth that would sink into her throat as she sat happily beside some mountain lake. The inward laughing was insuppressible, and it became a smile on his face.

  Seeing the smile, Lyn was embarrassed. She didn’t understand the smile. She had no clue that the smile was her cue to run for her life.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I know I sound silly.”

  “Nope. Not at all,” Lylee said bringing the smile under control, pushing the laughter deep inside where she wouldn’t see it and maybe realize that all was not right. “So, you’re headed to Canada then. That’s why you were with that truck driver, huh? Ride to Canada?”

  Lyn’s face changed slightly. The memory of what had happened, or almost happened if it hadn’t been for this man, was a sharp pain.

  Lylee saw the change. It was what he had intended. Remind her of what he had done to help her, to protect her.

  “Yeah. He was gonna give me a ride north. Not all the way, but closer. I guess I was pretty stupid.”

  “It’s never stupid to follow your dreams,” Lylee said smiling again, this time at the corniness of what he had just said. This was too good. Follow your dreams. Reach for the stars. Climb every mountain. And so on and so on. Her innocence was delicious, irresistible. He savored it. Soon he would feed on it.

  “So are you still going to Canada?” he asked.

  Lyn sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I called a friend. He might come pick me up. I don’t know if he got the message or if he’s coming.”

  Lylee sensed it was time.

  “Listen,” he said, “Sorry I can’t give you a ride to Canada, or north, I’m headed out west through Atlanta. Got to get where there’s some wide-open spaces. I’m from Texas, you know, and I miss the plains after a while.”

  There was just the slightest bit of disappointment on Lyn’s face. Perfect.

  He continued, “Hey,” he said as if the thought was a surprise to him. “I’ve got some travel brochures of where I visited in Canada if you want them. Might help you decide where you want to go. Canada’s a big place you know. Anyway, the pictures are pretty.”

  “I’d like that. I’ve only seen some stuff on television and in a couple of school books,” Lyn said.

  “Okay, then,” Lylee nodded his head smiling. He looked at the check the waitress had left on the counter, pulled some money out, and dropped it on top. Without looking at Lyn, he stood up and started walking away. “C’mon, I’ll get them for you,” he said almost indifferently over his shoulder.

  Lylee didn’t have to see to know that Lyn had hesitated only for the briefest of moments before standing up and following. He kept his head and eyes forward. His indifferent, matter-of-fact way enhanced his harmlessness. Lylee knew it instinctively; he didn’t have to think about it.

  And he didn’t have to look back as he pushed the door open, walked outside, and turned right towards the corner of the building. He heard the door open right after him and knew that the girl was following.

  Lyn’s split second of hesitation had faded almost instantly. She walked after the man, Bruce. Yes, she had met some bad men. Her daddy had hurt her and then Henry, but most of them had been good to her. The brothers Clay and Cy, big Leon and Bob the truck drivers, and now Bruce. He had even saved her from Henry. It seemed like there were more good ones than bad ones, and she began to get a little of her confidence back.

  She watched Bruce walk ahead of her, his hands pushed harmlessly down in his pockets. He was softly whistling. He seemed happy and at ease.

  Lylee was happy. He was very happy. He looked down at his feet shuffling slightly as he walked to appear even more harmless.

  Coming up to the car, he walked around to the passenger side, which was nearest the rear of the building. He had positioned the car so that it would provide cover from anyone who might be outside and look their way.

  “They’re just in the glove box here. I’ll get them.”

  Lyn stopped at the rear of the car. Lylee continued walking and then stopping by the passenger door, he exclaimed in disbelief, “Damn! Look at that.”

  “What,” Lyn asked surprised.

  Lylee looked up at the sky in mock frustration and anger. “I can’t believe it. I go inside to grab a bite to eat, not gone more than thirty minutes, and look at this. Someone took a key or something and scratched up the side of my car.”

  He knelt down by the door shaking his h
ead and said, “I’ll bet it was that guy that tried to get you into his truck.” Shaking his head he said, “Yeah, gotta be him, trying to get even, that jerk.”

  And then Lyn made the final mistake, the big one. She stepped too close to the un-caged animal that was Leyland Torkman.

  Moving forward she looked at the side of the car, as Lylee stood up to show her. “Where?” she said. “I don’t see…”

  Lylee’s movements were swift and fluid. His right hand pulled open the passenger door. His left hand emerged from his pocket with the knife.

  Lyn gasped as she was pushed hard against the car. Something sharp pressed against her chest.

  Lylee pushed the knife hard against her ribs. Leaning against her with his body, anyone who saw would think he was just trying to knock off a piece there in the parking lot, something that had probably happened more than a few times back on this deserted side of the building. His face was next to hers. His lips almost touched hers.

  Lyn looked into the fierce, sparkling eyes. A small, terrified sound tried futilely to escape her throat.

  “Not a sound,” Lylee hissed at her through lips that barely moved. “Not one sound, or I will cut you deep and hard. I promise it will hurt. You understand?”

  Lyn could only look at him with wide, panic-stricken eyes. The memory of his attack on Henry flooded into her consciousness, and she knew what he was capable of.

  “Do you understand?” Lylee said each word slowly and deliberately. “Nod, if you do.”

  Lyn nodded her head once slowly. The sparkling eyes narrowed as they stared deep into hers.

  Holding the point of the knife firmly against her, Lylee reached down with his right hand and pulled a plastic tie wrap from the car seat. It was exactly like the one found by Deputy George Mackey at the StarLite.

  He quickly wrapped the tie around Lyn’s right wrist, tightened it, and then used the knife point to push her into the seat. Pulling another tie out, he ran it through the one on Lyn’s wrist and then around the frame at the bottom of the seat. Lyn’s right arm was now secured to the car. The tie bit into her skin if she moved.