by MacShayne
‘Is it Brody Barnes? Dave Rodgers? or Doug Raid?’
At the same time, Rusty saw the old grey ford that Mitch drives. Mitch himself leaves the groceries store at the same moment that Rusty’s say’s that there is some stranger in town that could be the killer.
‘No, as we said, there’s no valid confirmation about how and when this John Doe has died.’
‘It’s the stranger!, He has something to do with it. You know it, they always do!’
‘Rust!, (Simon grabs Rusty’s arm) Keep you’re shit together man.’
Rusty watches how Mitch looks him straight in his eyes. A cold shudder goes over all of his body.
Later that day in the evening Officer Holland arrives at Rusty Wood’s residence. Neighbours heard strange noises from his house and discovered the backdoor was open, only then they alarmed the police.
Holland enters the house and senses something isn’t quite right. He calls for back-up and walks further into the house. The house is a complete trash, a fight has taken place here, or someone just went nuts. Lights don’t work, but Holland hears someone behind him. ‘Who is there!’ He points his gun forward and sees a shadow leaving the house. He runs toward the exit but can’t see anyone. Until someone puts it’s light on him. ‘Freeze’, a female voice is saying before Neagley can identify Holland. ‘Was that you who left the house?’ Holland asked. ‘I just arrived Jeff. Let’s take a look inside.’ After two minutes they discover the almost lifeless body of Rusty Wood. ‘Call an ambulance Holland. He’s still alive!’
Chapter Three:
The Affair
Easing, March 17 2009
Butch went directly to Richard when he heard about what had happened. Together with Simon they searched the house for traces, but there was nothing suspicious. Except, that Richard’s shotgun was missing and the television was broken. With police on their way, both Butch and Simon left. Richard was instructed to not press charges since only a weapon was stolen. When Butch already drove away, a grey Ford appeared in Richard’s street. Butch looked at the driver and was able to catch a glimpse of the person who was driving it. Simon drove away after another second passed by, but took the opposite direction of which Butch earlier took. The grey Ford drove behind Simon. While Butch made a left, he saw in his mirror how the grey Ford took the same route as Simon. Butch didn’t thought it was something harmful.
At the moment that Butch was driving in the street where he lived, he felt regret and did text Simon about the grey Ford. ‘Simon, I don’t feel like it’s a big deal. But keep your eyes open for a grey Ford. Butch.’ At the same moment when Butch hit send, he saw a red Toyota was parked on his driveway! Alan was the only person in Easing that drove such a vehicle, and Butch knew his wife had a thing for Alan. Butch parked his own Mercedes in such a way that it would block Alan if he tried to flee with his car. Well, Butch thought, even if he was able to take his car, it wouldn’t be that hard for Butch to keep up with him. Just think about it, a Mercedes versus an old Toyota??
Butch kicked open the front door which damaged not only the door, but also its lock and a part of the wall was damaged. Butch rushed towards the stairs, every clever guy would know what was going on here. That whore of a wife was screwing the motel boy! She must have thought Butch had left for work or something..
‘Holy, god dammit where the fuck are you!’ Butch screamed.
‘Shit.., go away, hide. He heard his wife whisper.
‘Holy! Where are you, you slut!
Holy heard how the door was kicked open, but didn’t say a thing to Alan until she heard it was Butch! Holy quickly put on her nighty while she begged Alan to hurry up and leave. She knew that Butch was too strong for Alan. As Butch was screaming while coming upstairs, Alan grabbed his knickers and pants and escaped via the window. As Alan slid down the drainpipe, Butch entered the bedroom.
‘Where is he Holy, and don lie to me!’
‘I-I-I don’t…’ (Butch hit her hard on her face and heard someone below.) Butch saw Alan falling on the ground and stumbling away to the front of the house. ‘You!’ Butch pointed at Alan who looked terrified. Butch went down the stairs as hard as he could and was outside at the moment Alan found out his escape was blocked.
‘Butch, you-you don’t know man, I love Holy.’
‘Well, I’m the guy that f*cks her according to the Holy bible.’
‘You talk like shit Butch.’
‘Let’s see if you know how to use those sticks that are attached to your shoulders.’
Alan was 1.93 metres long but had a slim figure. He has blond hair, short. He is ten centimetres longer than Butch, but Butch is athletic build and is a way better skilled in fighting than Alan.
‘Come get it.’ Alan said. (Alan was good at bluffing.)
Later that day Mitch arrived at the hospital with Alan’s insurance information. Alan was already taken care of and recovering in chamber 2.17. The most nearby hospital is 15 kilometres away from Easing in a big city called Groningen. Well, for Holland standards it’s a big city. Mitch took the stairs and hadn’t much trouble in finding the room where Alan could be found.
‘Have you been a bad boy Alan?’
‘Mitch, you’re here. I didn’t thought you would show up.’
‘I was in your office reading a paper when the phone rang. I thought, let me help you a bit. But then it seemed it was about you, they needed you’re insurance information.’
‘Thanks, I don’t know why you help me, but thanks.’
‘Well sometimes its handy to get to know someone, who’s from around. And perhaps, there comes a day you can repay me.’
‘I don’t have much.’
‘I don’t talk money Alan. Not my style.’
‘What is your style?’
(silence)
‘So, who put you here?’ Mitch asked.
‘Butch McCools.’
‘He has hit you pretty bad Alan. Is he in the hospital as well?’
‘No, but I hit him once!’
(Mitch grinned) ‘So, this is not the you should see the other guy kind of scenario ha.’
‘No, but I did fuck his wife. And I love her dearly.’
‘So, Butch is in your way I see. Does she feel the same?’
‘I don’t know Mitch, maybe you should pay her a visit and ask her.’
‘Maybe I will.’
In the afternoon, Lisa Neagley decided to have a look in Rusty Wood’s house. Since his near to death experience, people in the village talked about it a lot. So, once in the house she starts a little investigation. At first, noting else there is to see than a puddle of blood, which is also Wood’s. After a while she tries to imagine how Woods was attacked. The man who did it was not short. But before Wood was down, he was in a fight which lasted at least about a minute or so. The attacker had kicked him first on both his arms breaking the left arm and his right pulse. Then, when Rusty tried to hit the attacker with his head, the attacker was fast enough to block Rusty’s attack. Then the attacker kicked Rusty against his popliteal. Rusty couldn’t stand anymore or defend himself properly. But then the attacker grabbed something and almost beat Rusty to death. Lisa went into the basement after she took a look in the kitchen. Then she thought of what it could have been, perhaps a wrench? In the toolbox was no wrench to be found.
Butch was walking in main street towards the canal and a bar called Cafe the Bridge. The bar where they met the stranger. But to his dismissal, he saw that same stranger leaving their bar! He didn’t leave. This guy had some balls, that was for sure. He needed to be taught a lesson Butch thought.
‘Stranger, you want to feel my wrist on your face huh? Do yah? Answer me insect!’
Mitch who was almost entering his car stood still, just like Butch who was only one meter away. Mitch started to laugh and took the time to write something on a piece of paper which he gave to Butch. Which would have been difficult for most people because of the cold outside weather.
‘That’s where you can find me, for i
f you want to talk about your marriage issues.’
Butch normally would have hit the guy, but he was somehow amazed by this fella. He was that frightening type of strange.
Back at the police station, Lisa was taking another look at the toolbox, which was formerly owned by Butch. Butch’s name was carved on it. She didn’t found a wrench, but there was a hammer. The type which could have been used in killing the man who was found earlier this week. Earlier in the morning, Lisa learned that the male body which was found, indeed was Doug McRaid. So, it was a possibility that Simon and his gang were responsible. Lisa also learned about Butch’s wife Holy who had cheated on Butch with Alan. Alan was a pretty man, but she should’ve known better. Butch was a terrible guy. He was bald, strong and also Simon’s muscleman. But what if… No, it couldn’t be, could it? Doug McRaid, family man type of guy, sleeping with Holy McCools? The hammer, the murder and a motive.
‘Chief, I think I figured something out.’
‘Neagley, you know what I said earlier?’
‘Listen Boss, this case stinks!’
‘So?’
‘What if Doug was murdered as revenge.’
‘You say, someone in our neighbourhood killed this poor man.’
‘I found a hammer which could be the tool that was used to crack Doug’s skull.’
‘Who?’
‘Butch McCools. I found the hammer in a toolbox which was hidden in Rusty Wood’s basement.’
‘Not in a million years, but why?’
‘You heard about that affair this morning. What if Doug was the former Alan?’
Just as both Lisa and Chief Holland are about to leave, they receive a telephone call from Holy McCools.
Also that evening, Mitch arrived at the McCool’s residence. Mitch walked towards the backdoor and easily broke into the house where it is very quiet. Mitch found his way to the living room, where the television was on. Then he noticed a sound coming from the first floor. Like something fell. Mitch first took a look in the basement. Nothing special there, but Mitch notices a new snow shovel.
Mitch sneaked towards the stairs and quickly discovered it’s made of old wood. So, this type of stairs will make a squeaking noise as soon as you step on it. But there is a manner to make almost no noise at all. If you place your feet on the sides of each step, the cracking sound will be dimmed to almost nothing. Mitch arrived on the first floor and still there was little movement in this house. There was however one room where some noise came from.
Holy McCools was gagged and blinded after Butch tied her on the bed. She couldn’t make much noise and didn’t see a thing. But he didn’t leave her like that. Holy was naked and Butch used permanent marker to write something on her. Probably very humiliating texts. But she heard however perfectly. She felt someone was coming upstairs and that this particular somebody was about to find her like this. Would it be her end?
Mitch opened the door and found Holy McCools. It was disgusting. The poor lady couldn’t move a muscle, say a word or see thing! At the same time, Mitch heard a Mercedes pulling up at the driveway. Mitch cut loose Holy’s feet and palms and removed her gag. ‘Wait here for two hours and then call the cops. Just nod if you will, but don’t remove your blindfold.
‘Thank you, sir’, she said.
Mitch rushed towards the basement and took the snow shovel.
Holy called the police after two hours. She had cleaned herself up and knew she wouldn’t ever see Butch again.
Later that evening
‘This is Holy McCools, please come over, someone came into the house.’
‘No, it just, my husband is missing..’
Then she hung up. She took a picture of hers and Butch and took it to the backyard. She burned it.
Chapter Four:
The Suspect
Easing, March 18 2009
Chief Roberts and Deputy Lisa Neagley appear on McCool’s doorstep. They had been informed about the missing of Butch McCools and a possible intruder that kidnapped Butch. Holy McCools however, doesn’t seem to be too emotional about it, not even a little bit, but why? That’s the question Lisa asked her chief when they were on their way to the basement.
‘Why isn’t she crying or something. Looks like she’s even happy about his disappearance.’
‘Sometimes Neagley, that’s the way how people respond with loss. It’s natural.’
‘I can’t believe this happened Chief, we are about to crack a case and then the prime suspect disappears.’
‘Well, I say it’s coincidence.’
‘Do you believe in coincidence?’
Both arrive in the basement. Chief Roberts looks around and it occurs to him that Butch has no toolbox. But Lisa finds something more important, the snow shovel. Covered in blood.
‘Like what do you think Neagley? Ha, there’s no toolbox in here.’
‘What if, what happens now is all connected somehow. Perhaps…’
‘Perhaps what deputy?’
‘Look at this boss.’ (pointing at the snow shovel.)
Twenty minutes later officer Holland appears to take care of the evidence. At the same time, Lisa and Chief Roberts tried to have another talk with Mrs. McCools.
‘Uh, miss McCool’s, do you have a moment for us?’, Roberts asks.
‘Sure, why?’
‘Because… we found a murder weapon.’
‘So, Butch is death?’
‘We don’t know, but we also need your fingerprints.’
‘Now I’m the suspect? I’m a victim!’
‘Please cooperate Mrs. McCools.’
Alan is released from the hospital and finds out that it’s snowing again. The city is populated by 150.000 inhabitants. And now because of the snow, there was chaos, chaos everywhere. Its morning rush hour and he needs to find a way back to the small but cosy Easing. He didn’t expect to find a cab soon, but the grey old ford that was standing still on the opposite of the street caught his eye. He walked towards the car and saw it was Mitch Crowne. He was on time, just like he promised on the phone.
‘You’re a man of your word, aren’t you Mitch?’
‘Someone taught me, you either get it or miss it, by a hair. I never miss Alan.’
‘What you been doing last day huh? Have you paid a visit yet? To Holy?’
‘Yes I did.’
‘And? You’re not a man of many words, are you?’
‘Listen Alan, I like you. But don’t blow this out of proportion okay?
(Seconds of silence)
Let me put it this way Alan. Butch is out of the picture.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Holy is single again. It’s what you wanted right?’
‘Wow, don’t put this on me!’
‘Doesn’t matter, it’s done.’
In the restaurant, Lisa is about to order a sandwich deluxe when she spots Holy McCools in the corner, all alone. Lisa doesn’t let this opportunity go to a waste and walks over to Holy.
‘Would you mind?’
‘Go ahead, it’s a free country.’
‘You know I want to talk with you about last night.’
‘As I said, it’s a free country, at least now.’
‘The question is, who broke into your house yesterday?’
‘I don’t know who officer, and I didn’t see him.’
‘So it is a man, see we’re going somewhere already. If we find him, we might find your husband.’
‘I don’t want my husband back, don’t you see these injuries? The hell with Butch.’
‘Okay, so you didn’t see the person that harassed you two?’
‘He didn’t do anything to me, he saved my life! Listen, I don’t know who he is or what he looks like, the way I see it, he’s a goddamn saviour!’
‘Okay, thank you for your time Mrs. McCools.’
At the hospital, Rusty has two visitors. They are Richard Red and Simon Wilson, his friends. They see for the first time how bad Rusty has been beaten up. It’s a goddamn miracle th
e man is still alive. He looks like a mummy. The room is empty, no postcards or letters.
‘Rusty, listen to me buddy, Simon said. We want to get the man who did this to you. Can you speak?’
‘I don’t think he feels like talking at this moment guys.’ Wendy Wayne stepped in.
‘Let’s let us be the judge of that angel.’
Wendy leaves the room. ‘Sure…’
‘She may be right Simon, I mean look at him.’
‘Richard, the man who did this to Rusty probably killed Butch!’
Rusty tries to say something. He tries to whisper.
‘Listen Rusty, were glad you’re alive, but the man who did this to you, killed Butch.’
‘What does he say Simon?’
‘I don’t know, he just stammers.’
‘s-s-s-s-st-str-a-s’
‘Stranger? Is it that new guy?’
‘Okay, that’s enough gentlemen, Rusty needs his medicine.’ The doctor said.
Simon and Richard leave the room.
‘It was the stranger!’, Simon said.
Meanwhile at the police station
‘Lisa, its crystal clear to me, It has to be connected with that guy that showed up two or three days ago.’
‘Chief, that’s just an assumption, let’s not jump to conclusions!’
‘I want this to end Neagley, end it right now. I can’t have another incident in this godforsaken place.’
‘We can’t arrest an innocent guy. Especially someone who’s just passing through.’
‘Neagley, get this done right now. And don’t you think it’s strange that since his arrival, bodies start like falling from the open sky?’
‘You have to keep in mind that this also could be connected to the murder of Doug?’
‘I am your chief Neagley, I advice you as your boss, for god’s sake, take a good look at that drifter story. A man with no past and no reason to stay has never clean hands.’
Easing, March 17 2009
Mitch went downstairs and heard Butch coming to the front door. He probably had a few drinks in the bar and was now on his way to play with his toy on the bed. Not anymore. Mitch went down to the basement where the new an unused snow shovel was standing. At the moment that Butch entered the house, Mitch was in the toilet with the snow shovel. He heard how Butch locked the door and went straight towards the stairs.
