by Barb Shuler
“Motherfucker. Kid, I’ma kick your ass.”
“He needs to know. Give it to me!” The kid’s anger was starting to ring out loud and clear. This was just getting better by the minute.
“Someone talk to me!” I yelled.
“Don’t kid! Move!” I heard the office door slam and Charlie curse again before his voice became almost a whisper in the phone. Like he was trying to keep what he was saying just between us.
“The charges didn't stick. There was an attack, and two kids were killed while their families were on a campout or some shit. Nicole said it was self-defense, that she was attacked, as was the girl who died. There wasn’t enough evidence and the little shit passed a lie detector. It all looks fishy to me. She really did a number on them.”
“Son of a bitch,” I tossed the bottle in my hand across the tent and cursed again. “Wait, you said her father kept her out of the nuthouse, right? Why was she going to the nuthouse?”
“There is a lot of correspondence in this folder from a Misha Larson, M.D., P.H.D. and a few hundred other letters. I’d hate to see her letterhead. I mean-”
“Charlie, I don’t give a fuck about her fucking letterhead. What is all the correspondence about?”
“Sorry, boss. Seems that Nicole suffers from PTSD that has manifested into schizophrenia. She also suffers from manic states. Whatever the hell that means. Man, she… Holy fucking shit.” I heard something drop on the desk and Charlie yelled for Derek. His voice was muffled and all I could catch was “the father’s name” and “that is the name, can't you read?” before Charlie came back to the phone breathing heavier. “Drew... you sittin’ down?” I could hear papers shuffle, again. “Kid, are you sure?”
“Yes, dang, man, get a grip. I can frigging read, so can you. That clearly says-”
The kids voice cut off and it sounded as if the muffled talking from before started again. I growled in frustration. “JUST FUCKING TELL ME SOMETHING!”
“Dude, she’s your dad’s kid!” Derek had apparently snatched the phone from Charlie. His words hit me like a ton of bricks. “Ow, don't hit me, asshole. Drew, seriously... She’s your dad’s offspring.”
“Get out of the way. Kid, give me the phone!” Charlie sounded like he was panicking and as I replayed Derek’s words again and my body stiffened.
“Derek!”
“Ye-Yes?”
“Did you say my father was that thing’s father? Stephen Landry? Judge Stephen Landry?” Silence met my words and I closed my eyes, my fist balling around the phone harder. “Derek!”
“Yes, yes... he-” I ended the call. I couldn't hear any more of this shit. This could not be happening. Not now. Not fucking ever. I grabbed my gun and the keys to the Jeep and stormed out of the tent. I heard my phone ringing again, but I ignored it. Someone called my name but nothing registered. I jumped in the Jeep, started it and pulled out of the clearing onto the road. This had to be a sick fucking joke.
I drove like a bat out of hell towards the other campsite where my father and a few of the FBI men had set up a command post so both sides of the river were covered. It was really so Gabe didn’t strangle him every time he tried to take over. I replayed the kid’s words, “She’s a killer”. “Dude, she’s your dad’s kid.” What else could one person take? As I flung the Jeep into park I jumped out of it, lights still on, as was the engine. As a couple of suits came out of the tent I charged right to them and yelled. “STEPHEN LANDRY, GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!”
I heard a car pull up and my name called as my father came out of the tent. His face showing his disdain in my calling him by his name. “What in the hell? Boy, where are your clothes?”
It was then that I realized I was only in my jeans. I didn’t give a shit either. I charged towards him and shoved him hard. I was grabbed by his new group of ass kissers as I started to curse at him. “HOW COULD YOU? YOU BROUGHT HER INTO OUR HOME… KNOWING WHAT SHE WAS!”
“Bubba, hey, man, calm down. Tell me what’s going on.” Jacks had slipped in front of me, his body blocking mine as he pushed me back a few steps. His hands were on my shoulders, jerking me back in place when I tried to look away from him. “Drew, you’re attacking our father. I want to know why!”
“That bastard is not our father!” I gritted out between clenched teeth. The men around us all looked to our father and then back at me. I pointed towards Steven as I shook with rage. “THAT BASTARD BROUGHT HER INTO OUR HOME. HE LIED TO US ALL, JACKS!”
“Son, calm down. This is not the time, nor the place for this.”
“DON’T YOU CALL ME SON! I’M NO LONGER ANYTHING TO YOU, YOU BASTARD! THIS IS ALL YOUR FUCKING FAULT!”
“DREW!” I was shoved back and I met my twin’s eyes. “What’s going on? What are you saying?”
I could see the look in Jacks’s eyes as he got a hold of my emotional state. He was the only one that was going to keep me from killing my father, right here, right now. I pointed at Stephen and spoke through gritted teeth. My back went rigid as I narrowed my eyes at him. “That bastard brought a manic, schizophrenic nutjob into our fucking house. It just so happens she is his mother fucking daughter.” The voices around us went dead silent as my words sank in. All eyes were now on Stephen. “He cheated on our mother, Jacks. They made the spawn of Satan and then he, that stupid bastard right there, brought her home! To our home, like she was just some stray dog that needed a home. The whole time he knew she could go batshit crazy and axe murder us all! Now, she has taken the love of my life and I may not get her back.”
“You ungrateful prick!” My father’s words spurred on my anger and I tried to get at him again. I had Jackson and three others pushing me back as I heard another car pull up. I looked back when I heard Gabe call my name.
“Not now, Gabe!” I hissed. My fists clenched tighter.
“Stand down, Deputy.” Gabe walked past me, towards Stephen. Before anyone else could react, Gabe’s hand swung out, clocking the bastard a good one in the mouth. I tried to get to him to help but Jacks kept me back. “How could you do this Stephen? How?”
“Gabe, what’s up your ass?” Stephen’s words were laced with anger as he looked between Gabe and I, cupping his now bruising jaw.
“WHAT’S UP MY ASS? YOU POMPOUS BASTARD! YOUR CRAZY FUCKING DAUGHTER HAS MY DAUGHTER!”
“How-” Stephen clamped his mouth shut before he admitted she was his. I sighed and muttered under my breath as Gabe started to curse again.
“HOW WHAT? HOW DID I FIND OUT YOUR SECRET? THAT DOESN’T FUCKING MATTER! NICOLE’S RECORDS ARE NOW UNSEALED, YOU ASSHOLE. EVERYONE WILL KNOW WHAT YOU HELPED CAUSE HERE,” Gabe raged. His voice gained in volume to match his anger.
There was movement and the FBI boys were now between Gabe and the Judge, but that was for Gabe’s sake. You could see the hatred on their faces as they glanced at Stephen.
“THIS IS NOT MY FAULT!” The moment Stephen opened his mouth Gabe and I charged at him. We were stopped as everyone yelled for us to calm down. “You have no idea what that girl has been through! No idea! This is not my doing. Gabriel, calm down.”
“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down. That is my daughter out there. We don’t know… She may be hurt or worse. So help me God, I will kill you with my bare hands if my baby girl is not brought back to me!”
“Nicole is not a bad kid. She just doesn’t understand some things.” His voice was verging on anger again.
Stephen’s words were like a slap in the face to us all. I shoved away from the men holding me and met Jacks eyes for a moment before I looked at the man I had always looked up to. My jaw clenched as I fought my urge to charge him and beat him to the ground. He was glaring at Gabe as he spoke. I cut him off before he could say more.
“Are you so fucking blind that you don’t see what is right in your face? She’s not a bad kid? She fucking killed two people. The reports only said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove it!”
“That girl was beaten, rap
ed, and God only knows what else was done to her for years. She is a little messed up, I admit that. This isn’t like her, though!” He glared as he stepped closer to where I was. Before I could say anything to him, Jackson moved closer to him and for the first time in his life he talked back in a negative way to the man we called father.
“How dare you defend her! No matter what happened to her, she has no fucking right to do this. You had no fucking right to keep this from any of us. You let that psycho in our house, in our lives, and lied to us all. Does Mama know what she is? Or that she is your fucking child? Which means you.. you cheated on Mama since she is between us and Katie. Answer me! How can you defend her?!?” All of us were struck stupid for a minute as Jackson, the passive twin, the quiet twin, ripped into our father. I was proud of him, but nothing was going to distract me from the fact that this asshole brought a fucking killer into our home.
“She’ll know now. I promise you that. I won’t let you hurt anyone else in this family.” I watched as Jacks turned. When he pushed me back towards the Jeep I went willingly. My words had struck my father where it hurt. Our mama was his life. Or so I thought. As I shook my head I sighed and leaned back against the Jeep. I looked around and squinted. The sun was up… when did that happen? I slumped a bit and laid my hands on my knees as I bent over and took a deep breath. My body was still shaking. If I didn’t get my shit together I wouldn’t be any good to anyone, especially Dani Lynn.
“Dani Lynn, I’m coming for you, baby. I promise. God, please take care of my sweet angel.” I whispered to myself, or so I thought. It wasn’t until Gabe called my name that I stood up straight. He came over and wrapped one arm around my shoulder, pulling me to him.
“We will find her. Keep your head in the game, kid. I need you on your A game.” He patted my back and stepped over to Special Agent Anders, who was sent from the field office here in Oklahoma.
Anders kept an eye on me and I straightened as Jackson brought me a t-shirt. I slipped it on along with the socks and trainers he dropped at my feet. I secured my holster in the small of my back and was getting myself calm when my phone rang. I looked at it and hit accept.
“Talk to me, kid.”
“You’re in the wrong place!”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Bodies
Dani Lynn
Day 11
2/12/11
DEAR DIARY,
I’m not sure which is worse, the morning sickness that is totally kicking my ass, or the fact that the psycho knows I’m pregnant. Or, better yet, the way she looks at me. Dead eyes. Her eyes are totally dead. She keeps calling me Laney. And, if I don’t answer to that name, I get hit. I am covered in bruises and the time spent in that torture room has increased. She’s moved past crazy. The gal is full on fucking crazy. She tried cutting me with some wicked looking knife yesterday. You betcha ass I fought hard against that. I can take a lot of things, but that.. Hell no. That is taking me back down a winding road I’m avoiding like it was the Black Plague.
She saw my scars. That was what set her off. The scars that only Drew has seen. Yes, when I was a teen I had problems coping with my mom’s death. Who wouldn’t? I was fourteen, my dad was heartbroken, and I felt so alone. I wasn’t alone, but in my head I was. Even now, that pain hurts more than it should. I’ve always had friends and family with me. Through every step I had a guiding hand holding mine. But it wasn’t enough.
When I was seventeen, well actually only hours from turning eighteen, Drew came to see me, at Katie’s insistence of course. He found me, alright. He found me in my bathroom… razor blade in hand and blood dripping from my leg. The ten slashes that had helped ease the pain and worry crashing down on me over graduation had somewhat dissipated…. Until that moment. All I could do was stare at his reflection in the mirror. The look of anger that crossed his gentle face broke my heart. He shocked the hell out of me when he snatched me off the floor and yelled until he was blue in the face. Then, you know that ass took me in his arms and just stood there holding me as I cried. It was then that I fell in love with him. I made him promise to never say a damn thing about what he saw. In return I promised to never be so stupid again.
It’s been six and a half years and I have not thought of doing that again. I know now that I have people I can talk to. I also have a psychiatrist that I see when I am feeling completely overwhelmed. I’ve seen Nicole in that building before… now that I think of it, the bitch needed to be there every day. God, I thank all that is holy that I did not turn out like her. Jesus. I still feel stupid writing all of this out on paper. But since I can’t ring Dr. Fletcher, or call Drew, this is my therapy.
All I want is to go home, lock myself away and let Drew hold me until I feel like me again. I’m doing all I can to keep me and my baby safe. I’ve gone as far as flushing anything I can so I don’t have to eat it. I make sure to ask for soft shit. Anything already packaged I can eat without worry. But stuff she makes on her own… I just can’t do it anymore. I know there is something in that food. I’m not doctor, but I swear it’s something like Xanax. I feel really chill, but then I get sick. I puke enough, thanks to Peanut. I do not wish for any extra help there. Nope. No fucking thank you.
Okay, maybe a little writing will help chill my nerves. Until another day… hopefully there won’t be any, but… things aren’t looking all that promising.
Dani Lynn
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” I closed the notebook I had deemed my diary, pulled out my notebook with the story notes and outline in it and opened my laptop. I swear I prayed to be lucky enough for her to slip up and turn on the Wi-Fi or something. The internet had to be on in this place. She walked around with a damn smart phone, for fuck’s sake. Bitch also had my smart phone. I hate to know what in the fuck she is doing with it, too. I shook my head and let out a deep breath, hit play on my playlist, cracked my neck and started typing. Letting Lizzie feed me the words to her story. Letting myself escape my own reality. One word at a time.
~*~
I moved forward and stopped where he had pointed. Andy grabbed me and pulled me close. "Now, you know the routine. I want you on the counter, now," he said in my ear as he turned to walk to the back counter.
He pushed me against it and I huffed. He needed to be in the back, but how could I get him back there? I had to think fast before he did something to me. "Andy, baby, let’s go in the back. I have a present for you back there," I said, smiling.
He nodded and I led him to the back, where I told him to sit in the chair. I smiled as I walked over to the duffel bag I had on the floor. I pulled out the rope and looked at him.
"I'm going to tie you up, baby, and then I'm going to show you what I think of you," I said, tying his hands tight against the spokes of the chair.
"Watch it, dammit. That hurts. Lizzie, don't make me punish you later," he said. I looked at him and laughed hard.
"Don't worry, baby. You won't be able to do much in a few minutes..." I trailed off as I walked back to the bag. I pulled out the kitchen knife and saw his eyes widen in fear.
"Lizzie, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Aww, don't worry, Andy. You're getting everything your dirty-rotten-ass deserves. This will teach you for taking what isn't yours, you stupid little fucker!" I yelled. I cut through his shirt with the knife and slit the legs of his pants. I walked around him as he yelled at me to let him go or else. “Or else what?” I had the little bastard right where I wanted and needed him. There was no escaping me now. As he yelled I turned and ran the knife across his cheek. "Shut the hell up," I hissed.
The sound of his quiet whimpers as I moved back in front of him was a small victory, but the voice wanted more. I ran my hand down his chest and smiled at him. He took it as me making a pass and bucked his hips into me. I slid the knife down to his chest, barely cutting him, just enough to sting, before I stood up and made my way back to my bag. I grabbed a pair of pliers from the toolbox on the sh
elf and moved over to him.
"Now, Andy, I think you need to have your nails done."
I walked behind him and ran my hand down his arm, before I gripped his finger and slowly ripped his fingernail off. He cried out in pain as I cackled. The stupid bastard had no idea that he was really going to die. All the shit he had done to me... it had to be done... it would be done.
The voice in my head was getting louder, as I pulled each one of his nails off slowly. He screamed with each one. I moved back around to stand in front of him and the stupid bastard kicked me. I dropped the knife, as he charged at me. I dodged him just in time. He ran into the wall and I grabbed my knife. As he lay on the floor, crying like the pathetic little fuck he was, I ran the knife over him, any place I could see I cut. I wanted him to feel the pain I had for years. The more the blood spread, the better I felt. With one final word to him, I sliced his throat. I sat back and got lost in the gurgling sound. I didn't hear her, until it was too late.
"What in the hell? Andy... no!" Megan screamed as I jumped up. "What did you do, you stupid bitch?"
"I took care of the abusive little fucker. That's what. His dick will never hurt anyone again," I hissed, as I slowly stalked forward.
Megan looked at me in a mixture of hurt, anger and fear. The voice in my head started screaming again and I clamped my fingers to my ears. I didn't want to hurt someone innocent. I couldn't. Andy deserved it. He was an evil fucker, but Megan....
"You’re going to jail, you stupid bitch. I called my daddy and he is on his way," she yelled, as she ran past me, sobbing and knelt down in front of Andy's lifeless body. I watched her sob over that worthless piece of shit and it made me think about what I was doing. The voice had made me do it again. This wasn't me.
I got lost in the voice and stalked up to Megan, driving the knife into her back as I screamed at her.
"You want that miserable piece of shit... then join him, you stupid bitch."
