by Jeff Carson
Ash watched Wolf take in the interior. “Please, come inside. Can I take your coat?”
“No,” Wolf said, standing still near the door.
Ash raised his eyebrows. “Okay.”
“I didn’t come to get comfortable and socialize. This is definitely not a time to get comfortable.”
Ash blinked rapidly. “What’s going on?”
Wolf turned his cheek and pointed at it. “Do you see this?”
Ash stepped forward and peered at Wolf’s face. He squinted and shook his head, then pulled back with wide eyes.
“Is that blood?” Ash asked.
“That’s your son’s blood,” Wolf said.
Ash’s face dropped. “What?”
“Your son shot himself an hour ago. I was right next to him. I couldn’t stop him.”
Ash looked at the ground and gripped his head.
Wolf narrowed his eyes, studying his reaction. “He told me some things before he blew the top of his head off.”
Ash looked up. “You fucking bastard. How can you talk about my son that way when he just—”
“Because you made him do it. And you can spare me the act of pretending like you care. I know about everything. I know about the sex tape you and Matt Cooper made of the mayor on Thursday night. I know about you blackmailing the mayor with it, and how Jen Wakefield watched it and then killed herself with her husband’s gun.”
Ash stood still and raised his lower eyelids.
“And when you learned about her accidental discovery of the sex tape—your little play to sell out Rocky Points gone wrong—you called Wakefield the next day, not even waiting twenty-four hours after her death before you made your demands to him. Did you know Kevin heard your conversation?” Wolf pointed up and glanced at the ceiling. “He was standing outside your office. Heard every word of it.”
“Listen here—”
“Just shut up.” Wolf stepped forward, snarling.
Ash backed up a step, then looked at the floor and smiled with a shake of his head.
“I can only imagine what Kevin must have felt when he heard you. Because you’ve done this before, caused someone to feel so terrible, so helpless and afraid about life that they killed themselves. You’d done it to his mother already.” Wolf shook his head in disgust. “And you did it again to Jen Wakefield.”
Ash rolled his eyes and snorted, but said nothing.
“I talked to Kevin tonight. Before he pulled the trigger. He wanted to get back at you, and that’s why he’s been killing all these people—Stephanie Lang for her role, Matt Cooper for putting that video camera in Wakefield’s car, and tonight he got Wakefield for obvious reasons … he was going to take you out next.” Wolf narrowed his eyes. “Were you a little scared tonight? Because you knew exactly what was going on, didn’t you? The way those Xs kept showing up at crime scenes, and in lipstick? Just like what you did to your wife that night she died.”
“Ex-wife,” Ash said. He stared Wolf in the eye. “She was my ex-wife. That was something I kept telling her but she wouldn’t listen.”
Wolf blinked.
“I’m confused, Sheriff.” Ash tilted his head. “Am I supposed to thank you at this point? For what? For saving me from my psychotic son? Is that why you’re here? For a thank-you?”
Wolf said nothing.
“Well, if you say he was out to kill me, then yes, thank you. But you know what I would love to know? What I would really love to understand? How you could even begin to substantiate any of the things you’ve been spouting off about for the last thirty seconds. My son goes off on a crazy killing spree and you want to blame me for it? Is that what’s going on here, Sheriff?”
Wolf said nothing.
“A sex tape? Here’s a question for you: what sex tape?” Ash smiled. “Do you have a camera with my fingerprints on it? Or a … I don’t know, some sort of USB drive with my prints on it? Or maybe a note or something that would have my fingerprints on it that would link me to something like this?”
“I never said anything about a USB drive or a note,” Wolf said.
Ash flipped a hand. “I heard all about this alleged sex tape from Mayor Wakefield. He’s been going bat-shit crazy the last few days. He makes a sex tape of himself and some girl from the restaurant and leaves it out for his wife to find, and, well, shit happens, I guess.”
Wolf took a breath through his nose.
The heater clicked off and the house went dead quiet.
“Matt Cooper?” Ash asked quietly, though it was more a statement. “You say Matt Cooper was killed, too? And you say he set up the camera? Why? Why would he do that?”
Wolf didn’t take the bait.
Ash clicked his tongue. “I guess we’ll never know, seeing as my son killed him. And what are you suggesting? That I somehow hired Stephanie Lang to have sex with the mayor, and then paid Matt Cooper to set up the camera? Is there a stack of money or something? At either person’s house … stacks you could check for fingerprints?”
Wolf let his lips curl just a bit. The man was brazen, and he was also dead right in his calculations that Wolf had absolutely nothing on him for anything.
“I’ll be getting to the bottom of what you’ve been doing, Mr. Ash,” Wolf said icily.
“About what?” Ash asked.
“About the bribes, the corruption, the blackmailing, the—”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sheriff. And if you even think about throwing allegations around, I’ll sue you for defamation of character so fast your badge will spin on the empty desk in what you used to call an office. Now that my son is dead, my position in the government of this small town is all I have. If you don’t think I’ll do everything in my considerable power to throw you out in the cold, out on a gas pump at the edge of town, then you’re sadly mistaken.”
Wolf stretched his neck.
“Well, I guess that was a little lie,” Ash said. “I guess I’ve actually got quite a lot going on besides the government thing. You know, I’ve always been into real estate. Yeah, so I get to know everyone in town or in neighboring counties that have their finger on the pulse. That way I keep ahead of the curve, ahead of the next deal that will make me my next million, or two.
“Anyway, I got to know Mark Wilson.” He paused and smiled briefly. “You know the man well. I actually have something, a little tidbit I heard while talking to him. And since you saved me from being killed by my psychotic son tonight, the least I can do is return the favor, as a friend, and let you know this juicy tidbit.” He raised his eyebrows.
Wolf blinked, hearing a tiny shriek coming from his teeth mashing together.
“I was out at breakfast with Mark the day before he left town, and he was crying on my shoulder, so to speak. I’ve kind of established a relationship with him as a friend the last couple of years. I like to do that with certain contacts, keep them close. Anyway, he said Sarah broke up with him because she was still in love with you.” He tilted his head and nodded. “She’s still in love with you, and there was no way anyone could compete with that, he said. She’s all tied up around your little finger, he said. And there was one other thing—what did he say? I don’t know if she told you this or not, but she was screwing some other guy when you were in the army. That’s what Mark said, and Sarah—”
Wolf slapped him on the face as hard as he could, the blow whiplashing Ash’s head to the side with a force just less than enough to knock him out. The sound echoed between the walls in the confined space of the entryway, like a ricocheting bullet.
Charlie Ash bent over and howled in pain, cradling his face in both hands.
Wolf loomed over him, clenching and unclenching his hand, feeling the sharp sting dissipate to tingling heat in his palm.
Ash stood up and straightened his glasses, eyes boring holes into Wolf’s. His comb-over hair was flapping to the wrong side and his tongue pushed the inside of his cheek.
Wolf turned around, opened the door, and left.
As Wolf reached the SUV, he saw the interior of the house light up with two brilliant flashes accompanied by two muffled pops.
Chapter 30
Ash felt dizzy as he watched the door close. The slap had jarred him, and he would find a way to return the favor in due time, in a way that would be the end of Wolf’s career, but now he just needed food and water.
His face was numb to the touch. He needed some ice, too.
He walked to the front door and twisted the lock. His left eye dripped as he gazed out the entrance window, a new quirk from the thumping impact of Wolf’s hand he hoped wouldn’t last.
Wolf was sauntering away down the path outside. His walk was unhurried, like a smug bastard who’d just won a small, meaningless victory.
Ash reached up and flicked some light switches, sending the front porch and pathway into pitch black. You’re going down, he thought with the strongest resolve he’d ever felt in his life.
He ripped off his flannel shirt and hung it on a hook, then walked into the great room and toward the kitchen for a proper meal and drink. And three Advil.
As he rounded the corner he almost ran straight into someone. He stumbled to a stop and looked up.
Kevin.
Ash’s heart thumped so hard he gripped his chest. Before Ash could react, a pistol had been pressed against his forehead, pushing so hard that he felt a trickle of warm blood race down in between his eyes and down his nose.
“Kevin! What the …” His throat was constricted and his heart was hammering in his ears.
His son, back from the dead, was standing right in front of him. The reality hit him hard.
Ash tripped and fell down on his butt and then rolled backwards, crying out in pain as his tucked snub-nosed revolver dug into the small of his back.
“Stand up,” Kevin said, warning him. “Stand up.”
Ash got back up and shuffled in reverse, keeping his hands high. “Son—”
“Shut up,” Kevin said. “Stand still. You’re going to do what I say, or else I’m going to stick my gun in your ear and pull the trigger. Got that?”
Ash looked at the muzzle of the pistol and shook his head, thinking about how Wolf had just lied to him, and wondering just what the hell was going on.
“Got that!” Kevin screamed, and then he walked forward and fired two shots, one next to Ash’s right ear, the other next to his left.
Ash cowered and twisted his face, pressing his palms to his ears. A metallic note screamed in his head, and his skull felt like it might just crack down the middle.
Kevin was moving his lips, but Ash heard none of it.
More talking. And then his son tilted his head back and laughed.
Slowly, Ash began hearing again, murmurs and muffled sounds like he was underwater. Then it was like he was breaking through the surface in ultra-slow motion—the trebles widening, sounding like rushing water in a stream.
“Sit down,” Kevin yelled. He thrust the pistol at Ash.
Ash shuffled over to the couch and sat down with his hands in the air. He shook his head, unable to gain back his full-hearing.
Despite the damage to his ears, the initial shock of his son’s assault was beginning to wear off. He was still his snot-nosed son, Ash reminded himself.
“What are you doing here?” Ash frowned, looking up at him. “Wolf just told me …”
“What?” Kevin asked, looking genuinely curious. “What did he tell you?”
Ash didn’t say. He didn’t say that Wolf had just told him that his son was dead. Had killed himself right in front of him. What the hell? Wolf was lying the whole time? What about that blood on his face?
Kevin was eyeing his father with amusement now. Other than digging the pistol into his forehead and shooting two shots near his ears, Kevin was keeping his distance, as if he didn’t want to get sucked into any physical confrontation. As if Ash was going to jump out and grab him.
Ash kept quiet and looked out the window to the left of Kevin. He saw the bright snow of the back yard and the dark forest beyond.
“See this?” Kevin asked, holding up his pistol proudly. “A Sluice County Sheriff’s Department-issue”—he read the side of the barrel—“Glock 17 … from Austria. Nice gun. Never fired one of these. I’ve been using one of your revolvers. Did you notice it was gone?”
Ash stared at him, feeling the burning in his shoulders from holding his hands up. “Where did you get that?” he asked.
“Ah, good question. I killed two cops.” Kevin pointed it back at him and stared indifferently.
Ash caught movement in the window and looked again, this time seeing the taillights of a vehicle in the distance. They looked to be a Sheriff’s Department SUV, and they were going full speed as they flickered into the forest and went out of sight.
Kevin followed his eyes and smiled. “Nobody saving you. Just you and me. And my Glock.” His face became serious. “And in a few seconds, the fires of hell for both of us.”
“You don’t have to do this, son.”
“Yes, I do have to do this. There’s no choice now. You don’t just kill two cops and live through the next twenty-four hours. In fact, I figure I have about five minutes before Sheriff-boy finds out about everything and comes screaming back here looking for me.”
Ash narrowed his eyes. “How did you get here?”
“Took the SUV from Deputy … Rachette, I believe his name was?” He raised his eyebrows. “Parked it in the woods. Sheriff just drove by it.”
Ash felt a wisp of cold air and looked over toward the hallway to the kitchen.
“You snuck in the back,” Ash said. “Used your key. I knew you would if you showed up.” He looked down and saw Kevin’s wet shoes, and the snow marks all the way up to his knees.
“You did it again, Dad,” Kevin said, sounding like he was about to cry. “You ruined my life, and then you made Chris’s mom kill herself and ruined his life.”
Ash snorted. “Your mother killed herself, Son. Mrs. Wakefield killed herself. I didn’t kill anyone.”
Kevin snarled and shook the gun. “You killed them! You broke both of their hearts, and they had no other way out.”
“Oh, shut up with your sniveling!” Ash stood up.
“Sit down!” Kevin yelled.
“Shoot me!” Ash reached up his arms and stretched lazily. “Oh, man. You had me holed up here all night. And I’m so hungry that I don’t care anymore. You’re going to kill me? Great. Let’s get on with this. I’m ready.”
Kevin looked unsure, glancing around the room.
Ash narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on? After killing three people, now you’re worried about killing your dada? Is that it?” He puckered his lips and sidestepped the footrest in front of him. “Don’t want to kill dada?”
“Four people,” Kevin said. “I killed four people.”
Ash stopped. He watched Kevin’s face twist into intense confusion for just an instant, and then melt into a cool look of confidence.
The look on Kevin’s face made Ash blow snot out his nostrils, and as it flipped across his lip it made him burst out laughing; then when he wiped it with the sleeve of his shirt, mopping up blood that had trickled down his nose, that sent him into uncontrolled hysterics. He knew his son was going to kill him; Kevin had proven himself capable of that in the past few days, but the irony of the situation was just too much to handle. His stomach hurt as it convulsed, and if it weren’t for the pain jabbing at his side he figured he would have laughed until Kevin shot him.
But he stopped instead and glared at his son with dripping eyes, chest heaving as he caught his breath. “Here’s a little secret that is just going to kill you.”
Kevin’s cool expression wavered.
Ash stared at him, thinking about the significance of what he was about to say, knowing it might be the last thing he said on this earth. Finally, he spoke.
“I killed Mary Richardson,” he said.
Kevin creased his forehead and his aim wavered, and Ash realize
d the truth might actually set him free.
Ash nodded. “I killed her. I drugged you, and killed her, and then put you next to her.” He visualized pulling the revolver out of his beltline and firing. It was riding low and he’d have to rake it up his back with his thumb, and duck too, in case Kevin got a shot off.
“It feels good to finally tell you,” he continued. “I was surprised when you started …” Ash stopped talking.
Kevin’s cool expression had returned and he was lowering his gun.
Ash fixed his gaze on Kevin. Then panic exploded inside of him as Kevin smiled.
“What the hell is going on?” Ash flicked his eyes around the room. Confusion pressed in, and as Kevin continued to smile, Ash knew he’d just walked into a trap, and he’d been an even more gullible fool than his son.
“You pieces of shit!” he yelled, and reached behind him, pulling the snub-nosed revolver out from the back of his pants. Before he could aim it, a blast of fire came from the hallway and he was punched in his shoulder with the power of a horse kick. Pain tore across his chest, down his stomach and across his genitals, up his neck and into his head. The hardwood floor swung up and hit him in the face, and then he lay still, blinking to calm the angry dots swirling in his vision.
Chapter 31
When Wolf walked out of Charlie Ash’s front door, he did so with a normal gait, trying to look neither in a hurry nor too relaxed. As soon as the lights went dark on the front of the house, Wolf swiveled and looked back.
Ash was framed in the entrance window, peering outside, looking like he was muttering something under his breath. Then he twisted and disappeared.
Wolf wasted no time; he sprinted to the SUV and opened up the back door. The cab light was off, so all he saw was movement.
“Okay, get up,” he said.
The whites of Deputy Wilson’s eyes appeared as he reared his head up from the backseat floor. He leaned and peered past Wolf toward the house.
“It’s clear,” Wolf said impatiently. “Get going.”
