by Jack Young
“No. I’ll be okay, but you could do me favor.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“Don’t tell anyone else until I’m gone. Telling you was tough. Telling the kids will be tougher and I don’t need a whole slew of others stopping me on my way out.”
Cynthia smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” Joanne left the office and made her way down the hall to the music room. The meeting with Cynthia went better than she expected, but soon it would be time to tell the kids. Although, she received a new batch of fourth graders every year and they had their moments of pushing her patience, Joanne always formed a bond with each class and missed them when they moved on to the next grade. Seeing the previous group of kids around the school smiling and waving at her was always a nice feeling, but after today she wasn’t sure she’d ever see this school again. She shed another tear thinking about that as her class appeared in the hallway in a single file line ready to go back to class. “Alrighty then. Back to our room we go.”
Paden tried to time it where he wouldn’t have to wait outside Joanne’s school for too long. They’d been texting back and forth all day and decided they would only need one vehicle. They would be using her Taurus because he figured that his truck was on the cops’ BOLO list. The switch was to take place in the Kwik Stop’s parking lot after school was out for the day. That would be in a few more minutes.
He could’ve waited in the parking lot of the Kwik Stop, but as much as Paden trusted Joanne, he wanted to make sure she didn’t change her mind and leave him hanging. After school let out, he’d follow her from a distance to the Kwik Stop and if she didn’t pull into its parking lot, it meant she wasn’t going and he would continue driving until he left town alone.
Several school buses began to arrive as Paden’s dash clock said it was another minute before school dismissed. That meant he’d be free and clear of this town in ten to fifteen minutes. He adjusted how he was sitting and noticed a car in his rearview mirror pull in alongside the curb two cars behind him. Paden could tell it was an unmarked police car and the two men sitting in it were cops. Detectives he figured by the clothes they were wearing. The one driving was a younger, white man and the other was a large, black man who looked older than his partner. Paden had a good idea why they were there and he couldn’t wait to leave as soon as possible.
The buses had their stop signs extended on their left sides preventing traffic from flowing up and down the street. There were cars lined up behind the buses about twelve deep and nearly as many lined up coming down the opposite side of the street. Either way, Paden was blocked in and wouldn’t be able to leave until the buses and other cars left.
The dismissal bell rang and a few moments later, teachers began walking their classes to line up on the sidewalk to get on their respective buses. The whole process took nearly ten minutes and Paden could feel the impatience build inside of him, but as soon as the final bus drove away, he saw Joanne standing near the school’s doors visiting with a couple of other teachers.
Paden smiled as he watched Joanne. He’d always had strong feelings for her and that very moment he realized how much he was in love with her. There was nearly fifteen years between them, but she understood him. She was dropping everything to be with him and neither knew where they were going or what they’d do once they got there. The fact that he was going to be a father was something else Paden looked forward to. He was going to make Joanne and the baby his most important people in his life.
He watched Joanne visit a little bit more and then she casually turned and spotted Paden across the street. She smiled and excused herself from the two women and began walking towards him. When she arrived at his truck, she climbed into the passenger seat. “Hey there. What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t wait to see you.”
“Yeah? It’s not because your insecurities got the best of you and you started thinking I wouldn’t show at the Kwik Stop?”
Paden held up his right hand and his index finger and thumb measured about an inch. “Maybe, just a little, but I did realize that after all these years, I’ve never been to where you work.”
“Well, now you have.” She smiled. “I’m gonna go back inside and grab the last of my things and we can head out.”
“Sounds good.” Paden leaned into Joanne and they kissed.
Joanne opened the passenger door and exited the truck. Paden noticed in the rearview mirror the two detectives leaving their vehicle as well. Joanne must’ve noticed this, too, when she looked to her left to cross the street because she stopped walking and watched the detectives. She didn’t see the van approach from her right. The van barely registered with Paden when the driver’s side window rolled down and the driver appeared wielding a machine gun and another man came around the front of the van and both began shooting.
15.
Joe laughed to himself when Jacobs began snoring in the passenger seat. They were parked down the street near the elementary school that Joanne Lang taught. After they found out the identity of the man in the photo it didn’t take long to find out the basic information on him. Paden Evans wasn’t home when they went to his residence, but they found a couple of other places where he worked. Both were bars that had weekly line dancing competitions. The bartender at the second one mentioned Evans came in one time with a lady friend who said she was a teacher. That brought them to the elementary school in hopes of finding him there.
Joe and Jacobs’ afternoon was spent waiting around and he didn’t blame his partner for snoozing. They waited at Evans’ place for an hour and then went to check on the other clubs. Now, they were parked down the street with a view of any car pulling up to the school. It didn’t take Jacobs long to put his head down with his chin resting on his chest and his arms crossed. His snoring grew louder the longer he sat there. In the meantime, Joe looked up information on his phone about Lakeview Elementary and found Evans’ girlfriend’s photo in the staff directory. The bartender didn’t know her name, but the school’s site had four teachers who were either a “Miss” or “Ms.” And three of them looked older than Joe. Maybe, Evans was into older women, but when he saw the photo of Joanne Lang, he knew she was the one.
As Jacobs’ snoring grew louder, Joe shook his head trying not to laugh. They’d been partners for many years and this wasn’t the first time Jacobs took a nap while they were staking out a person or a location. At times, Jacobs reminded Joe of his father, Allen, who would come home after a shift at the mill, grab a can of beer from the fridge, chug most of it before sitting in his recliner, and snooze until dinner was ready.
The school was soon to dismiss when Joe decided have some fun with his partner. He went to the iTunes app on his phone and scrolled through songs until he found one he believed would be a good one to listen to. He clicked on Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and set the volume on the phone near its loudest setting. He held the phone up between him and Jacobs and pressed play. When the opening guitar riffs blasted, Jacobs nearly jumped out of his skin. “Th’fuck, man.”
Joe laughed hard and pulled the phone away. “You were snoring again, Papa Bear.”
“Fuck. You nearly gave me a goddamn heart attack.”
Joe continued laughing. “Oh man. I should’ve filmed that.”
Jacobs sat up in his seat wiping the sleep out of his eyes. “Shit. What time is it anyway?”
“‘Bout five minutes from dismissal according to the school’s website.” Joe pointed down the street as a few buses began arriving.
“Any sign of Evans?”
Joe chin-pointed to the pickup truck parked across the street from the school’s entrance. “I think that’s him.” Joe put the car in gear and drove down the street and parked a bit closer. They were a couple of cars behind the truck Joe believed was Evans’.
“I went to this school.” Jacobs pointed to the school with his thumb.
“No shit?”
“Yeah. My folks moved here right after the moon
landing in ’69. I only went to school here one year. That was the fifth grade. The next year I went into the new middle school.”
Joe nodded. “I went to the elementary school down by the Y. It was called Central Elementary then, remember?”
“Yeah. Now, it’s named after that principal who died in his office.”
“Ronald Hale. Yeah. I went to the same middle school though.”
“Well, yeah. It’s the only one in town.”
“I heard classes were taught in covered wagons when you went there.”
“Fuck you. I’m not that old.”
“The grays and wrinkles argue a much different case, Papa Bear.”
Jacobs flipped off his partner and they both heard the dismissal bell ring. They watched teachers lead their students outside and began loading them onto various buses. When the buses departed, a handful of teachers lingered visiting with each other. Jacobs pointed to a group near the door. “There she is. Evans’ girlfriend.”
Joanne Lang walked across the street and sat inside the pickup ahead of them. After a few minutes, Jacobs became impatient. ‘C’mon. I bet they’re leaving.”
Both detectives exited their car and began walking towards the truck. Evan’s girlfriend stepped out of the truck and began to cross the street back to the school when a van pulled up. The driver’s side window rolled down and the driver stuck the barrel of a machine gun out of it and began spraying gunfire at the truck. Another man came around the front of the van and did the same. Joanne Lang was knocked into the truck with bullets. Gunfire also shot up the truck and into the cab.
Joe and Jacobs reacted as fast as they could by drawing their weapons and returning fire at the van. After the other shooter got back into the van, the driver ducked down and sped past the two detectives who were still trying to connect their shots with the driver. Soon, the van was clear of them. Jacobs was calling in the shooting as they both turned their attention to the truck. It was obvious the woman was dead. Her chest was bleeding out and the top half of her head was blown away from gunfire. They approached the cab of the truck with caution and saw Evans lying down stretched out over the truck’s console. He, too, was bleeding, but slowly moving. “Jo.”
Joe held his weapon on Evans. “Yeah?”
Evans tried to sit up, but failed. “Jo?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” He wondered how Evans knew his name.
Evans coughed and held his side. “Joanne?”
Joe felt stupid then. Of course, it made sense Evans may have called his girlfriend by a shorter name. Joe opened the driver’s side door. “Can you move?”
Evans tried moving, but could only sit up leaning on his right elbow. “Where’s Jo?”
Joe looked at Jacobs who was kneeling near Joanne Lang and talking to someone on his cell phone. “Don’t worry about her at the moment. We got help coming. Do you know who did this?”
“Jo?” Evans found the strength to begin climbing out of the cab. He wasn’t even completely out of the truck when he saw Joanne lying in the street. He lost it then and tried going to her, but Joe held him back. Joe was a big man and although Evans was injured, it took a ton of strength to hold him back.
“It’s a crime scene.” Joe was doing his best to hold Evans. “I can’t let you.” He had both arms around Evans, but somehow Evans found the strength to break free. He then knelt next to Joanne Lang and held her. He began to cry softly.
Evans looked at Joe. He was covered in blood and had tears coming down both cheeks. “She just told me yesterday she was pregnant.”
Joe could only think of his own family at that moment. “Fuck.”
16.
Davy had to make one more stop before he left town. Although, time was of the essence, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t make this stop. He was sitting at the counter of the Last Chance Diner on the east end of town drinking a cup of coffee when one of the waitresses sat down next to him.
“Where ya been, kiddo?” She was a little older than fifty with blonde hair in which Davy could see whiter hair. They weren’t too obvious, but enough to compliment the wrinkles she had in her face. Her name tag said, “Lorna” and he knew for a fact she was fifty-two.
“Hey, Auntie.”
“You don’t call or visit anymore.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Now, Orrin, though. That boy stops in here once a week to visit.”
Lorna watched her nephew drink his coffee. “You in a hurry to leave?”
“A little.”
“No work?”
“No. I quit the store.”
“Your mom didn’t say anything about that. You just quit? Why?”
“Because fuck them, that’s why.”
“Something happen there that inspired this unwise decision?”
“Nothing happened, Auntie. It was just time to go is all.”
“You got work lined up?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’ll find something wherever I end up.”
Lorna nodded. “Well, you’re a grown-ass man. I suppose you’ll figure it out.”
Davy looked into his cup and saw only a swallow remaining of his coffee which he drank. “I always liked the coffee here. I’m glad I stopped by to see you, Auntie.” He looked at his watch. “I think I’m gonna head out now, though.”
“Where are you going? You have to have some kind of idea?”
He shook his head. “I dunno. I just need some change of scenery is all.”
“Your mother tell you that Rich is back in the hospital?”
“No, she didn’t. Is he okay?”
“His ammonia levels spiked again.”
“This because of that transplant?”
“Yeah. Some. Doesn’t help he’s sixty-three either.”
Davy nodded and thought about asking for another cup of coffee but changed his mind. “I’ll stop by and see him after I leave here then.”
“Thank you, honey. I appreciate that and I know he will, too.”
“Well, thank you for telling me, Auntie. I’d’ve left town and he, Heaven forbid, could’ve gotten worse and I wouldn’t know.”
Lorna nodded and then stood. She kissed Davy on top of his head. “I better get back to work. You be careful wherever it is you are going, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And call or something, so I know you’re okay.”
“I will.” He started to take his wallet out of his pocket. “How much for the coffee?”
“Put your money away. It’s just coffee. I got it.”
“Yeah?”
“Go see your uncle before you leave town though.”
“I will.” He stood and left the counter. He stopped a few steps away and turned. “I love you, Auntie.”
“I love you, too, honey. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
“Me too.” He walked back and hugged her one more time before leaving and heading straight for his car. He thought of everyone he was leaving behind and was sure by now Jamie got his message. He wondered if she’d really help him.
Davy fired up the engine and instead of leaving town, he turned back around and began driving towards the hospital. His aunt’s husband, his Uncle Richie, was more of a father figure to him than any other adult male in his life was. Big John was close, but he wasn’t family.
The visit to Uncle Richie would have to be a quick one because he really needed to get away from things in town. He knew the longer he stuck around the worse it would be for him.
Uncle Richie was sleeping when Davy popped into his hospital room. Davy sat in the chair next to the bed and watched his uncle struggle with his breathing. This was the worst he’d seen his uncle since he had his stroke a few months before.
Lorna received a phone call one morning from Richie’s boss wondering where he was. It was an hour into his shift and he didn’t show up or call. That was not at all like Richie. He rarely missed a day of work and when he did it was always planned. When Lo
rna arrived at the house to check on him, Richie was in the garage tinkering around on his old car from high school. He was just as surprised to see Lorna as she was to see him there. When she asked why he wasn’t at work, he was dumbfounded. He thought that day was his day off. He hurried and got ready for work and Lorna went back to hers. Richie’s foreman cut him some slack and let him work past his shift to make up for the time he didn’t show for. That was the first time Richie’s mind slipped.
This happened two more times and both times were at home. Lorna made Richie see a doctor about it, but the doctor couldn’t figure it out. Davy and Orrin were actually having dinner with them when Richie had his worst moment. They were all sitting at the dining room table which has no view of the kitchen. They were eating a salad Lorna made while the lasagna Richie made finished in the oven. When the timer on the oven dinged, Richie went into the kitchen to get their dinner. The rest sat visiting and when minutes went by without any lasagna on the table Lorna called to Richie in the kitchen, Richie didn’t respond, but a loud crash was heard instead. The three of them rushed to the kitchen where they saw Richie on his hands and knees next to the lasagna that was all over the kitchen floor.
Lorna and Davy helped Richie to his feet as Orrin tried to salvage the meal to no avail. Richie had lasagna all over his shirt and parts of his hands and arms. What was troubling was his pants were all wet and he smelled of piss. Richie’s eyes were half-blank looking and scared. Davy and Orrin helped their aunt get Richie into their car and off to the hospital for more tests while the boys stayed behind to clean up the uneaten food.
Over the course of the next couple of days, Lorna and Richie found out he’d been having little strokes before and the most recent one was the worst. The doctor recommended he stop working for a bit until he regained some strength, but Richie wouldn’t listen. He was working hard to try and retire, but he couldn’t afford to not be working. Since the lasagna night, Richie had been back and forth between home, the hospital, and a physical therapy facility. As a veteran, the VA helped with some of the medical expenses, but not all of them. Lorna worked extra hours at the diner and also began cleaning both local banks in the evenings a couple of times a week.
