by Jack Young
“So, you think the guns used at the farmhouse are Davy’s?”
“Yeah.”
“The dots are starting to connect aren’t they, Papa Bear.”
“I think they’re more than just connecting. I think the entire picture is starting to show.”
“What now then?”
“We go back out there and find Carlyle and Evans. I think they’re still in town and aren’t done killing.”
30.
Although he had just been there the day before, Paden was still amazed at the number of weapons Davy had in his shed. “Must’ve took you a long time to put all this together.”
“Yeah. Go ahead and pick out some more shit if you want. We may need all we can take.”
“Never can have too much I suppose.”
“Not in my line of work.”
“I hear ya.”
“Take what you want, but remember we don’t know the details of how we’re going to do this. Take some long-range rifles and pistols. I’ll take these M-4s and a couple of TEC-9’s. You got that pistol I gave you?”
“Yeah.”
They both began loading some extra magazines and putting them into bags and some more in the vests. When Paden served, they weren’t issued these vests and it would’ve been nice for them to have then, so it took a moment for him to figure things out.
When everything was loaded and then stowed up into Davy’s other car, a 2000 Camry, the two of them sat drinking coffee in the kitchen of Davy’s cabin. Paden was visualizing how he thought things would go down. “We going to his house to do this?”
“I don’t think we should. I know he knows at least I’m coming for him so he’ll be prepared. We need to smoke him out. Get him somewhere we want him to be.”
“How do we do that?”
“We need to have him vulnerable and out in the open.”
The bullets ripped though the wall of the cabin barely missing Paden and Davy before they both fell to the floor. Both scrambled to their weapons and locked and loaded the M-4s.
“Fuck.” Davy was trying to see outside, but didn’t want to stick his head too far out into the open. “Paden, you got eyes on any of them?”
“No.” Paden was hunched down trying to maneuver his way to where he could get a look-see outside.
There was a short moment of silence in which Paden figured the shooters were reloading. This didn’t last too long before the bullets began ripping through the walls again. The gunfire was coming from the north and east sides of the cabin. Paden signaled Davy to move towards the south back entrance and see if they could make their exit that way. It was their only way out.
The bullets broke the windows and also a mirror that was hanging nearby. Paden worked his way over to the broken bits of the mirror. He used a piece to look out the window without being seen. He saw two men outside hiding behind two different trees. He waved Davy over and handed him the broken piece of the mirror. “I see two guys behind those trees.”
Davy held the mirror piece like Paden did. “I see them.” He handed the piece back and stood, exposing himself to the shooters. Paden was going to pull him down when Davy let out two three-round bursts from the M-4 and crouched back down. “Got ‘em.” He gave Paden the “follow me” wave and they both went out the back door. He pointed to Paden to go right and Davy then went left.
Paden made his way around the house as twenty-year-old memories of his training began to kick in. He heard gunfire around the corner where he stood and when it paused, he saw three men using their truck as cover. He was quick and fired rapid bursts taking off the head of the guy to the farthest left. The other two turned their fire towards Paden, but he was able to shoot them first. Not only did his shots find their targets, but Davy shot them at the same time.
Paden held his weapon at the ready, so did Davy as they approached the bodies. With his foot, Paden turned over one of the bodies who still had a face to be seen. “Recognize him?”
Davy was quiet at first. “Yeah. I recognize this guy.”
“He work for Brady?”
“Yeah. Sometimes.”
“That means he knows we’re after him.”
“Knowing Sean, we never really had the element of surprise on our side. We better get going though. Cops’ll be here soon.”
“No point in us sneaking around trying to get Brady now, right?”
“Nope and that’s fine with me. I’m tired of waiting around.”
Davy never really knew how many guys worked for Brady. There had to be hundreds. The office types he wasn’t worried about. He was worried about the dozens of others who did the same type of work as he did. He also didn’t put it past Brady to call in others from out of town for protection. “We need to find a way to get Sean when he doesn’t have twenty, thirty guys around him.” He said this without taking his eyes off the road as he drove.
“You’ve said that already, but how?”
“That’s what has me stumped. He always has guys around him.”
“What if he got arrested?”
“Say again?”
“If he’s arrested, do you think he’ll have his entourage protecting him?”
“Probably not. Unless they follow him to the station.”
“What if they get arrested, too?”
“That could work. Just need to get him arrested though. The guy’s pretty slick. Charges never stick to him.”
“We don’t necessarily need him charged with anything. We just need him vulnerable enough to hit. Maybe outside the station as he does the perp walk in.”
“And he never even gets inside.”
“Exactly.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I take that long-range rifle and find a secure spot and hit him from there.”
“Were you a good shot in the Army?”
“Good enough to shoot expert.”
“How long ago since you made a long-distance shot?”
Paden shrugged. “At least twenty years. I can do it though.”
Davy thought about this. “I don’t want to take any chances with this.”
“I’ll get him.”
“I’ll park closer as a just-in-case.”
“I want him to know it was me though.”
Davy nodded. “Listen, Paden. He won’t know it’s you from that distance. I know you want revenge for your girl and all, but a guy like Sean Brady isn’t gonna be an easy target and if we get him, we get him anyway we can. You take your shots and I’ll take mine. Hell, we could get killed before we even hit him. Still want to do this?”
“Fuck yeah I do. I just want him dead. Might be the last thing I do, but I want him dead.”
Davy nodded. “Then dead he’ll get.”
31.
Joe wasn’t surprised they couldn’t find either Evans or Carlyle. Both were too smart to be hanging around their houses, but they had to check because sometimes people aren’t that smart. Joe knew they were probably hiding somewhere planning their next move and he needed to figure out what that was. Jacobs believed they were planning something big, but didn’t know what or how big it was going to be.
“Nelson, I gotta eat before we go any further, man.” Joe was driving and pulled into the parking lot of Ma’s Griddle.
Jacobs was half-nodding off into a nap again, but agreed. He looked at his watch. “Yeah, might as well. It’s been a while and might be some time before we get another chance.”
The lunch rush just ended and it wasn’t too difficult to find a seat. A girl who looked fresh out of high school came over and took their orders. Both ordered a club sandwich. Joe noticed Jacobs ordered a salad instead of his usual order of fries. He wasn’t sure if it was noticing the fries or what, but his pants seemed tighter at that moment and he adjusted them for comfort. “I may have to start watching what I eat, too.”
“It’s not too bad really. It’s the exercising that sucks.”
“Wait. You started exercising, too?”
“Yeah. You know
that treadmill we got downstairs?”
“Yeah.”
“I took all the old clothes that were hanging on it and hung them up or put them in a bag for Goodwill and started using it.”
“Wow. That’s…that’s actually pretty good, man. How long now?”
“About four days is all. I’ve been getting up earlier to do it. Probably why I’ve seemed crabby lately.” Joe thought he saw his partner grin before he continued. “The wife showed me how to get onto Netflix with her Kindle. I prop the thing on this spot on the treadmill and watch a show while I walk. I walk until the episode is finished. Probably get close to two miles that way at my old, slow pace. I get a good sweat though.”
“That’s just great. For real.”
“Thanks.”
With the current discussion on diet and exercise, Joe heard his stomach grumble. “So, what show do you watch?”
“Just a show.”
“Oh yeah. Which one?”
“Naw, man.”
“Oh, c’mon. What show?”
“You’ll just laugh.”
“No, I won’t. You’re taking care of yourself. That’s what’s important. What show? I might start doing the same thing and could use a show to watch.”
Jacobs’ salad arrived and he poured Italian dressing on it. He tossed it around in the salad and then set his fork down. “Riverdale.”
He had said in a quiet tone that Joe didn’t really hear. “What?”
Jacobs looked at his partner. “The show’s called Riverdale, okay?”
“Why does that sound familiar?”
“You ever read those Archie comics?”
“Yeah.” Then it popped into his head. “Oh yeah. I know what you’re talking about. Beth watches that show. It’s not like the comics. It’s darker, right? Someone was killed?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of cheesy at times though.”
“And yet you still watch it?” Joe started smiling.
Jacobs caught the smile. “Fuck you. You said you wouldn’t say anything.”
“And I haven’t.” Joe dipped a fry in some ketchup and ate it. “I saw something about that show on TV once. I thought I was too old for that show, but damn, Papa Bear.”
“Shut up.”
“I suppose they hang out at a malt shop, too.”
Jacobs flipped off Joe and focused on his salad. He was quiet for some time, not even looking up at his partner. Joe took that as his cue that he pissed him off and decided to shut up and eat his meal.
Jacobs stopped eating and took a drink of his iced tea. All he had left to eat was the second half of his sandwich. “Carlyle has family here. Why don’t we talk to his mother or his little brother?”
Joe was chewing when he was asked this. He hurried to finish and took a drink to wash it down. “Yeah. I know his brother, Orrin, too.”
“Think they know anything?”
Joe shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Why don’t we try the little brother anyway?”
“I knew him from Garrett and Beth’s little league games. He used to umpire them. That was three, four years ago though. Seemed like a decent kid then.”
“You think, maybe, he was with Carlyle at Target?”
“Could’ve been. It’s worth a shot to talk to him though.” Joe went back to his meal. He, too, had the second half of his sandwich remaining. He could feel Jacobs staring at him while he ate. “What? Now?”
“Yeah. Now. Unless you wanna waste more time taking your time eating.”
“I’m almost done. Plus, you have food left.”
“I’m on a diet and don’t need the rest.”
“Damn. That diet does have you all cranky. That or the early morning exercising.” Joe took another bite-a big one-of his sandwich followed by another swig of his soda. He then signaled for the girl to bring them their check. Each put down more than what their meals were and told the girl to keep the change.
As Joe drove them away from the diner, he pointed down the road. “Go find and grab Orrin?” Jacobs nodded in the passenger seat. Joe smiled and couldn’t resist it. “Riverdale, huh?”
Jacobs shook his head. “Fuck. I shouldn’t’ve said anything.”
Joe laughed. “No. It’s cool, man. Really. Maybe, I’ll start watching it, too, and we can discuss who’s better for Archie: Betty or Veronica.”
Jacobs gave Joe a cold glare that Joe thought a punch would follow, but then Jacobs smiled. “Veronica’s mom.”
Joe knew that smile. “Oh yeah?”
Jacobs laughed. “Hell yeah.”
They both laughed as Joe drove them to where he figured Orrin might be.
Orrin Carlyle was at Caleb’s Comics and Cards which was right where Joe figured he’d be. Jacobs pointed to the store. “We’re looking for Carlyle’s brother. Someone who may know the whereabouts of a suspected, local hitman and you bring us to a comic book store. What the hell, my young partner?”
“C’mon. I’ll buy you some Archie comics.”
“I don’t want any. I want us to track down this Orrin kid.”
“Well, c’mon then.” Joe exited the vehicle and made his way into the store. He went to hold the door for his partner, but Jacobs had yet to leave the car. He sat in the passenger seat with his usual sour look on his face. Joe shrugged and continued into the store.
Caleb’s was the only store in a four-hour radius that sold comics. Once a week, it also hosted a tournament of some kind for those into the fantasy role-playing card games. Inside, there were dozens of shelves displaying the latest issues of all the major comic book companies and their books. There were also racks with trade paperbacks for those, like Joe, who didn’t want to spend tons of money on subscribing to various titles. Comic book subscriptions today weren’t cheap like they were when Joe was growing up. Out of habit, Joe stopped at trade paperbacks to see if anything new caught his eye.
The store also had shelves with collectables of various superheroes and popular sci-fi shows. There were cards, posters, shirts, and action figures a person could buy. The store did cater to those into the latest comic-book related movies and TV shows. Joe also saw on the rack the comic book version of the show Riverdale. He thought to himself that he would have to remember to grab a couple of issues for Jacobs. He smiled and laughed to himself at that thought.
It was Caleb’s weekly fantasy card game tournaments where Joe knew he might be able to find Orrin Carlyle. Joe popped into Caleb’s two or three times a month to checkout the trade paperbacks to see what was new or interesting. Nearly each time he went to Caleb’s, Orrin was there in the back area that was set up for card tournaments. Sometimes Orrin was playing and other times he seemed to just be watching. Sometimes, they would catch each other’s eyes and give a nod to each other. This time, Orrin had his back to Joe and was sitting ten feet from the rear exit and didn’t see him enter. Joe took his time as he approached Orrin because he had a feeling Orrin would run if he saw Joe and he didn’t feel like running.
Joe continued his perusing of comics on their shelves while keeping an eye on Orrin. When Joe entered the store, the owner and manager, Caleb, was on a step stool behind the counter arranging mint-condition editions of Spider-man comics. He hadn’t notice Joe when he first entered, but as Joe moved closer to the card game he did. “Hey, Joe. What’s goin’ on, man?”
Joe shrugged and shook his head. He hoped Orrin didn’t hear Caleb. Orrin was now only about two arms lengths from Joe and was playing his hand in the game he was involved with. Joe never got into the whole role-playing card games or Dungeons & Dragons as a kid. It just wasn’t his thing.
Joe was now standing over Orrin who still hadn’t noticed him. He tapped Orrin on the shoulder. “Hey, Orrin. Got a moment?”
Orrin looked up and when he saw Joe, he didn’t move right away. It took a second for him to recognize Joe, but when he did, he tried to stand to leave. Joe pushed him back into his seat. “Don’t bother, kid. I just need a minute.”
Orrin held up his hand
s in defeat, but when Joe went to reposition himself to sit next to him, Orrin leapt out of his chair successfully that time. It did catch Joe by surprise, but not enough to keep him from sticking out his leg to trip Orrin. Being half Joe’s age, Orrin was back on his feet and making a mad dash towards the exit. He did all this before Joe could get up from his seat, but Orrin was out the door before he could reach it.
When Joe burst through the exit, he was stopped by the sight of his partner pinning Orrin up against the dumpster across the from the door. Jacobs didn’t look winded at all. He turned Orrin to face Joe. “This the kid?”
Joe nodded. “Yeah. That’s him. What did you do, just walk around the back waiting for him to come out?”
“Kind of. I just got here when he came through the door. I was bored waiting in the car and figured my old ass in a comic book store would draw more attention than you in there. Guessing that didn’t work.”
“I was able to sneak up on him before he bolted.”
“You’re younger than me. Should’ve been able to catch him.”
Joe smiled. “You get that bit of wisdom from Archie or Jughead?”
“Funny. You’re a real fucking comedian sometimes, you know?”
“Well, with your old curmudgeon attitude, I have to lighten things up around here.” He pointed to Orrin. “Let’s take this conversation back to the station.”
32.
Big John had an arsenal that made Davy’s look like nothing. If World War III happened at that moment, Big John would be ready for it. “You said before you was in the Army, right?”
Paden nodded while looking at the weapons. “Yeah. A long ass time ago.”
“What did you do?”
“11 Bravo. Infantry.”
“No sniper shit?”
“No, but I did shoot expert every time at the range.”
Big John nodded. “And how far away from your target do you plan to be?”
“The wood line across from the police station.”
