“Wow! Mister Fred, you didn’t do anything! Why you gotta’ go to jail?” Sammy asked again.
“I’m guilty by association. That means I knew a bad thing was happening and I didn’t do anything to stop it and that makes me guilty, too,” Fred continued to explain to the young boy.
Martha Johnson stepped from the diner where she worked as a cook and called her son. “Over here, Momma,” Sammy called back. “I gotta go! Momma is a calling me.”
“Nice meeting you, Sammy. Take care of yourself. Sammy you left your cars!” Fred said.
“They will be alright back there. I will play with them again tomorrow night,” Sammy said.
Tipping his hat to Sammy’s mom, Fred stood and made his way down the street. He had a room over the diner, but he wanted to walk around for a bit before he retired for the night. He was glad he had decided to come back to Huntsville. Making that decision had lifted a great burden off his mind. Fred’s life had started to shift over the line, so this would clean the slate again. Passing a small church off the town square, Fred noticed the door was open and the lights were on. A sign out front said, ‘If you are looking for a moment of peace…a chance to talk with God! Come on in! God never sleeps.’ Fred decided he had neglected his spiritual side long enough and church was a good place to sit for a spell and think.
Sammy’s mom said to him as they walked away, “Sammy, don’t you repeat what that crazy white man said. With all the bad things that have happened around here the white folks might blame the black community for all this trouble. You just forget what you heard. No one will believe you no how. We might get in trouble if you say anything.” Pulling Sammy along, she shook her head saying, “I swear, we just have one trouble after another since your daddy ran off with that no count Dorothy Jones.”
C19 - Amoral Men
Judd hung up the phone and sat thinking about the phone call. Bart whispered under his breath. , “What did McDonald want?”
“I let him know the two mob guys have already found one of the drivers in Houston. The hit men are here in Huntsville to get the other driver if he shows,” Judd stated. He watched Bart pace nervously about the room. McDonald had mentioned Bart as one of his big problems and wanted him taken care of. “McDonald wants me to take care of the Bakers to the tune of $5,000 dollars. He wants it done now. He also said two of his men are on their way down here to help cleanup.”
“Why not wait for them to show?” Ed said.
Judd looked down at his boots and ran his hand over the stubble on his chin and said, “I might be able to sneak in the cabin and put a pillow over Baker’s head. They would think he just died, naturally.”
“Isn’t the five grand for both of them?” Bart asked.
“Yes, the pretty wife, too. I kind of hate that, but McDonald especially mentioned her. Well…I guess it don’t matter, one or two,” Judd said.
“I don’t want to hear anything about how or what you do. Don’t tell me anything,” Ed said.
Ignoring Ed’s comment Judd scratched his chin and said, “There’s not going to be much of a moon for the next couple of nights.”
“Don’t you want to wait for the mob guys to get here?” Bart asked.
“No time to wait. I do my best work alone. As soon as I get the money, I will take care of them. I don’t work until I get paid,” Judd stated.
“Why don’t you let someone back you up, Judd? Ed is willing,” Bart added.
Judd looked at Ed. He didn’t care to have Ed along so he said, “I will think about it, but I can’t wait. It has to be done quickly. I will take care of this tomorrow night if I have the money in my hands. McDonald also wants the two drivers that worked with Baker.” He watched their faces and they told him all he needed to know.
C20 - Sleepless Nights
It was early Wednesday morning. Bonnie got up from the old rocker where she spent most of her time watching over Willy. His breath was ragged. The only good thing was he didn’t seem to be running a fever at the moment. Standing, she took up her hair brush and began combing the unsightly thick hair. She needed a bath and wanted to make herself more presentable. The old clock ticked loudly and chimed telling her it was three am. Pulling the brush through her hair she tried to visualize life without Willy. Every time Willy had sighed or taken a sharp breath she had checked to see if it had been his last. Restless and too exhausted to sleep she got up and stood in the dark looking out the small window of the bedroom. Wearily she turned and moved down the wall still trying to pull the brush through her hair. A slight breeze came through the window and she leaned her head back against the wall. Her heart breaking, she sobbed knowing Willy was slipping away and there was nothing she could do. Never in her life had she endured such grief.
A metallic sound came to her and Bonnie stiffened and pressed her back against the cabin wall. Without breathing she listened intently to the sounds of the night. There was someone out there and she was thankful she hadn’t lit a candle or lantern. Across the dark room a mirror hung on the wall. The reflection of the moon light through the window was the only light. Suddenly in the mirror she saw the outline of a head peering in the small window. Bonnie caught her breath stifling a gasp...not daring to move. She was thankful the room was too dark for anyone to see in. Slowly the shadow turned and headed for the front of the cabin. Quickly she stepped back to the door that opened into the main room. The quiet breathing of Annie laying on the wooden bench was the only sound. Panic set in as she rushed into the main room and slid the wooden peg into the lock on the door. She stood holding her breath; her trembling hand against the door. Bonnie heard a slight creak from the boards on the porch. Someone had stepped up on the porch. She shivered in fear as the door moved against her hand. Someone was trying the lock. In near panic she backed over to where Annie was sleeping and put her hand over Annie's mouth as she whispered, “Wake up Annie! Someone is outside trying to get in the cabin!”
Annie jerked awake and Bonnie removed her hand from her mouth. For a moment, the only sound was the sound of the two breathing as they stood in the dark room. Annie’s breathing came in frightened gasps as she woke into this nightmare.
“I locked the door just seconds before the door moved against the lock,” Bonnie whispered. “Oh my gosh! The window!” she whispered frantically as she ran back in the bedroom. Taking a nail from the sill she pushed the small window closed and slid a nail through the hasp. A scraping sound brought her back to the main room. In the darkness Annie was pushing the heavy bench across the wooden floor to place it against the front door. All was dark and only the outlines of the small kitchen window could be seen. It would be hours before anyone from the main house came to check on them. Fear gripped the two women as they stood in the dark listening to a deafening quiet. A creaking board on the front porch signaled that someone was at the front door again. Their minds raced as each considered what to do. Trying to find a weapon of some kind, Annie realized she was holding her purse which held nothing except lipstick and a finger nail file.
Annie stepped back from the front door just as the door moved against the bolt and bench. There was no mistake…someone was trying to get in the house. A large shadow moved across the window and she gasped and jumped back. In the darkness they lifted the end of the wooden bench and leaned it against the front door. Again, someone tried the door. Moving back to the center of the room the two stood in the dark room in stark terror.
Judd leaned back against a tree and frowned. The night was perfect with a deep darkness. He should have never brought Ed. He was clumsy and noisy. No doubt someone in the house had heard him floundering around in the darkness. Without him it would have all been over by now. They would have died in their sleep. The war years had made a killing machine out of Judd. He always enjoyed the adrenalin rush. When the war ended, he had been at a loss to explain his existence. To him there was no significant difference in the life of a dog or man. Why was he here? He surely didn’t need the money. He was well off before he and Harlan
had stepped into a money pot with the shine business. There was no logic to this. He was somewhat surprised at himself. The war had conditioned him much more than he had realized. He wished it had never ended. He loved the killing and his survival instincts had made him a force to deal with in the German forest. The night was humid, and a dense foliage wrapped the cabin in darkness. Judd thought determinedly, ‘It is now or never! Another two hours and daylight will break. This has to be finished and they have to be miles from here by morning. He must do this as quickly as possible.’
Slipping the razor-sharp hunting knife blade in the crack of the door he lifted the wooden latch. A flash of dim light was all the warning the two women had indicating someone had entered by the rear door. Holding on to each other they backed against the front wall of the cabin. Slowly the intruder made his way across the floor of the cabin with the knife ready. Judd was unaware that there were two women in the room. His mind and body was trained for this type of encounter. He was unfamiliar with the cabin but even in the dark he knew a few more steps would get him within arm’s length of anyone. Moving slowly, he tried to locate the woman by her breathing.
Petrified, Bonnie and Annie stood by the front door. Terror struck as the smell of a sweaty body permeated the dark room. Someone was getting close to them. Putting her hand over Annie’s mouth Bonnie stood quietly. Moving along the wall they came to the front door where they positioned themselves between the wooden bench and the front door.
Breathing as quietly as he could, Judd Smith made his way across the floor inch by inch. The knife was ready to strike as he crept across the floor. A woman’s scent came to him in the darkness arousing him and quickening his pulse. It would have grieved him to kill such a beauty only a few years ago. Now after the war it didn’t seem to matter. He reasoned that it was just a job and he always made it as painless and quick as possible. After all, everyone dies eventually.
In the main house Susie rose suddenly from the rug in Jerry’s room and listened. Barking loudly, she ran to the open window and with one leap she tore through the screen and raced across the field. A flower vase sitting on the desk in front of the window fell with a crash to the floor.
“What’s the matter?” Ben asked as he rushed in Jerry’s room.
Jerry sat rubbing the sleep from his eyes and said, “I don’t know, Dad! Susie was laying on the rug and suddenly she barked and jumped out the window. Right though the screen!” Both of them looked out the window. The barking of the dog was heard as she headed in the direction of the cabin.
“Something is not right, and the dog knew it. I’m going back to check on Bonnie!” Ben said grabbing his boots and running out the door. Bonnie heard the barking of Susie as she raced across the fields. The sound gave her a moment of hope.
Behind the upended bench the women quaked in fear. Annie shook violently, unable to control her fear. The man’s scent became stronger and stronger. Straining her ears Bonnie stood trying to hear the slightest of sounds that would locate the person in the room. She could hear the beating of her own heart in her ears. From the bedroom a weak groan brought her to near panic realizing Willy lay helpless in the room. The intruder must not get past her to him. Fear and desperation gave her the courage she needed as she set aside the desire to survive. The scent of an unwashed body was repugnant, and Annie was near complete panic. Her breathing was getting audible. Bonnie knew this had pinpointed their location. Making a scraping sound on the back of the wooden bench, a shuffle of movement brought her to action pushing the heavy bench like a tall tree over into the darkness. A thud and a curse sounded in the room signaling she had hit her mark. Turning she jerked the door open and shoved Annie out. “Go get Dad! Run for the house! Run, Annie! Run!” she screamed. Something struck her in the back and a sharp pain coursed through her body. She was unable to take a deep breath as she staggered out the door and fell on the front porch.
Running from the house Annie ran head long into a large figure. He did not expect the flight through the door and fell backwards. He grabbed Annie’s cotton gown as he fell. Just as quickly, she buried her finger nail file in his coat sleeve. A grunt came from the dark figure as she jerked free and ran screaming down the trail. Clad in a white cotton gown she felt the tall grass whip her legs as she made the open pasture with the heavy breathing of someone in pursuit behind her. Too heavy and cumbersome, Ed was no match for Annie in a foot race. Cursing wildly, he tripped in the dark. Forgetting stealth, he pulled his pistol and fired at the fleeing figure. The roar of the gun was magnified in the cool night air and echoed across the pasture. Annie felt the shell cut a hole though the cotton gown just missing her side.
The element of surprise was lost and suddenly the lights were on in the house on the hill. Ed gave up the chase and after sending another shot echoing through the dark, he turned and ran for the cabin. They must get away from here now. There would be people coming down from the house at any time. Running back to the cabin he saw Bonnie laying on the porch with a knife sticking out of her back. In the moonlight, through the cabin door he saw Judd kneeling on the cabin floor. Stopping long enough to peer in the door, Ed whispered, “Let’s get out of here! Someone is coming down from the house!”
Judd tried to get up then fell back down. Sliding a pistol from his belt he said, “Help me! I’m bleeding like a stuck pig!” Ed started for the porch then beneath the porch a deep growl penetrated the darkness. Ed’s nerves failed him, and he backed along the length of the porch. A pair of red eyes shining in the ever-increasing moonlight was too much for him. “Come back here you coward and help me!” Judd shouted. Feeling the flow of blood from his neck he said, “Well hell!” He knew full well he was beyond help. All he wanted was one last shot…at Weeks. He was a fool to have brought Ed with him. Weeks had caused this simple job to go bad.
Backing along the porch Ed felt blood running down his arm and his courage failed him. Through the woods he fled, briars and limbs slapping his clothes and face as he ran.
As Annie raced across the field, from out of nowhere Susie sailed past her toward the cabin. A figure loomed out of the darkness and the voice of Bonne’s father said, “Annie, what has happened?”
Hysterically she cried, “Get your gun! Get your gun! Send for help!”
Turning around Ben Wilkerson ran back across the field to the house.
Laying on the cabin porch Bonnie raised her head trying to breathe. Reaching under her for the agonizing pain she found a knife blade sticking from her chest. Her vision blurred and she passed out again.
Judd Smiths life’s blood was pouring out beyond his control. He laughed to himself and said, “Just when everything was getting back on track. Oh well, I knew it was always a possibility.” He cursed regretting he didn’t get a chance to take Weeks with him. Laying back on the floor he relaxed and died.
In the field Annie regained her courage and raced back to the cabin. Not knowing what she would find, she stopped in the yard and approached cautiously. The sparse moonlight played tricks on her and every shadow held danger. The pale moonlight revealed the body of Bonnie laying on the porch half in and half out of the cabin door. A cold chill went over her as she saw the knife sticking out of Bonnie.
Susie had reached the cabin and stood over the form of her fallen mistress barking wildly. Slowly Annie circled the porch. Just inside the open door the soles of a man’s boots lay motionless. Time passed slowly then early morning came with Annie holding Bonnie’s head in her lap. Her eyes glued to the grotesque knife handle against Bonnie’s back.
As the car raced out of Huntsville, Doc leaned over the front seat, “How long has it been?” he asked.
“We got the call about fifteen minutes ago,” Cage said. “The call came in at ten minutes to five. It took us five minutes to get to your house.”
“What happened?” Doc asked.
“Someone got in the cabin and stabbed Bonnie! That’s all I know. She has a knife sticking through her chest!” Cage reported.
“Lord, have mercy! Didn’t the rangers have someone watching the Bakers?” Doc said.
“Doc, we thought they were secure. We didn’t have anyone watching the cabin,” Cage said.
“Did you have to let that wild Indian drive? Lightfoot, we’re not going to do anybody any good if we get killed by your driving!” Doc yelled.
“Just hang on, Doc! It’s not true that the American Indian is inherently a bad driver…Sit back and relax. I will get you there in one piece…I hope,” Chief Lightfoot said.
“The turnoff is just a few miles ahead! Don’t you think you should start slowing my car down? You’ve already lost one of my hubcaps!” Doc exclaimed.
“I agree with you, Doc,” Cage said. “I’m just too scared to say anything. Who would have thought this old clunker would go this fast,” Cage said.
ααααααα
The diner was a buzz when Bart entered for his morning coffee. Setting a cup in front of him Judy said, “Bart, you are a day late and a dollar short as usual.”
Irritated, Bart looked at the waitress standing in front of him. Her face was his worst nightmare. “You know, Judy, you really get on my nerves sometimes,” Bart said.
With a big grin on her face, she snapped the gum she was chewing knowing it irritated the sheriff. “Judy, stop snapping that blasted gum and go wait on someone who can stand you! I can’t this morning!” Bart said sarcastically.
Judy loved every minute of tormenting him and raised her hand admiring her deep red nails. She looked at Bart and said, “The rangers were here this morning for breakfast when I got a call for them. The next thing I know they left out of here like a covey of quails. The best I could make out, someone else is dead. They needed the doc, so the dark skin ranger told me to call Doc and tell him they were on their way.”
Doing Time In Texas, Book 3 Page 10
