Dead Center, page 9
part #2 of Nemesis Series
“So you would have rather let those two men come in here and kill us, kill Sasha?”
“There had to have been another way,” Anna replied.
“Please, share with me another way those men could have been handled. I’m open to learning.”
“Ishaan was—”
Raising her hand, palm out, Lexi said, “Not another damn word about how Ishaan was a good man.”
“Well, he was.”
“Right there, that word was. You knew who he was, you don’t know who he is now. We know these facts, he works for a pack of killers, a family that destroys, rapes, murders, yet you have Ishaan up on some pedestal, like he’s Jesus fucking Christ or something,” Lexi barked.
“Language! You watch your language in this house and in front of the little one,” Anna warned.
A chuckle rose in Lexi and she let it out heartily. “Do you really think Sasha here knows what the word shit or fuck is right now? Huh? Are you more worried about my language than those fucking savages out there murdering and raping?” Lexi asked, emphasizing the word fucking.
Anna’s face turned bright red.
Lexi could see it coming, Anna was about to blow.
“I want you out of here this very instant!” Anna shouted. She turned and slammed the door.
Sasha’s little eyes popped open and her body shuddered from the door slamming shut. She blinked repeatedly then started to cry.
“I’m sorry the bitchy woman woke you,” Lexi said, her tone sweet. She unbuttoned her shirt and placed Sasha on a breast.
Sasha began to feed without hesitation.
Just that quickly, Lexi’s fantasy of this place being her sanctuary had come crashing down to reality. This was what she got for thinking some people weren’t crazy, and poor Anna was just that in her mind. She had seemed so normal until last night happened, and on a flip of a dime she’d changed for the worse.
From deep in the cabin, Anna paced and talked to herself loudly. This reverberated back to Lexi, who shook her head in disbelief. She didn’t need to be told to leave now; doing so seemed critical, as Anna’s behavior was growing more erratic as the hours ticked away.
◆◆◆
A rumbling truck approached a house from the narrow drive. It came to a stop. The driver’s door opened and out stepped a man. He was lean, with a beard, and his clothes were filthy and stained. He wore a jacket with the name Nellis embroidered on the chest. He looked at the house and whistled.
The passenger door opened; another man emerged. He too was tall and lean and, like the driver, also had a beard. He spit tobacco juice on the ground, wiped what clung on his lip with his soiled sleeve, and said, “Well, let’s hope they have something to share with us.”
“Ray, just keep your damn hands to yourself this time,” Nellis scolded, referring to the last house they’d searched. There Ray had grabbed and fondled a woman.
“She was hot,” Ray said.
“Let’s go, and damn it, man, don’t do anything stupid. You know how the boss is,” Nellis barked.
The two men sauntered down the drive until they were close to the front of the house.
The front door opened and out stepped a large man wearing only pants. In his hands was a double-barreled shotgun. “What can I do for you boys?”
Ray and Nellis stopped in their tracks.
With his hands raised, Nellis said, “Ease up there. We’re coming to check on some things.”
“Are you with the Clancy Clan?” the man asked.
“We are,” Nellis replied.
“I told those other two dipshits yesterday that I haven’t seen any damn woman.”
“So you met two of our men?” Nellis asked.
“Are you deaf?”
“Don’t be a smart-ass, fat man!” Ray spat.
“Shut it, or I’ll put some buck shot in ya,” the man barked. He raised the muzzle of the shotgun and pointed it in Ray’s direction.
“Easy,” Nellis shouted. “Do you happen to know where our compatriots went after they left?”
“Down that way towards old Joe’s place.”
“Old Joe?” Nellis asked.
“You don’t know old Joe. He’s only the sole black man that lives in these parts,” the man said. “Where are you from anyway?”
Ray leaned in close and whispered, “I’m beginning to think this fat fuck might have killed our men. Look at him, he means business, and he doesn’t want us to come within two inches of his place.”
“Did those guys, our people, search your place?” Nellis asked.
“No, and don’t you think you’ll get the opportunity either,” the man bellowed.
“Damn it, Nel, this fucker did it. I can see it, hell, I can smell it,” Ray whispered.
“How about you two go fuck off now. I’m busy,” the man barked.
“What did you say your name was?” Nellis asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you can call me none of your fucking business,” the man shouted.
“Sir, we’re here on behalf of August Clancy, and we’re looking for a woman and two of our men who went missing. We’ll be needing to take a quick look inside the house,” Nellis said his tone staying calm and diplomatic.
“You ain’t seeing shit. There ain’t no women here, nor do I know where your people are, now get off my land,” the man hollered.
“Nellis, this is the guy, I know it,” Ray kept pressing.
“Just shut up. I’m trying to think here,” Nellis snapped. He turned his head and looked into Ray’s brown eyes. “Just shut up.”
Ray leaned back and was a bit put off. “I’m telling you, this is the guy.” He faced the man and shouted, “You’re the man, yep, you’re him!”
Again the man raised his shotgun. “What’s he talking about?”
“It’s nothing. Now can we please take a look inside your place? We need to confirm and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Get off my land!” the man barked angrily.
The shriek of a woman came from inside the man’s house.
All were stunned by the unexpected cry for help that followed.
The man pulled the trigger on the shotgun and unleashed both barrels of double-aught buck in Ray’s direction. The distance between the men was about seventy feet, enough to prevent Ray from getting hit with the full blast. He did take some shot to his left arm and shoulder.
Nellis tore his pistol from a holster on his hip, pointed it at the man, aimed and fired several times. The final 9 mm round struck the man in the belly.
The man gripped his stomach and cried out in pain.
Having the advantage, Nellis advanced and squeezed off several more rounds, these all hit the man. Two in his chest and one in his lower abdomen.
Struck four different times, the man groaned, dropped to his knees, and gave one last wail before falling over dead face-first into the dirt.
The shrieks from the woman increased in urgency.
“Fucker shot me!” Ray cried out.
Ignoring Ray, Nellis sprinted to the house. He stopped near the man and put one more bullet in him, this one in his head to make sure he was dead. He then proceeded to the front door, but before he opened it, he paused. Unsure of what or who he might encounter inside, he placed his back against the wall and tried turning the handle. The door opened. He pushed and waited for something to happen, but nothing did except the cries of the woman grew louder.
“If anyone else is in there, know that I’m coming in with the authority of the Clancy Clan.”
Angered and determined to see this job through, Ray marched over, his pistol in his right hand. He crossed the threshold and into the dimly lit house. The first thing that hit him was the putrid odor. He reflexively gagged.
The woman’s shrieks intensified.
He swiveled his head until he found the source of the cries. In the corner, bound and naked, was a woman. “I’ve found her. I’ve found her!”
Nellis came in, pistol out in front of him. He scanned the house and stopped when he saw the woman. “I can’t believe it.”
Both men went to the woman.
She was young, in her late twenties. With pleading eyes she looked at them. Her face was smeared with blood and grime. She mumbled something unintelligible, as her mouth was taped shut.
With a jovial tone, Ray practically squealed with excitement. “We found the bitch! The boss is going to give us something special for this.”
The woman mumbled again.
Curious as to what she was saying, Nellis removed the tape with one quick pull.
“Help me,” the woman groaned.
Both men looked at each other then to her.
“Was that fat fuck having his way with you?” Ray asked.
“He’s had me captive for a week,” she sobbed.
“Well, you’re going to want to be back here once we take you back to see August,” Nellis said. He pulled a folding knife from his pocket and cut her bindings.
“Who’s August?” she asked.
“Only the brother of the men you killed,” Ray answered.
Free of the bindings, she gave both men a confused look, then gazed at the door. Without a second’s thought longer, she made a dash for it but only made it a few feet before Nellis was on top of her. He tackled her to the ground and lay on her back, his face next to hers. “Just take it easy. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I do,” Ray barked, blood dripping from his soaked sleeve onto the filthy carpet.
“You have to answer for what you did. Now I’m going to get up; don’t make a run for it or I’ll be forced to hurt you,” Nellis warned.
“I haven’t done anything. I haven’t killed anyone’s brothers. I was kidnapped a week or more ago by some man. He’s been torturing and raping me since,” the woman explained.
“A week is about the time since you killed Michael and Gavin, not to mention Gavin’s poor family,” Nellis said. He got off her back and, with a firm grip on her arm, brought her to her feet.
“I don’t know any August or Gavin. I’m the victim here. I was kidnapped; I was raped.”
“Just shut up, bitch!” Ray spat.
“Toss me the rope,” Nellis ordered Ray.
Ray did as he asked.
Once more the woman found herself bound and someone’s prisoner.
They put her in between them in the cab of the truck, still naked and shaking with fear.
“What will you do with me?” she asked.
“That’s up to August, but you’ll have to answer for what you did,” Nellis replied.
Sobbing, she said, “I haven’t done anything. I swear it. Please let me go, please.”
“Just shut up,” Ray snapped, his attention on placing a bandage on his arm. “I’m going to have to see the doc when we get back.”
“After what we’ve accomplished today, the boss will set you up with his own personal doc,” Nellis said with pride in his voice. He put the truck into gear and sped off.
TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA
“What’s that word?” Ava asked, her small finger placed on the page.
“Turtle, do you know what a turtle is?” August asked.
Ava nodded sweetly.
“Good, now keep reading.”
“The turtle and the ha-ha-hare,” Ava said.
“Good,” August said with a smile.
Loud banging came from the front door.
Agitated at being interrupted, August grunted his disapproval. “Ava dear, just keep reading to yourself. I’ll be right back.” August left her on the couch and went to see who was there. He threw open the door and found Scott standing with a large smile stretched across his face. “We got her.”
“You have?” August asked, a look of shock and delight on his face. “Where is she now?”
“Outside,” Scott said, nodding behind him.
August peered out into the dark to see headlights darting across his driveway.
“Shall we take her to the lodge?” Scott asked.
“No, bring her inside. I want to meet her now,” August said. He faced Ava and called out, “Go to your room and keep reading. I’ll be in shortly to check on you and kiss you goodnight.”
“Okay,” Ava said and disappeared into the hall.
“Bring her in,” August said.
Scott called out, “Bring her in, boys!” He stepped across the threshold and into August’s large home. He now lived just on the outskirts of town, but within the city limits, in an expansive log home. The ceilings in the great room towered over twenty-eight feet, with massive logs spanning the open space. The lights in his house worked with the help of gasoline-powered generators, a luxury few enjoyed.
Filled with excitement at confronting the woman who had killed his family members, August paced back and forth. He was so looking forward to not just mentally torturing her, but physically.
Nellis entered first, with the woman in tow and Ray just behind.
With wonder-filled eyes, Ray looked around the house. “Wow, this is nice.”
“Let me see her,” August blared as he marched up to the trembling woman, her body still naked.
“Please don’t hurt me, please,” she groaned.
Gleefully, August leaned down and said, “I am going to hurt you, I want you to know. I’m going to do it slowly, painfully. You’ll regret ever hurting my family.”
“I haven’t done anything. I haven’t hurt anyone, please believe me,” she sobbed.
August took a handful of her auburn hair and snapped her head back. He got his face an inch from hers and said, “I’m going to get so much pleasure from watching you suffer.”
With utter terror coursing through her body, the woman released her bladder and urinated on the floor.
Disgusted, August shoved her away from him. “Vile.” Turning to Nellis, he barked, “Clean that up.” He stepped over the wet spot on the floor and took her by the arm and dragged her to his dining room. He threw her into an armed chair. “Tie her up.”
Scott and Ray did as he asked as Nellis cleaned up the floor.
Again August paced as he dreamed about how he was going to torture the woman he mistakenly thought was Lexi.
“Please don’t do this, please!” the woman yelled.
A small voice came from the hall. “Uncle Auggie, what’s going on?”
All eyes turned to the hall.
Ava emerged with the book in one hand and a stuffed teddy bear in the other. “Who’s that?”
Seeing an opportunity, August walked up to Ava, knelt down so they were face-to-face, and asked, “Do you want to see the woman who killed your parents and brother?”
Ava shook her head, fear now written all over her face.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, she can’t hurt you now. We have her tied up. Come, let me show you.” August stood, took Ava’s hand and walked her to the woman, who was crying uncontrollably in the dining room. They stopped just a foot from the woman.
Instantly Ava and the woman locked their gazes on each other.
“Hi, tell them to let me go, please,” the woman begged.
Frozen in fear and shock at the sight of the woman, Ava stood speechless.
“You see, she can’t hurt you now,” August said.
“Uncle Auggie.”
“Yes.”
“That’s not her,” Ava said.
“Of course it is,” August replied.
With a tug on his arm, Ava motioned for August to lean down, which he did. She whispered into his ear, “That’s not the woman who killed my family.”
“Are you sure?” he whispered back.
“She had a big belly,” Ava said.
Suddenly he recalled that detail about Lexi. His eyes darted to the woman and saw she was lean with no signs of ever having had a baby recently. Again he asked, “Are you sure?”
“She also had really dark hair, longer than hers,” Ava replied.
A surge of rage began to build in August, which he held back, for the moment. “You go back to your room, okay?”
“What will you do to her? She looks scared,” Ava asked innocently.
“We’ll take care of her, don’t you worry. Sorry for the mistake,” August said, this time above a whisper.
The other men all exchanged looks of confusion.
“Is something wrong?” Scott asked August.
“Run along, Ava,” August said ignoring his brother. He watched until he could hear her door close. He pivoted to the woman and asked, “Were you pregnant?”
“Ah, no, never,” the woman replied.
“You weren’t just pregnant?” August asked again, stressing the word pregnant.
“No, I was hiking through the area, trying to get to my grandparents’ house in Davis.”
“You dumb motherfuckers, did you not get the details about the woman we’re looking for?” August asked Ray and Nellis.
“But she’s—” Nellis replied before being interrupted by August.
“You thought you’d just haul in any woman and think you could pass her off as the one who murdered my family? Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, boss, of course not,” Nellis answered.
“I thought something wasn’t right, I told him,” Ray blurted out as he raised his index finger at Nellis. “He was in charge. It was his idea to bring her in.”
“Liar! You entered the house first,” Nellis fired back.
“But you’re in charge. You made the call,” Ray came back.
“We both thought she was the woman,” Nellis countered. This time his comment was directed at August.
“And you, didn’t you know?” August asked Scott.
“Listen, brother, I barely got a look at her in the cab of their truck. They said they had her, and I came to you as fast as I could, which was your instructions.”
His jaw clenched and hands tightly closed into fists, August approached the woman and knelt down. “What’s your name?” he asked softly.
“Tessa she answered, tears streaming down her reddened cheeks.
“Where are you from?”
“Elko.”
“Oh yeah, I know where that is.”
“I barely survived the Villistas when they came to town. I lost my mother not long ago, so I thought I’d make the trek to my grandparents’ house.”
“Well, Jaime, I’m sorry for what’s happened to you. How did you come to be in Truckee?”
