Chapter 21

Two hours later, Shorty was sitting right where he didn’t want to be, with cops.

“It is so nice of you to drop by, Shorty,” Lloyd smiled.

“It is so nice of you to come visit us in our loneliness,” Brandon took a chair and flipped it around to straddle it.

“Who is this,” Shorty asked, nodding to Brandon who was sitting at his right hand.

“That is FBI Agent Brandon Row,” Lloyd made the introductions. “Shorty here is the gang-approved informant.”

“How does that work exactly, gang-approved informant?” Brandon asked curiously.

“Rather well, I am still alive,” Shorty quipped.

Lloyd took control of the interview by slamming down the files of all the dead girls related to the Killing Field. Shorty saw Casey’s file. He didn’t want to touch it, he didn’t even want to look at it.

“What kind of operation are you running here, Shorty?” Brandon broke the silence.

“As you well know,” Shorty said to Lloyd then turned to Brandon, “we provide the town with certain entertainments in the form of recreational substances and umm, pleasurable company.”

Brandon snickered. “Clever use of euphemisms. So drugs and prostitution. Some of those girls are underage.”

“Last time I checked, the age of consent in the State of Texas is 16,” Shorty said coldly.

“The audacity of this guy,” Brandon said, then looked Shorty in the eye. “Last time I checked, prostitution in the State of Texas is illegal.”

“Shorty, the deal was we would leave the Lobos territory alone if you would keep the crime down,” Lloyd said. “I remember why we made that deal. You were killing a lot of us and we were killing a lot of you.”

“Yeah, and it drove the property values down,” Shorty said.

“There are parts of your area that haven't begun to recover,” Lloyd pointed out. “You have businesses that are boarded up, homes that are run down, streets that need repaving.”

“What’s your point?” Shorty asked.

“The Lobos aren’t doing a good job running things in your area,” Brandon pointed out. “Now, we have girls that have gone missing because this department can’t get a patrol in there without getting shot. You know who comes in, the monsters. The people who don’t have regard for anyone’s life. Not yours, not Coyto’s,” Brandon picked up Casey Hammond’s file and slapped it right in front of Shorty, “and not hers.”

“See, Shorty, they give us the guns and the badges to get the monsters off the streets,” Lloyd said. “And you are trying to protect some three to four blocks on the worst side of town in order to sell your drugs and pimp out your girls?”

“What do you need me to do?” Shorty said as he fingered Casey’s name. “This is all that is left of her.”

“No, that is not true,” Brandon said. “We have girls like that right here,” he tapped on some of the other files. “They didn’t have anyone who missed them, there was no one to mourn them and, yes, this is all that is left of them. But, her, she has you to keep her memory alive. She has you to fight for her and mourn for her.”

Shorty started crying, “I should have been there. I should have told her to stay at the restaurant. I should have told her I was going to come get her. Then that monster would have never gotten a hold of her.”

“Shorty, we have to close down that motel,” Lloyd said. “As long as this guy is out there, all those girls are in danger. Now, we can do this the hard way: I can send my guys in there, they can perform a sting, arrest a lot of people, kill a lot of people, or you can talk to Coyot. Tell him it is not worth it, tell him that the gang will be held responsible if another girl comes up missing. We know he is out there, we know where he is, but we can’t pick him up yet. You have to take some responsibility for these girls’ safety.”

“I will tell Coyot we have two options and I am going to paint option number two like it was his idea,” Shorty said. “He isn’t very bright and is highly susceptible to leading. It won’t be a problem.”

“We will give you twenty-four hours,” Lloyd said.

“It is a great idea,” Veronica said.

“It is the dumbest idea I ever heard,” Curtis said impatiently.

“Come on, Curt, you will be with me,” Veronica pleaded.

Curtis snorted. He knew she only used his nickname when she wanted something. Usually his last cookie or the last bite of a candy bar. The girl had an insatiable sweet tooth. They were both in the kitchen preparing lunch for the family. Their mother was volunteering at the shelter again and their father was meeting with a new client. Both said they would be back around 2:30 and to have a late lunch ready. Curtis had decided on a brunch menu with scrambled eggs and a salmon bagel.

“I am not participating in this idiocy,” Curtis said firmly. “Nor will I allow you to pull such a stunt off. Do you realize what you are talking about doing? You are talking about using yourself as bait to lure a psychopathic killer out in the open. Not only will he see straight through that, he will wait until you are in a truly vulnerable situation.”

“I don’t want to live the rest of my life in fear, Curtis,” Veronica took out the bacon and started to fry it. She turned the pieces a couple of times to make sure none of them burned.

“You won’t have to live your whole life in fear, Veronica,” Curtis said. “Just the foreseeable future.”

“That is what I am talking about,” Veronica sighed. She scooped the cooked bacon off the griddle to fry more up.

Curtis pan-seared the salmon and made the dressing. He took a teaspoon sample and decided to add more garlic salt.

“Your plan might not even work,” Curtis said as he whipped up the mustard sauce with egg whites. “You don’t know what he is doing, you don’t know where he is, you don’t know anything about him. Unless you saw something.”

“No, you know better than anyone that I didn’t see anything,” Veronica sighed again. “I am not used to being this passive. I am used to doing something.”

“Believe me, I know,” Curtis said. “I dislike doing nothing as much as you do, but sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action. You won’t mess anything up.”

“Do you think I would mess something up?”

“You would get yourself killed, or me killed, or me killed,” Curtis said as he took the salmon off the fire. They were cooked perfectly. “I am going to make someone happy.” Curtis said in a singsong voice.

“You can make one dish,” Veronica snorted.

“No, I can make several dishes,” Curtis glared at her. “Besides, fish is hard. Look if you don’t want to consider your own safety, then can you please consider mine. I would like to make it to my fifteenth birthday. You know, in one piece.”

“OK,” Veronica went over and hugged him, then snatched a piece of fish, “oh my god, this is good.”

“Yes, and you want to put all of that at risk.”

Veronica laughed at the quip, then was struck by a sudden idea, “Marc Anthony will know where Keith Ridgewood is and what he is up to.”

“Marc Anthony is not going to go for this little plan of yours,” Curtis said. “First off, you are a child, he is an adult. Second, the minute you lay out this god-awful plan, he is going to tell your pretty face to go back home.”

“Awe, you think I am pretty.”

Curtis sighed, “That is not the point. The point is there is no one, no people, who will let you go through with this hair-brained scheme. No one. Look, a lot of people care about you and you have no right to commit suicide. Now, let’s set the table. This fish deserves a stage.”

“I wouldn’t commit suicide.”

“What you are talking about is suicide,” Curtis said as he handed her the plates, “there is no scenario where you win all the marbles.”

Veronica decided to abandon the plan, Curtis had never steered her wrong before, and she had a feeling that he was right. Drawing Keith out the way she planned to was suicide. Veronica wouldn’t have to wait to draw Keith out, he was already looking for her.

Shorty used the number Veronica gave him to call her and set up a meeting. One of the “brothers” remembered Casey pointing out a strange man the night she disappeared. He remembered looking at the guy, thinking he was a john and just shrugged it off. Casey wasn’t in the rotation and that meant she didn’t have to approach him if she didn’t want to.

“But I remember what he looked like,” the “brother” said. “He had sandy blond hair and dark eyes. Not blue or green but not dark brown either. They were a light brown.”

“Could you point him out in a lineup?” Shorty asked.

“Man, I ain’t going to no cops,” the “brother” said as he started to walk off.

“No, man, no cops,” Shorty said. “I am the only one who has to deal with the police. I just want you to look at some photos. Real casual like.”

“Alright, cool,” the “brother” said. “Just no cops.”

Shorty rolled his eyes. There was absolutely no reason for all this animosity against the local police force. He had the same trouble with Coyot this morning. Shorty persuaded Coyot to shut down the motel until things blew over. “For the sake of the girls. Show them you care for their safety and you will have their loyalty.”

Coyot agreed.

Now, he was trying to persuade this member to come forward and tell the police what he saw. Shorty thought the meet-up with Veronica and her brother would be a good icebreaker. They decided to meet this afternoon at the cafe, around 5 p.m. Shorty and the “brother” were early and watched Veronica and her brother walk in.

The “brother” whistled as his eyes wandered up and down Veronica’s body, “so this is the luxury girl that nearly slit Coyot’s throat.”

“Luxury girl?” Curtis looked at Shorty.

“Yeah, she is the type of girl that the Lobos would consider luxury,” Shorty explained. Might as well let them both know that they were in for. “She is from the affluent part of town, has standing in the community and is virginal. Yes, she is a luxury.”

“None of you can afford,” Curtis pointed out coldly.

“Alright,” Veronica said. “Let’s get down to business. Did you bring the sheet?”

Curtis pulled the page out and handed it to the “brother”.

“I don’t need that,” he flung the paper back onto the table, “your guy is across the street looking in.”

“What?” All three of them said collectively. They looked to where the “brother” was looking and saw Keith Ridgewood standing across the street looking into the cafe.

Shorty jumped up, ran out the door and started chasing him, “get back here you motherfucker,” he screamed.

Veronica followed Shorty out the door and Curtis cursed as he followed Veronica. They watched Shorty turn into an ally, presumably following Keith.

“You killed her,” Shorty yelled. “You killed Casey. You bastard, I am going to kill you.”

“Shorty, wait, let the police grab him,” Curtis yelled at Shorty. “On what charges, I don’t know, but let the cops deal with it. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Shorty disappeared and Curtis caught up with Veronica, “Get your ass back inside.”

“Inside where,” Veronica looked over her shoulder as Curtis grabbed her arm.

“I don’t give a damn, just get inside and call the police, call Lloyd,” Curtis pushed her into one of the boutiques, took something from her hand, took off and ran after Shorty.

Keith hit a brick wall, literally. He looked up and saw there was no way out of the alley.

“I got you now, motherfucker,” Shorty said, his eyes took on a hateful gleam and he whipped out the pocket knife. “You took someone away from me, now I am going to take something away from you. I am going to start cutting you into little pieces. The fear you made her feel, the pain, I am going to inflict that on you, you sick bastard.”

Keith looked at the young man, he was delirious with rage. The young man was going to attack him angry and Keith thought to use that to his advantage. He decided to goad the young man on.

“You couldn’t protect her,” Keith said. “You can’t avenge her. You know, she stopped pleading for her life and stopped fighting right at the end. It was amazing. To see someone with such a will to live, just go out. Like a light. She lived as a whore and she died as a whore. I was the last man who had her and she screamed for me.”

“Shorty calm down,” Curtis warned. “Think about what we just heard. Think about what you are doing.”

“I am going to get rid of this bastard once and for all,” Shorty advanced with the knife. Then he stopped and looked back at Curtis who held Coyot’s knife.

Keith was unarmed, Shorty thought, this wasn’t going to look good and it wouldn’t bring Casey back.

“But Casey wasn’t the first one, what she, you insufferable maggot,” Shorty spat at Keith.

Keith, not realizing where any of this was going, jeered, “And she wasn’t my last. Hell, she wasn’t even the best.”

Shorty’s eyes narrowed, “which one was the best? Or do you remember?”

“I remember them all,” Keith taunted.

Curtis couldn’t believe what Shorty was able to do. He was getting a full confession out of Keith in front of a witness.

“How many were there?” Shorty spat back, “Eight?”

“Thirteen you moron,” Keith said. “But you wouldn’t know anything about that. You idiots just thought they jumped or what do you gangbangers call it? Oh yeah, skipped.”

Shorty, disgusted with the conversation, backed up to where Curtis was standing. “Do you think we both can hold him here?”

“Let him go,” Curtis said. “The police know where he lives. Besides, I don’t hear any sirens. I don’t think the calvary is coming, which means we have to retreat to fight another day.”

Keith couldn’t hear the conversation between the two, but noticed that Shorty was putting his knife away and Curtis was backing down. They were giving him space to leave.

“That’s right, boys,” Keith said as he came further out of the alley. “You know when you have been bested.”

“Live to fight another day, I always say,” Curtis said as he pulled Shorty back further from the entrance of the alley. “You might want to watch your step around here though. Shorty is not in a good mood and his henchmen are not very forgiving, if you know what I mean. Oh, one more thing, before I forget: Stay away from my sister. She has got nothing to do with you and she has got nothing to do with this.”

“I am not going to let some 14-year-old brat tell me what to do,” Keith snapped. The boy was too uppity for his own good. Nothing rattled him. Keith was going to find a way to rattle him and he knew he could use Veronica to do it. “Looks like all you Conways could be taken down a notch. Learn your place.”

“I said my peace,” Curtis said as he and Shorty backed away from Keith. They didn’t take their eyes off him and watched him run down the street to where his maroon truck was parked.

Shorty and Curtis went in the direction of the coffee shop and saw the Lobos brother along with Veronica in a convenience store not too far from where they were.

“Where have you been?” Curtis asked the brother.

“I was protecting the luxury,” the young man said as he threw his thumb towards Veronica. “This isn’t the safest neighborhood.”

“He’s got a point there and Coyot is looking for revenge from the earlier meeting,” Shorty said. “Can’t fault him for that.”

“Good point,” Curtis said. “Now, let’s get out of here before anything else happens. Shorty and I have to get over to Lloyd and that FBI agent. Speaking of which, why didn’t you call the police like I asked you to.”

“And tell them what,” Veronica asked. “I need help, my good friend and my brother are chasing a man into an alley. No, dispatch, he didn’t do anything to us, yes, we started the chase. Do you know how that will sound? Like we are after this guy. Especially when they find out we have a history with this guy.”

“We are after this guy, and I didn’t have a history with him until now,” Shorty said. “But, I see your point, besides, this is not a part of town they will come into. Usually, we are on our own.”

“We don’t need no cops here,” the gangbanger said. “We can handle our own shit.”

“You couldn’t trace and handle one serial killer who was actively targeting your prostitutes,” Veronica said dryly. “Not to mention the other johns who like to torture girls for their entertainment. Look around, this place is a mess, you have a street light that hasn’t worked for ten years, if not longer, most of these businesses are gone and the buildings are falling apart, and you are all behaving like Children of the Corn. How do you expect people to live in these conditions? This is worse than the projects.”

“You don’t like it, you can leave,” The gangbanger said angrily.

“Oh, believe me, I will,” Veronica said as she started to walk towards her and Curtis’s bike.

“And you don’t have to come back,” the gangbanger shouted.

“Oh, believe me,” Veronica turned around and looked at him, “I will.”

“I don’t like the way she said that,” the gangbanger said to Shorty.

“Her first step towards the Governor's Mansion is mayor,” Curtis said. “She will be back, and if I were you, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Well,” Shorty mused, watching her unhook her bike, “not in the same capacity. You might want to take stock in what she said and see if you can turn some of this around. Then, you might not mind seeing her here again.”

Curtis jogged to his bike and started to unhook it when Shorty came up to him, “You are really going with me to talk to Lloyd?”

“I heard him too,” Curtis said. “It was pretty clever to get the number of girls.”

“Thirteen,” Shorty pondered the number. “He said: Thirteen. There are seven or eight girls that I know of that could have been his victims including Casey. He killed more.”

Curtis just shrugged and placed his foot in the stirrup.

“No offense,” Shorty said. “These are really nice bikes and there are bike lanes that will take you all the way to your neighborhood, but Veronica is 16, and your family is rich. Shouldn’t she have a car?”

“Do you know how hard it is to find a parking spot in this town,” Veronica said over her shoulder. “Besides, this is how Curtis and I work in our cardio.” She started to petal off and left Curtis to follow after her.

“You are not kidding,” Curtis said as he started his first down-stroke.

Marc Anthony looked through the telephoto lens of his camera and snapped a couple of shots. The couple he was studying were kissing, caressing and doing all manner of business a married couple would do, except they weren’t married to each other.

Another day, another cheating case, Marc Anthony thought. He also had a domestic abuse case where the wife wanted to get away from her husband. At first, he thought the call was from Nancy, but it was another woman. No matter, he would find all the financial information and she would have enough money to divorce and start over with her two kids. She wanted to go to her mother’s place in Florida, but Marc Anthony talked her into going to Georgia instead. The husband would look for her and Florida was the first place he would go.

He wondered how Melissa was doing, he thought about her more often and most of the thoughts were good. She was good for him; he didn’t think that was going to happen. Not after losing Amee. Marc Anthony thought about Shorty. Maybe he should open up to him, man to man, about what is beyond the pain of loving and losing.

He got a few more pictures and noticed something. The couple were pointing at something. Oh shit, he thought, I have been made. But they were pointing in the direction diagonal to him. Marc Anthony flipped his camera around and took pictures of what they were pointing at: a hanging man.

The sight was not what Marc Anthony had expected and he took another shot. He thought he recognized the man, but couldn’t place him. Marc Anthony decided to go before anyone spotted him.