The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 91 CrScene Jack | grew up in Brook Haven... And never had | seen something like this before. It was gruesome.

At the entrance of my neighborhood, a black Honda was parked in the middle of the road. Two patrol cars, a white forensic investigation van and a medical examiner fleet vehicle were already a at the scene. The area was cordoned off from the public with yellow barricade tape.

“What do we have here?” | asked the deputy in charge as | lifted the yellow tape so | could. enter the area. | looked down and saw two pools of blood.

“Two male bodies. Cause of death, gunshot wound to the head. One has been identified as Anthony “Tony” Miller while the other is Dirk “The Jerk Harris. Tony's younger brother, Johnny, was found dead on the floor in the living room of the Lawrence residence. Cause of death, gunshot wound to the head. There was no sign of force entry and Ms. Lawrence and her daughter Marla are no where to be found,” the deputy said, reading from his small writing pad.

“Is Ms. Lawrence's red truck in the driveway?” | asked.

“Yep, including a brand new Jeep Cherokee. | heard Marla’s new boyfriend bought it for her, the deputy smirked.

“You know who the boyfriend is?” | asked.

“No. But no doubt them nosy neighbors of yours may know something,” he smirked again. | slapped him on the chest with the back of my hand to stop his snickering. He coughed and pocketed his writing pad. “Sorry, Undersheriff.” “Have the forensics team collect the evidence then haul that car out of here. This is the only entrance into Brook Haven. | don’t want to inconvenience the residents,” | instructed. He nodded his head and walked away to oversee the crscene.

| ducked under the tape and entered my residential area. | muttered a curse under my breath, disliking the fact that | had to walk all the way to Marla’s house. As | approached, | could see the flashing lights of patrol cars and | could hear the ruckus from the crowd. Although | was expecting a group of bystanders around Marla’s house, | didn’t would be a big assembly of curious onlookers.

expect there 1/6 CHAPTER 91 CrScene 910 | pushed through the crowd, slowly making my way to the yellow barricade tape.

Nothing could preparefor what | saw. If | had thought the two bodies at the entrance to Brook Haven was bad, what | discovered here was way worse.

A black van with bullet holes on its windshield had smashed into the lamp post near the Lawrence Residence.

Bodies from two cars parked along the street were being carried out in body bags by people from the medical examiner's department. | turned my head towards Marla’s house and I noticed the lone figure of the Sheriff standing in front of two body bags laying at the doorway. | decided to check in with him first.

As | crossed the Lawrence's unkempt yard, | noticed the new Jeep Cherokee parked beside the Lawrence’s old truck. | felt envious.

If | was only a girl...

Sheriff, what's the body count?” | asked as | walked up beside him. He turned to look atand pursed his lips.

“Two here, two in each of the cars and one in the van. Little Ray luckily cout unscathed. He was in the back of the van, hidden between the seats,” the Sheriff said.

“At least we have a witness. Did he see anything?” | asked. Sheriff Combs shook his head.

“No. The electricity went out and it was pitch black,” he said.

“Did he say why they were here in the first place? Was he armed?” | asked, hoping for clarity.

for “He won't answer any of my questions and yes, he had a gun. He says he wants a lawye Sheriff mumbled. He suddenly looked up at the sky as if he was praying to Go d for sdirection.”We have two missing females, Jack. | can only speculate, but this | can say certain... This wasn’t the work of an alcoholic woman and her frail daughter. All these dead men work for you know who. | need you to getsanswers from Little Ray. | have at feeling he'll talk to you.” “Where is he?” | asked.

“He's in the back of my car. Be quick and be discreet.” | nodded my head and quickly turned to look for the Sheriff's patrol car. | walked around the people working at their assigned areas and headed towards the vehicle which was parked a 2/6 CHAPTER 91 CrScene couple of houses away.

| opened the door to the driver's seat and entered the car. Little Ray, who was detained in the back seat, sat quietly, looking out the window. A wire grid partition separated the both of us.

“I need answers, Little Ray, and | need them now. Why are all of you here at Marla’s house? You guys know she’s under my protection. She’s like a little sister to me. | even drive her to work sometimes,” | said.

“I want a lawyer,” he said gruffly. | turned around and looked at him. Little Ray Thomas and Marla were the sage and were schoolmates in high school. He was thin, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a protruding Adam's apple. | heard he was planning to go to college since he and his parents were earning enough from peddling drugs. What | didn’t know is that he had branched out to becone of Pete’s men.

“Alright. From the way | see it, you were found armed where seven people are found dead and two women are missing. That's life imprisonment from where I'm sitting,” | reasoned.

“I didn’t kill anyone, Jack. When Mason and Lewis didn’t check in with Topher, Topher askedto cwith him to check it out, that’s all,” Little Ray admitted quickly.

“What were Mason and Lewis doing here in the first place? | know you know something. If you wantto help you, you have got to givesomething, | negotiated. He closed his es and hit his head against the back seat. He was probably debating whether or not to tell eyes me.

“Fine,” he finally exclaimed. “The guys were holding Ms. Lawrence as leverage,” he spit out.

“Leverage? For what?” | asked.

na “So Marla wouldn't put up a fight. Riley and his crew... they were supposed to deliver Marla to the boss. That's all I know,” Little Ray said, lowering his head-in shame.

“You were in the back of the van, right?” | asked “Yes.” “And did you see anyone before you hit the lamp post?” | asked.

“No. The lights were out in the neighborhood. We had just turned the corner when all of a board the windshield cr ack then Tonher smashed into the lamp post. It happened 11:32 Fri, Mar 29 M CHAPTER 91 CrScene so fast, he croaked. He averted his face and wiped his nose. He was crying. “I only figured out he was dead when | saw the bullet holes and the blood dripping from his...” He lowered his head, hiding his face from me. | wanted to comfort him, but the partition was in the way.

“I'm sorry you lost your friend, Little Ray. Don’t worry, we'll get the s on ofa bit ch who did this. As for you, the Sheriff just wants a short statement, then he'll release you from custody. You have North Dakota’s permitless carry laws to thank for that,” | said. | opened the car door and stepped out of the Sheriff's patrol car.

When | spoke with Liam earlier today, he said Dan told him Pete would be leaving New Salem for a vacation.

What the f uck was Pete doing kidnapping Marla and using her mother as leverage if he was leaving? It must have been a lie.

| needed to find Riley or any one of his crew for more information. I'll call Dan and ask him to hold Riley's delivery so | could have a word with him.

Before speaking to Sheriff Combs, | made a pit stop at the van to check on those bullet holes.

Luckily, one of our senior deputies was in charge of overseeing the van. He was staring at the hood of the van with a puzzled expression on his face.

“What's wrong, Randy?” | asked behind him. He walked towardsand pulledaside s we could speak in private.

“If a person was shooting in front of the van with a smaller firearm, he would shoot repeatedly, then move out of the way. Not in this case. There are only two bullet holes and judging by the damage on Topher, | suspect long range and big caliber. | asked around and sof the residents said they heard something.... like a distinct loud cr ack, but it didn’t sound terrifying nor did it startle them. Sactually thought maybe it was lightning from a distance,” he explained.

“Where are you going with this, Deputy?” | asked, confused. After the Cynthia McDowell case, he obviously did his research.

“The sn iper used a suppressor. Undersheriff that kind of equipment is expensive. The 4/6 11:33 Fri, Mar 29 M CHAPTER 91 CrScene cheapest is priced at twenty-eight hundred dollars and only fits with modern day weaponry. A suppressor brings down the sound of the supersonic boom of the bullet about... let's say, 200 decibels at least.” “Okay. So, a sn iper shot at this van? “Yep. And the two in the silver Kia plus the two at the entrance of Brook Haven. A smaller caliber was used on the two in the house and the two in the blue Camry,” Randy said.

“So you think there were two suspects who did this?” | asked.

“Two at least, maybe three at most, if you want to include a getaway driver. | asked the neighbors if they saw anyone walking around and all of them had the sanswer. None of them did. The only thing they did hear and see was this van crashing into the post and a black car speeding away from Marla’s house right after.” He suddenly leaned over and whispered in my ear, “This looks like another abduction case.” Randy was on Liam's payroll and believed everything had something to do with him. Since he was on a need to know basis, he didn’t know about Pete or the organization.

Liam had money and employed trained guards. | knew a theory was already forming in his head.

“I can’t say for sure, Randy. Better we keep quiet for now,” | told him.

“I know this is the wrong tto ask, but | need more money. Christine is pregnant again and with a baby on the way...” “I gotcha. I'll get that money for you. | promise, | assured him, patting him on the shoulder.

He smiled.

“Thanks, Jack.” | walked away, shaking my head in disbelief. Randy was becoming a problem. I'll have the Sheriff deal with him.

| found Sheriff Combs standing in the middle of the street, instructing the deputies to have the two cars and the van towed out.

“Little Ray said Marla’s mom was being used as leverage, so Marla wouldn't put up a fight,” | whispered to the Sheriff. “He said Riley and his crew were supposed to deliver Marla to him.” 5/6 11:33 Fri, Mar 29 Mo CHAPTER 91 CrScene The Sheriff pulledaside. He had a grim expression on his face.

“Unfortunately, Marla has to take the fall for this,” he said. “I need you to plant evidence.” Chapter Comments Luna-Mom Can't wait for Joy to teach you a really hard lesson pete VIEW 1 COMMENT POST COMMENT 4 16 6/6