Kill Whitey

eleven

We navigated down side roads and back roads, going deeper and deeper into Southern York County, heading towards the Maryland state line. We drove through East Prospect, Craley, and Wrightsville—all tiny rural towns without police departments or traffic lights. Even still, I made sure to do the speed limit and obey all traffic laws, just in case the State or Regional police were passing through. At one point, I got out of the Cherokee and slapped a few handfuls of mud over the license plate, obscuring some of the numbers. I followed a service road that ran along the banks of the Susquehanna River, and then turned off onto a hiking trail. It was wide enough for a four wheel drive vehicle, and delved deep into a State park. A brown National Forest Service sign told us that the park was closed from dusk to dawn. We parked, turned off the Jeep, and caught our breath.

“I’ve got to call Yul.”

“Who is Yul? Another friend?”

“Yeah. He’s my friend. Maybe he can help us.”

“Does he have guns? If so, then he can help.”

Despite all the tension, I laughed at the thought of Yul with a gun. It was absurd.

“What is funny?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Look, Yul doesn’t own guns, and I’m not sure what he could do up against Whitey and those guys. But he’s our friend, and I need to warn him. If Jesse gave up me and Darryl’s addresses, he may have told them Yul’s address, too.”

“Was this Yul at club with your friend Jesse?”

“No, but if Whitey wanted to know where we’d go after Darryl and I rescued you, then Jesse may have told him about Yul. I can’t take that chance. He needs to know what’s going on. And his girlfriend, too. They live together. If Otar and those guys are staking out Yul’s place, she could be in danger. I don’t want what happened to Darryl and maybe Jesse happening to them, too.”

“Not maybe.”

“What?”

“You say maybe about your friend Jesse. Is not maybe. Is dead.”

I pressed the speed dial for Yul’s cell phone. He wasn’t picking up, which meant he’d gone in to work. Or at least I hoped that was the case. It could also mean that he was currently being cut up by a bunch of sadistic Russian fucks, but I didn’t want to think about that. I left him a voice mail, asking him to call me right away. Then I dialed GPS and asked for Yul’s department. We had different supervisors, so I didn’t have to worry about my boss, Scott, picking up the phone. Yul’s supervisor picked up on the second ring. I asked for Yul and was told he was busy working right now. I explained this was a family emergency and it was urgent that I speak with him. Yul’s boss sighed and then grumbled at me to hold on. I waited almost two full minutes before Yul answered.

“Hello? Kim?”

“Hey man,” I said. “It’s me.”

“Larry? They said it was a family emergency.”

“It is.”

“You’re not family.”

“Okay,” I shouted, “so I lied to get you on the phone. Shut the fuck up and listen to me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“A lot…” I tried to say more, but there was a lump in my throat. I fought back tears.

“Larry, what’s going on, man? Are you okay?”

“Listen—what time are you getting off?”

“Eight. Maybe a little later. We’re getting killed with Total Gyms today. I hate those fucking things.”

I cringed at his word choice. Killed…

“Larry? You still there?”

“I’m here. Look, meet me in the parking lot when you get off work. Don’t go home and don’t talk to anybody. Just wait for me inside your car. Okay?”

“Larry, I’ve got to get back to work, dude. What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you now. Just meet me after your shift and I’ll explain everything. Please? It’s really important.”

“Sure, brother. You got it.”

“Is Kim at home?”

“Kim? No, she’s visiting her parents in Williamsport. Why?”

I closed my eyes and mouthed silent thanks. At least Kim was out of harm’s way.

“No reason, man. Just didn’t want her waiting up for you and getting worried.”

“Who are you and what did you do with Larry? Did Jesse and Darryl put you up to something? You guys never show concern about Kim. The hell is going on?”

Again, I couldn’t speak. My throat clicked. Tears ran down my face.

“I’ll see you soon,” I rasped. “Get back to work before you get in trouble.”

I ended the call and stared at my cell phone, aimlessly scrolling through the address book. Darryl and Jesse’s names flashed by on the screen. I couldn’t believe this shit was happening. I felt so numb inside. Maybe it was shock, or maybe it was some sort of defense mechanism—my brain shutting down, refusing to think about all that had occurred in the last few hours. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come. If they had, maybe I would have felt better.

I realized that Sondra was staring at me. I slipped the phone into my pocket and tried to smile in reassurance. Sondra patted my hand and smiled back.

“What are you thinking, Larry?”

“I wish we’d have taken the car along with their guns.”

“Why?”

“Because it would be a lot easier to meet up with Yul if we weren’t riding in a vehicle that every cop in the state is probably looking for by now. Do you have a car?”

“No. Whitey not let us own things like that. American girls, do. Not Russians.”

I leaned back and sighed. It occurred to me that I should check the guns. The .38 was empty. I’d fired the last rounds at Whitey. Vacheslav’s pistol, the one Sondra had remembered to nab, was a Glock 9mm. It took me a few seconds to figure out how to eject the clip—or magazine. Whatever the fuck it was called. There were five bullets left. I slid the clip back into the weapon.

“What else are you thinking?” Sondra asked.

“I’m worried about Webster.”

“The fuzzy cat?”

“Yeah. The fuzzy cat. We left so quickly, I didn’t even think. When we…when we saw Darryl, I forgot all about Webster. He’s still in there.”

“I am sure he is fine.”

“Maybe. But if the cops leave the door open he could get out. And who’s gonna take care of him? No way we can go back there right now. He could end up at the pound. Or…”

“What?”

“Or that fucking prick Whitey could do something to him.”

“Whitey would get away before police arrive. He not have time to worry about fuzzy cat.”

“Maybe,” I said, “or maybe the sick fuck shoots Webster on his way out. Just to prove a point, you know?”

I ground my teeth. My head ached.

“Fuzzy cat is smart,” Sondra said. “Will hide, no?”

“Probably. But I’ll tell you right now, if Whitey hurt Webster, I’ll fucking kill him.”

Sondra’s laughter shocked me. I stared at her, wondering what was so funny. Was it that I was showing concern for my cat, when two of my best friends were dead, too?

“I sorry,” she apologized, “but what you say…”

“What? Mind letting me in on the joke?”

“You say you kill Whitey.”

“How is that funny?”

“Is not funny.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“Never mind. Is not important.”

Before I could insist on an explanation, she slid closer and leaned against me. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Sondra snuggled against me, laying her head on my chest. Her hand rested on my leg, just below my crotch.

I sighed. “You know what I don’t get?”

She looked up at me. “What?”

“Why Whitey and the others would go through all this trouble. I mean, it’s not like you stole money from them or something. You’re pregnant. Why all this? It seems sort of extreme, don’t you think? Kill a woman and a bunch of other people just because she won’t get an abortion?”

Sondra flinched. Her fingernails dug into my leg.

“Sorry,” I said. “Didn’t mean to upset you. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Are you sure that you told us—?”

Sondra unzipped my jeans and slid her hand inside.

“What are you doing?”

“No more talk,” Sondra said. “While you are thinking these things, I am thinking about back at your apartment. About the bedroom. Now I am wanting more.”

“Here?”

“Da.”

“Sondra, I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now. The cops…Yul…”

“I give to you blow job. Then we go see your friend.”

I started to protest but then her lips wrapped around me, silencing my words. I forgot all about Darryl and Jesse and Webster, forgot all about calling the cops or hiding from Whitey. Groaning, I slipped inside her warm, wet mouth and my concerns melted.

When it was over, I could barely even remember what I’d been worried about in the first place.

I started the Cherokee and we drove out of the forest. The sun was almost up. The world had that blue-gray quality that exists just before dawn. Not yet light but not total darkness. Gloom.

It suited my mood.

I was worried about the Jeep. We needed another vehicle. If we carjacked someone, we’d just be back in the same situation as soon as they called the cops. Only way to prevent them from doing so was to kill them, and I couldn’t do that. Not an innocent. Not someone who wasn’t trying to kill me or those I cared for. I thought about stopping by a car lot and taking something for a ‘test drive’, but there were no car lots open this time of morning, and Sondra and I weren’t exactly dressed like we were shopping for a new vehicle.

We passed by a home along the river—a tiny trailer with a morose doghouse and sagging shed in the backyard. Both were in better condition than the trailer itself. There was a clothesline in the yard. Whoever had done laundry had forgotten to bring the clothes inside. They flapped gently in the light breeze. I stopped along the road, killed the engine and lights, and quickly nicked a shirt for me, a pair of gray sweatpants for Sondra, and socks for us both. The shirt didn’t fit me very well, but it would have to do. At least we weren’t half naked anymore. Too bad the rest of our clothes were still bloody. If I’d had more time, I would have stolen an entire wardrobe for us.

Finally, I came up with a plan.

In Craley, I pulled behind a convenience store and flipped my cell phone open. Then I reconsidered. I’d watched enough cop shows to know that they could track you by your cell phone, ATM, and credit card usage. I’d used it to call Jesse and Yul. If the cops were tracking us, then they’d focus on that location. Instead of calling, I turned the phone off and opened the door.

“What are you doing?” Sondra asked.

“Getting us a ride.”

I got out of the Jeep. I’d parked next to a garbage dumpster and it reeked. Bees and flies swarmed around me. They were up early, too. The ground was littered with broken bottles, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and used condoms. Then I walked around to the front of the store and breathed a sigh of relief. There are fewer pay phones these days, because everyone uses cell phones. Luck was with us. The store had a pay phone next to the ice machine. I dialed information, got the number of the taxi company, and then called for a cab. I gave the dispatcher our location and hung up. Then I returned to the Cherokee, dropping my cell phone into the garbage dumpster on the way back.

“Come on,” I told Sondra. “We need to be ready. Cab’s coming to pick us up.”

“Cab? What is cab?”

“You know. A taxi cab?”

“Da, I know what is taxi. But we cannot be in front of store. What if we attract much attention?”

I glanced around. “It’s pretty secluded back here. And it’s still early. And I doubt Craley’s got much of a rush hour, anyway. But we’ll wait at the corner of the building. Nobody can see us, but we’ll be able to see the parking lot.”

“What about your Jeep?”

“We’ll leave it here. Soon as some employee comes out back to smoke, they’ll find it. But we’ll be gone by then. The cops won’t be looking for a taxi. We’ll make it to GPS, at least. Then we can get Yul to drive us somewhere till we figure out what to do next.”

I grabbed the 9mm and stuffed it in my waistband. Then I pulled my shirt down to cover it. The gun was heavy and bulky. The metal felt cold against my skin.

Yawning, Sondra got out of the Cherokee. She looked tired. We both were. On a normal day, I’d soon be getting off work. Then I’d come home and sleep until about three in the afternoon. But this wasn’t a normal day. When I’d fantasized about days and nights spent with Sondra, they’d been exotic. Mystical. Hot. Not this. There were no gunshots or pissed off mobsters in those dreams. No death. And yet here she was. Daydreams were now reality.

I wondered if I’d ever have a normal day again.