Betrayed (9 page)

Ginger helped Justin with Big Red, who was failing rapidly since the funeral. He was so weak he could no longer bathe or feed himself. Ginger would feed him, comb his hair, and read to him. Hospice came a few times a day. They would bathe him, adjust his pain medication, and take his vitals. Justin was grateful for Ginger’s care for his dying father, as it was too hard for him to witness the decline for hours everyday. Ginger took a two-week vacation to sit with his father while Justin kept the auto shop going and performed club business. His love for her swelled. He knew it should be him taking care of his father, but the fact that Ginger took over in a place she knew he couldn’t handle emotionally, meant so much to him.

It was in Ginger’s nature to take over and fill the need Justin couldn’t bear to process. She’d never had the chance to take care of her parents, as they were taken from her all too quickly. So she had no qualms in helping Justin with Big Red. While she relieved Justin of the duty, the role as caregiver also benefited her as well. There was a peacefulness she felt when combing Red’s hair. Much of it had been lost from the chemo treatments, but there were still some unruly gray strands left, and she remembered how he would get his comb out every five minutes to tame them. He wouldn’t say much, just look at her with soft eyes. Sometimes he would call her Amy, and that was all right.

The portable oxygen tank was replaced with a stationary unit that looked like a window air conditioner that sat next to the hospital bed in Red’s bedroom. It forced more oxygen into his nostrils than the portable one. He’d only eat for Ginger, never for the hospice nurse. She didn’t know if he thought she was Amy when she was feeding him, but it didn’t matter as long as he would sip his soup or applesauce. He mainly slept, which was also good. The morphine kept him pain free for the most part and for that everyone was grateful.

As the end drew near, Justin and Ginger stayed at the the house full time, and Aaron stayed with Lily and Connor. One night Red was restless. He normally didn’t have much breath and wasn’t talking above a whisper, but this night he bellowed for Justin.

Ginger looked in on Red not five minutes before, and he was sleeping restfully. Justin and Ginger were sitting together on the couch watching a crime show on television when they heard him yelling. Both jumped up and ran to the bedroom. Red was trying to sit up, but his weak nature prohibited it. Justin ran to his father’s side and tried to calm him.

“Dad! What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

“I’ve got to talk to you Justin. I’ve got to tell you before it’s too late…before I die!”

“Dad, calm down please. I’m right here; you can tell me anything.”

Ginger stepped back to allow father and son a private conversation. She quietly left the room and headed back to the living room. She sat on the couch, unaware of her wringing hands.

Red had found his voice. Maybe it was the adrenaline running through his body as it started to shut down or perhaps the urgency he felt at getting his confession out before his heart stopped. Either way, nothing was stopping Big Red from telling his story to Justin.

“It’s my fault son…it’s my fault Amy was murdered.” Red took in gasps of air, determined to keep talking.

“Dad, that’s crazy. You had nothing to do with Amy’s death.”

Red shook his head and said in a raspy voice, “She’s paying for my sins, Justin. She’s paying for something I did that I never accounted for.”

Justin was confused and afraid for his father. This wasn’t like him. Maybe the closer death came the more incoherent he was becoming. He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t like seeing him get so excited. Still, Red was determined to get it out.

Red grabbed the fabric of Justin’s shirt and said, “I killed your mother.”

Justin felt like someone slapped him. What the hell was his father saying?

“She was a drunk and a whore and always leaving then coming back to us. I noticed bruises on you and your sister from the times I’d be away for club business, but she’d always explain it away that you two were wrestling or some shit like that.”

He coughed for about 10 seconds, barely having the strength to do so, and then continued.

“One night, I came home after being away for three days. It was early evening but you and Amy were already in bed, which I thought was strange. I checked on you and your sister, and saw more bruising, this time on your back. It was summer and hot without air conditioning so you weren’t wearing a pajama top. I knew she had done it.”

Red started wheezing.

“Dad, please calm down.”

“No!” Red raised his voice. Ginger heard him yell and debated on whether to go back to the bedroom. But she decided Justin would yell if he needed her.

“I went to your sister’s room, afraid of what I might find. That bitch of a mother had cut off all her beautiful hair. When I looked closer I could see cigarette burns all over her scalp.”

Justin winced. A bad memory was trying to take form. He pushed it back down into the vault his mind had built for it.

“I was furious. I came in through the back that day so when I walked into the living room I found your mother passed out drunk on the sofa. The ashtray sitting on the coffee table was filled with butts. I grabbed her by the back of her head and yanked her up to my face. I cursed her, asked her why she would do that to her own children. She said she was bored and it was something to do. I couldn’t contain the hate and rage I felt for her in that moment so I put my hands around her neck and squeezed. She fought, but she was no match for me. It took several minutes to kill her, and I relished every moment of it. But now my sweet Amy has paid for my sins. I had to tell you Justin…before I left this earth, I had to tell you.”

Red leaned back, exhausted. Justin’s mind was racing. His dad always told him she’d run away, but in the back of his mind he knew, even as a child…he knew it wasn’t true.

“What did you do with her body?” Justin wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to ask…it just came out.

Red looked at his son with tear-rimmed eyes. “I took her to the Forestry and buried her.”

The same place where Amy was found
, Justin thought. No wonder his Dad was blaming himself for Amy’s death.

At that point Red started to wheeze, and his breath became shallower. Justin saw Ginger’s shadow in the doorway. “What can I do?” She asked.

“Let’s give him a little more morphine. See if that calms him down,” Justin said as he looked upon his father. Ginger squeezed tiny drops of morphine into Red’s mouth. In a few minutes his breathing quieted and he went to sleep. Justin remained sitting by the hospital bed and held his father’s hand.

“Do you want me to stay?” Ginger asked, not wanting to intrude on this emotional moment.

“Yes,” Justin said still staring at his father. “I have to tell you something.”

He turned to Ginger and told her what Red told him about his mother’s death. Ginger was shocked. Red didn’t seem to have a wicked bone in his body, but who knows how anyone would react when they see their children beaten and abused. She was not passing judgment, that’s for sure. She could see the pain in Justin’s eyes, however. Not only had he lost his sister only weeks prior, but his Dad was dying and he’d just learned an awful truth about him. How much more could he take?

As the hours of the night stretched on, both sat in silence. They were alone in their thoughts, trying to make sense out of what seemed absurd. Ginger hadn’t known Red long, but in that short time he became quite special to her. The man she knew now couldn’t be the man he was when he killed his wife. And however much she tried to push it away, a little nag festered in her mind. Was it possible that Justin could have that same inability to control his rage? She’d seen his anger bloom when they were with Pennington. Ginger was able to control it somewhat when they interrogated MacGregor. But she couldn’t be with him all the time. There was also the fact that a young Justin may have been aware of his father’s deed and buried it deep in his subconscious. It takes several minutes to strangle someone, and there could have been a struggle that awakened him. She was not about to push the idea onto Justin, at least not yet. This moment of reflection belonged to him and his father.

As daylight approached, Red’s breathing became shallow. They knew he was slipping away and hoped his last minutes would be peaceful. They got their wish. Red let out one long last breath and never took another. Justin held his father’s hand and wept while Ginger stood behind him, her arms around his shaking body. It was time for another funeral.

Chapter Eleven

The funeral procession was lead by the WWMC on their motorcycles. Red himself had been a part of many motorcycle funeral processions over the years for other chapters as well as his own. Sometimes he knew the club member and sometimes not. It was a show of respect to be a part of the funeral procession of a fellow club member. Red’s procession was five miles long of motorcycles, not including the vehicles taking up the rear.

Red was buried next to Amy, her plot still fresh. It seemed like
déjà vu
to Justin and the others in the club who attended Amy’s funeral. They headed once again to the clubhouse after the burial, but this time there would be no dinner. Justin had cancelled it. It was time to get down to business and find Amy’s murderer.

He called a church meeting to find out any new information on Pennington and MacGregor.

“How’s the computer hacking going?” Justin asked Connor.

“Unfortunately it’s tougher than I thought it would be. I’m a little out of practice too, so it’s taking a bit longer.”

“Don’t worry about it, Connor. I don’t want you to get caught. We’ll find another way.”

“I may have to. Word is the police are finally getting a warrant for his work computer.”

“Well, let’s hope they don’t botch it up and can find something useful on it,” Trick said.

“Not much going on with Pennington either,” Merlin reported. “Keeps working on his house. We peeked in the windows the other day, and he’s about done with the kitchen.”

“Thanks for the report, home and garden network,” Connor said. The boys chuckled and then quietly hushed when they saw Justin wasn’t smiling.

Justin told the group to stop the surveillance on the two men for now. It wasn’t providing any new intel, and he didn’t want to take up anymore of his men’s time. He adjourned the meeting, grabbed Ginger and Aaron, and left.

That night at Ginger’s, she made him and Aaron a nice dinner of pot roast, carrots, and potatoes. Despite attending another funeral so close to his mother’s, Aaron ate with a passion that was good to see. Ginger talked Justin into having him and Aaron move in with her for a while until they could decide what to do with Red’s house. Ginger owned a large condo with two bedrooms and baths, so there was plenty of room for everyone.

Aaron was exhausted after a long day and some sleepless nights. He fell into a deep sleep in the guest room.

That night in bed, Justin and Ginger made love. It was still a special experience for them every time, even though tonight it was slow, sweet, and short. Justin looked deeply into Ginger’s eyes just as he was about to climax. His love for her was so strong and even more so now. As they lay together, their bodies tingling in the afterglow of the love-making, he told her how he felt.

“I’ve felt this way for a long time now, but was too afraid to say it,” Justin said as he turned on his side and looked into Ginger’s eyes. “But if these last months have taught me anything it’s that life is short. So I’m just going to come out and say it. I love you…in fact I think I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I just love you more now.”

A tear escaped Ginger’s eye and slid down her cheek. Justin reached over and wiped it away with his fingertips.

“I love you too, Justin Taylor. There are times you mystify me, even scare me, but there’s no doubt I love you with all my heart.”

They kissed, a long and lingering kiss. When Justin pulled back he said, “I know I’ve scared you a few times, but just know that I would never hurt you or anyone I loved. And I will always protect you and Aaron. And I think you already know that when you’re with me, I will never get out of control. A single word from you tames my raging spirit every time.”

Ginger did know it, but she was glad to hear it from Justin. She still had reservations, but those would be put on the back burner for now. She was going to relish this moment with Justin. She finally found the man of her dreams; it was what she’d been hoping for, ever since she lost her parents. She just hoped it wasn’t just a dream.

*****

The next week was work as usual at Big Red’s Auto Body Shop. The club seemed to come out of their doldrums by the end of the week, although Justin remained subdued. On Friday he asked Connor to take a ride with him. The two took off on their Harleys, and Justin led them to the cemetery. They walked over to Big Red and Amy’s graves. The graves had no markers yet. Justin was supposed to go down to the monument shop to pick one out, but hadn’t gotten around to it. He could only handle so much of this at a time.

Justin walked over to the stone bench placed near the graves and sat down. Connor joined him.

“I have to tell you something Dad told me before he died,” Justin said as he leaned down and put his hands on his knees.

“Okay,” Connor said as he lit up one of his peculiar cigarettes. They were skinny and blue and came from Italy. Some people mistook them for some kind of weird joint. He got them from the cigarette and cigar place in town, which special ordered them for him. “What did he say?”

Justin didn’t know how to broach the subject gently, so he just came out with it.

“Dad said my Mom didn’t run away like he told us. He said he killed her.”

Connor took a long toke on his cigarette. “Yeah.”

Justin was shocked. “Aren’t you surprised? I was expecting more than just ‘yeah.’ He said he strangled her then took her to the Forestry and buried her there.”

“So that’s where he took her,” Connor said as smoke puffed out of his mouth with each word.

Justin straightened up and looked at Connor. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I saw it.”

“You saw what?”

“I saw Red kill your Mother.”

“What?!”

“I came over that night. Mom had started drinking too, and I didn’t want to hear her wailing so I came over to see if I could spend the night. It was later but not too late; I can’t quite remember the time anymore. I walked up to the front door, but I could see in that big front window because the drapes were open. I peeked in before knocking to see if you were in there, and I saw it.”

“You saw Red strangling my Mom?” Justin asked incredulously.

“Yep.” Connor took another long drag. “At first I thought they were playing around, but then I saw her scratching at him and gasping. It was crazy.” Connor shook his head at the memory. “I was frozen in place, couldn’t move, and couldn’t tear my eyes away. When he was done I snuck off the porch and into the bushes. I was scared shitless. I was afraid if I left the cover of the bushes he’d be right there. Then I heard the car start up and I watched as he backed out of the driveway and down the road. That’s when I took off for home.”

“That makes sense now. It was months before you wanted to come around when Red was home,” Justin said nodding his head. “But you and Red became close though. You were like his own son.”

“Yeah,” Connor said as he stamped out the butt of his Italian cigarette. “The worse my own mother became in her alcoholic fueled rages, the more I come to believe your Dad did right by you and Amy by getting rid of her. I come to see him more as a hero than a killer. He made life better for you and Amy by doing what he did.”

Justin was trying to come to grips with what his father had told him. Yet, here was Connor making it out as no big deal. Of course he’d had 20 years to deal with it…Justin only had a week to comprehend the news of his father slaying his mother. Maybe with time he would feel as nonchalant about it as Connor. Not that he blamed Big Red; but it was still a shock to him.

At that moment Justin’s cell phone rang. It was Trigger. “Where are you?”

“Connor and I rode out to the cemetery. What’s up?”

“It’s on the news. The police made an arrest in Amy’s murder. It’s MacGregor.”

Justin couldn’t believe it. Finally! He looked over at Connor and told him the news. Connor looked surprised and then relieved.

“We’re on our way back,” Justin told Trigger. The two got on their Harleys and roared off to the clubhouse.