Edward's Dilemma (22 page)

Before he could retract his right leg into the confines of the enveloping bushes, the dog latched onto his calf with razor sharp teeth.  Jason screamed in agony as the incisors sank deeply into his flesh, but the dog had not been trained to show mercy.  Furiously, the canine shook his head back
and forth while Jason screamed and screamed, and screamed some more.  For ten long seconds the mauling continued, until finally the dog’s handler showed up to call off the attack.  Shortly, thereafter, the rest of the police officers arrived and dragged him feet-first out from the bushes.  He was promptly cuffed and read his Miranda rights, and then escorted to the parking area.  Although he was hurting all over, Jason was happy to be alive.

DURING THE next ten minutes, as Jason sat in the back of the K-9 vehicle, everyone searched the property for Megan.  When it was evident that she was nowhere to be found, Fred and Robert approached Jason to see if he would willingly divulge any information.  They both knew that time was of the essence – if she was still alive – so Robert decided to dangle a carrot in front of Jason.  As he spoke, the cadence of
his voice was slow and measured.

“Jason, you’re undoubtedly wondering why we’ve been running around your property for the last few minutes.  So, to clear up any confusion on your part, we’re looking for Megan Sunday.  Have you heard of her?”  Robert paused just long enough to see if Megan’s name would illicit a facial grimace, or some sort of response from Jason.  Not seeing anything, he continued to speak: “We know you’re invo
lved in her kidnapping, Jason.  And when we find her, she had better be alive.  And if she isn’t alive, we’re going to make sure that you go to prison for a very long time.  In fact, depending on your criminal history, you might even end up with the death penalty.  Now, I know that isn’t what you want, so here’s the deal:  If you help us find her, it’s gonna look a lot better to the judge and the jury.  They might even cut you some slack.  Granted, you’re still gonna be put away for quite a while for the murder of Joey Jones, if you’re found guilty, of course.  But at least you’ll have a few years of freedom to enjoy before you die.  Are you gett’n my picture, Jason?”  Once again, Robert studied Jason as he waited for a reply.

When Jason responded, his
voice and demeanor were acerbic.  “Listen here, pig.  You don’t know noth’n.  And besides, why should I help you?  I aint done noth’n wrong.  Go ahead, search my property as much as you want. You’re not gonna find anything.  And even if you do find something, it aint gonna mean a f***’n thing.”

Robert smiled at the bravado.  He had heard it all before, and it was nothing new to him.  When he’d stopped smiling, he tried a new approach.

“Jason, we’re not gonna sit here all night and let you get away with murder.  We know you’re a tough guy, and all that, but we’re very good at what we do.  Already, we’ve got some very significant evidence to prove you’re involved in the kidnapping of Megan.  For instance, we know about the library and Larry’s supermarket, and we know that your friend Oscar is driving your vehicle right now, probably with Megan in the trunk.  That makes you an accessory to the crime, Jason.  We just need you to tell us where Oscar went.  This is your one and only chance to help us.”  Robert was bluffing about Oscar, but he was desperate for answers.  As he waited for a reaction, yet again, Robert observed movement in Jason’s neck as he swallowed hard in response to the information he’d just been given.

“You guys are something else,” Jason finally shouted.  “Go f*** yourselves!”

“Alright, Jason,” Robert angrily responded.  “If that’s your game, then knock yourself out.  We’re not gonna waste any more time with you.”  Robert motioned to Fred that it was time for them to leave.

Together, the two detectives began walking towards the ACV.  They hadn’t walked more than ten feet, however, when Robert turned around to say one more thing to Jason.  And that’s when he spotted something disturbing and unsettling.  It was a sly grin on Jason’s face; and though it was fleeting, it spoke volumes to the detective.

Jason’s Property, Stuart Co.

1 October, 6:01 PM

AFTER ARRANGING for the K-9 officer to transport Jason to the hospital, and then the jail, detectives searched the property for evidence and clues which might reveal Megan’s whereabouts.  At Robert’s request, Cpt.
Kickins and his SWAT team remained on site while they conducted the search.  They were there not only for security purposes, but also in case they were needed to intervene on Megan’s behalf.

The detectives began their search in the mobile home.  As expected, the little home was a complete mess.  Everywhere they looked there was garbage and junk, and the smell was almost revolting.  Splitting up in order to save time, Robert and Fred quickly looked around in each of the bedrooms before coming together again in the living room.  They both knew that they’d have to come back later to do a more thorough search of the home, but for now they were just looking for the obvious clues.

In the living room, the men looked around at the garbage for about five minutes.  During this time, Fred spotted some blood on the carpet, in front of the dirty threadbare couch.  It was still red and appeared fresh.  He also noticed a length of rope lying in the corner of the room, right next to a roll of duct tape.  Disturbingly, there was also a blood spattered sock on the floor, nearby – which Fred pointed out to Robert.  For a minute, the men discussed the significance of these discoveries.

Fred continued to look around, while Robert went back to looking at several of the framed photographs hanging on the wall above the TV.  He was particularly interested in a 5x7 photo of Jason and Oscar standing together, each of them holding a gun in the air with a raised arm.  It appeared to be an old photo, because the two friends looked a lot younger and fitter.  Robert wasn’t positive, but it looked like it had been taken out at the rock quarry, about an hour away from Jason’s property.  A thought occurre
d to him, but he dismissed it – for the time being, anyway.

Since it was rapidly getting dark outside, Robert suggested that they examine the outbuildings.  Fred agreed, and the two men walked out to the garage.  Here they found numerous car
parts; including wheel rims, airbags, audio players, and tires.  As they had suspected all along, this garage was clearly being used for criminal purposes.  Since they didn’t find anything relating to Megan, however, they quickly moved on to the shed.

Upon opening the door to the shed, they were shocked by what they discovered.  All around, on the floor and on the workbench, were spatters and drops of dried blood.  For a few seconds, neither of the men moved a muscle as they examined the gruesome scene before them.  “Oh my God,” Robert finally whispered to Fred in horror and disbelief.  “This is definitely not good.  I’m seriously wondering if Megan is still alive.  And, if she IS alive, she is probably seriously injured.”  Fred could only shake his head.  For the next few minutes the detectives looked around inside the shed.   They were a little surprised to discover the broken brace on the workbench, and wondered if Megan was the one who had broken it.

As they returned to the parking area, Robert noticed the opening under the mobile home.  Curious, the men approached and peered under the house.  At first they didn’t see much, other than gravel and rocks.  On closer examination, though, they could see that Rocky had spent some time here, and had left behind chew-bones and loose fur.  They also noted that the gravel appeared to be unevenly distributed, especially near the opening. Here, they observed various markings indicating that something had been dragged out from beneath the home.  And then, suddenly, Robert spotted something unusual!

Reaching into the opening, he retrieved a shiny set of car keys.  They were partially buried in the gravel, but it was immediately evident that they hadn’t been there very long.  In fact, after examining the find, and noting that there was a logo for a truck manufacturer emblazoned on the ignition key, both Robert and Fred instantl
y came to the same conclusion: The keys belonged to none other than...Ben Tyler!

The detectives were shocked by the realization that there were two kidnap victims, instead of just one.  Equally upsetting was the fact that one of them – most likely Ben – was seriously injured and fighting for life.  For a minute or two, Robert and Fred discussed the situation and wracked their brains for
answers regarding the whereabouts of Ben and Megan.  And that’s when Robert remembered the photo inside the mobile home, and had an epiphany: 
It WAS the quarry!  And it was, undoubtedly, the same quarry where Jason had been arrested many years prior when he’d been torturing a cat.  Maybe, just maybe, that’s where Ben and Megan are being held right now, at this very moment.

SR55/Rocks & Gravel Inc.

1 October, 6:08 PM

TIRED AND afraid, Ben and Megan were crammed together like sardines in the trunk of Jason’s car.  They knew they were going to the rock quarry, and they knew they were going there to be murdered.  Although their arms and legs were still securely tied with rope, and their mouths covered with duct tape, the bags that had been on their heads had been thankfully removed.  They couldn’t communicate with each other, but they were comforted and encouraged that they were together.  So far, they had been travelling along SR55 for almost an hour.

As the minutes ticked
by, the two friends could only listen as Oscar and the filthy rapist discussed their fate.  Though muffled by music and the sound of the car traveling over the roadway, the voices inside the passenger compartment were just loud enough to betray the fact that the two kidnappers were having an argument.

“Listen,” Oscar could be heard saying, “I’m not sure I want to place my life on the line for Jason.  The whole reason you and I are here, right now, is because Jason didn’t like Joey Jones.  It was his beef with the guy – not mine.  If Jason wants to commit a murder, that’s his business.  I don’t want to be
pay’n for his crimes.”

“You
heard what Jason said...,” the filthy rapist sneered, “he wants them dead.  He’s the boss, Oscar, and what he says IS the law.”

“
Oh, come on, man!  Are you kidd’n me?  Why are you always stick’n your nose up Jason’s a**?  You’re such a weenie!  Do you really want to go to prison for him?  I’ve been there already, you little prick, and I didn’t like it.”

The
re was a long pause before the filthy rapist vehemently replied. “I hate you, Oscar.  I really do.  And, I don’t want to go to prison either.  But if we’re careful, we won’t get caught.  Besides, Jason’s been good to me and...”

Just then, the car made a right turn off of SR55 and onto the gravel road leading to the quarry.  The sound of the wheel
s on the gravel was deafening, especially in the trunk of the car, and whatever was being said by the kidnappers was unintelligible to Ben and Megan.  Their fear intensified by a factor of ten as they bumped and bounced along the road.  Soon, after several minutes, the car came to an abrupt stop.

Ben
and Megan waited and waited, with fearful expectation, for the trunk lid to pop open.  But nothing happened.  The air grew increasingly warm.  Before long, cigarette smoke wafted in from the passenger compartment and mixed with the already putrid smell of the trunk.  Megan coughed several times, and closed her eyes.  Directly over their heads, song after song reverberated from the rear stereo-speakers.  They strained to hear conversation, but there was none to be heard.

THIRTY-FIVE miles away, Fred pressed down hard on the gas pedal as he and Robert rushed to the quarry.   It was 6:28 PM.  In a desperate race against time, they were travelling along SR55 at over ninety mph.  Behind them, in the Armored Command Vehicle (ACV), the SWAT team followed closely on their tail.  Every so often, whenever he encountered a curve in the road, Fred slowed down ever so slightly before accelerating once again.   At their current rate of travel, Robert estimated that they’d arrive at the quarry in approximately fifteen or twenty minutes.

Stuart Co. General Hospital

1 October, 6:31PM – 7:46PM

WHEN JASON arrived at the hospital, his behavior was unruly and combative.  Alt
hough he was already handcuffed and wearing leg-irons, that didn’t stop him from cursing and spitting at everyone he met.  Most of the nurses were angry – furious, in fact – and didn’t want to have anything to do with Jason.  Other nurses were just plain flabbergasted; they simply could not fathom how a person who was clearly in need of medical assistance, could be so vile and rude.  The K-9 officer, having been with Jason the entire time, wasn’t the least bit surprised by his behavior.  He had dealt with this kind of person many times before, and it ticked him off every time.  Without much deliberation, and to the delight of the hospital staff, he promptly placed a “spit sock” over Jason’s head.

Jason went ballistic, but the sock – made of white mesh fabric, and resembling a mosquito net – did its job superbly.  After a few minutes, he calmed down to the point where a doctor was able to suture his wounds.  This task ended up taking much longer than expected, however, because of the thorough job Biscuit had done tearing up Jason’s leg.  When the doctor completed his work, the nurse who was assisting him placed a pressure dressing over the wounds.  She then handed the officer a prescription for pain-killers before sending the pair on their less-than-merry way.  Without exception, everyone in the ER was glad to be rid of Jason Lewis.

Rocks & Gravel Inc., Stuart Co.

1 October, 6:33 PM

BEN AND Megan were startled by the sound of doors slamming shut, one after the other in quick succession. 
This is it,
Ben thought. 
I’ve had a good life, but I wish it wasn’t ending this way.   I just hope it doesn’t hurt, and I hope Megan isn’t too scared.  Oh, God, help us.
  His stomach was in a tight knot, and he had a sudden urge to throw-up.  Smashed against him, Megan was having similar thoughts and feelings.  Like Ben, she was terrified at her impending doom.  She wondered how all the events in her life had conspired together to bring her to such an unfortunate and grizzly ending.  She also thought about her family, and how they would be devastated by her death.  For an instant, she squeezed her eyes shut as she thought about her mother.  A warm tear ran down the crease between her nose and cheek.

The trunk popped open and the silhouette of a man appeared before them.  He immediately grabbed at Megan’s arm and began to pull her out of the trunk and onto the ground.  His voice was angry and menacing. “Alright you two,” he s
narled, “its time to meet your maker.  Sorry, it had to end this way – but you shouldn’t have been mess’n with Jason.  We’ll try to make it as painless as possible.”  He giggled to himself in a sadistic manner as Megan hit the ground with a thud.  Seconds later, he latched onto Ben’s already injured arm and began pulling.  Soon, Ben was also on the ground behind the car, moaning in agony.

Megan could hear Oscar, several feet away, admonishing the filthy rapist.  “Take it easy,” he growled, “you don’t have to be so cruel.  We’re here to kill them.  That’s it!”  Under his breath, he uttered a single word: “Weasel.”  Overhearing this contemptuous pronouncement, Megan knew she had to act quickly.

She remembered the way Oscar had spoken to her, while she was in the shed, and she still thought there was a chance he might betray his friends.  With minimal effort she rolled over several times, like a log, until she was lying at his feet.  Then she started to get up on her knees, while saying Oscar’s name through taped lips.  Her words were completely distorted and unrecognizable, but she still managed to get Oscar’s attention. 
Hopefully
, she thought,
I’ll also get his sympathy.

By now, the filthy rapist was fully aware of Megan’s intentions.  With surprising agility he descended upon her and delivered a powerful kick to her left thigh.  Megan groaned, and immediately crumpled onto the ground at Oscar’s feet.  For a second or two, while the filthy rapist stood nearby staring and gloating, she didn’t move a muscle.  But then, drawing on every bit of courage she still possessed, she attempted once again to get back up on her knees.  This time, the filthy rapist raised his arm and cruelly slapped his hand against the side of her head.  Megan cried out in pain, and cowered against Oscar’s legs.

OSCAR HAD finally seen enough, and decided to intervene on Megan’s behalf.  With powerful hands and arms he grabbed the lapel of the filthy rapist’s jacket, lifting his feet a few inches off of the ground and causing him to choke in the process.  “What the hell’s wrong with you?” Oscar demanded.  “She hasn’t done anything to you?  Leave her alone!”  With an effortless shove, he threw the filthy rapist backwards a short distance onto the rocky, uneven ground.

When he landed, the filthy rapist stumbled and fell.  He was stunned by what had just occurred.  The palms of his hands were scraped and bleeding, his trousers torn and dirty.  He was furious, and immediately let loose a long string of profanities directed at Oscar.  As he prepared to get up from the ground, he reached over and picked up the .22 caliber pistol he had been holding in his left hand.

Ominously, upon standing, he raised the weapon and aimed it at Oscar.  At first, Oscar thought he was just bluffing.  Thinking that he was simply trying to scare him, Oscar jokingly encouraged the filthy rapist to put the weapon down before someone got hurt.  When that didn’t work, he tried diffusing the situation with a half-hearted apology.  Before long, however, he noticed something different about the filthy rapist; his demeanor had darkened, and there was an evil intensity in his eyes.  Oscar became worried.  He knew that if he didn’t do something drastic, within the next few seconds, there was a good chance he’d be dead meat. 

With steely resolve, Oscar lunged at the filthy rapist; but he had failed to move quickly enough.  Suddenly, the stillness of the night was pierced by the sound of a sharp
, “CRACK.”  Oscar grunted and stumbled, but his momentum was enough to carry him forward a few essential feet.  In a flash, he grabbed the filthy rapist by the torso and body-slammed him against the ground.  There was a loud groan, but this time it hadn’t come from Oscar.  With a crazed look in his eyes, Oscar reached over and picked up a baseball-size rock and slammed it as hard as he could into the filthy rapist’s head.  A sickening thud could be heard, and then there was silence.  In the distance, an owl hooted.

Oscar picked up the pistol, looked down at the filthy rapist for several seconds, and then stumbled towards Ben and Megan.  The pair had been watching the entire confrontation in utter astonishment, but they were still frightened.  They worried that Oscar would now kill them; they were, after all, the only witnesses to the murder he had just committed.  As he approached, Megan noticed that there was blood spattered on his face and chest.  More significantly, however, she also noticed a growing splotch of blood on the left side of his abdomen.

When he reached them, Oscar removed the tape from their mouths and the rope from their limbs.  And then he did something completely unexpected.  Instead of raising the weapon and putting a round or two into each of their brains, he sank to his knees and placed the pistol on the ground beside him.  After fumbling around in his pocket, he withdrew a small piece of paper and handed it to Ben.

Ben was confused, and didn’t know what to make of this scrap of paper.  He looked at it intently, but the night was dark and there was only a little light coming from a nearby building.  Frustrated, and barely able to discern that there was writing on the paper, he turned to Oscar with a quizzical look on his face.

Oscar smiled, and then explained: “I got that from your brother, Josh.  We were in jail together.  It says, ‘Oscar: I was under your bed, and I could have easily killed you.  Yours Truly, Josh.’” Oscar proceeded to describe the incident that had resulted in Josh writing the note.  He further explained that it was Josh who had broken his jaw, and that was why his mouth was now wired shut.  And then, surprisingly, he revealed something personal that had occurred the night of the confrontation.

“The incident with your brother was an eye-opener for me.  For quite some time, I’ve been thinking about the direction my life is heading.  Right now, I feel like my life is g
oing nowhere – like I’m travelling along a dead-end street.  Sooner or later, I think, my life of crime is going to catch up with me.  And then where will I be?  Anyway, ever since I was in the hospital after Josh punched me, I’ve decided that I need to make some changes in the way I’m living my life.”

Oscar’s breathing was becoming labored as his wounded body grew progressively weaker.  After a lo
ng pause, he continued to speak.  “This here – the scrap of paper – it’s your ticket to a long and happy life.  GASP.  Your brother hurt me, no question about it.  But he also did me a big favor.  GASP.  I promised myself that if I ever had an opportunity to somehow return the favor to him, I’d do it.  I only wish that it hadn’t been under these circumstances – GASP – I’m sorry for everything.  I really am – GASP – GASP.”  He suddenly rocked back and forth three or four times, before falling to the ground in a heap.  After a long sigh his breathing abruptly stopped.

Oscar
Bonebraker was dead.  It was 6:51PM.

AFTER A perilous ride along SR55, Robert and Fred safely arrived at the gravel road leading to the quarry.  Fred stopped their vehicle and waited for the Armored Command Vehicle (ACV) to catch up with them.  A minute or so later, after turning off of the highway, the two vehicles navigated the road together.  Although they drove without headlights, their presence was more than obvious due to the sound of the gravel under the tires.  They hadn’t gone far when they noticed Jason’s car in the distance, near a group of trees.  Robert instructed Fred to stop.  The ACV also stopped, and a moment later the SWAT team operatives piled out of the rear door and into the nearby bushes.