May the Best Man Win (21 page)

“Mateo, please let me go. Please just let me leave. I won't say anything to anybody. I promise. I never even met you,” I pleaded.

“Mark was my first love,” he said, ignoring me. “He was the prettiest, most handsome guy and as you can tell he still is. He wanted to break up with me and leave me but I couldn't let anyone else have him. I didn't want him to die so I came up with this way to keep him alive and pretty. I don't get to hold him like before but now I get to see him when I want to; just like it will be with you.”

“Mateo, it doesn't have to be this way. I won't leave you. I love you.” I put my hand on his chest.

“I know you do. That is why I want to put you on display to keep that love fresh and alive forever.”

The door to the room opened up and two guys walked in the room.

“These guys will now help you with your transition. You will now be a permanent piece of art in my museum. Thank you for fighting so hard to win the spot. You were the best man, but I am the true winner.”

I fought and fought the two guys but it was futile. They covered my mouth with a rag. I saw this in too many movies to know that this was the end for me.

 

I sat back in my living room chair and wept tears of heartache and pain. I sat here with my eyes glued to the news that was on the television station. I just couldn't believe it. I shook my head from side to side in disbelief. It was a replay of the broadcast two weeks ago that I recorded. I just couldn't get over it. I was still in complete shock.

My boss, Kardell Spencer, and Lewis Turner were reported missing about two months ago and we all were baffled at their disappearance. When I was interviewed about their disappearance I did mention their weird behavior in the weeks before but since I never asked any questions I couldn't speculate on anything. My boss was a great guy and he didn't deserve any of this. And even though Lewis and I weren't the best of friends I wouldn't wish any harm on him.

“In all of my years I haven't seen anything like this.” I spoke out loud. I was in my home, alone, enjoying my retirement. I had never given up hope on finding them and I even helped with passing out fliers and information about them both with both of their families. Their families were distraught with anguish and pain. I couldn't imagine experiencing the disappearance/loss of a child as a mother. But here it was on the news and this loss made the national news circuit.

It was said that restaurateur Mateo Lopez was under secret surveillance for ties to the Hispanic mob, drug trafficking, and money laundering, but could never be caught because he was so good at not getting his hands dirty.

On a federal tip one of his homes was raided on the outskirts of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Upon raiding the house a secret passage was discovered that was believed to be where he housed his drugs and money, but what was discovered was of epic proportion.

They said that Mateo Lopez wasn't involved in drugs at all but in something no one had any idea was going on.

Mateo Lopez was a kleptomaniac of human beings. He had a personal collection of living human beings being kept alive by some sort of physical stability machines. They had reported that there were at least a dozen men being keep alive artificially but when the door was blown open it triggered something that turned off the life support for the men being held there. Several of the men were reported missing over a seven-year period. Some men were never reported because they were gay, displaced, and excommunicated from their families. An investigator said cases like the ones for these guys were very hard to solve because of the lifestyles that the men led. I shook my head as I watched and continued to watch. It was as fresh as the first time I watched.

I received the call a few days after the television news broadcast, first by Lewis's family telling me that they had identified his body and that his funeral arrangements were being made. I attended the funeral out of respect and even spoke a few good words about him and his flair for life.

When I got the call from Kardell's family I took it harder than I thought I would. His mother and I sobbed and cried into the phone for over a half hour. His funeral service was just as beautiful as Lewis's. I broke down at the funeral as well. It was such a sad occasion but a tribute to his life. I got up and spoke words of love for a young life taken too early. He was just as much a son as he was a boss to me. The company that he started was taken over by Kardell's sister and was renamed Spencer and Lewis Advertising Group. I still stopped by to show my support and help keep the memory of the two slain guys alive. It was the least I could do for two guys who did their best at living but tragically died. I finally cut the television off, got on my hands and knees, and prayed that they were resting in peace. I even prayed for the guy who did this to them even though he put a gun to his head and took the easy way out when they raided his house.