Silverbow (9 page)

I opened up the shop and hung out in the office for a while. My eyes nearly bore a hole into the clock on the wall while I waited for Murphy to arrive. When ten rolled around I gave into my gut feeling that he wouldn’t be showing today. When eleven came I knew it was a reality. I shuffled into the garage and began working on the rust spots of the Bel Air. It took me the rest of the day to cut out the areas I had marked the day before and begin a little sanding. Keeping myself chin deep in work kept my mind off of Murphy and Greyden. Though, it did not succeed at luring my thoughts away from the murders and the commotion at the bar the other night.

Visions of the dead man’s jack-o-lantern sliced mouth raced through my mind. The scars were thick and pink. I imagined Yates on top of the guy three years ago, slicing in a mad rage. If it had been me, I would have just slit his throat. I wondered how anyone honestly survived the beating and punishment that Yates and his crew delivered. Suddenly, I wanted to talk to Yates. I wanted all the details. I wanted to know about what happened three years ago and I wanted to know if he knew anything else that I didn’t. Since today was slow at the shop and Murphy was no where to be seen; I’d pay Mr. Yates a visit.

I wrapped up the body work and locked up. After changing into jeans, a long sleeved black shirt and my black jacket, I climbed into my truck and headed towards town. I’d stop in at the store and check with Mrs. Yates on his whereabouts. She’d know, she always knew. That’s how she got away with her affairs. Half way to the Strip two bikers passed me and I was unable to recognize their bikes or gear. If they were regulars in town I would have been able to tell and they would have waved. Everyone knew the town mechanic. I bit into my lip and toyed with the thought of turning around. By the time I figured out that I wanted to know who they were, I was on the Strip and witnessing a mess.

Outside of the small grocery store were Mr. Yates and Mr. Hines. Yates had the school teacher by the neck against the storefront and Hine’s was turning all shades of purple. I parked quickly, jumped out and hauled ass in their direction.

“Stop, Yates! You are going to kill him,” I yelled and Yates dropped him. Hines crumpled up on the sidewalk at his attacker’s feet. “What the fuck is going on,” I asked and turned to see Mrs. Yates fly out the doors.

“He was all over me,” she yelled and pointed at Hines. “He tried to rape me,” she cried and I tightened my jaw.

“I walked in on this fucker with his cock out and his hands on my wife,” he growled as he kicked the weak man in the stomach. Hines moaned and curled up.

“I’ve been fucking her for two weeks,” Hines managed to choke out and Mr. Yates kicked him again.

“He is lying, baby,” shouted the adulterous whore. Mrs. Yates reached out and placed her hands around her husbands arm and tried to pull him away from Hines. Mr. Yates shook her hands away and glared at her with deadly intensions.

“Fucking cunt, you’ve been fucking this whole town for years now. I’m a drunk, not stupid. I know I am not a perfect husband and I have a habit that will surely be the death of me. But you have everything; a big house, a nice car, jewels and designer bullshit. You ask for it and I all but kill to give it to you. My only son was taken from me. Our baby girl has left for college, never wants to come home again and I am left with an empty fucking house because you are out with another man’s dick in your ass. Its no wonder I fucking drink,” he yelled. Mrs. Yates took several steps back and placed her back against the wall.

“It’s a tight ass too,” Hines whispered with a painful smile on his face. Yates’s picked up his boot over Hines’s head and would have crushed his skull if I had not lurched forward and knocked Mr. Yates to the ground.

“Do you have a fucking death wish,” I asked Hines as I stood between him and the huge man who pulled himself to the store wall and sat with his arms resting on his knees and his face down. I could smell whiskey on Yates and sighed. “Get the fuck out of here, Hines.” He didn’t hesitate and stood. He flicked his nasty tongue at Mrs. Yates and she tried her best to ignore him but I was sure her cunt was in a twist over all of this. She had a world of drama on her hands now, she was ecstatic.

I held a hand out to Mr. Yates to help him up and he shook his head. “Get that whore out of here,” he said and swatted towards his wife. Turning on heel to face her, I pointed at the shop doors and gave her a look that sent her crying into the store. She was in for more than she could handle and reality just popped her with a Mack truck. I’d love to be a fly on their wall tonight. Finally he took my hand and let me help him up. The big man dusted himself off and lifted his tired eyes to mine.

“Thanks, I guess I don’t need a second man’s blood on my hands in the same week,” he grumbled. I nodded and shoved my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. My guess was that right now was not a good time to talk to him about the murderers. I would hold on tight to that conversation for another time.

“Do you want me to take you home,” I asked him and he shook his head.

“Can you take me to the inn,” he asked instead. I guess he wouldn’t be going home at all tonight. I wouldn’t either. I nodded and we headed for my truck. As we pulled away from the store Mrs. Yates walked back out and tossed her hands in the air. I don’t know what she thought she was going to accomplish with showing her face again right now. Her husband just lifted his hand and shot her the bird as we left to find him a vacant room. The ride was spent in silence but I had a feeling it was greatly appreciated. I pulled into the parking lot of the inn and cut off the truck. I motioned for him to stay and I climbed out of the cab.

As I walked through the lot I noticed that Murphy’s car was parked in front of room 112 at the other end of the single floor building. I tightened and relaxed my jaw as I shoved the door to the office open and proceeded to get a room for Mr. Yates. I paid for a week with the money I collected off the dead murderer the other night and collected the key. Mr. Yates stood leaning against my truck with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth when I returned.

“Its yours for a week. I suggest you sober up some. I’m going to need to talk to you soon. I would like for you to be a little better off when that time comes,” I said as I handed him the key and pointed at room 104. “Can you do that for me,” I asked and he kicked around at a rock on the pavement. “I’m not going to play games with you, Yates. I need you to sober up. I have never asked you for anything. I need you in your right mind so I can talk to you about some serious shit,” I scolded. His hands finally went up in surrender.

“Alright, damn,” he fussed and pushed away from my truck.

“I’ll make Greyden refuse you at the bar and I will ask Saucer to lock you out of the liquor store,” I threatened.

“Do it. That’s what it’ll take,” he admitted and headed for his room without another word. I watched as the lost soul stomped across the lot to the empty room. After his door slammed shut I allowed my gaze to shift to Murphy’s car. I fought between the ideas of leaving and knocking on his door to find out what kept him from work today. One side of me wanted him to think I didn’t really care. The other side of me did care. I hated that side and in an attempt to ignore that side, I turned on heel to leave. Just as my boot crunched against the rocks beneath it, I heard a door behind me open.

“Jack, darling, a little less teeth next time, okay,” I heard a woman’s voice say. I turned to look over my shoulder and spied a tall slender woman with curly chestnut hair and an over done tan standing in the doorway of 112. She had the neck of her red sweater pulled down as she examined her shoulder. Letting the sweater go, she raked her hand through her mess of long curls and smiled as Murphy swept into the doorway and gathered her up in his arms. Their lips met and he kissed her roughly. She whimpered against his lips and he smiled as he pulled away and ungracefully let her go. She stumbled back and shook her head.  “You’re such an ass, Jack,” she said as she headed for a sharp looking silver BMW. I fucking hate those cars.

“Yet you keep coming back,” he grumbled and leaned against the doorframe with one arm as his eyes followed her. Open jeans hung on his hips revealing his flawless pelvic lines. Without a shirt on I could see a tattoo on his arm. A huge black wolf howled up at a red moon against grey clouds from the crook of his arm up to his shoulder. The artist was talented; it was very realistic. I tore my attention away from his ink when I heard her car start up. My eyes cut towards the car which I hoped was heading for Route Six today and then back to Murphy’s room. He took a step back and started to close the door but stopped as he surveyed the lot and spotted me.