The Dead Parade (12 page)

With a grave tone, Elmer said, “I think so.”

“
You think so? You better know so, brother. Are you ready for this, or not?”

“
Yes. I’m ready.”

“
Good.” James turned his eyes on Tina. “Hey slut, you still with us?”

Whining, Tina said, “Yeah?”

“
Good. You’re going to stay right where you are until I tell you to move. Then you’re going to open the door, slowly, without drawing attention. You’re going to step outside. You’re going to walk to the building in a calm and cool manner. Let me repeat that… a calm and cool manner. You’re going to wait for me inside. Nothing else. If you decide to start yelling, or if you decide to run, or do anything you shouldn’t be doing, I’m going to shoot you. And guess what? I’m not going to shoot you in the head. I’m going pump two shells into your back, halfway up your spine. Then I’ll blow one of your hands off at the wrist. Maybe you’ll live, or maybe you’ll die. I don’t know. I don’t care. But either way you’ll spend the rest of you life with a broken back and a missing limb, wishing you had done exactly what I said. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

“
Yes.”

“
Do you have any questions?”

Expelling a giant mouthful of air, Tina asked, “Why are you doing this to me?”

Elmer closed his eyes and his shoulders sagged, thinking James would pull the trigger.

James didn’t. Instead he made a sound like ‘pfft’ and said, “No, you stupid dry-cunt whore. Any questions regarding what I’ve told you?”

“
No.”

“
Good. Elmer, open the door.”

Without looking at Tina or James, Elmer opened the door.

“
Now go.”

Elmer stepped out of the car and began walking. He walked fast and thought about nothing. When he reached the building he slid the key into the keyhole and applied the appropriate amount of pressure. The lock turned. The door opened. With a nod of his head Elmer held the door, just like he had been told.

“
Good.” James said, turning his eyes towards Tina. “Okay slut. Don’t fuck up. And remember, I’d love to blow a hole the size of my fist through your back, so don’t do anything stupid.”

Funny thing, James wasn’t kidding.

44

Tina opened the car door and stepped outside. The street was clean and the stores were not quite busy. A few scattered people walked by, laughing and smiling, paying no attention to anything but themselves.

“
Do you want me to close the door?” Tina asked, pushing the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

James pulled himself from the car and held the gun close to his leg. He recognized what Tina was doing. She was challenging his authority and it made him angry, very angry. He wanted to teach her a lesson. He wanted her head to explode like a popped water-balloon and her blood to spray across the street. He wanted everyone she loved to see it and he wanted to laugh as it happened.

But that wasn’t like him. That was sick.

Where did those thoughts come from?

After the malicious moment passed, James felt something churn inside of him. What was it? Fear? Hate? Guilt?

No, it wasn’t guilt, but it was something like guilt. It was responsibility. And this responsible feeling, James feared, was something he’d experience again and again as the day moved on.

Getting the shotgun was a mistake, he thought. Then he said, “Close the door, and don’t look back. Keep moving.”

Tina slammed the door and walked.

James felt another moment of bloodlust as he followed Tina. His eyes were shifty. His gun was held low. Within seconds they were inside the building. James lifted his chin, informing Elmer to start walking.

Elmer walked quickly. Tina and James followed.

The lobby was neat and clean. Small, metallic mailboxes cut the foyer in half. A stack of flyers and phonebooks sat near a bulletin board. And there was nobody around, only James and his hostages.

When they reached the elevator James said, “Push the button.”

Tina reached for it and James rammed the shotgun into her back. “I’m not talking to you, bitch. I’m talking to him.”

Tina, grim and humorless, moaned in defeat. Her arm fell heavy against her t-shirt and bounced off her gut. Elmer pressed his index finger against the white circular switch. From somewhere above, the elevator started moving. While the trio waited for the doors to open James couldn’t help feeling like he had regained some control over his life, even if things had taken an unexpected turn.

Then the door opened.

Ironically, a blonde woman in her early thirties was standing inside the elevator, challenging the very control James thought he had regained. She was tall, voluptuous, and strikingly beautiful. A light colored blouse hugged the ample curves of her body. She wore a short brown skirt and tall chocolate boots. Her scent reminded James of cherries.

Inside the woman’s hand a thin, black leash led to an energetic puppy. The puppy, James recognized, as a ‘pug.’ James loved dogs, especially pugs. Seeing the pug made James want to reach down and make stupid noises that were guarantied to get the animal excited. But instead of petting the pug and making friends with the woman, he played the only card he had.

“
Don’t move,” he said. “I’m not kidding.”

The woman stepped back and looked at the gun that was pressed against Tina’s back. Her mouth dropped wide open.

The elevator doors began to shut.

“
No!” James barked, pushing Tina forward.

Tina did what she had to do; she moved through the doorway and pressed herself into the corner.

The elevator doors reopened.

James said, “Everybody in.”

Elmer made his way into the six-by-seven cubical and turned around. The woman with the dog mumbled something, but before she could put her thoughts into words James interrupted her.

“
I’m sorry,” he said. “But you’re coming with us.” He put his foot against the elevator door to stop it from moving; he kept the shotgun angled appropriately. “Everybody turn around and face the wall. Elmer, move to the far side.”

Elmer and Tina responded without hesitation, making it easy for James to enter. But the woman didn’t move; she held her ground.

“
Please mister,” she said. “Please let me go. I didn’t do anything wrong. This matter, whatever it is, has nothing to do with me.”

James said, “I know that, but I can’t let you go. You’ve seen enough movies to understand. Of course you have. But I’ll tell you what… don’t do anything foolish and I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“
You promise?”

“
Yes.”

“
Do you keep your promises?”

“
Yes I do. The good ones, and the bad ones.” James glanced at Tina. He wanted to shoot her now, more now than before.

“
What’s your name?” The woman said.

James smiled. He didn’t expect a question that was so direct, so revealing and dangerous. Because she was beautiful the question turned him on.

“
James,” he said. “My name is James McGee.”

“
My name is Mia Powell. And I won’t do anything foolish. Just promise me…”

“
I won’t hurt you unless you earn it, Mia. I give you my word, okay?”

“
Okay.”

“
Now give me your phone.”

“
What?”

“
A girl like you has an expensive cell phone in her purse and a lot of friends worth calling. I need to take the phone away from you. You can have it back when this is over.”

“
But I don’t…”

“
Either give me your phone, or hand me your purse. The choice is yours.”

Mia thought it over. She reached into her purse and pulled out the phone. Grinding her teeth lightly, she handed it over. Then she faced the wall, feeling sick and conquered.

The puppy looked up at James with confused excitement. It wagged its tail and sat down impatiently.

James smiled at the dog; he stepped inside the elevator and pressed the button that said number five. The doors closed behind him. His thoughts shifted to Debra. What will she think when he arrives with three hostages and a puppy? The very thought made his stomach churn.

Debra was a worrywart. Her condo was usually clean and organized. She was fond of simple situations that offered clear and apparent solutions. She enjoyed looking cute and feeling attractive, which wasn’t easy. She wasn’t a pretty girl but she dressed like she was. She acted like a princess. Stressful situations made her nervous, and when she was nervous she became agitated and somewhat hostile.

James closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lost in his thoughts.

Debra was an ugly princess that was easily agitated and somewhat hostile.

Damn.

Walking into her condo with three hostages, a shotgun, and a dog, was going to do more than ruffle a few feathers. Debra was going to loose her fucking mind.

45

The elevator rumbled up the shaft and stopped on a dime. The doors opened.

James stepped halfway through the opening, pointed the gun at Tina’s head, and said, “Okay, one at a time. Mia, you first.”

Mia turned around.

“
Walk out slowly. Go to the railing. Stay there. Don’t make me shoot the fat woman in the head.”

“
Can I ask you something?” Mia asked.

“
Sure. Make it quick.”

“
Why are you doing this?”

“
You wouldn’t understand.”

“
Try me.”

“
I haven’t the time.”

“
Come on, there’s got to be a reason. Give me something. Anything.”

“
Something was chasing me. One thing led to another and here I am.” The elevator door tried to close and James stopped it.

“
What was chasing you?”

“
I don’t know. Now get the fuck out of the elevator and shut up, you’re pissing me off.”

Mia nodded and walked to the railing, which was seven or eight feet away from the elevator. Next to the railing was an open concept stairwell that led to the front foyer. It was ornamented with plants and windows. If Mia stood at the edge of the stairs and yelled loud enough half the building would hear. And if she decided to be brave and run down the stairs, it would take three seconds to be out of firing range, assuming James didn’t follow and she left the dog behind.

Mia considered her options.

“
Okay Elmer,” James said. “You’re next. Remember Danny and Beth now. You don’t want anything to happen to them so don’t fuck around.”

Elmer lowered his head and joined Mia at the railing. Being unfamiliar with the complex he looked down the stairs, chewing over different scenarios in his mind. None made him feel comfortable, only anxious.

“
Okay Chubby. You’re up.”

Tina turned around. Both barrels were an inch from her face. She pushed the shotgun aside and said, “Why me, huh? Why are you always picking on me?”

James forced the gun back into first position. “Shut up.”

Tina stepped into it, letting the steel touch her face. “No, really. How come I’m the last one out of the car, and the last one out of the elevator? How come the gun is always pointed at me? Why not Elmer? Or that girl you’re drooling over? They’re here too, you know!”

“
I said stop it.”

“
No!
You
stop it. Stop harassing me. Go bother
‘Tits LeGroux’
for a while, would you? Maybe you’ll get a blowjob out of it. Maybe you’ll get laid. She probably likes that sort of thing but I don’t, and I don’t like being harassed.”

“
Shut the fuck up!”

“
No!
You
shut the fuck up. You’re always picking on me! It’s not fair! In the car you had the gun against my head the whole time, and it hurt, and Elmer was driving. Not me. Why didn’t you put the gun against Elmer’s head, huh? He’s got a good-sized melon, so why me? And you keep calling me names… you’re not being fair, you know? This is bullshit!”

Tina’s voice grew louder; it seemed that she was calling his bluff.

James became nervous. He didn’t know what to do and worst of all, Tina was right. He’d been riding her pretty hard; it wasn’t anything personal, he told himself. He just didn’t trust her. Tina was unstable; therefore she was the biggest threat. James was trying to control the situation. That’s all. He was just trying to keep everyone in line.

“
Now listen…” James began, as the elevator tried to close again.

“
No!
You
listen… you started this. I was watching TV and minding my own business when you drove into my neighbor’s house, remember? You remember that? This is
your
fault, not mine. I came outside to see what was going on. Is that such a crime? Is that so bad? No! It isn’t! It’s the same thing that you would do––the same thing
everybody
would do! This is such bullshit! Complete fucking bullshit! And get that fuckin’ gun out of my face!”

Tina pushed the double barrel away a second time.