The Last Motel (25 page)

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Madge smiled. There was nothing else she wanted to say. Morrie had paid for what he had done.

“You…bitch,” Morrie hissed. He was glaring up at her. His face was red and dripping with sweat. “You’ll pay...for this.”

“Fuck you,” Judy said. “How could you do that to me?”

“I’m sorry,” he said pitifully. “It just...happened.”

“I hate you,” Judy wept.

Madge wandered over to the table and picked up her jacket.

“Where are you going?” Morrie breathed. “I need a doctor.”

Madge turned around. “I’ll tell the police to call for an ambulance.”

“Don’t,” Judy pleaded. “Please.”

Although Madge knew what she had done, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Judy. She didn’t particularly want to send her to jail, but she had no other choice.

“I’m sorry, Judy. I have to go.”

“NO!” Judy screamed.

Madge slipped on her jacket and did up the zipper. With Morrie’s car keys clutched in her slippery hand, she headed for the door.

The rifle!

She stopped and turned around.

What if they managed to get loose while she was gone? What if, when she returned with the police, they were met with a barrage of gunfire?

She gazed over at Morrie and Judy. Both had their eyes closed. Morrie because of the pain, Judy also because of the pain – albeit a different sort.

Morrie probably couldn’t even stand with his knees, but Judy was another matter.

Unfortunately, she had to take the gun. She couldn’t take the risk.

But that was the gun they used to kill an innocent boy. She felt dirty touching it. She especially didn’t want it in the car with her.

What to do?
she wondered.

“You still here?” Morrie grumbled, opening his eyes. “What are you doing? Wondering whether or not to shoot us?”

“Be quiet,” Madge told him.

“Yeah, shut the fuck up,” Judy said.

Just take the ammunition
.

Thinking of that, Madge felt relieved. All she had to do was take the boxes of cartridges and the magazine. Then it didn’t matter if she left the actual rifle behind. She had searched their luggage and around the room, so she knew they didn’t have any more ammunition.

And this way, she didn’t have the evil gun in her company.

Madge hurried over to the table and started collecting all the pieces of ammunition.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

The trip back down the mountain didn’t take them too long. Without a body to carry, plus they had a mostly downhill trek, they managed to make it back to the motel in about twenty minutes.

With Eddy still in front, they came out of the woods and found themselves at the back of Eddy and Al’s cabin.

“Over to the car,” Wayne told him.

They hadn’t talked much since leaving the two bodies. All Eddy could think about was how and when to escape.

He still felt a touch light-headed, but his legs had held out on the trip down. Wayne hadn’t spoken much, except for the occasional, “Hurry up,” and “Get a move on.”

Eddy walked over to Wayne’s Bluebird. The torch still beamed from behind.

He stopped when he reached the driver’s side.

“Go around to the boot. Inside you’ll find a coil of rope.”

Eddy’s heart pounded fast. His mouth went dry.

“Are you deaf? Move!”

A rope. Eddy now knew what Wayne had in mind. He was scared.

Wayne poked the barrel of the gun into Eddy’s back. He huffed and was pushed forward slightly.

With his hands jittering, Eddy staggered around to the rear of the car.

Standing by the boot, Wayne reached into his trousers and pulled out a set of keys. He slipped one of them into the keyhole, unlocked the boot, then pulled out the key. “Open it,” he ordered.

Eddy grabbed hold of the bottom and lifted the lid up. He almost expected to see a dead body lying in there.

“Don’t worry,” Wayne said, as if he was reading Eddy’s mind. “There’s no body in there this time. See the rope? Take it out.”

Eddy reached into the dark boot. He held his breath, even though the boot didn’t smell, and quickly grabbed the thick coil of rope. He straightened back up and let out his breath.

Wayne held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Eddy threw the large coil to the muddy ground. He never once looked Wayne in the eyes.

“Watch it,” Wayne said. “You may be good looking, but that doesn’t mean I won’t shoot you. Pick it up,” he ordered.

Eddy remained still. He couldn’t move.

“Pick...it...up,” Wayne seethed.

“I can’t,” Eddy said softly.

Wayne laughed. “Oh yes you can.” He aimed the gun at Eddy’s face. “And you will.”

For some silly reason, picking up that rope seemed the ultimate act of defeat. If he picked up the rope, that meant he had given up and Wayne had won.

He knew it was ludicrous, but he just couldn’t reach down and pick it up.

Almost in tears, Eddy shook his head.

Wayne thumbed back the hammer. “You are a fucking idiot. Pick up the damn rope, boy.”

“Pick it up yourself,” Eddy grumbled. He spoke quietly, yet loud enough for Wayne to hear.

Wayne slowly released the hammer. Still with the gun pointed at Eddy’s face, he bent his knees and snatched the rope off the ground.

He straightened back up and snarled, “You’ll pay dearly for this.” He slipped the coil over his head. It hung like a dead snake around his neck and chest.

Eddy felt like smiling, but didn’t dare.

Wayne took off the headband, switched off the light, then threw it into the boot. With everything now in darkness, Wayne slammed the lid shut. He pocketed the keys.

“Move,” he said, and motioned with the revolver to the front of the cabins. “And don’t try anything, okay? I won’t hesitate to shoot everyone here. Then I’ll leave you alive and torture you beyond your worst nightmares. Understand?”

Eddy didn’t nod.

He started walking. Wayne followed close behind. “We’re going to my cabin. That’s the one on the right, next to yours.”

“What about your son?” Eddy said.

Wayne laughed. “Oh, he won’t mind.”

“Probably takes after his old man.”

Wayne ignored the comment.

They ventured out of the darkness to where the light from the distant office spilled over the courtyard.

Eddy saw her first.

A second later, he heard Wayne gasp from behind.

It was the owner, Madge. She was standing by the white Ford, two cabins down.

The woman looked up and over at the two men. “Ah, hi,” she called out. “Up early?”

“Damn bitch,” Wayne muttered. “Yeah,” he called back. “Thank God the storm’s stopped.”

Eddy knew this could be his one and only chance. He didn’t give it any thought as to why she was standing by the man’s car. He had to act now, or he might not get another chance.

“Help! He’s got a gun!”

As soon as Eddy shouted, he knew it was a mistake. He really didn’t know what he hoped to achieve. But he felt he had to say something – he had to try.

“Fucking idiot,” Wayne growled. He grabbed the back of Eddy’s jacket with the hand that held the gun. Eddy lurched back, but managed to stay on his feet.

Eddy saw the woman hesitate for a second, then she dashed towards the lighted cabin.

“Stop!” Wayne yelled.

But the woman was already at the cabin door.

Wayne heaved Eddy forward and started running. Eddy had no choice but to run too. Or else he would have crashed to the ground.

By the time they made it to the cabin, the woman was already inside.

At the open door, Wayne shoved Eddy into the cabin. He toppled to the floor, hard, banging his head on the base of the bed.

CHAPTER SIXTY

Wayne darted into the cabin and found the woman by the table. She was holding a rifle, hurriedly trying to load the magazine. A few boxes of ammunition were sitting on the table.

“Put down the fucking gun,” Wayne told her. He had his arm extended, gun aimed at her face.

Then he saw what was tied to the bed. “Holy shit,” he gasped, a grin blooming across his face. “What have we got here?”

Wayne slammed the door, then turned back to Madge. She had placed the gun and magazine on the table and had her hands raised. “Don’t shoot,” she said.

“Sit down on the bed,” Wayne told her.

Madge walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge.

“Shoot her, man. She’s fucking crazy,” the man who was tied to the bed cried.

Still smiling, Wayne lifted the rope over his head and placed it on the table. Then he picked up the magazine. He took the rounds from the magazine and slipped them into his trouser pockets. He turned around and stepped up to Madge.

“Give me the rest of the cartridges.” He held out his hand.

She reached into her jacket and pulled out a handful of cartridges. She gave them to Wayne, who put them in his pockets.

“And the rest,” he said.

“That’s it,” Madge said, staring up at him.

“Untie us!” the man cried again.

“Shut up,” Wayne warned and pointed the gun at him.

“Jesus,” he gasped.

“Shoot him,” the woman next to him said.

“What?” Wayne chuckled. “Isn’t he your husband?”

“Not any more. He fucked that old bitch.”

Wayne began to laugh. “That’s disgusting,” he said. He soon calmed down. He turned back to Madge. “Give me the rest of the cartridges.”

“I told you, that’s all I’ve got.”

Wayne put the gun point blank in front of Madge’s nose. “I don’t believe you,” he snarled.

Slowly, Madge reached back into her jacket and pulled out two boxes of ammunition. Wayne took them.

“Well, well. Seems you were lying to me.”

Tears ran down her cheeks. “That’s my husband’s gun, you know,” she choked out. “You stole it.”

Wayne wandered over to the table and placed the two boxes of ammunition alongside the other four boxes and the rifle.

He picked up the magazine and shoved it down the front of his pants. Turning around, he shook his head. “Oh
contraire
. This is my friend’s gun.
I
stole it from
him
. Unless...” Wayne shook his head. “Naughty boys. But I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“Where is the other one?” the man asked.

“Still up in the mountains. Got lost, so we left him up there.”

“Hey, can you please untie us?”

Wayne sighed. “Could you please shut the fuck up? I’m not going to untie you, okay? What’s wrong with your knees?”

“Woman bashed them with the baseball bat.”

Wayne looked down at Madge. “I’m impressed.” He turned around, picked up the rope and threw it over to her. She managed to catch it before it smacked her in the head.

“Madge, tie Eddy up. Good and tight like those two.”

“I’m not going to do that,” she said.

Wayne rolled his eyes and pointed the revolver at her. “Don’t make me tell you twice. Besides, he stole your husband’s gun, didn’t he? He’s a no good thief.”

“How?” Madge said flatly.

Wayne had to think.

“What are you, some kind of psycho...?”

Wayne aimed the gun at the man. His eyes went wide and he began breathing hard.

“Seriously. I will shoot you if you don’t pipe down.”

Wayne resumed his thinking. Eventually, he said, “Tie him up by the pipe under the sink. The one in the bathroom.”

Wayne motioned for Madge to stand up. She did as she was ordered, and went over to Eddy.

“You grab his shoulders. I’ll grab his feet.”

Wayne walked over and took Eddy by the ankles. “
Déjà vu
,” he muttered, and chuckled.

Madge looked over at him. She had a blank stare on her face.

“Pick him up,” Wayne said.

They lifted him off the ground and shuffled towards the bathroom. They placed him on the floor.

Wayne stood up, and holding the revolver in the direction of Madge, said, “Okay, tie him to the pipe. With his hands behind his head.”

Madge looked over her shoulder, at the gun pointed at her. She turned back and began binding Eddy’s hands to the pipe.

It took her five minutes.

Wayne didn’t help. He stood back and watched, keeping the gun aimed at the back of her head

When she had finished, Wayne told her to go back out and sit on the bed.

As Wayne walked out of the bathroom, he heard Eddy moan. “Welcome back,” he quipped, then left the bathroom.

As he wandered back, he saw the husband and wife eyeing him. Madge, on the other hand, was staring down at the floor.

“Now,” Wayne said to Madge. “Your second assignment is to untie her.”

“What!” the man cried.

“Why?” the woman said.

“I need hers and Madge’s help to untie something in my cabin. It takes three people, and I don’t trust him.”

“You’re the father, aren’t you?” the man said.

Wayne frowned, then remembered. “Yeah, sure.”

“What’s tied up?” Madge asked.

“You’ll see. Now go up and let her loose. What’s your name?”

“Judy.”

“Hurry up,” Wayne told Madge.

Madge hopped up and went over to Judy.

From in the bathroom, Eddy groaned.

“Why are you doing all this?” Judy’s husband asked.

“The same reason you fucked old Madge here.”

When he said that, Wayne saw the hate in Judy’s eyes. He watched the man cower back with guilt.

“Remember,” he said to Judy. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’m the one with the gun.”

Judy’s hands fell from above her head. Madge then shuffled down to her feet and worked the rope loose.

Free from constraints, Judy sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Madge stepped back and Judy stood up.

“I bet you would love to run, wouldn’t you?” Wayne taunted.

Judy suddenly sprang forward. Although it wasn’t to run away.

She lunged at Madge and they both fell to the floor.

“What the...?”Wayne chuckled. “A cat fight.”

The two women wrestled on the ground. Judy was on top and was pulling Madge’s hair and slapping her. She was sobbing, “You bitch,” and, “Slut,” and “You knew he was married.”

Wayne knew that most men got off on watching women fight and wrestle. Maybe not women as fat and old as these two, but there was obviously something erotic about watching women belt and slap each other.

But to Wayne it was simply tedious. Sure it was amusing watching two old women fight over some fat oaf, but in terms of excitement and eroticism, Wayne felt nothing.

“GET UP!” he shouted. “NOW!”

Quickly, they stopped fighting and Judy stood up. Madge followed.

“Crazy woman,” Madge muttered.

Both had their hair messed up, and Madge’s jumper was torn on the shoulder.

They were huffing and sweating. Their faces were flushed.

“All that over you,” Wayne said to the man. “Must be a real special guy.” He shrugged. “Or maybe you just have a real large dick.” He laughed. “You two, move over to the door. And no more fighting.”

Judy and Madge hurried over to the cabin door. Wayne followed behind, the gun aimed at their backs.

“Madge, open the door. Then both of you go outside. Slowly.”

Madge opened the door and stepped outside. Judy went next, Wayne last. Before he shut the door, Wayne glanced back and grinned.

“Be back soon, boys. Behave.”

* * *

The cabin door closed and the room fell silent

Morrie glanced at the bathroom and saw Eddy tied to the pipe. “Hey, Eddy. You all right?”

There was silence. Finally, Eddy answered. “Got a bitch of a headache,” he sighed. “Where have they gone?” He still sounded a bit groggy.

“He took Judy and Madge to his cabin. To help him with something. Hey, man. What the fuck happened? Who is he?”

He heard Eddy moan. “Oh man, you won’t believe it. You know that serial killer that hasn’t been caught yet?”

“The one who has killed, what, seven or eight people?” Morrie asked with apprehension.

“That’s the one.”

Morrie felt his stomach churn. “Oh my god,” he breathed. “You’re kidding?”

“Afraid not. Fucker shot Al.”

“That your friend?”

“Yeah,” Eddy sighed.

“What are we going to do? He will surely kill...”

Two gunshots stopped Morrie mid-sentence. They came from outside.