REVELATIONS

CHAPTER 10

REVELATIONS

I

            Peter clicked the screen to end the phone call and placed it on a table next to him.  In front of him and bound to a metal folding chair sat the fat man.  The fat man was covered with a mix of sweat and blood and grime and his pale gray eyes stared lifeless at the dirt floor.  Peter pulled a chair close and sat, lighting a cigarette as he looked over the fat man’s shoulder into a smaller room cut off from the main by metal prison bars. 

            Ray reclined on a bed without sheets, his arms folded behind his head on a dirty pillow.  He watched as Peter placed the cigarette tip on the fat man’s arm, which elicited a low pitched scream. 

            “Give me your name.”  Peter said, dragging the cigarette over his meaty forearm. 

            “I’ve told you a dozen times, I’m Reverend Maher.” The man said. 

            “I do not believe you. What is your attachment to Ray?” 

            “I’m Mary’s uncle.” The fat man answered. 

            “I do not believe in God, so I will call you Mr. Maher.” Peter said, taking a drag from the cigarette. 

            The Reverend opened his mouth as if intending to speak, but remained silent.

            “One of two things is going to happen this afternoon.” Peter said to both of them, alternating his gaze. “You can join us, Ray or you both will die. First, I’ll torture Mr. Maher for your personal entertainment.”

            Peter walked to the bars and placed his hands on the cold metal, looking at Ray. Ray remained motionless, his arms tucked behind his head, eyes locked with Peter’s. Peter took a deep drag on the cigarette and blew it into Ray’s face.  Ray smiled and sat up, placing his back against the wall. 

            “You are going to kill us no matter what I agree to sign, so why don’t you save us all the charade of choice and kill us now.” Ray said.

            “I like it.” Peter said, laughing. “Smoke?”

            “Please.” Ray said.

            Peter retrieved the pack of cigarette and handed one to Ray. Ray put it to his lips and stuck the end through the bars. Peter clicked the lighter and put the flame to the cigarette.  Ray reached and grabbed Peter’s wrist and pulled him closer. Ray inhaled a deep drag and exhaled through his nose. 

            “You best kill me now, Peter. You have no idea what is coming.”

II

            Mary put music on while watching as Ella sit on the couch with Princess in her lap, stroking the black fur.  Ella stared at the wall or at nothing, Mary could not discern. She walked to the couch and sat beside the girl and placed an arm about her shoulder, pulling her into her chest.  She ran her hand through Ella’s hair in slow, methodic strokes. She could feel Ella’s heart pounding against her side, fast and urgent. 

            “What is going on?” Ella said. Her voice hung low and Mary strained to hear it over the music. 

            “I can’t answer that question.” Mary said. She continued stroking her hair. 

            “I can figure out something bad happened if she calls from his phone. I can’t take this stress. I need to see him.” Ella said.

            “Mr. Brown will find him.” Mary said. “And they will all pay.”

            “I want to see her before all of this ends.” Ella said.

            “Be careful what you wish for in this world. Sometimes it comes true.”

            Mary turned Ella’s chin and looked into her blue eyes. She kissed her forehead and pulled her into a tight embrace.

            “I meant what I told her on the phone.” Ella said. 

            “I know you did, girl.”

            They embraced in silence for a few moments, listening to the music. The next song began playing and Ella leaned forward to read the title from the LCD screen on the stereo­- Violin Concerto in D Major by Brahms-

            “What is with all the classical music?” Ella asked.

            “Ray will not listen to anything else.” Mary said.

            Mary’s phone began to vibrate with a new message. She tapped in her code to check. She turned the phone towards Ella.

            GET OUT OF THE HOUSE

            -Mr. Brown

III

            Mr. Brown watched a blonde haired man in a gray suit approach the door of the warehouse through the dirty windshield of a late model Buick. He checked his phone, but there were no new messages. He shook his head in dismay and placed the phone inside his shirt pocket. He reached into the glove box and removed two black handguns, which he shoved into the holsters hanging on each side of his chest.

            He exited the car, walked to the trunk and opened it. He grabbed the matte black shotgun and a handful of shells, which he shoved into his jacket pockets. He strode across the street, not bothering to look for traffic, which had dried up like everything else in the summer violence. He approached the door and waited; the shotgun across his chest.

IV

            Peter lit a cigarette as Jaime entered the room.  Jaime placed his briefcase upon the table, opened it and began arranging papers in neat stacks. He placed Ray’s worn Bible next to the papers. The reverend watched in a stupor, his eyes glazed over with pain and sleep deprived agony.

            “This will be simple, Ray. You sign a few forms transferring cash and assets to an account of my designation and I’ll spare the Reverend.” Peter said.

            Peter grabbed a black bag from the floor and placed it on the table.  He removed several large knives and a large meat cleaver. He arranged them in a row, placing each one with emphasis, looking at Ray. Peter began thumbing through the bible, stopping to read highlighted passages before turning his glance to the fat man.

            Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.

            The reverend made a spitting motion and Peter slapped his face hard, three quick hard blows.

            “You picked an appropriate passage. Nice touch.” Jaime said to Peter with a smile.

            “Has Ryan received the message that you’ve turned into a garden variety thief?” Ray said, ignoring Jaime’s comment. He stood near the bars as Peter arranged the knives. 

            Two men entered the door, both with guns at their sides. Ray watched as each of them grabbed an implement from the table and approached the Reverend.

            “Perhaps we shall tie you to the chair, Ray.” Peter said with a smile.

            “It will be a waste of time, he might enjoy it.” The reverend said with effort.

            Peter slapped Maher’s face with the back of his hand. He motioned to Jaime and the men, who surrounded the fat man.

            “I have another matter to attend to at present. Get results.” Peter said to Jaime. 

            “My pleasure.” Jaime answered as Peter exited through the rear door. He held the cleaver against the reverend’s face, slow enough to gather sweat and blood on the blade. He placed the blade against a bound wrist and looked into the fat man’s eyes.

            “Make it quick.” The fat man said.

            Jaime raised the blade high over his shoulder.

            “I know this may not change anything, Ray, but I’m going to enjoy this.” Jaime said as he brought the cleaver down with a sickening whack on Maher’s wrist. The fat man hollered and Ray looked away, shaking his head in dismay.

            Blood gushed from the wound as the reverend thrashed against his restraints, rocking the chair.

            “I will sign nothing. Kill him.” Ray said in anger.

            The reverend’s face lost color as the blood continued to run in rivers. The second man ran a knife over the fat man’s chest, opening a deep gash. 

            The door flew open and Mr. Brown entered, firing the shotgun. The first man fell in a heap and before the second man could draw his gun, Mr. Brown fired again, hitting him in the knees. Mr. Brown drew his handgun and shot him twice in the skull.

            Mr. Brown approached Jaime and motioned for him to drop the cleaver. Jaime dropped the knife and backed away from the reverend, arms high over his head. Mr. Brown looked at the fat man and shot him in the temple.

            “Rest in peace.” He said.

He grabbed the keys off the desk and unlocked the bars. Ray stepped out from his cell and removed the knife from the dead man’s hand. He approached Jaime and without a word rammed the knife deep into his chest. Jaime fell to his knees while trying to remove the knife. He clutched at the blade with fading strength, blood running over his hands and dripping onto the dusty floor. Mr. Brown walked toward him, placed the muzzle against his forehead and fired.

V

            Ella pushed her pasta around with a fork, distracted and watching the waitress working at bussing a table. The woman was of middle age, with shoulder length brown hair and blue gray eyes.

            “She is pretty. I swear I know her from somewhere.” Ella said. Mary looked at the waitress and shrugged.

            “She has worked here since the place opened last year, that’s all I know of her.”

            Ella continued pushing her food and checked her phone with her free hand. There were several messages from her agent and family members, but she ignored them and skipped to the blocked number.

            “You should have switched the locator option in your phone to OFF.”

            “What does this mean?” Ella asked, showing Mary the phone.

            She didn’t have time to answer. A masked man entered with a rifle shouldered and aimed at Mary and Ella. The waitress screamed and the man turned and fired a quick burst, cutting her down. She fell to a heap and the tray of dishes crashed to the floor. A general panic swept the restaurant and patrons ran for the exits as Mary took a handgun from her purse and led Ella towards the kitchen.

            A rush of employees coming out of the kitchen blocked their path and Mary shielded Ella and pointed the gun at the masked man. She fired two shots, but missed. The man took careful aim and fired, hitting Mary in the chest. She fell backwards onto Ella, the gun smacking the floor.

            “Run.” Mary said to her a moment before a second bullet ripped through her neck.

            Ella grabbed the gun and the car keys before forcing her way into the kitchen and running for the emergency door. She pushed through it and found herself in the employee parking lot. She ran around the side of the building to the spot Mary had left the Explorer, tears running down her cheeks. She heard the man following her, the door slamming as she disappeared around the building’s edge.

            She sprinted to the car and opened the door. She started the ignition but instead of trying to drive, closed the door and ran around to the far side, hiding herself.  The man came running towards the car, firing at the driver’s side. He emptied the rifled and ripped the door open. He turned in shock at the moment Ella emerged from the rear of the Explorer, gun pointed at his head.

            For a moment, they eyed each other. The man reached into his pocket for a clip and shoved it into the rifle. Ella gritted her teeth and fired, the bullet hitting the man in the stomach. He fell to his knees, but managed to insert the clip into the rifle. He raised the gun at Ella, but she fired again, hitting the man in the forehead, killing him.