The Silver Lake Murder by Gregg Matthews (read novel full txt) 📗

think you can continue telling us what happened?”

“Yes, let’s talk about the next day, July 2nd,” Kelly says.

CHAPTER 10

Kelly takes a drink from a bottle of water and repositions herself standing in front of Blake, Billy, and Lester. The small fire is still burning. Kelly continues to tell the story. Starting with July 2nd.

Cindy was taking her time, she walked halfway around the lake. She thought about where her life is going and started to panic. She wondered how her life had taken such a turn for the worse. She wondered if anything was ever going to change for her, here in Silver Lake.

She always took the time to look around the lake. She tried to take in the natural beauty of the water and its surroundings. Her mind was not in a good place to stop and enjoy anything. She walked hurriedly in the direction of the Lakeview Lounge.

Stepping inside the front door and standing at the waitress station near the bottom of the staircase. She watched me as I was bussing tables and the top of the bar area.

“Hi Cindy,” I said, struggling to lift a plastic tote full of dirty glasses.

“Hi Kelly,” Cindy said, looking upstairs.

She could hear some of the wooden floor upstairs creaking and cracking under Luke’s feet. She knew Luke was in a bad mood. Looking up and over at me, she saw me looking over at her with a worried look in my eyes.

“Cindy, get up here!”

“Okay, Luke!”

Cindy jumped and cringed at the sound of Luke shouting her name. She walked upstairs to The Devil’s Den. She walked up the steps until she reached the top step and the small hallway. She saw the door had writing with a black Sharpie spelling out, TheDevil’s Den. She stepped in and saw Luke sitting at his desk. Luke is not tall; he is round. He has long, curly gray hair with a little black. His face is distorted from the extra weight. His arms and shoulders are thin and covered in tattoo ink. He has a heavy gold chain with a large round medallion. She could not see the medallion but knew it was a Jackal. He was wearing a green Lakeview Lounge T-shirt, jeans, and work boots. He was smoking a fat cigar and filling the room with smoke.

Luke was reading a piece of yellow notebook paper. The yellow notebook paper was delivered to Luke at the end of every week. Luke turned the paper around and showed her the names:

Lakeview Lounge Tab: Lester $ Lost cause

Lakeview Lounge Tab: Cindy $3,100.00

Lakeview Lounge Tab: Tracy $2,900.00

Lakeview Lounge Tab: Shannon $2,800.00

Lakeview Lounge Tab: Megan $2,800.00

Etc……

The list of names went on from there. Most people who work at the Lakeview Lounge are on the list. The people on the list are in the negative cash flow. People work for Luke full time and spend all their money on the Jackal alcohol and drugs. Luke wants to make sure the money never leaves the Lakeview Lounge. Luke also owns some of the cottages at the water’s edge.  Luke has people who work at the Lakeview Lounge, drink alcohol at the Lakeview Lounge, do drugs at the Lakeview Lounge, and rent a room in one of the cottages he owns. There are not a lot of choices for people to work in the Silver Lake area. People take what they can get.

“Cindy, sit down.”

“Thanks, Luke.”

“Cindy, your tab here at the Lakeview Lounge is getting out of control. You owe a lot of money.”

“I know Luke. Maybe, I can pick up an extra shift?”

“You already work the four biggest paying nights of the week, Thursday through Sunday night.”

“I know, Luke.”

“Look, Cindy, I have something you can do to help pay down your debt.  I need you to come into work early tomorrow at 12:00 noon. I have some extra office work for you.”

“What do I have to do, Luke?”

“I need you to inventory the Jackal products. I will explain it to you tomorrow.”

“Okay, thanks, Luke.”

“I am also having a private meeting for some of my business associates. I want you to work the meeting to pay down some of this debt. Be up here in The Devil’s Den, July 4th 12:00 midnight, OK?”

“What do I have to do, Luke?”

“Clean yourself up like you would for a party. You have to stand around and talk to my business associates. You need to mix some drinks for them and be nice and polite when you talk to them.”

“OK, Luke.”

“Thanks, Cindy. Send Tracy up here.”

Cindy walks down the stairs and back into the bar area. She sees Tracy and walks up to her.

“Tracy, Luke wants you upstairs in The Devil’s Den.”

Cindy watches as Tracy walks across the front of the bar and up the stairs to The Devil’s Den. She takes each step slowly like there is a force field slowing her progress.

“Tracy, get up here,” Luke shouts.

“Okay, Luke.”

Several minutes later, Cindy watches Tracy walk-down the stairs after talking to Luke. Tracy walks over to Shannon.

“Shannon, Luke wants you upstairs in The Devil’s Den,” Tracy whispers.

“Okay, Tracy.”

Cindy and Tracy watch Shannon walk across the front of the bar and up the stairs to The Devil’s Den. She takes each step slowly as well, like something is slowing her progress.

“Shannon, get up here.”

“Okay, Luke.”

Several minutes later, Cindy watches Shannon walk-down the stairs after talking toLuke. Shannon walks over to Megan.

“Megan, Luke wants you upstairs in The Devil’s Den,” Shannon whispers.

“Okay, Shannon.”

Cindy, Tracy, and Shannon watch Megan walk across the front of the bar and up the stairs to The Devil’s Den. She takes each step slowly.

“Megan, get up here.”

“Okay, Luke.”

A few minutes later, Cindy watches Megan walk down the stairs from The Devil’s Den. The four girls group together and talk about what Luke had to say to them. They all know they are in for a long night on the up-and-coming July 4th holiday.

“That is what Cindy told me on July 2nd,” Kelly says through tears again.

“I understand,” Blake says.

“Cindy was trying