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

K-9 Academy, Billy walks back to Rivers Tattoo shop, and Lester walks towards the barn to the right of the Lakeview Lounge. Blake walks towards his car parked in the crushed stone parking lot. He opens the trunk and sees the orange backpack full of drugs. He touches it for good luck. Reaching into the trunk of his car, he pulls out a small black leather bag with the word Bushnell written on the side. Inside the bag, there is a pair of binoculars. He walks down to the water’s edge.

Looking through the binoculars, Blake can see the sun is beginning to set. The lake waters are blue as far as he can see. The sky is the same color but a lighter shade. The orange glows show a couple of bonfires on Little Rock Island. By nightfall, there will be several bonfires going at the same time. Several small wooden rowboats are docked at the sandy shore in front of the island. There are ten to fifteen more small rowboats on their way to the island as well. Looking at the shoreline, he can see more people are preparing small wooden rowboats for the journey to the island. Tomorrow is the biggest island party of the summer, but it looks like a lot of people are getting an early start. Over the years, the party has turned into a two-day event reaching its peak tomorrow night. Most of the local people are gathering on the island. The flames, alcohol, and drugs will be flowing tonight and tomorrow night.

Tomorrow, there will be no Little Rock Island Party for Blake, Billy, Lester, and Kevin. Tomorrow will be all about revenge for the murder of Cindy Flynn. With the

binoculars, he shifts his focus from the island to the Devils Den above the Lakeview Lounge. Using the binoculars, he can see in through the window. Luke is walking around The Devil’s Den, talking on the phone. Wondering how things are going to unfold tomorrow, Blake paces back and forth, trying to picture in his mind all the moving pieces and how they are going to play out, is not making any sense right now. Thinking harder he starts to formulate a plan.

Walking back to the car slowly, he can see the number of people heading out to the island is increasing. Tomorrow is the night to make things right for Cindy Flynn. There is no question in his mind it is going to happen. Putting the binoculars back into the trunk he does a quick inventory of weapons. He walks back into Rivers Tattoo shop. He has a few more customers to finish his day. While he is working in his shop, he notices there are a lot more people than usual walking past the front of the shop’s window. The people stop, cup their hands, and look in the window at him.

They all know what is going to happen. They all know he is going to seek revenge for what happened to Cindy Flynn. Seems like the people looking into the windows are checking to see if he is still there. Wondering if he will survive the next few days. He straightens out the shop and gets to bed as early as he can. Knowing tomorrow is going to be a long day and night, he needs to get as much rest as he can. As his mind and body slowly drift off to sleep. His last memories are of Rose and him walking around Silver Lake. Most of the time, they talked about their future and what kind of life they were going to have. The main focus was on them and being together. He and his memories of Rose drift off to sleep.

CHAPTER 18

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Blake wonders where Lester is. He has been working all day and is worried about tonight. The buzzing of the tattoo needle begins. He continues tattooing the flames up the inside forearm of the older gentleman. He takes his time with the outlined black ink. He layers in the orange and yellow ink next. The tattoo comes together quickly, and he and the customer are happy with the work. The older gentleman is wearing black biker boots, jeans, a T-shirt with a black leather vest with his motorcycle club patches on it. The gentleman is tired and weathered.  He is covered with tattoos from over the years. Blake knew the man when he was younger; before he and Rose left for New Orleans. His nickname is Chains. He has forgotten his real name. Billy is moving some boxes around in the back of the shop.

“Hey Chains, have you seen Rose?” Blake says.

“Ah, no, it has been a few years.”

“Right,” Blake says in a deflated tone.

“Sorry, bro,” Chains says sympathetically.

“Okay, your new tattoo is finished.”

“Well, alright, man.”

“Take your time getting up. I will be over by the register.”

“Right on, brother.”

Standing over by the register, he sees a few more people looking in the window, thinking it is strange but there is nothing he can do about it. Chains walks up to the counter and pays in cash.

“Thanks, Chains.”

“Thanks, Blake, good luck tonight,” Chains says.

“Good luck tonight?”

“Cindy Flynn,” Chains says on his way out the door.

One more customer to tattoo, and the day’s work will be over. Walking over to the young woman in cutoff jeans and a T-shirt, he discusses with her the work she is looking to have done. This is a cover-up tattoo. He has done this many times in the past and several times recently. She is looking to have the tattoo between her thumb and index finger covered up. The tattoo is the crude outline drawing of a Jackal. His heart sinks at the sight of the Jackal, and his temper flares.

“Blake Rivers,” Blake says, extending his right hand.

“Christine,” Christine says, shaking Blake’s hand.

“Some of my friends at work had this tattoo,” the young woman says.

“Yes, I have seen this before and have done several cover-ups for