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

He can see Lester reaching down, and the trunk pops open. Luke is beaten, bloodied with a frightened look in his eyes. Removing the gray duct tape from his mouth, the moans turn into a man begging for his life.

“Please don’t kill me. I have money, lots of money,” Luke says.

I think the money is under the doghouse in the Starlight Trailer Park. Maybe this is a good opportunity to confirm.

Looking around the trunk, he can see two baseball bats, several rolls of tape.

“Talk!” Blake shouts.

“Under the doghouse. Starlight Trailer Park,” Luke cries out.

“Thanks!”

“Please don’t kill me,” Luke cries out as Blake puts tape over his mouth again.

Reaching for the baseball bat, he takes a minute and thinks about what Luke did to Cindy Flynn. He steps back from the trunk and takes a couple of practice swings with the baseball bat. Looking at the trunk, he thinks about the best angle and begins to swing the bat hard and fast into the trunk. The first couple of swings, Luke cries out, but the cries soon fade. He throws the baseball bat back into the trunk and closes it. He takes a minute to catch his breath and goes back into the backseat of the car. Looking over, he sees Billy has his hands over his ears, and his face is buried in the front seat. He motions for Lester to drive the car forward but is surprised to see Lester is gone. He collapses into the backseat.

“It’s me and you, Billy. Lester is gone.”

“I know, Blake,” Billy says.

“Did he say anything before he left?”

“No, he was too scared.”

“Which way did he go?”

“To the left, deeper into the woods.”

Jumping into the driver’s seat, Blake turns the ignition key forward, he puts the car in Drive, and steps on the gas pedal. Pointing the car in the direction of Cripple Cove. He needs Kevin to show him how to neutralize the dogs so he can get the money under the doghouse. The drive down the long dirt road is quiet. He can see Billy in the backseat through the rearview mirror. The expression on Billy’s face is telling Blake he pushed Billy too far. This ordeal has been too much for Billy, but Blake was not going to do it without him.

“You okay, Billy?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Blake,” Billy says with a scowl on his face.

“Cindy was your sister, Billy.”

“I know, Blake!” Billy shouts from the back seat.

“Okay, man, take it easy. I wanted to make sure you are still with me.”

“I am in this to the end, Blake!” Billy screams.

“Great!”

The car pulls over to the side of the road at the base of Cripple Cove. He and Billy know this is where all the bad things happen to local people who live here in Silver Lake. He and Billy are both a little nervous being in this location late at night. The muffled sounds from the trunk have faded, a couple of slight moans seep through.

He and Billy get out of the car. He opens the trunk retrieving the binoculars, and stands off to the side closer to the lake water. Looking through the binoculars out over the water, he can see more than a few bonfires off in the distance on Little Rock Island. He can see the crowds of people on the island around the fires. Looks like most of the local people of Silver Lake are on the island for the end of summer two-day-long party.

The frogs, insects, birds, bats, animals are letting their presents be known sounding off into the night. The full moon hangs high over the lake. He and Billy sit on a rock and a log at the water’s edge. There is an old wooden rowboat tied off on the old wooden dock. He can see Billy nervously looking at the rowboat.

“You okay, Billy?”

“Yes, Blake.”

“Let’s review what’s going on?”

“Okay, Blake.”

“Your sister has been murdered, and we found out who was responsible. He is in the trunk of my car. We are going to the Starlight Trailer Park. We are going to take any money we can find. The Starlight Trailer Park has a lot of guard dogs. I have confirmation from Luke the money is under the doghouse in the center of the trailer park. We are going to take the money and get the hell out of there as fast as we can.”

“Okay, Blake.”

“Kevin is going to meet us here with the equipment we need to take the guard dogs out.” Where is Kevin?

He and Billy sit at the water’s edge, passing time like they did when they were kids.

“Billy, after tonight, you are going to be able to focus on your recovery and take care of your mom. You will have some money to do all that,” Blake says sincerely.

“I know, thanks, Blake.”

The sound of an engine is heard off in the distance. Flashes of headlight shine through the trees. There is a car approaching them, so they squat down in the bushes staying out of sight. The headlights are getting closer. They squat down as low as they can. The car passes by.

“Jesus, Billy, tonight is going to give me a heart attack.”

“I know Blake, same here.”

The sound of another car engine off in the distance gets louder. Kevin?

CHAPTER 20

Blake can see the headlights of a car coming down the long winding dirt road. He is hoping it’s Kevin, and will be relieved he is going to help.

Getting out of the car, he can see Kevin is wearing black high-laced military boots, camouflage pants, a green T-shirt. Kevin walks towards him.

“Kevin.”

“Blake.”

“Thanks for coming, man.”

“No worries, let’s get you set up.”

Watching as Kevin pulls a PAX-22 Long Range Tranquilizer Rifle with an ATN X-4K PRO 3-14X sight mounted on the rifle and black backpack out of the backseat. He listens while Kevin gives him an overview of the weapon. Blake is comfortable with the weapon quickly, growing up hunting and fishing is a big help.

“Can you handle that, Blake?” Kevin says,