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

the dog’s jaw on his right arm. He can see the look in the dog’s eyes when he realizes he is about to pass out. The dog on his right arm drops to the ground. The sense of relief is overwhelming. Both arms and hands are free.

The tugging at his left leg continues. His body moves two feet every time the dog pulls on his left leg. The pressure of the dog’s jaw on his left leg is by far the most physical pain he has ever felt. The dog’s jaw is locked on his left calf muscle. He reaches into the backpack and checks to make sure the Ball Pein Hammer is there. The hammer weighs about three pounds. It’s the best he can do on short notice. Taking the hammer out, he knows his best chance is to strike down as hard as he can on the head of the dog. He struggles to pull his leg with the attached dog closer to his body. He curls his leg up using as much strength as he can muster. Deciding to use his right arm to swing the hammer to get the biggest impact on the dog’s head. He takes a couple of practice swings. As he does, he can see the dog looking up, flinching a little. Maneuvering his body as best he can, he realizes this is going to take multiple swings, and he needs to keep his grip on the hammer. Keep your cool. You do not want to over swing and loose the hammer.

Taking the hammer in his right hand, he squeezes the handle as tight as he can, sending pain up and down his right arm. The pain in his leg is overwhelming. He feels the weight of the hammer and imagines the weight to be more than it really is. He focuses on what he is about to do.

The plan is to swing this hammer into the head of the dog as many ties as he can. He takes a minute and starts to count, one, two, and three. He swings the hammer down into the head of the dog. He does it again and again; he has swung the hammer ten or more times and can see the blood coming from the dog’s head. Finally, feeling the release of pressure from the dogs clamped jaw on his left leg, he is relieved but knows he has more work to do.

With both arms and legs free, he maneuvers his body to hold the dog by the throat. Using his left forearm as leverage, he presses it against the dogs’ throat. The hammer starts to swing again, making contact with the dogs’ head. The blood from the dog is being thrown into the air and settling back down in the ground and on him and the dog. He can feel the strength in the dog has faded from his body. He pushes the dog away from him and tries to stand up.

Making quick work with his T-shirt, he quickly addresses the wound on his arm. He carries the rifle and the backpack towards the hole in the fence. Hoping that was the last dog, he cannot help but check his back every few seconds. Stepping through the hole he takes a minute to patch the hole in the fence in case there are more dogs. Looking back at the trailer park, he is confident it is secured. He and Billy can walk freely on the grounds.They can do what they have to do.

“You OK Blake?” Billy says, addressing the wound on his leg.

“Yes, there were two silent Pitbull’s,” Blake says in pain.

“I was not close enough to see what was happening.”

“It’s okay, Billy.”

He and Billy quickly patch him up and prepare to enter the park again.

CHAPTER 21

The dim floodlights and fencing give the park an eerie look. Looks more like a prison camp than a trailer park. Blake looks around the grounds trying to get his bearings. The fence goes around the perimeter of the grounds. He sees the trailers; he counts about eleven of them. He sees the large doghouse in the middle. There are no people or dogs. He does not hear any barking. Blake and Billy move as fast as they can through the hole in the fence with empty backpacks over their shoulders.

Looking at Billy, Blake points to the five dogs lying unconscious on the ground. One of the dogs is beaten and bloodied from the hammer. The other four are unconscious from the darts.

Walking forward, he approaches one of the dogs. He looks down at the dog and sees he is breathing. Pointing to the dog and looking back at Billy. He wants to make sure Billy sees the unconscious dog and doesn’t disturb him.

Walking quietly, he starts to explore the grounds to see what is going on. He thinks any people who are normally here must be at the party on Little Rock Island. He walks around the empty trailers with Billy following him. Looking into the windows and doors there is no sign of anyone.

“This place is empty, Billy,” Blake whispers.

“I know Blake, no one is here,” Billy whispers back.

There is a shed off to the side of one on the trailers. He walks quickly towards it and pulls open the doubldoors. The shed is full of tools, sledgehammers, axes, saws, and chainsaws.

“Jackpot Billy,” Blake whispers.

“Cool,” Billy whispers.

The doghouse in the middle of the grounds is roughly six feet high and twenty feet by twenty feet. The doghouse is old and falling apart. Grabbing handfuls of tools from the shed, he quickly walks to the doghouse with Billy following him.

“Let’s take a look at how this is built and start dismantling it as fast as we can. I think Luke’s money is under the doghouse. Luke confirmed this to me, from the trunk of my car,” Blake whispers.

“OK,” Billy whispers.

Before the first swing of the sledgehammer, he and Billy both hear something behind them. He and