3 Kill Me Over the Garden Gate (5 page)

Chapter 10

With the boys in the cottage, the cops focused on the lone person making his or her way to the cottage. Big Mike made to move. Sheriff Green touched his arm and pointed. Two other figures exited the big house.

Big Mike sighed. "Two more? What is this, some sort of party?

Silently, the figures ran toward the cottage. Curly whispered on the radio. "By their shadows, the two new subjects look like girls. Oops, one just fell off her shoes. Wait. The other one stopped and picked her up. Okay they're on their feet and headed your way."

They rounded the corner of the greenhouse. In the light, Big Mike could see their faces. "The girl in the park. She's the one the kids call Spaz. The one they're here to rescue. What the heck is going on?"

J.J. pressed closer. "Who's the other one?"

A voice piped up again. "I don't know, but she sure has some ugly legs."

"Moe?"

"Uh, yes sir, shut my pie hole."

"They're approaching the back door, and they...are...in."

J.J. looked into the night. He saw no other people.

"Where's the lone person? Larry? Report."

Silence on the radio.

"Curly? What's the 10-20 of that subject?"

No answer.

Sheriff Green called them again, but no one answered. Silently, he crept around the back of the greenhouse. He tried to make out the shadows of his deputies. Nothing moved in the inky blackness.

"J.J., get back here, now. Lone subject is near the cottage. Looks like a man."

Big Mike fought to stay where he was. Sheriff Green scooted back into position.

"The kids are inside."

"I know, but if we move on this guy, we have nothing. Come on, Mike, you and me. We'll go in. Everyone else, hold your positions."

They crept forward. Nothing moved. The men stood on either side of the back door. J.J. Stood up, Big Mike went in low. Guns drawn, they listened. On J.J.'s nod, they slipped through the door. Inside they found themselves in a small kitchen. They heard talking in the other room. They stood inside the door and waited.

Shroom slammed his fist on a table. "My God, Spaz. Listen to us. We're getting you out of here. The garden gate is just to the east of where we are now. I can find it in the dark."

Spaz looked at the floor. "But I'm closing in. I only need a little more time."

Bean grabbed her arm. "Don't do this, man. Leave it for the cops. We're all in enough trouble. We don't need more."

"The cops ain't gonna do nothin'. That bastard is not going to get away with murder."

Pone looked at the floor. "My dad is bound by the law. He'd be here if he could. He's a great cop and he keeps his word, which is more than any of us did."

Bean spoke up. "Pone's right, Evie. You know you'rere going to get hurt or killed if you stay here."

"So says the kid wearing a skirt and a wig."

Shroom smiled. "I don't know, man. He looks pretty good for a dude in a dress."

The front doorknob rattled. They all stood for a second, frozen in place. Shroom dove under the bed. Pone ran for the closet. Bean and Spaz stood in the middle of the room. They watched the knob turn and stop. They grabbed each other's arms. The door creaked on old hinges. It swung slowly out. Franklin B. Hunnicut the Fourth stood in the opening, breathing hard and looking wild.

"What the– Kelli! What are you doing here, and with that maid?"

"I-I thought you and I were going to meet. I uh, thought I might clean up a little. I brought a maid to help."

Bean smiled and nodded.

Hunnicut wiped his face and trembled. "I told you to never come out here without me." He looked around the room. "That makes me very angry. You know how I am when I'm angry."

"Wait, Frank. I-I can explain." Hunnicut walked slowly across the room. Big Mike and Sheriff Green moved closer to the door. J.J. silently screamed. Move kid! Get out of that room. I won't have a clear shot.

Bean stepped forward. "Wait a minute Mr. Hunnicu–"

Hunnicut blasted him with a back-hand. Bean thought his eyeballs exploded. He slammed against the closet door. Sliding to the floor, Bean slumped and stayed there.

Spaz backed away from Hunnicut. Her legs came up against the bed. Hunnicut grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. "What kind of game are you playing, bitch? Who are you meeting out here?"

Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she felt her hair rip out of her head. ". No one, I swear. I don't know what you're talking about, baby. I–"

"Liar!" He slapped her and she fell on the bed. Grabbing her blouse he jerked her up. The fabric tore and Spaz fell back. Hunnicut stumbled backward.

Bean slowly stood. "Don't touch her again, Hunnicut." His voice sounded deadly flat.

Hunnicut loosened his tie. "And what are you going to do about it, girly?" He turned to Spaz. "Is this why you came out here? To be with her?" He took off his jacket and threw it on the floor.

"No, Frankie, no! Listen to me. You know there's no one but you."

In the kitchen, J.J. and Big Mike moved toward the door between the rooms. The voices grew louder. Come on, kids. Get out of there!

Bean stared at Hunnicut. "Just tell me why you did it, Hunnicut. Why did you kill her?"

"Kill who? What are you talking about?"

"Amy. The hooker. We know you did her. We just don't know why."

Bean moved toward Spaz. Hunnicut backed up against the front door. "What is this? Who are you? I don't know any hooker called Amy."

His hand rested on the knob. He was crazy mad and screamed. "You don't know what you are talking about! She liked it rough. It got a little crazy. I left her here. She was alive, I tell you. Alive!"

The lights went out. Spaz screamed. Bean jumped and grabbed her. "Spaz, down!"

"
Boom
."

The door to the kitchen burst open. Flashlights shined on Franklin Hunnicut. He still stood in the door. He raised his hands. "Police! Police! Everyone down. Down, down! On the floor! On the floor! Hunnicut, on the floor. Hands where we can see them! Kids, where are you?"

Hunnicut lie face down on the floor. He cried and shook. Big Mike held him down. He dragged his hands behind his back. Sheriff Green cuffed him. They flipped him over. There was a telling wet spot on his pants. Hunnicut babbled nonsense.

Big Mike yelled. "Michael? Michael, are you all right?"

The lights came back on. Moe the deputy showed up at the front door, gun at the ready. "I flipped the main back on."

 "Whoa, Moe! It's okay. We got him."

Chapter 11

Pone banged on the closet. "Dad?"

Big Mike ran to the door. The old lock had stuck. Big Mike kicked the plate and the key turned. He yanked the door open. Pone stood on the other side looking at the floor. "Dad, I–"

Big Mike grabbed him with both arms. He crushed him in a bear hug.

"Dad, I'm sorry."

"Thank God you're okay." Big Mike backed up. He pulled out his handkerchief and mopped his face. "Where is everyone?"

"Under here." Shroom slid out from under the bed.

"Under him. Get off me!" Spaz's hands flapped from under Bean. He had taken a flying leap and tackled her. They landed on the bed. He still covered her body and didn't move. She patted his arms.

"Come on, Beaner, it's over. Get off me, you're gonna wrinkle your dress." She pushed on his shoulders. "Hey, moron, I mean it. The party's over. I can't breathe. Get up."

Big Mike moved toward the bed. "Wait, don't move. Something isn't right."

"What do you mean? Get this clown off me before I knee him in the–"

Shroom grabbed her hand. "Chill, girlfriend. Listen for once. I think Bean's hurt."

Big Mike gently moved Bean and he groaned.

Shroom helped lift him off Spaz. He looked at her. "Holy c-c-c...Oh my God. Spaz, are you okay?

Blood covered what was left of her blouse. She looked at Shroom. Then she looked at Bean.

"Of course I'm okaaaaa–Bean. Ohhh, Bean. He's hurt, he's hurt. Oh my God help him!"

Big Mike lifted Bean from the bed and Spaz scrambled off. Big Mike gently laid him down and probed his shoulder. Spaz ran to the kitchen. Shroom knelt beside the bed. Pone passed out in the corner. Big Mike pulled out his pocket knife. "Moe! Call for an ambulance. J.J. pat down Hunnicut. Look for a gun. Small caliber. Boys, move back." He looked around and saw Pone in the corner. He sighed. "The kid never could stand blood."

Spaz bounded back into the room. She had a stack of towels. Big Mike worked on Bean. He cut away his shirt. He folded a towel and pressed it to the wound. Bean groaned. Spaz placed her hand next to Big Mike's. "Here. I can do that. You can help Sheriff Green."

"You have to push hard. He's already lost a lot of blood. If you need help–"

Spaz looked down at her shirt. "Yeah, I'm hip about the blood, but I'm good. I got it covered, Detective."

Big Mike smiled. "I can see that." He turned from the bed. "Find anything, Sheriff?"

J.J. stood. He held up a pistol. "Yup. A .22 in his front pocket."

Shroom stared, big-eyed. "
Whoa
. The bastard really shot Bean." Rage washed over him. He rushed over to Hunnicut before anyone could grab him. "You rotten SOB, you shot my friend!" He kicked Hunnicut in the head. He kicked his arms, his ribs and stomped on his stomach before J.J and Mike could stop him. Mike pinned his arms back.

"Slow down, son." Tears flowed down Shroom's face. He turned and stared into Big Mike's eyes. "I swear if anything happens to Bean, I'll kill him. I swear to God I'll kill him!"

A siren screamed in the distance. Big Mike put his arm around Bean. He led him into the kitchen and talked to him in low tones. Pone came to. He struggled to his feet. "Sheriff Green, Is it all right if I, uh..." and stumbled out the door. J.J. smiled and pulled Hunnicut to his feet.

Moe appeared in the door. "Larry has TASER hooks still in him and Curly will have a big head ache in the morning. They're both fine. The kid on the bed is the only one hurt bad."

"Did you see anyone else out there tonight?"

Moe thought. "I thought I saw a shadow by the window, but I looked again and it was gone. Must have been a trick of the lights going on and off."

J.J. thought a second. "
Hmm
. Check around the cottage, would you? Focus on the area right outside the door. And look for that golf cart, would you?"

"Okay, boss."

"Make it quick. The ambulance is coming. Those guys will stomp all over anything left out there."

Moe turned on his flashlight. "I'm all over it."

"Good." J.J. hauled Hunnicut out the door. He keyed his radio and told Curly to bring the squad around. "Mr. Hunnicut? I am pleased to inform you that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and you'd better get a good one, pal..."

The squad bumped through the garden gate. J.J. tucked a crying and wet Franklin B. Hunnicut the Fourth in the back seat. "Good thing the seats are vinyl."

The ambulance followed the squad through the gate. It pulled up by the front door. They had to peel Spaz off the bed in order to see to Bean. She and Shroom stood silently off to the side. They watched as the EMTs strapped Bean to a stretcher. Spaz grabbed Bean's hand and walked along side until the EMTs loaded him into the ambulance.

Pone joined Shroom and Spaz as they watched the ambulance turn and head for the hospital.

Big Mike walked up and put his arm around Pone. "I'm finished here, kids. Can I give you a lift to the hospital?"

Three miserable faces stared back at him. "Okay then. My car is up by the big house. Let's go."

The three of them trailed behind Big Mike. When they neared the house, Cash bounded out the back door. "Where did you guys run off to? I had to wait for Val, and oh My God, Spaz what happened to you?"

She looked down at her blood encrusted chest. "Long story. If you can tear yourself away from your girlfriend, we'll tell you all about it. Come on."

Cash fumed. "Now look, sweetheart. There's no reason act like Queen Bitch–"

Pone grabbed Cash by the collar. He shoved his fist under Cash's chin. Spaz got in his face. "Bean saved my life tonight, Peckerwood. He got shot doing it, too. So if I'm a little out of sorts, please forgive me. I'll bow to your greatness after I see if Bean is going to live or die!" She punched him in the chest and Pone dropped him.

Cash stood and sucked in a breath. "Oh my God, I sorry. And I was–oh my God! Let's go."

They all piled into the Crown Victoria and sped down the street.

Chapter 12

"How long are they going to be?"