Markers (Joshua Stokes Mysteries Book 3) (7 page)

The dispatcher told him there was a report of a missing child from Mount Vernon - located in the next county - a two-year-old female had been missing for five days. Joshua told them to make sure the discovery was kept quiet. The parents of the child did not need to see their baby the way he had found her… it would be even more devastating than knowing she was dead.

He had an old blanket he kept in his patrol car for covering victims of traffic accidents and such as that to keep folks from gawking at them and he wanted to cover the child, but it was against protocol in cases such as hers. His doing so could contaminate the scene. He knew the poor child would have to lie just as she was, until after they photographed the scene and collected any evidence. He did not want to have to look upon her tiny body again and truly hated that anyone else would. A good decent person, no matter how young or old, should be allowed to keep their dignity in death…

Eleven

Simple Man

The sound of Hook’s old truck brought Joshua into the present. He sighed heavily. He was not really in the mood for company; he would rather be left alone to wallow in his misery and think things through. He reached for the bottle and refilled his empty glass. His legs were aching from lack of circulation so he readjusted his position and then propped his feet back onto the railing.

“Damn! Is that some of that good stuff I smell,” James asked as he walked up onto the porch and took a seat in the swing. James could tell just by looking at him that Joshua was in bad shape. He was deep into himself and that was not good at all, in James’ book. “You don’t need to be smoking
and
drinking alone, Hoss,” James said as he reached for the pouch and rolling papers.

“There’s some sick
motherfuckers
in this world,” Joshua spoke low and deliberate.

“Always has been, always will be,” Hook replied matter-of-fact, not an ounce of smartass in his tone. He laid the pouch and papers aside, got up and walked into the kitchen. Joshua heard the radio turn on and the sound of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Ramble On’ flowed out to him. He also heard James talking, but could not hear what he said. When James came out, he had another bottle of whiskey and a glass. This time he sat down in the other rocker, poured himself a glass of whiskey, propped his feet on the railing and then proceeded to finish rolling a joint.

“I couldn’t hear what you said when you was inside,” Joshua mumbled.

“That’s because I wouldn’t talking to you,” James said frankly. “I called Ilene and told her not to wait up. I could tell you needed babysittin’- you must be wound tighter than dicks hatband to be marijaning
and
drinking. Friends aught not let friends unwind alone,” James chuckled, leaned back, adjusted his butt in the seat, then propped his feet back on the railing.

“It
ain’t
something I want to talk about.”

“I haven’t asked, have I, Hoss?”

“Nah.”

“That’s right, and I won’t, but if you need to talk, I’m here,” James lit the joint and inhaled deeply, holding the smoke in until he started coughing and had to release it. “That’s some good shit,” he said through coughs, then handed the joint to Joshua. Joshua took a toke and held it in a minute before he spoke again.

“Taking care of this little young’un has got me to thinking about stuff I’ve done. And I’ve done some bad shit in my life, Hook, but I haven’t ever harmed a child or an undeserving person.”

“I know you ain’t, Hoss. Whatever you done, needed doing. You and me, we are plain folk-simple kind of men. We wouldn’t raised to be anything different. Now, I’m not a sayin’ that these mixed up bastards was raised that way, but they got loose screws somewhere in their brains to do the stuff they do. They ain’t simple; they’re complicated as hell. Nobody knows what makes them suckers tick or why they molest young’uns and shit like that.”

“Yeah, you’re right… they’re nothing more than a blight that feeds on the good people of this world… If I believed what the preacher preached, I’d believe they were of the Devil, put here to keep good people from achieving a peaceful existence.”

Three Dog Night’s song, ‘Mama Told Me not to come’, flowed out the screened door and James grinned. “I like that tune there,” he chuckled, “Remember that time me and you got a-hold of that stuff in high school?”

“Yeah, I do,” Joshua grimaced. “The one and only time I ever did that stuff. Never wanted to do it again that’s for sure.”

“Well, we didn’t have a clue what we were doing.”

“No, and I didn’t know where the hell I was for two days - don’t remember much about it either, except for laying on a bed somewhere and watching the walls a breathing-moving in and out on their own. You were probably right there with me but I don’t know for sure. I was damned glad when I come down off that stuff… after that, nothing but pot and whiskey for me. I like being in control of my own mind.”

“I sorta liked that mind tripping stuff at first, and then I got scared. I knew I couldn’t go home until I got straightened out,” James chuckled. “To this day, the old man don’t believe the lie I told him, that me and you camped out in your granddaddy’s back forty.”

“Why would he believe you, Hook; it was a lie. You never was good at telling lies. That was why we got that paddling in the seventh grade. When Mr. Wallace asked why we missed his class, I was prepared to tell him what we planned to tell him, but he asked you first. You turned twenty different shades of red before you spit out something that was not even close to what we planned.”

“You still hold that against me?”

“Nah, you brought it up, I didn’t. I was just pointing out that you were not good at telling lies. After I got older, I liked that about you. It means you was raised right.”

“Daddy’d be happy to hear you say that-maybe, but maybe not. I never have lived up to his expectations.”

“You’re one of the best men I know, Hook, and you’re the only one I’d trust with my life. Which reminds me, when you talked to Ilene, did you ask how the baby was doing?”

“She was doing fine when I left. Her and Ilene have done become
good
friends. The only thing Ilene was concerned about was her getting too attached to the little thing.”

“I can see where that’d be easy to do. Young’uns that size, they ain’t set in their ways or molded into whatever someone else wants them to be-they’re pure. When that little girl smiles at you, you can see she has no sins, no
anything
that has spoiled the integral whole being she is meant to be…”

“Yeah, that is what I see when I look at Jim’s little girl. We get onto her once in a while, but she hasn’t had many whuppin’s at all. We have tried to let her develop into what God intended her to be and so far, she is a loving little thing, not spoilt too much except for the animals. She’d stay out with them 24-7 if we’d let her.”

“Hook, do you remember back in ‘62, when I found that colored baby in the trash pile up near Big Chippewa Lake?”

“How could I not remember, Hoss; those were some dark days that followed. That entire decade was dark; so much hatred and violence, the war in Vietnam, the hurricanes that followed. You were in bad shape for a while and then you seemed to over it. You never talked about it and I never asked.”

“I thought I had overed it too, but it reared its ugly head today and slapped me full in the face. I never wanted to go there again… that was the worse thing I’ve ever seen in all my years on earth…”

“Y’all caught the one that done it didn’t you or he killed hisself, maybe that’s what it was; the man that killed the baby then killed hisself afterward?”

“Yes, he did. I found him too; the same time… I have been thinking about Anna Leigh’s father. I want to make damn sure he gets caught even if it’s in his own web, for what he done to the baby’s mama.”

James turned to look at Joshua, and it was as if a light bulb went off. He knew in that instant that Joshua had arranged for the baby killer to end his own life and to be found out for what he had done. It did not change his opinion of him. He would have done the same thing if given the opportunity; he felt bad for his friend.

“Those FBI boys are working the case-let ‘em do their job, Josh. You put too much pressure on yourself. You are not the only lawman in the State of Alabama, Hoss. Let someone else take it on. You made sure that the baby was safe; that’s the main thing. The vigilante justice that’s been dealt out for centuries don’t cut it no more; there’s too many rules and regulations; too many people that stick their nose into others business.”

“But what if they don’t do their job-it’ll be too late then to do something about it. What if a judge gives Anna Leigh to him? What if-”

“The world is made up of what ifs, Josh.” James interjected. “What
if
you just let this run its course and see what happens? You said yourself that they was already investigating this sex trafficking stuff. If what that woman told you is true, I’m sure they’ll find it out.”

“Maybe…”

“Come on, lets ride up to the Four-Mile and get us a thick juicy steak. My belly is hollering its suppertime,” James chuckled.

“I put the gun in that dudes mouth and his finger on the trigger.” Joshua blurted the words out so suddenly they even caught him by surprise.

“You done the right thing,” James said flatly. If it hadda been me that found the baby and found who done it, I probably would a done worse to him. Any son-of-a-bitch that does that to a little young’un deserves to have his dick cut off and shoved down his throat before he dies.”

“Yeah, thought about doing that, but they would’ve known somebody killed him and they would probably have known it was me.”

“You done right, and I’m behind you one hundred percent. It’ll never go any further than this back porch.”

“I know it won’t, you’re a good friend to me, Hook.”

“And you’re a good friend to me, Hoss; couldn’t ask for none better. Now, come on, let’s go get something in our bellies so we can finish off this bottle later.”

Twelve

A Helping Hand

When they drove into the parking lot of the Four-Mile Truck Stop, it was nearly dark. Joshua was about to park, when suddenly, James told him to swing around back. That was when Joshua saw the reason for James’ sudden call. Leonard Page’s pickup truck was parked near the front door.

“Let’s ride up through Lucedale, look around for a little bit and give them time to clear out. Then we’ll be able to eat in peace,” James said, reaching into his shirt pocket for his cigarettes. He stuck one in his mouth and turned to offer one to Joshua, however, Joshua had already pulled his out of his pocket and was in the process of lighting one. They both became quiet when Joshua shut off the ignition.

“Neither one of us need any trouble, Hoss” James said, thinking Joshua was fixing to get out and go in. “You know that’s what’ll happen if we go in there.”

“I ain’t planning on going in,” Joshua replied. “I just want to enjoy my smoke. I’m not afraid of Leonard Page or anyone else for that matter, but I’m not in the mood to deal with his stupid ass. I think you’re right. We don’t need to go in there. We could ride on up to Lucedale, maybe eat at the Coffee Pot-but I done got my mouth set on a thick juicy steak and their steaks ain’t near as good nor as tender as Maggie’s are.”

“No, they ain’t. I think they grill theirs and Maggie cooks hers over a fire… It’s too far to drive back to the Hickory Pit. Uncle Joe opens and closes with the chickens. I don’t think he even offers steak on his menu. The only other place that serves a decent steak is downtown on Royal Street. That is definitely too far to go.”

“You’re right,” Joshua agreed. Let’s just wait ‘em out. We’ll ride around a bit and give them time to eat and leave.” Joshua cranked his truck and drove around through the back where the big rigs parked and came out on the other side. They drove onto Highway 98 and headed toward the small city of Lucedale, Mississippi.

“There won’t be much going on up here, anyway,” James spoke offhandedly. “They roll up the sidewalks at dusk-dark. The only thing happening around Lucedale after dark is the drive-in movie or the skating rink; and that is only on the weekends. Ain’t much changed since we were boys,” he chuckled. “We could head back in the other direction,” he said. “There is always a party going on at the river. We could bust up in there and scare the crap out of ‘em like the sheriff did us when we was young’uns.”

Suddenly, Joshua hit the brakes. “What the hell!” he exclaimed. Ahead of them, he could see what appeared to be a van on fire. It was off the main road and at first, Joshua thought maybe it had wrecked, but as he neared it, he saw that it was off on a small dirt road. When they slowed down to stop, a late model Buick Electra 225, burned rubber as it left the scene heading toward Lucedale. Joshua automatically reached for his microphone, but all he had in his pickup, was a CB radio.

Torn between chasing after the Buick and stopping to lend a hand to the occupants of the van, he wondered if the Buick had whoever was in the van and was taking them to the hospital or were they running away because they were the cause of the van being in flames. By now, the ever-increasing flames had fully engulfed the vehicle.

Joshua stopped, got out of his truck, and walked toward the van. As he neared it, he saw a gas can sitting off to the side of the road. Different scenarios rushed through his mind. Did the van run out of gas? Did something happen while they were putting gas into the vehicle, or did someone intentionally douse the vehicle and set fire to it.

“Hoss, you need to back the hell up,” James warned. “That thing could blow any second.” However, Joshua paid no heed to his warning as he stood thinking. “People had been known to do such to vehicles after they stole them or occasionally someone did it to claim the insurance money…” Suddenly, the sound of a human, suffering beyond what words could explain, quieted the sound of sizzling paint and heated metal contracting and expanding. Their screams of pain pierced the night air like a knife through hot butter.

All of a sudden, the side door slid open and a human fireball burst out of it and landed in the ditch, drastically twisting and squirming on the ground.

“Oh my God,” exclaimed James, who had come to stand beside him.

Joshua turned and rushed to his pickup and grabbed a woolen blanket from behind the seat. He ran to the figure and wrapped the blanket around them, trying to smother the flames. James had come too and together they wrestled the man down and put out the flames. The smell of human flesh cooking filled both their nostrils. Thankfully, the man lost consciousness and quieted, but his screams still vibrated through both James and Joshua’s heads.

“Help me move him before that thing explodes!” Joshua yelled to James. James grabbed the man’s legs and Joshua his upper torso. Together they toted him to the back of Joshua’s pickup. James managed to let down the tailgate while balancing the weight of the man on his hip and holding him with one hand, they laid the man on it. Joshua then jumped up into the bed of the truck and slid the man’s body up into it.

“I’ll ride back here with him, Hoss, you drive. The nearest hospital is Lucedale.” Joshua jumped down and got behind the wheel. He figured they were less than ten minutes from the hospital, but he had his doubts that the man would live even if they did get him to the hospital alive. He thought the man had been doused with the gasoline too, and if that was the case, there was not much hope for him… just as they drove away, the van exploded. It jumped several feet into the air, landed, then bounced sideways.

Andy Hardy, one of Lucedale’s finest, was sitting at the first traffic light going into town; Joshua laid down on the horn as he rushed through the red light without slowing down. Hardy whipped around and followed him. Joshua figured he had no idea who he was, especially when he turned on his blue lights and siren, but Joshua never slowed down, he drove straight to the emergency room entrance laying on the horn most of the way. By the time he came to a good stop, several of the emergency room staff came out to see what all the commotion was. Joshua yelled to them that he needed a stretcher stat, telling them he had a severe burn victim.

One of the staff began saying they weren’t equipped for severe burns, but Joshua cut him off saying that if the man needed transferring that would be up to them-he was just delivering him best he could.

When Andy Hardy came to a stop beside them, he recognized Joshua right away. “What the heck happened, Sheriff? When he saw the burnt man in the back of the truck he asked, “What are you bringing them here for?”

Joshua was not in a mood for explanations; however, he knew he had to tell Andy what had happened. “We were headed to the Coffee Pot to get some supper, when we come upon a scene about two miles out. A late 60s model Ford Econoline van was fully engulfed in flames. I saw a two-toned 1972 Buick Electra 225 speed away from the scene. When Hook and me got out, we heard a human screaming-he come out on his own, we wrapped him in a blanket to smother the flames, loaded him up and brought him here. The van and the victim had both been doused with gasoline. I don’t know if anyone else was in there or not; the thing exploded just as we were leaving with this victim.”

The hospital staff had loaded the man on a stretcher and was taking him inside.

“Could you tell what color the van was?” Hardy asked.

“Appeared to be light blue or white - it was hard to tell in the dark and it on fire.”

“Damn!” Hardy exclaimed. “I bet its Ronnie Benton. He was set to testify in a murder trial that has been ongoing. I better get someone out to the scene and call the FBI. We ain’t equipped for such as this around here.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, Hardy. I told you what I saw; all I can testify to is what I saw. It was attempted murder though, you can bet your boots on that.”

“What color did you say that Buick was?”

“I didn’t, but it was two-toned, brown with a white top, ought to be easy to spot.”

“Yeah, real easy; I saw it come through town about ten minutes before you came… it was headed toward Hattiesburg. That murder trial I was talking about has to do with the Dixie Mafia. Benton was going to testify against Mac Kirksey in Biloxi.”

“Bill Miller, the one they call “Blue Eyes” is the one that usually carries out their contact killings,” Joshua offered. “He doesn’t usually leave a live witness…”

James, who had followed the stretcher inside and used the facilities to wash up, had come back outside; he stood quietly, leaned against Joshua’s pickup smoking a cigarette. When Joshua and Hardy stopped talking, he told them that the man had died.

“The doc in there, said he needed to talk to the deputy,” James told them. Joshua followed Hardy into the emergency room. He was curious as to what the doctor had to say about the victim. He felt that if the man had lived, he would’ve been in so much pain that he would have wished he were dead.

When they had placed him on the stretcher, Joshua noticed that he was burned so badly, that his skeleton was exposed on some areas of his face…

“He never stood a chance,” the doctor said, as soon as they reached him. “That other fellow with y’all said that he come out of the vehicle on his on momentum. I don’t see how that was possible. Besides the severe burns he had, he ingested fire and was also shot several times.” Hardy looked to Joshua for an answer about him coming out of the van on his own. Joshua lit a cigarette, took a long draw and inhaled deeply.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Doc. The side door of the van popped open and he jumped out and landed in the ditch. Hook and me wrestled him down with the blanket and smothered the flames. Then we put him in the back of my truck and drove straight here. That is the facts. How he done it, I don’t know, but he did.”

“Yep, that’s exactly what happened,” Hook chimed in, backing Joshua.

“Most wouldn’t have lived past the shots,” the doctor said “but if you both say so then I have to except that’s how it happened.

“I gave Hardy my statement,” Joshua said tersely. “If y’all need more than that, you know where to find me.” He turned to walk out of the emergency room.

“Thanks, Sheriff. I will be in touch. The FBI may need to talk to you,” Hardy said to Joshua’s back as he was leaving.

“He’s a sheriff?” Joshua heard the doctor ask and Hardy replied, “Mobile County.” He and Hook got into his truck and left.