Jack Frost and the Ice Machine: The Making of an Assassin

By Delbert Carr

This is a story of a high school boy that is tromped on first by his stepfather, and then others along they way. He decided to champion the underdogs in todays society. In the beginning, he takes on all that ask for his help. It is only after he is offered large sums of money to take on high profile people that his goals change. In the end, he becomes just a high priced assassin.
The story covers the many devices he designs to carry out his assignments in a crowd of people, without them being aware of what he is doing. In the end he is forced to go into hiding, and wait for another day when Jack Frost is needed again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466917910

Delbert Carr

After I retired, I needed something to do. I never was good at writing, but I do love to read. After reading several books that I didn’t think were written very well, I decided to try my hand at it. I’m seventy-seven years old and don’t know how to type, but with two fingers, I’ve been able to get along. I grew up in a small town in northern Colorado. After high school, I enlisted in the navy. I became an electrician, and after four years, I came out and worked on a ranch for a while. With a wife and two kids, I found that ranch work didn’t pay very well. I’ve worked at a cement plant, and after a big layoff, I went on to become a machinist. There I found that the fluids they used affected me. I was forced to quit and found myself as manager of a large off-campus apartment complex. This I did for nineteen years and retired from there. My wife and I are both retired, and mostly we enjoy our free time. When I’m stumped in my writing, I have been teaching myself to paint. The few people that have read my works thought they were fun to read.

Book preview

Jack Frost

and the

Ice Machine

The Making of an Assassin

Delbert Carr

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© Copyright 2012 Delbert Carr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-1792-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4669-1791-0 (e)

Trafford rev. 03/05/2012

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Table of Contents

Chapter I

The Stepfather

Chapter II

Reward and Pay Back

Chapter III

A New Job

Chapter IV

A Dream Come True

Chapter V

The Ghetto Blaster

Chapter VI

The Ice Machine

Chapter VII

The Gormans and Jill

Chapter VIII

Gorman’s Trip to the Inn

Chapter IX

The First Woman Target

Chapter X

Back to Germany

Chapter XI

A Close Call

Chapter XII

The New Studio

Chapter XIII

Australia

Chapter XIV

Another Studio

Chapter XV

A New Girl for the Shop

Chapter XVI

The Uncle

Chapter XVII

The Priest and the Disappearance

Prologue

This is a story of a high school boy that is tromped on first by his stepfather, and then others along they way. He decided to champion the underdogs in today’s society. In the beginning, he takes on all that ask for his help. It is only after he is offered large sums of money to take on high profile people that his goals change. In the end, he becomes just a high priced assassin.

The story covers the many devices he designs to carry out his assignments in a crowd of people, without them being aware of what he is doing. In the end he is forced to go into hiding, and wait for another day when Jack Frost is needed again.

Chapter I

The Stepfather

Thinking back over his younger days, Matt had always loved taking pictures of people, and he spent most of his free time looking through the viewing lenses of his small Kodak camera. The camera was one that he had bought himself, and had become the love of his life. Actually his number one love was his mother, and the brownies she made for him.

Another thought came to mind in his thinking back, as he remembered the reaction big Jim Davis had shown the day when his stepson began talking about the picture he had been taking. Big Jim had shouted that he wanted to see the damn camera, and then after seeing it, said that he didn’t think anyone should play with a thing like that. After putting the camera on the floor of the kitchen that night, he set one of his big feet on it and told Matt that he was going to smash it. Matt had begged and begged, and then began to cry not understanding why his stepfather could be so mean. Seeing the tears that came to Matt’s eyes, Big Jim just laughed and raising his big brogans he stomped on the camera. It took a few tries even with his big feet, but he finally had it in pieces. He was smiling when he looked up at Matt, and at first he told Matt to shut up and then shouted that he never wanted to see a camera in his house again. Matt in a state of shock went to his room that night, but unknown to Jim he did get another camera later. This one was never brought home, and none of the pictures were ever seen at the house while Jim was home, or expected any time soon. Matt kept it at the bus station in a twenty five-cent locker, and over the years Big Jim was never the wiser.

It was in the seventh grade that Matt had signed up and taken a photography class, and right away knew this was what he wanted to do with his life. His teacher could see the enthusiasm and interest come alive in Matt during the instruction and lab classes, and did all he could to give him the knowledge he needed to pursue this field. He found that Matt had a good eye for composition and light, and over the year they would go on many field trips together. To the teacher, Matt was like a sponge soaking up everything he could about photography. Matt soon had learned to build a picture that was pleasing to the eye, but also how to develop his film.

After he had graduated to high school, he made it a point to bring some of the pictures home on the sly and show them to his mother. Loving her only son she always thought his work was very good, and had told him that he should take as many pictures as he could. Especially after he said he thought he would do this for a living. During the last few years’ life at home never got any better, and the beatings and an occasional boot to the rear end never helped close the riff between his stepfather and himself.

These days Matt spent most of his spare time away from the house, and it was one night during his junior year that found him strolling around town with his new camcorder. He had been shooting some film of the street people, since they always turned out to be his best subjects. In some of the faces he found the look of dejection and diminished hope. Others had accepted this station in life, and went day to day talking and spending time with a group of people that held the same feelings. With them he would see a smile now and again, and after talking with a few of them, he found that most of them liked the idea of having their pictures taken.

Pushing a shopping cart or hauling huge backpacks, they would gathered at night in the same area for safety. Many had large cardboard boxes they slept in, and other tried to find a spot where a business was discharging steam. In these spots, you might find several sharing the heat. Most of the time he would carry a still camera along, and some of the still shots he was able to come back finding this person or that one, and would give out copies of the pictures to the subjects on the film.

For many, this was the first time they had a picture of themselves, and told him they would always cherish the photo. One night after being on the streets for three hours, he was tired and decided to call it a night and headed for home. He had replaced on the lens cap, and was on his way to the bus station locker when he happen to pass an darkened alley, and noticed two men going in and out of the back door of a store part way down the block. It dark twenty feet in from the street, and from where he stood it looked like it could be a robbery going on even as he watched. Thinking along this line, he stood to one side of the ally entrance and watched as the two men went in and out. The camcorder in his hand, seemed to warm his fingers as if to tell him this was a chance to film something different. If it was a robbery he decided to shoot it just in case. This was his first chance to do something of this nature, and the blood began to surge through his veins just thinking about doing anything this dangerous. If they caught him it would probably cost him his life.

Luckily the alley was very dark almost all the way to where the men worked, and from what he could see, it looked like he would be able to move down very close if he was careful. The only light that showed in the alley was the small amount of light coming from the doorway of the store, and that came out only far enough to cover the back of the truck. Stepping into the darkness of the alley, he pushed up against the walls back of the stores on the opposite side of the alley and walked quietly forward. Before long the decaying smells of garbage and old trash were assailing his nose, but he tried to push these things from his mind. He moved as close as he could to a dumpster not far from the store, and stopping there, he looked everything over then decided that this was a close as he should get. If this was in fact a robbery he was in a great spot to film it, but he also in great danger if one the men happened to look up and catch his outline back here.

Pushing back into the shadows he could now see that there were two men carrying boxes from shelves at the back of the store, and he watched as they carefully put each box into the back of an old van. Even though it was dark, Matt could tell that the motor of the van was running, as he could see the exhaust, (almost like a gray smoke), going sky ward in the cool night air. Watching the men he was surprised that they didn’t seem to be in any hurry, but were just working at a slow steady pace. (They think no one will see them out here tonight,) he thought.

Pulling the lenses cover off the lenses, he brought the cam up to his eye and focused the camera while looking into the view scope. When he had the door centered in the lenses, he pushed the switch to start the filming, but not before he placed his handkerchief in front of the red on light. It wouldn’t do to have someone to wonder why a red light was glowing across the alley. Looking at the door, he could see that this shoot wouldn’t be an easy one, and his biggest concerned was immediately apparent. Filming tonight here in the alley, it might be hard to see everything on the film clearly, as there might not be enough light. Looking across the alley into the store, he could see that the two men had put some type of small light on somewhere in the back so they could see what they were doing. The trouble he would have for filming was that the light didn’t show out the door very bright or very far. By looking over the top of the cam, he was just able to see them working inside taking things from the shelves, and talking with each other. Feeling cramped and needing to give himself more room, he held his camera securely on the dumpster and tried to push the dumpster ahead a little. Pushing the dumpster away from him, he made every effort to move it without making any noise, but quickly was forced to stop. One of the men looked to be coming out.

Standing very still behind the dumpster; he waited patiently for each of the two men to bring out yet another arm load, and put it in the van before returning to the store. When the second man turned to go back inside, Matt tried again and pushing hard against four wheels that didn’t want to move, he was then able to move the dumpster out about eight inches. Now forcing his body into the space, he felt sure he was hidden enough that the men wouldn’t be able to see him.

As his eyes became more accustomed to the dark, he spotted a small cardboard box lying on the ground beside another dumpster. Moving quietly out from his hiding place, he slowly leaned down and picked it up and sat it beside the camcorder. He was hoping the box would help hide the outline of the camera.

Back and forth the men went, always working at a very good pace. Sometimes he could hear one or the other of the men saying curse words about the amount of work they were forced to do. They had been loading the van for about twenty minutes, when one of the men stopped and he heard him say, That’s all they asked for us to get, lets call it a night, I’m getting bushed.

Agreeing, they both walked back through the door for one more armload, and it was as they entered the building the last time, that one of the men stopped, turned sideways in the doorway, and glanced up into the night sky. Matt’s head snapped up in shock, the man in the doorway was his stepfather. He was so elated he could hardly stand still, and had to put his hand over his mouth when he almost whopped in joy. Now he hoped that the light was good enough to film the man. He could only pray his stepfather’s face showed up clear on the tape, since the light from inside highlighted the man’s head. The light went out in the store after the second man stepped from the store, and the two men stood outside laughing about how much money they were going to make for this night’s work.

Matt was excited about what he had seen, but waited until the van had traveled to the far end of the alley before he felt safe enough to come out from behind the dumpster. Walking back down the alley towards the sidewalk, he had become so elated, that he had a hard time making himself walk instead of running. This was one of the best days of his life so far. He went right to the bus station and put the camcorder into the locker he kept there, but not before he took the tape out. This was one tape he wanted to take it right home to see if his stepfathers or maybe both faces showed up on the film. He put the tape in his pocket whistling as he closed the door on the locker, and headed for home.

Grabbing a bus for the ride home, he wondered if the few other passengers could see what important film he carried, and it was only a short time later when he entered the house. The light was on in the living room, and as he looked through the door he could see that his mother was sitting alone on the couch watching TV. Leaning in the door, Matt called out, Hi mom I’m home, where’s Big Jim tonight?

She looked at him strangely before answering, and asked, Good evening son, now why would you want to know that, you know you never ever get along with Jim?

That’s for sure, he said, I was only wondering why you were here alone. He is usually sitting over there in that chair in his underwear, drinking beer and cussing about everything that comes on television.

His mother loved her son, but he caused so much trouble between her husband and herself, and this didn’t make life easier for her. When he was drinking, her husband would continually argue with Matt, and then when Matt would leave to go to his room, Jim would proceed then to get totally drunk. It was after this happened she always knew that she would get a beating later, partially because he was a little afraid of Matt and knew he could take the coward ness out on her. Matt came over and leaning down he kissed her forehead, Good night mom, and please don’t stay up very late waiting for him. Smiling to himself, he headed for his bedroom.

He was lucky now that he had a room of his own with a lock on it. The house was big for this area, with the three bedrooms and two bathes. They were lucky, his mother and father had purchased the house when Matt was still little, and after his father’s death, his mom had worked hard to make all of the payments each month. This section of town where the house was located, was older, and was beginning to be a little run down, but Matt’s mother liked it here. She knew all of their neighbors and always felt safe, even if she had to be outside at night. When he and his mother lived here alone, he had used another bedroom in the front that had been bigger, and from the window in that room; he had more light and by looking out he could see what was happening out in the street. Now that room held items that his stepfather had brought home, and Matt figured that most of the stuff in there was stolen. After Big Jim came to live there he had complained, and said a boy living alone didn’t need a room that big, and that it was a waste of good space. With that being said, Matt was moved into his smaller room. There had been a hasp on the door of the new room, so he bought a lock and he kept the door locked every day after he left. Big Jim had seen the lock, but never complained about the lock to his mother or him, so they had one thing they didn’t argue about these days. As he earned a little money doing odd jobs he had bought his own TV, and then later his own VCR. These gave him something to do by himself, and this also allowed him and his stepfather to be in the same house without seeing one another.

Going quickly back to his room he made sure he locked the door, and quickly pulled off his jacket throwing it on the dresser. Taking an old tape from the VCR, he inserted his new film, and then reaching over he turned the radio onto some music turning it up a little hoping to drown out the sounds on the new tape. Rewinding the tape seemed to take forever, but when it stopped he switched it to play. He sat on his bed and lay back against a pillow to watch the film.

Right away he was upset, the picture that began to show was so dark he could see it was going to be hard for the police to make out anyone’s features. Most of the tape just showed a likeness of the two men walking in and out to the truck. This part of the shoot wasn’t going to do very much toward getting the police interested, and the worst trouble being that the two men never turned to face the camera, at least not in the light. None of the shots so far showed either mans face clearly but it did show the license plates number.

Matt was feeling completely frustrated by the time the tape was near the end, and then with out warning he could see his stepfather in the doorway. He almost let out a war hoop when he spotted his stepfather. Big Jim had stopped and looked back outside into the alley, and then up into the night sky. That was when the light behind him had been just right. The picture was so clear he was pounding the bed in his happiness, and again when both of the men stopped in the end by the door and talk together facing the camera. He watched with fascination as the last of the tape played out. The sound wasn’t very good, but he was clearly able to hear the men laugh and talk about all the money they were going to make after this nights work. He ran the tape several times, and each time he watched it he thought it looked even better.

He lay awake half the night thinking about the tape, and he knew exactly what he was going to do with it. The city had a reward program for people that could help the police in the arrest of anyone that was wanted for some crime. He had read in the papers not long ago that you didn’t even have to give your name. This was just the trick he needed to get back at Big Jim without Jim knowing, it was because of him he would be going to jail. He could only think that things would get better around here if Big Jim were sent away.

He set his alarm and though he didn’t sleep much, he was up and on his way to the coffee shop early the next morning. They always had newspapers lying about on the tables for the customers to read, and it took only a short time for him to find the article about the electronic store robbery. The story though brief went on to tell how the thieves had jimmied the back door to gain entrance, and had stolen thousands of dollars of electronic merchandise. So far the police had informed the newspapers, that they had no clues to the identity of the crooks. Reading on down the article it quoted the spokesman as saying that the police were asking the public for their help, and if anyone knew anything they should come forward, or they could call the reward hot line using the number they listed here in the paper. The information stated that by calling this number, you didn’t need to give your name, but you would be given a code number, and could collect your reward if the people were arrested using your information.

Going in to school today and sitting through all of the classes was a drag; and he became restless in the afternoon waiting for the final bell to ring so he could call the hot line. He was the first one out of the classroom, and quickly went to the lockers to put away his books before leaving school to make the call. His plans were to use the phone in the candy store where he would have more privacy, and he didn’t want anyone to hear him getting the information about the hot line. At this time of the day the store had only a few customers in shopping, and he quickly went to the phone in the back. Pulling some change from his jeans, he was so excited that he almost dropped the quarter when he tried to put it in the coin slot. He dialed the number listed in the paper and a lady answered asking him if she could be of help. She seemed very pleasant and then wanted to know if he had some information about a crime.

Matt waited a few minutes before he spoke, then was so excited he didn’t know just where to begin. Are you still needing information about the people that robbed the electronic store last night? he blurted out.

Yes we are, she said. We still need any information that you may have. I can give you a number, and if we use the information to make the arrest, you can call in and give us your number. If the crime corresponds with the information you have supplied, you may come in and pick up the reward or we will mail it to you. Does this sound like something you could work with?

Yes ma’am that will be just fine, he said.

Do you have a pencil or pen to write down this number? she asked.

No, Matt said not wanting anything to tie him to the tape. Couldn’t I just send the information to the address listed in the paper? I have a video tape of the robbery.

Oh my goodness, yes that address will work, just tape a note to the film, and this number. You need to get an envelope from the post office that is made for shipping tapes. Can you remember this number in your head? she asked. When he said yes, she gave each number very slowly, Can you remember it now?

Yes, I’ll go home right now and write it down, Matt said. Thank you very much.

Hanging up, Matt was smiling to himself as he went out and directly to a postal terminal. Buying a mailer he asked the postal clerk to borrow a small piece of paper, and a little bit of tape. The clerk smiled and said, Sure, and then handed him some of both. Tearing the paper in half, he wrote down the number he had been given on both halves. Below the number on the one half, he told about the robbery that was on the tape. Using the cellophane tape he had received from the clerk he attached the paper to the film case. After putting everything together into the envelope he got back in line to mail it out. As the clerk looked up Matt said, This is to go to the police station. They said that they would pay the postage on their end.

That’s right young man, the clerk said taking the envelope, I’ll see that it gets sent right out.

At home Matt anxious and hung around the house the next few days, and doing so was questioned by his mother. Are you not feeling good, are you sick or something?

He convinced her he was just fine, and told her he had nothing special to do. The next morning when he came in the kitchen he asked her if they could bake some cookies together. Matt was on such a high, and was doing everything he could to pass the time, just because he wanted to be here at the house if and when the police came. It was on the evening of the second day, and they had just finished their supper, when someone knocked on the door. Matt’s mother pushed back from the table and was just jumping up to answer it, when Big Jim grabbed her arm and told her to sit down. Move it, he growled at Matt. Let this lazy good for nothing kid answer it. Smiling to him self, Matt was only too happy to go, and he was sure he knew who would be standing outside the door.

Whoever was out there knocked again, and as he opened the door he saw two police officers standing on the porch. The man that spoke was well over six feet, and his partner was almost as tall. The officer looked at Matt, and then asked, Does a Jim Davis live here son?

Yes sir he sure does, Matt said, stepping back and worked hard not to laugh.

If he’s home, we would like to speak to him, the officer said.

Pulling the door wide open, Yes sir, Matt answered. Why don’t you come on in, we are all out in the kitchen. We have just finished eating our supper and I’m sure he will be more than happy to talk to you. Matt could hardly keep from smiling as he led the policemen into the kitchen. Jim we have company, these police officers would like to talk to you.

Jim’s head snapped around and he started to stand, but looking up at the men, he slowly lowered himself back into the chair. The lead officer walked past Jim and turned before speaking. Are you Jim Davis? he asked. Jim shook his head yes; but didn’t seem to be able to speak. Sir could you tell us where you were Saturday night?

Jim looked at his wife giving her a dirty look. Why yes sir, I was here all night with my wife, watching TV.

Oh no Jim, Matt said eagerly wanting to make Jim uncomfortable. Mom and I were talking about your being out so late that night. His mother kept her head bowed looking down at her plate, she wanted to help, but she didn’t want to lie for her husband. Jim’s face began to turn bright red in anger.

The officer put his hand behind his back and retrieved his handcuffs, and then turning back to Jim he said, I’m sorry sir, I’m afraid you will have to come down to the station with us. Jim stood and turned around holding his arms back as they put the cuffs on him. As they walked him out of the door and down to the squad car his head was hanging pretty low.

Watching as the men left the house, Matt’s mother turned to him, Son, I don’t have any money to go his bail, and I don’t know what to do.

Putting his arm around her shoulders he whispered, Don’t you worry about it mom, if he’s not guilty they will turn him loose. You already have enough to worry about around here. You’re always busy keeping things running, while he’s spends all of his time laying on the couch drinking beer or beating on you. After that night Big