Shadows of Death

By Frederick Pangbourne

Prepare to bear witness as the inexorable hand of fate deals its cards to unsuspecting victims within the gripping pages of this macabre collection. In nineteen chilling tales of horror, the veil between the ordinary and the extraordinary is torn asunder. Venture into a southern town where a living corpse holds sway over every aspect of daily life. Dare to step foot into a cemetery where the shadows live and beckon the curious to their fate. Beware the allure of a mysterious box whose contents possess a power that turns those who gaze upon it into stone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889101895

Frederick Pangbourne

Frederick Pangbourne is a short story and horror author with five anthologies currently out in publication. His stories have been featured in numerous magazines, anthologies, and on podcasts. A former Marine Corps veteran and retired correctional officer, he now resides in Florida where he continues to write and relax.

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About the Author

Frederick Pangbourne is a short story and horror author with five anthologies currently out in publication. His stories have been featured in numerous magazines, anthologies, and on podcasts. A former Marine Corps veteran and retired correctional officer, he now resides in Florida where he continues to write and relax.

Dedication

For Felicia

Copyright Information ©

Frederick Pangbourne 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Pangbourne, Frederick

Shadows of Death

ISBN 9798889101888 (Paperback)

ISBN 9798889101895 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023913192

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Assembly of the Dead

The sun was emerging from the horizon like the head of some angry fire god awakening from its long slumber, when they crossed over the Georgia border from Florida. The temperature was already beginning to rise, and the day had yet to even begin. It would be another sweltering June day. The two had taken Walter’s car, a faded blue 1990 Mustang LX, for the trip since Jasper had yet to repair the flat tire on his own vehicle which sat uselessly in front of his trailer. The spare was already being utilized as the replacement to the front passenger tire that had gone flat a month prior.

What time is it? Jasper asked as he was awakened by the sun’s piercing rays as they sliced through the windows and into his eyes.

About seven-thirty, give or take. We just crossed over into Georgia about fifteen minutes ago, replied Walter as he finished the last of an energy drink and tossed the empty can out the window. Sign back in Valdosta said we got eighty-eight miles still before Albany. Figure it’ll take us about an hour and a half to get there.

Jasper sat up in in the passenger seat and rubbed the fatigue from his face. As soon as you get a chance, pull over and I’ll take the wheel. Get some rest.

We’ll make a pit stop in Lenox and refuel. You can take over then, Walter replied. His eyes, while still on Route 75, showed signs of exhaustion.

Jasper rolled down his window and let the warm breeze wash over him, blowing his long dark hair from his face. Jasper Daystrom would not have been able to take on this venture without Walter’s aid and was glad that the man had eagerly accepted his help when he asked yesterday. Jasper’s sister Terri had been the key objective to this road trip. Terri was two years younger than his own twenty-nine and was soon to become a single mother.

Another burden thrown upon her irresponsible shoulders. Not that he was setting the world afire at the garage back in Levy County but at least he rightfully owned his trailer and that piece of shit car of his. Terri had moved in with him shortly after being knocked up. Unlike him, she possessed neither money, a job nor a place of permanent residence so, when she showed up at his place in tears and suddenly concerned about her future, he had done the only thing he could do and took her in.

The first few months had been as pleasant as they could be until her ex-boyfriend came back into the picture. He had disappeared for almost three months after impregnating his sister and like some dried up, dead tumbleweed came rolling back into her life a couple of weeks ago. Jasper would be the first to admit that though Terri was attractive with her long legs, blue eyes and long dark hair, what she made up for in physical attributes she greatly lacked in common sense.

As soon as that scum bag, Chaz, slithered back into her life he wasted no time filling her head with visions of a perfect life together with just the three of them. She, as gullible as she was, fell for his line of bullshit hook, line and sinker.

Charlie Dillman, or Chaz as they called him, was as worthless as a man could be. Like Terri, he never partook in an honest day’s work in his life and relied on selling meth as his financial well. A man of that nature can never truly love themselves let alone those around them so, when he suddenly reappeared like some cheap magician’s trick, Jasper knew something foul was afoot. It only took him coming home last week and finding the trailer trashed and the front door wide open with no Terri inside, for him to know that Chaz had taken her away.

With or without her consent, he could not say. Besides trashing his trailer, his only credit card had been discovered and taken. It only took the purchase of a $4.99 porn movie in a motel room up in Skeller, Georgia, which sat in Dougherty County, to appear on his card’s transactions yesterday for him to initiate his current actions. Walter only needed to be asked, and he was loading up his car for the upcoming road trip late that night.

You sure you’re good? asked Walter as he pulled the car into a Sunoco station.

The words drew Jasper from his distracting thoughts.

Yeah, I’m good. Rest up, man. I’ve got the rest of the ride.

After filling the mustang back up and hitting a truck stop for breakfast, Jasper took over at the wheel and the two continued traveling north on Route 75 and were on 82 West just before ten. He figured they should be rolling into Skeller about noon time.

That gave him a couple of hours of road time to contemplate how he would handle the situation when he eventually found Terri and Chaz. As much as he wanted things to go smoothly when he confronted the two misfits, his gut told him differently; and if things got really out of hand, he brought along a snub-nosed.38 revolver he had hidden in his bedroom closet. Something that had apparently avoided discovery when his place was ransacked.

Skeller was nothing more than a tiny blemish on the Georgia map. A small hick town that if you happened to blink, you’d have driven right through it. Whatever reason those two had to get away, they sure picked a seclusive enough place. A cloak of black walnut trees and swamp hibiscus surrounded the concealed town. One lone traffic light stood in the town’s center and the ‘Sleep Well Motel’ was only a block passed it. Its red neon sign above the office flickering with the ‘W’ dead and colorless.

Chaz’s black Trans Am was parked in the lot. It looked just like the one Burt Reynolds drove in Smokey and the Bandit, except his was all beat to hell with a blue primer front quarter panel on the passenger side. Jasper pulled the car into the parking lot.

Well, there’s that son of a bitch’s car, Walter stated as they pulled in. Jasper parked the car two spaces over next to it.

The parking spaces for the tenants was set across the lot from the motel itself closer to the street. Five cars took up spaces in the lot including Chaz’s. The motel was nothing more than a string of single-story rooms with the office attached to the far end. There were perhaps a dozen rooms and with the cars being parked across the lot, Jasper wasn’t able to get an idea which room they might be held up in. People had a common tendency to park in front of their rooms.

What now? Asked Walter.

Jasper sighed heavily as he thought out his next move. Let’s check with the office. Once we get the room number, we’ll come back to the car and grab that tire iron.

Tire iron? You’re going in hard, huh?

I don’t plan on using it but I want those two to know I didn’t drive all fucking night just to discuss the matter over tea. Walter nodded in agreement, and they climbed out of the car.

The sun was scorching down upon them as they crossed the cracked asphalt of the lot to the office. Jasper felt as if he were an ant being put under the concentrated beam of a child’s magnifying glass, his worn sleeveless t-shirt was sticking to his him with sweat. He threw a glance at the rooms as they walked. Most of them had their blinds and curtains closed. In one of those rooms, he’d soon find them.

Inside the tiny office they found a lanky looking man about their age behind the counter. His feet propped up on the desk watching a small portable television nearby. His black hair slicked back with grease and a pair of overly thick glasses resting on his nose. The small air conditioner in the window basking the room with some form of cool comfort.

Help you gents? He asked. His attention not diverting from the talk show he was watching.

Yeah, we’re looking for someone who’s staying here, stated Jasper as he leaned against the counter. He spotted an open registry book under the man’s shoes.

That right? What’s their name? still, he hadn’t thrown the two men in his office even a glance. Jerry Springer held his attention as if the almighty himself were on the screen.

We’re looking for two people, actually. Terri Daystrom and Charlie Dillman.

It was only then that the man slowly turned his head in their direction. Who?

Terri Daystrom and Charlie Dillman, Jasper repeated.

No one here by that name, his head turning back to the television.

Jasper threw a glance over his shoulder to Walter who scoffed. Jasper turned back to the counter.

I beg to differ. Now if you’d just take a look in that book right there, he pointed down to the book beneath the man’s loafers, I’m sure you’ll find who I’m looking for.

Can’t help you gents. No one here by that name. Sorry. You sure you got the right motel? His eyes still fixed to the television.

How many motels you got in this shithole town, asshole? Now check that fucking book like the man asked! Walter, larger and more muscular than Jasper, moved to the counter and slammed his hands on its surface.

Even with his sudden and forceful action the man did not flinch a muscle. Instead, a scowl formed on his face and he now rose from the slouching position in his chair. The man, though lanky, was taller than them both.

He pointed and shook his finger in disapproval at them, slowly shaking his head.

You two stay right there. Without another word, he turned and disappeared behind a door connected to the office. Jasper took the opportunity to reach behind the counter and grab the book. Brushing away specks of dirt from the man’s shoes, he quickly ran his finger down the page.

What room? asked Walter, over his shoulder.

I don’t see their names.

They have to be. His car’s outside, Walter replied, now also looking at the open book.

What the fuck is this? Jasper’s finger stopped on room #6. A small five-pointed star within a circle was drawn in instead of a name. This has got to be them, he decided.

Let’s go, Walter said slapping his shoulder and turning from the counter.

Jasper glimpsed over his shoulder as he was walking out of the office. The lanky guy had yet to emerge from the back room.

Why’d that guy put a star instead of their names, Jasp? Asked Walter as they walked back into the heat and toward the car.

I don’t know. Maybe Chaz paid that guy a few extra bucks to keep his name off the book? Wouldn’t put anything past him. He’s a slick fucker.

At the car, Jasper pulled the keys from the pocket in his jeans and unlocked the hatchback. After a few seconds of rummaging about, he found the tire iron and pulled it out. Closing the back of the car, he moved across the parking lot toward the door marked ‘6’.

Walt, you stand to the side out of sight. Let them think I came here by myself until they open the door.

Right.

They were about fifteen feet from door number six when the sound of a rapidly approaching car caught their attention. A dirty Skeller township patrol car plowed into the parking lot and came to an abrupt halt barely missing Walter. The two stood frozen, the tire iron still clutched in Jasper’s hand as all four doors flung open and men stepped out. The driver being the only one in uniform.

Help you boys with something? said the uniformed one. He was an older, portly man with short salt and pepper colored hair and a large belly that hung over his duty belt. Perspiration stains formed from his armpits. The other three men were dressed like themselves in worn jeans and t-shirts. One man climbing from the back seat was a hulking form in a Georgia University cap.

At first neither answered the officer. It was obvious now what the lanky guy was doing in the back room.

I’m looking for my sister, Jasper finally said.

That right? the officer replied and spit out a wad of phlegm. His gold name tag read: LOGAN

Well, she ain’t here so why don’t you boys just head on back from where you came from?

That’s funny because I never told you her name, Jasper shot back.

Logan chuckled and looked down at the pavement.

Shit. You got me there, boy, his hand un-holstered the revolver at his side and he slid the gun out.

Well, I guess it’s too late then, ain’t it? Anton, relieve this fellow of that tire iron, will you? the weapon now aimed at Jasper.

A short skinny guy, covered in arm tattoos and standing on Logan’s left, stepped forward and yanked the iron from Jasper’s hand then stepped back next to Logan.

What’s your story, boy? Logan now asked Walter.

I’m with him, he jutted his chin at Jasper.

No shit? Like I didn’t figure that out, you dumb fuck. I want the both of y—

Chief! shouted the lanky guy from the office. He was standing in the doorway holding the receiver to the office phone. The cord’s length preventing him any more distance. It’s the mayor. Wants to know what’s going on.

Logan spit out another wad of phlegm which landed on Walter’s boot tip.

Tell him I got two more for tonight. I’m bringing them in now. As the man relayed the message from where he stood, Logan called out again. Norman, lock up and drive Anton and Dave back to the station. He turned to the enormous man. Bobby, you’re riding with me.

Waving the gun at Walter and Jasper, he directed them to the patrol car.

You two get in the back. Bobby, they try anything stupid, beat the fuck out of them. He then walked to door number six and pounded on it with his meaty first. I know you two heard everything in there. Chaz, have her down at the yard tonight like we discussed. He then turned to the patrol car where the two men were already in the back seat behind the cage. Bobby was climbing in the passenger seat. You two catch a ride with Norman, he said, waving off the other two men he came with.

The back seat of the car was stifling hot as the rear windows remained up and the inside of the doors were missing both handles and locking mechanisms. The two of them began to sweat profusely within seconds of being inside. As Logan was maneuvering himself into the car, he shouted out to Norman again before slamming the door closed.

Let’s go, Norman! Lock it up and get these two down to the station!

Throwing the car into drive, Logan whirled the car back around and left the parking lot as quickly as he had entered it. The hot air blowing in from the open front windows bringing the men in the back some form of relief.

Not that it matters much now, but how’d you boys find your way out here? That Chaz run his mouth to someone? asked Logan over his shoulder.

They used my credit card to pay for a movie, Jasper answered.

That dumb shit, Logan grumbled under his breath.

What’s going around here? Why are y’all hiding my sister?

Yeah, said Logan nodding his head with a smile as he pulled up a mental image of the girl, She’s a real looker. Sweet looking young girl and pregnant too? Shit, she’s gonna do just fine tonight. Bobby chuckled at the comment.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Never mind all that. You two will find out soon enough. Your fuck up is gonna be to our advantage. Ain’t that right, Bobby?

Bobby nodded his head and laughed.

Jasper looked over to Walter and gave him a reassuring nod. Whatever was going on in this jerkwater town was apparently some private joke that excluded them both. That was ok though. As they pulled up in front of the undersized police station only two blocks away, he remembered the snub nose back in the mustang. He just needed to get his hands on that, and the joke would be on them. He just needed to wait for the right moment.

When the car was parked out front, Logan un-holstered his gun as soon as he climbed out and opened the back door.

Let’s go.

Was all he said as he waved the gun toward the front doors to the station, and they followed Bobby as he walked in. The inside of the station was compact and crammed with clutter. It consisted of nothing more than an open room with two desks, a few filing cabinets, a door to the chief’s office and two cells at the far wall.

Looks like we’re in Mayberry, Jasp, Walter commented.

Logan handed Bobby a key ring from his belt.

Put one in each cell, Bobby, he instructed.

Pulling the large Folger Adam key out from the other keys, Bobby lumbered over to the first cell and unlocked and opened the door. Walter stepped forward and the larger man grabbed him by the back of neck and shoved him assertively in, almost causing the man to lose his balance and nearly fall before securing the door behind him.

Welcome to Mayberry, asshole, Bobby added. Jasper was locked inside the adjoining cell.

Handing the keys back to Logan, the chief walked up to the cells and slid his weapon back into its holster.

The mayor will be here soon, so you boys just sit tight. Don’t go nowhere. He laughed at his own wit and the two of them walked outside leaving their captives alone.

Jasp, what the hell is going on around here? Walter asked as he pressed his face against the bars of his cell.

Fuck if I know but is it me or did you notice that there wasn’t a single person out in town? I haven’t seen a car on the road or soul walking around outside. It’s like there’s no one here.

Jasper had also moved to the front of his cell.

Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen anyone beside these crazy fucks.

I don’t know what the hell is going on in this town or how Chaz and Terri got involved in it but one of us needs to get back to your car somehow and get that gun.

I can take that big guy on if I have to. If you see a window of opportunity, take it. I’ll try to hold them off while you get out to the car. You still got the keys, right?

Yeah, Jasper patted the keys in his front pants pocket for reassurance.

Walter was right. He was stockier than himself and could handle himself in the bar fights he’d seen him in. When the shit hit the fan, he’d just have to make sure he hauled ass and made it to the car. They wouldn’t have a second try.

***

So, Logan continued before he took a drag off a cigarette and turned to Bobby leaning against the squad car next to him, the penguin says to the prostitute, ‘It’s mighty frigid in here’ and the prostitute replies, ‘It’s a good thing that I got two more holes’.

Logan bellied over in a roar of laughter at his own joke before the simple punchline was comprehended at his one-man audience. Bobby laughed seconds later.

That’s a good one, boss.

Their laughter was short lived as the sound of an approaching car was heard and a red Cadillac came into view. The car pulled up with an abrupt halt next to the police car. The two straightened as the lone occupant emerged.

Out of all the nights, these two peckerwoods had to show up tonight? Who are these boys, Logan? The man demanded.

One’s her brother. The other— Bobby began.

Is your fucking name Logan? The man snapped and glared at Bobby who bowed his head in embarrassment.

Like he started to say, it’s the girl’s brother and his friend, Logan finally answered.

How the hell did they know she was here?

Apparently Chaz used a credit card that didn’t belong to him to pay for some movie at the motel. They tracked the card here.

The man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the accumulating sweat from his face.

That moron could fuck up a free lunch. Shit! I’ll deal with him later. We can’t have anything going wrong tonight. Not tonight, ya hear? It’s going to be mighty pissed off that these yahoos showed up tonight out of all nights. The man’s face twisting to one previously of anger to one of utter despair.

They ain’t gonna cause no trouble, Logan said reassuringly. I got them both in the holding cells. If anything, it’ll be getting a little something extra with these two. Hell, being that one of them is kin to the girl, it might have some special use for him. Ya never know, right?

One would only hope. They say if anyone else knew about the girl? We don’t need her whole god damn family tree showing up here tonight. It’s my neck on the chopping block if anything goes wrong tonight. My neck!

I know, I know. There ain’t gonna be no foul ups tonight. I’ll make sure of that and it’s my ass too if it gets screwed up, ya know? Anyway, I don’t think we’ll be expecting anyone else.

Why’s that?

I believe those two drove up here as fast as they could, as soon as they found out where she was. I’m even betting no one is aware that they are here, in case they try to look for them.

Well, let’s hope you’re right.

Sighing heavily, he wiped the mounting perspiration from his face again before cramming the handkerchief back in his pocket.

Okay, let’s go talk to these two boys and see what’s what.

***

Outside, the sound of a vehicle pulling up in front of the station could be heard followed by a car door slamming. They faintly made out the murmuring of the men talking out front.

Probably filling in that mayor about us, Walter said.

As if on cue, the double doors to the station opened, and they walked back in. Logan and Bobby followed a man in a disheveled gray suit. He was older than the rest. Somewhere in his sixties, if Jasper had to guess, his thinning white hair plastered to his head with sweat, his face was red from the heat outside.

These the two? He said throwing a hand toward the cells.

Yeah, them the two, said Logan as he moved alongside the man.

You boys sure stepped in a mess of shit, didn’t ya? My name is Cameron. I’m the mayor here. Cameron paced back and forth in front of the cells. I hear one of you is the girl’s brother?

Yeah. Well, whatever mess that piece of shit Chaz has her mixed up in, I’m sure she didn’t know any better, Jasper answered.

Cameron chuckled.

Yeah, there’s no denying that Chaz is about as useless as tits on a bull but that so-called piece of shit is my nephew, and your sister is real important to us all here in Skeller. So, with that said, her and the two of you won’t be going anywhere. You’re all in the shit now.

What the fuck is going on in this town? Walter threw in.

Boy, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I’m still trying to get a handle on all this myself, and it’s been going on for almost a year now, Cameron stopped and turned to Logan.

Oh, I ran into Norman down at the motel. Told him and those other two dimwits to stay there in case any more family members decided to stop by, he then proceeded to pace again.

Aw hell, I suppose letting you in our little town secret won’t hurt. It ain’t like you two are going anywhere.

Cameron pulled a crumbled pack of Lucky Strikes from inside of his suit jacket and tapped a cigarette from it.

I own, or should I say owned, a car dealership here in Skeller. Fine lot of used cars I had. Well, I got slapped in the balls twice back in 2008. With the economy taking a shit and that hurricane flooding out my lot and parts of town, Bertha I think it was, I was damn near ruined. A good hundred cars in that lot and they were all buried in three feet of water and mud. Ruined!

Well, I had no choice but to abandon the dealership and take the loss on the chin. What I didn’t know was that the old cemetery up on the hill near the lot, the place was long forgotten about back in the 30s, got washed out and all that dead shit in the ground up there was pushed right into my lot to make matters worse. Well, unbeknownst to any of us, not everything in that cemetery was dead.

What the fuck are you talking about? What does your car lot have to do with all this? barked Jasper.

Cameron chuckled and shook his head. The cigarette hanging from his lip as he spoke. He continued, ignoring the man’s remark.

Whatever was buried up there was very much alive once it was washed out of its rotted coffin and spilled out into my lot. At first it went unnoticed. No one here knew a thing, and how could they? It wasn’t until we started having people come up missing around town. Took us all, he waved a hand at Logan, a good minute before we knew that something wasn’t right. Then people started to make reports of strange things going on in that lot at night. Fires being lit and people who were once missing now walking around out there.

Walter scoffed from behind the bars. Cameron continued.

I wouldn’t have believed it myself, none of us would have, he again waved a hand at Logan and Bobby who stood leaning on one of the desks behind him, if we hadn’t seen it for ourselves. You’ll be seeing for yourselves soon enough.

Bullshit! You’re saying some vampire is living out in your car lot? Come on, man! What are you smoking? exclaimed Jasper.

Ain’t no vampire, boy. It was Logan who now spoke. Shit, it would make life a whole lot easier if Ole’ Bela Lugosi were out there. We ain’t permitted to speak its name aloud but the lord of the dead is what lives out there now. That thing controls this town. It’s the one that sucked the last of the life from this town and let a few of us live and it’s your sister it wants. The child inside her. With that kid it’ll—

That’s enough, Logan! Cameron cut in. Taking one last drag from his cigarette before he dropped it to the floor and grounded it out beneath one of his brown leather shoes.

We told these two boys enough. They’re going to find out firsthand what goes on in that lot at night. He then turned and walked to the front door.

I’ll see you all there tonight. And vanished into the sunlight.

After Mayor Cameron had made his appearance, spun his bizarre and undoubtedly fabricated tale and departed, Logan and Bobby took turns lounging in the chief’s office watching a small television that remained out their captive’s view, while the other left the building.

Jasper sat on the floor in the cell’s far corner and tried to piece together the dilemma they were in and figure out a way to get the upper hand. The notion that out of the entire town only a handful of people remained and that the rest were, according to Logan and Cameron, all dead and in the abandoned car lot was nothing short of absurd.

Lord of the dead, he snickered to himself. What the hell was going on here? They spoke as if some cult had taken over the community. Probably killing those who refused to convert and anyone who was unlucky enough to stop over in the town. And even if some leader to a cult had taken control, what form of leverage did they possess that they could bend the wills of both the police chief and the mayor himself? He tilted his head back, smacking it gently on the concrete wall behind him. He would just have to play it all out by ear.

There were too many unanswered questions and unknown factors to consider any type of tangible plan. He only hoped that these idiots would slip up and give him that window of opportunity to make a run for the car. The two remained silent in their cells and waited as they watched the time tick away on a dust coated wall clock near the office door.

***

Chester’s had once been the sole watering hole for the populous of Skellar. A quaint hole in the wall dive bar only a few blocks from the motel. Now, the dank establishment, accommodated only a handful of the greatly reduced population. This afternoon, only two customers graced it’s empty, dying presence. Cameron and Logan sat quietly at the bar as Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ played on the jukebox in the corner. The two stared blankly into their half-filled glasses, both men in deep perturbed thought.

It was not until the front door opened, allowing the blinding sunlight from outside to briefly exploded into the tavern’s darkness with a blazing illumination, displaying the empty array of dust coated tables and chairs set inside. The two men lazily lifted their heads to the unexpected visitor only to see Chaz enter and close the heavy door behind him, casting the room back into its glooming, cave-like normality.

I guess I am just in time for a little pre-game celebration, huh, boys? Chaz said gleefully as he strolled over to the two men and placed an arm over Cameron’s shoulder as he reached over the bar and lifts a bottle of bourbon and refilled their glasses.

Drink up, boys. It’s on me tonight.

Chaz, how about to just shut that mouth of yours for once? Gonna have a few more deaths on our hands tonight most likely and you’re strutting around like some prize rooster who just fucked the hen house, Logan sneered.

Sorry, chief, but I never did like that son of a bitch Jasper. He deserves everything he has coming to him and I’m gonna be there to see every minute of it.

Ignoring Chaz’s boastful statement, Logan turned his attention to Cameron.

What time you plan on heading over?

Cameron lifted his sleeve and checked his wristwatch.

Soon, exhaling deeply, he lifted the rock glass of bourbon to his lips and finished the drink in one deep gulp before sliding the glass across the bar to Chaz, who had moved around the other side taking the place as bartender.

Gimme another one, he then leaned back in his stool and glances over at Logan. His face drooping with exhaustion.

What are you gonna do when it’s your turn to run this nightmare show? Huh?

Me?

Yeah you. I gotta be honest with you, Logan, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. This just ain’t right what we been doing and on so many levels. I can’t see myself continuing on like this. I feel like I’ve aged twenty years since this all started up.

You ain’t thinking of skipping town, are you? Logan leaned in closer with sincere concern in his voice. If it ever suspected you were thinking of taking off… His words trailing off at the very thought. Well, I don’t have to tell you what it would do to you.

It was Chaz who now who added his own prediction as he poured a fresh drink for his uncle.

"You know what’ll happen if it finds out you’ve gone missing, right? It’ll track you down for sure and if it don’t find