In the Silence, I Hear

Episode 6, Friends that lie together, die together.

*** Warning this fictional story contains scenes of gun violence, physical assault, human sex trafficking, and corrupt public officials. ***

Fredrick, Amber Redding, and Sally Hoskins arrived at the hospital and began to tell their tale. The nurses and doctors called the police as soon as they became aware of the rape and abuse the girls suffered. By the time the police arrived, Amber and Sally were being treated. Before long, the police Chief arrived. After all, the young ladies insisted that Jacob Ratlins, the son of the Mayor, had killed Officer Janes before being killed himself. As equally troubling to the town officials were the claims that Ratlin, Janes, and three other men were regulars out at the shack. Once a month, they would come have a “Fucking rape party,” Sally called it. “Perverted, freaky assess the lot of em,” She continued.

“Whenever Joey and Todd came and raped us, they would beat us, especially Joey, and make us take drugs,” Amber explained.

“Joey and Todd were at the place late yesterday. They did their normal amount of drugs but only smoked marijuana; they drank their beer and raped us. I asked why they weren’t doing the heavy stuff. They talked about having a job to do in the morning. So they made us do drugs, and we were passed out until we heard the gunshot. Then, a few moments later, the tall blond guy comes in and tells us all about how Joey and Todd were dead and that he was now the boss,” Sally said.

“When I asked him why he shot Steven, he said, “cause the fuck was fighting with me about who gets to own you two, and Steven is a dick, and fuck him,” Amber said.

“Then he started beating on me. He said he didn’t like the look I was giving him. He set his gun down on the counter and said I needed to get him off quick or there would be consequences. He was taking his dick out of his pants when Amber grabbed the gun and shot him,” Sally said.

“Five times, I shot that sadistic bastard. One time, he brought a snake and made me suck on it like it was a cock, and well yea. I shot that fuck five times,” Amber said and then withdrew. Making it difficult for them to get any other answers from her.

“Now, Mr. Appelton, how did you get involved?” A police officer asked.

“I was looking for a place to hike when I came to the little shack. I saw the body lying by the car out front. I stopped. I was scared out of my wits because I couldn’t hear if there were more gunshots or people screaming. So I slowly walked around the shack, looking for signs of other people. Eventually, the blond girl, Sally, saw me through the window and waved for me to come in. I found the bolt cutters in the small room, cut them loose, and brought them here,” Fredrick explained.

“Why didn’t you call the police from there?” The Officer asked.

“Amber and Sally were insistent that three other men would show up and that we needed to get out of there quickly. So I brought them here.”

Fredrick made an effort to shake hands with and speak to every police officer that appeared. When he got home that evening, he showered, took some painkillers, and went to bed.

“Ken, Ralph, meet me at Eddie’s at 8:00 this evening. We need to talk about what went down out at Joey and Todd’s.”

Fredrick woke. Eddie’s was a bar on Main Street. He got his gun, silencer, and four full magazines and went to his car. Across from Eddie’s, he rented a room at the Super 8 Motel on Main Street. He looked at his watch; it was almost 8. Inside, he laid down on the bed with the lights off and breathed deep.

Music, glasses clinking, and people talking woke Fredrick. He opened his eyes and realized he was in the dark recess of his mind, where things revealed themselves to him. Country music played; he heard the crack of the balls hitting each other on the pool table.

“Um, so that is the sound it makes?” He said to his dream world. Fredrick played pool, but the uniqueness of the sounds he experienced in this place enhanced his life, time and time again. Pool, would never be the same to Fredrick.

“Ed, let me get another down here,” A male voice sounded out.

“Ken, my friend, I think you should slow down. That’s five, and you’ve only been here an hour.”

“It’s beer, Ed. I’m angry that two bitches at the hospital claim that Steven and Jacob are part of a sex trafficking ring and that Jacob shot Steven. No fucking way. And now the Captain and IA are looking for other officers involved in it. Sounds like two bitches that need muzzles.”

“Ken, calm it down, man; you will draw more attention than you need. I have a hard time believing that Jacob shot Steven, but you know all that other shit is real, so calm down and shut the fuck up,”

As Ed spoke, Fredrick heard footsteps; Ed’s words grew quieter, and by the end of it, “all that other shit and shut the fuck up,” Were whispers.

“Are they two of the three from the rape party crowd?” Fredrick asked himself in his headspace.

“Hey guys,” another voice joined the conversation.

“Ralph, what the fuck did you do to yourself? Is that a fake beard?” Ed said.

The other guy Ken was laughing and kept laughing.

“I hear the girls were with the composite artists for a couple of hours today; I am changing my appearance, just in case,” Ralph said.

“Holy fuck, man, that is an ugly-ass head. Did you shave it yourself?” Ken asked.

“Yes.”

“Ralph, people know you, man; if the sketch is even close, at least two people at the hospital know you. So that is not going to work.” Ed said.

“You going in tomorrow, Ken?” Ralph said apprehensively. “Maybe you can check and see if we need to worry.”

“I don’t know, man; I’m actually thinking of going out with a bang and hitting the hospital and taking out those bitches.”

“Ah, probably don’t want to do that, man. The state cops are providing guards. I also heard that Joey and Todd kidnapped them from Vegas, so the feds are involved now.” Ralph said.

“Fuck,” Ed said.

“Well, boys, I guess you are so screwed. I plan on getting you first. You could save me some time and kill yourselves!” Fredrick said to the blackness of his dreamscape.

“What’s that for,” Ralph said.

“It’s on me tonight, boys,” Ed said. “I’m all of the sudden in a drinking mood.”

Suddenly Fredrick’s dream space grayed became bright white, then shifted back to black.

“Yes, sir, I am positive they are Ralph Smith, Eddie Bran, and Ken Williams, he’s a cop, and they all hung out with Steve and Jacob. They are always at Eddie’s; it is a bar that Eddie Bran owns.” A lady’s voice said.

“Thank you, nurse,” a man’s voice said.

His dream space grayed again, flashed white, then went to black.

“We could run; we have passports. Get to Portugal and try to claim asylum,” Ralph said.

“That only applies if you face a crime that carries the death penalty or life in prison, moron,” Ed said.

“I’m not going to jail; I think I will go down guns a-blazing. You could join me.” Ken said.

“You all could just kill yourselves,” Fredrick yelled into the blackness.

“Really, guys. When we get to Portugal, we drop a letter confessing to the murder of that redhead Joey and Todd had a while back; I know where she is buried. Then they won’t be able to extradite us.”

“Ok, boys. That is the kind of information I need; keep it up,” Fredrick said.

“I’m not copping a plea for a murder I didn’t do. And now I know about it. Thanks, Ralph,” Ed said.

“Later fucks,” Ken said.

“Where are you going?” Ralph asked

“I told you. I am not going to jail, and I think those bitches at the hospital need one last beat down. If I got time, I’m gonna get me some dead booty action. I want to die while I cum.”

“Wow. Ok, I want to kill that guy. Wake up Fred, wake up,” Fredrick tried to wake himself up.

“Yo, fucks, I’m back,” Ken said, then started laughing.

“Oh, good, I don’t think you should do that, man; let’s just run.”

“No. Ralphie, you got me thinking, talking about that redhead. Susan was her name. You remember Joey telling us he had Richard out, cause he liked redheads and wanted some strange on his birthday?”

“Um, yea, vaguely. Why?” Ed asked.

“Richard is Chief Richard Ham. Ain’t no way I’m going down if he isn’t. So you two make sure you tell the feds about that when they pick you up.”

“I’m running. You should come with me, both of you,” Ralph said.

“Ken, you know you could get to Portugal with us, then drop a confession that implicates the Chief. Watching him go to jail while you’re drinking on a beach in Portugal.”

Ken laughed, “Hell yes, I think you just convinced me to run. I need to get my passport though it’s at home.”

“Me too,” Ed said. “Plus, I have some cash stashed at the apartment.”

“Cool, Airport parking in an hour. You get left to fend for yourself if you’re not there,” Ralph said.

“Ok fucks, see ya soon,” Ken said.

Fredrick woke up, “not much time, what to do, what to do.”

Fredrick stood, walked out to his car, and followed Ralph to the airport. Ralph parked in the parking garage close to the departure terminal. The lot was packed. Fredrick got out of his car, opened the trunk, and took out his Stun Gun. He walked up to Ralph; luckily, the window was down and stunned him. Fredrick pushed Ralph to the passenger seat and shocked him again and again until he passed out. Then he drove the vehicle to an area of the parking garage that was empty. He stunned Ralph one more time for good measure, then got out, pulled Ralph from the car, and put him in the trunk. He found Ralph’s phone and waited for Ralph to wake. With his gun to Ralph’s forehead, Fredrick said, “Unlock your phone, you rapist pig,” Fredrick held the phone up to Ralph. Ralph punched in a pin unlocking the phone. Then Fredrick shot him in the head. He told Ed and Ken where Ralph was parked in a group test, saying, “I’ll wait for you here; we can walk in together.” Fredrick opened Ralph’s suitcase, found his razor, and put it in his pocket. He shut the trunk and went to retrieve his own car, parking a little away from Ralph’s vehicle. Fredrick put on a hoodie and sat in Ralph’s car with the hoodie up. A text came in.

“I am almost there,” it was from Ed.

“Just left my place. Police are looking for us. Keep your head down,” Ken texted.

Fredrick waited. Ed pulled in and parked. As Ed got out of his car and went to the trunk, Fredrick followed. Ed reached into the trunk. Fredrick used the Stun Gun. Ed fell half in and half out of the open trunk. Ed went limp, moaning. Fredrick maneuvered Ed’s body into the trunk and shocked him again. He put the Stun Gun away and pulled his pistol. When Ed recovered, Fredrick was pointing the gun at his head.

“Ed, see the pad of paper?”

“Yes.”

“Write your full name above the lines and then sign on the lines. Do it on the first three pages.”

“What? Who are you? Why?” Ed protested.

“Do you want to live to see Portugal?”

“Yes.”

“Then, sign you rapist pig. Or die makes no difference to me.”

Ed signed.

“Now, the first page will be your confession to killing Ken and Ralph. Don’t worry, I will write it. On the second page, you will tell the story of how Chief Richard Ham, you, Joey, and Todd killed the young redhead, Susan.

“But,” Ed began.

“Shut up, or I’ll shoot you now. I will write that letter as well. On the third page, you will be selling me your Bar; I’ll be writing that one also. I’m getting it for a steal. Unlock and give me your phone.”

“What? Why?”

Fredrick jammed the pistol barrel into Ed’s forehead, stepped back and hit him with the baton, then aimed the gun at him again. “You won’t need it. understand.”

“Yes,” Ed stuttered, unlocked his phone, and handed it to Fredrick.

“Now, I’m going to step away. You count to twenty, get out, and run to the terminal. Do anything other than run to the terminal and get on a flight to Europe, and we will kill you. Understand.”

“Yes.”

Fredrick disappeared from Ed’s sight. Ed, as he headed for the terminals, considered his options. Portugal for the rest of his life or this strange talking fuck who knows everything about the shit that is going down kills me. So Portugal it is. So sad to hear about Ken and Ralph, he thought.

Fredrick got in Ralph’s car and sent a text, “you almost here?”

“Yes, pulling in.”

Ken Williams pulled in and parked next to Ed’s car. Fredrick got out and walked over to Ken.

“Where is Ed?” he said, turning to face the barrel of Fredrick’s gun.

“Rapist cunt,” Fredrick said and shot Ken in the forehead. Fredrick quickly stuffed Ken’s body into the trunk, took the confession letter he had written for Ed while waiting, and set it on top of the body. He opened the suitcase and then took an Archer, Arizona, Police Department T-Shirt. Closed the trunk, gave Ralph’s phone back, got in his car, and went home. He was sleepy.

To Be Continued

Next Up, Episode 6, A Deadly Captain Dies, can be found here.

Episode 5, Amber Redding and sally, can be found here.

© 2022, T. Mark Mangum

I am T.Mark Mangum. From an early age, I was hooked, addicted to the imagined, unfathomable worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, the Lord of the Rings, and many others. I love writing fiction tales. I love writing in multiple genres. However, my favorites are Sci-fi and Fantasy fiction. I am a father of six; we have two cats and two dogs. Tabletop gaming is a passion.

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