The Final Shortcut (14 page)

Juniors’ senses were super sensitive now. He quickly scanned the road for witnesses. There was a car coming up the hill, only a minute away. It was time to make a move. But what? Manic thoughts flooded his mind, his eyes darted back and forth taking in the whole area. In a flash he had an idea. He pulled the car door open and pushed the lady onto the console. Luckily the engine was still running so he put it in drive and pulled forward a few feet. Then he slammed it in reverse and floored it, smashing into the truck abruptly. No time to waste he vaulted out and ran around the truck to the back side where the fuel nozzles were. His luck held as they were on the inside away from the road. A quick glance to his left, the car was closing fast. He tried to open the fuel nozzle but it held firmly. The anxiety was creeping back in on him. His temples were beginning to pound. Then he saw the tool box to his right. In it was a large wrench. He loosened the nozzle until it began to gush gasoline. He could hear the car’s engine gearing down to stop.

A few long strides and he was back in the woods to retrieve his rifle. The other car had stopped a dozen yards ahead of the accident with the driver’s side door opened. Junior took careful aim and fired a round into the nozzle cap. A small spark was all he saw, but it was enough. The gas ignited and quickly engulfed the truck with flames. Junior turned to run but the ensuing explosion blew him off his feet. Flames washed over him singeing the hair off his face. The heat was intense but he managed to regain his footing and run out of danger. A little distance away he stopped to see what he had done.

A plume of fire spiraled into the sky like a crimson tower a hundred feet tall. A huge hole is the tanker was spraying fire in every direction. Trees were blazing and the road itself was burning. The cars were also on fire and he could see the other driver standing well away on the road side. Suddenly he jumped feeling heat behind him and realized his shirt was on fire. He dashed it out but he could already feel the blisters rising on his back.

The flames were spreading fast into the trees. He would have to get away from here before the fire spread any further. The heat was becoming unbearable and the acrid black smoke filled the sky. It could surely be seen from town. In a few minutes there would be people all over the area. Time to go.

Another killing complete, but his triumph was diminished. An ill-fated plan that nearly got him killed. A few feet closer and he would have been blown to bits. This could not happen again. He had to devise a foolproof plan before the next time. Before going home he thought he would seek some advice on how to better handle himself next time. It was a good time to talk to his father. He always had good advice.

Quietly he made his way across the hills and into the mine. Marty’s putrid remains were positioned in a sitting position against the wall, crawling with maggots and beetles. Junior had moved him into a larger cavern near the air-shaft. As Junior sat there, he talked and listened intently. It was as if Marty was still alive and giving sage advice. Several hours passed before he eventually fell asleep at his father’s feet. The smile on his twisted lips foretold that he had found an answer to his dilemma.

***

Steam was still rising from the mangled hulk of the tanker. Everything in a ninety-foot circumference was melted into a charred heap. The local policeman conferred with the fire chief while the fire crew rolled up the hoses.

“So what do you suppose set off the blaze?” Sheriff Crump scratched his chin, a dazed look on his face.

“I couldn’t tell you for sure.” Fire Chief Blanton looked equally bewildered. “The accident didn’t look very bad. It shouldn’t have damaged the tank. There is something about all this that just doesn’t add up. But with the intense heat....there isn’t any evidence left to investigate.”

“Yeh...it’s going to be a struggle to get a confirmed ID on the bodies. Even the road was destroyed....they’ll have to repave this whole section. The witness said he pulled up just as it exploded. He just narrowly avoided the blast himself.” Both men stared blankly at what was left.

The total destruction created a scene of mystery, one that could very likely remain unsolved forever.

Chapter 9

The sun burst sharply from the October morning fog, bringing light to an already busy truck stop on the outskirts of Bontonville. A brisk chill in the air heralded a change of seasons. Only half a mile from the Interstate sat an old converted service station that now housed “Ellen’s Place.” A bottomless coffee pot, plenty of parking and the best home cooking in the hills for more than twenty years. Her voice was well suited for the CB radio so she advertised her specials “live” from the kitchen. The restaurant alone was successful enough, but with the adjacent gift shop filled with Junior’s leather goods and natural hides. It was very successful. He made everything from authentic raccoon skin caps, belts, bags, and other baubles. And his signature deerskin and rabbit fur clothing that was very popular. Junior maintained the building and all its parts in expert working order. He also tinkered with electronics when he had spare time. Most of his days were spent hunting. He practically lived in the woods, choosing to work in his shop at night.

But on occasion he would spend time in the store, drinking coffee and swapping tales with the regulars. He had a charming manner about him and the way he told a story was captivating. A blend of pantomime and oratory. His ability to mimic the animal’s movements and sounds was uncanny. It was said that some of his cries could raise goose bumps on a snake.

It was obvious Junior knew his prey very well. He studied each one with great patience. Learning every individual characteristic so he could outwit his quarry with confidence. Anticipating every move in order to maintain control. And with a steady flow of travelers and truck drivers, it was the perfect place to study his favorite big game. Talking, listening, watching, learning, and waiting for the right time to take his victims.

Most of the regulars were route drivers that liked to use the shortcut next to the restaurant. A gravel road that cut over to “The Confederate Highway” and slipped behind the truck scales near Brayton. It also ran through a corner of the Baumann property. A route less used before the interstate came through, now it saw traffic almost every day. A lot of the independents liked to run a heavy load for some fast cash, and they couldn’t help but brag. Junior usually knew ahead of time which drivers were carrying which loads, and when they would be there. This allowed him to plan a hunt well in advance, making sure to set the scene for success. He had seventeen kills in twenty years. To date, no one has ever come to ask questions. Today was to be the last one in 1999. And he wanted it to go smoothly.

Eddie McNabb stopped by almost every time he passed, and he had done so for more than twelve years. Standing five feet eleven and at two hundred sixty pounds, he filled the door when he strolled out after his meal. Junior followed him out.

“You plan on cutting around the ridge?”

“Don’t I always, why?” Eddie sucked his teeth trying to dislodge a bit sausage. His thick red hair blazed in the sun.

“It’s just that there’s been a rock slide about half way down, you’ll have turn in past my driveway and take a right about a quarter mile farther on.” Junior walked his old acquaintance to his truck. The tingling in his temples had already started.

“Take the second right then, is it a good road?”

“Sure, I keep it tended just like the other one. A few more turns, but it dumps out just below the other one.” Junior held his hand out to block the light from his eyes.

“You never have got the county to help you maintain that road, have you?”

“It’s private property Eddie, and it’s not on their map. I did get them to deliver some cheap gravel though, but only twice.” Junior laughed and held the door for the big man.

“You never mentioned the other road before, is it rough?” looking down from the cab he looked worried, “I don’t want to slide off the edge in another rockslide.”

“I take better care of my property than that. It’s just a bit longer and a bit narrower, but safe…unless you would rather go all the way around ….” Junior moved his arm in a sweeping arc pointing to the hills in the distance.

“No, I’ll be taking the short cut today. I trust you.” He pulled the door shut and shortly pulled away, heading down the dirt road. Junior knew he could cut cross-country and get to the site well before Eddie. His gear was already there. The plan had just been set in motion.

It was not his custom to inform his mother when he came and went. So it didn’t surprise her to see him riding off on his dirt bike. She knew he would come back when he was ready. Sometimes he stayed several days at a time, sleeping in his hunting shack.

The one he and Marty built had to be torn down, his new one was a bit bigger. It was also built directly on top of the air-shaft leading to his mine. This one was stocked much better than any other hunting shanty anywhere. Filled with an assortment of niceties from the trucks he had collected in the past. Not lavish, but comfortable thanks to a shipment of camping gear that never got delivered. The lumber, furniture, food, even the toilet paper. All came from the hijacked trucks hidden in the mine. The old family tractor was just big enough to clear the entrance to the mine, reopening a monstrous gateway into the ground. A huge cavern connected the entrance to the old elevator shaft and the railheads. His first two trucks were carefully selected for their cargo, building materials and construction equipment. With which he was able to strengthen the walls and reopen many more passages, recreating a vast underground labyrinth that was once a major mining operation.

After many years of labor Junior had created a veritable fortress underground. Complete with electricity, hydraulic gates and a security system. The spoils of his career neatly stored in the mine. The bodies of his victims carefully arranged in the cavern with his father. He had been careful not to let any evidence of his crimes leak out, only selling some of the cargo in small amounts at swap meets. Clothes, toys, tools and electronics were his favorites, finding them easier to sell than some of his earlier acquisitions. But sometimes he took a truck just because he could, not for the cargo.

Today it was a truckload of shoes, boots, sports equipment and a whole lot more headed for K-mart. There was also a big healthy trucker to fill the grinder tonight. Junior dumped his bike and jogged over to his gear stashed in the bushes. Nearly one p.m. If he worked steadily, he thought, he could have this one cleaned and stored by dark. “Maybe I’ll get to watch “Third Rock From the Sun” tonight.”

His weapon of choice today was a powerful all metal crossbow that shot eight inch long steel bolts. He hadn’t had it very long and he was anxious to try it out. The truck’s engine could be heard whining as it trudged along the curvy road heading straight for Junior. He quickly hid in some bushes next to the road. From his vantage point he could see the fallen tree strategically placed across the road. Perfectly placed so it couldn’t be seen until you were right on top of it. And if his plan worked like it had many times before, the truck would come to a screeching halt within fifteen feet of him. Putting him straight in line with the driver’s door.

Eddie was hurrying around a curve when he saw the huge fallen tree. He had to stand on his brakes in a vain attempt to stop. All eighteen wheels dug into the dirt as it slid off the side into the brush. The cab nearly jack-knifed before slamming hard into the tree. The trailer lurched hard to the side and into the bushes where Junior was hiding. The impact knocked him out of his cover and onto his ass a dozen feet away. He had held onto his crossbow but when he hit the ground it discharged. The bolt speared his left calf. Meanwhile Eddie had piled out of his truck, not injured but stomping mad. When he first saw Junior, he followed his natural instincts and went to see why he was rolling on the ground. Confusion took over his thoughts as he examined the scene, something in all this was terribly wrong.

“What the hell is going on here? Are you hurt? What’s wrong with your leg?” He struggled to make sense of the situation. “How the hell did that tree get there?” When he bent down to help Junior, he noticed the crossbow in the dirt. Then he saw the hiding place in the bushes, complete with a folding stool. “Was you out here hunting beside the road? I just left you at the store a minute ago. How could you get here so fast?” Junior yanked the bolt from his leg without hesitation. Then pulled a bandanna out of his pocket and tied it around his leg before struggling to stand up. His face was grim and hard, something in the way he glared at Eddie made him very afraid. The hair stood up on the back of his neck when he spotted the knife on Junior’s hip.

“What are you doing out here Junior?” He didn’t answer. He just stared straight at him. The look in his eyes was horrifying, Eddie started to back up. “What are you hunting?”

No reply, Junior just glared at him as he painfully moved forward. His hand falling to the knife. Eddie turned and ran toward the truck with Junior dead on his heels. He realized that he would never get in it before Junior was on him so he turned and ran back up the road.

“HELP!” Sheer terror gripped Eddie as he strained to get away. Afraid to turn around. Junior’s leg throbbed awfully causing him to lose ground. Instead of chasing him he limped to his dirt bike and kicked it over. Eddie had gotten a good head start but he was out of shape and Junior knew he would be an easy catch. When he jumped out onto the road, Eddie was nowhere in sight. A mild panic struck him and he immediately stopped the bike.

“Where did you go Eddie, your lard ass couldn’t just disappear.”

Then he heard a rock tumble off to his right. And there he was, thirty yards away in the woods making a run for his life. The bike screamed through the brush with a maniac at the steer. His body knocked limbs out of the way, flying at the edge of control. He quickly closed the gap between them, climbing the rocks at a breakneck speed. Eddie was almost spent when he reached a big rock at the crest of a hill. Having no choice but to make a stand, he turned to face the oncoming threat. Junior drove straight toward him giving every indication that he was not going to stop. With a final burst of strength, Eddie jumped away from the rock before being crushed. The motorcycle crashed headlong into it, throwing parts in every direction. The back wheel grazed Eddie’s back as he threw himself to the ground. He hadn’t seen Junior jump off just before the crash, but he could see him plainly now as he stood over him drooling.