Part One - Brad Kilgore

  Chapter Five - Billie arrived.

  Even with his broken voice, Kilgore triumphantly spoke. “Hum, someone is moving around outside. I bet you weren't expecting anyone?”

  Frank shook his head. “You are disappointing, Kilgore. Well, hang in there. I'll be back in a minute. I’m just going to take care of a little detail for you. Did you know you murdered your help before you hung yourself? I bet you didn't know that?” He walked out of the barn.

  The fat man listened. He heard muffled sounds coming from outside the barn. There were probably two people talking. Then he heard a woman scream. It wasn't the loudest scream he had ever heard. But the scream was full of fear and surprise. Then he heard the God-awful cracking. It was like wood and bone impacting. He envisioned a board breaking over the hired help’s head. He had no concern for her; that wasn't it. He could buy a dozen like her. He just didn't want it to happen to him. He didn't want to lose his leverage. A chill crawled up his spine. The chair shook beneath his feet.

  Frank returned to the barn. “Did you know, you just broke your shovel handle? I guess I'll have to use the axe. Oops, I mean you’ll have to use the axe. Now, you just hang in there. This might take a little while.”

  Kilgore mumbled something only he understood.

  Frank said, “Look at you. You're getting tired, and your legs are all wobbly. I believe you're going to commit suicide before I get back. I would hate to miss that.” He loosened the rope, allowing Kilgore to stand on the seat and half-sit on the back of the chair. “Anyway, I'll be back right after I take care of Billie. Oh, wait. After you take care of Billie.” He left the barn.

  Kilgore’s sense of time began to return as daylight peeked through the cracks in the barn. No amount of struggling or fighting changed his situation. He was on a chair, with a rope around his neck. He had nowhere to go, and no way to get there. But he was breathing a little easier now. And he knew the man. And he knew why he wouldn't kill him. Morals are for suckers. The only thing left was to make him pay. The only thing he had to do was wait.

  Frank returned. He spoke like he was teaching a middle school science class. “Just for your information, it is true what they say about carrying dead weight. That little woman was heavy.” He smiled as he approached the fat man. He moved quickly as he shoved the barrel of a large frame revolver in the man's mouth. “I know you love talking trash. But when you do, I feel like letting you die. So, I'm giving you a warning. You need to be calm, polite, and thoughtful. I want you to remember that I don't have to be here. I can leave you right where you are. That way you can hang yourself. Give me what I want, and you will get to keep the chair. Then all you have to do is wait until someone comes to get you. When I pull the gun out of your mouth, tell me you understand.” He removed the gun.

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  “Yes. Yes, I understand.” The garbled words shot out of him. The introduction of the gun surprised him. Then, like a sudden burst of cold he realized that the girl was dead. If his hands hadn't already been shaking, they would have started.

  What Kilgore didn't know was that this wasn't true.

  Billie was in on everything. Well, at least part of everything. She had helped plan as well as gather information. A short time ago, she had been hoping for and searching for a way to hurt Kilgore. He swindled her father and assaulted her. She knew it wasn't chance when Frank approached her. She hated Brad Kilgore. Frank had something more directed and sinister in him, but it wasn’t directed at her. He was determined. She needed that determination.

  They had stood outside the barn. Frank hugged her. Maybe Billie had hugged him. Then he held her hand. He spoke to her gently. “You've done good. I've spoken to your parents. You'll be able to go home. There's only a couple more things you need to do.”

  He handed her a large paper bag. She knew the plan, but she waited for him to speak anyway.

  Frank continued. “In the bag with the money, there's a list of names. I'm sure you'll be able to return it to the rightful owners. But half is for you. Go in the house with my friend. He’ll take you with him when he leaves. He will make sure you're safe until all this is over. Billie, Keep half the money. It's not free or tainted. You're my eyes and ears now. Together, we’ll make sure this doesn’t start here again. Don't forget about the phone call.”

  Billie nodded her head, and she said meekly, “I know it's not part of the plan, but I'd really like to hit him with something.”

  Frank smiled at her. “Billie, he works for and owes someone much bigger than him. He may not survive losing the money and being found with a noose around his neck. And as a bonus, I'm going to make him believe that I’ve burned the IOUs and the ledger right next to him. At the very least, he won't be trusted anymore. Billie, you just put him out of business. You conned the great con man.”

  Billie drew in a deep breath. “Okay, I'm ready for my big part.”

  Frank lightly touched her cheek. “You're much prettier without all that outlandish makeup.”

  “Even with the black eye?” She replied.

  “Yes. Black eyes heal. And after today, you need to too. Are you ready? I'm going to swing at the tree. When I start, you scream. One. Two. Three.”

  Frank swung the shovel. A crack echoed through the air.

  Billie screamed. She smiled and suppressed laughter. She screamed louder. She released all the pain and torture from her soul.

  The chair beneath Kilgore's feet shook. He had lost his advantage. How could he have he been so wrong about the man?