Markers (Joshua Stokes Mysteries Book 3) (9 page)

Fourteen

Renegade

Joshua was in his patrol car, parked alongside the highway, listening to Billy Joe Royal sing, “Burn like a Rocket”, when he saw a white van coming toward him. He was watching it travel past and down the highway when, suddenly, it exploded into flames and drove off into the ditch. All the doors burst open and half a dozen human forms, engulfed in flames, jumped out and began to move toward him. With each step, their movements became more erratic; several faltered and fell to the ground. He watched as the flames seared the flesh off their faces until there was nothing left but skeletal bones.

One of the figures made it to Joshua’s vehicle. He flopped onto the hood of the cruiser and then slid along the hood toward the windshield. His eyes seemed familiar — they grasped and held Joshua’s for several moments before the flames claimed them. He mouthed words that Joshua could not hear and then mercifully, he passed on and his movements ceased. The flames rose higher and the heat of the burning flesh began to sizzle against the windshield; the windshield began to bubble and crackle. Joshua knew the glass was going to break. When it did, there would be nothing separating him and the burning corpse, but he still could not force himself to move.

The windshield began to sag from the weight of the burning corpse and Joshua tried to move, but couldn’t. When the bubbling glass burst, the man’s arm fell though and landed on Joshua’s chest setting him afire! It was as if the man’s arm were a spout and his body filled with gasoline. He felt the gasoline running all over his body and as it did, he became engulfed in flames. Joshua tried, but could not make a sound. He could feel the heat of the flames; smell the burning flesh and hair.

After what seemed forever, he was able to move. He jumped out of his cruiser and began running toward the river, but each step felt as though he was running through thick wet concrete and he could not make any progress. Suddenly, James was there. He had a-hold of him dragging him into the river. He could not get him any further than the waters edge so he left him laying there. That was when the minnows began eating at the flesh on his face and neck. Joshua was trying his best to slap at them and to crawl out of the water, but the harder he tried, it seemed the more firmly embedded into the sand he became.

“Goddamnit, Hoss, wake up!” James said sternly, his words penetrating Joshua’s mind as he shook him by the shoulder. “Wake your ass up, before I have to pour another pan of water on you!”

‘Midnight Rider’ by the Allman Brothers Band was playing on the radio and relief flooded through Joshua as he realized that he had been dreaming.

“You was having
one helluva dream
, Hoss. I didn’t think I was going to be able to wake your ass up! Are you alright?”

“Now that I’m awake, I am,” Joshua said, still not one hundred percent awake. “And, you’re right, Hook; it was one
hell
of a dream. I reckon that burning man decided to follow me home and haunt my dreams tonight.”

“I dreamt about that too. The burning man, not the haunting, but woke pretty easy when I needed to.”

“You’re lucky; I hate being stuck in a dream and can’t get out of it…” Joshua said. Then he told James that he said silent prayers over that fellow as they hauled him to the hospital.

“I did too, Hoss, it was all I knowed to do. But some prayers, no matter how sincere they may be, never reach the big man in sky.”

It was very dark out. Even the light filtering through from the kitchen was dim. “What time is it?” Joshua asked.

“About 2 a.m.” James responded, yawning. “I think I’m gonna go stretch out in that back bedroom of yours, Hoss.”

“Go right ahead, Hook. I might go lay down after I finish this cigarette,” he said as he took one out to light.

“Catch you in the morning,” James said as he walked inside. The screened door slapped against the wooden doorjamb several times drowning out his footsteps.

Joshua leaned back in his rocker and picked up his whiskey glass. He took a sip, swished it around in his mouth and then swallowed it. He was tired and sleepy, but he did not want a repeat of the dream he had just had. His damp shirt and the fact that he was on his back porch let him know that he had been asleep and that the burning man was just a dream. He would hate to think that dead men could come back to life and be like those in his dream. They were like some sort of weird zombies... Raggedy, scorched, barely alive corpses ambling toward him, but he could not move to save his soul.

Joshua lit the cigarette and took a long draw. The moon came out, temporarily lighting the area between his porch and the river, everywhere of course, except underneath the trees. There were many shadows beneath the trees. Some of those shadows appeared ghostlike, wavering, moving from one area to another. He knew it was a trick of the eye. Real ghosts did not leave shadows. However, somewhere, sometime in the past, he had heard a legend about the Shadow People. In addition, if he remembered the tale correctly, they were to be feared… something about them never having a soul when they were alive.

Joshua believed every living creature had a soul, some people were just so damn mean and evil you would think they did not have one. That thought automatically brought Tom Stringer to mind. Joshua wondered if one of the shadows was Tom’s ghost come to haunt him. Hell, they could possibly even be ghosts of the child molester he’d encountered…
that
was no longer just
his
secret; he’d shared it with Hook, and Hook had not, as far as he could tell, looked at him any different and had actually told him he done right. He needed to quit letting things get to him; quit doubting himself. Joshua chuckled at himself for letting the dream get to him. He propped his feet up, sipped the whiskey, and smoked as he watched the forest. Sometime before dawn, he drifted off to sleep and had more dreams, but they were not about burning men-in this one, he dreamed he went to the local address he had for Lita McIllwain, in the Country Club neighborhood, and arranged for Jonathon McIllwain to take his own life the same as he did the child molester. In the dream, everything went so smooth, that he could not have arranged it any better than if he had meticulously planned it, right down to placing the weapon in his hand and forcing him to pull the trigger; it was a good dream.



The next morning, James woke Joshua before he left, to let him know that he was heading home and that he would see him when he stopped by to check on the baby. He said that if he did not get home to feed-up, Ilene would have his balls in a vise.

“Well, we can’t have that,” Joshua chuckled, picturing it in his mind. “You might be in need those for a few more years,” he declared.

“You damn right I will!” Hook exclaimed. “Can’t do without that pootang, I gots to have it ere once’d in a while,” he grinned as he headed toward his pickup.

Joshua took a piss off the end of the porch and then sat down and lit a cigarette. He drank the cup of coffee James had given him and smoked a cigarette as he kicked back in his rocker listening. He would never tire of sitting out there of the mornings…

When he finished his coffee and cigarette, he got up and went inside. He showered, shaved, and then readied himself to go into town. On his way there, Joshua stopped at the grocery store in Wilmer to fill up with gas and purchase a carton of cigarettes. As he stood waiting in the checkout line, the newsstand next to the exit, caught his attention.

The headlines jumped from the front page, ‘Prominent Atlanta Pediatrician Found Dead!’ his dream flashed through his mind. Joshua purchased a copy when he paid for his gas and cigarettes. As soon as he sat in his cruiser, he opened it up and began reading.

It read,

Prominent Atlanta Pediatrician found Dead!

The decedents father, Jonathan McIllwain II, of Atlanta, found Atlanta native and prominent pediatrician, Jonathan McIllwain III dead in his residence in the exclusive Country Club district, off Dauphin Street Extension in Midtown late last night.

Jonathan McIllwain II had arrived in town late last night to help his son with the funeral arrangements for the late McIllwain’s wife, Lita McIllwain; who was killed in an automobile accident earlier in the week. His death appears to be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. McIllwain said that his son sounded down, which was understandable, but gave no indication that he intended to take his own life when he spoke with him the day before.

Some would think it a tragic love story, thought Joshua as he lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. He did not know exactly how McIllwain felt, but felt that McIllwain had some serious issues. He was sure he understood Lita McIllwain before she passed - she was fearful for her and her daughter’s safety and wellbeing. He definitely hated that it ended as it had. Sure, he had wanted McIllwain dead, even dreamt about it that morning before James woke him. However, Joshua felt there would be no justice for Lita and little Anna Leigh with McIllwain dying at his own hand… the baby, what would become of her, he wondered. His anger turned toward McIllwain. He would not have the satisfaction of looking into his eyes. Nor would he have the satisfaction of seeing him pull the trigger… suddenly, his dream flashed through his mind - was it really a dream? Did he subconsciously travel there and force McIllwain to take his own life as he did the child molester? Would Metcalf think
he
killed McIllwain, would James think so too? Maybe he did… Joshua folded the paper, laid it in the seat, and then cranked his car. He drove straight to the FBI Field Office in Mobile; he had made a decision.

Fifteen

Eating Crow

Joe Barnes was working through a stack of paperwork when Joshua walked in. Barnes glanced up and then back to his paperwork. Joshua noticed the smug look that crossed Barnes’ face when he saw it was he standing there.

“Morning, Sheriff, come on in and have a seat. You’re just the man I need to see.”

“Same here - that is why I’m here, but you go first, it’s your office.”

“Okay, Sheriff. I will be frank with you and you do the same. I don’t like to beat around the bush, so I will come straight to the point. I want to know where the McIllwain child is. I know you took her from the hospital and placed her somewhere in an effort to keep her safe. We had this conversation the other day - I told you we would handle it and we would have. While I do not approve of your methods, I understand why you did so. I am not going to file a complaint; however, you know that I could, and you’d be in a heap of trouble.”

“Yes, I understand that, and I am ready to face the consequences if need be.”

“The child should be quite safe from predators, now that her father is dead,” Barnes said firmly. “Her grandparents want to take custody of her before they return to Atlanta. Once she is turned over to them, she is no longer our responsibility.”

“Have you met with them; have they been investigated?”

“No, I haven’t met them personably; my agents took care of the investigation. However, I can assure you they have been thoroughly investigated, otherwise I would not hand the child over to them. When the younger McIllwain came under investigation, the Bureau automatically checked them out.” Joshua nodded his head, but did not speak. “What brings you here?” Barnes asked. “You said you also needed to see me.”

“We just covered what brought me here,” Joshua replied evenly. “I saw the morning headlines, so I come to tell you that I had the child in a safe place. I figured she should be turned over to the family; I just didn’t know how to go about it.”

“I will get with the family and make arrangements for you to meet and turn the child over to them. I am sure they are anxious to see her.” Joshua nodded, and then waited while Barnes made a phone call. All he could hear was Barnes’ side of the conversation; however, he could tell that there was static between them. When Barnes hung up the phone, Joshua asked if there was a problem.

“Nah, not really, they just wanted to know if we could keep the child until they were done with the funerals. They did not feel a funeral was fitting place for a child so young. I told them that I did not think it would be an issue.”

“Well, I don’t know if there’ll be an issue or not. The child is in a good place, but my friend already told me that it was temporary; she did not want to become too attached to the child. The longer she has her, the more attached she becomes.”

“Go ahead and pick the child up then. If they need help, they can hire a nanny. Take her to 456 Fairway Lane. I will call and let them know that you are bringing her. You know where that is, if not, you can find it. They’re staying in their son’s home.”

“The place their son took his own life… that is kind of morbid isn’t it? It doesn’t look like they would want to stay there and be reminded or their son’s suicide-”

“To each his own, Sheriff; it takes all sorts to make the world go around.”

“Has the place been cleaned and released?”

“It was clear-cut; we did not feel there was any need for an investigation; he definitely committed suicide. Faced with his wife’s death and all, he probably figured he’d be found out and did not want to go to prison,” said Barnes, sounding sure of what he was saying. He then said, “Oh by the way, Sheriff. I hear you were over in Mississippi last night when that hit went down on our star witness in the case we’ve been working on for several years.”

“Yes, I was, and just happened upon it. All I can tell you is that the vehicle that sped away from the scene was a two-toned late model Buick Electra 225. I never got a look at who was driving because I stopped to see if I could help whoever was in the van that was on fire. It was one helluva scene.”

“Yes, I can imagine it was. Unfortunately, the victim was a confidential informant of mine. He was set to testify against prime members of the Dixie Mafia. Goddamnit!” Barnes suddenly exclaimed. “I tried my damnedest to get him to go into our witness protection program, but he refused. I had just offered it to him again yesterday afternoon. He was here for his weekly check in.”

“Oh, you can believe
they
knew he was here,” Joshua said with confidence, “that was how they waylaid him.” He knew that many people that associated with the “Mafia”, held prominent positions in high offices. They had all sorts of means at their disposal. “Different ones have been trying to pin the Mafia down for years now, but they’re slicker than owl shit, Barnes; they always manage to come up for air, when you think they’re about to drown.” Joshua remembered several other instances where such had happened to so-called witnesses who had come forward. They disappeared as if they‘d dropped off the face of the earth. They let their guards down and wound up pushing up sedge weed in a swamp somewhere. Joshua hated even to venture a guess as to how many bodies had actually been dumped into or buried in the bayous of South Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The number could be in the thousands.

“We will bring their corrupt asses down eventually; you can take that to the bank,” Barnes exclaimed. “We may be calling on you to give a deposition on just what you heard or observed… did Benton happen to say anything at all to you or to your friend that was with you? I heard y’all hauled him to the hospital in the back of a pickup truck.”

“After he jumped out of the van, that man screamed until mercifully, he lost consciousness. I believe they even poured the gasoline down his throat. It was godawful.”

“We still may need more info from you. You go ahead and take that young’un to its grandparents. They’re the ones responsible for it now that both its parents are dead.”

Joshua stood and lit a cigarette. He was glad the meeting with Barnes had gone well. He knew that federal charges could have been levied against him for taking Anna Leigh from the hospital and he was thankful that no such charges would be filed.

He walked the short distance to where he had parked and no sooner had he sat behind the wheel when a woman walking down the sidewalk caught his attention; it was Carolyn D'Iberville. Joshua was not sure whether she had seen him or not, so he did not move - he had too much on his plate to give her the attention he would want to give her and he did not want Carolyn to feel that he was brushing her off. He hoped to spend more time with her when things settled down.

Joshua picked up the newspaper and pretended he was reading it all the while peeking over the top of it watching Carolyn. When she entered the Federal Building, it was unexpected. He wondered what sort of business Carolyn D’Iberville would have with the FBI… Joshua knew he should not be spying on her, but his curiosity was peaked, he sat there and smoked another cigarette waiting to see how long she stayed. He did not have to wait long; he had not even finished his cigarette when he saw Carolyn exiting the building escorted by none other than Joe Barnes. This unexpected coupling only increased his interest. What would a novelist and an FBI agent have in common? She and Barnes were close to the same age; did they know each other from school… was Barnes a friend of her ex-husbands; or does she make a habit of meeting and seducing men in law enforcement. Joshua was full of questions as he pulled away from the curb.