The Hum (11 page)

CHAPTER 18

Making his way over to his car, Kevin noticed another piece of paper tucked underneath the driver’s side windshield wiper.
Two notes in one day? My, my, I’m popular today
. Plucking it out, he slowly opened it, scanning the area as he did so.

Mr. Black,

You don’t seem to understand what we discussed. Let me make it a little clearer for you. Get out of my town, before some unfortunate accident befalls you!”

Shock quickly turned to anger as Kevin wadded up the note and threw it onto the ground. Hopping into his car, he pounded his fist against the steering wheel over and over again.

Once he finally calmed down, Kevin replayed in his head what Amanda said about all of the people that heard the hum either being in jail, dead, or in the nuthouse. This gave him new hope that he might not be the murderer he thought he was, that maybe the hum was behind it all, or the military. But even if he hadn’t acted of his own accord, how would ever prove such a thing? He was after all, one of those same people that had spent time in a mental ward. Who would listen to him? He had to figure out what was behind the humming sound, had to find out what Taos was hiding. And he knew exactly where to start. He had to involve Father Gregory. Surely the priest had the needed connections to get to the bottom of this thing.

Pulling out his cell, Kevin scrolled down to Father

Gregory’s number and hit send. “What’s up, Kevin?”

“Good afternoon, Father Gregory. I seem to have run into a few road bumps here in Taos, and I’m hoping you can help me out.”

“I’ll do my best. What is it?”

“This might sound crazy, but I met a friend down here named Amanda, and she’s been doing a little investigating into that mysterious humming sound I told you about. It seems that I’m not the only one experiencing it. Her sister dealt with it for years, until she actually left Taos. Well, she came back to the area not too long ago, and Amanda claims she was murdered by one of the locals here.”

“That’s some pretty big allegations. Does she have any proof?”

“Not exactly. It seems there was an investigation conducted back in 1993 about the humming noise people were hearing here, and Amanda learned that all of the participants in that study are either dead, in jail, or in an insane asylum.”

“Now you’ve definitely got my attention. These people from the study, did they experience the headaches and the nose bleeds as well?”

“Yes, they did. The nurse ran me out of the hospital before Amanda was able to finish telling me about everything, but from what I gathered, they went...they went off the deep end.”

“You’re not crazy, Kevin. Don’t you see? This proves you weren’t acting on your own volition. Did your friend Amanda say what the investigation concluded? What were the findings?”

“It was inconclusive. Look Father Gregory, I don’t want to get my hopes up here, but I would like for you to check out the participants in that study. Find out everything you can: their names, surviving family members, what they did to get put in the mental ward, everything. Oh, and one more thing. There was some sort of connection between northern Michigan and the hum here in Taos. I’d like to know where exactly in northern Michigan—for obvious reasons.”

“You’re obviously assuming I have the connections to be able to do this.”

“I am indeed. You seem to be plugged in with a lot of people. If anyone can find something on this town, you can.”

“I’ll see what I can do. The warden at the prison here in Michigan owes me a favor or two. He might be able to talk to someone in the police department. Changing gears here now, tell me a little bit about this new
friend
of yours.

“It’s not like that, Father. She was attacked in her apartment, and I happened to be the one who found her. She was stabbed numerous times, but from talking with her, you wouldn’t know it. She’s a feisty one.”

“Sounds like there are some pretty crazy things going on down there.”

“You don’t know the half of it. The Sheriff is trying to run me out of town, the owner of the hotel where I was staying just kicked me out onto the street, and the nurse in Amanda’s room just sent me packing as well. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I almost choked a bus driver out, because he thought he’d order me to stay away from Amanda.”

“Well I’m glad you didn’t take out a bus driver; might make it hard for the kids to get to school. Should I be concerned?”

“No, I’m okay. I plan on finding a place to stay in the town next door, so I can still keep an eye on Amanda’s recovery. I really don’t think she’s safe around here, Father.”

“Listen at you. You’re starting to sound like one of the good guys. Mind if I say, told you so?”

“I do. I’ve killed too many innocents to ever be called one of the good guys. Even if this strange hum somehow drove me to it, I know the feelings that I had in my heart at the time.”

“Give it a rest, Kevin. You’re not an evil man. I believe this mysterious humming sound that I’m about to look into will pay credence to my belief in you. Now try your best to steer clear of those people, and keep this Amanda woman that you’re so fond of safe.”

“What? I never said...”

“Goodye, Kevin. Talk to you when I have something.”

Kevin smiled as he closed his cell. Was Father Gregory right? Did he have feelings for Amanda? So soon? Did he dare? The last two women that he’d let into his life ended up dead at his own hands.
What if I did the same to Amanda?
Kevin knew he couldn’t let himself go there—he wouldn’t fall for Amanda, because he feared what he might do.

Knowing he needed to find a place to rest his weary bones for the night, Kevin fired up the car and headed over to the same grocery store where he’d met Amanda. He needed to pick up an atlas or state map, to help him find his way around, and it was the first place that came to mind. He’d seen an entire section dedicated to books and magazines, so he naturally assumed it would carry a map as well.

Five minutes later, Kevin pulled into the parking lot. When he went to open his door, the car next to him did the same, smashing his hand in the process.

“Crap! What the...?”

“Sorry about that, Mr. Black. Guess the wind ripped it out of my grasp.”

The young punk smiling over at him, made Kevin grit his teeth to hold back some of the anger building inside of him. First, the wind wasn’t blowing, and second, Kevin wondered how
Mr. Smiles 
knew his name. He couldn’t have been more than twentyone, twenty-two years old, and Kevin knew he’d most likely run for cover if he got in his face. But he chose the higher road, even though he wanted nothing more than to teach the kid a lesson.

Nursing his wounded hand, Kevin exited his car and went inside without saying a word. Father Gregory had cautioned him to steer clear of the locals, and he planned to do just that. If he ended up in jail, Amanda would be an even easier target for the psycho’s, not that she wasn’t already. If the entire town was against her, what would stop them from sneaking into her room in the middle of the night and killing her?

Feeling like a total outcast, Kevin grabbed his atlas and headed to the checkout counter, amid many disapproving looks from the workers in the store. With his head down, he didn’t realize he’d gotten into the checkout lane of the same man that had turned his back on Amanda two days prior.

“Ah, Mr. Black, I hope you’re buying this map to chart out your trip to another state.”

“Is everyone here against Miss Billingsley? She’s only trying to find out what happened to her sister for crying out loud. Wouldn’t you want to know how your sister died?” Kevin tried to reel in his temper, because he could tell from the looks on the faces of the shoppers gathered around in the store that they wanted him gone.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Black. Jordan Billingsley wasn’t killed. The coroner ruled her death a suicide. If you would’ve seen her body, you’d know that she had enough cut marks on her arms and legs to alleviate the doubt I now see on your face.”

“Amanda said Jordan called her from here, scared out of her mind. What do you think scared her so, Mr.…uh Mr. Rupert?” Kevin asked, looking down at the man’s name tag on his shirt.

“My guess would be that the drugs the coroner found in her system were messing with her mind. That girl was taking every pill on the market. I know she has you fooled, Mr. Black, but Amanda is trouble just like her sister. Do yourself a favor and get away from her, before she gets you both hurt.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. Rupert?”

“I don’t threaten people, Mr. Black. You can call it friendly advice. The map will cost you five dollars and thirty-five cents.”

Handing the money over, Kevin ‘accidentally’ dropped the change on the floor next to the cashier. He smiled as the older gentleman threw out a few expletives and bent over to retrieve it.

He was about five feet from his car when he felt something slam into his back. Before Kevin had a chance to turn around, it hit him again. He went down clutching his kidneys, and managed to turn just in time to see what hit him. The same young man that had smashed his hand in the door earlier stood over him wielding a four foot piece of 2X4, smiling. Kevin started to give him a tongue lashing, but that same board connected with the side of his head, sending him to the concrete. He looked like a newly cut tree slowly falling to the ground, picking up speed as it went. Strangely, he wondered if anyone watching yelled timber.

*         *         *

“Hello again, Mr. Black. It seems you keep making more and more friends around town. Your friend requests on all the social media sites from my fellow townspeople have to be maxed out.”

“Yeah, the locals here just love hanging out with me. I guess they can’t get enough of my charm and good looks. So what’s your story, doc?” Kevin replied. His face and kidneys both hurt greatly, and he winced in pain as he tried to sit up in the small gurney, in the back of the ambulance.

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone else around here can’t stand Miss Billingsley, and in turn, me. But you actually seemed concerned for her well being when I talked to you last.”

“I’m an EMT, Mr. Black. We’re supposed to help people in need. I’m just doing my job.”

“No, I think it’s more than that. I’ve dealt with the nurses at the hospital, and they act nothing like you.” “The people here just take a little getting used to. They don’t like the way Miss Billingsley has been going around town basically accusing everyone in sight of killing her sister.” Noticing the EMT’s name tag, Kevin said, “Josh Wilkinson? Are you kind to Judd, the boy who raped Amanda’s sister?”

“Those charges were dropped, Mr. Black. And yes, I’m kind to him. We don’t talk much, but he’s still my brother.”

“He’s your brother? Is that the reason why you were so concerned for Amanda? What’s going on around here, Josh? Are you involved in the mystery surrounding this town and the strange humming noise?”

“Humming noise? What do you know about the hum, Mr. Black?”

“Just the history surrounding the investigation by the government. But I am curious to know why the town council members are still talking about it today.” “The best advice I can give you is to take Miss Billingsley and leave town immediately, Mr. Black. Go now, before…”

The back door of the ambulance suddenly opened and Kevin looked out at what appeared to be an exact replica of Josh Wilkins. “What? Twins?” Kevin asked turning from Josh to Judd Wilkinson.

CHAPTER
19

“What do you want, Judd?” Josh Wilkinson asked.

“I was just concerned about Mr. Black, so I thought I’d look in on him.” Turning to Kevin, he said, “What happened anyhow, Mr. Black? The grocery store manager found you all laid out in the parking lot, said it looked like you fell.”

“Something tells me that you know very well what happened, just like you know what happened to Jordan Billingsley.” Kevin replied.

“Amanda Billingsley has you brainwashed too, I see. I hear you’re leaving town, Mr. Black. It’s probably for the best—might want to take that lady friend of yours with you. Folk around here…”

“Save it! I’m tired of hearing how the people in this sorry town don’t like being accused of this or that! Frankly, I don’t give a crap what you like or don’t like!” Kevin had to fight against every nerve in him to keep from jumping out of the back of the ambulance and tearing into the smug punk. He’d seen plenty of people like Judd Wilkinson, and the last one he’d come across ended up at the bottom of a canyon with his body burned beyond recognition. He pictured himself doing the same to Judd.

“Careful, Mr. Black. Words like that can get you in trouble around these parts.”

“Just leave, Judd. Mr. Black needs some medical treatment and he’ll be on his way.”

“Easy baby brother. I was just being friendly. Goodbye Mr. Black. Hope to meet up with you again real soon.”

“I’ve got your friendly. Why don’t you come up here and I’ll show it to you!” Kevin said as he started getting up.

“Relax. The last thing you need is to get into another fight.” To his brother, Judd, he said, “Are you finished? Always causing trouble—what is it with you, Judd?”

“Not everyone can go around playing
Florence Nightingale
all the time, Josh. Some of us actually have a life, you know.”

“I’d love to sit around and catch up on the good ole days, but I’ve got a patient to take care of—you know, real life stuff. Oh, I’m sorry, that’s not something you know anything about, is it, Judd? Dad has always given you everything.”

As Kevin listened to the exchange between the two brothers, he felt a sense of déjà vu. Long ago, he had a similar relationship with his brother Wayne. The only difference was that he’d taken matters into his own hands. And in the end, his life was undeniable better—at least for a season or two. He no longer had to constantly look over his shoulder, and it did silence the humming for quite a few years.

The slamming of the back doors brought him back to the present. “I can see why you don’t talk to him very often. I thought twins were supposed to have some sort of inseparable bond. What happened with you two?”

“He  happened.  Judd has always been an  irresponsible troublemaker. The problem is that our loving father is just like him. They don’t care who they hurt, as long as they get what they want. But that’s enough of my family problems, Mr. Black. You appear to be okay: no internal bleeding that I can tell, and no broken bones. You might have trouble walking upright for a while, but you’ll survive.”

“You have to help me, man. You know what’s happening around here, don’t you?”

“Just go, Mr. Black.”

“I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on. What is the connection between this hum and all of those people that heard it during the investigation they conducted back in the early 90’s? Why are they all either in prison, a mental ward, or dead?”

“Look, I can’t help you, Mr. Black. Go now!”

Kevin tried protesting, even grabbing onto the bed to keep Josh from pushing him out the back of the ambulance, but the injuries he’d sustained in the attack didn’t allow him to put up too much of a fight. He found himself staring at two closed doors despite his efforts.

Hobbling over to his car, Kevin gingerly sat down in the driver’s seat. His head was spinning from the walk, and his mouth had instantly dried up like the majority of the grass around the state of New Mexico. Now that he’d met the infamous Judd Wilkinson, he had no doubt that the punk had raped Amanda’s sister when she was younger, and had probably killed her when she came back to town. But he couldn’t do anything about that. He had to keep Amanda safe now, had to help her get healthy again.

*         *         *

“Dad, I just had a little talk with Mr. Black, and I think that one might be trouble for us. He appears to have taken a liking to Amanda, and from the things he said, she knows quite a bit more than we thought.” Judd Wilkinson said to his father.

“Don’t worry about Mr. Black. In his weak state of mind, he’s pretty unstable. It shouldn’t be too hard to get a man fresh out of the psycho ward to break. After all, we have an ace in the hole that he’s not aware of.” “Danny and Jacob already gave him a pretty good beating at the market earlier today, but I think it only

strengthened his resolve.”

“I’ll talk to Sheriff Bowman and ensure he keeps the pressure on him. Mr. Black doesn’t know it yet, but he’ll be working for us soon.”

“There could one little problem with that.” “What’s that?”

“Your other son, Josh, was there and he might’ve told Mr. Black everything that’s going on. He might get in the way.”

“Leave Josh to me. I’ll have a talk with him.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to handle Josh too?” Judd asked.

“You worry me sometimes, Judd. You seem to enjoy killing people a little too much at times. I hope you’re able to gain control of it soon. I used to be like you, but I learned to harness that desire to take another person’s life. If you don’t do the same, you could end up losing it all.”

“I can handle myself, Daddy. What’s wrong with me enjoying the thrill of taking another man’s life? It’s the greatest rush I’ve ever experienced, and trust me when I tell you that I’ve tried them all.”

“I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, Judd. I’m just telling you that you have to control it and not let it take you over. That kind of power can darken a man’s soul. Remember what we’re doing here. We’re the good guys.”

“I know that, father, but we’ve been dealing with Josh’s weakness for almost three decades now. We’ve given him numerous chances to change, to come over to our side. He’s just not going to do it, Father. It’s not my dark side you need to worry about, it’s your other son’s good side.”

“Look, I said I’d handle it. Now pour me another shot of Brandy and give me some time alone.”

Judd didn’t like being dismissed like one of the many servants around the ranch where they lived. He liked his father’s stance on his brother Josh even less. It was past time to get rid of him, before he took them all down and ruined everything. Even though Josh had moved out and was now renting a place downtown, he still knew all about the town’s history: the infamous study, the murders, even the source of the mysterious hum. And that was simply too much information for someone who was for all intents and purposes considered Judd’s enemy.

As he stood outside his father’s door stewing in his anger, Judd knew he needed to kill all of them. He couldn’t allow his brother to jeopardize everything they’d spent so many years investing in. He simply had to be eliminated.

Smiling, Judd walked out to his own office. Seated behind his large desk with his boots on the windowsill looking outside, he could make out the outer rim of the Pit. Most foreigners thought it just a simple sink hole, but they knew nothing of the power coming out of that Pit. He regularly spent time seated around it, as did the majority of people around town. At least until they were ordered to go elsewhere, to take care of certain things. Fortunately, Judd and his family had never been called to leave. They were considered its keepers, its protectors if you will. The priest had given them the task of ensuring it was fed, that it continued to grow, to feast. It was a job that Judd was willing to do anything to uphold, and he’d already proven so on numerous occasions.

A familiar feeling began to make its way into Judd’s heart. The Pit required another one to momentarily satisfy its insatiable appetite. Judd smiled, because he had just the candidate in mind. They never knew when the next one would be required, so it was perfect timing. With renewed vigor in his step, he spun around in his seat and started punching in numbers on his office phone. Thirty minutes later, he headed into his bedroom to shower and prepare for the nights activities.