Chapter 61 Reese
Glass is everywhere when I pull the truck up next to the busted up Chevelle sitting outside of Maxine’s Diner. There’s a police cruiser sitting out here too, blue and red lights flashing in the dark.
My headlights illuminate the interior but I don’t see anyone.
I let Spencer out a block or two ago so he could go around the back. I doubt whoever has her thought about that. They don’t seem too smart if this is their big play, bringing her to her own diner.
Stepping out of the truck, I make sure to check the safety on my pistol and tuck it in the front waistband of my jeans, covering it with the t-shirt I wore under my button up.
Carefully, I step over the broken glass, hearing bits and pieces of someone muttering. It doesn’t sound like a conversation, but I can hear them clearly.
“Not my fault, not my fault, not my fault. He wasn’t supposed to be here. I didn’t mean–”
My boots crunch on the glass inside the busted door and the words stop. The silver swinging door leading to the kitchen opens and they put their arm up, blocking the lights on my truck.
But I know him.
Without a doubt in my mind.
“You son of a bitch, where’s Lucy?” I growl, reaching slowly for my gun.
He waves his hand, stepping behind the counter and placing the gun in his other hand on the surface.
He laughs, and it’s maniacal. He’s fucking lost it. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
His words mean nothing, I know her better than anyone, and there’s no way she’s not fighting her way back to me. “Oh yeah? Prove it then.”
The smile that stretches across his face could be considered demonic, he’s really fucking lost it.
“No can do, buddy.” He sing-songs, and I’ve never wanted to commit savage acts of physical violence more than I do right now, at this moment.
“Bring her in here, let her say that to my face,” I seethe.
“She’s a little… Frigid, not really up for talkin’,” he continues smiling at me as the silence grows. There’s a crash in the kitchen and I take a step forward, only for him to lift the gun off the counter and point it right at my chest.
Spencer must have knocked something over.
“You stay right there, Walker.”
Watching as he walks back into the kitchen I hear a grunt, but I can’t focus on that. I’ve got to find Goldie. Searching all the booths, under tables, anywhere I can think of, I look, but I can’t find her.
She’s got to be in the kitchen somewhere.
A shot rings out, and I hear more shouting.
Fuck.
Spencer.
Pulling my pistol from my waistband, I walk quickly toward the door. Looking in the window I can’t see much. It’s too dark.
Pushing the door in, I lead with my weapon, but don’t hear any movement. Lights flare on as I step inside, finding blood on one of the prep tables. There’s a scuffling noise toward the office and I find Brent and Spencer locked in a battle of wills. Both of them with their hands on the gun.
“Let it go, Brent,” I rumble. As if my words offer him a surge of adrenaline, he rips the gun from Spencer’s hands. I’ve got my pistol squarely trained on him but I can’t shoot, not this close or I’d risk hitting Spencer too.
“Get up,” Brent growls at Spencer. He’s either uncaring of my presence, or he knows I won’t risk killing Spencer just to take him out. He leads Spencer out closer to where I’m standing and forces him to his knees.
“Well ain’t this mighty thoughtful, two of my fuckin’ problems came to me, and now I get the pleasure of killin’ you both so Lucy and I can finally be happy.”
He’s fucking delusional.
“You’re sorely mistaken if you think killin’ us will get you anywhere near Lucy,” Spencer laughs.
“Shut up!” He shouts, pushing the weapon into the back of Spencer’s head making him wince. “Drop your gun, Walker, or big brother’s brains here will be splattered all over this kitchen.”
“Where is Lucy, Brent?” I ask, trying to take the focus off Spencer. If he’s not thinking about him, maybe he won’t pull the trigger.
He laughs, “As if I’d tell you. You weren’t supposed to come back. Mr. Big Shot makes it big and forgets all about his roots.”
“I never forgot,” I argue, holding my pistol up, trained on his chest.
He pulls at his hair with his empty hand in a way that’s borderline manic. “She wanted me, Lucy picked me after Levi’s death. And I worked so hard to be everythin’ she needed. Then you show up and steal her!”
Shaking my head, I try to fight the rising smile.
“Lucy never wanted you.”
“SHE LOVES ME!” He shouts, spit flies from his mouth and his breaths come rapidly.
Pulling his gun back and hitting the back of Spencer’s head, I hear the safety click off.
“You think you’re the only one who can love her?
Your fucked up brother thought the same thing and he got what was comin’ to him. ”
He laughs, pressing the metal into the base of Spencer’s head. “Now, once you’re gone and I become the town hero for savin’ Lucy from your violence, she’ll choose me again.”
“Your misguided sense of self is showing,” I spit, noticing a figure moving closer to him from the back doorway.
“I know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I came in here, found you beating on Lucy just like your Daddy used to do to your Mama, and I saved her.
Spencer was an accident, that’s what I’ll tell everyone, and when she’s gotten over both of those things with my guidance, she and I will be long gone from this little town–”
A pan flies behind him, hitting him square in the side of the head, cutting off his tirade. His body crumples to the ground and Maxine Tritt stands behind him with a cast iron skillet held in her hands.
“Slimy, lil’ fuckin’ runt,” she looks up at me and nods once.
“Find something to tie him up with,” I instruct Spencer before rushing to the freezer and opening it. Finding my Goldie curled up against Sheriff Folley. She’s shivering, bones damn near clacking with the force.
“Call 911,” I tell Maxine, looking back at Lucy.
She opens her mouth, and tries to speak, but I scoop her up and hold her against my chest. “Shhh,” I whisper, you’re okay.
“Spencer, do y’all have any blankets here? Tablecloths, anything to help get these two warm.”
“Two?” He questions, holding his side and limping his way over.
“Fuck, were you shot?” I ask, and Lucy’s eyes flare wide.
“Just a graze,” he says, moving his hand so I can see, though I’m more worried about the blood coating the back of his head. “You said two?”
“Sherriff Folley’s in here, looks in bad shape.”
I can’t focus on him, I’ve got to get Lucy warm. Maxine turns on the ovens, every single one in the kitchen and opens them wide before finding towels to warm up in hot water.
“They’re about a half hour out,” Maxine says, placing the first hot towel over Lucy’s chest. “The Sheriff was the only one in town on duty tonight, they’re coming from the city.”
“How did you know to come to the diner?” I ask, watching her work while I hold Goldie as close as I can.
She pauses what she’s doing and looks toward the silver door separating the front from the kitchen. My father walks through, eyes widening when he sees what’s happened.
Snapping my head back to Maxine, I open my mouth ready to tell her who this is, but before I get a word out she raises a hand.
“I know who he is, child. He’s the reason I called Sheriff Folley in the first place. I knew he could get here before us.”
“You don’t know what he’s done,” I say through clenched teeth. This is not how I wanted Lucy to find out my Dad’s been around town.
Maxine nods, a small understanding smile tips her lips, “I do. I also know people can change, and grow in ways you never thought they could.”
“Not. Him,” I bite.
“Please, Reese,” my father starts, and my shoulders tighten. “I’m–”
“Sorry ain’t good enough. I don’t want to hear your pathetic sob story.”
“I tried telling you what Brent had planned, but you wouldn’t listen. So I found Miss Maxine a while back, and she heard me out. If she hadn’t, I don’t think you’d be holding onto that woman there.”