67

  Ridley and Nairo turned to see a tall dark figure, his face half hidden in the shadows, but there was no mistaking it he was the same man that broke into their office, the same man they had chased through the alley after he had killed Cecilia, and the same man who almost killed Ridley only an hour ago: Shumacker's butler. He stood there in an ill fitting dusty black pinstripe suit and in his large scarred hand was a one shot pointed directly at them. He had a long face, draped in tired skin that was starting to sag around the jaw. There were a myriad of small scars and marks from his life of brutality. He had a long crooked nose that seemed to have been engineered for sneering. He looked like he had been handsome in his youth but now he just looked worn and cold. His eyes glinted in the darkness, promising wickedness and violence.

  “That's it, nice and slow,” he said to them. His voice was far too calm. “Keep those hands up where I can see ‘em.”

  “Hubert Hess I presume,” Ridley said to him, raising his hands slowly.

  Nairo saw a look of annoyance flash across Hubert’s face, as if his name was something far too precious for someone as common as Ridley to utter.

  “So you figured it out?” Hess said to them, his tone bored.

  “Oh yeah.” Ridley said. “You’re Hubert Hess, the small-time pimp and wannabe Villain. Faked your own death after snitching on the Firm and have been hiding out in the employment of Shumacker ever since.”

  A snarl erupted across Hess's face and he levelled the one shot at Ridley's chest.

  “I would watch how you speak to me, boy.” Hess growled through gritted teeth.

  “Only thing I don't understand,” Nairo said quickly, trying to distract him. “Is why Shumacker is up here tied up. Are you two not working together?”

  “What?” Shumacker croaked.

  Hubert Hess's face softened and then his thin lips spread into a wide, malicious smile, before he began barking out laughter.

  “This idiot?” Hess said, jabbing the one shot in Friederick's direction. “He didn't have a clue who I was!”

  “What?” Nairo said. “You didn’t know?”

  Nairo and Ridley both looked back at Shumacker.

  “Know what?” Shumacker practically whined. “He is Carter, my butler! He has worked here for almost ten years! Why have you done this? I have always been fair with you!” he said to Hess. “What do you want? Where is my wife? Where is my child? If it's gold you want just name your price.”

  “Oh don't you worry Freddie, I’ll have as much gold as any man could ever want soon enough. And your family is safe, for now. I think it’s time we all went on a little walk.” Hess chucked a set of keys to Nairo. “Uncuff him," he instructed her.

  Nairo caught the keys and then looked at Ridley who gave a small nod. She knelt down and unlocked Schumacker's manacles.

  “Now both of you stand up slowly," Hess said. “And I do mean slowly, these one shots have hair trigger. I would hate for it to go off between one of your eyes.” He then looked at Shumacker and flashed him a wolfish grin before dropping back into his formal butler’s voice. “Brains and assorted human viscera stains are a tough job to clean out, sir. I would hate to ruin your finery.”

  They shuffled awkwardly closer to Hess with their hands held high. Nairo's mind was racing. There were three of them and one of the Hess, they could overpower him. But Shumacker didn’t look up to much. He was skinnier than she remembered, and looked like he hadn’t been fed or washed in days. Plus the man was visibly shaking, all the former confidence and assuredness had dripped down his leg like hot piss. He looked, and smelled, like one of the junkies that Hess had been killing.

  Nairo and Ridley could take him, but what were the chances they could cross the space between them without one of them getting shot, and knowing Hess she knew he would probably have another blade on him somewhere. Begrudgingly, she respected the man enough to know he was dangerous. As if reading her mind, Hess held up a hand for them to stop.

  “The lady PI comes first.” He wagged a long digit at Nairo and beckoned her forward.

  Nairo took a deep breath and walked slowly towards him with her hands raised. Sweat trickled down the small of her back. The cramped attic suddenly felt cloying and her breath came shallow and quick. As soon as she was in arm's reach, Hess levelled the oneshot at her and then whipped a syringe from his pocket. Nairo’s eyes widened as she saw a bead of lethal chemical drip lewdly from the tip of the syringe. He beckoned her closer. Nairo’s legs protested. Hess snarled and snapped out the oneshot, cracking her across the cheek with the butt of it. Nairo gasped as stars exploded in front of her eyes. Before she knew what was happening, Hess had spun her around and coiled his thick arm around her throat. Her blood ran cold when she felt the scratch of a needle against the soft skin of her neck.

  “I expect I don't need to explain what’s in this needle, do I?” she heard him growl in her ear. Nairo blinked, clearing her vision, and she saw Ridley was frozen mid leap, his eyes glued to the needle at her neck. “We’re going down this ladder now. I’m going to go first and the lady PI will follow. I'm gonna keep this needle pressed against her leg. Any funny business and one little prick is the end of her. Once we’re down at the bottom you two will follow one at a time, understood?”

  Ridley narrowed his eyes while Shumacker vigorously nodded his head, clearly terrified. Carefully, Hess backed towards the hatch and then walked down the steps, his eyes trained on Ridley for as long as he could. When his head disappeared he made sure to let them know the needle was centimetres from Nairo's calf. With her heart pounding in her chest, Nairo began following him, disgustingly aware of the needle pressed against her leg. She shuffled backwards on her hands and knees and began making her way down the ladder. When she was halfway down, she felt a strong hand grab the back of her coat and yank her from the ladder. Hess wrapped his meaty forearm around her neck again, the needle pressed against her neck, and the one shot pointed at the ladder. The man was strong and she had no chance of fighting loose without being pricked by that needle.

  “Come on down! If you play any games with me PI, you’ll be zipping this bitch’s twitching body in a bag before the night’s done!” Hess called up the ladder.

  Ridley came down first. His eyes, brimming with hatred, were trained on Hess. Upon seeing the needle pressed against Nairo's throat, she saw fear enter Ridley’s usually sardonic expression. He climbed carefully down the steps and then raised his hands again. Shumacker came tumbling down next. He banged his knees on the steps on his way down, his movements jerky and panicked. He stood next to Ridley, momentarily forgetting to raise his hands, and jumping when Hess levelled the crossbow on him. He hastily stretched his hands up high and visibly trembled.

  “Good. Now, make your way back down those stairs. Both of you stay in front of me and the lady pig here, real calm and easy.” Hess said, his voice cool and in control. Nairo had no doubt that he wouldn’t hesitate to kill one or all of them if he needed to.

  Ridley turned and began walking but Shumacker stayed where he was.

  “Carter!” Shumacker said, drawing himself up to his full unremarkable height. “I-I demand to know what the meaning of all this is…”

  “You demand do you?” Hess hissed like a coiled serpent.

  “Y-yes,” Shumacker stammered, deflating slightly. “As your employer… I have… I have always treated you like a member of the family… with umm… dignity and umm… oh for heavens sake man! What is the meaning of all this!”

  “Shut up Fred,” Ridley muttered out of the corner of his mouth, keeping his eyes on Hess.

  “No… no I will not!” Shumacker said, gaining an indignant head of steam. “This is my home! I will not be…”

  Shumacker didn't finish his rant. Hess, dragging Nairo with him, levelled the oneshot a few inches from Shumacker’s nose.

  “You still don’t fuckin’ know do you!” Hess snarled at him.

  Shumacker’s eyes had crossed as he stared at the gleaming tip of the crossbow.

  “Treated me like family?” Hess said and let out a rough bark of laughter. “We are family you silver spooned, fairy footed, fuckin’ wimp!”

  “What?” Shumacker said dumbly.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “The Hess’ are on your twisted family tree,” Ridley said. “A distant low down branch, but they’re on there.”

  Hess swung the oneshot on Ridley who, to his credit, didn’t flinch.

  “Don't you worry about that,” he snarled, a malignant menace making his eyes bright. “I’ll soon have everything coming to me that I’m due. Don’t you fuckin’ move, bitch!” Hess roared at Nairo who had been slowly worming her chin into the crook of Hess’ elbow. She froze as she felt the needle press harder against her neck.

  Hess eyed her and then looked from Ridley to Shumacker, his chest heaving and sweat dripping down his temples.

  “Come here,” he said to Shumacker.

  Reluctantly, Shumacker shuffled towards his long lost cousin.

  “Well… we’re family… old chap… we should look after…” Before Shumacker could finish his sentence, Hess slammed the butt of the oneshot into the top of his forehead.

  Hess cried and fell against the wall, raising his arms to shield himself from further attack.

  “Anymore fuckin’ questions… sir?” Hess breathed at Shumacker, who shook his head in wide eyed terror, blood dripping down his face. “Good. Now fucking move!”

  Ridley reached down and hauled up Shumacker, throwing his arm over his shoulder and helping him along. After a few paces, Hess began to move, half dragging and half choking Nairo along with him, the needle pressed against the flesh of her throat, his one-shot trained on Ridley’s spine.

  “You know, it’s a shame I’m not in the business anymore," Hess hissed in Nairo’s ear. “Could have made a small fortune from your back, girl.”

  Nairo’s skin crawled as she felt Hess’ hot breath on her ear. He stank of sweat and blood, with a noxious chemical undertone. She could feel the rough bristle of his unshaven cheek pressing against her ear. She clenched her jaw and resisted the urge to ram the heel of her boot into his knee, knowing the second she did she would be dead.

  “Stop there, Freddie!” Hess commanded and Shumacker froze immediately. “Lead the way to your office.”

  “My office? Why?” Shumacker asked, starting to turn around.

  “Because I fucking well said so! Now move!: Hess barked at him.

  Shumacker jumped and scurried towards his office at the end of the hall. Ridley followed. He walked slowly, shooting the odd glance at the windows and mirrors next to them, trying to get a look at Nairo and Hess. She knew he was trying to figure out a plan, but she couldn’t see a way out. Hess was deliberately keeping far back enough that Ridley would have to cover a distance before getting his hands on him. In that time, Hess could stab Nairo and shoot Ridley with ease. There was no way Nairo could create any separation between her and Hess. With that needle pressed against her throat, one sudden movement from her and she would be as good as dead.

  They continued down another ornate hallway, stopping at a pair of large double oak doors. Shumacker pushed the doors open and then looked over his shoulder nervously at Hess, who motioned with the crossbow for him to enter. The four of them walked into the office and there was Leanne Shumacker and her baby boy sitting in a corner of the office. Leanne had tears running down her cheeks and she looked hysteric.

  “Freddie!” Leanne cried standing up to run towards her husband.

  “Stop there!” Hess snapped, pointing the one shot in her direction. “Sit your tight little backside back down over there with the boy and do not move!”

  Leanne gasped in fright, her eyes wide and panicked. She ran back to her son and gathered him close to her.

  “Please Freddie, just do whatever he says!” Leanne cried out husband. “Don’t let him hurt us!”

  “What do you want, Carter?” Shumacker asked Hess desperately. “Please just let my wife and my son go. I'll do whatever you say.”

  “My name’s not Carter!” Hess growled at him through clenched teeth, and then he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “I want you to go to the safe, open it up, and take everything out. Understood?”

  “Of course!” Shumacker said, hurrying around behind his ornate desk that sat next to the french doors which opened up onto a wide open plan balcony, giving a beautiful view over the grounds.

  He tore a painting from the wall behind a desk and then began twisting the knob of a thick, green safe, built into the wall behind it. In his panic he kept getting the combination wrong. He muttered to himself and wiped sweat from his hands. After three failed attempts, Hess lost his patience.

  “Open the fucking safe!” Hess roared at him. “Or I’m going to kill your family!” Again he pointed the one shot vaguely in the direction of Leanne and the baby. The boy had started crying now and Ridley noted that Hess looked suddenly perturbed.

  “Please Freddy, just hurry up and do what he says!” Leanne screamed at her husband.

  “I'm trying!” Shumacker cried back in panic.

  “Easy now Mr. Shumacker," Nairo said to him trying to calm him down. “Just wait a second, take a breath, and do what he says.”

  Shumacker nodded his head and wiped his hands on his trousers before beginning again. His hands shook visibly but this time he managed to get the code right. He pulled the handle down and swung the safe open.

  “Stop!” Hess barked at him and Shumacker froze. “You, Mrs Shumacker, empty out the contents of the safe onto the desk. And you, PI,” Hess snapped at Ridley, who had slowly been circling the room. “Grab that bag there and start putting everything in.”

  Ridley nodded without saying a word. He walked over to the other end of the room and picked up the waiting duffel bag. Mrs Schumacker quickly crossed the room to the safe, breezing right past Fred, and began pulling out the contents and laying them on the desk as instructed. There were all manner of things in there: coins, gold bars, paperwork, folders, and an ornate certificate or two. Nairo was sure even though she didn’t recognise most of the paperwork that things in that safe were probably worth more than she would earn in her entire life. Mrs Shumacker, sobbing gently, laid out the papers and the gold next to it, her eyes flicking across the paperwork desperately. Ridley came over to the desk and stood on the other side next to her as instructed by Hess. He unzipped the bag and began dumping gold into it. Once the gold was in the bag, Ridley looked up at Hess expectantly. Hess suddenly looked unsure of himself as if he didn't know what to do next. His eyes flicked to the Shumacker’s.

  “It's not there is it?” Ridley said, but he wasn't talking to Hess. He turned and looked at Leanne Shumacker. “You’ve done really well. You had me fooled right up until a minute ago.”

  Nairo looked at Ridley and Leanne's eyes widened as she turned to the PI. Behind her, Nairo heard Hess draw a hissing breath.

  “What! What are you talking about?” Leanne started.

  “I mean the fake tears were convincing, but too not even look at your husband let alone check on his bleeding head wound?” Ridley said dryly. “You went straight for the paperwork. You got sloppy at the last moment, Mrs. Shumacker.”

  Leanne said nothing. Her eyes flicked from Fred to Hess.

  “What is it?” Ridley asked her icily. “What are you looking for? Ownership deeds? Property papers? Shumacker’s will?” Something flashed in Leanne's green eyes at the mention of the word will. Ridley saw it and so did Nairo.

  “There it is," Ridley said, nodding his head.

  “What? What is he talking about?” Shumacker asked, his voice tipping on the edge of outright panic. “Leanne what is he saying?”

  “I don't know,” Leanne snapped at him. “What is he even doing here?” That question didn’t seem to be aimed at her husband.

  “We followed him,” Ridley answered. “We made him at the theatre and I recognised him from when he served us tea. Although up until we found your husband strung up in the attic we thought that they were working together to cover up his little trysts. But then that never quite made sense,” Ridley admitted to her. “You see Sarge, one thing about this case has been bothering me ever since we went to that whore house and spoke to the doctor there.” Ridley said to Nairo as if they were having a casual conversation back in the office. Hess raised his one shot and aimed it at Ridley's chest. Nairo could hear Hess's breath begin to quicken. “You see she told us about a family curse that Shumacker’s family struggled to have children right? But then your husband has been running around town planting his seed like a mad conservationist for the best part of two decades now. And, curiously, all the women kept losing the babies. You would have thought that, statistically, one of them would have had a baby, after all, he has a son. But those miscarriages weren’t natural were they, Leanne?”

  Nairo felt herself gasp involuntarily as she realised what Ridley had figured out.

  “I mean it was a handy cover,” Ridley continued, ignoring Hess and looking directly at Leanne Schumacker. “But the question always was who would want the unborn children of Friederick Shumacker dead the most? We thought it might be Friedrick himself but after meeting your husband I never got the vibe that he particularly cared about spitting out a bunch of bastards into the city. A deadbeat father? Sure. A cold blooded baby killer? Naa, that never sat right. Everything we learned about Lana LaRue and Fred all seemed like true love, didn't it? She was gonna have his baby and they were going to run away, get married… and where would that have left you, Mrs Shumacker?”

  Leanne's face slowly grew colder and more distant as Ridley spoke. Her tears had stopped entirely. Her eyes had become blank and flat.

  “You see, it was the choice of poison,” Ridley said, leaning on the desk and crossing his arms. “The choice of poison was always odd. You can kill a person a hundred ways without anybody ever knowing, but to use a poison specifically designed to get rid of babies, used mainly by young starlets who can't risk their careers on the stage because they had a little bit too much fun? That’s odd.”

  “Mrs Schumacker, you used to be a dancer, didn't you?” Nairo said, fighting against Hess’ tightening grip.

  “She was one of the finest,” Ridley replied, a cold smirk appearing on his face. “I’m sure you must have come across Blood Moon in your time on stage.” Ridley rounded on her, his eyes narrowed and his voice was thunderous. “You've been murdering your husband's unborn children!”

  “What?” Fred Shumacker gasped. “Outrageous nonsense! How dare you speak to my…”

  “For fucks sake, Fred!” Ridley said, shaking his head. “For the better part of a decade she’s been killing to protect her child's inheritance lest some other bastard come along asking for their share of the will!” He turned back to Leanne who was standing eerily still. “And then you found out that your husband had truly fallen in love and was planning to run away and get married again which would have meant divorcing you and legitimising Lana LaRue’s child! So you hired my friend Quinn to look into Lana and find out if she was pregnant. But Quinn sussed you out didn’t he? He probably smelt the cold murderous intent from you two psychopaths from a mile away and he went to Lana and warned her. So you panicked and sent that fuck!” Ridley pointed an accusatory finger at Hess. “To kill Lana LaRue, her unborn child, and Quinn to cover up your tracks! And now… now you want to kill Fred and steal his Estate and inheritance!”

  “Leanne?” Shumacker said, his voice a throaty croak, his eyes red rimmed with tears. “What is he talking about? Tell me this is untrue. Tell me you didn't hurt Lana.”

  Leanne Shumacker closed her eyes, took a deep breath through her nose, and drew herself up to her full height. She opened her eyes. They were blank, green slates, devoid of anything human. She turned those reptilian eyes to Hubert Hess and said: “For goodness sake Hubey, shoot the fucking PI!”