And the story continues as death and carnage roll across the lands.
McShuster’s head
felt like it was under water, like it was floating away from him. He suddenly
got dizzy and wanted to puke. “Offizzer Lazy, you seed that lady? Seed not
good. I got no grillfriend to laugh whiff? Alone all-time ‘cause you don’t wears
Patagonzia? To waltz in thirsty below wind chill? The rich have car and stop
for ya. They hitz it, when your frozen fingauzes reach for the dough?” Blood
trickled from his nose.
“You on something
back there?” She studied his face. He looked like he was falling asleep.
Fentanyl? She didn’t know.
Now what? Hospital?
Going to be busy there tonight. How in the hell could she take him to the
hospital? That would just get him killed. His victims must have already started
arriving and their families would be showing up.
“I’m good.” He
pulled himself up. “Thanks for loosenin’ up the cuffs. They were killin’ me. I
never knew them things hurt so much.”
“I can turn this
recorder off if your done talking,” Officer Tracy said.
“You know, they
always let on they know my ma drinks too much or sleeps around. That gets old.
I don’t like thinking about it all the time. In school I think about it because
they give me the business.” McShuster was relieved to be away from the school.
“I mean, I can’t even walk down the hall without a girl rolling her eyes or hoofing
it around me. Ain’t official bullying, I suppose, but it still ain’t right in
my book.” His voice cracked. “How I stop my ma from doing stuff?”
“I’m still
recording. I read you your rights and you are free to remain silent. Is your
mother the reason for tonight?”
“Well, I don’t for
sure know why I did it tonight. I mean, I get it. School hurts everyone
sometimes. Guess just maybe sometimes even if you’re hurting you got to do
something. That’s why I did it. I mean, I wasn’t sure so I went to Mister Jerry
Timm’s. He the one where the gun was. They in a safe but everyone knows the
com.”
“Okay, for the
record now. You were teased and it hurt so you went to a Timm’s house. You knew
the combination to the safe. Is that right?”
“Yes. I think you
know most of it, right? Can I get a phone call now?”
“Are you calling a lawyer? I can stop this
tape any time you want.”
“I need to call
work because Dosh is a good boss. He owns Shorty’s by the old train depot. I
gotta call so someone can cover tonight. I don’t think I’m going in tonight. My
side’s killing me.”
“I am sorry but
the last thing you need to worry about is going to work.”
“Look I am trying
to do it right. I get hammered by a bunch of cops and feel like they broke my
back. I get tossed in a squad car and so why do I have to also get fired now?
Answer me that, Officer Dickless Tracey?” He immediately wished he hadn’t said
it; the anger had overtaken him; but he knew he should have never said it.
“Look, I’ve been
plenty good to you. My Megan—my daughter—was at that damn
basketball game tonight. If she had gotten hurt, I’d made damn sure your back
was broken. You wouldn’t be walking, let alone flipping burgers!” She too immediately
regretted saying it.
