Evil in Hockley Read Free Page B

ran through Harry’s
mind.
    The drive home was as sombre as the
drive to the farm. Sandy tried in vain to lighten the mood then
gave up. Harry had a lot on his mind now that his brother was taken
care of. He could feel that Sandy knew what he was
thinking.
    Someone killed Jarrod and that someone
had to pay.
    “You’re taking me home, aren’t
you?”
    Harry was silent for a
moment.
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Is there anything I can say to talk
you into taking me to your house? Can we love and make love for the
rest of our days?”
    He was silent again then
said,
    “I wouldn’t feel right. Unfinished
business.”
    “Men and their fighting. What good will
it do?”
    “You can’t let the Joe Sharkys of the
world make the rules.”
    “You know it’s him?”
    “It’s a place to start.”
    “Oh Harry, no good will come of this. I
can feel it. You think Sharky’s going to let you walk all over him?
If nothing else he has an image to uphold. He can’t look weak in
front of his crew.”
    Harry nodded.
    “I have a self image that will haunt me
if I walk away from this.”
    Sandy threw her hands in the
air.
    “Oh, it’s no use.”
    They were silent until Harry dropped
her off at her front door. He bent to kiss her but she pulled
away.
    He said,
    “I’ll call.”
    She didn’t answer, went inside, and
slammed the door.

Chapter 5
     
    The following morning Harry drove north
to Shelburne again, to Dave’s garage. He stopped on the way and
picked up a couple of donuts and two large double, double coffees.
Dave was busy changing an oil filter, swearing when he burned his
hands on a hot exhaust pipe.
    “Hey, watch the language.”
    “Morning Harry, didn’t see you come in.
They design these things so that the oil filter sits right over the
exhaust pipe. I get a burn and oil drips down onto the pipe. The
customer thinks I don’t know what I’m doing cause it smokes for a
day.”
    “Maybe the design engineers think you
have the time to let it cool for an hour.”
    “What’s up buddy? You didn’t drive here
to buy me breakfast.”
    “I need the Cuda on the hoist for an
hour or so. I need a couple of metal boxes welded to the
frame.”
    “For?”
    “It would be better if you didn’t
know.”
    Dave stopped working and stared at
Harry.
    “I got a wife and a kid. If I didn’t
I’d be with you on what you’re about ‘not’ to do.”
    “I know Dave. I’m just going to have a
look around. See what runs from cover.”
    “I’ll put yours on the hoist after I
finish this one.”
    “Drink your coffee before it gets
cold.”
    They both ate their donuts and sipped
coffee then Dave started to lube the car, his grease gun
hissing.
    Dave said,
    “I talked to Jim Albright. He came home
after being wounded. Actually came to look up Jarrod. He told us
what you did in the service… Or should I say out of the
service.”
    That shocked Harry to some extent. He
hopped Albright hadn’t said too much. All the soldiers in his group
were under a gag order and shooting your mouth off could get you
discharged, even jail time.
    “Oh, yah. What did he say?”
    “Told us you were an assassin. Kind of
looked up to you. I guess there’s more to that than it
sounds.”
    Harry knew his friend wanted some sort
of comforting explanation.
    “Let’s just say that there are times
when you have to kill one man to save hundreds, maybe
thousands.”
    “Like the trade towers?”
    “Something like that but not on that
grand a scale.”
    “Well, I can’t see you plugging some
guy for no reason. You never were one to take shit from either
direction, up or down. If you didn’t believe in something you’d
call in sick,” said Dave then laughed.
    Harry could tell that his
acknowledgement of being an assassin put a damper on their
friendship. Killing changes everything.
    Dave put the Cuda on the hoist and
welded two empty war surplus ammo boxes behind the frame on the
driver’s side, out of sight. When he finished he tapped Dave on