Aftermath Page 3

  "Kyle, it’s been a year and I am glad to see you. I know you didn't stop to catch up. So, what are we beating around the bush for?"

  Kyle was not sure what to say. He looked at his feet, then looked back up at me. "Mick, I might have caused you some problems. I don't know if you really have anything to worry about, but I pissed off a guy trying to talk himself up. Don't think I meant to make any issues for you.

  I was buying a bag of weed off this guy.

  You might know him. His name is Tommy, and he was telling everyone that he was your replacement.

  I started to laugh, and he went on telling a group of people that you turned everything over to him.

  Then said you were giving him advice on how to become the next Bearman.

  I lost it and that is where I spoke up. I told him that he will never be the next Bearman, Mick, or any of the guys who worked for them.

  I told him that I knew Bearman and was still friends with him.

  Let’s just cut to the quick.

  I told Tommy to shut up and to remember that no one will think of him as the same level as Bearman. I mean this Tommy guy is a street dealer who thinks he is a kingpin.

  Scott was a boss and never wanted anyone to know."

  I stopped Kyle by raising my hand. I knew this Tommy guy. Tommy was the guy I sold my stock to. I don't know where he got his mindset that I was trying to guide him. The guy was not smart and if he did grow beyond selling a dime bag, he would get himself busted.

  Normally, I would think this would be nothing to worry about, but Kyle would not come to me if this was nothing. That is why I thanked him for coming to tell me.

  We talked a little while longer before he left. It was nice to see my friend. It was nice to see anyone who I didn't have to watch what I said around.

  I went along with my life and heard things from people at the bar. Mostly about this Tommy guy asking around about me. It kind of made me chuckle since he was also telling people that I was training him to be the next big thing.

  What got me to think I needed to protect myself was when I heard about this Tommy guy shooting a customer that made a joke about him trying to be the next Scott Bearman.

  From what I heard; it went similar to this.

  The customer just got a dime bag of weed from Tommy. Then the customer said, "You know, I am glad you’re not a big deal, I would have to find a new dealer." Tommy got upset and asked what was meant by that and pulled out a gun.

  The customer started to stammer and once he put his thoughts back together, he told Tommy that Bearman will become an urban legend around here. The more the guy talked, the more Tommy felt upset that people don’t look at him like they did Bearman. You could see the anger build up on Tommy’s face.

  There was a story that Scott Bearman has been seen out looking for the person who killed him. It is like the mother who lost her baby in a river a hundred years ago. People still say they see her walking down rivers looking for her lost child. People love a good ghost story.

  Tommy could not handle that and what appears to have been by mistake, he pulled the trigger. The gun was pointed at the customer's leg. What got me was how it was said that Tommy looked more shocked than the customer did.

  After that, I started keeping my 9mm with me. I remember something being told to me. "Ambition and bullets are a dangerous thing. No matter what, someone with the same ambition will find you. My bet is they will have bullets too."

  I let another few days go by before I decided I was not going to wait for Tommy. I started to get pissed off hearing about this teenager who was trying to make a name off of my back.

  The more I thought about it, I thought about what Scott and I have done. I have been the one who got rid of Jay Himlee. I had shot men to save Bearman. I was a man not to be tested, and this “boy” thinks he will walk in to take me down.

  I left the drug game and now I have to go back. I didn't want to go, but I was left with no choice. So, I didn't make a lot of noise with my plan. Instead, I called Kyle.

  When we talked, I made it clear what I wanted. I told Kyle that I want Tommy to meet me in front of the Fostoria Police station.

  This made Kyle laugh because he was the one who gave me the idea.

  He used to get high and talk about how he finds it funny to think of criminals making deals and have meetings in front of the police. He was always talking about selling on the streets with a cop car in sight.

  The concept was a simple one. If you try anything, you will have to face the police within seconds. I knew Tommy would not be smart enough to think it through and would agree, thinking he could make it work out in his favor.

  What Tommy didn't know, Scott and I had cops on our payroll. Some of them came to like us, too. Two of them come into the bar every so often and I give them a free beer.

  In return, they help keep the bar safe.

  I would have expected Tommy to show up with some friends so he could try to make a scene. I was hoping that he would be that stupid.

  Instead, he showed up by himself. We sat on a bench, and I let him start. He almost sounded like he was going to cry when he spoke, with a wimpering voice. "Why won't you teach me? I figured you would feel forced to teach me if I was telling people, you were. No one believed me and I got laughed at. Now I can't turn back. My friends have been telling everyone that I am going to teach you a lesson."

  I didn't let him go on and made it clear that he was going to regret life if he kept going. I said "Tommy, let me explain a few things to you. The movies don't show real life. You saw that when you shot that guy in the leg.

  Everyone thinks of themselves as the hero in their own story. There are reasons that lots of people don't have stories told about them.

  Those people are the side characters. They are the obstacles that must be removed to get to the real challenge. You are not even an obstacle. If anyone tells our story, you should be happy if anyone can even remember your name.

  I was once big and there are things, I did that will never be told. That is what should scare you. I have killed and I have made people suffer in ways you had never thought of."

  Looking off as I was telling him this, I finally turned to look at him. When he locked his eyes onto mine, I gave him a fair warning. "If you want to be my enemy, you will find yourself facing a horror that will be far beyond what you can handle."

  Then I got up to leave Tommy there. I figured he would think about what was said. That was not what he did. He stood up after I was about twelve feet away and yelled.

  "I will make you regret not doing what I wanted. You will not make me look worthless. I am Tommy and once I am done, no one will talk about you or Bearman." Then in the fashion of a little kid, he stomped off huffing.

  It would have been nice to think that this kid would calm down and go back to his dream of grandeur.

  At least that is what I was hoping for.

  For a couple days, I started to think that was what happened. That was, until I went to work and there were two guys leaning against a car in the parking lot.

  Something told me that they were not there for a drink. When I closed my car door, they looked over towards me and made their way in my direction.

  We met in an area with no cars and plenty of room to move around. As I prepared for the worse, one of the guys began to speak.

  "Mick, you don't know us, but we know of you. You and Bearman were good people. I know of the stories of what you guys did to protect yours. So don't think I am here for my personal reasons.

  My brother and I made a deal with Tommy before we knew it was you. You see, we get some crack for giving you a beat down."

  This was interesting to me. I guess Tommy never understood how the mind of an addict works. The good thing for me was that I did.

  So, I asked them a few questions. First, I asked if they have been paid. When they said no, I asked if they saw the crack. With them looking at each other, I could see the questions start to form in their minds.

  That is why I put the final point out to them. "Let me get this right. You agreed to come here to beat me up, but you have not gotten anything more than a promise.

  I bet he didn't even tell you how much crack you would get. I only say this because I didn't realize that Tommy was able to get crack.

  But you have a job to do, and I have to get to work myself. I personally at least give half upfront in good faith, but I am sure a teenager would not try to make you guys look like a fool."

  That is all it took to get them pissed off beyond belief. They walked quickly back to their car and whatever they were saying, it was not anything good.

  Since they were gone, I continued walking into the bar. My hands were shaking since that was a close call for me. Those guys could have beaten me stupid.

  When I went to enter the bar, my boss opened the door. Looking at me with a crowd already behind him, he stepped outside with me. The door closed behind him, and I knew he must have been watching the cameras.

  The old man said, "Mick, I don't know what you are completely going through, but you need to get your shit straight."

  My response was as honest as I could be with him. "Sir, I will get this taken care of. All I am trying to do was leave my old life behind, and someone is wanting to hold onto me."

  I figured I would have been told to get to work and keep my problems away from the bar. At least that would be what I would have told an employee. What the old man said was much more powerful.

  "Let me tell you something. I heard rumors of some kid trying to make a name for himself. Remember people like to talk and talk more as they get lubed up with some drinks.

  There are only a few choices you have. It looked like the kid is taking action against you. So, you can either do nothing and hope that he would get the hint.

  I don't think you're that type. I think you're similar to me. You know every action has a reaction. Don't think I am telling you to do anything that will get you in trouble. I am saying that I will have your back if you need it.

  So, figure out what reaction will end this. Don't tell me or anyone what you’ll do. Just do it, finish it, and let’s get our lives back in order."

  After that, he let me think for about ten seconds when he made a joke about how I need to get in the action of serving drinks so there is a reaction of cash coming in.

  I did my job and was johnny on the spot. I made some good tips, too. I went on with my daily life and thought about what I could do to end Tommy from bothering me.

  It was about a week and a half when I remembered a plan Bearman had made to deal with Jay Himlee.

  I remembered everything was in place and all I needed to do is make sure nothing happened to what he had created.

  I went out the next morning to look for the holes. As part of the plan, multiple holes were dug. These holes were about four feet by four feet wide and six feet deep. The holes were covered to keep them safe and marked with a large rock that had a smiley face drawn on it.

  The first two holes I checked had collapsed in and were leaving a large dip in the ground. There were even some trees that fell down when the ground gave way.

  The third hole though, that was intact. I found it back in some woods on Holcomb Road. I found it funny that this was the one I found intact. So much has happened on Holcomb Road, and so many stories kept kids out of those woods.

  I could only imagine that the guys who dug this hole wanted to make sure they didn't have to come back.

  When I looked in the hole, branches were lining the walls. Some water had filled the bottom of the hole, but it was perfect.

  I could put Tommy in there for a few days to teach him a lesson. Let him know that I am the last person he would want to mess with.

  Now I am left with finding him and getting him to Holcomb Road. I was happy that I would be able to end this. Plus, the stories that would be told would keep others from coming after me. It would be over.

  You know the nice thing about a stupid drug dealer? Let me tell you. They tend to do the same thing every day. They go to the same places and they go to the same people. They don't think how easy it makes it for cops or someone they have pissed off to find them.

  Tommy is a stupid dealer and likes to stay around a six-block area. That means that I just need to pick my day and sit where there is not a lot of people.

  Fremont, where Tommy sells, has several places where that can be achieved. So, after a few days, I decided to take off Wednesday and go find him.

  It was not that Wednesday was anything special, I just imagined most people would be more likely to be in their homes during the middle of the week.

  That left me to have someone call Tommy and set up a meet. It was a simple thing to do. My guy was a crack head and all I had to do was give him a bit of money. Then give him Tommy's number along with instructions on where to have Tommy meet him.

  I can picture the call.

  First Tommy would answer with a "What". Of course, he would want to make himself feel like he is a tough guy.

  The crack head would say "I was told you could help me with my eight-ball problem."

  Tommy in turn would pick up with what is being said and tell the crack head that he could and ask where he was.

  Another few exchanges would happen, then Tommy would leave his house to meet his new customer. No questions about the guy or how he got his number. This goes back to the stupid dealer’s way of thinking.

  This is why it was so easy to catch him. I was sitting in my maroon boat. Really, it’s a Mercury Grand Marquis, but I spent a lot of time making this boat something beautiful.

  The nice thing about driving a big car is the trunk. With the amount of space in there, you could hide a few people in there and have room for groceries.

  So, when Tommy walked by me, I pulled out my 9mm and walked up behind him. With my gun shoved in between his shoulder blades, I calmly told him what to do. First, I warned him to not react and to give me his gun. He understood I was not joking when I followed up the instructions by telling him he would be shot and die there on the street if he didn’t obey.

  Once he showed he understood, I grabbed his shoulder with my other hand and guided him to the trunk of my car. Getting him to climb in was no problem either. He was so submissive, I started to feel bad.

  Then I remember the last person who came after me and my friends. I still have the scar on my stomach. I pushed my self-pity down and shut the trunk. I was not going to go through that again. This kid was nothing near what the Himlee brothers were, but a crazy person can still do a lot of damage.

  The forty-five-minute drive gave me time to think. I thought about what I would say if I was questioned about Tommy. I thought about how long I would leave Tommy in that hole.

  Then my mind went to what would he do when I let him out.

  What I am doing might get him to straighten up or it might push him completely over the edge. This is something I would have to make a decision on.

  When we got to the woods on Holcomb Road, I remember that Bearman once told me to follow the plans we make. He said "Plans are made for a reason. Fear is what destroys a plan."

  Nothing left to do, but what I came to do. That is what I said when I got out of my car and walked to the trunk. As soon as I opened it, I took a few steps back. I know I would have tried to find a way to escape if I was in Tommy's shoes.

  When he sat up, he looked like he was crying. He then started to tell me how he would make me regret whatever I was going to do. He was nothing more than another kid trying to be a tough guy. The problem is someone pretending will do things like shoot a guy in the leg.

  After he finished his tough-guy rant, I made him get out of the trunk and we walked into the woods. I was not sure what he thought his speech would do, but I was not going to change a thing I planned.

  Marching Tommy through the dark and creepy woods, I found the hole again. I didn't feel good about opening while Tommy looked on. I had a feeling he was planning something. The only thing I could think of was to have Tommy lay on the ground. Once he had and he put his hands on top of his head with the fingers interlaced, I got to work.

  Moving the rock from the cover was a little tougher since it had a film of mist on it. My hands slipped a few times, but I got it moved and the cover off the hole. That is when I noticed Tommy trying to spew threats towards me. He must have thought that I had some fear of him.

  I don't know why he would believe I did, but I would show him what it meant to fear someone. I learned fear when I faced what I thought was my death.

  I pulled him up from the ground and he made more noises that sounded like he was trying to say something.

  Maybe he saw the hole and realized what was about to happen. There were several maybes, but within six steps, he fell into the hole. There was no maybe about that.

  First, I heard a yelp and then a splashing. I guess there was more water than I thought. While he was in shock and not sure what to make of his situation, I put the cover back on.

  It was heavy enough that it took me some effort to get it back over the hole.

  When the cover was in place, Tommy started to react. He pounded on the metal plate. I heard him start to curse me and change to crying. I believe when he heard me roll the large stone back onto the plate, it sunk in that this was not a joke.

  I waited a few minutes before I started to talk to him. It was hard before with the loud crying. I said "Tommy, here is the deal. I am going to leave you here for three days. The plate has holes for air, and you will be fine. I will warn you not to mess with the walls."

  Tommy was not making any noise and I figured he had accepted what was his fate, so I walked away proud of myself. I might have been feeling a bit cocky too and that is why I said, "Behave and I will see you soon Buttercup."

  Normally three days doesn’t seem like a long time. I imagined that Tommy felt different. My three days seem to have a lot of things going on.

  First, I meet a girl at the bar. She was there with some friends that were drinking up a storm, but she was the designated driver. She had soda and we talked between customers. It was a great feeling and I got so excited when she asked if I was going to take her out for dinner.