FanStory.com - The Unwilling Heir - Chap 42by Begin Again

*****

CHAPTER 42
Patrick laughed at Benny. "You, my friend, are having too much fun."

Benny took another sip of his bourbon, a smirk on his lips. "Oh, Patrick, you have no idea. Seeing these punks squirm is the highlight of my afterlife."

Patrick raises an eyebrow. "You were a hitman. You walked in their shoes, didn't you? Why the grudge?"

Benny's expression darkened as the smirk faded. He stared across the field, his gaze distant. "I was like them. Did a lot of things I'm not proud of, but I learned something toward the end and a lot more since my death."

Patrick listened intently, sensing a deeper story. "What's that?"

Benny sighed and stared at his drink while he swirled it around his glass. "I learned we don't always get a second chance. I wasted my life, causing pain and fear. When I finally caught on, I started giving all the money to the church, thinking it would be my salvation. But dropping money in the church basket didn't save me."

Patrick nodded. "But you're here. That means you got that second chance."

"My friend, Billy, volunteered to come to purgatory because he was allowed to save his grandfather and many others. He gave up his chance to walk through those pearly gates to save his grandfather. When I found that out, I decided it was my last chance to help others, even if I couldn't enter into eternity. My second chance was doing the right thing for others."

"After what I've seen in the last few days, Benny, I don't think you have to worry about being part of the redemption. You've earned it."

Patrick finally understood what made Benny tick. "So, it's not just a grudge. It's a twisted way of trying to save them."

Benny chuckled. "Or maybe I'm just having a bit of fun before I finally move on. Either way, they need to learn."

Patrick places a hand on Benny's shoulder, offering silent support. "Well, whatever your reasons, just remember that change is possible. For them and you."

Benny looked at Patrick, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Thanks, Patrick. Maybe you're right. Maybe there's still hope for an old hitman like me."

"Well, I can't let you have all the fun. How about joining me in whipping up a storm? I don't want it to touch the fields, though, or our bonfire won't happen. Just one heck of a cloud burst over the mansion. Are you in?"

"Am I in? You couldn't stop me if you tried." Benny stood and waved his arms in the air. "Let's conjure us a whopping big storm."

*****

Dark clouds gathered directly above the mansion as the men below scrambled to load the vans. The air crackled with electricity as bolts of lightning shot across the sky. Thunder rumbled and clashed like drumbeats, growing louder by the minute. With one gigantic clash, torrents of rain poured down, washing through the tunnel entrance, leaking through the ceilings, and creating pools of water in the passageways.

From outside the cloudburst, Benny and Patrick doubled over with laughter, each trying to outdo the other with their enhancements to the brewing storm.

The gangsters, already on edge, found their movements hindered. Boxes slipped from their hands as their shoes lost traction on the wet ground. Frustration mounted, tempers flared, and curses floated everywhere.

Terrence and Tony were determined to keep a low profile, stay out of Louie's line of sight, and get the vans loaded. Terrence believed in being methodical — like the tortoise — moving slowly, checking things twice, and proceeding cautiously. On the other hand, Tony was eager to empty the room, load the vans, and claim his share of the treasure. Neither of them thought past their own personal vision of how the future would unfold.

Johnny, a wiry man with shifty eyes, couldn't stop thinking about the here and now. He'd been hauling crate after crate to the vans, knowing his claim on the treasure would be much smaller than Louie's. Each time he walked past the boss and his goons while he struggled under the heavy load of the crates, his gut gnawed at him. He wanted his rightful share.

His thoughts blackened like the storm clouds outside. "What if Louie kept it all? What if, after breaking his back all night, he got nothing? What —"

Determined not to let that happen, Johnny waited and entered the room when no one was around. He'd spotted a black case near the back, overflowing with jewelry and loose gems. His greed took over as he fingered the tiny stones — emeralds — a brilliant green matching his envy for Louie's success. Checking to ensure no one was watching or entering the room, he slipped a handful of the glittering gems into his pocket, grabbed one of the portraits, and headed to the door.

A stack of boxes tumbled over, crashing to the floor. Johnny spun around, only to be confronted by Marcos and Louie. His heart sank. He should have known Louie would trust no one. They had hidden from sight, watching every move.

Louie stepped around the scattered boxes, his face twisted in rage. He growled, "What the hell are you doing?"

Marcos closed the space between them. His figure was dark and menacing, a man looking to vent his anger on someone, in this case, Johnny.

The terrified gangster dropped the heavy portrait and stammered as he backed away, "I — I just thought —"

Before finishing his sentence, Marcos lunged forward, grabbed Johnny's shirt, and slammed him against the wall. His fist delivered a smashing blow to Johnny's jaw. Blood, teeth, and saliva splattered everywhere. "That's your first problem — you thought."

Approaching the room, Terrence heard Johnny's agonizing moan and stopped. Tony, unaware, crashed into Terrence's back. His friend's bulging eyes and frantic movement to silence him worked. They both silently moved into the shadows and listened.

Johnny's moans echoed through the door and down the hallway as Marcos delivered one excruciating blow after another. Johnny dropped to the floor, unable to defend himself. The gems spilled from his pocket, scattering across the ground.

Louie's menacing voice sent chills through Terrence and Tony's trembling bodies. "You thought you could steal from me? Nobody does that."

"Please, Louie, I made a mistake." Johnny's pleas fell on deaf ears.

Louie sneered, delivering a solid blow to Johnny's side with his Italian leather boots. "Teach him a lesson, Marcos."

Without further hesitation, Marcos reached behind the door for the baseball bat he'd hidden there for just this purpose. He swung it in the air, connecting with Johnny's head. The sickening sound of bone cracking echoed through the tunnel.

Terrence and Tony gagged and choked on their fear as they edged their way further into the darkness, praying they wouldn't be discovered.

Louie and Marcos towered over Johnny's lifeless body, and they exchanged cold, empty glances. Having enjoyed his moment of power, Marcos asked, "What do you want to do with the body?"

"I'd like to feed him to the fishes, but we don't have the time to concern ourselves with this piece of crap. Drag him out of here and leave him in the shadows. Let him rot! Or better yet, let the ghosts get him." Louie's laughter sounded more like a heinous creature.

Following Louie's orders, Marcos lifted Johnny's lifeless body by the shoulders, dragging him down the hallway toward Terrence and Tony. The two men held their breath, frozen in fear of being discovered. Luck was on their side, and Marcos unceremoniously shoved the body into an alcove only feet from the men as Louie yelled for him. "Come on. Let's get out of here. We've wasted too much time."

Without another look, Marcos hurried back to his boss, and they headed back outside to the vans.

Amid the chaos, Benny's translucent body floated near the ceiling, his focus concentrated on the two young men. He recognized their fear, but more than that, he saw something else. He realized they weren't bad guys, not like Louie and Marcos. He sipped his bourbon, contemplating the situation.

Terrence stammered, "Tony, they killed him."

Tony gulped, his usual bravado gone. "I know. It could have been us."

"What if next time —" Terrence trembled, unable to control his nerves.

"We gotta get as far away as possible from this place." Tony listened and then stepped out of the shadows. "Come on. Grab a box and take it to the van. When we get outside, keep moving."

"To where?" Terrence's nerves were shattering. "What if they catch us?"

Tony turned to his friend and stared into his eyes. "Listen to me. If we stay here, we will probably end up like that guy." He nodded toward the alcove. "We might as well take our chances and try to escape."

"Escape? You make us sound like criminals."

"Well. Aren't we?" Tony shook his head and crept along the dark hallway, listening for approaching voices. Terrence followed, unsure but positive he wouldn't be left behind alone.

At the doorway, Tony hesitated, staring at the scattered gems on the floor. Terrence gulped. "Don't even think about it."

Tony sighed and moved into the room, leaving the gems glittering on the ground. They both picked up one of the few remaining boxes and moved out of the mansion, silently praying they would escape alive.

*****

As the other gangsters focused on loading the final boxes, Terrence and Tony slipped away. The storm masked their departure.

"We need to get to the river," Tony muttered as they crouched beneath the bushes. "I remember it's not far. We have to get through these trees."

"Then what?" Terrence was doubtful of crossing a river in the storm. "We don't have a boat."

"We'll have to cross it. It's our only chance." Tony recognized the fear in his friend's eyes. "It's up to you, pal. I won't force you, but it's the only way for us to get out."

The rain was soaking them to the bone. Louie's voice crackled through the night as he ordered the men to hurry and finish the job, or they'd answer to him. The awful sound of Louie's voice sealed the deal. Terrence nodded. "Let's go!"

Their fear propelled them through the tangled bushes and dense forest until they emerged into the open air, the river rushing downstream.

"Think we can make it?" Terrence asked, eyeing the turbulent water.

"Only one way to find out." Taking a deep breath, Tony plunged into the river. Reluctantly, Terrence followed.