CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Sizemore couldn’t believe it. It was impossible to comprehend that these old men would have gotten to him. He knew they were older than they appeared, but who would have believed they were smart enough to figure this all out? To chase him down and actually capture him.

“I’ll get out again,” he smiled at them, seated beside the river on the damp earth. “I’ll plead insanity, the confessions of my flock pushing me over the edge.”

“That’s funny,” smirked Alec.

“That my flock pushed me over the edge?” he asked with a grin.

“No, that you believe you’re going to go before a judge. We are the judges, fucker. All of us.”

Sizemore stared at the men, the smile gone from his face. Now he understood. These men weren’t security and investigations. They were mercenaries. They had no souls, and they took no prisoners.

“Then do your best,” he grinned. “My father tried, and I killed him in the end. Go ahead.”

“You don’t get it,” said Gaspar. “There are twenty of us standing here and another three hundred waiting to get a piece of you. You will not leave this spot. We will kill you and leave your body.”

“What do you want?”

The men laughed, shaking their heads.

“We want nothing,” said Nine. He raised his finger and shook his head. “Actually, I’m curious. Why would you determine whether or not someone was a sinner when you, yourself, were committing the ultimate of sins?”

“I am the judger,” he said, gritting his teeth. His arm was bleeding profusely, but no one made an effort to help him. “My mother and father were sinners. They fornicated every night.”

“That’s what married people do,” said Nine.

“It was disgusting.”

“So, you’re gay?” asked Jean.

“NO! That’s even worse.”

“Then you don’t like sex with men or women?” asked Zeke.

“It serves only one purpose. To push the devil from their bodies. My sister was a disgusting whore, but I needed her and her husband’s money. I’ll make sure she pays in the end as well.”

“You won’t get near her,” said Tailor.

“You’re all sinners. You’ll all go to hell!” he screamed.

“Reverend, we are well aware of that,” said Gaspar. “And you know what? We’re okay with it. See, we sin for the right reasons. To protect the innocent, not the guilty. I want people to lay their heads on their pillows and be able to sleep at night. Because of men like us, they can. I’m damn proud of that.”

“So, you’re just going to kill me here, and then what?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that simple. See, what you didn’t understand is that guns, knives, switchblades, all of it leaves a trail.”

“Everything leaves a trail,” he snarled. “You just have to be smart about it.”

“Yeah, see, that’s not the truth at all,” said Zeke. “The truth is, we have support. The kind that only men like us can get. While you’ve been running around trying to do your big finale, we’ve been planning your death to the letter.”

A small light was coming toward him, and he squinted, attempting to see who it might be. When the figure appeared to be female, he rubbed his eyes. Then, refocusing, it was two females.

“You,” he whispered. “You whore! And the friend of the whore which makes you one too!”

“You better watch your mouth, boy,” said Tailor, gripping his neck again. “That’s our Mama and her best friend.”

“It’s alrigh’, Tailor. I know what and who I am. I don’t need a man who murders for pleasure to tell me my worth,” said Ruby. “But I will make you regret ever attempting to harm me or mine. You have no clue what you’ve done.”

Sizemore stared up at the men, then back at the two women. They were so different. Darkness and light, large and small, but their energy was choking him. He tried to push back, but his body wouldn’t move as the women stared at him, their lips moving, but nothing came out. Nothing he could hear.

In a matter of seconds, he was paralyzed, lying on the cold dirt, staring up at the sky. Then, the faces of his tormentors hovered above him.

“You will not darken the door of my city again,” said Irene. “I would say be with God, but you gave up that right a long time ago. Tell the devil we said hello.”

“Mama, wait for us, and we’ll drive you home,” said Gaspar, smiling at his mother.

“We’ll be just fine, son. Besides, we brought some friends that will help you out.” Irene gave a whistle, and Alvin and three other alligators squirmed from behind one of the crypts. Sizemore’s eyes grew large, seeing the reptiles move toward him.

Trak kneeled down to his friend, whispering something to him. Alvin gave a nod as if he understood everything. When Trak stood again, he followed Irene and Ruby, indicating to the others that everything would be taken care of.

“I believe that’s our cue,” smiled Gaspar. “Let’s go home.”