Mourning

Annabelle didn’t know exactly how many hours she spent curled up in the loft of the old auction house. After awhile it was as if her body and mind shut down completely. She hadn’t slept, but she wasn’t coherent either. She wondered for a time if she was in shock. They had killed Richie, after all. Shouldn’t she be in shock?

By the time she realized she was alone, it was well after midnight. She pulled herself to her feet for the first time in hours. A shiver ran down her spine as she stood. What if someone was still around? Would they kill her too?

I can’t think that way, she told herself. She’d seen enough to drive her insane; she didn’t need to help herself along.

She climbed over the edge of the loft. Lowering herself down as much as possible before she had to let go and drop the few remaining feet to the dirt floor below. As soon as she hit the ground, she ran to Richie’s body.

His face was covered with blood. She tried her best to wipe it way, but there was just too much. She hugged his body close and began to cry. She wept for most of the night.

*****

Freedom stood to one side feeling rather awkward as Black said goodbye to Jeannie. After a seemingly interminable time, Blake turned back towards him. He gave Freedom a half-hearted grin before walking away from the body.

“I’m sorry,” Freedom said. “Were you-” He stopped, thinking better of the question.

“We were at one time. I truly loved her, but it just didn’t work. We were just friends; good friends. She didn’t deserve this.”

“No one does.”

“Will you find Annabelle?”

“I could never turn my back on a last request. But I’m going to need some kind of transportation.”

“I think I can help with that, Mr. Patton. Hop in the squad car.”

*****

Argus smirked at his companion as they slipped in to the back of the limo.

“That went even better than I expected. Yet another group so disenfranchised with the government that they will do anything we tell them.”

The other man smiled back. “That’s your specialty, boss man. I’m ready to pound in a few of those supposed authorities myself.”

“Patience, Liberator. We need to make a stop in Indianola to rally our college supporters there before we head north to start the final phase of the plan.”

Liberator cracked his knuckles. “And then it’s my turn.”

“Indeed, my friend,” Argus said. “And the world will tremble before us.”

*****

Freedom didn’t feel quite comfortable in the police cruiser. He remembered several unfortunate incidents over the last few years involving very similar vehicles that he would prefer not to relive. Thankfully, the trip only took them six blocks to a small house on the edge of town.

IT was nothing to write home about. Pain peeled from every corner of the house and he could see at least two windows boarded over from the street alone. The porch leaned precariously to the right as if ready to fall at any moment. The place was unfit for any living thing, let alone humans.

“What is this?” Freedom asked.

“This was Jeannie’s house,” Blake said. “At least until the city condemned it. I’d been helping her fix it up while she stayed at the hotel. It’s one of the few things I couldn’t argue with the chief about. This place was unlivable, but if only I hadn’t put her in that damn hotel…”

Blake took a moment to collect himself. “Come on,” he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.“ What we need is around back.” Blake climbed out of the squad car and started around the side of the house. It was even worse than the front; the entire side was pock-marked with termite damage. It went down at least as far as the insulation, which could be seen peaking out of the damaged wood in dozens of places.

Blake continued past the house to a small, equally dilapidated garage behind the house. A weather tarp served as the garage door, and Blake pulled it aside as he approached it. After Blake had removed the tarp he gestured to the vehicle inside like he was some kind of game show hostess.

Freedom tried his best to conceal his excitement at seeing the rusted out El Camino. Any paint once on it was now gone, replaced by a layer of ugly gray primer. The hood hung open and Freedom could find several spots where the engine had rusted as well.

“This was Jeannie’s car. I’d been working on it the last couple of weeks to get it up and running. It doesn’t look like much, but it should get you where you need to go.”

Freedom thought he’d be lucky to get out of Mt. Pleasant in it, but he kept his thought to himself.

“You got keys for it?”

Blake walked around to the back of the vehicle and felt around under the bumper. After several seconds , he came back up with a small black box no bigger than an inch by two. He threw it to Freedom, who slid it open to find a key inside.

“That’s for the ignition and the locks, if they work.” Blake shuffled his feet. “I wish I could be more help, but if I stick around any longer, the chief will have my hide.”

Freedom nodded. “You’ve been a great help, Blake. I’ll find Annabelle, I promise.”

“Don’t promise me,” Blake said. “Promise, Jeannie.”

*****

The sound of distant police sirens pulled Annabelle back to reality. She looked down at Richie’s body. They would blame her for this. Her prints were all over Richie’s body now, and even if she could convince anyone of her innocence, She didn’t know who else was in on the conspiracy. Every judge and lawyer from Tudor to Des Moines, maybe even further, could be involved.

Her only chance was to run.

She had to find someone to take her side. Someone uncorrupted.

As if that person even exists, she thought.

No, she told herself. They have to. She would see justice done for Richie, before they caught her. They could do what they would to her afterwards, but the Tudor conspirators and their master would pay for what they did to Richie.

*****

Freedom hadn’t even made it out of Mt. Pleasant when she came to him. He’d thought it would have been quicker.

Where are you going?

“Look,” he said to the voice. “I’ve already agreed to help you. I’ll find your daughter and I’ll try my best to avenge your death. But I’ll tell you the same thin I tell every damn voice rattling around in there. The help will come on my damn terms. Which means you’re going to have be patient and trust that I know what I’m doing.” He sighed. “Lord knows I’ve done enough.”

You don’t have to be such an ass about it.

“You don’t know the half of it, lady.”

Jeannie’s voice remained silent until they reached Washington, and for that Freedom was truly grateful.