The Serpent and the Crow

Book 2: Chapter Fourteen

Wade watched as Jador tied up the man. He never imagined he would see again. He stared back, undeterred from the broken nose. The compound had hundreds of feet of cannabis growing in the open. Wade knew there had to be some help from big places. Its just like Solemn; complicit in the corruption that prospered under the scorching Arizona sun.

"So, you gonna tell me who this Pinche Pendajo is?"

Wade said, "this is Edgar Marlowe."

"And, who the fuck is he?"

"Do you want to say anything here?"

Ed smiled. He said, "I followed Dale..."

She said, "Who's Dale?"

"He had the girl. Dale didn't recognise him, but he should of."

"Give us a name."

"I ain't got a name. But, I can finger him."

"I bet you like doing that to other men."

Jador was not the person to be intimidated. But the look in his eye meant he was more than capable of holding a grudge. The grudge that will come bite you in the ass when you don't expect it.

"How can you be sure that you can identify the Killer?" Wade said.

"Because I may have one eye? I saw what I saw."

Jador was curious, and she should be. Edgar was not talking about the killer. Wade knew what he was referring too. But after all these years he still believed nothing he said. It annoyed Wade that there was once a time where he trusted his word. But that time had passed.

"Just answer the question, one eye Jack," Jador said, "We ain't got all day."

"Dale, and I worked with him. He was a member of the Desert Hunters Club."

"What do you mean you worked with him?"

"The establishment we are in, it's all paid for by Big Men."

Wade said, "What the fuck is Big Men supposed to mean?"

"Look around you. If SSPD wanted to find this place they would've found it. It's all thanks to Mr. Harding."

Jador said, "You're saying the pillar of the pines killed his own daughter?"

"No. Dale and I work for him. So, when he feels obliged. He gets us to be obliged. To help when and where we can."

"When you lost your eye did you lose your ability to tell a simple fucking story?"

"William Harding often does community gigs. It throws off the scent of his heavy ganja operation up in these hills. So, Dale and I often help, you know? Free demolition for poor neighbourhoods, cooking food for the homeless that type of shit."

"I think you're right. This fucker ain't got shit. Fucking top show Edgar. You expect me to believe you're some fucking mother Theresa."

"Fuck you, Wade. You ain't got shit on your own wife's murderer either."

"Alright, shut your mouth, Edgar."

"This motherfucker didn't even believe me."

"Shut your fucking mouth, Ed!"

Wade pulled his Colt and slapped Edgar's face, the force of it slashed Edgards cheek. The dull cracking in his jaw was sickening. Jador put a stop to this.

"What the fuck? He ain't gonna say anything if you break his fucking jaw. C'mon, Wade get your shit together."

"Yeah, Wade. Listen to this Indian bitch."

Jador elbowed Edgar in the nose.

"Fuck, I thought you said no more hitting."

"Anywhere else other than jaw is fine, and you prove my point by whining like a little bitch. Now, talk."

"The Coyote Kids Kindergarten."

"What about it?"

"The theatre there. William Harding gets us to do the set pieces. Well under the guise of the Desert Hunter's Club but it's us. Dale and I, and whoever else works for this compound."

"Set pieces?"

"The little theatre plays the kindergarten has on. The Hansel and Gretel play that was on recently."

"I know of it," Wade said.

"Well, the boys from the hunting club, they were helping us construct the sets for that play. The killer worked with us."

"Show us"

"The plays done. But, I'm sure Dale kept records, or photos, Dale would've known him. You should ask him."

"We'll do that," Jador said, "But, we're asking you."

"It's like I said. I ain't got a name. But I can point big grizzly bear out of any line up."

"Ain't that convenient, we'll be right back to get a line-up of all you hill billy motherfuckers."

Wade said, "No need. Let me ask you this Ed...have you got a VCR?"

"Yeah, out the back. Dale jerks off to porn tapes in the shed...why?"

Wade smiled. He said, "I guess you're going to finger someone for me in that shed?"

Jador said, "I get your drift, but it kind of came out wrong."