The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Ten

Wade stared. Unsure. Confused. He was sure the effects from the pills affected him still. He surveyed the cabin. It looked like a place a hunter stopped for the night to get a reprieve. Wade centred himself using his Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques.

"I didn't ask you to bail me out. I was fine."

"You're welcome."

"I assumed you were dead."

"You wish..."

Edgar took a seat in the armchair across from Wade. He moved a chess piece.

"I'm not in the mood."

"C'mon, Wade. It's been a long time. It might be our last."

Wade shot an expression of concern. He moved his pawn and Edgar followed with his move.

"So, you expect me to accept your story? Where the hell do you get a flamethrower?"

"I'm surprised. If anyone were to believe that I looked at a giant fucking snake, I figured it would be you."

Wade had an inquiring expression and said, "You saw it."

"You bet your sweet scrawny ass I saw it. I fucking killed it too."

"No need to embellish."

"Alright, I fucking kicked its ass, and it cowered under the power of hillbilly ingenuity."

Wade took his castle.

"Fuck," Edgar said, "You fucked up my strategy."

"More like I fucked up your story. If I'm to believe some heroic caped crusader... where is Jador?"

"You got a thing for her?"

Edgar took his Queen.

"Shit," Wade said, "You've got good at taking the women in my life."

Edgar's face filled with regret and said, "Michelle and Mary..."

"Don't say their name."

"Proctor and..."

"Yeah, but they were under your protection. I trusted you. They trusted you. When a witness agrees to testify..."

"I know. I never forgave myself."

"So, forgiving yourself makes it all better."

"No, it doesn't," Edgar said, "It's a bitch ain't it.

Wade dropped it. He was still buzzing on whatever he took back at Ravenwood. He could play chess, but not the ounce of energy to give a shit about what his brother was saying.

"What do you want?"

"To say goodbye."

"Goodbye, then."

"Will you shut up for a second? I came back to get you."

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

"Solemn Pines was put into checkmate a long time ago."

"What do you know?"

"I know enough to tell you, stop playing games, you're playing a game you can't win."

"You didn't answer my question where is Jador?"

"That's part of my problem," Edgar said as he moved his Bishop, "Check."

Wade edged closer to the edge of his seat. He asked, "If you were going to make a move, you would've made it by now. So, why do you need me?"

"I need you to help me kill your friend, Detective Jador."

Wade sat back in his chair. The gravity of what he was asking was enormous. Yet he asked it, anyway.

"It's your move, brother."

"Why?" Wade said, "The game is in a stalemate."