The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Eleven

Douglas and Lawton crept up on Flavell's car parked farther ahead. The red lights from his brake lights illuminated the forest in a halo of crimson.

Flavell popped open the rear of his trunk. Someone inside produced muffled cries. Mick gave a haymaker to whoever was inside squirming around. The screams stopped after the second punch. Flavell grabbed the person by the collar, shouldered them, and walked off into the back country with a flashlight.

"What the fuck are we going to do, Doug?"

"Not a damn thing. We still don't realize what's happening."

"We have to do something."

"Not yet. Let this ride out. There might be more people out here."

"I can't allow this to happen." Lawton pulled out his handgun.

Douglas wrestled the gun from Lawton. The Virginian rolled Douglas on his back and snagged the Native's gun.

"Stop, you're going to fuck this up."

"Get the fuck out of my way, Doug."

Douglas head-butted Lawton and he slumped to his side. Douglas placed his hand over Lawton's mouth as he tried to shut him up.

"Shut up, he's coming back."

Lawton squirmed around. Douglas saw Flavell had discovered the commotion, but he was not alarmed. Flavell reached into the trunk for a spade and carried it off into the wilderness.

"Fuck, maybe we should..."

Before Douglas could finish the sentence, Lawton took a rock. He knocked out the Nez. Lawton rolled him over. He checked his pulse. Still alive. Lawton grabbed his revolver and charged towards the parked vehicle.

Lawton slowed his pace the closer he got to the vehicle. He extended his weapon. No other passengers. He followed the narrow trail of broken branches to a clearing.

Mick Flavell slung dirt over his shoulder. Lawton saw he had made quick work with the grave. He saw the person laid out next to the hole. Lawton witnessed the Director had taken his shirt off, and his gun holster which laid on the ground. Lawton extended his revolver.

"Freeze, Solemn PD. Put the spade down, sir."

Flavell does not follow his orders. He gripped the spade which he held midway through throwing dirt.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You're a son of a bitch, that much I can tell."

"I know what it looks like, but it ain't what it looks like."

"Says every dirty fucking cop with a body on the ground and a shovel in their palms."

"You got me there. Is that you... newbie?"

"Detective, Wes Lawton."

"Easy on, son. Wes. Yeah, I remember you. I hired you. I even gave you that transfer to Homicide."

"I'm sure you're regretting it."

"No, I'm proud of you. You are a good detective. But I am going to need you to put that gun down. Think of your career."

Lawton narrowed his stance. His aim lowered. He thought about what Flavell said.

"Nothing has happened that we both won't regret. You haven't got the full facts."

"I think I've learned enough. I got enough from Hadley. Basinski. Sullivan."

"Sully? Is that how you found me?"

"Yeah, you're in big trouble, mister."

"Oh, I must be, Detective. Sullivan and I... He is a little raw, our relationship cannot go any further. I mean, you caught me with my pants down, son. Good on you. But what I am doing right now, ain't got nothing to do with Sully. It ain't got nothing to do with you either."

"Why did you bury the case?"

"What are you on about?"

"The Serpent Stalker Case."

Flavell remains silent, as if Lawton touched on a sore nerve.

"You reviewed the cases Hadley and Basinsky were working had a connection with the Serpent Stalker case and you had them reassigned and you buried it. You know as I know it crossed state lines, and it was a Federal Matter."

"It was inconclusive. Hadley and Basinsky had nothing. That is the truth. It would not hold up in court."

"Bullshit."

"It's true. So, I told Sully to drop it or else I would expose him. Sully dropped out because he was like you, son; couldn't live with a lie."

"You ruined his career. He's in pigeon town eating bird shit cases right now."

"I noticed, but it had to be done."

"So, why? Why did you bury it?"

"I like you, kid. But you're testing my patience."

"Fieldhouse. Porter. Richmond. Cole... all those kids you had no patience for."

"Your wrong. Kid, just turn around. I won't hurt you..."

"Chambers Housing Limited."

Flavell's demeanour changed and his tone as well.

"What did you say?"

"Who is Robert W. Chambers' sole heir?"

"Where did you pick up that name?"

"You should know...you read Hadley's report. All the houses those kids lived in. Fieldhouse. Porter. Richmond. Cole. Built and sold by Chambers Housing Limited."

"Robert W. Chambers had a son. Two sons. But this son sold those houses that belonged to... the parents of those kids."

"Who sold those houses, Mick?"

"You'll never learn..."

Flavell threw the dirt that was on his shovel and blinded Lawton. Mick used this to his advantage and closed the distance. Lawton's gun fired. The wilderness lit up in flashes. Flavell swung and hit Lawton dead in the face. He crashed down into the grave. Flavell lunged and mounted the Detective. His hands around Lawton's neck. Strangling him. Lawton's eyes bulged. Bloodshot. Grip tightened. Flavell diverted his gaze, unable to watch as the Detective's legs thrash about in the grave. Unable to get his footing because of the slippery slope of the grave. His legs twitched and came to a stop. Flavell held his choke a little longer. But Lawton was dead.

Flavell heard some rustling above him. His own spade knocked him out.

Douglas woke up in the darkness. He grabbed his gun that was near his hand. He shook off that hazy feeling when you get knocked out.

Nez Stumbled in the dark back to his car. The detective turned on the headlights and grabbed a flashlight. He followed the trail left by Flavell. Flavell's decapitated head laid beside the spade in the ground between where his neck would be. Blood seeped into the shallow grave where Lawton laid.

Douglas jumped into the pit and performed CPR to no avail. Pressing on his chest while alternating with two breaths.

"Fuck, c'mon, Kid. Don't die on me."

Douglas had filled with guilt once again.

"Lawton, c'mon."

"He's dead," said a voice.

"Fuck, who's out there?"

Douglas took his sidearm and pointed his gun out into the forest. Not knowing where to aim.

"Don't shoot me."

"Show yourself."

A figure of a person came out of the wilderness. Douglas trained his gun on the individual. The person held their hands up high and inched closer to the light from the flashlight on the ground. Douglas shone the light on Detective Jaspreet Jador.

"We've got some shit to talk about, Doug."