The Invisible Hand - A crime novel

Chapter 78

                 

Taw is hunched over Sam. Pants around his ankles. They're clean. He must've changed at the rig. Not sure why that matters, but I notice it.

Sam's body scrambles underneath his weight. She's trying to pull her shirt down over her naked waist. A line of blood runs down her bare leg.

Taw fights her with one hand. In the other is a Bowie knife. About a six-inch blade. Not sure why I notice that. He doesn't notice me, though.

Sam makes eye contact for a brief moment. Then they shift to the floor.

I look down and left. I'm back at the grain bin. I see Taw's thick body fall from the top of the grain bin. Crushes my father.

I reach to the ground by the grain bin. Pick up a revolver. That look in my father's eyes. It's the same one sick cattle give before they're shot. Like they're saying, "Seriously? This is how I die?" I've put down so many sick animals. I know it well.

It was hard at first, those mercy shots, being I was young. But I convinced myself. Told myself the animals were in misery. Put them down quickly. To spare their suffering.

But I didn't at the grain bin. I stood there, mouth open, breathing deep. Natural. Watching my father's organs burst one by one. He choked as they came up and out his mouth.

Seriously?

Seriously.

No more suffering. Make it stop. Mercy kill. Mercy. Kill. Mercy.

Kill.

Kill.

I squeeze the revolver in my hand. I'm back in the RV. Watching Taw try to tear Sam apart. Standing there, mouth open, breathing deep. Not going to let it happen again. Going to do something this time. Can't watch another person die in front of me, crushed under the weight of bad luck.

"Taw," I say. Stoic. Robotic. Unnatural.

He stops. Turns his head to me.

I stab the revolver's barrel into Taw's left eye. It pops out, and I'm back at the grain bin. Watching my father's do the same. Taw's hand around my wrist returns me to the RV. He's leagues stronger than me.

I pull the trigger.

*** PLEASE SUPPORT MY WRITING! ***

This story will only be posted on Wattpad for a limited time. If you'd like the full version, head to your favorite online e-book/book retailer and pick up your own digital/print copy. Search for "Invisible Hand Sobieck." Or leave a review of the book on Amazon once you're finished reading on Wattpad. Thank you. ~Ben