Copperhead Road

Chapter:18

"I'm telling ya brother she is not the cause. Anyone that was trying to get us were staking out, sending girls in from out of town and would have not of gotten that close to any of us." My uncle said storming in. "I heard from the fire department that they found a car that was burned out by the lake. Most likely from a gasoline explosion." Another uncle said. "The sheriffs office got calls on two chargers with batteries missing and all four tires slashed. You tell me something's going on." One more said.

"What did she drive?" Johnny asked me. "A black Dodge Charger." I answered. "It's got to be her. She's getting vengeance on whoever is messing with us and her and she does not like it." Andrew said. "Then where would she be for us to interrogate here?" Dad asked. "I've got an idea. But I'm going to need a complete circle block." I said jumping up. They followed. I hoped this worked.

~_~_~_~_~

I woke up to engine rumbles. Multiple. I got up and went to go out the back way seeing no pile of straw. Trapped. Black trucks circled the back way. I then went to the front. A full dang circle. I went down the latter and got into a stall. I heard a few walking above me. I hid in a hole before falling through. The sound echoed through the entire barn. I just let them know where I was. I backed up until I found something disgusting.

The door was broken in. Surrounded. I tried to get away being dragged out. "I'd stop being stubborn." One said as I was pulled flush against him. Josh came up looking calm. "Don't hurt her whatever you do." He said. This is not working. I tried to get out of the guy's grip not availing. My hands were bound behind my back and another guy stepped in to help. I was helped into the backseat of one of the many trucks before one got on each side.

A blindfold was put over my eyes. A cloth was felt against my face. I tried to pull back. I passed out not long after. I awoke still blindfolded. I could smell the familiar scent that followed any of the Pettimore boys around. I tried to lift my arm not getting anywhere. I them tried to move my legs before a door opened. I had to be in a storage cellar below a house or somewhere within the county.

"Remove the blindfold." John Lee Pettimore. I came face to face with him. "What do you want?" I spat. "Just to know your side of the story. If your clean your welcome to stay around." He said. "And if not?" I asked. "You'll be thrown to the sheriff and they'll get to deal with you." He said sitting down in a chair in front of me. "So shall we get started? The sooner we're done the sooner your fate is determined."

"Ask." I said. "Was that your car that was on fire?" He asked. "Yes. It was wired as a mobile tracking device." I said. "When did you find that out?" He asked. "When I found the tracking device in an envelope with a copy of my birth certificate and proceeded to clip and pull wires out." I answered. "Who gave you the envelope." He asked. "Some man at the grocery store the day after my brother attacked me the first time. That was the day you caught me in Josh's room the first time because my brother was hunting me down." I said.

"Was there anything written on it?" He asked. "The simple words, 'open in the car,' I didn't know what it was until I got to the car and opened it." I said. "What kind of handwriting was it?" He asked. "Man's. I didn't know who though." I said. He showed me a picture. "This him?" He asked. I looked before replying. "Yeah." "Then bout your cousins' cars." "They were in on it too." I said.

"So you are the one that took the batteries and slashed the tires." He said. "Well if they can't get anywhere how are they supposed to meet up with my father. Henry wasn't the one who got my mom pregnant." I said. "She must have covered it up and told him you were born a month early instead of saying you were another man's child." He said. "Something like that." I said. "Why did you do it?" He asked.

"Because if somehow you or anyone else in the family was sent to prison for more than a decade, the family would have fallen or if one got caught the rest of the men or women involved would have been arrested and sent to prison for involvement. They don't have a right knowing where the entire family lives." I said. "So. You never wanted to hurt my youngest?" He asked. "No. He's the first guy that has actually treated me good. He's the first one to actually care bout me. Why would I want to hurt him?" I asked.

"Because if the family was caught, he'd be arrested and you would not be considering you led them to us." He said. I scoffed. "I'd go now considering that I've found ways to make sure vehicles don't start or run." I said. "What do you mean by that?" He asked. "I'd take small parts of the engine and cut wires to ensure no one can find this place unless they have the family's permission." I said.

"Untie her. I see a good use for her. Any vehicles that stop near the land will not leave." He said. "And if it's someone that accidentally broke down there?" I asked. "As long as no one goes off onto the territory and are fixing their vehicle you don't touch them." He said. The zip tie binds were cut off. Then on my legs. The guy then made me stand and shoved me towards the door.