Blood Bath

Chapter 32

Seth knocked on the door instead of ringing the doorbell. He didn't want to wake the entire Blackwell family, but Colton was not waiting for him outside. When the door opened, it wasn't Colton who greeted him. It was Colton's dad. In the background Seth heard Colton's voice saying, "I'll be there in a minute, Dad. Tell Seth to start the Jeep. The keys are on the rack by the door."

Adam handed Seth the keys and asked, "Did you hear what he said?"

"Yes, and have a nice morning Mr. Blackwell."

"I hope to, once you two are out of here," Adam said.

Colton apologized for being late. "I guess I worked harder than I thought yesterday. I slept right through my alarm."

The two teens jumped in the Jeep and started down the road toward Pigeon. The large delivery truck was unloading the papers into the storage shed. Colton drove behind the truck and together he and Seth loaded newspapers into the back of the Jeep.

Colton checked the list of starts and stops and sped toward the start of his route.

Seth asked Colton how he liked working with Jim Owens.

Colton replied, "He's a great guy. It surprised me how fast he can install a security system. In fact, I learned a lot from him. You taught him well, Seth."

As the two delivered papers they discussed Ronald Stillmore. Seth kept looking into the shadows, wondering when he would jump out with a gun. "Do you think he wants to kill you?"

"I don't know. I think the guy is crazy. Anyone who would spray paint my Jeep is not normal. And if he killed Jenny and Luke... well I hope he hangs."

"They don't hang killers; they give them life in prison," remarked Seth.

"Hanging would be too good for him, anyway."

Seth laughed at Colton's remark. "You hate this creep, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. He has made my life hell. I can't do anything without worrying he'll pop his head up like a crazed clown."

"Oh, funny. Like Ronald the clown?" Seth asked.

"Something like that," agreed Colton.

They were just about finished with The Point deliveries when Colton noticed a vehicle parked on the side of the road with only its interior lights on. "I wonder if that's the police," he said.

As the Jeep approached the vehicle, its headlights came on. Colton could see it was a pickup truck or a van. The vehicle's lights were on high as it drove toward him.

"What should I do?" Colton asked.

There wasn't time for Seth to answer. The van stopped alongside the Jeep. It was Ronald Stillmore. His window was down, and he laughed at Colton.

"Hey. I see you and your buddy have the cops watching you. They can't help. I can kill you whenever I want."

"You don't want to do that," said Colton.

"Yes I do!" Ronald said as he pulled his hand out from under his coat ant pointed something at Colton.

"BANG" he yelled, pointing his finger.

"YOUR DEAD!"

Both Colton and Seth ducked. Rodney laughed. It was a maniacal laughed. Colton thought it sounded like the Joker in a Batman movie. Seth later said it was the devil himself.

Ronald drove off and was pursued by one of the county patrol cars. Colton could see the van driving into the woods with the Deputy closely on its tail.