way. He was aching for it.
The problemo was, when Jimmy saw Jenny’s dead body and the puddle of blood that leaked from the hole in her head and into the pool, Jimmy sprayed some DNA alright, just not the kind he had hoped. He vomited all over his New Balance sneakers, which coincidentally, did not live up to their name. He lay on the ground for a few seconds, and tried to convince himself what he saw wasn’t real. When he finally managed to stand, covered in puke and leaves and dirt, he started toward is own house. He walked at first, then he started to run. Kept repeating the plate number of the van over and over in his head.
Sid, Sr. drove them out of the suburbs and into town. Junior looked out the window and thought about her lover, Amanda. They had one more shot to take…this was the big one, and then it would be over. Her and Amanda could be together at last. They already had their place picked out down in the Keys. With the money Amanda had siphoned off over the last few years, they’d be able to live comfortably, though not extravagantly. But that was alright. Anything to be together and out of fucking Indiana.
“Are you listening to me?” Senior said. “How are we doing on time?”
The Governor was holding a press conference to announce his intentions to run for reelection. The media would be there in droves and the entire thing would be captured on television.
“We’re doing good,” Junior said.
“Keep your fucking head in the game. We’re almost through.”
“Interesting choice of words,” Junior said.
“Don’t get all mystical on me now. This is it. After we pop fly boy we’re outta here.”
“You never did tell me where you’re going.”
Senior laughed a wicked little laugh. “I’m going to hell, darling. But I’ll be going via Mexico. You and that crazy cunt still going to the Keys?”
Junior wished she’d never told him where they were going, but she had, so… “Yeah. Leaving tonight. And don’t call her that. We’re in love.”
“That right? Well, that was something about Sermon Sam, though, huh?”
No shit, Junior thought. “Fuck Sermon Sam. Pedophile motherfucker.” Then a minute or so later. “Maybe you’ll see him there. In hell.”
“No maybe about it,” Senior said. “No maybe at all.”
The Governor’s press conference was being held at the USS Indianapolis Memorial, near downtown, on the east side of the canal walk. The Sid’s parked their van at the back of the lot just north of a medical education building which gave them a clear shot of the podium where the Governor would give his speech. The plan was simple. Take the shot, burn the van, then walk away. They had a getaway car parked in the lot, and Senior had the keys in his pocket. They turned into the lot and drove to the back.
They were right on time.
Indianapolis Metro Patrol Officer Jonathon Cauliffer drove along Roanoke street and turned his cruiser onto West North street and then hung a left on Walnut. He was in the area where the Governor was going to give his speech and if he took Walnut to the end, right where it met Ellsworth, he could sit in his squad car, eat his sandwich and watch the big guy give his speech. Another day on the job.
Except the traffic was heavy, and there was no real place to park, so Cauliffer turned around and hooked a left and went back north toward the parking lot adjacent to the education building. He’d be able to see just as well. Either way, he’d have his lunch.
Senior had the van backed in at the rear of the lot which gave him a clear view of the Memorial and the area where the Governor was going to speak. He moved to the back and slid the rear window of the van open just enough to allow the barrel of the rifle to slip through. The lot was virtually empty. They were good to go.
Cauliffer turned into the mostly empty lot and parked right next to the building. He unwrapped his sandwich, took a quick bite, then set it down on the passenger seat. He unbuckled his seatbelt, turned the volume on his radio down, lowered the window on his squad car and settled in. He was on the last day of his tour before his three days off. Four hours to go. He couldn’t wait.
The governor stepped up to the podium and turn on his camera smile. “I have a quick announcement to make, and then I’ll take a few questions, if you have any, that is.” The reporters all laughed politely. “Well, as you all probably already know, I am here today to announce my intentions to run for reelection for the office of Governor for the great state of…”
Senior put the cross hairs on the Governor’s forehead. His finger had just started to pull the trigger when Junior spoke and everything changed. “City cop turning in. He’s parking right next to the building.”
Senior relaxed his finger. “Son of a bitch.”
“Want me to take him?” Junior said. She reached under the seat and pulled the silenced pistol out. “I bet I could get him before he knew what’s what. Just like that state boy.”
“No, no, hold off. Let’s see what he’s doing.”
“Looks to me like he’s eating a sandwich.”
“Maybe today’s not the Governor’s day,” Senior said.
“It has to be today. We don’t have a choice.”
Senior thought about it. It did have to be today. The cops would put it together before too long, and they did not want to be around when that happened. The Governor had flown the plane, everyone knew that. But it was Rhonda Rhodes’ husband, the on-scene Fire Department Commander that wouldn’t let anyone in the hotel after the crash. Elle Richardson’s husband, the City cop had backed him up. Together they let Sara burn. Goodwin’s wife, Tess was the twat that had switched Sara’s schedule to the night shift, otherwise she wouldn’t have even been there that day. And Bob Anderson? That motherfucker worked the tower that morning, so his hot little number of a wife, Jenny, well she had to go too. Now every single one of those cocksuckers would know what it felt like to Sid, Sr., what it still feels like every god damned day of his life.
The weight of it all had been building for such a long time that Sid felt like he might bust. He laid the rifle down, turned and spoke, his voice as hollow as Junior had ever heard. He was always going to tell her, but he was also going to wait until after they were done with the Governor. But now…
“There’s something you should know, Sidney. About the Governor.”
“What?” she said. “I know everything there is to know.”
“No, you don’t.”
“What else is there? He crashed his plane into the hotel and Mom burned to death,” Junior said as she pointed to where the Governor stood talking to the media. “Nobody went in to rescue her or anyone else, all while that son of a bitch floated down in his parachute and landed without a scratch.” She shook her head. “Now pick up your gun, take the fucking shot and I’ll go take care of the cop.” Junior reached for the door handle but Senior caught her arm and stopped her. The pressure of the situation was almost too much for Junior to take.
“ What?”
“Listen to me,” Senior said. He practically hissed it at her. “There’s something you don’t know. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
“Well what is it, for fuck’s sake?” Junior yelled.
So Senior told her…
Cauliffer finished his sandwich and for the first time noticed the van at the back of the lot. It was white. He scrolled through his computer and checked the logs. There was something about a BOLO for a white van. There was a plate number too, he thought. He found the report and read through the details.
…and when Junior heard the words, she snapped. Her life had been a sham, everything she knew to be true, everything that made her who she was and what she had become was a lie. She didn’t think, she didn’t weigh her
