Ch 20 Twilight Martyrdom

Kessler was heading the DEA. He hid in a cable television van along with other swat team covert troopers, all wearing helmets and vests. Kessler was in the passenger’s seat, watching attentively as Chico’s car neared in the driveway.

“Alright that’s our guy” He spoke through a walkie-talkie.  Two other vans crept around the corner as Chico parked his car in his circle driveway and made his way into the house. 

“Game on”.

Teddy knocked on Ronnie’s dorm, his eyes coveting the door knob, sensing he could fall backwards. His eyes gravitated; it wasn’t until Ronnie spoke to him that he snapped out of his trance.

“Teddy, you okay?” Said. Ronnie. Teddy looked up rapidly and dazed. 

“Huh? Oh yeah, yeah. I should be asking you that.” He said as he walked into Ronnie’s miniscule dorm room. 

“I’m fine, really. I’m still getting used to walking again, feeling a bit loose.” Said Ronnie as he picked up some of his clothes off a chair so Teddy could sit.

“Yeah well, I just came by to let you know about that reverend James, they found Megan’s body in the landfill…” Said Teddy. Ronnie plummeted in his bed, shocked. 

“He killed her… and he tried to kill me too” He felt a freezing chill crawling up the side of his skull that was wrecked. 

“Well, there’s that and there was something else I wanted to ask…” 

“What is it?” Said Ronnie. Teddy sat down in the chair, he sighed, wanting to search for the correct words. He couldn’t clearly approach the topic. 

“That day that they brought you in for questioning, Kessler told me you told them that you had killed them, that you killed all of them” Said Teddy. An enigmatic silence took place as Ronnie stared at Teddy waiting for him to finish his question.

“Why did you say that, Ronnie? Why would you say that you killed Will? Huh? Can you explain to me why you said that? Why you would even think that you killed our best friend? Well?” he said. 

Ronnie pouted. He bit his lower lip trying to contain his emotions, his impulsion to begin yelling at him. How could he possibly comprehend? He couldn’t.

“I had my reasons Teddy. It’s complicated okay… Can’t you see there’s a hole on the side of my head?!” Ronnie yelled at him. Clasping his hands and burying his face in them. He breathed heavily.

“Alright, I’m just wondering, you know, if you were ever interested in catching the real Lady killer or if you were just after the married cop-“

“Fuck you Teddy!!! How dare you?! How are you say that?! I was the one who actually did something about Will’s death! I was the one who went out and looked for answers, I didn’t just brush him off my memory like all of you did. And I found out a lot about his killer, we got close! We got real close” Ronnie pounded his fist against his boudoir, his heavy breathing turned to exasperated whimpers. 

“We even found out that the killer had a tattoo  of a music note on his pelvis, that’s how close we got” He said again, this time the tears would encompass his round cheeks. Teddy shook his head, got up and headed towards the door.

“I’m sorry Ronnie, you were close… but not enough.” Teddy walked out of the dorm room leaving madly quivering under his breath. As soon as Teddy closed the door behind him Ronnie angrily wiped his boudoir clean and knocked off everything and tumbled everything near him. He grasped the side of his head that was smashed, and tremble as he did so. His breathing was exaggerated and intense he glared at nothing as he sunk onto the floor.

Albert cradled himself into a fetal position. He was shivering but his eyes were closed, he was fast sleep. His ankle remained chained to the pipes. There in the darkness he heard clamoring footsteps.

 He awoke and awaited for the door to open, for the light to graze him again. 

The door opened and Albert’s cradled body was illuminated and then darkened by Chico’s shadow. His glistening black loafers were all that Albert would fix his eyes on. Chico walked over to him and crouched over him.

“Poor baby” He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Albert’s face. 

“I’ll get you out of here real soon; you just gotta show me you can behave…” He strokes his hair with his fingers.

“I wish I could stay baby but I have other stuff to do, when I get back I’ll get you out of here, I promise” He caressed his face, slowly wiping away the tears that would collect on the floor. Albert motioned slowly with his eyes and slowly opened his mouth, giving him a signal that he was about to say something. 

“What is it?” Chico moved in closer to hear him, he nearly pressed his ear to his lips. And he waited a while before he said it.

“Go fuck yourself” Said Albert in a hoarse and beaten voice.  At that same instant gunshots were heard upstairs, and large crashing sounds. Chico, frightened, quickly moved toward the door and then came back to Albert.

“You, you son of bitch! You called the fucking cops didn’t you?!” Chico pulled a handgun and aimed it violently at Albert. Albert buried his face into the ground and shielded his head with his arms.

“Huh?! Did you?!” He said as he started to violently kick him. Chico grabbed his arms and uncovered his face and smashed the butt of his gun against his temple. 

“You sunuvabitch!” He said as he repeatedly punched him in the face.

Kessler enters the ceased house. There was broken glass all over the marron carpet. DEA agents were scattered all over the house, two bald men were being handcuffed, the northern walls filled with bullet holes. Outside in the pool area several agents held down the massive Iago down as they struggled to cuff him. Kessler shuffled into the hallways with his gun extended outwards, he kicked down the door of every room looking violently for something. As he made his way down the hall he saw officers coming out of the master bedroom. He quickly rushed into it finding officers already at the stand, the room was otherwise empty.

“What did we find here?” He asked. 

“24 kilos of the good stuff” said one of the officers and pointed to the stack of brown packages in the middle of the room. Kessler didn’t look astonished and quickly scanned the room then quickly ran back down the hallway and then back to the living room.

“Are all the rooms checked?!” He shouted out loud for everyone. The DEA agents looked at each other wondering what his problem was. Another officer was taking in Iago out through the front and he looked at Kessler with a distorted expression. Kessler walks through the kitchen and opens a door that leads to the garage. It was absolutely vacant except for a few cars. There, on the other side was a small door opening. Kessler was struck with lightning as he bolted to it and found that it led downstairs. Kessler slowed his pace as he walked down a long a narrow flight of stairs. At the very end of the stairs he could see the shining glimmer of a door knob. He quickly turned it.

The faint sunlight shone on Chico’s face as he held the gun directly to Albert’s mangled face. Kessler quickly raised his gun.

“Don’t move or I’ll fuckin kill him!” Chico said. Kessler remained steady.

“It’s over, you’re whole operation is over. you don’t know what you’re doing here-“

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Chico bellowed insanely. He jerked around Albert’s head, keeping a tight headlock. 

“Listen, you’re not going to shoot him, he’s your only leverage against me. Chico, you’re not getting out of this… as soon as a gunshot is heard my men will come down here like a rampant storm, there’s no out for you-“

“Shut up I said! I will fucking shoot him!”

“No you won’t. I just told you why” Said Kessler. Chico’ breathing overtakes the room, he looks at Albert’s collapsing body then at Kessler.

“Fine… then I’ll kill you” Chico immediately points the gun at Kessler and simultaneously loosens his grip on Albert. At which time Albert musters all his strength to bash the back of his head against Chico’s nose, sending him aback. 

Kessler swoops down and severs him from his gun and knocks him down onto the ground with all force he pins him down and constrains him. Chico squirms and tries to break free but Kessler overpowers him holding the gun to his head and yelling at him to stay on the ground.

Kessler gives Albert a reassuring look. Albert’s eyes roll to the back of his head as he lies down on his back with a guilty smile. 

Jane waits in a squad car along with Melvin, she nervously bites into nails as she watches from the street as several men are taken into other police cars. Iago was among them, she turns her head away to hide herself. Melvin was anxious as well, he held Jane’s hand tightly.

“He’ll be fine” He assured her. Jane nodded and looked back at the house. Her lips started to quiver; she whimpered and let out a deafening screech as they saw Albert come out of the house supported by Kessler. They both shot out of the car, Jane sprinted towards them. 

“Al!” She yelled as her red pony-tail flopped behind her. As she got closer she saw the damage done to his face and she paused right before and then, with a powerful but gentle force, she embraced him with tears rolling down her face.

“hey sis, ouch, be careful”  he said. Jane gave him a slight kiss on the cheek, and Kessler let him stand on his own. She jeered and smiled, the tears started to dry. Albert looked behind Jane and saw Melvin patiently waiting, Jane let go of him and signaled towards Melvin. 

“Melvin… I-“ Albert was silenced by Melvin lips pressed gently on his own. 

“I got your message” Said Melvin as they both smiled.

“I don’t mean intrude on this happy reunion but I’m gonna need Albert’s statement” Said Kessler. Albert looked Kessler and nodded. 

Chico’s wrist were bound together by handcuffs, his clean shaven face was ridden with sweat his eyes were like clear pools illuminated by the night’s sky, and his tears like rivers through swamps that emptied into the delta bay that were the corners of his mouth. Kessler made it through the threshold of the interrogation room holding a large sketchpad. 

“What did you say his name was again?” Said Kessler towering over him. 

“I didn’t know his real name, we went by B.J.” Said Chico nervously. 

“I see… and this is the most accurate possible description of him?” Kessler shows him the sketch. 

“Yeah, it is. So how much, how many years will they take off if I help you guys?”

“You help us identify all of your customers and I can guarantee they’ll take 10 years off your sentence” Said Kessler assuredly with a smile. Chico looked pleased, his water flow ceased.

“According to Albert there was a customer that you were particularly afraid of, was this him?”

“I wasn’t afraid of him okay!” He shouted. Kessler took that as a yes.

“What was he buying?” Asked Kessler. Chico looked away, unable to answer at first. 

“He… he bought specialty items…” 

“Like?” 

“You know, the cherry meth.” Said Chico.

“GHB? A date rape drug?” Kessler’s face lit up. Chico sighed and pouted.

“Yeah..” 

Kessler quickly exited the interrogation room and pulled out his cellphone and dialed Ronnie, he then changed his mind and closed his flip phone. He looked at the sketch again, staring at it, wondering who he was, in his mind, in his right mind; he was looking at the Lady Killer. 

A pale hand knocked on Teddy’s front door. He opened it to find, the tall and warm-looking Jeremiah standing there with a friendly smile, his glasses contrasting the light of his television set. 

“Jeremiah?! What’s up?” He said with a gesture that said come right in.

“I was just in the neighborhood, and I realized I haven’t seen you in a while, one could say you’re even trying heavily to avoid me” He said as he entered Teddy’s shabby but comfortable dorm room, it was bigger than the rest. Jeremiah was wearing his regular suit, he placed his satchel down on the floor and examined Teddy’s dorm.

“Avoiding you? No, of course not, why would, why would you think that?” He said as he scurried to clean up his space and turn on the lights.

“Sure, go ahead deny it” 

“No, I’m not! It’s just that I’ve been promoted in the factory, its been a brutal time trying to keep up with school and more work time” He shows Jeremiah his work I.D and badge.

“Here, you see, this is technically a master key, I’m shift manager now”

“Shift Manager? Well that truly is impressive Teddy- I’m in terrible need of a haircut” He said as he looked himself in a mirror, his transition lenses turned clear. Teddy wanted to correct him and tell him that his hair was the perfect length and all he wanted to do with it was an unspeakable array of sexual misconduct. Teddy kept to himself his anxiety remaining dormant. 

“Hey, you were mentioned in Ronnie’s court trial, in Megan’s tape, did you know something about the trial, because Megan, in her tape recording said she had confided in you that information that was presented, and she said you would be the one giving out the tapes, but instead it was Bradley Haynes-“

“I’ve no interest to talk about that particular subject, Teddy, in short I find it perpetually repugnant, however I will satisfy your curiosity; I was merely busy that day” He wandered about the room looking at how poorly decorated the dorm was, he went around touching several ornaments and pictures. Teddy noticed something different in his speech. 

“Hmm, that’s odd” Said Jeremiah as he picked up a small painting of an ecclesiastical angel. 

“Teddy, did you know there’s no such thing as a female angel?” Said Jeremiah. 

“What are you talking about? Sure there are.” 

“It’s a common misconception. There is no recollection in any bible, Catholic or Christian, that contains even the slightest hint of a female angel, seraph, or cherubim. Think about it. All the famous Angel names Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer, Uriel, Raphael were all of male persuasion, there are no female angels. And do you know why Teddy? It’s because when God created Heaven,  he created all of the angels that will ever be in existence throughout time, and since the female didn’t exist until the creation of Eve, all of the Angels were male. And so you’re probably wondering why no one has highlighted this fact. The reason is to hide the sexist nature of it all… It wasn’t until the early renaissance when painters decided to paint female angels and such paintings were adopted by the church over the years and soon enough images of female angels were commonplace and pleasing no one would ever have any qualms with it whatsoever. But in fact, there are no female angels, actually there are no females with any sort of power in Heaven. That Teddy is the truth; an angel, a perfect being, that knows no hunger, no pain, no strife, absolute perfection is not and cannot be female”

Jeremiah was just inches away from Teddy, he stood so close that he could feel his palpable heart thundering ripples from his chest all the way down to his knees. So much even so that he missed Jeremiah’s passionate speech. Jeremiah grew even closer, his lips were nice and thin. Teddy caught a glimpse of them and he gave in. He rushed him, their lips crashed together like a runaway intersection. The immediate satisfaction rectified Teddy of all emotions, Jeremiah’s soft and tender lips wrapped around his and he let himself go, into that bitter state of internment as Jeremiah held him tightly against his chest. 

Teddy’s chest was burning somehow he didn’t want things to go rashly. He stopped Jeremiah.

“Wait, wait, wait” He said as he caught his breath.

“I thought you were… uh, aren’t you with Gemma? What’s… what’s going on?” Said Teddy and immediately regretted it. 

“ You’re asking if I’m gay or something along those lines. Are you serious Teddy? I’m sorry Teddy, but I’m not tied down to your labeling, there is no sexuality that can possibly begin to describe my feelings- just shut up” He said as he pursued Teddy’s lips again this time he submitted entirely to him.

With quickened haste, Jeremiah undressed himself keeping his lips locked with Teddy. He noticed Jeremiah’s immensely muscular upper body, his toned stomach and his compact but forceful biceps, and most of all his rugged back, which he caressed with unending passion. Jeremiah picked up Teddy as he kissed his neck and carried him over to the bed and tossed him down continued to cover his neck with his lips, and pause briefly to take Teddy’s shirt off, they went at it again this time Jeremiah came down to his chest and kept going down further onto his stomach. Teddy brain was in ecstasy. He felt like crying out loud and yelling “God yes!” but remembering that he had neighbors he clamored and groaned. 

It was then when Jeremiah loosened his belt buckle and slipped off his pants along with his briefs. Teddy saw his thick and toned pelvis, and on the right side was the crystal clear tattoo of an 8^th note wrapped around his pelvis. 

Teddy’s ecstasy trip was derailed. His heart changed pace, his beatings were no longer of passionate love making and changed to tune out of a horror movie. Jeremiah forcefully turned around so that Teddy was face-down. 

Teddy tried to calm down, he immediately tried to delude the fear that he had stirred up. It’s just a coincidence. He thought in his head. It’s impossible.  He thought again. He tried and tried but he just couldn’t bear the thought, he felt Jeremiah’s intense heat from behind. Teddy immediately resisted.

“What’s wrong Teddy? You afraid?” Said Jeremiah menacingly. 

“Yeah, I, I don’t wanna do this Jere-“

Jeremiah pinned him down with a tangible aggression. Teddy began to struggle and squirm but his efforts were useless, Jeremiah was immensely stronger than he. 

“Hey Teddy, you wanna know a secret?” Jeremiah whispered into Teddy’s ear as he struggled more. Teddy’s nerves were set on fire, he felt an incandescent flame lit up inside him granting him infinite strength, still miniscule compared to Jeremiah’s force. Teddy opened his mouth to cry out for help when suddenly, in a flash, Jeremiah grasped his mouth and the back of his head with both hands and snapped his neck.

A quivering crunch was heard as his neck rotated; the side of Teddy’s face was parallel to the bed. 

Jeremiah neared in to whisper in his ear again. 

“I’m an angel”