Not So Peachy Day Page 11

  “You're dead, Andy Pracks, and now you must pay for the crimes you committed against mankind,” Momma Peach hissed and pointed a sharp finger at Andy. The black sheet covered Momma Peach's finger, making it appear like a black, hideous bone poking out of the darkness itself.

  “No!” Andy screamed, “get away from me...get away from me!”

  Momma Peach kept her finger pointed at Andy. “Your punishment has come, Andy Pracks,” she said and pointed around the attic. “Open the door!”

  Andy saw a pile of boxes start moving and the sound of angry, hissing voices crying out. “No!” he cried. Sam and John grinned at each other and kept shaking the boxes. “No!”

  Momma Peach glared at Andy. “You killed William Krayton. William is waiting for you!” Sam let out a hideous, pained howl. “The man you killed is waiting to pay you back for what you did, and he will not be denied his vengeance!”

  Andy stared at the dark figure before him, unable to move, paralyzed with fear. “I...” he tried to speak.

  “You cannot lie!” Momma Peach boomed. “You killed William Krayton!” In the background, Sam and John continued to shake the boxes, whispering “Murder, murder,” over and over again, so that it sounded like many voices echoing in the drafty air.

  “Yes, yes!” Andy cried out, “I killed William. But...Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris ordered me to do it! I had no choice!”

  Momma Peach lowered her hand. “You were going to kill John Minski, too. Lucky his soul isn’t here to punish you as well. Did your masters order you to kill him, too?”

  “Yes, yes!” Andy yelled. “I didn't want to kill the old man. The plan was to frame him for murder, but Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris are growing impatient…they're struggling. They said there was no time, what with the debt and needing to close certain deals…” he closed his eyes as if regretting the words, which seemed to stir up a new fury of voices and noise from all around him.

  “You chose to work for evil men and now you will suffer. Open the door!” Momma Peach boomed. Sam and John let out howls and continued to shake the boxes.

  “No!” Andy begged. “Please. I—I shouldn’t have done it. I know that now. Please!”

  “I'm coming for you, Andy,” John howled in a hideous voice. “You shot me! Betrayed me! Now it’s your turn. I will have my vengeance.”

  “No!” Andy cried.

  Momma Peach sniffed the air. “Oh, give me strength,” she whispered under the sheet, “that snake done went and wet his pants.”

  “Leave me alone, William...I swear I’ve been punished enough. Just go back where you came from!”

  Momma Peach folded her arms. “You're going to join your dead friend,” she promised Andy. “Unless...”

  Andy stopped whining. “Unless what?” he shouted. “I'll do anything, please.”

  “How quickly the tough façade crumbles,” Sam whispered to John. John nodded his head in agreement. They rattled the boxes only a little now.

  “You have done evil deeds, but you can stop others from doing evil. You must confess the plans of your evil masters,” Momma Peach said in a ghastly whisper. “Confess. Repent! Distance yourself from their evil. If you refuse—” Momma Peach pointed at the boxes. “I cannot hold back what is coming for you. The door is now open!”

  “Coming for you!” John howled and then held back laughter. “This is better than filling that coward full of holes,” he whispered.

  “No!” Andy pleaded for his life. “William, I swear...stay back!” Andy squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to escape the hideous creature staring down at him. “I'll do it,” he finally yelled. “I repent. I’ll confess. Anything!”

  “You must confess everything,” Momma Peach said in dark tones. “Lest your repentance be rejected. Beware!”

  “It was the snowstorm,” Andy whimpered. “Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris wanted to use the snowstorm to their advantage.”

  “Confess,” Momma Peach howled in a voice that even gave Sam the chills.

  “Okay, okay! They...they wanted to frame the old man for murder...but that was only the beginning,” Andy said, talking fast. “William’s murder was meant to take down the old man that owns the inn, but also distract the authorities.” Andy cracked his eyes open, looked up at Momma Peach, and wet his pants again. “Please,” he begged.

  “Is that what William Krayton said when you shot him dead?” Momma Peach growled. “Did William Krayton beg for his life? And even if he did, would you have shown him any mercy? Confess! Show why you deserve any mercy at all!”

  Andy licked his lips. “There’s a plan. Coplin and Morris have a plan,” he said, grasping onto the only piece of tangible information he could think of to save his lousy life. “They're planning to blow up every business that is fighting against them. John Minski...the old man...they wanted to spare his building and turn it into a clubhouse after they build a golf course on the land out back.”

  “But something changed?” Momma Peach boomed.

  “They ordered me to kill the old man. Why? I don't know. They seem to be at each other's throats. I'm not certain why. Something…something’s going on between them. They don’t tell me enough. I swear I don’t know more than that! All I know is that they’re desperate to take control of Mableville and they’re willing to blow up the inn and a whole bunch of other buildings just to make it happen. They...they have promised some very powerful people certain business deals…business deals that will fail if they don't take control of Mableville very soon. I swear that’s all I know. That’s all.”

  Momma Peach stood tall over the cowering man. “You must confess everything,” she demanded once again, and listened to the storm howl outside.

  At her signal, Sam began to howl as loud as he could and shake the boxes. John let out a terrifying cry. Momma Peach leaned back her head and howled gleefully. “Stop!” Andy screamed. “Stop it!”

  Momma Peach stopped howling. “Confess your evil deeds!”

  Sam picked up an empty box and toppled it toward Andy. The box struck Andy in his face and he flinched in pain and terror. “Stop!” Andy screamed and began crying. “I swear it…I'll talk, okay? I'll talk…” Andy squeezed his eyes closed. “It's all part of their plan. A political takeover.”

  “A takeover?” Momma Peach asked.

  “By foreign powers,” Andy confessed. “Small towns all across America are being systematically destroyed by large corporate chain stores and private developers like Coplin and Morris because all the money comes from foreign investors who want to control the economy.” Andy kept his eyes squeezed shut. “It's all about political power. The more the outside forces control American land, the more they control the economy too, and the more they control the halls of government.”

  “You lousy...” Momma Peach began to snap but caught herself. “Keep talking,” she howled. Andy shivered all over. “Confess!”

  “It’s all one entity,” Andy screamed. “They want the public to believe America is still divided into two political parties, but that's a lie. It's all a distraction while foreign powers invade American soil and systematically destroy what’s left of our freedom. We've already brainwashed the younger generation and turned them into mindless zombies.” Andy dared to open his eyes. “Movies, music, television, magazines, news outlets, it's all part of it—why do you think media organizations are so large? It’s all designed to brainwash the youth of this country and turn them against the powers that be.”

  “Why?” Momma Peach asked.

  “There's more of them than us. We can't risk a second American revolution. If people found out what was really at stake...if they found out America was being destroyed from the inside out, they would stand up and fight and possibly even defeat us. If people found out we were bringing in foreign powers...foreign powers with access to private armies? They would revolt. So how do you control millions of people?”

  “How?” Momma Peach asked.

  “First, you divide them and then you turn them against each other through soc
ial engineering techniques. You turn people against each other politically, racially, financially...brainwash the youth into actually believing good is evil and evil is good...and it's working.” Andy realized how evil a man he was and broke down in a new flood of contrite tears. “Mableville was promised to a foreign country that has assured us they will lend their military power to the cause when the time comes. All this real estate nonsense…that’s just the ground game, laying the foundation for what they’re planning. It’s so much more than that. It's all about destroying America and creating a world power in the hands of the dictators. But...only a very select few are privy to that information. A shadow group of men who control the world currencies.”

  “Goodness,” John whispered, “and I thought Vietnam was evil.”

  “Where do I find Coplin and Morris?” Momma Peach growled.

  Andy cringed. “They are staying in a house about three miles north of town,” he confessed. “They flew in four days ago and will leave once they have accomplished the final steps of their plan to take over Mableville.”

  “Who is in charge of the explosives? If you're here, that means Coplin and Morris must have a second man handy.”

  Andy licked his lips again. “The explosives are already set...they were set months ago. Once I confirm that the old man is dead, Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris are going to set off the explosives with a remote detonator.”

  Momma Peach bit down on her lower lip. “Oh, give me strength,” she whispered. “And what was to be your part in all this, after the murder of John Minski?” she demanded, keeping her voice deep.

  Andy closed his eyes. “Leave town on the snowmobile Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris hauled in with them…after I checked to make sure the buildings were destroyed. But...” Andy trailed off.

  “But what?” Momma Peach yelled.

  “Mr. Coplin...he's become...erratic,” Andy cried. “I'm not certain what has changed, but Mr. Morris keeps saying that Mr. Coplin might try to do something foolish behind his back. Mr. Morris didn't want to destroy the buildings in question with explosives, actually, but Mr. Coplin insisted. Mr. Morris came up with the original idea—to frame the old man for murder and use that to intimidate anyone standing against their plans later on. They should have stuck with that plan. But Mr. Coplin, about six months ago, began to change...he insisted on the explosives plan and said we would frame the old man for the explosion, too. Mr. Coplin started to become impatient and panicky...he began working against Mr. Morris and his plan. Mr. Morris created a solid plan that would have brought him success, but Mr. Coplin began insisting on drastic, radical changes.”

  “I want an address,” Momma Peach growled. “Tell me the address of the house where your evil masters are hiding.”

  “1901 Maybrook Street,” Andy coughed out. “By that lake outside of town. The house has a black iron fence, you can’t miss it.”

  “Are they alone?” Momma Peach asked, looming closer.

  Andy nodded his head miserably. “Yes.” Andy looked up at Momma Peach. “I'm supposed to make a security call after I kill the old man. If I don't make the security call, Mr. Coplin will detonate the explosives.”

  “He's going to do that anyway, dummy!” Momma Peach yelled in exasperation. She yanked off her mask and threw off the black sheet wrapped around her body. Sam jumped to his feet and quickly wheeled John over to Momma Peach. “Surprise,” Momma Peach grinned. “You've just been beaten.”

  Sam sniffed the air. “Did you wet your pants?” he asked Andy.

  Momma Peach nodded her head. “This here boy wet his pants more than once, let me tell you.”

  Andy sat in shock, frozen. “You...it was you all along? It was all some kind of…trick,” he whispered.

  “Boy,” Momma Peach chuckled, “for someone who is supposed to be mighty tough, you sure buckled like a wet tissue.” Momma Peach tossed the mask down onto Andy's lap. Andy flinched. “You can keep the mask as a souvenir.”

  “You...” Andy whispered again. “I'm going to kill you,” he said louder, gaining his voice back.

  “Well, first of all, I’d worry about Coplin and Morris if I were you, because they're sure gonna be mighty curious to find out how we found out their hidey-hole, don’t you think?” Momma Peach looked at Sam. “Looks like we're gonna have to go out in the storm,” she said. “Oh, with this weather I am surely gonna turn into a frosty bowl of peach ice cream tonight, give me strength, give me strength.”

  “You're all dead,” Andy sputtered, struggling in his restraints. “Screw Coplin and Morris, this is personal! I can’t believe you pulled this off…”

  “Oh really?” Momma Peach asked. She reached behind a box and pulled out a hidden tape recorder. “I think Mr. Coplin and Mr. Morris, along with some decent lawmen, are going to be mighty interested in hearing your confession.”

  Andy did not move. “You...taped me?”

  “We got you on tape confessing to the murder of William Krayton, scumbag,” John told Andy. “And don’t go crowing about entrapment, because we also have a witness to the murder.”

  Andy's eyes went wide. “The boy!” he yelled.

  Momma Peach slapped him across his face so hard the man's head nearly snapped off. “You ever touch my baby,” she yelled at Andy, “I will send you into a nightmare you'll never escape from, boy.”

  “Don't worry, Momma Peach,” John said and pointed his gun at Andy, “if he moves one single inch I'll fill him full of holes.”

  Momma Peach locked eyes with Andy. “You’re going to prison, boy, and you’re gonna rot there for a long, long time.”

  “Idiots. I'll escape,” Andy hissed. “I'll escape and come for you. I'll dedicate my entire life to tracking you down.”

  “And I will be waiting to make you wet your pants again,” Momma Peach told Andy and slapped him across his cheek gently, sniffing the air delicately with her nose scrunched up in disgust. Then she yanked his cell phone out of his coat pocket. “Thanks for the phone,” she said and shoved it into the pocket of her dress.

  Sam resisted the urge to shoot Andy. Instead, he placed his hand on John's shoulder. “If he moves, shoot him,” he said and looked at Momma Peach. “I don't think you—”

  “Mr. Sam, if you're going to say what I think you're going to say, don't. I swear, I am going out in this here storm to kill me two snakes, is that clear?”

  Sam nodded his head. He knew that when Momma Peach made up her mind to do something it was best to let her go unless you wanted to be beaten with a heavy pocketbook. “Okay, Momma Peach,” he said. He looked down at Andy and then bent down and searched the pockets of his coat and found the key to his snowmobile.

  “You'll never find it,” Andy growled.

  “You parked behind the inn in the tree line,” Sam told Andy. “I know how thugs like you think. You’re not original, and you’re not smart. Let's go, Momma Peach.”

  Momma Peach put her hand on John's shoulder. “Kill this snake only if he tries to kill you, please,” she begged. “At the end of the day…well, we're the good guys, okay? At least, we’re as good as we can be in this wicked old world.”

  John lowered his eyes and studied the gun he was holding. “I'm tempted to shoot this no-good rat as soon as I'm alone with him, but I won't. If I kill him without provocation at this point...well then, I'll be no better than what he is. No,” John said, “if you come back and find him dead, you’ll know it was because he pulled some fool stunt on me and I gave him what was coming to him because it was my last option. I won't kill him unless I have to. Death is too good for the likes of him.”

  “That's my baby,” Momma Peach smiled and kissed John on his cheek. “Let's go, Mr. Sam.”

  Sam patted John on his shoulder. “Okay, soldier, you're flying solo.”

  “Hey,” John said and grabbed Sam and then Momma Peach's hand. “You two...you'll never know what this means to me.”

  “Oh, come now. We didn't mind running towels and toilet paper rolls to a few fussy guests. Besides,
I was running low on toilet paper too, so I did myself a favor.”

  John smiled. “You know what I mean, Momma Peach. I'll never forget you two soldiers jumping in the foxhole with me even when I...even when I was too stubborn to be thankful and accept the help on offer.” John looked into Momma Peach's eyes. “My hunting land,” he said, “I'm going to turn it over to Timmy as a gift.”

  “I'm sure Timmy will love that,” Momma Peach promised John and hugged his neck. “We'll be back when the war is won. You just have the coffee and donuts waiting.”

  “Will do,” John smiled and focused his eyes back on Andy. “One move, punk, and you're dead.” Andy closed his eyes and sat very still. “You two, take the main road north of town and then cut over to Naples Street. Follow Naples down a few miles and it'll take you directly to Maybrook Street.”

  “Thanks, John,” Sam told John, confident that his friend held their enemy well in check, and then walked Momma Peach out of the attic and into her room to get her coat. “It's going to be mighty cold, Momma Peach. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I am determined. Besides, I ain’t going to let you go out into this storm alone,” Momma Peach told Sam. Then she stopped and rushed to the bathroom door. “I just need to make a potty break,” she said, embarrassed.

  Sam leaned against the room door to wait. “You know, Momma Peach,” he called out, “your plan was real unconventional, but it worked. You made Andy Pracks squeal like a pig.” Sam looked down at his hands. “Now I'm kinda wondering…what's going on inside of that head of yours right now? How are you planning to handle Coplin and Morris?”

  “Oh, give me strength, the Tabasco sauce is setting in,” Momma Peach cried out. “Mr. Sam, please, go wait in the hall, if you would.”

  Sam chuckled to himself. It felt good to laugh. “Here we are in the midst of a dangerous case and you're worried about this? Come now, we’ve all been trapped on the toilet a time or two.”

  “Not funny, Mr. Sam...oh...oh dear. This is an emergency. Please go! I’m going to have an explosion!” Momma Peach cried again. “Give me strength...give me strength.”