Part One - Brad Kilgore

  Chapter Four - Did you feel like a man?

  The question circled around inside Brad’s brain. He knew, but he replied hoarsely, “Who?”

  Frank kicked the chair. The rope was tied off.

  He couldn’t even fall to the ground. His feet searched and clung. They nearly slipped. Urgently, he fought to keep the chair beneath him. The rope tightened. The floating specs faded, and the beams of moonlight grew dim. Darkness began to close in as his world shrank.

  Brad Kilgore was unaware of how much time had passed. He was breathing. The rope was around his neck. Something held him upright. He thought that asshole really kick the chair. Then he realized his throat hurt, and the burning crushing pain grew stronger. But the pressure was less. Released in some kind of way. Brad realized the man had saved him. Then the noose forced his chin upward. The son of a bitch had almost killed him. Anger rose in him. He could breathe? Why? The man was playing with him.

  Kilgore felt the man flicked the rope. A slight pulse encircled his neck.

  Frank had taken care to keep Brad’s voice intact. He said, "That's going to leave a mark. I almost lost you there. You need to be more careful, because you haven’t got any more chances, and that chair isn’t looking good. Now, answer the question. Did killing her make you feel like a big man?”

  “No.” Kilgore spoke or croaked. He was trying to guess the answer the stranger wanted. He tried to shout with his weakened voice. “It would help, if I knew what you were talking about?” This was a lie.

  “Ooh, so close. If you’d kept your mouth shut, you might have gotten away with it.” The beam creaked as the rope tightened. “I've been told that admitting your mistakes is a key step in recovery. How are you ever going to get better if you don't admit your mistakes? I’m disappointed, Brad.” He wasn’t.

  “No. Don't pull on the rope. No. I didn't do it. I didn't do it. Don't pull...” the fat man forced out his words. The chair holding him up fell away as his words faded to nothing. He gasped for air.

  Frank moved the chair back under the man's feet. “I know what happened. I don't care if you die. I don't really care if you live. You are just another name on my list. Are you a gambling man? You seem to like risks. So, if you answer truthfully, I will let you talk until I decide what to do next. How about that? Did killing her make you feel like a big man?” Frank wiggled the already tight rope. He knew what he would do next.

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  “Yes. Please, don't tighten the rope.” He begged. His words were hard to understand.

  Frank said, “Kilgore, I'm here to confirm my information or to let you die. You get to choose which one. I, myself, am edging....”

  Brad interrupted. “Ah ha, down?” He groaned out.

  Frank let out a sigh and shook his head. “I hope you don't think I'm going to let you down. But I will loosen the rope. Let me repeat my offer. Give me the information I came for, and you won't die. Now, give me something.”

  “Yes. Yes.” the man on the chair said.

  Internally, Kilgore smiled. He figured it out. He knew who the man was. It would be easy to play him long enough for his girl to arrive. Oh, this guy really was a sucker. He came complete with a white hat. Rescuing girls and puppies was his thing. There’s no way he would hurt that piece of trash, Billie. People like him don't know how to hurt anyone. Kilgore laughed to himself. He didn’t see where he was.

  “Go on, but stay on topic, if you want to live.” Frank answered.

  The man on the chair returned, “You won't kill me. She wouldn't want you to. Little Miss Goody-goody. And you're going to do what she wants. You got that code of honor crap. And you're scared that God is going to get you, or some other stupid shit like that.” If this speech wasn’t expected, Frank would not have understood him.

  “Well, that counts against you. And you're wrong. ‘Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord.’ Well, that may be true, but God gave me the rope. You see, I really don't care. I'm trying to convince you to change your life. Oh, not for my sake! It was her wish that you would stop hurting people. I know the only way I can make that happen is to kill you, but she wanted to give you a choice. So, I will honor her request. Even if, it kills you.” Frank wasn’t trying to convince Brad of anything.

  “Blah, blah, blah. Man, you really are a chump. I got money. I got girls. I even got cops. Go ahead and cut me down. I can get you in on sweet deals. Hmm.” the fat man on the chair spoke in a whining sarcastic broken voice.

  The man behind the chair cleared his throat. “Do you really believe any of that? You are standing on an old chair with a rope around your neck. There is a good chance you'll die within the hour, and you want to bargain and make wise cracks. If you fall accidentally, I will not help you. I am not here to keep you alive. My purpose is to get an answer to my questions. You're going to tell me all about being a big man when you killed her.” Frank had a thought. Give an idiot air, and he will talk himself into a hole. He regretted not crushing his voice box.

  “I don't have to...” the fat man started to say. Quickly, the rope around his neck lifted him off the chair. A raspy whispery whine escaped from his lips. “No. No. Don't...” Kilgore felt himself being lifted upward by his neck.

  Frank said, “Give me your foot. There’s the back of the chair. Now, the other foot. Good, balance yourself there. Man, you are way up there! You’re almost out of places to go. Fall from there and you could break your neck. You know that you don't really want to hurt yourself. You should really be more careful.” He tied off the rope. Then he walked over and sat on the feed box.

  Kilgore’s sense of time faded away. Most of his concentration was on standing. The top rail of the chair's back was very thin. He had figured out who the man was, and now he just had to figure out how to make him pay. He had his balance now, and soon his breath would return; then, he would start. This guy wasn't nothing but another mark. He was nothing but a sucker. He would learn when Billie showed up. He would pay!