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Part 26
Last Updated:
2025-04-02 15:32:19
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Drengr Part 27
“Morning, Blake,” Peter Gunston said and sat down opposite me.“Peter.” I wondered what he wanted and if he was going to say something about the self-defense class at my barn. He was the principal of Western Dubuque High School. He stood at five foot nine inches and leaned towards overweight.“Kids are all abuzz about that class you did,” he said and I smiled. “Would you consider—” I interrupted him right there.“Sorry, Peter. I travel too much for my own work to commit to anything right now,” I said to him. His face fell as he stood up and got his takeaway coffee from Rosie and left the diner without saying another word. I looked at my watch and wondered when Charlotte would be back.“Hello, Jericho.” I stiffened as her hand moved from one shoulder to the other as she walked past me and sat down at the table. I looked at her and her smile didn’t do anything for me.“What are you doing here?” I asked her as Nick walked in and sat down next to her.“Hey, buddy.”“Nick.” I glared at the
Last Updated : 2025-04-03Drengr Part 28
Harris and Michaelson followed me out of the diner. I got into my truck and pulled my phone out. I put my earphones in and dialed Jack’s number. I drove off when it started ringing.“Hey, little bro,” Jack answered.“Can you try and keep your mouth shut?”“They just care,” he said. “So, are you getting married yet?”I laughed. “Not just yet, but she spent the night.”“You see, I told you to turn on the charm and keep the rest a secret,” he said with a laugh. We talked for a bit and I ended the call as I parked in the garage. I saw the kid sitting on my porch steps with the dogs lying next to him.“Mr. Blake,” he said and stood up as I walked up the porch steps.“William,” I said and unlocked the kitchen door. I stepped inside the kitchen and held the door open for him. He followed me inside and sat down at the kitchen table. I took a can of Coke from the fridge and handed it to him.“Thanks,” he said and looked around.“Are you okay?” He had the beginnings of a shiner under his right
Last Updated : 2025-04-04Drengr Part 29
Robert Gold was six feet on the dot. He was in good shape and although he was spoiled, he was funny and a much better person than his father.Robert’s first wife, Claudia, had been a one-time model, but she married Robert before she made it big. He traveled a lot and she started sleeping with her driver. Robert hadn’t known about the affair and his father contacted us to eliminate her.I had taken her out in their house at 2 a.m. while Robert was away on one of his many business trips. The official reports showed that she committed suicide by slitting both her wrists in the bathtub after swallowing half a bottle of sleeping pills that they found next to her on the bathroom floor.I hadn’t known Claudia personally and killing her had been easy. They had only been married for three months at that time. I had called Robert to give my condolences and had gone to the funeral to support him. Fast forward five years later and Robert’s father was ready to get rid of wife number two.Lydia Gol
Last Updated : 2025-04-06Drengr Part 30
William was busy setting the table for three when I saw Charlotte’s headlights flash over the driveway as she turned into it.“Be nice,” I said and William grinned at me.“I’m always nice,” he said and I smiled.I walked outside and met Charlotte at her car. I opened her door for her and she smiled as I took her hand and helped her out. She unlocked her trunk and opened it.“Did you bring the whole diner?” She laughed at my question but I was being serious.“Shouldn’t I have?” I took the box from the trunk and saw that it was filled with food. She put another box on top of the one in my hands and grabbed her overnight bag and slung her purse over her shoulder. She closed the trunk and locked her car before following me inside.The dogs went crazy when they saw her and she knelt on the porch and rubbed their ears. She took a plastic bag from her purse and I could hear the scratching of their paws as eagerness overtook them.“Is she moving in?” William asked me seriously and I laughed.
Last Updated : 2025-04-07Drengr Part 31
At two a.m. I got up and got dressed. I moved quietly so I wouldn’t wake Charlotte or William. I left the house and drove to Peosta. I knew where William lived. I had dropped him off a few times. I slowed down and switched my lights off. I parked the truck a block from his house and walked the rest of the way.The back door wasn’t locked and I walked inside the kitchen. There were dirty dishes in the sink and it smelled musty in there. Empty beer cans littered the table in the living room and I could smell the stale cigarette stench.William’s bedroom had a mattress on the floor with one blanket. The more I went through the house, the angrier I became. William had never said how bad it really was. I stood in the doorway of the main bedroom and watched his mother. She was snoring and it smelled like old vomit in the room.I walked back to the kitchen before the urge to smother her with a pillow overtook me. I took my phone out and called Jack.“Do you have any idea what time it is?” he
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Drengr Part 32
I looked at my watch again as we lay in bed. Charlotte was still asleep. It was Saturday morning and almost five a.m. I rolled over and started tapping her on her shoulder with my finger.“Stop it,” she groaned.I chuckled and started tapping her shoulder again. She shifted away from me and I smiled.“What’s wrong with you?” I moved closer to her and kissed her shoulder.“It’s time to get up,” I said.“Why? It’s Saturday,” she complained and pulled the covers over her head.“Because I said so. I’m the boss of this house,” I said and started tapping her shoulder again.“Blake, I’m going to hurt you,” she said with her eyes still closed.“Promise?” I asked and laughed. I shifted on the bed and hovered over her. “Get up!” I fell down on top of her and started tickling her. She was screaming and laughing at the same time and once or twice called me words that should never pass a woman’s lips.I ducked at the door as Charlotte’s shoe flew past my head and went downstairs. She was awake and
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Drengr Part 33
A week later, I was busy packing my backpack as Charlotte sat on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t be mad.”“I’m not mad,” she said but the look in her eyes told a different story.“We talked about this. I can’t tell you everything and you accepted that before we started this relationship,” I said.“I know, but I don’t have to like the fact that you’ll be in Chicago with your ex for the whole weekend,” she said.“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like we’ll be alone,” I said.“She’s your ex, Blake. I saw the way she was looking at you, she’ll find a way to be alone with you,” she said.I left the backpack on the bed and sat down next to Charlotte. I took her hand in mine and looked her in the eye. “I’m not a cheater, Charlotte. If I wanted Nataly back, I’d be with her. I don’t want her back, I don’t miss her. I’m here with you and that’s where I want to be. She can try to be alone with me, I still have a choice in what happens and I choose you.”“What if you don
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Drengr Part 34
Nataly opened the gate and we all drove into the parking area of her building. We made our way over to the elevators and an old lady was looking us up and down.“Hello, Mrs. Duffard,” Nataly said.“Oh, hello dear.” She leaned in closer to Nataly and looked disapprovingly at us. “You shouldn’t hang around with all these men. What will people say?” I started chuckling and Nick jabbed me in the ribs.“These are just friends from work,” Nataly said.“If you say so, dear,” the old woman said and got off on her floor.“Yeah, Nataly. What will people say?” Charlie quipped as the doors closed again.“Oh, shut up,” Nataly said and laughed.It felt like old times, the team working together, laughing, joking and competing together. It almost felt like Nataly was my friend again. We ordered food and settled down in her living room.My phone vibrated in my pocket and I saw it was Max. “Excuse me,” I said and walked toward the back of Nataly’s apartment and answered.“Hi Max, can I call you—”“Blak
Last Updated : 2025-04-11
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Drengr Part 54
On a whim, I decided to get on the bike and drive the three hours to Epworth. There were some things I needed to get since the apartment in Chicago was usually just for weekend stays. I would also have to make more permanent arrangements with Quince about the dogs.I opened the throttle and raced down the highway and it felt good. It felt good to drive down this road and know that tonight I would sleep in my own bed. Chicago also had my own bed but it was different in the farmhouse, it felt more like home to me.The flashing blue lights up ahead made me slow down and I was pulled over by a police officer from Epworth. I didn’t know him and wondered when they had hired someone new. Max had talked about getting some extra bodies and here he was.“Good evening, sir,” he said as I switched the bike off and opened the visor on my helmet.“Evening, officer,” I said and dismounted the bike. I took my helmet off and got my ID and licence and handed both to him.“Do you know how fast you were
Drengr Part 53
I hadn’t exactly lied to Jack. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, although I had an idea. I never got sick, I couldn’t even remember ever having the flu or a headache before the other night. I was pretty certain that my initial diagnosis on myself was correct.I went to see my GP, who was surprised by my visit because he really did see me once a year for a physical. We socialized as well but that was different. We had also gone to college together and he had known Robert too.“What brings you in, Blake?” Charles Roberts M.D asked me. He had a thing about the M.D behind his name and he got constant flak from all of us about it.“Swollen lymph nodes, pain in my neck, trouble swallowing every now and then, it’s not persistent but I’ve had a cough for the last two days,” I said as he looked at me, taking notes of my symptoms. “I’m thinking thyroidism.”Charles gave me a physical and then sat on the edge of his desk and looked at me. “I think you should go see David.”“You think it migh
Drengr Part 52
I started the bike and took my time driving to HQ. Even though it was past midnight, I knew Lynda would be there. She was always there. She would know the moment I swiped my card at the gate and drove into the basement.I went up in the elevator and Lynda stood there in the hallway when the doors opened. She looked relieved, angry and concerned all at the same time. She nodded and started walking toward her office. I stepped off the elevator, thirty pairs of eyes following my movements.“Jericho!” Jack called as he came running down the corridor. He grabbed me in a bear hug and I felt his body relax as he hugged me.“It’s good to see you too,” I said.He let go of me and punched me. His fist connected with my cheekbone and it stung like hell. “Don’t ever do that to me again!” He hugged me again and I wrapped my arms around him.“I have to go face the music,” I said and turned away to Lynda’s office.I walked inside her office and closed the door behind me and was immediately engulfed
Drengr Part 51
I sat down on the couch, the flashback of all these memories haunting me. Memories of when life was less complicated and Jennifer still lived in Chicago and Robert had still been alive. The living room light went on and John Gold stepped inside the room.“Blake?” he asked questioningly as he walked toward me.“Hi, John, we need to have a conversation,” I said.“It’s the middle of the night, Blake,” he said and I took the Jericho from the holster. “What the—”“Sit.” I pointed to the couch with the gun and he sat down reluctantly, watching me with his beady eyes.“Have you lost your mind? What’s this all about?” he asked me, raising his voice slightly.“I’m glad you at least had the decency to bury Lydia with Robert,” I said and he looked away.“It wasn’t my first choice,” he said and I nodded. I knew that to be true.“You broke something inside,” I said and he stared at me, clearly confused.“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said.“When you killed Robert, it broke somethin
Drengr Part 50
I made my way back toward my bike and entered the building. I went up to the penthouse and picked the lock. I opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit foyer. I walked to the living room and opened the drinks cabinet. I had been here so many times that I could almost call it my second home.When I had met Robert in college, I thought he was a spoiled rich brat but I soon realized he had depth to him. He disliked his father immensely and he brought me home with him on our first break. I’d had a falling out with Peter, who didn’t approve of me taking time off to get a degree. I wanted to experience normalcy and it took him only four months to draw me back in again and do part-time assignments.I could relate to what Robert felt for his own father, who dismissed any ideas he had as idiotic and wanted him to fall in line and do as he was told. Sure, we didn’t always do the right thing and a few times we screwed up, not that they ever knew about it. The worst thing we did together was
Drengr Part 49
“I’m not armed,” she said from behind the wall. I wasn’t aiming the gun in her direction but kept it in my hand on my lap.“Neither am I,” I said. She looked around the corner of the wall and something in her eyes changed. “Let’s talk.”She moved to the closest couch and sat down. “How did you figure it out?” The despondency in her voice might have made me feel something if she hadn’t tried to kill me.“It wasn’t that hard, but I knew for sure the moment Dillinger and Mendez came for me,” I said.She lowered her head. “They’re dead.” Her voice was softer now, almost like she was talking to herself.“You always were the sly one,” I said to her. “The fox in the chicken coop.”“It is what it is,” she said and looked up.“Why though?” I asked her. “We’re supposed to be a team.”“The fucking rejection, Jericho! Everyone else always being in your shadow, pick one!”“What rejection? You were always part of the team!” I said angrily.“I was good enough to sleep with after Nataly, and then the
Drengr Part 48
I woke up to the beeping of a heart monitor. There was a blood pressure band around my left arm and bright sunlight filtered into the room, making me squint. I turned my head and looked around the room. It was comfortably large and I lay in a king size bed, hooked up to machines with an IV in my arm.There was a clean bandage on my lower arm where I had stitched up the knife wound and a larger bandage near my side where I’d been shot. It still hurt, but the pain was manageable. The door of the bedroom opened and a young black woman walked in, followed closely by Bo. He looked relieved to see me awake.“Finally, man. I almost died worrying ‘bout you,” Bo said and sat down in a chair next to the bed.“Where am I?” The last thing I remembered was being in the elevator and feeling myself lose consciousness.“This is my home away from home,” Bo said and smiled at the woman. “And this is Gloria, my little sister, and the family doctor.”Gloria checked my vitals and had me follow her finger
Drengr Part 47
I briefly closed my eyes. I knew she was watching Robert’s funeral as well. Jennifer had loved him, just like I had. I forced the memories away, focusing on the present and the situation I now found myself in. “Hang on.”I plugged the earphones into the phone and put the earpiece in my ear. I put the phone back inside my jacket and kept it open. I was going to need access to my guns.“Where am I going, Bluebird?” I turned away from the sight of Robert’s coffin being lowered into the ground. I didn’t want to see it anymore. It was the final goodbye, Robert’s final resting place and it broke something inside me.“Goodman is on the other side of that lake and Black is on your left, right in those clusters of trees,” she said.I turned to the right and made my way through the graves and back toward the entrance. I would circle him from behind. “Thanks Jen.” I disconnected the call because she wouldn’t want me to hear her cry.I saw him standing between two trees with a pair of binocular
Drengr Part 46
Tuesday. I woke up at 6 p.m. and I couldn’t believe that I’d slept that long. The migraine was gone and I showered, dressed, drank coffee and checked my phone. Jennifer had sent me details on Ashley Grant.She was five foot two, tiny with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her location showed her in a residential area in Williams Park. I studied the area and drove out to her location. It was forty-six miles to what I assumed was her house and I slowed the bike as I drove past it. I turned right on North Ada Street and parked the bike in an empty yard between some trees. It was almost 9 p.m.I was about a hundred and twenty yards away from her house and I walked quietly through the cluster of trees that bordered the back of the house. At the fence at the rear of her house, was a small shed-like structure. I mounted it and lay flat on the roof. It was level with her back door.I watched the house for a few minutes and saw movement behind the curtains. She wasn’t married and she had no children.
