"No." Hays said as he took off his sunglasses giving Mr.Pruce a concerned look. "I do not want you to get all worked up Serena." he said in a soothing voice. "Bengiman if you need to know anything about what happened, then let me be the one to tell you. I was there too, at the trial and execution." he sighed seeing the death of Charles clearly in his mind's eye.
Mr.Pruce sat there shocked as this was news to him and he agreed, as he did not want to upset any of Xation's sisters. So he talked with Hays, who had too much sun and now only drank ice water. The two said goodnight to Serena, who was tired from swimming in the ocean and also very full from the huge portions of lobster and wine she had consumed. Mr.Pruce then opened another bottle of wine for himself as he sat across the table from Hays. "So tell me." Mr.Pruce said as he poured out a glass of red wine. "Why do you think Charles killed him? I mean, I know he was always so jealous and envious of Xation's power and wealth, but..."
"It was because he had decided to turn himself in, and as he explained on the witness stand, he needed to kill Xation before he went to prison." Hays said rubbing a little olive oil on his sunburned face.
"Why the fuck would he want to turn himself in? It does not make sense." Mr.Pruce said excitedly.
"Because some one convinced him to." he sighed.
"Who?" he asked a perplexed look on his tan face.
"Melissa Christian." at hearing this name Mr.Pruce recalled the day he met that woman, with her dog that attacked him and knocked him unconscious. Oliver's beautiful cousin Melissa. "I don't know how she did it or what she said but apparently the night you two got into a fight he went to her house and the next day is when he.., " Hays trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence.
"I just can't believe it." Mr.Pruce said clenching his fist.
"After you two were brought in she showed up at the justice center with a team of Houston's most celebrated defense lawyers. We were pushing for the death penalty but they tried to get him life, in the end, of course, the family got what it wanted. You know Charles gave the police the list of the names of the men Xation had him 'put down'."
"I.., " Mr.Pruce stopped as he did not know what to say or how to react but he, nonetheless, was angry Charles would try to besmirch a dead man's reputation, even if Xation did order Charles to kill those men that was nobody's business but Xation's.
"When Charles was cross-examined by his attorney he said he killed Xation out of revenge. He knew Xation would just find someone else to do his dirty work. So, in his mind, Charles was absolutely convinced he was doing the right thing." Hays said shaking his head and suddenly now talking of the trial he became very depressed and so he told Bengiman he wanted to go to sleep, as the lapping of the waves against the ship was making him doze off, well that and the sunburn, the wine, the food. Here Bengiman Pruce bid him to stay a little longer at the table as he wanted to know about the execution. Now Mr.Pruce had committed murder a few times, now and again, but he had never witnessed a man being strapped down to a table and 'put to sleep' and this held a morbid fascination to him. And, being that he had known Charles for many years, Mr.Pruce felt a sort of closeness to the story Hays would tell him.
"Alright, I'll stay up a little longer. So, where shall I begin."
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
WHERE THERE'S TROUBLE Chapter 1 continues
It was about three days of travel through Ireland, Spain and a short drive to a small coastal town in Portugal when Mr.Pruce was taken to a 120 foot luxury yacht that Serena and her older sister Felina rented for a nice cruise to St.Barts. Bengiman was overjoyed to see the beautiful dark eyed ladies, they were like sisters to him, being around them reminded him so much of his best friend Xation that it was a little difficult for him at times. Especially when Felina would laugh at one of his stories. He, many times, had to hold back a tear, now and again, when they all shared a memory of the firey tempered Xation.
So then, during the first few weeks of the summer of 2000, Bengiman Pruce enjoyed his freedom out on the water, in the sun; which toasted his skin a dark, rich, tan color as he was want to take a dip in the open sea whenever they dropped anchor. Hays, Serena, Felina and himself were waited on hand and foot by a small group of young Portugese women and an old, weather worn sea captian. The group feasted on fresh seafood and fish, along with crate after crate of red Spanish wine. The group would gather at a table on deck at sunrise and sunset and eat and sit and talk with one another, as old friends will always do. It was on such an occasion, a few days into their cruise to the Bahamas at sunset, when Bengiman turned the conversation to Charles. He was very curious as he knew Xation's family had attended his execution in Huntsville last year. Now here Mr.Pruce chose his words carefully as he did not want to upset their happy time together, but he was so intrigued he took a sip of wine and opened his mouth and this is what he asked.
"Did Charles suffer?" he paused as he saw the two lovely women both give him a shocked look. "You know when they..," he trailed off as he thought the wild eyed Felina would slap him across the face at any moment. She did not, however, she merely stood up from her chair on deck as the sea gulls flew overhead then she covered up her toned, well tanned, bikini clad body with a bright blue towel. She sighed in silence as she looked at her little sister shaking her head before she went down to her cabin to shower and have a good cry.
Serena sat there across the table from Bengiman and Hays as they sat there a moment longer in uncomfortable silence. Now Serena gave a soft sweet smile as warm as an embrace and then she said in a low clear voice. "No Bengiman, Charles did not suffer at all."
"Now that, dear lady, is a God Damned Shame!" he said very loudly as he reached across and took her tiny hands in his massive rough hands. The two of them looked into each other's eyes knowing their minds were of the very same thoughts, sharing an unspoken language that each knew all too well. And it was painful. Then after a while she took in a deep breath of the fresh ocean air and prayed to the Lord to give her the courage to explain the details of the trial and execution of Charles, about Leah and little Jason. Serena had sworn to her sister she would never speak of it, but she felt the pain not knowing had on her dear, big, teddy- bear of a friend so she said. "This is very difficult to speak of, as the past and myself are muy antipatico. But I will answer any questions you might have, because to do so otherwise would not be fair to you, who are like a brother to me and now I have none. So if you are to take Xation's place, and be my brother, then I will not keep the truth from you." she said supressing her tears as the pain of loosing Xation was still as fresh in her mind as a dagger to the heart.
So then, during the first few weeks of the summer of 2000, Bengiman Pruce enjoyed his freedom out on the water, in the sun; which toasted his skin a dark, rich, tan color as he was want to take a dip in the open sea whenever they dropped anchor. Hays, Serena, Felina and himself were waited on hand and foot by a small group of young Portugese women and an old, weather worn sea captian. The group feasted on fresh seafood and fish, along with crate after crate of red Spanish wine. The group would gather at a table on deck at sunrise and sunset and eat and sit and talk with one another, as old friends will always do. It was on such an occasion, a few days into their cruise to the Bahamas at sunset, when Bengiman turned the conversation to Charles. He was very curious as he knew Xation's family had attended his execution in Huntsville last year. Now here Mr.Pruce chose his words carefully as he did not want to upset their happy time together, but he was so intrigued he took a sip of wine and opened his mouth and this is what he asked.
"Did Charles suffer?" he paused as he saw the two lovely women both give him a shocked look. "You know when they..," he trailed off as he thought the wild eyed Felina would slap him across the face at any moment. She did not, however, she merely stood up from her chair on deck as the sea gulls flew overhead then she covered up her toned, well tanned, bikini clad body with a bright blue towel. She sighed in silence as she looked at her little sister shaking her head before she went down to her cabin to shower and have a good cry.
Serena sat there across the table from Bengiman and Hays as they sat there a moment longer in uncomfortable silence. Now Serena gave a soft sweet smile as warm as an embrace and then she said in a low clear voice. "No Bengiman, Charles did not suffer at all."
"Now that, dear lady, is a God Damned Shame!" he said very loudly as he reached across and took her tiny hands in his massive rough hands. The two of them looked into each other's eyes knowing their minds were of the very same thoughts, sharing an unspoken language that each knew all too well. And it was painful. Then after a while she took in a deep breath of the fresh ocean air and prayed to the Lord to give her the courage to explain the details of the trial and execution of Charles, about Leah and little Jason. Serena had sworn to her sister she would never speak of it, but she felt the pain not knowing had on her dear, big, teddy- bear of a friend so she said. "This is very difficult to speak of, as the past and myself are muy antipatico. But I will answer any questions you might have, because to do so otherwise would not be fair to you, who are like a brother to me and now I have none. So if you are to take Xation's place, and be my brother, then I will not keep the truth from you." she said supressing her tears as the pain of loosing Xation was still as fresh in her mind as a dagger to the heart.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Chapter 1
There was a light mist of English rain which fell upon a prison transport van as it traveled early in the morning down a quiet country lane, heading to a newly built prison in Gates Head, near New Castle in the north east of the United Kingdom. There were six convicts sitting two by two. All were handcuffed and shackled to one another. Some men were far too old for hard labour, some were just still too dangerous to be let back out into society. The van smelled of the bacon and egg sandwiches the two armed policeman ate as they drove along in the early morning light. The delicious aroma of crisp bacon was like a small torture to the hungry inmates and this set one of them talking about all sorts of lovely home made dishes his mother used to cook for him when he was a wee lad.
Bengiman Pruce sat there in the back seat next to this chatterbox and, were it not for the chains and the guards, he would have choked the life out of this nuisance. Bengiman knew this was the same man who had, years earlier, raped and murdered two young girls before he set their corpses on fire. It was all Mr.Pruce could do to contain his rage. But he instead gave the talkative man an angry fearsome look and then he finally shut his mouth. However, it was not Mr.Pruce that made him cease his endless chatter but a terrible sight that was in the roadway as the van came around a sharp turn in the road.
"Oh My Christ!" the driver said his eyes wide as he dropped his bacon and egg sandwich on his lap.
There on the rain slicked road were two vehicles that had smashed head on into one another. To the left was a dead body of a man, in a long tan trench coach, face down in the road and two injured drivers behind the wheel of their little sports cars. The two guards pulled up and stopped as they leapt from out of the prison van to rendered aid to the injured and dying. The six prisoners all watched in shock as each guard went to check on the drivers and in doing so they each heard the sound of shots fired as the two guards were shot in the head and neck by the 'injured' drivers. As quickly as they fell to the ground, covered in their own blood, the 'dead man' in the road hopped up, ran over took the van keys from the dying officer, who looked up in shock and horror as he took in his last breath. The two drivers got out of the crashed autos as a long black car approached. The chained men were so confused and frightened they had said nothing as the man with the keys got in the van and moved it closer to the wrecked vehicles. He then went to the back of the van and opened up the large backdoor. He ordered the two men out of the back and Mr.Pruce complied as he jumped out with the child rapist/murderer close beside him the chain connecting them together straining on his wrists. They were led to the side of the road as they watched the tall man in the tan trench coat open up the gas tank. In doing this he produced a lighter from his pocket as he shoved a white sock down into the gas tank. As he lit this on fire screams of violent terror came from the prisoners as the van went up in flames.
As they watched the van burn the man in the trench coat went over and unlocked Mr.Pruce from his chains. As he looked at the man Mr.Pruce suddenly realized and recognized Hays, who smiled as he embraced his dear old friend. The child rapist/murder smiled as he believed he was being rescued too and as he went on thanking the men for helping him escape Hays pulled out a concealed weapon and shot the stupid bastard in the face. Mr.Pruce only squealed with delight as he climbed into the back of the long black car where Serena was waiting. Mr.Pruce, Serena and Hays, along with the other two accomplices, were in great spirits as they drove away from the crime scene as they heard the screams of the dying men being burned alive. As they pulled away the flames licked up at the engines of the group of cars and a massive explosion shook the road as Bengiman Pruce kissed Serena on the cheek, thanking her, giving her a squeeze. "I'm FREE!"
Bengiman Pruce sat there in the back seat next to this chatterbox and, were it not for the chains and the guards, he would have choked the life out of this nuisance. Bengiman knew this was the same man who had, years earlier, raped and murdered two young girls before he set their corpses on fire. It was all Mr.Pruce could do to contain his rage. But he instead gave the talkative man an angry fearsome look and then he finally shut his mouth. However, it was not Mr.Pruce that made him cease his endless chatter but a terrible sight that was in the roadway as the van came around a sharp turn in the road.
"Oh My Christ!" the driver said his eyes wide as he dropped his bacon and egg sandwich on his lap.
There on the rain slicked road were two vehicles that had smashed head on into one another. To the left was a dead body of a man, in a long tan trench coach, face down in the road and two injured drivers behind the wheel of their little sports cars. The two guards pulled up and stopped as they leapt from out of the prison van to rendered aid to the injured and dying. The six prisoners all watched in shock as each guard went to check on the drivers and in doing so they each heard the sound of shots fired as the two guards were shot in the head and neck by the 'injured' drivers. As quickly as they fell to the ground, covered in their own blood, the 'dead man' in the road hopped up, ran over took the van keys from the dying officer, who looked up in shock and horror as he took in his last breath. The two drivers got out of the crashed autos as a long black car approached. The chained men were so confused and frightened they had said nothing as the man with the keys got in the van and moved it closer to the wrecked vehicles. He then went to the back of the van and opened up the large backdoor. He ordered the two men out of the back and Mr.Pruce complied as he jumped out with the child rapist/murderer close beside him the chain connecting them together straining on his wrists. They were led to the side of the road as they watched the tall man in the tan trench coat open up the gas tank. In doing this he produced a lighter from his pocket as he shoved a white sock down into the gas tank. As he lit this on fire screams of violent terror came from the prisoners as the van went up in flames.
As they watched the van burn the man in the trench coat went over and unlocked Mr.Pruce from his chains. As he looked at the man Mr.Pruce suddenly realized and recognized Hays, who smiled as he embraced his dear old friend. The child rapist/murder smiled as he believed he was being rescued too and as he went on thanking the men for helping him escape Hays pulled out a concealed weapon and shot the stupid bastard in the face. Mr.Pruce only squealed with delight as he climbed into the back of the long black car where Serena was waiting. Mr.Pruce, Serena and Hays, along with the other two accomplices, were in great spirits as they drove away from the crime scene as they heard the screams of the dying men being burned alive. As they pulled away the flames licked up at the engines of the group of cars and a massive explosion shook the road as Bengiman Pruce kissed Serena on the cheek, thanking her, giving her a squeeze. "I'm FREE!"
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