Part 5

The September sun heated up the diner. As before, Tom Stone sat in the booth.

“Tom.” Louis nodded and sat down.

Tom took off his Stetson and slid a key with a business card across the table. “This is a key to a P.O. Box. The address is on the card. The money is there.”

Louis sat back. He exhaled slowly and gave Tom Stone a look of both concern and snarky amusement. Then he leaned in.

“Thank you, Tom. This will make a fine first payment.”

Their eyes met.

“So, that’s what this is.” Tom grunted, and put his Stetson back on.

“There was a change in thinking. We decided we need a foothold up here, control of the northern road, and perhaps more business moving through town. We appreciate what you built. These people are tough and stubborn, and bringing them into line could not have been easy. But unless you triple the money, we’re taking over.”

Tom grunted but didn’t move. He rolled his neck until the neck cracked.

“This is a family business and it’s not for sale, Louis. Now, the only reason you are still sitting there breathing is that this is my diner and I don’t want to go to the trouble of fixin’ it all up when I’m done with you and your lot. And you are right, people up here are stubborn as all hell, but they are also loyal, and they will come after your soft city bellies whether I’m alive or not.”

“We understand that putting together this kind of money takes time. You have three months. If not, we come after your boy,” said Louis, and walked out of the diner.

Tom and Helen watched their dinner get cold. Luna flew Biscuit, mumbled, and kept kicking the bottom of the table. Duncan came in, shaven and dressed in a suit.

“You are looking well, son,” said Helen.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” he replied in an affected voice. Helen and Tom exchanged glances. Without a word, Duncan started to eat the soup, his eyes glancing over at his parents. Spoons clinked against the porcelain. Luna kicked the table.

“Now, now, little girl. It’s bad manners to kick the table like that,” said Duncan quietly but threateningly, as if he spoke to a stranger, and continued to slurp his chicken soup.

“So, what’s the occasion for the suit?” asked Helen. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear it outside the Midnight Mass.”

“Oh. I’m just getting ready when it comes.”

Tom exhaled heavily and shook his head. They exchanged glances again.

Luna kicked the table.

“When what comes?”

“You know.”

“I don’t, son,” answered Helen with tears in her eyes. “Could you tell me, please?”

“Are you a spy in a suit made out of my mother?” asked Duncan and his eyes grew cold and suspicious. Luna kicked the table.

“Stop it, you goddamned creature!” shouted Duncan, and hit Luna with the back of his hand across her face. Luna fell over in her chair. Helen screamed.

“Duncan!” Tom’s voice thundered.

Duncan jumped up with his arm raised, ready to beat crying Luna mercilessly.

Tom jumped up, leaped around the table, and pinned Duncan to the floor. Duncan writhed under Tom’s weight, but was no match for his strength.

“She is poisoning the air. She is killing us,” screamed Duncan with his gaze fixed on Luna. Helen held Luna in her arms.

“Get the child out of here, and bring the medication,” yelled Tom from the ground.

***

After sedation, Tom and Duncan waited for the ambulance in the great stone room. The fire in the pit was slowly dying.

“You know, the headlights are always there. The man, the beast, and the headlights – nothing but headlights and screaming,” mumbled Duncan.

“What are you saying, son?”

“The screams. I can hear them. That’s how it started. The nightmare that never goes away – headlights cutting into the forest, and a beast screaming.”

“A nightmare?”

“Yes, a nightmare. Every night the headlights come on and the screaming starts. I’m five or six. I’m left alone in the car, and I watch a man with a tire iron.” Duncan struggled to keep his eyes open. Tom’s eyes filled with tears.