Lee Williams, Harassment Agent - Episode 8
by Lee Williams
(This story is a complete work of fiction.)
"This morning in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a multi-agency investigation spanning six months, Raymond Hepburn, 48, of Salt Lake City, was arrested on charges including racketeering, extortion, conspiracy to commit murder, and a slew of other charges. He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail, awaiting trial. Also arrested was Valentina Castillo, on similar charges. The pair was arrested after an anonymous tip was dropped six months ago following a slew of shootings throughout the country alleged to be ordered by Hepburn. Hepburn's lawyer did not have a comment. Up next -"
I turned the TV off and sat back. Ray and Valentina are now sitting in jail, probably for the rest of their lives. And without Ray, there was no HHH. I sat back for a second, thinking. Something wasn't right. This didn't feel over. Something in me told me it wasn't done yet. I called Jackie Brown.
"Jackie," I said. "Drink?"
"I can't drink."
"Well, yeah, but join me for a drink?"
"Sure," he said. "Be there soon."
I was drinking a beer, looking at the TV, when Jackie walked in. He sat next to me and looked at the TV.
"Whole lotta shit," he said. "Whole lotta shit going on in this country."
"What are you gonna do?" I asked. "You do the best you can."
"I've been wondering about that actually, what are you gonna do now?"
"I don't know," I said. "I really don't. The best I can, I guess."
"Pipefitters union is hiring," Jackie said.
"Eh..."
I took a sip of my beer.
"Something just isn't right," I said.
"I think," Jackie said. "That's your mind talking. I think you just can't let it rest. It's been going on so long that the idea of it actually being over sounds ridiculous to you."
"I dunno Jack, it's just, I don't know."
"Just breathe."
I drove to my apartment in silence. I tried to listen to the radio, but nothing sounded good.
When I got back, I tried watching TV but couldn't pay attention. I decided just to go to sleep.
I had a strange dream that night. I was sitting at the top of a hill. The wind was blowing, and I was frigid. And it was just me at the top of that hill. I knew I was waiting for someone, but nobody was showing up. I waited for hours in that dream, expecting someone, anyone, but I was just sitting at the top of that hill, doing nothing. Eventually I started walking down the hill, but as I did, I heard several people shouting my name. When I turned around, Andres and JB were at the top. They were telling me not to go any further down. But for some reason, I ignored them and continued down. At the bottom of the hill, there was this box. It said "do not open," but I opened it anyway. And when I did, I saw a flash of light.
And then I woke back up.
The next morning I was at a diner, eating breakfast. It wasn't that good. The waitress came over and asked if I wanted more coffee, and when I said yes, she started to pour some into my cup. But halfway through, she looked behind me and froze. I turned around.
I saw a pair of gray eyes I'd recognize anywhere, as well as the barrel of a .38 Special. And holding it was Tommy.
"Shit," I said.
And then he blew my head off.
I was in an elevator, going up. There were no buttons. Halfway through, Khir got on, and stared at me as the doors closed. The elevator continued up, until I heard a ding. Khir stepped out, and held the doors open.
"This is our stop, bro."
"And," I said. "I guess I have to get off, don't I."
"Well," he said. "It's this, or it goes black forever."
And when I stepped out of the elevator, I was greeted by an applause louder than any noise I had ever heard when I was alive, louder than any gun, or any bomb, or any car crash. And the elevator doors closed behind me.
Soundtrack