Finding Death Part 4

Chapter 274-3

Finding Death

Part 4

 

Everyone vanished, taking Larry with them as they went through the closest secret entrance as we all took our places as Mr. Striker came into the room finding Colby standing with Mr. Holliman in the tub with a knife to his throat; struggling trying to break free, screaming through his gag. Mr. Striker turned seeing the rest of us all tied up and gagged along the bathroom wall made to watch. With fake tears from an onion and teardrops out of a bottle to make it look like we were all crying.

Our job was to be scared out of our minds in truth even though it was all a show for Mr. Strikers and his friends benefit. The possibility of anything of this happening was very real in our minds. Which was why everyone insisted that Larry wouldn’t be here to witness it; the other two boys like me have witnessed far worst things than this. Plus they were old enough to realize it was just acting and not real. Knowing Mr. Holliman would never do this.

Mr. Holliman stopped screaming at us said noticing Mr. Striker and his guests. Quickly calmed himself said. “Give me just a minute I am just taking care of a little… business.” He paused on the last word as he drew the knife a crossed Colby’s throat. Watching Colby stop struggling as the blood poured down his neck and down his chest as he fell to the ground slowly like a limp noodle after being tranq’ed. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he hit the ground. The hidden blood pack burst open seeping up around Colby just like it should have. It reminded me of the blood around Jeff when the gun went off and when he fell dead.

Mr. Holliman said looking down frowning and growled angrily. “I did this for you, Mr. Striker since he tried to kill you. I can not have a boy that refuses to obey and stay out sight when it doesn’t concern him. Plus the fact now that he knows thanks to you what you intend to do with his brother; it was the kindest thing I could do; knowing that if it was me I’d kill you for killing my family in front of me. You have a bad way of not remembering that there are young children present.

“Now you gave me no choices, having my new boys watch what kind of monster I truly am. Like I said before, I am not afraid of getting my hands dirty. But there must be a damn good reason that states that I have no choice but too kill my own flesh and blood. So let this be a lesson to you Nate and to your new younger bothers. I will kill you if you give me cause. Colby tried to kill Mr. Striker and he failed to do so. And because he failed and because he tried too; he had to die." 

Mr. Striker whispered to his friends then climbed into the empty tub being careful not to get blood on him leaned down checking for Colby’s pulse, then tasted the blood to make sure it was real. I thought for sure we were done for knowing that blood was animal blood mixed with a little extra iron. Tony stated that taste would be hard to detect, but he and his men were very close if anything went wrong.

Mr. Striker said after licking his lips. “I was right about you, but this could have waited. I would have rather him watch his brother being sacrificed since he was taking his place for him being as it would have been a great honor for him and his brother being it being a noble sacrifice. However, this works too. Letting the boys here see that you are a man to be feared.” Mr. Holliman got out of the tub leaving Mr. Striker standing over Colby as he went to the sink to wash his hands and the knife so he could switch them and hide the empty tranq needle, taking the real knife setting it on the bathroom sink.

Mr. Striker counted the boys and discovered that Larry was also gone. He turned around to ask; as someone knocked on the door watching Stringum as Mr. Tate enters the room, he said. “What the hell is going on up here? I could hear you screaming all the way down the hall Mr. Holliman;” dressed only in robe and slippers. Once inside he turned his head seeing us tied and gagged against the bathroom wall, then stopped when he saw Colby lying dead in a pool of blood in the tub. He walked up to Mr. Holliman said. “So this is how you treat my boys after you buy them from me? What a waste of cold hard cash, he could have been a very good earner for you. May I ask why you killed him?”

Mr. Striker said. “Because he can and because it’s none of your damn business; Colby belonged too me, not you Mr. Tate, he was never one of your boys. I sold his life contract if you recall to Mr. Holliman.”

Stringum as Mr. Tate said. “Oh, I remember quite well, but if you also recall I have asked politely that if you did this I am not going to be held accountable, and clean up your own God damn mess. This could have waited until you were off my property. I will ask again, Mr. Holliman why did you kill this boy in my home?”

Mr. Striker growled. “I told you old man it’s….” His words were cut off finding a knife at his throat finding Tony and two of his men wearing black jackets all holding knives at his guest throats.

Tony Growled. “I believe sir the question was directed at Mr. Holliman. Care to find out how sharp my knife is?”

Mr. Striker laughed. “You can’t kill me, I am immortal. Wound me yes, but not kill me…”

Tony drew first blood causing his neck to bleed a little, said. “I am willing to test that theory,” nicking him again.

Mr. Striker growled. “So this how you treat your house guest, Mr. Tate? Our members will not look favorably on this.”

Stringum as Mr. Tate said. “We will see about that won’t we, but for now I am lord and master here. I am still in charge so keep your mouth shut. Mr. Holliman, I will ask you again… Why did you feel you needed to kill this boy in my home? I know the kind of man you are, you’re not like Mr. Striker and his friends killing without cause.”

Mr. Holliman said putting on a robe. “Mr. Striker left me with no choice. First of he told Colby that he was going to kill his brother tomorrow night as a blood sacrifice to some Demon God of his, the moment he and his members vote you out. He was asking me to sacrifice my youngest boy Larry too his lord and master as part of my initiation.

“Colby grew angry and tried to kill Mr. Striker using this knife that Nate had in his backpack, but as you can see he failed. I don’t tolerate failures… Colby failed in his task, and if had killed Mr. Striker I would have not had to kill him. I also wouldn’t have had to kill him if Mr. Striker hadn’t told us what he intended to do to his brother with him in the room.

“He repeated it several times making sure Colby understood that he was going to do it and cut his heart out and eat it. If was me, Mr. Tate, I would have done the same thing, but I would waited for the perfect moment. Not let my anger get the best of me. I felt I was doing him a kindness so he wouldn’t have to watch another member of his family die, knowing that he was alone in this world. He would have been a bad investment after that. I am sorry, for what happened, but if it wasn’t for Mr. Striker tired and drunken state, I wouldn’t have had to do this.”

Stringum as Mr. Tate looked down at Colby lifeless body, said. “I see, so Mr. Striker is the one to blame. I will make sure the members know this when they arrive to vote me out. I am also going force Mr. Striker to pay 80 million dollars to you for the loss of a good boy that could have made at least that in 5 years. And another 20 mill for being stupid causing this to happen in the first place.

“What he said tonight is against our codes and law as members of our secret society. As judge, king, and lord that oversee our members, it will be recorded in our books that Mr. Striker has taken the boys life without cause, more so in my home, as he is my guest, not lord our master here. You will not be blamed, being as it wasn’t your fault but his and you were just doing what you had to do.

“However it is your responsibility to clean up this mess; I don’t care how you dispose of the body as long as it gone out of my house within 2 hours. It is your job alone to do it. 2 hours do you understand Mr. Holliman do we have an agreement that no more boys die in my home. Good night. If I was you, Mr. Striker, I would pray that this doesn’t happen again.

“Least I am smart enough as old as I am too make sure things this doesn’t happen in plain sight. Nor do I divulge our secrets in a tired drunken state when around non-members or potential business clients. Now then see too our esteem members. I am sure you have lots to talk about now that they have arrived; I have arranged a room for them and think it might be best if you stayed with them since Mr. Holliman has to clean up yours and his mess. By the way, Mr. Holliman where is your boy Larry. Please tell me you didn’t kill him too? “

Mr. Holliman said. “No. Mr. Tate. I felt it wise that my wife takes him home; considering what might happen tomorrow. Yet so far, Mr. Striker hasn’t provided proof regarding the things he spoke of. For instant, he said that all your members such you and him and his friends are immortal.

“That you sir are 300 years old to the day. And he will be 100 coming this November he also stated that many other things like me having to sacrifice my youngest boy to his master, as part of my initiation and I felt it was best for the time being not trusting Mr. Striker or his friends to take him from me. Since he also stated if I didn’t do what I was asked to do, he would personally kill my entire family.

“As you have said Mr. Tate you know me. I am not a cold-blooded monster. I kill when I have too and I protect the ones I love. I don’t believe in demons, or a higher power, more so ones that ask me to take the life of my flesh and blood to appease some god, all for riches and power. I am already a very rich man, making me richer I can do so on my own. I don’t need some demons help, and as for immortality, nobody lives forever. All men die. I should know I have killed enough of them.”

He grabbed extra blanket from the closet and rolled Colby up in it being as gentle as he can. Making sure he had air enough to breathe, letting his head sticking out. He then lifted him out of the tub. Said turning on the water letting it run so the blood could go down the drain. “Mind if I borrow a few white sheets to wrap the boy in it when I bury him. I’ll drive him out somewhere nobody will find him. I will leave Nate here to clean up the mess and put the boys to bed; since it is obvious that we will not be pleasuring ourselves tonight.

“I’ll take that 100 mill in cold hard cash if you don’t mind… For as I am concerned Mr. Striker… I do not think to be partners with a crazy person would be a wise investment at this time unless you can persuade me that I was wrong about the kind of man you are.”

He untied the boys cutting the ropes free using the knife he placed on the sink to prove to Mr. Striker and his two new guests that knife he used on Colby was real, said. “I am sorry boys, but it was necessary for you to watch. All my boys know that I don’t kill without a good reason. Colby had to die because he failed to kill Mr. Striker. Not only tonight but the moment he watched his parents that loved him being killed by Mr. Striker. He should acted on that when he had the chance, not wait until tonight.

“I couldn’t take the chance that once he saw Mr. Striker kill his brother and if he still failed to kill him after that. He wouldn’t be a good investment. Now if you wouldn’t mind cleaning up this mess Nate… Nate for god sake, take off those damn clothes off and have someone burn them. None of my boys wear girl’s clothes; unless I have a client requesting it.

"Mr. Striker isn’t a client and he is nothing more than a cold-blooded monster. Who I am putting Colby’s death on him, this didn’t need to happen the way it did, and I am sorry I made you watch, but you had to know what I am capable of doing if the situation calls for it. Colby was weak and weakness has no room in my house. Now clean up the room and get some sleep. I’ll be back once I take care of Colby.” He leaned down and kissed each of us on the forehead.

Mr. Striker growled. “Oh please, you’re coddling your boys.”

Watching Mr. Holliman dress and put on a warm coat placing two white sheets over his shoulder. He then picked up Colby and put him over his shoulder with the sheets and brushed past Mr. Striker and his guest, said. “You think, not beating and killing boys that had done nothing wrong is a sign of weakness. I love each and every one of my boys as my own flesh and blood; just because I own them and can do whatever I like to them, doesn’t give me the right to be a cruel taskmaster.

“Each of them obeys me, because of how I treat them with respect and kindness. And I reward them for good behavior and punish them when they need it. Fear and intimidation doesn’t work. I should know because I am a very rich man, not only in money but in my heart as well. The saying goes you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. My boys are all good boys and they now that what I do is out of love for them. 

“You offer me something I don’t need Mr. Striker, something I already have, which is power, love, and respect. Your Demon God forces you to kill the very thing you love. For what? More money, more power then I can imagine including immortality? Life isn’t worth living Mr. Striker if you have no one to love. Or them to love you back. Money doesn’t keep you warm at night. It’s cold and unfeeling. What I did tonight to this poor boy. I will regret the rest of my life, and I blame you for it. He didn’t need to die, his brother doesn’t need to die, but I know in my heart that this boy will not have to mourn another family member because of you.

“When I come back, I am going to sit down with my new friends and we will discuss how we will take your so-called immortality and stick it up your a*s… and if I have anything to say about you taking the mantle of leadership, I will do whatever it takes to make sure that it doesn’t happen. In fact, truth be known I think I would be the best choice, not you Mr. Striker or your so-called friends. Nate, please make sure when you clean the room that you pack up Mr. Strikers things and be quick about it. He is no longer welcome in our room while we stay here.”

He walked out of the room carrying Colby, as Mr. Striker followed him with his guests. Tony and the rest of us raced to the control room to watch. Tony had a car waiting for him as Mr. Striker and his two guests watched Mr. Hamilton laid Colby in the back seat and drove off down the road. We all knew where Colby was going, and we envied him, know that for him and his brother didn’t have mingled with the monsters here.

While we waited for Mr. Hamilton to come back, we watched the monitors, seeing how the rest of his friends were doing. Now that Mr. Striker was no longer in our room had been officially kicked out. Stringum said. “Let’s see if we make him a little more madder.” He turned on one the microphones and told the guy in the white jacket to take Mr. Striker and his two new guests to one of the smaller rooms where it didn’t have a bed just a small sitting area. Telling him… to tell him that him if he and his guests would like to upgrade their accommodation they are going to have to pay 500 thousand dollars for a room with a bed in it. And if they wanted a nice suite to stay in it will be 2500 thousand dollars for each of them. Or they can wake their friends to see if they can share their room tonight.”

We all yawned being very tired, but we had to see what they were going to do. All my younger brothers had been taken home for the night, now that all the bad guys had either fallen asleep or had been tranq’ed so our team could make copies of those keys.

I asked Stringum what was in the trunk, he said; heads, of Mr. Striker’s employees that resisted being arrested when they stormed his compound. Where he was keeping most of his boys, which explained why Mr. The striker wasn’t in such a good mood. Other than the fact Colby’s brother wasn’t on the chopper. And why right now he was stomping up and down madder than a hornet watching him punch his fist through the wall. When he called home finding out that not only his best employees were dead, but all the boys and girls he owns are no longer there.

We watched as the man and white jacket came back telling him that his banker has declined his line of credit. Telling him he only has about a million dollars left after what Mr. Tate just made him pay Mr. Holliman for the loss of Colby. That it would be Monday before he can access his offshore accounts. He screamed so loud it echoed clear up here. However he had enough money to pay for another suite, but I doubted he would be sleeping much as he all he did was pace the room and look out the window every so often or made several phone calls only to hang up because no one was answering. Or he believed he was making those calls as someone pretended to be the party he was calling. Taking down each of the numbers and finding address through Stringum’s large database.

It was nearly dawn when Mr. Holliman came back. He had mud and dirt all over his clothes and in his hair as if he had been rolling in it. To indicate that he just buried Colby where nobody could find him. Mr. Striker was waiting for him in the grand entrance alone while his guest slept like in tranq like sleep. But instead, Mr. Holliman brushed by him, watching a bottle of Jack Denials fall out of his pocket and smash all over the floor. We knew he didn’t drink, but he played his role well as his words slurred. “Get the f**k out of my way. I don’t want to talk too you, not after what you just made me do.” He wobbled and weaved like a drunk.

Mr. Striker said. “I didn’t tell you to kill him, I only suggested it. I only told you that your youngest boy Larry needed to be your sacrificial lamb, not Colby. His death is on your hands, not mine pal… and I am not paying you a single cent for a worthless dead boy. He could have been a good earner, whereas your youngest boy Larry wouldn’t be for another 6 to 7 years.

“You could have used Colby in two of those years, and with Nate and Eli training him you wouldn’t be out any money. You could have a dozen more boys like Larry if you would only see reason. Trust me, and you could be one of the most riches and powerful men this world has ever seen. All you have to do is sit down with me and my friends and we can prove to you that everything I said is true. We only need to vote Mr. Tate out once and for all.”

Mr. Holliman said as his words slurred in a drunken state. “Maybe, but as I see it you are all crazy to think for one minute that your God grants you immortality… Tell you what. If your god is so f*****g powerful, have him bring back the boy I just buried, if he can do that, then I will consider being in business with you and your friends.  Far as the 100 million goes you can keep it. I am just as rich without. It wasn’t me that told you had to pay it, it was Mr. Tate. Now bugger off, I want to take a nice hot shower and climb into a nice warm bed with my boys.” He climbed the stairs in a drunken fashion, to our room. The moment he was inside, he gave a sigh of relief; then came into the control room to watch the fireworks.

He said. “Pardon me for the smell, so anything happens while I was gone.

He quickly shrugged out of his clothes that smelled like old dirt and alcohol, Stringum said. “No, just a bunch of guys finding out that life as they know is about to change when the meeting starts. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and get a little shut-eye? We have a big day tomorrow. I just got word that Colby’s brother will be here in about a couple of hours depending on the roads. Landan radioed me that the plane will be landing in about 45 minutes. I hope your wife’s friends that she works with are ready to handle the load we are about to give them.”

Mr. Holliman said. “Well at least I know three boys will have a nice home, we would do more if we could, but I wouldn’t know where we would put them. I am a little scared about what Colby said about Mr. Striker and about what might be waiting for us behind that locked door. If it is anything like you guys have already confronted. I don’t want my boys even near this place when you do open that door.” He said. “Thanks, Stringum, I will sleep better knowing Colby and all our boys and girls are safe tonight.” We all followed him wishing Stringum and his team goodnight. Telling them to lock the doors and set the alarms and for god, sakes turn off the cameras so our folks can have some privacy.