Judas Read online

  The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. Every second, these people were realizing more and more about the severity and danger of what they signed up for. Sweat beads were forming on foreheads, and people were fidgeting with their pens, hands, and buttons to keep themselves distracted.

  “Chances are, you’ve all been to a standard briefing before. Unfortunately, this isn’t a standard briefing. Usually I would describe the victims, locations, connections, evidence, and subjects. We don’t have that kind of information. I couldn’t detail the victims, even if I had a whole day. I would also normally show you crime scene photos, and believe me when I say that we have plenty, but at this current moment, they won’t be of any use. That, and they are sometimes too disturbing to pin on a wall. We don’t have any important locations, because this guy has never given us a single lead as to where he might be hiding. We don’t even know where he does business.” Another hand raised. Martin nodded.

  “So, what it sounds like you’re telling us is that, even though this case has been open for seven years, we have nothing?” The asker wasn’t angry, but more hopeless.

  Martin slowly inhaled and exhaled, then gripped the podium in front of him. “In short…” He sounded almost as hopeless as the asker of the question, “no, we have almost nothing. We have a lot of bodies, we have a lot of fear, and a lot of danger, but we are just as close to closing this case now as we were when it started.” Everyone’s face dropped, and all their hearts did as well. Martin remembered this exact feeling from every other time he’d done a briefing on this case. A feeling of disappointment slogged through the room. It’s their job to stop the bad guys, and right now, they were lost. One woman raised her hand, slightly breaking the tension in the room.

  “It says here in the information we do have, that we got him four years ago, but that’s all it says. What exactly happened there?”

  Both Martin and Cadman’s faces dropped. Cadman stood up in the back, “It’s ok if you don’t want to talk about it, Jonathan, I can handle it.”

  Everyone’s faces in the room were filled with curiosity and fear. Martin shook his head, “It’s ok.” Cadman hesitantly took his seat again. Even though Cadman wasn’t fully aware of every detail, he knew exactly what happened four years ago, and it sent chills through his whole body. Martin redirected his attention to the group in front of him and inhaled deeply again. “What happened four years ago isn’t really spoken about, and that’s why it isn’t in any files. However, you all deserve to know what happened. Four years ago, we did bring him in, in a way. He was in control of the situation the whole time. He walked right into the station and turned himself in. Until that point, most people were unaware of the Judas case, so he was able to walk right in without anyone knowing how serious it was. However, when he introduced himself, the lead detectives on the case practically jumped on him. They remained very cautious, but Judas was very willing to comply. He put his hands out and let them handcuff him. From there, he was moved to a secure basement level interrogation and holding center. He was surrounded by fifteen guards. Everyone on duty who witnessed the ordeal was made aware that they could not speak about it, and that any media personnel were to be handled like usual. Judas was held in that room like a standard criminal, with the lead detectives on the opposite side of the glass. I received a phone call, and was informed of the situation, and said that I would be down as soon as I possibly could. I was one of the lead detectives at the time, but was taking some time to myself. That’s when everything happened.” Every eye in the room was glued to him. “I arrived at the station not twenty minutes after I got the phone call, but by the time I got there it was too late. I walked into the building and everyone was in a panic, but in order to keep the media out of it, the mania had to stay inside. No one on the outside had any idea what was happening. I immediately ran down to the room they had him in, but by the time I got down there, the only thing I saw was Judas exiting the room, followed by an entourage of what we can only assume were his crew. I ran down the hallway after them, but as I turned the corner he was already stepping out of a hole in the wall and into a car that was waiting for them. Instead of running out after them, I chose to run back into the room they were holding him in. I breached the door, but the lights were off. So, for a moment, I was unaware what had happened. However, when I turned the lights back on, I saw the carnage Judas had left behind him. All fifteen guards that were stationed to guard him had been completely slaughtered. Their bodies covered the floor. I could barely tell where one stopped and another’s started. It didn’t even look like they had gotten a single shot off before they were obliterated. On the outside of the interrogation room, my partners were crumpled on the floor. Clearly, Judas wanted them to suffer. They were just as brutalized as the guards in the other room, but in ways that weren’t immediately fatal. One of them was breathing slowly, but unconscious. The other, though, was perfectly awake, and aware of what had just happened to him. My best friend died that day, while I held his head and told him that everything was going to be ok. Judas is dangerous, merciless, and blood hungry. Don’t ever underestimate him.” The whole room stood silent, everyone replaying what they had just heard. A woman in the back was visibly holding back tears. A man in the front had lost color in his face and looked like he was going to be sick.

  Detective Cadman stood up in the back and made his way to the front. Once he arrived, he gripped the clearly distraught Jonathan Martin by the shoulder. “Thank you, sir. Please go sit down, you’ve done enough. If you think it will help, feel free to leave or get some fresh air.” Martin shakily nodded his head, picked up the things he had brought with him, and exited the room. Once he left, Cadman turned back to the room, “I know many of you are disturbed by what you just heard. However, I understand that it also may have raised some more questions. So, while I am not as informed as Mr. Martin, I will attempt to answer any remaining questions.”

  Matthew Newman slowly raised his hand, both to ask a question, and to break the uncomfortable silence that was building in the room. Cadman nodded his head to acknowledge the young man’s hand. “Why is it that there is no video footage of the events?”

  Leo nodded his head to the perfectly logical question. “Cause crime is just never quite that easy. Of course, there were cameras recording the whole thing, but just like in the movies, the connection was lost during the important stuff. We still have the footage of them bringing him in, after they left, and when Jonathan walks in, but everything in between was lost. Clearly Judas was prepared. This just goes to prove how brutal Judas can be, and shows us that he has no issue killing. I know this is a sensitive case, and I know that it’s hard to hear, but it’s important to know all these things. Judas will kill you, and he won’t be nice about it. No hesitation, no remorse. He will kill you, and now that you are on this case, you are more of a target than ever. Does anyone else have any questions?” The room remained just as silent. “Briefing dismissed.”

  Chapter Three.

  The phone next to my head started buzzing. My eyes begrudgingly slit open from the sleep I had managed to wander into. A man who’s done the things I’ve done carries things with them. Dark things. Things that keep you up at night. Things that make you lay in bed, endlessly, hoping to slip away into sleep, or something else. Anything to give you a reprieve from everything in your head. I let myself sit there for a few moments, listening to the incessant vibrations. The room was filled with pitch black darkness, only being partly lit up by the blinking light from the phone. Eventually I gathered the will to pick it up, though not moving out of the bed. The caller ID simply said “Dom,” which was Dominic’s caller ID, and also one of the only numbers I’ve saved. I did, however, notice that it was three A.M.

  I slid my finger across the screen, “What?” It wasn’t the intended greeting I had planned, but it’s what came out.

  “Nice to hear your voice too.” He said.

  “It’s three in the morning, there isn’t much that’s
nice to hear.”

  He sighed. “Sorry boss, wrong time and place.”

  “What’s up?” I asked, this time a bit more human.

  “Just got a call from someone who wants to meet you. I know you normally don’t take meet ups like that, but I just wanted to let you know.” I remained silent for longer than I intended. “I’ll tell him it’s not a good time if you want me to.” He said, treating my silence as an answer.

  “Sorry, got a lot on my mind. I’ll meet him. Did he give you address?”

  “You sure? If you aren’t up for it, I can just tell him you’re unavailable.”

  “Positive. Text me the address.”

  “Will do. Want me to meet you there?” He asked.

  “No, I can handle it.”

  “I’ll get you the meetup address.” He confirmed. I tapped the button on the screen to hang up. I’m sure he would have preferred to come with me, but I felt like being alone. I usually felt like being alone, no matter how much he hated it.

  I stared at the ceiling for another few minutes, working up the desire to get up. The phone buzzed again, but it was just the address I asked Dominic to send over. Most people associate the blinding effect darkness brings with fear, but it’s always been opposite to me. It means that whatever is going around me, no matter how terrifying, is unknown. Like I said, I’m a man who carries around a lot of dark things. Being able to escape from them, even momentarily, is welcome.

  Eventually, I managed to sit up and slide my legs off the side of the bed. Again, I stayed there for brief moment as my eyes started adjusting to the darkness. I made my way into the bathroom, and stepped into a cold shower, just long enough to bring me out of the clouded night mindset.

  After stepping out of the cold water, I walked back into the bedroom. A cold gust of air swept into the room from the open patio door. It hit the water still running down my body, which sent chills crawling across my skin. Something pulled me out onto the patio. The view from this part of the house was what convinced me to buy it. Water from the beach just off the back of the house lined the horizon. It was just close enough that I could hear the gentle crashing of the waves through the silence. There wasn’t another home for miles, making it the ideal location. I was alone, completely alone. It was in the moments where I got lost in the scenery that I felt truly at peace, brief glimpses into a life that wasn’t haunted.

  Slowly I pulled myself back inside the confines of the room and finished drying the remaining water on me, put clothes on, and made sure I looked respectable. I walked down the stairs to the first floor where the rest of my wardrobe was strewn about. The whole house was full of the same darkness, sans a few electronic lights in the kitchen.

  The stairs opened into the kitchen. I walked into it, immediately being drawn to the bottle of hard liquor on the counter. It was tempting to take a swig, just to take some of the night’s edge off, but instead chose to take a deep breath, and walk into another room.

  The room immediately off the kitchen, what I consider to be a home office, was where I ended up. I pulled one of the many guns throughout the house out of the desk drawer and holstered it in the small of my back, where my jacket would cover it. Additionally, I grabbed a few knives and slid them onto my person. Not that I often have to use them, but the option is convenient, and quiet. From there, I walked back through the kitchen, grabbed the keys to my car, and entered the garage. I’ve never been the kind of high profile criminal with an affinity for collecting cars, I’ve found that it’s trivial and pointless, rarely for any purpose other than to flash wealth. A simple black business vehicle suits my purposes for meetings like this just fine. It bothers Dominic that I do so much without any kind of detail, but when you’ve built such a name for yourself, a security detail isn’t often of much use.

  I stepped into the car, opened the garage door, and turned the key. The engine came to life, the headlights illuminating a short distance of the winding path to leave.

  The address Dominic sent me was to a secluded building in the middle of nowhere. A typical location for a meeting of this sort, albeit a little cliché. It was a ways from my house, so I pulled my phone from the center console of the car and opened the text box from Dominic.

  The location you sent me is about an hour and a half away. Hope this guy doesn’t mind waiting. – I sent.

  He doesn’t. He was very specific that he could wait as long as he needed to. – He sent back.

  How honorable. -I replied, hoping Dominic picked up on the sarcasm.

  You sure you’ll be ok out there? – He asked.

  I’ll be fine. – I sent back.

  I continued down the winding roads. The car made practically no noise, and the radio and air conditioning were both turned down, so the world around me remained completely silent. The silence combined with the darkness still covering everything made for a combination most would consider uncomfortable, but I found to be very relaxing. Though most of the voices in my head haunt me, I find focusing on the silence keeps them manageable. Those around me often find my way of life distressing.

  After a lengthy silent drive, I neared the building Dominic had sent me to. All around were dead or dying trees. It was probably an old power plant of some sort, given the rusty signs scattered around the property. I’d hazard a guess that more than a few illegal acts had taken place inside.

  I drove steadily into the plant, keeping my eyes peeled for the man who so seriously wanted to speak to me. Eventually, I saw a black car parked alongside on the buildings, so I pulled up behind it, and turned the car off. I sat there for a moment, waiting for any sign of life, and a minute after I turned off the car, a man stepped out of the vehicle in front of me, looking very sure of himself. You can tell a lot about a man by the first impression. Starting from the bottom, he had on a pair of very expensive leather shoes. Not very practical for the muddy location we were in, but very common for a man like him. Up from there, he had on a pair of slim black slacks, to draw attention to the body he was clearly proud of. His shirt, again black, was unbuttoned two buttons down the front, to show off more of his body. Men like him convince themselves that sex is their greatest weapon. The short sleeve shirt also did a tremendous, and clearly intentional job showing off the tattoos that covered his arms, and for that matter, chest too. A gold cross hung from his neck. Ironic. His hair was slicked back, and he had a variety of rings decorating his fingers. Everything about him screamed that he was a newcomer with a far too high opinion of himself, who would undoubtedly try to demand more respect than he deserved. However, that’s just a first impression.

  The windows of my car are tinted to the point where he couldn’t yet see me. I ensured all my weapons were securely holstered, then placed a pair of sunglasses on my face. Unnecessary, yes, but it has a way of striking a kind of fear into people they aren’t familiar with. I glanced at myself in the rear-view mirror. After that, I clicked open the car door and watched his face light up.

  “Judas, I presume?” He said, a huge smile on his face.

  I smiled back, as a courtesy. “To whom do I owe the pleasure?”

  “The name is Jackson. I’d tell you to kiss the ring,” he lifted his hand to show the flashy paperweights he had on, “but I get the feeling that might be overstepping my bounds.”

  I smiled again, slightly surprised that he would say something so arrogant. “Wise choice.” Most surprisingly, so far, was the lack of fear he showed. Most people manage to put on a front, but I can see straight through them. He, however, seemed comfortable. Pride can do that to a man.

  “I must apologize though, I didn’t intend to have our first meeting be this early, it just happened that this was one of the only times I could squeeze it in.” He apologized.

  I could squeeze it in? I thought, taken aback by the choice of words. Respectful communication was clearly not this man’s strong suit. “I’d appreciate it if it didn’t happen again, but I understand having a busy schedule.”

  “I’m sure you do.
”

  “So, the man you spoke to on the phone about setting this up said you sounded serious about meeting me.”

  “Perhaps we could sit down, I’m sure we’d be more comfortable discussing things in private.”

  “Whatever you are comfortable with.” I waved my arm out, ushering him to lead us to the place he inevitably had already picked out. Jackson turned around and starting walking towards the building adjacent to the cars. The building itself was practically falling apart, dirt and rubble covered the floors, and mysterious stains covered the walls. It even looked like people had lived in it over the years…smelled like it too. He continued to lead me into the building until we approached a room near the back. He took a seat at a table that was within the room. While the rest of the room was practically falling apart, the table seemed to have remained in decent shape. I eased into a rusty metal chair. It creaked, but held the weight well enough. There was a large hole in the wall to the left of the table that let in just enough of the rising sun’s light to softly illuminate the room.

  “This building was built about eighty-seven years ago. It was quickly put to use, and became a great commodity to the town, which was quite small at the time. The leaders at the time thought it ridiculous to build something so extravagant and expensive in such a small town, but they did it anyway, and it ended up bringing a lot of growth, as well as mass production and export to the town. They ended up regretting not doing it sooner. Unfortunately, there was a riot in the town, mass slaughter, which was likely why the land never sold again. And to think, all over the growth of business.” Jackson stopped talking long enough to glance down at me and notice the slightly unimpressed expression that had settled on my face. “Sorry,” he looked down at the ground with a smile on his face, “I get a little carried away with history.”

  I smiled, “So, what’s a bright guy like you with an interest in things like history doing in the criminal industry?”