CCC #46

The drive back to the care center became a race, a race to end Cabrese, a race to finish this part before I fell over from exhaustion. A race to be there when the rest of the force showed up to take stock of the damage, and send me the butchers bill.
“This is nonsense.” I told the steering wheel. “Why should Cabrese die? We can wring information out of him at the station.” “Nah,” I told myself. “He won’t talk. Besides I have all of his files.” I debated with myself the whole way back.
When I pulled up to the care center It looked just as I left it. Cars were parked neatly in rows, only dim lights on inside, all seemed as it should be. Only I knew what waited inside. I parked my car near the entrance and got painfully out of the drivers side, leaving a brownish stain on the seat from the dog bite and the gunshot wound. It was compulsive,but I reached over and grabbed the trash can full of files to take with me. Cabrese had to know that I had it all. He had to die with the knowledge that he was finished. Completely and utterly finished.
I gathered my wits as I limped toward the heavy mahogany doors that shut the outside world away from the residents of this place. I would need to be sharp for the rest. I set the trash can down next to the door and drew one of my pistols. A deep breath and a quick tug gave me ingress to the horror show within.
I scanned quickly, leading with my pistol but there was no movement. I could hear a moaning in the back, had to be Cabrese. I picked up the trash can and proceeded carefully through the carnage that was just beginning to stink. Grey daylight was working its way through the few windows in the building and the filtering skylights in the central reception area.
There were bodies everywhere. I couldn’t quite believe the scene, even though I had created it like some sort of real life Cecil B. DeMille movie. There were so many bodies. So much blood. Was it enough to give Jack peace in the next life? Nothing would replace him to my sister and their boys, but was all of this enough vengeance? I hope so.
I slowly made it back to the chair that held Cabrese. It was lying on its side, Cabrese trying to work his bonds free and finding no success. He was muttering curses as he tried in vain to loose himself. It was no use. I tie good knots.
My leg began to burn as I reached him. I set the can down, holstered my pistol, and tilted the chair back upright. I walked around to face him. He proceeded to spit blood and snot all over my shirt. My temper flared and before I could think about it I had punched him in the face again, hard enough to knock the chair over again. “You always demanded respect you worthless worm. You can’t even give a little bit.” I set the chair back upright.
He was woozy and I am sure he was seeing stars. “I went to your office” I told him. “2 goons and a Doberman are dead. I have a pile of paper over there,” I gestured towards the trash can “That will take the Cabrese name off of the map. I told you I would take away everything you held even the least bit dear.” I walked over and righted another chair that I moved in front of Cabrese. I sat down ignoring the pain and picked up the files.
I started reading off the names of the business and operations in the Cabrese empire. His eyes filled with even more hatred and he snarled the more I read. Finally, I was done reading. “Any more?” I asked. He remained silent even though Miranda rights held no sway here. “Fine.” I said.
I stood. “Raymond Cabrese, “I began in the voice of a judge. “You have been charged and convicted of prostitution, drugs, racketeering, pornography, theft, kidnapping, murder of a police officer, murder of my best friend, and impersonating a human being. You are now sentenced to death. May your soul end up in Hell where it belongs.”
I drew my .45 for what I hoped was the last time that night and aimed it at the once great Raymond Cabrese’s head. “Any last words?” I asked. He started to say something but my .45 didn’t want to hear it, and neither did I. The smoke cleared as the noise slipped away and Cabrese joined the tribute to Jack Reagan.

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