This is the 6th chapter to The Death of Kevin Frye. If you're new to my blog, the preceding 5 chapters are below my blog "Never Get Old". If you'd like to view the trailer to the Indie movie, The Death of Kevin Frye, click here."
“Carter, Phineas Johnson here.” His voice smiled, but his face did not. Methodically he began mangling the rose, “Yes, it has been awhile. Listen, I need to ask a favor. I’ve asked Victor to take care of a problem for me, but I have a feeling he’s not interested in playing by my rules. Yes. It is unfortunate.
“I need to remind Victor who’s in charge. I need a new I.D, yes, for me. Use the name Kevin Frye. Good. I’ll have one of my men pick it up.”
He hung up. Looking down at the rose stem, he let it drop to the ground. Stepping on it as he walked, he muttered, “if you want a job done...”
He stopped as Mackenzie came out of a door, “Mr. Johnson, Monroe is in your office. “
“What does he want?” Johnson replied, annoyed.
“He has Ranston with him. Monroe says he went to the police.”
“Monroe. My watchdog. At least he’s still good for something. I need you to run to Carter’s and pick up an I.D. I’m having him make for me. It’s going to say Kevin Frye.”
Mackenzie knew better than to question his boss, but he could not hide from Johnson the question that flashed across his face.
“Mackenzie, you’ve been very loyal to me,” Johnson said after taking a few steps,
“You’ve done a lot for me, sir.”
“Yes. I have. I can see you have a question. Do you want to know why I’m making an ID for Kevin? Would it surprise you that I’m having my photograph put on it?”
“Yes sir,”
“I’m imagining you’re wondering why I would do something like that, but I can assure you, I have a plan.
“I don’t believe Kevin when he tells me he didn’t go to the police. It certainly would be something I would tell me if I had my girlfriend.”
Used to his boss’s thinking process, Mackenzie just nodded.
“If Kevin has gone to the police as I suspect, he’s told them about me. I’ve done my best to keep a low profile and Monroe has been my stooge for this.” Suddenly Johnson’s face darkened, “this would all be so unnecessary if Monroe hadn’t started clamoring for more money… but we’re talking about Kevin.”
“Yes sir.”
“After Victor takes care of Monroe, we’ll take care of Victor, making sure no one can recognize him. I haven’t decided whether to rearrange his face before we eliminate him or after, but I can decide that later. Anyway, I’ll plant my new ID on Monroe so the police will think Kevin Frye killed him.”
“But sir, it’s your picture.”
“Yes, that’s the beautiful thing. I’ll just have Doc give me a new face. I think I’ll have a younger one. Might as well kill two birds with one stone; eh?
“We’ll dump Victor in the river. By the time the police find him, he’ll be so bloated that he’d be unrecognizable even without the face lift I want to give him. What’s an extra body more or less? He’ll be an unsolved murder. So you see? It’s going to work out fine. The police will be looking for Kevin Frye as the person that matches that photo and I won’t have to go to the bother of changing my name.”
Mac only nodded, but somehow the plan didn’t seem like it was as perfect as Johnson seemed to think. It didn’t matter much. He was there for Mr. Johnson as always.
Johnson put a hand on Mac’s shoulder, “Go get the ID. I’ll take care of Monroe.”
Mac left the garden, Johnson pulled out his cell phone and dialed another number. He waited a moment, “Hello? Hey Doc this is Johnson. Can you set up an appointment for me? I need a special job done. The 25th will be perfect.”
Johnson lingered in the garden for a few minutes with his eyes closed. He sighed then slowly walked into the house, stopping a moment by a cabinet with a handy absinthe bottle, and the paraphernalia needed to mix a drink. Carrying the glass in with him, he opened the office door.
“There you are!” Monroe exclaimed, “I was just getting ready to come look for you.”
“Well, I’m here now, what do you want?”
“Ranston here went to the police. I haven’t been able to figure out what he’s told them, yet, but I was certain you’d want to take care of it yourself.”
“Good Monroe,”
“I’m not a dog Phineas.”
“Hmmm,”
Johnson nodded his head toward one of his boys, “Phillips, you and Douglas take Ranston to The Room. Have Monroe’s man go with you. When you lock him in, come back here.”
“Yes sir,” Two of the three men hoisted Ranston to his feet. Ranston, by now was weeping uncontrollably. He’d been in The Room before, but he wasn’t on the receiving end.
When Johnson and Monroe were alone in the room, Monroe asked, “Have you thought about our discussion last week?”
“Yes, I’ve given it much thought….”
Suddenly the two men could hear a commotion in the hall, a glass object crashed. Both men rushed to the door, but before they could open it, a gunshot was fired. When they got the door opened, Ranston lay dead on the floor, Johnson’s man was holstering his gun, while the bald man belonging to Monroe was reaching down to retrieve his gun from the dead man’s hand.
“Douglas and Bernie were on each side of Ranston holding his arms. As I was leading them to The Room, Ranston tore away and grabbed Bernie’s gun. He tried to run and I shot him.” Phillips explained.
“I’m sorry Mr. Johnson,” Bernie apologized.
“Not as sorry as you’re going to be. Take him to The Room.”
“Mr. Monroe, please help me…”
Phillips and Douglas dragged Bernie away down the hall.
“Now I’m going to have to find a guy to replace Bernie.”
“You should train them better.”
A muffled screaming could be heard down the hall, Monroe, decided it would be better to let it go, after all, he was in Johnson’s house.
“We’ll have to get together another time and continue the discussion. I have some pressing business to attend to now.”
Phineas’ smile sent a chill down the tough Monroe’s spine, “Can you show yourself out the door?” he asked Monroe, who knew Phineas’ mind was with the man in The Room.
“Uh, yes, I can. Thanks.” Monroe stuck out his hand. Phineas looked at it a moment then shook it; his touch felt cold to Monroe.
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