Confession (4 page)

“Who's that man by grandpa’s grave?” Nancy asked curiously while she eyed Billy.

“Nobody.  Let's go,” she told Marty.

Becky grabbed Nancy and Michael's hands while she rushed them away.

Billy watched Becky and her family leave.  He pondered his next move while he stared down at Allan’s headstone.

I
t was now September and life moved on for Becky.

Allan’s new books A Killer’s Tale and Murder at Night were on sale in the bookstores
across the nation
.  Becky even received a six thousand dollar check for advanced royalties.  
She immediately put it in a special savings account for Nancy and Michael’s college fund.

In Daytona Beach, Sam and Cindy ate lunch at Momma’s Home Cooking restaurant just Interstate I-95. 

“Kristen's going to be in a play at her school next month,” Cindy said then sipped some sweet tea.

“What's it about?” Sam asked while he sipped his sweet tea.

Cindy motioned for him to wait while she rummaged through her purse.

“I know, that Fall Killer was sick in the way he would tie the women up naked to a tree, then beat them with a baseball bat,” a man told his woman friend at the booth behind Sam.

“And it sure was creepy how he would leave a number on the girl’s stomach, as his calling card,” the woman replied.

Sam's ears perked up and got interested with the couple’s discussion.  He turned around and glanced at the couple.

“Her play is about Romeo and Juliet,” Cindy said when she found the flyer.

“I loved how he sent that FBI agent those taunting letters,” the woman told her friend who nodded in agreement.

Cindy saw Sam was interested with the couple behind them ignoring her response.  “Sam, I said.  Romeo and Juliet.  She's been practicing her heart out all week,” Cindy repeated a little louder.

“Excuse me.  What are you talking about?” Sam asked the couple.

Cindy looked upset Sam ignored her again.

“That new book, A Killers Tale.  It's about some guy who killed five girls in the south during the sixties,” the woman replied.

“It sounds like that October Slayer I remember reading about on the Internet,” the man added.

Sam looked extremely curious.

“Sam!”

Sam ignored Cindy while he looked at the couple.

“Sam!” she repeated.

Sam turned back around and looked at Cindy.  “Yes dear?”

“I believe I was talking to you!” she scolded with a stern look.

“I'm sorry.”

“What was so important with their conservation to cause you to ignore me?” Cindy said while she glared at Sam.

“This new book that came out.  It sounds like this case I worked on years ago.” 

Cindy looked bothered.  “Let’s not go there again.  Please!” she pleaded.

“Okay, I won’t.  So, tell me about her play,” he added with interest.

“Anyway, her play will be next month and she wants us there.  It’s Romeo and Juliet.”

“It would be a pleasure to attend,” he said then he drank his sweet tea.   Thoughts of that new book started to occupy his mind.

The next day over in Kissimmee, Becky sat in her kitchen and drank her second cup of coffee while she read the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

Marty walked inside with a copy of A Killer’s Tale book in one hand and his coffee cup in another.  He read the third chapter while he walked up to the counter and poured his second cup of coffee.  He walked over to the table and sat down.

“I bought a copy of your dad's new books, Murder at Night and A Killer’s Tale,” he said.  “A Killer’s Tale sounds very much like that October Slayer case from the sixties that never got solved,” he said while he held up the book where the back cover had pictures of five headstones with the names of the five girls killed.

Becky grabbed the book out of his hands and looked it over.  “It sounds like this was Dad's version of what happened
with that old sixties case
,” she said while she handed the book to Marty.  “He sure loved solving mysteries.”

“Would you like to read it after I'm finished?”

“No thank you.  I had enough of murder mysteries while I edited his previous manuscripts,” she said then returned to her newspaper.

“Maybe I'll figure out that little secret your father mentioned,” Marty said then returned to his reading.

“Maybe.  All I know so far is that Uncle creepy hasn't harassed me about wanting something.  So I don't have a clue what Dad meant,” she said while her eyes were glued to her newspaper.

The kitchen phone rang, and she looked at Marty who was engrossed in his book.  She waited for him to get up.  He was not going to budge.

She rolled her eyes while she got up and walked over to the phone.

“Becky Adams,” she answered.

“Hello Becky, William DeHart from the reality company over in St. Cloud.  I have some bad news about your father's house.”

“What's wrong?”

Marty did not pay attention since he was too engrossed in his book.

“I just found out a lien was placed on your father's house by a Billy Stein.  Do you know who this man could be?
  Is he related to your father?
”

Becky looked pissed while she paced around the kitchen.

“He’s my uncle and I don’t know why he would do that,” she replied then she thought about it for a few seconds.  “Wait, I know why.  He’s a creep!”

“Well, apparently, he's stating his brother was supposed to will him the house and its contents.  We can't sell it until this lien is removed.”

“I don't believe this!” she yelled out.

Marty looked up from his book and got concerned with Becky who furiously paced in circles.

“I'll see what I can do to get it removed.  But it might cost you some time in court.”

“I'm going to change the locks of his house.  Call me if you can work something out without spending time in court.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” William said then disconnected his end of the call.

Becky hung up the phone and looked like she wanted to kill someone.

“What's wrong dear?”

“Uncle Billy put a lien on Daddy's house and now we can’t sell it until it’s removed.  Bastard!”

Marty watched Becky while she stormed out of the kitchen.

Way up in Curtis, Mississippi was the Stein Chevrolet dealership.  Alvin Stein founded it in 1925 when he was a young man.  Billy now owns the dealership, as Allan wanted to spend his life with the Army.  Allan would state that selling cars was considered a boring life
and wanted
thrills
that the Army provided
.

Billy sat behind his desk in his office where numerous old pictures of Allan and him on fishing trips hung on the wall.  These were annual trips he took with his brother from 1957 – 1972. 

Billy read his copy of A Killer’s Tale book and was halfway through it.  In fact, he read all of Allan’s books and kept a copy on a shelf in his office.  But this new book gave him grave concerns.

Later that night, Sam and Cindy went to the Barnes and Noble bookstore.  They walked around for a while, then Sam went in one direction and Cindy went off in another.

Cindy checked out a book about the history of the Biltmore Estates.  She longed to visit that beautiful home and it was one of the items on her bucket list. 

Sam looked around and saw a display of A Killer’s Tale books.  He walked away but thoughts of the book weighed on his mind.

He walked over two aisles and saw Cindy reading a Biltmore Estates book.  He looked back in at the display of A Killer’s books.

He walked back and stopped four feet from the display.  A man walked over, picked up a copy and rushed away to the cashier.

Sam walked away while he fought the urge to get a copy.  But the urge became too strong.  He rushed back to the display and quickly and snatched a book before he changed his mind.

Cindy walked up to Sam with her Biltmore Estates book in hand.

“I’m ready if you are,” she said then saw a book in his hand.  “What did you buy?”

“I can’t help it.  I’m going to get the A Killer’s Tale.”

“Oh honey, let it go.  Didn't that case bring you nightmares that stopped after you retired?” she said and was worried for Sam.

“I haven't had one in eight years, so, it wouldn't hurt to read it.”

Cindy knew he was stubborn and would come back here on his own later on.  “What ever,” she said then walked toward the cash registers.

“What did you get?”

“A book on the history of the Biltmore Estates.  Since someone won't take me there, I thought I would read about it,” she replied with a hint.

“I’ll take you there.  I promise,” he said with a warm smile.

“When?” she asked excitedly.

“Whenever you can slip away from your job.  After all, I’m retired and have all the time in the world.”

Cindy thought for a few seconds while they got to the entrance to the cashiers and waited in line.  “I can get away in two weeks.”

“Then it’s a date,” Sam replied and followed up with a kiss on her cheek to seal the deal.

Meanwhile, over in Kissimmee, Becky and Marty sat on the couch in the den.  Marty was deep into the A Killer’s Tale book while Becky watched a Disney movie with the kids.

“So far, this book is great.  We might have a best seller on our hands,” Marty said while he started a new chapter.

Becky was too engrossed in the movie and did not hear Marty.

The phone rang in the kitchen.

Becky looked at Marty and he had his head buried in his book and did not budge an inch.

She got up and walked out of the den.

She walked up over to the ringing phone.

“Becky Adams,” she answered.

“Becky, it's Uncle Billy,” he replied from the phone.

Becky cringed and got the creeps.  “What the hell do you want?”

“Listen, it’s extremely important I get the chance to search through Allan's house.  He has something he wanted me to keep.  Something that belongs to me,” Billy replied in the sweetest tone he could fake.

“I’m sorry, but he didn't mention you in his will!  So the answer is, no!”

“He mentioned it when we recently went fishing down there in Florida.  So if you let me search through his house just once, I’ll leave you alone and you’ll never see or hear from me again.”

“No!  And why did you put a lien on his house?  I want it removed immediately!” she yelled into the phone.

“If you let me inside his house, that lien will disappear forever,” Billy said and sounded serious.

“Bastard!” Becky yelled out then strangled the phone.  She slammed the receiver down.

She stormed out of the kitchen and headed back into the den.

She plopped down on the couch and sat with her arms crossed.  She fumed.

Marty still had his head buried in his book.

“I hate that man!”

Marty glanced over at Becky and saw she was furious.

“What's the matter, honey?”

“That was Uncle Billy.  He wants something.  What I don’t know.  And he won’t remove that lien until I let him search dad’s house,” she said and her eyes welled up as this was becoming too stressful.

“Let him.  What would it hurt?”

“I’ll never let him set on foot in dad’s house.  Never!” she responded with gritted teeth.

She got up and Marty and the kids watched her storm out of the den.

Way over in Daytona Beach, Sam walked into his den with his A Killer’s Tale book in hand.

He walked past a wall where an updated picture of Charles hung.  Charles was now a Brigadier General.  Sam sat down on his lazy boy chair and opened the book to Chapter 1
of A Killer’s Tale
.

Up in Curtis, Mississippi, Billy sat in his Lazy Boy chair with his A Killer’s Tale book in hand.  He looked pissed that Becky would not allow him access into Allan’s house.  He schemed.

A
Killer’s Tale
story
by Allan Stein
started…

My name was Jimmy Nalla and have you ever wondered, why humans kill other humans?”

Some humans kill because of war and it’s their duty to protect their country from others that are deemed evil. 

Some humans kill because if involves money that was stolen from them or their desire to get it the easy way.

Some humans kill to protect their power.

Some humans kill because their lover cheated on them. 

Some humans kill in the name of self-defense. 

Some humans kill by accident and didn’t mean for the other human to die. 

But some humans kill because they loved it.  It excited them for some sick reason. 
Jimmy absolutely
loved killing.  Why?  Well, m
aybe because it started when he
was a young lad.

The town of Boldger was a quiet sleepy town located in the lower western part of the State of Alabama.   It was located twenty miles from the Mississippi border.

It was now 1948 and Boldger had a total population of two thousand six hundred and thirty people.  A quarter of the town’s population was the colored folk, but they were often called by the offensive “N” word.  It was the sign of the times in the Deep South and life was grand if you were white.

The main industries that sustained Boldger during this time were a sawmill, some cotton fields, diary farms, and chicken farms.  And of course some Moonshine stills deep in the woods. 

Boldger was also home to twelve year-old Jimmy Nalla.   Jimmy lived with his father Melvin, mother Elizabeth and seven-year-old brother Ricky.

Melvin Nalla owned Nalla Ford located in the center of the town.  Melvin’s father, Gus, founded the Ford dealership in Bolder back in 1925.  Gus retired in 1942 and let Melvin take the reins of the business.  Melvin was planning on letting Jimmy take it over when he becomes of age. 

It was now August 21, 1948 and another hot and muggy Saturday with a clear blue sky.

It was high noon and the Little Baseball field of Boldger was in fill swing with a game between the Badgers against the Rattlesnakes.  These were the only two teams in the town so they only played against each other.

Young Jimmy was on the Badgers and was one of their worst players.  The only other bad player was the only friend Jimmy had besides his brother Ricky.   This kid was Homer Maris and he was deemed to be dumb and often poked at by the other kids.  

Jimmy played right field today and missed a lot of fly balls and struck out most of the time.  Because of this, he would take ribbing from some of the more talented players like Ralph Johnston.  Ralph would be Jimmy’s nemesis for the rest of his youth.

The game was now in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Badgers were losing to the Rattlesnakes by ten to three.  Jimmy had struck out two times and hit a grounder and was thrown out at first base.

Ricky Nalla watched the game from the edge of the woods by the outfield.  He loved his big brother Jimmy and always felt bad when Jimmy performed poorly.  Since there was no way for the Badgers to come up from behind and win the game, Ricky decided to go home.

At the edge of the woods way over by left field stood twelve year old colored boy named
Joey Sampson.  He had one trait in that his left nostril was smaller than his right nostril.  Joey loved the game of baseball but the colored boys were not allowed to play with the whites.  That often brought tears to Joey’s eyes as he wanted to play in Little League for years.  But he had to accept the way of these times in the Deep South.  So he would often watch the games from the woods, as this was a safe location for him.

He turned around and started walking off into the woods.

After five minutes of walking in the woods, Ricky found a long stick in the dirt.  “Perfect,” he said while he bent down and picked up the stick.  He held the long stick in his hands and pointed it like it was a gun.  “Bang!” he called out pretending to fire off a bullet.

Ricky strutted off into the woods and pretended his long stick was a M1 rifle.  It was Ricky against the Nazi’s that were trying to take over the town of Boldger.

He stopped behind a pine tree as he thought he heard some Germans approaching.  He had his M1 rifle ready and peeked around the trunk of the tree.

He took aim with his stick rifle.  “Bang!  You're dead you stinking Nazi!” he said and got a huge smile pretending he killed a Nazi.

Ricky stepped away from the tree and cautiously inched his way through the woods.  He scanned the area over for any more sightings of other Nazi’s.

He inched his way through the woods for another ten minutes peeking around the trees in search of the evil Nazi’s. 

He walked for another two minutes when a sound filled the air in the woods.  “Ahhhh!” a girl’s voice gave a bone-chilling scream that echoed in the woods.

Ricky stopped dead in his tracks and scanned in the direction of her scream.  He stood there for a few seconds not knowing what to do.  His curiosity took over, as he had to investigate. 

He cautiously walked and snuck from pine tree to pine tree to locate the source of the scream.

“Ahhhh!” the girl screamed louder and Ricky knew he was getting closer. 

Ricky inched another one hundred feet then saw some commotion up ahead between some trees. 

Ricky tiptoed in that direction and was observant that he did not step on any branches to give away his position.

The second he saw a fat redneck, named Buster Chaney, Ricky hid behind a thick pine tree ten feet way.

Buster Chaney was a forty-year old fat slob redneck from Mississippi.  He had greasy black hair that he slicked back.  His face always had a week’s growth of beard stubble and his teeth had never seen a dentist let alone a toothbrush.  They were stained and rotten and would make any woman sick when he smiled. 

He always wore coveralls that hadn’t been washed in six months.  The same went for his tee shirt what was once white but now had a gray tinge to it because of his nasty sweat.  Buster wasn’t married as what woman would want a slob like him on top of her.  He made his living making and selling Moonshine.

Ricky peeked around the tree trunk, and got a glimpse of Buster, who stood bare ass naked but still wore his black work boots.   His filthy coveralls and tee shirt and filthy boxers lay in the dirt by a tree.

Ricky stared at the sight of Buster’s fat hairy ass cheeks and hairy back.  He wanted to vomit in the dirt. 
Gross.
  He thought.

Buster had his hands wrapped around the neck of a fourteen-year-old colored girl named Gale.   She was stripped completely naked and dangled from Buster’s grip.

Ricky never saw a naked girl before and the sight of her turned him on.

“So, you think you're gonna tell?” Buster yelled at gale. 

He walked her over to a big pine tree and squeezed her throat with a tighter grip.  “No you won’t,” he yelled then repeatedly slammed the back of Gale’s head into the tree trunk. 

All Ricky could hear was the thud, thud, thud
,
sounds of the back of Gale’s head slamming against the trunk of the tree.  “AHHHH!” cried out Gale, as the pain to the back of her head was excruciating. 

Gale was suddenly quiet.  Her body went limp with a blank stare from her eyes.  Buster let go and she dropped to the dirt.  She was dead.  Buster looked at the trunk of the tree and saw a stain of blood.  He was proud of himself.

“Stupid colored girl thinking she would tell on me,” Buster said then gave her a hard swift kick in her temple with his right boot.

Ricky’s nose twitched, and he knew what was coming.  He pinched his nose and fought hard not to sneeze.  That did not work and he sneezed from behind his tree.

Buster heard it an immediately turned around looking in the direction of that sound.  He knew this wasn’t some critter in the woods. 

Ricky peeked around the tree trunk and saw Buster inching his way in his direction.  He got scared and ran off back towards the direction for the baseball field.

Buster ran after Ricky, and he ran as fast as his fat body would allow him.

Ricky turned around and saw Buster running naked after him. 

Buster huffed and puffed while he ran and more sweat poured out of his skin.

Ricky looked forward and saw a bush in front of him near a pine tree with a curved trunk.  It was too late.  He ran into the bush and tumbled to the ground.

He looked up and saw Buster’s fat naked sweaty body that towered over him with dangling balls and small pecker pointing down at him.  Buster was pissed while he huffed and puffed for oxygen.

“Well, well, I seem to have a witness!” Buster said while he reached down.  He grabbed Ricky by his throat and lifted him up.  He glared at Ricky with fire in his eyes.

Ricky peed his pants and his legs started to tremble with fear.

“This will be your last piss!” Buster said the second he saw the big pee stain on Ricky’s crotch.

Buster squeezed Ricky's neck. 

Ricky gasped for air while Buster’s tight grip closed off his air supply.

Then there was a sudden whack sound behind Buster.

Buster gave Ricky widened and surprised eyes with the sudden pain in the middle of his back.  Then another whack sound came from behind Buster.  “Ahhh!” Buster cried out in excruciating pain and loosened his grip on Ricky’s throat. 

Ricky dropped to the ground at the same time Buster dropped to his knees in pain.

Ricky quickly sat up when he realized he was free and scooted away on his butt. 

He saw his brother Jimmy was still in his Badger’s baseball uniform with a baseball bat in hand.  Ricky smiled in relief that Jimmy came to his rescue. 

Jimmy had hatred in his eyes while he gripped the bat tighter. 

Buster turned around and saw Jimmy.  “I’m going to kill you, you little turd!” he yelled out while he started to stand up.

Jimmy swung the bat and made contact with Buster’s jaw.  Blood and a couple of rotten teeth flew everywhere. 

Buster dropped to the ground stunned.  He got up on his knees to lunge after Jimmy.  But Jimmy swung the bat again and smacked Buster’s crotch.  Buster froze in
excruciating
pain while he cupped his crotch.   Jimmy swung again and smacked Buster in his left temple.

Buster dropped to the ground on his back with a blank lifeless stare.

Ricky stared at the motionless redneck. 

Jimmy poked at Buster’s chest with his bat.  No movement, just a blank stare of disbelief.  Jimmy loved the sight of the dead redneck.  Then he repeatedly beat Buster’s head and split it wide open.  Buster was dead in a pool of blood. 

“Go home Ricky and never tell anybody about this!  It'll be our secret forever, little brother,” Jimmy told him.

Ricky stood up.  “Okay Jimmy,” he replied then they locked pinkies to seal their promise.

Ricky ran off through the woods scared yet relieved that Jimmy saved his life.

Jimmy stared down at the dead redneck with interest.  He smiled over his accomplishment.  It felt like a David and Goliath tale.

He turned and saw the dead colored girl Gale.  He got really curious so he walked over to her.

He dropped his bat to the ground and knelt alongside the girl.  He touched her face, and she did not move. 

He looked down at the beginnings of some breasts, and he curiously touched her nipples.  He squeezed them.

He looked down at her vagina with very little pubic hairs. 

He got curious and touched and stroked her up and down her vagina lips.  This would be the first time he saw and touched a naked girl.  Yet with her being dead made it even more exciting for some sick reason.

He stood up and grabbed his bat, and walked away.  He stopped when he was ten feet from the scene and looked back at the two naked bodies.  He liked the feeling killing that redneck gave him.  He rushed away with a satisfied smile on his face.  He did not notice the blood on the tip of his bat.

This would be the moment in Jimmy’s life where he enjoyed killing another human being.  August 21, 1948 would be the day that would change Jimmy’s life forever.

What Jimmy didn’t realize, was that young Joey Sampson was also in the woods at that exact moment.  Joey had seen the part where Jimmy hit Buster with the bat while Buster was on his knees. 

Joey cautiously followed while Jimmy rushed through the woods.

Jimmy rushed out of the woods and entered the city limits of Boldger.  He was totally unaware that Joey Sampson had been following him.

Jimmy saw Joey walk out of the woods from the same direction he cam from.  He got scared.  He ran off.

Joey stood by the edge of the woods and got a little nervous knowing Jimmy spotted him.  He didn’t know what to do.