Stagecoach Road Read online

  “Just my neck today, doc,” she said as she lay there.

  Benny stood behind Carla’s head as he prepared to adjust her neck.

  “You have to stop bringing me all these goodies,” Benny said as he patted his stomach. “You’re going to get me fat.”

  Carla waited for the reassuring cracking sound as Dr. Weinstein performed the neck maneuver.

  “No you won’t!” Carla playfully said, using that opportunity to also pat Benny’s belly. “You’re in great shape, doc. Are you still running?”

  Benny didn’t respond. He finished the treatment and raised the table so Carla could get off.

  “See you next week,” Carla said, as she walked down the hall to the waiting room and booked another appointment with Tracey.

  The new personal injury patient finished filling out the forms and got up to hand them to Dr. Weinstein, who was saying goodbye to Carla.

  “You have to watch out for this one,” Carla said, pointing to Benny while noticing how pretty Dr. Weinstein’s new patient was. “He gives great manipulation!” she continued, tossing out the remains of her depleted reservoir of discretion.

  Both Benny and Tracey rolled their eyes in mock disgust as the shapely new patient politely smiled and followed Benny to his office. Carla mercifully left, giving Dr. Weinstein a much needed respite, if only for a few days.

  Gail Mercer, the curvaceous injury victim, who couldn’t have been more than 18, sat down in front of Dr. Weinstein’s desk as he read her case history.

  “It says here,” Dr. Weinstein said, “that you were rear ended by a motorcycle?”

  Gail nodded then shook her long sandy brown hair in an effort to exaggerate her neck pain.

  “That’s how I explained it to the cops,” Gail said as she reached for a picture in her purse. “What really happened was this guy was following me on his bike, an old boyfriend of mine, and a car pulled in front of me so I mashed on the brakes. Kurt, that’s my old boyfriend, couldn’t stop in time and crashed into me.”

  Benny jotted that down, trying to hide his eyes as he glanced at her pretty face. “So this guy was stalking you?”

  “Sort of. Kurt won’t accept the fact that I’m married. I married his best friend two months ago. Kurt still thinks we’re going together.”

  Dr. Weinstein scribbled some more. “Did you tell this to Mr. Green? Did the cops arrest this Kurt guy?”

  “No one got arrested,” Gail said as she placed the picture on the desk. “I thought I’d spare Kurt the hassle of spending another night in jail. Besides, he was pretty banged up himself. Look at the bike.”

  Benny studied the picture for a second. “Yeah, looks like he should have been killed.”

  “He’s just getting out of the hospital today,” Gail said. “And of all things, Ricky, my husband, went to see him. But I never want to see Kurt again. He’s trouble. He’s mad that I quit his band and enrolled at the I.U. extension on Broadway. I’m majoring in psychology. But most of all he’s mad I married Ricky. You see, they were going to be famous musicians together. I never thought Kurt was that good. Not compared to Ricky. But I’m grateful to Kurt because without him I wouldn’t have met Ricky. And Ricky is so, so good to me. He bought me that car and he’s paying for some of my tuition. Isn’t that nice of him?”

  Benny finished the case history and initial exam as he endured her rambling. As Gail left the office, Benny couldn’t help but think there was something very familiar about her. That perfume. Her walk. Her inflections. But they never met. And the way she was acting. Not at all like a newlywed in love. And she didn’t seem all that angry that her old boyfriend was following her. In fact she seemed rather flattered. But what a space cadet, he thought.

  Breaking out of his daydream, Benny was thinking, what difference does it make who she is? A patient is a patient. Steve is going to want a full report when she’s released. But she smelled so nice, Benny thought, lapsing into another fantasy as he inhaled deeply through his nose. Snap out of it man, he thought to himself. I’ve got to see J.J.

  Chapter Twenty

  It wasn’t until the following evening, Tuesday, April 28th, 1992 that Benny decided to head out and visit J.J. Davis’ pawn shop on Broadway. That part of town wasn’t the best even in the light of day, and at night, perilous. That’s when the druggies and gangs really got going. Benny knew this, but that was the only time he could get away without Marsha asking too many questions.

  It was almost 8:30 p.m. when Benny arrived at J.J.’s. The shop didn’t close until 10:00 p.m., and Benny didn’t want to stay there a minute longer than necessary. He parallel parked his Camry next to a meter, about fifteen feet in front of the store. He switched on the inside car light and went through the list of things he needed to buy. Of course, Benny knew J.J. wouldn’t have half the things on hand. It was just a quick stop to place his order.

  OK, he thought, with his silver Cross Pen in hand as he wrote in a small spiral notebook. Tranquilizer rifle, check. CO2 cartridges, check. Let’s see here…1cc Type ‘P’ disposable darts 1-inch needle length, check, check. Um, 18-gauge 2-inch hypodermic needle, check. Oh, yeah, Sucostrin (100 mg/ml), check. As much as I can get. I wonder if J.J. knows a veterinarian. Maybe I can buy some powdered succinylcholine chloride instead and make my own Sucostrin.

  Sucostrin is not a tranquilizer, but a muscle blocking agent that essentially paralyzes an animal. Under the influence of Sucostrin, the animal is fully awake and can feel pain. They are aware of everything, which causes them much stress, especially in that paralyzed state. It was no accident Benny chose this chemical. It was a calculated decision.

  Benny flicked off the ceiling light and got out of his car while putting on his Sox cap and sunglasses. He looked both ways down the sidewalk before he entered J.J.’s. It crossed his mind to shed the sunglasses since it was already dark, but he didn’t. There weren’t many people walking down Broadway, but there were plenty of people in the store, about five or six. J.J. had some help that evening--a young, handsome, fair-skinned black man they called Rings, around twenty or twenty-two years old. Rings was very tall and thin with a short Afro. He had a small but pronounced scar on the left side of his chin, and another scar just above his right eye. Rings worked the register behind the bulletproof glass. They called him Rings because he was the only one who used the cash register to ring up a ‘legitimate’ sale. Everything J.J. sold was sold under the table and you paid him in round numbers. Being the only white guy there, it was impossible for Benny to look inconspicuous. No one bothered him, though. The others just wanted to sell their stuff and get some quick cash.

  The shop finally thinned out about a quarter past nine, but then another two people walked in. Benny decided not to wait. He walked up to the window and asked Rings if J.J. was around.

  “He’s talking to someone in the storage room,” Rings said. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  Benny only wanted to deal with J.J., even though J.J. probably told Rings everything.

  “It’s not really a private matter,” Benny said, “but I would like to talk with him.”

  Rings sized up Benny, who was still wearing those sunglasses.

  “You’re not the law, are you?” Rings cautiously asked.

  “No, I’m not the law,” said Benny. “I bought a .45 here a little while ago and I wanted to ask J.J. to get me some other things.”

  Rings excused himself while the two other customers looked around. J.J. walked in less than half a minute later.

  “I seem to recall you,” J.J. said in a weak, gravelly voice. “It’s the Sox cap and sunglasses that did it for me,” he laughed. “All you need now is some brown shoe polish and a boom box pressed against your ear. No one would ever pick you out of a lineup!”

  Benny smiled, then pushed the list of items he wanted through the slot under the thick glass. Rings didn’t even glance at the list as J.J. examined the order. J.J. told Benny to go outside and meet him in the parking area in the alley behind the
store.

  “Are you in trouble young man?” J.J. asked as he opened the back door to let the other guy out.

  Benny waited until they were alone then walked inside.

  “No, nothing like that,” said Benny. “I have a varmint problem that I want to handle myself.”

  J.J. looked at the list again.

  “Most of these things you can get yourself,” said J.J. But it’s not up to me ask why you don’t. The tranq rifle is no problem. I can get you the darts too. I can get the CO2 cartridges OK, and the hypodermics. And you want Sucostrin?”

  At first, Benny though J.J. wasn’t familiar with Sucostrin. But he was.

  “Yes,” said Benny. “As much as you can get.”

  “Well, okay,” said J.J. “All this stuff doesn’t come cheap.”

  Benny didn’t want to argue price and pulled a huge wad of bills out from his left front pants pocket.

  “I have fifteen hundred dollars here,” Benny said as he handed over the cash, knowing he just gave J.J. a one thousand dollar bonus. “You might have to get the Sucostrin from a veterinarian unless you have a druggist friend.”

  J.J. folded the money and put it in his back pocket without counting it.

  “Don’t worry ‘bout where I get the stuff,” J.J. said while buttoning up his back pocket. “I know just the vet to call,” he laughed while spitting out some phlegm in his handkerchief.

  For a moment, Benny thought he insulted J.J. by telling him his business. But the extra grand took care of that faux pas.

  “Just be here a week from today,” J.J. said as he opened the door for Benny. “Ten o’clock p.m. on the nose, right here in back. Knock hard, twice.”

  “Ten p.m. it is,” Benny said as he scurried to his Camry which was still in one piece.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sucostrin, Benny thought, as he drove home that evening from the pawn shop. That wears off fast. I think just after a few minutes. Hmm, that doesn’t give me much time in-between.

  It started drizzling. Benny turned his wipers on the slowest speed. The hypnotic back and forth rhythm of the blades put him in a trance as he subconsciously slowed for a stoplight. The rain came down harder--his hand automatically reached for the wiper control to increase the pace.

  “Epinephrine!” Benny shouted, startling himself as he approached the last stoplight on Broadway before the turnoff. “Motherfucker. I have to go back and tell J.J. to get me some of that. I can’t do this thing without epinephrine.”

  Benny turned around and headed back to J.J.’s. It was almost closing time and the streets around the shop looked scarier than before. Groups of young drug dealers walked down the street in plain sight only to vanish behind the buildings to conduct business, then quickly emerging after the sale. Benny decided to park in the alley behind the store and wait for J.J. to come out. At about 10:12 p.m. Benny saw the back door creek open but didn’t see anyone. The door was left ajar for a couple of minutes before he finally saw signs of life. It was Rings. Benny honked his horn.

  “Hey Rings,” Benny yelled, seeing J.J. also walk out while locking the door.

  “Yeah, what?” Rings yelled back, momentarily taken by surprise.

  “Tell J.J. I forgot something.”

  J.J. was within earshot and walked up to Benny’s car.

  “Hey, Sox, what did you forget?” asked J.J., giving Benny a nickname. He was more interested in getting home than doing business. “Don’t tell me, you need a gold tooth!”

  Benny courteously acknowledged that remark.

  “Yes,” Benny said, humoring J.J. “And I also forgot to order epinephrine.”

  “Sure thing. How many viles do you need?”

  Benny pulled out three hundred dollars from his wallet.

  “As many as you can get with this,” Benny said, as he handed J.J. the cash.

  “Alright,” said J.J., stashing the bills in his front shirt pocket. “See you next Tuesday, Sox.”

  Benny wrote a few things in his spiral notebook as he watched Rings and J.J. drive off together. They seemed comfortable around each other. Almost like family. Rings had a mature way about him for a young man. People liked his easy manner. J.J. was more streetwise, and hardened by life, but with a sense of humor and humility.

  So now Benny had a whole week to get everything else he needed. With the wheels in motion, his resolve was stronger than ever. Nineteen years is long enough, Benny thought, as the wipers lapsed him back into a trance, for Frank, Tommy, Gerald and Murphy to live in peace. It’s my turn. They have no idea what’s coming. And no one is ever going to find out. Those pieces of shit. They’ve got jobs. They got homes. Tommy has his own business. Looks like a good one. Murphy seems to have a family. That’s nice. His bitch isn’t bad looking. I’ll have to do something about that. Yeah. I’ve got to do something about that. She has a nice rack with pointy tits. Yeah. Murphy has a nice looking bitch. I’ve got do something. Yeah, I’ve got to do something. Man, I bet he fucks her all the time. And I bet he enjoys it. I’ve got to do something about that. I’ll bet she sucks his cock. Yeah. I’ll bet she does. I’ve got to do something about that. I need to get a large dog cage. I wonder if that’ll be big enough and strong enough. I wonder if the pet store has anything bigger.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The next day, Wednesday, April 29th, 1992, started off like all the other normal days at his office. Dr. Weinstein had a full schedule, and without Carla. He was glad of that. He was also glad that his new injury case, Gail Mercer was coming in for her second appointment. Her face, figure, perfume, and even manner of speech were on his mind.

  Dr. Weinstein walked into his office at 9:10 a.m., a few minutes late. There was a long line at the Dunkin’ Donuts where he bought a large regular coffee for himself and a small decaf for Tracey. There was no need to buy donuts--too much of Carla’s orange cake left. Gail wasn’t expected until 11:00 a.m., which was fine. There were ten other patients to see. Tracey walked into Dr. Weinstein’s office and handed him an arm load of files.

  “Looks like we’re having a good month!” Benny said, as he thumbed through each one.

  Benny then jokingly pulled out Gail’s file and sniffed it from top to bottom. “Hmmmm, Ahhhh,” Benny sighed as Tracey was watching.

  “You like her, don’t you?” Tracey said, pretending to scold her boss.

  “You know it,” Benny said. “And for the life of me I can’t figure out why she seems so familiar? Was she here before? Like maybe when she was a kid?”

  “I don’t think so,” said Tracey. “But I’ll look. What was her maiden name?

  Benny looked at Gail’s file.

  “It doesn’t say. Oh, what does it matter? Who’s my first patient?”

  “Another injury case,” said Tracey. “In fact you have three in a row. All from Steve. Lucky you have him as a friend. Last year he gave you over a hundred grand worth of patients. I betcha this year it’ll be twice that.”

  “Yeah, I’m lucky to know Steve. He’s helped me through a lot of things in my life. He’s been good to me. That’s why I work with him when the cases are ready to settle.”

  “I know,” said Tracey. “Last week he had you shave off eight hundred from Mr. Willoughby’s bill.”

  “Don’t care,” Benny said as he sipped the last of his coffee. “I still ended up with two grand. Let’s get rolling, eh?”

  Dr. Weinstein saw a steady stream of patients for a couple of hours. Eleven o’clock rolled around and Gail walked in, looking more stunning than ever.

  “Go right back,” said Tracey as she pointed to the last exam room.

  Gail walked to Room 3 and saw Benny waiting for her next to the chiropractic table. She didn’t start holding her neck until she saw Benny.

  “Ow, my neck and shoulders really hurt today,” Gail said as she lay face down on the table. “Can you massage me first before the adjustment?”

  Dr. Weinstein was only too happy to oblige. This would also give him some time to find out if t
hey ever met. There was a soft knock on the door.

  “Dr. Weinstein,” Tracey said, “I’m taking Mitzie to the vet. I’ll be back at 2:00 p.m. You don’t have any more patients until then.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you at two.”

  Dr. Weinstein put his hands on Gail’s neck and started to work out the tight muscle spasms.

  “Hmm,” Gail sighed with each stroke of her back. “That feels great!”

  Dr. Weinstein worked his hands a little further down her spine just short of her waist, then back up to her neck. Gail was sighing louder and deeper with each stroke. Benny had a hard time concentrating on his work. But Gail was fully clothed and the doctor-patient relationship, thought Benny, had to remain intact.

  “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to get to the muscles if I took off my blouse,” Gail said as she started to push herself away from the table.

  “No,” said Benny. “That’s only necessary when a masseuse uses oil.”

  “Then why don’t you!” Gail said as she let out a flirtatious giggle.

  Dr. Weinstein composed himself and let that last comment go. He was more curious about Gail’s past.

  “Were you ever here before?” Dr. Weinstein asked as he worked his thumbs into Gail’s tight Trapeziums.

  “Ooo, ahhh!” Gail moaned. “What did you say?”

  Dr. Weinstein took his hands off her shoulders for a second.

  “I can’t help but thinking I know you,” Dr. Weinstein said. “You never babysat for my kids, did you?”

  “Oh, don’t stop,” Gail pouted. “Um, no, I don’t think so. I never had any babysitting jobs.”

  “Do you mind me asking your maiden name?”

  There was a five second pause before Gail answered. Dr. Weinstein’s hands froze on her neck when he heard the name.

  No, it can’t be! he thought to himself.

  Chapter Twenty-Three