The life and times of Lafayette Ryder

With a flick of my wrist I stupefy Jenny, erasing all of her memories of her assault and rape, of Gerald, and even of my visit. I leave her room before she comes to again and hurry back to where Twilight and Beatrice are waiting.

“We’re going. Now.” I command with a snap of my fingers.

Twilight follows me out the door and Mrs. McCommic stays blankly at a wall until I shut the door to her apartment. Once outside Twi turns on me and blocks my path to the stairs.

“What was that about?”

“Things have changed,” I tell her, “you’re going home right now and I’m going to go deal with it.”

“No, I’m-”

“NO Twilight, you ARE going home.” I order her. “Watch the boys, feed Leroy, I’ll be back soon. Goodbye.” I flick the tip of Twilight’s horn and watch as she disappears before my eyes.

Now that Twi’s gone home I can fix this mess, well some of it anyway.

I take the stairs three at a time and hurry though town, cleansing the populace of all memories related to Gerry and the incident, all the people of Haven soon forget the whole ordeal, all but a few.

I run into Sheriff Towery, literally, on my way to one of the few private homes in the city.

“Sorry Chuck,” I say, pulling him to his feet once more, “didn’t even see you there.”

“Not a problem Mr.-”

“Lafe.”

“Uh, Ok… Lafe. So where are you going in such a hustle, we’re almost all the way ready for the migration next week, all that’s left to do is breed some cattle for those scaly bastards to munch on while they’re here.”

“I’ll do that before I leave tonight, right now I need to go.” I turn to walk away but a strong hand clamps down on my shoulder.

“What’s the problem… Lafe? You seem mighty upset.”

“Come with me and I’ll explain on the way.” I break into a slow jog and the overweight officer starts to follow me, huffing and puffing as we go.

“So what’s the matter?”

“Gerald Bloodsworth didn’t rape Jenny.”

“What? Then who the hell did?”

“You’ll soon see.”

“OK, so if Gerald didn’t do it why did he confess to doing it?”

“He didn’t rape Jenny but he was planning on doing it.”

“How do you know that?”

“Jenny told me how he’d come over when her mother wasn’t around and play with her, give her massages and take her pictures. She said he had promised her a “special gift” and planned to share it with her the same night that she was raped; Gerry stopped by to give her the present and heard the commotion. He was the one who called you to stop it. Whoever was assaulting Jenny heard him outside and fled the scene before you and Brown got there.”

“Then why did Gerald run? Why did he confess to the rape?”

“He knew he was guilty, he ran and then stabbed Brown to get away, I think that was when he realized how bad he had gotten; planning to molest a little girl, running from police, stabbing one of them, I think that was when he decided to quit and face the consequences of his crimes, both those he had committed and those he had intended to commit.”

“So he let us hang him because he felt just as guilty as the bastard who actually did hurt Jennifer?”

“Yep,” I slow as we approach the house, “we’re here.”

“Go on in,” Chuck orders, “under the circumstance I think we’re justified at the moment.”

I walk up to the front door and start to knock. A piercing scream from inside stops me cold.

“POLICE!” Chuck shouts as he kicks the door open and completely off its hinges.

“Thanks.” I mutter as I barge into the luxurious living room of the house.

I flex my fingers and my full armor solidifies onto my skin. My old Desert Eagle rests firmly in my grip as I move from room to room. When I make it into the hallway leading to the bedrooms a man of height nearly equal to mine with dark skin, but not too dark, and a gold chain around his neck slips out of a room and shouts at me for breaking into his home.

“LAFE, bro, what in the fuck are you doing?”

“Who just screamed?” I ask without even acknowledging my friends question.

“Where were you at two days ago when Jennifer McCommic was attacked?” Sheriff Towery adds.

“What the shit man? I was chillin’ here with my new girl, she was the one screamin’ by the way, we were… busy
when you came in. Wait, why the fuck are you axing me ’bout that?”

“I just got done talking to Jenny,” I tell him, “she told me that a man of your exact description was the one who raped her, not Gerald.”

“Shit man, you don really believe that kid do you? I’m sure she’s all whacked out in the head from trauma an shit.” Fish raises his hands defensively. “Now how ’bout y’all both put those guns away and head out so I can get back to my little lady?”

“No,” I say loudly, “I need proof that you didn’t do this before I can drop the matter.”

“Too bad,” Fish scowls at me, “no will y’all kindly git the fuck off my property?”

“No, now prove to us that it wasn’t you or else I’m going to tear through this house until I find it myself.” I threaten.

“You can’t do that, it’s illegal!” Fish shouts at me.

“It might have been back in the states but I don’t recall making any such laws here.” I tell him. “Now prove to me that you weren-”

“Mr. Mayor?” a young, feminine voice calls out from the door that Fish is standing in front of. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah babe,” Fish says back, “I’ll be right- hey! What the hell man? Wait! Don’t go in there!” he yells at me as I shoulder past him and open the door. “I told you not to go in there.” He says coldly as I look at the bed and the naked girl lying on it, she can’t be older than eight years old.

“So were you planning to try and kill this one too?” I ask, spitting venom at my pedophiliac of a friend.

“Nope,” he corrects me, “Suzy here’s a good girl, she doesn’t fight or bite like that fucking McCommic bitch. Ain’t that right babe?”

“Yep!” Suzy agrees with a big, toothy smile. “I just love it when you play with me Mr. Mayor!”

“If you already had a willing plaything,” Chuck asks, “then why did you rape Jennifer?”

“What can I say? When I see a fine piece of ass I go after it regardless of age or acceptance. Jenny refused so I forced her.”

“You know how much trouble you’re in son?” Chuck asks from behind us.

“Yep, but I’m sure my buddy,” Fish nudges me and smiles brightly, “will let me off the hook. Ain’t that right bro?”

“No.” I tell him coldly.

“Wha?” he asks shocked. “Come on brah, I’ve saved your ass more times than I can even count, I was always there for you, I was your brother!”

“My brother wouldn’t rape little girls and then try and KILL them!” I shout in his face.

“Dude, that’s just who I am.” He argues. I look deep into his eyes and speak in the sweetest voice I can muster.

“Then you’re no brother of mine.” I turn away and walk over to the naked child sprawled out on the bed. “Get dressed Suzy, you’re going home.”

“Are you gonna take my Mr. Mayor away?” she asks in tears. “Are you gonna arrest him or send him to sail?”

“No, we’re going to hang him.” I say without remorse.

“WHAT?!?” Fish shouts. “Fuck that noise!” I turn around in time to see my former friend pull a gun and fire blindly at Chuck who was preparing to arrest him. Three bullets hit the pot-bellied cop; two in the gut and one in the chest. He crumples to the ground and hollers in pain.

“Drop the gun!” I order Fish while pointing my own side arm at him.

“Not as long as you’re gonna hang me!” he screams.

“I don’t want to kill you Fish-”

“Bullshit!” he shouts at me. “You’re gonna hang my black ass!”

“Fish, please don’t make me do this.”

“You now what? Fuck this shit. Fuck this and fuck you.”

The world slows down as the first gunshot rings out. Suzy shrieks and hides behind the bed, Chuck shouts from his spot on the floor, and I fire back at my friend. I feel first one, then two, three, and finally four lead slugs puncture my flesh and shred my insides as they pass through, I see a single round fly true and hit its mark, I see the blood splatter from the back of my friends skull, I watch as he falls to the floor, and then I join him.