Dead Man Running Page 6

  Capshaw stood in front of the podium, paused while the photographers took her picture.

  "Thank you. My campaign has uncovered some disturbing allegations surrounding ten term Congressman Benjamin Wiley. Two days ago, a young reporter disappeared covering a story concerning the congressman. We have learned that Congressman Wiley is not only under investigation by the police but he may be directly responsible for her death."

  The cameras whirred as her picture was taken repeatedly. Reporters shouted their questions.

  "Are you saying Ben Wiley murdered the reporter?"

  "What I'm saying is that he is a major suspect in her disappearance. Moreover, he may have played a part in the maiming of a person outside of the World Affairs Club building this morning."

  "Auditor General, do you have proof of any of this?"

  "We received this information from a source close to the Wiley campaign organization. I suggest you ask the police about this and ask his campaign."

  "The police said the man outside the World Affairs building was a terrorist. Are you accusing Wiley of being a terrorist?"

  "It wouldn't surprise me. I believe Ben Wiley is capable of the most terrible things."

  Wiley and Jan were alone in the Wiley house, in his bedroom. She was dressing him for bed, carefully buttoning on his pajama top.

  "Don't you worry, Ben. I won't let anything happen to you."

  Wiley looked down at her.

  "I know you're alive. Come election night, they'll be in for a big surprise."

  "Ride big daddy!"

  "Just one minute, fresh." She swatted him playfully.

  At that moment, Mrs. Wiley burst into the room.

  "Mrs. Wiley, what a pleasant surprise."

  "Pleasant surprise my ass, this is my house, bitch!"

  "That's the way baby!" said her husband.

  "What the hell is going on here? You told me you'd get rid of him. Now you're up here putting on his PeeJays?"

  "After I bust this nut I'll get behind you!"

  Mrs. Wiley looked at the dead man who was once her husband. "Can you get him to shut up?"

  A loud growl filled the room.

  "What was that?" asked a startled Mrs. Wiley.

  "He's hungry," Jan replied.

  "Hungry?! He should be dead!"

  "He's not. He's more alive than ever."

  "Since you don't seem capable of doing it, I'm gonna handle this."

  "Oh, baby, baby!" shouted the zombie.

  Mrs. Wiley walked over and grabbed Wiley's hand.

  "What are you doing?" asked Jan.

  "What I paid you to do! I'm gonna take his ass down to the subway where he will unfortunately fall in front of a train. My name will go on the ticket in place of his and off to Congress I go."

  "You can't do that. I won't let you." She stepped in front of Mrs. Wiley.

  "Little girl, please. You're going to stop me?"

  "I'm not going to let you do that to Ben!"

  "That's sweet, now get out the way!"

  Jan continued to block her path.

  "I guess you want to do this the hard way? Tiny!"

  In the room stepped a human mountain. The small black head sat atop a massive frame.

  Mrs. Wiley smiled as Jan backed away. "Jan, meet Tiny. He's going to babysit you while my husband and I go on our date."

  "Hey, baby. What up?" He smacked his coffee cooler lips and rubbed the baseball mitts he called hands.

  "You can't do this."

  Mrs. Wiley gestured toward Jan. "Get her out of my way, dumb ass!"

  Tiny walked over to Jan and lifted the small woman on to his shoulder.

  "Ben! Help!"

  "Let us pray," said the being who used to be Ben Wiley. A growling noise filled the room.

  "What the hell is that?" asked Tiny. He dumped Jan to the floor.

  "Dinner time," Jan said as she scrambled away.

  Wiley pulled away from his wife and lumbered toward Tiny.

  "Listen old man I don't want to have to kick your ass..."

  With that, Wiley reached over and tore the man's head off. Tiny completed his sentence after his head was severed.

  "...man."

  Wiley's mouth expanded again and he swallowed the head. In the meanwhile, Tiny's body was running around the room.

  "Oh, my God," Mrs. Wiley cried.

  "God ain't got nothing to do with it!" responded zombie Ben.

  They watched as headless Tiny continued to run around until finally his body collapsed. Mrs. Wiley tried to get out of the room but Jan had blocked the door.

  "Leaving so soon, Mrs. Wiley?"

  "Get out of my way!"

  "Don't you want to join your husband for dessert?"

  Wiley walked over and grabbed the woman's head. He pulled on her hair and up flew a wig. Mrs. Wiley screamed.

  "Try again baby. I think you're down to her real naps now," joked Jan.

  "No, wait, I'll give you whatever you want," Mrs. Wiley pleaded.

  "We have everything we want. Ain't that right, baby." Jan hugged the woman's husband.

  "I'll see you in hell!"

  "Hopefully with a better wig. Okay poppy, take care of her."

  Wiley grabbed his wife by her real hair and pulled her head off. She immediately dropped to the floor. Wiley held the head in his hand. A shocked expression remained fixed on the face.

  "Eat up, Ben. You have a big day tomorrow."

  She looked around the room at the carnage. "I hope you're plenty hungry. I can't move all that blubber." Tiny's body twitched slightly in the center of the room.

  Jan smiled, gave Ben a peck on the cheek. "I better go get the bucket. Bon appetite."

  The next morning Elias, Chi and Mookie surrounded a desk in the Wiley study. On the desk was laid out a schematic map of the power grid in the vicinity of the television station where the debate would take place.

  "How about back up power at the station?" Elias asked.

  "Already taken care of. They got diesel generators as backup. I snuck in yesterday and removed the starter."

  "Good. Do you know where to cut the power?"

  "Should be here." Mookie pointed to a manhole near the station.

  "Should be? You're not sure?" asked Chi.

  "We can't have no screw ups, Mook. Wiley debating Capshaw is a sucker bet, man," said Elias.

  "I'm bringing in a consultant."

  "A consultant? To cut off power? What the hell?" challenged Chi.

  "I don't like you bringing anyone else into this, Mookie."

  "It's alright. You know the guy, it's Hamid."

  "I thought he was a magic guy?" asked Elias.

  "He moonlights as an electrical contractor. He's fully bonded in the Tri State area, in case you need some work done."

  "Just cut the power motherfucker. Let's say at about eight oh five."

  "No problem. Let's syncopate our watches."

  Chi and Elias stood, shook their heads and walked away.

  That evening all was ready at the Channel Twelve studio for the debate. Two lecterns faced each other at opposite ends of the stage. An audience of several hundred was seated behind the cameras.

  Elias, Chi and Jan were in the front row. Humphrey sat nearby.

  At eight sharp the debate moderator took his place in front of the lecterns to commence the debate.

  "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We are here tonight for the final debate between Representative Benjamin Wiley and New York State Auditor General Delores Capshaw. My name is Chip Reap and I will be the debate moderator. Right now, I would like the candidates to take their places."

  As the audience clapped Wiley and Capshaw emerged from offstage and walked to their lecterns. Amazingly, Wiley stood behind the correct one, unassisted.

  "A few ground rules. Audience members are reminded not to cheer or make any other expressions following candidate's remarks. Each candidate will be asked a question by an audience member and his opponent will have two minutes for a
rebuttal. First, each candidate will have three minutes for an opening statement. Ms. Capshaw won the coin toss backstage and she decided to go first. Ms. Capshaw."

  "Thank you, Mr. Reap."

  In an alleyway a block from the station a white panel truck was parked near a manhole. The writing on the side of the truck read HARLEM ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. The manhole cover had been removed. A dim light shone from inside, where Hamid and Mookie were struggling to cut the power. Mookie held a huge pair of cable cutters while Hamid studied the electrical grid diagram.

  "Man, I thought you knew what you were doing?"

  "I do. It's just that I'm used to working in houses, not out in manholes."

  "Where do I cut, man?"

  "You can't cut just anywhere, you got to cut this the right way or you can be electrocuted."

  "Well, figure it out."

  Hamid pointed to a section of cable near the junction box. "I think you need to cut here."

  "You think? Are you sure about this? I don't want to get electrocuted, man."

  "I'm sure. And if I'm wrong, I can just bring you back to life like I did Wiley."

  Back in the studio, Capshaw had finished her remarks.

  "Thank you, Ms. Capshaw. Now, Representative Wiley, you have three minutes."

  Wiley looked at the moderator then stared out at the audience. There was a long pause and the audience became silent.

  "Less than three minutes, Mr. Wiley," prompted Reap.

  Wiley continued to stare. He grunted loudly. Then he grunted again.

  Elias slumped down in his seat, hiding his face.

  When are they going to cut the power?

  Just when Elias thought that things couldn't get worse, they do. Wiley began to dance and sing.

  "Put your left leg in, then right leg out." He capped the line with another grunt. "Do the hokey pokey and turns yourself around." Another grunt accompanied by an inelegant turn. "That's what it's all about."

  In the alleyway near the station Mookie had the cutters poised over the cable.

  "You better be sure about this."

  Mookie chopped into the thick cable. Instantaneously electricity arced across the tool and surged through his body. His body sizzled and smoked as his hands stayed glued to the cutters.

  "Come to think of it, maybe that wasn't the right spot," said Hamid.

  The lights of the surrounding residential neighborhood dimmed, then died. The station's block was still lit, however.

  He looked down at Mookie's still smoking body. "Maybe I should have sprung for two pairs of insulated cutters and gloves." Hamid donned his insulated gloves and picked up another pair of cutters. He cut a second thick cable.

  The station was now dark.

  In the covering darkness of the studio – the huge space 'lit' by laptop screens and cell phones - Jan rushed up to the dancing Wiley with Chi and Elias close behind. The moderator addressed the audience, shouting to be heard above the sounds from an audience in near panic.

  "I'm told that the studio and the surrounding neighborhood have suffered a major power failure. The backup power supply is not operating. In consideration of those circumstances, this debate is canceled. Station personnel are here to escort everyone safely outside."

  Using her BlackBerry to light her way Capshaw stormed over to Wiley. Jan had reached the candidate and halted his dance. He stood calmly by her side.

  "I know you had something to do with this, Wiley. And I hope you don't think I don't know what the hokey pokey is all about. So what my father is serving twenty to life for embezzlement? You bastard."

  Humphrey approached. "Let's go, Dolores. They're leading everyone out."

  "This isn't over. I'm going to do everything I can to bring you down, Reverend!"

  "You better watch your back, you high yellow bitch," said Jan coolly. "You never know what can happen to you."

  "Are you threatening me?"

  Jan smiled. "No, I'm just saying you need to watch your step. Leaving the building, that is."

  Capshaw stomped away with Humphrey in tow.

  "That was stupid," said Elias. "Why didn't we just have Wiley eat her?"

  "Too many people around," she replied.

  "Girl, you got a problem," said Chi.

  "Let's get him outta here," Elias barked.

  Inside the limo Elias Turnbull felt confident. He sat in the back with Jan and Wiley. Chi was behind the wheel. "All we have to do now is sit tight." He turned to Jan. "Don't let him out of your sight."

  "I won't."

  "Chi, I want you there too."

  "I don't need him to stay with us," protested Jan.

  "Yes, you do. I don't want him wandering out anymore."

  "That hasn't happened again," whined Jan.

  "And it won't! Chi, do as I say!"

  Chi nodded, made eye contact with Elias in the rear view mirror. "Alright. I'll watch him like a hawk. I just got to go home and get some stuff."

  "Make it quick."

  SEVEN

  The next day Fred Jones and Lou Leone, the detectives investigating Bernadette Brinkman's disappearance, knock on the front door of the Wiley residence. An impatient Jones pushed the ornate doorbell three times.

  "Remember, Fred, this is a congressman."

  "No problem, Lou, I left my plunger and brass knuckles at the station."

  The older cop looked around warily for video cameras. "Shaddup, you dope. They could have you on tape right now threatening a congressman."

  Inside, Chi was in the kitchen when he heard the knocking and doorbell. He flipped his grilled cheese sandwich onto a plate then turned off the burner.

  Jan came into the room. The doorbell rang again.

  "You expecting anybody?" she asked.

  "No. I don't know who that is."

  "Do you think we should answer it?"

  "Probably. Not answering may be more suspicious than answering. Where's Wiley?"

  "I have him upstairs in his bedroom."

  "Good, keep him there until I get rid of whoever's at the door."

  Chi approached the door. He recognized the two detectives through the smoked glass portal.

  "Shit." He opened the door.

  "We were starting to think no one was home," said Leone. "Mr. Bright, good to see you again." He extended his hand and they shook. Jones and Chi shook hands as well.

  Chi had his body not so subtly blocking the doorway. "How can I help you two. I told you everything I know about the reporter. What was her name, Bricker?"

  "Brinkman, Bernadette Brinkman," replied Jones. "That's not the only reason we're here. May we come in?"

  Chi considered his options. Finally he stepped out of the way. "Sure, come on in."

  Chi escorted the pair into the house. "Why don't we have a seat in the living room?"

  "Thanks," the men said.

  Chi led the detectives into the living room. He gestured for the detectives to take a seat on the sofa. Chi sat on a nearby love seat.

  "What's going on, detectives? Why are you here?"

  Said Leone: "Delores Capshaw is making a lot of noise. She says that someone contacted her office with an allegation that Reverend Wiley is somehow involved in the reporter's disappearance and the incident at the World Affairs Club."

  "Does she have any proof?"

  "No. She has very little proof," replied Leone.

  "What she has in abundance are friends. Those friends in Albany spoke to friends at headquarters and therefore, we are here," explained Jones.

  "To do what, exactly?"

  "To interview Reverend Wiley and to search the premises," replied Leone.

  Chi felt a chill start in his toes and travel up his spine. "Do you have a warrant?"

  "Do we need one?" asked Jones.

  "Reverend Wiley has nothing to hide."

  "Is he home?"

  "Yes, he is. He's upstairs. I'll go get him." Chi stood.

  "Is Mrs. Wiley home?" asked Leone.

  "No. She's not home. I be
lieve she went to their home in the Hamptons."

  "Strange, we had some men check there and the servants said she returned here," said Leone.

  "They obviously lied because she's not here," Chi said.

  "Anyone else here?" asked Jones.

  "Jan Sugerfoot, Reverend Wiley's executive assistant."

  "We'd like to speak to her as well," said Jones. Chi nodded.

  "I'll go get her and Reverend Wiley." Chi fast walked out of the room. He considered for a moment running out the front door, leaving this entire mess to Jan and Elias but he had second thoughts. He actually feared for these detectives if he should leave them alone with Jan and that monster called Wiley.

  He turned away from the front door and headed up the stairs.

  In the Wiley bedroom Chi found Wiley dressed and sitting on the bed. Jan stood next to the zombie, small hand massaging the beast's shoulder. It creeped Chi out how the bitch seemed so very comfortable in the role as this monster's protector. In a strange way it reminded him of Nancy Reagan and the way she protected her 'Ronnie' back in the day.

  "I overheard, Chi. They want to search the house?"

  "Yeah, I told them it was okay."

  "Should you have done that?"

  "There's nothing to hide, is there?"

  "Uh, no." She shook her head.

  "They want to interview Wiley. Bring him down in a few minutes."

  Jan nodded. "Okay. Aren't you afraid he might say something wrong?"

  "Like the nursery rhymes or X-rated stuff he's been saying? There's no crime in being addled minded – if there was half of New York would be behind bars." He snorted. "Best case," he said, "Ben Wiley sits there spewing nonsense and the cops will go away thinking he's stonewalling them."

  "And worst case?"

  "He eats them and we have the entire NYPD on our doorstep."

  Chi returned to the living room. "Reverend Wiley will be right down. So will Ms. Sugerfoot."

  "There's no problem, is there?" asked Jones. Chi disliked the man and for a moment fantasized that Wiley did eat this one.

  "No. Reverend Wiley is looking forward to clearing up this entire matter."

  Wiley entered the room, assisted by Jan's guiding arm. She led him to the loveseat where they both sat.