Pumpkin Spice, стр. 24

not be handing the prize over to Bo. Reuben was to escort the bounty himself through Kobold woods. Reuben thought this to be strange and inquired why, Barnabas wouldn’t explain. He said the bounty would speak for itself. This was an especially important bounty and he needed Reuben to deliver the parcel in full on his own. It wasn’t until Reuben unrolled the poster did he fully understand why. The bounty was for someone both he and Barnabas knew all too well, the bounty was for none other than Bo Barabbas! A queasy feeling poured through Reuben as he went on his way. Bo was to meet him at the old mill, and that was where he would be captured.

Of course, Reuben was no fool. Gullible, to a T, but no fool! Several months ago, when his working relationship was at an all-time high a sense of dread and fear overwhelmed the man. His work was not very legal or ethical, and he knew that one day it would all come crashing down around him. He was, unfortunately, in too deep. It was true he had signed an NDA, and it was true the Barabbas boys would end his life had he ever broke that condition. No one could stop him from writing the truth on paper, and placing it in his dresser, at the far back of the top drawer unbeknownst to anyone. And if for whatever reason one day the tables should turn on Reuben, he would have the proof, dated and stamped!

He was wondering on this day if that letter would be needed. Why would Barnabas so willfully turnover his own brother?

Bo was waiting for Reuben at the old mill, ax in hand. “Nothing today?” Bo asked. Reuben stared into Bo’s eyes; Bo squinted back. He knew why he was there. “I’m here to bring you in.” Reuben stated. Bo hissed, he smiled and tossed his cigarette into his mouth. “You’re wrong brother.” Bo flung his ax up onto his shoulder. “I’m bringing your ass in.” Reuben was confused but before he could reach for his pistol Bo swung the butt end of the ax at his forehead rendering Reuben unconscious.

Reuben slowly came to. His vision drifting in and out of darkness. When he could finally keep his eyes open, he could see trees moving quickly in the distance. He was being pulled. Pulled away by Bo down the woods. He tried with all of his might to break free. Bo stopped and let Reuben rise to his fight. “You won’t get away with this.” Reuben threatened the middle Barabbas boy. “Get away with what? You went into the woods and the goblin got you, brother.”

“Goblin?” Reuben was confused, “What are you talking…” Bo swung his ax at Reuben’s forehead. Reuben fell to the ground, dead. Bo struggled removing it from his former coworkers’ skull. When he finally did blood spilled out all over the ground. “Perfect night for a bonfire.” Bo laughed as he began chopping Reuben’s dead corpse up into pieces.

That night Penelope waited for Reuben to return home. He never did. The next morning, she waited at the door, no Reuben. All the while the Barabbas boys kept business as usual. Their acting was top notch and award worthy, some would say. Finally, on the third day Penelope decided to visit Barnabas, not at his office, but at his house.

Her fists slammed against his door three times. Her eyes were red and water logged. She hadn’t slept much, and when she did her visions turned to Reuben. Barnabas calmly, and passionately opened the door. “Mrs. Burrows,” Barnabas said in the calmest tone anyone had ever heard, “what brings you to my doorstep this evening?” Penelope mustard all of the strength she could and spoke “Where’s my husband?” she wasn’t asking, she was demanding. If nothing else Barnabas was a brilliant manipulator. You don’t become as successful as he without having some wits about you, without knowing how to twist the truth to benefit you. And you certainly do not scheme up the murder of a woman’s husband so you can inherit her family’s land without having some smarts. “He never returned, we was told he delivered a parcel for us, was paid handsomely for it, was also tipped for it.” Penelope was confused. “What do you mean delivered a parcel?” Barnabas smiled and opened the door for Penelope to enter. She hesitated, but saw care and compassion on the eldest Barabbas’ face, so she entered his household. He showed her to the sofa, she took a seat, and he offered her a tea which she politely declined. He sat on his recliner across from her and spoke, “Reuben was no clerk for the Barabbas boys, Penelope. Reuben was a delivering of goods to our clients.”

“What does that mean? What goods?” Barnabas lifted his hands, “I’m rather shocked he didn’t tell you. Been at it over a year now. But, the goods well, let’s just say they’re confidential. Mostly legal bindings and what not. Now, my brother-in-law Cassidy had suspected for quite some time that your husband had been embezzling on us…” Penelope was quick to interject, “Reuben couldn’t. He would never embezzle” Barnabas raised his arms in agreement, “My sentiments exactly. Reuben was the kindest most hardworking fellow I had come to know, or so I thought. See, Penelope, Cassidy is in charge of our finances. He knows what we are owed, what we collect, and what we owe to others. Numbers don’t lie Mrs. Burrows.” Barnabas took a moment before continuing to allow this to sink in to Penelope. “We’re short nearly five thousand dollars. Five thousand. The other night just before his final drop Cassidy made a point to ask Reuben about missing money. Reuben, of course, denied it. That was the last time any of us saw your husband. Seems to me he took his last delivery, which as I said was a handsome sum of money, and fled