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RAW DEAL
Page 1 of 2
By Donald H Sullivan
April Baker could think of no easier way to commit suicide. An overdose of sleeping pills and she would just drift off to sleep and never wake up. No discomfort. No pain. No more worries about the mess she had made of her life in the short year since graduating from high school.
She could take her time; there was no hurry. Her father, an army master sergeant, had a month remaining on an unaccompanied overseas tour. Her mother was visiting Aunt Gale in Florida and would be gone for the next two days.
On her way home from work, April had stopped at the drug store and bought the sleeping pills. After writing a note, she would be ready. She found a legal pad, sat down at the kitchen table, and began writing.
Mom and Dad,
When you read this, I'll be gone. I want you both to
know that I love you with all my heart. But I have
lied and brought shame to you. I broke my promise.
I'm pregnant. It was Benny Lorenzo, assistant
manager at The Red Bee. He said he was divorcing
his wife, but he has ignored me since learning I'm
pregnant.
April stopped writing. Her eyes stung and tears were rolling down her cheeks. No--she could not do it. And deep inside, she knew from the beginning that she could not do it. What had she been thinking?
"Sometimes life hands you a raw deal," her father once told her. "But play the cards you're dealt as best you can." She'd seldom gone wrong following that advice.
She made up her mind; she would tell her parents. They would be upset at first, she knew, but she also knew that they would forgive her and love her as always. And she knew that they would love the baby.
She would put off telling them, though, until her father returned from overseas--early next month. Her pregnancy wouldn't be obvious for a while yet.
She threw the sleeping pills in the waste basket, tore the note to shreds, and flushed the pieces down the commode.
The Red Bee Supermarket was busy, and April was working the express checkout. She was overdue for her break and hoping for relief when she glanced up to see Benny coming her way. She was surprised when he stopped at her aisle to relieve her. They made the transfer, and as she turned to go, he slipped a note into her hand. She pocketed the note, feeling that every eye in the store had witnessed the act.
It was a warm spring day, so she made her way to the outside break area. She got a Diet Pepsi from the machine, and as she seated herself at the table, she saw Billy Jay Martin leaving the store.
"Hi, April, I'm going to Wendy's for burgers and stuff. Want anything?"
"Not this time, Billy Jay. Thanks anyway."
He grinned. "Still on a diet? Hey, you're looking pretty trim to me."
She returned his smile and watched as he left in his new sky blue Ford Ranger. She pulled the note from her pocket. It was brief.
April, tomorrow at two O'clock, Turner's Mill.
After a week of avoiding her, Benny was asking her to meet him. Maybe his conscience was starting to work on him. But why Turner's Mill? Their first meeting had been at the old abandoned mill, but they'd long since changed to Riley's Motel in Pineville.
Did he choose the old mill for sentimental reasons? If so, it was a bad choice; she hated the place. It was rundown and overgrown with vines. She thought about refusing to meet him--it would serve him right. But since he was willing to talk now, she would hear him out. She finished her Pepsi and went back into the store.
The next day was April's day off, so she slept late. She got up, helped her mother clean house, and watched TV until lunch time. It was an hour's drive to Turner's Mill, so she was ready to go right after lunch.
"Where ya off to, Hon?"
"Guess I'll go to the mall and just goof off a while."
"Be careful. There was a robbery in the mall parking lot just yesterday. You can't trust anybody these days."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be careful."
She cranked up her Plymouth Neon and headed for Turner's Mill. She traveled State Road 68 for an hour and then turned off on the gravel road leading to the mill.
As she neared the mill, she saw something glinting in the sun off to her left. She caught a glimpse of blue in a stand of oaks across from the mill. Maybe Benny was driving Nita's blue Honda; he had been having trouble with his Corolla lately. But why park across the road?
When she turned into the old mill, however, Benny's Corolla was parked there. She'd probably seen a farmer's tractor parked in the trees.
When she entered the mill, Benny was waiting for her. She started to run into his arms, but the look on his face stopped her cold. It frightened her.
"Benny...what's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's over between us, April. You really screwed up when you let yourself get pregnant."
"Benny! You know you're the one who refused to take precautions. You wouldn't listen to me."
"Dammit. I'm being considered for manager of the store in Glennville. Something like this might kill my chances. It could ruin my whole life. And besides, I think Nita is getting suspicious."
"But you said you and Nita were getting a divorce. You said that you and I..."
"Forget it. So I lied. There's no way I'm going to let her find out about us. She'd cut my throat."
"But what about me? What am I supposed to do now? What about the baby?"
"Get an abortion."
"No. I've considered that. I've decided to have the baby."
"It's your call." He pulled a pistol from under his belt. "But I'm not going to let you ruin my life."
Adrenaline pumping, she dove toward the door leading to the adjacent room. She heard the gun roar, and wood splintered above her head. He lunged after her, and she heard him curse as he tripped over a loose board and fell.
She ran into the adjoining room, seeking a way out. There were no doors, and the windows were boarded. Something caught her eye. A rusted steel rod--probably an old machine part--lay on the floor. She snatched up the rod and positioned herself by the door.
The instant he entered the room, she struck. The rod caught him above the right ear and he dropped to the floor. He moaned, tried to get up, and then fell still. Blood was oozing from the wound.
Panic-stricken, she ran to her car and sped away. She nearly ran off the loose gravel several times before reaching the paved road.
She drove home in a daze, having little recollection of the trip when she pulled into her driveway. She entered the front door and nearly collapsed. Her mother came running.
"Good heavens, Hon, what's the matter? What's happened to you? Should I call 911?"
"No! No, Mom, I'll be okay. I...I had a bad experience at the mall. A man tried to force me into his car, but I got away."
"Sit down and rest. I'll get you one of my nerve pills."
After a few moments, her mother returned with a pill and a glass of water. "I've called the police," she said. "They'll be here in a jiffy."
She hadn't expected her mother to call the police. Now she'd have to make up a story. She didn't like cooking up stories, but she had started it by lying to her mother and now it would grow into a string of lies.
She considered telling the police the truth--it had been self-defense--but she feared they would think she had killed Benny because he had gotten her pregnant and ditched her.
She had her story ready when the two detectives, Sgt Browner and his partner arrived. After hearing her story and asking a few questions, Sgt. Browner assured her they would do everything they could to apprehend the man.
For the next few days, April listened to the speculation around the supermarket about what had happened to Benny. The speculation ended when a pair of young boys found his body.
Conclusion on page 2
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