Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 4

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 4

Eradicate, verb [with object:] Destroy completely; put an end to.

Mercenary, adjective: (Of a person or their behavior) primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics; noun: A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army; a person primarily concerned with material reward at the expense of ethics.

Squeamish, adjective: (Of a person) easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted, especially by unpleasant images, such as the sight of blood; (of a person) having strong moral views; scrupulous.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here 

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 4

     This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

    Kathleen stood there shocked and angry. She wanted to eradicate Tommy Gunderson. How could he leave her here? But maybe it was her fault? She did kiss him.
  How could she get home now? Even if she could get downtown the last Greyhound bus left five minutes ago. Then she heard a car drive up and she was suddenly terrified.

   “Well hello,” the man in the dark blue Ford Fairline said to her out the window.

   Kathleen leaned over and looked closely it was the man from the Sulphur Springs.  

    Kathleen then smiled.

 “Did you get stranded? Would you like a ride home,” he asked opening the passenger side door.

    Kathleen breathed a sigh of relief and went around the car to get in.

    A car drove up and Kathleen heard a voice say, “Kathleen, there you are. Get in dad’s waiting.”

    Kathleen looked over to see Karl in his car and Terri in the back seat. 

   Kathleen shut the door of the stranger’s green Ford Fairline and climbed into the seat beside Karl’s. The man from the Sulphur Springs gunned his car and took off without a word.

   “Why did you say your dad waited?” Kathleen asked.

   “If I he thought I wasn’t your brother, he would have challenged me and not let you get in my car. I needed to get you away from him. Don’t you have the sense God gave geese, Kathleen? Getting in a car with a total stranger, when you’ve heard girls have gone missing is just plain stupid,” Karl lectured.

Kathleen started crying.

  “Geesh, Kathleen, please, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I was just so worried, Karl said, then turning to Terri and taking his eyes off the road he implored, “Tell her Terri. Tell her how worried I was.”

  “Put your eyes back on the road, Karl,” Terri cried and then added, “He was worried Kathleen. He heard bad things about Tommy and decided we had to come get you." 

  “Why didn’t Tommy Gunderson drive you home?”Karl asked.

    Kathleen started crying louder.

  “What did that a-hole do to you? I’ll kill him,” Karl shouted.

  “Stop the car, Karl. Pull over to that coffee shop and get us a drink."

   Karl frown and gave Terri a look that said NO!

   “I'm not been mercenary, Karl. Don't look at me like that. I’ve got some cash. Now stop, I want to talk to Kathleen alone.”

  Karl obediently pulled the car over.

 “Lock the doors. I’ll be back soon,” Karl bade.

 “Tell me what Tommy Gunderson did,” implored Terri.

 “I can't."

 "Don't be squeamish Kathleen tell me what Tommy did."

   Kathleen took a big breath and tried to get the words together then she began, “It was such a lovely date at first. We got pizza and ate it in the parking lot and then we saw a fabulous concert. I think it was my fault things got out of hand, when I let him kiss me. Karl’s right I’m stupid.”

   Karl climbed back in then holding a bag. You are not stupid I should never have said that. I’m sorry,” then he asked gently, “What did Tommy do to you? Should I be taking you to the hospital to get a rape kit and then file a police report?”

  “No he didn’t rape me but not for lack of trying. He took my panties off. I’m so embarrassed, “Kathleen said not even hearing Karl and continuing to talk to Terri.

  “I’ll kill him,” Karl growled.

  “Shut-up Karl you can do that later. Right now Kathleen needs us. You know it wasn’t your fault. You said no, didn’t you?” Terri stated.

  “Yes, but I kissed him before that. I encouraged him,” Kathleen protested.

  “Kathleen, no man has the right to take that from you. You have the right to say no and he should back off. If he doesn’t then it’s his fault, not yours. What Tommy did is almost attempted rape, I'd classify as rape but I'm not sure the law does.. That guy needs to be taught that women should be treated with respect. I suppose the reason why you were going to get in the car with that stranger is because he left you there in the dark.”

  “He was mad,” Kathleen apologised for him.

  “Nothing excuses his behaviour. I’m just glad you’re okay and that we got there before you got in the car with that weirdo.”

  “Thanks Karl and Terri,” Kathleen said drying her tears, she continued,“Karl, why does a cop car pull us over? Were you driving too fast?”

   Karl pulled over and the cop got out of his car and walked to the window.

  “Dad?”

  “You two worried your mother sick, and you Kathleen; you’re Great-Aunt Frieda put out an all-points bulletin for you. She said you told her you were stating with her family. I’m very disappointed in you Kathleen. You’ve put my wife and myself in an awkward position. Your Great-Aunt Frieda trusted us to look after you, instead my son takes you gallivanting to London.”

  “Don’t blame Karl he actually rescued me.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes, he did. I went to the concert at Treasure Island Gardens with Tommy Gunderson.”

  “Then why are you in the car with my son and why did you say he had to rescue you?”

  “Tommy and I had words and he left me there.”

  “He left you in the parking lot in the dark? I think I’ll have a talk with that young man.”

  “It’s worse than that Dad, she said no and he tried to...”

   “How could you Karl?”Kathleen cried.

   “Did Tommy Gunderson try to rape you, Kathleen?”

   “A simple misunderstanding. I don’t want to talk about this,” Kathleen said.

    Karl shook his head at his dad, silently communicating and his dad dropped it.

   “I’m glad I found you now you drive home son. I have to get back on the job there’s another young woman missing tonight. Witness saw her getting into a dark blue Ford Fairline.

  “What?”Kathleen cried.

  “Dad a guy in a dark blue Ford Fairline tried to pick up Kathleen at the Sulphur Springs and again at the concert venue.”Karl answered.

 “Karl is right dad. The guy’s car was navy blue. He gave me the creeps,” Terri added.

 “He gave you the creeps? Why didn't you tell me?”

 “I did, you just didn't hear me,"Terri protested.

 “Describe him!” demanded Mr. Ward.

 “An older man with short black cropped hair about twenty-two,” Kathleen answered.

 “He was a military man, Dad and his hair was clipped short like he was still in the military man,” Karl answered.

 “Thanks kids now go straight home. Kathleen, I’m trusting you to tell your Great-Aunt Frieda everything. No more lying,” Mr. Ward demanded, "and you Karl drive her straight home and see her into the house then take your sister home."

Mr.Ward then went back to his car and radioed in before speeding away.

To be continued next week.

©Sheilagh Lee  August 13, 2014