Wackos to Obliterate: Book Three (Chapter 14)

The pictures Malcolm took in DuckBill Hunting were sent to Summit, which passed them on to a private detective agency that often handled investigations for them. In the past, these were usually related to the private lives of performers. As things digital not only go bump “in the night” but “24/7,” cyber-related issues had taken prominence.

Within a matter of seconds, the pictures were compared with the ducks from Jimmy’s page and a match was found. It proved the ducks used on the SNS page to ridicule Ryuji were in fact from one of the group photos pinned to the wall at DuckBill Hunting. This evidence was added to the portfolio the agency just opened a day before after Brad finally was able get Summit to approve an investigation. So far, little had been found beyond the basics; namely, both George Kincaid and Bill McGregor were no longer gainfully employed. In fact, so far they discovered that George was retired and his wife had self-published several novels in the past several years; Bill ran a hunting shop located at his home, which provided only a seasonable source of income. From these preliminary findings it appeared both men survived on a rather dubious financial base. Even though, George appeared to have made some sound investments in stocks, both men no doubt were relying on sources of income that were not readily transparent. Therefore, a more thorough investigation was warranted and the pictures from Malcolm helped to build it.

While Ryuji was waiting for George and Mavis to pick him up, he decided to call Madelyn on her cell. Malcolm was a little pissed off that he had to stay in the camper while Ryuji was out hunting, but it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to come along since he had just been seen by Bill’s wife a few hours earlier. If they knew he was connected with Ryuji, Patti would probably mention to Bill that Malcolm had taken a couple of pictures of their wall when he came in asking for directions to the local supermarket. She thought it strange he took the pictures, but he explained the wall reminded him of a shop his father used to take him to as a boy.

“Why don’t you ask her if they found out whether the photos matched or not,” Malcolm said to Ryuji as he watched him make the call. Ryuji looked at him and shook his head to indicate he would.

“Hi Maddie, it’s Ryuji. I guess you know that from the number display, huh?”

Trink answered and said, “Hey Ryu, Madelyn is in the bathroom getting ready. We’re planning to leave for the airport in just a few minutes. What’s up?”

“Malcolm sent some pictures to Summit this morning. We were wondering if you heard anything about them yet,” he said, looking at Malcolm sitting at the table across from him. It was still hard to get used to that bald head.

“Yeah, we just got info from the dicks that the ducks were pasted from those pictures,” Trink said. Ryuji heard a truck, looked out the window and saw George and Mavis just arrived. “Here, talk to Malcolm. I’ve got to go.” He handed the phone to Malcolm and motioned for him to get down. Malcolm took the phone and crouched out of sight, as Ryuji got up, grabbed his hunting gear and left.

When they arrived at DuckBill, the group scheduled for earlier in the afternoon was posing with ducks in hand. Since they were a little early, Mavis thought she’d practice on the game machine for a few minutes. Ryuji joined her to avoid face-to-face contact with Bill for as long as possible, even though he was very curious how Bill would react once he realized George had brought the enemy into his lair. Ryuji was a little surprised Bill didn’t seem to notice when they first walked in. Of course, Bill was busy chatting with the other hunters and Ryuji was wearing his camo hoodie.

“Who’s that with Mavis?” Bill asked George who decided to stay around the counter since he thought it would be better to talk with Bill a little before he realized it was Ryuji.

“I guess he’ll have to pay, right?” George replied, looking at Patti as she finished up with taking the pictures of the other group and walk to the entrance with them.

Bill watched Ryuji clapping his hands after Mavis hit a couple of digital skeets. “Since he’s with you, we’ll let him in at half price, which is the same as the rest of your group will pay.” As Bill said that, the earlier group was leaving while Todd, Gerold and Rick stood waiting outside to enter.

This is going to be interesting. George was shocked but not completely surprised that they were the rest of the group Bill said was scheduled at 4:30. He thought it a little strange, though, when at the Fast-Track, Bill pretended to refuse letting them join.

Ryuji could not help but notice the three men walk through the door. By their body language, it was clear they knew George and they were about the same age and appearance (balding, pudgy, mustachioed, Caucasian) except for one who looked about a decade older and seemingly in charge.

“I’ve got to see Mavis in action. Maybe, this’ll convince Louise to take up the sport,” Gerold said, watching Mavis at the shooting machine.

Rick looked at Patti as she returned to her position behind the counter. “You going to join us, too?” he asked.

“No can do, Rick. Someone’s got to manage the store,” Bill answered.

“Who’s the skinny guy in the hoodie?” Gerold asked in a loud voice, looking at George and pointing at Ryuji who stood watching them.

“Don’t act surprised,” George whispered, hoping Ryuji couldn’t hear him from that distance.

“The name’s Matsuoka,” Ryuji said, walking towards them with a hand extended. “I’m a friend of George and Mavis.” He turned to Bill as he removed the hoodie. “You may remember me from a couple of years ago. I think my picture must be on that wall somewhere.”

Bill shook hands with him. “Oh yes, I think I remember. You and your friend went shooting with George and some other people.”

“That’s right, the girl with the nice pair of mallards,” George added, smiling. Gerold, Rick and Todd stood frozen for a couple of seconds, watching Ryuji shake his long, black hair free from the hoodie. They were too jaded to show surprise, but it was clear to Ryuji they knew who he was. Ryuji glanced quickly at Patti, too, who was unable to hide her surprise.

“I remember you,” she said. “By the way, aren’t you rather famous?” She noticed the slightly sarcastic look that appeared on Bill’s face, implying she was being a little awkward. “Bill, don’t look at me like that, I’m just saying it was because of him that you wanted my sister to find someone in Muncie who could get a couple of pictures of him.”

This is getting interesting. George noticed how the other three men looked down at the floor to avoid eye contact, while Bill stared at his wife with eyes that he hoped would convey: “shut the fuck up, you bitch!”

“Yeah, but we never got any, did we?” Bill vocalized. “At least, we never put them up.”

Todd moved closer to Ryuji. “You’re from Muncie? What brings you to Centerville? By the way, I’m Todd Green. I don’t know why you’re famous, Mr. Matsu …”

“Oka … Ryuji Matsuoka. I’m a musician,” Ryuji interrupted and turned to Todd to shake hands.

“Patti said you’re famous; how the hell, then, do you know George?” Rick asked, extending his hand for a shake as well.

“The last time we were in Centerville, we met in the RV park,” George turned to Todd and said, “Your RV park.”

“Which just so happens is where we met again about an hour ago,” Ryuji added.

Bill looked at his watch. “You know, if you want to bag any ducks, we should get down to the blind.”

Fifteen minutes later, the hunters dressed in khaki, brown or camouflage clothing were sitting on the bench in a duck blind staring at a soggy field full of decoys. The blind was obscured from the outside by tall weeds, unkempt grasses and plants like cattails. From it, however, the hunters had a clear view of the pasture with its decoys floating in swampy puddles. Bill was standing at the far right side of the bunker-like structure holding a wooden duck call in his hand.

“It looks like the previous group finished off the ducks,” Gerold said, seated second from the left with Mavis, George and Rick to his right and Todd sitting the closest to Bill. Ryuji was on the far left next to Gerold since he claimed he felt unlucky to sit to the right of anything. Earl, the cocker, sat on the ground in front of Bill who started to make a few calls.

Bill looked down the line of camo-masked assassins to Gerold and Ryuji. “Actually, the other group used the blind along the river. I rarely let new hunters in a blind just used by another group.”

“Be a little patient while the master makes some calls,” Ryuji said through his built-in facemask camo hoodie to Gerold dressed in army surplus fatigues and wearing a camouflage balaclava he borrowed from the shop.

“Listen to the rock star giving advice. Hell, I’ve been hunting since before you were born,” Gerold said, shaking his head in mock surprise.

Rick looked down the line past George and Mavis. “You’re such an expert; you had to borrow both your shotgun and headgear.”

“At such a short notice, it was easier to rent them. My rifles are in dire need of a little maintenance.”

“Hell Gerold, I’ve never seen you out hunting before. We’ve got a couple of pictures in the shop with Matsumoto holding his prey,” Bill said after making a few more calls.

“Why the hell do I have to pay to hunt in your bunker? There’re plenty of good fields around here where anyone can hunt for free,” Gerold said, looking down the line past Mavis and George who sat quietly supplied with camo and guns courtesy of DuckBill Hunting.

“By the way, Gerold, where did you get your fatigues?” asked Todd who was dressed in his own hunting bib, parka and face mask.

“Why’s everyone piling on me?”

Mavis patted Gerold on the leg. “We aren’t. This is my first time out and George, here, is no professional.”

“I might not be a mountain man, but you’ve tasted some of the fowl I’ve bagged,” George said.

“Foul may be the right word,” she replied.

“Very funny, lover; I meant ducks that I shot right here,” he said and looked over to Bill – no doubt, for verification.

“It’s true, I Ryuji Matsuoka - not Matsumoto, by the way - was twice a witness to George’s bloodlust,” Ryuji said, looking past Gerold. “Bill’s got the pictures to prove it.”

“Not to mention your own,” Gerold said.

“My own, what?”

Gerold turned to his left. “Pictures of ducks killed by the famous Ryuji Matsu whatever.”

“Can it Gerold, we’re keeping the ducks away,” Todd said.

“That’s Matsuoka,” Ryuji repeated.

“Todd’s right, keep the jabbering down or we’ll be here all night,” said Bill.

It didn’t take too long after Bill spoke that some ducks did appear in the field, quickly followed by several more. Soon there were quite a large number close enough for the brave hunters to commence their massacre. Everyone was more or less successful in shedding the blood of the hapless birds except for Gerold. Ryuji especially was lucky and had easily bagged his limit.

“Let’s wait around a little longer, maybe Gerold’ll hit something besides a decoy,” Todd joked.

Bill nodded and said, “Which I’ll have to include on your bill.”

“They do look pretty realistic; even the ducks mistake them for real,” Ryuji said.

“Hey fuckoff,” Gerold said without a hint of friendly banter in its tone.

“That’s no way to speak to a crack shot with a gun,” Ryuji said.

Gerold turned sharply to his left, pointing the barrel of his shotgun at Ryuji’s foot. “That Jap boot certainly looks like a decoy to me.”

“Stop that!” Mavis shouted, jumping up from the bench and accidently nudged Gerold. This made him lurch a little toward Ryuji, resulting in Ryuji leaping to his feet and popping a load of buckshot into the vicinity of Gerold’s feet.

“What the fuck?!” Gerold shouted just after the shot rang out. Within a second he screamed, “You shot me, you yellow cocksucker!”