Kate McGill, Romanian Cold Hand

“I’m Bernie, Kate. Buzz tells me all about you over the years. What the hell you want with me? You should be havin’ fun with other kids, not talkin’ to me. I’m not your type young lady.” “Bernie, I need you to look at these pictures and read this short letter.” She glanced over at Buzz realizing that maybe Bernie couldn’t read. Her quizzical look was returned with just a simple, firm nod from Buzz. Bernie took the package and pointed them to the cabin. Inside primitive furniture and ripe smells dominated the single room. In the cabin’s center a thick wooden slab table covered with marrs and gouges was littered with books and magazines. Kate glanced across the literature. She felt better. This Bernie read, his appearance notwithstanding. If he read he was human and had a soul. That’s all she needed. Bernie plunked into an ancient easy chair and waved them to the table. He did not look up but plowed through the letter, then removed the five pictures and examined them carefully, his hands moved crudely but Kate noticed his touch was quite delicate. She was feeling more comfortable with Bernie. Now he shifted his gaze to Kate. “I’m guessing Buzz told you about me. And this is what you gotta know. I live for re-balancing the scales, for evening up the score. That’s all I really care about. That and walking in my woods out here. I don’t eat in restaurants or watch tv or see movies or socialize, I’m not fit for that. Am I telling the truth here, Buzz?” Buzz sat arms folded across his chest. He nodded and there was no smile. Bernie continued, “Now, Kate, Katherine, I prefer that name, you really want to walk this line with me because I am not playing with dolls, I am not fooling one little bit. I see what this woman wants---she wants this Lasola’s blood. Katherine, she could be telling god’s truth or lying completely. You will never, ever, ever know. You clear, girl, you could be on a terrible misleading journey. Once we go there it will be very fast, in, locate this thug, exact justice and out. We are there to kill a human being and you are sworn to secrecy for life. Make no mistake, if we take this journey you are in one hundred percent including your own death and they will not be nice. If they kill you they will take their time, violate you in ways you can’t imagine and it won’t be one or two men. Now you stop and think, girl, you want to be violated horribly and die in El Salvador for this woman you will never see again? God, don’t be nuts!! This is no game or charade! I have been face to face with scum of the earth. People so bad that Hitler looks good in comparison. A gorgeous woman taking revenge will be the most wonderful gift to these atrocious monsters if they get the upper hand. Now just drop the whole God damn thing!!” Bernie’s voice went far beyond loud. When he stopped talking the silence was a thunder clap. Anger married to dreadful thoughts made Bernie grow to an epic height and he took advantage of every inch. Screaming fear to dead silent and that’s how Bernie wanted it. On top of it, he had been walking closer to Kate as he talked and now stood before her hands on hips and this deathly stare. “You go home to your life, Katherine, forget you’ve been here. Not worth it unless you are dyin’ to re-balance the scales. If protecting the innocent burns in your veins it better burn hot and long. I’ve tortured people for pleasure. You want to know what that’s about? I know who this guy in Salvador is. I’ve smelled his filthy breath because he lives in many countries. There are better ways to get even, less scary, just as productive.” Buzz knew Bernie would scare her shitless. He scared Buzz shitless. She stood up inches from Bernie, her face just below his. “You’re not scaring me, Bernie, I don’t scare like that. I am the redeemer for these innocents.” Kate literally had no idea where that line came from but it was real in that moment. “I’m giving you one time to take that back.” Her face gave no ground, she was locked in and Buzz’s heart sank. He was hoping Bernie would scare her out of this craziness. Bernie even felt a momentary chill. Buzz was right, this girl had steel genes. “Alright, alright,” Bernie said. “Buzz, I gotta travel, I need twenty grand or so, I need to rent a small military plane so we can carry weapons no problem. We’ll need three others, one I know, two I gotta find. Buzz you don’t go in, you’re in Honduras with a plane and a chopper. You know nothing more than writing a check and booking aircraft. Nothing. Katherine, current passport, all shots, you will follow a dietary regimen for six weeks before. No one, NO ONE will know where you go. Once we start it will be very quick, hours. Buzz, she must be checked out on a sidearm, something good size.” She cut him off. “I can handle small weapons up through Uzi’s.” Buzz’s jaw dropped. “What? No, is this your God damn grandmother again? Uzi’s? I will kill that woman one day.” Kate responded, “I beat on her until she did it. We were in L.A., she booked us into a gun club and I was checked out on a whole string of assault weapons.” All Buzz could say was, “Jesus Christ all mighty. What is she thinking?” “Buzz, it’s my doing, now shut up, please. Bernie, I can handle weapons.” Bernie took Kate by the hand and walked her sternly to the door. He reached into a cabinet and removed an army issue 45 and a strange looking machine pistol. He marched her fifty yards out from the house and stopped. They were on primitive rifle range with old tin can targets. “Show me.” He planted the pistol roughly in her hand. Instantly she coiled into a shooter’s crouch, flipping off the safety. The first shot missed the can, the next four hit four successive targets. Without a pause he snatched the pistol and chunked the machine pistol into her hands. Kate had never seen this weapon. She rolled onto the ground as if she was protecting herself, rolled on to her back, bought three seconds to examine the gun, found a safety lever, found the cocking mechanism, rolled back onto her stomach and began firing at targets. The machine pistol laid out withering bursts of fire sending cans flying everywhere. Bernie’s arm extended down to her right arm and she felt herself lifted back to her feet. “Ok, not bad for a gal. I’m giving you some manuals, you read every page, every word. You may encounter some strange weapons.” They walked back to the cabin. Kate went off to find the bathroom. Bernie said, “That’s as good as most special ops soldiers. Her reactions are really something. I’ll be ready by the fourteenth. Meantime, feel free to talk her out of this nonsense.”