Chapter One The Boogeyman Cometh Billy Ray pulled the car over got out and took a piss. He didn't bother to go into the bushes the traffic on rural dirt roads in The South were always at a minimum. He knew them like the back of his hand having travelled those same roads of Baltimore Parish for years during his time as a moonshiner. You'd more than likely see a wagon being driven by niggers and drawn by a team of mules than a shiny new Buick like the one he drove. Which is why he chose to drive the back roads of Baltimore Parish. He zipped his pants, retrieved the keys from the ignition. Opening the trunk he took out the jack and left the spare. He propped the jack under the bumper on the far side raised it a few notches then tossed the jack handle back in the trunk. The trap had been set all he needed now was the unsuspecting prey to enter his web. He returned to the driver's side took a seat and waited. He was visited by a dragonfly, a few mosquitos and a blue jay who took a shit on the car's hood. Bored he turned on the radio and dialed in a station known for playing Hank Williams one of his favorite country singers. He opened the glove box and removed an old rag to wipe away the bird shit when he noticed a lone negro enter the road he could only assume from a trail leading out of the woods. He lit up a cigarette wrapped a handkerchief around his hand and stuffed the rag in his back pocket. He then went to the trunk and got out the jack handle all the while eyeing the negro who never looked up. He must have walked this road a thousand times to not worry about being in any danger mused Billy Ray smiling to himself. When the young man took notice of the car a hundred yards off Billy Ray beckoned for him to come closer. The young man stopped dead in his tracks then looked around as if to make sure it was he Billy Ray meant. Just like a dumb nigger. Who the hell else would I be waving at seeing as how we're the only two people out here thought Billy Ray. The negro was leery but unafraid. Billy Ray could tell because he was looking him right in the eyes. Most shiftless negros avoided direct eye contact and stared at the ground or either at their feet when talking to their betters. He knew negros of The South didn't like being in the company of white men especially white men they didn't know. They were usually poor but with the reward of making a few dollars easily for performing minor odd jobs they rarely gave in to any misgivings. When the young man was in ear shot Billy Ray put on his best friendly white man persona accompanied with the voice of an angel. "Young man I've injured my hand trying to change that flat. I'm willing to pay if you have a mind to aid me in my hour of despair" said Billy Ray holding up his hand wrapped in the handkerchief to confirm his misdirection. Offering too much or too little and the prey would never enter the trap. So Billy Ray offered five dollars before the young man had a chance to ask just how much his despair was worth to him. The young man nodded in agreement and walked to the rear of Billy Ray's shiny new Buick. Billy Ray was right on his heels. When the young man reached in for the spare Billy Ray hit him with the jack handle just above his right ear. He yelped then slumped over half in half out the trunk. He was out cold but still breathing. Billy Ray threw in the jack handle grabbed the young man by the ankles and shoved him down in the trunk. He tied his feet and hands then gagged him with the handkerchief. He looked around to see if anyone else was about seeing no one he hurriedly lowered the jack tossed it in and slammed the trunk shut. He walked to the front of the car whistling along with Hank Williams, used the old rag to wipe away the bird droppings got in and drove away. Billy Ray set in his shiny new Buick at the drop off spot which was a bridge over a small creek that lead to the neighboring parish. It was dark out and the only light came through the break in the trees above the creek. The transaction usually took place at the center of the bridge and afterwards each party went it separate way. He was thirty minutes early and the young negro in the trunk has come to and was trashing about trying to free himself. Every now and then Bill Ray would holler at the young man through the back seat with threats of physical harm if he didn't quiet down. This seemed to enrage the young man even more for he would continue to thrash about and occasionally try and yell through the gag in his mouth with threats of his own. Billy Ray had his trusty .38 revolver by his side, out in these woods you could run across anything and he didn't fully trust the people he was dealing with. They were now late by twenty minutes. He would give them another thirty minutes if they failed to show by then he'd put a bullet in the young man's skull and ditch the body. The thought of tacking on another two hundred dollars for being late mi