“Well, some of it will need to be explained but some of it you’ll see during the competition.” There was an announcement on the loud speaker and the siblings turned, nodding at their team. “Just have a seat and we’ll show you what this can do.”
The three men took their seats, then spotted Luke, Hex, and Eric walking into the massive gym. The three men hid behind the crowd, watching as the kids were paraded out by weight class and told what to do.
When it came time for those coached by Butch and Helen, they collectively held their breaths as the kids lifted weights heavier and heavier.
“No need for the final life,” said the judge. “Your team has won the event.”
“They’re lifting more,” said Butch. “Records matter.”
“No,” said the judge definitively. “You’re not doing that to these kids. They’ve won. Leave it at that.”
“We’re doing more!” yelled Butch. The silence in the gym was deafening. Everyone turned and stared as the judge held his ground. Butch turned, pointing to one of the students. “Lift.”
“But Coach, he said I don’t have to. My shoulder is killing me,” said the boy.
“Lift the damn weights now!”
“I’ve seen enough,” said Luke. “Move in.”
“Butch,” whispered Helen.
“Stop! Stop acting like a fucking pussy! Just like dad always said.”
“Butch,” she said staring at him.
“I can’t lift the weight,” said the young man staring at the judge. “Please don’t make me.”
“Get up, kid,” said Eric grabbing his elbow. “You go stand by that man over there.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” growled Butch.
“I’m the man that will snap you in half. Helen,” he said whispering the last part. Butch’s brows lifted, his face flushing red as Helen stepped back. “We don’t give a shit about that. We know who you are and what you’re trying to do. You’re not going to kill any more kids.”
“You won’t stop me. You won’t stop us,” he said looking at his sister.
“Butch. It’s done,” said Helen with a sigh.
“I knew you’d bail on me. I knew it! You never could take the pressure. I was the one that bore most of it from dad. Me!”
“Butch,” she whispered. He shoved weights off the bar, running toward the emergency exit door. The Legacy crew followed, chasing him onto the Canal and toward the Quarter.
“Don’t let him get to the Quarter. We’ll lose him,” yelled Luke. He’d no sooner yelled it at the team when there was a screeching of brakes and screams were heard. Carl was the first to arrive.
He kneeled beside the bloody body of Butch Williams, he breath rapid and labored.
“It’s better this way,” he gasped with his last breath. Carl just nodded as the others looked over his shoulder.
Luke looked around at the faces, then turned to the others. The face he was searching for wasn’t there.
“Where’s the sister?”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Did we find her?” asked Luke several hours later. They all shook their heads.
“Nothing. No one at their residence, no one at the gym, no one at the warehouse. We lost her,” said Cowboy. Luke nodded.
“Maybe that’s how this was supposed to turn out. Maybe Helen was supposed to get away.”