The Butcher

Rebecca married her love, but his family and the family side business was unknowingly part of the deal. She would keep what she could hidden but some secrets were evidenced by bruises not covered with long sleeve shirts. What lengths was she willing to travel down this families dark past and what was she willing to give of herself to keep their secrets? What cost would her new husband have to pay as well? Two can keep a secret, if one is dead, but the sea will never tell.

"LeRoy handed the hose to Carl and turned on the faucet. Instinctively as if he had done it a thousand times before Carl sprayed the grinder from top to bottom, ensuring the inner workings were carefully inspected and clean. He had helped clean the grinders out front, but they were much bigger and required disassembly, the beast however would be satisfied with a thorough shower. “Grab a bucket” Clamps gestured to the row lined up on the south wall near the exit. Carl grabbed a bucket and followed Buddy out to the office and through the side emergency exit to his SUV waiting outside. The four men drove in silence as their chum run kept the remainder of its routine. Including the beers to share following the dump and then trolling through the mud on the way back to the SUV. “Nothing gets rid of the smell like good old-fashioned mud,” LeRoy laughed as he looked into Carl’s eyes. “Come on, it’s late and you have no explaining to do.” Carl made his way home despite his drunken state wishing the stench of the mysterious blue buckets had not been revealed. Rebecca had been waiting patiently for his return but when he drug his muddy self down the hallway and began dropping his clothes on the newly cleaned floor, agitation entered her concerned voice. “Carl what’s up with you? This is the second time this week you have come home like this, what’s going on?” Second time? No this was the first time he ever came home like THIS, and he had no explaining to do. His hand came careening across her cheek like a car crash hurdling her into the wall. “Don’t you question me woman!” he spat at her. He felt his soul darken as it encompassed the gravity of what he had just done. Rebecca wasn’t a part of this, and she would never be. He shook his head to clear his mind but the howl of the beast was still strong in his ears and for a second he thought he would go mad. She had no business questioning him and he would never tell her. He would take his family secret to his grave no matter the cost."