“No. No. This is some sort of mistake. I settled up with the Chess brothers. Every dime I owed, plus interest.”
I shook my head. “We’re not here about any of that.”
“Then who are you, and what the fuck do you want?” he demanded, trying to pull his arms out of his binds.
I pointed to Rabbit. “He’s here to see that justice is done.”
“Justice? What the fuck did I ever do to you?”
“Not me.” Rabbit crossed his arms. “My sister, Anjanette.”
“Anjanette?” Cletus squinted. “Holy shit. Zane? Is that you?”
“That’s right, you evil fuck. I’m back and now it’s time for you and me to settle up.”
“What are you talking about? I was always good to you.”
“You raped children and filmed yourself doing it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and you can’t prove a goddamned thing.”
“You may have blurred your face when you sold those videos, but we both know it was you. You and your wife profited from the abuse of dozens of children and now you’re gonna pay.”
“Your sister is a lying little slut, and always has been.”
“Wrong answer.” I pulled my bowie knife out of my boot.
“Look, I don’t know who you are or what Anjanette told you, but I swear to you, that girl is a liar.”
“I’ve seen the video, Cletus,” I spat out. “She’s not lyin’.”
“She loved what I did for her. She begged for it.”
I decked him hard enough to knock a few teeth out. “She was achild,” I roared as blood poured from Cletus’ mouth.
“You can’t p…prove shit,” he slurred.
“We don’t need proof because you’ll never see the inside of a courtroom,” Rabbit said, “You’re looking at the only judge, jury, and executioners you’re ever gonna see.”
“Don’t forget torturers,” I said.
“It was all my wife’s idea. I swear to God. She made me do it.”
“Shut the fuck up, you sick motherfucker.” I shoved a rag in his mouth. “Your days of terrorizing children are over.” I held up my knife. “You’re gonna die, Cletus, and I’m the one who’s gonna kill you. I’m gonna take a piece of your flesh for every kid you ever touched, and I’m gonna do it real fuckin’ slow.”
Cletus’s eyes widened and he started screaming behind his gag.
“Shhh.” I waited until he calmed. “I think I’ll start with your toes. What do you think, Rabbit? Does that sound like a plan?”
I bent down to grab ahold of one of Cletus’ feet when I noticed he’d pissed himself.
I laughed. “Oh, shit Cletus. You aren’t scared, are you?”
He nodded, whining through his gag.
“I bet those kids were scared too, weren’t they? I bet that’s what got you off the most, wasn’t it? The fear in their eyes. The fear of knowing you were going to hurt them, and that no one was coming to save them. Now it’s time for you to know that kind of fear. Now it’s time for you to feel the agony you and your wife have inflicted on them.”
Cletus shook his head violently, tears streaming down his face.