| “Revenge From Beyond the Grave” A short story based on the WB Series, “Tarzan” *** Prolog The murder trial is over and John and Jane must begin to put the pieces of their lives back together. But the past will have its revenge on an unsuspecting John Clayton, Jr. Each action has a natural reaction and his heroism has left a trail of enemies for John in dark places. *** Chapter One Off in a bar in a part of town that would give decent rats pause to travel, two men are meeting to complete a business arrangement. One of the men was in his mid forties with little hair left on his head and a small belly that denoted his years of over indulgence. He looked very uneasy indeed in this place. The younger man, Rafe, was thin and unkempt, a carbon copy of the rest of the low life scums that frequented this whole in the world. “Yeah, she is a real bitch, taking me for all I’m worth and I’m sick of it. Bet she won’t be so smug when she meets you” the balding man beamed. “My fees is $1,000 to mess her up, $5,000 is you want her to disappear from the planet for good’, said the younger man. “Don’t kill her, that will only make it worse, I just want her in pain like she’s done to me. So is it a deal?” “Half now and half when the job is done”, the younger man whispered. “Ok, I’ll call you when the bitch is at the meeting place, she thinks that I’m bringing her a check, but she’ll get what she deserves alright.” With that the balding man removed an envelope from his jacket and slipped it to the younger man under the table. Back at his Aunt’s house, John was getting restless from his days of inactivity since his bout with the flu. Both of the women in his life had seen to it that he got plenty of rest and was properly nursed back to his full strength. “You have got to take care of yourself John, no more running the streets without a jacket and proper shoes”. “Jane had to go to work today so she won’t be here until late”. “Are you hungry?” But John motioned no. “Ok then, I will be in the office if you need anything”. John had no intention of spending another day cooped up inside the mansion. He needed to get some fresh air and was always nervous when he did not know exactly where Jane was or what she was doing. So after his Aunt left, John put on one of his dad’s sweaters and slipped over the wall of the balcony and made his way toward the precinct. Across the street and hidden by the trees of the near by park, two men were watching. “That’s him, glad he finally decided to show up. I heard he’s been sick or something.” “He moves awful fast for a guy on foot that’s been sick! How are we supposed to follow him?” “No worries, we know where he is going, the same places he always goes. Got him a real pattern he does. Shouldn’t be hard to find him when the time comes. The man said to be careful cause he can smell trouble like a freaking bloodhound or something. So we’re suppose to keep our distance and just watch and pass the information back to the boss.” John slowed his progress as came within view of the precinct building where Jane worked. He was enjoying the fresh air and the birds other sounds of the city. His thoughts drifted back to his dreams of life in the jungle. There had been happiness, but so much pain and loneliness too. Jane was his world now and he would keep her safe, or die trying. They had so much to look forward to and he had so much work to do. His Uncle was right about one thing; he would have to learn many things to be part of Jane’s world. Unknown to John, Jane and Sam had left earlier in the morning on assignment. So as the day past and Jane did not appear, John realized his error and started the trip back to Kathleen’s mansion before he worried her too much. Meanwhile, the balding man placed a call. “Rafe, yeah she’s in the Park waiting for me right now, have fun”. The balding man leered at the thought of his deception. Chapter 2 John made his way through the Park back to this Aunt’s when his keen ears heard a woman screaming. His lightning quick reflexes brought his powerful muscles into action as he sped to her aid. Soon he spotted a man and woman struggling in a small clearing near the south side of the Park. John’s throat emitted a growl that caused the attacker to turn. Rafe was soon met headlong by the full fury of the woman’s defender. John grabbed the thin man’s shoulders and with a foot to villain’s midsection gave a backward roll that threw the man end over end through the air. The impact of the catapult knocked the wind out of the thin man's lungs and he lay gasping for breath. John completed the thin man's journey to mindless oblivion with a right cross to his jaw. While recovering his own breath from the exertion, John
turned to see if the woman was all right. His eyes were met with a sight
was baffled him and caused a hesitation that was to be his undoing. For
as he turned he saw that the woman he sought to protect was aiming a gun
in his direction. He felt the impact of the dart and heard her laugh as
he dropped to the ground, then all was silence. When the deed was done,
the woman briefly called someone on a cell phone, “He’s down,
you can come now”. Three men drove up in a brown van and approached
the woman and her hapless victim. “Take him to the van and be sure
that he is bound tight, don’t want our prize getting away, do we?”
One of the men replied, “No, Mrs. Korab”. It took all three men to get the bound John to his feet, but finally they were able to drag him inside the abandoned warehouse. A large steel cage with a chair in the middle sat in the corner of the large. “Get him in the cage and hold him while I get his desert for him”, she laughed. John’s eyes were like sabers that would cut his captors to ribbons if they had the power. Mrs. Korab soon returned with a hypodermic needle. “Now before I send you on a wild trip with this acid, let me enlighten you what is in store for your honey.” “Death would be too easy, though that will come soon enough for the bitch. But first she is going to provide pleasure to as many men as I can find to payback her sins. When that is boring me, I might kill her if she asks nice”. John struggled to free his arm to silence the words that brought horror to his ears, but he could not move and the evil liquid was pushed into the vein in his arm. After the deed was done, his captures retreated and locked the cage that contained their victim. Johns mind began to race with colors, terrifying sounds and the distorted image of his beloved being attacked. He saw red, blood, everywhere in his hallucination and as he fell out of the chair on to the floor his screamed “Jane!” Chapter 3 Jane and Sam arrived back at the precinct late that evening. The case that they were working on had consumed the day and most of the evening without much progress. “You want me to drive you back to your apartment? Sam said. “No, you live in the other direction, I’ll take a cab”, she replied. Truth was she did not want to go to her apartment at all, but planned to go over to Kathleen’s and check on John. She just didn’t feel like catching more grief from Sam, so she told a little white lie to her over protective partner. “Alright then, I’m going inside to finish up our non-report, see you tomorrow.” So she stepped to the curb and a taxi from across the street did a u-turn and stopped adjacent to her. “Bye Sam, see you in the morning”. After several miles she noticed that the cabbie seemed to be taking the scenic route. “You have to watch these guys, they’re always trying for a bigger fare”, she mused. Hey fellow, exactly what route are you taking anyway, via New Jersey?” The driver turned and smiled as he sprayed the contents of the can that was in his hand in Jane’s face. Jane gagged and her eyes burned as she lost consciousness. After the cab arrived at its secluded destination, two men joined the cabbie in hoisting their victim from the backseat and carrying her inside. After she was bound and gagged, the cabbie made a phone call. “Yes, we got her, but the other cop is going to be more difficult. He went back inside, damn dedicated public employee. Sam worked for several hours trying to finish the daily report. The phone rang at his desk. “Detective Sullivan, can I help you?” “It’s Niki, Sam is Jane there? She isn’t answering her cell phone.” “You mean she’s not home, should have been there by now, that little devil, bet she slipped over to see John, you should try Mrs. Clayton’s. “I already did, Sam, Mrs. Clayton said that she hasn’t been there since this morning and John’s not there either.” “Sam, I’m worried, Jane never turns her cell phone off.” “ Well don’t worry, she probably just forgot to charge the stupid thing, she has been flaky lately, he joked. I’ll call the cab company and see where they dropped her off, ok?” “Ok, Sam”. Sam called the yellow cab company for the schedule of fares that matched the time that Jane was picked up in front of the precinct. “No fares in that location at that time, sorry detective”. “What do you mean no fares, I saw her get in the cab myself!” Sam slammed the phone down and ran into the Captain’s Office. Chapter 4 “What the heck do you want Sullivan, It’s late and you should be home”! “Captain, something’s not right, Jane is not home and it’s been hours and she is not answering her cell phone”. “Since when are you her baby sitter”. “But Captain, she got in a cab, but the cab company has no record of the pick up, and no she not at the Clayton kid’s place either, I checked.” “Just go home, you worry to much and she’s a big girl.” “Ever since she met that kid she’s been squirrelly as hell, she’ll show up in the morning late again with some lame excuse, you worry too much”, the Captain chuckled. “Well, I’m not buying it she may be a squirrel, but she’s no nut and she would not upset her sister by not showing up and not calling.” Sam stormed out of the Captain’s Office in disgust. Just then the phone on his desk rang. “Detective Sullivan.” A strange voice on the other end whispered, “I was wondering if you are missing some guy with long hair”. “What do you mean missing a guy with long hair”. “Well I seen some dude get snatched on the south side of the park and thrown in the back of a van and I was wondering if it was worth something to you?” “What time was this and can you describe the guy and the van”. “Yeah, I can give you the goods, the guy had long hair and wasn’t wearing any shoes. “I got a tag number too, its JAK 1220.” Just then the phone line went dead. Sam called his favorite clerk, Lori and asked her to run a trace on the tag. He then dialed the number for Kathleen Clayton. In his prison, John was frantic and covered in sweat. His mind was seized by horrific drug induced visions of Jane’s mutilation by wild animals. Laughing voices nearby were transformed into screams of wild beasts that he was powerless stop. The constant visions of attacks took their toll on his already weakened state, but he could not rest. His body craved release from the torments of his mind. As one of the beasts approached his cage, John leaped with what remained of his strength straight for the door. The impact of his attack threw open the door and knocked his intended victim to the floor, silenced and still. Another ran to his partner’s aid but was soon met his accomplice’s fate. John, free of the cage, drugged and desperately confused wandered out of the warehouse and into the night. Back at the precinct, Sam finally got Kathleen Clayton on her cell phone. “Ms. Clayton, this is Detective Sullivan, yes I heard that John is missing, Jane’s gone too. I got a lead on John, but it’s not good, looks like somebody kidnapped him. Where are you?” Kathleen replied, “In my car, Sam, looking for John”. “Well, you aren’t going to find him, he was spotted being thrown into a brown van on the south end of the park, you think this is more of your brother’s dirty work?” “I don’t know Sam, he was awful upset after the trial, but why would he take John now, he knows he has lost custody. What happened to Jane?” “Ms. Clayton, Jane was heading home and took a cab when we got back to the precinct, but the cab never made it and they have no record of the pickup.” “Sam, you work on finding John, I think I have an idea how we can track down Jane. I’ll call you when I have something and you do the same, ok?” Kathleen Clayton told the driver to pull over, and then she placed a call to Richard Clayton. Jane was still unconscious and bound when Mrs. Korab arrived. “Well I see that that she is not so smart when she is up against another woman, she chuckled. I’ll teach her a lesson just like the other bitch in Toronto that made my Gary unhappy. She’ll learn what I do to women that hurt my boy.” With that she kicked Jane to the face and a groan was her reward. Chapter 5 Sam’s cell phone rings, “Detective Sullivan”. “Hi Sam, it’s Lori, I got that trace done for you. You coming back tonight?” she giggled. “Sorry not tonight, got to work, so what did you find out”. “The tag belonged a Malabu owned by a Mr. Dixon in Queens is was reported stolen two days ago. But Sam, since you are looking for a brown van I did a checking for that too. A brown van ran a red light over near the warehouse district about 8:00 last night, does that help?” “Well it’s a long shot, but what the hell it’s better than no shot. Thanks Lori, see you tomorrow.” “Don’t forget about out date Saturday night, Sam”. “How could I forget, Sam said. As the call ended he thought of how much pay back Porter was going to owe him for that date. So Sam aimed his car in the general area of the warehouse district and sped off in search of John. As the first man to recover at the warehouse regained his senses he placed a call. “Ah, we have a problem, the freak went nuts and smashed the door to the cage and well, he’s gone. “What do you mean he’s gone, do have any idea of what this means? The whole plan depends on him being out of the way. You better find him cause there ain’t a hole deep enough for you to hide in if your stupidity messes this up for the boss”. Kathleen tried Richard’s private cell phone for the third time, finally it rang. “Yes Kathleen, what can you possibly need at this hour of the night?" “I’m sorry to bother you Richard and I know that I have no right to ask, but I need your help. John and Jane have both been taken. “What do you mean taken! I told you to contain our Nephew and you never listen. What is it that you need from me?” “Richard, I didn’t call to get into another fight, John’s been taken, there was a witness; Sam’s working on finding him. You know how much Jane means to John and he has been through so much. I don’t know what he would do if her lost her. “Well I guess that’s your problem now isn’t it. What happened to Jane to make you think that she was taken?” “She got in a cab outside of the precinct where she works, but never got home and there’s no record of the pickup.” “Let me think on it and I will call you back later”. With that Richard hung up the phone and smiled. John, tested the air for scent, but his otherwise keen senses failed him. Still disoriented he was unable to determine a direction to begin the search for his beloved. So, exhausted and as his body and long dead sire had directed, he found the safety of a large group of trees on the edge of the warehouse district, climbed to the top and lost his battle against sleep. While across town Jane was being bound head and foot to the posters of a bed to await her tormentor’s pleasures. “You won’t have to wait long for your lovers, soon, very soon”, Ms. Korhab laughed. Chapter 6 “Kathleen? It’s Richard, well I discussed your problem with the R& D Department”. “Research and Development, how are they going to help? “Kathleen, you said that she was taken outside of the precinct at about 9:00 p.m., right? Well, Greystoke Industries has the contract for public building securities after 9/11, don’t you remember? Oh, that’s right, you can’t be bothered with board meetings anymore. Well we have security cameras on the outside of every New York Public Building with tapes running 24/7. It’s just a matter of marking the time of the pick up and we should have a picture of the cab and the cops run a trace from that information.” “How long will that take?” she pled. “About an hour for the tape and what ever it takes for the cops to run the trace. Still there’s no promise that that will locate the cab in time. Any word on John?” “No Richard, Sam is working on it, but I have not heard back from him.” Sam arrives in the general area of the traffic violation by the brown van. “This is going to be a lot of fun, what in the hell are you doing wandering around in the middle of the night looking for jungle boy. Note to self, must get a life.” After making a second trip through the area, Sam spots two men acting suspicious. Suddenly something or someone drops out of the tree near the men. John! Sam stops the car and races on foot toward the now fighting men. John has one man by the throat and a terrible growling is coming from his throat. Sam calls to the other man to drop his weapon as he raises his gun to fire. John, wild eyed and covered in sweat turns to face Sam and kicks him in the side sending his weapon flying. Sam and John are now in a struggle with each other when unbeknown to them the second man is bearing down on them with the gun. John has Sam pinned to the ground as Sam yells, “John, John its Sam!” The fog in John’s mind lifts and suddenly recognizes Sam. “John, Jane is gone and I need your help to find her, do you understand”. John nods yes. From behind them a voice shouts, “Freeze”, the gunman turns to fire at this new assailant and is shot in the chest. “Jed! What the hell are you doing here?” “Not that I’m complaining,” he said as he and John rose to their feet. I came on for the midnight shift for my desk duty and Lori was telling some of the other clerks how she was helping you on a case. I was thinking that maybe after my screw up with Gene I owed you so I got Lori to tell me where you were looking. I know that you probably can’t forgive me, but we were friends once Sam and I want to help, please let me. “Ok, you want to help, then get these two losers cuffed and back to the precinct. Find out who the hell they are working for. We still have to find Jane before…. Sam suddenly noticed the John was not happy with Jed’s presence. “It’s ok John, Jed is sorry and going to help. You ok, John? You don’t look so good”. Jed Carey cuffed the two men and put them in the back seat of his car. “Where you to going Sam?” “I have to find Jane so I’m heading back to the precinct so John can track her.” “Track her?” “Hey the John’s a regular bloodhound, only thing is he is not acting right, I think that he’s been drugged or something. But it’s the only thing that I can come up with since the cab pick up wasn’t recorded.” Sam helped John into the front seat of his car, “no driving in your condition John or I’ll have to give you a DUI. Chapter 7 “Kathleen, it’s Detective Sullivan, I have John!” “Oh thank god, is he ok?” “He’s a little out of it, think that they drugged him or something, but he’ll be ok. I’m heading back to the precinct to see if we can pick up Jane’s trial.” “Sam, Richard is helping too, Greystoke has the security-monitoring contract for the video cameras outside of the precinct and they are trying to id the cab from the tapes. I am so worried, it’s been hours and I have not heard back from them.” John hearing a familiar voice said, “Kathleen?” “Yes John, I’m talking to your Aunt. Do you want to talk to her?” John nodded his head, so Sam held the phone with one hand to John’s ear while continuing to drive. “Just talk, John, she will hear you.” “Kathleen? Are you safe?” “Yes John, I’m safe, are you ok, Sam says you were drugged, what happened”. “I was trying to protect her from the bad men and she shot me and locked me up”. She said that men would do bad things to Jane and then she would kill her.” “Who were you trying to protect John, who wants to hurt Jane?” “The man called her Mrs. Korab, she said that Jane hurt her boy”. “Shit! Did you say Korab, John.” “John, what’s Sam saying, who is Mrs. Korab.” Sam said, “John, let me have the phone. “Kathleen, call Niki and tell her to stay put, I am going to send a patrol around to stay with her until we get this woman in custody. She must Gary Korab’s mother, the guy that kidnapped Niki and we stopped permanently from hurting any more women. Kathleen, I got to go, I’ll call you later”. Sam hung up and called the precinct, “Jed?” “Yes Sam, I got those two on ice, but they aren’t talking”. “Never mind, I need you to send a patrol car over to Jane’s place to protect her sister Niki. Gary Korab, that internet stalker’s mother is behind all of this mess.” “Jed, see if you can get hold of one of those tracking devices and monitor’s will you. I’m not taking any chances of losing my favorite bloodhound”. “Sure Sam, no problem”. “I’ll brief the Captain, ok”. “You’d better or we’ll both catch grief later. Meet me out front in ten minutes.” Sam ended the call and turned to John. “Listen, John, you’re the only one that can find Jane, she got in a cab in front of the precinct and went missing, do you think you can track her?” “Yes Sam, I can follow her scent, sorry for hitting you before. I couldn’t think straight, but I’m better now, but I move fast Sam”. “Yeah I know you do, but I’m going to use a long leash to keep up, ok.” “What to you mean, leash”. “It’s a tracking device, John, a small object that I can follow you with so you can track, but I will know where you are ok?” “Ok, Sam.” “So none of that disappearing act until I get the tracker on you”. Soon they arrived at the precinct and Jed was waiting out front along with the Captain. “So this is the infamous John Clayton, Jr.” the Captain smiled. “Our little police department has not been the same since you got in town, nice to meet you son”. The Captain extended his hand to John and Sam encouraged John to parrot the move and shake hands. “John’s been through a lot, Captain, but we have no time to waste, Jed you got the tracker?” “ Sure Sam”. Jed handed the tracker to Sam and he secured it inside of the pocket of John’s tattered pants. “What the heck are you planning to do with that, Sam,” the Captain queried. “No time to get into details, now sir, lets just say that John has abilities and can find Jane and I can’t take a chance that he will get there and they will need our help.” When the men turned back, John was gone. "Where did Clayton go" the Captain exclaimed. "David Cooperfield needs to hire that guy, well at least we can follow”, Sam said with a smile." Chapter 8 Mrs. Korab looked at her defenseless victim and leered. “ Time to go make this a family affair and ask your little sister to join the reunion. But don’t worry, my son, McGuire will be here in a moment to make sure that you’re not lonely.” Jane yelled, “You leave my sister out of this, she’s done nothing to you!” “Only set my boy to get murdered by you and your partner”. With that she left. Jane’s mind was racing as she fought to rid her wrists and legs of their ropes. She finally had to stop her struggle, as her only progress was to cause deep wounds in her flesh and was no closer to escape. A man was now in the doorway, a fat, dirty slob of a brute that moved toward her and said, “I’m your date for the evening, just call me Mac.” John Clayton, Jr. was a man on a mission; he was of one mind and one mind only. Find Jane and protect her with his life, if necessary. Through the streets he quickly scented the air and chose the direction with barely a pause. With each adjustment in the spoor John knew that he was getting closer and closer to his beloved. Sam and Jed followed, desperately trying to stay within range of John as he made quick progress, and theirs was slowed by the now heavy morning traffic. “Where the hell did he go, Sam? He just went off of the screen” “Shit turn right and pray”, Sam shouted”. Mrs. Korab and her thug arrived on the block for Jane’s apartment building only to discover a marked police cruiser positioned out front. “What the heck is going on, damn, this is going to spoil everything?" “Call the guys that are holding Clayton”. A moment later. “Sorry Mrs. Korab, I am not getting answer at the warehouse”. “What do you mean there is no answer, take me back to Porter, McGuire should have had his fun with her by the time we get back.” “I’m going to finish this before anything else goes wrong”. As the fat man approached, Jane shuddered at the look and smell of him. As he came closer his yellow teeth and fetid breath turned Jane’s stomach and she fought retching up her last meal. His hands were on her shirt and with one tug he ripped open her blouse. He forced is fowl mouth over hers and as his tongue into her mouth, Jane countered by biting his tongue for all she was worth. Mac reared back with blood streaming down his face and struck Jane across the face with his fist. But she was stoic and omitted no cry to satisfy the brute. Furious, Mac brought a knife out of his back pocket and began ripping Jane’s slacks as she fought to be rid of his hands. He placed the knife at her throat, but before he could fulfill his intent he was blasted from behind by fractured glass. Chapter 9 As the fat man turned he was met with a freight train that was all of the hate and power of Tarzan protecting his beloved. Mac flew back ten feet and landed on his back, still clutching the knife in his hand. But a wild animal besieged him in the guise of John Clayton, Jr. John struck the knife from the man’s hand with his left hand and began slamming the man’s head into the wooden floor with the other. At last, the man was still, a bloody pulp of his former self as John leaped to his feet and raced to Jane’s side. “John get the knife, you’ll need it to cut these ropes”. John retrieved the knife and freed Jane from her bindings. Jane and John clung to each other weeping as the great longing for each other’s touch was filled like cold water to a man left to die of thirst. John held her close as most of Jane’s clothing was gone or tattered from the attack and the broken window added to her shiver. But bliss was short lived as Mrs. Korab was now standing in the door with a gun pointed at the embracing lovers. John moved in front of Jane to shield her from the fury that was coming, prepared to die to defend his beloved. As the attacker closed the distance toward John two more figures appeared in the doorway. “Stop, or I’ll shoot!” Mrs. Korab spun to face the author of the threat with her gun still drawn. But before she could finish her turn, the man shot her and she fell dead at his feet. “Nash, Richard, how did you get here?” Jane exclaimed. “It’s a long story and I’m sure that Kathleen will fill you in, right now, John I think you need to cover your young woman or she will catch pneumonia, Richard said with a smile. With that Richard removed his tailored overcoat and handed it to John so that he could cover Jane’s nearly naked body. Sam and Jed arrived soon after and Nash filled them in on the details. “Jane are you ok?” Sam asked. “Yeah, I’m fine, how about you, you look like hell”. “Well its hard to get any beauty sleep with you two gallivanting all over town at all hours of the night, don’t you people ever sleep?” “Sam, what’s he doing here?” pointing to Jed. “Another long story, but its enough for you to know that he saved John’s and my life tonight”. Jane turned to John with a question in her look. “By the way, you two cost me another date with Lori so I think your tab is full and needs redemption. I will be calling to collect real soon, John.” “Detective Sullivan, would you mind if I get these two out of here? I promised Kathleen that I would bring them back to her place safe and sound as soon as it was over.” Richard said. John looked both confused and apprehensive about this turn of Richard’s demeanor. But Jane gave him a reassuring squeeze and said, “Lets go John, I don’t want to stay here another minute”. “Mr. Clayton, can I borrow your phone, I want to let my sister know that I am alright.” “Sure Jane, you can call from the car”. As they got to the limo, Richard noticed that John was hesitant about getting in. “How about I ride up front with the driver so you two can have some privacy?” Richard said. That seemed to ease John’s mind to know that he would be alone with Jane, so they got into the limo. When they arrived at Kathleen’s she was waiting for them at the door. She rushed toward Richard and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you brother for bringing them home safe”. Richard smiled, “Your welcome Kate, but he is my nephew too, it’s what family is for don’t you think?” John opened the door and helped Jane out of the limo. Jane shook Richard’s hand and said a simple thank you. John nodded his head acknowledging his uncle but quickly moved Jane into the safety of the mansion foyer. Kathleen soon joined them as Richard stepped back into the limo and drove off. “Jane, does Niki know you are ok, she has been calling all night?” “Yes, I called her she was so relieved to know that it was finally over”.
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