Dark Reflections

Chapter 35

No Surprise

Steve sighed and looked up at the Lorain Correctional Institution, located in Grafton, Ohio. It wasn't that far away from Fremont (in fact, it was only two counties away from Sandusky, which was where Fremont was located), but it was still a pain in his ass. He hated traveling to places he wasn't sure of, especially if he was alone. The Lorain Correctional Institution was no different. What pissed him off more about traveling to Grafton was the fact he was going to visit a man who he, personally, wanted dead. However, he would have rather gone over Vince or Shane. He knew he had more stamina to deal with Austin Payne and his cocky attitude. He didn't have the ridiculous Irish/McMahon pride that the McMahon men were known for.

He walked into the prison and up the man at the reception desk. He looked about 32, with thick black hair that was slicked back.

Like a guy in a really bad Mafia movie. Steve assured himself.

The cop's eyes were a strange blue, almost as if they were Photoshopped.

"Hey." Steve shouted, making the cop look up at him.

Steve saw his nametag for the first time since walking in: Secondo.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

Steve stared at him like he had suddenly sprouted two more heads.

Would I have spoken to you if I didn't need some kind of help?

"Uh… Yeah. I'm here to see Austin Payne. It's kind of an emergency. I have to ask him something extremely important…"

Secondo, who Steve recognized as a Corporal, sighed and shook his head.

"Are you family?" He asked.

Steve narrowed his eyebrows angrily.

"Listen, kid. I just told you I have to talk to him because it's an emergency… It's about what he was arrested for." Steve replied.

Corporal Secondo raised an eyebrow.

"The kidnapping case? What about it? I heard it was resolved… That's why he's here, ya know. Is there something about the case you need help with?" He asked.

Steve balled his hands into fists in order to keep calm.

"Listen here… During the trial, Payne stated that he had an accomplice. The accomplice is now dead. But the victim, Shawn Hickenbottom, said he remembered Payne saying there was somebody else involved, meaning the son of a bitch lied in court. I need to know who it was before something happens to Shawn."

"Why didn't you alert the cops? I mean, I'm sure they have more authority to do what you want to do." Secondo stated, pulling out his visitor's log.

Steve sighed.

"We don't have time to alert the cops, kid. Shawn could be hanging out with the very guy who set everything up and not even know it. I mean, the cops take about 72 hours to fully investigate anything, especially if the guy was already convicted for the crime. I've been on the road to try and talk to Payne for a few hours now. I can accomplish more than they can." Steve stated.

Secondo looked up at him and sighed.

"I'm gonna get busted down to pencil sharpener for this… Sign here and go down that hall… A guard will lead you to Payne…"

Steve closed his eyes and sighed in relief, silently thanking God that this cop wasn't going to throw him out. He knew he shouldn't have told Secondo the details of why he wanted to visit Austin Payne, but he honestly couldn't help himself. He needed to get in there to speak to him and he didn't care what he did to be able to do so. He signed his name on the visitors log and shook Secondo's hand, making a point to look the man in the eyes and give a slight nod, which was his way of thanking a person and showing them respect in the same motion. He walked down the hall where he met up with a beefy Sergeant by the name of Stevenson and… Oh, how ironic. The man was eating a donut.

Steve bit his tongue to try and avoid laughing. Stevenson looked at some papers, probably trying to find out where Austin Payne was located at the moment, and alerted other cops on his walkie talkie to bring him to the visitor's room.

"Damn shame you're related to that asshole. I heard he kidnapped a professional wrestler and sent him for a real ride," Stevenson turned to look at Steve and winked, then looked forward again and continued reading the papers.

Steve once again bit his tongue… He didn't like this guy.

"If I were you and your family, I would completely ignore the fact he was of relation to you." Stevenson threw over his shoulder at Steve, allowing the perfect opportunity for Steve to flip him off behind his back.

"Yeah. We're planning on doing that. I just need to ask him something. Then we're out." Steve stated, doing his best to mock an Eastern accent…

And obviously succeeding.

"You from Ohio, sir? Or just visiting?" Stevenson asked.

Steve rolled his eyes, wanting to reply 'Victoria, Texas' but held back. He made a mental note to yell at several people that were located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada when he had the chance.

"Nah. I'm Austin's cousin from… Connecticut… Greenwich, actually. We spent summers together as kids. Other than that, we didn't see each other much. I'm here to tell him that my family and I have lost all respect for him." Steve replied, still mocking the Eastern accent.

He was proud of himself… And was surprised at how much he was able to make himself sound like Shane. The voice coming out of his mouth was way too familiar to his ears.

"Ah, that's a nice area. I've visited there several times, myself. Was your cousin always a prissy ass bandit? Or is it new to him?" Stevenson asked as they turned another corner.

The walk to be able to talk to Austin Payne was long… And almost not worth the trip. Steve racked his brain to try and figure out what the slang Stevenson was using could possibly mean… And then it came to him: homosexual.

"I don't know if he's always been gay. That's his choice. I'm a personal person, so I don't always pry into other people's lives. The only people I hover over all the time are my wife and kids." Steve smirked as Stevenson burst into laughter.

They finally arrived at their destination. Stevenson stopped and turned to face Steve.

"You're a funny guy… What'd you say your name was?" Stevenson asked as he put a hand out.

"Steve," Steve replied and shook Stevenson's hand.

"Right, nice to meet you. My name is Tom. Ok, go on in here and speak to that Nancy boy cousin of yours. When you've had enough, just walk out and I'll take you back down to the Corporal,"

Stevenson watched as Steve turned to the door and reached out for the handle.

"Oh, Steve,"

The man in question looked back at the Sergeant.

"Watch him, he's quite sassy."

Steve nodded his thanks.

If I hear one more gay joke, I'm going to punch that police officer in that fat mouth of his…

"Oh, I know." He replied and walked into the room.

Steve closed the door behind him and turned to see Austin Payne sitting down at a table staring at him.

"Hey there, Steve." He stated with a sly voice.

Steve narrowed his eyebrows angrily.

"I'm not here to chit chat with you, Payne." Steve stated as he sat down opposite of Austin.

"Then what are you here for? Shouldn't you be playing nurse to your little friend?" Austin teased, making Steve growl under his breath.

"You know damn well why I'm here… Unless, of course, you haven't been reading the papers."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Austin replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine, then. I'll tell you. Your little accomplice was shot dead the other night in Montreal, Payne. We know who he was pretending to be. And my "little friend" says that there is somebody else involved in this mess. So you'd better speak up before I beat the truth out of you." Steve stated.

Austin sighed and rolled his eyes.

"What makes you think Shawn is right about any of that? He's been lying to you guys all along."

Steve leaned forward and glared at Austin menacingly.

"You're the one who makes him do that. He's only lying to avoid memories of what you did to him. I would tell me the truth if I were you. Who the hell is involved in this mess?" Steve asked one more time.

Austin sat up straight and smirked.

"Once again… I don't know what you're talking about."

Steve reached across the table and smacked Austin across the face, then jumped on the table and started punching Austin. Steve stopped after several moments of Austin sobbing, attempting to block Steve's hits and begging him to stop.

"Are you going to fucking talk now, Payne? I have no patience to be dealing with you!" Steve shouted, grabbing a hold of Austin's shirt and raising a threatening fist to his face.

Austin flinched and raised his hands in defeat.

"Alright, alright! I give! I'll tell you who did it!"

"Spill it!" Steve replied, maintaining his posture. Austin sighed.

"Well… He wasn't directly involved in what happened. You know, he didn't come down to my house and participate in… The activities that were going on there… But he supplied money to get it done and made it so that the security staff wasn't near the locker room. He was also able to keep the Fremont police off my back for a little while…"

Steve slowly released the grip he had on Austin's shirt and sat back down on his chair.

"I didn't hear a name." He stated, glaring evilly at Austin, who wiped some blood from his lip.

"That's because I didn't give it yet."

Steve once again narrowed his eyebrows angrily.

"What the hell is keeping you from giving it to me? Do I need to convince you?" Steve asked as he raised a fist.

Austin rolled his eyes at Steve's fist.

"Is violence always the answer with you, Steve? I never thought you were so angry all the time… Or is it that you hate me for what I did to your little friend?"

"You sicken me, Payne… You're either going to give me what I want within the next 15 seconds or I'm going to jump over this table and beat you within an inch of your life. What do you say?"

When Austin didn't respond, Steve jumped onto the table and grabbed Austin's shirt again, then raised his fist in the air. He was about to bring it down as hard as he could onto Austin's face…

"Wait, wait! It was Bret Hart! Hart paid me off!"

Steve released his grip and looked down at Austin in shock. There were too many thoughts racing through his head at the moment.

Shane was wrong.

But Bret Hart gave us this guy's identity. This son of a bitch better be telling me the truth. I'd better call Vince before something else happens.

"You'd better be telling me the truth, you son of a bitch. I'll be back if you're not."

A/N: How'd you like that twist? I can actually tell you that there are a hell of a lot more surprises coming up in future chapters… So this definitely isn't the end.

The name of the chapter is 'No Surprise,' which is a song by Chris Daughtry.

Shawn retired. I'm a sad panda. But I'm really proud of him.