Chapter 8. Guenther's Auto Repair
John scrubbed at his tired eyes. He had spent all of the previous day sneaking into crime scenes and determined to help Missouri had accompanied him. They had been hoping the psychic would be able to get a better read on what really happened if she went to the actual scene. The two friends had been disappointed when they hadn't really learnt anything new.
He knew that Missouri had felt bad for the lack of new information and although John was frustrated he knew that it was not her fault.
John still remembered his friend's reaction upon entering David Biggs office. Missouri had been a psychic all her life and had seen some terrible things in her time but it still hit her like a sucker punch to the stomach when she saw the crime scene. John had watched as she paled slightly at the blood pooled on the floor that had yet to be cleaned up. He had quietly asked her if she was alright only for her to tell him that she was fine.
The only thing Missouri's abilities had been able to decipher was that the killing had definitely been of the supernatural kind, only the reading she had gotten had her confused. It wasn't the usual feeling she got when she sensed the remaining essence of a spirit, angry or otherwise. It felt like a spirit but different all at the same time. Missouri's description of her friend's attacker was pretty vague. A lot of people had blonde hair and blue eyes. She hadn't been able to remember if there was anything that stood out. The only thing John knew for sure was that all the victims had been long time residents of Lawrence, leading him to think that there was a pretty good chance that the spirit had been from Lawrence also. The message 'Paid' left in blood at all the crime scenes also led him to believe that he had known all of the victims at one stage since he obviously wanted to exact revenge.
If Missouri was right then Mike was in danger and more than like it meant that Mike had known the spirit or at least the spirit knew him. John had been friends with Mike for a long time so he had been racking his brain to see if he could remember anyone with that description but for the life of him he couldn't think of anyone.
John sighed as he relaxed back into the Library's surprisingly comfortable couch. After meeting with Lola Biggs John had decided his next course of action should be to visit her late husband's Elementary School. The man had lived in Lawrence all his life and had attended Broken Arrow Elementary School. The school hadn't had copies of the year books from that far back and had directed John to the Lawrence Public Library on Vermont Street. The hunter had been waiting for five minutes while the librarian searched for the year books. He remembered that Missouri had said that the Spirit mentioned something about being ten years old so he as really only interested in that age group.
"Sir?" John looked up when he heard the librarian's voice in the quiet room. The young blonde walked towards him holding a brown box and John couldn't help but smile when he thought that Dean would probably like her. The girl placed the box on the small table in front of John. "I finally found them," she stated in an amused huff.
"Thank you … Rowan," John replied looking at her nametag for her name. "I appreciate it."
"You're welcome." Rowan smiled and clasped her hands together. "Well if you need anything else Sir, let me know."
"I will." John assured her and watched as she left before looking down at the box in front of him. He sat forward and opened the box. There were at least twenty books inside, all ranging in different years. John took them all out and placed them on the table so he could find they year that he was interested in.
He was beginning to think that 1964 was the only year book that wasn't there until he got to the last book. Why was it always the last one you look at? He began to search page by page until he found the small picture of a ten year old David Biggs. He had looked like your average ten year old. It was almost hard to believe that this kid had done something so bad to evoke being murdered thirty three years later. The old saying was that kids can be cruel. It was a sad fact that both his children had on occasion had to deal with.
John studied the other children on the page. It was hard to judge whether any of Biggs's classmates were the killer. It was hard enough with thirty years passing by and even harder with the description he had. He made a note to himself to get a photo copy of Biggs's class for Missouri before leaving.
John put all the other year books back into the box and then stood up with his chosen year book and walked over to the front desk. He thought that that easiest way to find out who it was would be to see if any of these people had died recently.
Rowan was working on something on her computer when John reached her desk. Sensing someone looking at her she looked up to see John standing there, book in hand.
"Do you need some help?" she asked politely.
"Um yeah I need to use a computer."
"Oh well the computer terminals are just around the corner." Rowan pointed to her right. "There aren't a lot of people in today so you should be able to find a free one."
"Okay, thanks again."
"No problem."
Making his way around the corner John found the computer terminals easy. There was only one other person using a computer and John decided that it would be best if he chose a computer a bit of a distance from that person. He was going to be looking at the obituaries and the less he had to explain the better.
He sat down at the far end of the terminals and began his search.
An hour later found John walking out of the library doors, the cold wind blowing through his short dark hair. The obituaries had been a dead end and had frustrated him to no end. He took the library steps two at a time and headed towards his truck that was parked by the side of the road.
As John sat down in the driver's seat his cell phone began to ring. He put his photocopies on the passenger seat and pulled the ringing device out of his jacket pocket, flipping it open. "Hello?"
"John I just remembered something."
John felt hopeful. Maybe Missouri had remembered something that would help. "What is it?"
The spirit had a scar just above his right eyebrow." Missouri told him. "I don't know whether that's going to be any more helpful or not."
"Every little bit helps."
"I hope so John." Missouri paused before continuing. "Dinner will be on the table by seven. I expect you to be back."
John knew better than to argue with the psychic when she had that tone in her voice. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was two o'clock in the afternoon. He still had time to visit with Mike before Missouri was expecting him back. "I'll be there," he assured her. "Hopefully with news."
"Good, be careful John." Missouri warned before ending the phone call.
John put his cell phone back into his pocket and wasted no time in starting the truck. He had been delaying visiting Mike until he really had to. He knew the man was going to be shocked to see him and John really wasn't sure what to expect.
Checking over his shoulder to make sure it was clear before pulling out onto the road John made his way to Mike's garage by memory. It was going to be difficult going back to the garage that he had once co-owned. He had a lot of memories there that he would rather not think about.
John suddenly felt anxious as he parked his truck across the road from the auto repair shop with the sign that read 'Guenther's Auto Repairs'. He was glad that he was in the truck because he was positive that Mike would know he was here as soon as he arrived had he been driving the black beauty. The Impala and John's love for it would undoubtedly be remembered. Mike had often teased the hunter about it.
John sat in his truck for a few moments more, just watching his old garage and the people busy at work. From John's position it seemed that business was going well. He sat up straighter when Mike came out of his office and walked across the lot and into the garage to talk to two of his employees. John realized that he was just delaying the inevitable. If Mike reacted badly and called the cops on him, or some other authority John knew how to disappear and fly under the radar if need be.
John opened the door to his truck and stepped out onto the tarred road, closing the door behind him. The hunter started to cross the road, stopping once to let a car go past before continuing on towards the garage.
Walking towards his old business the memories assaulted him. Before the fire Dean had loved to come to work with his Dad. Even then the kid had been in love with cars which had made Mary so proud because Dean was so much like his Daddy. On the occasions that John brought the little boy in Dean had been content to sit and talk his father's ear off while he watched him work, occasionally handing the man tools that he was quickly learning the names of. It was quite a comparison from the mute boy Dean had become for so long after his mothers death. John smiled a sad smile as he realized that no matter where life took them it seemed that Dean was fated to follow in his fathers footsteps, whether that be mechanic or hunter. That kid had always learnt quickly and had always been so eager to join his father in any activity. John was pretty sure that had things turned out differently Dean would have ended up working with him in the garage, maybe even doing an apprenticeship, judging from his love of cars, or even maybe have gone to college. John knew that wasn't about to happen now because right when all the kids Dean's age were thinking about college applications his son was thinking about what they were going to hunt and kill next. John also often wondered how Sam would have turned out if the supernatural hadn't destroyed their lives. Judging from Sam's personality and his new need for normalcy, John was sure that he would have been a very happy normal little boy, instead of the kid that fought him every step of the way. John sometimes wished for the days when he was a hero to both of his children. One thing that entered his mind while thinking of his sons was their closeness. If they had of been given that normal life would they be as close as they are now? John had never seen such a close bond between brothers before. It was like those boys had a sixth sense about each other that even John didn't totally understand. It was definitely something that he felt he could be proud of. Mary had always wanted to sons to be close so he had at least accomplished one of her wishes.
John made it across the road and to the front of the garage before he had even realized it. His memories and thoughts seemed to be running wild lately. Shaking him self out of it John walked up to the big open roller doors and leant against it. Just inside Mike was standing talking to two young guys that John assumed were apprentices. John took a good look at his old friend. He was just like he remembered him only older, a little more weight on but he still had an aura of confidence around the work place that John always remembered.
Mike gestured to the red Ford station wagon in the service bay. "Mrs. Thomson will be back to pick up her car tomorrow morning."
John listened as Mike spoke to the two apprentices in front of him, totally oblivious to John's presence. "I think it's about time you two handled a job on your own. Think you can handle it?" Mike asked with a smirk on his face. The mechanic could obviously tell that the boys were more than ready to handle a car without him and from what John could see the two guys, that could not have been any older than nineteen, looked excited at the prospect of finally getting the chance to work without a supervisor hovering over them.
"Hell yeah!" The blonde boy replied excitedly.
Mike chuckled. "I thought you would think that way. Now if you have any trouble with something, don't be afraid to ask for help."
"Yeah, he may be getting old but the man knows his stuff." John commented in a joking manner from his position against the doorway. All three of the room's occupants looked in his direction. The two boys were obviously wondering who this stranger was and Mike was staring in shocked recognition.
After a few beats Mike finally found his voice. "John?"
"Mike long time, no see." John smiled as he pushed himself away from the wall and took a couple of steps forward.
Mike couldn't believe his eyes. It had been an extremely long time since he had seen John Winchester. The man had just disappeared one day taking his two young sons with him and Mike had never heard from his friend again. To say that John had been unexpected was an understatement. Mike still wasn't sure what to do or say. He had been so worried for both John and his boys when they had vanished. He had never expected to see any of the Winchesters again and here stood John Winchester, looking slightly older, his once clean shaven face littered with a beard and the same unmistakable friendly smirk plastered on his face.
"Boss, do you know this guy?" Joe his eighteen year old apprentice asked looking back and forth between his boss and the new comer.
Mike glanced at Joe and his other apprentice Steven before looking back at his surprise guest. "John, where the hell have you been?"
John's eyes darkened. Mike's lack of faith and phone call to Social Services had been the reason he had fled in the first place. "Do you really want to do this here Mike?" John asked carefully.
Mike realized that John didn't want to get into anything with an audience and decided that he really should talk to the man in private. "Fine," Mike replied and turned to the two boys still waiting to see what was going on. "Joe, Steve, when you're finished with Mrs. Thomson's car park it out the back for her."
"Sure boss," Steven answered for both of them.
Mike walked out of the garage and towards his office, gesturing for John to follow him. He couldn't help wondering what had made John come back after all these years.
John followed the mechanic to his office and automatically closed the door behind him. He turned around to see Mike still standing in the middle of the room with a haunted look on his face. "The place is looking good," John commented offhandedly as he glanced around the room, taking notice of the certificates still on display on the wall. Even one of his was still up there. Either Mike was getting sentimental or was just terrible with house keeping.
"What the hell happened, John?"
"What the hell happened?" John parroted angrily. Holding his temper had never been one of his strongest qualities. "What happened was something terrible happened to my family and one of my best friends didn't stick by me … in fact …" John pointed an angry finger at Mike "…you sold me out."
"That's why you left?" Mike asked.
"You were meant to be my friend Mike. What you did is unforgivable," John yelled, losing his temper quickly.
"I was trying to help John …" Mike tried but was cut off by John's tirade.
"Help?" John laughed without humor. "You tried to have my children taken off me Mike. That's not help."
"Forgive me for caring." Mike through his hands in the air in frustration and walked around to stand behind his desk. "You weren't thinking straight after Mar…the fire. I just wanted to make sure you and the boys were okay."
"Yeah, well no thanks to you we're fine." John growled. The hunter looked up to the ceiling to try and calm his temper. This was not what he had intended their meeting to be. "Look Mike, I didn't come here to argue with you." The hunter looked back at the man across from him.
"What did you come here for? It's been ten years."
"Almost thirteen actually," John interrupted, walking up to the front of Mike's desk.
"What?"
"Sammy will be fourteen in May which means it's been almost thirteen years."
Even though he knew it had been a long time it was still strange to think of the boys as teenagers. Mike would always remember the baby and the little kid that he had last seen. "Wow … so the boys are good?"
"Of course they are." John snapped.
Mike sighed and ran a hand over his face. "So why did you come here John?"
"I need to ask you a few questions."
"What type of questions?"
"Was there ever a time … before we opened this place up …" John waved a hand in the general direction of the garage. "…that you promised to opened it up with someone else? John asked, knowing it would seem like an odd question.
Mike looked confused for a moment. "John what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"Mike, just do me a favor and answer the question."
Mike frowned in concentration but couldn't really think of a time where he had agreed to open the business with anyone but John. "Not that I can remember. John what's this about?"
"The person would be about our age with blonde graying hair, blue eyes, average build and a small scar about his right eyebrow." John explained, ignoring Mike's questions. "Do you know anyone with that description?"
Mike started to shake his head immediately. "No John, what's this … wait." He stopped all of a sudden. "Wait a minute. I think I do know someone like that."
"You're sure?" John asked excitement obvious.
"Yeah, this guy … oh what was his name?" Mike asked himself. "Umm … it was Gay something …" he trailed off searching through his mind trying to find the name. John raised his eyebrow at the part of the name that Mike remembered.
"Oh that's it! His name was Gaylord Alan Carlson. I'm sure it's the same person I'm thinking of."
"John pulled out a small note pad from the inside pocket of his jacket and leant it down on the desk, stealing a pen from Mike's collection and wrote down the name.
"John, what's this about?" Mike asked again. He was confused. First John turned up out of the blue and then he asks about some guy that he hadn't thought about in years.
"Are you sure that's him?" John looked up at Mike.
"Yes. He's the only person I can think of with that description, plus I remember the scar."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"I dunno, years I guess. Why?"
John ignored his questions again. "Do you know where he is buried?"
Mike looked shocked. "I didn't even know he was dead."
"Do you have an address for any of his relatives?"
"I dunno John, seriously what's this all about?"
"Mike you would believe me if I told you."
"Well try me. You do realize that I had the cops looking for you when you disappeared."
"Yeah thanks for that." John answered sarcastically. He hadn't known right away that Mike had set the cops after him. Missouri had called him to inform him as soon as she had found out, warning him to be extra careful. John locked eyes with his friend. "Look it's real important that I talk to a relative so do you have an address?"
Mike stood staring back at John stubbornly but eventually the mechanic sighed when he realized that John was not going to give up. The man had not lost his stubborn streak. "My father was friends with his father back when I was a kid." Mike explained. "I should have an address here somewhere but I'm not going to give it to you unless you tell me what this is about and why it's so important to make you come back here after thirteen years."
"Mike …" John growled.
"John …" Mike challenged.
John glared at the other man from across the desk. He leant forward and placed his hands down on the wooden surface. "Mike you didn't believe me back when Mary died." John bit out. "Why would now be any different?"
"John, you can't come back here, ask random strange questions and then leave again without so much as an explanation."
"I don't owe you anything," John said angrily. "I'll just give you this one warning. You're in danger Mike, so watch you back." The hunter pushed away from the desk and made his way to the door.
"What's that supposed to mean? Was that a threat?"
John stopped and shook his head in annoyance. "It's not the human threat that you have to worry about Mike."
Mike came to stand in front of John. "What does that have to do with Carlson?"
John was irritated and even a little bit angry but he realized that there were still a few things his temper had caused to slip his mind. "Did you ever agree to start this business with him?"
Mike was ready to give John a negative response but then he remembered something. "His father and my father had agreed that we would. The Carlson's were rich and Dad wanted to stay in their good graces. I had already picked a business partner so the old man got pissed and we didn't talk for a year."
"I remember that. Why didn't you tell me about the Carlson's?"
"There was nothing to tell. Their son was a geek, always had been. I had never liked him and besides the garage was our creation."
"Okay." John ran a hand through his hair. "Be careful Mike."
Mike reached out and grabbed the taller mans arm. "Wait! John you can't tell me I'm in danger and then just leave."
"You're not going to believe anything I tell you."
"John … please."
John sighed. "I think Carlson is angry. I have a feeling that he is going to come after you."
"Carlson is going to try and kill me?"
"His spirit," John replied waiting for the reaction he knew was coming and not really caring any more.
"You're joking."
"Afraid not." John shrugged.
Thirty seconds went by with Mike just looking at John, trying to determine whether the man actually believed the crazy theory. "You really are crazy." Mike stated and John rolled his eyes. He hadn't been disappointed. He knew Mike wouldn't believe him. The man had never had an open mind in that area.
John closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest before looking back at his old friend. "Bye Mike." John didn't stop this time when Mike called out asking him to stop. He had the information he needed. All he had to do was find where the bastard was buried, salt and burn the bones and then get the hell out of this God forsaken town.
TBC ...
I know most of you guys do like chapters about the boys better so i do hope you liked this one anyway. John and his temper lol The boys will be back the next chapter ;-) Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought :-)