Fiction. Mud Bath

Mud Bath.
The New Zealand All blacks rugby team had just had a win over the Wallabies, Australian team, 30-13 to retain the very competitive Bledisloe Cup. Robbie Leydekkers had been able to watch the game from his hideout at a quiet lakeside holiday home, where he was staying. He gazed out the sliding doors to the shoreline, mist had come in, moonlight put a ghostly pattern on the water, and it was so peaceful here if only he could block from his mind the drama of the last week.
It all happened when there was a musical festival taking place in the sound shell beside the beautiful lake front setting in the Thermal city of Rotorua, celebrity groups from around the country gathered for the annual show.
Along with thousands of spectators there was a splattering of drug dealers working among the crowd, concentrating on the teenagers who were at the age of wanting to experiment.
Bryan Fitzthum was the senior sergeant of Police, and a very capable man, he had cleaned up most of the crime and drugs in the city and surrounding small towns. Knowing of the past problems with concerts and festivals he allotted most of his top men to watch out for any reoccurrences.
During the early stages of the festival some small pockets of trouble had occurred, Sergeant Fitzthum swiftly brought back calm to the otherwise happy crowd.
A group of well-known stirrers had come south from Auckland and it was soon obvious that they were targeting the only surviving drug dealers in the city, they were determined to cash in on huge sums of money that could be made.
Roy Oates, the leader of this small group was on the lookout for any out of town gangs and was not going to let anyone take over his patch.
Colin Martin, the leader of a very powerful and feared drug and crime ring working the poorer area of Mangere, Auckland., had recently been charged with a horrible home invasion and murder but with lack of evidence was not convicted. Witnesses valued their lives and were wary of the life threats made to them.
Moving through the crowds Roy Oates and two of his drug pushers recognised Colin Martin and decided to bring in some reinforcements of his own, using his mobile phone he soon had six more gang members on their way.
Robbie Leydekkers was enjoying the carnival atmosphere; there were top class entertainment from local singers, a talent quest to find the years best singers, a circus and lots of sideshows. Children gazed with glee as the colourful street parade wormed its way among the cheering crowds on Hinemoa St.
While Robbie strolled about he thought he recognised somebody but it was quite some time before he could put a name to the person, it was an old school friend from Auckland Grammar so he rushed after him.
“Well, if it isn’t Colin Martin?” “ It must be twenty years since we last met, how are you, still the most brainiest guy around?”
“ One thing, I would recognise you anywhere, guess you still have that lure for the ladies” good to catch up again, Robbie. As for being the brains of the school it hasn’t needed much to make myself a fortune”.
“ What career have you taken up, Colin?”
“ Lets just say I have found a very profitable job in the chemistry field, what about you?
I have always had a moderately paid labourers job, just seem to manage to keep my head above water”
“ Looks like it is your lucky day, I could help you make some good money, enough to retire early with”
“ I would sure be interested in that, what’s the catch?”
“I think we should meet some place tonight to discuss my offer, I’m sure you will be interested in a good stash of the folding stuff”
“ Okay, Colin, how about seven p.m.tonight at my little shack on the lakeside, I’ll write the address down for you”.
“Okay, that’s fine, I’ll bring along a few beers for old times sake, cheers”
That evening Colin Martin arrived, happy that the place was secluded from prying eyes. Robbie welcomed him into his humble house and they were soon reminiscing about college days, then suddenly Colin dropped the bombshell as to how Robbie could make lots of money,
“ Selling drugs in the city” Colin outlined what was involved, telling Robbie all about the system he runs.
Robbie was taken back. “ I couldn’t do anything dishonest like that, my life has been quite a sheltered on, free from any trouble with the police”
“You’re just the type of person I want, no crime record and a quiet reserved type of person.”
“ I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t do anything like that”.
“ I’m afraid it’s too late to pull out now, I’ve told you too much about my system”
“ You had better go, I just don’t want to get involved in anything dishonest”
“ Don’t you understand, I have told you too much, I thought us being from the same school there would be a bond of friendship and trust?”
“I don’t call that friendship when you get threatened”
“Well, don’t say I haven’t warned you”.
As Colin Martin drove away Robbie knew that he was in big trouble now but decided he wouldn’t be breaking the law for anyone.
Roy Oates was worried about the presence of the Auckland gang, he would not be able to off load the thousands of dollars of drugs he had already brought in but as yet not paid for so he needed to really take some risks and be extra careful not to be noticed by the police, he had noticed Robbie Leydekkers in the crowd and as he was an old identity of the city he thought using him as a friendly decoy would take the suspicion off him, he approached Robbie.
“ Hello there, aren’t you Robbie Leydekkers? I’m sure we have played golf together a few times?”
“ Yes, that’s me, let my think, oh yes! Roy Oates, nice to see you again”.
Care to join me seeing the sights, I’m here by myself”
“Sure, I could use some company, how have you been”?
“ I’m just fine thanks, a bit worried about a recent business venture but I’m sure it will turn out alright.”
“ I ‘m sure you will cope with it, I saw you in a brand new B.M.W. the other day, so life must be reasonable kind to you”.
Roy soon found out the police weren’t tailing him, a few had passed and probably saw him in Robbie’s company and though he was not here to cause trouble.
Later on in the day they were watching the parade, suddenly three big burley thugs surrounded Robbie, he was threatened with a knife discreetly pushed into his ribs, covered so nobody could see what was happening.
Roy Oates swiftly disappeared into the crowd, not wanting to get involved.
Robbie was gently guided through the crowd to the car park, pushed into a car and driven off to an isolated shack in the country. Colin Martin was waiting for him.
“Well, Robbie, you still have time to change your mind, if not, sorry.”
“ I have already told you I don’t want anything to do with your shady deals.”
“ Oh, well, you have had your chance, we will decide what to do with you after dark”.
Roy Oates was concerned about Robbie, knowing what Colin was capable of; he also wondered why he was interested in him.
That evening Roy and his associates checked out most of the known hideouts around Rotorua with no sign of Robbie.
Soon after dark Martin’s henchmen came into the dark room where Robbie was, grabbed him roughly and forced him out of the house into a waiting car.
“ Come on, make it snappy, we’re going for a nice little scenic ride”. Said one of the henchmen.
“What are you going to do to me,”?
“ I think you could use a nice hot bath, we are off to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Region”.
“That’s where all the boiling mud pools are”.
“Exactly”.
Panic came over Robbie, he was watching for a chance to jump out of the car but his captures were too smart to let that happen.
Arriving at the eerie thermal district, there was a heavy mist coming off the boiling mud, which had a distinct sulphur smell. Terrifying thoughts were going through Robbie’s mind and he started to visualise what Colin had in mind for him.
Roy Oates had a horrible thought of what Martin was up to and gathered his gang together.
“I have a horrible feeling Colin Martin is going to take Robbie for a drive over to the mud pools, we had better go take a look, just keep out of sight, I just don’t need any attention”
“ Okay Boss, we will sneak in the back entrance and see what’s going on”
Colin Martin was waiting along the side fence of the thermal area with one of his gang who had made a sizeable hole in the wire netting and as soon as Robbie was escorted there, Colin said.
“ Okay Robbie, this is defiantly your last chance, is it worth you being stubborn to keep your squeaky clean image, maybe you like the idea of a makeover in mud”.
“ Who would have thought you would have turned out to be such a gangster, what happened to the old college mate I once new?”
“ There is no time for being nice when you are dealing with millions of dollars”
“ I hope you will rot in jail for this, I suppose you are old hand at doing this sort of think”
“ Actually, this is the first time I have used this method on someone who has refused my commands”.
Roy Oates had his two boys creep along the fence line, they reported back to him they had heard voices coming from the other side, covering their heads with beanies, they all carefully worked their way along till they could see four outlines of people.
“Better say your prayers, Robbie, this is the end of the line for you”.
Standing close to the boiling mud Colin Martin was about to push Robbie to a most agonising death, a shot was heard, and then a blood curdling scream and somebody fell and disappeared into the bowels of the mud.
“ Okay you two, put your hands above your head, otherwise you get the same treatment”.
With this they did as they were told and stared with disbelief as they watched their boss slowly sink among the boiling mud.
Roy and his men quickly tied up the two and strapped them to a tree, then left without another word.
Being a very dark night Robbie thought he recognised one of the voices but wasn’t sure, all he was interested in was to put as much space between this horrible scene and come back to some reality.
Robbie called into a service station and phoned the police and spoke to Sergeant Fitzthum, explained briefly what had happened. He was told to wait there and he would be with him shortly.
“Hello there, Robbie, you look terrible, I’ll ask a few questions then I’ll get you checked out at the hospital”.
Robbie told the sergeant briefly what happened in the last 24 hours finishing off with the drug dealer collapsing into the boiling mud.
“I know this has been an awful ordeal for you but could you show me where all this happened”.
“ I think you will need a few more helpers, there are two henchmen tied to a tree”.
“ Bloody hell, is it that bad? Did you know the person who fell into the mud?
“Sure did, it was Colin Martin, a drug dealer from Auckland.
“ Did you know who fired the shot?
“No, there were three of them but they had beanies on”
Robbie left with Sergeant Fitzthum after he organised the recovery of the body and had the two henchmen taken to the watch house, they stopped off at the hospital for a check up, then onto the police station, Robbie outlined in more detail what had happened, but tried to leave out most of his friendliness with Roy Oates for by now he was pretty sure it was he who had shot Colin Martin.
An autopsy was performed on what was left of Colin Martin, his henchmen tried to accuse Robbie of killing him but evidence soon proved the bullet had helped cause his death along with the boiling mud. The two heavy’s were charged with kidnapping and drug dealing, they were also charged with numerous assaults around the Auckland area including assisting with two murders
Roy Oates was not even called in for questioning, even though Sergeant Fitzthum knew he was probably the last shady dealer in Rotorua and had seen him talking to both Colin Martin and Robbie.
Robbie reckoned he owed his life to his quick thinking and acting on his part and it would be better put aside and forgotten, but it would be a long time before he would not have any horrible nightmares.
The quietness and solitude of his little shack on the lakefront was a soothing end to the most terrible journey of his life.

Word Count 2249