Page 79 of Doozer

I nodded, rushing back to Pop’s room, and stepping inside. “Okay, Pop, I found a nurse and she’s gonna bring you some—”

I entered the room to see Judge Snodgrass holding a pillow over my father’s face. Pop’s body writhing as he struggled to breathe.

“Hey!” I yelled, causing the judge to drop the pillow and retreat towards the balcony.

Knowing Judge Snodgrass had no place to escape, I checked on my father who was coughing but breathing.

“You okay?” I asked and he gave me a quick head nod just as Minus and Sweet Pea came bursting into the room.

“Stay with my father!” I yelled to Minus.

“I’ll get security,” Sweet Pea said, and rushed out of the room.

I quickly turned to see the judge climbing over the balcony railing. I have no idea where the fucker thought he was going. We were twenty stories up and the last I checked, judges couldn’t fly.

By the time I reached him, Judge Snodgrass had swung both legs over the railing and was making his way to the east side of the balcony. The judge was a former collegiate track and field champ and even competed with Steve Prefontaine at the University of Oregon back in the day. For a man in his early seventies, he was fit as hell.

“Where the fuck are you going?” I called out as Spider-Judge continued to inch along the outside railing.

“She’ll kill me,” Judge Snodgrass yelled. “You don’t understand.”

I peered over the edge and could now see that the judge was headed for the balcony of the room next door.

“You’ll never make it,” I called to him. “It’s too far to jump.”

“I’ll take my chances,” he replied, continuing his futile escape.

“You’re gonna fall.”

“Better than what she’ll do to me,” Snodgrass said.

“Who are you talking about? Who’s going to kill you?

“Your father ruined it all,” the judge cried out. “I was gonna make him rich and that self-righteous son of a bitch blew it. Now I’m a dead man.”

“Wrong,” I said. “You’re going to jail, and I’m gonna make sure of it.”

He shook his head. “Not a chance. You know what they’ll do to a judge in prison?”

“You’re never gonna make that jump, so why don’t you let me help you get back over the rail and we can let the police handle the rest.”

The judge laughed. “This isn’t just about me, you know. Daphne’s coming for you. For your club.”

“Who the fuck is Daphne? Are you talking about the Beast?”

“Daphne is just part of the black, twisted heart of the Beast,” he replied, truly seeming more terrified of her than the fall.

“Yeah, well, whoever Daphne is, she’s never gonna get her hands on you. You tried to kill my father and I’m gonna personally make sure you pay.”

“She’ll get to me,” the judge cried out. “Daphne and her machete will get all of you.”

“Don’t be a fool,” I said, extending my hand over the side of the railing. “Grab ahold of my hand and I’ll pull you back up.”

Just then the judge’s foot slipped on the wet balcony, causing him to slide further down the railing. He has now supporting himself with his upper body alone, gripping tightly for dear life.

“I…I can’t hold on,” he cried out.

I leaned over the railing as far as I could, grabbing Judge Snodgrass by the forearms, and pulling with every ounce of strength I could. My back and shoulder muscles burning from the strain as I struggled to pull him onto the balcony.

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