Joe said, “Missy, sit down, have a drink with us.”
Missy looked around and thought, why not? and chugged a shot of a clear liquor. Caleb laughed and said, “One thing you can do is drink, Missy.”
Missy laughed and said, “Let me have another. What bottle is that?”
Joe said, “It's one of Mexico's finest tequilas and its aged; and it will fuck you up. Through Caleb's connection we can get it as cheap as whiskey.”
Joe said, “With all the Mexicans and Americans who go to Mexico, I'm going to sell a lot of this stuff.” Missy did have a weak side and could not resist a drink. During her whole romance with Joe she was drunk the majority of the courtship. Missy put her glass near Joe and Joe poured her a drink. Cliff was quiet; he didn't say much and just watched Missy drink her shot.
Caleb said, “Cliff, you never say much. Have a drink.”
Cliff said, “I'll stick to my whiskey.”
Joe said, “I'll have his.” Missy poured herself another glass of tequila and Joe said, “Try some salt and lime, it tastes better that way. Everyone be quiet for a second. I need to know what else you all think we need to make more money.”
Caleb said, “We can never go wrong with finding more gals to bring in more of the guys.”
Missy shouted, “I think we have enough! Don't think we need any more!”
Joe laughed and said, “I didn't plan to add more bunks in the bunkhouse. We need to make this dance floor bigger.”
Missy began to feel the effects of the tequila and said, “Baby, I'm going to go rest, not feeling too good.”
Joe said, “Have another.”
Missy said, “Okay one last one, and then I'm going to bed.”
Joe poured her another shot and said, “You're no fun anymore.” Missy drank it and saw Joe look at Caleb and Cliff, nodding his head. Before Missy could put her glass down, Caleb and Cliff grabbed her on either side, picking her up out of her chair.
Missy screamed, “Joe, tell them to get their fucking hands off of me!”
Joe looked at her, got up and said, “Bring her out back to the pit.”
Missy yelled, “What the hell is wrong with you, Joe? Stop!”
Joe didn't say a word. Cliff and Caleb held Missy, following Joe to the concrete alligator pit. Joe stopped and stood at the top of the pit and said, “Bring that fucking bitch over here.” Joe held up the same knife that he cut Missy with and held it up, saying, “Remember this? It's going finish the job.”
Missy screamed, “No! No! Why are you doing this, Joe? I love you!”
Joe said, “You're a fucking liar. Give me her hand.” Joe and Caleb forced Missy to put out her hand and Joe said, “You think I wouldn't find out you were leaving? Who else fucking knows?”
Missy yelled, “No one! Nobody else knew except my sister!”
Joe said, “You liar! Tell me or I'm going to cut you and throw you in with my pets.”
Missy begged, “Joe, I wasn't going to leave. Nobody knows!”
Joe screamed, “Liar!” and he sliced her forearm open. Missy began to bleed heavily.
Joe turned and looked at Missy and said, “I have not fed my pets in a while; there will be nothing left of you when they're done.”
Missy screamed and yelled, “Stop!”
Joe said, “Throw her screaming ass in there, she'll shut up.” Missy could see four gators snapping and climbing over each other to get at her, sensing the blood on her arm. One gator lunged, and Missy felt tremendous pain as a gator bit off her left four fingers.
Joe said, “Throw her ass in there already!” Caleb and Cliff started to push Missy in and Joe suddenly yelled, “Wait a minute! Who in the hell is this?” Joe saw three vehicles pull into the parking lot. Joe pointed to Cliff and said, “Watch her. Caleb, let's go see who this is.” Missy was in some serious pain and felt part of her left fingers missing. The occupants saw the lights inside the bar and Joe had left the front door open. About four males and three females got out and started walking to the bar. Joe yelled, “Hey we're closed tonight; get the hell out of here!”
Missy heard some other male voices say, “We drove way the hell out here, and you don't need to talk to us like that!” Missy heard this and knew she had to do something.
Missy knew even though she was in severe pain that this was her chance to escape. She was crouched down, acting passed out, and opened her eye. She saw Cliff looking back, trying to hear what was going on. Missy knew this was it, and suddenly got up and ran for the wood line through a field. Missy saw Cliff far behind her and knew he had a limp on his leg from a fall a few years ago. Missy heard Cliff yell, “Joe, Caleb, get over here!”
Joe began to argue with the males in the vehicles that had pulled up and until he heard Cliff's voice. Joe yelled, “I said get the hell out of here!” The guys cussed Joe out and peeled out of the parking lot, causing dirt and rocks to fly everywhere. Joe and Caleb ran to the back and looked around and didn't see Cliff or Missy around the pit.
Caleb said, “Did they fall in?”
Joe and Caleb suddenly heard Cliff yelling, “Over here!” from the field, and they could see his silhouette.
Joe yelled, “Shit! That bitch escaped! Find her or I'll throw you all in the pit! I'm going to get in the truck; get her, she can't get very far.”
Missy ran and ran, and saw that she was bleeding badly from her arm and fingers.