Judge Darth Vedar

 

Chapter 1: End of Day

The Texas sun was starting its slow burn toward the horizon when Billy Benson finally turned his rig around at the northern edge of the ranch. Eighteen years old, covered in dust and sweat, he'd spent the better part of the day checking fence lines and water tanks across the sprawling Benson property. The work was never done on a spread this size, but he loved every minute of it.

He keyed his radio. "Ray, this is Billy. Heading back to the house."

His older brother's voice crackled back through the static. "About damn time, little brother. You got a cold Lone Star waiting for you, and Mom's got that pot roast you're always begging for."

Billy's face split into a grin despite his exhaustion. "Fuckin' A that!" He was hot as hell, his white undershirt soaked through, and his mom's pot roast was hands down his favorite meal on earth. After a hard day's work, a cold beer and Sarah Benson's cooking sounded like heaven.

The fifteen-minute drive back to the ranch house stretched ahead of him, familiar territory he could navigate with his eyes closed. Rolling pastureland dotted with cattle, the kind of endless Texas sky that made a man feel both small and infinite at the same time. This was Benson land, had been for generations, and Billy couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

He was thinking about that first sip of beer when the front tire exploded.

The rig lurched hard to the right, and Billy fought the wheel as the vehicle slammed to a stop in a cloud of dust and the sharp smell of burned rubber.

"FUCK!"

Billy sat there for a moment, catching his breath. Then he pushed open the door and climbed down to survey the damage. The tire was shredded, torn apart like something had taken a bite out of it. Strange—these tires were practically new, and he'd driven this route a thousand times without—

The blow came from behind, a sharp crack to the back of his skull that dropped him like a stone. His last conscious thought was confusion more than pain, the taste of dust in his mouth as the world went black.

By the time his body hit the ground, rough hands were already dragging him toward a battered pickup truck that had appeared from nowhere, its engine running and two men with missing teeth grinning down at his unconscious form.

Chapter 2: Missing

Tom Benson was replacing a broken gate latch in the south pasture when he heard Jake's Ford roaring across the rangeland, coming in way too fast and kicking up a dust cloud you could see from miles away. Tom straightened up, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Jake never drove like that unless something was seriously wrong.

The Ford skidded to a stop next to Tom's truck, and Jake jumped out before the engine died, his face white as a sheet.

"Dad, we got a problem. Billy's rig is sitting out on the north road, engine running, door hanging wide open." Jake was breathing hard, his hands shaking. "And that's not the worst of it."

Tom felt ice form in his gut. Billy was never careless with equipment, and he sure as hell wouldn't leave a truck running unattended. "What else?"

"Someone shot out his rear tire with a shotgun, Dad. Close range. And there's rope fibers all over the truck bed like someone was tied up back there." Jake's voice cracked. "Billy's gone. Someone took him."

The fence pliers dropped from Tom's hands. "You sure about the tire?"

"Dead sure. I've seen enough hunting accidents to know buckshot damage when I see it. And the rope..." Jake wiped his mouth with a trembling hand. "Fresh fibers, caught on the tailgate. Someone grabbed him, Dad."

Tom was already reaching for his radio with one hand and his keys with the other. "Ray, come in. Emergency."

Static crackled, then Ray's voice: "Yeah, Dad? What's wrong?"

"Billy never made it home. Jake found his rig abandoned on the north road. Someone took him. Get your ass out here and call Wade Nelson. Tell him we need him now."

"Jesus Christ," Ray's voice came through the speaker. "How bad?"

Jake grabbed the radio. "Bad. They shot out his tire and there's evidence of rope restraints. This wasn't some random thing, Ray. This was planned."

Chapter 3: The Muscle

Billy came to slowly, his head pounding like a hammer on an anvil. The smell hit him first—old hay, rusted metal, and something sour that might have been rotting wood or stagnant water. He tried to move and immediately regretted it. Sharp pain shot through his shoulders and wrists.

He was lying face-down on a dirt floor, his arms twisted behind him in an impossible position. His left wrist was tied tight to his right bicep, and his right wrist bound to his left bicep, the rope cutting deep into his forearms. The position made his shoulders scream and left his arms completely useless. His ankles were bound together with more rope, and a knotted bandana was jammed between his teeth, making his jaw ache.

"Well, look who's awake," came a gravelly voice from somewhere behind him.

Billy tried to turn his head and saw two men standing near the entrance of what looked like an old barn. Both were skinny as fence posts, with greasy hair and clothes that hadn't seen soap in weeks. The taller one was missing most of his front teeth, and the shorter one had a scraggly beard that looked like he'd been growing it since junior high.

"Name's Lester," said the toothless one, taking a swig from a beer bottle. "This here's my brother Daryl. We're gonna be your hosts for a while."

Billy's eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through gaps in the barn walls. Above him, rusted meat hooks hung from thick wooden beams, some still stained dark from whatever had once hung there. His blood ran cold.

Daryl noticed Billy's stare and grinned, showing teeth that were in only slightly better condition than his brother's. "Yeah, we used to process deer in here. Daddy taught us real good how to dress 'em out." He gestured at the hooks with obvious pride. "See, you string 'em up by the back legs first, then you take your knife and—"

"Shut up, Daryl," Lester snapped. "We ain't supposed to do nothing yet." He pulled a cheap digital camera from his back pocket and squinted at it. "Gotta take some pictures first. Them Dallas folks want proof we got him."

Billy's mind raced. Dallas? What did people from Dallas want with him?

Lester fumbled with the camera, pressing buttons at random. "How the hell do you work this thing?"

"Give it here," Daryl said, grabbing the camera. "You hold it like this and press the little button." The flash went off in his face. "Shit! That ain't right."

"You're an idiot," Lester muttered, snatching it back. "Look, just point it at the kid and—" Flash. "There. That work?"

Daryl peered at the camera's small screen. "Can't tell. Maybe take some more."

For the next several minutes, Billy was subjected to a barrage of camera flashes as the two brothers figured out how to work the device. Through his terror, part of his mind was cataloguing everything he could see and hear—the old barn, the brothers' faces, their voices, anything that might help if he got out of this alive.

"Alright," Lester finally said, apparently satisfied with their photography skills. "Now we gotta call that Ray fella."

Billy's heart jumped. Ray? His brother Ray? How did these men know about Ray?

Lester pulled out a flip phone and dialed a number written on his palm in ink. After a few rings, he spoke in what he probably thought was a professional voice: "This Ray? Yeah, this is about that boy Billy. We got him, and if you want him back breathing, you better listen real good."

Billy could hear Ray's voice through the phone but couldn't make out the words.

"Don't matter who we are," Lester continued. "What matters is we got your Billy trussed up like a Christmas turkey, and we got them hooks ready to string him up and gut him like a deer if you don't do what we say."

Daryl leaned closer to his brother. "Tell him about the mineral rights," he whispered loudly.

"Yeah, yeah," Lester waved him off. "We got a message from some business folks in Dallas. Something about mineral rights and signing papers. They'll be in touch with the details. All you gotta know is if them papers don't get signed, we gonna butcher this boy slow and send him back to you in pieces."

Billy's blood turned to ice water. Mineral rights? The natural gas deposits under their land that Dad had always refused to lease? This was about forcing his family to sign over their land?

"We'll send you some pictures so you know we ain't bluffing," Lester said into the phone. "But remember—any tricks, any cops, and we'll string him up and dress him out just like Daddy taught us. We done it to plenty of deer, and a skinny kid ain't much different."

He snapped the phone shut and grinned at Billy, his gap-toothed smile made even more horrifying by the dim barn light.

"Don't you worry, boy," Daryl said, patting Billy's head like he was a dog. "Long as your family does what they're told, you might just make it home." He gestured up at the meat hooks. "Course, if they don't... well, least you'll know exactly what's coming."

Billy closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing. Ray would figure this out. Dad and Ray and Jake would come for him. They had to.

But as he lay there on the dirt floor, trussed up like an animal for slaughter, he couldn't shake the image of those dark, stained hooks swaying gently in the stale air above him.

Chapter 4: The Business

The convoy of trucks pulled into the Benson ranch yard like a war party returning from battle. Tom, Jake, Ray, Sheriff Nelson, and his two deputy sons climbed out in the gathering dusk, their faces grim. Behind them came Mary Nelson in her own truck, with Edna riding shotgun, both women's faces tight with worry.

Sarah Benson emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her eyes immediately finding her husband's face. Behind her, eight-year-old Billy the Kid appeared in the doorway, clutching his toy sheriff's badge.

"THE COPS!" Billy the Kid shouted with delight, running toward Todd and Skip Nelson. "Did you bring your handcuffs? Are we gonna catch bad guys?"

Todd Nelson, normally quick with a smile for his young neighbor, managed only a strained grin as he ruffled the boy's hair. "Maybe later, partner. We got some grown-up business first."

"Where's Billy?" Sarah asked, though the answer was already written in their expressions.

"Someone took him, Mom," Ray said quietly. "Shot out his tire and grabbed him."

Sarah's hand flew to her mouth. Mary Nelson immediately moved to her side, putting an arm around her longtime friend's shoulders.

Edna stepped forward, her young face pale but determined. "Sarah, what can I do? There has to be something—"

"Where's Uncle Billy?" Billy the Kid asked, his excitement fading as he picked up on the adults' tension. "He promised to show me how to rope tonight."

Tom knelt down to his grandson's level. "Billy's... had to go help some people, son. He'll be back soon."

The acrid smell of burning meat suddenly filled the air. "Oh God, the roast!" Sarah cried, rushing back toward the kitchen. "Billy's favorite dinner—I forgot—"

Mary Nelson was right behind her, pulling the smoking pan from the oven. "Don't you worry about that now, honey."

Wade Nelson was already setting up a command post at the kitchen table when his radio crackled. "Sheriff, we've got something at the crime scene. Found fresh tire tracks heading toward the old hunting road that leads back to the Miller property."

"Copy that. Keep searching but don't follow those tracks alone." Wade looked at Tom. "We'll get some answers soon."

Mary opened all the windows to clear the smoke while Sarah stared at the burned roast, tears starting to flow. "He was so excited about coming home to this. He always said my pot roast was better than any restaurant."

As if summoned by Wade's words, Tom's phone buzzed with a text notification. The message was from an unknown number: "CHECK YOUR EMAIL. URGENT BUSINESS MATTER."

Ray pulled out his laptop and connected to the ranch's internet. His face went white as he opened the first email.

"It's... it's photos," Ray said, his voice barely a whisper.

Edna moved closer, her hand gripping the back of Ray's chair. When she saw the images on the screen, she gasped and covered her mouth.

Tom leaned over his son's shoulder and immediately wished he hadn't. The images showed Billy tied up on a dirt floor, his white undershirt torn, rope burns visible on his forearms where they'd been bound in that twisted position. His face was streaked with dirt and terror, a bandana gag cutting into the corners of his mouth.

"Jesus Christ," Jake snarled, slamming his fist on the table. "I'm going to kill these bastards."

"Language," Mary Nelson said automatically, glancing toward Billy the Kid, who was now clinging to his grandmother's leg, sensing something was very wrong.

"Ray," Sheriff Nelson said quietly, "forward those to my phone. We'll need them for evidence."

Before Ray could respond, the sound of a delivery truck rumbling up the drive made everyone freeze. Through the window, they watched a FedEx driver hop out with an overnight envelope.

"Expecting something?" Wade asked.

Tom shook his head. "Nothing urgent enough for overnight delivery."

The driver knocked and Sarah signed for the package, her hands shaking slightly. The return address read simply: "DALLAS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS - P.O. BOX 47291 - DALLAS, TX 75247."

Tom tore open the envelope and pulled out a thick packet of legal documents along with a cover letter on expensive letterhead. He read aloud:

"'Dear Mr. Benson, We represent certain business interests with regard to the mineral rights beneath your ranch property. Recent geological surveys have indicated significant natural gas deposits that would be of considerable value to the right development partners.'"

"Mineral rights," Pops growled from his chair in the corner. He'd been quiet until now, but his weathered face was flushed with anger. "Those sons of bitches want our gas."

Billy the Kid looked up at his great-grandfather with wide eyes. "Pops, you said a bad word."

"Damn right I did, boy. Some words fit the situation."

Tom continued reading: "'We understand that your family has previously declined to lease these rights. However, we believe that recent circumstances may have created new incentives for reconsideration. Time is of the essence in this matter, as our associates have specific instructions regarding project timelines.'"

"Project timelines," Ray repeated, his voice hollow. "They mean Billy."

Edna's voice was barely a whisper. "They're going to hurt him, aren't they?"

Wade Nelson studied the documents over Tom's shoulder. "Professional outfit. Legal letterhead, proper formatting, even included survey maps of your property showing the gas deposits." He looked up. "But they hired local muscle to do their dirty work."

"'Enclosed you will find transfer documents requiring signatures from Thomas Benson and William Benson Sr.,'" Tom read on. "'Upon execution of these agreements, all outstanding issues will be resolved satisfactorily. Failure to execute these documents will result in alternative resolution methods.'"

"Alternative resolution methods," Jake seethed. "Corporate speak for butchering my brother."

"Jake!" both Mary and Sarah snapped simultaneously, nodding toward Billy the Kid.

Billy the Kid tugged on his grandmother's apron. "Grandma, what's wrong? Why is everyone mad? And why won't THE COPS play with me?"

Skip Nelson knelt down beside the boy. "We're working on a really important case right now, little deputy. But we're gonna need your help to be extra brave, okay?"

Before anyone could answer, Tom's phone rang. The caller ID showed the same Dallas number from the email. Wade Nelson gestured for quiet and nodded for Tom to answer, while Mary quickly ushered Billy the Kid into the living room with promises of cartoons.

"This is Tom Benson."

"Mr. Benson, this is Marcus Webb from Dallas Business Solutions. I trust you received our overnight package."

The voice was smooth, educated, completely professional - like he was discussing a routine real estate transaction instead of extortion and kidnapping.

"We got your package," Tom said, his voice tight with controlled rage.

"Excellent. As you can see, this is a straightforward business proposition. We're prepared to be quite generous with the compensation terms."

"And what exactly are we supposed to be compensated for?" Tom asked carefully.

"The mineral rights transfer, of course. Our geological surveys indicate substantial value in your subsurface assets. The documents are quite standard - just need signatures from you and your father, and all outstanding issues can be resolved today."

Wade Nelson was frantically scribbling notes and making hand gestures to his sons. Todd was already on his radio, trying to get a trace on the call.

"And if we refuse?" Tom asked.

The professional mask slipped slightly. "Mr. Benson, I would strongly advise against that course of action. Our field associates have very specific instructions regarding project completion deadlines."

Tom looked around the kitchen at his family and friends - Sarah and Mary clearing smoke from the burned roast, Edna's young face streaked with tears, his father's weathered hands gripped white on his chair arms, his sons ready for war, and Wade Nelson working to turn this nightmare into a case he could solve.

"We'll need time to review the documents," Tom said carefully.

"Time is a luxury in short supply, Mr. Benson. I'll call back in two hours for your decision."

The line went dead, leaving the kitchen in tense silence. Outside, the last light was fading from the Texas sky, and somewhere in the darkness, Billy was waiting for his family to save him.

Chapter 5: The Judge

The silence stretched like a taut wire after the Dallas call ended. Tom stared at his phone, Jake paced like a caged animal, and Ray sat frozen at his laptop with the horrific photos still glowing on the screen.

"Two hours," Sarah whispered, clutching Mary's hand. "How can they expect us to decide something like this in two hours?"

"Because they know we're desperate," Wade Nelson said grimly. "They're betting we'll panic and sign anything to get Billy back."

From the living room came the sound of papers rustling. Billy the Kid had wandered back into the kitchen, dragging the thick packet of legal documents behind him like a favorite blanket.

"Billy the Kid, leave those alone," Sarah said automatically, but the eight-year-old was already spreading the pages across the floor, studying them with the intense concentration only children could muster.

"There's so many pages," he said, flipping through them. "Like... seventy or something. And they all got Uncle Billy's name and Pops' name and Daddy's name." He looked up with those serious eyes that reminded everyone of his uncle. "They want our money, don't they? And if we don't give it to them, they're gonna hurt Uncle Billy."

The adults exchanged stunned looks. Out of the mouths of babes.

"That's... that's exactly right, son," Tom said quietly.

Billy the Kid scrambled to his feet, still clutching one of the documents. "Then we need a lawyer! Like on TV! Lawyers fix everything!" He pointed at his toy sheriff's badge. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be the family lawyer AND a sheriff so I can catch the bad guys AND put them in jail!"

Pops, who'd been silent in his corner chair, suddenly straightened up. "Goddamn it, the boy's right. We do need a lawyer. But not just any lawyer." His weathered face split into the first grin they'd seen all evening. "Tom Harris. Judge Tom Harris."

Tom Benson's eyes lit up. "Jesus, Pop, that's perfect. Tom's known us for thirty years. He'll understand what we're up against."

"And he sure as hell won't let some Dallas sharks steal our land," Jake added.

Wade Nelson was already reaching for his radio. "I'll call the courthouse—"

"No need," Tom said, grabbing the kitchen phone. "Tom lives just twenty minutes away." He dialed from memory. "Tom? It's Tom Benson. I know it's late, but we've got a hell of a situation out here... Billy's been kidnapped... mineral rights extortion... Can you come out right now?"

The conversation was brief. Judge Harris asked few questions but his tone grew more serious with each answer.

"He's on his way," Tom announced, hanging up. "Fifteen minutes."

Those fifteen minutes crawled by like hours. Sarah paced between the kitchen and living room where Billy the Kid had returned to studying the legal documents with fierce determination. Edna sat quietly beside Ray, occasionally reaching over to squeeze his hand. Jake continued his restless patrol of the kitchen, checking his watch every thirty seconds.

When headlights swept across the ranch yard, everyone tensed, but it was Judge Tom Harris climbing out of his pickup truck. He was a tall, silver-haired man in his sixties, still sharp as a tack despite forty years on the bench. He'd officiated at Josh's wedding, attended every Benson family gathering for the past three decades, and was godfather to both Jake and Ray.

"Where are those documents?" he said without preamble, hanging his hat on the kitchen hook like he'd done a thousand times before.

Ray handed over the packet, and Judge Harris spread them across the kitchen table, his reading glasses perched on his nose. His expression grew darker with each page.

"Professional job," he muttered. "Very professional. These documents would actually be legally binding if you signed them." He looked up at Tom. "They're not just trying to steal your mineral rights – they want to lock you into a ninety-nine-year lease at below-market rates. You'd get pennies on the dollar."

"Can we fight it?" Tom asked.

"If you'd signed it, sure, we could challenge it in court. But that would take months, maybe years." Judge Harris's face was grim. "And meanwhile..."

He didn't need to finish. They all knew what "meanwhile" meant for Billy.

Tom's phone rang. The Dallas number again.

Judge Harris held up a hand. "Let me take this." He picked up the phone and cleared his throat, his voice taking on the formal tone he used in court. "Harris Law Offices, this is Attorney Samuel Garrett speaking on behalf of the Benson family."

There was a pause on the other end, then the smooth Dallas voice: "Mr. Garrett, I wasn't aware the Bensons had retained counsel."

"They contacted us immediately upon receiving your correspondence. I'm reviewing the mineral rights transfer documents now, and I have several questions about the terms and conditions."

"The terms are quite straightforward, counselor. Standard industry language."

"Standard for whom?" Judge Harris's voice was ice-cold professional. "I see references to subsurface extraction rights extending to depths of fifteen thousand feet, but no corresponding surface protection clauses. I also note that your geological survey data appears incomplete – you're asking my clients to transfer rights based on preliminary estimates rather than confirmed reserves."

Another pause. When Marcus Webb spoke again, his voice was tighter, less confident. "The survey data is sufficient for our needs."

"Perhaps, but not for ours. My clients will need independent geological verification, title searches confirming chain of ownership, environmental impact assessments, and a full review of all applicable mineral rights statutes. This is a complex transaction involving substantial assets."

"Mr. Garrett, time is of the essence—"

"Indeed it is," Judge Harris cut him off. "Which is why I'm surprised you'd expect property owners to execute such significant documents without proper legal due diligence. Surely your clients understand that any agreement signed under duress or without adequate review period would be vulnerable to challenge."

The silence stretched long enough that Tom wondered if the call had dropped. Finally, Marcus Webb spoke: "How much time are you requesting?"

Judge Harris looked around the room at the assembled family. "Twenty-four hours minimum. Forty-eight would be preferable."

"Twenty-four hours," Webb said curtly. "And counselor? I trust you'll advise your clients that delays in finalizing this agreement could result in... complications... with other aspects of this business relationship."

"I'll convey your concerns to my clients," Judge Harris replied smoothly. "We'll be in touch."

He hung up and turned to face the room. "That bought us time, but it also bought Billy more suffering. These people are going to take their frustration out on him."

The kitchen fell silent except for the ticking of the wall clock and Billy the Kid's voice drifting in from the living room as he continued studying the legal papers, muttering to himself about "bad guys" and "lawyers" and "catching them all."

Wade Nelson broke the silence. "Twenty-four hours. That's what we've got to find him."

Pops looked up from his chair, his old eyes burning with Korean War fury. "Then we better get to goddamn work."

Chapter 6: Phase Two

The old barn was darker now, the last traces of daylight fading through the gaps in the weathered boards. Billy had been lying on the dirt floor for what felt like hours, his shoulders screaming from the rope binding his left wrist to his right bicep and his right wrist to his left bicep. The position made his arms completely useless and sent sharp pains shooting through his back.

Lester's flip phone rang, its tinny ringtone echoing through the barn. He fumbled with it, nearly dropping it twice before managing to answer.

"Yeah?"

Billy couldn't make out the words, but the voice on the other end sounded angry, professional. Cold.

"Uh-huh. Yeah, we got him tied up real good." Lester glanced at Billy, then at his brother. "What? Phase two? Hold on, lemme get a pen."

Daryl looked up from his beer bottle. "What they want now?"

"Shut up, I'm trying to listen." Lester pressed the phone tighter to his ear. "String him up by his... yeah, okay. Beat his... got it. Take pictures of the... uh-huh. Then cut him down and... what's that word? Hog-tie? Yeah, I know how to do that."

Billy's blood turned to ice water. Through his gag, he tried to make noise, to plead, but only muffled sounds came out.

"Yeah, we'll send them to Ray," Lester was saying. "That email address you gave us? Okay. How long? Yeah, we can do that." He snapped the phone shut and looked at his brother with a grin that showed his missing teeth. "Daryl, we got ourselves some real work to do now."

"What kind of work?" Daryl asked, but he was already getting to his feet, cracking his knuckles.

"Them Dallas folks want us to string this boy up by his feet and work him over some. Beat the living shit out of his chest and belly. Then take pictures to show his family we ain't playing around."

Billy tried to scream through the bandana gag, thrashing against his bonds, but the crossed-arm binding made any movement agony.

"Well, ain't that something," Daryl said, studying Billy like he was a side of beef. "Been a while since we had us some real fun. You remember how we used to string up them deer, Lester?"

"'Course I remember. Daddy taught us right." Lester pointed up at the meat hooks hanging from the thick wooden beams. "Get that rope over there. The good stuff, not the cheap shit."

Billy watched in horror as Daryl selected a length of rope and tossed one end over the sturdiest-looking hook. The metal squeaked under the weight, but held firm.

"Now, boy," Lester said, crouching down beside Billy's head, "this here's what we call phase two. Your family's been stalling, trying to get lawyers involved and such. Well, the Dallas folks don't much appreciate that, so they want us to send a stronger message."

He grabbed Billy's ankles and started working on the knots that bound them. "We're gonna string you up like a deer and work you over real good. Daryl here's got fists like hammers – played some football in high school before he got thrown off the team for fighting."

"Damn right I did," Daryl said proudly, flexing his arms. "Coach said I hit harder than anyone he'd ever seen."

Within minutes, they had Billy's ankles secured to the rope. Lester pulled while Daryl guided, and Billy found himself being hoisted into the air, hanging upside down from the meat hook. The blood rushed to his head, and his vision started to blur around the edges.

"Perfect," Lester said, stepping back to admire their work. "Just like old times, Daryl. 'Cept this one's still alive."

Billy's torn undershirt hung down around his shoulders, exposing his lean torso. At eighteen, he was all muscle and sinew from years of ranch work, but hanging helpless like this, he looked terrifyingly young and vulnerable.

"Now, before we start the fun part," Lester said, fumbling with the digital camera, "we gotta get some pictures for them Dallas folks. They want documentation."

The camera flash went off several times as Lester tried to figure out the settings, temporarily blinding Billy each time.

"Alright, Daryl," Lester said finally, setting the camera aside. "Show this boy what happens when his family don't cooperate."

The first punch caught Billy in the ribs, driving the air from his lungs. The second landed on his solar plexus, making him see stars. Daryl worked methodically, alternating between Billy's chest and abdomen, each blow calculated to cause maximum pain without killing him.

"This is for your family being difficult," Daryl grunted between punches. "Dallas folks just want to do business, but y'all gotta make it complicated."

Billy could taste blood in his mouth from biting his tongue. Dark bruises were already forming across his torso, spreading like storm clouds under his skin.

After what felt like an eternity, Daryl stepped back, breathing hard. "How's that look, Lester?"

"Real professional-like," Lester approved, raising the camera again. The flash went off repeatedly as he documented the damage. "Dallas folks are gonna be real pleased with our work."

They cut Billy down, and he collapsed to the dirt floor, gasping and retching through his gag. But they weren't done with him yet.

"Phase two ain't over," Lester announced. "Now we gotta hog-tie him proper and take some more pictures."

Working together, they pulled Billy's ankles up behind him until they could tie them to the ropes binding his forearms. The position was excruciating, arching his back and putting tremendous strain on his shoulders and legs.

"There we go," Daryl said with satisfaction. "Trussed up like a Christmas turkey, just like them Dallas folks wanted."

More camera flashes illuminated Billy's agony as they documented his new binding position.

"This oughta convince his family to sign them papers," Lester said, scrolling through the photos on the camera's small screen. "Boy looks about ready to break."

Lester connected the camera to his ancient laptop and started the slow process of uploading the photos. "Gonna send these right to Ray, just like them Dallas folks said. Show the family we mean business."

As the photos uploaded, Billy closed his eyes and tried to think about anything other than the pain. He thought about Ray and Jake, about his dad and Pops, about little Billy the Kid and his dreams of being a lawyer-sheriff. He thought about Edna's smile and his mom's pot roast and cold Lone Star beer on a hot Texas day.

Somewhere out there, his family was trying to save him. Billy just had to hold on long enough for them to find him.

But as the pain washed over him in waves, Billy couldn't help wondering if twenty-four hours might be too long.

Chapter 7: Triangulation

Deputy Todd Nelson hunched over his laptop at the Benson kitchen table, multiple tracking programs running simultaneously. "Billy's phone stopped moving about twenty minutes ago," he announced. "GPS shows it's stationary now, but I still can't pinpoint exactly where without another signal."

"Stopped moving?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, probably parked their truck somewhere. These idiots kept it instead of ditching it." Todd's fingers flew across the keyboard. "If they send another signal—anything that connects to our network—I can triangulate the exact location."

Judge Harris had spread the mineral rights documents across the dining room table, a brandy snifter in one hand and reading glasses perched on his nose. Pops sat beside him with his own glass and a lit cigar, smoke curling toward the ceiling.

"Goddamn corporate vultures," Pops growled, stabbing his cigar at a particularly offensive clause. "Ninety-nine-year lease at fifteen cents on the dollar. These cock-sucking sons of bitches think we're idiots."

Judge Harris chuckled, taking a sip of brandy. "Language hasn't changed much since Inchon, has it, Bill?"

"Hell no. And neither have the bastards trying to steal what ain't theirs." Pops squinted at another page. "Remember that supply sergeant who tried to sell our rations to the locals?"

"Captain had him digging latrines for a month," the Judge recalled with a grin.

Billy the Kid had wandered over, fascinated by the adults' serious conversation. "Judge Harris, are you really gonna catch the bad guys?"

"We're sure going to try, son." The Judge ruffled the boy's hair. "Your Uncle Billy is counting on us."

"And Todd's gonna find them with his computer?"

Todd looked up from his screen. "That's the plan, partner. Soon as they—"

Ray's laptop chimed with an incoming email notification. His face went white as he opened it.

"No," he whispered. "Oh God, no."

"Todd!" Wade Nelson barked. "They're sending something!"

Todd's laptop exploded with activity. "I've got it! Incoming data stream... tracing the source..." His fingers raced across the keyboard. "Come on, come on... cross-referencing with Billy's phone GPS..."

The new photos filled Ray's screen—Billy hanging upside down, his torso dark with bruises, then hog-tied in that impossible position, his face contorted with pain.

Pops took one look and dropped his brandy snifter. The crystal shattered on the hardwood floor, amber liquid spreading across the boards.

"Those fucking animals," he snarled, his Korean War reflexes taking over. "Tom, get my rifle. We're going hunting."

Billy the Kid stared at the photos, his young mind trying to process what he was seeing. "Is... is that really Uncle Billy?"

Edna put her hand over her mouth and ran from the room. Mary Nelson followed her, while Sarah sank into a chair, her face in her hands.

"Got it!" Todd shouted, jumping up from his laptop. "Triangulation complete! The signal source and Billy's phone GPS intersect in a one-square-mile area northeast of the old Miller place. There's an abandoned barn complex out there, couple of hunting shacks."

Wade Nelson was already reaching for his radio. "Skip, get out to—"

The phone rang. Dallas again.

Judge Harris grabbed it before anyone else could move. "Harris Law Offices."

"Mr. Garrett, I've been reviewing our timeline, and frankly, my clients are growing impatient with these delays."

"I understand your clients' concerns," Judge Harris said smoothly, "but surely you can appreciate that a transaction of this magnitude requires proper—"

"The delays end now," Marcus Webb's voice was ice-cold. "My field associates have sent updated documentation of our seriousness. You have thirty minutes to produce signed documents, or we move to final resolution."

"Thirty minutes is hardly sufficient time for—"

"Thirty minutes, counselor. And Mr. Garrett? No more games."

The line went dead.

Wade Nelson was already suiting up in tactical gear. "That's it. We're moving now."

Judge Harris set down the phone, his face grim. "They're done negotiating."

In his truck parked behind an old gas station, Marcus Webb pulled out a different phone—a burner—and dialed a number he'd memorized.

"Lester? It's over. The family brought in lawyers, they're stalling, and I think law enforcement might be involved." His voice was deadly calm. "Phase three. Do it now."

"Phase three? You mean—"

"I mean butcher the boy. Clean up the site. And get the hell out of there."

"But the money—"

"Forget the money. This operation is blown. Just make sure there's nothing left for them to find."

Webb ended the call and started his engine. By morning, he'd be back in Dallas with a rock-solid alibi and no connection to whatever was about to happen in that barn.

The game was over. And Billy Benson was out of time.

Chapter 8: The Hunt

The Benson ranch house had transformed into a tactical command center. Jake and Ray moved through the rooms with military precision, loading magazines, checking night vision equipment, and strapping on kevlar vests. Their hunting gear—thermal scopes, infrared binoculars, and heat-sensing devices—lay spread across the kitchen table like instruments of war.

"Remington 700 with night scope," Jake muttered, chambering a round. "These bastards picked the wrong family to mess with."

Ray was testing his thermal imaging scope. "Heat signatures up to 800 yards. We'll see them long before they see us."

Pops had emerged from his bedroom in full combat gear—fatigues from his Korean War days that still fit his wiry frame, combat boots laced tight, and an M1 Garand cradled in his arms like an old friend.

"Time to show these sons of bitches what happens when you mess with a Benson," he growled, checking his rifle's action. "I took Seoul with less firepower than this."

Wade Nelson was coordinating with his deputies over the radio. "Skip, get the tactical van loaded. Todd, I want you running drone surveillance from here until we're in position." He looked at the assembled group. "This is now an official rescue operation. We do this by the book, but we do it fast."

From the living room came the sound of arguing. Billy the Kid was pleading his case with the determination only an eight-year-old could muster.

"But I gotta help save Uncle Billy! I got my own binoculars and everything!" The boy held up a small pair of field glasses. "I can spot stuff real good!"

"Absolutely not," Rebecca said firmly from where she sat with Josh. "This is too dangerous."

"But Uncle Billy needs me! I'm gonna be the family lawyer, and lawyers help their families!" Billy the Kid's voice cracked with emotion. "Please, I won't get in the way, I promise."

Pops appeared in the doorway, fully armed and ready for battle. "The boy's right, Josh. And we might need every set of eyes we can get." He looked down at his great-grandson. "You stick with me, boy. I'll keep you safe."

Rebecca started to protest, but Josh held up a hand. "If Pops says he'll watch him..." He looked at his son's determined face, then at the old veteran who'd survived Korea. "Okay. But you do exactly what Pops tells you, and you stay in the truck no matter what. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" Billy the Kid saluted with his toy sheriff's badge gleaming on his chest.

Judge Harris looked up from his phone where he'd been in deep conversation. "Tom, I've got FBI agents in Dallas coordinating with us. Every time these bastards call, we're tracing them and building a case." He held up his cell phone. "GPS coordinates, voice recordings, the whole nine yards."

A car pulled up outside, and Judge Harris's law clerk hurried in with a briefcase. "Judge, I've got those arrest warrants you requested. Federal kidnapping charges, extortion, everything we talked about."

"Perfect timing, David." Judge Harris took the documents and spread them on the table, signing them with swift strokes. "The moment we identify these Dallas players, we can move on them."

Minutes later, the convoy rolled out into the Texas night. Wade Nelson led in his patrol car, followed by the tactical van with Skip and two other deputies. Tom drove his F-350 with Jake riding shotgun, both armed to the teeth. Ray and Edna followed in Ray's truck.

But it was Pops' old pickup that drew everyone's attention. The Korean War veteran sat behind the wheel like a general heading into battle, his M1 Garand propped against the seat. Beside him, Billy the Kid gripped his binoculars with the seriousness of a seasoned spotter, his toy badge catching the dashboard lights.

"Pops, are we really gonna save Uncle Billy?" the boy asked as they drove through the darkness.

"Damn right we are, son. Nobody messes with our family and gets away with it." Pops' weathered hands gripped the steering wheel. "Your Uncle Billy's counting on us."

Back at the house, Judge Harris kept his phone pressed to his ear. "Agent Martinez? Yes, we've got the convoy moving now. The moment you get another call from Marcus Webb, I need those coordinates... What? You already have a location on him? Outstanding."

Josh and Rebecca stood at the living room window, watching the taillights disappear into the darkness. "They'll bring him home," Josh said quietly, his arm around his wife. "Your brothers are too stubborn to let a couple of rednecks get the best of Billy."

Todd Nelson's voice crackled over the radio: "Convoy, this is base. I've got two drones airborne with thermal imaging. Heat signatures confirmed at the barn complex—looks like three subjects, two mobile and one stationary."

Wade Nelson's voice came back tense: "Copy that. The stationary one has to be Billy."

As they approached the target area, the convoy spread out and killed their headlights. In the distance, the dark silhouette of the abandoned Miller barn complex emerged against the starlit sky.

Todd's voice came through again: "All units, I've got positive identification on the location. Two heat signatures moving around inside the main barn, one prone on the ground. There's also a vehicle parked behind the structure—looks like an old pickup truck."

Wade Nelson brought the convoy to a halt about 400 yards from the target. "This is it, people. Billy's in that barn, and time's running out."

Through his night vision scope, Jake could see the weathered barn clearly. "I can see movement through the gaps in the boards. Two figures... and they're carrying something."

"Rope," Ray said grimly, peering through his thermal scope. "They're getting ready for phase three."

Pops checked his rifle one more time and looked at Billy the Kid. "You stay right here in this truck, boy. Keep those binoculars handy and watch for anything we might miss."

"I will, Pops. Bring Uncle Billy home."

Back at the ranch house, Judge Harris's phone rang. "Agent Martinez, what's the word from Dallas?... Excellent. We'll have these sons of bitches in federal custody before sunrise."

Wade Nelson's voice came over the radio one final time: "All units, we move on my signal. Remember—Billy Benson comes out alive. That's the only acceptable outcome."

In the darkness ahead, the barn waited. And inside, Billy was running out of time.

It was now or never.

Chapter 9: Rescue

The redneck brothers had stripped the bandana gag from Billy's mouth and were working to remove his remaining clothes when Lester's phone rang one final time.

"Yeah?" he answered, breathing hard from the exertion.

"Phase three. Now. Butcher him."

Billy's naked body hung from his wrists, the rope cutting deep into his forearms. His shoulders felt like they were being torn from their sockets, but he could finally speak.

"Please," he gasped, his voice raw. "Please don't do this."

"Sorry, kid," Lester said, snapping the phone shut. "Time's up. We got our orders." He picked up a skinning knife from an old workbench. "Time to be butchered. We'll start with your balls, just like we do with the deer."

Billy's scream of pure terror echoed through the barn, so loud and anguished that it seemed to shake the very walls.

In that instant, flash grenades came crashing through the gaps in the barn walls. The explosions lit up the interior like lightning, temporarily blinding everyone inside.

"GO! GO! GO!" Wade Nelson's voice boomed as deputies Skip and Todd burst through the barn doors, weapons drawn. Jake came through a side window in a diving roll, and Ray kicked in a back door, all of them moving with deadly precision.

The redneck brothers, stunned and half-blind from the flash grenades, stumbled around trying to find their weapons. Skip Nelson tackled Daryl, driving him face-first into the dirt floor. Todd had Lester in handcuffs before the man could even reach for his knife.

Jake, seeing Billy hanging naked and tortured, let out a roar of pure rage and drove his fist into Lester's face with such force that blood exploded from the man's already-broken nose.

"That's for my brother, you son of a bitch!"

Tom burst through the main door and immediately went to Billy, pulling out his knife to cut the ropes. "I got you, son. You're safe now. Ray, help me get him down!"

Ray was already there, supporting Billy's legs as Tom cut through the bindings on his wrists. Billy collapsed into his father's and brother's arms, shaking uncontrollably.

"Get me my clothes," Billy demanded through gritted teeth, his voice stronger than anyone expected. "Get me my fucking clothes."

Tom quickly gathered Billy's torn jeans and boots while Ray found his ripped undershirt. As soon as Billy was dressed, he stood on shaking legs and walked over to where the deputies had the two kidnappers on their knees.

Looking down at Lester with cold fury, Billy spat directly in the man's face.

"That's for what you did to me, you worthless piece of shit."

At that moment, Pops appeared in the doorway with Billy the Kid beside him. The eight-year-old took one look at his hero uncle—bruised, bloodied, but alive—and ran straight into Billy's arms.

"Uncle Billy! You're okay! You're okay!" the boy sobbed, clinging to his uncle.

Billy wrapped his arms around his nephew, tears finally starting to flow. "I'm okay, little man. I'm okay."

Pops walked over to the two kidnappers, looked down at them with the cold eyes of a Korean War veteran, and spat on both of them.

"That's for messing with a Benson, you fucking cowards."

Wade Nelson was already on his radio. "This is Sheriff Nelson. We have the victim secured and two suspects in custody. Send paramedics to our location, and get me a transport unit for these pieces of trash."

Billy the Kid looked up at his uncle's battered face. "Did they hurt you real bad, Uncle Billy?"

"Nothing I can't handle, partner," Billy said, managing a weak smile. "Nothing I can't handle."

Outside, the Texas sky was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. The nightmare was finally over.

Epilogue: Justice

One month later, the Kings County courthouse was packed to capacity for what the media was calling "the most unusual sentencing in Texas legal history." The U.S. Attorney for Dallas had agreed that the two redneck kidnappers and the two Dallas businessmen should be sentenced in Judge Tom Harris's court, despite having been convicted in federal court in Dallas. The arrangement was so extraordinary that it required approval from both the U.S. Attorney General and the Kings County District Attorney.

The Benson and Nelson families filled the front row, with Billy sitting between his parents, his arm still in a sling from the shoulder damage caused by the rope bindings. Little Billy the Kid sat on his uncle's other side, wearing his best shirt and his toy sheriff's badge polished to a shine.

Even the federal jury from Dallas had been transported to Kings County and sat in the jury box, their faces solemn as they prepared to deliver their verdicts one final time.

When Judge Tom Harris entered the courtroom, gasps rippled through the crowd. Instead of his usual black robes, he wore special ceremonial robes that were so dark and flowing they made him look like a biblical figure of judgment. Billy couldn't help but giggle, whispering to his nephew, "He looks like Darth Vader, but on our side."

"All rise," the bailiff announced. "The Honorable Judge Thomas Harris presiding."

Judge Harris took his seat and surveyed the packed courtroom with steely eyes. "Be seated. We are here today for the sentencing of Marcus Webb, David Patterson, Lester Kowalski, and Daryl Kowalski, all of whom have been convicted by federal jury on multiple charges related to the kidnapping and torture of William Benson Jr."

He turned to the jury box. "Jury foreman, please read the convictions for each defendant."

The foreman stood, his voice carrying clearly through the silent courtroom:

"For Marcus Webb: Guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, extortion, racketeering, wire fraud, and terrorism. Guilty on all seventeen counts.

For David Patterson: Guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, racketeering, and terrorism. Guilty on all fifteen counts.

For Lester Kowalski: Guilty of kidnapping, aggravated assault, torture, attempted murder, extortion, and conspiracy. Guilty on all twenty-three counts.

For Daryl Kowalski: Guilty of kidnapping, aggravated assault, torture, attempted murder, extortion, and conspiracy. Guilty on all twenty-three counts."

Judge Harris nodded grimly. "Before I pass sentence, I'm going to allow the victim to address this court and these defendants."

Billy slowly stood, his face pale but determined. He looked directly at the four men in orange jumpsuits.

"You took me from my family. You tied me up like an animal. You beat me, tortured me, and told me in detail how you were going to butcher me like a deer." His voice grew stronger with each word. "You thought you could break the Benson family, force us to give up land that's been ours for generations. But you were wrong. We're still here. We're still strong. And you're going to spend the rest of your miserable lives paying for what you did."

He sat down to thunderous applause that Judge Harris allowed to continue for several moments.

"Now," Judge Harris said, his voice cutting through the courtroom like a blade, "it is time for sentencing."

He looked at Lester and Daryl Kowalski. "You two animals chose to torture an innocent young man for money. You strung him up like a piece of meat and told him exactly how you planned to kill him. In my forty years on this bench, I have never seen such calculated cruelty."

His voice rose. "Lester Kowalski and Daryl Kowalski, this court sentences you to death by lethal injection. May God have mercy on your souls, because this court has none."

He turned to the Dallas businessmen. "Marcus Webb and David Patterson, you may have worn expensive suits and hidden behind corporate shells, but you are the masterminds of this horror. You hired those animals to torture a child for your profit."

Judge Harris's eyes blazed. "I sentence you both to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. You will die in federal prison, forgotten and despised."

Federal marshals immediately moved to escort the prisoners out. As they passed the Benson family, Pops stood up and spoke in a voice that carried through the entire courtroom:

"That's Texas justice, you sons of bitches."

Two hours later, the entire courthouse crowd had relocated to the Benson ranch, where Pops had been preparing all morning. Tables stretched across the front yard, loaded with the finest steaks, ribs, and barbecue in Kings County. Cases of ice-cold beer sat in metal tubs, and Pops' old Korean War buddies bustled around helping serve the feast.

Judge Harris, now in casual clothes with a beer in his hand, raised his glass. "To the Benson family, to Texas justice, and to the fact that some things in this world are still worth fighting for!"

The crowd roared its approval as the King's Ranch Boys, a local country band that Pops had somehow convinced to come out, struck up a tune.

Billy the Kid came running up to the porch where Billy sat with Edna, his sheriff's badge bouncing with each step. "Uncle Billy! Uncle Billy! Can I tell everyone about how Judge Darth Vader sent the bad guys to prison?"

"Judge Darth Vader?" Jake laughed, nearly choking on his beer. "Kid, you can't call him that to his face!"

"Why not?" Billy the Kid asked innocently. "He looked just like him in those scary robes!"

Judge Harris, overhearing from nearby, walked over with a grin. "What's this about Darth Vader?"

Billy the Kid looked up at him with complete seriousness. "You looked like Darth Vader in court, but the good kind who catches bad guys instead of the bad kind who hurts people."

The Judge burst out laughing. "Well, I suppose if I have to be Darth Vader, I'd rather be the good version." He made a mock-serious face and deepened his voice: "Young Benson, you have learned well in the ways of justice."

The crowd around them erupted in laughter as Billy the Kid giggled and saluted. "Yes, Judge Darth Vader, sir!"

Ray walked over with two beers, handing one to Billy. "So little brother, how does it feel to be rescued by Darth Vader and the Korean War cavalry?"

"Better than being rescued by you slowpokes," Billy shot back with a grin. "I was starting to think y'all had stopped for burgers on the way."

"Hey now," Jake protested, "we came in like the damn Marines. Remember? Flash grenades and everything."

"Yeah, after I had to listen to those idiots tell me for hours how they were gonna butcher me like a deer," Billy said, his tone lighter than the words. "Good thing they were too stupid to actually know how to do it right."

Pops appeared with his own beer and his old M1 Garand slung over his shoulder like a badge of honor. "Boy, next time somebody tries to mess with this family, we won't wait for the lawyers. We'll just shoot first and let God sort 'em out."

"There better not be a next time," Sarah called out from where she was helping serve food. "I'm too old for this excitement."

Billy the Kid ran back over to Judge Harris, tugging on his sleeve. "Judge Darth Vader, when I become the family lawyer, can I wear scary robes too?"

"Only if you promise to use them for good, young padawan," Judge Harris replied solemnly, making lightsaber sounds as he pretended to duel with the boy using his beer bottle.

Todd Nelson walked up to Billy, shaking his head. "You know, when I was running those traces and triangulations, I never thought we'd end up at a party with Judge Darth Vader fighting eight-year-old Jedi lawyers."

"Welcome to the Benson family, Todd," Edna laughed. "Nothing's ever normal around here."

Billy stood up carefully, his shoulder still stiff, and raised his beer. "Here's to family that comes running when you need them, even if they do take their sweet time getting there."

"Hey!" Ray protested as everyone laughed.

"And here's to rednecks too stupid to know how to properly torture someone," Billy continued, grinning at his brothers' shocked expressions.

"Jesus, Billy," Jake muttered. "Only you would make jokes about your own kidnapping."

"Someone's got to," Billy shrugged. "Otherwise those assholes win."

Billy the Kid raised his sippy cup of apple juice. "And here's to Judge Darth Vader for sending them to the bad-guy jail!"

Judge Harris bowed deeply to the boy. "The force is strong with this one."

Billy sat back down beside Edna, watching his family and friends celebrate. His shoulder still ached, and he'd probably have nightmares for months, but listening to Billy the Kid's laughter and his brothers' teasing, watching Pops tell war stories to anyone who'd listen, and seeing Judge Harris pretend to be a Jedi with an eight-year-old—this was what those bastards had tried to take away from him.

In the distance, the Texas sun was setting over Benson land—land that would stay in the family for generations to come, defended by Korean War veterans, sheriff's deputies, and one very determined eight-year-old future lawyer.

Just the way it should be.