”The Life and Times of Dennis Blackwell”
Part 1: Virginia to Georgia
At the stop light Dennis looked over at the most beautiful woman he had seen in years. Her car was a 2003 Honda Accord. It was candy-apple red and resembled the lipstick that she gently placed on her juicy lips before the light turned green.. As populated as this area has become Dennis realized that he might never see this woman again. His hands went into a greeting motion as she smiled. The green light insured that this introduction was over. Dennis made a left on Peachtree St. to find a hotel. Atlanta, Georgia has been a city widely recognized for several of the nation’s top insurance headquarters. Dennis had moved down to the area during the very hot summer of 2004 for a change of scenery. Dennis Blackwell left a complicated life that would cause the average man to loose his sanity. In a 3 month span he was demoted at his company, his wife divorced him, his mentor from his youth passed away and his best friend was killed in a plane crash. Dennis saved a stash of money from work and the death of his two closest companions left him financially set. Dennis proceeded down Highway 85 South for a new beginning.
Part 2: Making Friends
Standing in line at the Atlanta Hawks basketball game Dennis met a ticket scalper named Steve Rogers. Steve was a fast, slick talking hustle man who apparently sold tickets fairly often outside of The Omni. People spoke to him with friendly smiles as he persuaded Dennis to get out of line and purchase one of his tickets. Dennis decided to pass and handed his $50.00 to the older gentlemen behind the glass window. Dennis played ball in college and stood an even 6’3. After the game Dennis decided to hit the town and serenade his first weekend in the city they call “Hotlanta”. Taking the flyer off of his windshield, Steve from earlier approached Dennis with another proposition. It was close to 11:30 pm and Dennis was on foreign territory with a stranger getting on his nerves. Dennis is a very impatient individual. After small talk Steve told Dennis that he could show him all of the areas where the ladies would be in abundance. Dennis was apprehensive with Steve’s gestures. Steve stood beside a 2005 Lexus and hit the alarm. Steve was a short Caucasian fellow who stood about 5’7 in height and a stomach that resembled countless Bud Lights and Corona’s. He informed Dennis that he had all of the connections and could get him V.I.P. in any club or strip joint in the area. Dennis took Steve’s card and headed to the closest highway. Tired now, Dennis decided to forgo the nightlife and head back to the Ramada.
Part 3: In the Heat of the Night
The alarm clock and room service attacked Dennis at 7:45 am. The date was Saturday May 27th 2004. During breakfast Dennis knew he had to map out finding an apartment downtown, a job, and all of the essentials when a person moves to an entirely different environment. Dennis had a huge bank account because his best friend left him with his assets. Walter was Dennis best friend since grade school and was a professional football player for the Baltimore Ravens. Walter never knew where his family was and grew up in group homes. He was killed less than 6 months ago coming back from vacation with a young lady that he had been dating for about a year. Dennis left the waiter a tip and went back to his room to relax. Looking at highlights on ESPN Dennis came across the business card of Steve Rogers. Boredom had taken its toll as the clock struck 6pm. Dennis had fallen back to sleep and wasted his entire Saturday. The weather outside was 80 degrees and the unlikely breeze crept into the window by way of the balcony. Steve invited Dennis to a private party and after an hour in the establishment, Dennis knew that Steve was into more than he could have imagined. This was the birthday party of Daron Patterson, the biggest drug dealer and gangster in the entire metropolitan area. Dennis had read about him in the news but Daron had all of his money tied into several private businesses so the FBI and IRS had the hardest time trying to nail him. They failed on two tax evasion convictions and an attempted murder charge. All charges had been dropped on his birthday, ironically. Dennis sat at the bar with a gin and juice trying to figure out how his life took so many turns over the past year.
Part 4: He never saw it coming…
After the party, Dennis decided to park his car and ride with Steve Rogers to another after hours spot. The women were all over the place showing a lot more body than clothes. The Dj played classic 80’s Hip Hop as Steve spoke to a few of the major players in the dark disco type room. Dennis tapped his feet to the sound of Eric B. and Rakim’s track “I Know You Got Soul”. The James Brown sampled song use to be one of his personal favorites. Steve walked into the back office room with Daron and a few other guys leaving Dennis in the club alone to mingle. This was no problem for Dennis who was seen as a very handsome man to the ladies over the years. He sat there with a lovely dark skinned woman who had made her way to his table. She resembled the woman he saw at the stop light during the previous Friday evening. It was her. The lipstick she pulled out her purse was a match on site. What a lucky night for Dennis as they traded cell phone numbers. A few minutes later, Steve walked out sweating and anxious telling Dennis that it was time to go. He rushed Dennis to the car and they drove away from Club 112. As Steve darted between cars on the highway Dennis knew that something was wrong. Steve swiftly drove up the ramp and made a sharp right to stop at a closed gas station. Dennis had mixed feelings about what was going on. A van pulled behind him and stopped. Daron and another guy stepped out and unlocked the back doors of the van. Dennis never saw this coming…
Part 5: Guilty by Association
Steve stepped out of the car and embraced Daron. Another one of Daron’s friends knocked on Dennis door motioning for him to get out. Reluctantly, Dennis stepped out and stood in place. A tall guy with a black suit on opened the van door and Dennis noticed that there were two men lying there handcuffed and tied at the feet with rope. Dennis stepped back and alluded to Steve that he was walking off. Daron looked at him with a sinister look and stated that he had a job for him to do. Daron walked over to Dennis and informed him that these two guys were responsible for the death of his fiancé and his biggest money maker. They were killed as they left a club over a month ago and Daron had been after them. Dennis wanted to know why Steve was so invested in this affair. Dennis explained that this was not his lifestyle and he had just moved from Virginia to live in peace. Daron could care less. “Your here now” said Daron, as he glanced to the tall guy in the suit. Steve knew about this and had put Dennis right in the middle of two potential murders. Daron’s friend handed Dennis a huge gun that resembled a 44 magnum and stated that two shots to each head would do it. Dennis hesitated putting his hand out but the quietness of the night, led him to believe that if he didn’t shoot these guys, he would be killed himself. Dennis was guilty by association and it started a few days ago at an Atlanta Hawks basketball game…
Part 6: A Long Ride Home or Somewhere…
The blood splashed all over the interior of the van. Dennis couldn’t believe what had just taken place. Two men murdered in a matter of seconds and just think, this was his first time ever holding a gun. A sense of power overtook his hands. The rush that he felt was addictive. Standing there in shock and in ecstasy, Steve had to grab the gun back. Daron was moved by the ease that Dennis displayed murdering his rivals. Daron handed Steve a stack of hundred dollar bills and drove off. As Dennis and Steve rode on the highway in silence, it appeared that it was going to be a long ride home. Dennis didn’t understand why nobody from Daron’s crew or Steve didn’t follow threw with this obvious hit instead of a total stranger. As Steve drove off the highway and stopped in the parking space at the club where Dennis car was, he was hit by a bullet to his throat.
Part 7: The Start of something new…the past revisted…
Dennis sat there watching Steve take his last breath. Dennis smiled as the extra gun he had in his coat pocket burned with passion. This was all he needed to get back to his old self. A reminder of where he found happiness and redemption at. As a child, Dennis was always picked on. Until his growth spurt he was always considered to be a short, semi-fat kid, who couldn’t play sports or fight. Of course the girls never liked him until he grew over 10 inches in 2 years and made the Varsity basketball team. Dennis held so much pain inside. Throughout college and the first few years of his professional career, he had to adjust to the attention and fake friends. Dennis considered Walter to be his only friend from childhood who never let him down and never told anyone his secrets. In 1994 Dennis was a senior in high school, the star guard on the team and of course the lucky guy to date the captain on the cheer leading squad Tiffany Miller. Tiffany was about 5’6, long straight hair, and a complexion that resembled a Navaho Indian. Tiffany was black and Indian with a great looking body and attitude to match. The only drawback was her previous boyfriend was a local hustler who dropped out of school and started a street gang called the Get Busy Crew. She didn’t want that life and had been accepted to attend college at The University of Florida. Antoine never had any desire to let her go, so during Dennis last year or so in high school; Antoine always seemed to show up at his games. They had traded words before but Dennis had a scholarship to attend UNC-Chapel Hill where he played 3 years on the team before suffering a career ending knee injury. One night after leaving a movie Dennis and Tiffany were confronted by Antoine and some of his loser friends. After jumping on Dennis and giving his girlfriend a nice beating as well, they drove off leaving the two beaten in a dark parking lot. Walter came to their aid and took them to the hospital. Walter was furious as his 6’8, 322 pound frame busted from out the car. Walter loved Dennis and would do anything for him. That was his brother. Tiffany parents came to the hospital to see her as Dennis and Walter were headed out. They informed them about what happened in detail as a Police walked up. Tiffany was going to be ok but did get smacked around pretty good. Dennis had a bruise or two but he was a tough kid from being beat up so much as a child. After a brief conversation, they were allowed to leave the hospital. Dennis had Tiffany license and other items in his car but lied and told them that he had to go find her stuff. Dennis mentor was also given the same story. Dennis has so much pain held inside from being abandoned by his parents that he had to release it. The neighborhood Pool Hall was a place where the criminals gathered. Across the street Dennis and Walter cased the joint and waited for Antoine to come out.
Part 8: Time for a Change
A few guys walked out and left the building. Antoine walked out with a female friend and headed to his 2005 BMW blasting Tupac. Dennis hands were sweaty and his heartbeat pumped at a dangerous rate as he put the silencer on the gun he had stolen from his mentor’s house. He was an ex-detective. Five shots put Antoine to the ground as his female friend also caught a stray bullet to the temple. As blood splashed everywhere Dennis and Walter ran to the car and rushed to Walter’s apartment. Friends of the program had already given Walter money because he was an All American lineman in school. Dennis sat there with his hands shaking. Walter thought that Dennis was mad but bluffing about his intentions as they headed to the Pool Hall. Walter noticed that Dennis had another rage locked inside of him but promised to never let out his secret or talk to any authorities. Time went on and they never talked about it again. A year later Dennis and Tiffany broke things off but decided to remain friends. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Dennis dumped Steve’s body in the back of an alley and set his car on fire a few blocks away. Daron was next were the next thoughts that came to Dennis mind as he took a taxi back to the empty parking lot where his car was still parked. Dennis was starting to feel happiness again.
Part 9: Getting adjusted to the area…
After 3 months of searching for an apartment Dennis found a 3000 square ft. townhouse on the south end area of downtown Atlanta. The place was already painted and was very classy and expensive. Dennis silently thanked Walter for leaving him with almost 1.5 million dollars in his Will. What a friend, Dennis thought as he sat on the sofa. The house came fully furnished with a mixture of European and Greek artifacts. Woman would love it. And soon enough, they did. The nights and days became one and the same. Parties, clubs, woman, and drugs became Dennis’s new regime. Gloria, Dennis ex-wife called him a few times since his departure from Virginia but he never called her back. There was no need for any reconciliation with the Atlanta nightlife providing Dennis with pure visions of Utopia. One night as Dennis sat in his living room with two lovely woman his urge to find happiness took control of him again. As they sat there drinking wine and cocktails, Dennis excused himself to the restroom. Dennis was use to having sex with two women at a time. He did have money, a nice home, a growing reputation with some major players and access to whatever drugs popular on the streets. Dennis reached into his favorite bag and walked to the living room. The women were high and drunk out of their minds. With the silencer locked tight, Dennis used the thing that made him happiest to end their lives. Killing them dead without sound, Dennis smiled and grabbed the axe and plastic bags. The huge basement became a cemetery for some of the most beautiful cheerleaders, models, strippers, and par-tiers in the entire area. Dennis victims made the news papers in bundles. The missing person’s report grew to an all time high during his first 12 months in the city.
Part 10: A Familiar Face
One night leaving Jazzy Tee’s strip club, Dennis was approached by Daron who he had not seen in over a year. Daron had heard of all of the heavy hitters that Dennis was affiliated with and wondered why he had not came to see him with some business propositions. Dennis provided Daron with several insults. This was in regard to the murders that he apparently had set up and needed a stranger to serve as the fall guy. As Daron tried to explain about that being a test, Dennis took a knife and shoved it into his chest. With nobody around but one young looking stripper, Dennis got into his new 2005 Mercedes and drove off. Dennis circled around and stopped in front of the woman. He assured her that he knew where she worked and that she was to never mention anything. She agreed as Daron, who usually doesn’t travel alone, died right there soaked in blood. Dennis was out of control. The murders kept piling up weekly. His basement has the feel of death. His love for Purgatory was apparent. Some nights Dennis would sit in the kitchen with no lights on and write the darkest poems and haiku his mind could imagine. He imagined being immortalized in the history books. During a book signing at the local Barnes and Nobles by Author Zane, Dennis ran into a familiar face. The woman that he had never forgot about on his first day in the city, sat on a couch reading and looking great as ever. She was also the same angel in the club that night that Steve Rogers had taken him to. Dennis walked over to speak. A new saga begins and ends.
Part 11: The Woman in Red
Tina Green introduced herself to Dennis with that same smile. Inside he didn’t know if his urges could be maintained long enough for him to get her alone for an extended period of time. Days, weeks and months went by as Dennis and Tina became very close. The murders didn’t happen as often due to the fact that Tina was starting to spend more time at his home. The basement was off limits of course. Tina had no idea she was dating a certified serial killer who had the charisma of a rock star. Dennis had the “Mask of Sanity” layered over his face but underneath the attractive features was the heart and mind of a psychopath. Who knew that the chubby kid who grew into a basketball star eventually became the first cousin of Ted Bundy instead of Magic Johnson? This was a different game that he played. “Another missing woman: The family offers A Reward” was located on news papers and bulletins all over the city. Dennis caused families pain all over the city. Atlanta made national news for what authorities believed to be series of events by the same individual or group. Tina and Dennis spent more and more time together. Dennis wanted to love her and kill her all at the same time. He had a spot for her downstairs but was scared that he just might miss her voice and the red juicy lips that he had gotten so acquainted with. A cool breeze moved Tina’s long hair in a tornado like motion as they stood on the balcony drinking Washington Riesling. This was both of their wine of choice. As Dennis leaned over the balcony he heard a popping sound and felt a sharp pain in his back and neck. Falling to the floor his vision became blurry. Tina turned him around as the small gun smoked in her hand. This was truly the art of deception. Dennis looked up knowing that he had about 5 minutes left before his time was up. Tina informed Dennis that Daron was her brother and she use to partner with Steve Rogers for more than five years. She had been in the parking lot the night that he had killed Daron slumped down in a seat of a car that Dennis apparently didn't see. She kept her emotions under control for months, sleeping with the enemy. Daron was her brother and Steve was her partner, Dennis thought as he faded in and out of consciousness. They had gone to collect money together. Tina was indeed the same woman in the club that night who came over to the table to speak with Steve. Dennis made small talk and recognized her face. Dennis knew that she was the first and last woman that he would see in Atlanta. His eyes closed as she headed to the basement for more answers. This was revenge at its finest. What she rumbled through over the next few hours had police, detectives, forensic specialist and others puzzled as they looked through Dennis belongings. The neighbors were all in the street with concern. Dennis appeared to be very friendly to them and they had no idea that he had The Inferno in his basement. Tina had made an anonymous call to the police that the serial killer had been found. The next day the news papers read all over the nation “Atlanta’s serial killer Dennis Blackwell murdered last night by an unidentified woman in red according to a homeless guy, who watched her drive off”.
The End
