Chapter 12
Five minutes later, they watched as the police car roared up the narrow street and swerved into the drive. The chief and one other policeman hurried out of the car and mounted the front steps two at a time.
While they had been waiting, Jill had sent Jackson for the screwdriver and had tucked it inside one of her nylons.
While the others remained silent, Lucy went to the door to admit the police. They stood nervously inside the door as if unsure of what to say.
"I'll tell Carl you're here." Lucy's voice was quiet but contained a surprising firmness.
It was not necessary to relay the message though. He walked slowly down the stairs in a way that made each step seem like a tremendous effort. For just a moment, Jill felt a small wrench of pity, but it passed. Her memory flashed a picture of Mac shortly before his execution, that was enough to prevent her feeling even a little sorry for Carl now that his time had come.
As he left the stairs and began to walk toward the living room, Jill saw Bob's car pull up in front. She managed to reach the door before he was forced to ring the bell. He followed her into the now deserted hall.
"Stand here, Bob, I think you should be able to hear everything without being seen. I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
Jill wanted very much to hear what Carl would say, but there was something she had to do first. Running up the stairs, she started toward the guest bathroom to unscrew the mirror and get into his room. If the message was still on the glass, she wanted to obliterate every trace of it.
To her surprise though, she found the door of the inner sanctum wide open. Inside the room, she saw the message still blazed on the glass.
There was a box of Kleenex on his desk. Grabbing a handful, she hurriedly erased the words. Just to be sure, she took more and pol ished the glass. When she was content that no trace remained, Jill hurried to the bathroom and flushed the Kleenex down the toilet. She ran back downstairs then.
Smiling quickly at Bob and squeezing his hand, she went into the room to join the others. The fact that the room was so quiet bothered her.
"Ah, here she is." Carl sounded completely composed now and that scared Jill even more. "Now we can commence the meeting."
Carl sat at the head of the table like a chairman about to address the board of directors. One policeman sat at each side of the table. Lucy, Amanda and Jackson stood to one side.
"Please be seated." Carl waved toward his family as if inviting them to come to the table for a festive meal.
Lucy sat on the couch and the others joined her. Jill drew out a chair at the other end of the table and sat with the men.
"All right, Carl, how about telling us what this is all about?" It was clear that the chief was about to break under the strain of the situation.
Carl flashed the man a look of annoyance and Jill hoped that the policeman would be quiet and not risk upsetting all that had been so carefully built up.
"Now, Jeff," Carl was obviously convening the meeting, "perhaps the first thing we should establish is that I killed Velma."
"Jesus!" Jeff exploded in surprise. When he caught his host's look of disapproval, the policeman blushed furiously.
His obvious surprise at the statement confirmed a belief Jill had nourished all along. The people in this town who had taken Carl's word and killed her husband, had done it without malice. They had just believed Carl and in doing so, had to convict Mac.
"Try to contain yourself, Jeff," Carl scolded the chief before continuing. "For many years, her youthful beauty and her teasing ways had caused me all the torment of fleshly temptation.
"That day on the island, Mac was in town as he said he was. Velma was wearing her shortest, tightest shorts and knew what she was doing to me. In desperation, I asked her to go for a walk with me."
For a moment, the man closed his eyes as if reliving the tension of the moment he was describing.
"All the way, she walked just ahead of me. Frequently, she would bend on some pretext or other and I could see the outline of her body and the edges of her panties under the shorts.
"Once, when she did it, I could stand the temptation no longer. My hands grabbed the bottom of her shorts and as I squeezed her firm flesh, she fell over.
"Without knowing what I was doing, I fell on top of her and began tearing at her clothes. She did not really resist as I tore her clothes off. All I really wanted to do was to see her beautiful body and touch it. If only she had left me alone, it never would have happened.
"Instead, as I knelt over her, admiring her sweet form, she reached for me and before I could stop her, she had opened my pants and her hands had grabbed me.
'When she did, it was as if the devil in her transferred itself into my body and drove me to commit the great sin of lust. As I pressed at her in my sinful passion, her legs wrapped around me and her face was wreathed with an evil smile that showed she was enjoying her great sin.
"After my sin was complete, I looked on that beautiful body and saw in it all the temptation of the sinful world. She still laughed at me and I knew that she must be punished.
"I began to beat her then and to bite and tear at her devil infested flesh. I knew that the devil was within her body and that I must open the body to let it out so that it would leave her pure again.
"I could hear the devil scream as I tore at her body. She pretended that the screams were hers, but I knew better. As much as the devil screamed though, he would not leave so I knew then that only by killing her could I kill him and free the world from sin for all time.
"As my hands wrapped around her throat, I heard the devil roar in anger and terror. He tried to get out, I saw him purple and flapping in her throat, but I tightened my hands and forced him back inside. In a little while, I knew he was dead. I knew that she was dead too, but after all, it was such a small price to pay to free the world from sin for all time.
"Some day, the world would want to know that I had been the saviour, so I needed proof to show when the time came. I went back to the cottage and got my camera. When I got back to the spot, I took many pictures of my great spiritual work.
"In some of the pictures, where her body was open, I could see the devil lying dead in that part of her where she was so soft and warm and sweet. I knew it was right that I had saved her too, that I had freed her from the trial of living with the devil within her body.
"When it was over, I knew the world would not be able to understand. The mammon of iniquity would have resented the good I did and would have put me to death for my work of saving them, so I had to keep my great achievement a secret.
"I went to the landing and waited for Mac. When he arrived, I took the boat and told him to wait for my return. I did not like lying about him when I talked to you, Jeff, but it was something I had to do. After all, he was only a mortal. His life was not as important as the thing I was doing.
"I did not even feel sorry for him, because I knew the giving of his life contributed to keeping the world free of sin. It was my role to decide that he should die so my work could go on. I don't suppose he even understood it, but the way I did it was the only way. He will be a saint in the life hereafter because he aided me in my work. I shall see that he is rewarded when I reach the throne."
Carl turned his eyes away from the group in the room and stared upward. Jill noticed that he wasn't just looking at the ceiling, his eyes seemed to penetrate it, they moved far beyond into a world of twisted insanity where he was a deity.
She wondered whether he was waiting for a special messenger in a golden chariot to emerge from the clouds to carry him away to his reward now that he had made the confession demanded in red letters on the glass in his room.
"Do you want to know anything else, Jeff?" His voice was wrapped in an almost kindly tone as he looked toward the police chief.
"I don't reckon we need no more than that, Carl, unless maybe there's anything else you want to tell us about. You ever kill anybody else?"
"How dare you! I am not a murderer. I am the agent of revenge; the divine avenger, I do not murder as men murder. I carry retribution to sinners so that mankind may be saved from the punishment of evil."
"I see what you mean, Carl." The chief had finally learned how to deal with him. "I guess that's about all then. That there job of yours is pretty important, I guess. Still, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd come downtown with us so we can write all this down and get you to sign it all legal and proper."
"Anything you wish, Jeff. I'm sure you will permit me a few minutes to perform a function of the mortal body."
"Well now, Carl, I sure wouldn't want to interfere with that."
Without a word or a look, Carl walked from the room and mounted the stairs with a dignity Jill had never seen before. If he noticed Bob standing outside in the hall, he gave no indication of it.
He had almost reached the top when he turned and walked down again. He continued walking until he was back in the room again standing at the end of the table.
"Do you wonder, Jeff, why I have told you all of this?"
"Well now, I guess I sort of do wonder at that, Carl. Care to tell me?"
"Yes, Jeff, I shall. It seems that Velma was not happy in death. She returned from the great void to tell me that I must confess. I had to obey her, Jeff, don't you agree?"
"Well, now, I'd have to say that if someone comes back from the dead and tells you to do something, you pretty well got to go along."
"She didn't tell me in words, Jeff. Why can't you understand such simple things?"
"How did she tell you then?"
"She wrote messages for me on the window of justice in my domain."
"Hey, I never saw anything like that. Is it all right if I go up and look at it?"
"Of course it is, but not until I tell you. I must go now. Later, it will be right for you to read the message. You will understand many things then."
This time, he walked all the way up the stairs. They listened as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Jill walked out into the hall then to talk to Bob.
"Thanks a lot, Jill. I'm awfully glad you called me. I've got it all down."
"I'm glad, Bob. Thank you for coming. I wasn't sure the chief could be trusted."
"That's good thinking. I'm not so sure either, but now that I have it all noted, he doesn't have any choice at all. We can trust him now."
They turned at the same moment to see the chief standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" He glared at Bob.
"Why, don't you know chief, a good newsman is always around when something happens. This is going to be one of the big stories of the year."
"I don't think you oughta write it, Bob."
"Sorry, chief, but I am going to write it. Just be a good cop and it will be written fairly. You have nothing to worry about."
For the next few minutes, the two men squared off in a battle of wills. The chief was obviously angry at Bob's being there, but he realized there was nothing he could do about it. When he accepted that fact, he became more friendly. Jill could almost hear his mind working. She could see him realizing that since Bob had the story, he may as well be cooperative and get the best possible break in any stories that might be written.
Jeff turned his attention to Jill then. "What's this about messages written to him on a window?"
"Come now, chief, you must realize that the only message he really saw was in his conscience. Do you believe that ghosts come back to write notes?"
"Of course not." He seemed embarrassed at the light scolding she had given him. "Still, you know, a policeman has to check everything no matter how silly it sounds."
"Of course, chief, I understand."
"Hey, he's been gone quite a long time, ain't he?" The chief looked alarmed.
"Not really, chief," Jill answered. "Besides, there's no way he can get out of the house without us seeing him. Why don't you have your man stand guard at the foot of the stairs and I'll show you the window he was talking about."
"I guess we could do that." Despite his agreement, it was clear that the policeman didn't like the idea of Jill advising him.
Jill chose to walk slowly as she mounted the stairs with Bob and the policeman behind her. If her guess was right, she wanted to kill as much time as possible.
When they entered the inner sanctum, the chief stood just inside the door. It was a bit too much for him.
"What the hell is that?" he asked in amazement. "A window into a can?"
"That's right, chief. But you must know by now that Carl was a very sick man."
Well now, ain't that just the damnedest thing you ever saw?"
"Yes, it is rather strange. By the way, do you see any message on the glass-?" Jill kept a straight face as she stepped aside to permit the man to examine the glass.
"Hey now, let's not play no games." His embarrassment was obvious. In spite of his protest though, Jill caught him stealing a closer look at the one way mirror.
"Look, where is he anyway?" The chief could no longer even try to hide his agitation.
"I guess he told us rather clearly that he was going to the John," Bob answered.
"Show me where it is."
"This way, chief." Without hurrying, Jill led them down the hall and around to the guest bathroom. As they reached it, the policeman pushed her aside and shoved the door open to look into the empty room. He turned then, his face red with anger.
"Are you being smart?" He tried to destroy Jill with a look, but it didn't quite come off.
"Sorry, chief, I guess he must be using the other one. Follow me."
Jill led them along the hall to the other bathroom. When she reached it, she stepped back to permit the policeman to go ahead. He pushed at the door but it refused to open.
"Hey there Carl. Are you okay?"
There was no answer.
"Look," he glared at Jill, "if you're playing games with me, you'll be sorry."
"Don't get nasty, chief." Her voice was stronger than his at the moment. "If you think there's something wrong, break the door down."
"Carl! Open up!" His voice rose in pitch as Jill and Bob looked at each other in understood amusement.
When there was still no answer, he raised his foot and kicked at the door. Nothing happened. Backing up against the far wall, he took a run at it and slammed his shoulder against the door.
This time, it gave way and he went tumbling into the room.
As he fought to regain his balance, the policeman came to rest half lying over Carl who knelt slumped over the side of the bath tub.
From the doorway, Jill heard Jeff gag and wondered absently whether he would be sick. Jill and Bob walked into the small room and saw Carl's blood smearing the white tub. Much of it had already flowed down the drain to find its way into the sewer. A trickle continued to run from both slashed wrists.
Jeff recovered his composure sufficiently to search for a sign of life.
Bob held Jill closely and looked at her face to see how she was taking it.
"It's all right, Bob." Her voice was completely calm. "I knew this was happening, that's why I stalled the chief as long as I could."
"You're an amazing woman, Jill. Of course you did the right thing, this was the only possible way to have it end."
"Is he dead chief?" Bob asked quietly.
"I think so. I don't reckon we can do anything for him anyway."
"I don't think we should try, Jeff. Do you?"
"No, I suppose not." The policeman looked thoughtful for a few seconds. "Reckon I'll wait a few minutes before I call the coroner."
"I'll go down and tell the family." Jill started from the room.
"Want me to help, Jill?" Bob asked.
"No thanks. It won't be difficult. I'm sure they were expecting it too. If not, they won't be terribly surprised."
Leaving the two men in the room to wait while Carl became a corpse, Jill walked down the stairs to break the news to the family. She walked neither quickly nor slowly. It was just something to be done. A life had ended and made it possible for other lives to begin.