Ness and his Unknowns had secretly collected the compliant doctor three days prior at his home with no problems and he had come willingly because they had suggested that if he did not then they would have to inform the press of his potential involvement within the unsolved homicide cases. This threat had prompted him to come willingly to the hotel suite for a few days of questioning because he feared that if his ex-wife had discovered that he may be linked to the Mad Butcher case, this could potentially jeopardise his ability to see his child and also ruin his good name. Both Grossman and Keeler had stressed to Ness that upon his arrival within the hotel they must ensure that he did not drink for at least three days prior because this could affect the results of the polygraph test. So for the last three days they had all been taking turns at monitoring the silently compliant Dr Sweeney within the private 10th floor suite and where fully aware of the importance of the forthcoming test that could finally conclude the Mad Butcher investigation.
As the preoccupied Grossman and Keeler both prepared themselves for their imminent interview with Ness’s secret suspect, whom was conveniently sealed within the adjoining bedroom, Gerber voiced a curious question when he saw Grossman place a strange yellow statue upon the electric fireplace “What is that for?” The slightly startled but smiling Grossman eagerly replied to his curious question, happy that someone took interest in his work rather than that of his ever popular companions “This is an ancient Libyan desert sand glass depiction of the Sumerian demoness Lilith, the queen of the night and goddess of the underworld. Legend has it that she supposedly rebelled against God whilst in the Garden of Eden and was then forsaken to wander the planes between the worlds, forever temping lustful men to succumb to their sinful desires and feeding from the souls of stillborn children. As you can see her beautiful naked body is mesmerising and her wings point downwards which signify her underworld origins whilst her elaborate headdress indicates her sacred linage. Her feathered feet’s talons are usually both upon two lions because she is a predator but in this case there upon a flower and the two small owls on either side of her indicates her chosen familiar upon this earth, the heralds of ill omen and a messengers of sorrow and grief. Lovely myth is it not? I like to think that there’s always an element of truth within any myth. I think the actual object itself is far older than the cuneiform inscription underneath it indicates because it simply states her original Sumerian name ‘Lilītu’ and recently the British museum in London acquired a similar image but in the form of a clay relief which there calling ‘The Queen of the Night’. It’s actually the only old Babylonian depiction of the demoness queen, apart from this one of course, fascinating isn’t it? My wife bought it a few years ago whilst visiting the desert kingdom of Iraq and I have found it to be immensely useful in both hypnosis sessions as well as interviews of this nature. It has the remarkable ability to put the onlooker into a trance like state whereby there suggestable to my probing questions”
The pleasantly satisfied Gerber was pleased with the enlightening reply and looked at the item in detail with the rest of the mesmerised Unknowns, whom all appeared to be hypnotised by the words of the knowledgeable psychologist. Only Keeler was immune to his attractive theological monolog about its mythic status, preferring to focus his efforts upon the gathering of truth through more scientific means rather than spiritual. As all the Unknowns leaned in closer to get a better view of this ancient mythic object, its sheer mythical power resonated within all there curiously attracted eyes. The clear yellow glass like substance was familiar to Gerber because he knew through his various readings that it was the speculated by product of a theorized meteorite impact that happened eons ago and before humanity had even developed out of the Stone Age. Many scientists had theorised that the ancient impact had instantaneously solidified the surrounding desert sand before blowing it away and covered the ancient kingdom of Libya and its neighbour Egypt, in this rare substance from the fallen star. It had even recently been determined that Tutankhamun’s Scarab had been carefully carved out of this sought after substance which further gave its marvellously translucent yellow appearance a magical quality. The attractive and winged demoness’s extended talons pierced the flowers petals in a meaning that time had long since forgotten to a civilisation that had long since passed.
The pondering Merlyo silently thought that it was strange how the owl kept on reappearing in this case within all its different forms and aspects. He recalled his bizarre encounter with the strange owl that he had all those years ago by the first homicide scene of the Lady of the Lake. That oddly peculiar looking owl reference that Fronek’s and Cowles creative descriptions depicted of the Mad Butchers eyes. Zalewski’s adamant protestations that he was attacked by one at the Chicken Freaks home, the surveillance team being attacked by a mysterious owl whilst fishing and even Polizzi’s unhealthy love of the creature all appeared to silently express an unseen influence upon this conundrum of a case. The detective then smiled to himself and put his flawed logic down to the imaginative wanderings of his extremely tired mind.
As he continued to speculate upon the owl’s mystical meaning, the equally mesmerised Gerber then alarmingly heard his Gladstone bag make a muffled sound whilst it vibrated within his clutching hand. He instantly excused himself to go to the bathroom as he felt his bag vibrate some more, concerned that others may want to see its macabrely secretive interior. After a few minutes he returned with a look of confusion edged upon his face and the attentive Cowles asked him what was wrong but he declined to answer because he was still deeply in thought about what his three unseen companions had just said to him. The heads of the Tattooed Man, Andrassy and Chatterbox had apparently been adamant that they wished to remain here within the room when the interview with Sweeney ended and the reason they gave for this wish was simply because of the ancient name that had been voiced by Grossman, Lilītu. For some strange reason this ancient name had great significance for them and they had even gone to the lengths of thanking Gerber for his tireless help in helping to apprehend the Mad Butcher. At first Gerber had selfishly denied them to remain there without him but soon relented because of their combined determined behaviour that he knew was uncharacteristic, particularly on the part of the deviant Andrassy. He sadly looked at his slightly open Gladstone bag as he placed it carefully by the electric fireplace’s base, continually having reservations about leaving it unguarded but felt that the end of this case was nearing and that all three deserved the eternal slumber that they so desperately craved.
As Merlyo curiously watched Gerber look sadly at his Gladstone bag, Ness then took him to one side and spoke to him with a lowered voice as the swirling vortex of rain which lashed down upon the nearby rattling window “Well! This is it! You’d better go and get Sweeney so that we can finally finish this godforsaken case!” Merlyo nodded in agreement and reassuringly patted the apprehensive Ness on the shoulder before he then went over to the Zalewski, Gerber and Cowles. He then informed them all to leave the room just as Grossman and Keeler had requested they do prior to their interview in order to ensure a more relaxed mood from there subject. As Zalewski walked out with Cowles, the slowing Gerber took one last look at his trusty Gladstone bag and was concerned over the fate of his three secret companions within but strangely knew that what they requested of him felt right. As he reluctantly left and slowly closed the door behind him he give his unseen friends until the very last moment to potentially change their minds by getting his attention but they disappointingly did nothing. Once the door closed the eager Zalewski took the small group down to the hotel’s cafeteria for some desperately needed drinks and food because they were all physically and mentally drained from the constantly mundane and routine last few days.
As Merlyo heard them leave he then went into the adjoining bedroom and spoke briefly before soon returning as all awaited the imminent arrival of Ness’s secret suspect. Both the curious yet silent Grossman and Keeler sat at the table and looked at the dark door as Ness remained standing
by the rattling window with his hand instinctively rested upon his waistcoat pocket, slowly caressing the small silver opium pill box that he had long ago thought that he no longer required. All then looked on as the massively tall framed silhouette of Dr Sweeney blocked out all observable light within the adjoining bedroom beyond until suddenly lightning struck the nearby Terminal Tower.
As the lightening flashed throughout the mirrored room Ness thought he recognised this silhouette as something else, something more otherworldly and incomprehensible that was reminiscent of a nightmare that he had upon the train whilst arriving in Cleveland all those years ago. As he vividly recalled this troubling nightmare whereby his head was thrust violently through the train’s window and out into the snowy night air, his caressing of his opium box became more frantic as his sweaty fingers pressed hardly against it impenetrable frame. The nightmarish creatures owl like eyes from his long forgotten nightmare where deeply solidified within his subconscious and lay dormant until now as the slow moving doctor came into the dimly lit room of red, having to lower himself and squeeze his arms together in order to get through the smaller and restrictive door.
As he slowly raised his head the human face of Sweeney knowingly smiled at Ness before lightning again struck outside and illuminated his round spectacles. For a split second he appeared only to Ness as a giant indiscernible beast with an unseen salivating mouth whose illuminated lenses left a fantastic afterglow to linger on as all else faded into black. Ness could see that these where the very same horrifying eyes from his long lost nightmare which involuntarily caused his pill clutching hand to nervously tremble against the cold steel of his former addiction. He hastily then rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the reanimated monstrosity that he had just seen as the human doctor came back into view and theorized that his anxious hallucinatory observations where a result of his recent lake of sleep.
Sweeney was wearing his usual smart pair of distinctiveness brown trousers and shoes along with his plain, white and ironed pressed shirt that was buttoned up fully. As soon as he righted himself within the room he was immediately escorted to his awaiting chair by the motioning Merlyo whom secretly marvelled at the sheer size of the intimidatingly large man. As Merlyo and the doctor both leisurely sat down to fill the two remaining seats around the wooden table, both Grossman and Keeler analysed there quarry with curious interest. Grossman sat at the foot of the table and was facing the calm and scholarly looking doctor whom casually readjusted his round spectacles upon his face as he looked at the men around him. A preoccupied Keeler sat on Sweeney’s left with his blinking and flashing truth machine in front of him and after a few moments of yet more fiddling with his complicated metal contraption, he then carefully attached the numerous wired instruments upon Sweeney’s left arm before eagerly returning to his seat.
The cross armed and silently observing Ness stood behind Keeler and by the window, fully intending to remain silent throughout this entire process and simply observe his secret suspects slight mannerisms. His attention was suddenly caught by the lightening’s ghostly yellow afterglow which originated from Grossman’s mystical statue. This ancient statue stood directly behind the clever psychologist and rested upon the fireplace in his tactically prechosen position so that it could secretly elicit its magical effects upon the intended viewer. It caught the reflected light around the room so miraculously that it was somewhat reminiscent of the otherworldly lenses that he had just seen from Sweeney only a few moments ago. The yellow Libyan sand glass vibrantly resonated with every flash of lightening outside with stunning effect, almost becoming a source of light itself within the dimly lit red room of luxury.
As the questioning began the ever observant Ness keenly noticed that every time there was a flash of lightening Sweeney’s eyes would glance up to gaze at this mystical object of mystery. It curiously appeared to appeal to him and he thought about removing the odd looking object in order to focus Sweeney’s attention back upon the numerous incoming questions but decided against it because it may yield unexpectedly positive results as Grossman had explained earlier. Ness then placed the odd looking curiosity out of his mind because he wished to focus primarily upon Sweeney’s answers to the questions that Grossman was currently asking him “Did you attend the St Louis Medical School?” Sweeney replied calmly whilst his eyes once again fixated upon the mesmerising statue as it brilliantly lit up within the mirrored wall above Grossmans head “Yes!” Keeler then continued “Did you study under the physician Dr Carl Hamann?” Sweeney again replied calmly as rain buffeted the rattling window behind Ness “Yes!” The analytical Keeler eagerly marked down the response upon his paper as he asked his next question “Did your wife file for divorce in 1936?” The undeterred Sweeney again calmly replied as he gazed upon the marvellous owls by Lilith’s feet that compelled him to look upon its majesty in all of its splendour “Yes!”
Sweeney noticed the intense afterglow of the lightning in the owl’s mysterious eyes after every lightning strike that hit the nearby tower and was convinced that it was looking directly upon him and into his very soul. As his own round lenses lit up and illuminated the mirror that was ahead of him, the questioning continued on and he answered as best as he could whilst his mind wandered the purgatory worlds between realities due to the mystical statue that now guided his thoughts. Only the majestic owl could fully understand his maddened mind because it was there at his very conception within the muddy battlefields of war-torn Europe. The doom bird of sorrow clearly understood the misery and the pain of life more so than any other creature on the face of this green earth, this untouched garden of sinful fleshy desire. Only the forsaken demoness Lilith could even begin to conceptualise how this orchard of flesh had helped create him upon the muddy fields of war and only Lilith could make him blossom into something wondrous.
The bloody battlefields of Europe where ripe for the picking for the treacherous demoness whom was drawn to their endless misery because they reminded her of the Garden of Eden where she had been so cruelly evicted from by God all those eons ago. It was simply good fortune that she came across Sweeney’s soulful seed within his desperate hour of need so that she could show him the right path towards pure and unhindered sinful gratification. His withered soul was like so many others before him but stood out like a beckon of hate within the blessing of war, literally screaming for her unholy intervention so that she could possess his mournfully lost soul and save him from himself.
From that maddening moment onwards and once he had ripped off the Chaplin’s head at the sacred ungodly hour, he had succumbed to the madness of insanity and all of his future victims where nothing more to him than sacrificial flesh that would be used upon his dark alter of carnal desires as homage to his new saviour. He would give them all the precious gift of freedom from there torturous lives because, although they disgusted him, they also made him lust after them because there screaming flesh was a sacrilege that he wished to endlessly bathe in. He relished this stark contradiction of lust and hate indivisible which had long ago consumed his dark soul and adored making there tortured flesh feed the abomination that the accursed Chaplin had witnessed the creation of.
He would indulge his blackest desires as he tore of their heads off with his bare hands and looked upon their dying eyes as they rolled back into their detached and bloodied heads. Only then at the end did they all truly understand what they had given their lives for, the unhindered pleasure for their new god and queen of the night, the demoness owl of Lilith. He was the physical embodiment of the demoness, her loyal familiar upon this new Garden of Eden, this garden of flesh that now inhabited this delightfully sinful world of endless war and profiteering. His victims would forever be with him just as the Chaplin was, eternally locked in a sadistic embrace that would he would pleasurably recall when needed to relive their traumatic deaths and bring him the sated sexual arousal that he so desperately required. There parting gift was to amuse him with their humorous exploits within the newspapers as he wou
ld eagerly read about the foolish police arresting any suspect just to alleviate the pressure that was imposed upon them by a cruel society that was more interested in selling fanciful stories rather than looking at its own sinfully depraved reflection.
The owl understood him during that dreadful night of his first murder and made him see that life was utterly meaningless and showed him that freedom was an illusion created this fabricated false society of lies. Ultimate freedom was do as he pleased and when he deemed fit and only the owl could understand him with its uncompromisingly eternal gaze which came from an unknown place that was hidden within the dark recesses of his own abandoned soul.
A sudden flash of lightening enhanced the mystical owls yellow sandglass eyes as it stood proudly above the orange glowing fireplace and starred unflinchingly at Sweeney. Sweeney felt the emptiness of the appalling void of wretched hatefulness envelop his very soul as he continued to calmly smile and answer the many questions that were being thrown at him. He felt reassured and empowered by the owl’s mere presence which worked through him on this sinful plane of wretched existence which was meaningless in all of its absurdity. He smiled as the lightening filed the room and wondered if any of the four souls within its red walls knew how far removed his mentality was from this loathsome reality. He secretly fantasied about ripping off each of their individual heads one by one and bathing in their combined blood as a fitting sacrilegious homage to his unholy goddess whom now benevolently looked down upon him from the fireplace.
The Noir Evil Page 71