Dead Man's Hand

by Steven Meehan

  Just as I was finished unmaking the marble I heard a loud crash. That would be Alexis returning home, rather that would be him ramming into his home. After some sounds of falling debris I clearly heard a car door open, that was my cue to stand up and get ready to assist Alexis before hiding myself away in his invisible closet. Before I could do much more I saw Alexis walk into the room wearing his illusion of Dempsey.

  “If I didn’t know that was you Alexis I would have had a heart attack.”

  “What makes you think I’m Alexis?”

  The smile that had been on my lips quickly disappeared to be replaced by a look of shock and horror. I took a slight step backwards as Alexis’ laugh rang out, “I’m sorry, Francis I couldn’t resist. Hey, you walked into this house with the intention of killing me. I should be allowed to have some fun with you, isn’t that fair? Now I don’t need any help for this so into the closet with you.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked hoping that there would be something for me to do besides more waiting.

  “I’m sure, Francis. Now get in!” Alexis commanded as he forced the gun in Dempsey’s hand to fire twice into my doppelganger. The body instantly slumped to the floor. If anyone were to enter they would believe that Dempsey shot and killed me. I rushed into the closet and closed the door.

  Once I heard the click I turned back only to find that there was no handle on this side of the closet. Well I guess we didn’t have to worry about my leaving the closet anytime soon. The closet must have been soundproofed because I saw Alexis grasping his arm in pain and Dempsey was coming to. It was surreal to look through the transparent cabinet door and see my lifeless corpse and Alexis lying right at Dempsey’s feet. I was dimly aware of the police sirens blaring. Wait a second, how was it I could hear the sirens but not the gun shot? I was going to have to remember to ask Alexis about that when this was all said and done.

  For now I just had to wait for the cops to show up and arrest Dempsey, hopefully, before Dempsey had the chance to force Alexis into sharing the fate of my double. At least there would be nothing to hinder their entering the house, not with the giant hole in Alexis’ front door. Provided everything went according to the plan it was going to cost Alexis a great deal of money to repair the damage. What is keeping the police?

  As I looked away from the wounds on my double and towards Alexis’ injured body, I sought out Dempsey’s face. And when I found it I saw something ripple across Dempsey’s normally stone-like face. Is that excitement? If it was, it only proved that the man was demented. I watched as Dempsey look down at the gun in his hand, he was no doubt looking for whatever comfort he could find. And as if to answer one of my questions another explosion erupted from the barrel of that gun. As I blinked Alexis must have fallen to the floor, because he was there, grasping his now bleeding arm. And that shot answered the other question I had, Dempsey must really be enjoying himself to have shot Alexis in the arm. Where are the cops? They aren’t going to make it.

  Looking down at Alexis’ wounded body, Dempsey took one tentative step towards him. But a moment later he confidently closed the distance and cracked a smile. How can any man enjoy this? Is he speaking with Alexis? He was taking his time with this. Well hopefully Alexis was going to be able to keep Dempsey talking until the police arrived. But between moments the gun was leveled at Alexis’ head and Dempsey smiled.

  Watching my great plan unfold I couldn’t stop thinking about how it was going to get Alexis killed. As the fear grew in the back of my mind, I realized that my heart was about to explode when the police began to pile into the room. I sighed with relief as they quickly subdued and arrested the quivering and crazed lunatic. At least that was what I hoped the cops were calling him. Hopefully, the ones who were here would spread the news like wildfire. They had what they wanted, they finally had everything they would ever need to force Dempsey into a dark cell somewhere. And none of his lawyers or well-placed employees would be able to do a thing to save him. He was going to be arrested for murder and attempted murder. Alexis appeared to be all right, he was currently trying to refuse the help from the paramedics. Yeah, he was going to be just fine. But more importantly, I was going to be free.

  I watched the scene unfold as Alexis tried to regain some normalcy in his home. The ambulance was insistent that he go with them to a hospital but he refused to let them lead him away. I watched as those frustrated men and women failed to convince him to go anywhere, until they eventually gave up and began treating his wound right there in the living room. The police fared no better when they tried to escort him to the local precinct. Like the paramedics they too eventually relented and agreed to take his statement right there on his couch.

  All I was able to do was wait and watch the police and medical personnel as they went about their business. It was particularly eerie watching them remove my corpse from the room. I finally understood the adage about someone walking over your grave, and the shiver that sent down your spine. When the last of the policemen finally left, Alexis made a bee line to the door to my closet, but then hesitated for a moment. I banged on my side of the door, but all that got me was a “tsking” motion from Alexis’ right index finger.

  When he eventually opened the door I was able to hear him scolding me, “What did I tell you?”

  “I’m sorry, Alexis.” I replied as meekly as I could, looking down at his feet. “I was just getting a small dose of cabin fever and I had nothing to do but watch my corpse being manhandled.”

  “I thought they did a fantastic job, very respectful.” He replied with a smile on his face. “Now we have to get you somewhere out of sight for now.”

  “Of course.” Sighing I decided to press my luck, “But, can I make a phone call before we secure me somewhere?”

  “You’re dead! Who could you possibly want to call?”

  “Yeah, there is one person.”

  “Is this the Bella you asked Dempsey about?” When I nodded he gave me a slightly irritated glare. “Didn’t I hear right that she’s a relative of Dempsey?” Forcing myself to remain silent I nodded again and waited for him to express his displeasure. And sure enough it came, “After all we did to get you killed, why would you go and advertise your perfect health to a member of Dempsey’s family?”

  “She can’t stand her uncle. In fact she’ll probably jump for joy when she finds out that he’ll be imprisoned, even if it is under false pretenses.”

  “So you want to bring her into your confidence.”

  “We had something at the tournament.”

  Nodding his understanding, Alexis waved me into a corner of the room and turned his back to give me some sense of privacy. As I went to pull out my phone he said, “Go use the phone in the hallway.”

  Not wanting to argue I nodded my head and found the indicated phone and dialed the number she had programed into my phone at the tournament. I held my breath as I waited for her to answer the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, Bella?”

  “Marcus?”

  I smiled as I heard her voice. “Yes, it’s me. And before you ask, I’m okay and we have a lot to talk about.”

  “We certainly do.” She replied with a warm laugh.