by H. Caswell
Joe swears that Thomas has something to do with this. “Lynn, I am telling you, that Bastard did this to Kate. Thomas,is just as sick as his son!” She tries to calm Joe, but he is so angry. Lynn has never seen Joe this upset before. She tries to console him, but he whips the door of Kate’s room open, running off, down the hall. As Joe steps outside for fresh air to cool off, Lynn decided it is in the best interest, if she and Melissa go to search Kate’s life. Perhaps, they will find Thomas.
After some time had passed, Lynn brings a cup of coffee to Joeand sits next to him on one of the benches.“Joe, I think maybe Melissa and I, should go and search things out at the campus, Kate attended. Maybe,we will find some answers there. Perhaps someone can lead me to Thomas, even. We are not going to find the source here, unless, we find Alfred. And I honestly believe, Alfred, may not have the answers either. Besides, he would not give them up, even if, he did know. After the shit he has done, this would fit right into his sick,twisted mind.” Joe agrees, telling Lynn, “I am staying here. That Bastard is out there, and I want to be here if Kate, wakes up. I will stay and work with Johnathan, if he needs me. You just do your magic, and keep me posted’.
Chapter 21
Lynn has become exquisite with detective work through the years. She is a highly decorated detective. Lynn has solved many cases in her days. It was a missing child case, which changed her mind. The child, had been abducted from her home, while everyone slept. Though, many speculated it was someone, within the home, there was no proof. Lynn had a different outlook on the case. She figured, it was a landscape guy. A year had passed, with no clean leads, until the body of the girl, was sent to the family home. The entire year, Lynn chased every possible outlet and found only dead ends. After the body had been returned; with no evidence, Lynn could not bare the torment any longer. She engaged into psychotherapy, with hopes she could prevent such heinous crimes, but going to the source.
Melissa and Lynn both set out to New Hampshire, to search for answers. Daily Lynn phones Joe to see if there are any changes with Kate. Joe always answers, “No.” A tiny break comes, to Melissa, from the police department in Manchester, New Hampshire. The ladies take a trip. A detective explains about a missing person report, for two people has been called in just over a month ago, for a Kate Jones and Thomas Richardson. “Perhaps these two folks are the ones you are inquiring about. We have not had much luck. It is as though these two dropped off the face of the earth.” Lynn thinks to herself, this has to be it. She asks for the names of those who reported the missing person, report. He tells Lynn;“Some students from the nearby university in Concord called it in.They claim it was their professor and peer.”
Lynn and Melissa hurry to the college. They begin questioning students and teachers about Kate and Thomas. Some of the students began to talk. A few of them, began to notice a change in Kate. “Kate, she was not the happy person, we always knew her to be. She would just up, and leave, during class, while she was teaching. Sometimes she would not return, for a few days. When we asked her where she had been, she could not tell us.”A female friend of Kate’s said “We started to notice that Thomas had been seen following Kate around during her so-called episodes. We saw how they spent so much time together it was becoming creepy.” Lynn asked when all this started. The students all agreed when they got into the discussion of unbreakable genes. More and more Lynn heard about this. She started to not like it one bit. She asked if Thomas, had given Kate, any meds. They all said no, but one recalled seeing Thomas hanging around a lot, near a neuron- scientist lab.
Things began to pile up on Thomas. The ladies split up, deciding that maybe they could find answers, separate. Lynn began at the end of the hall as Melissa began at the other. Slowly they made their way, from one scientist to another. They would discuss the circumstances, but nobody had an idea. Lynn finally came upon someone, willing to talk to her; it was after what she had seen on the board. A diagram of the passagewayswithin the brain. The old gray haired woman began to explain “I got a theory if a particular enzyme, could be injected into a person their past experiences could trigger. I was searching for a cure for the old brain.” Lynn asked her “What would happen if the wrong information got out?” The lady said, “Bad things can happen on this.” And she warns“If too much is given the person would relapse far too much into past life experiences.” The woman then warns,“Even a coma.” She explainsto Lynn “You see; the brain is delicate. And when too much drama is exposed it will or could cause for a shutdown to protect the individual.” Lynn asks “Will the comalast?” the woman answers, “Depending on the amount and how often, it could last months to years, and in some cases the life of the person. But, this research is my own. Only myself and my assistant, know about this. I cannot believe anyone would think this up. Unless, yes, unless they happen to have seen some of our work,on the board. We usually erase the board, but one afternoon, we did slip out for lunch.” She stops briefly while thinking, “We did not clearour work” She asks in a very concerned voice; “Oh my,did someone use my research?” Lynn answers, “I am uncertain, but, it is looking that way.”
Lynn and Melissa meet up. Lynn tells her what she has learned. They immediately return to the Bronx.
Joe has stayed by Kate’s side every day. Lynn explains what she believes has happened to Kate; Joe can hardly believe the things this girl has gone through here. What these monsters have done to her. Johnathan comes into the room. He says “There are a few guys going to the island, to shut it down. We want to check it out again, Joe, you know look to see if that bastard, is there, and destroy the place. I wants you to go with us.”
Lynn promises to stay with Kate. Joe agrees.
A group of fifty men set sail to the island. Some carry weapons just in case they come across Alfred. When they arrive, the building, sits just as it was the day, they left. They stay in large groups of ten; they make their way, inside. From one floor to the next they smash walls, and move furniture around. The town is sickened by all of the mess, along with Alfred, with all his deceitful bullshit, and still they worry about, Kate. Room by room, they break down the walls, and doors. Still they find, nothing.
A group stumbles upon the bible of Charlie, One of them begins to flip through the pages. A small piece of paper falls, to the floor. He picks it up. He examines it and then asks“Does anyone know where this place is” showing them what looks like a draft design. Someone says “It looks like the diagram to a basement wall.” The whole group of fifty; run for the basement stairs. When the police searched it, they found nothing, but these guys, will leave no stone, unturned. They finally come to a dead end. They use hammers and begin to crack the, wall. It does not take them, long to realize the wall is man built, by wood. The wall lays demolished, by the men as the trample over the debris and follow the tunnels. Twenty-five follow the left path, and twenty-five, to the right. It takes them all short time, before each group ends at the crematorium and the swamp. Disappointment fills their hearts as the men gather on the docks. Some want to burn down, the building. With a big coastal storm brewing, it is left to stand, another day. As the men pour off the ship back inland, townspeople gather, waiting to see if they had found him. With sorrow faces; as the men leave the ship, the folks that gathered now, head for home.
Days and weeks pass by; Kate still has not opened her eyes. Joe sits by her side.
Lynn has not given up hope on finding Thomas. She travels with Melissa, as they search for him. Today they sit in a train station, waiting to leave for Michigan. They talk about the past months, and all they have seen. All the years, Lynn, has worked as a detective and therapist, she has never come across such horrific, crimes. Lynn talks about the theory of Thomas. She begins to see, sort of what Thomas, had been leading to. “It takes a bunch of bad genes, to make a serial, sexual predator, and killer to make an, Alfred. And look how he manipulated others, to follow his lead. While he prances around town, using money to convince the people, he is a good man, meanwhile he is at that is
land, torturing poor woman, as if they were nothing. The poor families of those women, even if ten, where ladies of the, night. They never deserved what that monster did. And then to mass kill them, in a swamp. Who do these things? If it had not been for Johnathan, can you imagine the things he would have continued to do, to Kate before killing her? As it is, the Dr. did examine Kate, while she is in her coma. I was right about her never having, children. It is such a horrible crime. Her insides are so scared, now. The doctor said as he looks at her thigh;he saw a whole set of teeth prints. When we do get back, Melissa, we are going to have to work with Kate. Joe has grown, fond of her. Maybe the doctor will let us transfer her back home, in upper New York to our clinic.” Melissa agrees.
An announcement comes over the speaker, for the train going to Michigan. The two pack up their bags and make their way aboard the train. They received confirmation that another professor, believes that Thomas, had passed through his school. The teacher had seen Thomas’s picture in a paper, of wanted men, along with his son. The man tells Lynn; “There was only one, and I am pretty sure it was.Thomas.”
As it turns out Thomas had visited Michigan, and did inquire about a job. But, when he saw the new paper, showing his face, Thomas left. Lynn is fairly confident, she can find Thomas. Unless she is needed back with Joe and Kate. Lynn, followed up on an eyewitness account of Thomas in the train station, boarding one; heading to California. The women, sit looking out the windows, as the train rolls on.
Claire and Billy finally got their day in court August 7, 1963. Claire said not a word while Billy sang like a bird. He even told of his mishap with George. How they had been fighting all along, and one thing led to another. Billy swore he did not mean to stick him with a knife. He says“George, he had me by my throat, like this” as he shows the panel by placing his hands upon his ownthroat.“He was squeezing so hard, I couldn't breathe. I swear on my momma’s grave;he was going to KILL ME!”Billy claimed self-defense in the matter. The prosecutor asked Billy, “What happened to the body of George?” Billy explains “Randle, Claire and Alfred took it to the,burning hole.” The jury did not feel sorry for Billy. The man lived on the island, while women were brutally, raped, and killed. He did nothing, as far as they are aware, to help those ladies.As the jury entered, Billy asked “Please stand” One by one, the women’s named were called off, as the jury answered “GUILY” Billy found himself again on Rieker’s island. The torture, began immediately, for Billy upon his return. The inmates did not take the island of the Dr. to well. Some of those women, had been their lady friends. Billy was eventually, stabbed to death in a shower stall. His body tossed to the open sea, to be eaten by sharks they hoped. Punishment of the assaulters, on Reiker's,' never came about.
Fair justice; within walls of concrete.
Claire, her trial, lasted a few months. Sheordered to stand as the jury reads off “Claire we hereby find youGUILY, first-degreemurder, GUILTY, conspiracy to commit murder, GUILTY,kidnapping and assisting in sexual assaults. We the jury, find you GUILTY, of inhumane acts to another and GUILTY,of improper handling of the dead.” She was brought to Rieker’s as well, handed multiple death sentences. She is still awaiting her death penalty. But one should not underestimate the people of Rieker’s; for they tend to their own court. Claire’s days of torture, returned in favor from a secret jury, within the walls and cells. Inmates are very clever, in their creation of devices. Claire has met her match, within the walls of Reiker’s.
Thomas is on the run; he made his way out west to live in California. He took up shop writing and consoling, the ladies of the night. There is something about Thomas, the girls adore. His favorite pass time is walking the boulevard, watching the people, pass by him. He found his passion of identity games, once more. Down in the town where he lives, is a small café that serves hot coffee and sweet apple pie, all night long. The owners do not mind him coming in and sitting in the same middle booth, by the window. He tips them well and is always kind. On Sunday nights, he takes in his mass; he watches the people as they tell their sin. He laughs to himself, knowing, he would never come out from behind the curtain. He often wonders what ever came of Kate ‘his thoughts take him’ ‘She, such an eager student and so helpful. I almost hated, giving her away.’ He sits reading the paper of the falling of the island. The local paper had written that the town called it ‘The Island of Misconception.' Of course after reading of all the horrible act his son has done, even Thomas began to feel as though, Alfred, has taken after Mildred, thinking, ‘I always told her she was a bad seed for our son. I tried to keep Alfred, from becoming like his mother. I felt; there just was no way; my son could have had enough of her genes, flowing through his veins’ Thomas smiles ‘with the thought of‘Mildred wasting away, in that mental hospital. He laughs at the thoughts of Alfred, taking care of his mother in such a way. Thomas, is quiet in his life now and pays no harm, to anyone, but, he knows his life will always be on the, run. He dreams of the next place he will visit. He has even pondered the thoughts of leaving the states and heading across seas. Occasionally he makes lists of the countries he would like to visit. He has almost convinced himself to try, Ireland. He pictures a life, on the mounds grasses, drinking brew and chatting with a new nation. The fantasy of watching the folks as they hop from one bar to another. His heart grows sorrow, in knowing he will never again resume the life he had. He misses his dear old friend Charlie. He sometimes wishes he had taken Charlie with him. Charlie would have enjoyed traveling and showing Thomas, around the lands. Charlie had been a captain. He traveled the seas. Oh, the places he thinks they could have seen. Thomas feeling a bit anger, with how Alfred had treated his dear, friend.“Alfred had taken advantage of the kindness and love Charlie, had for him. Charlie deserved a better life than the docks or that island.” Thomas does not know where his friend is now. He did not hear about the heart attack, Charlie presumed to have suffered. As Thomas enjoys his coffee and pie, he cannot help but see, his little boy across from him sipping, coco and eating hot apple pie. He misses those days; Thomas, often cries.
Chapter 22
Alfred had planned for a day like this. He stands, wiping himself dry, as the views of the boats begin to emerge, a mile out. From their speed, he knew the day was now. Swiftly, he knew he had enough time to hide his reels, and seal, his room. He had a small bag packed hidden under his bed. Grabbing it, he gathered a few more things, like his pipe, and a notepad, he had been keeping his personal notes inside. He places the note pad in his, back pocket. “There will be no goodbyes to my workers or to old man Charlie. I will have to leave as my father did,saying not a word.” Alfred knows his chance was now, before the others, could see him. As Claire and Randle had prepared Sarah, and the boats had made shore, Alfred snuck into the basement silently. Joe and Johnathan, had missed Alfred by seconds, before they stormed in.
Alfred, quickly uses the emergency door, quickly recalls how Charlie, showed him the way. Alfred creeps on his hands and knees through the door and closed it behind him.“I amable to hide down below until everyone has gone.” Alfred sits quiet listening to the commotion above. He understands the officers as they tell the news of his disappearance. Alfred, smirks at first, until hears his dear friend Charlie, as he dies, a few tears stroll down his cheeks.
Alfred a sagacious man, one day had found a trap door inside the right tunnel that lead to the swamp. It is a secret floor door. He had found it one day, while he was walking about the tunnels, planning his escape; should the need ever arise. ‘Somehow Alfred presumed that one day, this would all come to an end. He had become careless, in his work. It would only be a matter of time.’
Alfred had accidently knocked one of the hanging lamps sideways. As the lamp moved, a small door below the floor, opens. The same person that had rigged, his secret room in his loft, must have designed this, as well. The dirt was unmovable, upon the door. As it opened and closed Alfred, watched its workings. Just as his secret door did, things regained a normal position, so nobody would
know it was ever there.
Alfred make his way there now, to the new place of secret. As Alfred moves the lantern, the door opens, he climbs down inside on a wooden ladder. As his feet hit the floor, the mechanism seals, the door closed, and the light, returns to an upright position. Alfred finds himself, in a safe place. Inside there canned goods and water. Alfred has been prepping this room, for over a year, as the orders for supplies, went in for pick up from the town, Alfred, made sure he put extra. He now has all the supplies of survival, in the twelve by twelve cave. Besides the food, Alfred made sure there were medical supplies. Alfred, lays upon the small cot, and covers himself with a wool blanket and falls asleep. He has had such an eventful night, and morning, his body is tired, and weary. His life for now, will remain down within the tunnels of his island, until he finds a way off. Weeks pass, as Alfred remains below. Alfred awakes one morning, to the sounds of the storming of men, as they trample through the place. He lays still, knowing no one will find him where he is hidden. The wall is his first defense, now broken down. The return of silence, begins again.
Alfred reads his notes, and self gratifies himself. Occasionally, he comes up from the depths of the ground, and walks, the island smoking his pipe, in the night. Most of his time, he writes, playing in his head what his words to Kate will be …
My love, I make no promises to keep you safe. I have found extreme pleasure in my work. You must understand; I have embraced, my own self-worth. This enticing exploration, rendered my needs far beyond my control, now. My dear, father Thomas, would find great hedonism in the evolution of my progress. He who often pondered the process of our genetic gene make-up and our childhood experiences, confidently would admit to the world, his son’s mind, reached a potential beyond even his own. Oh, my sweet dear, do not cry. Tears play no games, to this heart of mine. You see, for myself I have no morals. I am afraid I lost my innocents, as a young lad of fifteen years of age. She a beautiful, well-endowed woman, with long blond flowing hair, became my first. Oh, how her body moved in such an erotic way, as the energy flowed through her. There had been others, you know, before my father left. Mother had a particular way of destroying a boys’ fantasy. I must confess, the distaste I have for my wretched mother, had taken control, when woman of darker hair gave themselves. The poor helpless few women, their fate out of their control, met horrific endings. Please do not mistake my work, as only sick and demented, way of life. I have exceeded, in my studies and presented the world, with an exceptional establishment. Countless folks, have entered these doors. Many, returned to a healthy state of mind. I have received many credentials for my progress. Of course, my dear there are a few dozen or so that have never left. They; the forgotten ones. Family members drop them off like a lost dog, to the pound. Those who are considered, meaningless to others are my fondest. Shall we begin?